ARAClient is a control panel/application maker that provides more features than the AppleTalk Remote Access application. It's purpose is to add value to ARA by adding a few features that save time, keystrokes, and RAM. Most users could care less about the details of telecommunications, they just want to get connected. This utility provides a one-step connection scheme that promises to let users forget all the details of network telecommunications. Users must be using system 7 as well as have already installed Apple's AppleTalk Remote Access software.
The control panel should look very familiar to current Remote Access users and thus should be very easy to operate from the start. The ARAClient is intended to be used in place of the application that Apple provides. Thus, I'll just describe the additions and differences here.
The biggest difference is size. Apple's Remote Access application is an application that servers both host and client but it's size penalizes the client user by taking up 230K of RAM when running. The ARAClient control panel takes approximately 35K of RAM space when open and provides all of the status information that AppleTalk Remote Access can provide.
Redial
Frustrated with busy signals? For users with a small number of phone line connections to the network, the ARAClient control panel has a redial feature that lets you specify the number of redials and the time interval between redials.
Connectors
ARAClient adds a feature that ensures that you won't even use the 35K control panel much at all. Since all most users want is to simply get connected, 'Connectors' that do just that can be produced with a push of the 'Save Connector...' button on the control panel. This button push will produce a Connector application that you provide a name - usually that of the destination host. The Connector has all of the information needed to get connected and does so when launched and then simply quits. The connection itself is preserved.
A favorite way to use Connectors is to place them in your Apple menu (or someplace where HAM or NOW Menus knows about them) for quick and easy access. Another use of Connectors is to place one in your Startup Items folder, enabling a connection to be made automatically at startup.
ConnectNot
To disconnect you can bring up the control panel and push the 'Disconnect' button. But this may be too many keystroke for some (like me) so the ConnectNot application is provided on disk as well. ConnectNot is an application that simply disconnects the client from the host and quits. Place this, as well, in a handy spot.
Client Database
ARAClient also serves as a database for Connectors. Each time you make a Connector, an alias to that file is stored within the control panel itself. Thus, there is no need to keep them in any special folder or location - Client knows how to find them wherever they are. The popup menu on the control panel will show all the Connectors in the database. Connectors that you delete from disk will be removed by ARAClient from the database shortly after deletion or the next time you open the ARAClient control panel. You can bring up information on any Connector, by using the menu.
What about my old Remote Access application documents?
ARAClient reads Remote Access documents. You may open Remote Access connection documents and push the "Connect' button to get connected. You may make a Connector from this information as well.
The Future
There are many items on the drawing board for the next version. I expect to receive many more from YOU. Apple will be releasing version 2.0 of ARA sometime next year and ARAClient will be updated to version 2.0 at that time.
Support
Support will be provided through contacting me at the following online services:
Compuserve: 73740,2472
America Online: R Duritsch
GENIE: R.Duritsch
Shareware
ARAClient is Shareware, priced at $20. Like Apple's ARA license, this license entitles use by 1 to 3 users. PLEASE be sure to register all users names (1 to 3) so that support can be provided to all.
An unlimited server license is available for $100. That is, for each ARA server on an AppleTalk Network an unlimited number of users of this software can exist. This includes all non-Apple ARA servers as well as multiport ARA servers.
