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Difference between revisions of "AmigaOS Manual: Workbench Other Programs"

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The Tools drawer window, illustrated in Figure 10-1, contains numerous utility programs that, for example, expand your printing options, prepare memory cards for use, define new keys, and create new icons.
  
The Tools drawer window, illustrated in Figure 10-1, contains numerous utility programs that, for example, expand your printing options, prepare memory cards for use, define new keys, and create new icons.
   
−
[[File:WorkbenchFig10-1.png|frame|center|Tools Window]]
 +
[[File:WorkbenchFig10-1.png|frame|none|Tools Window]]
   
−
The following programs are found in the Tools drawer:
 +
The following programs are found in the Utilities drawer:
   
 
{| class="wikitable"
  
{| class="wikitable"
  +
| Lacer || Turns video interlace on and off. (Classic Only)
−
| Calculator || A standard, four-function calculator.
  
 
|-
  
|-
  +
| PrepCard || Prepares PCMCIA memory cards for use on systems with a PCMCIA slot. (Classic Only)
−
| CMD || Allows you to redirect printer output to a file.
  
−
|-
  
−
| GraphicDump || Allows you to print screen images.
  
−
|-
  
−
| IconEdit || Allows you to change and create icons.
  
−
|-
  
−
| InitPrinter || Initializes your printer.
  
−
|-
  
−
| KeyShow || Displays the current keyboard layout.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Lacer || Turns video interlace on and off.
  
−
|-
  
−
| MEmacs || A text editor, explained in the AmigaDOS User's Guide.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Mounter || An interactive partition mount tool.
  
−
|-
  
−
| PlayCD || User interface for the audio CD playback functionality
  
−
|-
  
−
| PrepCard || Prepares PCMCIA memory cards for use on systems with a PCMCIA slot.
  
−
|-
  
−
| PrintFiles || Sends files to the printer.
  
−
|-
  
−
| ShowConfig || Shows configuration information.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Commodities || A drawer containing programs that monitor your keyboard and mouse input.
  
 
|}
  
|}
   
  +
=== Lacer (Classic Only) ===
−
HDBackup and HDToolbox are also included in the Tools drawer on hard disk systems only. For information on these programs, see the Amiga Hard Drive User's Guide .
  
−  
−
=== Calculator ===
  
−  
−
The Calculator is a standard four-function calculator for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. Opening the Calculator icon activates it.
  
−  
−
The calculator works like any standard calculator. The buttons on the calculator are gadgets. The numbered gadgets represent the digits 0 through 9. The non-numerical gadgets represent:
  
−  
−
{| class="wikitable"
  
−
| CA || Clear all previous entries. Resets the calculator to 0.
  
−
|-
  
−
| CE || Clear the current entry.
  
−
|-
  
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| X || Multiply.
  
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|-
  
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| / || Divide.
  
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|-
  
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| + || Add.
  
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|-
  
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| - || Subtract.
  
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|-
  
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| . || Decimal point.
  
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|-
  
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| « || Delete the last digit entered.
  
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|-
  
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| ± || Change the sign of the current entry. Positive numbers become negative; negative numbers become positive.
  
−
|-
  
−
| = || Display the result of the operation.
  
−
|}
  
−  
−
To press a button, select the gadget with the mouse or press the corresponding key on the keyboard. You can use either the keyboard or numeric keypad keys. Return and the keypad Enter key are equivalent to the equals (=) button. The left arrow key is equivalent to the («) button.
  
−  
−
The calculator displays a message for Overflow and Divide By Zero errors.
  
−  
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Select the close gadget to exit the Calculator.
  
−  
−
==== Calculator menus ====
  
−  
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The calculator has three menus: the Project menu, the Edit menu, and the Windows menu.
  
−  
−
On the Project menu:
  
−
{| class="wikitable"
  
−
| Clear Entry || Clears the current entry only.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Clear All || Clears all entries and resets the display to zero.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Quit || Closes off the calculator.
  
−
|}
  
−  
−
On the Edit menu:
  
−
{| class="wikitable"
  
−
| Cut || Copies and clears the current entry to the Clipboard.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Copy || Copies the current entry to the Clipboard without clearing the area.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Paste || Place the current Clipboard contents into the calculator.
  
−
|}
  
−  
−
Show Tape is the only Window menu option. It displays a window showing the calculator entries and results. Show Tape can also be copied, but since it does not have a menu, use drag-select and Amiga+C to copy its contents to the Clipboard.
  
−  
−
=== CMD (Change Main Device) ===
  
−  
−
CMD directs your printer output to a file rather than to a printer, capturing output on disk.
  
−  
−
To use CMD, Tool Types must be added in the CMD icon's Information window and you must indicate where to send the printer output.
  
−  
−
The following lists the CMD Tool Types and their recognized KEYWORDS, arguments, and default settings.
  
−  
−
{| class="wikitable"
  
−
| DEVICE=<port> || The Amiga port where your printer is attached, either parallel or serial. DEVICE=parallel is the default.
  
−
|-
  
−
| FILE=<filename> || The name of the file to which the printer output is sent. FILE=ram:CMD_file is the default.
  
−
|-
  
−
| SKIP=true || Tells CMD to skip any short initial write. The first write sent to the printer may be a printer reset. You can use SKIP=true to ignore it. The default is SKIP=false (initial writes are not skipped).
  
−
|-
  
−
| MULTIPLE=true || Tells CMD to redirect more than one file. The default is MULTIPLE=false (only one file is redirected).
  
−
Tells CMD to display progress messages. When CMD intercepts the file, a typical message that may appear is as follows:<br/>Redirected <# of bytes> from parallel.device to <filename>
  
−
|-
  
−
| NOTIFY=true || After the output is sent to the file and CMD is turned off, another message may state:<br/>CMD redirection of parallel.device removed<br/>The default is NOTIFY=false (messages are not displayed).
  
−
|}
  
−  
−
To use CMD, double-click on its icon. The next time information is sent to your printer, it goes to the designated file instead.
  
−  
−
=== GraphicDump ===
  
−  
−
GraphicDump prints (or dumps) entire screens, including menus and icons, just as they appear on your monitor. Your printer must be capable of printing graphic images. (Most printers can print GraphicDump output.)
  
−  
−
Before using GraphicDump, make sure the settings in the Printer, PrinterPS, and PrinterGfx Preferences editors are appropriate for your printer. You can specify the dimensions of the printout with the Limits setting in the PrinterGfx editor. Otherwise, the printout is the full width allowed by the printer.
  
−  
−
To use GraphicDump, double-click on its icon. After a ten second delay the front-most screen image is sent to the printer. The mouse pointer is not printed.
  
−  
−
==== Tool Types ====
  
−  
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GraphicDump supports a SIZE Tool Type. The acceptable arguments for SIZE and the resulting size of the printout are:
  
−  
−
{| class="wikitable"
  
−
| SIZE=tiny || 1/4 the total width allowed by the printer.
  
−
|-
  
−
| SIZE=small || 1/2 the total width allowed by the printer.
  
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|-
  
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| SIZE=medium || 3/4 the total width allowed by the printer.
  
−
|-
  
−
| SIZE=large || Full width allowed by the printer (default).
  
−
|}
  
−  
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The height of the printout maintains the perspective of the screen. The Limits Type gadget in the PrinterGfx editor must be set to Ignore for GraphicDump, or else the size of the printout is determined by the Limits setting.
  
−  
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To set specific dimensions in a Tool Type, use:
  
−  
−
SIZE=<xdots>:<ydots>
  
−  
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Substitute the width, in number of printer dots, for the <xdots> argument and the height for the <ydots> argument.
  
−  
−
=== IconEdit ===
  
−  
−
IconEdit personalizes your Workbench by changing the appearance of existing icons and creating new ones.
  
−  
−
The window shown in Figure 10-2 appears when you open the IconEdit icon.
  
−  
−
[[File:WorkbenchFig10-2.png|frame|center|IconEdit Window]]
  
−  
−
Draw and edit icons in the magnified view box of the IconEdit window. The Normal and Selected view boxes show the icon images at actual size. Several gadgets in the window draw squares, circles, and straight lines, giving you more control over your drawing.
  
−  
−
There are three subwindows in IconEdit: the Normal and Selected view boxes and the Magnified View Box, which fills most of the window. Each of these is an AppWindow into which you can drag an icon to load it, rather than using menus. (AppWindows are described in Chapter 3.) Clicking in the Normal view box displays the selected image of the icon as long as you hold down the selection button.
  
−  
−
==== Color Selection Gadget ====
  
−  
−
The Color Selection gadget lets you select a color for drawing. In addition to the standard method for selecting a color by pointing to it and clicking the selection button, this gadget allows you to choose two-color patterns. The patterns are used with the Fill, filled Circle, and filled Box gadgets.
  
−  
−
In order to use fill patterns you need to select the first color by left-clicking on it. After that keep the Shift key depressed and select the second color. The gadget bar with the different fill patterns will change its appearance accordingly, giving a simple preview on the two-color patterns.
  
−  
−
Below the color selection gadget there is the Transparent gadget. Selecting a color from the palette and clicking on Transparent" afterward will make this color invisible" when the icon is saved to disk. Clicking on the Transparent gadget a second time using the same color will deactivate transparency.
  
−  
−
==== Magnified View Box ====
  
−  
−
Use the mouse to draw your icon in this box. Click the selection button to display a pixel of the selected color. Hold down the selection button to draw while moving the mouse.
  
−  
−
The pointer turns into cross hairs when it is in the magnified view box. The new pixels appear a the center of the cross hairs. Pixel coordinates (relative to the upper left corner) appear in the middle of the IconEdit window below the title bar to show the position of the crosshair.
  
−  
−
To load an existing icon into IconEdit, drag the icon into the magnified view box.
  
−  
−
==== Fill pattern Gadgets ====
  
−  
−
These gadgets allow you to select the fill pattern to be used with filled rectangles, filled circles and the flood fill tool.
  
−  
−
==== Freehand Gadget ====
  
−  
−
The Freehand gadget lets you quickly draw unstructured shapes. If you select this gadget and then draw in the magnified view box, the pixels fill in as the mouse passes over them. However, you may not get a continuous line and some pixels may not be filled in. Use this gadget to sketch an icon that you intend to fill in the details on later.
  
−  
−
==== Continuous Freehand Gadget ====
  
−  
−
The Continuous Freehand gadget is similar to the freehand gadget, except that it produces a continuous line. When drawing continuous lines, there is a delay before the display catches up with your movement.
  
−  
−
==== Circle Gadget ====
  
−  
−
To draw a circle or oval:
  
−  
−
# Select the circle gadget.
  
−
# Point inside the magnified box at the point where you want the center of the circle, hold down the selection button, and move the mouse.
  
−
# Release the selection button when you reach the correct size and shape.
  
−  
−
If you keep the Shift key depressed while drawing the circle, a true circle, rather than an ellipse, will be drawn.
 
−  
−
==== Filled Circle Gadget ====
  
−  
−
Follow the steps for drawing normal circles to draw a filled circle or ellipse, using the current fill pattern.
  
−  
−
==== Box Gadget ====
  
−  
−
To draw a box:
  
−  
−
# Select the box gadget.
  
−
# Point inside the magnified boy at the point where you want a corner of the box, hold down the selection button, and move the mouse.
  
−
# Release the selection button when the box is the correct size and shape.
 
−  
−
If you keep the Shift key depressed while drawing the box, a true square will be drawn instead.
  
−  
−
To draw a three-dimensional box, similar in appearance to the Workbench gadgets, hold down an Alt key while drawing a box outline. The left and top border of the box will then be drawn using the current color while the right and bottom borders will be drawn using the color currently selected as the second color for fill patterns.
  
−  
−
==== Filled Box Gadget ====
  
−  
−
Follow the steps for drawing a normal box in order to draw a filled box or square using the current fill pattern.
  
−  
−
==== Line Gadget ====
  
−  
−
To draw a straight line:
  
−  
−
# Select the line gadget.
  
−
# Position the mouse where you want the line to start.
  
−
# Hold down the selection button.
  
−
# Move the mouse to the line ending position.
  
−
# Release the selection button.
 
−  
−
==== Fill Gadget ====
  
−  
−
Use the fill gadget to fill an area of the magnified view box with the selected color. Select the fill gadget, then click within the area you want to change to the same color as the dot under the crosshair.
  
−  
−
{{Note|The fill gadget does not fill a patterned area. However, solid areas can be filled with one of the fill patterns, if selected.}}
  
−  
−
==== Undo ====
  
−  
−
Select Undo to cancel the last mouse action performed in the magnified view box. Undo acts as a toggle switch; selecting it again undoes the Undo.
  
−  
−
==== Redo ====
  
−  
−
Select Redo to cancel the last undo action, effectively restoring the state the magnified view box was in before calling undo.
  
−  
−
==== Clear ====
  
−  
−
Select the Clear gadget to erase the contents of the magnified view box. The magnified view box fills with the currently selected color.
  
−  
−
==== Normal/Selected Radio Buttons ====
  
−  
−
The Normal and Selected radio buttons switch between unselected and selected images for an icon. The normal image is how an unselected icon looks. The selected image is how a dual-image icon looks after you have clicked on it.
  
−  
−
When the Normal radio button is selected, any image drawn in the magnified view box appears in the normal view box at the top of the window.
  
−  
−
When the Selected radio button is used, you can create the image that appears when the icon is selected. You can only use this radio button when the Image menu item is chosen from the Highlight menu. Any image created appears in the selected view box.
  
−  
−
==== Arrows ====
  
−  
−
The arrows let you shift your image. Clicking on an arrow moves the image in the magnified view in the direction of the arrow. Use these arrows to control the placement of your image within the box surrounding the finished icon.
  
−  
−
{{Note|Any part of the image that is moved off the edge of the magnified view box is lost.}}
  
−  
−
Keyboard shortcut: Press the corresponding arrow key to move the image.
  
−  
−
==== Project Menu ====
  
−  
−
The items in the Project menu let you open and save icon files.
  
−  
−
{| class="wikitable"
  
−
| New || Loads the default icon for the currently chosen type of icon. (The type of icon is determined by the Type menu.) Any changes in the window that have not been saved produce a requester asking if you want to save them.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Open || Opens an existing icon file. A requester appears for entering the name of the file. Only the names of drawers and .info files appear in the IconEdit Open file requester.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Revert || Restores the icon to the state it was in when it was last saved to disk, removing all changes that had been made since then. If the icon has not been previously saved, this menu item will be ghosted.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Save || Saves an existing icon file, overwriting any file with the same name. In this case the previous icon is lost.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Save As || Allows you to specify a file name for saving the current image. A requester lets you enter the destination for the edited icon. Use Save As to prevent overwriting an existing icon file.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Save As Default Icon || Saves the current image as the default icon for the currently selected icon type. This image is used for any new icon or pseudo-icon of that type created, including those made with the New menu item in the IconEdit Project menu.<br/>For example, if you create a drawer icon and then choose Save As Default Icon, that icon is used to represent drawers when you choose the Show All Files menu item.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Quit || Exits the IconEdit program. If you have not saved the current image, a requester asks if you want to save the image before exiting IconEdit.
 
−
|}
  
−  
−
==== Edit Menu ====
  
−  
−
The items in the Edit menu allow you to use the Amiga`s Clipboard to import IFF ILBM clips that were created with other programs.
  
−  
−
{| class="wikitable"
  
−
| Cut || Deletes the image in the magnified view box and copies it to the Clipboard.
  
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|-
  
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| Copy || Copies the image in the magnified view box to the Clipboard.
  
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|-
  
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| Paste || Copies any image in the Clipboard to the magnified view box, replacing the current contents.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Erase || Erases any image in the magnified view box. You can erase everything or save before erasing.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Undo || Has the same function as the corresponding gadget.
  
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|-
  
−
| Redo || Has the same function as the corresponding gadget.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Open Clip || Copies an existing IFF file into the Clipboard. A requester asks for the name of the file to open. You can then Paste the file into IconEdit.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Save Clip As || Saves the current contents in the Clipboard to a specified file.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Show Clip || Displays the current contents in the Clipboard using the MultiView program. If the MultiView program is unavailable, Show Clip cannot work.
 
−
|}
  
−  
−
==== Type Menu ====
  
−  
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The items in the Type menu let you specify the type of icon changed or created.
  
−  
−
{| class="wikitable"
  
−
| Disk || Represents the disk icons appearing in the Workbench window.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Drawer || Represents the drawer icons appearing in a disk window, such as the Utilities or Tools drawer.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Tool || Represents a tool, such as the Calculator, Clock, or IconEdit program.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Project || Represents a project, a file that has been created by a tool, such as any of the icons in the drawers of the Storage directory.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Garbage || Represents the Trashcan drawer.
 
−
|}
  
−  
−
==== Highlight Menu ====
  
−  
−
The items in the Highlight menu let you determine how an icon appears when it is selected.
  
−  
−
{| class="wikitable"
  
−
| Complement || Highlights the entire icon, including the background of the box surrounding the icon. For example, if you are using the default Workbench colors and the icon is surrounding by a field of grey, the grey becomes blue when the icon is selected. This option is only available in old icons" mode.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Backfill || Highlights the icon, but not the background of the box. For example, if you are using the default Workbench colors and the icon is surrounded by a field of grey, the grey remains the same when the icon is selected. This option is also only available in old icon" mode.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Image || Allows an entirely different image for the selected icon (a dual image icon). For example, the drawer icons on the Workbench are dual image. When you select a drawer, a new image of an open drawer appears.
 
−
|}
  
−  
−
==== Images Menu ====
  
−  
−
The items in the Images menu let you manipulate the images in the normal and selected view boxes and import IFF images created with other graphics programs.
  
−  
−
{| class="wikitable"
  
−
| Exchange || Swaps the images that appear in the normal view and the selected view.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Copy || Copy is dependent on the selected radio button. If Normal is used, the image in the normal view is copied to the selected view. If Selected is used, the image in the selected view is copied to the normal view.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Use Template || Loads a template icon into the magnified view box on which you can use as the foundation for creating a new icon.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Darken || The icon's colors will be darkened.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Load || Loads previously saved images, without changing the name of the icon being edited. When you point to the Load menu item, a submenu (described below) appears.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Save Image || Saves an image as a standard IFF ILBM brush, rather than an icon.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Restore || Returns the IconEdit window to its state prior to opening the window or selecting New or Open.
 
−
|}
  
−  
−
The available Load submenu items are:
  
−  
−
{| class="wikitable"
  
−
| Image || Allows you to load an image data type file created by another program as either the normal or selected view, depending on which radio button is selected.<br/>When you choose an item from the submenu, a requester asks you to specify the file to be loaded. You must specify the correct drawer and file name.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Normal Image || Loads the unselected image of the specified icon into the normal or selected view box, depending on which radio button is selected. (This is equivalent to dragging an icon into one of the boxes.)
  
−
|-
  
−
| Selected Image || Loads the selected image of the specified icon into the normal or selected view box, depending on which radio button is selected.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Both Images || Loads both the normal and selected images of the specified icon into the appropriate view boxes.
 
−
|}
  
−  
−
==== Extras Menu ====
  
−  
−
The items in the Extras menu control additional convenience features of IconEdit.
  
−  
−
{| class="wikitable"
  
−
| Larger Sketchboard || Increases the drawing area IconEdit provides. Any existing elemens will retain their distance to the top and left edges of the sketchboard.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Smaller Sketchboard || Decreases the drawing area IconEdit provides, removing space from the bottom and the left of the sketchboard. If this would result in the image being truncated, IconEdit will ask for confirmation before cropping the image.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Minimal Sketchboard || Decreases the drawing area IconEdit provides, to the effect that all blank space to the right and bottom of the current image will be removed.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Auto TopLeft || Moves the image to the upper left corner of the magnified view box.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Add Glow || Automatically adds a glow effect to the icons, just like the standard OS3.5 icons have.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Borderless || If this menu item is active, the icon will be saved and displayed without a border, regardless of the global border settings from the Workbench preferences.
 
−
|}
  
−  
−
==== Settings Menu ====
  
−  
−
The items in the Settings menu allow you to save various IconEdit options.
  
−  
−
{| class="wikitable"
  
−
| Use Grid? || Use Grid? Displays each pixel in the magnified view box distinctly, with the background color surrounding it. When Use Grid? Is not chosen, the pixels blend together smoothly. The default is for the grid to be on.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Save Optimized? || Choosing this option will cause the transparency color to be assigned the color number zero (if possible) and remove all colors from the icon`s palette that are not actually used.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Create Icons? || Create Icons? Saves an icon for the IFF brush file created by the Save Image menu option. If Create Icons? Is not chosen, no icon is saved. The default is for icons to be saved.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Slider Color Model || This submenu controls whether the RGB or HSB color model will be used for the color sliders.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Save Settings || Save Settings saves all of the current IconEdit settings, including the size and position of the IconEdit window, the file requesters, and all of the menu item settings.
 
−
|}
  
−  
−
==== Tool Types ====
  
−  
−
IconEdit supports the following Tool Types:
  
−  
−
{| class="wikitable"
  
−
| PUBSCREEN || Names the public screen on which IconEdit is supposed to open its window.
  
−
|-
  
−
| TEMPLATE || Path to the icons to be loaded when calling the Use Template" menu item.
  
−
|-
  
−
| HSB || Use the HSB color model for the color sliders.
  
−
|-
  
−
| OPTIMIZE || Optimize the icon palette when saving icons.
  
−
|-
  
−
| CLIPUNIT=<n> || Specifies the Clipboard unit to use. The default is 0.
  
−
|-
  
−
| XMAG=<n> || Enlarges the width of the magnified view box. XMAG accepts a number from 4 to 16. The default is 4.
  
−
|-
  
−
| YMAG=<n> || Enlarges the height of the magnified view box. YMAG accepts a number from 4 to 16. The default is 4.
  
−
|-
  
−
| LEFTEDGE=<n> || Specifies where to place the left edge of the editor window.
  
−
|-
  
−
| TOPEDGE=<n> || Specifies where to place the top edge of the editor window.
  
−
|-
  
−
| SHOWCLIP=<path> || Specifies the complete path to the utility used to display the Clipboard. The default is SYS:Utilities/MultiView.
  
−
|-
  
−
| NOICONS || Disable the ability to create icons when saving support files, such as when saving a file as an IFF brush.
  
−
|-
  
−
| NOGRID || Disables the use of the grid in the magnified view box.
  
−
|-
  
−
| ICONDRAWER=<path> || Specifies the default drawer used by the file requesters that appear when the Open and Save As menu items in the Project menu are chosen.
  
−
|-
  
−
| ILBMDRAWER=<path> || Specifies the default drawer used by the file requesters that appear when the Load and Save menu items in the Images menu are chosen.
  
−
|-
  
−
| CLIPDRAWER=<path> || Specifies the default drawer used by the file requesters that appear when the Open Clip and Save As Clip menu items in the Edit menu are chosen.
  
−
|-
  
−
| ALTDRAWER=<path> || Specifies the default drawer used by the file requesters that appear when the Load menu item in the Images menu is chosen.
 
−
|}
  
−  
−
=== IntiPrinter ===
  
−  
−
IntiPrinter sends the printer options specified in the Printer and PrinterGfx Preferences editors to the printer. It initializes your printer and loads it with the new or changed specifications when you turn on the printer and double-click on the InitPrinter icon.
  
−  
−
Your printer resets automatically when it receives and processes initialization information on first access during a session. If you turn the printer off, you might need to use InitPrinter to reinitialize it.
  
−  
−
=== KeyShow ===
  
−  
−
The KeyShow program shows the current keyboard type layout on your Amiga. Opening the KeyShow icon displays the keyboard layout as selected in the Input Preferences editor. The default American keyboard layout is illustrated in Figure 10-3.
  
−  
−
[[File:WorkbenchFig10-3.png|frame|center|Default KeyShow Window]]
  
−  
−
The initial display shows the characters that appear when a single key is pressed. For example, the Q key shows a lower case q. However, when you press a qualifier key with a character key, you can get different output. For KeyShow the acceptable qualifier keys are Ctrl, Shift and both Alt keys.
  
−  
−
To see the characters that are output when a qualifier key is pressed simultaneously with a character key:
  
−  
−
# Select any of the qualifier keys that appear in the KeyShow window. That qualifier key is highlighted.
  
−
# The KeyShow display changes to indicate the output that you get if you press the selected qualifier key along with a character key. You can select any combination of qualifiers and the display changes accordingly.
  
−
# Select the qualifier key again to return it to its unpressed state.
 
−  
−
Keyboard shortcut: Instead of pointing to the qualifier key in the display, you can press the corresponding key on the keyboard. The following list is a guide to interpreting the KeyShow display:
  
−  
−
* Qualifier keys not currently pressed are shown in the Workbench background color (normally grey). For example, when you first open the KeyShow window, Ctrl, Shift, and Alt appear in grey. This is because KeyShow is not using those keys in the initial display.
  
−
* Dead keys are shown in the Workbench highlight color (normally blue). A dead key is one that, in combination with an Alt key, modifies the output of the key pressed immediately afterward. For example, on the USA keyboard, the Alt+G combination is a dead key representing the grave accent. If you press Alt+G, then press E, you superimpose the accent symbol over the e (è).
  
−
* Bold-italics indicate that a key can be used in conjunction with a dead key. In the previous example, E can be modified by a dead key. However, not all bold-italic keys are affected by all dead keys. For example, n responds only to the Alt+J dead key. The final character must exist in the Amiga character set to be available through a dead key.
  
−
* $$ indicates that it takes more than one character to define the key.
  
−
* If a character is preceded by a tilde (~) or a caret (^), it is a control character.
  
−
* Blank keys are undefined for the currently selected qualifiers.
  
−  
−
=== Lacer ===
  
   
 
The Lacer program only works when a genlock device is attached to your Amiga. It toggles the display between interlaced and non-interlaced mode. This is used primarily for video recording and genlocking by allowing the Amiga to provide the interlaced input required by video devices.
  
The Lacer program only works when a genlock device is attached to your Amiga. It toggles the display between interlaced and non-interlaced mode. This is used primarily for video recording and genlocking by allowing the Amiga to provide the interlaced input required by video devices.
   
−
=== MEmacs ===
 +
=== PrepCard (Classic Only) ===
   
  +
The PrepCard utility is used for preparing PCMCIA credit card-size memory cards. It runs only on Amiga models equipped with a PCMCIA card slot. PCMCIA is the organization that sets the standards for memory card slot devices.
−
MEmacs (MicroEmacs) is a screen-oriented text editor. A text editor works the same as a word processor, but it does not support style formatting options. MEmacs is described in detail in the AmigaDOS User's Guide .
  
   
  +
PrepCard prepares static RAM cards either as a disk device or as system RAM according to PCMCIA standards. A card prepared as a disk can be used like a floppy disk: you can read from and write to the card just as you normally do from applications, the Workbench, or the Shell. Because the card's memory is battery-backed, the contents of the card remain when you remove the card or turn off the Amiga. Read and write operations using memory cards are very fast.
−
=== Mounter ===
  
   
  +
When prepared as system RAM, the card memory is added to the other memory in the Amiga, as if additional memory were installed internally. Cards are available in many sizes: from 64 KB to over a megabyte.
−
Mounter is an interactive partition mount tool. It operates on devices that support the RDB (Rigid Disk Block) organization data structures which define which and which size partitions are assigned to a storage medium.
  
   
  +
Open the PrepCard window by double-clicking its icon. If a card is inserted, its size and other information are displayed. The message FAILED in the Battery display box indicates that the card's battery has run down and must be replaced before the card can be used.
−
Mounter can be started both from Shell and from the Workbench. In both cases the same parameters can be used. The only difference between them is that for the Workbench, you would need to specify the parameters as tool types.
  
   
  +
You can use PrepCard to prepare cards that are new (unformatted) or that have been previously prepared as disk or RAM.
−
Supported parameters
  
   
  +
# Select the appropriate gadget, either Prepare as DISK or Prepare as System RAM. A warning requester appears, reminding you that any information currently on the card will be erased if you continue.
−
; DEVICE/K
  
  +
# Select Continue to prepare the card or Cancel to return to the PrepCard window. Preparation takes only a few seconds.
−
: Example :
  
  +
# Select Quit to exit when you are finished with PrepCard. An icon for a card you have prepared as a disk immediately appears, labeled Empty.
−
DEVICE=2ndscsi.device Default: DEVICE=scsi.device
  
   
  +
{{Note|Preparation does not continue if the card is write-protected. You can flip the write-protect switch to make it write-enabled without removing the card from the card slot.}}
−
: This specifies the device driver to query for partition information. Not all device drivers are supported. Commonly, you would use this tool only on hard disk drives.
  
   
  +
You can work with the card disk as a normal disk, rename it, and reformat it with the Workbench Format program. A card disk is device CC0:
−
; UNIT/N
  
−
: Example:
  
−
UNIT=0 Default: - (No unit specified)
  
   
  +
To use the memory on a card prepared as system RAM, you must reboot. (The card must be write-enabled and inserted when you boot or reboot for its memory to be added to the Amiga's RAM.) Card memory is added to Fast (other) memory.
−
: If the UNIT parameter is omitted, Mounter will open a window and query unit numbers 0-6 for attached devices, prompting you to choose a device to examine for partition data. However, if you specify a unit number, it indicates that you want all the partitions on that device to be mounted.
  
   
  +
PrepCard has an Advanced Settings window listed on the menu. This window allows a variety of low level card configuration parameters to be altered from the default settings for diagnostic purposes.
−
; PARTITIONS/M
  
−
: Example:
  
−
PARTITIONS=HD0:|HD1:|HD2: (Workbench only) PARTITIONS HD0: HD1: HD2: (Shell only) Default: - (No partitions specified)
  
   
  +
{{Note|Only those with sufficient technical knowledge should change the default settings in the Advanced Settings window. Improper settings do not harm the card or the Amiga, but it can keep the card from functioning properly.}}
−
: This parameter works in conjunction with the UNIT parameter. Instead of mounting all partitions on the specified unit, you choose which partitions exactly should be mounted.
  
−  
−
; NOUNMOUNT/S
  
−
: Example:
  
−
NOUNMOUNT Default: - (Partitions with the same name will be unmounted)
  
−  
−
: If the Mounter tool detects that there is already a partition by the name of a new partition to be mounted, its default action will be to umount the existing partition. This can be undesirable, which is why the NOUNMOUNT parameter can be used to tell Mounter to add the new partition under a new name. The new partition name is created by adding a number to its name. For example, if the partition HD0: would already exist, the new partition would be mounted under the name of HD0.1:. If HD0.1: already exists, HD0.2: would be used, and so on.
  
−  
−
; NOREMOUNT/S
  
−
: Example:
  
−
NOREMOUNT Default: - (Always mount a partition, even if there already is a partition mounted by the same name)
  
−  
−
: This option tells Mounter not to attempt to mount partitions again if they have already been mounted. For example, if you want Mounter to mount the partition DH0:" if, and only if, it has not already been mounted, you would start the program with the options NOUNMOUNT and NOREMOUNT. This will tell Mounter not to unmount an already existing partition (NOUNMOUNT) and not to attempt to mount the partition if its name is already in use (NOREMOUNT).
  
−  
−
; QUIET/S
  
−
: Example:
  
−
QUIET Default: - (Mounter will show a progress report of its actions)
  
−  
−
: When Mounter mounts or unmounts partitions, it will show briefly what it is currently doing. The reports (except for error messages) can be be disabled with the QUIET parameter.
  
−  
−
; MASK/K
  
−
: Example:
  
−
MASK=0x7FFFFFFC Default: - (No special transfer mask)
  
−  
−
: This parameter corresponds to the MASK option associated with a mount list. By default, Mounter will use whatever transfer mask value is associated with the partition data it finds on the disk. If you provide a mask parameter, that parameter will be used instead of the partition`s transfer mask value when the partition is mounted.
  
−  
−
; QUERY/S
  
−
: Example:
  
−
QUERY (NOTE: Shell only parameter) Default: - (Do not print the queried information)
  
−  
−
: This parameter will print the same information that would be shown in the graphical user interface in the Shell window.
  
−  
−
; PUBSCREEN/K
  
−
: Example:
  
−
PUBSCREEN=Workbench Default: - (Use the default public screen)
  
−  
−
: This parameter tells Mounter to opens its graphical user interface on the named public screen. If the named public screen cannot be found, the user interface will fall back to open on the default public screen.
  
−  
−
; CX_PRIORITY/N/K
  
−
; CX_POPKEY/K
  
−
; CX_POPUP/K
  
−
: Example:
  
−
CX_PRIORITY=1
  
−
CX_POPKEY=Control
  
−
Help CX_POPUP=No
  
−  
−
: Default:
  
−
CX_PRIORITY=0
  
−
CX_POPKEY=Alt Shift F10
  
−
CX_POPUP=YES
  
−  
−
: These are the standard Commodities tool control variables which determine Mounter`s hot key and whether the program should open its display upon startup.
  
−  
−
==== The graphical user interface ====
  
−  
−
Mounter will display a list of devices attached to the driver you specified.
  
−  
−
If no device responds to the query, you will see the text <No device present>" following the unit number. Otherwise, you will see a list of device parameters:
  
−  
−
{| class="wikitable"
  
−
| Vendor || Name of the device manufacturer
  
−
|-
  
−
| Product || Name of the device
  
−
|-
  
−
| Rev || Revision of the device
  
−
|-
  
−
| Size || Size of the storage media, if available.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Type || Type of the device, such as Disk drive" or CD-ROM drive".
  
−
|-
  
−
| Media || Type of storage media, if available.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Status || This indicates whether the device can be accessed and used. For devices with removable media, you will see not ready" if there is currently no media inserted.
  
−
|}
  
−  
−
Below this list there are three buttons: "Mount...", "Update" and "Hide". To close the window, either click on the window close gadget or hit the Hide" button. To reread the list of devices corresponding to the device driver you chose, hit the "Update" button. To examine a device for partition tables, first select it from the list, then hit the "Mount..." button (a double-click on the list entry will have the same effect).
  
−  
−
After hitting the "Mount..." button, Mounter will check the partitions on the given device. If a partition table is found, it will be presented to you in a new list, like this:
  
−  
−
{| class="wikitable"
  
−
! Partition name !! Size !! File system type
  
−
|-
  
−
| WB_2.X || 20M || DOS\1
  
−
|-
  
−
| HD0 || 500M || DOS\3
  
−
|-
  
−
| HD1 || 500M || DOS\3
  
−
|}
  
−  
−
In this list, partitions which are not currently mounted will be highlighted. To change the highlighting, hold down any [Shift] key and click on an entry. To mount all highlighted partitions, hit the Mount" button located in the lower left corner of the window.
  
−  
−
=== PlayCD ===
  
−  
−
PlayCD acts as a user interface for the audio CD playback functionality offered by a CD-ROM drive. The CD-ROM drive in question must comply to the SCSI-2 standard and thus support at least a subset of the audio control commands defined for CD-ROM drives.
  
−  
−
==== Starting the program ====
  
−  
−
When the program is launched, it will attempt to configure itself. This involves figuring out which device driver and which device unit to use for audio playback. This information is usually stored in the program's icon, but it can also provided on the command line. The names of the command line options and the tool types are the same. The following options are supported:
  
−  
−
; DOSDEV
  
−
: If there already is a filing system mounted on the CD-ROM drive to use for audio playback, the easiest way to tell PlayCD which device it should use is to provide that filing system's name. PlayCD will try to figure out which device and unit that filing system is bound to and use the resulting information.
  
−
: Example:
  
−
PlayCD CD0:
  
−
PlayCD dosdev CD2:
  
−  
−
{{Note|That this type of configuration may not work with all CD-ROM filing systems.}}
  
−  
−
; DEVICE
  
−
: Use this option to provide the name of the device driver the CD-ROM drive to use for playback responds to.
  
−  
−
: Example:
  
−
PlayCD device=scsi.device
  
−  
−
: Default for this option is "scsi.device" .
  
−  
−
; UNIT
  
−
: This option works in conjunction with the "DEVICE" parameter. Both the device name and the unit number specified define the interface the PlayCD program should use to address the CD-ROM drive.
  
−  
−
: Example:
  
−
PlayCD unit=5
  
−  
−
: Default for this option is "2".
  
−  
−
; SKIP
  
−
: The PlayCD user interface sports a slider which controls and displays the current play index. Attached to this slider are two buttons which perform fast forward" and rewind" functionality. Pressign any of these two buttons will cause playback to skip a few seconds. The SKIP" option is for configuring the number of seconds to skip.
  
−  
−
: Example:
  
−
PlayCD skip=2
  
−  
−
: Default for this option is 1", i.e. clicking on the buttons will skip one second each.
  
−  
−
; PEEKTIME
  
−
: PlayCD queries the CD-ROM drive in regular intervals to find out whether the CD was changed or how far playback has progressed. The length of these intervals is configured with the PEEKTIME" option. The peek time is specified in microseconds, i.e. one millionth part of a second.
  
−  
−
: Example:
  
−
PlayCD peektime=500000
  
−  
−
: Default for this option is 200000", i.e. one fifth of a second.
  
−  
−
; PUBSCREEN
  
−
: PlayCD can be made to open its display on a named public screen. If the named screen does not exist, it will fall back to opening its display on the default public screen, such as the Workbench screen.
  
−  
−
: Example:
  
−
PlayCD pubscreen=my.public.screen
  
−  
−
: There is no default for this option. Default behaviour for PlayCD is to open its display on the default public screen which in most cases will be the Workbench screen.
  
−  
−
; BUFMEMTYPE
  
−
: PlayCD depends upon the controller hardware the CD-ROM drive is attached to to deliver its commands properly. This may sometimes require that the command data structures are passed in a particular type of memory which the controller hardware has easy access to. In most cases you will not need to change this option, but if the CD-ROM drive is correctly configured, does support the SCSI-2 command set and still does not react to PlayCD`s commands, then it might be necessary to specify a different buffer memory type.
  
−  
−
: Example:
  
−
PlayCD bufmemtype=2
  
−
PlayCD bufmemtype=512
  
−  
−
: Default for this option is 0", which specifies no particular type of memory to use for interacting with the controller hardware.
  
−  
−
==== The user interface ====
  
−  
−
If properly configured, PlayCD will open a window which contains the following controls (left to right):
  
−  
−
{| class="wikitable"
  
−
| Track display || Here you will find information about the current audio track and the playback status. The first line displays the track information, the second line indicates how much time has passed with regard to length of the current track and the entire CD.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Track position (below the track display) || This slider displays the current track position. It can also be used to change the current track position.
  
−
| [Shift]+[Cursor left] and [Shift]+[Cursor right] keys
  
−
|-
  
−
| Track selection || This is a set of 32 buttons, each one corresponding to one of the tracks of the audio CD. Click a button to make the corresponding audio track the current track. If playback is currently in progress, playback will proceed with the selected track.
  
−
| Any number entered, e.g. entering the two digits 1 and 2 in quick succession will pick track 12.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Volume
  
−
| This is a vertical slider whose current setting corresponds to the sound playback volume. At the top position, playback volume is loudest.
  
−
| + and - keys
  
−
|-
  
−
| Eject (below the Track position slider)
  
−
| Press this button to eject/load the CD in the drive. For technical reasons, you may need to press this button more than once to load a CD.
  
−
| [F1] and [Backspace] keys
  
−
|-
  
−
| Stop
  
−
| Press this button to stop playback.
  
−
| [F2] and [Cursor up] keys.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Pause
  
−
| Press this button to suspend/resume playback.
  
−
| [F3] and [Space] keys
  
−
|-
  
−
| Previous track
  
−
| Press this button to skip back to the beginning of the previous track.
  
−
| [F4] and [Cursor left] keys
  
−
|-
  
−
| Play
  
−
| Press this button to begin playback.
  
−
| [F5] and [Cursor down] keys
  
−
|-
  
−
| Next track
  
−
| Press this button to skip forward to the beginning of the next track.
  
−
| [F6] and [Cursor right] keys
  
−
|-
  
−
| Shuffle
  
−
| Press this button to set up a play list which contains all CD titles in random order. Playback will step through this list, playing each title once. To return to the regular play list which plays each title in the order the tracks were recorded in, press the Stop" button.
  
−
| [F7] key
  
−
|-
  
−
| Playback mode
  
−
| This button selects a playback mode; it can be one of the following:
  
−
{| class="wikitable"
  
−
| Continue
  
−
| This is the default playback mode. If you pick a track to play, it will be played along with all tracks to follow it until the last track on the CD is played. Clicking one of the track buttons in the track selection table will make the respective track the current track".
  
−
|-
  
−
| Program
  
−
| In this mode every track number entered or clicked on will cause a new entry to be added to the play list. To play back the list, click the Play" button.
  
−
|-
  
−
| Track
  
−
| In this mode playback will be restricted to the currently selected track. This means, for example, that if a track has been played to the end, playback will stop instead of proceeding to the next track.
  
−
| [F8] key
  
−
|-
  
−
| Repeat
  
−
| This switch controls whether playback will stop when the end of the play list has been reached or whether playback will restart with the first list entry.
  
−
| [F9] key
  
−
|}
  
−
|-
  
−
| Message list (below the Eject button)
  
−
| This is where helpful progress reports and error messages are displayed. For example, if you picked a track by entering its number, you will see a notice confirming your input.
  
−
|}
  
   
  +
When using PCMCIA cards, note the following:
−
==== Stopping the program ====
  
   
  +
* PrepCard does not run if a card is currently in use as RAM. To run PrepCard again on a card prepared as RAM, insert the card after booting.
−
Once the PlayCD program is running, you can stop it by clicking on the window close gadget or by one of the keyboard equivalents [Esc] or [Ctrl]+\.
  
  +
* Removing a card that is currently in use as RAM immediately reboots the Amiga.
  +
* Do not write-protect a card while it is in use as RAM; this causes the Amiga to lock up, requiring you to reboot.
  +
* The PCMCIA card slot is disabled when Fast RAM is configured to more than 4MB.

Latest revision as of 17:08, 31 January 2021

This chapter describes the programs found in the Tools and Utilities drawers.

Tools Drawer

The Tools drawer window, illustrated in Figure 10-1, contains numerous utility programs that, for example, expand your printing options, prepare memory cards for use, define new keys, and create new icons.

Tools Window

The following programs are found in the Utilities drawer:

Lacer Turns video interlace on and off. (Classic Only)
PrepCard Prepares PCMCIA memory cards for use on systems with a PCMCIA slot. (Classic Only)

Lacer (Classic Only)

The Lacer program only works when a genlock device is attached to your Amiga. It toggles the display between interlaced and non-interlaced mode. This is used primarily for video recording and genlocking by allowing the Amiga to provide the interlaced input required by video devices.

PrepCard (Classic Only)

The PrepCard utility is used for preparing PCMCIA credit card-size memory cards. It runs only on Amiga models equipped with a PCMCIA card slot. PCMCIA is the organization that sets the standards for memory card slot devices.

PrepCard prepares static RAM cards either as a disk device or as system RAM according to PCMCIA standards. A card prepared as a disk can be used like a floppy disk: you can read from and write to the card just as you normally do from applications, the Workbench, or the Shell. Because the card's memory is battery-backed, the contents of the card remain when you remove the card or turn off the Amiga. Read and write operations using memory cards are very fast.

When prepared as system RAM, the card memory is added to the other memory in the Amiga, as if additional memory were installed internally. Cards are available in many sizes: from 64 KB to over a megabyte.

Open the PrepCard window by double-clicking its icon. If a card is inserted, its size and other information are displayed. The message FAILED in the Battery display box indicates that the card's battery has run down and must be replaced before the card can be used.

You can use PrepCard to prepare cards that are new (unformatted) or that have been previously prepared as disk or RAM.

  1. Select the appropriate gadget, either Prepare as DISK or Prepare as System RAM. A warning requester appears, reminding you that any information currently on the card will be erased if you continue.
  2. Select Continue to prepare the card or Cancel to return to the PrepCard window. Preparation takes only a few seconds.
  3. Select Quit to exit when you are finished with PrepCard. An icon for a card you have prepared as a disk immediately appears, labeled Empty.
Note
Preparation does not continue if the card is write-protected. You can flip the write-protect switch to make it write-enabled without removing the card from the card slot.

You can work with the card disk as a normal disk, rename it, and reformat it with the Workbench Format program. A card disk is device CC0:

To use the memory on a card prepared as system RAM, you must reboot. (The card must be write-enabled and inserted when you boot or reboot for its memory to be added to the Amiga's RAM.) Card memory is added to Fast (other) memory.

PrepCard has an Advanced Settings window listed on the menu. This window allows a variety of low level card configuration parameters to be altered from the default settings for diagnostic purposes.

Note
Only those with sufficient technical knowledge should change the default settings in the Advanced Settings window. Improper settings do not harm the card or the Amiga, but it can keep the card from functioning properly.

When using PCMCIA cards, note the following:

  • PrepCard does not run if a card is currently in use as RAM. To run PrepCard again on a card prepared as RAM, insert the card after booting.
  • Removing a card that is currently in use as RAM immediately reboots the Amiga.
  • Do not write-protect a card while it is in use as RAM; this causes the Amiga to lock up, requiring you to reboot.
  • The PCMCIA card slot is disabled when Fast RAM is configured to more than 4MB.
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