*Multishow

This is some kind of proof-of-concept and approach to achieve something like a
Multiview/Datatypes (AmigaOS3.0/3.1) and Deficons (AmigaOS3.5/3.9) clone for
AmigaOS 2.1.

*Motivation

Back in the 90's - still working with my A2000 with AmigaOS 2.1 - I somewhat
envied all those who had the brand new AmigaOS3.x (x=0,1) running on their AGA
machines. I was fascinated by the datatypes concept and the Multiview application.

My addiction to DirOPUS 4 and its rather easy kind of data handling and file
type/file action definition and my idea to use the "apig.library" for programming
OS defined GUI elements with ARexx lead to this software package.

For those of you who can read German there is a text about idea and concept in the
"Idee+Konzept" drawer.

*Installation

To use all features of MultiShow you need at least the "apig.library" and the
"rexxreqtools.library" (Aminet: "util/rexx/APIG", "util/rexx/RexxReqTools") in your
LIBS: drawer.
If your are running this on AmigaOS < 3.5 you need the command "WBRun" in your command
path (Aminet: "util/cli/WBRun_fix" - it also needs an additional library "parm.library"
to be installed in LIBS:).
If you're using AmigaOS >= 3.5 DO NOT INSTALL the package "util/cli/WBRun_fix", 'cos
since OS3.5 there is already an "WBRun" command in your C: drawer. The path to the
"WBRun" command should be set up with the MSP.rexx application (see menu entry).

Copy the "MultiShow" drawer wherever you like and make an "assign MultiShow: <yourpath>".
That's it.

*How to use

Double click the MS.rexx icon (RexxMast must be running, of course) and you see: nothing.

MultiShow itself is nothing more than a ARexx host that sits in your RAM and awaits
commands to its ARexx port "MULTISHOW.1". It is addressed by sending commands like this:

rx "ADDRESS MULTISHOW.1 'DH1:Pics/Bild4.iff'"

After getting an appropiate command it searches the "filetypes" to recognize a file type
and start a defined program (i.e. a picture viewer) by executing the corresponding user
defined "command". There are already some defined filetypes/commands in the package.
There are some more keywords that can be sent to MultiShow - see "Help/MSHelp.text" or
"Help/MSHelp.guide". For testing purposes you can give

rx "ADDRESS MULTISHOW.1 'REQ'"

a try - it should open a ReqTools requester to select whatever data file you want to be
handled by MultiShow.

The MSP.rexx in the "Prefs" drawer is the GUI driven part for defining file types and
actions (i.e. launching a picture viewer) - very similar to DirOPUS 4. It features
real file scanning like DOpus (not only file extension analysis). There is no help file
for this but the screenshots in "Idee+Konzept" and the pre-defined "filetypes" and
"commands" should explain enough.

In the "Tools" drawer are some utility scripts to bind the MultiShow ARexx host to a
Toolmanager AppIcon - which was the main aim of this project. By configurating ToolManager
to use this script with an AppIcon you can drop any file to that ToolManager AppIcon and
MultiShow does the rest. But of course it can be used from every other software like
DirMaster, DirOpus etc. as well.

In the "Sources" drawer are the more prettified scripts of MS.rexx and MSP.rexx with full
comments. Sorry, all texts (guide, help files and source code comments) are still in
German - but it should be rather straightforward to see what's going on...

*The End

This proof-of-concept lead to something that worked some years, almost every day, totally
flawless, invisible and transparent on my AmigaOS2.1 machine. Even after upgrading to
AmigaOS3.1 it was still in action (but often using MultiView as the defined viewer
application).

I hope this package might be of use for your AmigaOS enviroment or as an extensive
example what can be done with ARexx (i.e. using apig.library or making some cool voodoo
with the self-interpretation feature of ARexx). 

* Requirements (from Aminet)

util/rexx/APIG
util/rexx/RexxReqTools
util/cli/WBRun_fix (only for AmigaOS < 3.5)

optional:
util/libs/iff.library-23 

 PERMSSN    UID  GID    PACKED    SIZE  RATIO METHOD CRC     STAMP          NAME
---------- ----------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- ------------ -------------
[generic]                 1886    4584  41.1% -lh5- a46e Dec  6 22:28 MultiShow.info
[generic]                 1887    4584  41.2% -lh5- 9756 Dec  6 22:28 MultiShow/Commands.info
[generic]                   25      25 100.0% -lh0- 6c43 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Commands/8SVX.command
[generic]                 2150    5002  43.0% -lh5- 4e4a Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Commands/8SVX.command.info
[generic]                   31      31 100.0% -lh0- de2a Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Commands/ANIM.command
[generic]                 2115    5002  42.3% -lh5- 2f9b Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Commands/ANIM.command.info
[generic]                   58      58 100.0% -lh0- 70b6 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Commands/BMP.command
[generic]                 2129    5002  42.6% -lh5- 663f Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Commands/BMP.command.info
[generic]                   31      31 100.0% -lh0- 2a0f Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Commands/FLI.command
[generic]                 2430    5002  48.6% -lh5- e398 Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Commands/FLI.command.info
[generic]                   41      41 100.0% -lh0- 6040 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Commands/GIF.command
[generic]                 2397    5002  47.9% -lh5- 26c0 Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Commands/GIF.command.info
[generic]                   37      37 100.0% -lh0- 9fba Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Commands/GUIDE.command
[generic]                 2415    5002  48.3% -lh5- 3bd9 Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Commands/GUIDE.command.info
[generic]                   99     102  97.1% -lh5- 31c1 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Commands/HEX.command
[generic]                 2433    5002  48.6% -lh5- b9c6 Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Commands/HEX.command.info
[generic]                   36      36 100.0% -lh0- 7cdc Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Commands/ILBM.command
[generic]                 2397    5002  47.9% -lh5- d7f7 Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Commands/ILBM.command.info
[generic]                   41      41 100.0% -lh0- 201f Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Commands/JFIF.command
[generic]                 2414    5002  48.3% -lh5- cdc2 Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Commands/JFIF.command.info
[generic]                   42      42 100.0% -lh0- f64d Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Commands/MPEG.command
[generic]                 2147    5002  42.9% -lh5- 1cec Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Commands/MPEG.command.info
[generic]                   42      42 100.0% -lh0- f64d Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Commands/MPG.command
[generic]                 2113    5002  42.2% -lh5- f69f Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Commands/MPG.command.info
[generic]                   42      42 100.0% -lh0- 6bf7 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Commands/TARGA.command
[generic]                 2130    5002  42.6% -lh5- 3133 Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Commands/TARGA.command.info
[generic]                   31      31 100.0% -lh0- 1d95 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Commands/TEXT.command
[generic]                 2150    5002  43.0% -lh5- d6d9 Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Commands/TEXT.command.info
[generic]                   42      42 100.0% -lh0- 6bf7 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Commands/TGA.command
[generic]                 2113    5002  42.2% -lh5- 5019 Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Commands/TGA.command.info
[generic]                   50      50 100.0% -lh0- 2719 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Commands/TIFF.command
[generic]                 2127    5002  42.5% -lh5- 9967 Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Commands/TIFF.command.info
[generic]                 1889    4584  41.2% -lh5- d3ef Dec  6 22:28 MultiShow/Filetypes.info
[generic]                   32      32 100.0% -lh0- 82ce Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Filetypes/8SVX.filetype
[generic]                 2490    4986  49.9% -lh5- c590 Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Filetypes/8SVX.filetype.info
[generic]                   32      32 100.0% -lh0- 06b4 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Filetypes/ANIM.filetype
[generic]                 2580    4986  51.7% -lh5- 73ee Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Filetypes/ANIM.filetype.info
[generic]                   15      15 100.0% -lh0- 7884 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Filetypes/BMP.filetype
[generic]                 2508    4986  50.3% -lh5- 52ea Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Filetypes/BMP.filetype.info
[generic]                   14      14 100.0% -lh0- 6819 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Filetypes/FLI.filetype
[generic]                 2573    4986  51.6% -lh5- 7d01 Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Filetypes/FLI.filetype.info
[generic]                   17      17 100.0% -lh0- cc80 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Filetypes/GIF.filetype
[generic]                 2498    4986  50.1% -lh5- eec0 Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Filetypes/GIF.filetype.info
[generic]                   36      36 100.0% -lh0- 52e2 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Filetypes/GUIDE.filetype
[generic]                 2500    4986  50.1% -lh5- 0300 Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Filetypes/GUIDE.filetype.info
[generic]                   32      32 100.0% -lh0- e599 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Filetypes/ILBM.filetype
[generic]                 2591    4986  52.0% -lh5- 7d0d Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Filetypes/ILBM.filetype.info
[generic]                   35      35 100.0% -lh0- fc07 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Filetypes/JFIF.filetype
[generic]                 2490    4986  49.9% -lh5- b3f3 Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Filetypes/JFIF.filetype.info
[generic]                   14      14 100.0% -lh0- 7196 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Filetypes/MPEG.filetype
[generic]                 2579    4986  51.7% -lh5- f49d Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Filetypes/MPEG.filetype.info
[generic]                   13      13 100.0% -lh0- 49f3 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Filetypes/MPG.filetype
[generic]                 2509    4986  50.3% -lh5- 563f Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Filetypes/MPG.filetype.info
[generic]                   15      15 100.0% -lh0- 52d4 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Filetypes/TARGA.filetype
[generic]                 2573    4986  51.6% -lh5- cc5d Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Filetypes/TARGA.filetype.info
[generic]                   13      13 100.0% -lh0- cb85 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Filetypes/TGA.filetype
[generic]                 2495    4986  50.0% -lh5- 8c0d Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Filetypes/TGA.filetype.info
[generic]                   20      20 100.0% -lh0- a692 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Filetypes/TIFF.filetype
[generic]                 2591    4986  52.0% -lh5- ed75 Dec  5 18:54 MultiShow/Filetypes/TIFF.filetype.info
[generic]                 1885    4584  41.1% -lh5- ee02 Dec  6 22:28 MultiShow/Help.info
[generic]                  655    1139  57.5% -lh5- 8cf3 Dec  5 18:34 MultiShow/Help/MSHelp.guide
[generic]                  600     997  60.2% -lh5- bf46 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Help/MSHelp.text
[generic]                  582    1704  34.2% -lh5- dcc5 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Help/MSINTRO.ilbm.inactive
[generic]                  582    1704  34.2% -lh5- dcc5 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Help/MSPINTRO.ilbm.inactive
[generic]                 1883    4584  41.1% -lh5- 2aac Dec  6 22:28 MultiShow/Icons.info
[generic]                 1980    5002  39.6% -lh5- bf07 Dec  5 18:55 MultiShow/Icons/def_command.info
[generic]                 2049    4986  41.1% -lh5- 327d Dec  5 18:55 MultiShow/Icons/def_filetype.info
[generic]                 1885    4584  41.1% -lh5- 55ca Dec  6 22:28 MultiShow/Konzept+Idee.info
[generic]                 5233   12274  42.6% -lh5- c076 Dec  5 18:53 MultiShow/Konzept+Idee/Idee+Konzept.txt
[generic]                27073   27073 100.0% -lh0- e10a Dec  5 18:49 MultiShow/Konzept+Idee/ms-p.gif
[generic]                 3808    3808 100.0% -lh0- d0e4 Dec  5 18:50 MultiShow/Konzept+Idee/msp-Capture1.gif
[generic]                 6338    6338 100.0% -lh0- 5ba7 Dec  5 18:52 MultiShow/Konzept+Idee/msp-Capture2.gif
[generic]                 3831   12289  31.2% -lh5- 9957 Dec  5 18:34 MultiShow/MS.rexx
[generic]                 2968    5346  55.5% -lh5- ff0f Dec  6 22:28 MultiShow/MS.rexx.info
[generic]                 2059    4318  47.7% -lh5- bc96 Dec  6 22:27 MultiShow/multishow.readme
[generic]                 1857    4584  40.5% -lh5- 2591 Dec  6 22:28 MultiShow/Prefs.info
[generic]                10026   46604  21.5% -lh5- 6752 Dec  5 18:34 MultiShow/Prefs/MSP.rexx
[generic]                 3208    5410  59.3% -lh5- 9ead Dec  5 18:55 MultiShow/Prefs/MSP.rexx.info
[generic]                 1886    4584  41.1% -lh5- 6a69 Dec  6 22:28 MultiShow/Sources.info
[generic]                17118  113241  15.1% -lh5- 60c5 Dec  5 18:33 MultiShow/Sources/MultiShowPrefs_full_commented.rexx
[generic]                 3614    5427  66.6% -lh5- 3658 Dec  5 18:56 MultiShow/Sources/MultiShowPrefs_full_commented.rexx.info
[generic]                 7444   35743  20.8% -lh5- b246 Dec  5 18:33 MultiShow/Sources/MultiShow_full_commented.rexx
[generic]                 3364    5363  62.7% -lh5- 76ab Dec  5 18:56 MultiShow/Sources/MultiShow_full_commented.rexx.info
[generic]                 1889    4584  41.2% -lh5- df4d Dec  6 22:28 MultiShow/Tools.info
[generic]                  325     572  56.8% -lh5- 91e0 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Tools/MS-TM.push
[generic]                 2942    5273  55.8% -lh5- c463 Dec  5 18:56 MultiShow/Tools/MS-TM.push.info
[generic]                  214     327  65.4% -lh5- f19e Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Tools/MS.init
[generic]                 3017    5350  56.4% -lh5- c0f0 Dec  5 18:56 MultiShow/Tools/MS.init.info
[generic]                  216     331  65.3% -lh5- f597 Jul 10  2002 MultiShow/Tools/MS.stop
[generic]                 3197    5440  58.8% -lh5- bd9b Dec  5 18:56 MultiShow/Tools/MS.stop.info
---------- ----------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- ------------ -------------
 Total        90 files  196963  498102  39.5%            Dec  6 20:29