Changeset 185 for trunk/docs/lswitch.ipf

Timestamp:

Aug 23, 2020, 6:40:06 AM (5 years ago)

Author:

Lewis Rosenthal

Message:

Updated EN help to add topic on Priority dialog. Other miscellaneous
fixes added.

File:

• trunk/docs/lswitch.ipf (modified) (23 diffs)

trunk/docs/lswitch.ipf ¶

@@ -6 +6 @@
 .nameit symbol=tb text='Taskbar'
 .nameit symbol=wgt text='Widget'
+.nameit symbol=pd text='Priority dialog'
 .nameit symbol=owl text='OS/2 Window List'
 .nameit symbol=sm text='Sticky Mode'
@@ -17 +18 @@
 :title.&lsw. Help
 .* Subject: lSwitcher User Guide
-.* Version: 2018012701
-.* Copyright: 1997-2009 Andrei Los; 2010-2019 Netlabs lSwitcher Team
+.* Version: 202008211
+.* Copyright: 1997-2009 Andrei Los; 2010-2020 Netlabs lSwitcher Team
 .* Author: Andrei Los, Gregg Young, Andy Willis, Lewis Rosenthal, et al
 
@@ -103 +104 @@
 :note text='Note 1'.The path to :hp2.LSWITCHD.EXE:ehp2. must be
 :link reftype=fn refid='TSR1'.DOS-accessible:elink.. The default is
-BootDrive&colon.\OS2\MDOS\LSWDOS.
+&lt.BootDrive&gt.&colon.\OS2\MDOS\LSWDOS.
 
 
@@ -182 +183 @@
 the other program settings.
 
-:note text='Note 1'.It is necessary to open the &pn. and click :hp1.Save:ehp1.
+:note text='Note 1'.It is necessary to open the &pn. and click :hp2.Save:ehp2.
 in order to retain colors and fonts after :hp2.&lsw.:ehp2. is closed and
 reopened.
@@ -233 +234 @@
 :dt.:hp2.p:ehp2.
 :dd.Opens a dialog to allow setting process priority and delta, as well as
-a checkbox to apply such changes to the task's descendants. Click OK to apply
-the priority changes or Cancel to leave the dialog without saving changes.
+a checkbox to apply such changes to the task's descendants. See
+:link reftype=hd refid='30200'.&pd.:elink. for more information.
 :dt.:hp2.F1:ehp2.
 :dd.Opens this help file
@@ -331 +332 @@
 
 :p.Various properties of the :hp2.&tb.:ehp2. may be configured, including
-maximum
-button width for running tasks, whether the :hp2.&tb.:ehp2. is of
+maximum button width for running tasks, whether the :hp2.&tb.:ehp2. is of
 fixed width or resizable, :link reftype=hd refid='Taskbar_page_2'.mouse
 button mapping:elink., as well as the style and content of the
@@ -340 +340 @@
 bottom) will cause it to be shown.
 
-:p.:hp2.&tb.:ehp2. and :hp2.&wgt.:ehp2. background color as well as font and text color may be
-changed by
-dragging and dropping from the respective WPS palette object (while the
-:hp2.&tb.:ehp2.
-is not in :hp2.&ahm.:ehp2.). It is possible to drag and drop different colors
-and fonts corresponding to program or session state (active,
-minimized/hidden, etc.). To change the color and font
+:p.:hp2.&tb.:ehp2. and :hp2.&wgt.:ehp2. background color as well as font and
+text color may be changed by dragging and dropping from the respective WPS
+palette object (while the :hp2.&tb.:ehp2. is not in :hp2.&ahm.:ehp2.). It is
+possible to drag and drop different colors and fonts corresponding to program
+or session state (active, minimized/hidden, etc.). To change the color and font
 for the task name tooltip, hold the :hp1.Shift :ehp1.key down while the
 tooltip is visible (this will make the tooltip remain on the screen even
@@ -355 +353 @@
 the tooltip. The colors and fonts are saved with the other program settings.
 
-:note.It is necessary to open the &pn. and click :hp1.Save:ehp1. in order to
+:note.It is necessary to open the &pn. and click :hp2.Save:ehp2. in order to
 retain colors and fonts after :hp2.&lsw.:ehp2. is closed and reopened.
 
@@ -384 +382 @@
 with the following :hp2.&lsw.:ehp2. items&colon.
 
-:dl tsize=16 break=none.
+:dl tsize=22 break=none.
 :dt.:hp2.Run...:ehp2.
 .br
@@ -440 +438 @@
 :edl.
 
+.* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+:h1 res=30200 id='30200'
+    x=left y=bottom width=100% height=100%.&pd.
+
+OS/2 switches between tasks dozens of times per second, allowing active programs
+to appear to run in parallel. This occurs on single-processor systems and
+multi-processor (SMP) systems. As there will always be more active tasks than
+physical processors in the system, switching is always required for 
+multitasking.
+
+:p.A :hp1.thread:ehp1. is OS/2's smallest running program unit for task
+switching. A program may utilize one or more threads (sometimes many, and the
+exact number may vary as the program runs, depending upon the type of program
+and whether it is idle or being actively used). Because one active program may
+have more than one thread, task switching may occur between that program's
+threads (:hp1.multi-threading:ehp1.), as well as between threads running in
+other programs.
+
+:p.The :hp1.scheduler:ehp1. is the part of the OS/2 kernel which manages thread
+switching.
+
+:p.In a single thread, program instructions are executed sequentially. In a
+multi-threaded application, it may be difficult to observe the order of
+execution of one thread's instructions as opposed to another's. On SMP systems,
+threads from the same application might actually run concurrently on several
+processors. As a result, many things appear to take place simultaneously.
+
+:p.Applications which leverage multi-threading use multiple threads to balance
+program operations between background operations (calculations, file I/O, etc.)
+and foreground operations (user input or display).
+
+:p.Not all OS/2 software is multi-threaded. Such applications use only one
+thread for all operations, and may cause the user interface to stop responding
+(block) while performing processor-intensive tasks, or when other hungry
+applications are running concurently. 
+
+:p.A :hp1.process:ehp1. is any application which has been loaded into memory.
+Each process must have at least one thread.
+
+:p.Threads may have different :hp1.priorities:ehp1.. This is where the
+:hp2.&pd.:ehp2. is useful.
+
+:p.Generally, a higher priority thread is given more processor time by the
+scheduler than a lower priority one. When more than one thread is internally
+marked as ready, the scheduler makes a determination as to which one gets more
+processor attention based upon its thread priority.
+
+:p.Threads which are currently blocked (waiting for something else, or in some
+other way unable to be executed) do not need processor time. It is generally the
+case that the vast majority of threads will be in the blocked state, while a
+smaller proportion are actually ready, and thus, consuming processor attention
+(time).
+
+:p.OS/2 provides four priority classes, as presented in the :hp2.&pd.:ehp2.,
+referring to the main thread of the selected process&colon.
+
+:dl tsize=26 break=none.
+:dt.:hp2.Idle-time&colon.:ehp2.
+:dd.The lowest priority class (1). The thread only gets processor time if no
+higher priority class threads are ready. Useful for background taks which are
+not critical to system operation and which may be delayed until fewer active
+tasks are in need of processor time.
+.br
+:dt.:hp2.Regular&colon.:ehp2.
+:dd.The default and most used priority class (2). The OS/2 scheduler changes
+priority levels (deltas) dynamically within this class to ensure that no thread
+of this class is "starved" for processor time. 
+.br
+:dt.:hp2.Foreground server&colon.:ehp2.
+:dd.The second-highest priority class (4) for non-dynamic threads (above dynamic
+"regular" class threads). Although this class has the value 4, time-critical
+threads take priority over this class. As with regular threads, the scheduler
+will dynamically manage processor time for threads within this class.
+.br
+:dt.:hp2.Time-critical&colon.:ehp2.
+:dd.The highest priority class (3). A time-critical priority thread will
+:hp1.immediately:ehp1. be given processor time without interruption until
+it completes. (Many device drivers will yield processor time only to threads of
+this class.)
+.br
+.br
+:hp2.CAUTION&colon.:ehp2. Time-critical threads should only use the minimum
+possible processor time because they cannot be interrupted (except by other
+time-critical threads). Other non-time-critical threads will not run while a
+time-critical thread is running, even if the thread itself yields the CPU via
+DosSleep(0). This class is normally only used for network or other
+communications, or multimedia applications which might be negatively impacted if
+interrupted (time-sensitive I/O).
+:edl.
+
+:p.Within each priority class, a thread may be set to a priority level, or
+:hp2.Delta:ehp2.. This value (from 0 to +31) assigns the precedence of a thread
+within its given priority class and is only used when multiple threads of the
+same priority class require processor time.
+
+:p.:hp2.Include descendants:ehp2. applies the priority class and delta to all
+threads spawned (started, either before or after making any changes here) from
+the task's main thread.
+
+:p.Click :hp2.OK:ehp2. to apply the priority changes or :hp2.Cancel:ehp2. to
+leave the dialog without saving changes.
 
 .* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -923 +1022 @@
 :note.All languages are installed by default. If you wish to delete the extra
 language resource DLL(s) make sure you change :hp1.Language:ehp1. to one you
-aren't going to delete, and click :hp1.Save:ehp1.. Then delete additional
+aren't going to delete, and click :hp2.Save:ehp2.. Then delete additional
 language DLL(s) as desired.
 
@@ -1067 +1166 @@
 Gregg Young
 
-:p.We would like to thank the following people for comments, suggestions, bug
-reports, and other feedback&colon.
+:p.We would like to thank the following people and projects for comments,
+suggestions, bug reports, and other feedback&colon.
 
 :p.Doug Bissett
@@ -1086 +1185 @@
 Tim Erickson
 .br
-Alfredo Fernandez Diaz
+Alfredo Fern ndez D¡az
 .br
 Javier Arias Fernandez
@@ -1155 +1254 @@
 .br
 Vladislav Zhuk
+.br
+The XWorkplace project (the &pd. topic background information was based heavily
+upon the XWorkplace documentation) https&colon.//trac.netlabs.org/xworkplace
 
 :p.Special thanks to the following people who provided translation of the
@@ -1162 +1264 @@
 :p.Tomas Hajny &emdash. Czech translation
 .br
-Alfredo Fernandez Diaz &emdash. Spanish translation
+Alfredo Fern ndez D¡az &emdash. Spanish translation
 
 
@@ -1177 +1279 @@
 
 :p.If you find a defect or wish to request an enhancement please file a ticket
-at http&colon.//trac.netlabs.org/lswitcher
+at https&colon.//trac.netlabs.org/lswitcher
 
 :p.Mailing Lists
@@ -1211 +1313 @@
 
 :p.The full source code is available from
-http&colon.//svn.netlabs.org/repos/lswitcher/trunk .
+https&colon.//svn.netlabs.org/repos/lswitcher/trunk .
 .br
 See https&colon.//trac.netlabs.org/lswitcher for details.
@@ -1247 +1349 @@
 :fn id='debug'.
 
-:p.We recommend you install exceptq. It can be found on Hobbes
-http&colon.//hobbes.nmsu.edu or installed using the Arca
-Noae Package Manager. With exceptq installed, the :hp2.&tb.:ehp2. will
+:p.We recommend you install Exceptq. It can be found on Hobbes
+https&colon.//hobbes.nmsu.edu or installed using the Arca
+Noae Package Manager. With Exceptq installed, the :hp2.&tb.:ehp2. will
 generate a &asterisk..TRP file in the :hp2.&lsw.:ehp2. directory if a serious
 problem occurs.
@@ -1256 +1358 @@
 :hp2.XWPLOG.LOG:ehp2. in the root of the boot volume or in the directory
 specified by the &percent.LOGFILES&percent. variable in :hp2.CONFIG.SYS:ehp2.
-(usually, :hp2.\VAR\LOG:ehp2.).
+(usually, :hp2.&lt.BootDrive&gt.&colon.\VAR\LOG:ehp2.).
 :efn.
 
@@ -1308 +1410 @@
 :note.:hp1.SIGKILL:ehp1. is only available if :hp1.XF86SUP.SYS:ehp1. or
 :hp1.CADH.SYS:ehp1. process killer driver is installed. :hp1.XF86SUP.SYS:ehp1. is
-available on Hobbes&colon. :hp1.CADH.SYS:ehp1. is part of the Arca OS and eCS
+available on Hobbes&colon. :hp1.CADH.SYS:ehp1. is part of the ArcaOS and eCS
 default installations.
 .br
-http&colon.//hobbes.nmsu.edu/
+https&colon.//hobbes.nmsu.edu/
 
 :dt.:hp2.Priority...:ehp2.
 :dd.Opens a dialog to allow setting process priority and delta, as well as
-a checkbox to apply such changes to the task's descendants. Click OK to apply
-the priority changes or Cancel to leave the dialog without saving changes.
+a checkbox to apply such changes to the task's descendants. See
+:link reftype=hd refid='30200'.&pd.:elink. for more information.
 :dt.:hp2.Add filter:ehp2.
 :dd.Adds selected task to the :hp2.&tb.'s:ehp2. Exclude filters. The task's icon
@@ -1354 +1456 @@
 :dt.:hp2.Priority...:ehp2.
 :dd.Opens a dialog to allow setting process priority and delta, as well as
-a checkbox to apply such changes to the task's descendants. Click OK to apply
-the priority changes or Cancel to leave the dialog without saving changes.
+a checkbox to apply such changes to the task's descendants. See
+:link reftype=hd refid='30200'.&pd.:elink. for more information.
 :dt.:hp2.Add filter:ehp2.
 :dd.Adds selected task to the :hp2.&tb.'s:ehp2. Exclude filters. The task's icon
@@ -1391 +1493 @@
 :dt.:hp2.Priority...:ehp2.
 :dd.Opens a dialog to allow setting process priority and delta, as well as
-a checkbox to apply such changes to the task's descendants. Click OK to apply
-the priority changes or Cancel to leave the dialog without saving changes.
+a checkbox to apply such changes to the task's descendants. See
+:link reftype=hd refid='30200'.&pd.:elink. for more information.
 :dt.:hp2.Add filter:ehp2.
 :dd.Adds selected task to the :hp2.&tb.'s:ehp2. Exclude filters. The task's icon
@@ -1436 +1538 @@
 :dt.:hp2.Priority...:ehp2.
 :dd.Opens a dialog to allow setting process priority and delta, as well as
-a checkbox to apply such changes to the task's descendants. Click OK to apply
-the priority changes or Cancel to leave the dialog without saving changes.
+a checkbox to apply such changes to the task's descendants. See
+:link reftype=hd refid='30200'.&pd.:elink. for more information.
 :dt.:hp2.Add filter:ehp2.
 :dd.Adds selected task to the :hp2.&tb.'s:ehp2. Exclude filters. The task's icon