Stupid OS/2 Tricks
System Tips
WorkPlace Shell Tips
Presentation Manager Tips
Command Line Tips
Win-OS/2 Tips
Warp Tips
compiled by M. Woo
Champaign-Urbana OS/2 Users Group
release 5, Jan 1995
Information about this document:
Copyright 1993-95 M. Woo.
All Rights Reserved. This work, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced
or redistributed in any form without permission.
This file contains various tips and tricks for OS/2 which have been gathered
over time from various sources. Creation of this text was inspired by the
"Clever Tricks" section of Tim Sipples' excellent Frequently Asked Questions
list, a must read for all OS/2 owners.
The type of tips and tricks included in this text are those
which cover features of OS/2 that people often ask about,
short REXX scripts which do interesting things, as well as
other items which hopefully don't overlap information already
contained in Tim Sipples' FAQ (well, not by TOO much, anyway).
The tricks contained in this text do not make references to
any specific product names, other than those components
included in OS/2 itself. However, it may occasionally have
been necessary to mention generic classes of utilities which
are not included as part of OS/2.
A Japanese language INF version of Stupid OS/2 Tricks should now be available.
Contact A. Kikuchi at kiku@ymtl01.yamato.ibm.co.jp for details.
Related subject(s):
If you know of any neat OS/2 tips or tricks that you're
dying to share, please send them along. They would be
greatly appreciated!
If your tip or trick is used, your name will be listed along with it for
all to see!
Neat OS/2 tricks can be sent to:
Internet, m-woo@uiuc.edu
Fidonet, Sysop @ 1:233/4.0
Please also send any corrections to either of the addresses above.
(these addresses are //not// subject to change sometime soon)
HTML revision marks
Revisions/additions to this HTML file will be displayed in bold type (not
available on all WWW browsers) and surrounded with double forward slashes
(//). //This is a revision.//
Related subject(s):
This text will be updated when the number of new
tips and tricks gathered warrants a new version.
The creation of the INF version of Stupid OS/2 Tricks will always
have priority over the creation of the HTML version, therefore, the
HTML version may lag behind the INF version.
Revision History:
Related subject(s):
Release #2 - Dec 1993
Changed:
Using Elvis v1.8c beta instead of v1.6
Corrected info in "Getting more out of your
command line"
Corrected typos in SETMOUSE.CMD (this is
important!!!)
Added note to "Adding an 'open folder' entry
to the desktop's popup menu"
Improved BITMAP.CMD
Added:
Getting Epson ActionLaser 1500 to work
Using keyboard shortcuts in PM
Navigating in notebooks without a mouse
Shutting down from a REXX script
automatically
Curing "jumpy mouse"
Retrieving a "changed" icon
Pasting between Windows applications
Associating data files with programs
Getting memory back from unused caches
Changing the default view of a folder
Dealing with OS/2 !! SYS messages on boot
Using multiple arguments at the OS/2 command
line
Using EPM as a customized command shell
Setting the startup directory for command
line objects
Restoring last desktop backup
Creating new printer objects
Viewing *.inf files more conveniently
Formatting a diskette with the detach
command
Creating your own templates
Using less memory for DOS images
Replacing your Shredder if deleted
Release #3 - Jan 1994
Changed:
Added comment to "Prevent restarting
automatically"
Added note to "Speeding up some IDE
drives"
Corrected code and added comment to
SETFONT.CMD.
Replaced SETMOUSE.CMD with an improved version,
SETPTR.CMD
Added:
Starting seamless Windows from the command
line
Resizing a command line window permanently
Making the system "sleep"
Substituting REPLACE for the COPY
command
Deleting "undeletable" objects
Speeding up opening folders
Managing your icons
Enlarging the mouse cursor
Manipulating objects through the Window
List
Booting OS/2 in full-screen mode
Completing shutdown
"Touching" a file's date and time
Adjusting your swap file
Adding command sessions to the desktop's
popup menu
Using SVGA.EXE under real DOS
Selecting listbox entries without a
mouse
Making "no-shows" re-appear
Opening multiple command line sessions
from the desktop menu
Creating a command line calculator
Loading a DOS device driver into high
memory
Starting a DOS session with maximum free
memory
Fixing "locked" INI files
Using START to avoid the dreaded
"clock"
Coloring OS/2 command line sessions
Release #4 - Apr 1994
Changed:
Added code to BIGDOS.CMD to make DOS
session open in foreground
Removed ICONRES.CMD because it was copyrighted.
Added 2.11 note to "Maximizing windows when
opening"
Added 2.11 note to "Retrieving a 'changed'
icon"
Added note to "Rebooting from the command
line"
:Added 2.11 note to "Backing up the *.ini
files"
Added info to "Curing 'jumpy mouse'"
Added:
Opening the parent folder
Playing audio CDs via REXX
Copying fullscreen text to the
Clipboard
Displaying custom DOS settings at the
command line
Using Windows File Manager on your OS/2
desktop
Fixing seamless Windows on some 2.11 CSD
systems
Jumping between windowed sessions
Playing media files from the command
line
Editing object names on the desktop
How to use the included REXX scripts
Determining if you have a buffered
UART in your computer
Moving a template object without creating
a copy
Changing the long name (icon text) of a
file or folder without changing the real name
Starting an OS/2 command line from a folder's
directory
Adding INF files to the desktop popup
menu
Release #5 - Jan 1995
Changed:
Unfortunately, it became necessary to expand on the copyright statement
Added a separate section for OS/2
Warp-specific tips
Added warning to "Changing the standard mouse
pointer"
New version of BITMAP.CMD
Added note to indicate that author's address is now more or less permanent
Now using the IPF compiler from the IBM OS/2 Developer's Toolkit v2.1
Added:
Opening a windowed command line in the
background
Recreating a "lost" template
Viewing the Nowhere subdirectory
Using PMREXX as a scrolling command
window
Backing up INI files in the background
Tearing off Launchpad drawer
Opening the Settings notebook
Changing printing from polling to
interrupt-driven
Closing the parent folder when opening an
object
Recovering a deleted Launchpad
Keeping the system running, even through
traps
Obtaining information about your hardware
Editing animated folder icons
Bringing the Launchpad to the top
Setting the swap file
Setting video modes
Speeding up opening folders II
Closing parent folders automatically
Setting default folder appearance
Creating OS/2 Warp boot diskettes
Caching your cdrom drive
Resetting Boot Manager to have no
default partition
Switching temporarily to a different
directory
Associating icon with executable
Booting DOS from a C: partition within
OS/2
Resetting the boot record
Canceling print jobs from the command
line
Adding more LPT ports in Win-OS/2
Customizing the Launchpad
This document was written using the OS/2 port of Elvis v1.8c beta.
The HTML document was viewed during creation using the //WebExplorer for
OS/2 by IBM.//
I don't claim to be an expert on OS/2, so I can't guarantee that all the
tips and tricks presented in this document will work with all configurations
of OS/2. Thus, the following disclaimer:
The reader/user assumes all responsibility, liability and risk for any damages,
incidental or consequential, resulting from the use of the information
provided in this document. No warranty is expressed or implied, and this
document is only guaranteed to use space on your disk.
Go to System Tips
M.Woo
Internet: m-woo@uiuc.edu
Fidonet: Sysop, 1:233/4.0