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AmigaOS 4.0 - About OS4 - Preferences

DEFICONS Preferences Editor
The DefIcons Preferences editor enables you to edit the ENVARC:deficon.prefs configuration file. When DefIcons is invoked it will display the following window:

Filetypes

The left-hand panel shows the Filetypes used by DefIcons to classify files. Notice that they are arranged in a hierarchical manner such that files will default to a higher level filetype if no match is made at a lower level or if no default icon has been provided in ENVARC:Sys or DEFPATH if specified.

Actions

The right-hand panel shows the Actions for each Filetype according to the following rules:

MATCH <offset> <string> [Case sensitive]

the file must contain the given string at the given offset (relative to the current position). "current position" means that each matching action increases the current position within the file. When a description doesn't match, the next action will start at the beginning of the file. Hexadecimal values must be entered using the following style, e.g. \x0a for 10 or \xff for 255, etc. 'Case sensitive' can be specified where case is significant. SEARCH <string> [Skip spaces] [Case sensitive] the file must contain the given string somewhere starting at the current position. "current position" means that each matching action increases the current position within the file. When a description doesn't match, the next action will start at the beginning of the file. When you specify 'Skip spaces', only spaces and tabs are allowed to precede the given string. 'Case sensitive' can be specified where case is significant. FILESIZE <size> bytes the file must have the given size. PATTERN <pattern(s)> the filename must match the given pattern. Multiple patterns may be specified surrounded by brackets and separated by "|", e.g. #?(.doc|.txt|.text|readme#?) PROTECTION <protection bits> the file must have the given protection bits (un)set. The protection bits are:
Setting Ignore Set Unset
Deleteable - D d
Executable - E e
Writeable - W w
Readable - R r
Archived - A a
Pure - P p
Script - S s
Hidden - H h
OR alternative description follows. ISASCII checks whether the file is a text file or not (only used by 'ascii' type). MACROCLASS this filetype will never become valid. Only its icon will be used, if one of the children, which does not have an icon, becomes valid. Adding a New Filetype
To add a new filetype to the "Filetypes" list, press the "Add" button and overtype «new» with the name of the filetype in the Name gadget below the list and press <Enter>. DefIcons/icon.library will later use this name to find the icon which belongs to the filetype. Then, with the new filetype highlighted, click on the "Add" button under the "Actions" window to select the appropriate action, and enter the appropriate arguments in the gadget that appears in the space below the window. Alternatively you can use the "Learn..." button which requires you to select at least two files of the same format in the filerequester that comes up (the more files, the better the result). Please note, that this function is very basic and will create only a list of MATCHes.

If the name of the filetype already matches the name of an existing default icon, then you can doubleclick the filetype to get information on the icon, and update the default tool, stacksize, priority etc. Otherwise you may want to add a matching icon to ENVARC:Sys (or whereever your icons are located if DEFPATH is specified). Make sure that your default icons have all of the correct characteristics for the files or devices that will use them, otherwise you may get unpredictable results.

Changing an Existing Filetype
The arrow buttons can be used to the change the position of the selected filetype(s)/class(es) in the list. To update an existing filetype, simply highlight the filetype by clicking on it. The corresponding Actions will be displayed. To change an action, simply click on it and then edit the arguments in the gadget that is displayed below the window. To remove a highlighted action, simply click on the "Remove" button instead.

Removing a Filetype
To remove an existing filetype, highlight the filetype by clicking on it and then click on the "Remove" button. Note that removing a class [=filetype] will also remove its children.

Action Buttons
When you make changes you can choose to 'Save' them permanently, just 'Use' them temporarily until the system is rebooted, or you can 'Cancel' and lose all changes.

Return to Preferences Selection

Disclaimer: Amiga Auckland have prepared the above information for the use of its members based on our experiences and as such is subject to revision at any time. Amiga Auckland cannot guarantee any of the information and cannot be held accountable for any issues that may result from using it.

Copyright © 2006 Amiga Auckland Inc. All rights reserved.
Revised: February 9, 2006.