r235: Added the Shell Command feature to the minibuffer.

[rox-filer.git] / ROX-Filer / src / Docs / Manual.lyx

#This file was created by <tal197> Sun Apr  9 16:01:14 2000
#LyX 0.12 (C) 1995-1998 Matthias Ettrich and the LyX Team
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\layout Title

ROX-Filer User Manual
\layout Author

Thomas Leonard, tal197@ecs.soton.ac.uk
\layout Date


\latex latex 

\backslash 
today
\layout Abstract

ROX-Filer is a graphical file manger for the X Window System.
 Its user interface is based on the RISC OS filer and it supports similar
 features such as application directories and drag-and-drop loading and
 saving of files.
\layout Standard


\begin_inset LatexCommand \tableofcontents

\end_inset 


\layout Section

Introduction
\layout Standard

ROX-Filer is a simple and easy to use graphical file manager for X11, the
 windowing system used on Unix and Unix-like operating systems.
 It is also the core component of the ROX Desktop
\begin_inset LatexCommand \cite{ROX}

\end_inset 

.
\layout Subsection

Features
\layout Description

XDND A common drag-and-drop protocol used, for example, by the GNOME desktop
\begin_inset LatexCommand \cite{GNOME}

\end_inset 

.
 This allows data to be loaded into an application by dragging it from a
 filer window to a program.
 The full specification is given in 
\begin_inset LatexCommand \cite{DND}

\end_inset 

.
\layout Description

XDS An extension to XDND that allows applications to save data by dragging
 an icon back to a filer window.
 The full specification is given in 
\begin_inset LatexCommand \cite{XDS}

\end_inset 

.
\layout Description

ROX
\protected_separator 
Choices A simple, but flexible, system for managing user choices.
 See 
\begin_inset LatexCommand \cite{Choices}

\end_inset 

 for details.
\layout Description

Application
\protected_separator 
directories Self contained relocatable applications, where installation
 is as simple as copying it to where you want it and uninstalling it is
 just a matter of deleting a directory.
 Described later in this documentation.
\layout Section

Conditions
\layout Standard

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
 under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free
 Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option)
 any later version.
\layout Standard

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
 ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS
 FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
 See the GNU General Public License for more details.
\layout Standard

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
 with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA, 02111-1307, USA.
\layout Section

Instructions
\layout Subsection

Compiling
\layout Standard

ROX-Filer is usually supplied in source-only form.
 To compile and run it, you will require
\layout Itemize

Unix or Linux (root access is not required),
\layout Itemize

The X Window system (supplied as standard on all modern systems),
\layout Itemize

GTK+ 1.2.0 or later (libraries and headers) - get the latest version from
 
\begin_inset LatexCommand \cite{GTK+}

\end_inset 

,
\layout Itemize

A C compiler (standard on most systems).
\layout Standard

All of the above are standard on most modern Linux distributions.
 To check which version of GTK+ you have installed, run the gtk-config command,
 like this ($ is the shell prompt):
\layout LyX-Code

$ gtk-config --version
\layout LyX-Code

1.2.3
\layout Standard

To compile:
\layout Enumerate

Change to the directory containing the ROX-Filer subdirectory.
\layout Enumerate

Run the AppRun script with the --compile option, like this:
\begin_deeper 
\layout LyX-Code

$ ROX-Filer/AppRun --compile
\end_deeper 
\layout Enumerate

ROX-Filer will perform various checks to find out what kind of system it
 is being run on and will then compile.
 If it doesn't work then please e-mail me and complain! Tell me what kind
 of system you have and what errors were reported.
 If you manage to fix the problem yourself then please e-mail me the fix.
\layout Standard

You can now run the filer by running the AppRun script without any options,
 like this:
\layout LyX-Code

$ ROX-Filer/AppRun
\layout Standard

A window should appear and display the contents of your home directory.
\layout Standard

The executables files are stored inside the ROX-Filer directory in a different
 subdirectory for each platform.
 Therefore, you can compile the same application on several different types
 of machine and then run it from any of them using the AppRun script.
 This is particularly useful in a network environment.
\layout Subsection

Invoking
\layout Standard

By default, ROX-Filer will start by displaying your home directory.
 You can get it to display other directories instead by listing them after
 the command:
\layout LyX-Code

$ ROX-Filer/AppRun /home /usr /usr/local
\layout Standard

If you want one of the directories to be opened as a panel put 
\family typewriter 
-b
\family default 
 or 
\family typewriter 
-t
\family default 
 before the directory (for `bottom' or `top' panels).
 If you don't know what a panel is, try it and see! To run the filer in
 the background, put an & at the end of the line.
\layout LyX-Code

$ mkdir ~/Panel
\layout LyX-Code

$ ln -s $HOME ~/Panel/Home
\layout LyX-Code

$ ROX-Filer/AppRun -b ~/Panel &
\layout Standard

The panel should be displayed in a window without a title bar.
 If this does not work then you may need to update your window manager.
 The filer was designed and tested using the Enlightenment window manager
\begin_inset LatexCommand \cite{enlightenment}

\end_inset 

.
 You could also try using the -o option which bypasses the window manager
 entirely (also use this if the panel appears in the wrong place):
\layout LyX-Code

$ ROX-Filer/AppRun -o -b ~/Panel &
\layout Subsection

Mouse button and key bindings
\layout Standard

By default, the mouse button bindings are different to fit in better with
 X conventions.
 You can get the old RISC OS bindings by opening the Options window and
 clicking on a few toggle buttons.
\layout Standard

By default, the mouse buttons and key bindings for filer windows are as
 follows:
\layout Standard
\LyXTable
multicol5
21 2 0 0 -1 -1 -1 -1
1 1 0 0
1 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 1 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 1 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 1 0
0 1 1 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 1 0
0 1 1 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 1 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
8 1 0 "" ""
2 1 1 "10cm" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 2 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 1 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 1 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 1 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 1 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 2 0 1 1 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 1 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 1 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""

Key or mouse button
\newline 
Action
\newline 
Left button click
\newline 
Select (only) the item clicked on, or clear the selection.
\newline 
Middle button click
\newline 
Toggle the item between being selected and unselected.
\newline 
Right button click
\newline 
Open the main menu.
 Hold down Ctrl while clicking to go directly to
\newline 

\newline 
the Selection submenu.
\newline 
Drag an item 
\newline 
Copy the file(s) to the destination (an application or another filer window)
\newline 

\newline 
Hold down Shift to move the file, or Ctrl+Shift to create a symbolic link.
\newline 
Drag (not over an item)
\newline 
Select a group of items by dragging a box around them.
\newline 

\newline 
If you use the left button then the boxed items only are selected, otherwise
\newline 

\newline 
the boxes items are toggled between selected and unselected.
\newline 
Double click left button
\newline 
Open the file or directory or run the application.
\newline 

\newline 
Holding down Shift while clicking does the same thing as choosing
\newline 

\newline 
`Shift Open' from the menu.
\newline 
Double click middle button
\newline 
Open the file and close the directory viewer,
\newline 

\newline 
or open the directory in a new window.
\newline 
Backspace
\newline 
Change to viewing the parent directory.
\newline 
Cursor keys
\newline 
Move the cursor around.
\newline 
Page Up, Page Down
\newline 
Move up and down in steps of ten rows at a time.
\newline 
Home, End
\newline 
Move to the first/last entry in the directory.
\newline 
Return
\newline 
Open the item under the cursor.
 With Shift held down this acts like choosing 'Shift Open' from the menu.
\newline 
Spacebar
\newline 
Toggles the item under the cursor between being selected and unselected.
\layout Standard

You can simulate a click of the middle mouse button by clicking with Ctrl
 held down.
 Other keys can easily be defined by opening the menu, moving the pointer
 over the item you want to use and pressing a key.
 The key will appear in the menu and can be used from then on.
 To make the new key bindings permanent, open the Options box from the menu
 and click on Save.
\layout Subsection

The Selection
\layout Standard

While items are selected in a ROX-Filer window the filer has the global
 selection.
 You can then paste into another window to get the pathnames of the selected
 files.
 For example, to extract the files from a .tgz archive on a floppy disk into
 your home directory:
\layout Enumerate

Choose `Xterm here' from the menu in your home directory.
\layout Enumerate

Type `tar xzf ' (but don't press Return)
\layout Enumerate

Click on the .tgz file to select it.
\layout Enumerate

Click the middle button in the xterm window to paste the name of the file
 into the command.
\layout Enumerate

Press Return in the xterm to execute the command.
\layout Subsection


\begin_inset LatexCommand \label{sec: Toolbar}

\end_inset 

The Toolbar
\layout Standard

By default, each window has a toolbar along the top.
 You can disable this from the Options window.
 The three buttons on the toolbar are:
\layout Standard
\added_space_top 0.3cm \added_space_bottom 0.3cm \align center \LyXTable
multicol5
4 2 0 0 -1 -1 -1 -1
1 1 0 0
1 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
8 1 0 "" ""
2 1 1 "8cm" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 2 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""

Icon
\newline 
Action
\newline 
Up arrow
\newline 
Change to parent directory
\newline 
House
\newline 
Change to home directory
\newline 
Looping arrows
\newline 
Reread the directory contents
\layout Subsection

The Menus
\layout Standard

You can open a menu by right clicking
\begin_float footnote 
\layout Standard

If the Use `RISC OS mouse bindings' option is on then use the middle button
 instead.
\end_float 
 over a panel or filer window.
 Here is a full description of each choice and what it does:
\layout Standard
\added_space_top 0.3cm \added_space_bottom 0.3cm \align center \LyXTable
multicol5
6 2 0 0 -1 -1 -1 -1
1 1 0 0
1 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
8 1 0 "" ""
2 1 1 "8cm" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 2 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""

Entry
\newline 
Action
\newline 
Select All
\newline 
Select every item in this window.
\newline 
Clear Selection
\newline 
Unselect every item in this window.
\newline 
Options...
\newline 
Configure ROX-Filer.
\newline 
New Directory...
\newline 
Create a new directory in this one.
\newline 
Xterm Here
\newline 
Open an xterm with its current directory set to this directory.
\layout Subsubsection

The Display Menu
\layout Standard
\added_space_top 0.3cm \added_space_bottom 0.3cm \align center \LyXTable
multicol5
11 2 0 0 -1 -1 -1 -1
1 1 0 0
1 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 1 0
8 1 0 "" ""
2 1 1 "8cm" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 2 1 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 2 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 1 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""

Entry
\newline 
Action
\newline 
Large Icons
\newline 
Each object in the directory is shown as a large icon with its name below.
\newline 
Small Icons
\newline 
Each entry is shown as the top part of its icon with the name beside it.
\newline 
Full Info
\newline 
Entries are displayed with their icon, name, type, permissions, owner and
 size.
\newline 
Sort by Name
\newline 
Items are arranged in ASCII order.
 Note that `Z' is considered to come before `a'.
\newline 
Sort by Type
\newline 
Items are grouped by their MIME-types and sorted by name within the groups.
\newline 
Sort by Date
\newline 
Most recently modified first.
\newline 
Sort by Size
\newline 
Largest first.
\newline 
Show Hidden
\newline 
If on, files beginning with a dot are shown, otherwise they are hidden.
\newline 
Refresh
\newline 
Rereads the contents of the directory and details of all the files in it.
\newline 

\newline 
Use this if the display becomes out-of-date.
\layout Subsubsection


\begin_inset LatexCommand \label{sec: Permissions}

\end_inset 

Permissions
\layout Standard

The permissions display is made up of four groups of three flags.
 Each flag is displayed as a letter if it is on and a dash (-) if not.
 The first three characters show the permissions for the owner of the file,
 the second for other members of the file's group and the third for everyone
 else.
 Whichever group applies to the ROX-Filer process itself is shown underlined.
 The fourth group shows any special flags.
\layout Standard

The meanings of the characters are:
\layout Description

r Permission to read the contents of a file, or the names of files in a
 directory.
\layout Description

w Permission to alter the contents of a file, or change which names appear
 in a directory.
\layout Description

x Permission to run the file as a program, or refer to the files listed
 within the directory.
\layout Description

U This program executes with the 
\emph on 
effective user ID
\emph toggle 
 of its owner rather than the person who ran it.
\layout Description

G This program executes with the 
\emph on 
effective group ID
\emph toggle 
 of its group, regardless of who ran it.
\layout Description

T Entries in this directory can only be altered or removed by the people
 who own the files even if they have write permission on the directory itself.
\layout Standard

For example, `
\family typewriter 
\bar under 
rwx
\bar default 
,rwx,r-x/---
\family default 
' means that the owner of the file is the same as the effective user of
 ROX-Filer (basically, you own the file), you and members of the file's
 group have read, write and execute permission and other people have only
 read and execute permission.
 There are no special flags set.
\layout Standard

The rules which determine which permissions apply may vary slightly between
 operating systems, but a rough guide is:
\layout Itemize

If the
\emph on 
 effective user ID
\emph toggle 
 of the process is equal to the file's owner, then the owner permissions
 apply.
\layout Itemize

Otherwise, if the 
\emph on 
effective group ID
\emph toggle 
 of the process is equal to the file's group OR the file's group is one
 of the process's 
\emph on 
supplemental groups
\emph toggle 
 then the group permissions apply.
\layout Itemize

Otherwise, the 'other' permissions apply.
 The 
\emph on 
real user ID
\emph toggle 
 and 
\emph on 
real group ID
\emph toggle 
 have no effect (except that a process may set its real IDs to its effective
 IDs).
\layout Subsubsection

The Selection Menu
\layout Standard

All of these work in the same way - if you open the menu with some items
 selected then the operation applies to those items.
 If you open then menu over an item while there is no selection then that
 item is temporarily selected.
 If you choose one of these while there is no selection at all then the
 window goes into `target mode' - the operation happens to the next item
 you click on.
 Click on the window background, press Escape, or click with the right mouse
 button to cancel target mode.
 Target mode is mainly useful with the `Single click navigation' option
 and keys bound to the various menu entries.
\layout Standard
\added_space_top 0.3cm \added_space_bottom 0.3cm \align center \LyXTable
multicol5
21 2 0 0 -1 -1 -1 -1
1 1 0 0
1 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 1 0
0 1 1 0
0 1 1 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 1 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 1 0
0 1 1 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 1 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
8 1 0 "" ""
2 1 1 "10cm" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 2 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 2 0 1 1 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 2 0 1 1 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 2 0 1 1 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 1 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 1 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 1 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 1 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""

Entry
\newline 
Action
\newline 
Copy...
\newline 
Make a copy of this object in the same directory.
\newline 
Rename...
\newline 
Change the name used for this object.
\newline 
Link...
\newline 
Create a symbolic link to this name in the same directory.
\newline 
Shift Open
\newline 
Opens applications as directories, files as text/plain, mount points
\newline 

\newline 
by mounting or unmounting them and symlinks by opening the directory
\newline 

\newline 
containing the thing they point to.
\newline 

\newline 
This is the same as double-clicking with Shift held down.
\newline 
Help
\newline 
Explain what kind of thing is selected.
 For applications,
\newline 

\newline 
display the help files.
\newline 
Info
\newline 
Display extra information about this object.
\newline 
Open VFS
\newline 
Open the file as if it was a directory --- see section 
\begin_inset LatexCommand \ref{sec: vfs}

\end_inset 

.
\newline 
Mount
\newline 
Mount or unmount each mount point selected.
\newline 
Delete
\newline 
Remove all the selected entries from the directory.
\newline 

\newline 
Subdirectories will have their contents deleted first.
\newline 

\newline 
Deleting symlinks only removes the link, not the thing it points to.
\newline 
Disk Usage
\newline 
Count the sizes of all the selected items.
 Directories also have their
\newline 

\newline 
contents counted.
 Symlinks count themselves, not the things they point to.
\newline 
Permissions
\newline 
Allows you to change the permissions for the selected files.
\newline 
Touch
\newline 
Not implemented.
\newline 
Find
\newline 
Search for files by specifying various conditions --- see section 
\begin_inset LatexCommand \ref{sec: Searching}

\end_inset 

.
\layout Subsubsection

The Window Menu
\layout Standard
\added_space_top 0.3cm \added_space_bottom 0.3cm \align center \LyXTable
multicol5
8 2 0 0 -1 -1 -1 -1
1 1 0 0
1 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
8 1 0 "" ""
2 1 1 "8cm" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 2 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""

Entry
\newline 
Action
\newline 
Parent, New Window
\newline 
Open a new window displaying this window's parent.
\newline 
Parent, Same Window
\newline 
As above, but reuse this window.
\newline 
New Window
\newline 
Open another window onto this directory.
\newline 
Close Window
\newline 
Close this window.
\newline 
Enter Path
\newline 
Open the path-entry box (see section 
\begin_inset LatexCommand \ref{sec: mini}

\end_inset 

).
\newline 
Shell Command
\newline 
Open the shell command box (see section 
\begin_inset LatexCommand \ref{sec: mini}

\end_inset 

).
\newline 
Show ROX-Filer help
\newline 
Same as selecting ROX-Filer and choosing `Help' from the menu.
\layout Subsubsection

The Panel menu
\layout Standard

This is just a cut-down version of the window menu.
 The only new entry is `Open Panel as Directory', which displays the panel
 in a new, non-panel, window.
 `Remove Item' is a cut-down version of `Delete'; it only works for symbolic
 links and never asks for confirmation.
 Since dragging applications and directories to the panel creates symlinks
 it is very easy to change the panel contents to suit your needs.
\layout Subsection


\begin_inset LatexCommand \label{sec: vfs}

\end_inset 

Virtual File Systems
\layout Standard

Some types of file can be represented as a directory.
 A typical example is a zip file, which contains an entire directory structure
 in compressed form.
 It is often useful to be able to open up such a file as if it was a real
 directory, and the VFS system allows you to do this.
\layout Standard

To use this feature you must have one or both of the following:
\layout Itemize

A system (such as PODFUK
\begin_inset LatexCommand \cite{PODFUK}

\end_inset 

) which causes the kernel to support various Virtual File Systems directly.
 This is the best option since all programs will be able to access the contents
 of the VFS.
 You will require root access to install such a system, however, and it
 is not available on all platforms.
\layout Itemize

Support for the Midnight Commander VFS library compiled into ROX-Filer.
 This happens automatically when you compile ROX-Filer if it can find the
 VFS library --- this means having 
\family typewriter 
libvfs.so
\family default 
 (or 
\family typewriter 
libvfs.a
\family default 
) in a system library directory or in the directory in the environment variable
 
\family typewriter 
LD_LIBRARY_PATH
\family default 
.
 In this case, you will be able to view the directory structure but not
 change it or access individual files.
 Support for this may be added later.
 Midnight Commander is part of the GNOME project.
\layout Standard

Note that using the `Open VFS' menu is simply a short-cut for using the
 path-entry box (explained below), so if you want to use a VFS not listed
 on the menu you can type in the path directly, eg:
\layout Standard


\family typewriter 
/home/fred/archive.zip#uzip/
\layout Standard


\latex latex 

\backslash 
noindent 
\latex default 
Don't forget the final slash!
\layout Subsubsection

Step by step example of adding VFS support
\layout Standard

This assumes that you have the Midnight Commander source in a directory
 called `mc'.
 You might need to replace 
\family typewriter 
libvfs.so 
\family default 
with 
\family typewriter 
libvfs.a
\family default 
.
\layout LyX-Code

$ cd mc
\layout LyX-Code

$ ./configure
\layout LyX-Code

$ cd vfs
\layout LyX-Code

$ make libvfs.so
\layout Itemize

If you have the root password then install the library in a system library
 directory as normal.
\layout Itemize

If not,
\begin_deeper 
\layout LyX-Code

$ mkdir ~/lib
\layout LyX-Code

$ cp libvfs.so ~/lib
\layout LyX-Code

$ cd ~/Apps/ROX-Filer
\layout Standard

Edit the 
\family typewriter 
AppRun
\family default 
 file to include this as the 
\emph on 
second
\emph toggle 
 line:
\layout LyX-Code

LD_LIBRARY_PATH=${HOME}/lib; export LD_LIBRARY_PATH
\layout Standard

This will ensure that ROX-Filer will look for the library in the new 
\family typewriter 
~/lib
\family default 
 directory.
 Finally, recompile:
\layout LyX-Code

$ ./AppRun --compile
\layout LyX-Code

...
\layout LyX-Code

checking for mc_stat in -lvfs...
 yes
\layout Standard

If you saw that line then it's worked! Well done!
\end_deeper 
\layout Subsection


\begin_inset LatexCommand \label{sec: mini}

\end_inset 

The mini-buffer
\layout Standard

The mini-buffer is a white bar that appears along the bottom of the window
 and allows you to enter some text.
 Press Escape to get rid of it again.
 It behaves in different ways depending on how you invoked it:
\layout Subsubsection

The path-entry box
\layout Standard

This allows you to type in a path directly.
 As you type the display is updated to show the item entered visually.
 The main use is to find a file in a large directory quickly, but you can
 also use it for navigating between directories, or for selecting a full
 pathname from somewhere else and pasting it directly into the path-entry
 box.
\layout Standard
\added_space_top 0.3cm \added_space_bottom 0.3cm \align center \LyXTable
multicol5
4 2 0 0 -1 -1 -1 -1
1 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0
8 1 0 "" ""
2 1 1 "8cm" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""
0 8 0 1 0 0 0 "" ""

Key
\newline 
Action
\newline 
Return
\newline 
Open the currently selected item.
\newline 
Tab
\newline 
Shell-style tab completion.
\newline 
Up, Down
\newline 
Select the previous/next matching entry.
\layout Standard

Tab completion tries to fill in as many characters for you as it can.
 For example, if there are two files in a directory called `save-mail-nov-1999'
 and `save-mail-dec-1999' then typing 'save' and pressing Tab will expand
 `save' to `save-mail-' and beep to indicate that the match is not complete.
 If you use tab completion on a directory and it is unique then the filer
 will automatically change into the directory.
 This behavior should be familiar to shell users.
\layout Subsubsection*

Example
\layout Standard

Let's say you want to locate the documentation for Wine in the directory
 /usr/doc (which is usually very large).
 Here's how you could do it:
\layout Enumerate

Open the minibuffer by choosing 'Enter Path' from the Window menu.
 I usually bind this function to the slash (`/') key.
\layout Enumerate

Press CTRL-U to delete the existing contents - this moves you to the root
 directory.
\layout Enumerate

Type `u
\latex latex 

\backslash 
Tab{}
\latex default 
do
\latex latex 

\backslash 
Tab{}
\latex default 
wi
\latex latex 

\backslash 
Tab{}
\latex default 
'.
 As you type, the cursor will move to the correct subdirectory.
 If it beeps when you press Tab then you need to supply more letters.
\layout Subsubsection

The shell command box
\layout Standard

This provides a quick way of entering shell commands if you don't want to
 open an xterm.
 If you don't know what shell commands are, skip this section!
\layout Standard

Just type in the command and press Return to execute it.
 Up and Down arrows move through previously entered commands.
 If some items are selected then they are assigned to the positional parameters
 $1, $2, etc.
\layout Subsubsection*

Example
\layout Standard

To print all the selected files:
\layout Enumerate

Open the minibuffer by choosing `Shell Command' from the Window menu.
 I usually bind this to the bang (`!') key.
\layout Enumerate

Type 
\family typewriter 
`lpr $*
\family default 
' and press Return.
\layout Subsubsection*

Notes
\layout Itemize

Be careful; you will not be asked to confirm! If in doubt, start the command
 with `
\family typewriter 
echo
\family default 
' so that it will be displayed rather than executed.
\layout Itemize

The above command won't work if some of the files contain spaces --- use
 `
\family typewriter 
lpr 
\latex latex 
"
\latex default 
$@
\latex latex 
"
\family default 
\latex default 
' instead to be safe.
\layout Itemize

`sh' is always used as the name of the shell to run (mainly because bash
 and csh treat positional parameters differently).
 However, PATH is searched to find it so you can still use another shell
 if you want by naming it sh and putting it in your path.
\layout Itemize

Commands execute in the background, so you can say:
\begin_deeper 
\layout LyX-Code

sleep 240; xmessage Time to go!
\end_deeper 
\layout Subsection

Action windows
\layout Standard

Action windows are those boxes that appear while you're doing a Copy/Move/Link/e
tc operation.
 The status line at the top of the window shows the current directory or
 object that the window is processing.
 The scrolling area below is the log area - it shows what has been done
 and may display questions here.
\layout Standard

At the bottom are four buttons and, sometimes, some options.
 The buttons work as follows:
\layout Description

Quiet will do simple operations without asking you to confirm each one.
 By turning this on and off during an operation you can use it like a pause
 button.
\layout Description

Yes answers yes to the question displayed in the log area.
\layout Description

No answers no to the question displayed in the log area.
\layout Description

Abort kills the current operation (if any) and closes the action window.
\layout Standard

You can control which actions get started automatically (without you having
 to click on Quiet at the start) from the Options window.
\layout Subsubsection

Action Window Options
\layout Standard

Some actions have options, which appear as option boxes at the bottom of
 the window.
 They are:
\layout Itemize

`Force' means that the filer won't treat non-writeable files as special.
 Normally, it confirms the deletion even if Quiet is pressed.
 Note that you still can't removed files from non-writeable directories
 because in that case you really don't have permission.
\layout Itemize

`Brief' prevents the filer logging a message every time it does something.
 Use this to speed things up if large numbers of messages are being logged.
\layout Itemize

`Recurse' means that doing something to a directory will also do the same
 thing to all its contents, and the contents of any subdirectories, and
 so on.
\layout Subsection


\begin_inset LatexCommand \label{sec: Searching}

\end_inset 

Searching
\layout Standard

The Find feature looks through all the selected files and directories and
 any subdirectories (recursively) looking for items that match a particular
 expression.
\layout Standard

If you know the name of a file then just enter it in the `Expression:' box,
 enclosed in single quotes.
 For example, to find a file called `log' you would enter:
\layout LyX-Code

'log'
\layout Standard

Remember to use normal quotes, not double quotes (
\family typewriter 

\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 


\family default 
) or back-quotes (
\family typewriter 
`
\family default 
)!
\layout Standard

As the filer finds matching files they are added to the results list.
 Clicking on an entry in the list opens a viewer showing the file you clicked
 on.
 The filer will use the same window to view other results (so, if you want
 the results shown in separate windows you must explicitly create a new
 window from the Window menu).
\layout Subsubsection

Wildcards
\layout Standard

You can also put shell-style wildcard characters inside the quotes, for
 example:
\layout LyX-Code

'*.html'
\layout LyX-Code

'Report.*'
\layout LyX-Code

'Draft[1-5]'
\layout LyX-Code

'main.[ch]'
\layout Standard

Look at the 
\family typewriter 
glob(7)
\family default 
 manpage if you want to know more about shell wildcards.
\layout Standard

If the pattern you enter contains a slash ('/') character then the pattern
 is matched against the file's full path, otherwise only the leafname is
 used.
 That is, 
\family typewriter 
'*tmp*'
\family default 
 will find 'tmp' and 'tmpfile' but not '/tmp/file' --- 
\family typewriter 
'/*tmp*'
\family default 
 will find all three.
\layout Subsubsection

Simple tests
\layout Standard

As well as finding files by their names you can also find them by various
 other attributes.
 Note that `file' is used here to mean anything that can appear in the filesyste
m --- including directories, devices and so on.
\layout Standard


\latex latex 

\backslash 
smallskip
\backslash 
noindent 
\latex default 
These look at the type of the item being checked:
\layout Description

IsReg matches any regular (ie, normal) file.
\layout Description

IsLink matches symlinks.
\layout Description

IsDir matches directories.
\layout Description

IsChar matches character device files.
\layout Description

IsBlock matches block device files.
\layout Description

IsDev matches block or character device files.
\layout Description

IsPipe matches pipes.
\layout Description

IsSocket matches sockets.
\layout Standard

These look at the permissions set on the file - see section 
\begin_inset LatexCommand \ref{sec: Permissions}

\end_inset 

.
\layout Description

IsSUID matches files which have the Set-UID bit set.
\layout Description

IsSGID matches files which have the Set-GID bit set.
\layout Description

IsSticky matches files with the sticky bit set,
\layout Description

IsReadable matches files which you can read from.
\layout Description

IsWriteable matches files which you can write to.
\layout Description

IsExecutable matches files which you can execute.
\layout Standard

And a couple of other useful ones:
\layout Description

IsEmpty finds empty files (ie, those whose length is 0 bytes).
\layout Description

IsMine finds files which you own.
\layout Subsubsection

Logic operators
\layout Standard

You can combine the above tests in various ways to perform more advanced
 searches.
 An expression is actually made up of a list of 
\emph on 
cases
\emph toggle 
, separated by commas.
 The filer will try to match each case in turn until one matches or there
 are no more cases left.
 For example, to search for files with several possible endings:
\layout LyX-Code

'*.gif', '*.htm', '*.html'
\layout Standard

Further, each of the cases is actually a list of conditions.
 The case only matches if all of its conditions are met.
 So, to find a directory called 
\family typewriter 
lib
\family default 
 or a regular file ending in 
\family typewriter 
.so
\family default 
:
\layout LyX-Code

IsDir 'lib', IsReg '*.so'
\layout Standard

You can negate a condition by putting a 
\family typewriter 
!
\family default 
 in front of it and you can use a sub-expression as a condition by bracketing
 it, like this:
\layout LyX-Code

! (IsDir, IsReg)
\layout LyX-Code

!IsDir !IsReg
\layout LyX-Code

Not isdir and not isreg
\layout Standard

All three do the same thing.
\layout Subsubsection

Comparisons
\layout Standard

You can also compare various values using the operators 
\family typewriter 
<, <=, =, !=, >, >=
\family default 
 (for less-than, less-than-or-equal-to, equal-to, not-equal-to, greater-than
 and greater-than-or-equal-to).
 When comparing times, you may find it helpful to use 
\family typewriter 
after 
\family default 
and 
\family typewriter 
before
\family default 
 instead of 
\family typewriter 
>
\family default 
 and 
\family typewriter 
<
\family default 
 to make things clearer.
\layout Standard

The following are read from the file being checked and may be used for the
 values being compared:
\layout Description

atime The time that the file was last accessed.
\layout Description

ctime The time that the file's status was last changed.
\layout Description

mtime The time that the file's contents were last modified.
\layout Description

size The size of the file.
\layout Description

inode The file's inode (index) number
\layout Description

nlinks The number of links to this file (that is, the number of directory
 entries which refer to this file.
 Note that symlinks don't count as references).
\layout Description

uid The User ID of the file.
\layout Description

gid The Group ID of the file.
\layout Description

blocks The number of disk blocks being used by the file.
\layout Standard

Times are measured as seconds since the Unix Epoch (00:00:00 UTC, January
 1, 1970).
 Sizes are in bytes.
 When specifying constants to compare these values with you may use various
 keywords to scale the value:
\layout Description

Byte(s) has no effect, but looks better.
\layout Description

Kb multiplies by 1024, so 2Kb is the same as 2048.
\layout Description

Mb multiplies by 
\begin_inset Formula \( 1024^{2} \)
\end_inset 

, ie 1024 Kb.
\layout Description

Sec(s) has no effect, but looks nice.
\layout Description

Min(s) multiplies by 60 to get minutes.
\layout Description

Hour(s),
\protected_separator 
Day(s),
\protected_separator 
Week(s),
\protected_separator 
Year(s) likewise convert to the relevant unit.
\layout Description

Ago makes the time in the past relative to when the check is done.
\layout Description

Hence makes the time in the future.
\layout Description

Now is short for `
\family typewriter 
0 Secs Hence
\family default 
'.
\layout Standard

Some examples should make this all a bit clearer!
\layout LyX-Code

mtime after 1 day ago
\layout LyX-Code

size > 10 Mb
\layout LyX-Code

IsReg and nlinks > 1
\layout Standard

The first finds files modified within the last 24 hours.
 You could use 
\family typewriter 
>
\family default 
 instead of 
\family typewriter 
after,
\family default 
but it's not so clear what is meant.
 The second finds files larger than 10 Mb and the last finds regular files
 with more than one directory entry.
\layout Standard

Be careful though --- the filer doesn't check the context of the modifiers,
 so 
\family typewriter 
size > 1 day ago
\family default 
 is allowed, although it doesn't make much sense! Also, forgetting to use
 
\family typewriter 
ago
\family default 
 or 
\family typewriter 
hence
\family default 
 will cause odd effects (the time will be measured relative to the Epoch
 rather than the current time).
 Finally, don't use = with times --- 
\family typewriter 
atime = 1 day ago
\family default 
 looks for a file accessed 
\emph on 
exactly
\emph toggle 
 86400 seconds ago...
\layout Subsection

Specials
\layout Description

System(Command) executes `Command' on the file.
 The test succeeds if the command returns an exit status of zero.
 A `%' character in `Command' is replaced by the full path of the file being
 checked.
 System is a very slow test to perform, so do it last if possible.
 For example, if you're looking for a .c file containing the word `main',
 do
\begin_deeper 
\layout LyX-Code

'*.c' system(grep -q main
\latex latex 
 "
\backslash 
thinspace{}
\latex default 
%
\latex latex 

\backslash 
thinspace{}"
\latex default 
)
\layout Standard

so that the grep is only performed for files ending in .c (as opposed to
 only checking that the file ends in .c if it contains the word `main').
\end_deeper 
\layout Description

Prune Always fails!
\begin_float footnote 
\layout Standard

Note that this is the opposite of the 
\noun on 
find(1)
\noun toggle 
 command.
\end_float 
 However, if it gets evaluated at all then it prevents the filer from checking
 inside the current directory.
 Remember the order in which the filer checks the expression!
\layout Standard

Examples:
\layout LyX-Code

'*.old' system(echo rm %)
\layout LyX-Code

'src' prune, '*.c'
\layout Standard

The first displays a command to delete each file ending in 
\family typewriter 
.old
\family default 
; you can either paste the results into an xterm to execute them or run
 the search again without the 
\family typewriter 
echo
\family default 
.
 It's always a good idea to use 
\family typewriter 
echo
\family default 
 first with dangerous commands! The second looks for 
\family typewriter 
.c
\family default 
 files, but does not bother checking inside directories called 
\family typewriter 
src
\family default 
.
 The expression is evaluated like this:
\layout Standard
\added_space_top 0.3cm \added_space_bottom 0.3cm \align center 

\begin_inset Figure size 216 180
file Prune.eps
height 2 2.5
flags 9

\end_inset 


\layout Subsection

Options
\layout Standard

You can configure various aspects of ROX-Filer from the Options box.
 Choose `Options...' from a filer window menu to open it.
 
\layout Standard

At the bottom of the window are four buttons:
\layout Description

Save puts all your choices into effect, and also saves them into your Choices
 directory for next time ROX-Filer is loaded.
 ROX-Filer will never save any preferences to disk unless you click on the
 `Save' button in the options window.
\layout Description

OK puts your choices into effect without writing anything to disk.
\layout Description

Apply works like OK, but without closing the Options window.
\layout Description

Cancel closes the options box and forgets any changes you made.
\layout Subsubsection

Action window options
\layout Standard

You can choose to start some operations automatically, without waiting for
 you to click on Quiet.
 Select each operation that you want to auto-start here.
\layout Subsubsection

Filer window options
\layout Itemize

`New window on button 1' swaps the actions of the two non-menu buttons when
 opening directories.
 This is provided for people who are used to the RISC OS mouse bindings.
\layout Itemize

`Menu on button 2' swaps the actions of buttons 2 and 3 so that the middle
 button brings up the menus.
 This is provided for people who are used to the RISC OS mouse bindings.
\layout Itemize

`Single-click navigation' treats a single click over an item as if it was
 a double click.
 This allows you to move around, run applications and open files without
 double clicking.
 To select a file 
\emph on 
without
\emph toggle 
 opening it you must hold down CTRL while you click.
\layout Itemize

`Unique windows' prevents you from having two windows showing the same directory.
 Opening a second view onto a directory closes the first.
\layout Itemize

`Toolbar type for new windows' allows you to choose what kind of toolbar
 will be used for future filer windows (the currently open windows are not
 affected).
 None means that new windows will not have a toolbar, Normal provides a
 small bar of icons, and GNOME displays larger icons with textual labels
 and allows the bar to be detached from the window by dragging it.
 See section 
\begin_inset LatexCommand \ref{sec: Toolbar}

\end_inset 

 for details.
\layout Standard

The last display style and sort type you chose will also be saved as the
 defaults for next time.
\layout Subsubsection

Drag and Drop options
\layout Standard

ROX-Filer uses the standard XDND protocol for drag-and-drop.
 This protocol recommends that URIs should contain the hostname of the computer
 that the resource is on so that the program receiving the data can determine
 whether it can get the data directly or whether it must go via the X-server.
 However, many older programs (particularly GNOME applications) get confused
 by the hostname and fail to load the data correctly.
 If `Don't use hostnames' is on then the hostname part is omitted and ROX-Filer
 will work with these applications BUT you can't drag data to a program
 running on a different machine.
\layout Standard

`Allow dragging to icons in filer windows' controls what happens when you
 drop files onto icons in filer windows.
 If on then drops onto directories will save the data inside the directory
 while dropping onto programs will invoke the program on that data.
 If off then drops anywhere inside a filer window act like drops onto the
 window background --- that is, the data will be saved into the directory
 being displayed.
\layout Subsubsection

Menu options
\layout Standard

The `Xterm here' program is the one used when you choose `Xterm here' from
 the menu.
 You can replace it with another program such as `gnome-terminal' if you
 like.
 In fact, any program will do, but note that you cannot pass any options
 to the program at present.
\layout Section

Filetypes
\layout Standard

ROX-Filer uses three sub-directories in your Choices directory for filetypes:
\layout Description

MIME-info contains files which specify what the MIME type for a file should
 be, based on its extention.
 All the files in all the MIME-info directories are scanned when the filer
 loads.
 In addition, ROX-Filer is now supplied with a file called `MIME-info' (inside
 its application directory), which is also scanned --- this allows new users
 to get started more easily.
 Many applications now come with a file called `something.mime'; copy these
 files into your MIME-info directory to make ROX-Filer automatically recognise
 the new extensions.
\layout Description

MIME-types contains symlinks, one for each MIME type, which point to programs
 that can handle files of that type.
 For example, to make opening an HTML file load it into Netscape:
\begin_deeper 
\layout Enumerate

Find the Netscape application and go to `Link...' on the menu.
\layout Enumerate

Enter `text_html' as the name for the link and drag the icon from the Link
 box into the MIME-types directory.
\layout Standard

You can also put actual programs in here as well as links if you want to.
\end_deeper 
\layout Description

MIME-icons contains the images used to display each type of file.
 So the filer will try to display an HTML file using the icon `MIME-icons/text_h
tml.xpm'.
\layout Standard

Many sample files are supplied as part of the ROX desktop
\begin_inset LatexCommand \cite{ROX}

\end_inset 

.
\layout Standard

In both MIME-types and MIME-icons directories you can also provide default
 actions/images for each media type.
 For example, if `text_html' isn't found then the filer will try simply
 using `text'.
\layout Section

Application directories
\layout Standard

An application directory is a directory which can be run as an application.
 It contains all the resources of an application - source code, binaries,
 documentation and so on.
 Keeping everything in one place make installation and uninstallation much
 easier for users.
 You can also keep multiple versions of a program by simply having several
 application directories.
 You may move and rename them as you please.
 Application directories are easier to use and install and are more secure
 too
\begin_float footnote 
\layout Standard

Because you can compile an application as a user and then simply copy it
 as root rather than having to run an install script you are free from the
 danger of running untrusted code as root.
 All you have to watch out for is setuid binaries.
\end_float 
.
\layout Standard

To make a directory executable all you need to do is create a executable
 file called `AppRun' inside it.
 This file is run when the user double-clicks on the application.
 You should also provide `AppIcon.xpm' (which will be used as the image for
 the application) and `Help' (which is a directory that is opened when the
 user asks for help).
 Have a look at the ROX-Filer application directory for a full example.
\layout Section

Hacking
\layout Standard

This is a quick start guide for people who want to modify the source code.
 If you make useful changes or fix bugs, please send patches to me or to
 the mailing list.
 Tell me which version you're using!
\layout Subsection

Compiling
\layout Standard

The first time you compile the program you need to do `AppRun --compile',
 but in future you only need to run `make' in the `src' directory when you
 change the .c and .h files.
 You might want to run `make depend' too.
\layout Subsection

Creating and applying patches
\layout Standard

When people make small modifications to the sources they will often distribute
 them as 
\emph on 
patch files
\emph toggle 
 --- usually on the mailing list.
 To apply a patch, go into the 'src' directory and run patch with the patch
 file.
 Then recompile, like this:
\layout LyX-Code

$ cd ROX-Filer/src
\layout LyX-Code

$ patch < patchfile
\layout LyX-Code

$ ../AppRun --compile
\layout Standard

You can remove the patch by simply repeating the above sequence - patch
 will detect that the patch is already applied and offer to remove it.
 To create a patch you need to take a copy of the old 'src' directory before
 you modify it (before you compile, even):
\layout LyX-Code

$ cd ROX-Filer
\layout LyX-Code

$ cp -r src old_src
\layout Standard

Now, modify and compile until it works they way you want it to.
 To make the patch:
\layout LyX-Code

$ cd ROX-Filer
\layout LyX-Code

$ diff -cr old_src src > my_patch
\layout Standard

This creates a human- and machine-readable patch file.
 Submit this to the mailing list.
 The are many reasons for posting patches rather that the modified files:
\layout Itemize

They are smaller, and hence shouldn't bounce.
 They are also quicker to download for people with slow connections.
\layout Itemize

People can see what they're getting into before applying them!
\layout Itemize

Patches can (usually) be applied to slightly modified versions of the sources.
 This means that people can apply several patches without each new one overwriti
ng the others.
\layout Subsection

Autoconf
\layout Standard

Here's a quick explanation of the autoconf system in case you haven't used
 it before.
 See `info autoconf' for full details.
\layout Standard

There's a file called 'configure.in' which contains various tests (`info
 autoconf').
 You run `autoconf' and it reads through the file and generates a shell
 script to perform the tests, saving it as `configure'.
 `configure' is normally distributed with the program because not everyone
 has autoconf.
\layout Standard

You then run `configure' (in fact, let the `AppRun' script do it because
 it passes it some arguments), which performs all the tests.
 It reads in `Makefile.in' and `config.h.in' and fills in the missing values
 with the test results to produce `Makefile' and `config.h'.
\layout Standard

You run `make', which creates .o files from the .c files and links to produce
 ROX-Filer.
\layout Subsection

Data-structures
\layout Standard

The diagram below shows some of the major structures found in the filer
 along with their most important attributes and methods.
 Exactly which attributes have been included is a little hit-and-miss but
 it might help you get the overall picture.
 If you find it useful, please let me know and I'll try to keep it up-to-date
 (or even extend it!).
\layout Standard

To summarise, each window (or panel) has its own 
\series bold 
FilerWindow
\series default 
 structure.
 This structure has pointers to a 
\series bold 
Collection
\series default 
 (which is the widget which actually displays the files) and to a 
\series bold 
Directory
\series default 
, which is used to cache the directory contents.
 Both 
\series bold 
Collection
\series default 
 and 
\series bold 
Directory
\series default 
 have pointers to (the same) 
\series bold 
DirItem
\series default 
s, each of which corresponds to one filesystem object.
 Several 
\series bold 
FilerWindow
\series default 
s may share the same 
\series bold 
Directory
\series default 
.
 While scanning is in progress the 
\series bold 
Directory
\series default 
 keeps a list of the new items it has found (
\emph on 
new_items
\emph toggle 
) and the items which have changed in some way (
\emph on 
up_items
\emph toggle 
).
 It periodically notifies the filer window of the changes-so-far by calling
 all the functions in the 
\emph on 
users
\emph toggle 
 list (use 
\emph on 
attach()
\emph toggle 
 and 
\emph on 
detach()
\emph toggle 
 to add and remove functions to or from the list).
\layout Standard
\added_space_top 0.3cm \added_space_bottom 0.3cm \align center 

\begin_inset Figure size 595 585
file Structs.eps
width 3 100
flags 9

\end_inset 


\layout Bibliography
\bibitem {ROX}


\emph on 
The ROX desktop
\emph toggle 
, <http://www.ecs.soton.ac.uk/~tal197/rox.php3>
\layout Bibliography
\bibitem {GTK+}


\emph on 
GTK+ Toolkit
\emph toggle 
, <http://www.gtk.org>
\layout Bibliography
\bibitem {GNOME}


\emph on 
The GNOME desktop
\emph toggle 
, <http://www.gnome.org>
\layout Bibliography
\bibitem {DND}


\emph on 
The Drag and Drop protocol
\emph toggle 
, <http://www.its.caltech.edu/~jafl/xdnd/>
\layout Bibliography
\bibitem {XDS}


\emph on 
The X Direct Save protocol
\emph toggle 
, <http://www.its.caltech.edu/~jafl/xds/>
\layout Bibliography
\bibitem {Choices}


\emph on 
The ROX Choices system
\emph toggle 
, <http://www.ecs.soton.ac.uk/~tal197/choices.php3>
\layout Bibliography
\bibitem {enlightenment}


\emph on 
Enlightenment,
\emph toggle 
 <http://www.enlightenment.org> 
\layout Bibliography
\bibitem {PODFUK}


\emph on 
POrtable Dodgy Filesystems in Userland (hacK), 
\emph toggle 
<http://atrey.karlin.mff.cuni.cz/~pavel/podfuk/podfuk.html>
\the_end