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From: apratt@atari.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Using GDOS all the time
Message-ID: <704@atari.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 9-Apr-87 13:46:23 EST
Article-I.D.: atari.704
Posted: Thu Apr  9 13:46:23 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 11-Apr-87 14:27:49 EST
References: <8704080913.AA12034@inria.inria.fr>
Distribution: world
Organization: Atari Corp., Sunnyvale CA
Lines: 27

in article <8704080913.AA12034@inria.inria.fr>, poirot@inria.inria.fr 
(Didier Poirot -- SPIT) says:
>
>  Can i , without any trouble, always load GDOS, e.g put it in my usual
> AUTO folder (the one containing all the stuff, i use all the time, and in
> particular AHDI.PRG) ?

You can't use GDOS all the time.  Many GEM-oriented programs make the
invalid assumption that the desktop has physical workstation handle zero
(or some such assumption).  When you are using GDOS, this assumption is
wrong, and such programs usually show it by failing to draw the interior
of the windows they open.

The APSKEL (application-program sample) program that Atari ships with
the developer's kit does NOT make this assumption: it correctly queries
the AES and VDI for all handles.  The Abacus books do, too, except
in ONE of their examples.  It seems that lots of people followed
that example, though, or came up with the same error on their own.

The upshot is that you should load GDOS only when you plan to use Easydraw,
or leave it in your AUTO folder with the understanding that some GEM
programs won't work, and you'll have to reboot without GDOS.

/----------------------------------------------\
| Opinions expressed above do not necessarily  |  -- Allan Pratt, Atari Corp.
| reflect those of Atari Corp. or anyone else. |     ...lll-lcc!atari!apratt
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