OS/2: Parts of a Window
- System Control Box
- Close Box
- Max, Min buttons
- Window List
Before getting into the RI System Software, we need to define some of the basic OS/2 and RI functions and terminology. For some of you this is already familiar, for others it will be new. The OS/2 operating system is very similar to the windowing operating systems you may already be using. The left mouse button is used for selection and the right mouse button is used to invoke a context sensitive menu. We will continually reinforce the information by repeatedly referencing this information throughout the training material.
Any OS/2 Window will be contained in a frame that has a control bar running across the top and possibly scroll bars running down the right side or across the bottom. The control bar has in it's left most corner a System pull down menu box that allows basic window controls such as window size, close, minimize, etc. Next to this System box is a Title Bar that provide some type of description of the content of the window. In the right hand corner are three boxes, going from right to left is the Window Size Max/Normal box, next the Window Minimize box ( which removes the window from the active display screen but keeps the application running in the background ), and then the Window Close box that closes the application and removes it from active memory. To see a list of all the Windows that are in the minimized state, place the mouse pointer on an open area of the desktop and click both right and Left mouse buttons simultaneously. A Window List window will appear showing the Title Bar of each of the applications running, hidden or not, and you can click in the window on the desired application and it will be place on top of any open windows for easy access.
To Copy and Paste text, first highlight the text to be copied/replaced by dragging button #1 across the text, then use [CTRL] C to copy the text. Place the cursor where you want the copied text and press [CTRL] V to paste the text that you just copied.
Using OS/2 : Mouse Movement Basics, Mouse Pointer
The mouse pointer (usually an arrow or crosshair symbol) can be placed anywhere on the display screen(s) by moving the mouse in the physical direction desired. Typically (if the operator is right handed) the left mouse button is referred to as Button #1 or LMB and the right mouse button is referred to as Button #2 or RMB. A mouse Click is the action of placing the mouse pointer on an object on the screen and then, without physically moving the mouse, pressing and releasing quickly the desired mouse button. A mouse Drag is the action of placing the mouse pointer on an object on the screen and then pressing and holding the button down while physically moving the mouse in the direction you want to move or "drag" that object. The Drag is complete when the mouse button is released.
Button 1 - Left Mouse Button (typically)
Action | Event |
Click | Selects an Object |
Double Click (2 Clicks) | Opens an Object |
Click, Hold & Drag (scross text) | Selects text ([CTRL] + C to copy, [CTRL] + V to paste) |
[CTRL] + Click | Copying a RI Button (only in RI System Software) |
Button 2 - Right Mouse Button (typically)
Action | Event |
Click | Displays the Object's Pop-up Menu |
Double Click (2 Clicks) | Opens an Object |
Click, Hold & Drag | Moves an Object |
[CTRL] + Click Click + "Select" function | Copies a RI Button (only in RI System Software) |
Click + "Paste Button" | Pastes a RI Button (after "select") (only in RI System Software) |
Selecting an Object (highlight)
Opening an Object (click)
Moving an Object (drag)
Selecting the Active Window (click inside it)
Displaying the Objects Pop-up Menu (Button 2)
Displaying the Open Window's Pop-Up Menu (Button 2)
Copying an Object (Button 2)
Menu Bar Selection (click)
Scroll Bar (click on arrow or drag bar)
Closing the Window (click)
RI System Software Mouse Shortcuts
Button 1 - Left Mouse Button (typically)
Action | Event |
[CTRL] + Click | Copying a RI Button |
Button 2 - Right Mouse Button (typically)
Action | Event |
[CTRL] + Click Click + "Select" function | Copies a RI Button (only in RI System Software) |
Click + "Paste Button" | Pastes a RI Button (after "select") (only in RI System Software) |
Selecting and Copying a RI Button or selection of Buttons to the special RI Paste Buffer can be accomplished two ways. First, by placing the mouse pointer on the desired button, click Button 2, then click "Select" from the menu. Second, by holding the [CRTL] button on the keyboard down while you click on the object with Button 1. Either of these actions places a copy of that button in the special RI Paste Buffer. Objects are highlighted in Black when in the buffer. You can select multiple buttons from the same window and they will all be placed in the RI Paste Buffer. Once you move to another window and attempt to copy more buttons into the RI Paste Buffer, it is automatically cleared of it's contents first, and then the new button is added.
Pasting a RI Button from the special RI Paste Buffer can be accomplished two way as well. First, by placing the mouse pointer on the desired place in the window where you wish the button(s) to be placed, click Button 2, then click "Paste Button" from the menu. Second by holding the [CRTL] button on the keyboard down while you click on the desired place in the window where you wish the button(s) to be placed with Button 1. Either of these actions places the contents of the special RI Paste Buffer on the screen centered around the place you specified.
Note: Be careful when using the [CRTL] button 1 click method of Selecting or Pasting since the same [CRTL] button 1 click can invoke either a copy or a paste determined by where your mouse pointer is at that moment. For example, while selecting multiple buttons to be placed in the buffer, you inadvertently miss a button and click on an empty place in the window so that the entire past buffer will be copied to the window instead of the selection of new buttons being copied.
Using OS/2 : Utilities : ZIP and UNZIP
Safe Transporting of RI Files
OS/2 allows Long File Names
- Long File Names may be truncated if transporting the files
Special characters may cause issues with email or network sharing
Compressing RI files before transport protects the attributes
- OS/2 Command line similar to DOS
CD, Dir, MD, etc, commands are valid
Type: ZIP <compressed file name> <file names to be compressed>
Type: UNIZIP <compressed file name>
Zip and Unzip are public domain command line utilities used to compress and group files together, typically used prior to transporting files. The OS/2 operating system extends the typical DOS file structure to add extended attributes that allow long file names and characters that are not normally supported. When attempting to transport these files from the RI system controller via removable media (floppy disk) or via the network, there is a good chance that some of the file information may be lost or corrupted, such as the file's name being truncated. To maintain file integrity during any type of file transport, RI recommends compressing the files with the provided ZIP utility. Please remember to make the names of the compressed file 8 characters or shorter so they will not have their names truncated as well.
Both ZIP and UNZIP are command line utilities that are accessible by opening an OS/2 command line window.
Type the command by itself to get a help list of usage and available control switches.
ZIP -opt ... destfile source1 source2 ... -x source
Recursive -r
Ignore files after -x switch
UNZIP -opt ... srcfile file1 file2 ... [-d destdir ]
Ignore case option -C