Shopping List was originally developed to demonstrate a potential Newton application in a manufacturing firm. (Grocery shopping is very much like "order picking" in a warehouse with many SKU's.)
As you can see from the release history below, Shopping List has been steadily improved as we've used it as a test ground for new approaches to Newton software. We envision a version 1.4 that will link Shopping List to the Find and Intelligent Assistance features of Newton.
.....What's New in Version 1.3
- The pull-down store section menu has been replaced with a palette of
icon buttons. (Thanks to Dileep Sharma in Tokyo for ideas.)
- Audio feedback is included.
- Scrolling the overview lists is now in page steps instead of line steps.
....Version 1.2 included:
- Printing of the shopping list
- Changes soup removal from an automatic process to an menu selection.
This change eliminates the warning message produced when the P-card
on which Shopping List was installed was ejected.
- An overview display of unchecked items.
- Several cosmetic changes.
....Version 1.1 included:
- The data soup automatically removed if the application is
removed.
- Item entry into different store sections has been improved.
- An overview list of all items in all sections is available.
You can use Shopping List 1.3 without charge or guilt. You can give it to your friends as long as you include this documentation file. If you try to sell this software, you’ll hear from our attorney. If it makes your Newton go up in smoke, destroys data, or causes you buy the wrong flavor of Nabisco Newtons, rest assured that you have our sympathy.
____________ Installing and Removing Shopping List ____________
Download Shopping List to your Newton in the usual way using the Connection Kit, NTK, or Downloader. Shopping List is on the large side, about 45 KB, as Newton applications go. It's probably a good idea to install it on your PCMCIA card (P-card) if you have one.
When Shopping List is installed, it creates a soup to hold the list information, if the soup doesn't already exist. If an unlocked P-card is present, the soup will be created there. Otherwise, the soup is created in the internal storage space.
If you plan to remove Shopping List from your Newton, first use the Remove Soup option in the Routing menu (the little envelope icon), then remove the application.
If the data soup is not found when you open Shopping List, it gives you a warning of that fact, but keeps on running. In these conditions, if you enter information and then do a restart of the Newton by pressing the battery case button, that information is lost.
____________________ Using Shopping List __________________
Shopping List has two modes, "Edit" and "Shop". When launched, it starts in "Edit" mode. A button in the lower-left, alternately appearing as an edit icon and a shopping cart icon, toggle the mode.
The shopping list is divided into store sections. You select which section using the palette of icon buttons. The store sections are pre-defined and cannot be altered. The list of items can be scrolled using the static up and down arrows.
.....List Overview
The overview button reveals a list of all items in all store sections. This overview window cannot be used to edit the list. A tap of the close button in the overview window or another tap of the "belly button" closes this window. The list is scrolled by using the static up and down arrows.
.....Edit Mode
In "Edit" mode, the item list is shortened to make room for an editing window. Here you can add new items to the list for the currently selected store section. When adding an item, a pop up menu is available to assign that item to a store section. This menu's selection defaults to the section currently displayed.
To change or delete an existing item, tap on it in the list and it will appear in the edit window with appropriate command buttons.
The “Clear” button is visible in "Edit" mode and erases the check marks from all items. In this way, you can “reset” your list for the next shopping trip without erasing the items entered.
.....Shop Mode
When in “Shop” mode, a single tap on an item toggles a check mark next to the item off and on. Checked items are sorted to the bottom of the list.
Tapping the reminder (string on finger) icon that is visible in "Shop"mode reveals an overview of any items that have not been checked off.
.....The Routing Button (the tiny envelope button)
The Print List does just what it says using the same approach as other Newton applications.
The Remove Soup selection deletes Shopping List's data soup after confirmation. Only use this option if you intend to remove the application.
