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: Shells                                                  Thing

If you've used the Gemini replacement desktop, you will know the advantages 
of its integrated 'Mupfel' shell:

 1. The shell doesn't have to be loaded specially and is always available.
 
 2. Objects can be dragged to Mupfel scripts, making them available as 
    command line parameters.
 
 3. Mupfel scripts can be assigned to an application to open certain 
    file-types.

In Thing, every shell must be started as a program after loading. This 
may initially seem to be a disadvantage but it is more flexible because 
you can choose any shell you like -- so you are not dependent on my 
programming skills ;-)
 
Even when started as a program it's still possible to drag objects to 
scripts or to install scripts as an application! This is described below:

Installing a shell

First of all Thing has to be told which application is responsible for 
dealing with the script. Install the shell program of your choice in the 
'Extra' -> 'Applications...' dialog under the 'General' tab and enter the 
script file-type (e.g '*.mup') in the 'Is used to Open:' field under the 
'Files' tab. So that one may also drag objects to the scripts, the 'Use
Drag&Drop' option must be set (crossed).

Drag&Drop

In this connection Drag&Drop means that any script can have a file, folder 
or program dragged to it which will be passed to the shell along with 
the name of the script as command line parameters. For example:

If the file 'F:\INCOMING\ALICE.LZH' is Drag&Dropped to the script 
'D:\TOOLS\UNPACK.MUP' the following command line would be generated:

  'D:\TOOLS\UNPACK.MUP F:\INCOMING\ALICE.LZH'

Internally the script only uses the second parameter:
'F:\INCOMING\ALICE.LZH'

Installing a script as an application

Once a shell is installed then naturally scripts for the shell can be 
installed as applications -- just like in Gemini ;-).

The start directory, default parameters, options and environment are at 
present taken from the corresponding installed application -- although 
this may change in a future Thing release.

You're not restricted a single shell! For example it is perfectly possible 
to install Mupfel, MCMD and GAWK simultaneously and so use *.mup, *.bat 
and *.awk files as programs!