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-FileUsing MagXDesk MGFORMAT.PRGUsing Kobold with ThingExtra - Configuration... (System) Thing
This page sets some Thing start options and the optional external Find,
Format and some other programs.
Unload Thing on starting programs (overlay): If this is set (crossed)
then before starting a program Thing is removed from memory, freeing up
extra memory for the program itself to use, and the program is started by
the small ThingRun utility;this remains memory resident, ready to take
over and reload Thing on exiting the program.
This option is now also available under multitasking OSs. However,
problems are likely to arise with the AV Protocol as the AV-server is
suddenly no longer active and with MultiTOS etc. can quite easily have a
different application-ID after a 'revival', causing AV clients to send
their messages to the wrong program.
In addition, under MultiTOS, N.AES prior to version 1.1.7, Geneva etc.
Thing can no longer be started as a system shell, which -- depending on
the OS -- can result in more or less visible redraw errors, although
this has no negative effects on the actual operation.
Wait for keypress after TOS/TTP programs: If this option is set (crossed)
Thing waits for a keypress after exiting a TOS/TTP program i.e. before
the Console window is closed, or before the desktop is set up again.
Note! This option does not affect behaviour under VT52, MINIWIN or
TOSWIN.
Accept *.ACX, *.PRX as executable programs: If this option is set (crossed)
disabled files with the extender 'ACX' are treated as desk accessories,
and similarly files with a 'PRX' file extender are treated as GEM
programs. If eCPX support is active (crossed) -- see next option -- then
files with the extenders 'CPZ' and 'EPZ' are handled as if these were
CPX and EPX respectively.
eCPX support: With this option set, if Freedom 2 or Space by Christian
Grunenberg is installed then CPX modules ('*.CPX' and '*.EPX') can be
started as GEM applications in Thing (and even run in parallel under
Single-TOS -- even if the modules have to be loaded first!).
Ask before running or installing accessories as programs: Some, but not
all, desk accessories can be run as programs. If this option is set
(crossed) Thing displays an alert before attempting to launch a desk
accessory as a program. If this option is deselected (uncrossed) the
alert is not displayed and Thing will try to launch all accessories as
programs without asking first.
This option also affects Thing's behaviour when an accessory is not
running yet but can be installed later under the OS in use.
'Empty' VA_STARTS sent to applications as well: With this option active
(crossed), a running application that understands the AV Protocol will
receive a 'VA_START' message even if no parameters have been passed,
perhaps because the user has double-clicked the program icon. However,
some programs (not desk accessories, which are therefore not affected by
this option) can not tolerate 'VA_START' messages without parameters and
crash, so one should perform some tests before switching on this option
permanently.
'Delete' using [Delete] key functions: If this option is set, objects
can be deleted using just the Delete key in addition to the safer
Shift + Delete key combination.
Windows bottomed before closing (MagiC fix): If this option is set,
Thing windows are bottomed (sent to back) before closing them, which
avoids a MagiC bug. For example, after calling the Thing font selector
a different Thing window may be topped by MagiC (not by Thing!).
Unfortunately in such special cases one can not avoid the menu bar not
being switched over even if no Thing window is active -- this is
definitely a MagiC problem, though this seems to have been fixed in
later versions.
External programs - Search: Select this button to call the file
selector to assign an external search program to be used when the
'Find...' entry in the 'File' menu is selected. To clear an existing
entry, clear the
filename field in the file selector, then select OK .
There are various suitable search programs available. FSearch, and
ParaFin by Hartwig zur Nieden, both support the AV Protocol and can take
advantage of Thing's advanced abilities as an AV-server. Somewhat more
modern, particularly with support for long filenames, if Finder by
Holger Weets, which also supports the AV Protocol.
External programs - Format disk: Select this button to call the file
selector to select an external Format program to be used instead of
Thing's built-in routines when the 'Format disk...' entry in the 'File'
menu is selected. To clear an existing entry clear the filename field
in the file selector, then select OK .
⇨ Using MagXDesk MGFORMAT.PRG If Kobold is set to handle format operations in the 'Copy' page, this
takes precedence over both the internal and any external formatting
program!
⇨ Using Kobold with Thing