MacFormat 1994 November/macformat-018.iso/Shareware City/Newton/newt-case-10/ReadMe.dos

Text File | 1994-07-26 | 10.5 KB | 201 lines | [TEXT/ttxt]

NewtCase 1.0
(C)1994 Innovative Computer Solutions, All Rights Reserved
Written by Dan Rowley, Documentation/Graphics by Tom Collins

ATTENTION:  Please read this file entirely, especially the Warnings and
Disclaimers section.  If you do not understand how NewtCase works, you may
run into some surprises.  Archived packages ARE NOT BACKED UP through the
Connection Kit.  DO NOT archive packages with NewtCase if you don't have a
backup copy on disk that you can reinstall from.

< Overview >
    NewtCase lets any MessagePad (Classic, MP100, MP110) user archive his/her
Newton applications to reduce heap memory requirements, alleviate conflicts
between applications, and clean up his/her Extras drawer.  Archived (or
"NewtCased") packages do not show up in the Extras drawer, but can be
reinstalled at any time using NewtCase.  With NewtCase, you can temporarily
deinstall applications without having to remove them from your MessagePad.
NewtCase can launch an archived package and, when you quit from that
package, automatically re-archive it.  Using NewtCase, you could keep a
hundred applications on your 4 meg card without overflowing your heap space
or Extras drawer.

< Installation Notes >
    Install NewtCase as you would any other package (with the Connection Kit
or some other utility).  NewtCase will work if installed on a PCMCIA card
(no Grip 'O Death).  If NewtCase is installed on a card, do not remove the
card if you are running archived packages.  When you quit the archived
packages, wait until they disappear from the Extras Drawer before removing
the card.

    If you are upgrading from a previous version of NewtCase, you can just
remove the old version and replace it with this one.  Your archived
packages will be unaffected.  Please remove the QuickRun package that came
with v0.9B2.  It is incompatible with NewtCase 1.0.  If you feel there is
still a need for a separate QuickRun package, let us know.

< Usage >
    You can launch NewtCase from the Extras Drawer, or you can just tap on the
word "Extras" in the Extras Drawer icon (see Figure 1).

    When you launch NewtCase, it displays two lists (see Figure 2).  One list
contains installed "active" packages.  The other list contains packages in
your NewtCase.  Packages on a locked card will appear with a bullet in
front of their names.  You cannot modify these files unless you unlock the
card.  The numbers following package names in the Installed Packages list
indicate the size of each package.  The numbers in the Archived Packages
list indicate the size and estimated heap usage of each package.  NewtCase
can tell if you remove or insert a memory card, and will update its lists
accordingly.

    To archive a package (put it in your NewtCase), highlight it in the
Installed Packages list and tap on the "Archive" button (see Figure 3).
Archived packages stay where they are and continue to use storage space,
but not heap space.  They are invisible to all other applications,
including ones that backup packages (to a card, or through the Connection
Kit).

    To reinstall the package (take it out of your NewtCase), highlight it in
the Archived Packages list and tap on the "Reinstall" button (see Figure
4).  If the archived package has been damaged or erased in some way,
NewtCase will tell you about it, and give you the option to remove that
package's entry in the NewtCase.  If this happens, you will have to
reinstall the package with the Connection Kit.

    You can remove a package by highlighting it in either list and tapping on
the "Remove" button.  You cannot remove an archived package if you have an
installed package with the same name.  You can also launch a package from
either list by highlighting it and tapping on the "Run" button.  When you
launch an archived package, NewtCase will de-archive it and run it.  When
you exit the package, NewtCase will re-archive it automatically within 15
seconds.

    Click on the "?" button for registration and contact information.

    The available heap is displayed in a button in the upper-left hand corner.
 Clicking on the button performs a garbage collection (gc()).

< Categories >
    You can limit the archived packages list to one of the categories or "All
Packages" by tapping on the category selector above the Archived Packages
list (see Figure 5).

    You can categorize archived packages in one of seven categories:  Unfiled,
Books, Communications, Games, Utilities, Applications and Other.  To change
a package's category, select it in the Archived Packages list and tap on
the folder button (see Figure 6).  When you archive a package, it is placed
in the current category, or "Unfiled" if you have "All Packages" selected.

< Warnings and Disclaimers >
    WARNING, NewtCased packages are invisible to ALL OTHER APPLICATIONS.  Once
you archive a package, you can only get it back with NewtCase.  The
MessagePad CANNOT backup archived packages - make sure you have a
(non-archived) backup copy before archiving a package.

    DO NOT delete NewtCase's soups (with a utility such as StewPot or
RemoveIt) unless you have unarchived ALL NewtCased packages on that device.
 If you delete the soup on a card that has packages NewtCased on it, you
will lose access to those packages, and will not be able to recover the
memory they use.

    WARNING, you must remove your storage card before locking or unlocking it
(as documented on page 196 of the original MessagePad Handbook).  NewtCase
(and other applications) will get confused if you lock or unlock the card
while it is still in the MessagePad.

    WARNING, NewtCase will not work if the card is locked AND you have "Store
New Items on Card" selected on the card slip.

    WARNING, BookCase v1.0 by Michael Tibbott will fail if you QuickRun an
archived package on your Newton.  Since the Extras Drawer is usually
closed, BookCase will crash and hang the Newton when NewtCase automatically
rearchives the package.  Since the Extras Drawers is open while NewtCase is
running, BookCase will not fail during manual archiving and dearchiving
activities.

    USE CAUTION, when running NewtCase while other package management
utilities are running (e.g., RemoveIt, ExtraExtras, ScrollEx).  Performing
an operation in one might confuse the others.

< Registration Information >
    This application is SHAREWARE.  If you decide to keep it, please register
it by sending $20.00 to Innovative Computer Solutions; ATTN: Tom Collins;
1075 North Miller Road, #142; Scottsdale, Arizona 85257-4612.  Please
include your name, the name of this utility (NewtCase 1.0), type(s) of
MessagePad(s) owned, address (postal) and preferred e-mail address so we
can contact you about updates and our other products.  You can also
register NewtCase on CompuServe.  GO SWREG and search for apps with the
keyword "ICS", NewtCase is application #2740.  Registering this beta
version entitles you to a free upgrade to the release version.  PLEASE BE
HONEST and register this software if you use it - we can't continue to
write cool Newton apps if we don't get any support.

< Bugs, Questions, Comments, Suggestions... >
    If NewtCase crashes, please write down the error code (especially if it is
an "Unexpected error") and e-mail a bug report to us.  We also gladly
accept suggestions for future versions.  Please be sure to write down the
entire error message, all of the information is important.

    Send e-mail to the author, Dan Rowley, at [e-mail] (Dan's
still trying to find a local Internet provider in Monterey).  You can reach
Tom at [e-mail] or [e-mail].  We want to develop
Newton applications to fit YOUR needs.  Give us feedback, let us know if
we're doing it right.  We're here for you.

< Our Other Newton Applications >
    If you liked this one, check out HeapIt, SleepAid and PrefsPatcher since
we wrote those too.  If you didn't like this one, check out HeapIt,
SleepAid and PrefsPatcher since they are different kinds of applications.
If you'd like the latest versions of our software, and can't find them on
CompuServe, comp.binaries.newton, or the Newton FTP sites, contact us at
[e-mail] and we'll send binhex'd copies to you.

< Revision History >
    1.0 - First non-beta release.  Added Extras drawer button, integrated
NewtCase and QuickRun, fixed bug when launching archived packages with the
extras drawer full, fixed scrolling bug when deleting last item in a list,
added categories for archived packages, can launch installed packages and
remove installed packages, and lists display 8 packages instead of 6.
    0.9b2 - Second beta release, fixed bugs found in v0.9b.
    0.9b - Initial public release.

< Technical Info >
    NewtCase does not store packages in its soup.  It takes them "offline",
but stores a reference to them in its soup.

    If you have an entry in your archive listing a -0.9k heap, it indicates
that there was a problem archiving that package.  The affected package may
or may not have been archived successfully.

    NewtCase responds to broadcasts of system soup changes by updating its
lists accordingly.  NewtCase also broadcasts "soup changed" messages when
making changes to the installed packages.  If you would like more info
about supporting these broadcasts in your applications, contact Dan Rowley
at [e-mail].

< Legal Mumbo Jumbo >
    Newton, MessagePad, Connection Kit and Apple are registered trademarks of
Apple Computer, Inc.  NewtCase and QuickRun are trademarks of Innovative
Computer Solutions.

    You can't sell NewtCase, but you can charge a nominal fee for connect time
or media (not to exceed $5).  Contact the authors if you plan to include it
in some sort of shareware/freeware collection.

    In using this software, you understand and agree that this software is
provided "as is" without warranty of any kind.  The authors do not make any
warranties, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to
implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose,
with respect to this software.

    In no event shall the author be liable for any consequential, incidental,
or special damages whatsoever (including without limitation, damages for
loss of critical data, loss of profits, interruption of business and the
like) arising out of the use or inability to use this software.

    Have a nice day.  ;-)

Innovative Computer Solutions / 1075 N. Miller #142 / Scottsdale, AZ 85257
Dan Rowley / Internet: <currently unavailable> / CompuServe: 73563,2343
Tom Collins / Internet: [e-mail] / CompuServe: 75460,2121