                   Joe's OS/2 Tips.

                      Number 9

         Written by Joseph Mckinnon (61:560/0@Worldnet)
                                    (3:640/830@fidonet)
         Downloaded from Proteus OS/2.
        
         Phone +61-7-800-3521
        
         Hours 24 hours a day
        
         Speeds 300-14400, MNP.

==========================================================================
Introduction
   Welcome to my 9th tips!  Never thought I'd get past the first couple.
   Anyway, this issue is the continuation of Software Reviews, and other
   goodies.

   Index
   1. More File Managers
   2. Config.sys Updates
   3. Those Mysterious OS/2 Progs
   4. CatsEye/X (SPECIAL OFFER TOO!)
   5. MAJOR NEWS.
   6. Caching Controllers.
   7. My IBM Flame.
   8. CALLING ALL DEVELOPERS!


==========================================================================

1. MORE FILE MANAGERS

1.1 The Norton Commander for OS/2

    DOS lovers will be happy, Windows users will feel at home.  OS/2
longtime users maybe disappointed with this initial release, but what
can we expect from a ver 1.0?

    PROs
      Nortons is a very easy to learn system, and is an ideal file
      management tool for your Desktop.  It's has a reasonable
      performance with most functions.

      It is easy to configure, unlike some of the other, previous
      reviewed, packages.

      You can select a file and drag it's object to the Desktop as
      either a copy or a move....The drawbacks are that new users will
      get confused as to what a Program Object and File Object are all
      about.  Essentially a File Object is a Direct link of the file to
      the WPS, hence if you delete the File Object, you delete the file
      (NASTY!).

      Although I have only been playing with NC/2 for a few days, I have
      yet to spot any serious errors, and this is on top of the March 2.1
      beta (6.498).

    CONs
      Established OS/2 users (like self) will find Norton's Commander a
      bit 'old-hat', that is many of us have customized our systems to
      perform likewise, without buying extras.

      I can't seem to be able to Associate file types, so that when I
      click on a particular file, it will not load the associated
      program.....Maybe this will be in a Norton's Desktop for OS/2?

      It's Norton Menu subprogram is a novel idea, but lacks speed, and
      utilizes a file called MENU.INI.  NC/2 doesn't recognize, this when
      clicked on, hence I feel that this cripples it's usage
      slightly.....but maybe the next version will be more thought out.


    Features  (A Quick Summary - as there have been so many already on
               this product.)
         - WPS program.  (32 bit)
         - High speed scrolling
         - Either, 2 windows for 2 directories or a nice graphical Tree
           and sub directory display.
         - On-line Help
         - Small in Size (317k on my drive)
         - has it's own user definable Program Menu.
         - drop and Drag operation.
         - Multi-Threaded, allowing quick directory updates.

    SUGGESTIONS
         This being a commercial package, I believe that I should add my
    own personal views about how I'd like to see this product progress
    into a new version.

         - changing the idea of Drop and Drag so that it creates a
           program object that refers to the program, rather than actually
           moving the file from it's original location to the desktop
           directories.  This will stop unintentional file deletions.  I
           made this mistake, before I realized what NC/2 had done, as I
           expected it to create a program object, not a file object.
         - The Fonts and Colours changes effected by OS/2 Palette tools,
           should be made permanent.  As this is a very convenient method
           to customize an OS/2 WPS program.
         - Allowing Associating file types, so that it knows what to do
           with files like INFs etc.
         - Keeping the directory tree structure files on one partition.

     SUMMING UP.

        This is a very well-behaved OS/2 program, with heaps of promise
        for the next version.  I hope Symantec's programmers make the
        program more configurationally designed, along the lines of
        DirMan (see Tips 8).

     SPECIAL THANKS
        A BIG thanks to Kirsten Cooke, from Symantec Australia, for
        supplying me with a copy of Norton's Commander for OS/2, for this
        review.  And I hope this is a sign to all of the DOS (concreted)
        companies that OS/2 is a viable platform, and will prompt them
        to produce OS/2 versions.  Maybe a nice multi-threaded,
        trustworthy backup program, at a bargain basement price.

1.2 InspectA

         Programmed by David Nugent

         Proposed Release Date is 10th May 1993.

      I am proud to announce the arrival of InspectA to the land OS/2.
   David has produced a first class program which will solve many
   people's nightmares, from Archive viewing to BBS file maintenance.
   Although text based, you can still control InspectA with your mouse,
   in either a window or a full screen.

   Features (Too Many to name)

      - You can map your keyboard to perform any function you prefer.
            e.g. on my system I have the program detaching background
            tasks such as file indexing etc. for the BBS.

      - You can use the FILES option, on the configuration program, to
        associate different file types to different viewers/programs
            NICE FEATURE and very powerful.

      - BBS file maintenance is made easy, tag the files you want to
        move/delete/re-archive and (by selecting the functions you want)
        inspector will do all the hard work, from moving the files to
        correcting the specified file listings (i.e., you can specify
        which file listings should be edited, rather than defaulting to
        FILES.BBS).

      - All the usual file maintenance features are present.

      - Multi-window views of different directories.

      - Very good on-line help.

      - You can look into mail packets and read them!  This great for
        BBS systems.  PLUS there are a HOST of other useful BBS Sysop tools.

      - Every Window is definable, from having just the name of the
        file, to all the details.

      - Virtually every de/compressor known is included in the sample
        files.  With the many features you'd find in Shez (from DOS
        land) and more.

      - Aussie Made!  It Proves it, Australia does has at least one
                      programmer, who programs for the Best OS in the
                      world.

   What more can I say!!......It has managed to solve many of my needs
   for a total OS/2 system, from a quick file manager to the Sysop tools
   it has replaced.  Take a look at it, you will enjoy it.  PROMISE!

   The following is how to contact the author of InspectA, and the
   support site in Europe.

       Australia and the US

                    Unique Computing Pty Limited
         Netmail from any FidoNet BBS:  3:632/348@fidonet(PEP)
                                        3:632/103@fidonet (V32b)
         Netmail from any IntlNet BBS:  58:4100/1@intlnet
                         Via Internet:  davidn@csource.oz.au
                                        davidn%csource.oz.au@munnari.oz.au
                                        davidn@csource.cec.edu.au
                  Via our support BBS:  +61-3-792-3507 PEP
                                   or:  +61-3-794-7949 V32b
                                 Post:  P.O. Box 352,
                                        Doveton,
                                        Victoria, Australia 3177.

       Europe and the UK:

                               Ruud De Bruin

         Netmail from any FidoNet BBS:  2:281/603@fidonet (HST,V32b)
                         Via Internet:  ruud.de.bruin@triplets.wlink.nl
                        CompuServe ID:  100024,2672
                                  BBS:  +31-79-424553 HST V32b
                                 Post:  Columbusrede 17,
                                        2725 KL Zoetermeer,
                                        The Netherlands.

    ONCE,  InspectA is released Officially, I shall have it available for
    Fidonet file request under the magic name INSPECTA.

==========================================================================

2 More Config.sys Statements

   In an earlier Tip, I recommended to save at least 200 k of RAM with
   the PRINTMONBUFSIZE statement....Well I made a mistake, yes you can
   save 200 bytes, not K.  (Now how do I get egg off my chin?)

   RESTARTOBJECTS
         Is an interesting option for your CONFIG.SYS file.  Very useful
         if you have unexpected TRAPS/Crashes/Blackouts, is to be able to
         control the default startup of OS/2.

   RESTARTOBJECTS=YES
         DEFAULT Action!
         Will Restart all objects open at time of a System shutdown,
         including the start-up folder.  I Don't particularly like this
         function when testing new programs or betas, as when OS/2 gets
         into a grove and continually dislikes an add-on(or option) and
         crashes, you often get into a very repetitive re-booting
         process.  Until either the program that was causing the problem
         is terminated or until you fix the problem.

   RESTARTOBJECTS=NO
         Great when testing unknown programs and OS/2 betas.  Also
         stops the Start-up folder activities.

   RESTARTOBJECTS=STARTUPFOLDERSONLY
         As it sounds, only restarts the STARTUP folder's contents.

   RESTARTOBJECTS=REBOOTONLY
         Restarts any processes after a Ctrl-Alt-Del.

   RESTARTOBJECTS=STARTUPFOLDERSONLY,REBOOTONLY
         The most useful setup for continually used systems, which have no
         known bad software, and where the occasional problem occurs, or
         where the operator insists on a Ctrl-Atl-Del to
         restart/shutdown OS/2 (yes there are many people around the
         world who do this, despite the warnings)

   You can have other Combos, but those are less commonly used.


==========================================================================

3. Mysterious OS/2 programs.
3.1 SYSLEVEL
       Produces a very detailed report on the current version of which IBM
       based software your using.  I say IBM based, as no one else seems
       to use this feature to provide information about their programs
       .....it's a good idea, as it would give you an idea of what
       version level your running and which patches you have installed
       ......here is my first screen sample to look at.

D:\OS2\INSTALL\SYSLEVEL.GRE
IBM OS/2 32-bit Graphics Engine
Version 2.10     Component ID 562107701
Type 0
Current CSD level: XR02010
Prior   CSD level: XR02010

D:\OS2\INSTALL\SYSLEVEL.OS2
IBM OS/2 Base Operating System
Version 2.10     Component ID 562107701
Type 0
Current CSD level: XR02010
Prior   CSD level: XR02010

       As you can see, this gives you some very valuable details about
       my system, from where it's installed to what CSD level etc..

PSTAT
     Gives very detailed information about what processes are currently
     running behind the senses on your system.  This command, without
     options, will give details about what processes are using
     which DLLs and how many threads etc..  For the more advanced OS/2
     user, you can select which threads to diagnose and get what parts,
     of OS/2, are being used --- very useful in tracking down unknown system
     problems, so that you can point the finger at some nasty bug in
     either the software or the OS.

==========================================================================

4. CatsEye/X
       I have just received a new video card for use on my system.  It's
       an XGA/2 card, which is designed using the XGA/2 chipset from
       IBM.

       Features
          - VGA Compatibility (VESA)
          - 132-Column Text Modes
          - Map Masking
          - Fast text drawing
          - Task Switching - Designed to work with GUIs for fast task
            switching, especially OS/2.
          - Hardware sprites - 64*64 pixels
          - Bus Mastering
          - Co Processor
               supports
                  - Pixel-Block Transfers (PixBlt)
                  - Line Drawing
                  - Area Filling
                  - Logical and Arithmetic Mixing
                  - Map Masking and Scissoring (Clipping)
                  - X,Y Axis Addressing
          - 1 Meg VRAM
          - Improves System performance, by releasing the CPU for more
            important tasks, quicker than standard Video cards.
          - Since XGA is a Video standard, (plus the VESA VGA support on
            this single card) there is no cause to worry about available
            drivers....eg S3 and ATI users are still waiting for a generic
            driver for their 'flyers' in OS/2.
          - The card will diagnose your Monitor's ID signal, and
            corresponding select the correct resolutions for your monitor
            type.  The drawbacks are that many clone monitors both don't
            send the correct ID and some can't respond to XGA's demands
            for refresh rates.  These problems can be addressed by
            either experimenting with the supplied Monitor files or by
            hard-switching the card.


       At present there are only 2 versions of the card, ISA and MCA
       (IBM), but there is an VESA Local BUS version in testing now.
       From reports, that I have read in news conferences on internet,
       the VLB version is only 25% faster than the ISA version, but this
       was an early prototype.

       I can only comment on this card in relation to a Tseng Labs 4000
       card (Mega Eva/2 - ISA Version only).  At 1024*768 (with 256
       colours) the Tseng card was hard pushed to do anything with speed.
       Try it yourself, even with 486 systems you can visibly notice the
       lack of performance, and on my 386DX-40 you can actually watch the
       methods of drawing folders(even when already opened).  The
       CatsEye/X at same resolution is instant in swapping windows
       (already open).  At the lower resolutions, the Tseng performs
       with an acceptable level on my system, but XGA/2 pushes the video
       speeds through the roof, and this is with the card in 64k colour
       mode!

       So if have been in the search for a fast, quality video upgrade,
       consider the XGA as a possible alternative, since the XGA
       standard is here to stay.  There will not be different XGA
       standards, as IBM is licensing it's chips out to developers.
       Whereas, in the past, the same developers had to clone IBM's ideas,
       and often they made mistakes.  Every Major software package
       supplies XGA drivers, plus even if they don't, this card is fully
       VESA SVGA capable.

       I am very impressed with this card, so impressed that I am going
       to offer to AUSTRALIAN users/readers a special Discount offer on
       this card.  $450 Including Tax, plus freight charges (normally
       about $10), to contact me, look at the end of this file.

==========================================================================

5.  MAJOR NEWS.

5.1 3 Million Sold.

       According to the Internet news group comp.os.os2.advocacy, OS/2 has
       sold in excess of 3 million copies in one year, since the release of
       2.0!  Now that must mean to all serious OS/2 users and developers
       that we Deserve better treatment from major companies.

       So lets get together and attack the companies which have
       brilliant products but don't provide OS/2 versions/drivers.

            EG
               ATI
               Gravis UltraSound
               Hayes ESP cards
               Turtle Beach products
               Borland (I know they have 2 products)

5.2 Borland's C/C++ Compiler

       The long awaited compiler, from Borland, has finally shipped.  To
       date I have noticed that my code, from their DOS 3.1 version,
       compiles with no major dramas.  I have also thrown various C code
       at it, and I have found, with minimal changes, I can get
       applications to run (and I'm no real programmer!)  The IDE
       interface is good, but I have yet to find a useful method in
       changing it's HELP Fonts to a larger, more readable size.  As
       this shipped before version 2.1 shipped, Borland doesn't
       guarantee it to run correctly under any OS/2 betas....Although I
       have had no dramas with the March Beta (6.498).

       There have been some problems reported with the help manager,
       which is known to Borland, and I expect some form of correction
       to be released soon.....otherwise, the news conferences seem to
       be very impressed with this product.  I was.

       DRAWBACKS - full install takes approximately 23 meg of your drive,
       the linker , TLINK, eats RAM and swap space fast, so have at least
       six meg clear on your swap drive path, especially if you are only
       running 8 meg of RAM.

       BORLAND learnt a very important lesson with this release, don't
       underestimate demand for a genuine OS/2 product.  Borland was
       caught with their pants down, as demand for this product has
       surpassed the available supply.  I had to wait 4 weeks after the
       initial week of release, as Borland Australia sold out their
       reserves in the first week of release!

       I hope this gives them the faith to port (and I mean port) some
       of their other products to the OS/2 platform.  Sure, I know ports
       aren't the best way, but having a native OS/2 application is
       better than a DOS or WINDOWS one.....plus, would give Borland the
       idea of how their products would be received before they went
       through, and started a comprehensive recoding effort to take
       advantage of OS/2 features.

           I would love to have Paradox, Quattro Pro and Objectvision
           recoded to take advantage of their new compiler.
           [That's Idea, Joe's Wish List For OS/2]


==========================================================================

6. Caching Controllers.

     Of Late, I have been reading how some people claim that caching
   controllers don't give OS/2 a boost in performance.  I'd like to
   dispel these rumors, half-truths.

     I own a Promise Technology IDE Caching controller which I have
   installed with 2 meg.  On this limited level I have noticed that when
   opening several OS/2 CMD_Line sessions, the 2nd one and so on load
   VERY Fast.  My BBS, which once knocked the stuffing out of my drive when
   scanning for files is now silent, as the file indexes and message
   indexes are all in the cache's memory.  I feel that people who claim
   that these cards are nonperformance, should go and check their setup,
   as you have probably got OS/2 caches (IFS and DISKCACHE statements)
   grabbing their 'normal' requirements, and have Lazy writes still on.
   I have found that by reducing the cache to minimal size (64k) and
   turning off OS/2 Lazy Writes my controller performs a lot better,
   than any software cache.  Also, by limiting the memory reserved for
   the OS/2 cache, you increase your available RAM for real applications.

      I have also heard of performance gains with DTP SCSI controllers
   and other caching controllers.  So I state again, check your setup,
   especially the card, as you may have configured the card to not cache
   the drives, or other silly mistakes.

      Hence for anyone who runs disk intensive applications, such as
   Database stuff( or generally most things) you'll find great benefits in
   buying and using a caching controller....But make sure there are
   suitable drivers/support for OS/2, as there are a few 'oddballs'
   which have no standard interface, so when OS/2 tries to access them
   they don't go.  The biggest drawback with the Promise Tech range is
   that their software is DOS based, but the only time you require it
   is to re-format/partition your drives (rare).  Otherwise the card,
   at cold-boot-time, defaults to correct caching operation.

==========================================================================

7. My IBM Flame.

        Recently, I've noticed that the comments I made in a previous
   tips about IBM Australia's attitudes have seemed become known in IBM,
   as the service I now receive is much better than before.  Maybe they
   got an encouraging pat from IBM America, or IBM's new Head-Huncho has
   started to scare them into results.  Either way, keep improving
   IBM Australia.

==========================================================================

8. CALLING ALL DEVELOPERS

        If you'd like to have your product reviewed by me, please send
   them to me.....If you are a shareware developer, I'd like to help
   your product (like David's InspectA), so please give me your latest
   version, and if it's crippled (shareware version) please send me a
   real version.  Thanks, see below for details to contact me.

==========================================================================

The Close.

   Wow, talk about waffling on!

   Yes it's the end of this edition, next edition will be 2.1, more info
   on Borland's compiler, plus more Graphics cards.

   DEVELOPERS don't forget to supply me with your efforts for reviews.

   And with the release of number 10, I shall be introducing a new
   format, INF.  This will be called JoesBook, as this will be a summary
   of all 10 into one large Text and INF file.

If you wish to contact me, about various topics I have covered, or if
you have suggestions, the easy method is via a message in one of the
following mail networks in their OS/2 area.

WORLDNET             61:6700/1
FIDONET              3:640/830
INTERNET             josephm@tmxbris.mhs.oz.au

Or via SNAIL MAIL

Joe's OS/2 Tips
540 Johnson Road
Forestdale, QLD, Australia, 4118.


Or via the BBS

+61-7-800-3521
Hours 0700-0215 Australian Eastern Standard Time
1200-14.4k baud rates.

Or Via VOICE

+61-7-800-4447

Most times I am around the phone, but the answering machine will take
care of you otherwise.  Sorry, I can't afford to return an international
call.

DISCLAIMER
   Although I know a lot about OS/2, I am no expert.  Therefore
   information I may pass-on in these tips maybe bogus on some setups.
   All of my knowledge of OS/2 has come from personal experience with
   both my own experiments and my clients.
