Workbench OS 3.5

Last update: 19. November 2002

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Info * Boot * Utilites * Random Settings * Custom WB1 * Custom WB2 * Fonts * Sounds * Help.guide * Other Utilities

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Setting up a Custom AMiGA Workbench 3.5

For the following steps, you should know how to copy files with the Workbench or CLI (Command Line Interface or Shell), unpack LHa files, use a text editor (such as ED) to type some lines of text and save them to the correct file. You will need a hard drive equipped AMiGA that meets the requirements to run AMiGA OS 3.5 or 3..9.

It might be a good idea to make a Emergency Boot Disk now if you do not have one already.

Format a floppy disk. Run the OS 3.5 (or OS 3.9) install program and use the "make emergency disk" option. Copy any extra system files you need for your setup to the disk, eg. , setbat (for AMiGA3000), HDToolbox if you need a custom HDToolbox for your hard drive controller, SFSSalv, DiskSalv or PFS3 doctor, ED, DOpus4 and any other utils that you might need or you can fit on the disk. A high density floppy helps here.

These tips and "hacks" SHOULD work with WinUAE, CybergraphX supported graphics cards, 68060 CPU (others should be OK) and native AMiGA OS 3.9 or OS 3.5. OS 2.x and OS 3.0-3.1 not tested. Please let me know of any problems.

I run Workbench 3.5 on a ZORRO III CyberVision64 card on a 1152x846 Hi-colour (16bit) screen.
Workbench is very stable with just the right mix of improvement.
WBCtrl, MCP[020] 1.30, MagicMenu 2.21, Toolmanager 2.1, ToolsDaemon 2.1a, DefIcons 37.15, Simpleclock 1.5, ReqAttack 1.8, ReqASL, Peperoni 1.5e, RAWBInfo 1.18.

CustomWB
What	How	Where	Prefs	Note
DefIcons 37.15
MagicMenu 2.21	Icon in WBStartup drawer in Workbench		My MM prefs
MCP[020] 1.30	Line c:mcp added to my startup-sequence after "Path" and before "Execute S:User-Startup"		Confg in envarc:mcp/ My MCP prefs	Compatibility
ReqASL
ReqAttack. OS3.5 ARQ replacement.
Simpleclock 1.5
ToolsDaemon 2.1a	Icon in WBStartup drawer in Workbench.		Config in S: as toolsdaemon.menu My TD prefs	paths to your software need to be edited, but you will get the idea!
Toolmanager 2.1	Icon in WBStartup drawer in Workbench.		Config in envarc: My TM prefs	Note: paths to your software need to be edited, but you will get the idea!
VisualPrefs
WBCtrl	c:wbctrl imt=fast mnl 100	OS3.5 CD	N/A

To get the best out of your AMiGA a graphics card will speed up your system. Some extra RAM (also called Memory) helps too, 16 Mb of RAM is the maximum amount that the A3000 or A4000 can have on the motherboard. Note that while a graphics card has RAM on the card it ALSO uses system RAM (Result: graphics cards DO NOT increase RAM, they DECREASE the amout of free RAM).

Boot in Style!

I use PicBoot (right click to download) to display a picture (right click to download) that I use on my ECS system without needing the Graphics card. CGX3.x users can use 24 bit boot pictures) while the WorkBench loads. This is the start of my S:Startup-sequene

C:PrepareEmul (for Shapeshifter)

C:SetPatch QUIET (patches the Kickstart ROM code with improvements and fixes)

CyReq ;one of most important patches in your OS! ther words, not mine!

c:MuFastROM (from the MMULib to map Kickstart image into Fast RAM)

c:patchcontrol (from MCP)

c:picboot c:workboot.ilbm MODEID 167940 DETACH (for boot picture the MODEID is so the above boot picture will display correctly, 640x512 PAL Hi-res Laced)

C:Version >NIL:

C:AddBuffers >NIL: DF0: 15

FailAt 21

At the end of my S:Startup-Sequence I use Play16 to play a sample (right click to download Cartman saying "kick arse") when Workbench has loaded.

C:LoadWB

c:play16 "sys:prefs/samples/flawless.1" >nil:

EndCLI >NIL:

Utilities

Right click to download Forceicon. Forceicon can "snapshot" (save position) and use a different icon for not writeable media (CD ROM) and can change the Appicon (and snapshot it) for programes that do not support changing the icon. I do not use Force Icon anymore but others might find it helpful.

Random Workbench Settings

If you get bored with the same backdrop picture on Workbench all the time it's nice to change them every so often. Changing WBPattern preferences files by hand is one way, but getting the AMiGA to choose a random backdrop each time it boots up is easy. There are many ways to do this, but the easiest is with a random file copier. Chris Hodges' Randomfile from Aminet (util/cli RandomFile.lha) can be set up by copying it to C: directory, then copy all your backdrop pictures to use to sys:prefs/patterns on your hard disk (replace this with the path you put your backdrops in.) Then make a temporary directory on your hard disk eg sys:prefs/tempback. You could also use T: on the RamDisk if you have lots-a-RAM! Load S:Startup-Sequence into your text editor (NOT s:User-Startup) and add the line RandomFile FROM "sys:prefs/patterns/~(#?.info)" TO "sys:prefs/tempback/Backdrop.IFF" before the line that reads C:IPrefs Remember to use your own paths if different from the ones I have suggested .
Next reboot. Now you load the WBPattern preferences program. Choose 'Backdrop.IFF' from your temporary directory sys:prefs/tempback and save. Your backdrop will now change every time you reboot. Window patterns, fonts and sounds can use the same technique but use a different filename for the file you put in your temporary directory (fonts can be changed by using save as and copying the resulting different presets file) There are random backdrop choosing utilities on Aminet, this way is simpler and does not use lots of memory, it uses none. Oh and it is free.
Random idea by Jamie Montgomerie.

A busy Workbench! Screenmode 1024 by 768 with 64,000 colours. OS Workbench 3.5, fonts - MACtitle and BNS, Icons - GlowIcons

Click image for full size. Be warned the image is large and may take a while to load. (use "Back" button to return here!)

A big Workbench! Screenmode 1152 by 864 with 64,000 colours. OS Workbench 3.5, fonts - MACtitle and BNS, Icons - GlowIcons, VisualPrefs

Click image for full size. Be warned the image is large and may take a while to load. (use "Back" button to return here!)

Fonts

Fonts (typeface) used in the screenshots are from the BNSMWBicons (7 and 8) packages from Aminet.
If you followed the link on my main page for setting up browser fonts, you can use these fonts for your Workbench as well. If not visit Kittycat's Guide to true-type Fonts on the AMiGA.
To get the white text for the Workbench Icons, load Font prefs, set the icon text colour to white (and the mode to Text for the transparent background).

Sounds

Some samples from SouthPark and Homer to use!

Right click to download samples

Help: Assign

Make your own AMiGA Help guide to link all your program and utilities guides from one place!

Download my customized workbench.guide. Unpack this file, edit the paths in the file to point to where your help (guides, text and readmes) files are on your hard drive (to make it easy, copy all your help files to the HELP: assign) then copy workbench.guide to HELP:english/sys. Pressing the Help key will open your new workbench.guide for you in Multiview.

Other Utilties that you may find useful

Birdie, download from the homepage, hacks the window boarders to add a pattern.

E-Mail: miles.j@ihug.co.nz