BetterWB 3.9

[gulliver]

BetterWB 3.9 19-November-2014

This is a new version of BetterWB workbench pack, that aims to be an enhancement, an updated extension to AmigaOS 3.1, without all those hardware requirements typically associated with these kind of packs. It is indeed a better 3.1 than 3.1 itself!

BetterWB works on any Amiga. It installs on top of a clean AmigaOS 3.1 installation. It is distributed as a set of floppy images and occupies about 10MB of harddrive space.

Changes since last version:

-Disksalv and pfsdoctor are now integrated thru diskdoctor as salvage options
-Addmem command allows you to configure non autoconfig ram expansions
-Icon.library has been updated to 46.4.399
-Prism2v2 has been updated to 2.6
-PrepCard+ has been updated to v0.2
-SmartWin is no longer needed. CleverWIN replaces it, and doesnt require a workbench reset.
-TextEngine crashed under some RTG systems. It has been replaced by Redit.
-SwazInfo is suggested when switching to GlowIcons
-Reduced memory footprint a bit more
-A few more minor fixes and tweaks

You can download BetterWB from its homepage at:

http://lilliput.amiga-projects.net/BetterWB.htm

[huepper]

Thanks!!!

[Ian]

I like the thought of BetterWB and have used it, but back in the day I never got involved in any workbench activities (unless it was necessary to run a game)

So, can anyone write an FAQ on what all the option programs do?

I enabled them all in a previous version and had no clue what most of them did.

[Retrofan]

But if you don't want to read the Readmes, why are you going to read what he could write making a summary for you?

[Ian]

Reading readmes on the amiga sucks balls, and to be perfectly honest, I didn't know the readmes existed, and as some of the options in the WBstart options don't correlate to the actual name of the program that might not help all that much.

I remember enabling everything, only to receive an error about a program that wasn't listed, sure enough though as I disabled them one by one I eventually found the culprit. And no it wasn't dependent on anything else it was just the program that wasn't working.

[gulliver]

Sounds fair enough. I will see a way to make an auto-review and ilustrate on the different tricks it has under its sleeves.

Maybe a youtube video or a big series of posts with pictures and comments.

[ptyerman]

It would certainly be useful. I have puzzled over some of the start-up programs myself so just left them disabled. A basic description/explanation of what each does would be enough.

[gulliver]

Originally Posted by ptyerman

It would certainly be useful. I have puzzled over some of the start-up programs myself so just left them disabled. A basic description/explanation of what each does would be enough.

COMMODITIES (aproximate memory consumption and featureset)

dontshowiborder 42bytes - Hides icon borders
cleverwin 0.6KB - Speeds up some workbench windows by setting them in smart refresh mode
iconappearer 1KB - Updates icons when they are created, deleted, renamed. You dont need to update windows contents to see them
toolalias 3KB - Creates aliases for tools so they can be called by a user configurable name
altab 15KB - quickly switches between screens with the alt+tab key combination
wbgauge 15KB - enables the window fuel gauge, in its left border
dosprefs 18KB - Allows you to tweak various AmigaDOS settings (drive clicking, asterisk usage on cli, etc)
ned 19KB - Closes the active window if the user presses the ESC key
crontask 30KB - Enable a sort of cron daemon, which can be configured from prefs to run certain tasks at specified date/time
window2front 43KB - A sort of clicktofront windows commodity with much more options.
assignwedge 53KB - When a volume is not mounted and required by a program, it lets you quickly assign one
Ystart 55KB - Generates a Windows like StartMenu
freewheel 61KB - Enables proper usage of the wheel present in many mices
addtools 63KB - Adds items to the Workbench Tools menu
grabiff 65KB - Takes an image snapshot of your desktop, window, etc
benchtrash 66KB - enables a system trashcan
powersnap 78KB - Allows some copy and paste operations on workbench
multihelp 85KB - when the HELP key is pressed, a requester with the amigaguides and texts is shown, so that you can view them
magicmenu 93KB - Allows floating workbench menus. You dont need to click on the workbench titlebar to use them.
modepro 147KB - Enables the Modepro prefs program which can force programs to run in certain screenmodes
swazinfo 274KB - An enhanced Workbench-Info tool. Compatible with GlowIcons

[Michael Sykes]

Why cleverwin?
Wouldn't the new layers.library do the job much better or at least similar?
Just asking.....

[gulliver]

Originally Posted by Michael Sykes

Why cleverwin?
Wouldn't the new layers.library do the job much better or at least similar?
Just asking.....

They are different beasts, targetted at different enhancements.

[Michael Sykes]

But I thought both set the windows to smart refresh. It's been a while since I read the dock, though.
In which way is clever win better?
As far as I remember it, moving overlapping windows was still slower with cleverwin.Especially with many windows open and a solid move patch.
I should mention I was only using it on GFX card and 3.9.
The AGA beast is atm more or less unpached 3.1 for max compatibility.
On the last installment I also tried smartwin iirc and it did a nice job, too.

[ptyerman]

Thanks for that. Have copy and pasted into a text file for future reference.

I have an A3000 and just bought a X-Surf 100. Currently running WB 3.1, should I upgrade to BetterWB or OS3.9?

I am considering purchasing OS3.9 for the TCP/IP stack and networking support, but if BetterWB contains all that, I may try it out first. Also, Are there any advantages to using BetterWB over OS3.9?

With BetterWB, do I also need to install all the BoingBag patches, or are they only for OS 3.9?

[ptyerman]

BetterWB is 3.1 so there is no BoingBag patches for it. You will also have to install your own networking stack such as MiamiDX.
With it being 3.1 it is lighter and faster than 3.9.