Object Desktop Professional is a trademark
of Stardock Systems, Incorporated (c) 1995-96 Stardock Systems Incorporated. All
rights reserved. (c) 1995-96 Kurt Westerfeld. All rights reserved.
We are very glad to present to you a brand new way
of working in the OS/2 Workplace Shell. Object Desktop Professional is a revolutionary
new software package that consists solely of OS/2 Workplace Shell Objects. Once
Object Desktop Professional is installed on your system, your desktop will be transformed
into a much more productive environment in ways never seen before. This document
is meant to introduce you to Object Desktop Professional, and provide a place for
you to go to find out the most up-to-date information about this product.
Introduction to Object Desktop Professional
Object Desktop Professional is a new and exciting utility
package for OS/2 2.X and OS/2 Warp. The basic aim of the software is to provide
new Workplace Shell objects to enhance the base Workplace Shell functionality.
Included are:
Object Navigator
A replacement to the Workplace Shell's drives object providing
a split tree/details view, with full Workplace Shell interaction and integration
for more intuitive object and file browsing and management.
Enhanced Folder
A replacement/enhancement to OS/2's base folder class, providing
sophisticated object caching features, a summary status bar in every folder view,
enhanced icon drawing capabilities, and mouse/keyboard enhancements.
Enhanced Data File
A replacement/enhancement to OS/2's base data file class,
providing a fast, simple text editor as a Workplace Shell object, plus control over
default icon assignment.
Object Archive
A data file "handler" for common archive formats,
including ZIP, LZH, ZOO and ARC. The archive handlers render your existing archives
into full-fledged Workplace Shell objects, supporting full drag and drop, in-place
editing of archive elements, creation by template, seamless emulation of Workplace
Shell folders.
Control Center
A multipurpose object that provides a user selectable set
of system control "panels". Included features are a virtual desktop, digital
clock, CPU monitor, object launcher/browser, disk free space meters, swap space
meter and memory meter.
Keyboard LaunchPad
The Keyboard LaunchPad allows a user to assign a hotkey to
any Workplace Shell object in the system using simple drag and drop. With this feature
installed, you can assign a hotkey to your favorite programs, folders or database
files.
Task Manager
A replacement for OS/2's dated Window List, featuring an instant
command prompt, task list filtering and an Alt+Tab task switcher.
Tab LaunchPad
An object launch facility with graphical buttons and folder
"tab" sections for categorizing objects and programs.
Object Package
A new Workplace Shell container that can store program objects,
data files, folders and any other Workplace Shell object type. Because Object Packages
are self-contained and occupy one file, they are easily interchanged with others,
and are very easy to manage.
Object Viewer
View and print a practically limitless number of file formats
with Object Viewer. Over 200 file formats are supported, including the most popular
application formats for word processors, databases, graphics files, presentation
graphics files, and spreadsheets. With Object Viewer, interchanging legacy documents,
seldom-used documents or documents from unavailable applications becomes an easy
task.
Object Advisor
A powerful new way to deploy online help information to a
group of novice users. Author desktop help directly linked to custom desktop objects,
as well as standard Workplace Shell desktop objects. All help content is authored
in industry-standard HTML, and is displayed in a mini-World Wide Web window. Desktop
objects can be linked to help resources on internal and external (internet) hosts,
including problem report forms, centralized support resources, and more!
Object Inspector
Examine, inspect and change Workplace Shell desktop objects
with the Object Inspector. All object properties are displayed in an easy-to-use
dialog that allows you to quickly and easily make changes to objects on the desktop.
Object Backup
Use Object Backup to provide the data security you need, with
its ability to backup all hard disk files to tape, floppy disk, removeable media
and LAN drives.
Object Scheduler
The Object Scheduler provides a simple way to schedule automated
tasks on your desktop system. Scheduling a periodic maintenance task is as easy
as drag and drop. Each "shadow" that appears in the Object Scheduler folder
allows for separate timed event schedules.
Object Security
With Object Security, you can password protect Workplace Shell
folders and programs. Setting up and maintaining security on desktop objects provides
an easy way to ensure the care taken in administering OS/2 Warp desktops will not
be casually undone. With Object Security, desktop objects can be locked in place,
and passwords can be required to open the system after startup, and required for
all object settings notebooks.
Desktop Backup Advisor
The Desktop Backup Advisor uses Object Desktop Professional's
Object Scheduler and Object Package technology to setup and maintain a user-specified
number of desktop "snapshots." Even the most novice users will be able
to safely keep archived desktops available for an easy restore if a desktop becomes
corrupted.
