Re: 8-bit GUI desktop organizers and launchers

[Lockar <lockar@apple2forever.DOTorg>]

    I know this is a year old thead, but are you still around?

      I have MD v1.1 and never knew there was other versions out there? 

  Did you ever get the other versions, does any one have version 1.5 or
higher?  It sounds like MouseDesk is the GUI I want to use of I find
the higher versions. 

      -Lockar



In article <20030807182033.00937.00001059@mb-m22.aol.com>, Obsbedia2
<obsbedia2@aol.com> wrote:

> 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.