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Document:	ULTRIX Worksystem Software DECwindows User's Guide
Order Number:	AA-MA87B-TE
Revision:	0
Pages:	117
Original Filename:

OCR Text

ULTRIX Worksystem Software

DECwindows User's Guide

Order Number: AA-MA87B-TE

Product Version:
Operating System and Version:

digital equipment corporation
maynard, massachusetts

ULTRIX Worksystem Software, Version 2.2
ULTRIX Operating System, Version 3.0 or higher

Restricted Rights: Use, duplication, or disclosure by the U.S. Government is subject to restrictions as
set forth in subparagraph (c) (1) (ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause of
DFARS 252.227-7013.
© Digital Equipment Corporation 1989
All rights reserved.

The information in this document is subject to change without notice and should not be construed as a
commitment by Digital Equipment Corporation. Digital Equipment Corporation assumes no
responsibility for any errors that may appear in this document.
The software described in this document is furnished under a license and may be used or copied only in
accordance with the terms of such license.
No responsibility is assumed for the use or reliability of software on equipment that is not supplied by
Digital or its affiliated companies.

The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation:
CDA
DDIF
DEC
DECnet
DECUS
DECwindows
DIGITAL

LN03

MASSBUS
PrintServer 40
ReGIS
ULTRIX
ULTRIX Mail Connection
ULTRIX Worksystem
Software
VAX
VAXcluster

VAXstation
VMS
VMSruLTRIX Connection
VT
XUI

PostScript and Display PostScript are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems, Inc.
X Window System, X, and XII are registered trademarks of MIT.
This manual was written and produced by the Open Software Publications group.

Contents
About This Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

vii

1 Opening DECwindows
What Are Windows? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using the Mouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Starting a Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Choosing from a Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Entering Text. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Copying Text .............................. . . . . . . . .
Moving a Window. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shrinking a Window to an Icon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changing the Size of a Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Scrolling Through Text. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Exiting From an Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Putting a Session on Hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ending a Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-2
1-2
1-3
1-6
1-7
1-9
1-10
1-11
1-11
1-12
1-12
1-13
1-14
1-15

2 Using DECwindows
U sing the Mouse .............................. . . . . . . . .
Selecting Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Managing Windows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shrinking Windows ......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Expanding Icons to Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Moving Windows ...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Resizing Windows .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Working With Overlapping Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2-1
2-2
2-2
2-3
2-4
2-4
2-4
2-5

Making Windows Stay in Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Releasing Windows .................................
Working with Menus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Choosing Items from Pull-Down Menus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Choosing Items from SubMenus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Choosing Items from Pop-Up Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Choosing Items from Option Menus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Supplying Information in Dialog Boxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Moving and Changing Settings in a Dialog Box. . . . . . . . . . . .
Saving Your Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Making Selections from List Boxes .....................
Scrolling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Editing Text .........................................
Basic Text Editing Key Definitions .....................
Selecting Text. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Copying Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Moving Text Between Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deleting Text with Pending Delete. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Editing Text in Dialog Boxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Getting Help .........................................
Help Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Recording a History of Your Help Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Searching Help for Titles and Keywords .................
Saving help Text in a File ................ . . . . . . . . . . . .
Exiting from Help ..................................
Composing Special Characters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2-6
2-7
2-7
2-7
2-8
2-8
2-9
2-9
2-11
2-11
2-12
2-13
2-14
2-15
2-16
2-16
2-17
2-18
2-18
2-18
2-19
2-20
2-21
2-22
2-22
2-22

3 Using the Session Manager
Starting Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customizing Your DECwindows Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Defining Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changing Items on the Applications Menu ...............
Specifying Applications That Start Up Automatically. . . . . . .
Changing Your Keyboard Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Specifying Your Language Preference ...................
Changing Your Mouse and Pointer Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changing Your Print Screen Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changing Your Security Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changing Your Session Manager Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changing Your Window and Screen Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Saving Your New Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Printing and Capturing Screen Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sending Screen Images to the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3-2
3-2
3-3
3-5
3-6
3-7
3-8
3-9
3-12
3-15
3-16
3-18
3-23
3-24
3-24

Placing Screen Images in a File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Putting a Session on Hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ending a Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3-25
3-25
3-26

4 Using the User Executive
Starting the User Executive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Working with UE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Running Applications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shortcuts for Accessing Commands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
U sing Predefined Pop-Up Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
U sing Double-Click Commands .. ; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Making Selections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Keeping Track of Work in Progress. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Understanding the TaskStatus Window. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Working with a File View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changing the Way a File View Looks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changing the Fields in Your File View. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changing the File Order in Your File View . . . . . . . . .
Displaying a Partial File View , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Updating Your File View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Saving a File View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Restoring a Saved File View ..........................
Deleting a Saved File View ...........................
Working with Directories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating a Directory ................................
Navigating a Directory Structure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Removing a Directory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Working with Files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Copying Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Viewing the Contents of Files .........................
Searching Files for Text Strings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Removing Files ....................................
Printing Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Opening a New UE Window. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customizing UE Menus and Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Modifying Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adding an Item to an Existing Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adding Commands to the Files Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Removing Menu Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adding New Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adding a Menu ..............................
Adding Items to aNew Menu ...................
Removing a Menu ............... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4-1
4-3
4-3
4-3
4-3
4-4
4-4
4-5
4-6
4-7
4-7
4-8
4-8
4-8
4-9
4-9
4-10
4-11
4-11
4-11
4-12
4-12
4-13
4-13
4-15
4-15
4-16
4-16
4-17
4-17
4-18
4-19
4-20
4-21
4-21
4-21
4-22
4-23

Customizing Double-Click Commands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Exiting From UE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4-23
4-24

5 Printing with DECwindows
Printing Files You Create in Applications ...................
U sing Advanced Print Settings ...........................

5-1
5-4

6 Running Remote Applications
Authorizing Access to Your Workstation ....................
Enabling the Remote Display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Running Applications from a DECterm Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6-1
6-2
6-4

Moving Within a Dialog Box ........ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Scroll Bars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Text Editing Techniques. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Selecting Text. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Selecting Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Commands for Running Remote Applications .................

2-11
2-13
2-15
2-16
4-4
6-4

Index
Tables
2-1
2-2
2-3
2-4
4-1
6-1

About This Guide

Purpose of This Guide
This manual describes how to use DECwindows.

Who Should Use This Guide
This manual is intended for all ULTRIX DECwindows users.

Structure of This Guide
This manual includes the following chapters:
•

Chapter 1 - Opening DECwindows

• Chapter 2 - Using DECwindows
• Chapter 3 - Using the Session Manager
•

Chapter 4 - Using the User Executive

•

Chapter 5 - Printing with DECwindows

•

Chapter 6 - Running Remote Applications

Conventions
mouse

The term mouse refers to any pointing device, such as
a mouse, a puck, or a stylus.

MBl, MB2, and
MB3

MBI indicates the left mouse button. MB2 indicates
the middle mouse button, and MB3 indicates the right
mouse button. (The buttons can be redefined by the
user.)

vii

bold

Boldface text is used to introduce new terms.

IReturn!

A key name enclosed in a box indicates that you press
a key on the keyboard.
A sequence such as ICtrl/x! indicates that you must
hold down the key labeled Ctrl while you press
another key or a pointing device button.
A sequence such as ~ indicates that you must first
press and release the key labeled PF1, then press and
release another key or a pointing device button.

blue-green ink

Indicates information that you enter from the
keyboard or a screen object that you must choose
or click on.
In examples, a horizontal ellipsis indicates one of the
following possibilities:
•

Additional optional arguments in a statement
have been omitted.

•

The preceding item or items can be repeated one
or more times.

•

Additional parameters, values, or other
information can be entered.

A vertical ellipsis indicates the omission of items from
a code example or command format; the items are
omitted because they are not important to the topic
being discussed.

viii

1
Opening DECwindow5
The DECwindows interface to the ULTRIX operating system
gives you a visual way to organize your work in windows. With
DECwindows, you can run applications simultaneously on a single
screen and switch between them. And because DECwindows
provides an environment in which all applications have similar
features, you use the same handful of techniques to interact with
each application.
The exercises in this chapter will give you hands-on experience
using DECwindows. In it, you will learn how to
•

Start a DECwindows session

•

Run and use applications

• Manage windows, including moving windows, shrinking
a window to an icon, expanding an icon to a window, and
changing the size of a window
• Put a session on hold
• End a session
When you complete the exercises, you will be familiar with most
of the techniques you need to know to use each DECwindows
application successfully.

Opening DECwindows

1-1

What Are Windows?
You can think of your workstation screen as a desk top with sheets
of paper lying on it. You can move the sheets of paper around and
you can arrange sheets of paper above or below other sheets.
In DECwindows, these sheets of paper where you do your work
are called windows. A window is an area on your workstation
screen that represents all or part of an application. For example,
one window you can open represents the Notepad text editor. In
this window, you can create new files or edit existing ones. Other
applications include DECwindows Mail, which lets you send and
receive electronic mail, and DECTerm, which looks and functions
like a VT340 terminal.

Using the Mouse
Traditional computing requires you to interact with your screen
by typing text and pressing keyboard keys. The mouse-the
hand-held pointing device attached to your workstation terminalmakes using DECwindows as easy as pointing to an item and
clicking a button. You use the mouse to choose commands from
a menu, to expand and shrink windows, and to rearrange the
location of windows on your screen.
When you work with the mouse, make sure that the cable
connecting it to the workstation is pointing away from you. Place
the mouse on a smooth surface. As you move the mouse, watch
your screen to see how moving the mouse moves the pointer on
the screen in exactly the same way.
The mouse has three buttons. Unless you specify otherwise,
mouse button 1 (MBl) is on the left, MB2 is in the middle, and
MB3 is on the right. This arrangement naturally suits righthanded users. If you are left-handed, you can easily rearrange
this configuration by changing the button arangement setting in
the Session Manager's Customize Pointer dialog box.

1-2 Opening DECwindows

ZK-0250A-GE

Usually the pointer is shaped like an arrow, but it can take on a
different shape to reflect the state of an application. For example,
it becomes an I-beam when you move it over a text entry field,
indicating that you can edit the text below, and a wristwatch
when DECwindows is performing a task that needs a little more
time to complete.
If you are using the mouse and run out of room on your desk, just
lift the mouse and put it down where you have more room. The
pointer does not move when you lift the mouse.

Starting a Session
If the system startup procedure has been successful, your screen
looks like this:
Start Session

1________
Password: 1.....
1________
login: 1.....

Opening DECwindow5

1-3

Note Most workstations provide a screen timeout feature. After a period

of inactivity, the screen goes blank. Any activity, such as moving
the mouse or pressing a key, restores the screen image.
The Start Session dialog box prompts you for your login name
and password. When you or your system manager installed
DECwindows, you may also have established an account for
yourself with an assoCiated password. Your account's name is your
login name. Your login name is unique and identifies you to the
system. In many cases, a login name is your first or last name.
Your password is for your protection. Keep it secret so that other
users cannot access your account.
You type your login name and password in the text entry fields.
A text insertion cursor is visible in each field. The text cursor
in the U sername field blinks to indicate this field has input
focus. When a text field or window has input focus, you see your
keystrokes echoed there. The text cursor in the Password field is
dimmed, indicating that this field is currently disabled and that
you cannot enter text in it.
To start a session:
Type your login name.

Select the Password field by pointing to the Password field
and clicking MB1.
The text cursor in the Password field blinks to indicate this
field now has input focus.

Type your password.
To preserve the secrecy of your password, the letters you type
are not displayed on the screen.

Click on the OK button or press IReturn I.
This sends your login name and password to the system.

The bold border around the OK button in the Start Session dialog
box indicates it is the default option. Default options are those
you will choose most frequently. DECwindows provides you with
a shortcut to choose default options: Whenever you see a button
with a bold border, pressing the I Return 1 key achieves the same
results as clicking on that button.
If you make a typing mistake before you click on the OK button,
press the I Delete 1 key to erase the character to the left of the text
cursor. To insert a character in the middle of text you already
typed, point where you want the text inserted and click MB 1. Or

1-4 Opening DECwindows

use the right and left arrow keys to move the text cursor right or
left. The new characters you type push existing ones to the right.

I Acknowledged II

If you provide incorrect information, or make a typing mistake
and do not correct it, DECwindows does not let you start a
session. Instead, it displays a Problem Report dialog box as a
warning that you made a mistake.
Click on the Acknowledged button in the Problem Report dialog
box, or press the Return key, to try again.
If your login information is correct, your session begins. Your
screen looks like this:
Resize

Customize

Print Screen
Messages

Starting Applh ~ DECtenll
Commands

____________________________________
~_~~

Edit

Help

Customize

£SeSSion
Manager

Work
Region

DECterm

Opening DECwindows

1-5

• Icons representing applications or objects appear in the icon
box. If you want to keep an application readily available, but
do not have room for it on the screen, you can shrink that
application to an icon. Once you start an application, its icon
appears in the icon box. When the application is running in a
window, the icon is dimmed. The icon appears bold when the
application is stored in the icon box.
• The title bar tells you the name of the application and
contains window management buttons you can use to
rearrange your screen display. Most windows have a title bar.
• The menu bar contains the names of menus you can choose
from. Most windows have a menu bar.
• The work region is the area in a window where you interact
with the application.
• The shrink-to-icon button lets you shrink a window to an
icon and store it in the icon box.
• The push-to-back button lets you move a window to the
bottom of a stack of overlapping windows, or move a window
to the opposite location in the stack.
• The resize button lets you change the size of a window.
• The Session Manager helps control the look and feel of
your DECwindows session and is available until you end your
session. Use it to adjust your workstation settings, such as
keyboard features and pointer shape. The Session Manager
also gives you access to the DECwindows applications.
• The DECterm terminal emulator window looks and acts like
a VT340 terminal.

Using Applications
With DECwindows, you can run several applications
simultaneously in different windows on your workstation screen.
DECwindows offers different ways to start an application:
•

From the Session Manager-Choose the application you wish
to run from Session Manager's Applications menu.

• From the User Executive (UE)-Choose the application you
wish to run from UE's Applications menu.

1-6 Opening DECwindows

• In a DECterm window-Enter the command line at the
system prompt to start an application. See Chapter 6 for more
information on running applications from the command line.
Because DECwindows provides an environment in which
applications look and respond similarly, the knowledge you
gain working with one application is easily transferred to other
DECwindows applications.
With the following exercises, you will use the Mail application to
learn some basic DECwindows techniques, including how to:
For more
detailed
description
of these
DECwindows
techniques, see
Chapter 2.

• Choose an item from a menu
• Copy and move text from one location to another
• Move a window
• Change the size of a window
• Shrink a window to an icon
• Scroll through text
• Stack windows
• Exit an application

Choosing from a Menu
Before you run Mail, you must pull down a menu in the Session
Manager window. You tell DECwindows what you want to do or
what you want to work with by choosing items from menus.
First, just try looking at a menu:
Point to the Session Manager's Applications menu name with
the mouse.
2

Press and hold MB1.
This highlights the menu name and pulls down a menu.

Point to the other menus on the Session Manager's menu bar.
The other pull-down menus are displayed.

Release MB 1.

You display every menu on a menu bar in exactly this way.
Now, try choosing an item from the Applications menu:

Ooenina DECwindows

1-7

Point to the Session Manager's Applications menu.

CDA Viewer
Calculator
Calendar
Cardfiler
Clock
DEcterm

I Mail
Notepad
Paint
Postscript Previewer
Puzzle
User Executive

Press and hold MB 1.

While holding MB1, move the pointer through the menu.
This technique is called dragging. A rectangular outline
surrounds each menu item in turn as you drag through the
menu. As long as you hold MB1, you can move up and down
through the menu. If you release MB 1 without choosing a
menu item, the menu disappears and nothing happens.

Release MB1 on the Mail menu item.

In a few seconds, Mail's main window opens and the Mail icon is
added to the Icon Box.

Mail's main window lists your mail folders and messages. You
have three folders called inbox, drafts, and wastebasket, and
probably some messages.
Try creating a mail message. Move the pointer to the Create-Send
button and click MB 1. Mail opens the Create-Send window, where

you will compose your message.

~lail: Create

File
To:

rJ~

Edit

cc:
Subject:

" Case

1/ Reset /I Save 1~ll

Entering Text
You entered text in text entry fields when you typed your login
name and password at the start of your session. In the CreateSend window, you enter the name of the user receiving the
message, as well as other optional information, in the text fields.
Try sending a message to yourself. To create your message:

1 Move the pointer to the To: text field.
2

Click MBl.
The window's title bar is highlighted to indicate that this
window has input focus. The text cursor blinks to indicate
that the To: text field has input focus and to show you where
the text you type will appear.

Type your login name.

Move the pointer to the Subject: field, click MB1, and type
MESSAGE FROM A FRIEND.

Move the pointer to the message area underneath the Subject
field, click MB1, and type your message.

Opening DECwindows

1-9

Make your message a grocery list that contains about six
items. Type one item on each line. (You will see why later.) To
delete any mistakes, use the IDelete Ikey.

Copying Text
Mail, like many DECwindows applications, lets you copy text from
one location to another. This saves you from retyping a large piece
of text or a long file name.
First, you must let DECwindows know which text you want to
copy by selecting it. Try selecting the text in your list in the
Create-Send window:
Make sure the cursor is at the end of your grocery list.
If it isn't, point to the end of the list and click MB1.
2

Move the pointer to the first character of text in your list.

Press and hold MB1.

Drag the pointer through the list.
As you drag the pointer, the selected text is highlighted.

Select the entire list.

Release MB1.

Now make the grocery list twice its original length by adding the
selected text to the bottom of the list.
Click MB3 to copy the text to the bottom of the list.
The text is copied, but the original text remains selected.
2

Cancel the original selection by pointing to the selected text
and clicking MB 1.

When you are ready to send the message, click on the Send button
in the Create-Send window. The Send button dims, notifying you
that your message has been sent.
Now you can close the Create-Send window. Click on the Close
button in the Create-Send window. Click on the Deliver mail
button in Mail's main window. Mail now lists your new mail in
the message area in Mail's main window.

1-10 Opening DECwindows

Moving a Window
You can rearrange the windows on your screen in any way you
want. If one window partially obscures another, you might want
to arrange them so that each is completely visible.
Try moving Mail's main window:

Move the pointer to the Mail window's title bar (anywhere but
on a button).
2

Press and hold MB1.
An outline of the window appears. Move the mouse around
and watch how the outline moves accordingly.

Drag the outline a few inches to the right.

Release MB 1.
The Mail window is moved to its new location.

To cancel a window-moving operation in progress, click any other
mouse button before releasing MBl. The outline disappears, and
the window is not moved.

Shrinking a Window to an Icon
Your screen may be getting crowded, but you can make more
room easily. By shrinking the Session Manager window to an
icon, you free up space on your screen. Even as an icon, the
Session Manager remains easily accessible. To shrink the Session
Manager window, click on its shrink-to-icon button.
The Session Manager window closes and its icon in the Icon Box
appears bold to indicate that the Session Manager is stored as an
icon.

Now there is more room on your screen to read your new message.
Click on the Read New Mail button in Mail's main window. Mail
displays your new message in a Read window.

Opening DECwindows

1-11

Changing the Size of a Window
Sometimes, you want to make the window you are working in very
large. Other times, you might want several small windows, such
as when several applications are running simultaneously. Change
the size of the windows with the resize button. The resize button
is at the top right-hand corner of the window.
Try making Mail's Read window smaller so you can see more of

the other windows on your screen:
Point to the Read window's resize button.
If the Read window is flush against the right side of your
screen, move the window to the left a few inches so you have
enough room to move the pointer.
2

Press and hold MBI.
The pointer changes shape.

Drag the pointer until it touches the bottom window border
and then back toward the top.
The outline stretches and shrinks in accordance with where
you move the pointer and stops shrinking when the window is
as small as it can get.

Drag the pointer until the window is half its original height.

Release MB 1.
The Read window is redrawn in the new size.

Scrolling Through Text
If a document or message is too long to fit in one screen, scroll
bars allow you to see text or graphics that cannot fit. A scroll bar
is visible on the right side of the Mail's Read window. Use this
scroll bar to scroll through your mail message.

1-12 Opening DECwindows

~--------[g~
File

Edit

Sequences

Create-Send

Read

Oose

II Reply II Forward Ir Print 11 Move II Delete II PrHvious II Bmlt I

To scroll the text in the Read window up one line at a time:
Move the pointer to the down stepping arrow at the bottom
of the scroll bar in the Read window.
2

Click MBl.

Continue clicking MB 1 to scroll the text up one line at a time.

Similarly, click MBl on the up stepping arrow to scroll the text
down one line at a time. To scroll continuously, press and hold
MB 1 on the stepping arrow.
The position of the slider-the thicker rectangle that covers
some of the long, thin scroll bar, indicates your position in the
text. A slider at the top of the scroll bar indicates you are at the
beginning of the message. If the slider is at the bottom, you are at
the end of the message.
The size of the slider helps you to tell how much more text
remains to be displayed. A small slider indicates that much text
remains undisplayed. A large slider that completely fills the scroll
bar indicates that all the text is currently displayed.

Exiting From an Application
When you exit from an application, you close all windows
associated with the application and remove it from memory.
To work with it again, choose the application from the Session
Manager or User Executive Applications menus, or start it from a
DECterm terminal emulator window.

Opening DECwindows

1-13

When you are ready to exit from the Mail application:
Move ...
Copy ..•

Point to the File menu on the Mail window's menu bar.

Press and hold MBl.

Drag the pointer to the Exit menu item.

Open folder
Open folder in new

Release MBl.

Extract .••

Print ...

Deliver mail

...............................

Exit

The Mail window closes and the Mail icon is removed from the
Icon Box. To start Mail again, choose the Mail menu item from
Session Manager's Applications menu.

Putting a Session on Hold
At any time, you can put your current session on hold, or pause,
indefinitely and lock your workstation without ending your
session. Pause allows your session to be maintained exactly
as it was. This means you can resume working at a later time
without having to restart applications or re-create your screen
environment.
When you put your session on hold, your session is hidden from
view. The Continue Session dialog box is displayed. To continue
your session, you must enter your password in the text field
provided.
To put your current session on hold:
1

If the Session Manager is stored as an icon, click on its icon.

Point to the Session menu on the Session Manager's menu
bar.

Press and hold MBl.

Drag the pointer to the Pause menu item and release MBl.

Your screen is cleared, and the Continue Session dialog box is
displayed on your workstation screen.

1-14 Opening DECwindows

Type your password to resume the session

Password

I"'-II_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

To continue your session:
1

Type your password.

Click on the OK button or press IReturn I.

Once the system verifies your password, your session resumes.

Ending a Session
You can end a session at any time. When you end a session,
DECwindows stops all applications and clears the screen.
To end your session:
Point to the Session menu on the Session Manager's menu
bar.
2

Press and hold MBl.

Drag the pointer to the Quit menu item and release MBl.

If you change your mind and decide not to end your session, you
have a second chance. The Session Manager displays a dialog box
asking you to confirm that you indeed want to end your session.

o
Do you really want to end the session?

II Yes

II I cancel End Session I

Opening DECwindows

1-15

To return to your session, click on the Cancel End Session button.
To end your session, click on the OK button or press the Return
key. All windows are closed and the session ends. DECwindows
displays the Digital logo and Start Session dialog box, ready to
begin another session.
You have learned most of the techniques you need to use
DECwindows successfully. If you want to review any of the
techniques you learned here, see Chapter 2.

1-16 Opening DECwindows

2
Using OECwindows
You work with most DECwindows applications by using the same
handful of techniques. Refer to this Chapter whenever you need a
refresher on how to use a specific DECwindows technique, or use
it to learn new skills.

Using the Mouse
The mouse is a hand-held pointing device attached to your
workstation monitor. It makes using DECwindows as easy as
pointing to an object on your screen and pressing a button.
Use the mouse to choose items from a menu, to expand and shrink
windows, and to rearrange windows on your screen.
You can do all your work with DECwindows (except typing text
and numbers) by mastering the following mouse techniques:

• Point: Using the mouse, move the cursor to where you want
the next action to occur.
• Click: Point to the object you want to select. Quickly press
and release MB 1.
• Press: Point to the menu name, scroll bar stepping arrow, or
wherever you want the action to occur. Without moving the
mouse, press and hold MB1. If you are pointing at a menu
name, pressing MB 1 pulls down a menu and keeps it down
until you release MB 1.
• Drag: Point to the object you want to move. (For example,
the outline of a window.) Press and hold MBl, move the object
to the desired location, and release MB 1. To cancel a drag in
progress, click another mouse button before releasing MBI.

Using DECwindows 2-1

If you are displaying a pull-down menu, cancel the drag
operation by moving the pointer outside the menu and
releasing MB l.

• Double-click: Point to the object and click MBI twice in
quick succession.
• Shift-click: Point to the object. Press and hold the Shift key
and click MBl. Release the Shift key.

Selecting Windows
When several windows are open on your screen at once, you must
tell DECwindows which one you're currently working on, so that
the commands you choose and the text you type are directed to
the correct window.
You tell DECwindows which window you want to work with by
selecting it. When you slect a window, its title bar is highlighted
to indicate the window has input focus. When a window has
input focus, your typing and mouse activity are directed to that
window.
To give a window input focus:
Point to a location in the window or title bar (anywhere except
on a button).
In the Session Manager window, point to the title bar.
2

Click MBl.

The window's title bar becomes highlighted. Any keystrokes
you type will appear in this window. The title bar is no longer
highlighted when another window has input focus.
Occasionally, a dialog box lacks a window management button,
usually the resize or shrink-to-icon button. The window will not
take input focus if you click MBI in the space that these buttons
usually occupy. To give this kind of window input focus, point to
another location in the window and try again.

Managing Windows
This section describes how to manage (shrink, move, change the
size of, and stack) windows using components of the title bar. You
can use a DECterm window to practice these window management
techniques. The following shows a sample title bar.

2-2 Using DECwindows

Shrink-to-Icon
Button

Four elements on the title bar let you change the window's size,
shape, and location. The title bar elements are as follows:
Shrink-to-icon button

Shrinks the window to an icon

Application title

Identifies the name of the application; can be
used to move the window

Push-to-back/opposite
button

Depending on whether you change the state of
your windows, moves a window to the bottom
of a stack of overlapping windows or moves
the window to the opposite location in the
stack.

Resize button

Changes the size of the window

Shrinking Windows
To make more room on your screen, you can shrink a window
to an icon. As an icon, an application remains active and easily
accessible. To shrink a window, click on its shrink-to-icon button.
The window closes and its icon in the Icon Box appears bold. To
expand the application's icon to a window, click on its icon in the
Icon Box. You cannot shrink the Icon Box to an icon.
When you start an application, its icon appears in the Icon Box.
When the application is running in a window, its icon is dimmed.
The icon appears bold when the application is stored in the Icon
Box.
You can rearrange icons in the Icon Box by:
• Moving icons-point and drag to a new location
• Clicking on the Icon Box's shrink-to-icon button to eliminate
the gaps that may apear when you stop, or quit, applications.

Using DECwindows 2-3

Expanding Icons to Windows
When you expand an application's icon, you open a window for
that application. If you have more that one window open and
expand an icon to a window, the new window is placed at the front
of the stack of overlapping windows.
To expand an icon to a window:
Point to the icon in the Icon Box.
2

Click MBI

If the window accepts text entry, it is also given input focus.

Moving Windows
You can rearrange the windows on your screen in any way you
want. If one window partially obscures another, you can arrange
them so that each window is completely visible.
To move a window:
1

Point to the window's title bar (anywhere but on a button).

Press and hold MB 1.
An outline of the window appears. When you move the mouse,
the outline moves accordingly.

Drag the outline to the new location.

Release MB 1.
The window is moved to its new location.

To cancel a window-moving operation in progress, click any other
mouse button before releasing MB 1. The outline disappears, and
the window stays in its original location.

Resizing Windows
Sometimes you want to make one window very large so you see
everything in it. Other times you may want to work with several
smaller windows on your screen. With the resize button, you can
change the size of your windows to suit your needs.
You can change the size of a window in one dimension (height or
width) or in both dimensions simultaneously.
To change the size of a window:
Point to the resize button, press and hold MB 1.
The resize cursor appears.

2-4 Using DECwindows

Move the resize cursor across one border of the window.
A dotted outline appears. When you move the mouse, the
dotted outline moves accordingly.

Drag the border outline until you are satisfied with the size.
To make the window larger, drag the resize cursor beyond the
window border. To make the window smaller, drag the resize
cursor beyond the window border then back in. The outline
stops moving when the window is as small as it can get.

Release MBl.

To cancel the sizing operation while you are dragging the outline,
click another mouse button before releasing MB 1. The dotted
outline disappears, and the window retains its original size.

Working With Overlapping Windows
When you select a window from a stack of overlapping windows,
the selected window moves to the front of the stack and is given
input focus.
You do not have to move a window in order to see its entire
contents. When windows are overlapping, clicking on a window's
push-to-back button pushes that window to the bottom of the
stack. The next window is then fully visible.
To stack your windows in a different order:
Move the Read window so that it partially obscures Mail's
main window.
2

Point to the Read window's push-to-back button.

Click MBl.
The Read window is pushed to the bottom of the stack and
Mail's main window pops to the top of the stack.

If you try this repeatedly with three or more windows, you see
that the windows cycle through the stacking order, moving up one
position each time a window is moved to the bottom of the stack.

Using DECwindows 2-5

Making Windows Stay in Place
When you are working with stacked windows and give a window
input focus, DECwindows automatically moves that window to
the top of the stack. You can, however, prevent this behavior and
force the' window to stay in place, even when you give it input
focus, using a technique called shift clicking. Shift clicking on
the window's push-to-back button lets you secure the window in
place.
For example, if you're working with DECterm, Notepad, and
Mail windows, you might want to arrange them so that only
the portions you need to work with are visible. In the DECterm
window, you may need to see only the last few lines so you can
enter commands. Once the windows are secured, you can switch
from one window to another without disturbing their order in the
stack.
To make an overlapping window stick in place:
1

Point to the window's push-to-back button.

Shift click by pressing and holding the IShiftl key, clicking MBl,
and releasing the IShiftl key.
The window is pushed to the bottom of the stack.

Look at the lower right-hand corner of the push-to-back button on
the window's title bar. It is darkened to indicate that the window
is fixed in the stacking order. It will not pop to the top of the stack
when you give it input focus. Similarly, an unshaded push-to-back
button is your cue that the window is "unsticky."

You can still, however, push a stuck window out of the way or
bring it to the top of the stack to see it unobscured. Clicking on
a window's darkened push-to-back button moves that window to
the opposite position in the stack, but does not give it input focus.
Thus, a top window moves to the bottom of the stack and a bottom
window to the top. A window in the middle of the stack moves
to the top the first time you click on its darkened push-to-back
button, and then alternates between the bottom and top.

2-6 Using DECwindows

Releasing Windows
To release a window fixed in the stack, shift click on the shaded
push-to-back button. If the window was on the bottom of the
stack, it pops to the top; if the window was on top, it is pushed to
the bottom. Notice that the window's push-to-back button is no
longer darkened. Giving the window input focus will once again
pop it to the top of the stack.

Working with Menus
A menu is a window that consists of a name and a list of
commands. These commands let you communicate with your
DECwindows application: you use the mouse to display menus
and to select menu items.
You'll encounter the following menu types when working with
DECwindows:
• Pull-down menu
• Submenu
• Pop-up menu
• Option menu

Choosing Items from Pull-Down Menus
CDA Viewer
Calculator
Calendar
Cardfiler
Clock
DEOerm
Mail
Notepad
Paint
Postscript Previewer

The names of menus available in an application appear on the
menu bar. When you click on a menu name, the menu's contents
are displayed or pulled down. Some pull-down menus contain
commands. Others contain the names of items you can work with.
You tell DECwindows what you want to do or what you want to
work with by choosing items from pull-down menus. Any menu
item followed by an ellipsis ( . . . ) is your cue that a dialog box
will be displayed.
To choose an item from a pull-down menu:

Puzzle
User Executive

Point to the menu name whose menu you want to display.

Press and hold MBl.
This highlights the menu name and pulls down a menu.

While holding MB1, drag the rectangular outline to the menu
item you want.

Release MB 1.

USing DECwindows 2-7

If you change your mind while looking at a pull-down menu,
move the pointer outside the menu and release MBl. The menu
disappears and no action is taken.
See Chapter 6
for more
information
about running
applications
from a DECterm
window.

The applications described in the DECwindows Desktop
Applications Guide are menu items on the Session Manager's
Applications menu. To run these applications, choose them as you
would any other menu item. You can also run these applications
from a DECterm window.
Some applications, for example, Mail, use push buttons to
duplicate frequently used commands that are also available
as menu items. To execute these commands, click MBI on the
command button.

Choosing Items from SubMenus
A menu item with a submenu icon-an arrow pointing to the rightindicates that a corresponding submenu is available. If you choose
that menu item, you need to refine your choice by displaying its
submenu and choosing a menu item from that submenu.

To display a submenu and choose a submenu menu item:
On the menu bar, point to the name of the menu you want to
display.

'• • 1$ Courier
Size
Style

"
"

Times
Helvetica

Press and hold MBI.

Drag to the menu item you want.

Drag onto the submenu icon.
A submenu is displayed to the right of the menu.

Drag to the menu item you want to choose from the submenu.

Release MB 1.

Choosing Items from Pop-Up Menus
Copy.•.
Display...
Search•..
Move •••
Remove ...

DECwindows provides pop-up menus to make it easier for
you to work with files and applications. Pop-up menus give you
quick and direct access to the same functions available in pulldown menus. You can display a pop-up menu anywhere in an
application's work area.
To display a pop-up menu:
Press and hold MB2 on the work area.
In UE, press and hold MB2 on the file name whose
corresponding pop-up menu you want to display.

2-8 Using DECwindows

Drag the pointer to the menu item you want.

Release MB2.

Choosing Items from Option Menus
An option menu is a pop-up menu that appears in a dialog box.
An option menu allows you to choose one option from many. In
the dialog box, only the current option is displayed~ To see the
other options from which you can choose, you display the option
menu.
Orientation I Default

Portrait
Landscape

ZK-0562A-GE

To display an option menu:
Press and hold MB 1 on the current option.
The option menu is displayed.
2

Drag to the menu item you want.

Release MB 1.
The option menu disappears. The option you chose is now the
current option.

Supplying Information in Dialog Boxes
DECwindows displays a dialog box whenever it needs additional
information from you to carry out a task. Sometimes, you need
to type text; other times, you need only click MB 1 on a button to
change a setting. Some dialog boxes display settings you chose
earlier.

Using DECwindows 2-9

Toggle Button
Option
Buttons
Confirm Quit Session

IType your password to resume the session
Scale
Pause Screen Text

Default
Option

IMeSSage~
Header Text
Cancel

Push Buttons

Dialog boxes offer various ways to supply information to an
application:
•

By typing text in a text entry field. The blinking text cursor
shows you where the text you type will appear. What you type
appears to the left of the text cursor. Use the IDelete I key to
correct typing mistakes.

•

By clicking on round option buttons or square toggle
buttons. Option buttons let you select one option from a
group. Toggle buttons let you turn a setting on or off.

•

By dragging the slider in a scale. Dialog boxes often contain
a scale and slider when you need to supply a numeric value.
The arrow in the slider points to the current value.

•

By selecting choices, for example, file names, from a list box.
The list box may contain scroll bars if the available choices do
not fit in the list box.

• By clicking on push buttons. Push buttons, such as OK,
Cancel, or Filter, let you tell DECwindows what to do next
with the information you supplied in the dialog box.
Default options are those you will choose most frequently.
Usually, the OK button is the default option in a dialog box.
Whenever you see a button with a bold border, pressing the
Return key achieves the same results as clicking on that
button.

2-10 Using DECwindows

Moving and Changing Settings in a Dialog Box
How you move in a dialog box depends on the object to which you
want to move. Table 2-1 describes the ways in which you can
move in a dialog box.
Table 2-1

Moving Within a Dialog Box

Do This

Move forward between
text entry fields

Press the Tab key, or, point to the field to
which you want to move and click MBl.

Move backward between
text entry fields

Simultaneously press the Shift and Tab keys,
or point to the field you want to move to and
click MBl.

Move the text cursor
within a text entry field

Point to where you want the text inserted
and click MB1, or use the right and left arrow
keys to move the text cursor right or left.
New characters push existing ones to the
right.

Change the numeric
value on a scale

Drag the slider on the scale right or left, or
point to another location on the scale and
click MBl.

Change an option or
toggle button

Point to the option, or toggle button and click
MBl.

Saving Your Settings
Once you change the settings you want, click on either the OK,
Apply, or Cancel buttons as follows:
To

Click On

Record your choices and dismiss the
dialog box.

Record your choices without dismissing
the dialog box

Apply

Dismiss the dialog box without changing
any settings. If you made any changes
without aplying them, clicking on the
Cancel button cancels those changes.

Cancel

Usina DECwindows 2-11

Making Selections from List Boxes
A list box is part of a dialog box that contains a list of items, often
file names, from which you can choose. Many applications display
a list box when you open or save a file.
To select from a list box, point to the item and click MBI. The file
name is highlighted.
File Filter
Cardfiler: Open
Text Entry
Field ~ File filter
List Box

[!j]

~.~ard

~ Files in lusrlstaff/almostlhumel
I~ lusrlstafflalmostlhume/American_Print.card
lusrlstaff/almostlhume/DTMarshall_Co.card

Filter

I Cancel I

Selection
<01
Text Entry
~
Selection
Field

II> D

t.card

If you selected a file name, you can click on OK to open the file.
DECwindows also gives you a shortcut for opening files from list
boxes: Double-clicking on the file name produces the same results
as selecting that file name and clicking on OK.
Use the File filter text entry field to list a subset of files to select
from. For example, to list all the files in another directory with
the file extension .txt, enter the complete path specification-hume/letters/*.txt-in the File filter text entry field and click on
the Filter button. The list of corresponding files are displayed.
Double click on the name of the file you want to select.
If you want to work with a file that does not appear in the list
box, type the name of the file in the Selection text entry field and
click on OK.

2-12 Using DECwindows

Scrolling
Some windows display scroll bars that let you view the text
that does not fit in a single window. Some windows have both
horizontal and vertical scroll bars.
A scroll bar consists of stepping arrows at either end of the
scroll region. The slider is the thicker box that overlays the
scroll region. If the slider is at the top of the scroll region, the
beginning of the file or list is visible. If the slider is at the bottom
of the scroll egion, the end of the file or list is visible.
Stepping
Arrow
II*.card
Flies in lusrlstaff/almost/humel
lusrlstaff/almostlhumelABC_Printing.card
lusrlstaff/almostlhumelAmerican_Print.card
lusrlstaff/almostlhume/CBC_Publishing.card
lusrlstaff/almostlhume/DTMarshall_Co.card
lusrlstaff/almostlhume/Evans_and_Sons.card

II
OK
I

Ili~===t-- Slider

Selection
II.card

Scroll
Region

The size of the slider is relative to the total amount of text in
the document and indicates how much more text remains to be
displayed. For example, a small slider indicates that much text
remains to be displayed. A large slider that completely fills the
scroll bar indicates that all the text is displayed.
Table 2-2 describes the different ways you can use a scroll bar.
Table 2-2

Using Scroll Bars

Do This

Scroll the text up one
line at a time

Click MBl on the down stepping arrow.
(continued on next page)

Using DECwindows 2-13

Table 2-2 (ConI.)

Using Scroll Bars

Do This

Scroll the text down one
line at a time

Click MBI on the up stepping arrow.

Scroll the text up
continuously
Scroll the text down
continuously

Press MB 1 on down stepping arrow.

Move to another location
in the file

Drag the slider. This moves an outline of the
slider. Releasing MBl repositions the window
to a location in the file that corresponds to
the new slider location. Cancel the drag by
clicking any of the other mouse buttons before
releasing MB l.

Advance the window so
that the desired text is
at the top of the window

In the scroll bar, point to the line of text you
want at the top of the window and click MB2.
This is a shortcut for repeatedly clicking on
the stepping arrow.

Move the window back
so that the desired text
is at the bottom of the
window

In the scroll bar, point to the line of text
you want at the bottom of the window and
click MB3. This is a shortcut for repeatedly
clicking on the stepping arrow.

Press MBI on up stepping arrow.

Editing Text
DECwindows provides many ways to edit text. Most applications
let you move and copy both text and graphics:
• From one place in a window to another
• From one window to another window. For example, you can
copy text from one Create-Send window in Mail to another.
• From one application to another application. For example, you
can move a picture from Paint onto a Cardfiler card.
See the Desktop
Applications
Guide for more
information
about using
the Edit menu
in specific
applications.

In addition, most applications provide an Edit menu that lets you
cut, copy, and paste text and graphics.
Many applications also define specific keys to let you perform
basic text editing operations, such as moving the cursor and
deleting small amounts of text efficiently.

2-14 Using DECwindows

Basic Text Editing Key Definitions
You can use the text editing techniques described in Table 2-3 in
any text entry field in any DECwindows application. You can also
use them in any application in which you add text to a file. These
applications include Cardfiler, Calendar, Mail, and Notepad.
Table 2-3

Text Editing Techniques

Press

Move the text cursor one character to the
right

=} (Right arrow)
In a text entry field, the text
cursor moves to the first
position in the next line. At
the end of the last line, the
text cursor does not move.

Move the text cursor one character to the
left

¢: (Left arrow)
The text cursor does not
move when at the beginning
of the line.

Move the cursor up one line in a text
entry field with multiple lines

11" (Up arrow)

Move the cursor down one line in a field
with multiple lines

..u. (Down arrow)

Move the text cursor to the beginning of
the line
Move the text cursor to the end of the
line

IShift/F12!

Move the text cursor forward between
text entry fields
Move the text cursor backward between
text entry fields

IShift/Tab I

Delete the characters to the left of the
text cursor
Delete the characters to the right of the
text cursor
Delete the character to the left of the
text cursor and move all the following
text one space to the left

IShift/F13!
IDelete! or <Rl
(continued on next page)

Using DECwindows

2-15

Table 2-3 (Cont.)

Text Editing Techniques

Press

Delete the character after the text cursor
and move all the following text one space
to the left

I Shift/Delete I In overstrike
mode, I Shift/Delete I deletes
the character under the block
cursor

Selecting Text
Before you can copy or move text to other locations in a window or
between windows, you must select the text. Table 2-4 describes
how to select text.
Table 2-4

Selecting Text

Do This

Position the cursor

Point to the location and click once on MB 1.

Select a word

Point to the word and double click on MBl.

Select a line

Point to the line and triple click on MBl.

Select all of the text

Point to the text and click MBI four times.

Select continuous text

Press and hold MB 1 and drag the pointer
through the text.

Extend the current
selection

ShiftlDrag MBI through the additional text.

You can select only one piece of text at a time. By selecting text in
one application, you cancel any other text selection established in
the same window or in another application.

Copying Text
Mter you select text, you can copy it anywhere within a window
if the application supports text editing. You can also copy text
between application windows if both applications support text
editing. Applications that support text editing include Calendar,
Cardfiler, Mail, and Notepad.
You can also copy text from a DECterm window into an
application that supports text editing.
To copy text within a window or between applications:
Select the text you want to copy using the text selection
techniques described in the previous section.

2-16 Using DECwindows

Point to where you want the text copied and click MB 1.

Click MB3.
The text is copied to the new location.

The window where you selected text takes input focus. If you
copied that text back to your current window, you had to
reestablich input focus for that window. Sometimes, however,
you just want to take a piece of text from another window without
worrying about which window has input focus. Use QuickCopy to
copy text from another window to your current window without
losing input focus in your current window.
To use QuickCopy:
In the current window, point to where you want the text and
click MB1.
2

In the other window, point to the text you want to copy.

Press and hold MB3.

Drag across the text you want to copy.
The text is highlighted (or underlined in some applications) as
you drag across it.

Release MB3.
The text is copied to the specified location in your current
window.

Moving Text Between Windows
Between applications that support text editing, you can work in
one window, select and remove text from another, and move that
text to the original window, all without losing input focus in your
current window.
To remove text from one window and move it to another:
In the current window, point to where you want the text
pasted and click MB1.
2

In the other window, point to the text you want to move.

Press and hold ICTRLI and MB3.

Drag the pointer across the text you want to move.
The text is highlighted as you drag across it.

Release ICTRLI and MB3.

Using DECwindows 2-17

The text is moved to the specified location and deleted from
the old.

Deleting Text with Pending Delete
By using the Pending delete function, you can delete large
blocks of text in one motion instead of pressing the IDelete I key
repeatedly. In the pending delete operation, currently selected
text is deleted when you press any key. You can then type new
text.
To cancel a pending delete selection, point to the selected text and
click MBl.

Editing Text in Dialog Boxes
Use the text editing techniques described in the following table to
move the cursor or delete text in dialog boxes in any DECwindows
aplication. Use the arrow keys to move the cursor one character
at a time.

Press

Move the cursor to the next word
Move the cursor to the previous word

IShift/=> I
IShift/-¢: I

Move the cursor to the beginning of the line

Move the cursor to the end of the line

IShift/F121

Move the cursor forward between text fields

IT2§]

Move the cursor backward between text fields

IShift/Tab I
IDelete Ior <XI

Delete the character to the left of the cursor and
move all text to the right of the deleted character
one space to the left
Delete the character after the cursor and move
all text to the right of the deleted character one
space to the left

I Shift/Delete I In
overstrike mode,

I Shift/Delete Ideletes
the character under
the block cursor.

Getting Help
You can get help in many DECwindows applications by using
the Help menu or the Help key. Help provides brief information
about screen objects, concepts, or tasks you can perform in an
application. Some applications also provide context-sensitive help
that lets you get help on specific screen objects, for example, scroll
bars and menu items. Context-sensitive help is invoked when you
press IHelpl while clicking MBI on a screen object.

2-18 Using DECwindows

Help is designed to let you request general information on an
application and quickly narrow the focus of your inquiry. In Help
you can:
• Navigate quickly through help topics
• Record a history of your help session
•

Search help for a keyword or topic supplied by the application.

•

Save the help text in a file for printing.

Help Window
The Help menu contains the Overview and About menu items. To
see an overview of your application, choose the Overview menu
item. To get product information about your application, such as
the software version number, choose the About menu item. Some
applications have additional Help menu items, for example, the
Glossary menu item, which lets you look up terms used in your
application.
When you choose any menu item from the Help menu, or press
IHelpl while clicking on MBI on a screen object, a Help window is

displayed.

Using DECwindows 2-19

1111 Help on Calendar
File

Edit

View

11;!111iiJ
Search

Help

DECwindows Calendar
This is the Overview topic for the DECwindows Calendar
Help library. The Calendar provides a simple facility
for recording your meetings and other events. Like a
paper calendar, several different views are available.
For example, it can display the whole year in a window,
or just one day, with all its appointments.
Help
Topic:<

You can use the Help library as a source of taskoriented or descriptive information. Task-oriented Help
describes how to use the features of Calendar to carry
out specific tasks. For a list of the tasks, select
Using Calendar from the list of additional topics. Each
Calendar feature is also described. Features are listed
below. Much of the information found here can be
accessed more quickly using context-sensitive Help.
For information about using Help, choose the Overview
menu item from the Help menu.

Additional topics:

{

Additiona
Topics

Using Calendar
Menus
DECwindows Calendar Displays
Brief History of the Gregorian Calendar
Julian Period

I Go Back I

0
0

Exit

ZK-0498A-GE

• The menu bar displays the names of menus available in
Help.
• The help topic contains text describing the current topic.
• The Additional topics list contains topics you can select
to display more information. Select an additional topic by
pointing to it and double clicking MB l.
• The help buttons, Go Back and Exit, let you display the
previous Help topic or exit from Help.

Recording a History of Your Help Session
Help records every topic that you select while in a Help session.
This provides you with the ability to track your requests for help
topics, step back to a previous topic at any given time, or take a
short cut back to a previously-displayed topic.

2-20 Using DECwindows

To see the record of your help session, select History... from the
Search menu. A dialog box appears, listing all the topics viewed
during the current Help session. The list is in chronological order,
but duplicates are discarded.
Select a topic in the usual way: double click on the topic to Go To
the topic, or single click and then choose an operation by clicking
on the desired push buttons.

Searching Help for Titles and Keywords
Help lets you search for words or phrases that may appear in topic
titles or in help text. For example, you might want to see whether
there is a topic title in Mail that contains the word "Sending," or a
topic in which the phrase "message" appears.
To search for a word or phrase contained in a topic title:
Choose Title... from Help's Search menu.
Help displays a dialog box.
2

In the Title text field, type the word or phrase you want to
search for.
Leave this field empty if you want Help to display a list of
every topic title.

Click on Apply.
Help displays the topics whose titles contain the word or
phrase you specified.

To display the topic whose title contains the word or phrase you
searched for, double click on the topic or select it and click on
the Visit button. Help displays the topic in another window. The
Search Topic Titles dialog box remains open for you to continue
your topic search.
Help for each application has predefined words or phrases called
keywords that you can search for. To search for a keyword used
in a topic:
Choose Keyword ... from Help's Search menu.
Help displays a dialog box that lists the keywords defined for
that application.
2

Double click on the keyword you want to search for.
Help lists the topics in which the keyword is used.

Using DECwindows 2-21

To display the topic in which the keyword in used, double click on
the topic or select it and click on the Visit button. Help displays
the topic in another window. The Search Topic Keywords dialog
box remains open for you to continue your keyword search.

Saving help Text in a File
You can select text from a help topic and save it in a file for later
use. For example, you may want to print the file for reference or
mail the file to another user.
You can save all the help text for one given topic at a time. For
example, to save the text that is displayed when you choose
Overview from the help menu:
1

Choose Overview from an application's help menu

Choose Save As... from the File menu.
Help displays a dialog box.

Enter a name for the file in which you want to save the text.
The default file name Help_Topic already appears in the
Selection field. Click on OK to accept the default, or delete the
Help_Topic file name, enter a new name, then click on OK or
press 1Return I.

Exiting from Help
To exit from Help, click on the Exit button. If you have multiple
help windows open, you must close each one.

Composing Special Characters
In DECwindows, you can use compose sequences to create
special characters. A compose sequence is a series of keystrokes
that creates characters that do not exist as standard keys on
your keyboard, such as the cents symbol (¢), or the Japanese yen
symbol (Y.) See the list of multinational character and ISO Latin
1 compose sequences and instructions for composing characters in
the DECwindows Desktop Applications Guide.

2-22 Using DECwindows

3
Using the Session Manager
The Session Manager is displayed on your screen at the start
of every DECwindows session. It acts as a control panel for
your current session. From the Session Manager, you can create
DECterm windows and other applications, lock your workstation,
take snapshots of your screen, and end your DECwindows session.
You can also use the Session Manager to customize your
DECwindows environment. You can make these changes for
the current session only or save them so that every subsequent
DECwindows session reflects your specifications.
For more
information on
customizing your
environment, see
the Introduction
to the UWS
Environment.

This chapter describes how to customize your workstation and
DECwindows environment by choosing and saving new settings.
Where appropriate, this chapter also describes how to customize
the screen display for three types of workstations:
• Monochrome system-supports black and white output only
•

Intensity system-supports shades of gray

•

Color system-supports a full spectrum of color

The Session Manager window on your screen looks like this:

Using the Session Manager 3-1

~ Session Manager:

Session

Applications

Customize

Print Screen

~15iI

Help

Messages
.0-

Starting Process 6801 "dxterm"

'0'

• The menu bar displays the names of menus available from the
Session Manager.
• The Messages region displays system status information.
When you start your session, this information includes a
welcome message.

Starting Applications
CDA Viewer
Calculator
Calendar
Cardfiler
Clock
oEcterm
Mail
Notepad
Paint
Postscript Previewer
Puzzle
User Executive

When your system starts up, your DECwindows environment
automatically includes one DECterm terminal emulator window.
From this DECterm window, you can use any command line
interface to enter commands. If your system is part of a network,
you can communicate with other systems and share information
and resources. See the DECwindows Desktop Applications Guide
for more information about using a DECterm window.
To start an additional DECterm window or another application,
choose the application from the Applications menu. The
Applications menu lists the standard DECwindows applications.
You can also customize the menu to add other X-based
applications that are available on your system, as the next
section explains.

Customizing Your OECwindows Environment
DECwindows comes to you with many preset options that you
can change. You can work successfully with DECwindows and
never change these options, but, by taking advantage of these
customization features, you can design an environment to fit your
own working style.

3-2 Using the Session Manager

Applications Definitions ...
Applications Menu ...
AutoStartup ...
Keyboard .. .
Language .. .
Pointer...
Print Screen ...
Security ...
Session Manager...
Window ...
Use Last Saved Settings
Use System Defaults
Save Current Settings

These options-which include keyboard, window, pointer, and
security settings-are accessible from the Session Manager's
Customize menu. By using the Customize menu, you can look at
the current settings and choose and save new settings.
Choosing any menu item from the Customize menu displays a
dialog box. In any of the Customize dialog boxes, you can record
your settings or dismiss the dialog box.
Click On

Record new settings and dismiss the dialog box.

Apply

Record new settings without dismissing the dialog
box.

Dismiss

Dismiss the dialog box without changing any settings.
If you made any changes without applying them,
clicking on the Dismiss button cancels those changes.

The sections that follow list the various preset options and
describe how to change and save them.

Defining Applications
For more
information
about
customizing
the Session
Manager,
see the UWS
reference page
dxsession(lX).

An application definition tells the Session Manager what
command to use when starting an application. Once an
application is defined, you can make it available on the
Applications menu. You can also have the application start
up automatically whenever a session starts.

To define an application, choose Applications Definitions ... from
the Session Manager's Customize menu. The Session Manager
displays the Applications Definitions dialog box.

Using the Session Manager 3-3

Customize Applications Definitions

Application Menu Items

CDA Viewer

Calculator
Calendar
Cardfiler
Clock

Apply

II> 0

<11

I Cancel I
IRemove I
Menu Item:

I
Menu Command:

II
II

Add

To define an application:
At the Menu Item text field, supply the name to appear on the
Applications menu.
2

At the Menu Command text field, specify the command that
executes the application, as if you were typing the command
on a command line.

Click on the Add button.
The name is added to the list of Applications Menu Items.

Click on the OK or Apply button.

As an example of an application definition, click on one of the
applications already on the menu. The menu item name and
command for that application appear in the text fields.
To remove an application definition:
Click on the application name.
2

Click on the Remove button.

Click on the OK or Apply button.

3-4 Using the Session Manager

If you change the command associated with a menu item, the
Session Manager uses the new command when it next invokes the
application. For example, if the application is on the Applications
menu, the Session Manager uses the new command when you
next choose that application from the Applications menu.

Changing Items on the Applications Menu
To add a defined application to the Applications Menu, select the
Applications Menu... item from the Customize menu.
The Customize Applications Menu dialog box contains two lists.
The applications on the left are not on the Applications menu;
those on the right are on the Applications menu.
Customize Applications ~lenu

Click on these menu items
to remove them from
the Applications Menu

Click on these menu items
to add them to
the Applications Menu

Calendar
Cardfiler
Clock

II> D

CDA Viewer
Calculator

<II

II> D

<II

I Cancel I

Apply

To add an item to the Applications Menu:
Click on the name of the application in the left-hand list.
The application name disappears from the left-hand list and
appears on the right-hand list.
2

Click on the OK or Apply button.
The item is added to the Applications Menu.

To remove an item from the Applications Menu:
Click on the name of the application in the right-hand list.
The application name disappears from the right-hand list and
appears on the left-hand list.
2

Click on the OK or Apply button.

Using the Session Manager 3-5

The item is removed from the Applications Menu.
If you remove an application from the Applications Menu, its
name continues to appear on the Customize Applications Menu
dialog box, so you can add it again at a later time. To remove the
application entirely or to change the command associated with it,
remove or edit the application definition.

Specifying Applications That Start Up Automatically
You can have the applications that you usually use start up
whenever you start a session. To add applications to the
automatic startup (AutoStartup) list, choose Autostartup ...
from the Customize menu. The Customize AutoStartup dialog
box contains two lists. The applications on the left are not on the
AutoStartup list; those on the right are on the AutoStartup list.
~

Customize AutoStaliup

Click on these menu items
to have the application started
when you start a session.

Calculator
Calendar
Cardfiler
Clock
DECterm

<11

I~I

Click on these menu items
to remove the application
from the AutoStartup list.

<II

1(> 0

Apply

1(> 0

I Cancel I

To add a defined application to the AutoStartup list:
Click on the application name.
The name appears in the AutoStartup list on the right. Each
click adds another copy to the AutoStartup list, so you can
start multiple copies of the same application.
2

Click on the OK or Apply button.

To remove an application from the AutoStartup list:
Click on the application name in the list on the right.
The name disappears.

3-6 Using the Session Manager

Click on the OK or Apply button.

Changing Your Keyboard SeHings
To change your keyboard settings, choose Keyboard ... from
the Session Manager's Customize menu. The Session Manager
- displays the Keyboard dialog box.
I!iI

Customi7P Kpyho<lnj

Bell Volume

Keyboard Type
50

@Enable
Disable

riJ

Systelll Default

austrian german Ik2011g

Percent Volume

austrian german Ik2011g dp
austrian german Ik2011g tw
Keyclick Volume

austrian german Ik201 ng

@ Enable

o Disable

austrian german Ik201 ng dp

ffl

().

Percent Volume

Auto Repeat
@Enable
Disable

CEJ

Lock Key State
@ Caps Lock

o Shift Lock

Eel

From the Customize Keyboard dialog box, you can change any of
the following settings:
8ell Volume

A warning bell sounds to alert you to system messages. Adjust
the bell's volume by dragging the arrow in the Percent Volume
slider right or left, or move the pointer to a location on the slider
and click MBl. Click on the Disable button to disable the bell.
Keyclick Volume

Each time you press a key, the keyboard makes a clicking sound.
This setting is indicated by a shaded button. Adjust the clicking
volume by dragging the arrow in the Percent Volume slider right
or left, or move the pointer to a location on the slider and click
MBI. Click on the Disable button to disable keyclick.
Auto Repeat

When a key is pressed longer than normal, it repeats until it is
released. This setting is indicated by a shaded button. Click on
the Disable button to disable auto repeat.

UsinQ the Session Manager 3-7

Lock Key State

Normally, you can produce capital letters but not shifted number
keys when you press the Lock key on your keyboard. You can,
however, make your keyboard work just like a typewriter keyboard
by clicking on the Shift Lock button. Choosing the Shift Lock
option produces both capital letters and shifted number keys when
you press the Lock key.
Keyboard Type

The location of specific characters on the keyboard varies
depending on the language for which the keyboard is designed.
Selecting the keyboard type that matches your keyboard model
allows the system to echo the correct character when you press
the corresponding key.
Unless you specify otherwise, the keyboard type is North
American. Most languages have multiple keyboard models.
The model number appears on the underside of your keyboard.
Make sure the keyboard type you select matches that model
number. For example, if your keyboard model is LK201 NG, and
you are using an Austrian German keyboard, select the Austrian
German LK201 NG keyboard type. To change the keyboard type,
scroll through the list of keyboard types and select the one you
want.
For any language other than North American or US, you can
specify whether you want the keyboard to act as a data processing
(DP) or as a typewriter (TW) keyboard. When your keycaps
show two characters side by side, a data processing keyboard
type enables the characters on the right half of the keycaps. A
typewriter keyboard enables the characters on the left half of the
keycaps.

Specifying Your Language Preference
The Session Manager and many applications are available in a
number of languages. You can specify your preferred language so
that whenever possible, applications appear in that language.
To specify your language preference, choose Language... from the
Customize menu. The Customize Language dialog box appears.

3-8 Using the Session Manager

l~J

Custolllizp I ilnguill}p

Session language

Dpfilliit

Dutch
English CB
English US
French

Apply

I Cancel I
Click on one of the languages in the list and then click on the
Apply or OK button.
The next time you start up an application, it appears in your
preferred language if it is available in that language. However, all
applications are not available in all languages. If the application
is not available in your preferred language, it appears in English.

To use a language other than English, DECwindows applications
and the Session Manager require that support for the language be
installed. If you choose a language that is not installed on your
system, the DECwindows applications appear in English.

Changing Your Mouse and Pointer SeHings
You can change the shape and color of the pointer, as well as
certain mouse characteristics. To change your mouse and pointer
settings, choose Pointer... from the Session Manager's Customize
menu. The Session Manager displays the Pointer dialog box. The
Pointer dialog box on a monochrome system looks like this:

Using the Session Manager 3-9

I!il

Customize Pointer

Pointer Acceleration

o None
o Slow
@Medium
o Fast

Pointer Foreground Color

o Black On White
@ White On Black

Button Arrangement

Pointer Shape

@ Right Handed

o Left Handed
Mouse Double Click Timeout

250
Milliseconds

I~I

Apply

Cancel

The Pointer dialog box on intensity and color systems looks like
this:

I!il

Customize Pointer

Pointer Acceleration

o None

o Slow
@ Medium
o Fast

Pointer Foreground Color
Pointer Background Color
Button Arrangement

Pointer Shape

@ Right Handed

o Left Handed

•
'Q

Mouse Double Click Timeout

4f.

250

tJ
<l>

Milliseconds

I~I

c:::J

Apply

'0'

Cancel

On intensity and color systems, clicking on some of the pointer
settings displays a color box, which allows you to set specific colors
for your session.

3-10 Using the Session Manager

l[!]
Red intensitv

l[!]
Green intensitv

ll!l
Blue intensitv

I Cancel I

On an intensity system, you can mix black and white to create
shades of gray. On a color system, you can mix amounts of red,
green and blue. To create these mixes on either system, drag the
arrows in the slider right or left, or move the pointer to a location
on the slider and click MBl. Click on the OK button in the color
box when you have created the color you want. To see your new
setting in effect, click on the OK or Apply button in the Customize
Window dialog box and start a new application.
From the Customize Pointer dialog box, you can change any of the
following settings:
Pointer Acceleration

Click on one of the four options to vary the rate at which the
pointer moves in relation to the mouse. The "None" setting keeps
the pointer speed constant. The "Fast" setting makes the pointer
move farther as you move the mouse faster. Thus, you can move
the pointer to another part of the screen without moving the
mouse the same relative distance. The preset option is "Medium."
Mouse Double Click Timeout

DECwindows can tell two successive single clicks from a double
click. To change the speed by which DECwindows expects one
click to follow another in a double click sequence, drag the arrow
in the slider right or left, or move the pointer to a location on the
slider and click MB 1.

Usino the Session Manaoer 3-11

Pointer Foreground C%r

The pointer consists of an outline and filled center.
On a monochrome system, the pointer's filled area is normally
white with a black outline. Click on the Black On White button to
reverse the fill and outline colors.
On intensity and color systems, the pointer's filled area or
foreground is normally white. To change this setting, click on the
Pointer Foreground Color button. The Session Manager displays a
color box. Click on the OK button in the color box when you have
created the color you want.
To see your changes, click on the OK or Apply button in the
Pointer dialog box.
Pointer Background C%r

This setting applies to color and intensity systems only.
The pointer's outline or background is normally black. To change
this setting, click on the Pointer Background Color button. The
Session Manager displays a color box. Click on the OK button
in the color box when you have created the color you want. To
see your changes, click on the OK or Apply button in the Pointer
dialog box.
Button Arrangement

The preset mouse button arrangement (MBI on the left and MB3
on the right side of the mouse) is natural for a right-handed user.
You can switch the mouse button arrangement by clicking on the
Left Handed option. The right mouse button becomes MBl and
the left mouse button becomes MB3. MB2 stays the same.
Pointer Shape

Normally, the pointer is a left arrow. You can choose from shapes
that include a pointer, pencil, or plus sign. To change the pointer
shape, scroll through the list of shapes and select the one you
want.

Changing Your Print Screen SeHings
DECwindow's print screen feature lets you take a snapshot of an
entire window or just a portion of it and print the file containing
this snapshot.
To change the print screen settings, choose Print Screen... from
the Session Manager's Customize menu. The Session Manager
displays the Customize Print Screen dialog box.

3-12 Usina the Session Manaaer

I!il

Customize Print Screen

Output Format

Output Color
(j) Black and White

(j) 1 to 1

o DDIF

0 Color
0 Gray Scale

0 2 to 1

o Sixel

Ribbon Or Toner Saver

Aspect Ratio

@ PostScript

@ Positive Image

o Negative Image

[j] Rotate/Scale Picture to Fit Paper
[j] Prompt For File Name

I~I

Output File Name

Apply

I,-p_rin_t_sc_re_en_._p~_ _ _ __
Cancel

From the Customize Print Screen dialog box, you can change any
of the following settings:
Output Format

Normally, DECwindows captures a snapshot of a window in files
formatted for PostScript@. Click on the Sixel or DDIF buttons to
change this output format.
Output C%r

Window snapshots are usually printed or captured in black and
white. Click on the Color option to produce color pictures (if you
have a printer that can print colors). Click on the Gray Scale
option to produce pictures that combine black and white into
various gray tones. Gray scale makes screen colors easier to view
and distinguish in black and white.
Aspect Ratio

The 1 to 1 setting allows captured window snapshots to be printed
without distortion on most devices, including both hardcopy
printers and terminals. This setting is indicated by a shaded
button. To print captured window snapshots without distortion on
an LA50 sixel device, click on the 2-to-l button.
Modify this setting only if you have chosen a sixel output format,
and you want to print captured window snapshots on an LA50
sixel device.

® PostScript is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.

Usina the Session Manaaer 3-13

Ribbon or Toner Saver
Normally, captured window snapshots are printed as you would
expect: the image is black and the background (the portion of
the paper not printed on) stays white. Printing an image that
is nearly or completely solid using the conventional method
consumes a great deal of printer ribbon or toner. To reverse the
dark and light portions of the printed output and conserve ribbon
or toner, click on the Negative Image button.
Rotate/Scale Picture to Fit Paper
The Print Screen operation can ensure that the snapshot you take
is laid out appropriately on the paper. For example, if you select
a portion of the screen whose horizontal dimension is longer than
8 1/2 inches, the picture is rotated so that it appears in landscape
mode (with the paper horizontal). The Print Screen operation can
also scale the picture to an appropriate size for the page.
If you prefer to disable this feature and have snapshots retain
their original orientation and scale, click on the Rotate/Scale
Picture to Fit Paper button.

Prompt for Filename
When you take a snapshot of a window, DECwindows displays a
dialog box that asks you for the name of the output file. This gives
you the opportunity to override the output file name specified in
this Customize Print Screen dialog box. This means that you
can redirect the output to another directory or give it another file
name.

This setting is indicated by the shaded button. To prevent
DECwindows from asking you for the output file name each
time you take a snapshot of a window, click on the Prompt For
Filename button.
Output Filename
By default, DECwindows names the output file containing a
window snapshot printscreen.psc. This file is placed in your
current directory. To change this output file name, type the new
file name in the Output Filename text entry field.

3-14

LJsina the Session Mnnnner

Changing Your Security SeHings
For details on
running remote
applications, see
Chapter 6.

In a network environment, DECwindows software on your
workstation lets you display DECwindows and other compatible
applications that are running on other computers. Although the
application appears to be running on your workstation, execution
is taking place elsewhere on the network, on a remote computer
(or "host"). The remote host can be running either ULTRIX or
VMS, but you must have an account there so that you can log in
and start the application.
Using your workstation to display remotely run applications
lets you use the resources of other computers from your own
workstation. However, because your workstation's security
features usually prevent other computers from accessing yours,
you must grant access to the hosts you want to use. To do this,
you should know the names of hosts in your network environment
or have the assistance of a system manager.
To grant display access to specified remote hosts, choose Security...
from the Customize menu. The Customize Security dialog box
appears.
~

Customize Security

Authorized Hosts
6-

localhost
lupine.lotech.com
peony.lotech.com
dahlia::

II
Hostname[::]

Add

<II

I C> D

Apply

I Cancel I

Your own workstation is always listed, as "localhost." Your system
manager might have prepared your workstation and granted
access to the commonly-used hosts; in this case, those host names
also appear.
To add a name to the list of authorized hosts:
Enter the host name.

Using the Session Manager 3-15

If the connection between your system and the remote host
is through DECnet, use DECnet syntax, which requires two
colons (::) after the host name. If your connection to the
remote host is through TCP/IP, do not use colons.
The Session Manager checks the name to make sure it is a
valid network host name. If you enter a registered network
host name, it appears in the list box. If you enter a short
version (or alias) of the name, the full name appears instead.
If the name is incorrect, the host is not registered on the
network, or you do not have the network software that verifies
the name, a message appears. If that happens, check your
spelling; if the name is again rejected, see your system
manager.
To specify hosts that are part of a VAXcluster, specify the
names of individual hosts in the cluster. Do not use a cluster
alias that collectively represents the cluster.

Click on the Add button.
The name appears on the list of authorized hosts.

Click on the OK or Apply button.
The hosts are authorized for this DECwindows session.

To revoke a host's authorization:
Choose Security... from the Customize menu.
The Session Manager displays the Security dialog box.
2

Select the name of the host you want to remove.

Click on the Remove button.
The selected name disappears from the list.

Click on the OK or Apply button.
The host can no longer display applications at your
workstation during this DECwindows session.

Changing Your Session Manager Settings
To change your Session Manager settings, choose Session
Manager... from the Session Manager's Customize menu. The
Session Manager displays the Session Manager dialog box.

3-16 Using the Session Manager

[!;]

Customize Session !I.·tanager

Startup State
@ Window

o Icon

II Confirm Quit Session
Type your password to resume the session
Pause Screen Text

Message Region
50

IMessage~
Scrolled Lines Saved
Header Text

I~I

Apply

I Cancel I

From the Customize Session Manager dialog box, you can change
any of the following settings:
Startup State

The Session Manager is displayed as a window at the start of
each session. Click on the Icon button to specify that the Session
Manager be stored as an icon at the start of every session.
Quit Session Confirmation

When you end a session, the Session Manager asks you for
confirmation. This setting is indicated by the shaded option
button. Clicking on the Confirm Quit Session button suppresses
that confirmation request when you quit a DECwindows session.
Pause Screen Text

When your session is in the paused state, your session is on hold
and hidden from view until you enter your password. You can
specify what words appear on the screen when your workstation is
paused. To change the text, type new text into the Pause Screen
Text field.
Message Region Scrolled Lines Saved

The Session Manager message region displays system messages.
Sometimes you might want to review messages that have already
scrolled past, to review a message or see whether you have missed
any. The Scrolled Lines Saved slider lets you specify how far back
you can scroll.
To change the number of lines you can view, drag the arrow in the
slider right or left, or move the pointer to a location on the slider
and click MB1.

Using the Session Manager 3-17

Message Region Header Text

The Session Manager message area is labeled Messages. To
change this heading, type a new heading in this text field.

Changing Your Window and Screen SeHings
Whether you have a monochrome, intensity, or color system, you
can change the look of your DECwindows display. For example,
you can alter the background and foreground pattern and the
window and screen colors. If you have a color system, you can
choose from a wide palette of colors to design a visually pleasing
display.
To change your window settings, choose Window... from the
Session Manager's Customize menu. The Session Manager
displays the Window dialog box. The Window dialog box on a
monochrome system looks like this:

I!il

Customize Window
Screen Saver
@ Enable

o Disable
10

Window Manager

o Default
@ Other

I/usr/bin/dxwn1

Window Manager Icon Style
@Small

Minutes

o Large

Screen Background Pattern

Screen Foreground Color

D
• 0

@ Black On White

o White On Black
Window Foreground Color

I Default I

@ Black On White

o White On Black

I~I

Apply

Cancel

The Window dialog box on intensity and color systems looks like
this:

3-18

Using the Session Manager

Customize Window
Screen Saver
@ Enable

o Disable
10

Window Manager

Default
@ Other

I/usr/bin/dNw",

Window Manager Icon Style
@Small

Minutes

o Large

Screen Background Pattern

Screen Foreground Color

•

Screen Background Color

Window Foreground Color

•

Window Background Color

Window Highlight Color

•

Window Border Color

•

I Default I

IDDI

Apply

Cancel

On intensity and color systems, clicking on most of the window
and screen settings displays a color box, which allows you to set
specific colors for your session.

Using the Session Manager 3-19

Iff]
Red intensity

Iff]
Green intensity

Iff]
Blue intensity

1001

I Cancel I

On an intensity system, you can mix black and white to create
shades of gray. On a color system, you can mix amounts of red,
green, and blue. To create these mixes on either system, drag the
arrows in the slider right or left, or move the pointer to a location
on the slider and click MB1. Click on the OK button in the color
box when you have created the color you want. To see your new
setting in effect, click on the OK or Apply button in the Customize
Window dialog box and start a new application (like Clock or
Notepad).
From the Customize Window dialog box, you can change any of
the following settings:
Screen Saver
Screen Saver extends the life of your monitor by shutting off its
display after a specified time. Normally, the monitor shuts off
its display after ten minutes of keyboard or mouse inactivity. To
vary the time screen saver waits before shutting down the display,
drag the arrow in the slider right or left, or move the pointer to a
specific location on the slider and click MB 1. Click on the Disable
button to keep the display on indefinitely.

3-20 USing the Session Manager

Window Manager

The Window Manager is software that controls the behavior of
windows on the screen. The window manager is involved when
you use the mouse to change the location or size of a window,
when you shrink a window to an icon, or when you stack and
reorder windows in relation to each other.
If you have access to a window manager other than the
default DECwindows one, you can use it in your DECwindows
environment. Click on Other and specify the window manager file
name in the text input field.
Window Manager Icon Style

Icons can be either small or large. Normally, they are small; to
use large icons, click on the Large setting.
Screen Background Pattern

The screen background can be the screen background color, the
screen foreground color, or a pattern made from the background
and foreground colors. The Screen Background Pattern box
displays and magnifies the current pattern.
The default screen background pattern is represented by an
X in the Screen Background Pattern box; it is equivalent to "no
pattern" and is a plain black and white pattern, or gray, depending
on your monitor. For a plain colored screen background, click on
the screen foreground color box or the screen background color box
under the Screen Background Pattern. The Screen Background
Pattern box changes to show the current selection.
You can also click on any of the patterns in the pattern box.
The Screen Pattern Box previews your choice; click on the Apply
button to see it in effect.
Screen Foreground Color

When the screen pattern is set to anything other than the default
pattern, the screen pattern consists of a screen foreground (the
filled area in the pattern) and a screen background (the pattern's
outline).
On a monochrome system, the screen foreground color is normally
black on white. Click on the White On Black option button to
reverse the fill and outline colors.
On intensity and color systems, the screen foreground color
is normally black. To change this setting, click on the Screen
Foreground Color button. The Session Manager displays a color

Using the Session Manager 3-21

box. Click on the OK button in the color box when you have
created the color you want.
To see your new setting in effect, click on the OK or Apply button
in the Window dialog box and start a new application.
Screen Background C%r
This setting applies to intensity and color systems only.

When the screen pattern is set to anything other than the default
pattern, the screen pattern consists of a screen foreground (the
filled area in the pattern) and a screen background (the pattern's
outline).
On intensity and color systems, the screen background color is
white by default. To change this setting, click on the Screen
Background Color button. The Session Manager displays a color
box. Click on the OK button in the color box when you have
created the color you want. To see your new setting in effect, click
on the OK or Apply button in the Pointer dialog box and start a
new application.
Window Foreground C%r
Changing the Window Foreground Color setting in a window
containing text changes the color of that text. If the window
contains graphics, the color of the graphics is changed.

On a monochrome system, the window foreground is normally
black on white. Click on the White On Black option button to
change the window foreground to white.
On intensity and color systems, the window foreground is black by
default. To change this setting, click nn the Window Foreground
Color button. The Session Manager displays a color box. Click on
the OK button in the color box when you have created the color
you want.
To see your new setting in effect, click on the OK or Apply button
in the Window dialog box and start a new application.
Window Background C%r
This setting applies to intensity and color systems only.

On intensity and color systems, the window background is
normally white. To change this setting, click on the Window
Background Color button. The Session Manager displays a color
box. Click on the OK button in the color box when you have
created the color you want.

3-22 Using the Session Manager

To see your new setting in effect, click on the OK or Apply button
in the Window dialog box and start a new application.
Window Highlight C%r

This setting applies to intensity and color systems only.
Screen objects, for example, toggle and option buttons and title
bars, are normally black to indicate the current setting or input
focus. To change this setting, click on the Window Highlight Color
button. The Session Manager displays a color box. Click on the
OK button in the color box when you have created the color you
want.
To see your new setting in effect, click on the OK or Apply button
in the Window dialog box and start a new application.
Window Border C%r

This setting applies to intensity and color systems only.
On intensity and color systems, the window border is normally
black. To change this setting, click on the Window Background
Color button. The Session Manager displays a color box. Click
on the OK button in the color box when you have created the
color you want. To see your new setting in effect, click on the
OK or Apply button in the Window dialog box and start a new
application.

Saving Your New Settings
;·iLj... i1iUi
Applications Definitions ...
Applications Menu ...
AutoStartup ...
Keyboard .. .
language .. .
PoInter...
Print Screen ...
Security ...
Session Manager.•.
Window ...
Use last Saved Settings
Use System Defaults
Save Current Settings

It is not enough just to choose new settings. The settings you

choose are in effect for the current session only unless you save
them. From the Customize menu, you can choose any of the the
following menu items to save new settings or reinstate old ones:
Choose

Use Last Saved Settings

Reinstates the last settings you saved. Choose
this menu item if you want to reset any
attributes that you changed temporarily but
did not save.

Use System Defaults

Reinstates the system default settings defined
when you installed DECwindows.

Save Current Defaults

Saves the settings you just changed for use in
every subsequent session.

Note that some new settings you save will not be in effect until
you end your current session and begin another one.

Usina the Session Manaaer

3-23

If you have changed any settings and try to end your session
without saving them, DECwindows asks you whether you want to
save your settings before you end your session.
Click On

Yes

Save your workstation settings and end your session.

End your session without changing the current
settings.

Cancel

Continue working in your current session. The
settings you chose are still in effect, but you must
remember to save them when you eventually end your
session.

Printing and Capturing Screen Images
The Print Screen menu lets you take a snapshot of what is on
your screen. You can print the picture immediately or capture it
in a file. If you capture the picture in a file, you can print the file
later or use it with a viewing application such as the PostScript
Previewer.

Sending Screen Images to the Printer
See Chapter 5
for more
information
about printing
in DECwindows.

For a printed picture of your screen, choose Print Entire Screen or
Print Portion of Screen from the Print Screen menu. The Queue
Options dialog box appears. The relevant options are as follows:
Number of Copies
Enter a number in the text field if you want more than one copy
of your snapshot.
Printer
The list shows all of the printers available on your system and
highlights the default choice. Click on any other printer you
prefer to send your output to, but note that the printer must be
able to print PostScript files.
Orientation
A picture can be laid out on a page so that you view it when
the page is vertical (in portrait orientation) or horizontal (in
landscape orientation). The default layout is specified by system
management commands at the printer. To have the picture print
specifically in portrait or landscape mode, click on one of the icons.
To restore the default layout, click on the Default button.

3-24 Usina the Session Manaaer

If you have not disabled the Rotate/Scale Picture to Fit Paper
feature in the Customize Print Screen dialog box, the Print Screen
operation ensures that the picture fits properly on the page, and
you need not specify an orientation here.
Click on the OK button to continue the Print Screen operation.
If you chose Print Entire Screen, the Session Manager sends the
picture to the print queue.
If you choose Print Portion of Screen, you must mark the portion
you want to print. Position the pointer at one corner of the
area you want to print and press MBl. The outline of a box
appears and changes size as you move the mouse. When the box
encompasses everything that you want to print, release MBl.
The Session Manager sends the print queue a picture of the area
enclosed by the box.

Placing Screen Images in a File
To place a picture of what is on your screen in a file:
Choose Capture Entire Screen or Capture Portion of Screen
from the Print Screen menu.
A dialog box appears and asks for the name of the file to
receive the picture. The default file name, printscreen.psc,
appears in the text field.
See the
DECwindows
Desktop
Applications
Guide for
instructions
on how to use
the PostScript
Previewer to
display your
picture.

To specify a file name other than the displayed default, replace
the text in the text field.

Click on the OK button when the text field displays the file
name you want to use.

You cannot display the picture as you display the contents of a
plain text file, because the images are encoded. However, if the
picture is in PostScript format (the default format), you can print
it or use the PostScript Previewer to display it.
To change the default file name or format, choose Print Screen...
from the Customize menu.

Putting a Session on Hold
From the Session Manager, you can put your current session
on hold indefinitely and lock your workstation without ending
your session. When you put your session on hold, your screen is
cleared. Your session is maintained exactly as it was. This means
you can resume working without having to recreate your screen
environment.

Usina the Session Manaaer 3-25

To put your current session on hold, choose Pause from the
Session menu. Your screen is cleared and the Continue Session
dialog box is displayed.

Type your password to resume the session

Password

~II

________~_

To continue your session:
1

Type your password.

Click on the OK button.

Once DECwindows verifies your password, your session resumes.

Ending a Session
You can end a session at any time. When you end a session,
DECwindows stops all applications and clears the screen.
Pause
Quit

To end your session, choose Quit from the Session menu. Unless
you have disabled the confirmation option, DECwindows asks you
to confirm that you indeed want to end your session. Click on the
OK button or press the Return key to confirm that you do. All
windows are closed and the session ends. DECwindows displays
the DIGITAL logo and Start Session dialog box, ready to begin
another session.
If you change your mind and decide not to end your session, click
on the Cancel button to return to your session, maintained exactly
as it was.

3-26 Usina the Session Manaaer

4
Using the User Executive
The User Executive (UE) provides a window that lets you access
the ULTRIX operating system and run DECwindows applications.
UE provides commands for you to work with directories and files.
You can use these commands to copy, search, remove, and display
files.
In this chapter, you will learn how to run applications, use
commands to perform file tasks, get helpful information about
files, and navigate the directory structure to gain quick access to
files.

Starting the User Executive
To start the UE window, choose User Executive from the Session
Manager Applications menu, or enter the following command in a
DECterm window:
% dxue &

The User Executive window appears on your screen.

Using the User Executive 4-1

Total Files in
File View

Control Customize V
Directories Files Total:

pooter
hame

. Xllstartup
. history
. Xde faul ts_x 11
.XtActions
.XtActions_Xll
.cshrc
.ellepro
.ellepro.b2
. login
. logout
. mh-pro file
. plan
.profile
. project
.rhosts

.uwmrc_Xll
.xhosts
.owd
8dJNL

· Xdefaul ts. old
.Xdefaults
core
group
· dxcalendar . dwc
personal
header.ps
display-2341. ps
display-2346.ps
debug_Iisting.ps
· ue-profile

Filter:
Filter Text Entry Field
Full Directory Path

• The title bar displays the name of the file view and the
current directory.
• The menu bar displays the names of UE's menus: Control,
Customize, Views, Files, and Applications.
• The Directories list box displays a list of your directories,
including the current directory, the directory directly above
it, and any subdirectories. The name of the current directory
appears in italics.
• The Total field displays the number of files in the current
directory.
• The Selected field displays the number of files currently
selected.
• The File view contains information about the files in the
current directory. When you first start UE, this file view
contains a list of the files in the current directory.

4-2 Using the User Executive

• The Full Directory Path text entry field displays the name
of the current directory. Unless you specify otherwise, you are
placed in this directory whenever you start the UE.
• The Filter text entry field lets you list a subset of files in the
current file view. By entering a file specification here, you
can also list the contents of a directory without changing your
current directory.

Working with UE
The UE window makes it easy to access the ULTRIX operating
system and DECwindows applications. From the UE, you can run
applications and perform file operations on files that you select.
Because you select commands from a menu, you don't need to
remember the format of system commands.

Running Applications
You can start many DECwindows applications from UE. To start
an application, choose the application you want to run from UE'S
Applications menu. DECwindows starts the application in a
new window and places its icon in the icon box. The UE window
remains available for you to start additional applications or to
perform other tasks.

Shortcuts for Accessing Commands
To make your session easier to use and more efficient, UE gives
you two shortcuts when using commands: pop-up menus and
double-click command definitions.
Using Predefined Pop-Up Menus Because you often perform the
same few tasks on certain files, UE provides a pop-up menu that
makes it easier for you to work with files.
Copy...
Display
Search...
Move ..•
Remove
Print File ...

To see which commands are predefined on a pop-up menu for a
specific file, press and hold MB2 on a file in your file view. A popup box appears with the commands listed that can be performed
on that file. Choose the command from the pop-up menu by
releasing MB2 on the command that you want to perform.

Using the User Executive 4-3

Using Double-Click Commands UE executes specific predefined
commands when you double-click on certain types of files. Doubleclicking on most file names displays file information, such as the
creation date, permissions set, and type of file.
You can change
the way doubleclick commands
work. See
the section
Customizing
Double-Click
Commands
for more
information.

Double-clicking on other types of files, however, executes different
commands. For example, double-clicking on a .card file opens
the Cardfiler, double-clicking on a .ps file opens the PostScript
Previewer, and double-clicking on a directory name lets you
change directory in one step.

Making Selections
Before you perform a task, you can select the file or files you want
to work with. The next command you choose affects that selected
file. Table 4-1 lists the ways you can select files in UE. Whichever
method you use to select a file, DECwindows highlights the file
or files you select, and reports the number of files selected in the
Selected field (located above the file view.)
Table 4-1

Selecting Files

Do This

Select a file

Point to the file and click MBI.

Select more than one
adjacent files

Point to the first file then drag the pointer
through the files you want to select.

Select two or more
nonadjacent files

Select all of the files in
your file view

Click MBI on the first file you want to
select

Press and hold !Shift! and click MBI on the
other files you want to select.

Release the !Shiftl key.

Choose Select All from UE's Control menu.
Choose Select None to cancel a select
operation.

If you choose a command without first selecting a file, UE will
open a dialog box and prompt you to type one or more file names.
If you select a file or files and then perform a command on them
UE displays a dialog box that lists the selected files or files that
you selected. You can make changes to this list of files at this
time.

4-4 Using the User Executive

Keeping Track of Work in Progress
You can monitor and control the processes you start from a UE
window. These processes include:
• DECwindows applications currently running and started from
UE.
•

Processes started as the result of choosing a command from
UE's File menu (such as Copy, Search, Create Directory, and
so forth.)

To monitor your processes, choose the Processes... menu item from
UE's Control menu. The Processes dialog box opens.
Processes
Calculator

Notepad

pid 29216 (Rtuming)

pid 29217 (Rwming)

~
I Suspend I
I Continue I

The dialog box displays the processes currently running. Status
for each process is displayed in parentheses. Push buttons let you
suspend, continue, or permanently stop a process you select.
To suspend a process:
Choose Processes... from UE's Control menu.
2

Select the process you want to suspend.
The process name is highlighted.

Click on the Suspend button.
In the highlighted process name, the word Stopped appears in
parentheses to indicate that the process is suspended.
Click on the Continue button to restart a suspended process.

Click on the OK button or press IReturn I.

To permanently stop a process, select the process you want to
permanently stop, then click on the Kill button. UE stops the
process and removes the highlighted item from the list box.

UsinQ the User Executive 4-5

Understanding the TaskStatus Window
In addition to the Processes dialog box, UE uses the TaskStatus
window to convey information to you. When you choose a
command from the Files menu, UE's TaskStatus window opens
and displays status of the command, or displays the command's
result. UE uses the TaskStatus window to display:
• Error messages
• Status messages
• Output from a command such as Search or Display
For example, if you choose Search... from the Files menu, and
specify a file name that does not exist, DE opens the TaskStatus
box and displays a message telling you that the operation you
requested cannot be completed. Or, if you choose Display... from
the Files menu, UE opens the TaskStatus box and displays the
contents of the file you specified.
The following shows output displayed in the TaskStatus window
as a result of choosing Display on the selected file .login.
if (S?prompt) then
set prompt = "csh> ..
set notify
set history = 20
alias pd pushd
alias pop popd
alias help apropos
alias vt52 "set term = vt52"
alias ti745 "set term = ti745 ; stty -tabs"
alias ti785 "set term = ti745 ; stty -tabs"
alias vt100 "set term = vt100"
endif

Use the scroll bars to read messages or output that contain more
than one screen of text. After you finish reading, click on the OK
button to dismiss the TaskStatus window.

4-6 Using the User Executive

Sometimes the TaskStatus window displays information about a
command while it's executing. If you want to cancel a command
while it's executing, click on the Cancel button.

Working with a File View
When you first start the UE, your file view lists the files in
your current directory. When you change directory, the file view
accordingly lists the files in the different directory. With UE, you
can:
• Change the way a file view displays files
• Update your file view
• Save a file view
R~store a saved file view

•

• Delete a file view

Changing the Way a File View Looks
IFile Properties ...
Edit Merms ...

Double Click Actions ...

You can change the way the files in your file view are listed. You
might want to list each file by its size or the date it was created,
or change the order in which the files are listed.
To change the way that files are listed, choose the File Properties ...
menu item from UE's Customize menu. The Layout dialog box is
displayed.
FileView - layout

Sort
C)
C)

()
C)
C)
()

Display Fields
ljl
File Name
0
Protections
0
Link Cmmt

0
0
0

Owner

Size
Creation time

Sort Order: 0 Ascending 0 Descending (I) Unsorted
Sample: Mail

The Layout dialog box is divided into two sections: a Sort column
and a Display Fields column. Some settings are preset and
are already in effect. When you use the Layout dialog box, the
changes you make are set for every subsequent file view until you
change the setting again.

Usina the User Executive 4-7

Changing the Fields in Your File View By using the toggle
buttons in the Display Fields column, you can display the
following information about each file in your file view:

• The File Name displays the unique file name for the file.
• The Protections field displays the protection settings for the
file.
• The Link Count field displays the number of links for the
file.
• The Owner field displays the owner, in numeric or textual
format, of the file.
• The Size field displays the size, in bytes, of the file.
• The Creation Time field displays the date and time the file
was created.
Notice that the file name toggle button is preset. The file view
shown in these examples reflects this.
Unless you specify
otherwise, the files in your file view are listed in the order
in which they appear in the directory structure. Because UE
imposes no order on these files, they are considered unsorted.
Changing the File Order in Your File View

You can change the file order by clicking on either the Ascending
or Descending Sort Order button, then clicking on one of the toggle
buttons in the Sort column. For example, click on the File Name
toggle button under the Sort column to list files alphabetically. Or,
click on the Size toggle button to list files by size. You can choose
only one option from the Sort column at a time.
Displaying a Partial File View Sometimes you want to display
only a subset of files, for example, only files that start with
"chapter". You can display a partial file view by blocking out those
files you don't need to see. To display a partial file view:

Give the Filter text entry field input focus.
2

Type the file or files you want to list in your file view.
For example, to see all files that begin with "Chapter" in your
current directory, type Chapter*.

Press IReturn I .

When you use the asterisk wildcard, the file view displays only
the files that match the characters you specified.

4-8 Using the User Executive

Updating Your File View
Update
Select All
Select None
Processes ..•
New View
I Save VJeW...
Save As Startup View
Delete View.••
Exit

When you make changes to the contents of your directory, for
example, by renaming or deleting a file, UE automatically updates
your file view to reflect those changes.
If you change any information in the Full Directory Path or Filter
text entry field, choose the Update menu item from UE's Control
menu, or press the RETURN key to update the file view.

Saving a File View
Once you have modified a file view to your satisfaction, you can
save it. You might want to save a file view that you need to
redisplay often, for example, a file view of a subdirectory you
use frequently. Using a saved file view in this way establishes a
shortcut for ascending and descending the directory structure.
To save a file view, choose the Save View menu item from the
Control menu. The Save View dialog box is displayed.
I~

Save View

Save View
N~ofView: ~II

__________________

The saved view includes the following settings

Ij] Files String
D Default Directol1

D Window Size

D Window Position
D Fields (Layout)
D Order (Layout:

Click MBl on
• Files String to preserve the text you specify in the file view.
• Default Directory to preserve the directory you specify in
the Full Directory Path text field.
• Window Size to preserve the size of the UE window on your
screen.
• Window Position to preserve the location of the DE window
on your screen.
•

Fields to preserve the field settings-such as Create Date and
Size Used-you specify in the Layout dialog box.

Using the User Executive 4-9

• Order to preserve the order settings-such as Unsorted or By
Name-you specify in the Layout dialog box.
After choosing portions of the view you want to save, click on OK
or press IReturn I. The file view is saved. The name of the saved
view appears as a menu item in UE's Views menu.
1

Display the file view you want to save.

Choose Save View... from UE's Control menu.
UE displays a dialog box.

In the Name of View text entry field, type the name of the
view you want to save.

Choose portions of the view that you want to save.

Click on OK or press I Return 1
The file view is saved. The name of the saved view appears as
a menu item in UE's Views menu.

Your login directory is a file view that has already been saved for
you under the name Startup. You can redisplay a saved view by
choosing its corresponding menu item in UE's Views menu.
You can supersede a saved file view by saving another file view
under the same name. To supersede a saved file view, display
the new file view you want to supersede the old and then save it,
giving it the same name as the old file view.

Restoring a Saved File View
When you restore a saved view, those components not saved are
obtained from the current file view. By saving some components
of a file view, such as the fields and order, but not a full file view,
you can quickly change the look of your current file view.
To restore a saved file view in the current UE window:

Move the pointer to the Views menu.

Press and hold MBI.
A list of your saved file views is displayed.

Drag the pointer to the saved view you want to restore and
release MBI.
The saved file view is displayed in a new UE window.

4-10 Using the User Executive

Deleting a Saved File View
To delete a file view you no longer need:
Choose Delete View... from UE's Control menu.
UE displays a dialog box.

The Delete View dialog box lists the file views that you have
saved.
2

Click MB 1 on the name of the file view you want to delete.

Click on the Delete button, then click on OK to dismiss the
dialog box.

The file view is deleted.

Working with Directories
To access files on your system, you need to know how to work with
and navigate directory structures. By default, you can access your
own directory and any other directories that are set up to allow
public access.
With UE, you can perform the following directory operations:
• Create a directory
• Navigate a directory structure
• Remove a directory
• Change directories

Creating a Directory
You can do all your work, including using files and running
applications, in your login directory and never move from it.
However, by creating and using subdirectories, you can organize
your files into convenient groups.
To create a directory:
Choose the Create Directory menu item from the Files menu.

Usina the User Executive 4-11

UE displays a dialog box.

m New Directory

1[!iJl!

New Directory
Name: 11:....
1 _ _ _ __

Type the name of the directory you want to create.

Click on the OK button or press IReturn I.

Navigating a Directory Structure
UE 's Directories list box lets you move up and down your
directory structure and access files easily. When you select
another directory, you can display the files in that different
directory in the file view.
When you first run UE, the current directory in the file view is
your own login directory. The Directories box lists the names of
the subdirectories that you have in your home directory, plus the
directory above. The current directory is always displayed in an
italic font to help keep you oriented. The file view lists all the
files, including directories, in your login directory.
To display files in a different directory, select that directory in
the Directory box. For example, if you click MBI on the directory
Mail, your file view displays a list of files and directories in your
Mail directory.
If you want to display a directory that doesn't appear in the
Directories box, you can type the name of that directory in the
Full Directory Path text entry field and press the Return key. To
return to your home directory, type the name of your directory in
the Full Directory Path text field and press Return.

Removing a Directory
Remove a directory by using the Remove... menu item from the
Files menu.
To remove one or more directory files:
Choose Remove... from the Files menu.

4-12 Using the User Executive

A dialog box appears. Enter the name of the directory you
want to remove.
~ Remove
Remove

li!lll

Files: ",-II_ _ _ __
OK

I Cancel I

Click on the OK button.

The directory you specify and any files in that directory will be
removed.

Working with Files
UE provides commands that let you:
•

Copy files

•

Display the contents of files

• Move files
•

Search files for text strings

• Remove files
•

Print files

•

Look at a print queue

Because you select commands from a menu, you don't need
to remember the format of system commands. To execute a
command, simply choose the command from UE's Files menu. UE
runs a script associated with the command you choose.
When you choose a command, UE displays a dialog box to prompt
you for any command parameters and provides status information
until the task has completed.

Copying Files
You can copy a file to a new file name or copy a group of files to a
group of new files. When you copy a file to another file name, the
original file remains unchanged.
To copy a file to a new name or to a different directory:

Using the User Executive 4-13

Select the file you want to copy.
ICopy...
nkplay•.•
Search..•
Create Directory...
Move •..

Remove •••
Print Queue ...
Print File ...

Choose Copy... from the Files menu.
UE displays a dialog box.

m COIJY

I~
Copy

From:

To:

1:..._ _ _ _ _
11

1:...11_ _ _ _ _

I Cancel I

Type the new file name, or the file name and full directory
path to which you want the file copied.

Click on the OK button or press IReturn I.

If UE cannot copy the file, the TaskStatus box appears and
displays an error message. Click on the OK button when you
finish viewing the message.
If you choose the Copy command without first selecting a file,
the Copy dialog box prompts you for the file name. If you specify
multiple files, separate each file name with a space.
You can copy multiple input files to multiple output files. To copy
a group of files at the same time, you select the files and then copy
them in one operation.
To copy a group of files in one operation:
Select the files you want to copy.
2

Choose Copy... from the Files menu.
UE displays a dialog box that prompts you for a destination
name for each file you selected.

Type the new file name or the full directory path you want the
files copied to.
If you enter a directory name here, for example,
lusr/users/new_directory/, the directory name will appear as
the destination in succeeding dialog boxes. You can enter new
file names or, by entering a directory name only, have the new
files keep the same name.

Click on the OK button or press IReturn I.

4-14 USing the User Executive

Viewing the Contents of Files
To view the contents of one or more files without making any
changes, use the Display command.
Copy...
IDisplay...
Search...
Create Directory...
Move ...
Remove ...
Print Queue ...
Print File ...

Select the files you want to view.

Choose Display... from the Files menu.
UE displays a dialog box prompting you to confirm your file
selection.

Display

II!III
Display

Files: 11:....
1 _ _ _ __

[2!J I Cancel I
3

Click on the OK button when you're satisfied with your
selection.
UE opens a TaskStatus window and displays the file you want
to view.
If the file contains more than one screen of text, use the scroll
bar to read the remaining text.

Click on the OK button when you finish viewing the file.

Searching Files for Text Strings
To search one or more files for one or more text strings, use the
Search command.
Copy...
Display...
ISearch...
Create Directory...
Move ...
Remove ...
Print Queue ...
Print File ...

Select the file or files you want to search.

Choose Search... from the Files menu.
UE displays a dialog box.

H: Search

Files:
Search For:

II:....I_ _ _ _ __

[2!J I Cancel I
3

Enter the text string you want to search for.
Separate multiple text strings with spaces.

Click on the OK button or press IReturn I.

Using the User Executive 4-15

The TaskStatus window opens, displaying the lines in the files you
specified that contain the text string you entered. If the output is
more than one screen of text, use the scroll bars to redisplay the
remaining text.
Click on the OK button when you finish viewing the text.
To use wildcards in the file specifications of the files you want
to search, choose the Search command without first selecting
any files. Use any of the wildcards and pattern matching ability
provided by the grep command. For example, if you choose the
Search command, enter the file specification *.script in the Files
text field, and the string "write" in the Search For text enty
field, UE will search for the text string "write" in all the files
in the current directory with the file extension of *.script. The
TaskStatus window displays each occurrence.

Removing Files
By removing the files you no longer need, you make room on
your disk for other files. You remove files by using the Remove
command from the Files menu.
To remove one or more files:
CopY••.
Display..•
Search...
Create DireCtOlY...
Move ...
IRemove ...
Print Queue ...
Print File ...

Select the files you no longer need.

Choose Remove... from the Files menu.
A dialog box appears asking you to confirm the file
specifications you selected.

Remove

II!ilI

Remove
Files:

1:....11_ _ _ _ _ _

@] I Cancel I
3

Click on the OK button or press IReturn I.

To use wildcards in the file specifications of the files you want
deleted, choose the Remove command without first selecting any
files.

Printing Files
You can queue files for printing to a print queue you specify by
using the Print File... command.
To queue one or more files for printing:

4-16 UsinQ the User Executive

Select the files you want to print.

~ee the

,]hapter 5
lQr a detailed
iescription of
~hese options.

Choose Print File... from the Files menu.
UE displays a dialog box.
Type the name of the printer you wish to use then specify the
number of copies to be printed.

Click on the OK button.

Opening a New UE Window
You can open a new UE window that maintains the file and
directory context of the current UE window. When you choose
the New View menu item from UE's Control menu, UE copies the
file view from the current window into the new UE window and
updates it, leaving the current file view in its original state. Any
changes you made to the current file view (such as deleting a file)
without updating it are reflected in the new file view.
You can also open a new UE window that reflects changes you
make to the Files or Default fields in the current file view:
Edit the Files or Default fields to reflect the new file view you
want to see.
2

Choose New View from the Control menu.

A new UE window is opened whose file view reflects the new file
and directory information you specified. The Files and Default
fields in the current UE window are reset to the original text.

Customizing UE Menus and Commands
The UE makes it easy to start DECwindows applications and
execute ULTRIX commands. You can use UE as it comes
packaged for you or you can create a personalized environment.
The following sections tell how to customize your UE menus. You
will learn how to add items to and remove items from UE menus.
You'll also learn how to add new menu names to your UE window,
create accompanying pull-down menus, and customize double-click
commands.

Using the User Executive 4-17

Modifying Menus
Use UE's Customize menu to add items to your UE menus. When
you choose Edit Menus... from the Customize menu, UE displays
the Menu Profile dialog box.
Menu Items List Box

Menus List Box
I

Menus

MemItems

.A.

(Popup)
Applications

Remove

Display.. ,
Search.. ,
Create Directory.. ,
Move.. ,
Remove .. ,
Print Queue.. ,
Print File.. ,

I Insert I
I Remove I

Enter New
Menu Item
Enter Associated
Command or Script

• The Menus list box contains the names of all defined menus.
• The Menu Items list box lists the menu items that are in the
currently highlighted menu in the Menus list box.
• The New Menu Name text field lets you add a new menu
name.
• The New Menu Item text field lets you add a new menu
item.
• The Associated Command or Script text field shows you
the command or script that runs when you choose a specific
menu item. Use this text field to add a command or script to a
new menu item.

4-18 Using the User Executive

The Menu Profile dialog box control buttons let you control how
the changes take effect.
Click On

Record new settings and dismiss the dialog box.

Cancel

Dismiss the dialog box without changing any
settings.

Insert

Add a new name or item to the Menus or Menu
Items list boxes.

Remove

Remove a name or item from the Menus or
Menu Items list boxes.

Append Files to
Command

Add a command or script to a new menu item.

You can add items to UE's
Files, Applications, and pop-up menus. To add an item to a UE
menu:

Adding an Item to an Existing Menu

Choose Edit Menus... from the Customize menu.
UE displays the Menu Profile dialog box.

File Properties ...

IEdit Menus ...
Double Click Actions ...

Select a name from the Menus list box.
For example, click on Applications to select the Applications
menu. Note that the item names for this menu now appear in
the Menu Items list box.

Give the New Menu Item text entry field input focus.

Type the name of the new item and then click on the Insert
button or press IReturn I.
For example, click on the New Menu Item field and then type
the word "Paint." Click on the Insert button. Notice that the
item "Paint" now appears in the Menu Items list box.

Using the User Executive 4-19

IfJI

Menu Profile
l\,'lcnus

Files
(Popup)

.'GSu",£

Menu Itents

~ Calc\uator
Clock

lvlail
Notepad.
CD A Vie','ler

'Wm

New Menu Name

New Menu Item

Iltsrlbbtldxpain 4
Associatt'd Conuuand or SClipt
Appeml Files to CUlIunilJlll

Give the Associated Command or Script text entry field input
focus.
Type the associated command needed to start the new item
and then press IReturn I.
For example, click on the Associated Command or Script text
field and type: /usrlhinldxpaint.

Click on the OK button or press IReturn I.

The new item is now displayed in a UE pull-down or pop-up
menu. If you added the Paint menu item, Paint is now listed as a
selection in UE's Applications menu.
Adding Commands to the Files Menu You can add commands
to the Files menu. When you select a command from the Files
menu, UE runs a script to execute that command. Scripts for
existing UE commands exist in the directory /usriliblXlllue. When
you add new commands to the Files menu, be sure to create an
accompanying script. Use the pre-existing scripts as a guide.

One of the commands you may wish to add to the Files menu
is "Edit". The following example shows how to add the Edit
command to the Files menu. Note that this example opens the
DECwindows Notepad editor. However, if you try this example,
you can substitute any editor available on your system.
To add a command called Edit to the Files menu:
Choose Edit Menus... from the Customize menu.
UE displays the Menu Profile dialog box.

4-20 Using the User Executive

See the
DECwindows
Desktop
Applications
Guide for more
information
about the
Notepad editor.

Select the Files menu in the Menus list box.

Click on the New Menu Item text entry field and type the
word "Edit". Click on the Insert button or press ~.

Click on the Associated Command or Script and type this
command: docmd -token FILE dxnotepad FILE.

Click on the OK button or press IReturn I.

The Edit command now appears in the Files menu. To edit a file,
select a file from the file view, then choose Edit from the Files
menu. Notepad opens a window on your screen and displays the
file you wish to edit.
Removing Menu Items You can easily remove menu items that
you don't want. To remove an item from a UE menu:

Choose Edit Menus... from the Customize menu.
2

Select the menu name that contains the menu item you want
to remove.
The menu name is highlighted. The menu items are displayed
in the Menu Items list box.

Select the menu item you want to remove and click on the
Remove button.
The item you selected is removed from the Menu Item list.

Click on the OK button or press IReturn I.

Adding New Menus
The Customize menu also makes it easy to add new menus to your
DE window.
Adding a Menu You can create a new menu name and build an
accompanying pull-down menu.

To add a menu to DE:
Choose Edit Menus... from the Customize menu.
2

Give the New Menu Name text entry field input focus.

Type the name of the new menu and then click on the Insert
button. The name you type automatically appears in the
Menus list box.

Using the User Executive 4-21

For example, click on the New Menu name text entry field
and type the word Hosts. This menu could be a collection of
remote systems to which you want to connect.
~lellu Profile

Menu Items

Menus
~

Files
(Popup)
Applications

".b

tv
New Menu Name

New Menu Item

Ass(ld,~ted Cmuman(\ 0)' S~'xlp1.

L.J AWt.>n<l fil(1S to Comm,md

Adding Items to a New Menu A menu is made up of one or
more items. To add a menu item to the menu you just created:

Give the New Menu Item text entry field input focus.

Type the name of the new menu item and then click on the
Insert button.
The name you type appears in the Menu Items list box.

Give the Associated Command or Script text entry field input
focus.

Type the command or script you want run when the item is
chosen from a menu and then press IReturn I.
Repeat steps 1 through 4 to add each new menu item.

Click on the OK button or press IReturn I.

When you dismiss the Menu Profile dialog box by clicking on OK,
the UE window is automatically updated. The menu you created
now appears in the UE menu bar.

4-22 Usina the User Executive

Startup-

1b!l1iiJ

Control Customize Views Files Applications Hosts
Directories Files Total: 33 Selected: 0
~ .....nn."''''' II

'I'IIII'ft ... "..

V11

Removing a Menu
You can remove menus that you do not need. To remove a menu
from UE's menu bar:
Select the menu name that you want to remove from the
Menus list box.
2

Click on the Remove button.

Click on the OK button or press IReturn I.

Customizing Double-Click Commands
You can change the way UE executes double-click commands. To
customize double-click commands, choose Double Click Actions ...
from the Customize menu. UE displays the Define actions dialog
box.
~J User Executive - © 1988, Digital EIb!lI6:iJ

Select File Type
Directory
Character Device
Block Device

To change order:
6

r"~i;;~~~'"iip'''''1

R I"-~ll)"(~ D(l'II'n I
U

The order of types is their precedence

A(!(iolt: [;,;.~:::::::~~::~::::=:::~:::~::::::~~=:~:=:=]
Argllm(mts:
C] S(lt Dir&>(!tory to St.>j&'ct(id Filt.'

C) Tnl(l C") Faist.'
~

I Cancel IIr-D-e-fine-F-il-e-Typ-e-'!

Select a file type from the list box, then select an action (no action,
Shell command, or Set Current Directory) you wish to invoke with
the double-click command. If you select Shell command, type the
command in the Shell Command text entry field then click on OK

Usina the User Executive 4-23

or press 1Return I. If you need to further define the file type, click on
Define File Type to display a dialog box.
The following describes how to customize UE so that the Notepad
editor starts when you double-click on a text file.
Choose Double Click Actions from the Customize menu.
2

Select Any File from the Select File Type list box.

Press and hold MB 1 on the Action options menu, then select
the Shell Command option.

Click on the Shell Command text field and type
docmd -token FILE dxnotepad FILE.

Click on OK or press I Return 1to dismiss the dialog box.

Now, to edit a file, simply double-click on a text file. The Notepad
editor opens a window on your screens and displays the file you
wish to edit.

Exiting From UE
Update
Select All
Select None
Processes ...
New View
Save View...
Save As Startup View
Delete View...
I Exit

To exit from UE, choose the Exit menu item from UE's Control
menu. If processes you started from UE are still active, UE
displays a dialog box to confirm that you really want to exit.
•

Confirm
You have active tasks.
Do )'OIl really want to exit?

Click on the Yes button when you are ready to exit UE.

4-24 Using the User Executive

5
Printing with DECwindows
DECwindows allows you to print the files that you create and
work with in applications. For example, you can print a Cardfiler
card file or a drawing you created in Paint. This chapter describes
how to print the files you create.
Whenever you choose the Print command in an application, the
application creates a file that it then sends to the printer. You can
also specify further printing instructions if you want to execute
more sophisticated printing tasks. While your job is being printed,
you can continue to work in your current application or go on to
other tasks.

Printing Files You Create in Applications
Within some DECwindows applications, you can print the files
you create. When you simply want to print something currently
displayed, for example, a mail message, choose the Print menu
item from the application's File menu, or click on a Print button.
The file is sent to a print queue, which holds jobs waiting to be
printed. Your print job is sent to the next available printer that
can accept print jobs from that application.
DECwindows lets you provide additional information about how
you want your job printed. This information might include the
print queue to which you want your job sent and how many copies
you want printed.
To provide this additional printing information to DECwindows,
choose Print... from the application's File menu. The application
displays a dialog box.

Printina with DECwindows 5-1

l!!ill

Canlfiler Printing

II
Cancel I
I Options... I

Number of Copies: ~
Page Range: From

1 - 1_

Print Format

1___

L:..1

Printer

Text

1liooIllY

rainy
thnder
haze

gusty

r,G~I========~I~~+'D~

~Gul========~I~~TrD~

Orientation

Print After I~ow

~ Default

~--------

In the Print dialog box, you can record your settings or dismiss
the dialog box.
Click On

Record new settings, dismiss the dialog box,
and print your job.

Cancel

Dismiss the dialog box without changing any
settings and cancel your print request.

Options ...

Display the advanced print settings dialog box.

From the Print dialog box, you can change any of the following
settings:
Number of Copies

Normally, one copy of a job is printed. To increase the number of
copies printed, double click on the Number Of Copies text field
and type the number of copies you want.
Page Range
When you send a file for printing, the entire file is printed. If,
however, you want to see page 2 of a 5-pagemail message, you
can print only that page. To change the page number at which the
file starts printing, double click on the From text field and type
another number. Do the same in the To text field. To print only
page 2 of a 5-pagemail message, type 2 in both text fields.

5-2 Printina with DECwlndows

Print Format
The Print Format list box contains the file formats that are
produced by the current application for printing. These formatted
files can be printed only on those printers that recognize the
specific format. For example, card files you create with the
Cardfiler are formatted as text files. Any printer that can print
text files-from line printers to sophisticated laser printers-can
print these card files. Paint, however, produces files formatted for
either PostScript@ or ANSI2 (sixel) output. The list of printers
that can print these files is more restrictive: sixel files can be
printed on LN03 and LPS40 printers; PostScript files can be
printed on LN03R and LPS40 printers only.
Printer
If your system manager assigned the appropriate print queue to
each print format, the Printer list box displays only those printers
that can support the selected print format. The Printer list box
changes its display accordingly.
The Printer list box lists those print queues that can accept files
in the format produced by the current application. Your print job
will be sent to the selected queue. To change the print queue to
which your print job will be sent, select another print queue. Use
the scroll bars to view the list of available print queues.
If an application produces files formatted for more than one type
of output, the Printer list box displays those print queues that can
accept files in the format currently selected. For example, Paint
produces files formatted for either PostScript or ANSI2 output.
When the selected print format is PostScript, the Printer list box
displays only those print queues that can accept PostScript files.
When you select the ANSI2 print format, the Printer list box
responds dynamically and displays only those print queues that
can accept ANSI2 files.
You or your system manager have defined which print queues will
be displayed when a specific print format is selected. These print
queues are defined as environment variables at login time.

Orientation
All printers except line printers can print pages in two different
page orientations, portrait and landscape. In portrait orientation,
characters print parallel to the short edge of the paper. For
example, this page is printed in a portrait orientation. In
landscape orientation, characters print parallel to the long edge
® PostScript is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.

Drintinf"t \A/ith nf=r\Alinr!f"\\AlC:

~_~

of the paper. Note that the definition of portrait and landscape
can be altered if you choose advanced print settings.
Your system manager set up each printer with a default
orientation. Unless you change the orientation, the printer
uses this orientation when it prints your job. To change the
orientation for your print job:

Point to the Default button

Press and hold MB1 to display the option menu.

Choose the Portrait or Landscape menu item.

Print After Time
DECwindows submits your job to the print queue immediately.
You can change the time at which your job is printed by changing
the information in the Print Mer Time text field. By requesting
that a print job be held until a specific time, you can ensure that a
large print job is printed after hours when fewer users are sharing
printers.
To change the time at which your job is printed, double click
on the Print After Time text field and type the time using the
following format:
19-APR-1990 14:32

The print job in this example will be held for printing until April
19, 1990 at 2:32 p.m.
Delete File When Printed
When you tell DECwindows to print a text or graphics file, it
sends a copy of that file to the printer. These print files are not
deleted once they are printed. This setting is indicated by an
unshaded button. If you want to delete the print file after it is
printed, click on the Delete File When Printed button.

This button may not be displayed in all applications.

Using Advanced Print SeHings
Click on the Options... button to display the Print Options dialog
box. The Print Options dialog box lets you specify advanced print
settings for your print job.

5-4 Printina with DECwindows

Print Orltions
Page Size

I Default

Sides

;:::::De=f;::au:::;lt======::::=""

o Header

[Il A\HOm~l1jt l'{~{lim~tion
[J I)(luble S.,,(dng

II
I

Cancel

II
Number Up

Sheet Count

nh~ S1;{(rt ShN~t [::~~:~~!:~~~:~!]
Fill' Elld Sh(~(~t [I~~f.~~!!KJ
File Burst Sheet

I Default'

Layup Definition

Start Sheet Comment

Message Log' Default

Pass All Control Characters 'L-_NO_.....--J

[] Hold .'rint J(lb

Printer Forms

III Notify when Done
Sheet Size
Input Tray

I';==~:::::;-------'
Default
I Default'

I...i

Output Tray 'L.....::...De=-:f..:.;a.;;.;ul.:.,.t _ _---l

¢ c::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::J t> f.']

~ ~I___________

Job name

Priority

Setup

I
Operator Message

Some of these advanced settings, such as Sides and Layup
Definition correspond to options available on certain LPS printers.
See the manual for your printer, your system manager, or the
ULTRIX reference page lpr (1) if you need more information
about specifying these settings.

Printing with DECwindows 5-5

6
Running Remote Applications
A typical work environment might include a single workstation
running DECwindows and displaying applications. Because
DECwindows can also function across networks and operating
systems, you can make the most of your computer resources by
running applications remotely from another computer for local
display on your workstation monitor.
Remotely run applications always appear to be running on your
workstation, but allow you to take advantage of larger computers
that may be better suited for a specific computing task.
This chapter describes how to run a remote application from a
remote node and includes how to
• Authorize access to your workstation
•

Log on to a remote host running either the ULTRIX or VMS
operating system

• Run applications for display on your workstation

Authorizing Access to Your Workstation
Before using your workstation to display remotely run
applications, you must authorize the remote computers, or hosts,
to access your display. Use the Session Manager's Customize
menu to add the names of those hosts to which to wish to grant
access. You can name any host to which you are connected by
means of a DECnet or TCPIIP network. You must have an account
on the remote node so that you can log in to start the application.

Running Remote Applications 6-1

To grant display access to specified remote hosts, choose the
Security menu item from Session Manager's Customize menu.
The Customize Security dialog box appears.

I!iI

Customize Security
Authorized Hosts

localhost
lupine.lotech.com
peony .Iotech .com
dahlIa::

II
Hostname[::]

Add

<11

It> 0

Apply

I Cancel I

To add a name to the list of authorized hosts:
Enter the host name.
If the connection between your system and the remote host
is through DECnet, use DECnet syntax, which requires two
colons (::) after the host name. If your connection to the
remote host is through TCPIIP, colons are unnecessary.
2

Click on the Add button.
The name appears on the list of authorized hosts.

Click on the OK or Apply button.

See Chapter 3 if you need more information on using the Session
Manager Customize menu to change your workstation's security
settings.

Enabling the Remote Display
After registering remote hosts, you are ready to run remote
applications. Remember, you must have an account on the remote
host so that you can log on to start the application.
To run remote applications for display on your workstation:
Open a DECterm window on your workstation and, using the
rlogin (for TCPIIP) or dlogin (for DECnet) command, log on to

a remote host.

6-2 Running Remote Applications

Type one of the following commands to tell DECwindows to
display the applications that you start on your workstation.
From an ULTRIX Host:
Type this command at the system prompt or add this line to
your .login file:
% setenv DISPLAY your_workstation: [011]

Here, your_workstation is the name of your workstation. The
colon indicates that connection between your system and the
remote node is through TCPIIP. Use two colons (::) after your
workstation name if the connection is through DECnet. The
o or 1 indicates the monitor, attached to your workstation, to
which you want to send the display.
From a VMS Host:
Type the following command at the system prompt or add this
line to your LOGIN.COM file:
$ set display/create/node=your_workstation

Here, your_workstation is the name of your workstation.
The network connection is assumed to be DECnet. If the
VMS node is running a product such as the ULTRIX / VMS
Connection, you can specify TCPIIP as the network transport
with the following command:
$ set display/create/transport=tcpip/node=your_workstation

Typically, VMS translates your workstation's host name to all
uppercase letters. However, the name of your workstation may
have been explicitly entered in lowercase in the VMS TCPIIP
hosts database. If so, you must enclose the workstation name
(in the above command) in double quotes to preserve any
lowercase letters in the name. Ask your system manager
to check the host name entry if you're not sure how your
workstation name has been entered.
3

Type the command line to start the application.
See Table 6-1 for a list of the applications you can
run and their corresponding commands. Note, to run
multiple applications simultaneously from a VMS host, add
SPAWNINOWAIT to the beginning of each VMS command line
listed in Table 6-1.

Running Remote Applications 6-3

Running Applications from a DECterm Window
When you have redefined your display, you are ready to run
remote applications.
Run the User Executive and other applications from a remote
node for display on your workstation monitor by using the
command lines shown in Table 6-1.
Table 6-1

Commands for Running Remote Applications

Application

ULTRIX Command Line

VMS Command Line

Calculator
Calendar

lusrlhinldxcalc &

RUN SYS$SYSTEM:DECW$CALC
RUN SYS$SYSTEM:DECW$CALENDAR

Cardfiler

lusrlhinldxcardfiler &

RUN SYS$SYSTEM:DECW$CARDFILER

CDA Viewer

lusrlhinldxvdoc &

VIEWIINTERFACE=DECwindows filename

Clock

RUN SYS$SYSTEM:DECW$CLOCK

DECterm

lusrlhinldxclock &
lusrlhinldxterm &

Not available for remote display

Mail

lusrlhinldxmail &

RUN SYS$SYSTEM:DECW$MAIL

Notepad

lusrlhinldxnotepad &

RUN SYS$SYSTEM:DECW$NOTEPAD

Paint

lusrlhinldxpaint &

RUN SYS$SYSTEM:DECW$PAINT

PostScript
Previewer

lusrlhinldxpsview &

Not available

Puzzle

lusrlhinldxpuzzle &

RUN SYS$SYSTEM:DECW$PUZZLE

User Executive

lusrlhinldxue &

RUN SYS$SYSTEM:VUE$MASTER

Window
Manager

lusrlhinldxwm &

RUN SYS$SYSTEM:DECW$WINMGR

lusrlhinldxcalendar &

Note You cannot run the Session Manager from a remote node for

display on your workstation.

6-4 Running Remote Applications

Index
A
Application definitions, 3-3
Applications
running, 1-6
running from terminal emulator,

6-4
running remote, 6-1
starting from Session Manager, 3-2
Aspect ratio for window snapshots,
3-13
Authorized hosts
running applications on, 3-15
Auto repeat, 3-7

B
Bell
setting warning,

3-7

c
Clicking
defined, 1-4,2-1
Color
pointer, 3-9
pointer background, 3-12
pointer foreground, 3-12
screen background, 3-21,3-22
screen foreground, 3-21

Color (cont'd.)
snapshot, 3-13
window background, 3-22
window border, 3-23
window foreground, 3-22
window highlight, 3-23
Continue Session Dialog Box, 1-14
Copy command, 4-13
Copying text, 2-16
Creating menus, 4-21
Customize menus, 4-18

D
Data processing keyboard, 3-8
DECterm
creating, 3-2
Deleting
file after printing, 5-4
Directory
creating, 4-11
Directory structure
navigating, 4-12
removing, 4-12
Display command, 4-15
Displaying remote applications
authorizing hosts, 6-1
from an ULTRIX host, 6-3
from a VMS host, 6-3
on your workstation, 6-1

Index-l

Displaying remote applications (cont'd.)
set display command, 6-3
setenv command, 6-3
Double-click
changing speed, 3-11
defined, 2-2
using in DE, 4-3
Dragging
a window, 1-11
defined, 1-8, 2-1

E
Editing menus
adding items, 4-18, 4-19
removing, 4-23
removing items, 4-21
Editing text
copying, 2-16
deleting, 2-18
key definitions, 2-15
moving, 2-16
pasting, 2-16, 2-17
selecting, 2-16

F
File
capturing screen images in, 3-25
deleting after printing, 5-4
printing, 5-1
printing multiple copies, 5-2
File operations in DE, 4-13
copying, 4-13
copying multiple, 4-14
removing, 4-16
searching in, 4-15
viewing, 4-15
Files
printing in DE, 4-16
sorting in file view, 4-8
File view
changing fields in, 4-8
changing file order in, 4-7
defined, 4-2

Index-2

File view (cont'd.)
deleting saved, 4-11
listing files in, 4-7
saving, 4-9
selecting files in, 4-4
superseding saved, 4-10
updating, 4-9

H
Help
searching, 2-21
window, 2-19
Help window, 2-19
components, 2-19

Icon
illustrated, 1-6
style of, 3-21
Icon Box, 1-11
defined, 1-6
illustrated, 1-6, 1-11
Input focus
defined, 1-4
giving windows, 2-2

K
Keyboard settings
auto repeat, 3-7
bell volume, 3-7
keyboard type, 3-8
keyclick volume, 3-7
lock state, 3-8
Keyclick
setting, 3-7

L
Landscape mode
setting for print jobs, 5-3
Language preference, 3-8
login name, 1-4

M
Mail
exiting, 1-13
Managing windows
expanding, 2-3
moving, 2-4
shrinking, 2-3
sizing, 2-4
stacking, 2-5
title bar elements for, 2-2
Menu
See Submenu
Menu bar
defined, 1-6
illustrated, 1-6
Message Region
changing label of, 3-18
saving scrolled lines from, 3-17
Mouse
illustrated, 1-2
using, 1-2
Mouse buttons
clicking, 1-4
MB 1 defined, 1-4
MB2 defined, 1-4
MB3 defined, 1-4
redefining in Session Manager, 3-12
shift-clicking, 2-6
Mouse settings
changing, 3-9
Moving text, 2-17
Moving windows, 2-4

o
OK button, 1-4
Orientation
of print jobs, 5-3
of screen snapshot,

p
Page range
printing a,

5-2

3-14, 3-24

Password, 1-4
Pasting text, 2-16
Pause option, 3-25
wording for, 3-17
Pending delete
defined, 2-18
Pointer settings, 3-9
acceleration, 3-11
background color, 3-12
double click speed, 3-11
foreground color, 3-12
redefining mouse buttons, 3-12
shape, 3-12
Pop-up menu
using in UE, 4-3
Portrait mode
setting for print jobs, 5-3
Press
defined, 2-1
Print command, 4-16
Printer
specifying in print requests, 5-3
Print format
landscape mode, 5-3
portrait mode, 5-3
specifying in print requests, 5-3
Printing
files created in applications, 5-1
multiple copies of a file, 5-2
screens, 3-12,3-24
window output, 3-12
Print screen
changing output format, 3-13
changing settings, 3-12
Processes dialog box
defined, 4-5
Pull-down menu
choosing items, 1-7
defined, 1-7
displaying items, 1-7
Pull-down menus
adding items, 4-21
creating in UE, 4-21
removing items, 4-21

Index-3

Push-to-back button,
illustrated, 1-6

2-5

Q
QuickCopy
using, 2-17
Quitting session,

3-17

R
Remote applications
displaying on your workstation,
3-15,6-1
running, 6-1
Remove command, 4-16
Resize button, 1-12
illustrated, 1-6
Ribbon
conserving when printing window
output, 3-14

5
Saving settings, 3-23
Screen background
setting color of, 3-22
setting pattern of, 3-21
Screen foreground
setting color of, 3-21
Screen saver
adjusting, 3-20
defined, 1-4
Screen timeout, 1-4
Scripts
for running UE commands,
Scroll bar
defined, 1-12
using the slider, 1-13
Search command, 4-15
Selecting
text fields, 1-4
windows, 2-2
Selecting files
in UE, 4-4

Index-4

Selecting text, 2-16
Session
ending, 1-15, 3-24
putting on hold, 1-14, 3-25
resuming, 3-26
starting, 1-3, 1-4
Session manager
defined, 1-6
Session Manager
creating terminal window, 3-2
ending session, 3-26
pausing session, 3-25
saving settings, 3-23
starting applications, 3-2
starting as icon, 3-17
Session Manager window, 1-15
illustrated, 3-1
Shift click
defined, 2-6
Shrink-to-icon button
defined, 1-11
illustrated, 1-6
Sizing windows, 2-4
Start Session dialog box
illustrated, 1-3
Submenu
displaying, 2-8

4-20

Terminal emulator, 3-2
Text
copying, 1-10, 2-16
editing, 2-15
entering in text fields, 1-9
moving, 2-17
moving between windows, 2-17
scrolling through, 1-12
selecting, 1-10, 2-16
Text entry field
defined, 1-4
Text strings
searching for in files, 4-15
Title bar

ritle bar (cont'd.)
elements for managing windows, 2-2
illustrated, 1-6, 2-2
roner
conserving when printing window
output, 3-14
rypewriter keyboard, 3-8

lJ
UE
command scripts, 4-20
creating menus, 4-21
customizing menus, 4-18
editing menus, 4-19
file view, 4-2
navigating a directory, 4-12
removing a directory, 4-12
running applications from, 4-3
selecting files, 4-4
starting, 4-1
updating file view, 4-9
using double-click commands in,
using pop-up menus, 4-3
working with directories, 4-11
working with files, 4-13
UE window
illustrated, 4-1
opening another, 4-17

Window manager, 3-21
Windows
moving text between, 2-17
Work region
illustrated, 1-6
Workstation
locking your, 1-14, 3-25
setting attributes of, 3-2
Workstation display
specifying, 6-1

4-4

w
Window
background color of, 3-22
border color of, 3-23
defined, 1-2
dragging a, 1-11
foreground color of, 3-22
highlight color of, 3-23
naming captured output file,
popping a, 2-5
selecting, 2-2
stacking, 2-5
sticky, 2-6
unsticky, 2-6

3-14

Index-5

How to Order Additional Documentation

Technical Support
If you need help deciding which documentation best meets your needs, call 800-343-4040

before placing your electronic, telephone, or direct mail order.

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To place an order at the Electronic Store, dial 800-DEC-DEMO (800-332-3366) using a
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800-DIGITAL (800-344-4825).

Telephone and Direct Mail Orders
Your Location

Call

Contact

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800-DIGITAL

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Puerto Rico

809-754-7575

Local Digital Subsidiary

Canada

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Attn: DECdirect Operations KA02j2
P.O. Box 13000
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International
Internal*

Local Digital subsidiary or
approved distributor
SSB Order Processing - WMO/E15

or
Software Supply Business
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Westminster, Massachusetts 01473

* For internal orders, you must submit an Internal Software Order Form (EN-01740-07).

ULTRIX Worksystem Software
DECwindows User's Guide
AA-MA87B-TE

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