PDE

The PDE Shell is the free alternative user shell for OS/2 and eComStation. The new version PDE contains the great number of changes and useful possibilities, which will do your work more pleasant.

Information
The PDE Shell can seem to you very simple and acquainted, the more so, if you earlier worked with a computer. Basic elements of shell is this: Desktop, Starting Panel and windows of the programs opened by you. In the complement of PDE the valuable file manager "FileHalf" is integrated. Except for functions built-in for a file manager he gives the row of little, but extraordinarily useful possibilities to the user. For example, you will be able to look over the graphic images with his help; automatically to see description of files in a folder; or, collecting necessary folders and files from different disks, by one motion to copy or delete them. This technology is named "BriefCase".

A FileHalf is similar to the chameleon. He supports the themes of registration, which set original appearance of his windows and original appearance of files and folders. To change the FileHalf parameters you easily can through the window of tuning.

In PDE 0.20 the visual tuning of associations of data files to the programs processing these information is new. In early versions the PDE users had by hand to adjust the files of configuration. At short notice it is enough to take advantage of dialog of tuning of types of information.

PDE uses the system of file associations, not dependency upon the shell of the working space OS/2. The types of files differentiate on extension of file. For every extension the program and icon independent of the program is registered.

The text editor of PDE - "eD2" except for operations with a text is able also to convert Cyrillic texts in eight directions. He also befits for viewing of source codes of the programs is illumination from beneath of syntactic constructions of ten programming languages. For web-programmers the useful will appear the function of code completion of text for the HTML and IPF languages. The list of addition of code can be easily adjusted in accordance with the desires of user.

The Electronic English-Russian dictionary "Slovo" knows translation more than 60 000 words. An user also can add the words to the user dictionary. Thus the program has a small size and in an archive is fitted on one diskette. Must say, it may be useful only for Russian-speaking users.

PDE also contains the comfortable program for the search of folders and files on disks - pFinder. This one not only quickly will find necessary files but also will place them (certainly, at will of user) in an electronic catalogue. Thus, an user is in a position to put in order the information and if it is necessary quickly to find required.

The "pDisksFree" utility is evidently able to represent a situation on the disks of computer. Information appear in a comfortable graphic kind.

The version of the famous game field "WinMine" is included In the PDE version 0.20. The game by nothing differs from the analogues and allows pleasantly to kill time. The PDE Shell does not bind an user by the use of one national language. an user can change the language of shell "on the fly", without the restart. It is enough only to choose the necessary file of linguistic resources in the property sheet of the PDE desktop. In the complement of the version 0.20 support for international is included the English (it is used by default), Russian, Ukrainian and Spanish languages. Multilingual support of interface can be extended without the special labour. If you have the desire to translate PDE into the native language, contact with us and we with pleasure will help you.

Installation notices
PDE can be downloaded as one ZIP-archive, and as the set of archives (pde020_minimum.zip 2Mb, ed2022.zip, pfinder020.zip, pswitch020.zip). How clear from the name, the archive contains all programs of shell (except for the dictionary "Word"). The other archives are created for comfort of users not having good access to the Internet. All archives are placed on a server hobbes.nmsu.edu.

It admits, you got pde020_full.zip. Here is the sequence of installation:

decompress an archive move the file "PDEDLGS.DLL" to the folder "X:\OS2\DLL\" (X - mean drive, where OS/2 installed) if you set PDE in the folder "C:\PDE\", can boldly start "pdm.exe" (it is the manager of the PDE desktop) straight from WPS otherwise it is necessary to add to the CONFIG.SYS line "SET PDE_HOME=[drive:\pde_folder]" and to overload the system if you wish to set PDE as a basic shell, will change in the CONFIG.SYS line "SET RUNWORKPLACE=......."so it point to "pdm.exe" there is the program - switcher of shells named "PSWITCH.EXE" in PDE. She allows to the user to choose a shell at the start of the system. For instructions on its application you will appeal to the document of this program PDE can ask you user name and password, when loading. By default it - "admin/admin". Change login and password you can in "PassMan" program. You also can turn off authorization.

If you had difficulties, make attempt find answers in a document on PDE ( files of "readme_ru.txt", "readme_en.txt", the "Help folder"); write us a letter, in which specify problem and, if can, base information about the system.

License

 * Open Source - GNU GPL V2.

Authors

 * Vladymyr Sergeyev (aka stVova)
 * Sergey Sergeyev (aka SERG)
 * Adam Ritchi

Links

 * Webpage: http://web.archive.org/web/20040707163333/http://os2progg.by.ru/pde/020/index_en.html