Date: 8 Mar 88 20:06:12 GMT Comment: Extracted from Info-Atari16 (INFO-A16) digest number 88-125 From: uflorida!codas!burl!clyde!watmath!orchid!achowe@gatech.edu (CrackerJack) Subject: Re: DESKTOP.INF some notes To: info-atari16@score.stanford.edu 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" Date: 9 Mar 88 14:57:19 GMT From: mnetor!utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!orchid!achowe@uunet.uu.net (CrackerJack Subject: Re: DESKTOP.INF some corrections To: info-atari16@score.stanford.edu >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.