--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X-Bar Copyright © 1995 by Herb Otto All Rights Reserved---------------------------------------------------------------------------------INTRODUCTION:X-Bar is an application launcher shortcut. It provides 24 configurable buttonson a floating palette from which the user can launch applications. It contains anaddition 12 buttons for text entry shortcuts. The bar also shrinks to a smallicon to keep out of the users way. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------OPERATION:Install X-Bar on a card or internal memory. If you install it on a card, youmust quit the application before ejecting the card, otherwise you will be askedto re-insert the card. Installed it consumes a mere 22K of memory. X-Barmaintains its settings soup in the internal store of the Newton (calledXbarSoup:Otto). Once you run the package from the extras drawer a palette willappear at the top of the screen with 14 buttons. The leftmost button willdisplay a popup menu with various functions described later. The rightmostbutton will compress or shrink the palette to a single little icon. The palettecan be dragged about the screen in the expanded and minimized modes. The 2 bestlocations for the palette are at the very top or the very bottom of the screen.The locations of the two palettes will be retained until the next reset.Installing Applications:Initially, the palette with have 12 blank buttons indicating the buttons havenot yet been configured. Clicking on one of these with present you with a popupmenu to select from. After you select an application to install, the button namewill change to reflect the first and last letters of the application name.Command Menu Functions:About Box: "About"Selecting this menu brings up the X-Bar about dialog.Removing Applications: "Clear"To remove an application from a button you must go to the command popup menu inthe upper right of the palette and select "Clear". Notice the command buttonchanges from a "+" to a "-" to indicate the next button you click on with becleared. You cannot undo a cleared button once it's erased. Iconize the Palette: "Shrink"Selecting this option will shrink the palette to an icon. This is alsoaccomplished by the rightmost button labeled "<-". To expand the palette, clickin the center of the icon on the ">" button.Auto Shrink Mode: "AutoShrink"If this option is checked, the palette will automatically compress whenever youlaunch an application from it. Quite handy if you find the palette constantlygetting in your way.Multiple Button Sets: "Set 1", "Set 2", "Text"X-Bar support 3 sets of 12 buttons each. The default set is set #1 which isdisplayed whenever the program is first run. Simply use the set menu to definewhich set of buttons to display. During the set change, the palette willdisappear as it reads the extras drawer, this should only be for a second or twodepending on how many items are in your drawer. Set #3 contains a set of special buttons which do not launch applications butrather provide text entry shortcuts. Initially the buttons will all be blank.When clicked, a dialog will appear letting the user enter the text the button isto display and the title for the button in the button bar. When the dialog isdisplayed, a keyboard will also become visible to allow easy entry. Thiskeyboard will not present the user with the annoying "Add xxx to word list"prompt. To the left of the text entry field is a popup with some shortcuts forspecial characters: Delete "\b", Tab "\t" and Return "\n". When selected fromthe popup these special characters will be appended to the text currently in thefield. To change text in a button already defined you must select "Clear" fromthe command menu then click on the button to erase. Next click on the blankbutton and the editor will appear.Example: In order to duplicate the Bullet button in version 1.1 which performed a Return-Bullet-Space function, enter the following string without the double quotes: (Note: I'm replacing a bullet <option>-8 with '*' in this example to ensure this file is pure text) "\n* " Remember, don't enter the double quotes and you can substitued the '*' for any character you like. Try <shift>-<option>-K.Quitting X-Bar: "Quit"Selecting this will exit X-Bar.Set Selection Button:Located to the right of the last application button you will a button with anumber located inside. This number represents the current displayed set of buttons (where 3 is the Text set). Clicking this button will advance you to thenext set without the need to use the command popup menu.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------PROGRAMMING INFORMATION: "This application created with the Newt Development Environment (Newt 3.0). For further information, browse: http://www.netaxs.com/~weyer or contact: weyer@netaxs.com." Thanks to Steve Weyer for developing an exceptional Newton based development environment and for his super technical support. Believe it or not, this program was written entirely on the Newton. A Mac was used only for backup purposes. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------DISCLAIMER:X-Bar along with this ReadMe file may be distributed freely for non-commercialuse only. It is copyrighted! This program may not be sold or included with anyother software collection (CD ROMs, etc) without my written permission. Do notalter the copyright notices or any other portion of this program. I claim noresponsibility to damage induced by this package to your system. The user will beusing it AT THEIR OWN RISK.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------AUTHOR:Herb OttoAnnapolis, Maryland USASend comments and suggestions to: herbo@aol.comOther Programs By Herbo (all Freeware!):X-Bar - [Newton] Been there, read that.HexConv - [Newton] Formula ottoPart (oops) autoPart which adds Hex<->Decimal conversion to the Newtons' formula roll. BugOff - [Macintosh] Screen saver/security with network message sending to other BugOff users, built-in reminders, auto shutdown, folder watching, folder protection, and dual-password capability. Supports Macintalk. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------USER FEEDBACK:I would like to thank everyone who sent me email regarding this package. I readall mail sent and try to implement as many requests as I can. If you havesuggestions for this package both positive or negative, please feel free to sendme email and let me know.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------VERSION HISTORY:1.2 - 5/29/95- Quick change button for sets.- Ability to edit Set #3 text buttons (contents and titles).- Small and Large palettes remember last screen position.- Remove the "Drag" function.1.1 - 5/15/95- Palette is smaller and has a different appearance.- Iconized view is much smaller.- Support for 2 sets of buttons (24 total).- Support for 3rd set of buttons which provide text entry shortcuts.- Now opens books properly.- Drag menu option for easy palette relocation.- Palette remembers last position on screen when restarted.- Won't quit when certain other applications are launched.- Application selection menu won't scroll of the screen.- Blank buttons are empty and no longer show the "?" mark.1.0 - 5/9/95- Initial Release.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------