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[33mHISTORY[0m
[33m¯¯¯¯¯¯¯[0m
        ASA went under a lot of name changes as it changed its  behavior and
presentation (they are all identifiable by their names: ADA, ABA, ASA, APA).
ASA means Amiga System Accessories,  which is a derivative from the DeskTop
Accessories on the MacIntosh. ADA and ABA were linked to the Workbench menu.
The old ASA used its own popmenu function.   APA linked itself to Popper so
that its menu could be included in all application menus.  Now, the new ver-
sion of ASA combines  the stand alone ASA and the ability to be included in
all menus, like APA.


        For those not familiar with the Mac, the desk accessories are little
programs that  can be started  from the apple menu.   Since the Mac is not a
multitasking machine,  these program are a little special and steal whatever
free time the main application gives them.   So they may as well freeze over
hell.  On the Amiga,  any program can multitask with any other.  So you can
start whatever you want from the menu.


[33mDESCRIPTION[0m
[33m¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯[0m
        The menu is like normal menu,  except that it can have as many level
of sub-menus as you wish and keyboard short-cut can have two letters (so you
can have more choice of short-cut).   For more information on how to set the
menu as you like, see the ASA-Mover documentation.


[33mHOW IT WORKS[0m
[33m¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯[0m
        To work,  ASA  needs some important files.  First, you must have the
ARP library (arp.library) in your libs: directory.  It is available on BBS
and from most Amiga User Group.   Second, the asa.tools file must be in your
s: directory.  Third, you must have the newgad.library version 2.x or higher
in the libs: directory (it's supposed to be included in the archive).


        To start ASA,  simply run it in a CLI or Shell (ie: "[3mASA[0m<return>").
ASA doesn't detach itself from the CLI or Shell,  you must use run, runback
or another such program (I use the runback program that comes with the NULL
device).


        One item will always be present in the menu:  [1mOption[0m. This item let
you reload the configuration file (asa.tools),  put ASA to sleep and quit.
When ASA is sleeping, you can awake it be selecting its window and clicking
the right  mouse button.   Note that ASA will refuse to quit if you have a
workbench-environnement program that has been launched by ASA still running.


[33mREQUESTER[0m
[33m¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯[0m
        The file requester used in ASA is very flexible and very powerful,
while trying to stay easy to use.  Here are some of its capabilities:

        - Select many files in many directories;

        - Let you enter path and filename via keyboard (in fact, it can
          be completly controled by the keyboard);

        - Keeps the order of the selected files, with filename entered
          via the keyboard inserted in the list when you press return;

        - Can remember an unlimited number of directory list;

        - Shows and sorts the file lists as it reads them.

        - Let you select files, directory and devices as argument;

        - a 2.0-like 3D look (not exact copy).

Gadgets are self-explanatory.   [1mOk[0m confirm your selection, [Cancel[0m cancel what
them.  [1mParent[0m goes to the directory one level higher in the hierarchy of the
directories.   [1mUpdate[0m read the directory again  (if it was modified by some
operation).   [1mKeep[0m let the requester keep the file list in memory for subse
quent call.


        The gadget with the arrows pointing at each other is a state gadget.
It tells you what is shown in the list.  Each time you click on it, a diffe-
rent list appear (clicking the irght mouse button has the same effect). The
different states are:

        - Available Files: file in the current directory;

        - Available Drives: drives, disks and assigns in the system;

        - Available Dirs: directory remembered by the requester;

        - Selected Files: files (and dir and devices) currently selected;

        - REMOVE Dirs !!!: let you remove remembered directories.


        The way to select object  (file, dirs, devices, etc...) is standard
across the different lists. To [3mselect [0msomething, click on it once.  To [3menter[0m
something, click twice on it  (This is equivalent to [1mOk[0m when done on a file
in the file list).



[33mHELP WITH MENU[0m
[33m¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯[0m
        The new feature in  this release is of course  the ability to modify
the items while asa is running.   When you're browsing the menu, hitting the
help key will open an edit window for the item under the mouse. Pressing the
help key while no item is highlighted will open the preferences window.


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