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-FileIntroduction: Auto-locator                                            Thing

Finding individual objects in directory windows containing hundreds of
files and folders can be tedious. Thing offers an 'auto-locator' to make 
this task easier. Using the auto-locator the active window can be 'masked', 
automatically selecting matching object/s.

Pressing a valid key ('*' or the first letter of any object) begins adding 
a mask to the window info line and dynamically selects or deselects any 
matching object/s as the mask is edited.

The auto-locator is normally case insensitive, i.e. typing in 'a' selects 
all files/folders starting with 'a' or 'A'. This can however be changed in 
the 'Configuration' > 'Window 2' dialog of the 'Extra' menu.


      The 'Configuration' dialog in the 'Extra' menu offers an 'Auto-
      locator with 'filename completion'' option in the page 'Window 1' 
      which constantly strives to isolate a single object and will 
      automatically add characters to the mask to achieve this. When this 
      option is active (crossed) the  Backspace  key clears the active 
      mask from the window info line and deselects all objects (instead of 
      just deleting the last character).

      Here's some examples using this directory listing:

      ..  DOC   THING   TOS2GEM   README.ENG   README.TXT   REGISTER.TXT

      '*'   Adds [**] to the window info line and selects all the objects 
      'R'   Selects: README.ENG, README.TXT and REGISTER.TXT

      The mask displayed in the window info line depends on the
      'Auto-locator with 'filename completion'' option:
         [RE] with auto-locator completion on (crossed)
         [R] with auto-locator completion off (uncrossed)

      'REG' Selects: REGISTER.TXT, and the info line shows
         [REGISTER.TXT] with auto-locator completion on
         [REG] with auto-locator completion off

      '*.'  Adds [*.*] to the window info line ready to select objects 
            by extender.

      '*.E' Selects: README.ENG, and the info line shows
         [*.ENG] with auto-locator completion on
         [*.E*] with auto-locator completion off

      '*.T' Selects: README.TXT and REGISTER.TXT, and the info line shows
         [*.TXT*] with auto-locator completion on
         [*.T*] with auto-locator completion off


The  Space  key can be used to remove the trailing '*' which is useful
to select objects without extenders (typically folders). For example:

'*. ' Selects: DOC, THING and TOS2GEM

The mask displayed in the window info line is [*.] whether auto-locator 
completion is on or off.

An alternative selection method is provided using the cursor.