First Things First Users Manual--Version 3 series.
This manual covers:
Introducing First Things First
Quick-Start Tutorial
Demo Copies and Registration
Using First Things First
Using the Manual
Expanded Floating Clock
Reduced Floating Clock
Main FTF Window
Categories
Priority
Items
In Box
Viewing Items
Category
Timeline
Priority
Show Types
Priority One Items
Editing Items
Rescheduling Items
Finding Items
Completing Items
Deleting Items
Moving/Copying Items
Printing
About FTF (Balloon Icon)
Preferences (Prefs… Icon)
General Settings
Clock Displays
New Item Defaults
Appendix A
Getting Started
Appendix B
FTF File Utility
Appendix C
Technical Problems
Appendix D
Other Visionary Products
••••Installing First Things First••••
First Things First requires a Macintosh Plus or later model.
First Things First needs System 6.0.4 or later to run, and is completely compatible with System 7. We also highly recommend that you use MultiFinder if you are using System 6.x.
•Locate the files and folders you need.
There is on file called “First Things First™” (its icon has a little clock symbol on it and says “FTF”). You may also have a folder called “FTF Clocks” (however, this folder is not neccessary in order to use FTF).
•Copy or move the files/folder to the correct locations.
If you’re running System 6:
1. Drag “First Things First™”, and (if you have it) “FTF Clocks” into your System Folder and reboot.
If you’re running System 7:
1. Drag “First Things First™” into the folder called “Extensions” inside your System Folder.
2. (If you have it) drag “FTF Clocks” into the folder called “Preferences” inside your System Folder.
3. Reboot your computer.
••••Quick-Start Tutorial
1. Install First Things First.
2. The FTF icon will appear at the bottom of your screen when it is loading and you will see FTF’s default clock floating near the center of your screen when your Mac is ready for use.
3. Double-click the clock and the FTF time management utility will launch instantly. If you received FTF as a demo, click on the button that says “Demo”, otherwise, enter your serial number. You will then see the main FTF screen. Type the <Return> key or click “OK” and FTF will close as fast as it opened.
4. Drag the clock into your menu bar and watch it change form. shift-click the clock to switch between the larger and smaller forms anytime. In either form, hold the option key and double-click the clock to view a window containing items which you have assigned Priority One (top priority) and scheduled for today or earlier.
5. Double-click the clock again. Then, click the Preferences icon in the lower right-hand corner of the FTF main window. Click the FTF Hot Key… button and set up your own sequence of keys. Type return to leave Preferences and go back to the main window. Type another return to close FTF.
6. Use the Hot Key you just created. Type return. See how you will be able to get in and out of FTF in a flash whenever you want.
7. Open FTF’s main window again, and then click the New Item… button. Set up the new Item for a time in the past, check the At the Item’s Time box and then return to the desktop to see the In Box icon. Double-click the In Box or use your Hot Key to see your Reminder.
8. Open FTF's main window once more. To backup your Agenda in one easy step, hold the option key and notice that the Save button changes to Save As… While still holding option, click Save As… and save a copy of your Agenda in a location of your choosing.
You are now ready to explore the full range of features offered by First Things First. A time management utility should be instantly available and lightning fast. Here you have it. Enjoy!
••••Demo Copies and Registration••••
If you received this copy of FTF as a demo, you can convert it to a fully working copy of the program by entering the appropriate serial number. For a minimal fee, Visionary Software will give this serial number to you right over the phone! Please call 503-246-6200 (we accept Visa, MC, or AMEX). If you are interested in receiving the “FTF Clocks” folder on disk that allows you to choose from up to 23 additional styles of FTF “floating clocks”, please tell us!! Additionally, the FTF Clocks folder may be available from the same source you received the demo from.
Demonstration copies of software are important because they allow people to experience the features of a program before they decide to purchase it. Furthermore, the ability to create and use legal demo copies helps reduce software piracy, which keeps software prices down for all of us. This section explains how to give legal demo copies of FTF to friends and associates.
•Creating Demo Copies for Legitimate Sharing
It couldn’t be easier: pass out copies of the file “First Things First” from either your System Folder or Master (backup) Disk. You can also pass out copies of the folder “FTF Clocks.” That’s all it takes. “First Things First” is a demo version instantly, when it is not accompanied by your Agenda file. The demo allows one to experience almost all of the features of FTF, with minor limitations.
You may pass the file “First Things First” and the folder “FTF Clocks” to friends and colleagues, post them to bulletin boards, make them available to user group members, include them in public domain libraries, etc. The limitation is that you may only give away or post the file “First Things First” and the folder “FTF Clocks.” You must not tell anyone your serial number and you may not charge anyone for a demo. If you want to include an FTF demo in a collection of demo ware or shareware for which you charge, you must contact Visionary Software and receive written approval.
•The Importance of Registration
In the rapidly changing world of computers it is important to keep in touch with the makers of the software you use, so you can receive timely updates and notices of new features. We believe that business is a function of personal relationships, not the other way around. We are committed to serving you in the most consistent and positive way we can. If you purchase a serial number from Visionary Software, we will also register you as a FTF user at the same time!
As a registered user, you will receive the benefits that come only to Visionary Software customers. We provide you with free technical support and the highest level of consideration with regard to updates, enhancements, new products, and discounts.
••••Using First Things First••••
This section explains how to use FTF. You will learn about:
• Expanded and reduced floating clock icons
• Categories
• Creating Items
• Viewing your lists
• Printing your lists
• Customizing FTF to your preferences
•Using this Manual
This manual assumes you have mastered basic Macintosh skills. You should be comfortable with the mouse, including dragging, clicking, double-clicking and choosing items from menus. It also assumes you are familiar with check boxes, buttons and pop-up menus. If you are unfamiliar with any of these, you can find help in your Macintosh Owner's Manual.
•Expanded Floating Clock
When you restart your machine after installing First Things First (FTF), the default expanded clock will appear near the center of your screen. There are 20 styles of the expanded clock available if you have the folder called “FTF Clocks” in your System Folder. To choose an alternate style, refer to the Preferences section of this manual. FTF also has a reduced clock form, which is described below. You can move either clock anywhere on your screen by dragging it with the mouse. If you drag the expanded clock so that it overlaps the menu bar, the clock will snap into the menu bar and change to the reduced clock form. If you would like the clock to overlap the menu bar but remain expanded, simply hold the shift key while dragging the clock. Besides displaying the time and date, the primary function of the FTF clock (in either form) is to open the FTF management program. To open the Main FTF Window, double-click the expanded clock or type the FTF Hot Key, which is originally set to be command-shift-F (see “FTF Hot Key”). The list below summarizes how to manipulate the expanded clock and how to move from the clock to the Main FTF Window.
*If you drag with the mouse... It will move the clock on your screen.
*If you drag to overlap the menu bar... The clock snaps into the menu bar and changes to the reduced clock.
*If you drag to overlap the menu bar while pressing the shift key... The clock overlaps the menu bar without snapping into it or changing to the reduced clock.
*If you shift-click on the clock...The clock toggles between the expanded and reduced clock.
*If you Double-click the clock.... The Main FTF Window opens.
•Reduced Floating Clock
Pressing the shift key and clicking the expanded clock changes it to the reduced clock (all expanded clock styles become digital in the reduced clock form). The reduced clock works very much as the expanded clock does. You can move the reduced clock anywhere on your screen with the mouse. Like the expanded clock, if you release the mouse when the clock overlaps the menu bar, it will snap into the menu bar. You can prevent it from retreating into the menu bar by holding the shift key as you release the mouse button. To see the date, simply click once with the mouse. The reduced clock will temporarily display the date before returning to the time. To open the Main FTF Window, you can either double-click the reduced clock or type the FTF Hot Key, (see “FTF Hot Key”). The table below summarizes how to manipulate the reduced clock and how to move from the clock to the Main FTF Window.
*If you drag with the mouse... It will move the clock on your screen.
*If you shift-click on the clock...The clock toggles between the expanded and reduced clock.
*If you Double-click the clock.... The Main FTF Window opens.
*If you drag to overlap the menu bar while pressing the shift key... The clock overlaps the menu bar without snapping into it.
•Main FTF Window
Open the Main FTF Window by double-clicking the clock or by using your FTF Hot Key, (see “FTF Hot Key”). The Main Window is the control center for FTF. This is where you create and view your lists of Items. This is also where you organize your lists with categories of your own choosing; thus allowing you to keep different projects organized separately. The pop-up menus at the top of the Main Window give you the option of viewing your items by their category, priority, timeline, and type. Each Item in your list is shown with its priority, time, text and category.
The small icon displayed to the left of each Item lets you quickly identify the Item’s priority, whether it Recurs, and whether it has a Reminder or Advance Warning. Items which neither Recur, nor have a Reminder or Advance Warning are marked only by their priority: 1, 2, 3, or 4. Items which Recur, but do not have a Reminder or Advance Warning are marked by a small plus: + Items which have either a Reminder, an Advance Warning or both are marked by a small square: . Items which both Recur and have a Reminder and/or an Advance Warning are marked both with a plus and a square: +,.
Next to the Item’s priority, its date or time will be listed in 12 or 24-Hour time; and m/d/y or d/m/y format depending upon your System’s settings. The date is shown for items which are scheduled for a date only. The time is shown for items which are scheduled for both a date and time. A series of dashes are shown next to items which are Unscheduled; The first line of the Item’s text is shown next. To access the entire text, open the Item’s Edit Item dialog box (see “Editing an Item”). The Item’s category is listed next to its text. The seven buttons at the bottom of the Main FTF Window allow you to create and edit items, find a particular Item, delete or mark items Completed, and to print a list of your items.
To select an Item in the Main FTF Window, simply click the line on which the Item appears. You can also select multiple items by pressing the command key while clicking the mouse. Select contiguous items by pressing the shift key while clicking the first and last items in the series you wish to select; every category in between will also be selected. Type command-A to select all of the items in your current display.
To leave the Main FTF Window without saving any changes, click Cancel. To leave the Main FTF Window and save your changes, click Save. FTF automatically stores your items in a file called “My FTF Agenda” which is placed in the Preferences folder in your System Folder. (System 6 users will find their Agenda file in the System Folder.) You can create an additional copy of your “My FTF Agenda” file by holding the option key as you click Save. This changes the button to Save As…; and gives you the standard Save As… dialog box. This is the easiest way to backup your file.
••••Categories••••
FTF allows you categorize your Items. For example, you might have a set of Items pertaining to your job, another set for things you need to do around the house, and a third set for your social life. At work you could have a different set for each of your projects, or a different set for each employee. By making separate categories for each, you can keep your lists better organized.
The Category menu, at the top of the Main FTF Window, allows
you to view each category separately or all at once. When you use FTF for the first time, the General category will be selected. Once you have created multiple categories, you can use this menu to view them separately—by choosing the category you wish to see—or view items from every category by selecting All Categories. You can also choose All Categories by typing command-shift-A. Categories are listed in the menu in alphabetical order.
The Category menu also allows you to view customized sets of categories. Edit Custom Groups… allows you to create combinations of categories. You can select the custom group you wish to view from the hierarchical menu to the right of Custom Groups.
FTF allows you to create up to 96 categories or custom groups.
••••Edit Categories...••••
Use Edit Categories… to create a new category or rename or delete an existing category.
Creating a New Category:
1. Select Edit Categories… from the Category menu.
A dialog box will appear listing the Categories already created. Buttons to the right of the list give you several options.
2. Click the New Category button.
Another dialog box will appear with room for you to type the name of your new category.
3. Type the name of the category you want to create.
Click OK when you are done. The category you have just created will appear in the alphabetical list of existing categories.
Renaming a Category:
1. Select Edit Categories… from the Category menu.
A dialog box will appear listing the Categories you have already created.
2. Select the category that you wish to rename.
3. Click Rename Category.
Another dialog box will appear with room for you to type the new name of the category.
4. Type the new name of the category.
Click OK when you are done. FTF will give your category its new name, and will reassign all the items in the old category to new one. You will see your renamed category in the alphabetical list of existing categories.
Deleting a Category:
1. Select Edit Categories… from the Category menu.
A dialog box will appear listing the Categories you have already created.
2. Select the category that you with to delete.
3. Click Delete Category.
When you delete a category, FTF deletes all the items in this category. FTF will ask if you are sure you want to delete the selected category along with all of its items.
4. Click OK.
FTF will then remove the category and all the items assigned to it…so be careful!
••••Edit Custom Groups••••
Edit Custom Groups… allows you to create and edit customized sets of categories by combining existing categories. Selecting Edit Custom Groups… causes the Edit Custom Group dialog box to appear on your screen. Here you can create new custom groups as well as edit, rename, or delete existing groups.
Creating a New Custom Group:
1. Select Edit Custom Group… from the Category menu.
A dialog box will appear listing categories you have already created. Existing custom groups will be listed in the pop-up menu above your category list.
2. Click New Group.
A dialog box will appear with room to type the name of your new custom group.
3. Type the name of the custom group you wish to create.
Click OK when you are done. Your custom group’s name will appear in the pop-up menu above the list of categories.
4. Select the categories you wish to be included in your custom group. Select any number of categories by clicking them with the mouse. Select contiguous items by pressing the shift key while clicking the first and last items in the series you wish to select; every category in between will also be selected. Select non-contiguous items by pressing the command key while selecting individual items. Highlighted categories are those chosen to be included in your custom group.
5. Click Done when you are finished making changes.
You can also choose to create another custom group, edit, rename or delete an existing custom group. Clicking Done will close the dialog box and save your additions or changes. Click Cancel to close the dialog box without saving your additions or changes.
Editing the Categories in a Custom Group:
1. Select Edit Custom Groups… from the Category menu.
A dialog box will appear listing the categories you have already created. Existing custom groups will be listed in the pop-up menu above your category list.
2. Select the custom group you wish to edit from the pop-up menu.
The categories in the custom group chosen will appear highlighted in the list.
3. Edit the categories in the custom group by clicking the categories you wish to add or remove.
Highlighted categories are those chosen to be included in your custom group.
4. Click Done when you are finished making changes.
You can also choose to edit another custom group, create a new custom group, or rename or delete an existing one. Click Done to close the dialog box and save your changes. Click Cancel to close the dialog box without saving your changes.
Renaming a Custom Group:
1. Select Edit Custom Groups… from the Category menu.
A dialog box will appear listing the categories you have already created. Existing custom groups will be listed in the pop-up menu above your category list.
2. Select the custom group you wish to rename from the pop-up menu.
The categories in the selected custom group will be highlighted in the list.
3. Click Rename.
A dialog box will appear with room to type the new name of your custom group.
4. Type in the new name of your custom group.
5. Click OK.
The categories grouped under the old name will be transferred to your new custom group. Your custom group’s new name will appear in the pop-up menu above the category list.
6. Click Done when you are finshed making changes.
You can also rename another custom group, create a new one, or edit or delete an existing custom group. Click Done to close the dialog box and save your changes. Click Cancel to close the dialog box without saving your changes.
Deleting a Custom Group:
1. Select Edit Custom Groups… from the Category menu.
A dialog box will appear listing the categories already created. Existing custom groups will be listed in the pop-up menu above your category list.
2. Select the custom group you wish to delete from the pop-up menu.
3. Click Delete.
A dialog box will appear asking if you are sure you want to delete this custom group. Deleting will eliminate the custom group from your list; the categories in the group will not be affected. Click OK if you are sure. Click Cancel if you aren’t.
4. Click Done if you are finished with the Edit Custom Group dialog box.
At this time you can delete another custom group, rename or edit an existing custom group, or create a new one. Click Done to close the dialog box and save your changes. Click Cancel to close the dialog box without saving your changes.
••••Custom Groups••••
Custom Groups allows you to view the custom groups youhave created.
Viewing the Items in a Custom Group:
1. Hold the mouse on the Custom Groups hierarchical menu.
A list of the custom groups you have created will appear in italics to the right of the Category menu.
2. Still holding the mouse, select the custom group you wish to view.
After selecting the name of a custom group, the name of the custom group will appear in italics in the Category menu. All the items in that group of categories will be listed in the Main FTF Window.
••••Priority••••
FTF allows you to prioritize your Items by assigning them a priority number from one to four, with Priority 1 being the most important. The Item’s Priority will be displayed to the left of the Item in the Main FTF Window list. You can then view your Items in order of priority or view only the most important ones. You can select the range of priorities you want to view by choosing 1 Only (command-1), 1 and 2 (command-2), 1 to 3 (command-3), or 1 to 4 (command-4) in the Priority menu.
••••Items••••
Items are a way for you to keep track of the multiple tasks and events of modern life. Items are versatile—they can be any number of things: birthdays, appointments, meetings, shopping lists, projects, social events, or anything else you want to remember or schedule. Your items can be categorized and prioritized. They can be assigned to a date, a date and time, can recur, or can be left unscheduled.
If you want to be reminded of your Item, FTF can alert you in a number of ways. FTF can remind you at the time the Item is scheduled. It can also give you an advance warning. If your Item recurs, the reminders will also recur.
For items which occur only once—say, a project deadline or a social event —FTF will remind you at the time the Item is scheduled. If you want an advance warning, FTF call also alert you at a pre-determined time before the Item is done.
If your Item is something which occurs regularly—such as a birthday, a weekly meeting, or a recycling day—FTF will automatically remind you of these items at pre-determined intervals. If you need an advance warning for a regularly recurring event, FTF can regularly alert you ahead of time in addition to alerting you at your Item’s actual time. If you need only a recurring advance warning, FTF can do that too.
••••New Item••••
Clicking the New Item… button opens the Edit Item dialog box. The Edit Item dialog box is where you create your Item’s text, time, priority, and reminder.
The Edit Item dialog box also offers a Duplicate Item button which, if selected, saves the Item you have just created and creates another exactly like it on your screen. This feature is useful in several ways. For instance, you may want to save an Item, with slight variations, in different categories; or, you may have a number of items to create, all set for the same date and time. In both of these cases you are saved the time of manually creating duplicate information. All you’ll need to do is make your slight changes.
Creating an Item:
1. Click New Item…
Clicking the New Item… button (command-N) will bring up the Edit Item dialog box.
2. Select the Priority...
In the upper left hand corner is the word “Priority” and the numbers 1 through 4. Priority 1 is the highest and Priority 4 is the lowest. Click the desired priority or select the number by typing command-1 for Priority 1, command-2 for Priority 2, etc.
3. Type the text for your Item.
When the dialog box is first opened, the cursor will already be in the text box, so you can begin typing immediately. FTF allows you 150 characters (including shift-returns) in the text box—roughly three lines worth of continuous text. If you wish to have text on separate lines of the text box, typing shift-return will begin a new line. (Just typing return, saves your Item as it is and closes the Edit Item dialog box.) To view text which is partially out of view, use the arrow keys on your keyboard to scroll through it.
4. Choose a category from the Category menu.
Choose a category from the current list in the pop-up menu. Normally, the category currently displayed in the Main FTF Window will appear in the pop-up menu. If All Categories or a custom group is selected in the Main FTF Window and <None> is selected as the default category in Preferences, you will have to select a specific category before leaving the Edit Item dialog box. If your Item doesn’t fit in any of the existing categories, create a new category by selecting New… A dialog box will appear with room for you to type the name of your new category. Type in the name of your new category. Click OK to create a category of that name. Click Cancel to return to the Edit Item dialog box without creating a new category.
5. Schedule your Item.
a) If you wish your Item to be unscheduled, make sure that date is unchecked. Go to instruction #6.
b) Set the date by clicking the part of the date you want changed. Increment or decrement the number by clicking the up and down arrows, by using the arrow keys on your keyboard, or by typing the number you want. You can use the tab key to move forward from the text to the individual date and time fields; shift-tab will move you backwards through these fields. The date can also be adjusted by clicking the desired date on the monthly calendar. Change the month by clicking the small arrows at the top of the calendar. The year may also be changed by pressing the option key when clicking these arrows.
c) If you wish to schedule your Item for a specific time as well as date, set the time just as you set the date: click the up and down arrows, use the arrows on your keyboard, or type the number you want.
If you would rather schedule and view your items in 24-Hour time, just reset your System’s settings.
6. Check Recurs Every, if your Item occurs on a regular basis.
Set how frequently you wish your Item to recur. You can adjust the number in the Recurs Every field the same way you changed the date and time: by clicking the up and down arrows, by using the arrow keys on your keyboard, or by typing the number you want. Choose the interval (Years, Months, Weeks, Days, Hours, or Minutes) from the pop-up menu. If your Item was not set for a specific time, Hours and Minutes will not be available. If you select either Months or Years from the menu, FTF gives you the option of your Item recurring on the same day of the month. Click the check box which will appear at the right of the pop-up menu.
For example, if you have Recurs Every 01 Months selected, your Item will recur once a month on that date. However, if you also check First Monday, it will recur on the first Monday of every month. If you have 02 Years and the First Monday of December selected, it will recur every other year on the first Monday of December.
7. Check On the Item’s Date/At the Item's Time if you wish to be alerted of your Item at the time it is scheduled. If your Item is scheduled for a date only, this box will be labeled On the Item’s Date. FTF will alert you at midnight (the first hour of the day) on your Item’s due date with the flashing In Box icon. If your Item is scheduled for both a date and time, this box will be labeled At the Item's Time. FTF will alert you at your Item’s time. If you do not wish a Reminder on your Item’s due date, uncheck the check box by clicking it with the mouse.
8. For advance warning of your item’s due date or time, check the In Advance box. If you assign a specific date to your Item, FTF can warn you before the Item is due. To set this time, click the In Advance check box and adjust the number using any of methods you employed to change the date or time. Select the time interval from the pop-up menu. If the Item was not set for a specific time, Minutes and Hours will not be available in the menu. At the time you select, FTF will give you an advance warning with the flashing In Box icon.
You have the option of having solely an advance warning to your Item. Make sure the On the Item's Date check box is unchecked, if you do not wish to be reminded at your item’s date and time.
9. Save your Item and close the dialog box by clicking OK.
Close the dialog without saving your Item by clicking Cancel. Click Duplicate Item to save your Item and create a new Edit Item dialog box with the same information.
••••In Box••••
The In Box icon appears flashing on your screen whenever a Reminder or Advanced Warning comes due. The In Box replaces your clock in the same screen location. Like the clocks, you can move the In Box on your screen by dragging it with the mouse. To open the In Box, double-click the In Box or use your FTF Hot Key. This allows you to see the specific content of your Reminder or Advance Warning.
When the In Box is opened you will see either a Reminder or an Advance Warning dialog box. In the box will be listed the item’s date, time, category, and text. The two numbers at the lower left-hand corner tell you which Item you are seeing out of the total number of Items that are due at that time. The arrows beneath the numbers allow you to view each of the Items without making any decisions about completing or delaying them. Clicking the right arrow allows you to go forward through the Items, while clicking the left arrow allows you to go backward. Acknowledging, completing, or deleting an Item knocks it out of the list.
Depending upon your Preferences, and whether or not the Item recurs, the top-left button will read Acknowledge Warning, Complete Item, or Delete Item. If the Item recurs, this button will say Acknowledge Warning. Clicking Acknowledge Warning (command-A, enter, or return) closes the dialog box and returns your clock to its previous position. Once an Item is acknowledged it is made inactive and a new Item is created for the time of the Item’s next recurrence. If the Item does not recur and you have your Preferences set to save this type of Completed item, the button will read Complete Item. Clicking Complete Item, closes the dialog box and marks the Item Completed, moving the Item to your list of Completed items. If, on the other hand, you do not have your Preferences set to save this type of Completed item, the button will say Delete Item. Clicking Delete Item will close the dialog box and remove the Item from your list. The Item will not be saved. If you want your Completed Items to be saved, you must indicate this in Preferences.
••••Snooze Reminder…••••
The Snooze Reminder button (command-S) allows you to postpone Reminders for a period of your choosing. (You cannot snooze an Advance Warning.) This is like hitting the snooze button on your alarm clock, except you decide when the alarm will go off again. If you choose to snooze your Reminder, you will get the Snooze Reminder dialog box.
To specify a number of minutes, type in the number of minutes, click the arrows, or use the arrow keys on your keyboard. To specify a specific date and time, select the Until radio button. Adjust the date and time fields as you did in the Edit Item dialog box.
If you snooze a Recurring Reminder to a time later than its next regular occurrence, FTF will skip the next regular occurrence and give you a Reminder at your snooze time. After that, the Reminder will recur at its regularly scheduled time. For example, you might have a Reminder that recurs every day at 10:00 AM. One day you might put off your daily Reminder until noon the next day. The next day FTF would skip your 10:00 AM Reminder and give you a Reminder at noon. On all subsequent days you would then receive the Recurring Reminder at 10:00 AM.
••••Open FTF…••••
The Open FTF… button (command-O) opens the Main FTF Window so that you can select, edit or complete any of your Items.
••••Exit••••
Clicking Exit (command-E) simply closes the Reminder dialog. Because you have unacknowledged warnings and reminders, the In Box will continue to flash.
••••Viewing Items••••
Items are listed in the Main FTF Window. You can use the mouse or the arrow keys to select and scroll through the items in your list. The four pop-up menus at the top of the Main FTF Window let you choose which items are displayed. These menus are Category, Priority, Timeline, and Show Types.
••••Category••••
Use the Category menu to select which category or categories you wish to view. Select a single category from the top part of the list. Select All Categories; (command-shift-A) to view Items in all categories. Create a customized set of categories using Edit Custom Groups… View this customized set using Custom Groups.
••••Timeline•••
In the Timeline menu you can choose the time frame you wish to view: Overdue Items, Today, Next 7 Days, Next 31 Days, All Items, Custom Range…, or Completed Only. If Today, Next 7 Days,
Next 31 Days, or All Items is selected, Overdue items will beincluded at the top of the list and Unscheduled items will be included at the bottom. If Overdue is selected, only Overdue items will be displayed. Likewise, if Completed is selected only Completed items will be displayed. Note that Next 7 Days refers to the seven days following and including the present day. Similarly, Next 31 Days refers to the thirty-one days following and including the present day. Today refers to the calendar day.
By choosing Custom Range;… from the Timeline menu you can list items within any time range you specify. You will get a dialog box where you can set up a time range of your choosing. Set the start and end dates by using either the monthly calendars or the date fields, and select whether or not you want to include Completed and/or Unscheduled items.
••••Priority••••
Use the Priority menu to select which range of priorities you
want to view. You can select the range of priorities you want to view by choosing 1 Only (command-1), 1 and 2 (command-2), 1 to 3 (command-3), and 1 to 4 (command-4).
••••Show Types••••
The Show Types menu allows you to display items with
regards to the type of time for which they are set. Selecting All Types will display items which are unscheduled, items which have reminders, items which don’t have reminders, and items which recur. Selecting Unscheduled will display items not set for a particular date or time. Choosing Has Reminder will show all items with an advanced warning or a reminder. Conversely, No Reminder will display all items with neither an advance warning or a reminder. Selecting Recurring will display only those items which recur—whether or not they have a reminder.
••••Priority One Items••••
FTF also features a special list of Priority One Items. At the upper right-hand corner of the Main FTF Window there is a reduced digital clock. If you press option while clicking that clock, FTF gives you a list of the top twenty Priority 1 items due or overdue today. They will be listed from the most overdue to those due today. This list can also be accessed outside of FTF by holding the option key while double-clicking the floating clock.
••••Editing Items••••
Most projects are somewhat flexible. Duties change, appointments get rescheduled, deadlines move, and priorities change. When this happens, you need to be able to edit your Items. With FTF you can change an Item’s priority, text, and due dates as easily as you set them.
Editing an Item:
1. Select the Item you wish to edit.
In the Main FTF Window, click the line on which the Item appears or use the arrow keys to move the selection up and down your list.
2. Click Edit… (command-E) or double-click the Item.
The Edit Item dialog box will appear. This is the same dialog box you used when creating the Item. Its functions are identical (see “Creating An Item”).
3. Make any changes to your Item .
Change your Item’s priority, text, date, reminder, or advanced warning.
4. Click OK to close the dialog box and save your changes.
Click Cancel to exit the dialog box without saving any changes.
••••Rescheduling Items••••
FTF also allows you to change the due dates of multiple items with the Reschedule dialog box. You can either advance all your selected items’ due dates by a certain number of days, or you can reschedule them all to the same day. (For instance, one week you may go on vacation and want to reschedule all of your items at work that week for the same time one week later. Or, you may have a number of projects with components which suddenly have the same deadlines. FTF allows you to reschedule items in both these ways.)
Rescheduling Items:
1. Select the items you wish to reschedule in the Main FTF Window.
If more than one item is selected, the Edit… button changes to Reschedule… Select contiguous items by pressing shift while clicking the first and last items in the series you wish to select; every item in between will also be selected. Select non-contiguous items by pressing command while clicking individual items. Click Reschedule… (command-R). The Quick Reschedule dialog box will appear.
2. Click the Advance Items’ Date Radio button if you wish to advance all the Items’ due dates by the same number of days.
Set the number of days you wish to advance your Items’ dates (up to 99 days) by typing in the number of days or by clicking the up and down arrows. Advance Items’ Date will not schedule items which are unscheduled. For instance, if a group of items, some scheduled and some unscheduled, are selected and Advance Items’ Date is selected, all the scheduled items will have their date’s advanced, but the unscheduled items will remain unscheduled.
3. Click the Change Items’ Dates Radio button if you want all your Items to be due on the same date.
Type the desired date, use the arrow keys, or click the calendar to change the existing dates. If an unscheduled item is selected, FTF will ask you if you want to schedule the Item.
4. Click OK to save.
Click Cancel to exit the dialog box without rescheduling your Items.
••••Finding Items••••
Once a number of items have been created, finding the one you want to look at or edit might become more difficult. By searching for a sequence of characters from the text of the Item or Items you wish to see, FTF will find all items containing that sequence. For example, if you search for items which contain the sequence of letters “but,” FTF will find items which contain such words as “but,” “But,” “Butter,” and “scuttlebutt.” Your search can also be limited to whole words or specific cases. Checking Whole Word only limits your search to those items which contain the sequence of characters you are looking for in isolation. For example, if you search for items containing the letters “get,” Whole Word only will find only those items with the word “get” or “Get” in them. It will not find items with your search word as part as another word—such as “forgetting.” Checking Case Sensitive limits your search to items which contain sequences which match the lower and upper case letters of your search sequence. For example, if your search word is “bit,” FTF will find items with words like “bit,” “bite,” or “orbit” in them. It will not find “Bit” or “biT.” Checking both Whole Word only and Case Sensitive limits your search to items which contain sequences which precisely match your sequence. A search for “At” would only find items which contain the word “At” in them. FTF searches your entire list, including Completed items. The Find dialog box will display an item’s priority icon, time, category, and text in full. Click Find Next to view other items containing the sequence. Once you have found the Item you are searching for, you have the option of opening the Item to make changes by clicking Edit Item… After making any necessary changes, you will return to the Find dialog box for any further searches.
Finding Items:
1. Click Find… (command-F).
The Find dialog box will appear with room for you to type the sequence of letters for which you want to search.
2. Type the sequence of characters for which you want to search.
You do not have to type in full words if you are doing a loose search. For example, “tom” will find items which contain words such as “Tom,” “bottom,” or “tomahawk.”
3. Check Whole Word only if you wish to find only those items which contain the sequence of characters in isolation.
For example, the sequence “bat” would find items containing such words as “bat,” “Bat,” or “BAt.”
4. Check Case Sensitive if you wish items which contain sequences in which the upper and lower case letters match your search sequence.
For example, the sequence “Bat” would find items containing such words as “Bat” and “Bathroom.”
5. Click Find.
FTF will begin searching your entire list of Items (including Completed items).
6. Click Edit Item if you wish to make changes to the Item.
The item’s Edit Item dialog box will appear. Click OK to close the Edit Item dialog box and save your changes. Click Cancel to close the dialog box without saving any changes.
7. Click Done to close the Find Item dialog box.
••••Completing Items••••
If you complete an Item before it is due, you may want to mark it Completed. This way FTF won’t remind you to do something you have already done.
Completing Items:
1. Open the Main FTF Window and select the Item or Items you have completed.
If your Preferences are set to save this type of item or, at least one of these types if you have multiple types of items selected (see “Preferences”), the Completed button will be available in the lower right-hand corner. If you are not saving any of the selected item types, the button will read Delete.
2. Click Completed.
If you have multiple types of items and some of them are not set to be saved when Completed, FTF will delete those items. Unless your Preferences are set to skip warning on delete, FTF will warn you before deleting them.
••••Deleting Items••••
Plans change and events get canceled. FTF allows you to delete items as your schedule changes and permits you to delete items from your Completed list to conserve memory and save time at start-up. Deleting items permanently removes them from your list. They will not appear in your list of Completed items.
Deleting Items:
1. Select the Item or Items you wish to remove.
Select contiguous items by pressing shift while clicking the first and last items in the series you wish to select; every item in between will also be selected. Select non-contiguous items by pressing command while clicking individual items.
2. Press the command key and click the delete button.
If you do not have FTF configured to save the types of items you have selected, the button will already say Delete (see “Preferences”). The Completed button changes to Delete when the command key is pressed.
You may also delete items by selecting them and pressing the delete key on your keyboard. NOTE: If you delete an Item this way, it will be deleted even if you have FTF configured to save this type of item.
Unless you have your Preferences set to skip warning on delete, you will be asked to confirm your desire to delete the selected Item or Items. To avoid this warning, press the option key when you delete the Item or group of Items.
••••Moving/Copying Items••••
There may be times when you want to move or make a copy of an Item. For example, you might want to place an Item in a different category or you may want to place an Item into several categories.
Moving/Copying an Item:
1. Select the Item you wish to copy in the Main FTF Window.
2. Type command-X to move the Item or type command-C to copy the Item.
command-X will remove the Item from its previous category and move it to the new category. command-C will copy the Item; it will exist in both the old and new categories.
3. Choose a category from the pop-up menu in which to paste the copied Item.
4. Type command-V to paste.
Everything associated with the moved or copied Item, except the category, will be placed in the new category.
••••Printing••••
It is not always convenient or possible to have your computer at your side at all times. FTF lets you to keep track of the projects and events in your life when you are away from your computer by allowing you to easily print lists of your items. By selecting the appropriate view, you can print items which are due Today, in the Next 7 Days, the Next 31 Days, or a within a Custom Range; of your choosing. You can also choose to print items of a certain category, type, or priority. Basically, any combination of items you can possibly see on your screen, you can also print. FTF also allows you to print your list by date or by category and in any font or size. Finally, it gives you the option of including a footer text and page numbers. Unlike the Main FTF Window, the text of each item prints in its entirety.
Printing a List of Items:
1. Set the menus in the Main FTF Window.
FTF prints the list of Items currently displayed in the Main Window, so it is important to set your desired view before you print. (See “Viewing Items”)
2. Click Print… (command-P).
After clicking Print…, the Print Options dialog box will appear. Here you have the option of selecting your desired font and size, choosing to print your Items by date or category, and print one day or category per page. The Print Options dialog box also gives you the option of having a footer text and page numbers printed at the bottom of the page. You can also indicate here whether you wish to include Completed or Unscheduled items. If there are no Completed or Unscheduled items in your currently displayed list, FTF will not print Completed or Unscheduled items even if the boxes are checked.
3. Click Page Setup. .i.Page Setup;
Click the Page Setup button if you need to make any changes to your page setup.
4. Click Print.
Before printing begins, you will get the standard print dialog box, dependent upon the type of printer you have selected in your Chooser.
.••••About FTF (Balloon Icon)••••
Clicking the balloon icon at the bottom left-hand corner of the Main FTF Window brings up the About-Box. This displays which version of FTF you are now using, and has Visionary Software’s address and phone number in case you need to contact us. We encourage you to send or fax us your suggestions for future versions of FTF.
••••Preferences (Prefs… Icon)••••
Clicking the Preferences icon at the bottom right-hand corner of the Main FTF Window allows you to access the three Preferences dialog boxes. Here, you can customize the way FTF works for you. The General Settings dialog box will be the first to appear. Here, you can choose to save different Completed items, select your hourly chime and reminder sounds, choose to skip the warning on deleted items, and set your FTF Hot Key. The second dialog box, Clock Displays, allows you to customize your clock displays. You have the option of choosing one of 20 expanded clocks as your default, of using a compatible clock display, and of always using a large In Box. The Clock Displays dialog box also allows you to pick a color for your reduced clock (if you have a color monitor), to have the colons flash once every second in digital clock displays, and to have your clock show the seconds. The third dialog box allows you to set your New Item Defaults. This dialog box lets you set up how the Edit Item dialog box will look when you open it to create a new Item. Configuring the Edit Item dialog box to its most frequently used settings will make creating new Items even faster.
The Prev (short for Previous) and Next buttons at the bottom of each of these three dialog boxes allow you to move backward and forward between them. The Done button closes Preferences and saves any changes you have made. The Cancel button closes Preferences without saving any changes. NOTE: You do not have to save each Preferences dialog box separately. Clicking Done in any Preferences box saves changes in all of them.
••••General Settings••••
•Save Completed
You have the option of deciding which types of items you would like to save when they are Completed and which you would like to delete. Saving Completed items provides a record of what you have accomplished. Deleting Completed items saves memory and cuts down on the time it takes to open First Things First. Check the Item types you would like to save; the other types will be deleted. You can choose to save or delete Completed items which are Unscheduled, Has Reminder, has No Reminder, or are Recurring. If you select a type of item to be saved when Completed, all items of that type will be saved if you mark them Completed in either the Reminder or Advance Warning dialog box, check them Completed in the Edit Item dialog box, or select them in the Main FTF Window and then click the Completed button. WARNING: If you select an item and use the delete key on your keyboard, it will not be saved regardless of your settings! NOTE: We recommend that you not let your list of Completed items grow too large. This will make it take longer to read from disk and will require more memory to open. We recommend that you use the FTF File Utility; (see Appendix B), which can be found on your master disk, to export your Completed items to a text file for archiving.
•Hourly Chime
The Hourly Chime pop-up menu lets you select a sound to be played every hour on the hour. Choose <None> if you do not want anything to be played. If you want to hear the sound you selected, click the words “Hourly Chime” or click the name of the sound itself. You have access to all the sounds that are currently available to the Mac’s System. If you add new System sounds, they too will be available for use by FTF.
•Reminder Sound
The Reminder Sound pop-up menu lets you select a sound to be played every time the In Box appears. Choose <None> if you do not want anything to be played. Like the Hourly Chime, if you want to hear the selected sound, click the words “Reminder Sound” or click the name of the sound itself. Again, you have access to all the sounds that are currently available to the Mac’s system.
•Skip Warning On Delete Item
If you check Skip Warning On Delete Item, FTF will not give you a warning when you delete items from your list. If this is not checked, you will receive a warning each time you delete an Item, asking if you are sure you want to delete it. The Skip Warning On Delete Item option will prevent this warning every time. The warning can also be temporarily skipped (without checking this option) by holding the option key as you delete an item.
•FTF Hot Key
Clicking the FTF Hot Key button allows you to set a particular key or combination of keys (for example, command-shift-F) that give you instant access to FTF. Once you have designated the FTF Hot Key you can use it to open FTF from the Finder or any application. FTF’s Hot Key will most likely override any functionality the selected key combination might have in the application you are using, so choose wisely (for instance, command-Q would be a bad idea). You can use your FTF Hot Key to open the In Box when it is flashing. At all other times the FTF Hot Key will open the Main FTF Window. Although the caps lock key will not be recognized, you can use the control, command and shift keys in any combination to modify the character keys. Simply type to change the FTF Hot Key.
••••Clock Displays••••
To the right of the words “Expanded Clock” will be written the name of the currently selected default expanded clock. To choose a different expanded clock, use the scrolling list and simply click the type of clock you wish to appear as your default. The clock you choose will be outlined and its name will appear in the place of the previously selected clock’s name.
The clocks available in Preferences include two installed clocks (the first two in the list) and eighteen other clocks. These clocks are stored in your System Folder in a folder called “FTF Clocks.” If you are a user of System 7, this folder may also be placed in your Preferences folder.
To prevent a clock from appearing in your list, simply remove the clock from the “FTF Clocks” folder.
•Compatible Clock Display
A few programs are not compatible with FTF’s floating clock. In these cases you may experience a problem with “holes” on the screen left by the clock. If you are having this problem, check the Compatible Clock Display box. In Compatible Clock Display mode, FTF will limit the clock to the menu bar in its reduced form.
•Always Use Large In Box
When an Advance Warning or Reminder comes due, the In Box will begin flashing. If Always Use Large In Box is left unchecked, the size of the In Box will be determined by your current clock display. If Always Use Large In Box is checked, FTF will display the large In box at the location of the expanded clock, even if you are currently using the reduced clock.
•Reduced Clock Color
Reduced Clock Color is dimmed if you do not have color video capability. If you have a color monitor and have it set to display color, this check box allows you to select a custom color for the reduced clock. To pick your color, click the Pick Color… button. (This button will be dimmed until you have checked Reduced Clock Color.) Set the color for your reduced clock by using the color wheel or by typing the numbers you wish for hue, saturation, etc.
•Flash Colons and Show Seconds
If you check the Flash Colons box, the colons in digital clocks will flash on or off, once per second. This will apply to both the expanded and the reduced digital clocks. If you check the Show Seconds box, FTF will display seconds on digital clocks and show a secondhand on analog clocks.
Note: You can use the Control Panel to display your clocks in 24-hour time;. If you choose to do this, FTF will operate in 24-hour time everywhere. This includes the Edit Item dialog box as well as the In Box dialog box.
••••New Item Defaults••••
New Item Defaults allows you to specify what your Edit Item dialog box will look like when you create a new Items. You can always change any characteristics when creating an individual item, but setting up the Edit Item dialog box to your most common setting will make creating Items easier.
•Priority
The Priority default allows you to choose what priority will be selected when you create a new Item.
•Item Category
When you create a new Item, FTF selects the category which is currently displayed in the Main FTF Window. If you have All Categories or a Custom Group selected, however, FTF will use the category that you choose here as your default category. If you choose <None> as your default, FTF will ask you to select a category before you close a new Item dialog box.
•Date
Checking the Date default box and selecting a date will automatically give your item a due date. The Date pop-up menu gives you a choice of date in relation to the date of the item's creation (Today). Your choices include: Today, Tomorrow, Today plus 2 days, Today plus 3 days, Today plus 4 days, Today plus 5 days, Today plus 6 days, Today plus 1 week, Today plus 2 weeks, Today plus 3 weeks, and Today plus 1 month. Unchecking the Date default box will leave new Items unscheduled until otherwise changed.
•Time
The Time check box and pop-up menu allow you to choose the time your new Item will most likely be due. You can choose Next Whole Hour which will set your default time to be the next whole hour relative to the time when the item was created. For instance, if the item was created at 3:05 PM, the default time would be set for 4:00 PM. Or, you can set your default time at any whole hour (2:00 AM, 3:00 PM, Noon, Midnight, etc.).
•Recurs Every
Check the Recurs Every check box and set a recur interval if most of the items you create repeat. Set the number of minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, or years your items most often recur. If the Time box is not checked, Minutes and Hours will not be available in the pop-up menu.
•Remind Me
Check the On the Item's Date check box if you usually want to receive a reminder when your Item is due. Check the In Advance check box and set an advance warning interval if you usually wish to receive advance warning to your Item. As with the Edit Item dialog box, you can set your advance warning to occur minutes, hours, days, weeks, or months before your Item is due. If the Time box is not checked, however, Minutes and Hours will not be available.
••••Appendix A: Getting Started••••
First Things First requires a Macintosh Plus or later model.
First Things First needs System 6.0.4 or later to run, and is completely compatible with System 7. We also highly recommend that you use MultiFinder if you are using System 6.x.
•Locate the files and folders you need.
There is on file called “First Things First™” (its icon has a little clock symbol on it and says “FTF”). You may also have a folder called “FTF Clocks” (however, this folder is not neccessary in order to use FTF).
•Copy or move the files/folder to the correct locations.
If you’re running System 6:
1. Drag “First Things First™”, and (if you have it) “FTF Clocks” into your System Folder and reboot.
If you’re running System 7:
1. Drag “First Things First™” into the folder called “Extensions” inside your System Folder.
2. (If you have it) drag “FTF Clocks” into the folder called “Preferences” inside your System Folder.
3. Reboot your computer.
••••Appendix B: FTF File Utility••••
The FTF File Utility is an application SEPARATE from the First Things First program. It should be available from the same source you received FTF from. If you have not already, when you purchase First Things First directly, we can also send you a copy of the File Utility for a minimal fee.
Many Macintosh users have two computers, for instance at home and at work. Other users might have a PowerBook™ in addition to a desktop machine. Using a time management program with two machines can create conflicts between the Agenda files. The FTF File Utility™ allows users to easily reconcile these differences by merging Agenda files.
Some users of First Things First may want to export or import FTF Items in text format to or from other programs, like the Sharp Wizard™, older time management programs, or various word-processors and spreadsheets. The FTF File Utility™ offers a solution to these needs as well.
The FTF File Utility allows you to do the following:
• Merge the contents of two FTF files into one FTF Agenda file
• Export the contents of FTF files to text files
• Import the contents of text files to FTF files
(Note: An FTF file is any file created by the First Things First program.)
••••Appendix C: Technical Problems and Trouble Shooting••••
First Things First has been thoroughly tested in a wide variety of Macintosh environments. We don’t expect it to happen, but if you encounter technical difficulties which you are unable to solve with the manual, contact Visionary Software for technical support. (You can temporarily prevent FTF from loading during Startup by pressing shift.) The best channels for technical support are the on-line services of America Online (we have a forum, please search for it using the keyword “Visionary”), AppleLink (address e-mail to “Visionary”. We should have a 3rd party bulletin board soon), or Compuserve (address: 72717,3323). You may also call (503) 246-6200 or fax us at (503) 452-1198.
If you need to contact us, please be ready to provide the following pieces of information:
1. Which version of FTF you are using.
The version can be found by clicking the balloon icon at the bottom left-hand corner of the Main FTF Window. The version number can also be found by selecting the FTF icon in the Finder and Choosing Get Info from the File menu.
2. Which version of the System software you are using.
In the Finder, choose the first item from the Apple Menu. The menu item will be called either About the Finder or About this Macintosh. The System and Finder version numbers will be displayed in the resulting dialog box.
3. What hardware you are using.
Indicate the model of Macintosh, the amount of RAM, and the number and type of additional monitors or other devices.
4. What you were doing when the difficulty arose.
The most valuable information you can send is a recipe for reproducing the context in which the problem was found. Other useful pieces of information would include a list of open applications, including installed INITs or Extensions.
Some Technical Support Questions and Answers
Q. ‘Not enough memory.’ When I try to Open or Print from FTF, I get a message that says I don’t have enough memory. What can I do?
A. If you have a machine running a version of System 6 under Finder (not MultiFinder), the easiest fix is to restart your computer with MultiFinder turned on (select Set Startup from the Special menu on the desktop). MultiFinder is more intelligent than Finder in allocating memory and has no disadvantages if you have a machine with 2 or more megabytes of memory).
Otherwise, try removing other programs that run automatically when your computer is turned on (INITs or Extensions). If you are a “power user,” you could also allocate more memory (20-30K) to your “System Heap” using one of several commercial and shareware utilities available for this purpose.
If you are running System 6 with MultiFinder or System 7, you probably won’t see this problem. If you do, try quitting other applications that might be running in order to free up some memory.
Q. Not enough memory to load all the clocks in the “FTF Clocks” folder. What should I do?
A. The number of clocks that can be displayed in Preferences depends upon your Macintosh’s available memory. The easiest thing to do is to move some of your least favorite clocks out of the “FTF Clocks” folder. This should clear up the problem and speed up the Preferences. The best fix, of course, is to install more memory.
Q. When I put the FTF clock into my menu bar it disappears. How do I get it back?
A. The small form of the FTF clock is not compatible with the menu bar when its color has been changed by certain utilities that can do this (i.e., ClickChange™, Kolor or ResEdit). If you have this problem, change your menu bar color back to 100% white or install a new System file.
Q. Sometimes I see “holes” or pieces of the FTF clock that remain behind on the screen. How do I prevent this from happening?
A. The first thing that can be done is moving the FTF clock out of the area or areas that have problems. The other thing you can do is to turn on “Compatible Clock Display” in the Preferences. This will prevent the clock display from leaving the menu bar.
.••••Appendix D: Other Visionary Products••••
•Synchronicity™ for Macintosh and MSDOS ($59.95)
An intuitive decision-making aide that facilitates better decisions, better relationships and less stress. A tool for the manager of the future! As Success Magazine put it: “Complete with sound effects and color graphics, it takes you on a soothing journey to a world of babbling brooks, croaking frogs, Chinese gongs, and Zen gardens, where stress is forgotten and ancient wisdom reveals the key to your most difficult dilemmas. Very popular with Success readers.”
Over 20,000 users now enjoy this version of the Book of Changes personal strategy system. The psychological powers it reinforces are just as important in today’s office environment as they were 4000 years ago, when they were formulated to serve as a basis for the martial arts. This was demonstrated by the great modern psychologist, C. G. Jung, who studied this synchronicity system for over 30 years in the middle of this century.
When you have a problem that logic can’t handle, clear intuition combined with less stress will give you better answers every time. Apply some Synchronicity.
•LifeGuard™ for Macintosh, and MSDOS ($59.95)
LifeGuard is an ergonomic safety program that protects regular computer users from hazards – including eyestrain, damage to nerves and soft tissues, carpal tunnel syndrome and computer fatigue. It monitors keyboard activity in order to let you know when to rotate to another task for 5 or 10 minutes in order to avoid the cumulative traumas of “computer trance.” LifeGuard is licensed by several Fortune 500 corporations.
You’ll appreciate LifeGuard’s soothing audible reminders—which only come up when you need them—based on keyboard activity. Or use a Mac-compatible microphone to record your own. “LifeGuard is a straightforward program that takes the drudgery, and potentially a lot of the pain, out of computing.” –– MacWorld Magazine review (April 91). “I highly recommend LifeGuard.”–– Jeffrey Harris, M.D., M.P.H., Board Certified in Occupational Medicine, author on occupational health and consultant to the Fortune 500.
•MindSet™ for Macintosh ($59.95)
Psychological research reveals that an internal dialogue is taking place almost all of the time, and that 77% of this self-talk is negative or self-defeating. MindSet helps you upgrade your self-talk to achieve your goals with positive, reinforcing suggestions, while you get work done at your Mac. As you use a word processor, spreadsheet, etc., MindSet displays your customized auto-suggestions across the menu bar –– without ever interfering with menu bar operations. You control both the frequency and duration of the messages you want displayed.
Success Magazine in a glowing 1/2 page review declared: “There is nothing anywhere, that compares with this software.” And they are right!
••••Mission of Visionary Software••••
We create software for real people. We provide new kinds of programs to help anyone achieve personal and professional goals in the context of a balanced life.
••••First Things First Credits••••
We thank the following for their contributions to the development of First Things First, Version 3:
• Concept and Design: Paul O’Brien, Kenneth McCabe, Matt Giger and Tyler Morrison based on the original program concept by Andrew Welch.
• Programming: Matt Giger, Tyler Morrison and Steven Russell
• Testing: Kenneth McCabe, Jeremy Wells, and a cadre of friendly Beta Testers
• Manual: Tanya Ignacio, Rachel Altmann, Paul O’Brien and Kenneth McCabe
