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From: ralph@mit-atrp.UUCP (Amiga-Man)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: A better file requester !
Message-ID: <546@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU>
Date: Sat, 6-Dec-86 14:47:48 EST
Article-I.D.: mit-amt.546
Posted: Sat Dec  6 14:47:48 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 7-Dec-86 03:43:43 EST
Sender: usenet@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU
Reply-To: ralph@mit-atrp.UUCP (Amiga-Man)
Organization: MIT Amiga Users Group
Lines: 35
Keywords: workbench, file, requestor, icon, RKM

So, there I am whipping up a handy plotting application in C. I decide
that I want it to work from the Workbench Icon environment. Suddenly,
it's time to write the part that prompts a user for the file name.
My mind's eye turns on, I visualize:
A little text-oriented file requester pops up with the names of the
files and a little slider and.....

    HOLD EVERYTHING ! THIS IS FUTILE, CONFUSING, and POINTLESS !

Why should I be dealing with file names in a little text box when I'm running
a machine from an *ICON* interface ?  Heck, I started my program with an
ICON, how come when I want to read in a file I can't still pick an icon ?
Isn't this the obvious way for it to work ?????  It seems to me that it
should be possible to have the program, in response to a user trying
to read in a file, pop the application window to the back exposing the
workbench and it's open windows with icons. I then click around until I
find what I want and then somehow return to the application again with
that Icon somehow selected. This is the most consistant interface to use.
Understand the idea of multiple selecting Icons and then double clicking
the tool to get the names passed in as a workbench message. This is fine.
I am already writing all my programs to start this way. But once the
application is started then how to I get a selected icon ?

    HELP !

I've been reading my serious Amiga manuals (i.e. RKM) and trying to figure
out how to do this. Has anyone thought of this and tried it? Anyone know
how to do it. You realize once we get this code written, no program need
ever worry about how to get a file again. I'm psyched and if you can suggest
a way, send me e-mail. Or, if a discussion here seems appropriate, so be it!
I just have the strong conviction that the ICON interface is THE way to
converse with my Amiga and that this is the way all file requesters should
work.
                                   Thanks for listening !
                                   Ralph, a gradual student.