Contents
Compass 2.0 Light  Help Contents

Introduction

Get Started

What Is Compass

Version History

Extras in Standard Version

FAQ

User Interfaces

Menu

Toolbar

Keyboard

Tree Pane

List Pane

Edit Pane

Miscellaneous

Agreement

Registration

Bug Reports / Comments

Acknowledgment

The Author


Get Started

+ Where is my bookmark file?

If you are using Navigator 4.x, the file is

[Netscape]\Users\[user name]\bookmark.htm

If you are using Navigator 3.x or 2.x, the file is

[Netscape]\bookmark.htm

The [Netscape] is the directory where you installed Netscape, say,

C:\Program Files\Netscape

+ If you will not use Netscape’s built-in bookmark editor, you could just rename bookmark.htm to yourname.htm, and use Compass to work with yourname.htm.

+ If something went wrong, the backup file is bookmark.htm.bak.


What Is Compass

The Light version supports only Netscape.

Compass 2.0 is a powerful bookmarking system for both Netscape bookmark files and Microsoft Internet Explorer favorites.  Compass has not only a conventional Tree pane for the hierarchical structure of folders, but also a List pane to give you the control of all bookmarks as a whole.  The specially designed two panes provide you the power and freedom of working independently or tracking both together, and a familiar interface of Windows Explorer type.  Compass has been tested and works with Netscape Navigator 2.x, 3.x, 4.x, and Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.x on Windows 95.

Organization power:

Compass offers all kind of sorting, statistics information, file importing, merging, selection exporting, color coded bookmarks, etc. to help you organize your bookmarks.  Three types of drag & drop operations give you the ultimate power and ease to manipulate the bookmarks.  The new search mechanism fulfill your query in a flash.

Communication power:

Compass can dynamically launch your browser, communicate with your browser, and lead you to your favorite site.  Compass lets you drag links embedded in a web page and drop them into your bookmark pool.  Need the control of where new bookmark goes?  A single right-click adds the current link to the place you clicked.  Want to continue yesterday’s surf?  No problem, Compass starts with that page for you.

For users of Netscape:

Did you feel the bookmark window of Netscape is not convenient for organizing bookmarks?  Did you feel you have no control of where the newly added bookmark goes?  Did you feel the bookmark descriptions hide themselves?  Would you like to have more sorting options, more searching power, more controls, easier access to functions, etc.?  Compass is here for you.

For users of MSIE:

Have you ever wished to be able to add descriptions to my favorites, to find a favorite faster, to have an easier way to organize your favorites, to clean up seldom visited links, to know how much stuff you have, or to share part of your collection with friends?  Compass fulfills all you wishes.

For users who use both Netscape and MSIE:

Compass can open/save/import/export/merge both Netscape bookmark files and MSIE favorites.  Need to convert file types?  Just open file in one type and save it in another type.  Want to merge different file types, or extract just part of files?  No problem, Compass do them all.


What's New
Extras in Standard Version

+ New search interface in the List pane, which displays the results while you are still typing the string you want to search.

+ "FlyTip": pointing the mouse cursor to the text which are not fully displayed, Compass will pop up a "FlyTip" showing the whole text.

+ Full support for three file formats: Netscape bookmark file, MSIE favorites, and Compass HotList.  All file I/O, including Open, Save, Import, Merge, Export, Drag-Drop Open, Most Recent Files, support all the three file formats.  All file I/O share a single unified user interface (dialog).

+ Automatically remember the last visited web site.  Open that site automatically (with an option) next time when you run Compass.

+ Merge from other source files into your file.

+ Find duplicate URLs and high-light them.

+ Customizable List pane columns.

+ Support MSIE: open URL, grab page information, drag & drop links.

+ Sort sub-folders.

+ Put folders in front when sorting trees.

+ Remember/Restore folder states (collapsed or expanded).

+ More options.


History
Version History

Version 2.01: (6/8/1997)

Bug fix

+ Fixed the problem that v.2.0 requires new version (v.4.7) of comctl32.dll.  This release (v.2.01) runs on both standard version (v.4.0) and new version (v.4.7) of comctl32.dll.

Version 2.0: (6/5/1997)

Please see Extras in Standard Version.

Version 2.0 Light: (7/16/1997)

Improvements over V.1.11

+ Faster file loading.

+ “Expand All” context menu item.

Bug fixes

+ Fixed the GPF due to moving empty folders around.

+ Fixed the very rare problem caused by deleting items.

Version 1.11: (4/12/1997)

This version was not released to the public.  It was distributed directly from the author only.

Bug fix

+ Fixed the GPF when saving bookmarks containing extra long items.

Version 1.1: (2/24/1997)

New features & Improvements

+ Drag & drop any links from Netscape (3.x and 4.x).

+ New command: "New Browser.”

+ Full support for standard keyboard interface.

+ New option: “Open last file on startup.”

+ New option: “Run Netscape on startup.”

+ New option: “Create backup when saving.”

+ Command line open file.

+ Accept drop file to open.

+ "Import HotList" can handle files contain both HotList data and normal text.

+ All found items are made visible when doing "Select All" in "Find."

+ In Edit pane, normal cut, copy and paste can be accessed from shortcut keys, toolbar icons, or right-click menu (context menu.)

+ "Collapse other folders" reacts immediately.

+ Context sensitive help.

+ Automatically find the location of Netscape.

+ Drag-drop doesn't affect the internal memory of Compass for copy-paste.

Bug fixes

+ Fixed the problem not able to open or save files which contain very long lines.

+ Fixed the possible memory leak after reading unexpected format.

+ Fixed the problem not able to handle more than 10 levels.

+ Fixed that "Find" didn't work properly if focus was in Edit pane.

+ Fixed: When "Collapse other folders" was checked, users couldn't see all selected items if the items were in different folders.

+ Fixed: Tree pane and List pane didn't handle keyboard input properly.

+ Fixed: "In-label edit" failed to set modified flag.

Version 1.0: (1/31/1997)

Features of the original release

+ Color coded bookmarks.

+ All kinds of sorting.

+ Various statistics.

+ Import / Export HotList.

+ Call Netscape directly to open a URL.

+ Grab information from Netscape when adding new bookmarks.

+ Flexible dropping mode: "Into" or "Onto" folders.

+ Alt-drag-drop to switch between "Into" and "Onto" modes.

+ Three panes (Tree, List, and Edit) to display information.

+ Keypad '*' to expand all folders.

+ Support standard multiple selection: Shift-click and Ctrl-click.

+ Extended clickable area for mouse operation.

+ Auto-scrolling when drag & drop.

+ Easy description editing.

+ In-label editing.

+ Sort bookmarks by clicking column labels in List pane.

+ Double click on column dividers to automatically fit the width.

+ Copy URL(s) to clipboard for pasting to other applications.

+ Drag & drop between List and Tree panes.

+ Standard drag-drop to move items.

+ Standard Ctrl-drag-drop to copy items.

+ Find, Find next, and Select all.

+ Right click for a handy menu (context menu).

+ Informative status bar.

+ Handy tool bar.


FAQ

+ How do I install Compass?

+ How do I uninstall Compass?

+ How do you normally use Compass?

+ How much does it cost to register?

+ How do I change the color of bookmarks?

+ How do I delete obsolete bookmarks?

+ How do I sort bookmarks?

+ How do I expand all folders?

+ How do I invoke Netscape from Compass?

+ How do I add a bookmark (link) while running Netscape?

+ How do I change the position of folders?

+ How do I know what many bookmarks in a folder?

+ What is the format of Hotlist which Compass can import from?

+ What is the appropriate way to save changes to file?

+ How come sometimes I can’t add or paste items?

+ Why sometimes multiple selection doesn’t work in Tree pane?

Q: How do I install Compass?

A: Compass is a simple utility.  Just put the two files “compass.exe” and “compass.hlp” in the same folder or directory.  That’s all.

Q: How do I uninstall Compass?

A: Compass doesn’t modify your Registry.  The only file it creates is “compass.ini”, which is in your Winodws folder or directory.  Therefore, to uninstall, just delete the three files: “compass.exe”, “compass.hlp”, and “compass.ini”.

Q: How do you normally use Compass?

A: Normally, on Compass side, I enable “Run Netscape on startup” and “Open last file.  On Netscape side, I just set bookmark file to a dummy file, so Netscape won’t interfere in my work on the real bookmark file.  Whenever I want to surf the web, all I need to do is just a click on Compass, and then my bookmark file is opened, Netscape is running, and I needn’t to worry any conflict between my real bookmark file and the dummy bookmark file.

Q: How much does it cost to register?

A: Compass 2.0 Light is freeware.  Please see Registration and Agreement sections.

Q: How do I change the color of bookmarks?

A: You can set the “Bookmark color period” in the Preferences dialog.  If you surf the web very often, you might want smaller values, say 2 weeks, for the color period.  If you visit the web just once in a while, you might want bigger values, say 12 weeks.  The default value is 8 weeks.  See also Color codes and Base time period.

Q: How do I delete obsolete bookmarks?

A: In the List pane, click the “Last Visit” column header, then bookmarks are sorted by last visited date and time.  The obsolete bookmarks, colored by white or purple, are at the bottom potion of list.  You could multiple-select and delete them.

Q: How do I sort bookmarks?

A: You could sort bookmarks either in Tree pane or in List pane.  However, to make real change, you should do the sorting in Tree pane: Select the folders (not bookmarks) you want to sort, then choose the sorting method either from Edit menu or from Context menu (right-click).  Compass will sort all items (one level deep) in the folders you selected.

Q: How do I expand all folders?

A: Simply select the main folder in Tree pane, then hit keypad '*'.

Q: How do I invoke Netscape from Compass?

A: Select a link you want to go, then click "Go" or “New Browser” from Info menu, Context menu (right-click), or Tool bar.  If you have checked "Double click to Go" in the Preferences dialog, then you can just double-click the link.  If Netscape is not running, Compass will run it.  If Compass couldn't find Netscape, a dialog will show up to let you tell Compass where Netscape is located.

Q: How do I add a bookmark (link) while running Netscape?

A: Compass 1.1 supports the drag & drop technology that Netscape 3.x and 4.x use.  So, if you are running Netscape 3.x or 4.x, the simplest way to add a bookmark is to drag a link, which could be any links in a web page, from Netscape and drop it in Compass Tree pane.  For Netscape 2.x users, first select a position in Tree pane where you want the new bookmark be, then simply click "Add" from Tool bar, Edit menu, or Context menu (right-click).  Compass will grab Title and URL information from Netscape, and show a dialog where you could add description to the link.

Q: How do I change the position of folders?

A: When you drag and drop items over a folder, the default action is to drop items into the folder.  You could change the default action by clicking "Onto" icon in the Tool bar, or unchecking "Drop into folder by default" in the Preferences dialog.  If you just want temporarily change the action, you can press and hold [Alt] key when dropping items.

Q: How do I know what many bookmarks in a folder?

A: Just select that folder, and Compass will tell you the answer in the status bar.

Q: What is the format of Hotlist which Compass can import from?

A: A plain ASCII file.  For each line in the file, Compass will interpret text between ‘<‘ and ‘>‘ as a URL, and everything after ‘>[space]’ as the title for that URL.  See also Hot List.

Q: What is the appropriate way to save changes to file?

A: The problem happens only when both Compass and Netscape are running.  Because both of them read in bookmarks only once, they don't know how the bookmarks are changed by the other program.  To make things simple, manipulate bookmarks only in one program, and close that program later than close the other one.  See also How do you normally use Compass?

Q: How come sometimes I can’t add or paste items?

A: The Add and Paste functions are enabled only when you are in Tree pane AND only one item is selected, because Compass need to know where you want add or paste.

Q: Why sometimes multiple selection doesn’t work in Tree pane?

A: Multiple selection is always available in both Tree and List pane.  The reason you think it doesn’t work in Tree pane is because Tree pane is implemented with “smart selection” logic.  So, it is working; just looks not.


Menu

File

+ New (Ctrl+N): Create a new bookmark file.

+ Open (Ctrl+O): Open a bookmark file.

+ Save (Ctrl+S): Save the current bookmark file.

+ Save As: Save the current bookmark file as a different file name.

+ Import Hotlist: Import bookmarks from a Hotlist file.

+ Export Hotlist: Export the selected bookmarks to a Hotlist file.

+ Preferences:

+ Double-click to Go: Check this option if you want double-click to invoke Netscape.  Default = off.

+ Run Netscape on startup: Automatically run Netscape when you run Compass.  Default = off.

+ Open last file on startup: Automatically open the most recent file when you run Compass.  Default = on.

+ Create backup when saving: Create a backup file (bookmark.htm.bak) when saving changes.  Default = on.

+ Save settings on exit: Check this option if you want Compass to remember your window layout and preference settings.  Default = on.

+ Bookmark color period: Set the base time period for color coding bookmarks.  Default = 8.

+ Location of Netscape: Tell Compass where Netscape is.  If this value is not set, Compass will find it for you.  This command is necessary only when the Compass-found value is not correct.

+ Exit: Exit Compass.

Edit

+ Edit Item (F2): Edit the selected item (bookmark or folder.)

+ Sort: Sort items by various ways. ‘+’ means ascending; ‘-’ means descending.  In List pane, this action shows results only for your information, and doesn’t make real change to the file.  In Tree pane, this action sort items in all the selected folders, and make real change to the folders.

+ by Title +.

+ by Title -.

+ by URL +.

+ by URL -.

+ by Last Visit +.

+ by Last Visit -.

+ by Folder +: Not available in Tree pane.

+ by Folder -: Not available in Tree pane.

+ Cut (Ctrl+X): Delete selected items, and put them in the memory of Compass.  Also copy the URL’s to clipboard.

+ Copy (Ctrl+C): Put selected items in the memory of Compass.  Also copy the URL’s to clipboard.

+ Paste (Ctrl+V): Paste items from the memory of Compass.  It’s available only in Tree pane.

+ Add (Ins): Add a new item (bookmark, folder, or separator.)  It’s available only in Tree pane.

+ Delete (Del): Delete the selected items.

Info

+ Go (F5): Invoke Netscape and go to the link you selected.

+ New Browser (F6): Open the selected link with a new Netscape browser window.

+ Find (Ctrl+F): Find a string in bookmark Title, URL, or Description.  This action is case insensitive.

+ Find Next (F3): Find the next item which contains the string.

+ Find in Other Pane: Make the other pane (Tree or List) to show the selected items (once).

+ Track Both Panes

+ Show Title: Show bookmark Title in status bar.

+ Show URL: Show bookmark URL in status bar.

Help

+ Contents

+ Contact the Author: Start an e-mail session for writing the author.

+ About Standard Version

+ Download Standard Version: Visit the official web site to download the standard version.

+ About Compass

Context Menu (right-click mouse button)

+ Add (Ins)

+ New Browser (F6)

+ Go (F5)

+ Expand All

+ Sort

+ Edit Item (F2)

+ Preferences

+ Cut (Ctrl+X)

+ Copy (Ctrl+C)

+ Paste (Ctrl+V)

+ Delete (Del)


Toolbar

For detailed description, please see Menu section.

+ Open (Ctrl+O)

+ Save (Ctrl+S)

+ Add (Ins)

+ Delete (Del)

+ Edit (F2)

+ Collapse other folders: Check this option if you want Compass to open only the necessary folders.

+ Drop into folders: Check this option if you want the default action of Add, Paste, and Drop on a folder is to put items Into the folder.

+ Go (F5)

+ New Browser (F6)

+ Cut (Ctrl+X)

+ Copy (Ctrl+C)

+ Paste (Ctrl+V)

+ Find (Ctrl+F): This action is case insensitive.

+ Find Next (F3)

+ Find in Other Pane: Make the other pane (Tree or List) to show the selected items (once).

+ Track Both Panes

+ Show Title: Show bookmark Title in status bar.

+ Show URL: Show bookmark URL in status bar.

+ Help Contents


Tree Pane

The Tree pane (on the left) shows the whole bookmark file, including folder structure and bookmarks themselves.  It is so implemented that the whole client area is “clickable”.  Also, it has “smart selection” coded.  Tree pane accepts the following manipulation:

Mouse

+ Click: to select a single item, or to start “in-label editing” if the item has been selected.

+ Shift-click: to select a range of items.

+ Ctrl-click: to toggle selected or non-selected states.

+ Double-click: to edit an item or invoke Netscape and open the link.

+ Right-click: to invoke the Context menu.

+ Drag-drop: to move selected items.

+ Ctrl-drag-drop: to copy selected items.

+ Alt-drag-drop: to toggle “drop into folder” or “drop onto folder”.

Keyboard

+ Keypad '*': to expand all folders underneath the selected folders.

+ Keypad '+': to expand the selected folders.

+ Keypad '-': to collapse the selected folders.

+ [Insert] key: to add a new item.

+ [Delete] key: to delete selected items.

+ [Enter]: acts the same way as double-click does.

+ [Tab]: to switch to List pane.

+ [Letter keys]: to jump to the item starting with the letter.

+ [Home, End]: to jump to the head or tail item.

+ [Page Up, Down]: to move the selection a page up or down.

+ [Up, Down]: to move the selection up or down.

+ [Left, Right]: to scroll the Tree window left or right.


List Pane

The List pane (on the right top) shows only bookmarks.  It is meant to be an index or statistics show box.  It is so implemented that the whole client area is “clickable”.  List pane accepts the following manipulation:

Mouse

+ Click: to select a single item, or to start “in-label editing” if the item has been selected.

+ Shift-click: to select a range of items.

+ Ctrl-click: to toggle selected or non-selected states.

+ Double-click: to edit an item or invoke Netscape and open the link.

+ Right-click: to invoke the Context menu.

+ Click on column headers: to sort bookmarks by the column, either ascending or descending.

+ Double-click on the header dividers: to automatically adjust the width of column.

+ Drag: to move selected items (drop in Tree pane).

+ Ctrl-drag: to copy selected items (ctrl-drop in Tree pane).

+ Alt-drag: to toggle “drop into folder” or “drop onto folder” (alt-drop in Tree pane).

Keyboard

+ [Insert] key: to add a new item.

+ [Delete] key: to delete selected items.

+ [Tab]: to switch to Tree pane.

+ [Letter keys]: to jump to the item starting with the letter.

+ [Home, End]: to jump to the head or tail item.

+ [Page Up, Down]: to move the selection a page up or down.

+ [Up, Down]: to move the selection up or down.

+ [Left, Right]: to scroll the Tree window left or right.


Edit Pane

The Edit pane (on the right bottom) is a convenient place to edit the descriptions of bookmarks or folders.  After you're done with editing and switch to other panes, Compass will remember the content automatically.

Compass display the description of bookmarks or folders you select (either in Tree pane or in List pane) whenever it is available.  If you select more than one item, or "separators", Compass will display "<<no suitable selection>>" in Edit pane.


Keyboard

Compass 1.1 has full support for keyboard interface.  The following is an alphabetical list of shortcut keys available in Compass.  For detailed description, please see Menu section.

Tree pane keyboard interface

List pane keyboard interface

Shortcuts

+ Ctrl+C	Edit::Copy.

+ Ctrl+F	Info::Find.

+ Ctrl+N	File::New.

+ Ctrl+O	File::Open.

+ Ctrl+S	File::Save.

+ Ctrl+V	Edit::Paste.

+ Ctrl+X	Edit::Cut.

+ Del	Edit::Delete.

+ F1	Context sensitive help

+ F2	Edit::Edit Item.

+ F3	Info::Find Next.

+ F5	Info::Go.

+ F6	Info::New Browser.

+ Ins	Edit::Add.


Agreement

+ This software is distributed AS IS and without any express or implied warranties.

+ The author is not responsible for any damages whatsoever incurred before, during, or after the use of this software.

+ This software cannot be resold or used in any profit-generating activities without the author expressed written permission.

+ This software may be freely distributed, provided that:

a. Such distribution includes only the original archive.  You may not alter, delete, or add any files in the distribution archive.

b. No money is charged to the person receiving the software, beyond reasonable cost of packaging and other overhead.


Registration

Compass 2.0 Light is freeware.  You can freely use it as long as you want without any obligation.  However, if you like Compass, why don’t you tell other people or the author.  The author also maintain a user mailing list, so you can get informed whenever newer version is available.  See also Agreement.


Tell other people
One way of doing that is to make Compass downloadable from your home page (if you have a home page).  Or, just tell other people.


Tell the author
Simply click “Contact the Author” from the “Help” menu.


Bug Report
Bug Reports / Comments

Compass has been extensively tested before released.  However, having bugs is life.  If you find any bugs, please notify the author at daniel@galaxy.ucr.edu.  Also, if possible, please describe in detail how to reproduce the bugs.

Any comments are welcome.  The author would like to hear from you.


Acknowledgment

I would like to thank my friends David Mou, Gilbert Chang, and Henry Huang for their help with testing and their precious comments.  Also, David was the person who threw this project to me.

For version 1.1, thank all of you users who reported bugs.  Thank Mark Anacker, who was the first person told me about the major bug of version 1.0.  Also, he was so nice to tried to help me debugging.  Special thanks to Paul Hustava.  He was so generous to give me his bookmark file which caused version 1.0 to crash.  Without his file, it would have become very difficult to catch the bug.


The Author

Daniel Liu

E-mail: daniel@galaxy.ucr.edu

Official web site: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Way/5500/compass.html

Shareware Author Index: http://mini.net/cgi-bin/sax?3219

If the above e-mail address expires, please check the author’s index page for the latest information.


The Author

Daniel Liu

E-mail: daniel@galaxy.ucr.edu

Official web site: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Way/5500/compass.html

Shareware Author Index: http://mini.net/cgi-bin/sax?3219

If the above e-mail address expires, please check the author’s index page for the latest information.


Hot List
The Hotlist Compass generates is a plain ASCII file.  Each line in the list has the format of “<url> title”.  Hotlist is convenient for distribution of your favorite links.


color codes
Compass color-codes bookmarks according to the last visit time and the base time period (BTP).  There are five colors used in Compass:

visited within 1 BTP.

visited within 2 BTP.

visited within 3 BTP.

visited within 4 BTP.

never visited.


base time period
Base time period is used by Compass to determine how to color bookmarks.  If you surf the web very often, you might want smaller values, say 2 weeks.  On the other hand, if you visit the web just once in a while, you might want bigger values, say 12 weeks.  The default value is 8 weeks.  The acceptable values is from 1 to 15 weeks.


Smart selection
Smart selection is a way to auto- select or deselect items in Tree pane.  If a folder is selected, all items in this folder is implicitly selected (auto-select).  If some items is this folder has been selected before the folder is selected, these items will be deselected (auto-deselect) because of redundant selection.