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[42m                           /\_______________________/\
[42m                           \_________________________/
[42m
[42m
[0m
[33mHISTORY[0m
[33m¯¯¯¯¯¯¯[0m
        APA is an evolution from ADA to ABA to ASA and now this. APA means
Amiga Popper Accessories, which is a derivative from the DeskTop Accessories
on the MacIntosh.  ADA and ABA were link to the workbench menu.  ASA used
its own popmenu function.  Now APA links itself to Popper so that its menu
can be included in all application menus !
        

        For those not familiar with the Mac, the desk accessories are little
programs that can be started frm the apple menu.  Since the Mac is not a
multitasking machine, these program are a little special and steal whatever
free time the main application gives them.  So they may as well freeze over
hell.  On the Amiga, any program can multitask with any other.  So you can
start whatever you want from the menu.


[33mDESCRIPTION[0m
[33m¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯[0m
        The menu is like normal menu, except that it can have as many level
of sub-menus as you wish and keyboard short-cut can have two letters (so
you can have more choice of short-cut).  For more information on how to set
the menu as you like, see the ASA-Mover documentation.


[33mHOW IT WORKS[0m
[33m¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯[0m
        To work, APA needs some important files.  First, you must have the
ARP library (arp.library) in your libs: directory.  It is available on BBS
and in most Amiga User Group disk.  Second, the asa.tools file must be in
your s: directory.


        To start APA, simply run it in a CLI or Shell (ie: "[3mAPA[0m<return>").
APA doesn't detach itself from the CLI or Shell, you must use run, runback
or another such program (I use the runback program that comes with the NULL
device).


        One item will always be present in the menu: [1mOption[0m. This item let
you reload the configuration file (asa.tools), put APA to sleep and quit.
When APA is sleeping, you can awake it be selecting its window and clicking
the right mouse button.  Note that APA will refuse to quit if you have a
workbench-environnement program that has been launched by APA still running.
Furthermore, the memory used by a program will not be freed until you wake
up APA when it is sleeping.


[33mREQUESTER[0m
[33m¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯[0m
        The file requester used in APA is very flexible and very powerful,
while trying to stay easy to use.  Here are some of its capabilities:

        - Select many files in man directories;

        - Let you enter path and filename via keyboard;

        - Keeps the order of the selected files, with filename entered
          via the keyboard inserted in the list when you press return;

        - Can remember an unlimited number of directory list;

        - Shows and sorts the file lists as it reads them.

        - Let you select files, directory and devices as argument;

        - a 2.0-like 3D look (not exact copy).

Gadgets are self-explanatory.  [1mOk[0m confirm your selection, [Cancel[0m cancel what
them.  [1mParent[0m goes to the directory one level higher in the hierarchy of
the directories.  [1mUpdate[0m read the directory again (if it was modified by
some operation).  [1mKeep[0m let the requester keep the file list in memory for
subsequent call.


        The gadget with the arrows pointing at each other is a state gadget.
It tells you what is shown in the list.  Each time you click on it, a dif-
ferent list appear (clicking the irght mouse button has the same effect).
The different states are:

        - Available Files: file in the current directory;

        - Available Drives: drives, disks and assigns in the system;

        - Available Dirs: directory remembered by the requester;

        - Selected Files: files (and dir and devices) currently selected;

        - REMOVE Dirs !!!: let you remove remembered directories.


        The way to select object (file, dirs, devices, etc...) is standard
across the different lists.  To [3mselect [0msomething, click on it once.  To
[3menter [0msomething, click twice on it (This is equivalent to [1mOk[0m when done on a
file in the file list).


[33mTHAT'S IT !![0m
[33m¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯[0m

        That's it !  If you find bug, you can reach me at the following BBS
of the Montréal (Québec) area:

        - Electronic Image
        - BECAQ
        - Comic


[42;33mPierre [31mDak[33m Baillargeon[0m

¡¿¡¿¡¿¡¿¡¿¡¿¡¿¡¿¡¿¡¿¡¿

        2110 Préville
        LaSalle, Québec
        Canada
        H8N 1N5


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