Stupid OS/2 Tricks/Warp Tips
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System
This section covers System tips for OS/2 Warp.
Changing printing from polling to interrupt driven
Warp
The default mode of printing under OS/2 Warp is now via polling, rather than interrupt-driven, as was the case in previous OS/2 versions. Polling can cause problems with printing on some systems, and can use more system resources.
To change from the polling mode of printing to interrupt-driven printing, edit the following line in your CONFIG.SYS file:
BASEDEV=PRINT01.SYS
to
BASEDEV=PRINT01.SYS /IRQ
Note that using the interrupt-driven mode of printing requires the use of IRQ 7.
Recovering a deleted Launchpad
Warp
You can recover a deleted Launchpad by adding the word LAUNCHPAD to your SET AUTOSTART line in your CONFIG.SYS file.
Conversely, to prevent the Launchpad from opening at boot, remove the word LAUNCHPAD from your SET AUTOSTART line.
Related subject(s):
- Removing the Launchpad permanently
Keeping the system running, even through traps
Warp
To keep an unattended system, such as a BBS, running despite a TRAP condition, add the following lines to your CONFIG.SYS file:
REIPL=ON
Setting REIPL to ON will automatically reboot your system when a TRAP occurs.
SUPPRESSPOPUPS=<drive>
SUPPRESSPOPUPS will prevent TRAP information from popping up and will log the popup information to a log file. <drive> is the drive to which the log file POPUPLOG.OS2 is written.
DUMPPROCESS=<drive>
DUMPPROCESS causes a process dump file PDUMP.* to be written. <drive> is the drive letter to which PDUMP.* will be written.
Setting the swap file
contributed by Jack Tan
Warp
The swap file in OS/2 Warp will tend to grow larger than in previous versions of OS/2 because certain DLLs are treated differently. Therefore, to prevent excess swapping, you may wish to increase the default size of your swap file from the value which you used in previous versions of OS/2.
Related subject(s):
- Adjusting your swap file
Creating OS/2 Warp boot diskettes
Warp
OS/2 Warp has its own facility to create boot diskettes. Simply open the System Setup folder and open the Create Utility Diskettes object.
http://www.os2world.com/gallery2/d/4786-1/1_warp_utildisk.jpg
Screenshot: Create Utility Diskettes object.
Workplace Shell
This section covers Workplace Shell tips for OS/2 Warp.
Tearing off Launchpad drawer
http://www.os2world.com/gallery2/d/4818-1/2_warp_drawer.jpg
Screenshot: Launchpad with drawer "torn off."
Warp
You can "tear" off a drawer from the Launchpad and place it where you wish. Note that the drawer will disappear if the Launchpad is minimized or closed.
- Open the desired drawer.
- Drag the drawer to the desired location using either mouse button 1 or mouse button 2.
- To retrieve the drawer, just close the drawer as usual.
Opening the Settings Notebook
Warp A quick method of opening the Settings notebook for an object:
- Highlight the desired object.
- Hold the Alt key.
- Double click on the object with mouse button 1.
Related subject(s):
- Closing the parent folder when opening an object.
- Opening a windowed command line in the background
Closing the parent folder when opening an object.
Warp
You can automatically close the parent folder when opening an object:
- Highlight the desired object.
- Hold the Shift key.
- Double click on the desired object with mouse button 1.
Related subject(s):
- Opening the Settings notebook
- Opening a windowed command line in the background
- Closing parent folders automatically
Removing the Launchpad permanently
Warp
To remove the Launchpad permanently from your system, drag the Launchpad object to your Shredder. Then, remove the word LAUNCHPAD from the SET AUTOSTART line in your CONFIG.SYS file.
Related subject(s):
- Recovering a deleted Launchpad
Editing animated folder icons
Warp
To edit the animated folder icon:
- Open the Settings notebook for the desired folder.
- Click on the General tab.
- Click on the right arrow in the lower right corner of the page.
- Edit and save icon as usual, or change icon as usual.
http://www.os2world.com/gallery2/d/4820-1/3_warp_animate.jpg
Screenshot: Animation icon page of Settings notebook.
Bringing the Launchpad to the top
contributed by Jack Tan
Warp
You might know that double-clicking with mouse button 1 on the OS/2 desktop will open the Launchpad, but double-clicking on the desktop is also useful for raising the Launchpad to the top if it is covered by other windows.
Closing parent folders automatically
Warp
You can set all or some parent folders to close automatically when opening a subfolder or all objects.
To set parent folders to close automatically system-wide:
- Open the System object. It should be located in the System Setup folder.
- Click on the Window tab.
- Click once on the right arrow in the lower right hand corner of the page.
- Under "Folder Automatic Close," choose either "Subfolders only" or "All Objects."
Individual folders' automatic closure settings can be changed in the same manner through their individual Settings notebooks.
Related subject(s):
- Closing the parent folder when opening an object
Setting default folder appearance
http://www.os2world.com/gallery2/d/4822-1/4_warp_default.jpg
Screenshot: Page for setting default folder appearance.
Warp
You can determine whether the folders on your system will default to icon, tree, or details view:
- Open the System object. It should be located in the System Setup folder.
- Click on the Window tab.
- Click twice on the right arrow in the lower right hand corner of the page. You should be on page 3 of the Window tab.
- Select Icon, Tree, or Details.
- Close the System object.
Customizing the Launchpad
Warp
The Launchpad can be customized to your taste.:
- Click on an open area (no buttons) of the Launchpad with mouse button 2 to bring up its popup menu.
- Choose Settings to open the Settings notebook.
- Pages 1 and 2 of the Options tab contain several different options which change the appearance of the Launchpad. Choose the options you desire.
- Close the Settings notebook.
http://www.os2world.com/gallery2/d/4824-1/5_warp_option.jpg
Screenshot: Second page of Launchpad options.
Command Line
This section covers Command Line tips for OS/2 Warp.
Obtaining information about your hardware
Warp
To obtain extensive information about your hardware, use the RMVIEW command at an OS/2 command prompt.
RMVIEW /?
will provide a list of the different command line switches which can be used with RMVIEW.
Setting video modes in a command line window
contributed by Jack Tan
Warp In previous versions of OS/2, you could not specify non-standard column and row sizes in windowed command lines. In OS/2 Warp, non-standard sizes can be specified. Just use the OS/2 MODE command:
MODE <columns>, <rows>
where <columns> is the number of columns and <rows> is the number of rows
Related subject(s):
- Creating a scroll buffer
- Resizing a command line window permanently
BonusPak
This section covers BonusPak tips for OS/2 Warp. Topics in this section: This area needs your favorite BonusPak tips and tricks!