usual position at the bottom of the screen.

Option-drag the tab at the end of the Control Strip to move it up from its

a usage option to suppress them.  If you do intend to use them, you can

scroll bar window.  If you do not intend to use the scroll bars, you can set

You may find that the Control Strip obscures Virtual Desktop’s horizontal



See the section entitled “The Door Menu” for more information.

the Door menu.

The menu that pops up from the Control Strip has the same commands as



Control Strip to make it visible.

next restart, though you may have to drag the tab at the end of the

the Install menu.)  The module will appear in your Control Strip after the

Strip module installed; if you change your mind later, you can get it using

is available.  (You may refuse the offer if you don’t want the Control

Control Strip module in your Control Strip Modules folder, if Control Strip

“Virtual Desktop Extension,” the application will offer to install the

The first time you open Virtual Desktop, just after you agree to install





capability, without taking up space in the menu bar.

Doors” Control Strip module instead of the Door menu.  It gives the same

modules on any Macintosh, you should consider using the “Virtual Desktop

“aftermarket” shareware programs that let you use Control Strip

If you have Apple’s Control Strip control panel, or one of the




xUsing the Control Strip







know which applications need such special treatment.

windows back into view before they quit.  By practice, you will come to

an application preference option to handle this sort by bringing their

using Virtual Desktop to manage your desktop.  Virtual Desktop provides

quite understandable behavior, actually helpful, except when you are

time they start up, they may choose a default on-screen position.  This is

applications may record their window positions as off-screen, so the next

If Virtual Desktop doesn’t clean up before a restart or shutdown, some



Install menu.)

Desktop” installed; if you change your mind later, you can get it using the

Finder.  (You may refuse the offer if you don’t want “Quit Virtual

Virtual Desktop” in your Shutdown Items folder, if you have a scriptable

“Virtual Desktop Extension,” the application will offer to install “Quit

The first time you open Virtual Desktop, just after you agree to install



using any indirect method, such as an installer application.

the Shutdown Items folder may not be opened if you restart or shut down

Power key, or the “• Shut Down” desk accessory).  Note that items in

restart or shutdown by any standard method (Finder’s Special menu, the

folder.  This will force Virtual Desktop to quit first when you request a

to have the “Quit Virtual Desktop” application in your Shutdown Items

later with “Finder Scripting Extension” installed), you may find it helpful

If you have a scriptable Finder (version 7.1.4 or later, or version 7.1 or





any other application.

makes sure that Virtual Desktop gets a chance to clean up and quit before

good practice to use this Special menu rather than Finder’s, because it

commands, like those in Finder.  If you use Virtual Desktop regularly, it’s

Virtual Desktop has a Special menu which contains Restart and Shut Down




xHow to Shut Down Using Virtual Desktop







than life without.

Despite these glitches, though, life with Virtual Desktop is arguably better



especially prone to this problem.

scrolling.  Applications built with Apple’s MacApp® framework seem

applications seem to respond better to door jumps than to manual

scrolling, because they think they know which parts are exposed.  These

them to redraw parts of their windows which have been exposed by

Third, some applications don’t listen to the operating system when it tells



Desktop, however.

sometimes.  QuickTime movie players seem to get along fine with Virtual

frames without the contents.  Even HyperCard has a little trouble

directly.  Their windows will come apart when Virtual Desktop scrolls the

frame-grabbing video expansion card which addresses screen memory

model to draw on your monitors.  An example would be any

Second, some applications don’t use the Macintosh’s QuickDraw graphics



isn’t such a monitor.

which monitor has the greatest color depth, and may get confused if there

monitor their windows intersect, because they typically need to know

which use a “device loop” to compute the right drawing effects for each

off-screen.  This is especially true of well-programmed applications

First, some applications may not work right if their windows are





aware of the symptoms of trouble.

behavior with no problems.  There are others, though, and you should be

The great majority of applications tolerate Virtual Desktop’s scrolling




xSensitive Applications







Maybe.

See the section entitled “Suggestions for Use” for more information on

shuttle the windows out to their various door locations.

Desktop, which (with the application preferences appropriately set) can

another way is to open the items in question, then start up Virtual

Desktop to scroll to this location just before opening the target item.  Yet

Maybe, another AWOL Utilities program, which automatically tells Virtual

unwanted effects.)  Another way is to use an alias file converted by

to open the door, leading to more requests to open the item, may cause

approach, depending on the application in question, is that later attempts

just after scrolling to the door location.  (The only problem with this

the door preferences so that Virtual Desktop asks Finder to open the item

documents in “preferred” virtual desktop locations.  One way is to set

There are several ways to automate the opening of applications and



always find the icon you want through those windows.)

for Finder so that Finder’s windows are exempt from scrolling, you can

placed there for the purpose.  (If you have set the application preferences

application using the Apple menu or some desktop icon which you have

move to the location by clicking on a door icon window, then to open the

that location is, so you have to help it somehow.  One way would be to

commonly used application.  However, the application doesn’t know what

You will probably want to dedicate an area of the virtual desktop to some





normally put their windows where you can see them.

are on the virtual desktop.  In a way, this is good, because they will

actual desktop.  Therefore, applications are never aware of where you

Virtual Desktop works by moving windows and icons, not by enlarging the




xRoutine Maintenance







menu or the Control Strip.

Another way to start up Virtual Desktop is to select a door from the Door



information about door files.

See the section entitled “The Door Preferences Dialog” for more

each item in its own place on the virtual desktop.

files, having set the preferences for each door so that Finder will open

You may want to replace some of your current startup items with door

application and scroll the virtual desktop to a preset location when opened.

way is to use door files, Virtual Desktop documents that open the

up by putting it (or an alias to it) in your Startup Items folder.  Another

Once you are comfortable with Virtual Desktop, you may want to start it





scrolling.

desktop, the application need only be open when you want to do some

access them.  Because the extension implements the illusion of a virtual

the desktop remain out of view.  You must reopen Virtual Desktop to

returned you to the “home” location, and that the items you moved off

with the scroll bars, then quit, you will notice that Virtual Desktop has

If you move some icons off the desktop view using Full View mode, scroll

working with a very small virtual desktop, and nothing off the monitors.

The first time you start up the Virtual Desktop application, you will be




xHow to Start Up Virtual Desktop







persuade Finder not to round up the “lost sheep.”

windows and icons around on the desktop.  Part of that trick is to

“real” desktop area using extra memory, but by actually moving

Desktop manages the virtual desktop.  It works not by enlarging the

off-screen positions after the next restart.)  This shows how Virtual

into view.  (If you do not reposition them, they will return to their

startup, Finder will bring any desktop icons positioned off-screen back

If you remove the extension, or disable it by pressing the Shift key at



your Macintosh in order to use the application.

application, you will be prompted to replace it.  You must then restart

If the extension was loaded, but is not the same version as the



application to operate.

then quit, because the extension must be loaded at startup in order for the

isn’t already there.  If you agree, the application will suggest a restart,

not, it will ask for permission to install it in your Extensions folder, if it

“Virtual Desktop Extension” system extension was loaded at startup.  If

When you open the Virtual Desktop application, it will check to see if the





positions are recorded correctly.

desktop is larger than your monitors, and to ensure that off-screen icon

Virtual Desktop requires a system extension to persuade Finder that the




xVirtual Desktop Extension












åHow Does Virtual Desktop Work?


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