From: sip1@ellis.uchicago.edu (Timothy F. Sipples)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.advocacy
Subject: Re: AmiPro for OS/2 (was Re: Impressions of OS/2 2.1 Beta)
Date: 25 Jan 93 19:39:53 GMT
Reply-To: sip1@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: Dept. of Econ., Univ. of Chicago

In article <1993Jan25.180453.18862@wam.umd.edu> rsrodger@wam.umd.edu (Yamanari) writes:
>	Big whoo.  In other words, "Workplace Shell Aware"
>	is the new OS/2-speak for applications that support the
>	OS/2 equivalent of drag and drop.  A buzzword with very limited
>	usefulness. 
>	<It's the same under Win31.  I think I've printed this way maybe 
>	once under Windows.  Might be nice as an option, but it's really
>	not a big deal.  Plus, I don't honestly see how that is a real
>	"feature".. It must take, what, 5 minutes to add it?>

No, sorry, that's just not the case, as I pointed out previously, and
you really should do your homework on this.

As but one example, this drag and drop works from WITHIN the
application.  So, for example, if you have a spreadsheet loaded, you
can drag the icon for that spreadsheet (if you have it minimized) or,
usually, even the spreadsheet itself to the printer object and it
prints.  Outside the application, you can drag a spreadsheet file to
the print object and have it print with all the formatting intact (it
need not be a preformatted printer binary).  (Ditto file deletion.)
It is universal, consistent, and intuitive.  Or drag the file (object)
from within one application straight over to another (e.g. spreadsheet
to charting application).

From the Color Palette you can drag any color to a particular part of
the application and have it change color.  Ditto from the Font
Palette.  (Your customization is all drag and drop, and it doesn't
vary across applications -- it's a Workplace Shell feature.)  This can
also work for the spreadsheet file itself.  The Scheme Palette is also
another source.

The application would also install templates in your Templates folder.
Drag a spreadsheet template to any arbitrary folder, and up pops the
application, ready for you to work on the new file.  You don't have to
go hunting through folders to find the program.  With the Templates
procedure, a simple drag and drop does the equivalent of find Lotus,
double click on Lotus, then select File -> New (if it doesn't do that
by default).  (You can also use that method if you like.)

Files are saved by file _type_ (stored in extended attributes), not
just by file extension.  Consequently you can give it any physical
name you like (e.g. This_Is_The_3Q_Report) and still expect the
application to start right up when you double click on it.  (You can
arbitrarily customize these associations.  The application defines a
new file type, e.g. "Lotus Spreadsheet," and then you can associate
that with, say, your charting application if you prefer.)  It's done
in plain English -- you don't have to worry about deciphering *.TXT or
*.WK3.  (The old method is still, of course, available.)

(OS/2 veterans will realize that I'm mixing up a few of the
technologies for brevity.  If you want the technicals, I can refer you
to the appropriate documents.)

These technologies extend in a very straightforward way to any other
objects you add to the system.  (Multimedia would be one obvious
example.  FAX would be another -- you could fax your spreadsheet out
in one very easy step.)

You can also drop an arbitrary data file on the program object and
have it start up with the file loaded, which is straightforward
enough.

I also should mention that you can do things like move and rename
files at the physical drive level, and the Workplace Shell keeps track
of that.  Your program objects, for example, don't become "phantoms"
that point to nothing -- the directory location and filename change
automatically.  And I'll leave shadows aside for now -- that opens up
yet another set of additional possibilities.

In a very real sense the Workplace Shell redefines the concept of an
application.  If you would like to see a demonstration of these
technologies, I recommend starting with the CUA '91 demo put out by
IBM.  It runs under DOS with EGA or better graphics, and it should be
available via anonymous ftp from ftp-os2.nmsu.edu.

Most observers say that IBM has at least a two year head start on
these technologies.

-- 
Timothy F. Sipples      | Read the OS/2 FAQ List 2.0i, available from
sip1@ellis.uchicago.edu | 128.123.35.151, anonymous ftp, in /pub/os2/all/info
Dept. of Econ., Univ.   | /faq, or from LISTSERV@BLEKUL11.BITNET (send "HELP")
of Chicago, 60637       | [Read the List, THEN post to ONE OS/2 newsgroup.]