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Microsoft OS/2 SDK 12-15-1987

                        PROGRAM SELECTOR

        The program selector allows users to select activities to
        start in new screen groups and to switch among existing screen
        groups.  Information about the name, location, and parameters
        for frequently used programs can be saved by the program selector.
        These programs can then be run simply by selecting them from a
        list.

        The main program selector display consists of three
        main areas:

            1)  Start list:     A list of program selections that can be
                                started in a new screen group.  The user
                                can start any of these by simply making a
                                choice from the menu.  One option always
                                available is to start an OS/2 Command Line
                                in a new screen group.  This provides the
                                ususal DOS style interface.

            2)  Switch list:    A list of all currently active screen groups.
                                The user can switch to a screen group by
                                making a choice in the menu.

            3)  Update Popdown Menu:
                                Choices are to add, delete, or change the
                                entries on the start list, or to update the
                                switch list to remove any screen groups that
                                have terminated.  Information about programs
                                that can be started is maintined in files that
                                allow changes to the start list to be permanent.



        CONTEXT SENSITIVE HELP

        The Program Selector provides popup windows with scrollable help
        text for every operation the Program Selector is capable of carrying
        out. This means that no matter what you may be trying to do within
        the Program Selector, you may press the F1 key for help that is
        appropriate for the context. Once you have the help popup displayed,
        you may access additional help information by pressing any of the
        keys displayed at the bottom of the popup window.

        In the upper right-hand corner of the popup window you will see the
        word "more" and one or two arrows just to the right. These arrows and
        the word "more" indicate that there is additional text either above or
        below the current window. This text may be viewed by pressing the
        up or down arrow keys until the cursor bar is at an upper or lower
        boundary at which point the text will scroll up or down if there is
        any undisplayed information.

        Normally to exit a help popup you would press the escape key, but
        under certain circumstances it is convenient to be able to leave the
        text displayed while carrying out some associated operation. To
        do this, press alt+F6. This will cause an exit from the help window
        and a return to the field for which help was invoked without erasing
        the help text. To return to the help window, press the alt+F6 key
        combination again. If you do not wish to return to the help window,
        but simply want to erase it from the display, press the escape key.

        There is a special help display called "index" which can be accessed
        from almost any help popup by pressing the F5 key. A new popup will
        appear with a list of topics for which help is available. To cause
        the corresponding help popup to be displayed, move the selection bar
        over the topic for which you need help, and then press the SPACE BAR.
        The corresponding help popup will then be displayed.



        UPDATE POPDOWN MENU

        The update popdown menu allows the user to make additions, deletions,
        and changes to the list of programs that can be started using the
        program selector start list.  The list of programs is maintained in two
        files, Shell11f.aii and Shell11f.aif, so any changes made to the list
        are saved.  The update popdown also allows the user to refresh the
        switch list to reflect changes caused by the termination of running
        programs.

                        * Program Information *

        The following information must be supplied for a new entry on the list:

            TITLE       The text that the user will see in the start list.
                        e.g.  New account listing

            PATH        The full path specification and program name of the
                        executable program to use when the entry is selected.
                        e.g.  c:\usr\bin\acctpgms\newinfo.exe

            PARAMETERS  Parameters to pass to the program when it is selected
                        to run.  There are 2 possible parameter list types.

                            1)  Actual parameter list that will always
                                be supplied when the program is chosen.  This
                                may be blank if no parameters are required.
                                e.g. newaccts.dat 1297

                            2)  The character '?' in the first position of the
                                parameter string indicating that the user
                                should be queried for parameter values when
                                the program is selected.
                                e.g. ?


            Examples:

                In the following, the first line is a comment that would mot
                be typed when adding a program.  The following 3 lines contain
                strings that could be typed in the title, path, and parameters
                sections of the add display when adding a program.

                /* run an editor and ask for the file name */
                document preparation
                d:\usr\accts\editor.exe
                ?

                /* run a program that processes the file newacts.dat */
                list new accounts
                c:\usr\bin\list_act.exe
                d:\data\daily\newacts.dat

                /* program with no parameters */
                picture painter
                d:\usr\games\display.exe

                /* batch file */
                accounts data listing
                c:\os2\cmd.exe
                /k d:\data\daily\list.cmd


                * Invoking the Update Popdown Menu *

        The Update Popdown Menu is invoked by striking the F10 key
        followed by striking the ENTER key.  The user is then given
        a choice of activities to perform and is guided through data
        entry for the activity chosen.  Options are:

                Add a program:          Add a new program to the list.

                Delete a program:       Delete a program from the list

                Change a program:       Change the information for a program.

                Refresh:                Update the switch list to reflect
                                        program terminations.



                * Shell11f.aii Shell11f.aif information files *

        The information for programs in the start list is kept in the
        Shell11f.aii and Shell11f.aif files.  These files should never be
        edited by the user.  They should only be changed using the update
        popdown menu.  The program selector will attempt to restore damaged
        files, but if you add a large number of programs to the start list,
        it may be wise to save a copy of your shell11f.aii and shell11f.aif
        as backups.


        EDITING KEYS

        When the "Add a Program Title" or "Change Program Information"
        options are selected from the update pulldown window, a window will
        be displayed with three fields. These fields are the program title
        field, the path field, and the parameters field. Note that the
        second and third fields are actually 64 character in length. Only
        30 characters may be viewed at one time, so these two fields may
        be scrolled left or right. See the list below for editing key
        definitions.

                Up arrow                -       Previous field
                Down arrow              -       Next field
                Left arrow              -       Cursor left one character
                Right arrow             -       Cursor right one character
                Control+Left arrow      -       Beginning of field
                Control+Right arrow     -       End of data in field.
                Home                    -       Beginning of fields window
                End                     -       End of fields window
                Ins                     -       Begin/end insert mode (toggle)
                Del                     -       Delete the char under cursor
                Control+Home            -       First field in window
                Control+End             -       Last field in window
                Alt+F7                  -       Erase to end of field
                F1                      -       Help for this field



        INSTALLING THE PROGRAM SELECTOR

        The program selector consists of 4 files:
            shell.exe, shell.lib, shell11f.aii, and shell11f.aif.

        These files must all be placed in the same directory (any directory
        you chose).  If you have a previous version of the Microsoft
        base shell, it has the same name, shell.exe, so you may want to
        save the base shell under a different name, if you intend to use it
        again in the future.

        Put the entire drive:path\shell.exe specification for shell.exe in the
        protshell line of the config.sys file on your boot directory.
        For example, here is a config.sys file that has the shell
        in c:\os2 and calls c:\os2\initenv.cmd for every new protected screen
        group:

                buffers=50
                shell=c:\os2\command.com /p
                rmsize=350
                protshell=c:\os2\shell.exe c:\os2\cmd.exe /k c:\os2\initenv
                memman=swap
                swappath=c:\tmp
                iopl=yes
                libpath=c:\os2;c:\os2\lib;.


        VIDEO ADAPTORS

        If you are using a Compaq VDU display adaptor, a Compaq III portable,
        or composite video adaptor, you may want to use the "/m" option in
        the protshell line of your config.sys file. With some adaptors
        there may be insufficient contrast between the foreground and back-
        ground colors. To remedy this you may add a "/m" to the end of the
        protshell line. For example:


        protshell=c:\os2\shell.exe c:\os2\cmd.exe /k c:\os2\initenv /m

        Note: DO NOT use this option if you have a normal EGA, CGA or
              MONOCHROME adaptor.





Mouse Interface.


When the mouse cursor is over an active field, it will no longer be
transparent magenta, but becomes a white and magenta dot pattern.

Lists and help text can be auto-scrolled by placing the mouse cursor
over a scroll arrow and holding button one down.

A single button press outside of a help panel will cause an escape.
A double button press inside a help panel will also cause an escape
unless the mouse is over a selection list. Only one help panel has
a selection list - "index".

Double presses within half a second are required to make a selection in
all list but the update popdown. In that case a release of button one
makes a selection.

If you drag into the update popdown and drag out without releasing
button one, the popdown will disappear.

Any keys listed in the "keys box" at the bottom of a panel, or the
"F1=Help" and "Update" fields on the main panel may be activated by
placing the mouse cursor over the field and pressing and releasing.
The "Update" is an exception in that a press will cause the menu
to popdown.


Please report any anomalies to Microsoft.

Thanks

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