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COMPUTER BITS I BY JENNIFER BONNITCHA Getting the PIF with Windows This month, we talk about the Windows Program Information File (PIF) Editor which enables you to provide special information in Windows about Non-Windows applications. This is of particular importance if you want to run an application and have Windows always look to a certain directory prior to start-up. start-up directory (especially useful for storing data files in different directories). (3). To specify a program parameter for the application (such as FW3/T to start Framework and disable the license agreement screen), or to be prompted for parameters when you start. (4). To reserve short cut key combinations - some pop-up programs require key combinations which are usually reserved for Windows. (5). For 386 machines, to give the application more memory so it can run properly or to enable it to run faster. On the Accessories window, the PIF Editor in any mode enables you to It can be equally useful in directing Windows applications. The PIF's filename usually matches that of the corresponding application, so it is easy to locate. Other uses include providing the application's executable file name. If Windows can't find a particular PIF, then it assumes the standard settings that the Non-Windows application utilises. Note that most applications still run properly using the standard settings. What can a PIF do? Why would you want to change the PIF? Several reasons spring to mind: (1). To change the application's pathname. (2). To change the application's File Mode Help I .S,tart-up Directory: I I I I '{ideo Mode: <at> Text Memory Requirements: KB f!equired XMS Memory: KB Re_guired frogram Filename: Window I.itle: Qptional Parameters: Directly M odilieo: D I I I 0 Graphics/Multiple Text I128 I EJ 0 CDM1 0 0 COMZ O COM! D No Screen !;_xchange KB Limit COM_J_ EJ D _!S,eyboard Prevent Program S!!ilch 1:8:1 .!;_lose Window on E xii Reserve Shortey! Keys: 42 □ · Alt+Tab D Alt+Esc D 0 SILICON CHIP PrtSc Alt+PrtSc D Ctrl+Esc Fig.1: the PIF Editor dialog box is brought up by double-clicking on PIF Editor in the Accessories window. After that, it's simply a matter of filling in each section & then saving the file. make permanent changes to an application's PIF. And don't worry if the application doesn't have a PIF; the PIF Editor lets you create one! You can run an application directly from its PIF just as you can from the application's .EXE file. The PIF can be added to a Program Group, just as you would add an application. You can run an application directly from a PIF - one advantage is that you can then have several PIFs for a single application to cover various situations. Remember that most applications don't need a PIF since, they run properly on their own using the standard settings. If an application doe; n't run properly or doesn't run in the way you want it to, a PIF could be the answer. How do the PIFs get there in the first place? (1). Setup might create a PIF. (2). The application may come with its own predefined PIF. (3). You can create a PIF using the PIF Editor. During Setup, Windows scans for Non-Windows Applications, then automatically creates and installs a predefined PIF for that application in your Windows directory. Some applications even come with their own PIFs. Changing PIFs Open the Accessories window, then choose the PIF Editor. Each PIF may contain options for Standard or 386 Enhanced mode of operation; the Editor automatically displays the correct options for the current mode. Fig.1 shows the Dialog Box for Standard mode. Program Filename: Type the pathname of the file that starts the application. Most applications use either the .COM or .EXE extension. The filename could also be a batch (.BAT) OMSPEC=C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM IFY OFF C:\ALDUS;C:\PM4; C:\PM; C:\WINDOWS;C:\DOS;C:\UTIL;C:\DTP; TEMP=C:\TEMP OLPATH=96PATH96 MPTSPSG mono SHELL ♦ ♦ Fig.2: double clicking on the Sysedit icon brings up the System Configuration Editor, which automatically loads the WIN.INI, SYSTEM.IN!, AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files. Each file can then be edited & saved in the normal way. file if you want to set several operating conditions prior to starting the application. Window Title: This is optional but recommended, as it assists with identification of the PIF file for later reference. If you leave the title blank, when you minimise the application, its icon title contains the application's filename without the extension. Optional Parameters: This entry is also optional. Here you select certain parameters for the application to work under - eg, a filename, letters, numbers, etc - but it must be applicable to the actual application to which it's referring. You can get Windows to prompt you for parameters by typing a question mark(?) in this box. Should you want to use parameters otherthan those specified in the PIF, choose Run from the Program Manager menu and supply the new parameters. Start-up Directory: Some applications require access to certain files in a specific directory. Although once again the entry is optional, you may specify the drive and directory that · contains the application file. This could be useful in a Non-Windows application where you store the data files in a separate directory. Video Mode: The Text and Graphics/Multiple Text modes refer to the application's actual display on the screen when running. Windows gets a certain amount of memory according to these option settings. Text mode suggests to Windows that the application will run only in normal text mode. This option uses the least amount of memory, therefore making the most of the memory available to the application. Graphics/Multiple Text mode suggests to Windows that the application has capabilities of running a graphical display. This option requires more memory access, however it does ensure that enough video memory will be available when you switch between modes - Lotus 1-2-3 Rel 3 will display graphs and text, for example. Memory requirements Reference will need to be made to the application manual to find out how much free memory is required to execute the program. In general, leave the setting at 128Kb as Windows will give the application all available con- ventional memory when you start it. The number simply indicates the minimum required before Windows even tries to start the application and does not limit how much conventional memory it receives. For Kb Required and Kb Desired, a setting of -1 tells Windows to give the application all available conventional memory and as much memory as possible, up to the maximum of 640Kb respectively. XMS Memory: These options tell Windows how much extended memory to give to an application. Few applications use extended memory (although Lotus 1-2-3 Rel 3 does), so you can usually leave these options at their standard. Directly Modifies: This selection informs Windows that the application will use certain resources in a way that prevents other applications sharing the same resource. Some communications applications take control over the COM port they are using, denying access to other applications. Using this switch would guard against garbled or lost data. No Screen Exchange: This option, when selected, prevents the copying of information to Windows Clipboard using the Print Screen key. One advantage in selecting the option is that OCT0BER1991 43 .Eile ~windows] load= run = Beep=yes Spooler=no HullPort=Hone deuice=PostScript Printer,PSCRIPT,LPT1: BorderWidth=3 KeyboardSpeed=31 CursorBlinkRate=S30 DoubleClickSpeed=452 Prograrns=corn exe bat pif Documents= DeuiceHotSelectedTirneout=15 TransrnissionRetryTirneout=45 swapdisk= [Desktop] Pattern=(Hone) Wallpaper=gray.brnp TileWallpaper=1 GridGr anulari ty= o IconSpacing=101l Fig.3: section of a typical WIN.IN! file, showing its general format. This file contains all the information that defines the Windows environment. 44 SILICON CHIP . .!:!elp + + it conserves memory - the effect is similar to Reserve Shortcut Keys options. Prevent Program Switch: This is another method for conserving memory, however it prevents program switching. You must quit the application then start another, but this minimises the benefit of Windows. Close Window on Exit: Automatically closes the applications window on exit and returns you to Windows, rather than leaving the information on the screen. Reserve Shortcut Keys: Selecting one or more of these key combinations will tell Windows to ignore the specified key combination when the application is running. As the key combination you may use in the application may also perform a function within Windows, by reserving the combination Windows will ignore it while the application is running. Additional PIF settings for 386 Enhanced mode include the ability to display an application in either Full Screen or Windowed mode with Background or Exclusive execution, Multitasking, Memory, Display and Other options such as Allow Fast Paste. The PIF Editor has context-sensitive help for its parameter fields and it issues warnings if you select potentially dangerous settings (phew!) . ~earch di s play.dru=Radius TPD/PC 19-Inch Display network.dru =Hetwork not ins t alled language.dll=English (International) [Extensions] cal=calendar . exe A.cal crd=cardfile.exe A.crd + fdit [boot] 286grabber=ugacolor.gr2 386grabber=uga.gr3 fixedfon.fon=ugafix.fon oernfonts.fon=ugaoern.fon fonts.fon=ugasys.fon display.dru=tpd19 . dru shell=progrnan.exe network.dru= language.dll=langeng.dll cornrn.dru=cornrn.dru sound.dru=sound.dru rnouse.dru=rnouse.dru keyboard.dru=keyboard . dru systern.dru=atrnsys.dru atrn.systern.dru=systern.dru [keyboard] subtype= type=4 oernansi.bin = keyboard . dll= [boot.description] + + + Fig.4: the SYSTEM.IN! file primarily contains settings that allow you to customise Windows to meet your system's hardware needs. Applications requiring the PIFs can also be used in the WIN.IN! file to automatically load an application. Initialisation files Modifying initialisation files allows you to automatically load and/or run applications while Windows starts. The files that can be modified include the WIN.IN! and SYSTEM.IN! files . You can edit these files with a text editor such as the notepad program. Perhaps a better option is the SYSEDIT.EXE utility program that accompanies Windows. You can easily add the program to the Applications program group by creating a new program item, as follows: (1). Maximise the Program Manager and make sure the Windows Applications program group is active. (2). Choose File New Program Item OK. (3). Choose Browse then double click on the System Directory. (4) . Double click on SYSEDIT.EXE then choose OK. The Sysedit icon now appears in the Windows Applications program group. This text editor automatically loads the WIN.IN! , SYSTEM. IN!, AUT0EXEC.BAT and C0NFIG.SYS files when activated (see Fig.2). Each of the files may be printed for further reference , although it is the WIN.IN! and SYSTEM.IN! files which are of the most interest. If you are going to edit the INI files, make sure you have a backup copy of the files before making any changes - just to be on the safe side! One of the advantages of modifying the INI fil es is the amount of time you can save by having Windows launch frequently used applications automatically at start-up , displaying them as icons, in windows or full screen. Win.Ini The WIN.IN! file contains information that defines the Windows environment. Windows and Windows Applications can use the information in the WIN.IN! file as you configure it to meet your needs and preferences. Generally the file has the following format: [Section Name] Keyname=value Section name is the name of a section; sections are used to break settings into logical groups. The enclosing brackets are required and the left bracket must be in the leftmost column on the screen. The Keyname=value statement defines the value of each string. A keyname is the name of a setting. It must be immediately followed by an equals continued on page 96 Getting the PIF with Windows - continued from page 44 Advertising Index sign and comments can be included provided the comment line is preceded by a semi-colon(;). The following sections, not necessarily in this order, appear in the WIN.INI file: Windows - affects an assortment of elements in your Windows environment, including statements that can automatically load and run applications. Desktop - controls the appearance of the screen background (desktop) and the positioning of windows and icons. Extensions - associates specified types of files with corresponding applications. . Intl- describes how to display items for countries other than the United States. Ports - lists all available output ports. Fonts - describes the screen font files that are loaded by Windows. PrinterPorts - lists active and inactive output devices that can be accessed by Windows. Devices-lists active output devices that provide compatibility with Windows 2.x applications. Colors - defines colours for parts of the Windows display. Additional sections may be inserted by other applications - you need to consult the application's documentation for information on those sections,. When changes are made using the control panel, they are made to this file automatically. This file can be edited manually to make changes that cannot be made using the control panel. System.Ini This file (see Fig.4) primarily contains settings that allow you to customise Windows to meet your system's hardware needs. The following sections appear in the SYSTEM.INI file (again, not necessarily in this order). Boot - lists drivers and Windows modules. Boot.Description - lists the name of devices; can be changed using Windows setup. Keyboard - contains information about the keyboard. Non WindowsApp - contains information used by non-Windows applications. Standard - contains information used by Windows in Standard mode. 386Enh-contains information used by Windows in 386 enhanced mode. If a setting is changed incorrectly in SYSTEM.INI, Windows may become disabled the next time the program is started. Many settings in this file should be changed via the programs supplied with Windows (eg, Windows Setup, Control Panel, etc). Detailed instructions for altering the WIN.INI and SYSTEM.INI files are contained in text files usually located in the Windows directory. Next month, we look in detail at the options available and how you can customise the INI files. SC Market Centre - continued from page 95 card, 512Kb, exp. to 1Mb, $215.00 plus $6 .00 postage. 16MHz CPU 286 motherboard, hardware EMS, OK, $199.00 plus $10.00 postage. Mini tower case with power supply, $215.00 plus $15.00 postage. Phone for other bargains. 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