HiSoft GEM Toolbox ================== The HGT is a set of modules that a programmer can include in his programs to enhance the standard GEM interface. The modules borrow ideas (in concept, but not in actual code) from MyDials and Let'em Fly as well as E_GEM. So what does it all mean to the user of an HGT based program? The HGT Interface ----------------- The interface is based on the standard GEM interface so that it is fully compatible with it. You may use it just as you would any standard GEM program. It does offer many enhancements, but these do not conflict with standard operation. Window Dialogs -------------- HGT dialog boxes are drawn inside GEM windows. This means that you may open several dialogs at the same time and you always have access to the menu bar and to desk accessories. If you run under a multi-tasking system you also have access to other programs while a dialog box is open. Window dialogs need not be 'topped'. You may use the right mouse button to click on a background window. Closing a window dialog with the Closer gadget on the top left corner is the same as pressing the Cancel button in that dialog. Flying Dialogs -------------- Some dialogs are not placed in a window. Instead they have a 'dog-ear' on the top right corner which may be used to move the dialog around the screen. Pressing the mouse outside the dialog makes it 'fly'. You will also notice that flying dialogs are much quicker to clear on exit. Keyboard Shortcuts ------------------ Buttons in a dialog may have a keyboard equivalent which is indicated with an underscore. To activate it, press the underlined key while holding Alternate. In addition, any button that is marked Cancel, Abort, No, Exit or Undo may be selected by pressing the Undo key on your keyboard. Popup Menus ----------- If a program uses popup menus, they are normally indicated by a shadowed button with a little cycle icon to its right. The simplest way of using a popup menu is to click on the shadowed button. This pops a menu which is used much like the standard menu bar. Additionally, you may use the cursor keys to move up and down the menu items. Pressing ClrHome selects the first item and pressing Shift+ClrHome selects the bottom item. To exit the menu click the mouse over a selection or press Return. To cancel the menu press Undo or click the mouse outside the menu. Menu entries may have keyboard equivalents which are indicated inside the popup menu, on the right of each menu item. You may use these without having to display the menu. The cycle icon allows you to scroll through the menu entries without having to display it first. Window Menus ------------ The HGT incorporates window menu bars. A window may have a menu bar similar to the one at the top of the screen. This is started by clicking once on the bar. The menu is used much like popup menus and uses all the keyboard shortcuts that are available in a popup menu. Additionally, you can use the left and right cursor keys to move sideways along the menus. Pressing Alternate+Esc also starts the menu. Toolbars ---------- HGT windows may have a toolbar at the top of the window. The tools work much like standard buttons in dialog boxes, so hopefuly no further explanation is needed. Editable Fields --------------- If the program has any editable text fields, these are much nicer to use than the standard GEM ones. The extended features are listed below: ClrHome - jump to first editable field Shift+ClrHome - jump to last editable field Tab or down arrow - move one field forward with wrap Shift+Tab or up arrow - move one field back with wrap Shift+left arrow - move to start of field Shift+right arrow - move to end of field Control+left - move back one word Control+right - move forward one word Control+Delete - delete text from cursor position Control+Backspace - delete text up to cursor Shift+Insert - Display ASCII table. The Shift+Insert ASCII table lets you enter extended characters which are not available from the keyboard. In adition, you can move the cursor to any valid position with the mouse. Simply click the mouse on the the editable field and the cursor will jump to that point. IMPORTANT: Because of the way the HGT allocates system memory dynamically, we strongly recommend that you install the program FOLDER100.PRG in your auto folder. This applies to ALL TOS versions.