NPWin32 1.04

About

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 Many Win3.1 plug-ins are outdated and they are of course 16-bit and you must use Win-OS/2.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!

Files

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.

Files created/used by NPWin32:

NPWIN32.LOG	NPWin32 plug-in log file.
NPWIN32.CFG	Configuration file.
NPWIN32.REG	Registration file. Contains plug-in information.

Installation

Unzip the archive.
Copy NPWIN32.DLL to your Netscape plug-in directory (x:\NETSCAPE\PLUGINS)
Read the usage part of this documentation.

Configuration file

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.

Settings

Key	Values	Default
UseLogFile	Create a log file NPWIN32.LOG. True, On, 1, Yes: Switch on False, Off, 0, No: Switch off Example: UseLogFile=True	True
DetailedLog	Write a high detailed log file. True, On, 1, Yes: Switch on False, Off, 0, No: Switch off Example: DetailedLog=True	True
AppendLog	Don't overwrite the old log file. True, On, 1, Yes: Switch on False, Off, 0, No: Switch off Example: AppendLog=False	False
ShowCalls	Show all calls. It isn't necessary to activate this! True, On, 1, Yes: Switch on False, Off, 0, No: Switch off Example: ShowCalls=False	False
ShowResults	Show function results.	True
ShowErrors	Show load and plug-in errors. True, On, 1, Yes: Switch on False, Off, 0, No: Switch off Example: ShowErrors=True	True
ShowPlugInID	Don't disactivate it! True, On, 1, Yes: Switch on False, Off, 0, No: Switch off Example: ShowPlugInID=True	True
DLLCache	Hold loaded DLL's as long as possible in memory. True, On, 1, Yes: Switch on False, Off, 0, No: Switch off Example: DLLCache=False	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`True, On, 1, Yes: Switch on False, Off, 0, No: Switch off Example: LoadSameName=False	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 Example: Load=WPNUL32.DLL	No value
Dir	String Examples: Dir=Win32	No value

Usage

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!

UpdWin32

Usage: UpdWin32 NetscapePlugInDir
Example: updwin32 e:\netscape\plugins

Ignore can't free/unload errors!
Ignore exceptions on exit!

Tips:

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.

Known bugs

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).

To do

Testing, testing and testing

Feedback

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!