[comp.sys.hp] Displaying a file with HP-VUE's VUE_VIEW_FILE action

wggabb@sdrc.COM (Rob Gabbard) (04/19/91)

I added a button to the bottom row on my HP-VUE window manager that I want
to press and bring up the HP-VUE File Viewer on a particular file (our
company phone list).  To do this I copied the VUE_VIEW_FILE action definition
from /usr/lib/X11/vue/types/vue.ad and modified it to look like:

	PHONE_LIST      \
        *               \
        ${ACTION_L}     \
        ${ACTION_S}     \
        HELPMGR         \
        DISPLAY-FILE    \
        %/u/wggabb/local/lib/phone.lis%

and had the button press invoke this action.  When I try this I get an error
dialog box with the following message:

The following file is not accessible.See $HOME/.vue/errorlog for hints.
hp3:/u/wggabb/-

In errorlog I get:

vuehelp: The following file could not be opened
    hp3:/u/wggabb/-

Well, it turns out that even the VUE_VIEW_FILE action does not work. 
It looks like:

	VUE_VIEW_FILE   \
        *               \
        ${ACTION_L}     \
        ${ACTION_S}     \
        HELPMGR         \
        DISPLAY-FILE    \
        %(File)Arg_1"File To View:"%

This definition implies that it will bring up the viewer on the specified file
or prompt you with File To View if an argument is not specified.

I created an executable file in my .vue/apps/personal_apps directory named
VUE_VIEW_FILE and double clicked on it in the File Manager.  It prompted me 
with File To View but after typing in a file name I got the exact same error 
as I got with my customized action.

Any VUE experts out there know how to fix this ? Also, why didn't the VUE 
people implement selctions in File Viewer ? About half the time I bring up
the File Viewer I want to copy some text and paste it elsewhere.  I end up
bringing up vi in an hpterm window to do it !


-- 
The statements above are my own and do not neccesarily reflect the opinion of 
my employer.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rob Gabbard 				    wggabb@sdrc.sdrc.com
Technical Development Engineer
Structural Dynamics Research Corporation

bcripe@hpcvlx.cv.hp.com (Brian E. Cripe) (04/26/91)

> To do this I copied the VUE_VIEW_FILE action definition
> from /usr/lib/X11/vue/types/vue.ad and modified it to look like:
> 
> 	PHONE_LIST      \
>         *               \
>         ${ACTION_L}     \
>         ${ACTION_S}     \
>         HELPMGR         \
>         DISPLAY-FILE    \
>         %/u/wggabb/local/lib/phone.lis%

This is a good guess, though you should remove the percent signs. 
They are used to flag keywords such as %(File)Arg_1% that require
processing.  But it is all a moot point due to the bug you discovered.

> Well, it turns out that even the VUE_VIEW_FILE action does not work. 
> ...
> I created an executable file in my .vue/apps/personal_apps directory named
> VUE_VIEW_FILE and double clicked on it in the File Manager.  It prompted me 
> with File To View but after typing in a file name I got the exact same error 
> as I got with my customized action.

I tested this and you are correct, it fails.

> Any VUE experts out there know how to fix this ? 

It appears to be a bug in the Help Manager (which supplies the File 
Viewer) window.  Things work correctly if you invoke VUE_VIEW_FILE
directly on a file, but break if the file is supplied as an argument.
Unfortunately I know of no work around.

> Also, why didn't the VUE 
> people implement selctions in File Viewer ? About half the time I bring up
> the File Viewer I want to copy some text and paste it elsewhere.  I end up
> bringing up vi in an hpterm window to do it !

A glaring omission that occurred in meeting VUE's aggressive schedule.
I expect it to be fixed for the next release.  [Standard disclaimer
about not speaking for HP, ...]

	Brian Cripe