                   Joe's OS/2 Tips.

                      Number 10

         Written by Joseph Mckinnon (61:560/0@Worldnet)
                                    (3:640/830@fidonet)
         Downloaded from Proteus OS/2.
        
         Phone +61-7-344-6012
        
         Hours 24 hours a day
        
         Speeds 300-14400, MNP.
==========================================================================

Introduction.

     Long time, no type.  Anyway I'm back with another edition.  To mark
     this release I have finally got my own copy of OS/2 2.1 to play
     with.  Looks good doesn't it.  Fast, fairly bug free.  Also NT has
     been officially released, and some lucky people have got some
     copies, but with a recommend 16+ memory configuration to get
     'reasonable performance' definitely means that NT will restricted to
     the rich few.  The ones with more dollars than sense, as I firmly
     believe that NT is a waste of anyone's resources.

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

1. OS/2 2.1
2. Hobbes OS/2 CD-ROM
3. Install 2.1 from CD-ROMs that aren't supported directly in 2.1.
4. NEW SECTION Questions and Answers.
5. Setting Video Display resolutions.
6. VisPro/Rexx
7. A Quick Tip.

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

                   OS/2 2.1  arrives.

    The long awaited new version of OS/2 has arrived, and after 2 months
of trying hard to break it, I can say it's fairly solid.  It's DOS
handling side of things is much tighter than before and now the chances
of a DOS session taking out the entire system are remote.  WIN-OS2 has
been upgraded to support most 3.1 applications, and appears to be very
fast, and much more stable than the real MS version.

    What's in the Package?
    Would you believe, 3 inches of reading material!  Yes, IBM listens
to it's critics, and actually supplied hard copy manuals to read at ones
leisure.  And no the rumour of my manual being beside my bed is a little
tall, it's actually on my desk.  There are 2 different versions of this
release, one is the Blue release and the other is the Salmon coloured
release.  The only difference is that IBM has implemented a tighter
compression method, which reduces the number of disks by about 5,
depending on the media of course.

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

                   Hobbes OS/2 CD-ROM

    Have you ever wished to have all the OS/2 offerings at your hands,
for the price of producing this CD-ROM diskette, Walnut Creek provides
you with the best programs for OS/2.  All versions of OS/2 are
supported, not just 2.  Hence this rom is jam-packed with OS/s goodies,
from programs to Information.  Contact your local CD reseller to order
one today, it's well worth the money and is updated quarterly.  If you
order from Walnut Creek directly say Joseph Mckinnon recommended your
CD, but they will probably not recognize the name.

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

       Install 2.1 from CD-ROMs that aren't supported directly in 2.1.

    With the new version of OS/2 we can now have the option to buy a
CD-ROM version of 2.1 and with this we must have either a suitable
system configuration or have a good working knowledge of how to get
around non standard CD-ROM hardware.  I've included a FAX (facts) sheet
from IBM regarding this problem and should be helpful in understanding
the processes involved with installing the CD-ROM version on a
non-supported CD-ROM setup.

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

   Question and Answers

   This is a new section where I shall endeavour to answer ANY queries
   on OS/2.  To contact me, send a message either via E-Mail to
   Josephm@mhs.oz.au or to one of the systems listed at the end of these
   tips.

   Question.

   Recently I installed OS/2 on my system.  OS/2 configured itself for
   dual booting, which I thought was great, but after going back to DOS
   to run one of my favorite games I couldn't get the Boot /OS2 command
   to work correctly, in that I had to reinstall OS/2 very time I want
   to go from DOS to OS/2.  Is this suppose to happen?  I'm running
   MS-DOS 6.

   Answer
      DOS 6's Smartdrv uses a technology called staged writes, which
      enables the computer to continue on processing until either one
      large write to the hard drive, or when the computers CPU isn't
      busy.  This Stage Writing is a very good idea to increase ones
      systems performance, but is also a nightmare for OS/2's BOOT
      command.  Since BOOT must transfer Both DOS's important files to a
      directory and OS/2's boot files to the root directory the stage
      writes keeps the changes in memory and once BOOT is 'finished'
      moving the files it reboots.  Then the system appears to be dead,
      because the Smartdrv program failed to flushes it's stage write
      buffers before rebooting, hence the changes where never completed.

      The solution is an easy one.  Write a batch file.  I've included a
      short one for you to use.

      BOOTOS2.BAT
         Echo Press Ctrl-Break, if you don't wish to start OS/2.
         Pause
         smartdrv c-
         smartdrv /c
         C:\os2\BOOT /OS2

      This batch file assumes the OS/2 system is on drive C, which it
      should be for a dual booting system and that smartdrv is your
      caching programing (which is also in the DOS path).  I'd also add
      all the drives to the smartdrv line so that they are all disabled.
      From now on, your system will be quite useable, as long as you
      follow the above method.  OS/2 to DOS is ok, as BOOT /DOS causes
      OS/2 to perform a cache flush before rebooting, which is what all
      good Multi-tasking OSs should do.


Question
   Hi,
      I wonder if anybody can help me. I am currently running OS/2 2.0
      and when I open the settings for the workbench they do not display
      on the screen. A review of the window list shows the settings as a
      active window but still the window does not display.

      I can't work it out and the books don't appear to address the
      problem directly.

      John Stavrinoudis.

      --- Maximus 2.01wb
      * Origin: The Bush Telegraph - Sydney - Australia (3:711/454)

Answer

On the task list, go to the Desktop-Settings line and press your right
mouse button on the application that you can't see, and select CASCADE.
This should solve your problem.  This sometimes happens under the 2.0 GA
especially when you are running under a very minimal system.

Also this problem occurs if you have been running at a high video
resolution, and then switched back to a lower resolution.  Since OS/2 stores
the positions of certain objects, in relation to the video mode, it's
quite possible to have OS/2 displaying an object 'off the screen', hence
it's displayed on the Task List, but not on the screen.

IBM is including a large manual to rectify the lack of information
available to novice users.  Also A highly recommend OS/2 book is 'OS/2
Unleashed'.

Question

   I am curious though, about the WIN-OS/2 v3.1 support in v2.1, has anyone
   tried running some of (gasp!) MicroSoft's stuff under it?  I'm mostly
   interested in Visual Basic and MicroSoft Access.

   Also, I read a review of MMPM/2 in Byte, but it suggested there was
   support only for IBM's own MultiMedia PS/2... I trust that is no longer
   the case and the MMPM/2 built into OS/2 v2.1 will support my own Ambra
   (and my customers generic clones).

   Well that's it ..... thanx  - Stephen -

   * SLMR 2.1a * The Enterprise runs OS/2 v9.1 !  (The Ferengi use Win NT)

   --- WM v2.06/92-0210
       * Origin: The-Borg BBS! 10 Nodes Edm.AB.Can (62:3200/300)

ANSWER
  OS/2 supports both Enhanced and Standard mode operations as expected
  under MS_Windows v3.1, but cannot operate an application that requires
  a VxD mode.  Access works.  Visual Basic, there is a patch from
  Microsoft allowing you to run this package.  Visual REXX may be a
  better alternative as it performs similar functions under OS/2's REXX,
  and since OS/2 applications are system aware, they will utilise OS/2
  resources more efficiently than DOS/Windows applications.

  MMPM/2 is not only for IBM's Multi-media PS/2s, but is for any PC
  with the correct gear...With this article there is a listing of
  currently supported Sound Cards/CDROMs and Video cards.

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

                Setting Video Display resolutions.

      I've been asked to explain how to install different video drivers
and resolutions whilst running OS/2.  The answer is simple, but remains
hidden due to some obscure thinking by IBM.  Instead of the selective
install calling the video installation setup program, we must do it by
hand.  The simplest method is to click on the drives ICON, open the
drive which you have OS/2 installed on to, and open the sub-directory
OS2\INSTALL and click on DSPINSTL.EXE.  DSPINSTL is the Display Driver
Installation Tool.

      At this stage you'll require to have either the CD-ROM or the
Video Driver disks handy and your video card's utility diskettes.

      Once DSPINSTL is loaded you will have the option to choose which
Display System you'd like to change, in most cases it's the Primary
display, as hardly anyone has 2 monitors connected to the one OS/2
system.  Click the Primary Display option box, then click on OK.

      You will now be prompted to select a driver that suits your card,
in some cases the installation program has already selected which video
driver it feels is correct.  There is an option also to select another
driver, use this only if you have OS/2 drivers for your card which state
they are useable under OS/2 ver 2.1GA.  Once you have chosen your
driver, click on OK and the system will do some checking.

      This short space of time will either be to run the SVGA program,
in a full screen DOS session, or to start reading from the driver
diskettes (or CD).  If the card is a SVGA compliant card, and OS/2 has
drivers which allow different resolutions, you will be prompted for the
suitable resolution, before it loads the new drivers.

      After the drivers are loaded you will be asked to supply your
video cards utility which controls refresh rates, so that OS/2 can
customize the pre-chosen resolution to your system, Otherwise it will
default to the IBM standard for that mode.  You will now be told to
re-start your system, so that the changes take effect.

      NOTE: Every time you decide you want to change resolutions, you
      will have to go through the above process.  Unless you are running
      XGA which is configurable form the OS/2_Systems settings.
      Also to run SVGA.EXE you will be required to install the DOS
      support, as SVGA is a DOS only program.

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

                VisPro/Rexx - PROMOTIONAL OFFER

Robert X. Cringely of InfoWorld Magazine said on the 25th of January, 1993.
"OS/2's time may be here thanks to...Visual Programming with REXX which
brought the house down at a recent OS/2 conference in Colorado...it is
to REXX and OS/2 what Visual Basic is to Windows and DOS."

What Can I Do With It?
  - Quickly prototype and develop OS/2 2.x CUA' 91 Applications
  - Generate a small, single .EXE file for license-free distribution
  - Build Client-server programs
  - Migrate existing REXX procedures to the OS/2 2.x GUI environment.
VisPro/REXX gives you access to these OS/2 programming features.
  - Buttons, lists, graphics, sliders and all the CUA '91 controls.
  - Business graphics
  - APPC, HLLAPI and OS/2 2.x Database Manager.

System Requirements
  OS/2 2.X
  2 meg of Hard drive space.

SPECIAL PRICE   $400
RRP             $499

So call me on (07) 345-6761 to order your copy now.

On the BBS line (07)344-6012 you will find a Demo version of VisPro/REXX
which is fully functional, except the actual build command, the one
which makes the EXE is missing, so you can find out yourself first hand
how this Brilliant product functions.
                

I've included a sample program made by me with VisPro/REXX, it's Joed, a
basic editor which you can only load and save text files, but gives you an
idea of how easy it is to create an application.  This editor was
created in about 30 minutes.

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

          Quickie Tip for OS/2.

     This Tip came from Peter Stubbs, one of OS/2 Clients.  When he
     first told me, he said 'I suppose I don't have to tell you this, it
     would be like teaching my Grandmother to Suck lemons', well it was a
     new one to me, Thanks.

     Under DOS sessions you can set the default directory listing, via
     SET DIRCMD=/A.  This same option(S) can be also used in an OS/2
     session, but it must be configured in your CONFIG.SYS.

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


The End

I'm still looking for a method of doing INFs which don't require a lot
of work, is there any tools which would be useful?

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@mhs.oz.au

Or via SNAIL MAIL

Joe's OS/2 Tips
3 Pandanus Street
Sunnybank, QLD, Australia, 4109

Or via the BBS

+61-7-344-6012
Hours 0700-0215 Australian Eastern Standard Time
1200-14.4k baud rates.

Or Via VOICE

+61-7-345-6761

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.

   Since I have now started to directly add adverts to this
   informational package I must add prices will change without notice
   etc.  I am not a big business, I only sell a few items a week, which
   actually helps to pay both my rent and bills on my computer, but if
   you want to make a big order with me, I'll be able to look after you.
