Conference 7.286::atarist

7.0. "Notes on DESKTOP.INF" by BOLT::MINOW (Je suis marxiste, tendance Groucho) Mon Apr 04 1988 18:30

Notes on the DESKTOP.INF file from Usenet

Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Path: decwrl!pyramid!oliveb!ames!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!bloom-beacon!gatech!uflorida!codas!burl!clyde!watmath!orchid!achowe
Subject: Re: DESKTOP.INF  some notes
Posted: 8 Mar 88 20:06:12 GMT
Organization: U. of Waterloo, Ontario
 
In article <8803071039.AA11095@lasso.laas.fr> ralph@lasso.UUCP (Ralph P. Sobek) writes:
>Is there any documentation on this file? and it's format?  I have a slight
>idea from seeing multiple versions of DESKTOP.INF but would enjoy something
>more coherent.  Thanks to all in advance, and I'll summarize either to those
>others you are as misinformed as I, or the net if there's sufficient interest.
>Please reply to me directly since I don't get the newsgroups (any ;-{).
>
>Ralph P. Sobek		       | UUCP:  uunet!mcvax!inria!lasso!ralph,    or
 
 
Being home sick today, I took the time to prepare this file (credits
at the end).
------------------------- CUT HERE -------------------------------
880308
 
DESKTOP.INF
==========
 
1) #a - RS-232 
 
digit	meaning
1		duplex  0 = full  1 = half
2		baud	0 = 9600  1 = 4800  2 = 1200  3 = 300
		(note: this may have more values to provide for the new
		control panel which supports all baud rates)
3		parity	0 = none  1 = odd  2 = even
4		data bits	0 = 8  1 = 7  2 = 6  3 = 5
5		protocol	0 = X off, rts/cts off
					1 = X on, rts/cts off
					2 = X off, rts/cts on
					3 = X on, rts/cts on
6		strip bit	0 = on  1 = off
		(shouldn't this be called "stop bits 1 or 2"?)
 
 
eg.  #a062120	- full duplex, 2400 baud, even parity, 7 data bits,
                  X off and rts/cts on, 1 stop bit
 
 
2) #b - Printer
 
digit	meaning
1		type	0 = dot matrix  1 = daisywheel
2		ink		0 = black and white   1 = colour
3		pixel	0 = 1280  1 = 960
4		quality 0 = draft  1 = final
5		port	0 = printer (parallel)  1 = modem (serial)
6		feed	0 = continuous  1 = single sheet
 
eg.  #b000000	- dot matrix, b/w, 1280 pixels, draft, printer,
                  continuous (not the most interesting eg)
 
 
3) #c - Control Panel Settings
 
The first 48 digits or first 16 sets of RGB triples represent the
colours to set. The fisrt digit in a triple is the RED value, next is
the GREEN and the third is BLUE.
 
The last seven digits represent the following:
 
digit 	meaning
1		mouse button response  0 to 4
2		keyclick  0 = off  1 = on
3		bell  0 = off  1 = on
4 & 5	keyboard response  0 to 46
6 & 7   repeat delay  0 to 21
 
 
4) #d - Unknown, probably reserved
 
 
5) #E - View and Option Parameters
 
The first hex value determines how files are arranged in the directory
and if confirmation should be requested before copying and deleting.
 
bit		meaning
7		view as  0 = icon  1 = text
6,5		sort by  00 = name  01 = date  10 = size  11 = type
4		deletions 0 = proceed  1 = confirm
3		copies  0 = proceed  1 = confirm
2,1		unknown
 
The second hex value is the screen resolution (and from what I can
tell, whether the blitter is on or off).
 
digit 	meaning
1		blitter  0 = off  1 = on
2		resolution  1 = low  2 = medium  3 = high
 
 
6) #W - Window Info
 
There are 4 lines, one for each of the four windows that can be
opened from the desktop. For each line, the first two bytes are
the slider bar positions, the next two are the desktop screen
location and the third pair defines the window size.
 
The next byte is uncertain but this byte will take on a value from
$07 to $0a or 0. Zero would denote a closed window. These values are
most likely window handles.
 
The text string provids the default pathname for the directory.
Closing and reopening a window will restore the normal diectory.
The '@' is used to mark the end of the string.
 
 
7) #M - Drive Icons
 
The first two bytes are the (x,y) location of the icon and the
third is the type of icon to use.
 
00 = file drawer
01 = folder
02 = trach can
03 = program
04 = file
 
The $FF is an $FF which seems to have no purpose in life. After that
follows the drive name and text for the icon (12 letters max). The
second text field is uncertain at the moment.
 
 
8) #T - Trash Icon
 
Similar to drive icons except no drive name is given.
 
 
9) #D #F #G #P - File Icons
 
eg. #F FF 04   @ *.*@ 
	#D FF 01   @ *.*@ 
	#G 03 FF   *.APP@ @ 
	#G 03 FF   *.PRG@ @ 
	#F 03 04   *.TOS@ @ 
	#P 03 04   *.TTP@ @ 
	#G 03 04   GEMCSH.PRG@ *.SH@ 
 
The information for this section may not be accurate this is based on
both observartion and what I've read else where. 
 
"The first #F and #D are said to represent folders and disks; their
"function is uncertian. [..] and they should be left untouched.
 
#D function most likely stands for DIRECTORY not DISK while the first
#F probably stands for FILE rather than FOLDER. Based on what I say
for the rest of the examples maybe someone can figure out what these
first two lines do.
 
From what I can tell, the first byte represents what icon should be
used to represent the first file string. The second represents what
icon/type of file is the second file string. The second file string
denotes the type of files attached to the first (ie. installed 
applications). Or it denotes what to append to a command line.
 
#G = GEM executable 
#F = executable with no parameters
#P = executable with parameters
 
eg. #G 03 FF *.APP@ @  - Any file marked with .APP extension is to
be considered as GEM program using a program icon (with no command
line parameter).
 
eg. #G 03 04 GEMCSH.PRG@ *.SH@  - When any .SH file is opened, execute
GEMCSH.PRG passing the specified file name on the command line.
 
eg. #F 03 04 *.TOS@ @  - Any file marked .TOS is considered as a
character based program. This is the confusing bit. Here a 04 is
passed but no second file string is given. All I can assume is that
it denotes that the command line not be altered in any way.
 
So from the above I can only speculate to the following meanings as
I have not tried them.
 
eg. #F FF 04 @ *.*@  - What constitutes a none executable, displayable 
file. 
 
eg. #F FF 04 @ *.DOC@  - This to me means that I can "show" any file
with a .DOC extension.
 
eg. #D FF 01 @ *.*@  - What files should be listed when a folder is
opened.
 
eg. #D 01 01 GAMES@ *.PRG@  - This means to me that when I open a 
folder called GAMES, I should only display .PRG files in the directory.
 
 
10) Sample DESKTOP.INF
 
#a062120
#b000000
#c7770007000260070055200505552220770557075055507703111103
#d                                             
#E 98 12 
#W 00 00 0A 01 15 17 08 A:\*.*@
#W 00 00 20 01 15 17 00 @
#W 00 00 36 01 15 17 00 @
#W 00 00 38 06 15 0D 00 @
#M 00 02 00 FF D RAM DISK@ `@ 
#M 00 00 00 FF A FLOPPY DISK@ @ 
#M 00 01 00 FF B FLOPPY DISK@ @ 
#T 00 03 02 FF   TRASH@ @ 
#F FF 04   @ *.*@ 
#D FF 01   @ *.*@ 
#G 03 FF   *.APP@ @ 
#G 03 FF   *.PRG@ @ 
#F 03 04   *.TOS@ @ 
#P 03 04   *.TTP@ @ 
#G 03 04   GEMCSH.PRG@ *.SH@ 
 
-----
Most of the info provided here come from "Compute!'s Atari ST" 
April 1987, Issue 4, Vol. 2 #2. The bit on file icons comes from my
own observations as the article had no answers about #F and #D.
Any additions or corrections would be appreciated.
 
 
--------------------- CUT HERE ------------------------------
Anthony C. Howe                achowe@trillium.waterloo.edu
                               achowe@orchid.waterloo.edu
 
"The definition of flying: throwing yourself at the ground and missing."
		- Douglas Adam's  "Life, the Universe and Everything"

Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Path: decwrl!pyramid!oliveb!ames!mailrus!umix!uunet!mnetor!utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!orchid!achowe
Subject: Re: DESKTOP.INF  some corrections
Posted: 9 Mar 88 14:57:19 GMT
Organization: U. of Waterloo, Ontario
 
>9) #D #F #G #P - File Icons
[...]
>#D function most likely stands for DIRECTORY not DISK while the first
>#F probably stands for FILE rather than FOLDER. Based on what I say
>for the rest of the examples maybe someone can figure out what these
>first two lines do.
 
I was right about #D for DIRECTORY. But I not sure what useful tricks
you can do with it.
 
eg. #D 01 01  GAMES@ *.*@  - Seems to allow you only to look at the
GAMES directory, while clicking on any other directory cause a warm
boot.
 
eg #D 01 04  GAMES@ *.PRG@  - Seems to bomb (2) when you click on a file
in that directory.
 
>eg. #G 03 04 GEMCSH.PRG@ *.SH@  - When any .SH file is opened, execute
>GEMCSH.PRG passing the specified file name on the command line.
 
Can be done with TOS and TTP files as well. Also it is possible to
install more than one file for an application. But you can't do this
from the desktop options.
 
eg.	#F 03 04  LV.TOS@ *.C@
    #F 03 04  LV.TOS@ *.H@	- Clicking on either a .C or .H file will
execute LV.TOS with the given file.
 
>So from the above I can only speculate to the following meanings as
>I have not tried them.
>
>eg. #F FF 04 @ *.*@  - What constitutes a none executable, displayable 
>file. 
>
>eg. #F FF 04 @ *.DOC@  - This to me means that I can "show" any file
>with a .DOC extension.
 
This one was right. Any other file simply caused a reboot as the system
did not know what to do with it if it was not mark for execution or
display.
 
>eg. #D FF 01 @ *.*@  - What files should be listed when a folder is
>opened.
 
Wrong. Still don't know what this spec means.
 
>eg. #D 01 01 GAMES@ *.PRG@  - This means to me that when I open a 
>folder called GAMES, I should only display .PRG files in the directory.
 
Wrong again.
 
 
-------------------------------------------------------------
Anthony C. Howe                achowe@trillium.waterloo.edu
                               achowe@orchid.waterloo.edu
 
"The definition of flying: throwing yourself at the ground and missing."
		- Douglas Adam's  "Life, the Universe and Everything"