Topic       : Documentation for Thing
Author      : Arno Welzel/Thomas Binder/TransAction
Version     : thing.hyp 1.27E (23/8/1998)
Subject     : Documentation/Shells
Nodes       : 269
Index Size  : 6336
HCP-Version : 4
Compiled on : Atari
@charset    : atarist
@lang       : 
@default    : %I
@help       : %Hilfe
@options    : +g -i -s +y +zz -t4 -d10
@width      : 75
@hostname   : THING   
View Ref-FileExtra - Applications... (General)                                     Thing

All the general settings are established in this page -- such as label, 
program file etc.

Label: A unique description for the icon on the desktop or in group 
  windows, up to 32 characters in length, may be entered; mixed upper and 
  lower case can be used. If no title is entered the filename of the 
  program is used as a label.
 
  The label 'Default application' is reserved and denotes the settings 
  that Thing uses when starting all programs that have not been installed 
  explicitly.

Program: Full path/filename of the program.

Shortcut: In this popup menu an  Alternate  + number key combination can 
  be assigned as a keyboard shortcut to launch the application. Optionally 
  (unlike starting a program using a Function key) the current selection 
  can be passed as a parameter to the application (see next item).

Use current selection: If this option is active (crossed) and a shortcut 
  for the application is defined, the current selection will be passed as
  a parameter to the program when launched via the shortcut.

Start directory: Here the directory which the program finds as the 
  current directory on starting can be set:

  ∙ Application: The same folder as the installed program. Use this option 
    for programs which can only find configuration and similar files from 
    the same directory they were launched from.

  ∙ Window: The active window is set as the start directory -- even 
    if the program is launched by opening an object in a background desktop 
    window.
 
  ∙ File: The directory of a file passed to the program is set as the 
    start directory. If more than one file is passed to the program 
    (for example via a desktop Drag&Drop operation onto the program 
    icon) the start directory of the last passed file is set as the 
    start directory.

Parameters: Command line parameters which are to be passed to the 
  application on starting. See the tip below about the use of placeholders 
  and dollar characters in this field.

Pass always: If this option is active (crossed) the parameters are passed 
  even if the program concerned is already running.


      From Version 1.25 onwards Thing also offers placeholders for the 
      command line parameters, which are then replaced at the start of 
      the program with those for the files to be passed:

      $1: Represents the first file
      $2: Represents the second file, etc.
      $1-: Represents the first and all following files
      $-2: Represents all files up to and including the second
      $1-3: Represents files one to three
      $(x): x can take one of the above forms; this special placeholder
            is needed to prevent ambiguities
            (Example: $(2)- is the second file followed by a minus sign,
            while $2- means all files from the second on)
      $$: The dollar character itself

      As soon as placeholders are used (which also includes command lines
      with '$$', as single dollar characters now have to be doubled up to 
      prevent ambiguities), Thing only passes those files that have been 
      referenced by the command line. From this it follows that an old 
      command line '$view' must now be replaced with '$$view $1-' to have 
      the same effect.