1. Drop Smart Scroll in the Control Panels folder, restart. You'll get:
2. Proportional scrollbar tabs show how much of a document is displayed in a window.
3. Active Scrolling updates the display as you drag the scrollbar tab.
4. check my web page http://www.kagi.com/authors/marc/ for the latest version.
Overview
Smart Scroll enhances regular scroll bars so they show how much of a document is displayed in a window. The indicator tab in scroll bars becomes proportional : If a window is displaying half of a document, the tab will be half the scrollbar size.
This gives you an idea of how large the document is, without having to scroll the window to find out. Try it for yourself, it speeds browsing the Net or going through your email, for example.
Smart Scroll also adds Active Scrolling, which updates the display as you drag the scrollbar tab. Just release the tab when you see the part of the document you want: no more guessing where you'll end up!
All scrollbars benefit from these improvements, even those hidden in Open and Save dialogs. After a few days of Smart Scroll, going back to regular scroll feels like something is missing !
Installation
1 Put Smart Scroll in your Control Panels folder, by dragging its icon and releasing it over your System Folder.
2 Smart Scroll will be active after you Restart.
System 7 or later with Color QuickDraw is required.
Using Smart Scroll
After restarting, you may enter your preferences in the control panel.
Smart Scroll works automatically to calculate the size of the tab relative to the size of the document and the window it's displayed in. Certain information from applications is needed for these calculations.
Smart Scroll retrieves this information from its data file after it's been saved once. The first time though, it might need a little help:
When Smart Scroll encounters a scrollbar it doesn't know, it displays an 'X' over the tab. Just click page up or page down (the gray scrollbar areas either side of the tab).
This is only needed once for most applications, and Smart Scroll comes with presets for the Finder and a few popular applications (more are being added).
*NEW* : starting with version 2.0, Smart Scroll can communicate directly with applications so they provide the required information! The ‘X’ never appears, and you don’t have to click anywhere! However, applications (and other software such as control panels or desk accessories) need to be updated to take advantage of this feature.
If your favorite program doesn’t already communicate with Smart Scroll, please let me know (email Marc@Kagi.com) and I’ll ask the developer about supporting proportional scrollbars in the next update of their software.
Constraints
Some applications use scrollbars that are all different from one another, and sometimes even change along with the document. You'll see the 'X' reappear from time to time : it'll go away when you click page up or page down (I'm working on keyboard input).
If the 'X' is still there after you clicked, move to the start or end of the document and try again: some applications only give Smart Scroll the info it needs when scrolling from either end of a scrollbar. Also, the document has to be larger than the window, so resizing the window down (just once) before clicking might help.
Fortunately, the new communication feature is a solution to these limitations (see above) !
Compatibility
A lot of time goes into making Smart Scroll work as intended with as many other programs as possible. Please send me a short e-mail if you have a problem and I'll try to fix it.
Shareware Notice
Smart Scroll is shareware. You may evaluate it freely for up to 12 days, then to continue using it you are expected to pay a $12 registration fee. Registration is handled by the Kagi Shareware service. You may register on-line with a credit card at :
https://kagi.direct.net/cgi-bin/register1.cgi?MM
(or http without the 's' if your browser doesn't support secure connections)
Or use the attached Register application to register by e-mail or by fax with a credit card, or through postal mail. Please run the application for more information (and turn on Balloon Help!). If you received Smart Scroll without the Register application, please download the complete package.
CompuServe users may also register by typing GO SWREG. The ID is 12245.
After you register, you'll receive a code to disable the registration reminders. I'll e-mail you the code shortly after you receive Kagi's receipt. Please remember to include an e-mail address (or postal address, but it takes much longer) so I know where to send the code! If you don't receive your code within a week, let me know by sending an email to Marc@Kagi.com.
A person or family using the program on several computers need only pay for one copy. Site licenses are available. The Bonus box in Register may be used to adjust the price to what seems right. The Kagi Shareware address and fax number are for registrations only, please.
Please distribute Smart Scroll as a complete package, with this document and the Register application. It is OK to upload the unmodified package to BBSs, the Internet and online services, and to put it on a CD-ROM provided Smart Scroll is not sold.
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to Bill Goodman, Vils Legrand, Peter Lewis, Christopher Li, F.M, James Marr, Marc Menschenfreund, Alessandro Levi Montalcini, Mark Nagata, Hans E. Omli, Mark Shirley and Niklas Wolkert!
Translations: Deutsch by Christoph Berger, Español by Mark Shirley, Italiano by Anna & Nicolas Juvin-Piron.
Disclaimer
The author makes no warranties, either express or implied, regarding the fitness of Smart Scroll for any particular purpose. Use Smart Scroll at your own risk. The author claims no liability for data loss or any other problems caused directly or indirectly by Smart Scroll.
Other programs by the author
Custom/TearOff Menus lets you tear-off any menu and float it above the desktop for quick and easy access at any time. Build your own menus from items in any menu. Rename any item ! Choose your own Font, Size and colors for the menus and the menu bar. Pop-Up the menu bar under the mouse : fast access to menus with less mouse travel ! Get it from http://www.kagi.com/authors/marc/
Version History
Download the latest version from my web page http://www.kagi.com/authors/marc/ or an Info-Mac mirror (root at ftp:sumex-aim.stanford.edu) or the MIT HyperArchive at http://hyperarchive.lcs.mit.edu/HyperArchive.html. Also available on the MacOS forum (control panels) on CompuServe, and the Mac Utilities forum on AOL.
2.02 1jan97
• Compatible with Kaleidoscope 1.01
2.01 26nov96
• Added Active Scrolling (original idea by Ken McLeod: Thanks!)
• Any number of scrollbars (memory allowing) can now be proportional in the same application/process (versus only the 20 most recently used)
• Application Programming Interface added so developers can make their software take advantage of proportional scrollbars, and to make Smart Scroll work as nicely as possible with these programs.
• New control panel user interface and icon (with great help from Hans E. Omli: Thanks!)
• Now also in German, French, Italian and Spanish.
• No longer crashes when closing the ‘nag’ windoid with WindowShade running.
• Scrollbar tab is now correct size in Tex-Edit Plus documents longer than 4000 lines.
• New double-grip tab
• Compatible with Kaleidoscope 1.0
• Startup icon control (on request)
1.1 19aug96
• Removed 'Page' number feature
• Added choice of plain or striped tabs
• Switched from '?' to 'X' displayed over tabs to indicate it's not proportional. If you'd prefer something else, please let me know!
• Name changed to Smart Scroll from Smart Scrolls (Please delete old Smart Scrolls prefs file)
• No need anymore to turn off and reinstall if registering after the end of the demo period
• tab outline now appears when dragging tab on PowerMacs running 7.5.3
• Fixed zero divide error with some applications using panes
