[Operating System
AmigaDOS
ARexx
System
Tools
Utilities]
System
AddMonitor
This tool is used by some Amigas in order to allow them to recognize
new Monitor files. Monitor files define how a certain display mode may
be obtained. These include NTSC, PAL, SVGA, etc, along with specific resolutions
such as 640x400 or 400x600.
After selecting a Monitor file, you may add that file to the list
of available screenmodes by double clicking on that Monitor file. The file
will automatically search for AddMonitor and make the Monitor available.
All Monitor files in the SYS:Monitor/ drawer will be added to the
system automatically upon loading the Workbench when the computer is booted.
BindMonitor
All Monitor files contain various screenmode resolutions that they
may use, such as 640x400 or 400x600. These resolutions are identified by
special ID numbers that the Workbench and Intuition understand. BindMonitor
will translate these ID codes and convert them into names such as HiRes,
Productivity, or SuperHiRes. These names are stored in a file called Mode_Names,
found in the SYS:WB_Startup/ drawer.
All mode names will be automatically assigned to the system when the
Workbench is loaded or the computer is booted.
CLI
Different versions of the Workbench deal with the CLI differently.
In Workbench 1.3 or earlier, the CLI and the Shell are two different entities.
The Shell is a featured front end to the CLI which permits various new
commands and features to be used. However with the advent of Workbench
2.04 and greater, the CLI is generally not accessible without using the
Shell.
DiskCopy
To copy a disk, select the disk icon that you wish to have copied,
and then double click on the DiskCopy program. The program will then prompt
for you to insert the SOURCE disk into the required drive. If the disk
icon you have selected is the disk to be copied from, you may click Continue.
Otherwise, insert an appropriate disk. This program is intended primarily
for copying floppy disks. Copying may be aborted by clicking the Stop gadget.
This program is similar to the Workbench Copy menu item in the Icons
menu. A disk may also be copied by dragging its icon to another disk icon
that is of the same format or type.
FixFonts
This program is used to update the font files in the font directory.
Whenever a new font or font size is added, it may not be recorded in the
associated font header file. FoxFonts will update these files accordingly.
The fonts are stored in the SYS:Fonts/ directory. Each font will be
stored in the following format:
fontname.font (file)
fontname (dir)
8 (file)
10 (file)
12 (file)
20 (file)
30 (file)
The fontname.font file contains information about the font, such as the
various sizes. The fontname directory contains the bitmap images in various
sizes. The sizes are named as their size. For example, a file named 8 is
an 8 point font (measure of its height).
Scalable fonts, produced with Fountain or Intellifont, do not require
bitmap images. The advantage is that these fonts can be produced at any
font size; however a certain amount of time is required to convert the
font every time it is loaded into memory. Users may create bitmap images
on disk for scalable fonts, if desired.
Format
A disk may be formatted with this tool, including the 880k floppies,
1.76 megabyte floppies, hard drives, RAD:, and other devices. They may
be formatted using various file systems, such as OFS, FFS, and DCFS.
By simply double clicking on this icon, a requester will open asking
for a volume or disk to be formatted, and will list all currently mounted
volumes. You may also select a disk icon, hold the SHIFT key, and then
double click the Format icon. This will automatically select the disk icon.
After a disk is selected, a new window will open with the following options.
Current Information
Displays device name, volume name, size, and percentage used
New Volume Name
Allows the user to enter a new name for the disk; defaults to Empty
Put Trashcan
Specifies whether a Trashcan should be created on the disk
Fast File System
Specifies the use of the Fast File System as opposed to the Old File
System
International Mode
Specifies International Mode
Directory Cache
Specifies Directory Caching, which improves directory reads greatly
yet decreases write speeds.
Format
Executes routine to reformat the disk, removing all existing data
Quick Format
Executes the Quick Format routine, which merely preps the disk by erasing
the directories. May not be used on a disk that has never been formatted
before
Cancel
Cancels the operation
NOTE: The majority of Amiga users may not be able to read Fast File System,
International Mode, or Directory Cached disks. For distribution, it is
suggested that the defaults be used, although 2.x users may use Fast File
System, and 3.x users may use International Mode or Directory Caching.
Fountain
This module is not available.
Intellifont
This module is not available.
NoFastMem
Some old programs do not function properly when Fast RAM is used by
the system. This program will temporarily remove the Fast RAM and only
permit software to run in Chip RAM. In the event that an older program
does not function with your system, you may wish to try this tool.
To restore your Fast RAM, double click on this icon once again. You
may also restore your Fast RAM by rebooting. This program will not cause
any permanent change in your Fast RAM available, and merely acts as a software
toggle.
RexxMast
This program will automatically start the ARexx server, or it may report
that the server is already active. The ARexx server allows various programs
with ARexx ports to send messages and data to each other. ARexx is an interpreted
programming language available on Workench 2.0 and greater.
Setmap
This tool is used to alter the keymap of the keyboard. This permits
alternate key layouts, foreign keyboard characters, and alternate keyboard
designs (some Amiga keyboards have more or less keys in foreign countries).
The default keymap is the USA keymap. In order to access a keymap, it must
be available in the DEVS:Keymap directory or the SYS:DEVS/Keymap drawer
(both are in the same exact location). Then, the Setmap tooltype is changed
to the desired keymap. The Setmap tool may then be placed in the WBStartup
drawer to automatically select the appropriate keymap.
To select a keymap, change the KEYMAP= tooltype in the Setmap icon
to one of the following keymaps. The Setmap tool should not be placed in
the WBStartup if the default QWERTY keymap is used.
cdn French Canadian
ch1 Swiss French
ch2 Swiss German
d German
dk Danish
e Spanish
f French
gb Great Britain
i Italian
is Icelandic
n Norwegian
s Swedish
usa0 QWERTY
usa1 DVORAK
Shell
Different versions of the Workbench deal with the CLI differently.
In Workbench 1.3 or earlier, the CLI and the Shell are two different entities.
The Shell is a featured front end to the CLI which permits various new
commands and features to be used. However with the advent of Workbench
2.04 and greater, the CLI is generally not accessible without using the
Shell.