Several OS3.x questions, please have a look! -update

[rvo_nl]

I've been saving up some issues Im having with OS3.9 on my setup. Not wishing to clutter this site with several small threads, Im now combining them all in this one. I hope you can help me out fixing/answering them!
 
1) Im having annoying 'black scrollbars' in file requesters, but also in certain MUI apps like IBrowse. Also, the arrow buttons beneath them just look plain ugly. I've found no way to configure them in another way. From what I recall, this was not the case with a clean install of OS3.9. Did I kill something, or do I need to install something? For example, look at this random screenshot of iGame, how can I make my scrollbars & gadgets look like this?
 
http://www.emunova.net/img/actu/6c4f580ad712e947cbfab93ee4b4c68f.png
 
2) Is there a way to make my Workbench windows (partly) transparent?
 
3) Is there a way / patch to always Show hidden icons, and 'auto cleanup' every time a window is opened?
 
4) Im trying to find out whether my IDE-Fix Express is working as it should. Sysinfo reports 6.553.600 Bytes/sec. Seems pretty normal (?). However, when I hit the Speed button again, it gives the exact half of that number. Clicking it once more, 6.553.600 is shown again. Is this normal behaviour? :|
 
5) Since Im using a IDE-Fix Express I'm running Setpatch with the SKIPROMUPDATES "scsi.device" argument. Whats the difference between that, and removing the 2 lines from Devs:NSDpatch.cfg? Do I need to do both?
 
6) Im using SFS on all partitions except my boot partition. This includes my OS4 partition. Does my system benefit from installing the PPC-specific version of SFS on the OS4 partition? Keep in mind I want to be able to access this partition from OS3.9 (68k), too.
 
7) When running Newicons on a pre OS3.5 installation, there was an option to put a border around the icon names. I cant find this anywhere in the Workbench prefs. Is there a way to get it back?
 
Im using the latest version of IBrowse (2.4) but when I start it it says: 020 version. Is there a 060 version aswell?
 
9) Im trying to set up blizkick, since there is so much in it that can improve my machine. But I cant get it to work. It says it has mapped the ROM, but exec.library remains v40.x instead of v45.x. Ive read the docs and used romupdatesplit to load the OS3.9 bb2 rom into update modules. Im trying to load those with the following line:
 
c:blizkick devs:kickstarts/kick31_os3.9.rom EXTRESBUF=80000 MODULE bppcfix fastfilesystem filesystem.resource scsi.device ram-handler console.device
 
Is this the right syntax? Can I leave out scsi.device because of my IDE-Fix? And would I benefit from SpeedyIDE?
 
Thats it for now! Help is very much appreciated!

[Bamiga2002]

Some info on top of my head for following topics:

4) Sysinfo doesn't seem to give accurate info on drive speeds, and it does the same speed trickery on me too. Your Idefix is not faulty .

5) If you use Blizkick to load ROM-modules always state Setpatch NOROMUPDATE QUIET. And Idefix patches the scsi.device automatically so you don't have to remove the scsi.device module (i think).
 
IBrowse is either version 000 or 020. No 060 version.

9) You seem to be missing exec.library (from Boing Bag 2 if you installed it) from your BlizKick line. Just keep the scsi.device (as in answer 5).

[Matt_H]

1. MUI Prefs -> Scrollbars will get you set for MUI apps. I don't think the ASL file requesters' scrollbars (the system default ones) can be changed in a non-hacky way, but you could replace ASL altogether. There's an MUI version and maybe a few others.

2. Nope.

3. Snapshot the window while it's showing all files. Auto cleanup I'm not sure about.

5. I've never seen a case where NSDPatch.cfg has required any changes. I think the SetPatch arguments are correct.

6. If it works now, I say don't mess with it

7. It's an option in Sys:Prefs/Workbench.

9. I don't have any experience with BlizKick, but yes, I think you should leave out scsi.device. In fact, since you're loading in the 3.9 modules that way, change your SetPatch arguments to NOROMUPDATE.

[Cammy]

1. You will need to register MUI if you want to change the look of it and save it, but once you do you can configure an individual look for each application, or have them all just use the global settings. You can register MUI here - http://www.sasg.com/mui/

7. If you use this tool, you only need to run it once with each font you want to use with an outline, then you never have to run a patch or hack again. What it does is creates a ColorFont version of your selected font, usually it will be white with a black outline but you can choose the colours you want to use. Once created, just select the new outlined version of the font and save it as your icon font - http://aminet.net/package/util/wb/CreateOutline

If you'd like to enhance the look of Workbench further, you will need to install VisualPrefs and Birdie - http://aminet.net/package/util/wb/VisualPrefs and http://aminet.net/package/util/wb/birdie2000

[marcfrick2112]

Hi, my .02:

4. SysInfo doesn't seem to give accurate info on a few items.. still shows my '060 as an '040...Umm, what Bamiga2002 said

7. You can try CreateOutline, but it never worked right for my A1200T. Another option is the prog. 'FontMachine' given out on AF CD's.... Anyone know the legal status of old Amiga mag. cover CD's? It would be nice to share this program...

Be aware that VisualPrefs can be tricky to get working, IME .....

[Matt_H]

Having read other responses, I see that I completely misread your question number 7 :crazy:

You should be able to adjust outline settings from Font prefs. The Workbench font requester should have a cycle box with Text+Field, Text+Outline, Text+Shadow.

[Cammy]

7. You can try CreateOutline, but it never worked right for my A1200T.

It works fine here on my A1200 020, A1200 030, A600 and CD32. If you'd like me to make an outlined version of a font, just send me the font and I'll send back an outlined version.

Be aware that VisualPrefs can be tricky to get working, IME .....

Yes, VisualPrefs is pretty tricky, it requires that you know how to operate a mouse so you can click on an Installer icon, follow a simple installation procedure, then reboot! It's best to take it one step at a time, and do everything in the right order. Do not try rebooting before the installation process has finished, and don't try to run it before it's been installed. Also, make sure the mouse is plugged in or you'll have to use the keyboard to move the cursor around the screen. After the installation and reboot, you'll still need to remember how you operated the mouse from before you rebooted, which is with your hand if you have one. Then you have to navigate the deep, dark depths of your hard drive by going into Workbench:Prefs/ and running the new GUI preferences tool. Don't get scared!

[kolla]

:laughing:

[Tenacious]

SysInfo has always had a few quirks.  If you can overlook them, its still a great utility, especially when supplemented by others like it.

[mike-]

9) Im trying to set up blizkick, since there is so much in it that can improve my machine. But I cant get it to work. It says it has mapped the ROM, but exec.library remains v40.x instead of v45.x. Ive read the docs and used romupdatesplit to load the OS3.9 bb2 rom into update modules. Im trying to load those with the following line:
 
c:blizkick devs:kickstarts/kick31_os3.9.rom EXTRESBUF=80000 MODULE bppcfix fastfilesystem filesystem.resource scsi.device ram-handler console.device
 
Is this the right syntax? Can I leave out scsi.device because of my IDE-Fix? And would I benefit from SpeedyIDE?
 
Thats it for now! Help is very much appreciated!

Remember to add QUIET when your done, you can extend the buffer to 90k and all i can say for speedyide is try it, could be faster or its not. I suggest you read about the modules in the blizkick documentation, everything is explained there, if you have an 060 there are some.

[rvo_nl]

1. Black scrollbars. I have registered MUI, but this doesnt concern MUI apps only. It looks like something is overriding scrollbars, even the ones from MUI. I've tried two ASL replacement tools like Matt_H suggested, but they dont make the requesters any prettier, tbh Im really lost for ideas, requesters and apps look so much nicer on the screenshots I've seen. Perhaps I should install AmigaSys or similar to see if there's something in it that makes it possible.
 
One more screenshot to show what I mean:

http://www.ibrowse-dev.net/screenshots/pointer.png
 
When browsing around I came across this line somewhere, however: 'AslPrefs (v44.2) in SYS:WBStartup loads your preferences', but.. it is not in my WBStartup folder! Could this be the cause? Couldnt find it on the OS3.9 cd-rom either.
 
2. Transparent windows. Okay, guess not then.
 
3. Show all files / cleaned up automatically. I know I can snapshot windows, but I want to set a default setting for all opened windows. Just like you can do with a certain *other* OS. Guess its not possible.
 
4. Sysinfo. I love Sysinfo so Im glad to hear its a common bug.

5. Leaving out scsi.device in NSDpatch.cfg. Im not entirely convinced on this. But am I right in thinking NSDpatch.cfg isnt even touched when I run setpach with the NOROMUPDATE switch (because of Blizkick) ? In that case I can let it rest.
 
6. PPC SFS. Not convinced on this either. Is there a big speed benefit when I install a PPC specific SFS? OS4 could use a bit more punch..

7. Icon text border. Unfortunately (and despite your offer, Cammy)  I do not with to use Createoutline since I dont want to patch too much into system files - even fonts. Will have a look for Font Machine though. Matt_H, sorry, but that option is not there in my Fonts prefs. Are you sure it is in yours?
 
Will try out VisualPrefs later today, sounds pretty hard to use though
 
8. No 060 IBrowse, okay.
 
9. Blizkick. I've got blizkick working now, its fantastic! Thanks for your help Bamiga, Mike. One more question though: I am now using a romfile that I have saved using SAVEROM when blizkick was not running. Is this the rom I should use? Or should I point it to the AmigaOS ROM Update file instead?  Uh and also, do I need the module FastFileSystem when Im using SFS?

[Cammy]

CreateOutline isn't a patch. It creates a ColorFont which is supported by Workbench. Once the font is made, you select it and it's done. It requires less memory than a patch because nothing extra needs to be run.

The screenshot you showed is of OS4 and MUI 3.9, you can't get scrollbars like that in MUI 3.8 either. Are there any scrollbar gadgets in Xen/Scrollbars in the MUI images? Are NewLook scrollbars selected instead of one of the Xen scrollbars?

Could you take a screenshot of your Workbench with SGrab or Personal Paint or something, if I can see the problem I might know how to fix it.

[koshman]

Installing VPrefs is easy, but getting any of the themes to work is the tricky part. I know it was for me... (although it might have been the cooperation with Birdie that was problematic...)

[Bamiga2002]

Use the romfile that you've saved when not using BlizKick. I've been using a FastATA that patches the scsi.device and used "Setpatch NOROMUPDATE QUIET". And guess what: it works!

[rvo_nl]

Another update:
 
Visualprefs
 
I've fixed the issue with the scrollbars using VisualPrefs. A bit of a fiddle, but it now even looks a bit like the screenshot I gave earlier! Thanks for all your suggestions. I have two questions about Visual Prefs though:
 
- it keeps asking for AmigaOS3.5, why is this and where can I assign it to?
- in the manual it says I need the program TRAP to force ReAction to use Vprefs' template. However the site doesnt exist and aminet doesnt have it. Do I still need it? Can someone send it to me? ReAction prefs is now looking very weird.
 
Blizkick
 
Working fine, but I still wonder whether I should load the FastFileSystem module.
 
PPC version of SFS
 
I still dont know what to do with this. Anyone?
 
Icon text border
 
I played around with a few programs on Aminet, but they gave a very ugly outline around my Icon titles. I recall them looking better with just plain Newicons. When I use createoutline, the result looks just as worse and it keeps drawing a rectangle around the text. So no luck there so far.