********************************** * * * MultiDesk Release Notes * * Version 2.1 * * Release date: April 23, 1990 * * * ********************************** PLEASE NOTE: Effective February 1, 1990 our standard update fee will be raised to $7.50 (see below for update information). ANOTHER NOTE: The files MULTDESK.ACC and MULTDESK.PRG are identical except for their filenames. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> VERSION 2.1 NOTES ----------------- MultiDesk 2.1 is primarily a "bug-fix" release. It fixes a problem that would cause a system lockup when trying to load an .MLT file through the HotWire Menu. (The bug attacked if MultiDesk was unable to find the specified .MLT file.) Change MultiDesk's Menu Title without Rebooting ----------------------------------------------- Another small change in MultiDesk 2.1 -- if you change the 'Menu Name' in MultiDesk's 'Config' dialog, the new name will show up in the 'Desk' drop-down menu immediately. Previous versions of MultiDesk required a reboot to register the new name. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Holding Control toggles the 'Names' option ------------------------------------------ The MultiDesk manual states that you can turn off the display of accessory names during the loading of a setup file (when the 'Names' button in the Configuration Editor is selected), by holding down the Alternate key or the right Shift key. You can also turn the name display ON when 'Names' is not selected, again by holding down Alternate or right Shift. Load Acc -------- When you use the 'Load Acc' option, MultiDesk always returns to the file selector after loading an accessory, to let you quickly load several single accessories in a row. In MultiDesk 1.5 and higher, you can hold down the Alternate key when you load an accessory, and you will return to the MultiDesk dialog box instead of to the file selector. (Saving you a click on the file selector's 'Cancel' button.) Key commands ------------ In version 1.6, all of the options in MultiDesk's main dialog box can be selected with a single keypress while MultiDesk is open. The command keys are: A - Load Acc L - Load Setup S - Save Setup Clr Home - Clear All C - Configure Return - Exit In addition to these keys, the up and down arrows will scroll up and down through a list of accessories (when you have more than 16 loaded.) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Here's a list of some desk accessories that may require special handling when used with MultiDesk: Accessories reserving two slots: -------------------------------- MINOS.ACC - Reserves two slots for itself in the 'Desk' menu. Only the first name will appear in the MultiDesk menu. (Luckily, the game is still playable...only the "Minos Finder" name will not appear.) TI59.ACC - Reserves two slots. The calculator itself will not appear in the MultiDesk menu. CONTROL.ACC - Early versions of the Atari Control Panel also reserve two slots. If you wish to use the Control Panel with MultiDesk, you should use the version which is included in the folder named ACCS on your MultiDesk master disk. EMULATOR.ACC - Once again, the early versions of Atari's VT52 terminal emulator reserve two slots in the 'Desk' menu. The most recent version (also included in the ACCS folder) is more considerate. Other stuff: ------------ DESKCART.ACC - QMI's Deskcart cartridge uses a desk accessory which installs the code from the cartridge. This accessory will not work when loaded into MultiDesk. You should install it as an ordinary desk accessory. DIABLO.ACC - The latest version (as of this date) of Atari's Diablo 630 Emulator has problems with lots of other programs. We have installed special code to allow it to function properly with MultiDesk. However, you still may encounter problems if you load certain accessories into MultiDesk before loading SETUP630.ACC (the Diablo emulator accessory). The rule to follow (using MultiDesk or not) is to make sure DIAB630.PRG is the LAST program to run in your AUTO folder and SETUP630.ACC runs as soon as possible after that. TECHNICAL NOTE: The Diablo emulator breaks if any other program steals trap #13 between the running of the AUTO program and the selecting of the ACC. Accessories that don't register themselves: ------------------------------------------- Desk accessories are supposed to follow certain programming rules, one of which is to "register" themselves in the drop-down menu. If a desk accessory breaks this rule, it will not work properly when loaded into MultiDesk. MultiDesk will load it and put its _filename_ in the menu, but when you click on it you'll see a dialog box telling you that the accessory is disabled. Please note that any accessory that fails to register itself will still work fine when installed in a regular accessory slot. The only accessory we're aware of that breaks the "menu_register" rule at this time is a public domain caps-lock indicator called CAPS.ACC. (Note: CAPS.ACC is another example of an accessory that uses the buggy evnt_timer call. If you *must* use CAPS.ACC, turn the "Timers" button on in the Configuration box.) Accessories that communicate with applications, and vice versa -------------------------------------------------------------- There are several accessories on the market that are designed to communicate and exchange data with specific applications. Examples are Cyber Smash and Cyber Control (which work with CAD 3D 2.0), Easy Tools (which adds new capabilities to Easy Draw), and the accessories which are supplied with Neodesk 2.0. In most cases, these accessories will work better if they are loaded into MultiDesk BEFORE running the application. The reason for this: most applications attempt to detect the presence of their associated desk accessories only when they are first run. If you load the accessory into MultiDesk after the program is already up and running, it's too late...the program has already tried to find the accessory, and failed. If you encounter such a problem, just quit the application to the desktop and run it again. Accessories that communicate with other accessories --------------------------------------------------- Recently, some software packages have appeared on the market which use two (or more) desk accessories that communicate with each other. (One such package is STalker/STeno from Strata Software.) There are a few things to keep in mind when using these types of desk accessories in MultiDesk: If two desk accessories need to communicate with each other, one of those desk accessories must be OUTSIDE of MultiDesk. If both accessories are loaded into MultiDesk they will probably be unable to communicate, because MultiDesk has no provisions for passing GEM messages between more than one loaded accessory. A limitation in GEM is responsible for this; GEM does not allow more than a certain number of "applications" to be active at the same time (an accessory is treated the same way as an "application" in this case). If you have one accessory outside MultiDesk and the other loaded into MultiDesk, they will still be unable to communicate if you have some other MultiDesk accessory open, or while the MultiDesk box itself is on the screen. To restore the communication, just close the other accessory or exit the MultiDesk dialog box. Similarly, if you open one of MultiDesk's accessories, and an outside program tries to communicate with ANOTHER accessory that is loaded into MultiDesk, the outside program will be unable to find the accessory. As far as GEM knows, when one of MultiDesk's accessories is open that accessory IS MultiDesk...and GEM never knows about the other accessories loaded into MultiDesk. MultiDesk does not allow you to open more than one of its accessories at a time, again because of the GEM application limit mentioned above. If all else fails: ------------------ The most important thing to remember if you have a problem loading a desk accessory into MultiDesk is that it will almost certainly still work fine when installed as a normal desk accessory in one of the other five menu slots. As stated in the MultiDesk manual, there may be some AUTO programs or other desk accessories that cause problems with MultiDesk. If you're having trouble getting MultiDesk to work at all, the first thing to try is removing all AUTO programs and accessories from your boot disk to see if MultiDesk will work by itself. (It probably will - if not, you may have a bad disk and you should either return it to the store you bought it from, or send it back to CodeHead Software for a replacement.) If MultiDesk works fine by itself, then try adding the AUTO programs and accessories back one at a time (rebooting each time), to find the one that is interfering. Shareware Folder ---------------- For your convenience we've provided the latest versions of two shareware programs by Charles F. Johnson. The Little Green Selector (LGSELECT.PRG) and PinHead (PINHED16.PRG) are contained in the folder named SHARWARE on your master disk, along with their respective documentation files which you may 'Show' or 'Print'. These programs are shareware products from Little Green Footballs Software (included with permission), and the purchase price of this package does not include them. If you try these programs and decide to keep them, you are expected to send a shareware payment to Charles at the address listed in the documentation. Thank you. CodeHead Software Update Policy ------------------------------- At CodeHead, we update all of our software frequently; but due to postal expenses we are not able to notify our users regularly. You may find out the latest version number of any CodeHead Software product by calling us at (213) 386-5735, or by finding us on GEnie, Compuserve, or Delphi. The latest update for any product may be obtained by returning your original master disk plus $7.50 to: CodeHead Software P.O. Box 74090 Los Angeles, CA 90004 FAX: (213) 386-5789 From time to time we offer free updates for certain versions (if we've released something with bugs, etc.). You will be informed (or your money returned) if this is the case. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Please, remember that software theft hurts EVERYONE. If you have a legitimate copy of our software, please accept our sincere thanks for purchasing our product, and don't bother reading the next paragraph. If you're reading this file from an illegal copy of our software (you know if you are), you might want to give some thought to the consequences of your actions. We will not continue to produce software for the ST if we can't make a living at it. If you steal a copy of any of our programs (by using it without buying it, or allowing others to use it without buying it), besides breaking a federal law, you're also quite literally stealing the food right out of our families' mouths. Think about it.