Tools Plus is a library of routines that simplifies programming an Apple Macintosh computer, and significantly reduces the time it takes to write and debug a program. With Tools Plus, you program at a much higher level when creating, maintaining, and working with a user-interface, so you can develop applications…
• more easily
• more quickly
• with less source code
• with fewer bugs
• and with more features
than if you use ordinary C or Pascal. Tools Plus libraries can be used by programmers developing applications in THINK C or THINK Pascal.
With Tools Plus, you can create and maintain a user-interface more easily, without having to create elements yourself. Event handling is dramatically simplified, and most of the processes that define a Mac-standard interface are performed automatically.
Registered users get free support and a comprehensive, illustrated 180-page user manual, and may distribute programs created with Tools Plus royalty-free.
Tools Plus performs seamlessly on Macintoshes running…
√ System 5 (Finder or MultiFinder)
√ System 6 (Finder or MultiFinder)
√ System 7
Tools Plus is explained in greater detail in chapter 1 (Introduction) of the User Manual. For a summarized list of benefits and features, please refer to the following documents:
Read Me! Advantage Tools Plus
Read Me! Key Features
Minimum Requirements (During Development)
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• Macintosh Plus computer
• System 6.0.5
• THINK C 5.0 or
THINK Pascal 4.0.2
• 1 MB RAM (2 MB with System 7)
• Hard disk (for THINK C or THINK Pascal)
Minimum Requirements (applications written with Tools Plus)
This fully featured copy of Tools Plus is distributed at no cost as Shareware. The purpose of this is to allow potential users to EVALUATE the software before buying it. There are, however, terms and conditions to using this product, even for the purpose of evaluation.
Tools Plus is also available as a “fully registered” product for a registration fee. Registration entitles you to special privileges and benefits that are not offered to unregistered users.
For full details, please read the “ShareWare License & Legal Info” document.
What Is Shareware?
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“Shareware” is a method of software distribution that gives users an opportunity to try software before buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to register. Details vary for individual programs: some request registration while others require it. Some specify a maximum trial period. With registration, you get anything from the simple right to continue using the software, to an updated program with printed manual.
Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and the copyright holder retains all rights with a few specific exceptions as specifically stated. Like commercial authors, Shareware authors are accomplished programmers, and their programs are of comparable quality (in both cases, there are good programs and not-so-good programs). The main difference is in the method of distribution. The Shareware author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute the software, either to anyone or to a specific group. Some authors, for example, require written permission before a commercial disk vendor may copy their software.
Shareware is a method of distribution, not a type of software. You should always buy software that suits your requirements and budget, regardless if it’s commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes it easier to determine if the software suits your needs, because you can try it before you buy it. Furthermore, since the Shareware author’s overhead is low, prices are generally low as well. Shareware has the ultimate money-back guarantee: if you don’t use the product, you don’t pay for it!
Tools Plus Documentation
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The “evaluation” documentation that is enclosed with this copy of Tools Plus is extensive, but well organized and easy to follow. It has, however, been edited to (a) reduce its size to facilitate electronic transfer, and (b) to allows users to read the files regardless of their brand and version of word processor. As a result, this documentation does not include, pictures, illustrations, or an index. If you choose to register your copy of Tools Plus, you will receive a comprehensive 180 page professionally illustrated, indexed and bound Tools Plus User Manual.
For the best viewing results, please open the Tools Plus documentation by first launching your word processor, then use the File menu’s Open command to open the desired document. Display the document using a monospaced font (Monaco 9pt is recommended). As a last resort, if you do not have a word processor, you can double-click any of the documents and TeachText (a free application from Apple that comes with each set of System disks) will display them.
Tools Plus Documentation - Chapters
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The Tools Plus User Manual can be found as a number of documents in the “User Manual” folder. Each document in the “User Manual” folder is a single chapter of the User Manual. If you view the folder by name, you will see the documents sorted by chapter number (because the document’s name starts with the chapter number).
TeachText has a file limit of 32k (as do some low-end text processors), so chapters that exceed that limit have been split into several files (suffixed with “1 of 2” and “2 of 2” etc.)
The following is a summary of the User Manual’s chapters:
“ShareWare License & Legal Info”
• Copyright and trademark information
• An explanation of Shareware
• Software License and Warranty
• Registration information
“00-Contents”
• User Manual’s table of contents
“01-Introduction”
• What is Tools Plus
• An Overview of Tools Plus
• Who can benefit from Tools Plus
• What kind of applications can be written with Tools Plus
• What is Tools Plus not suitable for
• System Requirements (computer, system, memory, disk, etc.)
• Tools Plus Source Code and Site Licensing
• Before You Start Programming
• If you are new to Macintosh programming
“02-Installing Tools Plus”
• Installation instructions describing how to install Tools Plus
in your THINK C or THINK Pascal project.
“03-Designing Your Application”
• How to design your application to work with Tools Plus
• Overview of Macintosh events vs Tools Plus events
• Differences in Finder, MultiFinder and System 7
“04-Initializing Tools Plus”
• How to initialize the Tools Plus libraries before using them
“05-Windows”
• Explanation of windows’ features
• Using windows with Tools Plus
“06-Buttons”
• Explanation of buttons’ features
• Using buttons with Tools Plus (includes push-buttons, radio
buttons and check-boxes)
“07-Scroll Bars”
• Explanation of scroll bars’ features
• Using scroll bars with Tools Plus
“08-Editing Fields (1 of 2)”
“08-Editing Fields (2 of 2)”
• Explanation of editing fields’ features
• Using editing fields with Tools Plus
“09-List Boxes”
• Explanation of list boxes’ features
• Using list boxes with Tools Plus
“10-Menus”
• Explanation of menus’ features
• Using menus with Tools Plus
“11-Cursors”
• Explanation of cursor features
• Cursor zones
• Using cursors with Tools Plus
“12-System Polling (1 of 4)”
“12-System Polling (2 of 4)”
“12-System Polling (3 of 4)”
“12-System Polling (4 of 4)”
• Polling for events (the main event loop)
• Tools Plus events vs Macintosh Toolbox events
• Responding to Tools Plus events
“13-Color Drawing/Multi Screens”
• Programming for Macs that have several monitors
• Color-dependent drawing (drawing that changes depending on the
monitor’s settings, such as: [i] color, gray or B&W, [i] number
of colors or grays)
“14-Miscellaneous Routines”
• Several Macro routines that perform commonly used tasks, such
• Using the Macintosh toolbox’s alerts and dialogs, custom
controls, and list manager.
“16-Memory”
• Memory consumed by Tools Plus routines
• List of Tools Plus routines that consume memory
“17-Font Heights”
• List of commonly used fonts and their heights
“18-Special Routines”
• Macintosh toolbox routines that should be used with caution or
not at all.
• Substitute Tools Plus routines are listed where the toolbox’s
routines should not be used.
“19-Completing Your Application”
• Finishing touches needed to complete an application written
with Tools Plus. Most of this is similar to ordinary Macintosh
applications (i.e. the SIZE resource, the application’s icon
family, the BNDL resource, etc.)
“20-Technical Support”
• How Water’s Edge Software technical support can help you
P L E A S E R E A D ....
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Please read the “ShareWare License & Legal Info” document. It grants you to specific rights, and defines the limits of use of this Shareware software.
Also, please read the User Manual (“glancing” through it doesn’t count).
Feedback
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In the interest of providing you with the best possible product, we invite you to tell us your opinions about Tools Plus... even if you are not a registered user.
Tell us what you like, and what you don’t like, let us know what features you would like to see. Please send your feedback to the CompuServe address listed below:
