hsgj@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu (Dan Green) (04/26/87)
Speaking of Intuition Extensions, there are two things in particular that I think should be added to Intuition to provide a more enhanced interface. 1) The CloseScreen() function should send a CLOSEWINDOW to any windows on that screen, and then wait for those windows to close, before the screen is closed. If this were done, then you could implement Mac style desk accessories. How? Say you are in MicroEmacs (its own Screen) and would like a Calculator. You can with the current v1.2 write a program to redirect the Calculator to open in the Emacs screen instead of the normal workbench screen. The problem now is that if Emacs closes its screen, suddenly the calculator window has its bitmap deallocated, and poof, you get a Guru. If the CloseScreen would only send a CLOSEWINDOW out, the Calc could shut down no problem. I do not think this would be too hard to implement -- just have the Screen go through its linked list of attached windows and send out the CLOSEWINDOW to each. 2) The biggie: Provide a *NICE* interface in Intuition for "Hot Keys". Programs like PopCLI do some tricks to install themselves in front of Intuition and then do their thing when their magic key is pressed. All programs should have this abillity. Say add a HotKey(code,qualifier) to Intuition. And a new IDCMP code like GOTHOTKEY. Then a program could be RUN from the cli or workbench, and this program would call hotkey() and then go wait on the idcmp (it could open a null window or something, or just allocate a port). Anyways, having the hotkey abillity made easy for programmers would allow lots of people to really customize their interface. -- Dan Green -- ARPA: hsgj%vax2.ccs.cornell.edu@cu-arpa.cs.cornell.edu UUCP: ihnp4!cornell!batcomputer!hsgj BITNET: hsgj@cornella