Apple Location Manager: Frequently Asked Questions (1 of 3)

Questions answered in this article:

1. What is the Apple Location Manager?
2. How does the Location Manager work?
3. What are the hardware and software requirements to run Location Manager?
4. How can I obtain Apple Location Manager?
5. How do I install the Location Manager?
6. What if I do not want to install all of the Modules that come with Location Manager? Somehow a module has became damaged, and I only want to install just that Module?
7. What if I decide I want to remove the Location Manager?
8. How do I open the Location Manager? Where is it located?
9. Is there on-line help or an Apple Guide for the Location Manager?
10. How do I create a Location in the Location Manager?
11. What are the capabilities of the different Location Manager Modules?
12. How do I add a Module to a Location that I have created?
13. I created a Location and have added the Modules I want, and do not want to ever change it, can I use the Lock check box in the Get Info window to lock it?
14. I want the Location Manger to ask me which Location I wish to use on startup?
15. I have set the Location Manager's Preferences to always ask for a Location on startup. I turn on my computer and go get a cup of coffee but when I come back I already have the desktop?
16. How do I change to the different Locations I have created?

Question 1: What is the Apple Location Manager?

Answer: Apple Location Manager software makes it easy for PowerBook users to move from one Location to another without having to spend a lot of time manually reconfiguring their computer with every move. The Location Manager allows you to quickly change many settings at one time.

Question 2: How does the Location Manager work?

Answer: Apple Location Manager allows users to assign specific settings for a variety of capabilities including networking, printers, time zone, file sharing, sound, frequently used applications, and even which extensions need to be in use. Once a Location is set up, a user simply selects that Location and the system recognizes the user's preferences for that environment.

For example, a typical PowerBook user might have two Locations, named "Home" and "Office", defined for a single PowerBook. When "Home" is selected, the printer becomes a StyleWriter printer connected via serial port, File Sharing is turned off, and Apple Remote Access and Claris E-mailer are automatically opened. When "Office" is selected, the printer becomes the office LaserWriter, File Sharing is turned on, and the network connection is changed to the correct office Ethernet settings.

Question 3: What are the hardware and software requirements to run Location Manager?

Answer: You must be running 7.6 or greater, and it will only install on a PowerBook. Also, version 2.0.1 is available for use with Mac OS 8.1 and is supported on any Macintosh computer that supports Mac OS 8.1.

Question 4: How can I obtain Apple Location Manager?

Answer: The Location Manager comes preinstalled on some PowerBook units. Check your control panels to see if it is already installed. You may also download it from the Older Software Downloads page of Apple Downloads (search for the link "Macintosh/System/Mac_OS_8.1_Update/Location_Manager_2.0.1.smi.bin"). This file will decompress into a folder named "Location Manager Install" which contains:

• Apple Location Manager Read Me
• Installer
• Install Location Manager
• Tome

For directions on how to install, please read the "Apple Location Manager Read Me" file.

Question 5: How do I install the Location Manager?

Answer: Always use the Installer program to install Apple Location Manager. The software may not work correctly if you try to copy or drag it to the System Folder. For directions on how to install, please read the "Apple Location Manager Read Me" file.

Question 6: What if I do not want to install all of the Modules that come with Location Manager? Somehow a module has became damaged, and I only want to install just that Module?

Answer: The Location Manager Installer supports custom installing. You can choose to install any of the following:

• Apple Location Manager control panel
• All the Location Manager Modules or you can click on the arrow and chose to install any of the following:
  - Auto-Open Item
  - Default Printer
  - Extensions Manager
  - File Sharing
  - Network
  - Sound
  - TimeZone
• Control Strip Module for Location Manager
• Location Manager Apple Guide

Question 7: What if I decide I want to remove the Location Manager?

Answer: The Installer also has a Custom Remove. You may choose this option by using the pop-up menu in the top left hand corner in the Location Manager Installer.

Question 8: How do I open the Location Manager? Where is it located?

Answer: You can access the Location Manager through the control panels in the Apple Menu, or by using the Location Manager's Control Strip.

Question 9: Is there on-line help or an Apple Guide for the Location Manager?

Answer: Yes, the Location Manager has both Balloon Help, and an Apple Guide. To access either of these use the Guide menu in the right hand side of the menu bar and select either Show Balloons or Mac OS Guide. Also you can bring up the Location Manager's Apple Guide by clicking on the yellow question mark in the top right hand corner of the Location Manager window.

Question 10: How do I create a Location in the Location Manager?

Answer: Open the Location Manager. In the Location Manager window click the New button on the right hand side. It will bring up a new "untitled" window. Type in a name for this Location in the "Location Name" field. Then select "Save Location" in the File menu. It will rename the window to what you typed in the "Location Name" field. You can also see the "How do I create a new location?" in the "How do I" topic area of the Location Manager Guide, available by clicking on the yellow question mark in the top right hand corner of the Location Manager window. Note: To avoid confusion, do not use the name "None (off)" for a location you create with Apple Location Manager. This is the phrase you use to turn off Location Manager or to select none of the existing locations in the control panel's pop-up menu.

Question 11: What are the capabilities of the different Location Manager Modules?

Answer: Overview of the Modules that come with Location Manager 1.0.

• Auto-Open Item
  This Module will open a file or program automatically when you change to a Location that contains this Module. When you add this Module to your Location it brings up an Open Dialog box for you to choose the application or document you wish to have opened. Select the file or program you wish to Auto-Open and then click the Add button in the middle of the window. To open more than one item when changing to a Location, add this Module multiple times.
• Default Printer
  Choosing this Module will change the default printer. To use this Module select the printer you wish to have in the Chooser and then add the Module Default Printer. For instructions on how to change your default printer, see "How do I print?" in the "Printing" topic area of the Mac OS Guide, available in the Guide menu.
• Extensions Manager
  This Module changes the extensions that are to be in effect for this Location. Before trying to add this Module, create a Set inside the Extensions Manager control panel for the Location you will be using. (See note below)
• File Sharing
  This Module will turn File Sharing on or off. First set the Sharing Setup control panel to the state you wish to save with this Location. For instructions on how to set the Sharing Setup control panel, see "How do I give others access to my files?" in the "Sharing Files" topic area of the Mac OS Guide, available in the Guide menu. Then open a Location and add this Module.
• Networking
  This Module will switch between Configurations of the AppleTalk and TCP/IP control panels only. This Module will not allow you to save a setting named "Default". You will need to use the AppleTalk and TCP/IP control panels to create multiple Configurations prior to saving the current setting with Location Manager. NOTE: It is usually best to name these Configurations after the Location you will be using it in, and not after what the Configuration changes. Choose names like "Office" or "Home" instead of "Ethernet". This way when the computer reports it is changing to the configuration "Ethernet" and for some reason this Configuration has been set to change the AppleTalk control panel to the Printer/Modem port it will not be so confusing. For instructions on how to create these settings in the AppleTalk and TCP/IP control panel, see "How do I change AppleTalk settings all at once?" and "How do I change TCP/IP settings all at once?" in the "Networks" topic area of Mac OS Guide, available in the Guide menu. NOTE: The current version as of this writing (which is 1.0) of this module is not capable of changing to different Configuration of the PPP control panel that is part of OT/PPP.
• Sound
  This Module saves and restores the volume level for sound out on the computer. For instructions on how to change the sound volume, see "How do I adjust the speaker or headphones?" in the "Sound" topic area of the Mac OS Guide, available in the Guide menu.
• Time Zone
  This Module will save the settings of the Date & Time and Map control panels. Use the Date & Time control panel to change your time zone. Use the Map control panel if you wish to set your Location to somewhere that isn't in Date & Time. For instructions on how to change these control panels, see "How do I set my Location?" in the "Customizing Your Computer" topic area of Mac OS Guide, available in the Guide menu.

Note: It is usually best to name this Set after the Location you will be using it in, and not after the Set changes. Choose names like "Office" or "Home" instead of "7.6 Only". You can do this by going into the extensions manager and selecting the Duplicate button in the bottom right hand corner, it will ask you to name the set. You can also see "How do I manage System Folder extensions?" in the "Customizing Your Computer" topic area of Mac OS guide, available in the Guide menu. Then change this new set to have the extensions you want. Leave this set active and then when you go into the Location Manager and Add the Module Extensions Manager it will add this set. This Module only captures the name of the extensions set. If you use the Extensions manager control panel to alter the contents of a set, you do not need to update this Module. When you change to a different Location that changes the Extensions Set you will be given the option to Restart the computer to activate this new set of extensions.

Question 12: How do I add a Module to a Location that I have created?

Answer: After you have created a Location, you can add a Module by clicking on it and then selecting the Add button. Make sure you have the settings for this module set the way you want, before adding it. Some Modules require that you create a configuration with the settings that you wish before adding them, such as the Extensions Manager Module or the Networking Module.

Question 13: I created a Location and have added the Modules I want, and do not want to ever change it, can I use the Lock check box in the Get Info window to lock it?

Answer: The Location Manager can not use Locked Locations or Locations on a locked volume and will ignore them.

Question 14: I want the Location Manger to ask me which Location I wish to use on startup?

Answer: Under the Edit menu, while the Location Manager is the active application, you can select Preferences. In this dialog box you can change the Startup Switching preference. You may select to have the Location Manager at startup ask you to select a Location:

• Never
• Always
• If I hold down the spacebar

Question 15: I have set the Location Manager's Preferences to always ask for a Location on startup. I turn on my computer and go get a cup of coffee but when I come back I already have the desktop?

Answer: The Location Manager will only display this dialog box for a few minutes, and if you do not change it, will leave the currently selected Location as the active one and continue the startup process.

Question 16: How do I change to the different Locations I have created?

Answer: You can change from one Location to another several ways. You can use the Location Manager control strip module. It looks like two foot prints. You can go to the control panel Location Manager and use the pop up menu "Current Location" to change to a different Location. You can also set Location Manager's preferences, located in the Location Manager's Edit menu, to have it either always ask for you to select a Location on startup, or if you hold down the spacebar it will bring up a dialog box asking you to choose a Location.

Other Apple Location Manager FAQ's can be found in the following articles:

Article 31331: Apple Location Manager: Frequently Asked Questions (2 of 3)

Article 31332: Apple Location Manager: Frequently Asked Questions (3 of 3)