OS2 World Community Forum

OS/2, eCS & ArcaOS - Technical => Applications => Topic started by: Rich Walsh on November 06, 2023, 06:36:20 am

Title: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on November 06, 2023, 06:36:20 am
XWP v1.0.16 introduces some of the most significant Desktop usability improvements in years.

New Features
Updates and Bugfixes
Downloads

Until XWP's files have been cataloged, they should be available from /pub/incoming (https://hobbes.nmsu.edu/?path=%2Fpub%2Fincoming) (the link for Styler v1.20 is already live).
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on November 06, 2023, 01:28:07 pm
Thanks a lot Rich.

I will try it further, for the moment I'm very happy that I can enlarge the icons size of the xcenter.

Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on November 06, 2023, 01:54:21 pm
Text Size
With two clicks and a reboot, you can now set the text in folders, menus, titlebars, notebooks, and most dialogs to a size you can read. Use the first page of the Desktop's Properties notebook to try it out. In Test Mode, changing the text size will cause the notebook to resize and redraw itself so you can see what that size looks like. No changes will be made to your system until shutdown, so you can undo this at any time before then.

Developed in conjunction with Alex Taylor, this feature relies on Alex's extended-size versions of 'System Proportional' and 'WarpSans'. The latest versions available will be installed by WarpIn if they appear to be newer than your current versions.

Note: Text Size itself only affects programs that are aware of it. These include system components like PM, the WPS, XWP, Dynamic Icons, and a few others. Use Alex's newly-released Styler v1.20 to extend its reach to 3rd-party dialogs that don't specify a text size.

[/li][/list]

It looks good and finally there is an easy way to change the text size in one shot.
Thanks a lot.

Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: andreas on November 06, 2023, 03:32:48 pm
had a problem to start the wps after installing (same on both of my AN-partitions).
wps didn't build up and collapsed again and again. Reboot + shift helped though (using older ini).
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on November 06, 2023, 06:38:23 pm
had a problem to start the wps after installing (same on both of my AN-partitions).
wps didn't build up and collapsed again and again. Reboot + shift helped though (using older ini).

I'm sorry to hear you had problems with this. Are you now able to start up OK and get to the Desktop?

I know of one possible startup issue but it isn't something that could be fixed by reverting to an older INI. More likely, it would cause the system to hang (no one has reported the issue so far, so I really don't know what it looks like - hang/crash/just some beeps).

If anyone has a hang or crash at startup that can't be fixed by using an older INI, then it would be _really_ helpful if I could see the last few entries in 'x:\var\log\xwptrap.log'. If you can't boot the system normally, you can get to it by booting the AOS installer and using the System Management console. Or, you can use Alt-F1 at the boot blob to boot to a command line (under UEFI, select "Show Recovery Options" then continue - the following screen will offer "F2 - boot to command line").
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on November 06, 2023, 07:00:39 pm
Here are a few notes I forgot to put in the announcement:

* updated versions of ANXWP (AN's customized XWP-Lite) should be available from AN shortly - they typically send out an announcement to customers when it's ready.

* if you are simply upgrading from the previous version and not changing from, say, ANXWP to XWP-Full, then you can uncheck the options to "register classes" and "create objects". This will keep it from messing with your folder menus and the like.

* if you use Styler's shutdown feature rather than XWP's, you must upgrade to the new version of Styler (v1.20) to have any 'Text Size' changes take effect. Alternately, you can disable Styler v1.10's shutdown, reboot using XWP, then reenable Styler.

* suggestion: locate 'x:\sys\apps\xwps\bin\xunlock.exe', open its Properties notebook, and turn to the 'Association' page. Now, associate it with '*.DLL', '*.EXE', and '*.FON' (no need for a program object). Hereafter, if you need to replace a binary that is currently in use, you can select 'xunlock' from its "Open as" menu, then do the replacement. Of course, you'll still have to terminate the app or reboot to have the system use the new binary (in the case of a WPS dll, just select 'Restart Desktop').
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: andreas on November 06, 2023, 09:18:51 pm

I'm sorry to hear you had problems with this. Are you now able to start up OK and get to the Desktop?


So far everything works fine. Thanks for your effort btw.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: David Graser on November 06, 2023, 09:44:35 pm
Here are a few notes I forgot to put in the announcement:

* suggestion: locate 'x:\sys\apps\xwps\bin\xunlock.exe', open its Properties notebook, and turn to the 'Association' page. Now, associate it with '*.DLL', '*.EXE', and '*.FON' (no need for a program object). Hereafter, if you need to replace a binary that is currently in use, you can select 'xunlock' from its "Open as" menu, then do the replacement. Of course, you'll still have to terminate the app or reboot to have the system use the new binary (in the case of a WPS dll, just select 'Restart Desktop').

Hi Rick
To begin, thanks for all you and Alex do and your efforts to improve XWP.  I look forward to each new release. I am like a kid waiting for more candy.

It along with Xit (its additional titlebar buttons and clock, Title (moves the folder or program back in the shown order, and Killfolder (allows me to kill all open folders) allow me whatever I want with the desktop.

Next, is the attached pic the correct way to do the associations?
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on November 06, 2023, 10:31:46 pm
associate it [xunlock] with '*.DLL', '*.EXE', and '*.FON'
is the attached pic the correct way to do the associations?

It looks like you left out the asterisk. Without it, this will only work for files named ".exe" or ".dll" - there aren't too many of them :) Remove them and re-enter.

FWIW... it's perfectly OK to associate a specific file with an app. For example, in AOS 5.1 the new Multimedia Installer is associated with the file 'CONTROL.SCR'. This allows you to install an MMOS/2 package by doubleclicking this file rather than having to run minstall from the commandline.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: David Graser on November 07, 2023, 12:03:15 am
associate it [xunlock] with '*.DLL', '*.EXE', and '*.FON'
is the attached pic the correct way to do the associations?

It looks like you left out the asterisk. Without it, this will only work for files named ".exe" or ".dll" - there aren't too many of them :) Remove them and re-enter.

FWIW... it's perfectly OK to associate a specific file with an app. For example, in AOS 5.1 the new Multimedia Installer is associated with the file 'CONTROL.SCR'. This allows you to install an MMOS/2 package by doubleclicking this file rather than having to run minstall from the commandline.

Thanks Rich. I should have known.  I have to do the same thing when I am associating files in FM/3.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: David Graser on November 07, 2023, 12:45:52 am
Using almost all your new features.  Great job.

I may have found one small problem with the XWP Startup folder.

I copied all my start programs to the XWP Start folder.
I double click to open the folder.
The default icons size is small.
If I right click on the inside of the folder and select icons, the choices come up.
If I select Large, everything is find.

Now if I select Dynamic and select a size, ArcaOS hangs up big time which requires a soft boot.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Eugene Tucker on November 07, 2023, 02:04:20 pm
Smooth sailing no issues with anything.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on November 07, 2023, 03:10:49 pm
Hello.

It is not an issue of XWP, it is working fine here, but now I want to see if there is a way to hack the "XWorkplace Widgets Library (http://www.xcenter.os2usr.org/xwpwidgets-0-7-3.wpi)" to support the larger icons.
I use the "HBShowDesktop (http://www.xcenter.os2usr.org/hbshowdesktop200.zip)"  widget (to minimize all windows at once) and even if I drop a bigger icon on the settings it does not show right.

I think that the XWorkplace Widgets Library source code is here (and also on hobbes):
http://trac.netlabs.org/xwpwidgets/browser (http://trac.netlabs.org/xwpwidgets/browser)

Workarrounds are also welcome, maybe there is a way to improve that widget icon size and I don't know.  Or maybe I should stop using "HBShowDesktop" if there is a widget I can put with the same functionality that I don't know.

Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: David Graser on November 07, 2023, 03:57:26 pm
Using almost all your new features.  Great job.

I may have found one small problem with the XWP Startup folder.

I copied all my start programs to the XWP Start folder.
I double click to open the folder.
The default icons size is small.
If I right click on the inside of the folder and select icons, the choices come up.
If I select Large, everything is find.

Now if I select Dynamic and select a size, ArcaOS hangs up big time which requires a soft boot.

I found the original Startup folder does the same thing.  This is not just a XWP startup folder problem.  The easiest solution might be to disable dynamic icons for these two folders.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on November 07, 2023, 05:07:50 pm
I may have found one small problem with the XWP Startup folder.
[...]
If I right click on the inside of the folder and select icons, the choices come up. If I select Large, everything is find.
Now if I select Dynamic and select a size, ArcaOS hangs up big time which requires a soft boot.

I tried this on 3 separate installations of AOS 5.1 (same machine) and couldn't replicate the problem. However, that's not to say that there isn't a problem with Dynamic Icons...

I recently found that if I drag a program object to an open folder set to "Dynamic", then Ctrl-drop to copy it, the Desktop seems to lock up. In fact, it's only the first thread (the one that handles most of the UI). XCenter, which runs on its own thread, continues to update the time and CPU monitor. After a bit, I can access open apps but 'TOP' is unable to kill the WPS.

While testing the Startup folder, I also tested this on the 3 installations. Two of them had the problem, one didn't. The difference was the drive each was on: the two problems were on my NVME drive, the one that worked was on a SATA-attached SSD. My guess is that this is a timing issue that arises when D.I. tries to query the .exe's icon. Because the SSD is "slow", some other operation completes before the drive returns the icon. In contrast, the NVME is so fast that it delivers the icon before the other activity is done, causing some sort of deadlock. (Like I said, just a guess...)

@DavidG, it would really help if you could try this again to see whether your XCenter widgets still update after the lockup. If they keep working, then we (probably) have the same issue.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: David Graser on November 07, 2023, 09:21:13 pm
The Xcenter cpu widget freezes along the rest of the WPS.

I am getting this error message in the popuplog.os2.

11-07-2023  14:15:34  SYS3171  PID 001f  TID 0001  Slot 0046
D:\OS2\PMSHELL.EXE
c0000005
1ffc74db
P1=00000002  P2=0003fffc  P3=XXXXXXXX  P4=XXXXXXXX 
EAX=00040000  EBX=00040320  ECX=00000000  EDX=00040428
ESI=00000000  EDI=00000000 
DS=0053  DSACC=d0f3  DSLIM=5fffffff 
ES=0053  ESACC=d0f3  ESLIM=5fffffff 
FS=150b  FSACC=00f3  FSLIM=00000030
GS=0000  GSACC=****  GSLIM=********
CS:EIP=005b:1ffc74db  CSACC=d0df  CSLIM=5fffffff
SS:ESP=0053:00040000  SSACC=d0f3  SSLIM=5fffffff
EBP=0004003c  FLG=00010283

DOSCALL1.DLL 0002:000074db
 
OK, I just installed ArcaOS on another partion on the same laptop.  No problem with the startup folders on this partition.  Thus, I can only conclude I added a program or some change which causes it to hang on the other partition.  I will continue to investigate.  If I ever determine anything I will let you know. I apologize for wasting your time.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Pete on November 12, 2023, 04:37:55 pm
Hi All

Playing with the new Text Size - was on Standard - I selected Medium size, clicked Test and was a bit surprised to see the Properties notebook shrink in size. Is that supposed to happen?


Regards

Pete


Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on November 12, 2023, 06:02:35 pm
Playing with the new Text Size - was on Standard - I selected Medium size, clicked Test and was a bit surprised to see the Properties notebook shrink in size. Is that supposed to happen?

Absolutely!

The size of dialog windows and their contents is proportional to the size of the default system font. IOW, a bigger font produces bigger dialogs. This worked great back in the days when all dialogs used the default font (System Proportional) for their text. As the font size increased, the dialogs automatically grew to accommodate. Then along came WarpSans...

To ensure that the system used the new font, eCS and AOS added entries to 'os2.ini' to force the use of 9pt WarpSans rather than the system default.. However, no one ever added an entry to lock down the default. I guess they assumed this was invariant and would always be 10pt System Proportional. But that isn't the case: at resolutions of 1280x1024 and above, the default system font changes to 12pt System Proportional. The result on higher res displays is overly-large dialogs that have been scaled to use 12pt while their content hasn't been scaled up and remains at 9pt.

'Text Size' addresses this by *always* setting the default system font to a size that will comfortably handle whatever size of WarpSans you choose. For the "Small" and "Medium" (9 and 10pt WarpSans) sizes, that's 10pt System Proportional. The result is dialogs that are the "correct" size - in this case, smaller.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on December 07, 2023, 05:36:06 pm
Hello

I also noticed that "Comer Cursor" on the mouse settings does not respect the text size too.

Is Comet Cursor on XWorkplace, AMouse, or is old IBM code that can not be updated?

Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on December 08, 2023, 08:34:38 am
I also noticed that "Comer Cursor" on the mouse settings does not respect the text size too.
Is Comet Cursor on XWorkplace, AMouse, or is old IBM code that can not be updated?

AOS replaces most of IBM's notebook pages with more attractive versions created by Alex Taylor. This looks like one of them. He's been working hard to get them all Text Size-compliant (and they should already be in 5.1) but he may have missed this one. I'll ask him about it.

FYI... I've been putting together a "Text Size Supplement" package that will make more WPS notebook pages work with Text Size. The most important component of the package is Alex's revised page layouts. This may not be needed for AOS 5.1 but all other release of OS/2 will benefit from installing them. Another component is a revised DTProgram DLL to make its Program object pages compliant as well. There may be other things included as well. The main hold up right now is finding time to write a custom installer (it's too complicated for WarpIn or RPM).
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Andy Willis on December 09, 2023, 06:44:04 pm
XWP v1.0.16 introduces some of the most significant Desktop usability improvements in years.

XStartup
Large parts of the XStartup code have been rewritten for improved reliability. It should no longer be necessary to impose a long delay to ensure the first object starts properly. XStartup's notebook page has also been updated with XWP-Full's Boot Logo option getting its own page.
How hard would it be to add the initial delay back? I had imposed I think just a one second (maybe 3, I don't recall now) delay to prevent a 30-45 second hang that is now back (I had timed it back then but haven't now that it is back).  If the code is still there but just either commented or ifdef'd out, I should be able to build it (assuming my build environment is still good).
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Andy Willis on December 09, 2023, 06:57:21 pm
XWP v1.0.16 introduces some of the most significant Desktop usability improvements in years.

XStartup
Large parts of the XStartup code have been rewritten for improved reliability. It should no longer be necessary to impose a long delay to ensure the first object starts properly. XStartup's notebook page has also been updated with XWP-Full's Boot Logo option getting its own page.
How hard would it be to add the initial delay back? I had imposed I think just a one second (maybe 3, I don't recall now) delay to prevent a 30-45 second hang that is now back (I had timed it back then but haven't now that it is back).  If the code is still there but just either commented or ifdef'd out, I should be able to build it (assuming my build environment is still good).
Never mind, I was able to work around it by moving TCPIP startup to launch second instead of first.  Previously, I was unsuccessful in affecting the hang by changing the order.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on December 09, 2023, 10:28:59 pm
Large parts of the XStartup code have been rewritten for improved reliability. It should no longer be necessary to impose a long delay to ensure the first object starts properly.
How hard would it be to add the initial delay back? I had imposed I think just a one second (maybe 3, I don't recall now) delay to prevent a 30-45 second hang that is now back (I had timed it back then but haven't now that it is back). 

I didn't get rid of the delay. It was a global rather than per-object setting, so I moved it to the Desktop 'Startup' tab where you create your first Startup folder. It starts out set to 1 second because there's always a 1-sec delay before XWP does _anything_. Values greater than 1 include that initial delay.

Quote
If the code is still there but just either commented or ifdef'd out, I should be able to build it (assuming my build environment is still good).

I seldom leave detritus lying around - that's what version-control systems are for. If there's a problem with any change I've made, please advise so that I can fix it for all users (assuming it needs fixing).
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Andy Willis on December 10, 2023, 02:28:07 am
Large parts of the XStartup code have been rewritten for improved reliability. It should no longer be necessary to impose a long delay to ensure the first object starts properly.
How hard would it be to add the initial delay back? I had imposed I think just a one second (maybe 3, I don't recall now) delay to prevent a 30-45 second hang that is now back (I had timed it back then but haven't now that it is back). 

I didn't get rid of the delay. It was a global rather than per-object setting, so I moved it to the Desktop 'Startup' tab where you create your first Startup folder. It starts out set to 1 second because there's always a 1-sec delay before XWP does _anything_. Values greater than 1 include that initial delay.

Quote
If the code is still there but just either commented or ifdef'd out, I should be able to build it (assuming my build environment is still good).

I seldom leave detritus lying around - that's what version-control systems are for. If there's a problem with any change I've made, please advise so that I can fix it for all users (assuming it needs fixing).
OK, tested making the changes on the startup tab.  After moving tcpip startup back to the first program to launch and booted set to 3 seconds, 2 seconds and unhelpfully back at 1 second (unhelpfully in that I now have no idea why it was hanging as it no longer does in the original configuration).
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Andy Willis on December 10, 2023, 08:44:15 pm
OK, one thing that should be checked to see if it is just an oddity on my system. Whenever I open the desktop properties and go to the Startup tab the delay always initially shows 1.  If I had previously changed it, I can hit Default and it will then show the number I had changed it to.  I can change tabs and go back and it will show the number I had set it to (IOW, going back to 1 is only on initial open).  If I open the Desktop properties and do not open the startup tab, make some changes on other tabs and close it and then open the Desktop properties and the startup tab, I can click default and have the number I had previously set.  If I open the Desktop properties and open the startup tab and close the properties, when I reopen the properties it will have saved the 1 second delay (IOW now clicking default does not change it to what I had set it to previously because it saved the 1 that was showing when I closed the properties.). 

Steps to reproduce:
Open Desktop properties
Open startup tab
change Delay to a number other than 1
Close Desktop properties
Open Desktop properties
Open startup tab
observe Delay

If, as on my system, Delay is back to 1 Click Default at the bottom and observe the number.
Now close Desktop properties
Open Desktop properties, open any or all tabs other than Startup
Close Desktop properties
Open Desktop properties
Open Startup Tab
Observe Delay
If shows 1, click Default button and observe Delay time (if as on mine, it will be the number set)
Close Desktop properties
Open Desktop properties
Observe delay time
Close Desktop properties
Open Desktop properties
Open Startup tab
Observe Delay
Click Default (if as on mine, it will now be 1).
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Dave Yeo on December 10, 2023, 11:59:34 pm
The help says,
Code: [Select]
Delay
This sets the number of seconds XStartup should wait the after the Desktop is ready before opening the first object in the first XStartup folder. XWorkplace always waits a minimum of 1 second; this is the default. You can choose a delay from 1 to 10 seconds.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Dariusz Piatkowski on December 11, 2023, 03:18:58 am
Rich!

First of all, as many others have stated: big 'Thank You' for not only keeping this great WPS enhancement alive, but improving it as well!

Playing with the new Text Size - was on Standard - I selected Medium size, clicked Test and was a bit surprised to see the Properties notebook shrink in size. Is that supposed to happen?

Absolutely!

The size of dialog windows and their contents is proportional to the size of the default system font. IOW, a bigger font produces bigger dialogs. This worked great back in the days when all dialogs used the default font (System Proportional) for their text. As the font size increased, the dialogs automatically grew to accommodate. Then along came WarpSans...
...
'Text Size' addresses this by *always* setting the default system font to a size that will comfortably handle whatever size of WarpSans you choose. For the "Small" and "Medium" (9 and 10pt WarpSans) sizes, that's 10pt System Proportional. The result is dialogs that are the "correct" size - in this case, smaller.

A question and suggestion (albeit a personal taste based one):

1) QUESTION
The 'Text Size' tab HELP states the following in relation to those using SNAP:

Code: [Select]
Note: if you use SNAP/Scitech Graphics, please remove any SET SDDFONTSIZE= or SET SDDFONTDPI= entries from 'config.sys' before rebooting to ensure expected results.

Can you elaborate further?

I do use SNAP, and upon seeing this I REMed the statements in my CONFIG.SYS. But several reboots later, having saived my new INI files (backup) I turned these back ON and see no difference. Therefore I am curious what you were worried about?

2) SUGGESTION
1920x1200 display here (x2 given SNAP multi-head). I had previously moved all my FOLDERS to using 10. WarpSans, and was toying with the idea of adjusting the MENUs as well, etc. Just never got around to it.

Given your XWP update however, and having selected the MEDIUM size option I came to discover what I felt was a rather curious font/sizing choice for the default XWP menu, that being: '9. WarpSans Bold'.

Take a look at the attached couple of screenshots.

- first one is the default XWP MEDIUM setting
- the second one is my tweaked setting of '10. WarpSans' (mostly b/c I prefer the light fonts)

Given the overall proportionality of the results it feels (again, VERY subjective lol) like the 10 pt is the better fitting size.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on December 11, 2023, 07:54:36 am
Whenever I open the desktop properties and go to the Startup tab the delay always initially shows 1.  If I had previously changed it, I can hit Default and it will then show the number I had changed it to.

I had a quick look at this. If you set the value to say, 6, it will stay that way and the initial delay _will_ be 6 seconds - as long as you don't look at the Startup tab again. Displaying that tab is what resets the value to 1 (for as-yet unknown reasons).

If you want a safe way to confirm the setting is what you want, open an INI editor and look for XWorkplace->ulStartupInitialDelay. If present, its value is your chosen delay in milliseconds rendered in hex, If it's missing, then it has been reset to the default of 1 second.

I'll certainly get this fixed but it may be a while before the next release. When I have the makings of an initial beta that includes the fix I'll let you know.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on December 11, 2023, 06:17:19 pm
having selected the MEDIUM size option I came to discover what I felt was a rather curious font/sizing choice for the default XWP menu, that being: '9. WarpSans Bold'. [...]  it feels (again, VERY subjective lol) like the [non-Bold] 10 pt is the better fitting size.

My overriding goal In implementing 'Text Size' was "user acceptance". Put another way, avoiding anything that would give people a reason for not using a feature that would clearly benefit them.

First and foremost in the list of things to avoid was any consideration of aesthetics. I fully agree with you that 'WarpSans Bold' at any size is a lousy font for menus. But, after all these years of people not complaining about it, it wasn't for me to go changing the status quo. By having Text Size use the exact same fonts that have been in place since eCS 1.0, no one can claim "aesthetic degradation" as a reason for not using it.

Quote
The 'Text Size' tab HELP states the following in relation to those using SNAP:
Quote
Note: if you use SNAP/Scitech Graphics, please remove any SET SDDFONTSIZE= or SET SDDFONTDPI= entries from 'config.sys' before rebooting to ensure expected results.
Can you elaborate further?

All of these SNAP and Panorama settings materially interfere with Text Size's operation by causing the system to choose the wrong default system font. Essentially, they were hacks to work around the lack of a comprehensive facility like Text Size. Further, they were added back in the days when 1024x768 was considered "high resolution" - they just don't have any relevance anymore, so don't set them.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: David Graser on December 17, 2023, 03:18:37 pm
Rich

While working on the BigIcons themes, I noticed a naming descrepancy .

In the System Setup folder, there is a folder called Extended Menu Options.

In the System Setup folder > XWP Installation folder, there is the XWPlace Configuration Folder.

Boh folders have the same object ID

"<XWP_CONFIG>"
 
I found this a little confusing until I realized what was done.  Is this intentional? I like the Extended Menus Option name.  Both folders share the same object ID and icon.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Dariusz Piatkowski on December 17, 2023, 05:33:58 pm
Hey Rich!

having selected the MEDIUM size option I came to discover what I felt was a rather curious font/sizing choice for the default XWP menu, that being: '9. WarpSans Bold'. [...]  it feels (again, VERY subjective lol) like the [non-Bold] 10 pt is the better fitting size.

My overriding goal In implementing 'Text Size' was "user acceptance". Put another way, avoiding anything that would give people a reason for not using a feature that would clearly benefit them.

First and foremost in the list of things to avoid was any consideration of aesthetics. I fully agree with you that 'WarpSans Bold' at any size is a lousy font for menus. But, after all these years of people not complaining about it, it wasn't for me to go changing the status quo. By having Text Size use the exact same fonts that have been in place since eCS 1.0, no one can claim "aesthetic degradation" as a reason for not using it.
...

Understood, and your point is well taken.

Any ideas where WarpCenter hides it's font selection??? That's the only remaining piece of getting to a suitable display configuration for my OS/2 box...tried the old "drag & drop" font, but that didn't stick.

OK, there is something else I'd like to toss into the conversation though: I'm getting weird looking file sizes in the Xview folders, take a look at the attached screenshot.

What's weird about this is that NOT all files show this behaviour.

For example, looking at '192.168.1.10_20231215.txt', in CL it shows up as:

Code: [Select]
12-15-23 11:44p        11,736      0 a---  192.168.1.10_20231215.txt

...and clearly XWP does show that size, but it is followed by a string ".99,999,999,999,977"???

Here is an even weirder use-case, take a look at '192.168.1.10_20231214.txt'

Code: [Select]
12-14-23  9:55p         4,362      0 a---  192.168.1.10_20231214.txt

...and in XWP that shows up as "436,2.0,000,000,000,001". It's almost as if the decimal place markers get tossed into the wrong place???

Is this a user configuration mistake?

The only such user-adjustable config I can think of is the 'WPS => Status Bars => P2', but that really appears to be applicable only to status bars.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on December 18, 2023, 05:51:37 am
In the System Setup folder, there is a folder called Extended Menu Options.
In the System Setup folder > XWP Installation folder, there is the XWPlace Configuration Folder.
Boh folders have the same object ID "<XWP_CONFIG>"

What you're seeing is a circular reference. Folder A contains a shadow of Folder B, which in turn contains a shadow of Folder A. Since shadows can have their own titles, distinct from the original, the circular reference may not be obvious. Feel free to rename stuff for consistency.

FWIW... the name "Extended Menu Options" came from ANXWP, the AN-branded XWP-Lite. Installing XWP-Full on top of it produced the shadow(s) of it named "XWorkPlace Configuration Folder".
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on December 18, 2023, 07:08:21 am
I'm getting weird looking file sizes in the Xview folders

This also happens in conventional 'Details' view. The cause is believed to be code compiled using Open Watcom (e.g. DSS).

When files started to exceed 4gb, IBM had to come up with a way to display numbers greater than a 32-bit integer can handle. Rather than switching to 64-bit arithmetic (probably due to the compiler they were using), they opted to store the numbers in floating-point format. Converting a floating point number back to an integer requires that the machine's "floating-point control word" be set as the compiler expects. Unfortunately, OW-compiled code changes the control word's setting to suit its own needs, causing IBM C-compiled code to go haywire.

I added a fix somewhere in XWP to reset the control word back to the IBM standard just before the WPS displays a Details view window  - but clearly it doesn't work (or at least, doesn't work all of the time). The real solution is to have OW-compiled code that runs on Thread 1 (the WPS's UI thread) reset the control word appropriately.

This also means that it cannot do floating-point math on Thread 1 because its own results will be screwy (each thread has its own CW setting, so OW code can do whatever it wants on its own thread). This is one of several reasons I want to look at revising DSS's WPS notebook pages. (It's also one of the reasons I reject the notion of compiling WPS code with anything other than IBM VAC.)
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Dave Yeo on December 18, 2023, 08:23:23 am
That was likely the reason that Doodle had DSS using the floating point emulator. Perhaps we should return to using it.
The floating point control word is irritating and didn't seem to exist in Warp V4, at least with GCC compiled programs so I never thought of it until I used eCS and working programs began giving floating point exceptions.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Pete on December 18, 2023, 04:41:18 pm
Hi Dariusz

Any ideas where WarpCenter hides it's font selection??? That's the only remaining piece of getting to a suitable display configuration for my OS/2 box...tried the old "drag & drop" font, but that didn't stick.


Just a thought... Have you tried ft-240.exe? - the old Innotek Font Engine software.
I think it does a good job of improving Warp4/eCS/ArcaOS dismal text display but does require user configuration after installation:

Open Registry Editor to HKEY_CURRENT_USER -> Software -> Innotek -> Innotek Font Engine -> Applications

Change any of the existing Applications, eg firefox.exe, to pmshell.exe, double check that it has an Enabled value of 1, delete all other Applications (the software involved no longer uses IFE), close Registry Editor, Reboot to a Desktop and WarpCenter with better text display.


You are still stuck with the same font on WarpCenter but at least it looks better and is more legible.


Regards

Pete



Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: David Graser on December 18, 2023, 09:12:14 pm
Tried v2.6.  It could be my imagination, but firefox does look better
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Dave Yeo on December 18, 2023, 11:26:37 pm
Firefox should take care of anti-aliasing and such on its own, though freetype likely could be tweeked. Haven't kept up on changes to Freetype so not sure how to tweek.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: David Graser on December 19, 2023, 04:57:10 pm
After working with all these graphics, it looks to me that we just need a global way to slightly soften the fonts to do away with all the jagged edges.  I wonder if this is what the Innotek font engine attempts to do?

I have attached an example.  The graphic program I use only does custom blur in whole numbers.  To do what needs to be done, a program would have to do fractions.  It would need to be a 1.1, 1.2 1.3 etc.  If I used the gaussian blur, it would have to be between 0 and 1.  In the picture, I did a custom blur using a box blur of 2.  This is too much.  I then had to use sharpen 3 times to get it to what I did.  If one wanted more blue, two sharpen actions then.

I outlined the ones  in a box to show the ones I changed. The ones outside the box are unchanged.

If you look carefully, there is just a slight blur which does away with the blockiness of the fonts.

Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Andi B. on December 19, 2023, 05:53:42 pm
I for myself prefer the sharp crispy font display LCDs can provide. If I wanna have these washed out fonts then I would attach these crappy old blurred tube monitors we had to work with decades ago. Or don't clean my glasses for a while of put them off completely :-).

Of course these is only valid for our carefully selected bitmap fonts used for the WPS. For surfing the net with all these different fonts in different sizes aliasing is necessary. But not for WPS and window menus. YMMV.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on December 27, 2023, 03:06:21 am
Hello Rich

Do you think it can be possible to include a custom icon size for xcenter, (like the mock up attached picture) instead of just "small" and "large". Or do you think it can turn into something bad?

Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on December 27, 2023, 05:57:52 pm
Do you think it can be possible to include a custom icon size for xcenter, (like the mock up attached picture) instead of just "small" and "large".

If I could have done so when I was working on it, then I would have. If things change someday and enable me to do so, then I will. But right now? No.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: David Graser on January 07, 2024, 07:30:39 pm
What might be a good addition would be to have a way to draw lines on the desktop, which I believe NPS_WPS Enhance 1.82 had.  I am using XWP and Xit.  I am afraid to add another enhancer for fear of causing conflicts. The drawing of lines would allow one to point out problems on the desktop when sending in pics.  This in just an idea.  Don't even know if it would be feasible with XWP.  If not, I may try NPS and see what happens.

Oh, by the way Rich, doing the BigIcons has been a great learning experience for me.  It has giving me a better idea of how the WPS operates. Thanks for your original suggestion about trying to do something with them.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: David Graser on January 08, 2024, 03:45:21 am
The features I desired in NPS WPS Enhancer work fine with ArcaOS and the other enhancers.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Dave Yeo on February 21, 2024, 06:53:24 pm
I notice that the environment tab in some properties notebooks does not seem to honour the text size.
Same with the Objects and Schedule tabs.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on February 21, 2024, 08:17:29 pm
I notice that the environment tab in some properties notebooks does not seem to honour the text size.
Same with the Objects and Schedule tabs.

I've been meaning to release an update to fix that. Maybe now is the time :)

* Find your DragText directory (on AOS, it's in 'x:\sys\apps\drgtxt39').

* Unlock 'DTPGM39.DLL' using 'unlock.exe' or 'xunlock.exe' (the latter is in your 'xwps\bin' directory).

* Replace the dll with the attached (unzipped) file.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Dave Yeo on February 21, 2024, 08:29:58 pm
Thanks, seems to work as advertised.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on March 03, 2024, 03:50:38 pm
Hello

What do you think it is needed for lSwitcher to also respect the XWP font sizes too?

I opened a ticket in case Gregg Young wants to take a look at it.
- http://trac.netlabs.org/lswitcher/ticket/81

Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on March 03, 2024, 07:26:08 pm
What do you think it is needed for lSwitcher to also respect the XWP font sizes too?

Query os2.ini->PM_SystemFonts->WindowText to get the font name & size, then use it.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Dariusz Piatkowski on March 03, 2024, 08:23:02 pm
Rich & Martin,

Query os2.ini->PM_SystemFonts->WindowText to get the font name & size, then use it.

Which specific lswitch282.ini key are we talking about here?

I see the following:

1) TitleFont
2) ButtonFont (which I suspect is the TaskBar button)
3) HintsFont

...haven't tried any of them yet as none seem to imply the PopUp font control, which is what I'm interested in changing (b/c the TaskBar seems to be just fine).
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on March 04, 2024, 05:30:04 am
Query os2.ini->PM_SystemFonts->WindowText to get the font name & size, then use it.

Which specific lswitch282.ini key are we talking about here?

I have no idea. I was simply identifying how you get the current general-purpose font from os2.ini. How lswitcher uses it is up to Gregg...
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Roderick Klein on March 04, 2024, 09:52:38 am
Hello

What do you think it is needed for lSwitcher to also respect the XWP font sizes too?

I opened a ticket in case Gregg Young wants to take a look at it.
- http://trac.netlabs.org/lswitcher/ticket/81

Regards

Gregg is on vacation right now.  He is aware of this ISwitcher issue. He mentioned this issue at Warpstock.

Roderick
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on March 13, 2024, 10:32:18 pm
Hello Rich

Is the "IFX Options" GUI also yours?
Can it please be also possible to respect the XWP font size settings?

Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on March 14, 2024, 07:01:23 pm
Is the "IFX Options" GUI also yours?
Can it please be also possible to respect the XWP font size settings?

This dialog uses 10.Helv and I'd like to continue using that typeface. I'll see what I can do about the sizing...
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on March 14, 2024, 11:46:16 pm
Is the "IFX Options" GUI also yours?
Can it please be also possible to respect the XWP font size settings?

This dialog uses 10.Helv and I'd like to continue using that typeface. I'll see what I can do about the sizing...

The next version will use 10/12/14/18pt Helv. You won't see any change unless your 'Text Size' setting is X-Large or greater (there isn't a 9pt or 11pt Helv, so Small/Medium/Large all use the current 10.Helv).
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on March 28, 2024, 04:10:11 pm
Hello Again.

I noticed something in the "Workplace Shell" setup settings (XfdlWPS Class) on "Foder Hotkeys" while trying to create a shortcut.

When I add a hotkey, on the "Hotkey" field, I can only make key combinations that starts with the "Ctrl" and "Shift" key. ex:  "Ctrl+Shift+Alt+A" or "Shift+Alt+A" (Pic_001)
There can not be combinations that start or uses the "Windows key" or "Win Menu" key.

1) I think it will be great if  "Windows key" (left and right) and the "Win Menu" key can be include for combinations.  Or there is a reason not to do that today?

2) Also, what if, on the "Parameter" list we include the functions that are also listed on the "Keyboard - Windows Key" (STYLER.EXE W) settings. ? (Picture #2)
Or maybe this makes no sense, because are "Folder Hotkeys" and you want to to executing non-folder actions there.

Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on March 29, 2024, 04:38:52 pm
When I add a hotkey, on the "Hotkey" field, I can only make key combinations that starts with the "Ctrl" and "Shift" key. ex:  "Ctrl+Shift+Alt+A" or "Shift+Alt+A" (Pic_001)
There can not be combinations that start or uses the "Windows key" or "Win Menu" key.

On OS/2, the Win and Menu keys are just "character" keys not "shift" keys. What you're asking for is equivalent to asking "Why can't I use '<Tab>-9' or <F3>-Q' as a hotkey combo?". Shift/Ctrl/Alt set flags to indicate they were down when some other key was pressed. There just isn't a Win or Menu flag in OS/2.

Quote
2) Also, what if, on the "Parameter" list we include the functions that are also listed on the "Keyboard - Windows Key" (STYLER.EXE W) settings. ? (Picture #2)
Or maybe this makes no sense, because are "Folder Hotkeys" and you want to to executing non-folder actions there.

Maybe using an "Object Hotkey" which lets you set a key-combo to open an object will serve some of your needs. You can set this on the 'Icon' page of any object's notebook (e.g. have Dooble open when you press "Alt-Shift-D').
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Dariusz Piatkowski on March 29, 2024, 07:22:05 pm
When I add a hotkey, on the "Hotkey" field, I can only make key combinations that starts with the "Ctrl" and "Shift" key. ex:  "Ctrl+Shift+Alt+A" or "Shift+Alt+A" (Pic_001)
There can not be combinations that start or uses the "Windows key" or "Win Menu" key.

On OS/2, the Win and Menu keys are just "character" keys not "shift" keys. What you're asking for is equivalent to asking "Why can't I use '<Tab>-9' or <F3>-Q' as a hotkey combo?". Shift/Ctrl/Alt set flags to indicate they were down when some other key was pressed. There just isn't a Win or Menu flag in OS/2.

OK, but the Win95Key utility readily recognizes my WINeverything keys as separate objects: LWIN, RWIN & WINMENU, so while w/o looking at it's code it's hard to tell whether these are just internal definitions (for it's own purposes) or actual key values, the point remains: these keys are recognized as being unique keys different from all the other keyboard keys.

...Maybe using an "Object Hotkey" which lets you set a key-combo to open an object will serve some of your needs. You can set this on the 'Icon' page of any object's notebook (e.g. have Dooble open when you press "Alt-Shift-D').

Martin,
I realize this isn't the XWP answer you are looking for, but the Win95Key util could be used to define such combinations and in a sense 'introduce' the functionality you are looking at into XWP...further research needed though as I haven't played with this. I simply use my WIN keys to map to frequently used OS/2 & WPS functions.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on March 29, 2024, 07:23:44 pm
Thanks for the feedback

Maybe using an "Object Hotkey" which lets you set a key-combo to open an object will serve some of your needs. You can set this on the 'Icon' page of any object's notebook (e.g. have Dooble open when you press "Alt-Shift-D').

About "Object Hotkey", I understand how it works. First, the Windows key does not work for it. And when I try to create a combination for it like "Shift+1" or "Ctrl+1" for a folder program object on the desktop, the key combination does not do anything. I was expecting it to open the object (open the folder or launch a program), but it does not work for me.

Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Andi B. on March 29, 2024, 08:05:51 pm
Quote
but it does not work for me
Turbo Folders enabled? I seem to remember this is necessary for the hotkeys in XWP. But it's so long ago that I read the docs about that.....

I remember a had to read the docs a few times until I understand what it does and how to setup up. Though I'm not sure it can do what you need.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on March 29, 2024, 09:41:37 pm
Hi Andy B.
Quote
but it does not work for me
Turbo Folders enabled? I seem to remember this is necessary for the hotkeys in XWP. But it's so long ago that I read the docs about that.....

I remember a had to read the docs a few times until I understand what it does and how to setup up. Though I'm not sure it can do what you need.
Here it is the forum thread of what I'm trying to do. "Windows Key - Custom Key Combination  (https://www.os2world.com/forum/index.php/topic,3618.0.html)". Basically I want to use a combination of the Windows Key to do some action in OS/2.

I enabled Turbo Folders, but the "Object hotkey" does not do anything. And you can not use the Windows Key for combination of actions there too.

Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on March 29, 2024, 09:51:03 pm
Thanks Rich
On OS/2, the Win and Menu keys are just "character" keys not "shift" keys. What you're asking for is equivalent to asking "Why can't I use '<Tab>-9' or <F3>-Q' as a hotkey combo?". Shift/Ctrl/Alt set flags to indicate they were down when some other key was pressed. There just isn't a Win or Menu flag in OS/2.
Just to improve my English vocabulary I found that those are called "Modifier Key" according to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modifier_key) (Shift, Ctrl, Alt, Fn, etc).  The Windows key is also listed as a "Modifier key".

In OS/2 is set as a character key because of the keyboard driver? or because how XWP is coded?

Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on March 30, 2024, 05:02:03 pm
About "Object Hotkey", I understand how it works. First, the Windows key does not work for it.

Before you can use the Win or Menu keys, you have to identify them to XWP. Go to 'System Setup->Keyboard->Function Keys', right-click, then select "New function key". Once they're registered, you can use them as Object Hotkeys but only as a stand-alone key, not a modifier like Shift/Ctrl/Alt.

Quote
And when I try to create a combination for it like "Shift+1" or "Ctrl+1" for a folder program object on the desktop, the key combination does not do anything. I was expecting it to open the object (open the folder or launch a program), but it does not work for me.

I tested this on several objects and it WFM. *Except*... you can't use "Shift 1" or Shift-anything because that generates a usable character. On an English keyboard, Shift-1 would turn the exclamation point (!) into a hotkey!

In OS/2 is set as a character key because of the keyboard driver? or because how XWP is coded?

I _think_ it's due to Presentation Manager. As I mentioned, when PM sends a character message to an app, it sets bit flags indicating whether Shift/Ctrl/Alt are down. They're stored in a 16-bit field along with 13 other flags, so there is no room to add another flag, even if IBM had wanted to. The 'Win95Key' utility is able to work around this because it doesn't pay attention to the flags and instead reads the keyboard's physical state to see what key(s) are currently pressed. That's OK for a specialized util but impractical for the average app.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on March 30, 2024, 10:59:01 pm
Thanks Rich.

I can not make "Object Hotkey" work yet. I tried:
1) Turn on Turbo folders and reboot
2) On 'System Setup->Keyboard->Function Keys' assigned "New function key". I can not assign combination of key there, right? I registered LWin, RWin, WinList
3) On the "Downloads" folder assigned the "Object Hotkey" as "LWin" and pressed "Set".  (Image attached)
I see no action when I press the "LWin" key.

Is it supposed to open the "Downloads" folder when I press LWin?

Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Pete on March 31, 2024, 08:46:58 am
Hi Martin

After creating the Function Key close Keyboard notebook then open Downloads folder Properties, Icon tab, click in Object Hotkey box, press the Key (LWin) that you want to use then click Set.


Regards

Pete


Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on March 31, 2024, 05:01:43 pm
Sorry, there must be something I'm doing wrong, but I can not make the "Object Hotkey" to work with XWP:

I had tried the VM and the T12s machine, and does not work on both.

My steps:
1) Check that "System Setup -> Keyboard - OEM Keys" is disabled. No other special keyboard app like Win95Key is running.
2) Turn on Turbo folders on XWorkplace and reboot
3) On 'System Setup->Keyboard->Function Keys' assigned "New function key".  I registered "LWin". Closed that window.
4) On the "Downloads" folder, I assigned the "Object Hotkey" as "LWin" and pressed "Set". 

Nothing happens when I press the "LWin" key.

Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Pete on March 31, 2024, 07:59:55 pm
Hi Martin

A quick look at XWP Help Object Hotkeys suggests you may be going about this wrong:-

Note: Do not confuse object hotkeys with folder hotkeys, as displayed in the "Workplace Shell" object. Object hotkeys are used to open    objects using a key definition and work everywhere, while folder hotkeys are shortcuts to certain folder commands and work in folders only.


The above suggests that you should be using Folder Hotkeys which is Enabled in XWorkplace Setup -> Features -> Folder features

Never used it myself so no tips on setting up, Sorry.


Regards

Pete
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on March 31, 2024, 11:50:33 pm
Hi Pete
Note: Do not confuse object hotkeys with folder hotkeys, as displayed in the "Workplace Shell" object. Object hotkeys are used to open    objects using a key definition and work everywhere, while folder hotkeys are shortcuts to certain folder commands and work in folders only.

The above suggests that you should be using Folder Hotkeys which is Enabled in XWorkplace Setup -> Features -> Folder features
I have "XWorkplace Setup -> Features -> Folder features" enable. But I'm not sure if it is related.

I'm guessing this is different from "folder hotkeys". I'm just going to "System Setup->Keyboard->Function Keys" and inside the folder properties that I'm trying to open into "Properties->Icon->Object Hotkey"

Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Pete on April 01, 2024, 01:05:42 am
Hi Martin

I decided to try this for myself and did not find any problem.

The steps to setup the Left Windows key were

1] Uncheck "Enable the windows keys" in System Setup -> Keyboard - OEM Keys

2] Add Function Key name: LWin, click in Hardware scan code edit box and press the LWin key to display the value (0x7e (126) on my Logitech keyboard) in System Setup -> Keyboard -> Function Keys - click OK to save

3] Open Download folder Properties -> Icon, click in Object hotkey edit box, press the LWin key - should show LWin in edit box, click Set and close the Properties.

4] Pressed the LWin key and Download opened


Hope the above helps

Pete
 

Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on April 02, 2024, 08:45:55 pm
Thanks Pete for giving it a try.
I'm doing your procedure without luck, I will keep trying and see if I find what is the thing that is not allowing me to use "Object Hotkey".

Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Pete on April 03, 2024, 05:00:58 am
Hi Martin

Where does it fail for you?

Can you add a Function Key successfully?


Regards

Pete


Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on April 04, 2024, 12:21:06 am
Hello Pete.

I don't see any kind of error on the process. The button just don't work for the "Object Hotkey" action.

Today I tried a kind of "vanilla" VM that I have with 5.1.0, without any luck.

I follow the same procedure.
1] Uncheck "Enable the windows keys" in System Setup -> Keyboard - OEM Keys
2] Add Function Key name: LWin, click in Hardware scan code edit box and press the LWin key to display the value (0x7e (126) ) (Also in my keyboard) in System Setup -> Keyboard -> Function Keys. (There is no OK to save, If I close the window and reopen it, the value remains there, so I guess it is saved)
3] Open Download folder Properties -> Icon, click in Object hotkey edit box, press the LWin key - should show LWin in edit box, click Set and close the Properties.
4] Pressed the LWin key and no action occurred

I have the screen shot attached. The key is getting registered/recognized on the "System Setup -> Keyboard -> Function Keys".
Tonight I will try on a different machine.

Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Pete on April 05, 2024, 12:23:45 am
Hi Martin

Having added a Function Key and then set that Function Key to open Downloads the Keyboard properties should now show a Hotkeys tab with the Function Key listed - see screenshots Funckeys.jpg and Hotkeys.jpg. The Hotkeys tab does not in your screenshot indicating that Setting LWin as the Object hotkey for Downloads did not work

My best guess is that some other desktop extender is interfering...

I do not have "Turbo folders" enabled but doubt that interferes.

I do not have Dynamic Icons installed as, quite simply, it is broken. I wonder if that is causing the problem you are seeing?


Regards

Pete

Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on April 05, 2024, 03:47:02 am
Hi Pete

Thanks for the tip. In fact I don't have that "Hotkeys" tab in the Keyboard Setting, not on my VM nor my real HW machine. I have ArcaOS 5.1.0 with XWP 1.0.16 Full installed and I don't see that tab.

Disabling Styler did not made any difference.
I can give it a try on a experimental VM to uninstall Dynamic Icons, but I don't know how to uninstall it.


Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Pete on April 05, 2024, 05:46:39 am
Hi Martin

The Hotkeys tab does not exist until a Function key has been created and Set as an Object hotkey - creating LWin and Setting it as the Object hotkey for Downloads should have created the Hotkeys tab.

Dynamic Icons is, I think, installed from PNGDESK.WPI so use Warpin to uninstall.


Regards

Pete
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on April 05, 2024, 11:56:19 am
I do not have Dynamic Icons installed as, quite simply, it is broken.

How, exactly, is it broken (vs. merely deficient)? I've been using it for 6+ years and it WFM. There's a new version awaiting release that fixes most of the problems I found and uses a lot less memory. Hopefully it will work for you.

Quote
I wonder if that is causing the problem you are seeing?

How, exactly, would an add-on that replaces icons with bitmaps interfere with a keyboard feature? So, no, it isn't the cause (see below).
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on April 05, 2024, 11:59:37 am
This sub-thread is yet another good reason to use XWP-Lite/ANXWP: it comes preconfigured.

In XWP-Full, you need to check "XWorkplace Installation->XWorkplace Setup->Features->Mouse and Keyboard features->Enable global object hotkeys"
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on April 05, 2024, 02:10:28 pm
This sub-thread is yet another good reason to use XWP-Lite/ANXWP: it comes preconfigured.

In XWP-Full, you need to check "XWorkplace Installation->XWorkplace Setup->Features->Mouse and Keyboard features->Enable global object hotkeys"

Thanks Rich. That was what I needed. XWP full does not enable by default the "Enable global object hotkeys". Now the hotkeys works fine.

Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Pete on April 05, 2024, 02:48:19 pm
I do not have Dynamic Icons installed as, quite simply, it is broken.

How, exactly, is it broken (vs. merely deficient)? I've been using it for 6+ years and it WFM. There's a new version awaiting release that fixes most of the problems I found and uses a lot less memory. Hopefully it will work for you.


Errmm.. A reply from yourself in the Bigicons discussion

In this case, the problem is not operator error or a bad install - it's just broken. I can reliably lock up my system by using D&D to copy a program object to a folder that's open in Icon view. You might think that I would have noticed this before but I use Xview almost exclusively and only have 2 folders that use Icon view (one of them being the Desktop).


Looking forward to trying the new release in the near future.


Regards

Pete


Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on April 09, 2024, 07:19:40 pm
XWP full does not enable by default the "Enable global object hotkeys".

I made the mistake of assuming it did, and that the settings on the Icon page would be disabled if the feature were disabled - neither of which was true. I've now fixed both.

In doing so, I found a bigger issue: XWP-Full starts with fewer features enabled than XWP-Lite/ANXWP. Since nothing in Lite is risky/experimental/controversial, I can't see any reason why Full shouldn't default to the same feature set as Lite. In the next version (1.0.17), it will. All the checkboxes will remain, only the ones that are checked by default will change.

BTW... this only affects new installations - upgrades will use your existing settings and shouldn't change anything.
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Pete on April 10, 2024, 08:40:25 pm
Hi Rich

The joy of the full version is (used to be?) that it starts with no features enabled and the user selects what they want.

I guess in future the user will simply have to select what they want and deselect anything they do not want...


Regards

Pete


Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on April 11, 2024, 01:36:16 am
Hello

I created this ticket, about enhancing XWPKeyboard Mappings.

http://trac.netlabs.org/xworkplace/ticket/11

I think it can be interesting to grab the idea of "Folder Hotkeys" and put it on "Mappings" so different combination of keys can be assigned to some desktop actions (parameters).
But I guess it will be more interesting if more "desktop actions" can be added to XWP there, like the ones in "Windows Keys" like "Hide/show all windows", "Show windows list", "Lock up desktop", etc. 

Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Dariusz Piatkowski on April 29, 2024, 12:52:50 am
Rich,

New feature request: would you consider implementing BLDLEVEL file object pop-up functionality?

What I'm envisioning is the ability to right click on a DLL, or any object that does contain the BLDLEVEL information, and have this stuff either pop-up directly under some sort of 'Version' or 'BldLevel' menu entry, or perhaps another place such as under 'Properties'???
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on April 29, 2024, 01:16:53 am
Hello Dariusz

I think that XWPProgramFile Class (or is it some other WPS Class?) has already something implemented (See picture) on the "Module" tab. But I have no idea how to have the same information for DLLs files.
What it would be great too, it to have a way to Ctrl+C that information.

Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on April 29, 2024, 01:41:56 am
But I have no idea how to have the same information for DLLs files.
I was able to also have the "Module" tab on the DLLs by using Rich's improved OO and the procedure from this forum thread (https://www.os2world.com/forum/index.php/topic,3453.0.html).
I changed all the DLLs on C:\OS2\DLL to XWPProgramFile

Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Dariusz Piatkowski on April 29, 2024, 02:32:53 am
Hello Martin,

...I think that XWPProgramFile Class (or is it some other WPS Class?) has already something implemented (See picture) on the "Module" tab. But I have no idea how to have the same information for DLLs files...

Hmm...so for some reason I do not see this being populated for some EXEs, such as the NewView.exe, where at CLI there certainly is BLDLEVEL info showing.

DLL wise, turns out that not all DLLs are classified as XWPProgramFile object, which is perhaps why so it happened that the DLLs I was looking at showed no such Module tab.

So at a follow-up, two actually, I'm curious:
1) DLL object type conversion
- reading that other thread you shared, it seems like this was a manual process that needed to be done for every new DLL, is that correct?

2) re: XWP NEW Feature request: now that I understand what's already there (or should be there), I would like to just stick to the menu selection which would simply show that BLDLEVEL info in it's own pop-up
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on April 29, 2024, 02:37:43 am
Hi
1) DLL object type conversion
- reading that other thread you shared, it seems like this was a manual process that needed to be done for every new DLL, is that correct?
I did the manual process of converting the DLLs from "WPDataFile" to "XWPProgramFile" using Rich's newer OO and creating a CMD according to his suggestion. The .CMD only works for directories, maybe some more tweaking can be done in REXX to create something that change all files in subfolders.

Quote
DLL2Prog.CMD
------------------
oo /+
for %%1 in (*.dll) do oo /B %%1 XWPProgramFile
oo /-
------------------
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Rich Walsh on April 29, 2024, 06:34:16 pm
I would like to just stick to the menu selection which would simply show that BLDLEVEL info in it's own pop-up

Why wait for someone to implement a feature that you can have _now_?

Open Properties for \os2\bldlevel.exe, and on the 'Session' page uncheck "Close window on exit". Then on the 'Association' page, add "*.DLL" and "*.EXE". Done! When you need this info, select 'Open as', then 'bldlevel.exe'.

FWIW... on my system, any info I may need about a binary is immediately at hand because I have associated 6 different utils with *.exe and *.dll. Some of these associations are program objects while others point at the exe itself:
unlock.exe
exehdr.exe
exeinfo.exe
pmdll.exe
hexedit2.exe
bldlevel.exe

Warning: you can *not* copy/paste from a VIO window whose app has terminated - it's instant death. If you need this ability, associate a simple .cmd file like this and leave "Close window on exit" checked:

-----bldlvl.cmd-----
@bldlevel %1
@pause
------------------------
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on June 14, 2024, 04:08:48 am
Hello

I'm just writing down which other software does not respect "adhere to" the default font size that can now be controlled with the XWP "Font Size" feature.
- WarpIn
- ArcaOS Package Manager

- NewView (Works fine on 2.19.9)
- (kLIBC) User Manager
- DragText
- Extended Character  Map
- Lucide
- PMDCalc Plus
- Remote Desktop Connections

Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Alex Taylor on June 14, 2024, 02:03:30 pm
I'm just writing down which other software does not respect the default font size that can now be controlled with the XWP "Font Size" feature.
- ArcaOS Package Manager
- NewView

A distinction needs to be made here between "respect" and "adhere to".  These programs have their own user-customizable font size setting which they use in preference to any others. This is as it should be. 

In fact, NewView does use the system font setting as its default if (and only if) a user font is not specified. Again, this is as it should be.  Of course, this normally happens only when you first run it after a fresh install. Try deleting newview.ini and then see what happens.  :D
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on June 14, 2024, 02:36:15 pm
A distinction needs to be made here between "respect" and "adhere to".  These programs have their own user-customizable font size setting which they use in preference to any others. This is as it should be. 
Thanks Alex for the correction, the right word should be "adhere to", since "respect" may sound aggressive, like if the software is "disrespecting" something and that is not what I mean.  Thanks for helping me find the right word.

Also the idea is not to force or lock the font size of style of the software, it is just to start with the default and let the user change their font style and size if he wants to, like it has always been possible on OS/2. It is always the choice of the developer what font to use, but the idea is just to give a convenience to the user to be able to change the size of all the fonts at once now that XWP has that feature.

Regards
Title: Re: XWP v1.0.16
Post by: Martin Iturbide on June 14, 2024, 02:45:03 pm
In fact, NewView does use the system font setting as its default if (and only if) a user font is not specified. Again, this is as it should be.  Of course, this normally happens only when you first run it after a fresh install. Try deleting newview.ini and then see what happens.  :D

Thanks Alex. I noticed I was using an older release, I updated to Newview 2.19.9 and it "adhere to" to the system font size. I stand corrected.

Regards