========================================================================== ReqToAsl ReqToAslNR ArpToAsl NuLook Copyright (c) 1991 by Fabio Rossetti Freely Redistributable Software ========================================================================== NOTE WELL: ---------- You need Kickstart v2.xx or later to run these programs, otherwise they will simply silently exit. Overview -------- Here is a suite of small programs to give you the possibility to run quite a lot of old software with the new file/font requesters and the 'three dimensional embossed' look of OS 2.0.. ReqToAsl ------- ReqToAsl is a group of patches for the popular req.library distributed with many commercial and PD/SW programs (including CED of course, but also ImageLink, GCC, Hex, View80 and many others). It allows to use the new asl.library file and font requesters and to have all the other string, number,palette and text requesters offered by the req.library rendered with the new 2.0 look. The req.library 'emulation' is pretty straightforward and there should be no particular problems in using the new requester instead of the old: only remember that with the 2.0 file requester you multiple select files without using the shift key in addition to the mouse button. You simply click as many files as you like in the requester and then press the 'Ok' gadget, of course only if your application has enabled multiple file selection! ReqToAsl must live into your startup sequence only (no need to RUN it). Put it there BEFORE calling any program using req.library: if you run ReqToAsl in beetween a program requiring req.library you have a very good chance of instantly crashing your system. Note that with CygnusEd Professional the search/replace requester refuses to get the new look: this is not a problem with ReqToAsl but with CED itself, which in this case does not use req.library at all. ReqToAsl has been developed and tested using req.library v2.5; older revisions should not have particular problems tough. Using older (pre V37.1xx) releases of OS 2.0 in rare cases (the only one I actually observed was with the Point Manager 2.05 program by Mario Pacchiarotti) you might experience a small screen jump when the asl requester open up. This is a bug in asl.library which surfaces when a rarely used calling method for the req.library requester is used: anyway it does no harm and it has been fixed in the latest OS releases.. ReqToAslNR ---------- ReqToAslNR (No Requesters) is the same as ReqToAsl, only it allows you to retain the old req.library requester. This is because, altough not as spiffy looking as the 2.0 ones, the req.library file/font requesters are much faster, especially on a 68000-68010 system.. ArpToAsl -------- This programs SetFunction()s away the arp.library file requester and instead of it calls the new asl.library requester, which of course is much better, both in looks and flexibility. If the initial contents of the dir gadget include a pattern (like in the script and device requesters of VLT, if you know it) the asl requester will show the new pattern gadget. ArpToAsl must live too in the startup-sequence, altough there are no particolar concerns regarding where and when to put it in there. No need for RUN too. There is another program like ArpToAsl around: it's called Arp2Asl, it's by Oliver Wagner, it's half the size of my program, it mostly does not work but it served me a good inspirational job. (Thanks Oliver!). NuLook ------ NuLook is an almost indispensable companion to ReqToAsl and ArpToAsl: it makes all older screens (not only those of programs using req or arp.library, that would be almost impossible to do) open up with the new 2.0 look. Without you could enjoy ReqToAsl benefits only with programs opening windows on the Workbench screen. Of course you will probably also have to adjust your program's screen colors in a way similar to the WB 2.0 standard palettes. Note that recent programs using a 2.0ish look for gadgets benefit from NuLook even if they don't use req.library, since it makes the screen title and window borders match better with the gadgets.. Put NuLook into your startup-sequence right after ReqToAsl (no,no RUN): it has also a built-in kludge for CygnusEd Professional v2.12, wich insisted on opening an 'old look' screen... Paraphernalia ------------- ReqToAsl ArpToAsl and NuLook are freely redistributable but NOT public domain. This means that you are allowed to spread them with disks or modems, but only free of charge or for a reasonable fee, but you are not allowed to sell them for profit nor to modify them in any way. You are also prohibited to use them for any kind of military purposes. If you need to reach me for anything send e-mail to the following addresses: Fidonet : Fabio Rossetti, 2:332/109.2 Internet: ross@teafi.sublink.org Fabio.Rossetti@p2.f109.n332.z2.fidonet.org or you can use snail mail: Fabio Rossetti Via Valdorcia, 22 FIRENZE I-50127 ITALY