For help with the FS/2 application window, see General Overview.
The Data Panel
The Data Panel consists of eight pushbuttons that also serve as the labels for eight data subwindows for drive and file data, the Message Window and today's date and time of day windows. Press F9 or LMB click in the current date or time subwindows to activate this window for user input. Clicking in several of the subwindows is used for other events and will not activate the Data Panel. If the Data Panel is active, mouse click in any other FS/2 window to deactivate it.
Note: - The F9 key acts as a rotary control when FS/2 is active. When pushed, it cycles the Data Panel though three states in the order listed:
While hiding the Data Panel is an option, it is recommended that it not be hidden since it contains the Message window and other routinely used functions such as one-click Files window sorting or renaming file(s). It should be hidden only when it is desired to increase the size of the center windows at the expense of not using these functions.
Inactive Data Panel with Depressed Border
Active
Data Panel with Raised Border
It is possible to keyboard Tab through the pushbuttons and subwindows if the Data Panel has the input focus. The subwindows have special graphics to indicate which subwindow has the keyboard focus. The only keyboard input a user may make in any subwindow except the Message window is to access the help for that window with the F1 key.
The default background color of the Data Panel is pale gray. However, the background color may be set to track the color of the active Files window by checking the Include Data Panel checkbox on the Colors page of the Settings notebook. When this feature is disabled, it is possible to set individual colors in the Data Panel. Background color tracking is enabled upon installation.
Data Panel Scaling
The Data Panel pushbuttons and subwindows dynamically scale to the font used in X: Used pushbutton (where X: is the current drive) and its subwindow. The width of the Name pushbutton/subwindow and the Message window is determined by the size of the other controls. To increase the width of these windows, reduce the size of the font in the Data Panel. The FS/2 window cannot be resized and reduced in width below the point where the Name window width is less than the average font width of about 4 characters.
Pushbutton Functions
The functions of the eight pushbuttons are as follows:
Label for drive Used window immediately below it. The windowed data are
the allocated bytes used on the drive of the active file window.
When pushed, the data window will show the allocated bytes used for all local fixed drives on the system.
Total
Local Fixed Disk Space
Label for drive Free window immediately below it. The windowed data are
bytes free on the drive of the active file window.
When pushed, the data window will show the bytes used for all remote
fixed
drives on the system
Label for the Selected window immediately below it. The window shows
either
the allocated file size for all selected files or the number of
selected
files in the active file window. To toggle the display state, LMB click
in the window.
When pushed, all files in the file window are either selected or deselected, depending on the all-selected state.
Label for the file Name window immediately below it. The file name
shown
is the name of the selected file.
When pushed with a file selected, a file rename mode is entered with an edit file name entry field presented. The label changes color if the field is edited. Pushing Rename after the name is edited renames the selected file.
Rename
Edit Field
The Name window is also used to edit file subjects. The operation is basically the same as file Rename after the subject edit mode is entered. To enter a file subject edit mode, use Shift E or click with the RMB in the file Attributes window. While in this mode the pushbutton is labeled with 'Subject'. Subjects are limited to 40 characters.
There are also capabilities to rename multiple files and to change the case of all selected files in the active file windows. See Rename for these functions.
This window is also used to set the Files window sort by file name or extension. See Click and Sort.
Label for the file Size window immediately below it. The file size
shown
in the window is the actual file size on disk for the cursored file.
When pushed, the Drive, Directory and File Windows are reset to their default size and position. When pushed with the Ctrl, Alt and/or Shift keys down, it is the equivalent of pushing the keyboard 'W'. See the Windows menu items for more help on resetting the internal windows.
This window is also used to set the Files window sort by file size. See Click and Sort.
Label for the file Date window immediately below it. The window shows
the
last write date for the cursored file.
When pushed, the Change Date/Time dialog is activated which allows the user to change the file last write date and time of all selected files.
This window is also used to set the Files window sort by date. See Click and Sort.
Label for the file Time window immediately below it. The window shows
the
last write time for the cursored file.
When pushed, the Change Date/Time dialog is activated which allows the user to change the file last write date and time of all selected files.
This window is also used to set the Files window sort by directory when the Files window is showing multiple directories. See Click and Sort.
Label for the file Attributes window immediately below it. The window
shows
the current file attributes for the cursored file.
When pushed, the Change File Attributes dialog is activated which allows the user to change the attributes of all selected files.
This window is also used to toggle the display of file subjects (LMB click) or to enter a file subject edit mode (RMB click). See Click and Sort.
Message Window
The Message window, located at the bottom left of the Data Panel, displays information, warning and error messages for FS/2 operations. It also displays an operation progress bar for functions like copying files and reports the results of most file operations as well.
Note: The operation progress bar and messages associated with the operation are only shown when the window in which the operation is being performed is the active window.
Function
Progress Bar
Messages are stored by FS/2 and may be reviewed in the Message History dialog, which may be invoked by selecting the Message History option from the Windows menu (Ctrl+Alt+M) or by clicking the RMB in the Message window. The last ten warning and error messages and the last twenty Information messages are stored and available for review.
Most messages will time out and clear the window after the time interval specified by the Message Persistence control on the Controls Setup tab of the Settings notebook (default is 8 seconds). Also clicking in the Directories and Files windows will clear the message window in most cases. The last message in the window may be recalled by a single click of the LMB in the right half of the window.
Simulated LEDs
The Data Panel has six (6) small simulated LEDs below the windows shown below. They reflect the sort state of the active Files window or subject state for the Message window. The sort LEDs have red, green and gray colors, red indicating an active descending sort, green indicating a active ascending sort and gray indicating an inactive sort. Only one may be on at a time. As an example, a red LED under the right half of the Name window would indicate a descending extension sort or a green LED under the Size window would indicate a ascending size sort.
Simulated
LEDs for Sort and Subject States
A yellow LED shows below the Attributes window when the moding is enabled to show the file subject in the message window.
Data Panel Help Links
See the following help panels for specific Data Panel help;