REOPENing files via U2

[cld@xxxxxxxx (Carl Distefano)]

One user who ran the Reopen patch noted that, after doing so,
REOPENK and variants of that command still didn't do
anything. (I'll be the first to admit that U2's Reopen facility is,
uh, sparsely documented.)

The reason nothing happened is that the file list was empty. The way
to get a filename into the file list is to execute U2 frame Pushfile
with the file in the current window. Pushfile does one of two
things: If the filename is not on the list, it adds it to the top of
the list; if the filename is already on the list, it moves it up to
the top. (If the current window has no file, Pushfile does nothing.)

Obviously no one is going to type PUSHFILE on the CMline and hit
 for every open file. Pushfile has to be assigned to a key
-- JM(,2,.,p,u,s,h,f,i,l,e,) -- or, rather, appended (or prepended)
to an EXISTING key assignment, so that filenames are added to the
file list in the background while you type.

Which key should you modify? The choice is up to you. Some logical
possibilities are keys already dedicated to CAlling, SAving, SToring
or ABorting files. (In the case of STore and ABort keys, Pushfile
has to be PREpended to the existing key assignment, so that the file
is still in the window when Pushfile executes. For example, a STore
key, nn=BXs,t,Q2, would become nn=JM(,2,.,p,u,s,h,f,i,l,e,)BXs,t,Q2,
NOT nn=BXs,t,Q2JM(,2,.,p,u,s,h,f,i,l,e) !) Failing that, if you use
F9 to execute commands, it can be appended (or prepended) there:

67=JM(,2,.,p,u,s,h,f,i,l,e,),XC

and/or to the Helpkey:

nn=JM(,2,.,p,u,s,h,f,i,l,e,),JM(,2,.,P,r,s,C,M,l,i,n,e,)

To display the file list, Xy4 (DOS) users can issue ReopenK
for a listbox, or, more likely, assign this command to a key:

nn=NOXHJM2,.,R,e,o,p,e,n,K,Q2

XyWin|NBWin users can try the same command; if the list doesn't
display properly, try instead Reopen (no final "K" in the
frame name) or, in the KBD file, nn=NOXHJM2,.,R,e,o,p,e,n,Q2.

The file list displays 10 or 15 fully-qualified filenames, depending
on the length of the paths. The maximum length of the file list (in
bytes) can be adjusted up or down by editing Registry variable
PushFile_Max_Bytes. The default value is 500 bytes. To change it,
command REGEDIT/N Pushfile, edit the value, then STore
XYWWWEB.REG.

Should you bother at all? The factory-issued menus have a Reopen
capability. It simply reCAlls the file. (U2 users can display that
file list with DG REOPEN.) The U2 Reopen goes a little
further: it also saves and restores display type, window size and
cursor position. It has the option to REad a previously CAlled file.
If you hit Enter against a filename in the list and the file is
already open, it bypasses the "File is already open--open again?"
PRompt and takes you directly to the already-open file. If any of
those features makes a difference to you, give it a try.

--
Carl Distefano
cld@xxxxxxxx
http://users.datarealm.com/xywwweb/