Re: 8-bit GUI desktop organizers and launchers

["Paul Grammens" <grammens@svn.net>]

This is good FAQ material!
-Paul


"Obsbedia2" <obsbedia2@aol.com> wrote in message
20030807182033.00937.00001059@mb-m22.aol.com">news:20030807182033.00937.00001059@mb-m22.aol.com...
> I spent so much time writing this out for the KFEST list, that I thought
I'd
> share
> it with everyone.
>
> I never expected the GUI desktop programs that I run on my hard drive to
> raise such an interest at KansasFest:  "You've discovered something that
we've
> forgotten about."  Some folks seemed honestly shocked with the power and
speed
> of
> the programs.  Somewhere out there on the web, I recall that there's a
page
> with lots of screen shots of the Apple Desktop II in action.  Well, I'm
doing
> my KFEST homework and I've come across the following for MouseDesk, the
> precursor to Apple II Desktop.  Here's what I have, short of the source
codes.
>
>
> ==== >> If anyone has a copy of MouseDesk v1.5 or later, please contact
me.
> << ====
>
>                     ][ Infinitum!
>                         JaY Edwards
>
>  ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
**
> ** ** ** ** **
> What are described are GUI desktop organizers/program selectors for the
Apple
> IIc, e, and gs.  Picture the Mac desktop screen.
> All versions of MouseDesk and Apple Desktop II can:
>
>     *display at least 10 ProDOS volumes on the desktop,
>
>     * perform disk formatting and erasing,
>
>     * disk and file copying, deleting, formatting, identifying file types,
> and locking and unlocking of files.
>
>     * load into extra memory/RAM card if they can find it on the first
boot,
>
>     * Selectors on the desktop's menu bar that can launch eight programs
from
> the desktop's pull-down menu, or a total of 24 programs from "Other List,"
>
>     * allow the automatic launching of programs from the first boot up of
> MD/AD2, such as a RAM disk or AppleWorks,
>
>     * have the option of copying and deleting of files from pathnames,
> instead of icons,
>
>     * display files by icon (the only type that can be manipulated), name,
> date, size or type,
>
>     * boot slots directly from the desktop, a feature that GS/OS Users
really
> missed when they moved up to GS/OS v.4.
>
>  ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
**
> ** ** ** ** **
>                                         _MouseDesk_ (MD1)
> Version 1.02 (I HAVE)
> copyright 1985 by Stephane Cavril, Luc Barthelet, Version Soft
> with special thanks to Alexis Gerard, Paul Prebin, Daniel Bleriot
> This version:
>
>     * Requires Apple IIc or IIe with 128K and one disk drive (NO MOUSE).
>
>     * displays up to THIRTEEN ProDOS volumes on the desktop, best of all
the
> versions for large hard drives.   It arranges the volume icons the same
way
> GS/OS 6 does, in rows from top to bottom, from the right side of the
screen to
> the left.
>
>     * supports complete control of all functions by keyboard commands
and/or
> mouse,
>
>     * permits checking of a single and slot to recognize a new volume and
it
> to the desktop (inserting new 3.5/5.25" disk media while program is
running),
> or checking all volumes in all drives.  This feature of checking and
updating
> the volume name of a newly inserted disk WHILE LEAVING all the windows on
the
> desktop open is wonderful when you've been transferring files from disks
to a
> window on your hard drive that is down seven subdirectories, only the
drive
> that you insert the next disk in is checked for a new volume -- leaving
all
> those windows open.
>
> Note, all MouseDesk and Apple Desktop II programs will leave the windows
open
> if there is already a 5.25 disk on the desktop (in any drive).  Just take
out
> the old disk, insert the new one, then open the desktop icon for the old
> disk's volume name. The programs will search for the old 5.25 disk, notify
you
> that it can't be found, and then, without closing any windows, update the
5.25
> disk icon with the volume name of the new disk that you inserted.
>
>     * all types of volumes are represented on the desktop as 5.25" floppy
> disks, unless they are 3.5" floppies or ProFile drives (Apple HD20, FOCUS
> Drive,
> and CFFA volumes are 5.25" floppy icons, for example),
>
>     * Selector allows 8 programs to be launched from pull-down menu on
> desktop, and those 8 and an addition 16 programs to be launched from Other
> List.
> Pathnames for the programs must be typed into the Selector's launcher,
>
>     * Window Elevator buttons do not work; window contents are vertically
> scrolled, split-screen style, by moving the elevator (thumb).
>
> =========
> Version 1.1 (I'M STILL LOOKING FOR) is referenced in Version Soft's update
> for versions 1.5 & 1.6, which describes their _Upgrade Disk_ as having
version
> 1.5 on Side A (Desk Accessories) and 1.6 on Side B (Program Selector, when
> MouseDesk is first booted up, and when exiting programs accessed from the
> Selector, until the desktop is accessed).
>
> =========
> Version 1.5 (I'M STILL LOOKING FOR) added Desk Accessories (Calculator,
Date
> Stamp, and Apple Puzzle.  (Directory Sort and Text File reader weren't
around
> yet)).  I believe MouseDesk expanded to using two sides of a 5.25-inch
disk.
>
> =========
> Version 1.6 (I'M STILL LOOKING FOR) added the Program Selector, intended
for
> use with large capacity disks.  This is a screen that comes up before the
> actual desktop, allowing the instant launching of programs, without
searching
> the
> drives for volumes online, as the desktop does each time it's launched.
(A
> district tech advisor to a real doubletake when he walked through my
classroom
> and saw this, instead of Oregon Trail, on the monitor.  He should have
seen the
>
> desktop!)
>
> When found, the later versions would be especially useful to //c+ users.
> Apple Desktop II has a bug in it that constantly runs the internal drive.
> Thus,
> //c+ users that I've talked with are interested in locating these later
> MouseDesk versions so they could also have desk accessories -- it's hoped
that
> the
> Text Reader and Directory Sorter from DeskTop II will work when added to
> MouseDesk version 1x's Desk Accessories folder.  Anyone have a copy?  We'd
love
> to
> see if this will work!  It does work in the Apple Desktop II program.
>
>  ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
**
> ** ** ** ** **
>                                         _MouseDesk 2.0_ (MD2)
> *** The only copy I have is in French, and it's a stripped down version.
> When the Desk Accessories folder is added from DeskTop 1.1, MD2 recognizes
the
> folder and now it has desk accessories (It even recognizes the spaces
provided
> for three additional DAs, just like Apple Desktop II).  This version was
> probably reduced to the minimum files (3) needed to run the program so it
could
> fit
> on a 5.25" disk.  Now, if only I had a copy in English, nez pas?
>
> Copyright Apple Computer Inc., 1986
> Copyright Version Soft, 1985-1986
> Tous droits reserves
> Auteurs:  Stephane Cavril, Bernard Gallet, Henri Lamiraux, Richard Danais
et
> Luc Barthelet
> remerciements a: Alexis Gerard, Jim Gerber, Pat Pahl
>
> 14 September 1986           Version F1-1.0
>
> This version:
>
>     * displays up to 10 ProDOS volumes on the desktop, sometimes an
eleventh
> can be added, but the first volume (Slot 7, Drive 1) will be removed from
the
> desktop.  Any more volumes and the desktop essentially locks up.  This
> reduction in the number of volumes seems to have been done for cosmetic
reasons
> only,
> to allow five drives to border the right-hand sided of the screen and five
at
> the bottom.  These are the areas left alone for the longest time when
opening
> multiple windows automatically.
>
>     * needs mouse to select icons and adjust windows (no more keyboard
> controls for these functions),
>
>     * Checks all volumes on the desktop (no longer able to select just one
> slot and drive to check for a new volume.  This results in all windows on
the
> desktop being closed, so you have to open windows, digging back down
through
> subdirectories to get back to the one you were transferring files into/out
of
> when a new disk is added to the desktop),
>
>     * NO DESK ACCESSORIES--see *** above,
>
>     * Windows are now vertically scrolled as a single image (not split
> screened as MD1 does),
>
>     * Window Elevator up/down buttons now work,
>
>     * Volume Icons now visually represent hard drives, RAM card and 3.5"
> floppies,
>
>     * Top of each window has a bar with information about that
subdirectory
> (number of items in subdirectory), and the volume in general (K used, K
> available),
>
>     * SIZE is added to pull-down options.  It gives the number and size of
> any files, subdirectories and their contained files, and/or any
combinations
> there of,
>
>     * Selector now has a GUI interface to find and input pathnames for
> program files to be launched from the pull-down menu or Other List.
>
>     * Quit option, but mine just reboots MD2.
>
>  ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
**
> ** ** ** ** **
>                                         _Apple Desktop II_ (AD2)
> * There is a program called "Ultimate DeskTop" which, other than the name
> change on the menu bar, seems  to be _Apple Desktop II_.
>
> Copyright Apple computer Inc., 1986
> Copyright Version Soft, 1985-1986
> All Rights Reserved
> Authors:  Stephane Cavril, Bernard Gallet, Henri Lamiraux, Richard Danais,
> Luc Barthelet,
> with thanks to:  A. Gerard, J. Gerber, P. Pahl, J. Bernard
>
> November 26, 1986            Version 1.1
> (Yep, two months after MD2)
>
> Included in GS/OS disks version 2.0 and earlier, this program was never
> marketed for 8-bit Apple II computers and doesn't fit on one side of a
5.25"
> disk,
> but it works beautifully on the //e and //c (less problem with the //c+'s
> internal drive).  I learned about it from a letter written into Nibble
> magazine.
> from an 8-bit User who recognized that Apple had abandoned the program
with the
>
> completion of it's own true GS/OS desktop.  The User was calling for the
> Apple II Community to continue developing this program, suggesting more
desk
> accessories, an icon editor, the ability to place DHR artwork on the
desktop's
> background, and making it more //c+ compatible.  It was included in a
Nibble
> artlcle, "Polishing Your Hard Drive," where it was described as a
> third-generation
> MouseDesk.
>
> It's difficult to tell how much this varies from MD2, without a complete
copy
> of MD2, perhaps excepting the //c+ glitch, but there doesn't appear to be
any
> differences between the two, except the "Quit" option.
>
>     * Quit option now crashes into monitor, instead of rebooting MD2, as
it
> tries to get back to the GS/OS.
>
>  ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
**
> ** ** ** ** **
>
>                             _Improvements desired:_
>                                  (Drum roll, please...)
>
> 1.  Increase the number of desktop volumes to 13, as MD1 allows.  Do this
by
> decreasing the size of the volume icons, limiting their "displayed" name
size
> for the bottom row (after all, who picks 15 character names for HD
volumes?),
> or simply using the same layout as MD1.   It's hard to give up 96 Megs of
disk
> space!
>
> 2a.  Add "Window" option on pull down menu bar to move to front windows
open
> on the desktop, but buried under other open windows.
>
> 2b.  An alternative to "1a" (or addition to) would be the ability to
collapse
> windows to their top bar, just as can be done on the IIgs and Macs.
>
> 3.  Take advantage of larger memory cards to increase the number of items
> displayable in open windows and draggable (all MouseDesk and Desktop
versions
> are
> limited to 20 draggable icons).  Currently, about 110 items can be
displayed
> on the desktop.  This could be in eight windows, or just one.  If opening
a
> subdirectory will exceed the number of items that can be displayed, then a
> dialog box pops up stating that other windows must be closed in order to
open
> this
> one.  Kind of tough when your TimeOut Applications folder is on your main
> directory.  My TO folder exceeds 110, anyway.
>
> 4.  Add "Close All Windows BUT Front One" and "Close All Windows AND Open
> This Folder" commands.  All versions of MouseDesk and Apple DeskTop II
have a
> "Close All (Windows)" command to make cleaning up the desktop quick and
easy.
> The added benefit of these two commands would both clean up the desktop
and
> remove unnecessary icons from the desktop.  The "Close All Windows AND
Open
> This
> Folder" option would be especially useful if the 110 item limit can not be
> increased.
>
> 5.  Add "FIND FILE" ability  Sorely missed, this ability is best
substituted
> by its equivalent in AppleWorks' T.O. DirecTree.  There is a stand alone
> program from April 1989's Nibble Magazine called "Where.Is"  that does
search
> out
> and find files, but on hard drives, it's slower than molasses.  The
alternative
>
> is to make a text file of where useful, but not often used programs and
files
> are, and then use the Desk Accessory Text Reader to read that file from
the
> desktop (There are no notepads or stickies in the DA--yet).
>
> 6.  Have the same ability as the IIgs and the Macs, to drag files on the
same
> volume from one folder to another without leaving the file in the original
> folder (not simply making a second copy of the original file in the second
> folder).  I understand that Glen Breedon's text-based program has this
ability
> on
> 8-bit ][s.
>
> 7.  Fix the bug in the TEXT READER desk accessory that forces it to error
and
> only allow exiting when the end of a file is reached, whether the window
was
> being read and scrolled, or if the elevator (thumb) was moved down lower
than
> the length of the file.
>
> 8.  Add a pic.viewer to the Desk Accessories.  SNEEZE has the wonderful
> ability to view HR and DHR inside a folder.  It would be convenient to do
the
> same
> with Desktop, PLUS being able to view PrintShop clipart.  Viewing all
three of
> these picture formats is already incorporated in AppleWorks by DB.Pix. To
be
> able to select icons in a folder and then have the items displayed would
make
> finding the right artwork much more convenient; just like on a IIgs or
Mac.
>
> 9.  Return the option of checking just one volume on the desktop for
changes
> (new floppy in drive), allowing for 13 volumes, or just for Slot 6, drives
1
> and 2.
>
> 10.  A bit of fluff, but that empty right side of the Menu Bar just
screams
> out for something.  The time and date read off the clock card/NoSlot Clock
> would look mighty nice right here.