                The new RISC OS Window Manager

This Release (3nk)
==================
        The software and documentation contained on this disc is copyright 
Acorn Computers Ltd. and must not be distributed to third parties
irrespective of whether a fee is charged or not. It may only be used within
Acorn or the organisation to which it was specifically given under the
terms of a Non-Disclosure Agreement. Acorn reserves the right to withdraw
the use of this software and if this happens all copies must be deleted.
THIS IS NOT PUBLIC DOMAIN, FREEWARE OR SHAREWARE.

        This release has been prepared with two aims:

1) To allow ISVs to test and adjust their application dialogue boxes so that
   they work well with future versions of RISC OS incorporating this new
   Window Manager.

2) To beta test this software.

        For further advice on the design of dialogue boxes see the document
entitled 'Dialogs' in the NewDesk Docs directory.

        This software is development software, supplied "as is" and may
contain some as yet undiscovered faults. Take care to regularly save to disc
any documents worked on to avoid much data loss if a crash occurs. If you
notice a fault, please report it as descibed below - this release is given
to you with the expectation that you will take the time to do this.
        Acorn accepts no responsibility for damage to files or data resulting
from the use of this software or documentation.

                        
Introduction
============
        The new RISC OS Window Manager or Wimp has the following improvements
over the RISC OS 3.10 one:

        - Can use any outline font at any size in menus and icons
        
        - Has a 'watchdog' for stopping rogue programs
        
        - Can tile window backgrounds with an arbitrary sprite

        - Improved error handling
        
We recommend the use of a standard font such as Homerton Medium or Trinity Medium at
12 point, although many other combinations will work ok. On TV resolution screens (eg.
modes 15 and 39) a special tuned bitmap is available in 12 point called darwin.medium.
This is installed automatically into Resources:$.Fonts. Note: darwin will only work
in 45x90 dpi modes and at 12 point only.

Disk Contents
=============
        If you double-clicked on !NewDesk then four directories will be
opened  for you: Utils containing !ErrorDemo; Modules containing the 
Relocatable Modules that make the system work: Filer, Wimp, Pinboard,
DragASprit and wimpromres; Docs and Sprites directories. The sprites (in the
file Sprites.NewSprites) are needed for some of the new features.

Installing    
==========
        You should first copy the supplied modules and sprites onto your harddisk (we do 
not recommend using the new system on floppy only computers) into a suitable directory 
(eg. $.RM or $.!system.modules). Note that they cannot be run directly (as the window-
manager cannot be reloaded whilst in use) but the boot behaviour must be altered.
        You will probably already have a !Boot file, if this loads other modules then
starts the desktop you can just add the new modules. If this file is a desktop command
file though, it will need renaming, eg. to !DeskBoot. Your !Boot file should look like
this (assuming the modules have been copied into $.rm, and the file 'NewSprites', from
the Sprites directory, can be found in $.NewDesk):
        ...
        rmload $.rm.Filer
        rmload $.rm.Wimp
        rmensure WimpRes 0.00 rmload $.rm.WimpROMRes
(RISC OS 3.12 machines, currently only german ones, do not require WimpROMRes)
        rmload $.rm.Pinboard
        rmload $.rm.DragASprit

        iconsprites $.NewDesk.NewSprites
        ...
        desktop -file !DeskBoot
        
Then Reset the computer. If all is well then the desktop should start as usual (though
note that the welcome banner has altered) with the standard system font.

Note: If you have your own Wimp Resources (pointed to by WindowManager$Path), the wimp
now uses Template3D as its template file. Also the messages have changed. Using the old
resources on the new system will cause problems.

Setting Up
==========
        In order to use the new features, some variables must be set up:

        Wimp$Font               should be set to a valid font name
        Wimp$FontSize           is the size in 16ths of a point
        Wimp$FontWidth          is the width in 16ths of a point
        
Note that the width is optional, if omitted, then the size is used. If the size is
not set the a value of 192 is used (12pt, about the same size as the old system font).

Examples:
        Set Wimp$Font Homerton.Medium
                this will make the desktop environment use homerton medium at 12 points
                
        Set Wimp$Font Trinity.Medium
        Set Wimp$FontSize 192
        Set Wimp$FontWidth 160
                this will use Trinity medium at 12 point, but only 10 point wide, ie 
                slightly narrower than usual.

        Set Wimp$Font Darwin.Medium
        SetEval Wimp$FontSize 12*16
                
        Obviously these variables may be setup in the !Boot file, rather than typing
them in each time. We recommend that you experiment until you're happy with a 
particular font, then set this up in your !Boot file (not your !DeskBoot file).
                
        To use the window tiling, the sprite 'tile_1' must be loaded into
the Wimp's sprite area (eg. by using *iconsprites in your !Boot file as
above). Whenever a window has background colour 1 the wimp will then tile
the given sprite across the window before drawing any icons. This works best
when the sprite to be used was created in the display mode (or similar) as
otherwise the wimp must translate the sprite before plotting, which will
slow the system down.

        The watchdog requires no setting up and is described in the 'In use' section below
                
In  Use
=======
        The desktop should appear much as before and the user should have no difficulty
in using it. Note that the Filer now automatically calculates the width of the columns in
the viewers to accommodate wide filenames, eg. ones with lots of capitals. The minimum 
width is defined in the template file for the Filer.

        To use the watchdog, press the Break key. A dialog will appear asking if you wish
to stop a named task. If you don't, press the Cancel button, if you do, press the Stop/Kill
button. If you wish to end a different task, then press the Next Task button until the
one you want is displayed.

Bugs
====
        This disk has a bug file on it ("Bugs"). If you find a bug and it isn't
described in the file then please report the details of the bug (software in
use, machine, screen mode, Modules version numbers- do help Filer, help Wimp
etc.) by completing a fault report form as follows:

-------------------------------- cut here ---------------------------------
FAULT REPORT

Application/Module Name:               

Application/Module Version Numbers:     

Exact Hardware configuration:   

ROM Version Number:             

Tester Email Name:              

Test Number:                    

Fault Number:                   

Priority:                       

Summary: 

Status:                         

Date Encountered:               

Repeatability (always/frequently/occasionally/once/unknown): 

Test and Fault Description:     

-------------------------------- cut here ---------------------------------

Please create a fault report form for each fault found, rather than putting
several in one report form. Please send us your completed forms either by
email, mailed floppy disc, fax or letter to the address below. If the bug
is fatal, ie. Address exception at ... or Data Abort at... ,or  something
crashes then please enter the following at the CLI prompt (eg. hit F12)

        *dir <some directory>
        *spool bug-report
        *modules
        *showregs
        *memoryi x-40 +80
        *spool

where x is the address of the exception. Note that spaces are significant in
the *memoryi line above. Please attach the resultant text to the end of your
fault report form.

Support
=======
        This software is supplied 'as is', though comments and bugs may be sent to the address
below. Please note that full support will not be available and that it make take a few days
for a mail to be replied to.

bugs/comments   NKelleher@acorn.co.uk           (preferred)

                (+44) 223 254270  (fax)

                N Kelleher (Senior Software Engineer)
                Acorn Computers Ltd
                Newmarket Road
                Cambridge
                CB5 8PB
                England

