Topic : User Manual for TeraDesk Author : Wout Klaren, Henk Robbers, Djordje Vukovic Version : February 2017 Subject : Documentation/Utilities Nodes : 87 Index Size : 2746 HCP-Version : 3 Compiled on : Atari @charset : atarist @lang : en @default : Main @help : @options : -i -t4 +z @width : 75 View Ref-FileContentsMenus and DialogsMenu title: File 4.2.1 Open... TeraDesk With this action, one or more selected objects can be opened. The meaning of the term depends on the type of the selected objects. If the selected object is a disk volume or a folder, a directory window is opened on that object. If more than one object of this type is selected, each is opened in a new window. If the object is an executable file (program), it is started (or the command line parameters are sent to an already-running program; see Running a program). If more than one object is selected, and TeraDesk operates in single-TOS, no more items will be opened after a program is started. In a multi-tasking environment there is a delay of a couple of seconds between each program being started, to allow the program to configure itself, shrink used memory, etc. If the object is a file, and that filetype has been assigned as a document type to an application, that application is started, and the selected file is opened, as above. If the document has been assigned to more than one application, a dialog is opened showing the assigned applications and permitting the user to select among one of them. If the selected application is already running, an attempt is first made to send the filename to that application using the VA_START message (see The AV Protocol). If the object is a symbolic link, it is always followed to the target object, and the action appropriate for the target is commenced, as above (see Symbolic Links). If network objects such as web pages and ftp sites are assigned as 'document types' to applications, they can be opened from this dialog. Such objects should have names beginning with one of the following prefixes: http:, https:, ftp: or mailto:. See Set applications... If the object is neither a program nor a file that has been assigned to an application, a dialog with opening options is displayed: - Selecting 'Show' opens a Text window with the selected file. If the file is not suitable for being displayed as text, its hex-dump can be shown. - Selecting 'Edit' calls an editor (if it has been installed) to open the file. - Selecting 'Run' causes the file to be treated as an executable file, although such filetype has not been marked as a program type in the Set program options... dialog. The program type dialog appears in which a program type can be set for the selected file (assignment is not permanent). The file is then opened (started) as a program. - Selecting 'With' opens The listbox dialog from which an application can be selected to open the file with. Selection can be made either by single-clicking upon an application in the listbox, and then by clicking 'OK' or by double-clicking upon an application, in which case the dialog is immediately closed. If the setup for the selected application is edited, the object's name or type can be assigned as a documenttype for this application (object's name will be preset in the dialog), in which case this file type will in the future always be opened with the chosen application. The dialog with opening options also appears if an object is opened while holding the [Alternate] key pressed. If no objects are selected, a dialog opens in which the path and name of the object can be entered in the 'scrolled editable field'. TeraDesk tries to divine the type of the item so specified: a file, a folder, an application or a document assigned to an application, and acts accordingly, as above. If an application is specified in the dialog, its name can be followed by a command tail (separated from the name by at least one space character). If [Insert] key is pressed while the cursor is in the editable field in this dialog, the file selector will appear that can help in making a selection. A double click by mouse has the same effect. Name of the last object opened and the trailing command are preserved in the dialog (i.e. between calls), until another application has been activated. If the object name or any of the parameters in the command line contains spaces, that name/parameter should be entered between a pair of single or double quotes (the ' or " characters). If a command line is to contain the quote character, two consecutive quotes should be entered.