If you've read the tutorial, you know how to use some of DiscVue's features, but you still don't know all of them. Here's an explanation of all the menus, controls, and everything else you can use in DiscVue - feature items that help make it a great application for simplifying your everyday computer navigating and use. Even if you haven't read (or don't want to read) the tutorial, the following descriptions of menus and interface will give you an excellent feel for DiscVue and what it can do for you. So, I encourage you to read at least this document.

• File Menu - This menu includes most everything you can do with files in this application, hence the name.
  • Up One Level (cmd-B) - Takes you back one level in the folder hierarchy. Example: If you have three columns in the interface and you go to a folder or item that is 5 levels deep, you can use this menu to go back one level in the lists displayed - this has the same function as the back-arrow in the toolbar, or pressing the left arrow key on the keyboard when the first column is selected (has the blue outline).
  • Refresh Columns - Even though DiscVue automatically updates any changes to your hard drive, in some instances it does not, such as when the file type of icon of a file is changed. If this happens, this menu will force DiscVue to refresh the columns.
  • Open (cmd-O) - Launches the file that is selected. It has the same functionality as double-clicking an item in one of the lists.
  • Move (cmd-M) - Moves the selected file or folder to any place on your computer. After you select this "Move" menu item, select a folder and then select this menu item again. The pre-selected file or folder will then move to the selected column. If an alert box appears, make a choice as to what you want to do. NOTE: If you would like to cancel the move immediately after selecting the file or folder, because maybe you selected the wrong item or you changed your mind about moving it, hold down the Option key and then select the File > Move command again. Also, even if you do not do the Move navigation, DiscVue will still function normally.
  • Get Info (cmd-I) - Opens a dialog box showing info on the current file, folder, application, etc. In this box you can change the name, view the full-size 32x32 pixel icon, look at and change Finder flags, change the file type, and change the creator of the file, plus find out the size of it. (This function can also be accessed from the button in the toolbar that is a magnifying glass) NOTE: If you're not familiar with the use of the "Advanced" features, it is best that you do NOT change this information!
  • Show Preview (cmd-P) - If you have turned off the "Show Preview Window" in the Preferences window, but you would like to make a quick check on a file, using this menu item will allow you to temporarily override the Preferences setting. After selecting a text or picture document in DiscVue, selecting this item will preview the document. (Some images will not appear correctly)
  • Reveal In Finder (cmd-R) - Shows the current file or folder in the Finder and not in DiscVue. If it's a folder, it shows the contents. If it's an application, document, or alias, they will appear in their folders as being "selected".
  • Move to Trash... (cmd-del) - Moves the selected file to the trash. To disable the warning dialog, hold option when you select this menu. Same function as right-most toolbar button (.
  • Detailed View (cmd-D) - A very powerful feature. Opens a new window in DiscVue that shows a much more detailed view than the multi-column, normal view; the creation date, modification date, creator code, type code, and file size are all shown in this window as a list, much like in the Finder. (This function can also be accessed by pressing the button in the toolbar that is a large "plus" sign.)
  • Save List... (cmd-S) - This saves the contents of the current list to disk, in a text file. It's in-depth and in plain English. Great for comparisons of old versus new.
  • Close Preview (cmd-W) - If a preview window is open, showing a text or a picture preview, it closes that preview window. (You can also close the preview by clicking the small box in the upper left corner of the preview window.)
  • Quit (cmd-Q) - Quits DiscVue and returns you to the Finder.
• Edit - Items worth mentioning are:
  • Auto. Open Viewer - Shortcut method of toggling on and off "Show Preview Window" in the Preferences box. Good to use when you want to temporarily scan through a bunch of text or picture documents, used in combination with cmd-W to close each preview.
  • Preferences - Opens a window that lets you set your preferences for DiscVue. (This function can also be accomplished by pressing the button next to the trash, located in the DiscVue toolbar at the far right)
• Control Panels - Just like the name, it's a list of all your Control Panels. The first menu, Show Folder In DiscVue, shows the opened Control Panels folder in the DiscVue window.
• Navigation - This menu, as it is titled, contains all your favorites, as well as a list of all the recent folders and documents you have opened.
  • Add To Favorites (cmd-A) - Adds the currently selected file or folder to the favorites. (These Favorites are then accessed from the toolbar button showing a heart with a little "menu".) These favorites are automatically saved for you upon quitting DiscVue, so they'll be there next time you open up.
  • Delete Favorites... - Opens a new window that lets you selectively delete any favorites you have added while using DiscVue.
  • Finder Favorites - This is a list of the favorites that you might have saved prior to using DiscVue. This list shows the same items as those found under the Apple menu in "Favorites" (if you have any). You can access and use these favorites through DiscVue, but you cannot modify the listed items. Modification of these favorites must be done through the Apple Finder interface.
  • Recent Folders - This is a list of the last 10 folders you have opened since you've been using DiscVue. Select one of these to go to that folder. NOTE: If you quit DiscVue, this list will NOT be saved for a later session. These folders are not favorites.
  • Recent Files - This is a list of the last 10 documents and applications you have opened since you've been using DiscVue. Select one of these to open them again. If you hold down the Command key (the key with the little apple on it) just before selecting the "Navigation" menu, and then you select one of the recent items, DiscVue will show only where the file is rather than opening it up. NOTE: If you quit DiscVue, this list will NOT be saved for a later session. These items are not favorites.
• Special - All the items in this menu are self-explanatory.
• Help - Lets you get help! Email Support gets email support, and Website goes to the Mystic Flame Software website.

This will explain all the controls' functions of the main column view window, referring to everything by numbers next to each item. Based on window width, the number of displayed columns can be anywhere between 1 and 12.

• (1) Back Arrow - This will go back one level in the folder hierarchy. If you have three columns in the interface and you go to a folder 5 levels deep, you will use this button to back up one level - this has the same functionality of File > Up One Level.
• (2) Back to Desktop - Clears all the lists and shows the desktop in the first column.
• (3) Detailed View - A very powerful feature. Opens a new window in DiscVue that shows much a much more detailed view than the multi-column, normal view; the creation date, modification date, creator code, and type code are all shown in this window as a list, much like the Finder. This function can also be accessed through File > Detailed View.
• (4) Toggle Favorites Bar - Toggles the visibility of the favorites bar at the bottom of the window (number 12).
• (5) Get Info - Will open a dialog box showing info on the current file, folder, application, etc. Works on everything. In that window you can change the name, view the full-size 32x32 pixel icon, look at and change a few Finder flags, change the file type, and change the creator of the file, plus find out the size of the file. Can also be accessed from File > Get Info. CAUTION: If you're not familiar with the use of the "Advanced" features, it is best that you do NOT change this information!
• (6) Navigation Text Box - This text box is a navigational guide that tells you where your mouse is on the DiscVue window. This feature is similar to the "balloon help" that Apple provides in their operating system. You can toggle it off and on by clicking inside the text box.
• (7) Open Preferences - This button does the same thing as Edit > Preferences. It opens a dialog box that lets you set options for DiscVue, including which toolbar skin to use, what the display font and size is, the ability to turn off custom icons (which increases speed substantially), and the ability to turn on visibility of invisible files and folders. CAUTION: There are many files and folders in the Macintosh operating system that are invisible. If you choose to have DiscVue show the invisible items, then it is possible to manipulate these items (ie., make visible, move, delete, etc.). If you do this, there is a strong possibility that you could adversely affect the proper operation of your computer. A good rule of thumb is, if you don't know what you're doing, don't do it.
• (8) Trash - Clicking on this button moves the selected file or folder to the trash. To empty the trash, use "Empty Trash" from the "Special" menu.
• (9) File or Folder Info - When you select an item in any of the lists below, info on it appears here. Information includes name, creator code, type code, modification date, creation date, and the file's 16x16 pixel icon. If the selected item is a folder, also shown are the number of items contained in the folder.
• (10) Column Titles - These show the name of each opened folder (with a count of its contents). Its contents are listed in the column directly below it.
• (11) Columns - These are the most important features of DiscVue - they show you what's on your computer and where those things are located. Each column lists the contents of a folder. Single-clicking will select the item, and information about the item is shown in the File or Folder Info bar. Double-clicking on an item in one of the columns will do one of two things: If you double-click on a folder, it will then list its contents in the next column. If you double-click on either an application, file, or alias, the appropriate launch action will take place, identical to the usual Macintosh experience. Also, if you use either the right arrow, 'return' or 'enter' key (on the keyboard) on ANY selected columnar item, the file or application will launch OR the folder will open into the next column. NOTE: If you have "Show Preview Window" checked in the Preferences box, single-clicking (which is same as selecting) text files or pictures will open them in the preview window. If you want to launch the file using its application (with the preview window open, or after closing it), simply press the "return" key. (Turning on or off the preview feature is described elsewhere in this document)
  • Drag-and-Drop features - Items can be moved from one column to another by holding down the mouse on an item, then dragging to another column and releasing the mouse. Items can be moved into other folders by dragging the file over a folder and releasing the mouse. To copy a file, option-drag; to make an alias of a file, option-control-drag; otherwise, a normal drag. (NOTE: Due to a limitation in the programming language used, when you drag a file over a folder, the folder will NOT be highlighted, but it is still selected.) Items can be moved into the Favorites Bar by dragging a file or folder onto it (see below).
  • Text Formatting - To help you more easily identify what each item is in each column, by default, folders are shown in bold type, applications and documents are shown in plain type, and aliases are shown in italics type. This text styling can be changed in the Preferences dialog box. Also, text font and size can be changed in the Preferences.
  • Column Widths - The width and number of columns displayed is directly related to the overall width of the DiscVue window and to the column-width setting. A maximum of 12 columns and a minimum of 1 column can be viewed. You set in the Preferences how narrow the columns can get. For instance, if columns are set to be wider, the number of displayed columns (for fixed window size) may decrease. Only full-width (or larger) columns are shown (no partial columns).
  • Searching within Columns - If a column is selected (a column with the blue-colored outline), typing in a few letters will select the first item in the column with a name starting with the letters you typed. NOTE: The text you type will appear in a small yellow box right below the mouse.
  • Navigating with Keyboard - Left and Right arrows will change the selected column. Up and Down arrows will change the selected item within the selected column. If the selected item is a folder, using the Right arrow will open the selected folder in the next column. If the selected item is a document, using the Right arrow will open that document. A little experimentation will show how things work using these keys. (I find this way of navigating really useful when used in combination with the "Auto. Open Viewer" menu item, especially when searching through many text documents and scanned photos. If all the docs I want to check out are in one folder, I navigate to the folder and start using the Down arrow key. Each time I hit the key, the prior picture will close and the next picture will open automatically for a preview. I can back up as well, until I find the right doc. Then, if I want, I can open the doc into a default application by hitting the right arrow, "return", or "enter" key.)
• Favorites Bar - These are all your favorites. To view the name of a file, move the mouse over it and it's name will appear right under the mouse. Single-click on an item to open it. If what you open is a folder, it will only be opened in the DiscVue columns, and if it is a file it will be launched. Also, if you hold down the Command key on the keyboard when you click on a file in the favorites, its location will be shown in the DiscVue columns (and will not launch). To toggle the visibility of the Favorites Bar, click on the button labeled "4" on the above graphic. This button will make it permanently visible (only if it's invisible first, however). Another option you have is to keep the Favorites bar invisible until you need it. With the Favorites Bar initially invisible, pressing the spacebar will toggle visibility on and off. In this scenario, if you select a favorite, the Favorites Bar will disappear until you toggle it back on.
  • Adding items - You can drag-and-drop any item from any column, OR you can select an item from any column and then use cmd-A, OR you can select an item from any column and then select "Add to Favorites" in the "Navigation" menu.
  • Removing items - You can select the menu item "Delete Favorites..." from the Navigation menu, OR you can do an option-click on a favorites item with your mouse.

"Finder" is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. and is not affiliated with Mystic Flame Software in any way.