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AD-HD91A-T1

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Document:	VAXMate Users Guide Volume 1 Change Pages Jan1987
Order Number:	AD-HD91A-T1
Revision:
Pages:	84
Original Filename:	http://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vaxmate/AD-HD91A-T1_VAXMate_Users_Guide_Volume_1_Change_Pages_Jan1987.pdf

OCR Text

AD-HD91A-T1

mate

User's Guide
Volume 1 Change Pages

; software

First Printing, January 1987

© Digital Equipment Corporation 1987. 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 only be used or
copied 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.
Several Program Information Files and device drivers are supplied for use with non-DIGITAL
products and referenced in this document. These are provided on an "AS IS" basis without any
warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied.
FCC Notice: This equipment generates, uses, and may emit radio frequency energy. The
equipment has been type tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A computing
device pursuant to SubpartJ of Part 15 of FCC Rules, which are designed to provide reasonable
protection against such a commercial environment. Operation of this equipment in a
residential area may cause interference in which case, the user, at bis own expense, maybe
reqUired to take measures to correct the interference.
MS-DOS and Multi plan are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
dBASE is a trademark of Ashton-Tate, Inc.
IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines. Inc.

The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation:

mamaama

DEC
DECmate
DECsystem-l0
DECSYSTEM-20
DECUS
DECwriter
DIBOL

MASSBUS
PDP
PIOS

Professional
Rainbow
RSTS
RSX
UNIBUS

VAX
VAXmate
VMS
VT
VT220 Terminal Emulator
VT240 Terminal Emulator
Work Processor

The postage-paid READER'S COMMENTS form at the back of this document requests the user's
critical evaluation to assist us in preparing future documentation.

(
Printed in U.SA.

VAXmate V1.1 Customer Letter
(

To the VAXmate User's Guide reader,
These pages contain corrections to pages in your VAXmate User's Guide,
Volume 1. To update your guide with these pages, use the following table.
The table lists the old pages you should remove and the new replacement
pages you should insert in your guide.
PAGES TO REMOVE

PAGES TO INSERT

Chapter 1
1-1, 1-2
1-9 through 1-12

1-1, 1-2
1-9 through 1-12

Chapter 3
3-13, through 3-16

3-13 through 3-16

Chapter 4

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4-7, 4-8

Chapter 5
5-5, 5-6
5-9, 5-10

5-5, 5-6
5-9, 5-10

Chapter 6
6-17, 6-18

6-17, 6-18

Chapter 7
7-1, 7-2
7-9 through 7-11

7-1, 7-2, 7-2.1
7-9 through 7-11

(
1- 1

VAXmate V1.1 Customer Letter
I~'

PAGES TO REMOVE

PAGES TO INSERT

Chapter 8
8-7 through 8-22

8-7 through 8-22

Chapter 10
10-3, 10-4

10-3, 10·4

Chapter 12
12-13, 12-14

12·13, 12-14

Chapter 20
20-17, 20·18

20-17,20-18

Appendix A
A-7 through A-10

A-7 through A-10

"---j

Appendix B
B-5 through B-10
B-15, B-16
B-25 though B·27

B·5 through B-10
B-15, B-16
B-25 though B-27

Appendix C
C-1 through C-15

1- 2

C-1 through C-15

Chapter 1
Getting Started
With MS-Windows

MS-Windows lets you work visually by organizing your tasks in windows.
With MS-Windows, you can have more than one window on your screen, each
running a different application. Thus, you can simultaneously work on several tasks, such as writing a memo, updating a project status report, and
organizing data for a monthly report.
With MS-Windows, you switch from one application to another by clicking
the mouse button or pressing keys. Because you never have to stop running
an application, you can continue in any application where you left off.
With MS-Windows, you do not have to memorize formats or type many commands. Each application has all the necessary commands contained in a series
of menus; you select a command from a menu.
MS-Windows lets you transfer information between your MS-Windows applications. For example, you can copy information from a project status report to
a monthly report while running both in the work area of your screen.
This chapter describes how to:
• Start MS-Windows
• Work in MS-Windows
• Run an application
• Use the Information System
• Scroll a window
• Use menus and commands
• Use a dialog box

(

• Finish an application

1-1

IIIII GETTING STARTED WITH MS· Windows
Starting MS-Windows
Information on starting MS-Windows and other introductory MS-Windows
material, including definitions for terms such as icon, work area, and mouse,
is contained in your handbook. If you have not read the handbook, do so
before continuing.

Initial Window
The first window you see when you start MS-Windows depends upon how
MS-Windows is installed on your workstation. When MS-Windows is installed
on your workstation, you can:
• Run a specific application automatically in the work area each time you
start MS-Windows
• Load specific applications as icons
This is desirable if you consistently use several applications.
• Open the MS-DOS Executive window
If you run and load applications when MS-Windows is installed, the first
window you see is the application that is set up to run automatically. You
also see the icons for the applications in the icon area at the bottom of the
screen. For information about running and loading applications, see
Chapter 3.
If you do not run or load applications when MS-Windows is installed, the
first window you see is the MS-DOS Executive window. You can load applications into the icon area.

Working in MS- Windows
You work in MS-Windows by using the mouse or the keyboard to select and
perform commands. You will probably use the mouse most often because
you can enter most commands by pointing the mouse to the command and
clicking the left mouse button. In general, this guide describes how to enter
MS-Windows commands, using the mouse. For information on using the keyboard to enter commands, see Chapter 6.
If you unplug your mouse and plug it back in, the mouse will not work. To

get your mouse to work again, exit and restart MS-Windows.

1-2

Getting Started With MS- Windows 11111

(
HoI "p,HI
A
Sho "n.. n .... CII'"
Pho File nallle: 1I11III
Tak
Mak
C:\PCAPP
Pic GH¥lil~ ~ TXT
ItlSTALL.TXT
Open
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Con README.TXT
UT221.TXT
~
Cle WIHBL7B.TXT
Cancel
(
~
Mow WIHDOWS.nn
PIa
Sch edule uacahon
A
Read "War and Peace"
C
Write Grandllla
C
Buy present for Martha B
Talk to Fred
B
Take out garbage
B
Call piano tuner
C

OOTlIIS.TXT

...

)
)

Screen 1-2

Dialog Box

A dialog box is a rectangle, resembling a window, which overlays a portion
of the screen in which you select a command. If you display several windows
in the work area, the dialog box can overlay portions of more than one
window, depending on the size of the windows and the dialog box.
The dialog box contains areas where you either type the information
required by MS-Windows or select options to supply the needed information.
Often, a dialog box is displayed with some information already in it, showing
what you have selected on the screen or options you selected earlier. Also,
some options may be disabled.
Mter you enter information or select an option, you execute the action by
selecting a command button in the dialog box.

1·9

IIIII GETTING STARTED WITH MS- Windows
The following sections describe the components of a dialog box.
Text Box
A text box is where you type information needed to carry out a command.
Figure 1-2 shows a text box.

File name: L!1.!!!!!~!!!;t!!!!I_ _ _ _ _ _ _---.J
Figure 1-2

Text Box

What you type is displayed to the left of the blinking vertical line, called the
insertion point. To position the insertion point in the text box, click where
you want the insertion point moved. As you type, the insertion point moves
to the right.
To correct typing mistakes, press the Word Char key. Each time you press it,
one character to the left of the insertion point is deleted.
The text box can:
• Be blank when the dialog box is displayed
• Contain text if you already selected something applicable for the
command
• Contain a default option
If information is already present in the text box, you can type new informa-

tion. When you press the first key, any information already present is
removed. You can also press the Word Char key to delete information already
in the text box.
List Box
A list box lists the choices you can select for a command. Figure 1-3 shows a
list box.

1-10

GETTING STARTED WITH MS-Windows 11111

C:\WIH\PCAPP

Figure 1-3

(

Open)

(

Cancel)

List Box

You can distinguish between files, drives, and directories listed in a dialog
box. For example, in the list box shown in Figure 1-3:

(

MYFILE

Is the name of the file, MYFILE.

[-A-]

Represents drive A. Brackets and hyphens surround the name
of a drive.

[ .. ]

Represents the parent directory (one level up).

[MYDIR]

Represents directory MYDIR. Brackets surround the name of a
directory.

To select an item in the list box, click on it_

Option Buttons
Option buttons let you select one option from a group. They are labeled to
describe their functions. Figure 1-4 shows the option buttons for controlling
the keyclick volume.

Keyclick voluille

0 No sound
OSoft
@ I nterillediate
Oloud

Figure 1-4 Option Buttons
To select an option from a group, click on it.

1-11

IIIII Getting Started With MS· Windows
Check Boxes

Check boxes represent options that you can turn ON or OFF. They are
labeled to describe the functions of the options. When an X is displayed in
the check box, the option is ON. Click on X again to turn the option OFF.
You can select as many check boxes as needed. Figure l-S shows a check
box for a mouse option.

Mouse Options
~left/right ~ouse
Figure 1-5

buttons s~apped

Check Box

To select a check box, click on it.
Command Buttons

Command buttons are large rectangular buttons (with rounded corners) that
are labeled to describe how thay affect the command you selected. Figure
1-6 shows sample command buttons.

( Ok

)

Figure 1-6

(Cancel)
Command Buttons

To select a command button, click on it.

1-12'

Using the MS-DOS Executive Window

(--

IIIII

Using the File Name
To run an application in your default directory, double-click on the file
name of the application you want to run.
The file name is highlighted.
The cursor temporarily changes to an hourglass, indicating that MS-Windows
is loading the application into memory.
The application you selected replaces the MS-DOS Executive application in
the window. The MS-DOS Executive application changes to an icon.

Using Temporary Files
Some applications that run with MS-Windows create temporary files with the
file extension .TMP to store your work.
The file names for temporary files begin with a tilde character and letters
indicating the application name. For example, a temporary file for MS-Paint
has the file name ~SP·.TMP.

(

You can create a special directory on your local hard disk drive to hold
temporary files. To send temporary files to a directory, put the SET TEMP
command in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
Do not delete these files while MS-Windows is running, because an application may be using them. You can delete them after quitting your
MS-Windows session.

Running Batch Files
You run batch files only from the MS-DOS Executive window. If you run a
standard application from a batch file, you should create a PIF for the batch
file. For more information about PIFs, see Appendix C.
Set options in the batch file's PIF to be the same as the application's PIF.
However, set the Memory Required and Memory Desired options for the
batch file's PIF to 32K, regardless of the memory requirements for the
application.

(
3-13

IIIII

Using the MS-DOS Executive Window

Using MS-DOS Commands and Programs
MS-DOS commands are divided into three groups:
• Commands you cannot use from MS-Windows
• Commands you run from MS-Windows with COMMAND.COM
• Commands you run from the MS-DOS Executive window
Those commands that you cannot run from MS-Windows, you can run from
the MS-DOS operating system prompt. Or, you can put these commands in
your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, which runs automatically before MS-Windows
starts. For more information on MS-DOS commands and programs, see Volume
2 of this guide.
The MS-DOS commands you should not run from MS-Windows are:
APPEND
ASSIGN
CHKDSK

GRAFTABL
GRAPHICS
JOIN

CTTY

KEYB

FONT

LCOUNTRY

MODE
NET START
PRINT •
RECOVER
SELECT'

The MS-DOS commands you can run in MS-Windows from the Command window are:
BREAK
CHDIR'
CLS
COPY'
DATE'
DEL'
DIR'

ECHO
ERASE'
EXIT
FOR
GOTO
IF
MKDIR'

MORE
PATH
PAUSE
PROMPT
REM
REN'
RMDIR'

SET
SHIFT
TIME'
TYPE
VER'
VERIFY
VOL'

The MS-DOS commands you can run from the MS-DOS Executive window are:
ATTRIB
BACKUP
COMMAND
DEBUG
DISKCOPY

EDLIN
EXE2BIN
FC
FDISK
FIND

FORMAT'
LABEL
LINK
NET
PERMIT

• These commands have an MS-Windows equivalent.

3-14

RESTORE
SORT
SUBST
SYS'

(-.

Using the MS-DOS Executive Window

IIIII

Running an MS-DOS Operating System Program
To run an MS-DOS command in MS-Windows with COMMAND.COM:
1. Select the RUN command from the File menu in the MS-DOS Executive
window.
2. In the dialog box, type:
COMMAND
3. Click on the Ok command button.
The MS-DOS command processor starts in a window titled "Command."
4. Type the MS-DOS command and command arguments you want at the
MS-DOS prompt.
S. To stop using COMMAND.COM, type:
EXIT
The window title is now enclosed in parentheses.
6. Close the window.
To run an MS-DOS command from the MS-DOS Executive window:
1. Select the RUN command from the File menu.
2. Type the command name and its arguments in the dialog box.
3. Close the window.
If the application does not stop automatically, type the Exit command
and then close the window.

Finishing an MS-Windows Session
To finish an MS-Windows session:
1. Save all files you have worked on.
2. Exit from any standard application still running in a window or as an
icon.

(
3-15

IIIII

Using tbe MS-DOS Executive Window

3. From the MS-DOS Executive window, end your MS-Windows session
by using one of the following methods:
• Double-click on the System menu box.
• Select the Close command from the System menu.
• Select the End Session command from the Special menu.
With any method, a dialog box is displayed, indicating that this action
ends your MS-Windows session.
4. Click on the Ok command button.
MS-Windows closes, and the MS-DOS operating system prompt is displayed on the screen.
NOTE
You can now enter MS-DOS commands. To restart MS-Windows
from the MS-DOS operating system prompt, type:

WIN
Press the Return key. The DIGITAL logo is displayed, followed by
MS-Windows.
5. Turn off your workstation.
6. Remove your key diskette if you do not want anyone else to access your
files.
If you try to close MS-Windows while an MS-Windows application such as

Notepad is still running, MS-Windows displays a dialog box and lets you save
the updated data file.
If you try to close MS-Windows while a standard application is still running,
MS-Windows displays a dialog box indicating an application is still running.
The name of the active application is displayed in the title bar of the dialog
box. Close the identified application, then close MS-Windows again.

3-16

Working With Files 11111

(
Deleting More Than One File

To delete more than one file at a time, select all the files you want to delete,
then follow steps 2 and 3 in the previous section.

Printing a Text File
To print text files, select the Print command from the File menu. With the
Print command, you can print any files you can display on your screen.
NOTE

Most applications have a command that prints files you create with
that application. You should use the application command when
possible.
To print a file:
1. Click on the file name of the text file you want to print.
The file name you selected is highlighted.

(

2. Select the Print command from the File menu.
MS-Windows displays the Print dialog box. Figure 4-3 shows the Print
dialog box.

Print: Hmllj',"t.'tI

(

)

Figure 4-3

[Cancel)
Print Dialog Box

If the file name is not the one you want to print, type the correct file
name over the one displayed. You must type the entire file name,
including any file extension.

(
4-7

11111 Working With Files

3. Click on the Ok command button.

The MS-DOS Executive window displays the Print Spooler dialog box,
telling you the file is being sent to the Spooler for the default printer.
Figure 4-4 shows the Print Spooler dialog box.

NS-DOS Executl ue

Sending

DOTHIS.TXT
to p~int spoole~.
(Cancel)
Figure 4-4

Print Spooler Dialog Box

NOTE
Printing does not start until the file has been sent to the Print
Spooler. The length of the delay before the printer starts depends
on the complexity and length of the file you are printing.

For more information about the default printer and how to select it, see
Chapter 8.
To cancel the print request, click on the Cancel command button.

Using the Spooler
The MS-Windows Spooler is an application that stores files waiting to be
printed. When you execute the Print command from the MS-DOS Executive
or from a Desktop application:
• The Spooler application starts.
• The Spooler icon is displayed in the icon area.
• A file is sent to the Spooler application.
• The Spooler starts to print the file on your printer, if no other files are
printing.

4-8

~ ..•01

Working With Directories and Disks 11111

Changing How File Names Are Listed
The View menu commands change how file names are listed in the MS-DOS
Executive window.
When you first start MS-Windows, the files in the MS-DOS Executive window
are listed in alphabetical order. The directory names are at the top of the list.
However, you can list files in a different order, such as by size or by the date
they were created or changed. You can also list files having the same file
extension.
To see only files having the same file extension, you must specify the file
extension. To specify the type of files you want to view, use the Partial
command.
To view a partial list of files:
1. Select the Partial command from the View menu.
MS-Windows displays the Partial dialog box. Figure 5-3 shows the Partial dialog box.

(
Partial:

(

II.:-'_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _....J

)

(Cancel)

Figure 5-3

Partial Dialog Box

2. In the text box, type the file names you want to see.
Use wildcard characters (* or ?) to tell MS-Windows which kind of file
to display. For example, to display all file names with the file extension

.EXE, type •. EXE in the text box.
3. Click on the Ok command button.

(
5-5

IIIII Working With Directories and Disks
Displaying Multiple Directories
You can display more than one MS-DOS Executive window at a time. This is
useful for displaying two different directories at the same time, one directory
in each MS-DOS Executive window.
To display a second MS-DOS Executive window:
1. Use the Run command to open the second MS-DOS Executive window.
The file name is MSDOS.EXE.
2. In the new MS-DOS Executive window, double-click on the directory
path name you want to display.
The selected directory is displayed in the second MS-DOS Executive
window. Two different directories are displayed, one directory in each
MS-DOS Executive window.
If you display the same directory in multiple windows, only the directory in
the active window is updated when you create, delete, rename, or copy a
file. To update the listing in an inactive window, move the mouse to that
window and click on the highlighted drive icon.

Printing a Directory Listing
To print a directory listing, use the Print command. The directory listing is
printed as it is displayed in the MS-DOS Executive window.
To print a directory listing:
1. Click on the directory name.
2. Select the Print command from the File menu.
MS-Windows displays the Print dialog box.
3. Click on the Ok command button.
The listing of the selected directory is printed.

5-6

"- /

Working With Directories and Disks

IIIII

3. Click on the option button of the disk drive containing the new
diskette.
4. Click on the Ok command button.
The system displays a warning that any data on the diskette in the drive
will be destroyed.
5. Click on the Ok command button to continue or click on the Cancel
command button to stop.

Preparing a System Diskette
A system diskette contains the files necessary for starting the MS-DOS operating system.
To prepare a system diskette:
1. Prepare a diskette by using the Format Data Disk command.
2. Ensure the new diskette is in the disk drive to which you want to copy.
3. Select as your current drive a drive that contains the system files.
4. Select the Make System Disk command from the Special menu.
MS-Windows displays the Make System Disk dialog box.
5. Click on the option button of the disk drive to which the MS-DOS system files are to be copied.
6. Click on the Ok command button.
Copying starts when you click on the Ok command button. While the
MS-DOS system files are being copied, the dialog box remains on the
screen and the arrow changes to an hourglass.
When complete, the dialog box is removed from the screen, and the
hourglass changes to the arrow.

(
5-9

IIIII Working With Directories and Disks

Naming Disks
To assign a name (a volume name) to a diskette, use the Set Volume Name
command. The volume name identifies the contents of the disk.
To name a disk:
1. Click on the symbol of the disk drive containing the disk you want to
name.
2. Select the Set Volume Name command from the Special menu.
MS-Windows displays the Volume Name dialog box, containing the current name if any exists. Figure 5-5 shows the Volume Name dialog box.

Uolullte Halite:

(

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

)

(Cancel)
(

Figure 5-5

Set Volume Name Dialog Box

3. In the text box, type a name.
Only the first twelve characters are accepted.
4. Click on the Ok command button.
The new volume name for the disk is displayed to the right of the drive
letter in the path name.

5-10

~_/

Using the Keyboard

IIIII

Continue pressing the arrow keys to move beyond the window border to
the size you want. A line shows where the new window's border is
located.
To make the window smaller, you must move the size box beyond the
window border and back inside the window border.
4. Press the Return key.
MS-Windows changes the size of the window and adjusts the size of any
adjacent windows.

Making a Window Fill the Entire Screen
To zoom a window so that it fills the entire screen:
1. Switch to the window you want to fill the entire screen.
2. Select the Zoom command from the System menu.
The window you selected zooms and fills the entire screen including
the icon area.
To zoom a window, you can also:
1. Switch to the window you want to fill the entire screen.
2. Press the Alt/Return keys.
The window you selected zooms and fills the entire screen including
the icon area.
To return the window to its former size:
• Use the Zoom command again.
• Press the Alt/Return keys to restore the window to its former size.

Moving a Window
To move a window to another position in the work area:
1. Switch to the window you want to move.
2. Select the Move command from the System menu.
MS-Windows diplays the icon of the application in the middle of the
window.

(
6-17

IIIII

Using tbe Keyboard

3. Press the arrow keys until the icon is where you want the window to be
moved.
4. Press the Return key.
The window is moved to the position you selected. MS-Windows adjusts
the size of the other windows in the work area.

Receiving Messages From Another Application
To see a message sent by another application, switch to the window whose
title bar is flashing or to the flashing icon:
1. Hold the Alt key and press the Tab key until the window or icon of the
application sending you the message is highlighted.
2. Release the Alt key.
The message is displayed when you switch to the window or icon of the
application sending you the message.

Printing Screen Images
With MS-Windows, you can send the information displayed on the screen to
your printer, on LPT1. To print a screen, the GRAPHICS command must be
loaded and run before MS-Windows starts. The key diskette runs the
GRAPHICS command for you. For more information on the GRAPHICS command see Chapter 32.
To print your screen:
1. If you are using a local printer, be sure your printer is attached and on
line.
2. Ensure the screen contains the information you want printed. Everything
displayed on the screen is printed.
3. Press ShiftjPrt Sc.
The screen is printed. This operation may take a few minutes.
NOTE

Do not press ShiftjPrt Sc if LPT1 is being used by another
application.

6-18

(

Chapter 7
Running
Standard Applications

This chapter describes how to:
• Run standard applications in a window
• Run standard applications outside a window
• Transfer information between standard applications
• Run large standard applications
• Run special applications

Working with Standard Applications
A standard application is an application (with a .EXE, .BAT, or .COM extension) that you can use with MS-Windows, even though it was not designed
for this use. (MS-Windows applications, such as Notepad and Clock, are specifically designed to be used with MS-Windows.)
When you run a standard application with MS-Windows, you continue to use
the commands and functions of the application. For many standard applications, MS-Windows lets you run several applications and switch from one
application to another.
Many standard applications can run in a window, sharing the work area with
other applications in their own windows. However, some standard applications require the entire screen and run outside a window.
Whether a standard application runs in a window depends on how it:
• Uses memory
• Processes input/output (I/O) activities

(
7-1

IIIII Running Standard Applications
When an application runs on your workstation, it processes I/O activities that
use the workstation's resources. These resources include:
• Computer memory
• Communications ports
• Video display screen
• Keyboard
If a standard application uses standard MS-DOS supplied IjO procedures and

memory allocation, it can run in a window, because MS-Windows emulates
the I/O activities that are compatible for MS-DOS.
If a standard application does not use standard MS-DOS supplied I/O proce-

dures or standard memory allocation, it cannot run in a window, because
MS-Windows cannot provide the interface for IjO activities. These standard
applications provide their own interface for I/O activities.
NOTE

Standard applications must run under MS-DOS Version 3. 10 or later
to run from MS-Windows.

Using Program Information Files
A program information file (PIF) contains information about how a standard
application uses workstation resources. The system administrator enters this
information into a PIF for the standard application, and the information is
used by MS-Windows. Each standard application you use should have a PIF
associated with it.
Included with your MS-Windows software package are PIFs for many standard
applications. If you try to run an application that has no PIF, MS-Windows
uses default settings for the resources. However, the system administrator
should create a PIF for the application.
An application can have more than one PIF associated with it. For example,

you can have two versions of the same application. One version can require a
large amount of memory, because you use all the features of the application,
while another version can require less memory, because you use only a few
features.

7-2

Running Standard Applications

IIIII

Some applications require more than one PIF. Each file with a .EXE, .COM,
and .BAT extension that an application runs must have a PIF associated with
it.
If you are running a batch file (an application with a .BAT extension) that
redirects I/O, you must set the Directly Modifies Screen option in its PIF file
and run it from the MS-DOS Executive window. See Appendix C for more
information on creating PIFs for standard applications.
NOTE

You should not run a batch file from a COMMAND.COM window if
the file includes redirected I/O or piping.
You can run an application by selecting its PIF in the MS-DOS Executive
window. When you select the PIF, MS-Windows loads and runs the application named in the PIF.

(

7-2.1

This page intentionally left blank.

Running Standard Applications 11111

When you paste information to a terminal emulator, you must first enable
HOSTSYNC under VMS by typing:
$

SET TERMIHAL/HOSTSYHC

This command prevents data overruns.
You cannot paste:
• Information from the Clipboard to an application that runs outside a
window
• Graphics information from the Clipboard to any standard application
(inside or outside a window)
NOTE

Text is stored in its character (ASCII) representation. When you
use the Copy or Paste commands, the text is also transferred in this
character representation.
To use the Paste command:
1. Switch to the window into which you want to paste the information.
2. Move the cursor where you want to insert the information.
3. Select the Paste command from the System menu.
The selected text is inserted in your application at the cursor location.

Using the Prt Sc Key
You can also transfer information to the Clipboard by using the Alt/Prt Sc
keys. To copy a standard application's window to the Clipboard:
1. To copy from a standard application that runs in a window, make sure
the window is the active window. (Switch to the window you want to
copy if it is not the active Window.)
2. Press the Alt/Prt Sc keys.
For a standard application that runs outside a window, the screen contents are copied to the Clipboard. For a standard application that runs
in a window, the active window is copied, as if it filled the entire
screen, to the Clipboard. Other windows in the work area are not
copied.

7-9

11111 Running Standard Applications

A block of information, 80 columns by 25 lines, is transferred from the
selected window to the Clipboard, regardless of the number of columns
and lines displayed in the window.
After the information has been copied to the Clipboard, you can paste it to
other applications with the Paste command.

Running Large Standard Applications
To run multiple standard applications efficiently, run the largest application
first.
If you run more than one application and try to run a new application that

requires more memory than is available, MS-Windows displays the message
"Not enough memory to run."
If you see this message, close an application that you do not currently need

and try to run the standard application again.
If you are closing a standard application, you should first execute the Exit
command of the application.
The application runs after enough memory has been freed by closing other
applications. If the MS-DOS Executive window is the only application running, the application you selected runs because MS-Windows and the MS-DOS
Executive application step aside and give the application most of the available memory. A small amount of memory is retained for restoring
MS-Windows.
When you finish using the large application, close it. After you close the
application, the MS-DOS Executive window returns to the work area. Any
application defined in the WIN.INI file to load or run is started.
NOTE

Do not use a large standard application in the WIN.lNI file's RUN=
line.

Running Special Applications
Some applications remain in memory after you load them. These special
applications are sometimes called "memory resident," "terminate and stay
resident," or "pop-up" programs.
You must load special applications before you start MS-Windows.
( "
'~ /

7-10

Running Standard Applications

(

IIIII

You run special applications from MS-DOS outside MS-Windows. You can also
run special applications while using standard applications that both:
• Do not run in a window
• Have Directly Modifies Memory set in their PIFs
You cannot run special applications from COMMAND.COM in MS-Windows.
NOTE
The PIF for a special application should have the Directly Modifies
Memory option enabled. If you then try to run a special
application, a system warning displays. Select CANCEL. If you
select Ok, the special application can cause system problems.

Some special applications prevent you from switching back to MS-Windows.
To return to MS-Windows, stop the special application by using its EXIT
command.

7-11

IIIII

Using the Control Panel

(

After MS-Windows is set up, you can add a printer driver file to MS-Windows
when you want to install:
• An existing printer driver file

The printer driver file is included in the network directory
H:\WIN\UTIL, which stores printer driver files.
• A new printer driver file
The printer driver file is not in the network directory H:\WIN\UTIL.
You install the printer driver file by copying it from the distribution
diskette of a new application to the network directory H:\WIN\UTIL.
After you add a new printer to your system, you must let MS-Windows know
which communications port the printer is connected to before you can use
the printer. To define the communications port, use the Connections command in the Setup menu of the Control Panel.

Adding an Existing Printer Driver File
To add an already existing printer driver file to your system:

(

1. Select the Add New Printer command from the Installation menu.
MS-Windows displays the Add Printer dialog box. Figure 8-4 shows the
Add New Printer dialog box.

Add Printer
Insert the disk ~ith the printer file
you ~ish to add into driue A. or choose
an alternatiue driue/directory:
IlIa'UIU.'.II..

(

)

(Cancel)

Figure 8-4 Add Printer Dialog Box

2. In the text box, you type the location of the printer driver file,
typically:
H:\WIN\UTIL

(
8-7

IIIII Using the Control Panel
3. Select the Ok command button.
MS-Windows displays a dialog box, listing the printers available in the
directory you specify.
4. From the list box, select a printer.
The name of the corresponding printer driver file is displayed in the
Printer File text box of the dialog box.
See Table 8-1 for information on selecting the LA75 and the LN03 PLUS
printers.
5. Select the Add command button.
MS-Windows displays a dialog box.
6. Select the No command button.
Selecting the No command button is the normal procedure. However, if
you want to duplicate this printer driver file, type the drive or name of
an existing directory you want, and select the Yes command button.
MS-Windows updates the WIN.INI file to include information for the
new printer driver. However, only the WIN.INI file used when you start
MS-Windows is updated. If the printer is added to the network and is
used by more than one user, the WIN.INI file of each user needs to be
updated.
Table 8-1

Selecting Printers
Driver filename

Type of Printer

Select

is ...

LA75

Digital LA75DEC

LA50.DRV

LN03 PLUS with CG-Times Cartridge

Digital LN03PLUS

LN03PLUS.DRV

LN03 PLUS with ISO/PC Cartridge

Digital LN03DEC

LN03PLUS.DRV

LA75 to emulate IBM Proprinter

LA75STD

LA75.DRV

LN03 PLUS with ISO/PC Cartridge to
emulate IBM Proprinter

Digital LN03STD

LA75.DRV

8-8

Using tbe Control Panel

(

IIIII

Adding a New Printer Driver File
Your system administrator adds new printer driver files from the distribution
diskette that comes with a new printer. This section includes information
your system administrator needs to add a new printer driver file.
To add a new printer driver file to the directory containing the other
MS-Windows printer driver files:
1. Select the Add New Printer command from the Installation menu.
MS-Windows displays a dialog box that prompts you to insert into Drive
A the diskette with the printer driver file you want to add, or to select
an alternate drive/directory. It displays H:\WIN\UTIL in the text box.
Select Drive A by typing in the text box:
A:\

2. Insert the diskette with the printer files.
See the printer hardware documentation to determine which diskette
and which directory contains the printer driver files (.DRV).

(

3. Select the Ok command button.
MS-Windows displays a dialog box, listing the printers available on the
diskette.
4. From the list box, select a printer.
After you select a printer, the name of the corresponding printer driver
file displays in the printer file text box at the right.
S. Select the Add command button.
A dialog box prompts you for the name of the drive or directory to
which you want to copy the printer driver file.
6. In the text box, type the alias for H:\WIN\UTIL, the drive and directory
to which the printer driver file is to be copied. Drive H: must be
connected to the read/write alias for the system files.
7. Select the Yes command button.
MS-Windows updates the WIN.INI file to include information for the
new printer driver. However, only the WIN.INI file used by
MS-Windows when you started MS-Windows is updated. If the printer is
added to the network, and is used by more than one user, the WIN.INI
file of each user needs to be updated.

8-9

IIIII Using the Control Panel
Removing a Printer
To remove a printer from MS-Windows:
1. Select the Delete Printer command from the Installation menu.
MS-Windows displays the Delete Printer dialog box. The list box shows
all the printers currently in your WIN.INI file. Figure 8-5 shows the
Delete Printer dialog box.

Delete Printer
LHIJ3DEC

Printer File:

LASII.DRU

LPT3:

( Delete) ( Cancel )
Figure 8-5 Delete Printer Dialog Box
2. Select the printer you want to remove from the list box.
The file name of the corresponding printer driver file is displayed in
the text box.
3. Select the Delete command button.
MS-Windows displays a dialog box.
4. Select the No command button.
NOTE

When you select the No command button, the printer name is
deleted from the WIN .INI file, but the printer driver file is not. By
selecting the No command button, you can use the procedure
discussed in "Adding an Existing Printer Driver File," because the
printer driver is still stored in the directory.

8-10

Using the Control Panel

(

IIIII

It is recommended that you do not delete the printer driver file. If
you select the Ok command button, the printer driver file is
deleted from the network directory H:\WIN\UTIL. To add the
printer driver file again, you must follow the more complicated
procedure discussed in "Adding a New Printer Driver File."
Some printer drivers support more than one printer model. In this case, the
printers share the print driver file. If other printers share the printer driver
file that is displayed in the Delete Printer dialog box, that printer driver file
is not deleted, because it is still used by the other printers.
In this case, MS-Windows displays a dialog box, indicating the shared printer
driver file is not deleted. However, it is disassociated from the selected
printer in the WIN.INI file.

Adding a New Font
To add a font file (.FON) to MS-Windows, use the Add New Font command
from the Installation menu. This command works similarly to the Add New
Printer command.

(

When you select the Add New Font command (or the Delete Font command),
you must specify where the font files are located. MS-Windows lists the available fonts, including the font names, the font sizes, and the set numbers.
The set number is based on the devices that the font is primarily designed to
be used with.
Set 1

Set 1 fonts are stroke fonts. They can be used for the screen, a printer, or a
plotter device of any resolution.
Set 2

Set 2 fonts are raster fonts. They are designed for a screen resolution of 640
X 200, such as a workstation with the IBM Color Graphics Adapter or compatible adapter card.

8-11

IIIII Using the Control Panel
Set 3

Set 3 fonts are raster fonts. They are designed primarily for a screen resolution of 640 X 350, such as a workstation with an IBM Enhanced Color
Graphics Adapter or Hercules Graphics Card. These fonts are also used by
VAXmate.
Set 4

Set 4 fonts are raster fonts. They are designed primarily for printers in 60 dpi
resolution:
• IA75 in STD mode (landscape mode)
• Okidata 92, 93, 192, 193, standard models (portrait mode)
• Okidata 92, 93, 192, 193, standard and IBM-compatible models (landscape mode)
• Epson MX-BO, FX-BO, and compatibles (landscape mode)
• IBM Graphics (landscape mode)
• IBM Proprinter (landscape mode)
• Star Micronics SG-10 (landscape mode)
Set 5

Set 5 fonts are raster fonts. They are designed for printers in the 120 dpi
resolution:
• IA75 in STD mode (portrait mode)
• Okidata 92, 93, 192, 193, IBM-compatible models (portrait mode)
• Epson MX-BO, FX-BO, and compatibles (portrait mode)
• IBM Graphics (portrait mode)
• IBM Proprinter (portrait mode)
• Star Micronics SG-10 (portrait mode)
In addition to these fonts, an application can list device fonts. These are the
fonts provided by a device. For example, on print-wheel printers, font names
correspond to wheel names. These fonts cannot be added or deleted with the
Control Panel, but they can be listed when the output device is selected.
When a raster font does not correspond to the screen, MS-Windows can substitute a screen font in the same class.
8-12

(

\._-"

Using the Control Panel 11111
NOTE

Because applications handle fonts differently, some applications
may not list all fonts.
Fonts have names that represent their different characteristics. Table 8-2 lists
and describes the fonts that are included on H: \ WIN\ UTIL.

(

Table 8-2

Fonts on the Fonts Disk

Font

Description

DECterm

(Raster font.) A fixed-width font (characters having uniform widths)
without serifs.

Relv

(Raster font.) A proportional font (characters having varying widths)
without serifs.

Courier

(Raster font.) A fixed-width font with serifs.

TmsRmn

(Raster font.) A proportional font with serifs.

Roman

(Stroke font.) A proportional font with serifs.

Modern

(Stroke font.) A proportional font without serifs.

Script

(Stroke font.) A proportional font of slanted characters formed from
nearly continuous curved lines.

Table 8-3 describes the fonts that are not included on H:\WIN\UTIL, but you
can see them in some applications. These fonts cannot be added or deleted.
Table 8-3

Fonts Not on the Fonts Disk

Font

Description

System

(Raster font.) A fixed-width font designed for the screen.

Terminal

(Raster font.) A fixed-width font that is the same as the font your workstation displays from MS-DOS.

Deleting a Font
To delete a font file to MS-Windows, use the Delete Font command from the
Installation menu. This command works similarly to the Delete Printer
command.

8-13

IIIII Using the Control Panel
Using the Setup Menu
The Setup menu has four commands:
• Connections, which lets you assign or change printer pon connections
• Printer, which lets you select the default printer
• Communications Port, which lets you select a serial communications
pon and select parameters, such as baud rate, word length, parity, and
stop bits
• Network Terminal Services, which lets you select network services for
your communication ports
Figure 8-6 shows the Setup menu commands.

Pr:i,nh:'(' _, _, •

Communications Port ...
Ne work Terminal Services ...
Figure 8-6 Setup Menu Commands

Changing Printer Connections
MS-Windows needs to know to which communications pon your printer is
connected. To set or change the port for your printers, use the Connections
command.
For example, to move your printer from the communications pon LPTI to
LPT2, use the Control Panel to change the printer connections setting.

8-14

Using the Control Panel

(

IIIII

To change printer connections:
1. Select the Connections command from the Setup menu. MS-Windows
displays the Connections dialog box. Figure 8-7 shows the Connections
dialog box.

Printer

Connection

LPT3:

LHUJDEC

(

)

Figure 8-7

(Cancel )
Connections Dialog Box

2. From the Printer list box, select the printer you want to change. The
current communications port assignment for the selected printer is
displayed in the Connection list box, located at the right.
3. From the Connections list box, select one of the communications ports.
4. Select the Ok command button.
NOTE
You can redirect an LPT port only to the SPP (Serial Printer Port)
or to a network print device.

Changing the Default Printer
When you execute a Print command, MS-Windows prints the file on the
default printer. To select the default printer and to set its output modes, use
the Printer command.
Printer output modes are printer-specific settings, such as portrait mode
(normal vertical page orientation) or landscape mode (horizontal page orientation). The Printer command is useful when you have both local and remote
printers, or both dot matrix and character printers, connected to your communications ports.

(
8-15

IIIII Using the Control Panel
To change the default printer:
1. Select the Printer command from the Setup menu.
MS-Windows displays the Default Printer dialog box. It lists all the available printers and their current communications port connections. Figure
8-8 shows the Default Printer dialog box.

Default Printer
I

(

lHIJ3DEC

)

lPT3:
(Cancel )

Figure 8-8

Default Printer Dialog Box

2. From the list box, select the printer name.
3. Select the Ok command button.
MS-Windows displays the Output Mode dialog box, containing the mode
settings specific to the printer you selected.
4. To select another output mode, select from the options for printer
output or answer the questions in the dialog box.
5. Select the Ok command button.
The printer you select becomes the default printer.

Changing the Communications Port
To select COM1 and COM2 settings, including baud rate, stop bits, parity,
word length, and the retry (print/send) option, use the Communications Port
command.
For example, MS-Windows' print spool uses these settings to configure the
communication port before printing. (COM1 and COM2 are serial communications ports and can be used only with serial printers and serial communication deVices.)

8-16

Using the Control Panel 11111

(
To select a communications port:
1. Select the Communications Port command from the Setup menu.
MS-Windows displays the Communication Settings dialog box. Figure
8-9 shows the Communications Settings dialog box.
Co~munications

Settings

Port

Baud Rate:

11218

Word Length
Parity

0 4 05

OEuen
@1

OOdd

Stop Bits

Handshake
(

Figure 8-9

)

OCOM2:

0 1

@Hone

01.5
02
Hardware @ Hone
(Cancel )

Communications Settings Dialog Box

2. Select the communications port COM1 or COM2.
The settings for the selected communications port are displayed in the
dialog box.
3. Select the rest of the settings.
The settings for baud rate, word length, stopbits, and handshake
(protocol) should be the same as those set for your printer or device.
The protocol, "Hardware," is equivalent to XON/XOFF. See your
printer or device documentation for the proper communications port
settings.
4. Select the Ok command button. The communications port you select is
set up.
NOTE

This command does not configure or set up the communication
hardware. It gives information about the communication hardware
settings to MS-Windows and the applications using the
communications ports. When you set up a communications device
or printer, make sure the communications port settings are
configured according to the serial communications instructions
supplied by your printer or device manufacturer before you try to
print.

8-17

11111 Using the Control Panel

Selecting Network Terminal Services
To select terminal services for the workstation's communication ports, use
the Network Terminal Services command. This command lets you redirect the
COMI and COM2 communications ports to the selected terminal services.
Any application using COMI or COM2 is redirected over the local area network to the specified network terminal service.
To select a network terminal service:
1. Select the Network Terminal Services command from the Setup menu.
MS-Windows displays a Network Terminal Services dialog box. It lists
the currently available network services. Figure 8-10 shows the Network
Terminal Services dialog box.

Network Terlllinal Services
You can assign communications ports 1 and 2 to the services listed
below. These are the only currently available services. Previously
assigned services may be unavailable at this time.
Port

Services

~mwe
:-AA ER

I~~~~~,

i l~lMktER
II '.

1~~j~~G

RANGER

(

)

Figure 8-10

( Reset)

(Cancel)

Network Terminal Services Dialog Box

NOTE

For most systems, you can access a maximum of 10 services. A
warning box is displayed if the service table has overflowed.
To add more services, you must change the table size in the
Network Terminal Services (!AT) driver.
2. From the Port list box, select the COMI or COM2 communications port.
The current terminal services for that port are displayed.

8-18

Using the Control Panel

(

IIIII

3. From the Services list box, select a terminal service.
4. Select the Ok command button.
You can redirect communications ports to a network terminal service for any
standard application that runs in a window, such as, the VT220 terminal
emulator. Using the configuration shown in Figure 8-10, you can connect the
VT220 emulator to the COM2 port; however, all communications for the
VT220 emulator will use the network terminal service called RANGER. For
more information about network terminal services, see Chapter 9.
When you run an application that uses COM1 or COM2, the selected terminal service is redirected if the following conditions are met:
• The Network Terminal Service driver (LAT) was installed prior to starting MS-Windows. This driver lists all available services, normally
assigned by the key diskette.
• The redirected port is COM1 or COM2. Only COM1 and COM2 can be
redirected.
• The mode of transmission is computer to computer, and does not use a
modem. Only applications that do not use modem control signals to
control the flow of data can be redirected.
• No more than four Network Terminal Services are active, including redirected and direct connections.
• A terminal services name is present in the WIN.INI file for the serial
communication device being used. You cannot select a terminal service
not listed in the Services list box.
• The terminal service is available. This availability is dynamic. If a terminal service is selected for a communications port, the terminal service
is assigned to that communications port only as long as terminal service
is available to the network. If the terminal service becomes unavailable
to the network, it is no longer assigned to the communications port.
NOTE

Even if COM1 and COM2 hardware is not installed, redirection
over the local area network can occur, because the redirection is
done by software.

8-19

IIIII Using the Control Panel
Using the Preferences Menu
The Preferences menu has four commands:
• Screen Colors, which lets you adjust shades on your screen
• Keyboard Settings, which lets you change settings such as keyc1ick and
autorepeat
• Mouse, which lets you swap the function of the left and right mouse
buttons
• Country Settings, which lets you select country-specific user preferences
Figure 8-11 shows the Preferences menu commands.

Or's •••

Settings ...
Figure 8-11

Preferences Menu Commands

Changing Screen Colors
To adjust the shades of the components in a window, use the Screen Colors
command. These components are:
• Window background
• Window text
• Scroll bars
• Active (selected) title bar
• Inactive (unselected) title bar
• Title bar text
• Window frame (the thin border around the outside of the window)

8-20

Using the Control Panel 11111

(

• Menu bar
• Menu text
• Screen background (including the icon area)
To change the shade of a component in a window:
1. Select the Screen Colors command from the Preferences menu.
MS-Windows displays the Screen Colors dialog box. Figure 8-12 shows
the Screen Colors dialog box.
NOTE

Set your screen to have contrasting text and background colors.
Otherwise, your screen could look blank.

Salilple

Screen Colors
I9DiliI

!ext
Scroll Bars
Actiue Title Bar
Inactiue Title Bar
~1nd!lU

(

ActIve

Hue
Bright
Color

Figure 8-12

Screen Colors Dialog Box

2. From the Screen Colors list box, select the part of the screen for which
you want to change the shade.
The current settings for Hue, Bright, and Color of the selected
component in the window are displayed in the scroll bars. The mixture
of these three settings for the selected component result in the current
shade displayed in the Sample area.
To change the shade of a component in the window, change the settings
for Hue, Bright, and Color.

(
8-21

IIIII Using the Control Panel
3. To change a setting for Hue, Bright, or Color:
a. Move the cursor to the scroll bar by clicking on the scroll bar or by
pressing the Tab key until the scroll box blinks in the desired scroll
bar.
b. Scroll to the right or to the left to change the setting.
With the mouse, click on the arrows or drag the scroll box in the
scroll bar.
With the keyboard, press the right and left arrow keys to change
settings in small increments, or press the Pg Up or Pg Dn keys to
move across the scroll bar more quickly.
As you scroll, the Sample area dynamically shows the changing shade

of the selected window component.
c. Select another scroll bar until the desired shade is displayed in the
Sample area.
d. Change the shades of all other items in the Screen Colors dialog box.
e. When you finish changing screen colors, select the Ok command
button.
When you select the Ok command button, the settings are recorded in
the WIN.lNI file, and the dialog box is removed from the screen.

Changing Keyboard Settings
To change keyboard features, use the Keyboard Settings command. These features include:
• Keyclick volume (No sound, Soft, Intermediate, Loud)
The default setting is Intermediate.
• Autorepeat (enable or disable)
The default setting is autorepeat enabled.
• Lock selection (Caps Lock or Shift Lock)
The default setting is Caps Lock.
This selects the function of the Lock key.

8-22

Using the VT220 Terminal Emulator

(

IIIII

Scrolling in the Emulator Window
If you need to view more information than can be displayed in an emulator
window, use these keys:
( Ctrl/Find )

To scroll to the left

( Ctrl/Select )

To scroll to the right

( Ctrl/Prev )

To scroll up

( Ctrl/Next )

To scroll down

Using the VT220 Emulator System Menu Commands
The VT220 emulator adds the following commands to the standard System
menu commands:
• Set-Up
• Mark
• Copy

(

• Paste
• About

The Set-Up Command
You can start or exit from the VT220 emulator Set-Up utility by selecting the
Set-Up command. Chapter 12 discusses the Set-Up utility.

10-3

IIIII Using tbe VT220 Terminal Emulator
The Mark, Copy, and Paste Commands
The VT220 emulator lets you transfer information between itself and the
MS-Windows Clipboard application. You copy the information from the emulator to the Clipboard or paste information from the Clipboard to the emulator as if you typed it. When you send information to the Clipboard, the
characters are interpreted as ISO Latin-l characters.
To copy text to the Clipboard:
1. Select Mark from the VT220 System menu.
The word "Mark" is displayed in parentheses next to the VT220
emulator title in the title bar. A special vertical bar, the insertion point,
is also displayed in the window.
2. Drag the insertion point across the text you want to copy. This marks
the text.
3. Select Copy to move the marked text to the Clipboard.
NOTE

Marking is disabled whenever a key is typed, or when Mark is
selected a second time.
You can paste from the Clipboard at any time. The pasted text is sent to the
host. Text is not displayed in the window unless the host echoes it, or Local
Echo is enabled in Set-Up.

The About Command
The About command displays the version number of the VT220 emulator
application.

Leaving the VT220 Emulator
To leave the VT220 emulator select one of the following commands from the
VT220 System menu:
• The Icon command
Selecting the Icon command shrinks the VT220 emulator to an icon
without exiting from the emulator application.
• The Close command
Selecting the Close command exits you from the VT220 emulator.
Before using this command, you should log off the host system.

10-4

Using Set·Up With the VT220 Emulator

IIIII

Table 12-4 VT220 Display Set-Up (cont.)
Selection

Function

Text Cursor

Selects whether to display a text cursor.

Visible
(default)

Displays the cursor.

Invisible

Does not display the cursor.

Auto Wrap
On

Causes characters that reach the right margin to automatically be displayed in the first character position of the next
line.

Off
(default)

Causes characters that go beyond the right margin to overwrite the last character position of the current line.

Cursor Style

(

Selects whether text automatically wraps on the screen.

Selects the text cursor style.

Block
(default)

Displays block cursor.

Underline

Displays underline cursor.

Background

Selects the screen display type.

Light
(default)

Selects reverse video screen display (dark text on a light
background) .

Dark

Selects a dark screen display (light text on a dark background).

Blink

Blinking display is not implemented for the VT220 emulator.
You have a choice of displaying characters with blinking at·
tributes as either normal video (default), reverse video, or
underscore.

Font Size

Changes the font size of characters displayed on the screen.
The settings are: Normal (default), Small, or Automatic.
If you are using applications that display more than 80 col-

umns, use the Automatic or Small setting.

(
12-13

IIIII Using Set-Up With the VT220 Emulator
General Screen
The General Set-Up screen lets you define a group of commonly used general
operating settings.

Terninal Enulation
r(!rm:inil.l 11)

User Defined Keys
User Features
Receiue File: Idle
Send File: Idle
Printer: Hone
Moden: Hot Selected
Telephone: Talk Mode - Manual Answer
Insert/Replace: Replace
Connunications: Conn Port 1 - Data Leads Only

Screen 12-5

VT220 General

Table 12-5 defines the General Set-Up selections and, where applicable, the
settings.

12-14

Using Calendar 11111

Saving Changes
To save changes to the current file, use the Save command from the File
menu.
Calendar replaces the file on the disk with the current file.

Printing Appointments
To print appointments:
1. Select the Print command from the File menu.
Calendar displays the Print dialog box. Figure 20-5 shows the Print dialog box.

Print Appointments
Fro ... :

1,,,...£r4

To:

(

)

( Cancel)
Figure 20-5

Print Dialog Box

2. In the From text box, type the first date you want to print.
3. Press the Tab key to move the cursor to the To text box.
4. Type the last date you want to print.
To print a single date's appointments, leave the To text box blank.
5. Select the Ok command button.
Calendar prints the text for the selected dates.

20-17

11111 Using Calendar

Removing Appointment Dates
You can delete a single date or a range of dates to make room for other dates
on your disk.
To remove appointment dates:
1. Select the Remove command from the File menu.
Calendar displays the Remove dialog box. Figure 20-6 shows the
Remove dialog box.

ReMove AppointMents
FroM: 1!.II.BlIl 1 I Ok )
To: '---_----'I (Cancel )
Figure 20-6

Remove Dialog Box
/

2. In the From text box, type the first date you want to remove.
3. In the To text box, type the last date you want to remove.
To remove a single date's appointments, leave the To text box blank.
4. Select the Ok command button.
Calendar removes the text for the dates you selected.

Deleting a File
You can delete a file to make room for other files on your disk. To delete a
file, use the Delete command from the File menu.

20-18

Creating Alternate Characters

(

Table A-2

Valid Compose Sequences (cont.)

Character

Three-Key Sequence

» (angle quote right)

NBSP (No Break Space) •

(sp)(sp) (Two spaces)

j (inverted !)

i., (inverted ?)

(degree sign)

0/\ or • (sp)

® (reg. trademark) •

(cent sign)

c/ or cI

£ (pound sign)

1- or 1=

" (general currency)

¥ (yen sign)

y- or y=

(

Two-Key
Sequence

« (angle quotes left)

IIIII

- (soft hyphen) •
.. (macron sign) •

_/\ or-/\

IL (micro sign)

., (logical NOT sign)

-, (order sensitive)

± (plus/minus sign)

X (multiply sign)

(divide sign)

-: (order sensitive)

(superscript 1)

1/\

(superscript 2)

2/\

3 (superscript 3)

3/\

~ (paragraph sign)

§ (section sign)

so or s!

!! (feminine ordinal)
Q

(masculine ordinal)

• (middle dot)

(
A-7

11111 Creating Alternate Characters
Table A-2

('\

l_~

Valid Compose Sequences (cont.)

Character

Two-Key
Sequence

Three-Key Sequence

Ij4 (fraction one-quarter)

14 (order sensitive)

1/2 (fraction one-half)

12 (order sensitive)

3/4 (fraction three-quarters) •

34 (order sensitive)

B (German sharp s)

e (cap Icelandic Eth) •

-0

0 (sm Icelandic Eth) •

-d

(/> (0 slash)

~ (0 slash)

p (cap Icelandic Thorn) •

TH (order sensitive)

p (sm Icelandic Thorn) •

th (order sensitive)

- (tilde character)

- (sp)

· (grave accent)

, (sp)

. (sp)

· (apostrophe)

, (sp)

- (sp)

(circumflex character)

" (sp)

(double quote)

- (acute accent) •
A

(sp)

.. (dieresis) •

(sp)

dieresis (sp)

....

• (cedilla) •

A (A grave)

it (a grave)

A (A acute)

a (a acute)

A (A circumflex)

a (a circumflex)

A (A tilde)

-A

A-

a (a tilde)

-a

A-8

(

Creating Alternate Characters
Table A-2

IIIII

Valid Compose Sequences (cont.)

Character

Two-Key
Sequence

Three-Key Sequence

A (A umlaut)

OIA

AOI

a (a umlaut)
A(A ring)

OI a

aOl

'A or °A

A' or AO (degree sign)

a (a ring)

'a or °a

a' or aO (degree sign)

.£ (AE ligature)

AE (order sensitive)

:e (ae ligature)

ae (order sensitive)

(: (C cedilla)

~ (c cedilla)

Il (E grave)

e (e grave)

E (E acute)

e (e acute)

E (E circumflex)

/\E

E/\

e (e circumflex)

/\e

e/\

E (E umlaut)

OlE

EOI

e (e umlaut)

Ole

eOl

i (I grave)

i (i grave)

i (I acute)

i (i acute)

I (I circumflex)

/\1

1/\

i (i circumflex)

/\i

i/\

r (I umlaut)

011

101

1 (i umlaut)

IIi

ill

N (N tilde)

-N

N-

fi (n tilde)

-n

(,
A-9

IIIII Creating Alternate Characters
Table A-2

,r-\

Valid Compose Sequences (cont.)

Character

Two-Key
Sequence

Three-Key Sequence

o (0 grave)

<> (0 grave)

6 (0 acute)

<> (0 acute)

6 (0 circumflex)

/\0

0/\

(, (0 circumflex)

/\0

0/\

(5 (0 tilde)

-0

o (0 tilde)

-0

o (0 umlaut)

0(0 umlaut)

ill (OE ligature) ..

OE
(order sensitive)

re (oe ligature) ..

oe
(order sensitive)

iJ (U grave)
u (u grave)
U (U acute)
u (u acute)
U (U circumflex)

/\U

U/\

'u (u circumflex)

/\u

u/\

U (U umlaut)

ii (u umlaut)

Y (Yacute) •

Y(yacute) •

Y (Y umlaut) ..

Y (y umlaut)

A-10

(

_,7'

Information About the WIN.INI File \\\\\

(

CursorBlinkRate=speed
Sets the speed in milliseconds for the cursor blinking action. Speed can
be 0 to 65535 ms.

programs=list
Specifies the files displayed in the MS-DOS Executive window when you
select the Programs command from the View menu. The list contains
the file extensions without the period. Separate the file extensions with
spaces.

NullPort=port
Defines the name for the null port to a specified port. The Control
Panel, Spooler, and other applications use this port when an output
device is installed, but is not connected to any port.

load=list

Starts the specified applications as icons when you start MS-Windows.
The list contains the application file names as they are displayed in the
MS-DOS Executive window without the file extension. (For example,
Calculator is CALC, because CALC.EXE is the application file name.)
Include a space between the file names. MS-Windows first searches the
current drive, the directory, then the path. Otherwise, specify a path
name.
To start the MS-DOS Executive window as an icon when you first start
MS-Windows, you must specify another application to start in a window.
Use run= to start an application in a window and to start the
MS-Executive window as an icon.
You can also start an application as an icon and open a file for that
application by adding the file name and the file extension to the load
setting.
To use this option, you must define the application in the Extensions
section of the WIN.INI file.
For example, DOTHIS.TXT starts Notepad because .TXT is in the Extensions section, starting the Notepad application.

B-5

IIIII In/ormation About the WIN.INI File
run=list
Stans the specified applications in windows when you stan
MS-Windows. You list the file names exactly as they are displayed in the
MS-DOS Executive window without the file extension.
When you specify an application to stan in a window when you stan
MS-Windows, the MS-Executive window automatically stans as an icon.
Include a space between the file names. MS-Windows first searches the
current drive, the directory, then the path. Otherwise, specify a path
name.
You should not specify a file name either for a special application or
for an application that uses a large amount of memory; otherwise, you
will enter an endless loop when you exit from the application.
You can arrange windows by using spaces to designate windows within
the same column, and commas to designate a new column.
You (:an stan an application and open a data or text file in a window
when you stan MS-Windows by adding the file name and the file extension in the run setting. To use this option, you must define the application in the Extensions section of the WIN.INI file.

device=name,driver,port
Defines the default printer (or plotter):
name

Is the name of the default device. You must also specify
this default device in the Devices section.

driver

Is the file containing the device's printer file name without the file extension.

pon

Is the pon to which the device is connected. You must
also specify this pon in the Pons section.

SwapMouseButtons=setting
Swaps the functions performed by the left and right mouse buttons.
Setting can be:

B-6

The left mouse button controls the mouse functions. This is
the default.

Yes

The right mouse button controls the mouse functions.

IIIII

In/ormation About the WIN.INI File

Windows Section Example
The following Windows section:
• Enables the spooler when printing.
• Sets the mouse double-click speed to 900 ms.
• Sets the cursor blink rate to 550 ms .
• Specifies that files with the .COM, .EXE, and .BAT file extensions are
displayed in the MS-DOS Executive window when you use the Programs
command.
• Specifies None as the null port.
• Using no file specifications, starts Notepad and Calculator as icons, and
starts Notepad with the text file ONGOING.TXT.

(

• Starts Clock in the first window of the first column, Calculator in the
second window of the first column, Notepad in the first window of the
second column, and Notepad with the file specification
K:\MEMOS\ONGOING.TXT in the second window of the second
column.
• Sets the default printer to a DIGITAL LA7S, which is connected to the
LPTl: port.
• Does not switch the left and right mouse buttons.

Example
[windoW5]
5pooler=ye5
DoubleClickSpeed=900
Cur50r81inkRate=550
program=com exe bat
liullPort=lione
load=notepad calc ongoing. txt
run=clock calc,notepad K:\memo5\ongoing.txt
device=LA75DEC,LA75,LPT1:
SwapMou5e8utton5=lio

B-7

11111 Information About the WIN.INI File

Extensions Section
Purpose
In the Extensions section, you can specify file extensions that let you start an
application and open a file in a single operation. When you select a file with
the specified extension, MS-Windows starts the application and opens the file
in one step.
NOTE

To change the Extensions section, use the Notepad application.

Format
[extensions]
extension=application[parameter]

Where:

extension

Is the file extension that starts the application.

application

Is the name of the application that is started. You must include the application's extension (.EXE).

parameter

Is the name and extension of the file (optional) for the application to open. You can use a caret C) to represent any
file with that extension (for example, A.TXT). Then you can
select any file with the specified extension, and MS-Windows
starts the application with that file.

B-8

In/ormation About the WIN.INI File

(

IIIII

Extensions Section Example
The following Extensions section:
• Starts the Notepad application when you specify a file containing a .TXT
file extension. Notepad opens the file.
• Starts the Notepad application when you specify a file containing an
.INI file extension. Notepad opens the file .
• Starts the MS-Paint application when you specify a file containing an
.MSP file extension. Paint opens the file.

Example
[extensions]
txt=notepad.exe A.txt
tni=notepad.exe A.ini
msp=paint.exe A. msp

(

('
B-9

IIIII Information About the WIN.lNI File
Colors Section
Purpose
The Colors section specifies the shading for various components of the
MS-Windows screen.
NOTE

To change the Colors section, use the Control Panel. Set your
screen to have contrasting text and background colors. Otherwise,
your screen could look blank.

Format
[color!;]
component=redvalue greenvalue bluevalue

Where:
component
Specifies the component of the MS-Windows screen. The component
can be:

B-IO

Window

Is the nontextual background of the window
work area.

WindowText

Is the textual display in the window work area.

Scrollbar

Is the scroll bar.

ActiveTitle

Is the background of the active title bar.

InactiveTitle

Is the background of the inactive title bar.

TitleText

Is the application title's text.

WindowFrame

Is the set of lines that form the frame of the window and the nontextual part of the application's
title background.

Is the nontextual background of the menu area.

MenuText

Is the textual display in the menu area.

Background

Is the icon area and screen background.

Information About the WIN.INI File

(

IIIII

PIP Section Example
The following PIF section:
• Sets the swap disk to the default.
• Sets the swap size to the default.
• Creates a program information entry for COMMAND.COM with a 32K
byte memory requirement.

Example
[pif]
swapdisk=?
swapsize=O
command.com=32

B-15

11111 In/ormation About the WIN.INI File

Ports Section
Purpose
The Ports section lists the available communication ports for a workstation
and defines the default modes or settings. The Ports section can include up
to eight entries.
NOTE

To change the Ports section, use the Control Panel.

Format
[port5]
port:=baudrate,parity,wordlength,5topbit5,[retry]
filename.PRH=

Where:
port:

Is the name of the available port. Port can be LPTl:, LPT2:, LPT3:,
COMl:, or COM2:.
If the port is COM1: or COM2:, you must specify in order the:

baud rate

Is the port's baud rate.

parity

Is the parity setting: 0 (odd), e (even), or
n (none).

word length

Is the length of a word, in bits.

stop bits

Is the number of stop bits.

retry

Controls continuous retry on a timeout. This option is used if the port is used only for a serial
printer. If you leave this option blank, the current setting does not change.
The retry options are:
p

which enables continuous retry on a timout
which disables continous retry on a timeout

B-16

Information About the WIN.INI File

(

IIIII

Declnjo Section Example
The following DecInfo section:
• Defines the location of the on-line Information System data files as drive
H in the DECAPP subdirectory.
• Defines the name of database as INFOUSER.
• Defines the location of your specific information regarding the on-line
Information System as drive I.

Example
[Declnfo1
DBpath=H:\DECAPP
DBname=INFOUSER
BMpath-I:\

(

(
B-25

IIIII Information About the WIN.INI File
Devices Section
Purpose
The Devices section identifies a workstation's output devices, the printer
files, and the port connections.
NOTE
To change the Devices section, use the Control Panel.

Format
[device51
device=driver,port[,portl

Where:
device

Is the name of the output device where:
driver

Is the file name of the device's printer driver.

port

Is the name of the communication port or print file to
which the device is connected (optional). Port can be
LPTl, LPT2, LPT3, COMl, or COM2. If a device is not
currently connected, the port should be the port specified in the NullPort setting of the Windows section.

',,-

Devices Section Example
• Defines the DIGITAL LN03 printer as connected to the null port and to
the LPT3 :communication port.
• Defines the IA75DEC printer as connected to the LPTI :communication
port.
• Defines the IBM Graphics printer as the null port.

Example
[device51
Digital LH03=LH03,Hone,LPT3:
LA75DEC=LA50,LPT1:
IBM Graphic5=IBMGRX,Hone

(/
B-26

In/ormation About the WIN.INI File

IIIII

Fonts Section
Purpose
The Fonts section identifies one or more font types that MS-Windows applications can use for display.
NOTE

To change the Fonts section, use the Control Panel.

Format
[font5]
fontname=fontfile

Where:

fontname

(

Is the descriptive name of a font. The fontfile is the name of
the file containing the font resources. Do not use the file
extension.

Fonts Section Example
The following Fonts section:
• Defines the Courier font.
• Defines the Helvetica font.

Example
[font5]
Courier 8,10,12 (Set #3)=CDURC
Helv 8,10,12(Set#3)=HELVC

B-27

(

Appendix C
Program
Information Files

This appendix describes how to:
• Use Program Information Files (PIFs)
• Use the PIF editor
• Select PIF options
• Use default settings

(

• Decide what to put in a PIF
• Change PIFs
• Give applications more memory

Using Program Information Files
A program information file (PIF) is a file that contains information about a
standard application. It has the file extension .PIF. When you run a standard
application, MS-Windows looks for a PIF to configure the application.
PIFs for most popular standard applications are included with your
MS-Windows software package. During setup, the Installation Aide installs
PIFs in the PIF subdirectory to establish a PIF library. You probably will not
enter information into a PIF unless you use a standard application that does
not have a PIF.

C-J

IIIII Program Information Files
NOTE
If you try to run a standard application that does not have a PIF,

MS-Windows automatically uses a set of default application
characteristics. MS-Windows displays a dialog box asking if it
should "Continue with default settings." You should create a PIF,
using the correct values from your application documentation.
If you run an application by selecting the file name of the application (files

that have the file extension .EXE, .COM, or .BAT), the PIF must have the
same file name and the file extension .PIF. For example, if you use dBASE II,
its application file name is DBASE.EXE, and its PIF must be DBASE.PIF.
You can also run an application by selecting its PIF in the MS-DOS Executive
window. This automatically loads and runs the application named in the PIF.
In this case, the PIF does not have to have the same file name as the
application.
The preferred method is to run a standard application by selecting its PIF.
This allows you to have customized PIFs, which are several PIFs containing
different settings for the same application. Therefore, you can customize an
application to the needs of different users, each with their own specific
MS-Windows environment.

\..

For example, one version, APPLARGE.PIF, may need a large amount of memory for those that use all of its features, and a second version, APPSMALL.PIF,
may need less memory for those who use only a few of its features.
Additionally, each user can have customized values for the Program Parameters or Initial Directory fields in their PIFs. Customized PIFs must be in the
user's personal directory.
The PIF must be in your directory or in your path. It should be copied from
the PIF subdirectory to the directory from which you run the application.

C-2

Program Information Files 11111

In some cases, different applications use the same file name to start up.
Therefore, some PIFs can have names that differ from their applications. If
you are not sure which application a PIF works with, run the PIF editor and
open the PIF to see which application the PIF was designed for, then copy
the PIF to the appropriate drive and directory, and rename the file.
Some applications can have more than one .EXE, .COM, or .BAT file on their
disk. You need a separate PIF for each file.

Using the PIF Editor
To create or edit a PIF, use the PIF editor. For example, you can change the
application settings to increase the amount of memory available to the application or to set its initial directory.
To get on-line help about using the PIF editor:
1. Select the About command from the System menu.
A dialog box is displayed that lists topics about PIFs.
2. Select a topic from the list box.
3. Select the Help command button.
Information about the selected topic is displayed in the. dialog box. You
may need to scroll to see all the information.
By using the command buttons in the dialog box, you can obtain information about other PIF topics.
When you finish using the PIF help feature, select the Cancel command
button.

C-3

IIIII Program Information Files
Creating a PIF
To create a new PIF:
1. Use the Run command in the MS-DOS Executive window to start the PIF
editor application. The file name of the PIF editor is PIFEDIT.EXE.
The Program Information Editor window is displayed. Screen C-l shows
the Program Information Editor window.

iji.iji"y,m,.'p,,€,.,n,Mlin •. J

-File
Progralll Hallie:

Progralll Title:
Progralll Parallleters:
Initial Directory:
Melllory Requirelllents:
Directly Modifies
Progralll Switch
Screen Exchange
Close Window on exit

Screen C-I

~ KB Required
~ KB Desired
[SJ Screen
0 COM1
0 Melllory
Keyboard
0 COM2
Graphics/Multiple Text
Preuent
@ Text
Graphics/Text
Hone
@Text

o
a
a

a
a

Program Information Editor Window

2. Type the file name of the application to be associated with the PIF in
the Program Name text box. Include the file extension (.EXE, .COM, or
.BAT).
3. Select the options or values that apply to the application. (For more
information, see the section "Selecting PIF Options" in this appendix.)
4. Select the Save command from the File Menu to save the new PIF.

C-4

(

Program In/ormation Files 11111

To create another PIF, select the New command from the File Menu to reset
the PIF editor screen.

Editing PIFs
To edit an existing PIF:
1. Use the Run command in the MS-DOS Executive window to start the PIF
editor. The file name of the PIF editor is PIFEDIT.EXE.
2. Select the Open command from the File Menu.
3. Select the PIF you want to change from the list box or type the name of
the PIF in the text box.
4. Select the Open button.
5. Make the desired changes by selecting the PIF options you want.
6. Select the Save command from the File Menu to save the changes.

Selecting PIF Options

(

PIF options are organized into these categories:
• Program Name
• Program Title
• Program Parameters
• Initial Directory
• Memory Requirements
• Directly Modifies
• Program Switch
• Screen Exchange
• Close Window on exit

(
C-5

IIIII Program Information Files
Program Name
Every application (program) must have a file name assigned.
Type the path and file name of the application, including the file extension
.EXE, .BAT, or .COM. For example, DBASE.COM is a file for the application
DBASE. What you enter is displayed in the MS-DOS Executive window
directory.

Program Title
You can enter a descriptive title for the application to help the user identify
it on the screen.
What you enter is displayed in the title bar of the window, if the application
runs in a window. This same title is also displayed above the icon of the
application when you highlight the icon in the icon area.
NOTE

The PIF editor lets you enter 37 characters in the text box;
however, only 29 characters are displayed in the title box.

Program Parameters
'.

The Program Parameters option lets you pass information to an application
when you start it. In the Program Parameters text box, you can type either of
the following:
• Question mark
If you type a question mark, MS-Windows displays a dialog box when
you start the application. The dialog box prompts you for application
parameters. You can enter up to 126 characters in the dialog box; however, the application interprets no more than 126 characters. If you
enter more than 126 characters, MS-Windows does not beep to indicate
an error.

• SpeCific program parameters
If you type specific parameters, those application parameter values are

used every time the application is started. You can enter up to 37 characters in the Program Parameters text box.
You should not redirect input and output or use piping.
If your application requires no parameters, or if you are uncertain, leave this
option blank.

C-6

Program In/ormation Files

IIIII

Initial Directory
If you have several directories, this option changes to a specific directory
when the application starts.

Type the drive and directory you want MS-Windows to change to when you
start the application. This directory is usually the location of the application's data files.
You can use the Initial Directory field and the Program Name field to make a
customized PIF for applications shared on a file server. In the Program Name
field, enter the drive and directory of the application. In the Initial Directory
field, enter the drive and name of your personal directory. (Complete the
other PIF fields as needed.) Make sure this customized PIF is in your personal directory.
When you select the customized PIF to run an application, MS-Windows copies the application from its drive and directory and starts it in your personal
directory where the data files are. The application can then use the data files.
When you close the application, the updated data files remain in your personal directory.

(

If the data files are in the same directory as the application, leave this option
blank. In this case, MS-Windows does not change the directory when you
start the application.

(
C-7

IIIII Program In/ormation Files
Memory Requirements
Two fields for Memory Requirements allocate memory for your applications:
• KB Required
Type the minimum amount of memory required (in kilobytes) by your
application.
Memory requirements for your application should be in the application
documentation.
If you do not know how much memory is required, use the default
setting of 52K bytes.
If MS-Windows cannot provide the specified amount of memory, and if

no application is running other than the MS-DOS Executive application,
MS-Windows reduces its space requirements so that the application has
room to operate. In this case, you cannot switch back to MS-Windows
with the Alt/Tab keys; you must execute the application's Exit command, or its equivalent, to return to MS-Windows.
• KB Desired
Type the maximum amount of memory your application can use. Some
applications run better if you assign more memory.
The value entered in this field should at least equal the value entered in
the KB Required field. If the application allocates memory, you should
increase the value in the KB Desired field, and you may also need to
increase the value in the KB Required field.
If you enter zero (0), MS-Windows allocates all available MS-Windows

memory to the application.
If you leave this field blank, MS-Windows uses the default setting of

52K bytes.
CAUTION
You should not run the CHKDSK (Check Disk) utility program
from MS-Windows; otherwise, it can provide invalid messages
about memory availability. If you select the IF qualifier of
CHKDSK, you can destroy all data stored on your workstation
network disk.

C-B

IIIII

Program Information Files

(
Directly Modifies

Some applications use workstation resources such that applications cannot
share them. Select any options that apply to your application:
• Screen
Select this box if the application writes directly to the screen (video
buffer) or if the application has a .BAT extension and uses redirected
I/O. All standard applications that display graphicS write directly to the
screen.
Selecting this option gives the application exclusive access to the full
screen, rather than running it in a window. If you are uncertain, select
this option.
• Keyboard
Select this box if the application accesses the keyboard buffer. This
buffer saves keystrokes until they can be processed.
Selecting this option prevents the application from running in a window
(the application has exclusive access to the full screen) and prevents
returning to MS-Windows with Alt/Tab. If you are uncertain, do not
select this option.
• COMl
Select this box if your application accesses serial communications port
1 (COMl). If you select this option, MS-Windows reserves COMl for
the application. When the application is running, MS-Windows cannot
run any other application using COM! until you stop running the first
application. Generally, you select this option only if you are running a
communications application.
Selecting this option prevents two applications from trying to access the
same communications port at the same time. Because only one application with the COM! option selected can be running at a time, only one
application attempts to access COM!.
Selecting this option also prevents the application from being swapped
to a disk. This type of application must remain in memory at all times.

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• COM2
Select this box if your application accesses serial communications port
2 (COM2). If you select this option, MS-Windows reserves COM2 for
the application. When the application is running, MS-Windows cannot
run any other application using COM2 until you stop running the first
application. Generally, you select this option only if you are running a
communications application.
Selecting this option prevents two applications from trying to access the
same communications port at the same time. Since only one application
with the COM2 option selected can be running at a time, only one
application attempts to access COM2.
Selecting this option also prevents the application from being swapped
to a disk. This type of application can remain in memory at all times.
• Memory
Select this box only if your application loads and remains resident
(using a Terminate and Stay Resident system call). Many pop-up applications do this. These applications generally load and remain in memory,
and are activated while other applications are running. Generally, this
type of application must be loaded before MS-Windows. In this case,
you do not need a PIF for the application. If you are uncertain, do not
select this option.

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IIIII

Program Switch

If your application uses the entire screen, these options determine whether
you can switch back to MS-Windows with Alt/Tab. If you are uncertain which
option to select, select Text.

• Prevent
Select this option to conserve memory for the application, or if you find
that the application does not switch to MS-Windows correctly. Selecting
this option means you can stop running the application only by executing its Exit command, or the equivalent command, to return to
MS-Windows. You cannot use the Alt/Tab procedure to return to
MS-Windows.
• Text
Select this option if your application works in text mode only, or if it
runs in text and graphics modes, and you want to conserve memory.
When you select this option, MS-Windows reserves 4K bytes to save the
screen.

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If you select this option, you can switch back to MS-Windows only
when your application is in text mode. If the application is in graphics
mode, MS-Windows beeps when you press the Alt/Tab keys, to let you
know it is not a valid action; you must execute the Exit command of the
application to return to MS-Windows.

• Graphics/Multiple Text
Select this option if your application works in graphics mode. If you
select this option, MS-Windows allocates extra memory (64K bytes) for
you to switch back to MS-Windows when the application is in text or
graphicS mode.
Due to extensive memory requirements, program switching is not supported for applications using IBM EGA high-resolution color modes.

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Screen Exchange
These options let you specify the kind of data exchange between applications
that require exclusive access to the screen.
You press Alt/Prt Sc to copy information into the Clipboard. This requires
MS-Windows to allocate memory to save the screen image in the Clipboard.
Text screens generally do not require much memory (2K bytes). However,
graphics screens can require up to 64K bytes of memory. You should select
options with this in mind.
If you are uncertain which option to select, select Text .
• None
Select this option to prevent screen exchange and conserve memory.
• Text
Select this option to allocate memory to copy text screens. If your
application runs in a window, you can select this option.
• Graphics/Text
Select this option to allocate memory to copy text and graphics screens.

Close Window On Exit
Select this option to close the standard application window when you execute the application's Exit command, or its equivalent.
When you exit from some standard applications, they display information in
the window for you to look at or copy. Do not select this option, because the
window closes automatically, and the information is not displayed on the
screen long enough for you to read it.

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Using Default Settings
If you run an application, and MS-Windows cannot find a PIF, MS-Windows

uses the following settings:
• Program Title: The application file name is displayed in the title bar.
• Initial Directory: You stay in your current directory .
• Memory Required: 52K bytes
• Memory Desired: All available memory
• Directly Modifies: Screen
• Program Switch: Prevent
• Screen Exchange: Text

Deciding What to Put in a PIF
How an application is displayed on the screen depends on:

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• How the application uses workstation resources and hardware
• How the application is configured
• The amount of memory reserved for the application
If MS-Windows cannot run a standard application in a window, it runs the

application outside a window, and the application uses the entire screen.
Use the following guidelines to help determine whether your standard application can run in a window:
• Does the application write directly to the screen (video buffer)?
Many standard applications write directly to the screen instead of using
DOS or other system conventions to display information (such as ANSI
calls). These applications cannot run in a window. You must select the
Directly Modifies screen option if your application writes to the screen.
• Does the application display graphics?
Standard applications that display bit-mapped graphics (not characterbased) write directly to the screen and cannot run in a window.

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• Does the application provide an installation option for running under
different screen conventions?
Standard applications that support ANSI screen drivers can run in a window.
• How much memory does the application require?
If the memory requirements of the standard application and
MS-Windows together exceed the amount of available memory, the
application cannot run in a window. MS-Windows "steps aside" and
gives the application the maximum amount of memory available.
• Does the application use the alarm?
Applications that use the alarm function of the real-time clock must run
outside MS-Windows. At the minimum, you should select the Directly
Modifies keyboard option.
For standard applications that run in a window, MS-Windows does not
support the folloWing ANSI escape sequences:
- Cursor Position Report
Set Mode
- Keyboard Reassignment
Set Graphics Renditions subsets:
Faint on
Italic on
Rapid blink on
Subscript
Superscript
Select the Directly Modifies screen option in the PIF for any application
that uses these.
To experiment, run the application without setting the Directly Modifies
screen option. If the application writes information outside its window, or
you see unexpected results on the screen, edit the PIF and select the Directly
Modifies screen option.

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IIIII

Changing PIFs
Generally, you do not have to change the information in the PIFs. However,
to change any parameters for a particular application by editing a PIF, you
can tailor the performance characteristics of its application.
For example, to give Lotus 1-2-3 the maximum amount of available memory
in your workstation, change the amount in the KB Required and KB Desired
options to 640K bytes and select None for the Screen Exchange option and
Prevent for the Program Switch option. Close all other applications except
for the MS-DOS Executive, then run the application.
Some applications provide an option to install and run the application with
an ANSI device driver (ANSI.SYS). If the application offers this option, you
can usually run it in a window.
Since the application can now run in a window, you must alter the PIF. You
should cancel the Directly Modifies Screen option. (Do this for all related
.COM or .EXE files included in the application.)
If you run an application, and it does not load properly or is not operating as

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expected, check your PIF settings. You may need to increase the memory
requirements of the application.
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Giving Applications More Memory
When you run a standard application, MS-Windows allocates memory based
on the settings in the PIF of the application. MS-Windows allocates memory
for screen exchange (copying the screen) and for program switching (switching between the application and MS-Windows).
You can reduce the memory requirements for an application by selecting
options that require less memory:
• The Screen Exchange Text option
• The Screen Exchange None and the Program Switch Prevent options

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