Some of the illustrations appearing in this file are QuickTime compressed and therefore requires that QuickTime be installed on your machine in order for them to be visible. Otherwise you’ll see this…
You may also need to increase the memory allocation for your TeachText application to properly view the QuickTime compressed illustrations within this document.
For those who hate to wait, just double-click on the QuickClips™ Catalog document and start double-clicking on whatever shows up. If you are running System 7, there is extensive Balloon Help available for your viewing pleasure. You may also want to check out Fetch Shortcuts located in either the Apple menu (System 6) or Balloon Help menu (System 7). You will have to copy the QuickClips catalog and Fetch application to a local disk if you plan on editing any of the information in the catalog. Now a word from your sponsor.
“Fetch” is the working name for a multi-user, mixed media database application under development by Provident Software, Inc. Fetch enables one or more users to quickly locate files cataloged in a common database without concern for where the data is stored, what format the data is in, or what application created the file. Once found, files can be copied, previewed, played, printed, placed, deleted, or opened by another application of the your choice.
Following are some of Fetch’s distinguishing features:
Multi-User
More than one user can access the same "catalog" (Fetch’s name for its database file) at the same time. You only need to create a catalog file and place it on your server where everyone can access it. This makes managing large collections of media in a work group environment much simpler. (Try loading the catalog on a server and opening it up from multiple workstations. Type a new keyword or edit the description of some item and then look for it on the other computer.)
Multi-volume Support and Off-line Retrieval
File reference data (“items”) from several volumes are stored in a single catalog enabling you to scan multiple hard disks, file servers, compact discs, etc., with a single query. (Currently a single catalog can reference up to 32,000 files.) It is important to understand that Fetch stores a thumbnail of each referenced file along with the source file’s location, keywords list and description in the catalog. The actual source files remain wherever they are. This makes for very small catalogs (about 6K per color image or 2.5K per black and white image) and allows you to locate and view thumbnails of files residing on unmounted volumes. Each item can have a virtually unlimited number of keywords assigned to it and up to 32,000 characters of descriptive text.
Advanced File Tracking and Transparent Network Access
Fetch uses the most advanced methods and techniques to track files on your Macintosh. Fetch will locate files even if you have renamed and moved them to another location on your system. Fetch also provides transparent (we mean really transparent) access to networks and file servers.
Copy, Copy Reference, and the Place AppleEvent
Of course, Fetch can copy items for pasting by other applications, but Fetch can also copy the reference to an item for “placing” into other documents. Several applications currently support document referencing internally: Quark does it with “Get Picture”; Adobe Illustrator, Aldus PageMaker, DesignStudio, Multi-Ad Creator, etc., call it “Placing”. These and other applications offer the option of placing because it is more efficient to reference certain items rather than incorporate them. Recognizing that you may want to place versus paste items into your layouts, movies, and drawings, we created the “Copy Reference” command and “Place” AppleEvent. The Copy Reference command puts file reference data for items found by Fetch onto the clipboard using a new clipboard resource type named “FTCH”. This allows other “Fetch Aware” applications that understand this new clipboard resource type to access files found by Fetch. You can store file reference data in your scrapbook for later use, or even attach it to E-mail messages and send it to other users on the same network. The Place AppleEvent transfers file reference data between Fetch Aware applications running on a common network in real time.
Multi-Format
MacPaint, PICT, TIFF, RIFF, EPSF, AIFF, Finder sounds, Editions, QuickTime movies, Kodak Photo CD, and JPEG (Apple, Storm, and Radius formats) file formats are all supported. We have also incorporated an API from Salient Software which allows Fetch to catalog files compressed with DiskDoubler. Expect to see even more formats supported soon.
Multi-Criteria Queries
You can search by any combination of host volume, file type, keyword, or file name. (Example: Search for items that contain the keyword “Paris” of file type “PICT” stored on the volume named “QuickClips™”.)
Fast
A keyword search through a 31,000 item catalog over LocalTalk using a Mac SE (without a hard disk) returns a result in less than 3 seconds. Sub-second response is common for keyword and filename searching when the catalog is stored on a local hard drive.
Intelligent Catalog Updating
You may update a catalog’s contents at anytime without disturbing any user supplied information. This feature is particularly important to CD-ROM subscribers.
Extras for Content Providers
Content providers can attach keywords and a text description to their original source files. Fetch automatically extracts and includes this additional information whenever it creates or updates a catalog. This is one of Fetch’s most significant features. It allows providers to add value to their existing products, and saves the user days (if not weeks) of entering keywords and descriptions. The utility needed to attach the resource is provided free of charge to anyone who wants it.
Fetch was designed from the beginning as a production tool for multi-user environments. The first version was distributed by Multi-Ad Services, in Peoria Illinois, under the name of Multi-Ad Search. Besides being sold as a stand-alone media management application, Fetch is being bundled with CD-ROM titles as a powerful browser utility. Future versions of Fetch will enable remote access to image databases through voice-grade telephone links. We anticipate shipping in early July.
Find Window
You can locate files by any combination of filename, file type, host volume or keyword. Frequently used search definitions can be saved as a user defined menu item.
Pasteboard Window (Thumbnail mode)
Use the Pasteboard to store items of interest gathered from multiple Found windows (not shown). The Found and Pasteboard windows have two view modes — Thumbnail and Text List. Below is a picture of the Pasteboard window in Text List mode.
Pasteboard Window (Text List Mode)
QuickTime Movie Preview
Still Image Preview
Fetch Shortcuts Window
We hope you enjoy using Fetch as you explore the great content Apple has provided. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions or (perish the thought) problems, please do not hesitate to call us.
