Category : File Managers
Archive   : PFM230.ZIP
Filename : IDEAS

SUBJECT: PFM


- Would like the ability to include control characters, etc. in a search
string (Showfile). Maybe '\xxx' where 'xxx' is 3-digit decimal (hex?)
number. USE [F4] before and after the decimal number (any length
truncated to eight bits).
(2.15)

- Would like separately visible 'system' and 'hidden' attributes. Some
packages set only one, and it would be nice to be able to manipulate
them individually.
(2.15)

- Want to be able to install PFM more simply.
Move the PFM help file as part of the .COM file (after all else).
Check for matching copy of PFM at expected location at powerup;
If not present go into install procedure which saves all of PFM
(already in memory) into user specified location. Also increment
a counter which indicates the number of times installed.
(2.14)

- Fix up Config operation to be simpler (can only save static data area).
(2.14)

- Add a command line stack (4 deep?) which will save the last four commands
entered if they are different.
(2.15)

- Flush the keyboard buffer after interupting an operation (multiple file
or print).
(2.15)

- Change default showfile display to be standard 7 bit access.
(2.15)

- prevent strange actions from ctrl break during PFM.
(2.15)

- Add drive (F5) and path (F4) chars to getfield and command line translation.
(2.14)

- should exit from Configuration or maybe an 'Are you sure (Y/N)'
question could be asked (or both).
v2.10

- The time doesn't line up well with the other status fields on the right.
v2.10

- The cursor is changed and not restored when DOS is reentered (or PMATE,
etc.)
v2.10
- Commands are translated to upper case. I had a problem before with
needing to enter lower-case with the FIND command. Another problem is
that Lattice C understands only lower-case switches, so it has to be run
from a batch file
v2.10
- Operations on file names with a space in them can cause problems ( the
space is deleted by pfm)
(2.20)
- Show file with a line containing only a CR or Null causes problems.
(2.19)
- Would like to see CRs in show file "garbage" mode.
(2.19)
- Would like to be able to do command line scroll "down" as well as "up".
(2.19)

- DOS 3.x allows you to have 8 bit characters in file names, and this
causes PFM to screw up on some of the directory listings.
(2.21)

- IBM CGA boards have flicker when used with PFM. If CGA, do short updates
only if 3DA bit 0 has just gone from a zero to a one. (DISPEN-) Do longer
updates if 3DA bit 3 (VRETRACE) has just gone from a zero to a one.
(2.22 IBMPFM.COM)

- Add signon screen to identify PFM as a FREEWARE product and ask for money.
(2.22)
- Sort options 'size' and 'Date' mix up files with the same sort attribute
on different sorts. If all have the same attribute, the sort by 'EXT'
within same groups.
(2.21)
- CTRL left and right arrow act like ESC when pressed while entering a
command line. Wish they would do word left and right (like PMATE,
BASIC, etc.), or do nothing (as before).
2.22
- How hard would it be to display a different cursor (e.g. half-high
block) when in the insert mode during PFM data entry ?
2.22
- DOS 3.1 does not put a CRLF out during COMMAND.COM loads so PFM commands
are screwed up.
2.23
- If screen modes are switched by a command, the message "Hit any key to
continue" is not properly displayed.
2.24
- Would like to be able to rename directories.
2.25
- Would like to be able to refer to the other (swap) directory from where
I am in the copy, rename, and command operations. (F5)
2.26
- Would like a stack of directory names to refer to for F7 and More Show
commands. Would be nice if the standard default was A: though.
2.27
- Would like to see PFM work right with 43 line EGA displays.
2.26
- Disk size displayed by PFM on my optical drive (144 mbyte) is messed up.
First digit is an unusual character, last digits appear to be correct.
2.28
- DOS gets confused following a delete operation to a write protected disk.
The displayed directory is incorrect and oter strange behavior occurs.
Disk reset is used to clear DOS after an unusual error.
2.29
- Don't want to hit CR after all my commands to get back to PFM
2.29 (use F6 on command line)
- Fix problem where more than one screen full of multifile commands does not
scroll up correctly. (Mixed DOS/PFM screen handlers).
2.30
- Allow better use of color for PFM. The following table needs to be
searched for with a debugger of some kind and modified with new attributes
for color. !!! DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS WITHOUT SAVING YOUR ORIGINAL COPY OF
PFM. SUGGEST ONLY EXPERIENCED PEOPLE ATTEMPT THIS !!!

DB 007H ;SPACE ATTRIBUTE (clear screen)
DB 007H ;
DB 007H ;
DB 007H ;
DB 007H ;
DB 00FH ;Showfile top/bot Command chars
DB 00FH ;Command chars (top/bot line background)
DB 00FH ;Command question (normal background)
DB 007H ;top/bot line normal
DB 00FH ;Are you sure??
DB 00FH ;Command chars (normal background)
DB 007H ;Showfile top/bot line
DB 01EH ;UNDERLINE (for swap line normal)
DB 070H ;REVERSE (for swap line swapped)
DB 007H ;NORMAL CHARS (everywhere the normal background)
DB 00FH ;BRIGHT CHARS (Help, highlight etc.)

Example color setting for dark chars on a white screen:
70,07,07,07,71,34,74,76
70,6F,74,30,1E,07,70,71

For show file search and change the following table:
; masked high bit, space fill mode
DB 00Eh ;char att for high bit of char set, shifted left by 1
DB 00Eh ;char att for high bit of char reset, shifted left by 1
DB 020h ;end of line fill character
DB 007h ;end of line fill attribute
DB 020h ;tab fill character
DB 007h ;tab fill attribute
DB 000h ;null/CR character
DB 007h ;null/CR attribute
;normal high bit, space fill mode
DB 00Eh ;char att for high bit of char set, shifted left by 1
DB 00Fh ;char att for high bit of char reset, shifted left by 1
DB 020h ;end of line fill character
DB 007h ;end of line fill attribute
DB 020h ;tab fill character
DB 007h ;tab fill attribute
DB 000h ;null/CR character
DB 007h ;null/CR attribute
;inverse on high bit with fill mode
DB 03Ah ;char att for high bit of char set, shifted left by 1
DB 0E0h ;char att for high bit of char reset, shifted left by 1
DB 0B1h ;end of line fill character
DB 002h ;end of line fill attribute
DB 0B0h ;tab fill character
DB 007h ;tab fill attribute
DB 000h ;null/CR character
DB 007h ;null/CR attribute

Example color setting for dark chars on a white screen:
E0,E0,20,70,20,70,20,70
E0,E1,20,70,20,70,20,70
E0,E2,B1,07,B1,7F,DB,0F

2.30

For further consideration:

- Would like a method of configuring color choice, and user settings from
a file so that upgrades can be accomplished more easily. Color choice
configuration should be much easier.

- Would like the swap screen to operate as a split screen, possibly full
time.

- Would like a short form of directory display with more names on screen
(configurable or on command)

- Would like to move directly to the file or directly by typing the first
few characters of the file name. ?extention first? dependent on sort
mode? Use ALT key? Forward/reverse search?

- status display of RAM memory.

- Would like to see the volume label displayed (in with the files ?),
if it's in the directory being viewed (root). It would also be handy
to manipulate the volume label (add, rename, delete) if that's easy
to do.

- Would like a mode of Showfile like 'F'ixed, but where CRLFs (and TABs ?)
are understood. This would be useful for viewing crazy word processor
output that has mile-long paragraphs which contain no explicit CRLFs.
It would 'F'ix (wrap) the text of the paragraphs but leave other
line formatting alone.

- If backup past root directory, show drive letters and allow selection.

- Popup PFM additions (can do all but edit, command) when entered
(via ctrl-break?) and can return to previous program.

- Speaking of On-Screen keyboard status, how 'bout NumLock, Scroll Lock,
and Caps Lock below the date ?

- I had previously configured PFM to come up with the cursor pointing
to the third directory entry (past . and ..). This no longer works.

- Could you add an option that allows "SHOW" to expand tabs to somthing
other than eight. All of my "C" programs use a tab setting of four.
This would be a big help to me and some (a few) others.