ziff@zippy.eecs.umich.edu (Brian Moore) (08/01/89)
I was wondering if anybody knows of a program (CDEV, INIT, patch
or whatever) that will do the following. When I switch from an
application to the finder it will bring the desktop as the top window
so I can open other applications and disks without having to manually
close or rearrange the previously opened windows. It just that going
back to the finder from MS Word or Telnet so I can open another program
or search through my hard drive is a pain because I have to either shrink
all of the windows or quit out of the programs, which defeats the purpose
of Mulitfinder. I have an SE/30 with 4MB RAM and an 80MB Hard Drive
running 6.0.3 with a multitude of CDEVs and INITs (Vaccine, Guardian,
SoundMaster, DA Menuz, SuperClock). Any information would be most
appreciated.
I Thank You For Your Support,
Brian Moore
ziff@zip.eecs.umich.edukmarko@hpdml93.HP.COM (Kurt Marko) (08/01/89)
> > I was wondering if anybody knows of a program (CDEV, INIT, patch >or whatever) that will do the following. When I switch from an >application to the finder it will bring the desktop as the top window >so I can open other applications and disks without having to manually >close or rearrange the previously opened windows. It just that going > [proverbial 'stuff deleted] While it doesn't do exactly what you request, I believe that Tablecloth from User-Tek would be an acceptable solution. Tablecloth is an INIT app combination which allows one to hide the windows from all 'background' applications in Multifinder by triple-clicking in the desktop area. In your example, you would swich application layers to the Finder, and by triple-clicking on the desktop, hide all the windows from all other apps. One problem however, is that Tablecloth also hides the disk icons in the Finders layer when in 'hide' mode. Overall, I've found it to be a reasonable, although not optimal, solution to window clutter. Tablecloth is available directly from UserTek (don't have the number handy...check out the back of recent MacWeeks for ad), or from ComputerWare. Kurt Marko kmarko@hpdml93.hp.com /* Not affiliated in any way with UserTek, ComputerWare, Apple or much of anything else */
captkidd@athena.mit.edu (Ivan Cavero Belaunde) (08/01/89)
In article <199@zip.eecs.umich.edu> ziff@zippy.eecs.umich.edu (Brian Moore) writes: > > I was wondering if anybody knows of a program (CDEV, INIT, patch >or whatever) that will do the following. When I switch from an >application to the finder it will bring the desktop as the top window >so I can open other applications and disks without having to manually >close or rearrange the previously opened windows. It just that going >back to the finder from MS Word or Telnet so I can open another program >or search through my hard drive is a pain because I have to either shrink >all of the windows or quit out of the programs Well, it doesn't do exactly what you ask, but there's a *commercial* INIT called On Cue that should solve the problem. It installs an icon with a pull down menu at the far end of the menu bar. The in tallows you to add applications to that menu, and when selected, they launch. You can also attach a hierarchical menu of documents to each application. Check with MacConnection. On the other hand, if you were looking for a PD/freeware/shareware pgm, I don't know of any. Ah yes, I believe Master Juggler (commercial) will do something similar to OnCue but I've never seen it work. Hope this helps, -Ivan "I'm too old for Santa Claus, and I don't believe in Batman. Nobody does this kind of stuff for free." -Jon Sable in _Jon_Sable,_Freelance_ by Mike Grell Internet: captkidd@athena.mit.edu
truesdel@ics.uci.edu (Scott Truesdell) (08/02/89)
In article <199@zip.eecs.umich.edu> ziff@zippy.eecs.umich.edu (Brian Moore) writes: > > I was wondering if anybody knows of a program (CDEV, INIT, patch >or whatever) that will do the following. When I switch from an >application to the finder it will bring the desktop as the top window >so I can open other applications and disks without having to manually >close or rearrange the previously opened windows. It just that going >back to the finder from MS Word or Telnet so I can open another program >or search through my hard drive is a pain because I have to either shrink >all of the windows or quit out of the programs I'm using MultiFinder 6.1a2, which came with some recent MPW beta releases. I have heard of more recent versions than this, but this version works reasonably stable for me. It has two VERY helpful features that differ from the release version of MultiFinder found with System Tools 6.0.3: Right below the About menuitem, is a Set Aside... menuitem that hides all windows for that particular application. The list of open applications is at the top of the Apple menu, just below the "About..." and "Set Aside..." menuitems. This makes its much easier to select from currently running applications. So the Apple menu looks like this (well...) Apple About NCSA Telnet... Set Aside NCSA Telnet 2.2 -------------------------- [] Finder x [] NCSA Telnet 2.2 [] Microsoft Word [] Studio/8 -------------------------- Suitcase II Chooser Control Panel dCAD Calculator DiskLock DiskTop ...etc. So, if I have too many windows open and I want to make a quick visit to the Finder, I would select "Set Aside..." and all windows for that appl would close, the icon in the above menu would become dimmed, and the appl would be taken out of rotation from the small icon in the right hand edge of the menubar. Selecting it from the "Apple" menu would restore all the the attributes. I like it... --scott Claimer: I speak for everybody. -- Scott Truesdell
time@oxtrap.oxtrap.UUCP (Tim Endres) (08/03/89)
In article <199@zip.eecs.umich.edu> ziff@zippy.eecs.umich.edu (Brian Moore) writes:
I was wondering if anybody knows of a program (CDEV, INIT, patch
or whatever) that will do the following. When I switch from an
application to the finder it will bring the desktop as the top window
so I can open other applications and disks without having to manually
close or rearrange the previously opened windows.
Why don't you just quit putting your icons on the DeskTop? If you keep
them in a window, they come to the front. The only catch now is the
disk icons. I wish I could place them into a window. I also wish the
Finder would "conceptually" make the desktop a window.mjkobb@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU (Michael J Kobb) (08/03/89)
In article <TIME.89Aug2150106@oxtrap.oxtrap.UUCP> time@oxtrap.UUCP writes: >In article <199@zip.eecs.umich.edu> ziff@zippy.eecs.umich.edu (Brian Moore) writes: > > I was wondering if anybody knows of a program (CDEV, INIT, patch > or whatever) that will do the following. When I switch from an > application to the finder it will bring the desktop as the top window > so I can open other applications and disks without having to manually > close or rearrange the previously opened windows. > >Why don't you just quit putting your icons on the DeskTop? If you keep >them in a window, they come to the front. The only catch now is the >disk icons. I wish I could place them into a window. I also wish the >Finder would "conceptually" make the desktop a window. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Yup. If the Finder made the desktop a window so that all of its items came to the front, that would make things a hell of a lot easier. While keeping applications in windows works fine, try throwing something out with the trash- can obscured. Or getting rid of a floppy (not just ejecting it; just ejecting leaves the door open for the finder to ask for all the once-inserted floppies over and over again at really inconvenient times... :-<) without being able to grab the floppy _or_ see the trashcan. I use OnCue, a commercial product (demo version is called MFMenus+) which adds a menu to the upper-right corner of the menu bar into which you can install frequently-used applications and documents. That way, I avoid the finder as much as possible. I hope, however, for all you Apple folks listening, that something _other_ than MultiFinder's "Set Aside" option is in the works. I don't want to have to set aside five applications (running System 7.0 and virtual memory ;->) just to get rid of a disk or a file... Also, as an aside, MultiFinder 6.1 doesn't work with OnCue (On Cue ends up with a list of the DA's instead of open applications). I suspect that this is under repair for when 6.1 goes official, but it means I can't use this version of MultiFinder (I think it's the fault of On Cue, though). --Mike Standard disclaimers...
ngg@bridge2.ESD.3Com.COM (Norman Goodger) (08/03/89)
In article <406@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU> mjkobb@media-lab.media.mit.edu (Michael J Kobb) writes: >Also, as an aside, MultiFinder 6.1 doesn't work with OnCue (On Cue ends up with >a list of the DA's instead of open applications). I suspect that this is under >repair for when 6.1 goes official, but it means I can't use this version of >MultiFinder (I think it's the fault of On Cue, though). > Mike, If you turn off the Application switching menu in the Prefs dialog in OnCue, the list of Da's goes away when using OnCue...the only thing that Apple needs to do is make it so that the Application switcher that appears in the DA menu is add support for the Da layer, if you set the Da Layer aside, there appears to be no way back other than to re-open the DA... So hopefully Apple will address this shortcoming in Mf 6.1. -- Norm Goodger SysOp - MacInfo BBS @415-795-8862 3Com Corp. Co-SysOp FreeSoft RT - GEnie. Enterprise Systems Division (I disclaim anything and everything) UUCP: {3comvax,auspex,sun}!bridge2!ngg Internet: ngg@bridge2.ESD.3Com.COM
lsr@Apple.COM (Larry Rosenstein) (08/03/89)
In article <847@bridge2.ESD.3Com.COM> ngg@bridge2.ESD.3Com.COM (Norman Goodger) writes: > in the DA menu is add support for the Da layer, if you set the Da Layer > aside, there appears to be no way back other than to re-open the DA... If you use my ApplicationMenu INIT, then you can get back to the DA Layer from the popup menu. Larry Rosenstein, Apple Computer, Inc. Object Specialist Internet: lsr@Apple.com UUCP: {nsc, sun}!apple!lsr AppleLink: Rosenstein1
ngg@bridge2.ESD.3Com.COM (Norman Goodger) (08/04/89)
In article <3320@internal.Apple.COM> lsr@Apple.COM (Larry Rosenstein) writes: >In article <847@bridge2.ESD.3Com.COM> ngg@bridge2.ESD.3Com.COM (Norman >Goodger) writes: >> in the DA menu is add support for the Da layer, if you set the Da Layer >> aside, there appears to be no way back other than to re-open the DA... >If you use my ApplicationMenu INIT, then you can get back to the DA Layer >from the popup menu. >Larry Rosenstein, Apple Computer, Inc. >Object Specialist Yes Larry, Oncue allows you to do the same thing, however currently OnCue has a conflict with MF6.1 beta when the application switching menu is installed. However it is my opinion that if MultiFinder is going to allow you to set aside the DA Layer, MultiFinder should display the Da Layer in the menu to return to it if its set aside. It should not have to rely on your application init to do it. -- Norm Goodger SysOp - MacInfo BBS @415-795-8862 3Com Corp. Co-SysOp FreeSoft RT - GEnie. Enterprise Systems Division (I disclaim anything and everything) UUCP: {3comvax,auspex,sun}!bridge2!ngg Internet: ngg@bridge2.ESD.3Com.COM
mjkobb@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU (Michael J Kobb) (08/04/89)
In article <8400145@m.cs.uiuc.edu> gillies@m.cs.uiuc.edu writes: > >Re: How to get at icons on desktop without closing all your windows? > >Well, let me say this: The Public domain blast FKEY still works under >system 6.0. >and don't ask me how to patch up the holes in your window (I'm not sure how to You can get rid of the holes by either closing and reopening the windows, as you suggested, or by clicking in the resize box (maybe move it slightly, it's been a while). I concur, BTW, that this FKEY is flakey at times. Use with care... --Mike Standard disclaimers...
goldman@apple.com (Phil Goldman) (08/04/89)
In article <406@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU> mjkobb@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU (Michael J Kobb) writes: > I hope, however, > for all you Apple folks listening, that something _other_ than MultiFinder's > "Set Aside" option is in the works. I don't want to have to set aside five > applications (running System 7.0 and virtual memory ;->) just to get rid of > a disk or a file... The "Set Aside <application name>" menu item changes to "Set Aside Others" when the option key is held down. Just switch to Finder (which you have to do anyway to eject the disk) and use this option. -Phil Goldman Apple Computer
mjkobb@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU (Michael J Kobb) (08/04/89)
In article <3347@internal.Apple.COM> goldman@apple.com (Phil Goldman) writes: >The "Set Aside <application name>" menu item changes to "Set Aside Others" >when the option key is held down. Just switch to Finder (which you have >to do anyway to eject the disk) and use this option. Excellent! Thanks a lot. This may sway me toward using 6.1. ****QUESTION**** Any ideas on when/how On Cue and 6.1 will be happy living with each other? I really probably won't use 6.1 until I can use the two together, since I'm so addicted to On Cue (ESPECIALLY it's active application section). I don't know; maybe I'll give 6.1 a week of use and see what I think. Thanks again, Phil! --Mike Standard disclaimers...
gillies@m.cs.uiuc.edu (09/02/89)
Re: How to get at icons on desktop without closing all your windows?
Well, let me say this: The Public domain blast FKEY still works under
system 6.0.
This is on slick hack: Command-shift-8 blasts a hole through a window,
and what's beneath shows through the crack. You can keep blasting
until you get to the desktop itself. If you aim was good, then you
can double-click on the icon of the program you wanted to run, and it
will launch. The FKEY is slightly flakey, so be careful, and don't
ask me how to patch up the holes in your window (I'm not sure how to
do it without closing & reopening the window).
Don Gillies, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Illinois
1304 W. Springfield, Urbana, Ill 61801
ARPA: gillies@cs.uiuc.edu UUCP: {uunet,harvard}!uiucdcs!gilliesgillies@m.cs.uiuc.edu (09/02/89)
Lines: 17
Re: How to get at icons on desktop without closing all your windows?
Well, let me say this: The Public domain blast FKEY still works under
system 6.0.
This is on slick hack: Command-shift-8 blasts a hole through a window,
and what's beneath shows through the crack. You can keep blasting
until you get to the desktop itself. If you aim was good, then you
can double-click on the icon of the program you wanted to run, and it
will launch. The FKEY is slightly flakey, so be careful, and don't
ask me how to patch up the holes in your window (I'm not sure how to
do it without closing & reopening the window).
Don Gillies, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Illinois
1304 W. Springfield, Urbana, Ill 61801
ARPA: gillies@cs.uiuc.edu UUCP: {uunet,harvard}!uiucdcs!gilliesd88-jwa@nada.kth.se (Jon W{tte) (09/08/89)
In article <8400145@m.cs.uiuc.edu> gillies@m.cs.uiuc.edu writes: >Re: How to get at icons on desktop without closing all your windows? The new system's multifinder has a "Set Aside" that hides all windows for an application without turning it off or closing them (they return on command...) This MF is presently "available" as MF 6.1b7 and is known as the "Set Aside" MultiFinder. Very nifty ! >[ Blast FKEY ] The FKEY is slightly flakey, so be careful, and don't >ask me how to patch up the holes in your window (I'm not sure how to >do it without closing & reopening the window). Zooming and unzooming again often helps. Happy Hacking ! h+@nada.kth.se -- Moooo.