User Interface Differences Between WFWG and Windows 3.1

• Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.1
• Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

This article describes the differences in the user interface (UI) between Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.1 and Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.1.

MORE INFORMATION

Toolbars

Windows for Workgroups adds a toolbar to File Manager and Print Manager.

Each toolbar contains a number of buttons that facilitate the most common procedures. Windows for Workgroups displays an explanation of each toolbar button and menu item on the status bar when you select it. You can customize each toolbar.

File Manager

• The toolbar contains a list box for selecting a drive to display in the directory window.
• The drive bar is located in the main File Manager window, providing more display area for files.
• An option has been added that opens a new directory window when you connect to a network drive.
• When you select a single file, its size, date, and time display on the status bar.
• The Properties dialog box includes version stamp and copyright information. The Properties dialog box contains an Open By button that allows you to view users on the network who are currently accessing that file.
• When you share a directory, its icon changes. When you select a shared directory, its network path displays on the status bar.
• A directory window can exist for an unavailable drive; in 3.1, when you started File Manager, the only saved windows that were restored were ones on drives that actually existed.
• The Tile command is expanded to Tile Horizontally or Tile Vertically.

Print Manager

• A new display format allows more compact and flexible display of information.
• When a printer is shared or connected, its network path is shown in the main display.
• All jobs in a remote print queue are shown, not just those that belong to you.
• The display font can now be customized.
• The default printer can be set from within Print Manager, so you don't have to switch to Control Panel to set it.
• You can insert a separator page before each print job.

Control Panel

• The Network icon provides access to all Windows for Workgroups configuration settings.
• The Printers icon only provides access to a Connect dialog box. You cannot disconnect from within the Printers window. You must use Print Manager instead. The Printers icon in Control Panel is primarily dedicated to set up and remove printers from your system.

Connection UI (Both File Manager and Print Manager)

• Windows for Workgroups integrates browsing into the Connect Network Printer and Connect Network Drive dialog boxes, so you don't have to choose a separate button to browse. Similarly, the network Path drop-down list contains the last 12 network paths used, so you don't have to open a separate dialog box to browse that list.
• The Drive or Device list displays all devices, including those that are already connected and what they are connected to. You can replace an existing connection with a new one without manually disconnecting first.
• When Windows for Workgroups prompts you for a password, that password can be saved in a password list file (PWL) for later use.
• On dual-network systems, you can choose a button that opens the secondary network's connect dialog box.
• On dual-network systems, you can type a network path to the secondary network in the Windows for Workgroups Path field without having to use the secondary network's Connect dialog box.

Disconnect UI (Both File Manager and Print Manager)

• You can select multiple drives for disconnecting at once.
• On dual-network systems, both Windows for Workgroups and secondary- network connections can be disconnected using the same dialog box.

Common Dialog Boxes

• The common Open, Save As, and Print Setup dialog boxes contain a Network button that provides access to a Connect dialog box.
• In the Open and Save As dialog boxes, you can type a share name in UNC (universal naming convention) format to access a list of files without explicitly connecting to that share.

Built-In Applications

• ClipBook Viewer replaces Clipboard Viewer.
• New applications include WinMeter, Net Watcher, and Chat.