18/12/94

NODESK.TXT

noDesktop version 3.0

Copyright 1994 no|Software GmbH

Documentation:
     Marco Zahnen, Jrg Zabell


noDesktop version 3.0
=====================

Status of noDesktop:
====================
This Shareware version of noDesktop is a software product that 
must not be changed or in any way altered, or sold with extra or 
(your own) documentation, without the permission of noSoftware 
GmbH.
Electronic distribution in its complete and unaltered form is 
explicitly permitted.

Restrictions:
=============
Approximately 2 months after installation, the execution of the 
program will be limited.

Registration:
=============
Outside Germany - Send 50 DM via money order or Eurocheque to 
our address. Include the noDesktop version you'd like to 
register. To simplify matters we've included a prepared 
registration letter called REGISTER.TXT. Simply fill it out and 
send it in to us.

Our Address:
------------
no Software GmbH
Ritzstr. 13
D-54595 Pruem

Tel: +49-6551-9701-11
Fax: +49-6551-9701-15

Mailbox: (Currently 2400-16.800, 2400 - 16.8, ISDN coming soon)
          +49-39268-33205


The following text should give you an insight to the program's 
structure, its features and its philosophy . . .

1: noDesktop, what is it?
=========================
Well, this question is not an easy one to answer! You could 
describe noDesk briefly and without exaggeration as . . . a 
genuine, ingenious marvel!

- NoDesk is a desktop that replaces the TOS desktop. Active HELP 
through the right mouse button, useful functions, archiver and 
graphics shells, scripting languages, scripts and a lot more.

- noDesk can also be used as an efficient and powerful desktop 
under other operating systems like MultiTOS and Mag!X.

- Look and feel can be adjusted to your own taste. When used with
other noPrograms through the use of the NOLIB shared library, 
you can reduce loading times and save precious RAM.

- Extensive configurability:
Functions, keyboard and mouse commands for copying, 
deleting, moving and formatting, etc. can all be freely set up. 
For most users the included configuration should be usable - for 
the past couple of years, it has been perfectly useful to us. If 
you don't like this configuration (try it first please!), 
remember that:
     - each noDesk user that has the time for it, can create a 
totally individual desktop so that (for example), doubleclicks 
cause completely different actions: instead of starting a 
program a doubleclick might be configured to count files (or 
other funny things).
You must also keep in mind that noDesk is a system which should 
give you the absolute maximum individual configurability at all 
times. That means, during the learning phase you may find 
situations which seem confusing . . . but which, when observed more 
closely, turn out to be sensible and intuitive. So, don't panic 
if everything doesn't work the way you're used to, right off. 
Soon you will see the advantages of this new concept . . . and 
you won't miss your old system at all!

Amen!

1: Basics
=========
This an overview of all of the files which noDesk needs and 
which should be present after extracting the archive (you won't 
find all the archived files in this list since you must choose 
only those which relate directly to your installation):

NODESK\
    NODESK.PRG      The start up program for noDesk. This 
                    program stays RAM resident if, before 
                    starting another program, other part of 
                    noDesk are configured to unload. NODESK.PRG 
                    must not be started under multi-tasking 
                    systems (MultiTOS, Mag!X or MagiC). For more 
                    information on multi-tasking systems see the 
                    appropriate section.
    NODESK.OVL      This is the actual noDesk program, which is 
                    started by NODESK.PRG (under multi-tasking 
                    systems NODESK.OVL is started directly by 
                    the operating system program.
    DESK.NDS        The script file that is executed by 
                    NODESK.OVL at startup and which directs the 
                    complete intialisation of the desktop.
    CNF\
      ICONS\
        NODESK.NDI  This is the icon assignment file.
        ND_ICONS.RSC Icon resource file
      MENU\
        MENU.RSC    Resource file for noDesk menu bar.

      GLOBALS.NDS   Initialisation script for screen independant 
                    settings.
      NODESK.NDQ    Object definition file in ASCII.
      NODESK.NDD    Compiled version of NODESK.NDQ
      640X400.2\    Folder for scripts, in ST High.
        DESK.NDS    This script file contains the structure of 
                    the desktop for 640x400x 2 colours (monochrome)
        INIT.NDS    Script file for special settings, that is executed 
                    at the beginning of DESK.NDS.
      640X48.16\    Folder for scripts in TT Medium.
        DESK.NDS         .
        INIT.NDS         .
      hhhXvvv.ccc\  Folder for scripts for other screen 
                    resolutions. In case there is no folder for 
                    a particular resolution, it will be 
                    automatically created when the system first 
                    starts.

>    CNF.2\
          ...       This is similar to the CNF folder.
          ...       *** Renaming CNF\ to CNF.2\ and renaming 
                    CNF.2\ to CNF\, will result in a differently 
                    configured desktop *** This is the folder in 
                    which you'll eventually find more desktop 
                    emulations.
     NDSYS\         Folder for noDesk system files.
       PASSWD       Contains the noDesk users with their home 
                    paths and passwords for multi-user operation.
       *.NDT        Shell programs for displaying pictures
       W_LHARC.ARD  Shell program for LHARC archive window.
       W_ZOO.ARD    Shell program for ZOO archive window.
     UTP\           The folder for noDesk Utility Programs. The 
                    contents of this folder and the noDesk 
                    utility programs are described in the 
                    UTP.TXT file.

Operation Modes
===============
As already mentioned, noDesk can be freely configured. There are 
only two basic operating modes that affect the manner in which 
configurations work: The single user mode, and the multiuser mode.
The following section describes the special aspects of both 
variations, so that you can decide which mode is most suitable 
to your needs. Single mode users can skip over the multi user 
sections.

Single User Operation Mode
--------------------------
This operating mode is most useful when:
1: Only one person uses the computer under noDesk.
2: The desktop should always look the same (ie: always the same 
icons, same F-Key assignments, keyboard shortcuts, popup menus.) 
If at least at one of these points does not describe your usage, 
it might be more suitable to employ multi-user mode. For 
single-user mode, rename under normal TOS, NODESK_S.PRG to 
NODESK.PRG (after extracting this archive, this is what you 
should find anyway).

Multi-User Operation Mode
-------------------------
NoDesk supports multiple users working on the same computer, 
through multi-user maintenance. The purpose of this function is 
not specifically to protect data from unauthorized access,
although there is some protection against unauthorized access
from 'normal' users. Experienced users can still access data
through the regular desktop, or through booting from a floppy
disk. Multi-user maintenance of noDesk offers the opportunity to
load individual dekstops with individual configurations.

Utility Programs
================
There are a number of so-called 'utility programs' for different 
functions. For example, configuration specific items such as 
the alteration of F-Key assignments, disk formatting (there is 
even a pocket calculator utility). For more information about 
the UTPs, see the UTP.TXT file.

Your Own Configurations
=======================
If you want to create your own configurations, read the remaining 
document files in the following order:

CONFFILE.TXT
CLI.TXT
OBJECT.TXT
. . .

HAVE FUN!

