using os/2 warp version 4

© Cheltenham Computer Training 1995-1998 [email protected] Using OS/2 Warp 4 - Slide No. 1

Using OS/2 Warp Version 4

OS/2 Background and Concepts


What is OS/2?

• A successor to DOS• Powerful, flexible and easy to use• Multitasking• Fully utilizes the power of the CPU• Uses all available memory, including virtual

memory


Advantages of OS/2 Compared to DOS

• OS/2 will use all available memory– DOS only uses 640 KB

• OS/2 uses virtual memory– DOS cannot

• OS/2 fully utilizes the CPU– DOS uses only a fraction of the power available

• Unlike DOS, OS/2 provides a powerful graphical user interface (GUI)


Multitasking

• The ability to run more than one program simultaneously– Each program uses the CPU for a small fraction of a second,

before the next program is given some CPU time

Word Processors Databases

Graphics Communications


OS/2 and Support for DOS and Windows

• OS/2 runs:– OS/2 programs

– MS Windows 3.1 programs

– DOS programs

• Warp 4 does not currently run MS Windows 95 programs

All in one box!


OS/2 and Memory

• The sensible minimum for running OS/2 Warp is 8 MB with 12 or 16 MB being recommended for serious use

• Power users often use 32 or even 64 MB of memory

OS/2


OS/2 and Filing Systems

• DOS only used the File Allocation Table (FAT)• OS/2 can use the FAT or High Performance File

System (HPFS)• The file system is the link between the operating

system and the physical files stored on the disk


Hardware Requirements

• Minimum requirements are 8 MB of RAM and 386 CPU

• Use 8 MB as a sensible minimum if you want the system to boot up by lunch time!

OS/2

BIG is beautiful


Installation

• Simple, menu guided installation routine• Sometimes goes wrong if you have a non-

standard mix of hardware

Just follow the

instructions!


Review Questions



Basic Concepts and Screen Components


What is the Workplace Shell (WPS)?

• The OS/2 Interface– Easy to learn

and use

– Powerful


Concentrating on Your Data!

• Concentrate on your data• No need to worry about drives, directories and

files• A ‘data-centric’ operating system


WorkPlace Shell - Types of Objects

• In OS/2 everything is treated as an object: – It is useful to know the different types of objects

– Data

– Program

– Device

– Folder

– Template


The Two Mouse Buttons - Select, then Manipulate!

• The OS/2 rule– Select, then manipulate

• Left-hand mouse button– Selection button

• Right-hand mouse button– Manipulation button


Drag and Drop - Copying vs. Moving

• Drag and drop• Moves• Ctrl + Drag and drop• Copies


Using Shadows

• A shadow maintains a link back to the original object!– Unlike a copy a shadowed object

maintains links to the original object. If either the original or shadow are altered, the changes also takes place in the second object.

– Depress Ctrl+Shift when you drag the object from one place to another

ORIGINAL

SHADOW


The WarpCenter

• The new way to easily access the power of Warp 4

• A control bar normally located across the top of your Warp screen

• Replaces the OS/2 LaunchPad – (which is still available!)


The LaunchPad

• A launch pad for commonly used OS/2 operations– In Warp 4 you

will find the WarpCenter easier to use


The Components of an OS/2 Window

• Most OS/2 windows have standard components:– Title bars– Borders– Menu bar– Drop down menus– Close, Maximize, Minimize

and Restore buttons– Scroll bars


The Title Bar and Moving Windows

• Displays the title of the application or the data contained within the program– Double click on the title bar to maximize or restore the window

size

– Drag and drop the Title Bar to move the window on-screen


The Window Border - Re-sizing

• Horizontal and vertical borders• Drag and drop to re-size vertically, horizontally or

in two dimensions at once• OS/2 is a multitasking system, there will be

occasions when your screen becomes cluttered with overlapping windows each containing information


Maximize, Minimize and Restore Buttons

• Maximize– Makes the window fill the whole screen

• Minimize– Minimizes the window to an icon

– May minimize to the Desktop or to the Iconized Windows Viewer folder

• Restore– Restores a minimized application to a window

• Close– Closes the window

Title bar icon


Scroll Bars

• Horizontal or vertical scroll bars• Used to move within a window


The Menu Bar

• Most applications have a menu bar• Use to display further commands within drop

down menus


Pop-up Property Menus

• Allows you to set individual properties of a particular object

• Customize OS/2 to suit yourself• Every object, including the Desktop can be

customized via a pop-up menu


Closing the WorkPlace Shell

• Never just switch off OS/2– You may damage your OS/2 system

– You will lose data

• Always use the Shutdown command!• You can close the system:

– By right clicking on the Desktop and selecting Shutdown from the pop-up menu displayed

– By clicking on the Shutdown icon in the WarpCenter

– By clicking on the Shutdown icon within the OS/2 toolbar (if activated)


OS/2 Keyboard Shortcuts

• Normally you use the mouse to control OS/2• Sometimes keyboard shortcuts are quicker• For instance to close a window use Alt+F4


Review Questions



Controlling Multitasking Within OS/2


Using the WarpCenter - “Switch to Another Program”

• Click on the “Switch to another program” icon which will display a list of running programs


Using the Windows List - Ctrl+Esc• The Windows List displays all the foreground

programs that are currently running– Press the Ctrl key and while keeping it depressed press the

Esc key– Then release the Ctrl key

Can also be used to Tile, Cascade or Close programs


Alt+Tab and Alt+Esc

• Alt+Tab– The name of all programs that are running will be displayed in

a small box displayed on your screen

• Alt+Esc– You will cycle round all the programs that are currently open

on your system


Where Do Programs Minimize To?• In some cases programs will minimize to the Desktop

– In other cases programs will seem to disappear when you minimize them (but you can see them in the Window List)


Review Questions



The Assistance Center and Getting Help!


What is the Assistance Center Folder?

• The Assistance Center folder is, by default, installed directly onto the OS/2 Desktop


The Information Object

• Contains:– Help Index

– Tasks

– Reference Commands

– Read Me

– Online Information Overview


What’s Contained Within the Information Object?

• Help Index• Tasks• Reference Commands• Read Me• Online Information Overview


Help Index - What is it?

• A central Help index• Use it!


Information Folder - Tasks - OS/2 Warp Desktop Guide

• A guide to exploiting your Desktop!


Information Folder - Reference and Commands

• Information on OS/2 Commands


Read Me

• OS/2 Read Me files containing the latest information


Information Folder - Online Information Overview

• Your guide to on-line information!


Using the WarpCenter Help Icon

• If you need help use the WarpCenter!


Trouble Shooting - Help

• Got a problem?• Let OS/2 help fix it!


Information From the Internet

• Unlike printed information, the information on the Internet should be the latest version!


OS/2 Tutorial

• OS/2 contains an excellent tutorial package• Use it!


Help at the Command Line and OS/2 Error Messages

• Enter the command:– Help

– Help <command>


Context-sensitive Help - Remember the F1 key!

• Normally available

Simply press the F1 key!


Review Questions



OS/2 System Setup


What is the OS/2 System Folder?

• Sets system-wide changes– Includes:

• Minimized Window Viewer Problem Determination Tools

• Warp Center Templates

• System Setup Command prompts

• Startup Drives

• Toolbar


The OS/2 System Folder - System Setup

• Allows you to customize your system and integrate new programs


System Setup - The System Clock

• Keeps the time and date according to settings stored within your PC

• Analog or digital display• Alarm feature


System Setup - Keyboard and Mouse

• The Mouse and keyboard may be tuned to your precise requirements

• i.e. swapping over the functionality of the mouse buttons


System Setup - Country

• Sets OS/2 to work in your country

• Correct currency and date formats


System Setup - Font Palette• The Font pallet can be used to

modify the fonts used by text as well as allowing you to add new fonts to the system and delete existing fonts

• A Font is a collection of viewable and printable characters with a particular size and style

NOTE: If you drag the sample font to an object located on the Desktop, then the font used by all the objects on the Desktop will be changed to reflect the new font.


System Setup - Color Palette and the Scheme Palette

• The Scheme Pallet contains a variety of color schemes that may be applied to your system


Review Questions



Command Prompts


The OS/2 System Folder - Command Prompts

• DOS from Drive A:• DOS Full Screen• DOS Window• Dual Boot• OS/2 Full Screen• OS/2 Window• WIN-OS/2 Full Screen• WIN-OS/2 Window


Windows and OS/2

• You can run your Windows 3.x programs within OS/2• Most of these will run without problems• Do not attempt to install programs designed for

Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows NT as these are not supported within OS/2


Review Questions



Applications, Utilities and Games


The OS/2 Programs Folder

• Contains:– New Program

– Windows Programs

– WIN-OS/2 Groups

– Java for OS/2

– New Folder

– Applications

– Games

– Utilities

– Voice Type

– Multimedia


Starting Programs Automatically

• Remember that if you wish to start a program automatically you can copy it to the Startup folder


The OS/2 Utilities Folder

• A collection of OS/2 Utilities• Many are very specialized and if in doubt, don’t

experiment with them, as many utilities are designed for experienced users only


The OS/2 Games Folder

• Good for practicing your mouse skills!


The OS/2 System Folder - Minimized Window Viewer

• When minimized most applications will minimize to the Minimize Windows Viewer folder


Review Questions



Drive, Folder and File Manipulation


The OS/2 System Folder - Drives• The Drives folder allows you to access and manipulate

your drives– These include your diskette drives, hard disks, CD-ROMs, tape

backup systems, as well as PCMCIA drives used in laptops


Diskette Manipulation Under OS/2

• You can format diskettes and also move/copy data to/from a diskette


The OS/2 System Folder - Shredder

• The Shredder, as the name implies, is used to remove objects: - it shreds them!

• NOTE: In most cases you will only be shredding menu items on the Desktop and not deleting physical files off your disk

• If however you shred objects from the Drives object then you will be physically deleting files stored on disk! - BEWARE!


Review Questions



Exchanging Data


The Clipboard

• An area of memory used for storing information

• Only stores one item at a time• Allows data to be moved

between applications


The Cut, Copy and Paste Commands

• Cut– Moves selected data to the Clipboard

• Copy– Copies selected information to the Clipboard

• Paste– Copies information from the Clipboard

CUT

COPYPASTE


What is Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE)?

• Not available in all programs• Establishes a link between the original data and a

copy of the data in another application


Review Questions

using os/2 warp version 4

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