The NPWin32 Project is a part of the Win32-OS/2 Project. The target is to convert Win32 Netscape plug-ins and make them run under Netscape/2.
For the Win32 platform you can find many plug-ins. I know that you can run Win3.1 plug-ins but this isn't a real solution. Many Win3.1 plug-ins are outdated and they are of course 16-bit and you must use Win-OS/2.
I prefer native OS/2 plug-ins but for many
thinks I can't find them. For example: Shockwave or RealAudio.
These
are the first steps for a better Netscape/2 support. The way to run
complex Win32 plug-ins is long but it's possible!
NPWin32 is Freeware. You use it at your own risk!
Name |
Description |
---|---|
NPWIN32.DLL |
Netscape plug-in. |
UPDWIN32.EXE |
Plug-in information extractor. Produces *.REG files. |
CHECKDLL.EXE |
Check DLL's. |
COMPDLL.EXE |
Compare two DLLs. |
FINDPE.EXE |
Find PE executables and DLL's. |
README.HTM |
This documentation. |
NPW32TST.HTM |
Single plug-in loader. |
FILE_ID.DIZ |
BBS description. |
More information about NPWin32 on the NPWin32 homepage.
NPWIN32.LOG |
NPWin32 plug-in log file. |
NPWIN32.CFG |
Configuration file. |
NPWIN32.REG |
Registration file. Contains plug-in information. |
Unzip the archive.
Copy NPWIN32.DLL to your Netscape plug-in directory (x:\NETSCAPE\PLUGINS)
Read the usage part of this documentation.
The configuration file is a simple text file. You can use E or EPM to edit it.
For comments use ; or REM at the beginning of a line.
Setting are changed with:
Key=Value
Keys
and values aren't case sensitive.
Key |
Values |
Default |
---|---|---|
UseLogFile |
Create a log file NPWIN32.LOG. |
True |
DetailedLog |
Write a high detailed log file. |
True |
AppendLog |
Don't overwrite the old log file. |
False |
ShowCalls |
Show all calls. It isn't necessary to activate this! |
False |
ShowResults |
Show function results. |
True |
ShowErrors |
Show load and plug-in errors. |
True |
ShowPlugInID |
Don't disactivate it! |
True |
DLLCache |
Hold loaded DLL's as long as possible in memory. |
False |
LoadSameName |
If Load and Dir aren't set then load the Win32 plug-in with
the same name as the NPWIN32.DLL -> WFWIN32.DLL |
False |
LoadSettingsOnError |
Load the NPWin32 plug-in on a Win32 load error. |
True |
SettingsW |
Settings dialog width |
No value |
SettingsH |
Settings dialog height |
No value |
Load |
String |
No value |
Dir |
String |
No value |
Copy NPWIN32.DLL to your Netscape plugins directory (x:\NETSCAPE\PLUGINS)
Download the newest version of PE2LX.
Download and install Win32 plug-ins. Don't install them to the Netscape/2 plug-in directory! Use a temporal directory or install to your Win32 Communicator plug-in directory.
Convert all DLL's with PE2LX.
The DLL with the name
NP*.DLL must be converted to WP*.DLL. This is necessary because
Netscape/2 load all NP*.DLL plug-ins even in sub directories.
Netscape/2 can't load them! Only the NPWin32 plug-in can load
them.
Example: PE2LX g:\npnul32.dll g:\wpnul32.dll
Don't
rename converted DLL's!
Be sure that the PE2LX DLL's are in the libpath!
The Win32
plug-ins DLL's must be in the libpath too (if existing)!
Use
CheckDLL if you are not sure.
Now you can use two methods to load a plug-in:
Load only one plug-in
Create or edit NPWIN32.CFG
in the Netscape plug-in directory. Set load to the plug-in
you want to load.
Example: Load=win32/wpnul32.dll
Now
you can open NPW32TST.HTM and the plug-in should be loaded.
Don't write if it doesn't work!
You can load the plug-in
with the plugin/win32 MIME type or the MIME type of the plug-in. Use
UpdWin32 to associate the right MIME type.
Load several plug-ins
Create or edit NPWIN32.CFG in the
Netscape plug-in directory. Insert a REM before all load keys! Set
dir to the directory you created.
Example:
Dir=win32
Create a sub directory in the Netscape
plug-in directory. Then copy all Win32 DLL's to this directory.
Now
run UpdWin32 to associate the right MIME types. Without running
UpdWin32 NPWin32 won't find the plug-ins.
You can load the
plug-ins with their MIME types. Open about:plugins and have a look
at the NPWin32 MIME types. You can even load some different Win32
plug-ins at the same time!
Don't write if it doesn't work!
If load and dir have a value then dir will be ignored!
Usage: UpdWin32 NetscapePlugInDir
Example:
updwin32 e:\netscape\plugins
Ignore can't free/unload errors!
Ignore exceptions on exit!
If UpdWin32 can't load a plug-in then it won't run with NPWin32!
Be sure that all needed DLL's are converted and in the libpath!
If one plug-in doesn't work then try another.
Don't try to add too much new plug-ins. Then you can better find the DLL's which doesn't work.
Can't free some Open32 DLL's.
No Java/JavaScript support in Netscape Navigator/2. Perhaps Communicator will support it.
Sometimes exceptions on exit (Navigator, UpdWin32 and plug-in scan).
Testing, testing and testing
Please write if you can load a plug-in which is not in the plug-in list!
Use the newsgroup comp.os.os2.bugs for bug reports. Don't cross-post to other newsgroups.
Please write only if necessary!
Christoph@bratschi.net
Don't
send binaries and other attachments!
I will ignore all unwanted
e-mails!
© 1998 by Christoph Bratschi