[GEM Development] Re: gem-dev Digest, Vol 36, Issue 1
N. Edward Matavka
nmatavkova at rogers.com
Tue Oct 3 21:53:34 PDT 2006
Gentlemen:
I suggest the use of "box drawing" characters in the GEM.BAT file
instead of asterisks - it looks more refined and "corporate" somehow.
Also, maybe add title bars to make it look at least slightly more like
a "product", not a "project"? In fact, I am surprised how far the
Graphical Environment Manager has come -- usually, in F/OSS software, I
see a marked lack of refinement and typically ugly, GNOME-like graphics
(viz Tile World which is mucked up {graphics-wise} beyond repair). In
G.E.M., I see professionalism everywhere -- thanks all!
The "box drawing" characters are hidden in the Character Map: goto
Start -> Run -> charmap and change the font to Terminal. You will see
some funny-looking characters that look like L's and F's. Use these to
draw boxes. Remember that each line MUST be AT MOST eighty characters
long!
I trust you will do the needful in ensuring that GEM walks eight out of
nine yards on its way to being a "product".
In addition, I have a single problem to raise: the collection of files
that make up G.E.M. most certainly do not fit on a 850mm high-density
diskette. G.E.M Core does, but not the full version. Could you please
do something so as to make a multi-volume set for us stiffy users? For
instance, break up the files to, for instance, fit on two disks and
make the batch file output something meaningful, e.g. "Please remove
Disk One and insert Disk Two into your diskette drive now." This will
make it much easier for us - at this time, I have to split the files up
with RAR and put them on a R.A.M. disk, then combine them with a rather
cumbersome and sloppy batch file. I believe this is an unnecessary
amount of effort when it can be rectified at your end within minutes.
Again, please ensure that the operating system setup fits onto two or
more diskettes - this will solve a big problem!
Respectfully yours,
N. E. Matavka
On 2 Oct 2006, at 15:00, gem-dev-request at simpits.org wrote:
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> 1. Re: GEM.BAT fails with ChDir under FreeDOS (Shane M. Coughlan)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 01 Oct 2006 10:50:48 +0200
> From: "Shane M. Coughlan" <shane at shaneland.co.uk>
> Subject: Re: [GEM Development] GEM.BAT fails with ChDir under FreeDOS
> To: GEM Development <gem-dev at simpits.org>
> Message-ID: <451F8168.8050509 at shaneland.co.uk>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> I believe that this GEM.BAT should fix the outstanding issue, though
> any
> additional improvements would be appreciated :)
>
> ==
>
> @ECHO OFF
> CLS
> REM OpenGEM Release 6
> REM Copyright (c) 2001, 2006 Opendawn
> REM
> REM This is the OpenGEM main startup file. It's not as difficult to
> use
> REM as it may appear, so take some time to read through it.
> REM
> REM Comments or suggestions about this file to info at opendawn.com
> please.
> REM Help us make OpenGEM (and FreeGEM) better!
> CLS
>
> REM STARTING THE MOUSE DRIVER
> REM To start the mouse driver remove the REM command on all the lines
> in
> this block apart from this one
> REM :SET-MOUSE
> REM CD \GEMAPPS\GEMSYS
> REM CTMOUSE
>
> REM CHECKING FOR NEW APPLICATIONS TO INSTALL
> IF EXIST INSTALL.ZIP CALL C:\GEMAPPS\GEMSYS\INSTALL.BAT
>
> REM CHECKING FOR NEW UPDATES TO INSTALL
> IF EXIST UPDATE.ZIP CALL C:\GEMAPPS\GEMSYS\UPDATE.BAT
>
> REM LOADING OPENGEM
> :LOADGEM
> CD \GEMAPPS\GEMSYS
> ECHO OFF
> REM Load GEM
> GEMVDI %1 %2 %3
> CLS
>
> REM THE OPENGEM SHUTDOWN MENU
> :SHUTDOWN
> C:
> CLS
> ECHO OFF
> ECHO **************************************************
> ECHO * *
> ECHO * What would you like to do now? *
> ECHO * *
> ECHO * 1 - Restart OpenGEM *
> ECHO * *
> ECHO * 2 - Return to DOS *
> ECHO * *
> ECHO * 3 - Reboot the computer *
> ECHO * *
> ECHO * 4 - Shutdown the computer *
> ECHO * (This only works on ATX computers) *
> ECHO * *
> ECHO * *
> ECHO * *
> ECHO * 5 - Help *
> ECHO * *
> ECHO **************************************************
> ECHO.
> ECHO Please select an option...
> CD \GEMAPPS\GEMSYS\
> choice /c:12345
> if errorlevel 5 goto HELP
> if errorlevel 4 goto 4
> if errorlevel 3 goto 3
> if errorlevel 2 goto 2
> if errorlevel 1 goto 1
> :1
> CLS
> ECHO OFF
> GOTO LOADGEM
> :2
> CLS
> ECHO OFF
> GOTO END
> :3
> CLS
> ECHO OFF
> CD \GEMAPPS\GEMSYS
> SHUTDOWN R
> GOTO END
> :4
> CLS
> ECHO OFF
> CD \GEMAPPS\GEMSYS
> SHUTDOWN S
> GOTO END
>
> REM OPENGEM STARTUP HELP
> :HELP
> CLS
> ECHO OFF
> ECHO **************************************************
> ECHO * *
> ECHO * OpenGEM has several options when you exit the *
> ECHO * graphical user interface. *
> ECHO * *
> ECHO * You can restart OpenGEM. This is something *
> ECHO * that you may want to do if the computer is *
> ECHO * slow or you have changed the configuration. *
> ECHO * *
> ECHO * You can return to the DOS command prompt, and *
> ECHO * leave OpenGEM altogether. *
> ECHO * *
> ECHO * You can reboot the computer. This can resolve *
> ECHO * many issues with program slowness and crashes. *
> ECHO * *
> ECHO * You can shutdown your computer entirely. This *
> ECHO * option only works with ATX computers, as it *
> ECHO * requires their power management tools. *
> ECHO * *
> ECHO **************************************************
> ECHO.
> PAUSE
> GOTO SHUTDOWN
>
> REM OPENGEM FINAL EXIT MESSAGE
> :END
> CLS
> CD\
> ECHO **************************************************
> ECHO * Thank you for using OpenGEM *
> ECHO * *
> ECHO * Copyright (c) Opendawn *
> ECHO * http://gem.opendawn.com *
> ECHO **************************************************
> ECHO.
>
>
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> End of gem-dev Digest, Vol 36, Issue 1
> **************************************
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