Web Desk v1.50, By Mark Wherry (c)1997 ====================================== Welcome to Web Desk! -------------------- This small program allows you to put an icon on your desktop, which when clicked on will download a required page from the internet. It is similar to the way you can have a data file icon which automatically loads the file into an application. The difference is, the Web Desk icon gets the file from the internet! Requirements ------------ To use this program you will need: -The CAB web browser v1.4+ -A multitasking operating system, eg. MagiC 5. -A AV-Protocol aware desktop (Thing/Gemini/MAGXDesk). (Note: Web Desk will only work if the desktop has the identifier 0. This works fine, but if any one has any problems, please tell me.) Installation ------------ In contrast to v1.00 Web Desk now needs to be running all the time. Also, you must specify an evironmental variable called "BROWSER" which inicates where your copy of CAB.APP is. This is so Web Desk can find CAB if it is not already running. Don't worry; it's easy to set up and here's how you do it: MagiC: -Copy WEB_DESK.PRG to your START folder. -Add the line to MAGX.INF (if it isn't present already): "#_ENV BROWSER ". eg. "#_ENV BROWSER C:\Internet\CAB\CAB.APP" -On your desktop, install WEB Desk (from the start folder) as an application that supports VA_START, and can load up files with the extension "*.WDF". -Reboot your system and enjoy Web Desk! MiNT/MultiTOS (or clones): -Copy WEB_DESK to your AUTOGEM folder. -Add the line to MULTITOS.CNF (if it isn't present already): "setenv BROWSER ". eg. "setenv BROWSER C:\NET\CAB\CAB.APP" -On your desktop, install WEB Desk (from the start folder) as an application that supports VA_START, and can load up files with the extension "*.WDF". -Reboot your system and enjoy Web Desk! I don't know about any others, but if anyone else feels like filling the gap... In any case, the above example should give you the gist. Using Web Desk -------------- This is the easy bit. Once Web Desk is installed, all you have to do is create some *.WDF files. These should contain one line, and must be in ASCII format. They contain one address each. When the *.WDF is launched, CAB will read that address and display the page. !!WARNING!!: If Web Desk Launches CAB and you have a long home page, it will not work! If you use Web desk in this manner assign a home page of no more than few words, and no pictures!! So how does it work? -------------------- Web Desk waits for a VA_START (or an AP_TERM!) message telling it which file the url (Universal Resource Locator/Internet Address) is contained in. It reads the url and passes it to CAB via the CAB-Protocol. If CAB is active, the url is displayed in a new window, if not CAB is loaded and then displays the url in the current 'home page' window. The Future ---------- The next version will include: -Support for single-tasking operating systems. Web Desk will run as an accessory. -Nice ST-Guide hypertext documentation. -?????..... Programmers ----------- Come on you clever folk, let's all support the CAB-Protocol, so like Windows 97/IE4, we to may include internet links in our applications. The secret to this is in one message, CAB_VIEW, here's how it works: /* CAB View Test */ /* By Mark Wherry */ #include #define CAB_SUPPORT 0xCABB #define CAB_HELLO 0xCAB8 #define CAB_VIEW 0xCAB3 int ap_id,cab_id,loop; short tmsg[8],rmsg[8]; char *url; int main(void) { ap_id=appl_init(); cab_id=appl_find("CAB "); tmsg[0]=CAB_SUPPORT; tmsg[1]=ap_id; tmsg[2]=0; tmsg[3]=0; tmsg[4]=0; tmsg[5]=0; tmsg[6]=0; tmsg[7]=0; appl_write(cab_id,16,tmsg); do{ evnt_mesag(rmsg); }while(rmsg[0]!=CAB_HELLO); url="http://whatever.the.server/page.html"; tmsg[0]=CAB_VIEW; tmsg[1]=ap_id; tmsg[2]=0; *(char**)&tmsg[3]=url; tmsg[5]=1; tmsg[6]=0; tmsg[7]=0; appl_write(cab_id,16,tmsg); return 0; } For more information see the CAB-Protocol document included with CAB v1.5+. Together we can make the Atari a better place... History ------- v1.00 (/2/97): The basic idea realised and released. v1.50 (10/2/97): This is more like it! Although in comparison, a dramatic increase in the version number seems surprising. However, when you consider what the program does now, this is a mile-stone! =AV-Protocol support added: -Web Desk can receive VA_START messages. -Web Desk can launch CAB if it is not already running. (So long as your desktop has an ID of 0 :-]) =AP_TERM support added. v??? (//97): To be continued... Bit at the bottom ----------------- Web Desk is FREEWARE, (as if anybody would want to register!, :-]) I am not responisble for any problems which may occur with the use of this program. Any damage caused is the problem of the user, not me; this program is used at the user's own risk. Sorry about that, but it does seem to be standard practice these days! I'd appreciate any feedback on this program, so if you want advice, or you want to give me some advice, or if you have any suggestions write to me at: Mark Wherry 4 Fernpark Close, Topsham Road, Exeter, Devon, EX2 6AW ...And if you know anything about MagiC programming, please, please get in contact! *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* = = * MAHLER is comming (April '97)..... * = .....and the MIDI ports will never be the same!..... = * * =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=