Availability and Distribution
-----------------------------
The Apple IIGS Finder was announced August 11, 1987. At that time, it was
anticipated that it would be shipped on the Apple IIGS System Disk, revision
3.0, and be part of the Endless Disk Drive mailing the last week of August.
The dealers, in turn, are expected to pass out the new System Disk revision
freely to their customers. Technical Communications planned to send this disk
out to all our audience around the same time.
The Endless Disk Drive mailing will contain two System Disks, revision 2.0 and
3.0. This is bound to cause some confusion, but it is necessary. The Finder
application replaces the DeskTop program that has been on earlier versions of
the System Disk, including version 2.0. Since the Apple IIGS Finder requires a
512K configuration, we might leave some people out in the cold with their 256K
machines. This way, we are able to give them an up-to-date system disk with the
DeskTop program on it, which will run on their machines.
This System Disk revision, including the Finder, will make its way into new
Apple IIGS boxes in the beginning of September. Because of current stock on
hand, these new systems including the Finder are not expected to hit dealer
shelves until late September to mid-October.
If current Apple IIGS owners would like the Apple IIGS System Disk manual that
is going to be bundled with the new Apple IIGS, along with the System Disk 3.0,
they may order it from their dealer.
Finder Notes and Tips
---------------------
After making a working copy of the original Apple IIGS System Disk 3.0, unlock
the working diskette. If you don't, the window positions and icon arrangements
won't be saved to disk.
This Finder allows the user to change and save the color of each individual
volume and file icon.
To reach online Help, pull down the Apple menu.
If a volume is brought online while there is another volume of the same
name already on the desktop, a dialog box appears, warning the user
that the volumes have the same name and that the operation is cancelled. Note,
however, that the disk is not ejected, though the volume has not appeared on
the desktop. It is best after receiving such a message to manually
eject the disk.
If the monochrome monitor is used, be sure to select the Monochrome setting in
the Apple IIGS control panel. This will use gray scaling to produce a better
overall image.
When a 5 1/4" diskette is inserted into the drive, the Apple IIGS Finder
doesn't know it's there -- unless you 'tell' it. There are now 5 1/4" disk
drive icons on the desktop, directly below any other volumes that are online.
When a 5 1/4" disk is inserted, be sure to click on the respective icon so the
finder can recognize the disk.
The Put Back function in the Apple IIGS Finder is the same as the Macintosh
Finder's Put Away function. This menu choice lets you return files, that you
have thrown in the trash can or recently moved to the desktop, back to their
original position.
A major difference between the Apple IIGS Finder and the Macintosh Finder is
that the Apple IIGS version has a Preferences option in the Special menu. The
Preferences dialog gives you six check-box options, all defaulted to a
'checked' state. They are:
- Display help for dimmed commands
If this option is chosen, the user can select a grayed out menu item, and
get information on why that item isn't available.
- Double-check before removing files and folders
If this option is chosen, the Finder will not delete files or folders until
the user confirms, via a dialog box, that the files or folders should be
deleted.
- Color selected icon's background instead of its outline
This is personal preference, but the default (background color fill) is
easier to see than a colored outline.
- Save Finder information onto disk
If this option is chosen, the Finder creates a file called FINDER.DATA that
records the window position and size for all open windows. There is also a
file called FINDER.ROOT that remembers what windows were open on the desktop
when the disk was ejected. If you don't want these items recorded, deselect
this check box.
- Hide the Finder's data files
When a window is opened, the default is not to display the FINDER.DATA and
FINDER.ROOT files. If you want them displayed, deselect this check box.
- Do a smart block copy
When copying disks of the same size, the default mode for the Apple
IIGS Finder is to copy only those blocks that contain information. This
speeds up the process. If you want to copy all blocks, regardless
of whether they contain information, deselect this check box.