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From: ralph@mit-atrp.UUCP (Amiga-Man)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Need help with .info files
Message-ID: <630@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU>
Date: Tue, 20-Jan-87 18:20:56 EST
Article-I.D.: mit-amt.630
Posted: Tue Jan 20 18:20:56 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 21-Jan-87 02:29:07 EST
References: <2269@jade.BERKELEY.EDU>
Sender: usenet@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU
Reply-To: ralph@ATRP.MEDIA.MIT.EDU (Amiga-Man)
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Organization: MIT Amiga Users Group
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In article <2269@jade.BERKELEY.EDU> spencer@eris.BERKELEY.EDU () writes:
>Well, perhaps I am behind the times, but I don't know where to go in the 
>manuals to find information on the .info file structure.....

A quick pass through my RKM's (ROM Kernel Manuals) again, after
having read them alot during Christmas break provided these pointers:

RKM Vol 1, pg 4-23 "Workbench" - A basic description of the action
RKM Vol 2, pg A-145 "icon.doc" - Manual pages for functions which
     do all the icon manipulations.
RKM Vol2 , pg E-76 "workbench/workbench.i" - The data structures for
     "disk objects" and "Workbench Objects".

These pointers are a start, and then you'll have to branch
out into the other stuff concerning gadgets and images.

I really feel that the "iconic" interface is an absolute necessity
on a modern personal computer and, except for compiling, I already use
the 1.2 workbench regularly. I would compile that way too, but the
compilers aren't well behaved enough in that environment, Rats !
By reading the above sections I have figured out how to get my C programs
to take arguments from both the workbench and the CLI, behaving
nicely in BOTH cases (even though I rarely use the CLI access anymore).

Also, I have been using PC's and mainframes for over 12 years and I feel
that if a computer doesn't offer a standard, convenient visual user
interface it isn't worth the material in its little rubber feet :-).
Realize that any computer(oops, maybe not mainframes, since their real-time
performance isn't too good) can provide such an interface, but it
must be used by most people and all programs must support
it for it to be effective (Darned Dpaint I, it has no icon!).
Wouldn't you love to see a workbench work-alike running on a IBM PC ?

My Amiga gets used by me, my friends, and even my family back home and
the icon interface is "THE WAY". This makes it easy for them to quickly
use and enjoy the machine. Even the minor delays in getting the icons
up, is faster (in my mind) than having to list the directory and painfully
type the command in (and I can type mighty fast too, proof: posting length).
Any improvement in the icon speed is VERY WELCOME, though. I'd like to
get together with others and try to either convince CBM to speed it
up even more, or come up with our own compatible way. Another persons
posting seemed to indicate the possibility of making a new "icon.device".
Is this possible ?
___________________________________       ______
|.|____________________________|O|O|     /      |
|                                  |    | Ralph |
| Sorry to banter so long. Ciao ! _|    |_______|
|________________________________|H|