First Things First (or FTF, for short) is an award winning Time-Management utility for the Macintosh. It includes Calendars, "To-Do" Lists and Reminders. Because it is an Extension (or INIT) it comes up instantly when you click on its clock icon.
INSTALLING FTF
To install FTF, simply drag the icon to the System folder and click "OK" when asked if you want it in the Extensions folder. Now re-start the computer.
After re-starting you will see a clock / calendar icon on your screen. If you drag this up to the menu bar, it becomes a smaller, menu clock. To get the larger clock back; SHIFT-CLICK on the small clock.
To open the program, Double-Click on the clock (small or large) then click "OK" to activate the Demo mode. The demo mode limits you to only ten items in your list.
You may order the serial number from First Things First Software by calling (503) 246-6200 or Fax: (503) 452-1198 e-mail: FTFsoft@aol.com The price is $49.95 for new users. If you are upgrading from a previous version the price is $29.95 (please include your previous serial number)
ENTERING DATA
The first screen you see should be the "List" view. Notice the vertical row of icons on the left; these are buttons that allow you to see other views. The top one is the list view, the next one shows only Today's Items, the third button is the Weekly view, fourth is the Month view and the last one is the Year view.
To enter information, click the button that says "New Item" this allows you to type in the text of an item and give it a time, date, category, priority, repetitions and reminders.
When you click OK, you will see the item on your list and on the calendars (if it is a scheduled item) At the top of the calendar views, there is a small box with a check mark by it, if you put an X in the box you will see your completed items on the calendars, with a line through them.
This assumes that you are saving completed items (see "Preferences" below)
You can create new categories by choosing "New" from the category pull-down menu (in the "New Item" Screen) Or by choosing "Edit Categories" from the Category menu at the top of the list view.
Notice the button in the New Item screen that says "Duplicate", this ONLY WORKS FROM THE LIST VIEW. If you click this button, your item is saved and you get the same item screen back so you can give it a differrent date, for example. This is useful when you have an item that recurs on at irregular intervals.
REMINDERS
When a reminder comes up, either in advance or at the item's time (or both), the floating clock will become a flashing "In-Box" and will make a sound of your choice. Clicking on the reminder shows you the text of the items and lets you "Snooze" it or mark it completed. If you have a recurring item, you should set a reminder for it then click "Acknowledge Warning" when the reminder comes up. The item will then show up at it's next scheduled recurrance.
SETTING PREFERENCES
In the lower right of the list view is an icon marked "Prefs", clicking on this brings uo a series of Preferences screens. The first screen (General Settings ) includes "Save Completed"
boxes. If you check all of these boxes, your completed items will be saved in a list called completed only which can be selected from the Timeline menu. If you don't check these, items will be deleted when completed. "Size Main window to monitor" should be checked unless you want a smaller window. You can choose a reminder or hourly chime sound from any sound in your System. You can also set a "Hot-Key" combination to open FTF quickly. "Set Agenda File" should be left alone unless you have previous agenda files you wish to open. If you click the "Next" button you can change the color of the small clock or select a different large clock.
If you uncheck "Always Use Large In-Box" the remider will stay in the menu bar but will still flash. "Compatible Clock Display" keeps the clock in the menu-bar only. You can show or hide the item's times from the month view. Turning this off lets you see more of the item text.
Clicking the "Next" button lets you set up default setting for new items.
