Using The Workplace Shell - A Tutorial for the New OS/2 User.

By Bruce Meissner
Email:	brmeiss@midtown.net
	compuserve: 76217,175

Congratulations! You've just done the hard part in getting OS/2 installed. Now, let's see what OS/2 can do...... Hmm! Hey, what happened to file manager? Where are the groups that I start my program from? What happened to my program groups?

The Workplace Shell, the object-oriented interface that runs on the powerful operating system, is well thought out and powerful method of getting things done in the OS/2 world. As a new user, you may want to take a few minutes to begin to understand just how you can get things done in your new operating system.  So here it is: a quick primer and tutorial for the OS/2 novice. (And we were all that way once, so don't fret, you're in good company!)

Here's a QUICK PRIMER about the Workplace Shell (WPS) and the Object-Oriented work environment used by OS/2:
  
The Workplace Shell (or desktop) treats all elements as four basic types of objects.  There are program objects, data objects, device objects, and container objects. Program objects are just that- applications which you have migrated to the desktop. Data objects are data files that are created by a particular program. Device objects are system devices, such as a printer, to which you can drag and drop data objects. Folders are container objects, and these are used to store and organize other desktop objects (including other folders). 

That's all "object oriented" really means- you are working with different kinds of objects. Now let's see how to put those objects to work.  Here's the QUICK TUTORIAL you can do to demonstrate each of these properties:

1. Open the "Templates" folder on you desktop, and using the right mouse button, click on the "Data File" template, and drag and drop this to the desktop. A new data object, called "Data File", will be created.

2. Find the "Folder" template in the Templates folder, and using the right mouse button, click on this template and drag and drop to the desktop. A new container folder will be created.

3. Double click on the "Data File" object. As this is a plain text file, the OS/2 system editor (E.EXE) is launched. Enter a line or two of text, and then double click on the upper left corner of the window to close the file.

4. Now rename the data file object. Point at the name of the object, and click the Left mouse button while holding the ALT key. Edit the name to whatever you want to call the file, such as "test".

5.  Now print the object. Drag and drop this on to the Printer device object. The file you created should print.

6. Now let's organize the desktop. Rename the folder you created in the same way you gave the data file a different name. (for this purpose, call it "stuff"). Now move the data file to the folder.

7. Want to use the data, but with another program? Open the "stuff" folder. Open the OS/2 System folder... and open the Productivity folder. Drag the data object "test" to the Enhanced Editor. (This is EPM.EXE).  Edit and save "Test" again.

8. Want to store the folder? Click on the drive object in your system folder (or put a shadow of this object on your launchpad or desktop). Drag and drop the "stuff" folder to the drive where you want this stored.

Now, pat yourself on the back! You've managed to use all of the objects in the Workplace shell, and demonstrated the power of the WPS and OS/2 in this simple example, in only eight steps! (See? I told you it was quick!) You created a data object ("test"); added the data using a program object (the system editor, E.EXE, and the Enhanced Editor, EPM.EXE); used a device object (the printer); and a container object (the folder, "stuff"). By adjusting the settings of each of these through the "settings notebook" associated with each object, you can customize the look and usage of each object to your needs. By creating shadows of each object, you can create utilize one physical copy of the program or data for different situations.

Sorry if this sounds too simplistic, but many new OS/2 users ignore what the Workplace Shell can offer, and don't open their thinking up past the Dos/Windows "file centered" approach. Which is why a major complaint with the new OS/2 user is that there's not a "good file manager program."  When what they don't realize is that, oops, you don't need one. <g>.
 
And remember, while you can easily run your exisiting DOS and Windows applications, you may want to seek out OS/2 native software as replacements. Most OS/2 software is Workplace Shell aware, and will support all of the features and advantages of the object-oriented environment.

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