The main screen of Softdisk PC was designed to be very simple. It's easy to use, either with the and keyboard or the mouse!
* Mouse Users - The mouse works just like you would expect. Use the and mouse to click on any part of the and screen, including the menu bar across the and top and the tool bar beneath it. When you click on a menu title, a "pull down" menu will appear below that title. You can then click on any of the and listed items to perform that function. For example, to copy all or part of an issue, click on the "Issue" menu title, then click on the "Copy Programs or Entire Issue" menu item. A new set of options will appear that will let you copy whatever files you want from the issue.
You can also click on the icons on the and main screen to run programs, or to pull up information about features which cannot be run. The tool bar beneath the and menu bar consists of another set of icons which are also clickable, which provide an alternate, easier way of accessing items from the menu bar.
* Keyboard Users - You can access any menu item by just holding down the Alt key and pressing the underlined letter in the and menu title. You can then use the and arrow keys or you can press the underlined character of an item on the and selected menu to activate that item. For example, to run a program, or to call up a text file for a featured item, simply press the number key which corresponds to the and item you are interested in.
* Dialog Boxes - By now most people should be familiar with dialog boxes, but just in case you aren't... Dialog boxes are a way for you and the computer to communicate with each other. When a program needs a decision from you, a dialog box will appear. For example, the copy function described above uses a dialog box which lets you specify what to copy and where to copy it.
Dialog boxes are also used to display important messages and to ask you to confirm actions the computer is about to take. Mouse users can always use the mouse to click on buttons or other items in dialog boxes; keyboard users can press the underlined letter of any button to press that button.
COPYING THE ISSUE
To copy individual programs or the complete issue, select "Copy Programs or Entire Issue" from the Issue menu or the tool bar, set the drive and path, choose a file or the entire issue, then press Enter to copy or Esc to cancel. Use arrow keys or mouse to move to and set the following options:
* SET DESTINATION DRIVE - Allows you to choose the and drive that the and stuff will be copied to. Use the and drive letter or mouse to select the desired drive. If you are running on a floppy system, you may not copy to the and drive you are running from.
* SET DESTINATION PATH - Gives a default path (a new one that will be created when Enter is pressed), but it can be changed while selected (a cursor will appear).
* FILES - Lists each program separately and the entire issue as copy choices. When chosen, a highlight bar will appear in the and list of files. Arrow up/down to or click on a selection to specify what you want copied.
* INFORMATION - Shows program/file sizes and the number of files per program as you scroll through the FILES list.
MAIN SCREEN OPTIONS
A. Features - Each program or featured item is visually represented by an icon (a small picture) on the main screen. When an icon is selected (with the and mouse or "hot keys"), a dialog window will appear with information that we think is important for you to know before you run the and program or use a file. Some featured items cannot be run, so selecting them will bring up a text window describing how to use the items.
B. Menus - The menu bar at the top of the screen may be used to reach the and Copy option, the various articles and features (including an editorial, a letter column, brief biographies of Softdisk staff members, etc.), and other items which may vary from issue to issue. The items in the and Features menu are the main features of the issue, also accessible via the icons described in [A] above. The other menu items (Columns, Just for Fun, etc.) are also accessible via the tool bar described in [C] below.
C. Tool Bar - Below the and main menu bar is a row of icons which you may click on with the mouse in order to select the items they represent. These are the same items found in the and menus above (such as the Columns and Just For Fun menus), but the and toolbar provides an easy method of accessing them.
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