mritter0 wrote:I don't mean just to leave my program's icon out, any file the users wishes.
It's all the same to AmigaOS.
I just want to do it with library functions instead of ARexx. I don't want to have to open the containing drawer to make it work. It's a hack.
Fair enough, it's probably something that could be added to workbench.library, though I'm sure there are plenty of higher up priorities. I don't see what the problem is with ARexx though - it's very simple to send ARexx commands directly from an application. If there was an ARexx command for leaving out that took a full path instead of an array of icons in a window, that would solve your problem.
The idea of Leave Out is that way because short cuts as we know them now didn't exist back in the 80s. It's not really left out, it is hidden and the icon shown on WB. The actual file is not moved (left out).
Workbench doesn't have the concept of a desktop directory (which is a good thing IMHO). It fits the whole workbench paradigm - you take what you want to use out of a drawer and leave it on the workbench so that it's easier to get at. It still belongs in the particular drawer it came from. Moving the file (as is done on other platforms with the same operation) would be a bad thing. Creating shortcuts is supported by the OS already, though it's not particularly convenient. See the Makelink DOS command. I've added some scripts to create shortcuts to my Tools menu that I've been using for many years that create links to files. These can then be left out if you wish, giving the same result as other platforms. It could even be integrated into the same script.
Shortcuts were around in the '80s - certainly predating Workbench 2. Windows versions prior to '95 are essentially based on shortcuts. It would have been a conscious decision to go with the Workbench model at the time when everything about the Workbench was being overhauled.
Why can't it be updated a little?
Just so long as they make that behaviour optional so that those people who prefer the "Workbench" paradigm can still use that, I don't have a problem.
"Hiding" the file when it's left out is not very useful. It should be visible in both places, original drawer and WB.
That's a matter of opinion really. It can be done that way (see above), but generally I prefer it to be visible in only one location so that if I move it, delete it, rename it or anything I don't end up with a bunch of broken shortcuts.
Manually edittng the .backdrop file requires a reboot to take affect. Not doing that method.
True, that should happen when the "Update All" item is selected from the Workbench menu (if it doesn't happen already - I haven't checked). I'm still struggling to think of a use case for creating shortcuts programmatically though. I hate it when applications on other platforms do it without at least asking. I like to be in charge of what goes where on my computer.