** Netscape DDE Interface (w) (c) 1998 Ulrich M”ller ** Version 1.0 README ====== This file is the only documentation for the NETSCDDE.EXE file in this package. Since it's not too complicated too handle, this should suffice. This package is FREEWARE. No warranty. See bottom for details. INTRODUCTION ============ Are you annoyed too by the fact that double-clicking on HTML files on your hard disk will always start a new instance of NETSCAPE.EXE instead of just using the already running instance of Netscape? NETSCDDE.EXE is the solution. You can associate it with HTML files, so that when you double-click on them, either Netscape will be started or, if it's already running, the HTML file will simply be passed to the running instance. INSTALLATION ============ Place the NETSCDDE.EXE file whereever you want. Create a program object for it and associate *.HTM and *.HTML files with it. Put the command line parameters you wish in the "Parameters" list of the program object. REQUIREMENTS: ------------- Either OS/2 Warp 3 or 4 with Netscape installed. COMMAND LINE PARAMETERS ======================= The NETSCDDE command line accepts the following (simply double-click on NETSCDDE.EXE for a summary): netscdde [-[x|X]n]] [-p ] [-P ] with: a Uniform Resource Locator; you can even open files on the Internet with NETSCDDE by specifying http:// or ftp:// and such. For local files, Netscape tolerates the plain path and file name, so that a simple C:\docs\text.html will open this file in Netscape. (This is why NETSCDDE works with the WPS associations mentioned above, BTW). Example: NETSCDDE C:\docs\text.html Options: -x If Netscape is not running yet, do NOT open a new instance of it. NETSCDDE will then simply exit. -X If Netscape is not running yet, DO open a new instance of it without asking. Per default, NETSCDDE will prompt you for whether you wish to open a new instance of Netscape. -n Request a new browser window for from Netscape, if it's already running. (If Netscape is not yet running and a new instance is opened, a new window will always be opened, of course.) Per default, will be opened in the last active Netscape browser window. -p Here you can specify the full path of NETSCAPE.EXE, if it's not on your PATH. This is only evaluated if Netscape is not yet running. Per default, NETSCDDE will search the PATH for NETSCAPE.EXE. Example: NETSCDDE -p "C:\NETSCAPE\NETSCAPE.EXE" The use of quotes is only neccessary for paths which contain spaces, but never hurts. See "Tips & Tricks" below. -P Here you can specify command line parameters for a newly opened instance of Netscape, such as "-3" for Netscape 3.0 identification (see the Netscape documentation for details.) Example: -P "-3" Again, the use of quotes is only neccessary if the parameter list contains spaces, but never hurts. -m start Netscape minimized. -mh start Netscape minimized and hidden (see "Tips & Tricks" below). TIPS AND TRICKS =============== Here's an unintended, but maybe useful side-effect: Since OS/2 can share its DDE environment with a Win-OS/2 session, NETSCDDE can even pass URLs to a running WINDOWS(!) copy of Netscape Navigator. This includes Communicator (Netscape 4). The only thing you have to do is enable WIN_DDE in the Win-OS/2 session settings of your Windows Netscape program object. By specifying your Windows Netscape EXE file with -p (see above), NETSCDDE.EXE even provides for proper WPS integration of Windows Netscapes. You can now (V1.1) also specify a command file with -p and -P to have certain commands executed before and after Netscape is actually started. Example (NETSCAPE.CMD): @echo off rem do some initialization here, e.g. change directory cd D:\WebStuff rem now call Netscape netscape.exe rem now the .cmd file is put to sleep until Netscape is rem terminated; subsequent calls to NETSCDDE will contact rem this running Netscape instance rem after Netscape is terminated, execute this: call cleanup.cmd rem or whatever you want Thanks, Marcus de Guys, for this suggestion. HOW IT WORKS ============ This is done with the use of Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE), for the OS/2 version of Netscape 2.02 understands just the same DDE commands as the Windows versions do. These are (horribly) documented at http://developer.netscape.com/library/documentation/communicator/DDE These documents assume a precise knowledge of how DDE works, and believe me, some things ARE different on OS/2. LICENSE, COPYRIGHT, DISCLAIMER ============================== This package is freeware. All rights reserved. There is NO WARRANTY whatsoever. Use at your own risk. (C) Copyright Ulrich M”ller, 1998 RELEASE HISTORY =============== V1.02 (May 1, 1998) ------------------- NETSCDDE can now start any program specified with -p, for example a batch file. New "-m" and "-h" parameters. V1.02 (May 1, 1998) ------------------- NETSCDDE does not any longer block the PM while waiting for Netscape to answer. V1.01 (March 8, 1998) -------------------- Bugfix for local files which contain spaces. V1.0 (March 5, 1998) -------------------- Initial release. CONTACT ======= Ulrich M”ller e-mail: ulrich.moeller@rz.hu-berlin.de www: http://www2.rz.hu-berlin.de/~h0444vnd/ The above WWW address is also the place where you will other halfway famous OS/2 software: -- the XFolder package, which greatly improves all your WPS folders; -- the OS/2 IconPak with more than 400 hi-res icons; -- the OS/2 CommandPak, which improves work at the OS/2 command line.