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-FileApplications: General                                                 Thing

Thing recognises certain programs as executable. Optionally other files 
can be treated as executable according to the options set in the 
'Configuration' > 'System' dialog.

  GEM Programs

    All files with the following extenders:
    PRG, APP, GTP and (optionally) PRX, APX.

    GEM Programs can either be started normally or via a VA_START 
    command line under a multitasking environment.

    Programs with the GTP extender will request input on a command line if 
    the program is started without parameters (e.g. without Drag&Drop of 
    files to the program icon).

  Desk Accessories

    All files with the ACC and (optionally) ACX extender.

    Under Thing desk accessories are only 'awakened' with VA_START or 
    (optionally) AC_OPEN. If an accessory isn't active as yet it will be 
    treated as a normal GEM program; a safety alert is displayed 
    (optionally) to remind you not all accessories can tolerate being 
    launched as programs.
 
    Under OSs that permit subsequent installation of desk accessories 
    (e.g. MagiC from Version 4 up and N.AES) a non-active accessory will 
    be installed as such and called.

  TOS Programs

    All files with the TOS or TTP file extender. Under MiNT even files 
    without a special extender but with the 'x' flag set are treated as 
    TTPs.

    Output from TOS programs will be displayed either in the Thing 
    Console window, if TOS2GEM is installed, or optionally using VT52 
    (under MagiC), tw100 (under N.AES), MINIWIN (under MultiTOS) or 
    TOSWIN (under Single-TOS & MiNT)
 
    In contrast to GEM programs no parameter passing via VA_START is 
    possible. TTP/GTP programs display a parameter dialog as required.

  CPX Module (optional)

    If Freedom 2 or the 'alternative control panel' Space by Christian 
    Grunenberg is installed it's possible to run programs with the CPX, 
    EPX and (optionally) CPZ and EPZ extenders as normal GEM programs.

    The crucial difference Freedom 2 and Space offer is the ability to 
    run CPX modules in parallel to Thing even under Single-TOS!

Programs can be started either by a double-click on the program file 
(or single-click and 'File' > 'Open...') and via Drag&Drop where a file 
is dragged onto a program icon.

The real advantage of a desktop is the ability to link file extender/s 
with specific applications, so that a double-click on a file launches 
a program capable of handling it. For example double-clicking on an image 
could launch a graphics application that automatically loads the image. 
In Thing, this process is described as 'Opening'.

Thing offers additional 'Show' and 'Print' functions, for which given 
programs can be installed as well. In Thing there is no such thing as 
'the viewing program' or 'the printing program'; one can specify exactly 
which programs are to be used to Show or Print given file-types.
 
Allowing more than one application to be installed for each file-type 
opens up some useful possibilities. For example a DVI driver could be 
installed to Print and Show all DVI files, with IdeaList installed to 
Print all remaining files.

If a file is opened with a double-click, Thing first checks to see whether 
there is an application installed for opening this file-type. If there is, 
then it will be started with the file passed as an argument. If not, a 
check is now made to see if there is an application with which the file 
can be shown. It there is one, it will be started. If Thing cannot find 
any appropriate application, it will bring up a corresponding alert. 
Search for a suitable application is dispensed with, of course, if the 
double-clicked file is executable.

If either of the two checks finds more than one suitable application, a 
dialog appears for selecting the one required.

If, however, one opens a file with  Control  + double-click, Thing will 
only look for an application with which one can Show the file. This 
permits one to take a quick look at a resource file, for instance, without 
having to call up Interface or ResourceMaster first.

With a universal viewer that can show virtually anything (e.g. Look'n See) 
one must enter '*' in the 'Show' list, not the 'Open' list, as otherwise
all executable programs will also be passed to the viewer!