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Documentation for BrowserII V2.41 ************************************************************************** ***************************** ******************************** ***************************** WARNING ******************************** ***************************** ******************************** ************************************************************************** If you use a previous release of ParM, and tools that makes use of parm.library (BrowserII), you _MUST_ replace ALL theses with those given in this release. The new parm.library version 7 is not compatable with previous ones. It was just not possible to do it. As promised in previous release, this new ParM only works with AmigaDOS version 37 or higher. ParM no more needs arp nor req libraries. OS 2.0 made it possible. ************************************************************************** ************************************************************************** Copyright: ---------- ParM and BrowserII are copyrighted; they may not be sold in or together with commercial software without written approval by the authors. They may be freely distributed for a fee which will not exceed the equivalent of French Francs 15.- (this includes the cost of the diskette and the postage); they cannot be made available for downloading from a server which is a commercial operation. The general principle is that it is forbidden to make a profit through the use or distribution of these programs without our written consent. ParM V3.5 (or higher) and BrowserII V2.0 (or higher) may NOT be duplicated for other things than backup. Only Authors are autorized to give it to other people. DISCLAIMER: ----------- We accept no responsability for the use or misuse of these programs, and for the damage they could produce. Use at your own risks. Nevertheless, we think that after several month of intensive use by four persons, they have been tested enough to say they are safe. History: -------- We wrote BrowserII after having used for 2 years the original Browser (version 1.6A) written by Peter Da Silva. We were not fully satisfied because of some of its limitations so, as soon as we felt capable of writing a program which would overcome those limitations, we made a decision to do it. So BrowserII was born ... The Return ! We felt the overall layout and display mode of Browser were very good, so we decided to keep them, as well as the name, so that actual users of Browser would immediately feel home with BrowserII. As we never had the sources of Browser at hand, we rewrote it from scratch. Beginners claimed many times that BrowserII was difficult to use and very complicated. Really, we don't understand that since BrowserII works exactly like workbench. To copy files, you just have to select them and to drag them over the destination directory. It's power is far from other file manager tools which are able to display only to directories, and are full of useless gadgets which cluter up more than the half of the screen display. We think that menus are more adapted to commands not often used, and keyboard shortcuts quicker than gadgets for regular operations. Any way, a special window with parametrable gadgets will be taken into consideration in a next release using gadtools.library of new OS 2.0. Another advantage of BrowserII is that it is small (80 KBytes !). It has the most powerfull copy process, and doesn't include text viewers, editors, or any IFF viewers. With this phylosophy, you can use the best tools of each kind, text viewer (we use the great MuchMorePoPa 2.7 which can be made resident), IFF viewer (we use Mostra which is pure too). You are not limited with the number of parametrable menus... Finally, BrowserII is the best file manager ! Don't you think so ? Another positive thing because other don't do it, is that all disk errors are properly reported with a message (not an error number), files can be individually skipped, or operation aborted. (some tools continue to write files after a 'disk full' error. Nice isn't it!). Installation: ------------- While you can put BrowserII in any directory, you must copy parm.library and in LIBS:. If you want to take advantage of the parametrable menus of BrowserII, don't forget to build a BrowserII.menu file, and to put it in S:. Since V2.10, BrowserII will recognize file types if you have the whatis.library in your LIBS: directory. (See doc for this library). The reqtools.library is required for customising screen colors. Demo Version: ------------- The registered version and demo version are indentical. When you become a registered user, you get a key file, and you'll be registered forever. So you can get updates from fish disks, or BBS, without asking directly to us. When you are not registered, the About requester appears from time to time. Tutorial: --------- Some friends made a tutorial for unexperimented user. The french version makes use of a lot of pictures. have a look at them, they are very atractive. Note that both tutorials are about using Version 2.04. A few things were added since then but the mind didn't change! Gadgets: -------- BrowserII windows now have three more gadgets. The first one is the iconification gadget, just below the close gadget. If you press this gadget, two things can happen: 1. If it is the main window (the one where appears devices, volumes, and assigns), BrowserII will be iconified, that is to say that a small window in workbench screen will open, and all BrowserII windows and screen will be closed. This small window has a close gadget which enables you to quit BrowserII without uniconifying BrowserII. To uniconify BrowserII, press right mouse button. 2. If it is a directory window, the window will be closed, and an entry will be added in Alien Window, whether it is open or not. Alien Window can be open using F5 or menu 'Window->Open->Alien Window'. To uniconify an iconified window, just double click on the corresponding entry in alien window. You can uniconify several windows sumultaneously by selecting several entries in alien window, and double clicking on one of them. If one entry only is selected in Alien Window, the full path of the directory is displayed in the bottom border of this window. The other two gadgets are invisible. The first one is the ZOOM gadget and is the top half of the jauges, while the second one is the UNZOOM gadget and is the bottom half of the jauges. If you ask for a zoom while the directory to be zoomed is currently scanning, the zoom is defered at the end of scan. Menus: ------ * BrowserII BrowserII -> Update menus Reloads the parametrable menus file "S:BrowserII.menu". This file is an ASCII file with the same syntax as the configuration file of ParM. Some option has been added: the selected files in BrowserII will be inserted at the [] or [:] if any, with full path calculated from current window. Example: you have selected "S:" in the main window of BrowserII you have defined a menu item as follows: ITEM Sizer RUN WIN CON:0/11/400/100/Sizer/Close/Wait Sizer [] activating the menu item Sizer will be equivalent to executing the following command in a shell: Sizer S: If there are no [], then the names of the selected files are simply appended to the end of the command line. Have a look at ParM.doc for the WBTF option in menu items to bring workbench to front when running commands. There is an alternative to get arguments with a full pathname, rather than a path relative to the current directory (active window). just put [:] instead of [] in the command line. But be warned. In most cases, _this is not necessary_, and dangerous! Because volume names may not be unique, files passed as parameters may not be the ones you selected. Current directory is a lock and IS unique. Anyway, it can be usefull when giving file names to and already loaded process with a current dir different from the selected files' directory. For example, you get two ARexx examples in this archive that need full path argument, View.adpro, and DeliPlay.rexx. There is another dark side: arguments have longer names, and as a command line is limited to 512 bytes long, you cannot give as many arguments to a command as with current-dir relative path. Since V2.10, you can specify Automatic commands. For that, you must have the whatis.library in your LIBS: directory. When you DoubleClick on a file, BrowserII search for an automatic command (AUTOCMD) associated with the type of the file. If it founds one, it will be executed. AUTOCMDs must be specified in the S:BrowserII.menu file with the following syntax: AUTOCMD <file type> [WITHSUBTYPES][WBTF][REQUEST] <run mode> [STACK] [PRI] [WIN] <command> <file type> : the id string you can see when you ask "Window->File Info->Type" (i.e: "Text", "Exe", etc...) <run mode> : (WB, RUN,...) See ParM.doc <command> : The command you want to execute for this type of file. Same syntax as ParM's menu items. WITHSUBTYPES : AUTOCMD is inherited by subtypes of the type given. If an AUTOCMD exists for a subtype of the given type, it takes precedence over it. Example: AUTOCMD "Text" WITHSUBTYPES WBTF RUN More [] AUTOCMD "Source C" RUN Ed [] If you DoubleClick on a file and this file is a text file but not C Source file (which is a subtype of Text) then "More" will be run with the file as argument. If you DoubleClick on a C Source file, then "Ed" will be run instead of "More". If you want AUTOCMD for types which are not built-in, don't forget to create the new type (managed by whatis.library) in "S:FileTypes" before putting an AUTOCMD. We strongly recommand to have a look at the complete examples given in BrowserII.menu, since the file is easy to understand. BrowserII -> Last Error This will show you the last message which appeared in screen title bar BrowserII -> Screen -> Workbench BrowserII opens its windows in the Workbench screen BrowserII -> Screen -> Custom BrowserII opens its own screen and opens all its windows in that screen. The screen is made public and is named "BrowserII". Take care, public screen names are case-sensitive. For example, you can open a console in the BrowserII screen with the following syntax: "CON:0/11/640/100/Window Title/CLOSE/WAIT/AUTO/SCREEN BrowserII" This console has defered open (AUTO), will also have a close gadget (CLOSE), and will wait for you to hit close gadget before closing (WAIT). Note that if another public screen with the same name exists, BrowserII will name its screen BrowserII0, then BrowserII1,... (this can happen if you have the strange idea to run BrowserII twice)! BrowserII -> Screen -> WorkBench Colors BrowserII -> Screen -> Custom Colors (needs reqtools.library) Do you need an explanation ? BrowserII -> Screen Font -> Default Font BrowserII -> Screen Font -> Custom Font This enables you to choose your prefered screen font. Screen Font appears in title bars and in menus. This menu is disabled in workbench screen. BrowserII -> Window Font -> Default Font BrowserII -> Window Font -> Custom Font This enables you to choose your prefered window font. BrowserII -> Run Mode The submenu items of this item will determine the mode according to which the files on which you double-click will be opened. If other files were selected at the time of the double-click, their names become parameters for the double-clicked file. If the file has an icon, it will automatically be run in Workbench mode. Also note that BrowserII does a CD to the active window before running a command, whether you have double-clicked on a file, or activated it through a menu selection. This is often VERY useful. BrowserII -> Run Mode -> RunBack Launches the program on which you have double-clicked as a background Process. BrowserII -> Run Mode -> Shell Same as RunBack except BrowserII will open the default SHELLWIN console for the program output. If this console has defered open, you wont see it immediately if program does not output anything. BrowserII -> Run Mode -> Request If this option is activated, a requester will appear before the double-clicked program is actually launched, so you can confirm or cancel. (except for Workbench) Remember though, that a program which has an icon, will be launched in WB mode il all cases. BrowserII -> Run Mode -> WBToFront WorkBench screen is brought to front after running the program. BrowserII -> Copy Mode BrowserII -> Copy Mode -> Context If you move a file, BrowserII will in fact perform a rename if the source and destination files are on the same volume. Across volumes, BrowserII will perform a copy. BrowserII -> Copy Mode -> Always Copy BrowserII will systematically make a copy of the file. BrowserII -> Copy Mode -> Always Move BrowserII will copy the file to the destination directory and then delete the source file. BrowserII -> Copy Mode -> Request You'll asked if you want to move or copy files each time you drag some. BrowserII -> Copy Mode -> Update BrowserII will copy the file only if the source file is more recent than the destination file, or if the destination file does not exist. BrowserII -> Copy Mode -> Don't overwrite files BrowserII will not overwrite an existing file. If there exists a destination file with the name you gave for the destination, the copy will not be performed. BrowserII -> Copy Mode -> Ask before Overwrite BrowserII asks for confirmation before overwriting. This option is naturally mutually exclusive with the former one. BrowserII -> Copy Mode -> Copy Empty Dirs This option will enable to re-create empty directories in the destination directory. It is particularly useful in its disabled mode, so empty directories are not copied. BrowserII -> Copy Flags BrowserII -> Copy Flags -> Clone All attributes of the file will be copied (date, comment, protection bits). BrowserII -> Copy Flags -> Date The destination file inherits the date of the source file. BrowserII -> Copy Flags -> Protect The destination file inherits the protection bits of the source file. BrowserII -> Copy Flags -> Comment The destination file inherits the comment of the source file. BrowserII -> Display BrowserII -> Display -> Devices BrowserII -> Display -> Volumes BrowserII -> Display -> Assigns BrowserII 's main window shows the appropriate list. BrowserII -> Options -> Keep Selected After an action ( copy, delete, etc ) the selected entry is not automatically deselected. BrowserII -> Options -> Toggle selection If this option is activated, clicking on a name will alternately select and deselect it. If this option is not activated, the selected entry will not be deselected. BrowserII -> Options -> Move files into subdirectories Once this option is set, BrowserII will put the selected entries in the subdirectory un which you release the left mouse button. Otherwise it will put them in the window which contains this directory. BrowserII -> Options -> Ask before moving into subdirectories BrowserII asks for confirmation before moving the entries. BrowserII -> Options -> Asynchronous Actions You will love that one or I'll eat my tie (as I never wear one, the risk is limited). When this option in on, any action requested executes in the background, and the next action can be started without a delay. Like for the multitasking, you will wonder how you could live without it before! Switching it off has been made possible mainly for debug purpose. BrowserII -> Options -> Open process status window Each process will open its own window telling what it is currently doing, and giving you the possibility to pause or cancel the process. BrowserII -> AutoCmds override icons's default tool BrowserII will not look at the tools types of the icon of the file if an AUTOCMD is defined for this type of file. BrowserII -> Examine file on DoubleClick (for AutoCmd) BrowserII will ask whatis.library for a deep scan (the most sure) regardless you specify in "Window->Options->Find Type by scan" or not, before searching an AutoCmd. We encourage you to use this option since in fact, it will not slow down operation because the tool will open this file too will already be in the drive's buffers. BrowserII -> Option -> Install backdrop pattern Put a backdrop window with a pleasent pattern, for your eyes only ! In a future release, you'll be able to change this pattern. BrowserII -> Option -> Use window font in requesters By default, Screen font are used in requesters. You may prefer to use your window font for requesters. This option is done for that. BrowserII -> Window Options -> Display directory disk usage. BrowserII -> Window Options -> Display proportion of visible data. See documentation for jauges at the end of this file. BrowserII -> Window Options -> Windows AutoZoom At the end of directory scan, the window will be automatically zoomed to show as many entries as possible. BrowserII -> Window Options -> Windows AutoZoom dirs only Same as before but show only directories. (You must have the option "Sort by Type" set). BrowserII -> Window Options -> Main Window AutoZoom Now Main window can be AutoZoom. BrowserII -> Window Options -> Zoom Main Window on startup Main window will be zoomed only on BrowserII startup. BrowserII -> Window Options -> Capture Main Window position BrowserII -> Window Options -> Capture Main Window size BrowserII -> Window Options -> Capture Alien Window position BrowserII -> Window Options -> Capture Alien Window size Size or position are stored so they will be saved on next "Save Config". BrowserII -> Save Config Saves all your options in the file "DEVS:BrowserII.cfg" (don't confuse it with the file "S:BrowserII.menu" which contains the definition of your personal menus). Saves the contents of the selection requester and the options of the current window as well. BrowserII -> About A little word about the fantastic, Mega-Super-Extra authors of this wonderfull piece of software. BrowserII -> Quit We did not plan for implementing this option, but a few crazy guys screamed for it, so here it is... Anyway, you won't be surprised to read that you won't be able to quit BrowserII as long as one of the Asynchronous Actions is still running. * Window Window -> Rescan BrowserII rescans the content of the directory which corresponds to the active window. Since version 2.0, BrowserII scans directories asynchronously. You can iconify a directory while scanning. If you close a window while directory is being scanned, scan is aborted. Window -> Open Window -> Open -> Open Parent Opens a window for the parent directory (if any). Window -> Open -> Open Dir... Opens a particular directory, for which you type the full pathname. Window -> Open -> Open Alien Opens Alien Window. This window is called Alien and not (Iconify Window) because in a futur release, this window will receive other entries, such as LeaveOut and Aliases, to have easy access to most often used files. Window -> Open -> Open Status Tells background processes to open their status window. This will display a message in title bar if no processes are currently running. Window -> Select Match Selects, in the current window, the entries which match criteria which you have given. See below the paragraph on the Requesters. Window -> Select all Selects all entries in the active window. Window -> Filters Another important feature of BrowserII. Only the files which match the criteria you set will be displayed, but all will be counted (look at the bottom string on the lower border of the window). Window -> Filters -> Set... Calls the filters requester and enables you to set your filters. Window -> Filters -> Prefs Set the filter that was saved in "DEVS:BrowserII.cfg" . Window -> Filters -> No .info Hides the icon files. This filter comes on top of the other filters. Window -> Filters -> Clear Removes all filters, all files and dirs will be visible. Window -> Filters -> Invert Reverses the action of all filters, so all visible files will be hidden and vice-versa. Useful for checking wether a file which you expect to be there has not been hidden through the action of one of the filters. Window -> File info Window -> File Info -> Size in Bytes Gives file sizes in bytes. Window -> File Info -> Size in blocks Gives file sizes in blocks. Window -> File Info -> Protection Shows protection bits. Window -> File Info -> Date Shows date according to Amigados idiosyncrasies. Window -> File Info -> Disk Key Shows the disk key of the entry (i.e. the block number of the file header block). Window -> File Info -> Type Show the file type. (Need whatis.library) Window -> Sort by -> Window -> Sort by -> Name Window -> Sort by -> Date Window -> Sort by -> Size Window -> Sort by -> Key Sorts entries by name (alpha), date (most recent first), size (smallest first), disk key. Window -> Sort by -> Entry Type This does not really refer to a sort type. If this option is set, files and directories are listed separately (directories first). Window -> Sort by -> FileType Sort by file type ! (dir, ilbm, text, exe, etc...). You must have whatis.library. Window -> Options -> Find type by name whatis.libray try to detect the type of file (exe, ilbm, text, etc...) only by scanning the name. Fast but not very safe since names are not allways meaningfull for file types. Disabled when whatis.library couldn't be opened. Window -> Options -> Find type by scan whatis.library opens and scan the first few bytes of each file to discover what type of file is this. Much powerfull than previous option but slow down directory scan. Disabled when whatis.library couldn't be opened. Window -> Options -> Keep Window This is the normal mode. A new window is open when you double-click on a directory. This mode is forced if the double-click with the MMB or if you hold the shift key while the default 'keep mode' is 'Auto Iconify' or 'Auto Close'. Window -> Options -> Auto Iconify When you Double-Click on a subdirectory, the current directory is iconified and the new one is open in the same window. This mode is forced if the double-click with the MMB or if you hold the shift key while the default 'keep mode' is 'Keep Window'. Window -> Options -> Auto Close When you Double-Click on a subdirectory, the current directory is flushed from memory and the new one is open in the same window. Window -> Options -> Turbo Scan Scans the directory using dos.library/ExAll() instead of ExNext(). This is faster, and minimize disk trashing for concurent acces. I presume it should be even more faster on remote network directories. The dark side: You don't get size in blocks for files. (ExAll() limitation) (So you get a computed size using size in bytes) You don't get file types. (For speed condition). Anyway, types are examined on double-click. Links are not recognized actually. This a system bug. It will be fixed in WB3.1 (KickStart/ROM V40). Window -> Affect Volume The preferences set for the active window will be propagated to all windows relative to this volume. Window -> Affect all The preferences set for the active window will be propagated to for all windows. * Actions Actions -> Rename Renames the selected entry. If several entries are selected, you can rename them with jokers "à la ARP". If you are not familiar with this, exercise on some files of no value before using this action for good. Actions -> Makedir Creates subdirectories in the active window. You can create several of them by separating the names with a space. Example: Work Games Work/Src Warning: Games Work/Src Work would not be valid because you attempt to create a subdirectory of Work before having created Work itself. Actions -> Duplicate Makes a copy of a file, you will be prompted for a new name. Actions -> Set Date Changes the date of the selected entry (entries) to the actual date. Since 2.20, date can be modified. Actions -> Set Comment Will enable you to write a new comment for the entry. If there was already a comment, it will be displayed. 80 chars only, this is a limitation of AmigaDOS. Actions -> Set Protect Enables you to change the protection bits of the selected entry. You cannot set the C bit, as it is not really a protection bit, it just tells you that the selected entry has a comment, but you can set this pseudo-C bit to " - ", this will delete the comment. Handle with care, it is easy to get a lot of comments gone forever in no time. Action -> Add Icon Add an icon to file(s) you have selected. The Icon name is given by whatis.library depending on file type. BrowserII will search default icons files in ENV:Sys/ like WorkBench 2.0. Need whatis.library to work. Action -> Check Size Scans selected files and dirs to compute total size in bytes and blocks of all of them. If you choose to reselect entries, context of selection will be restored (including 'Affect subdirs') so that next action will be done on same files and dirs. Directories will get their size set, until next deselection. This way, it makes it possible, using rightmost main window jauge, to determine if a list of files and dirs will fit on destination volume. Actions -> WB Info Brings up Workbench's info requester. (AmigaDOS 3.0 and higher). Note that currently, workbench must be loaded or nothing will happen. Actions -> Delete Deletes the selected entries. You will (fortunately) be asked to confirm. If at least one directory is selected, "Delete" will delete only empty dirs, while "Delete All" will delete non-empty selected directories as well. The Requesters: --------------- * Filters: BrowserII tests all files against the criteria set in this requesters, and shows those for which the test is positive. Files: Can be set to Yes, No or Match. If Match is selected, files will checked against the following criteria. Dirs: same thing for directories. Pattern: This must be a valid AmigaDOS pattern. examples: #?.doc shows only the xxxx.doc files ~(#?.(o|dbg)) hides the xxx.o and xxx.dbg files Since : shows files with more recent date than the date entered ( AmigaDOS Date format ) Before : same thing in the other direction Min Size: if the file is smaller, it is hidden Max Size: if the file is bigger, it is hidden Protection bits: shows only the files with the specified bits. Example: L C H S P A R W E D - hides files which have the hide bit set + shows only files with the archive bit set If you have installed the whatis.library, you'll be able to match files by type. If one or more positive file types are selected (without the exclude option), entries must match one of them. If no positive file types are selected, all files types are valid except excluded file types. For each file type, you can select associated subtypes. * Select Match: This requester is the same as precedent one, but with one gadget more, "Affect subdirs". This enables you to virtually select files in selected directories. As we say in french, a good example is better than a long speech. Suppose you want to clear archive bit of all files you have in a disk. 1. Open volume's window. 2. Call Select Match. 3. Put Files to ? and Dirs to N. 4. Clear all protection bits and set A to +. 5. Switch on Affect subdirs. 6. Validate the requester. Result: All files which have their archive bit set are selected, but any directories are selected since you set Dirs to N. Now: 7. Hold <Shift> key while selecting all dirs of this window. 8. Call Set Protect. 9. Switch protection bits to: L C H S P A R W E D _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ 10. Validate. Et voilà! Each time you click left mouse button over a BrowserII window, if you DON'T hold <Shift> at the same time, the file under the mouse pointer, if any, becomes selected, all others are deselected, and Affect subdirs bit is cleared. That is to say after each operation with affect subdirs, this option is reset (except if you allways hold shift key), and must be set again if you want to do another action with this option. Within actions with affect subdirs, if a directory pass through the filters, the action will take place also on the directory itself once it has been examined. But even if the directory doesn't pass through the filters, it will be entered, and files within this dir may be affected by the action. This is a bit different for Copy action. If a directory doesn't pass through the filters, it won't be entered, and files within this dir will never be copied. But read carefully: Empty directories may be considered useless. So you can decide not to copy them by switching off this option. But Copy process is even more powerfull. If for example, you decide not to copy empty dirs, if you copy a directory with affect subdirs and any entries of this dir pass through the filters, the directory will be considered as empty and won't be created in destination path. This makes it possible to make selective backups, without useless directories in destination volume. Jauges: ------- All windows except Alien has two jauges on their left border. The leftmost one allways displays the disk percentage of occupied space. And the second one, to the right, displays the directory disk usage or the percentage of visible data depending on the option you choose (See menu BrowserII->Options). 1. Directory disk usage If this option is selected, the rightmost jauge displays the proportion of used disk space used by this directory. For example, is you have a volume with no directories (all files are in the root directory), this jauge will say that the directory contains 100% of data present on this disk. 2. Percentage of visible data. If this option is selected, the rightmost jauge displays the proportion of visible data (in blocks) in this window (If filters hide some entries of this dir, not all entries are visible !). This is usefull for example when you hide .info files, a quick look at this jauge help you remembering that some files are not visible and you should not forget them. Jauges of main window: ---------------------- The leftmost jauge of main window is a copy of the same jauge of active window. If the active window is the main or alien, both main window jauges are empty. The other jauge will help you to determine if selected files would fit on active volume (volume of active window) if a copy/duplicate operation would be performed. Imagine you want to copy some files on a floppy disk, and you don't know if there is enough free space on this disk for your selected files. You can examine informations in bottom border of windows of course but there is an easier way. Activate the destination window (without deselecting your files), and the second jauge of main window will tell you everything: The leftmost jauge shows the actual disk usage, and the other one what it will become after the copy. Then there is two possibilities. Your files fit on the disk: no problem. Or there's not enough free space: then, the second jauge shows of how much selected files exceeds disk space by displaying a dash (-). The jauge height allways means the disk size. Note: In this release, selected directories are not entrered, so BrowserII knows size of selected files only. Block size between source and destination volumes are assumed to be the same. Workbench Support: ------------------ If Workbench is loaded when you start BrowserII, an AppIcon is installed. This icon will be used to iconify BrowserII, instead of creating a small window. You can also drop icons over it, and the corresponding directory will be open in BrowserII. When BrowserII is used in Workbench screen, directory windows, as well as Alien and Devices windows are AppWindows. If you release an icon over a BrowserII window, the corresponding directory will be open in that window, and the preceding directory will be iconified. Drag selection: --------------- If you have a standard 2 button mouse, you must now release the Shift key to be able to copy/move files. Moving the mouse over files while pressing the shift key now does drag selection. It's a bit confusing (even for us) if you are used keeping shift key pressed. You'll have to adapt yourself. It's not easy, ok, but you won't regret. 3 Buttons Mouse handling: ------------------------- For lucky owners of a 3 button mouse, some goodies are available. For most of the feature, the mid button acts like the shift key, so it may not conflict with utilities that does MMB->Shift. - Extended Selection hitting MMB or LMB with MMB Pressed. - MMB DoubleClick (or Shift-LMB) on a dir toggle AutoIconify mode: - if AutoIconify is on, Dbl-Clk-MMB keeps window - if AutoIconify is off, Dbl-Clk-MMB iconifies window - Dragging files with MMB does the contrary of LMB. (If 'Always Copy' on, MMB always move, else MMB always copy) - Pressing MMB & Hit Close-Gadget closes all directories for the volume - The same for Iconify Gadget. Function Keys: -------------- The first five function keys have the following effects: F1 : UnZoom current window. F2 : Zoom current window to see all files and dirs. F3 : Zoom current window to see all directories only. F4 : Iconify current window, or BrowserII if main window is active. F5 : Opens Alien Window. F6 : Opens status window of prcesses currently running. ESC: Pauses all processes and open their status window. Buffer size for copy: --------------------- BrowserII will test wether destination and one of source concerned volumes are mounted, i.e. one of source and destination volume are simultaneously present to the system (a diskette with a given volume name may not be in a drive), in which case BrowserII will make use of a 200 K max buffer. If any source or destination volume is mounted (you have only one drive for instance), BrowserII will use 880 K max for buffers if enough memory is available. This way, in order to copy some files from a diskette into another one, you don't need to go through the RAM DISK. Buffers are allocated during copy, and in any case BrowserII will not use more than 80% of the available memory for its buffers. Note for menus colors with WB 3.0: ---------------------------------- For people who have WB3.0 and have 8 or more colors in their WB Screen, you should read this note. With WB 3.0, you can edit the color of the screen's titlebar and menus. If you have a 8 or more color workbench, then you edit these pens using the MultiColored palette. If you don't use standard pens, (Black text on white background), and you run BrowserII in it's own screen, you won't get the same colors for BrowserII's menu. To get the same colors, you have to edit the pens in the system preferences in 4 color mode, since until now, BrowserII screen is a 4 color screen. THERE IS 2 INDEPENDENT PREFERENCES IN THE SYSTEM FOR PENS. Modifying the 4 color pens will not modify the layout of your 8+ color workbench, but will modify BrowserII's. Hints and tips: --------------- * Pressing CTRL while selecting files forces Toggle-Select mode. This is important if you do not use the 'Toggle Selections' options. This allow to de-select an entry without de-selecting all. * If you hold the shift key down while closing the window corresponding to a volume, all windows corresponding to directories of that volume will close at once, except iconified windows. If you want to get rid of iconified windows too, press SHIFT-ALT while closing window. * In the same way, you can iconify all directories of the same volume by 'shift iconifying' a window. * You can uniconify multiple windows at once with extended selection. * The unmounted volumes appear in boldface. * The write-protected volumes appear in italic. * Files which have just been deleted appear in italic and are unselectable * Icons (in Alien Window) are directories like any other directories in standard windows, that is to say they support all actions. You can select icons and release them over directories, you can also use icons as destination of a copy, or even rename or why not protect an icon. * BrowserII defines two more customs protection bits named C and L. If bit C is set, file/dir has a comment. If bit L is set, file/dir is a link. External command BD: -------------------- An external command named BD is given with BrowserII. This is an interface between shells and BrowserII. Running BD with no arguments will run BrowserII if it is not yet running, and make BrowserII open and scan your current shell directory. You can also specify one or more directories as argument to BD. BD has now 3 optional argument: Note: BrowserII must be in your shell Path if it is not yet running. BD can also be run from workbench. If you double-click on the Tool BD, BrowserII will open the directory containing BD. But you can also have project icons with BD as default Tool. In this case, if your project has no Tool-Types, the current dir will be open, otherwise, you can edit your project Tool-Types, and specify as many directories as you want. You should also specify in the BD Tool Tool-Types the full path to BrowserII, that is to say in which directory you have BrowserII. In example given, BrowserII should be in SYS:Utilites directory. BD has 6 flags. Template: Dirs/M,RESCAN/S,ZOOMALL/S,ZOOMDIRS/S,QUIET/S,SCANDEVS/S,SYNC/S Dirs: Several dirs can be asked to be (re)scanned RESCAN: Allways scans dir. Even if already open. ZOOMALL: Zoom window, even with AutoZoom is not active. ZOOMDIRS: Same as ZOOMALL, but for dirs only. QUIET: Do not activate window, nor bring screen to front. SCANDEVS: Rescan main window (the one with devices/volumes/assigns) SYNC: Operate synchronously to prevent disk trashing if more than one dir asked on the same device unit. Release notes: -------------- 1.0: First Release (30-jul-91) 1.1: Bug fixes. Added DiskCopy ability. Moving a device over another device calls SYS:System/DiskCopy, and Duplicate a single device too. Cli arguments are now quoted only when needed. A lot of little invisible improvements. 1.11: Bug fixes. With parm.library 3.4 and higher, RUN modes work under 2.0. 2.0: Iconification, Zoom, Jauges, Workbench 2.0 look (under 2.0), Parametrable Fonts, ASynchronous dir scan, and bug fixes. External command BD. 2.03: Minor bug fix. 2.04: "Copy->Move" bug fix. (won't delete source file) 2.05: Bug Fix: A CurrentDir was missing which can cause crash, bug in copy when skiping big file. Removed trash of prop gadget with autozoom under 2.0 2.10: 29/5/1992 Optional whatis capability: recognize some files (ILBM, PPDATA, doc,...), You can define new type ( see docs of whatis.library). Auto command (custom command for each filetype ). BrowserII can work without whatis.library. AddIcon and CheckSize action added, Back pattern option added (KS2.x only), should be custom in future. Optional automatic main window Zoom. Optional save Main window size/position BD has now 3 new option. 2.11 RunMode was not printed in GetString() title bar when double clicking on a file. fixed. When changing Sort mode for a window, window was not updated. fixed. 2.12 RunMode on double-click was always Shell with WB 2.0. fixed. After closing a window, check-marks for new current window was not udated. fixed. WBToFront now supported for WBRun too. A TAG_DONE was missing for backdrop window open (Pattern Option) **************************************************************** * THIS WAS THE LAST KICKSTART 1.3 VERSION ! * **************************************************************** 2.20: For KS 2.0 only, sorry. arp and req libraries no more needed. New lovely requesters (Underscored chars are shortcuts). Bold gadget is default response (Return key). ESC cancels all requesters. Processes status windows. New screen modes available. Virtual autoscroll screens. New wonderful Select/Filters requester with file types criteria. New look in menus. FileInfo options for alien window entries saved in config file. OpenDir done relative to current dir (enables opening of // for example) ShortCuts available when pattern's backdrop window is active. BrowserII can be iconified even when processes are running. Touch action changed in SetDate (like AmigaDOS command). You can then modify the date. Added new internal protection bit L to identify links. Saving Size/Position of main and alien windows made easier. 2.21: No more truncate french dates. Works fine with 4000 bytes of stack. (2.20 needed 4500 bytes). Uses new asl.library V38 screen mode requester. 2.22: New look menus under AmigaDOS 3.0. New action 'WB Info' under AmigaDOS 3.0. Bug fix: Mem jauge layout was not correctly handled under V39. Backdrop pattern now implemented as a layer hook, and no more uses precious chip memory. 2.23: Bug fix. Replaced ExNext() with MatchNext() to fix problems with new V39 DirCache FileSystem. 2.30: Localized. Screen's bitmap made Interleaved under 3.0 (scrolling much nicer) Bug fix in WB Info. Did not handle properly .info files. You can now run a tool by double-clicking on it's icon. Makes it possible to run projects made of only an icon (for example: clicking on English.info to run software install in english). Uses system busy pointer under WB3.0. Bug fix in LoadConfig(). Config revisions were not properly handled. 2.31: Pooled memory under WB3.0 BrowserII's screen now inherits Workbench3.0's properties. (Your prefered pens,...) See note about pens for 3.0 users. 2.32 Fixed a MungWall hit. Added 'Keep Window' features, asked by Gilles Soulet. 2.33 Bug Fixes. Files where not unghosted on unmounted volumes. Memory pools semaphore protected. Deleting directories in RAM: was not possible under V37 since version 2.23 (due to modif for DCFS). Worked under V39. Fixed. 2.34 Pooled memory under all system versions, including 2.0! 2.35 Font & ScreenMode requesters resized. Added DEL key as a short-cut for Delete. 2.36 Deleting links to dirs no more deletes dir contents. Only the link is removed. Added 'Update' button when asking before overwriting a file. BD 'file' now opens file's parent dir. Added Affect Volume possibility. You can now make a directory (MakeDir) with an icon. Turbo directory scan. 2.37 Drag Selection. (release Shift key to copy/move files). Menus available when backdrop window is active. Keep modes now keep the same window rather than opening a new one and then closing parent. 2.38 Middle button handling. New request mode for copying/moving files (Copy Mode/Request) Colors saved in 32 bits under V39 for AGA machines. This is usefull only if you edit the palette with a special utility. We'll soon release a palette.library which will edit colors in 24 bits, using the colorwheel. Command line length increased to 512. (You can select more files for External Commands in RUN/SHELL mode). Added an AppIcon in Workbench. 2.39 AppWindows. (See 'Workbench Support'). Keeps window size after checksize. (will become optional) Enhanced (faster) scrolling for big windows. Added a safety check. If you drag a file and you release it less than 350 ms after selecting it, you will be asked a confirmation for the copy/move operation. You must be a zombie to be faster! Arrows associated with scrollbar. Not yet functionnal. Another bug fix in LoadConfig(). 2.40 New iconify gadget image. Page scrolling (jump) now keeps one common entry between pages. Scrolling with new arrows. Menu layout no more locks backgroung actions when status windows are open. When started from WB, BrowserII's process get a copy of the WB Path, just like if it were started from a shell. Scrolling support in drag-selection. Added '[:]' to get full path arguments. Pressing MMB while holding LMB no more forces toggle-selection. Uses palette.library under V39 if available. Better window placement for big screens. Added Doc for CTRL key usage. (never been documented before!). Bug fix in realtime scroll. (window top and/or bottom borders might be trashed). Fixed several bugs WB Info. Various other optimisations/bug fixes. Code cleanup. 2.41 Minor fixes. Futur Plans: ------------ LeaveOut, Aliases, parametrable Fast Menu (docks) for gadget lovers, Tree window, Separate Prefs Editor, help using amigaguide, and more. ShareWare / distribution : -------------------------- BrowserII and ParM are both shareware. If you use them consistently, you ought to send us a contribution or your conscience will itch. Any contributor for at least $25 will become a registered user and will automatically receive one non-demo update. Don't fail to mention the version number of your copy. If there is no newer version, you will be put on a list and receive one update whenever it becomes available. Many thanks to: Michel Jouanne for the tutorial and guide (in progress...). ASDG for CED (a fantastic (the best :-)) text editor). W.S. Hawes for ARexx. Pierre Ardichvili for his kindness and his support to the Amiga. Cedric Beust, Philippe Brand, Gilles Soulet, Gael Marziou, Jean-Bastiste Yunes, Olaf Gschweng, Alessandro Galassi, and all other traductors, contributors, beta testers. Sylvain Rougier and Pierre Carrette. Send donnations and bug reports to: ----------------------------------- Sylvain Rougier 39 rue Carnot 86000 Poitiers France. Don't forget to give your version of BrowserII and System.