NOTE: Our correct FAX number is (415) 321-5378. The number in the manual is incorrect.
Welcome!
We're proud of AutoDoubler and we think you'll be pleased with its speed and ease of use.
Please take the time to read this file before installing AutoDoubler. If you encounter any problems, please read this file first, before calling tech support. Have your System Version, serial number, and a clear description of the problem prepared.
NOTE: As when installing any new software, we recommend making a backup before installing. It's also a good idea to also check your disk for disk problems before installing. You can use Disk First Aid to do this. Disk First Aid is supplied with Apple System Software.
If you have questions, please READ THIS DOCUMENT.
If you experience any problems, see the Known Conflicts/Problems list at the end of this document.
CHANGES FROM THE MANUAL
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• The "Settings For New Volumes" item is no longer available in the volume list. We found this feature was confusing and of little benefit, so it has been removed.
ATTENTION DISKDOUBLER USERS:
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• If you are using DiskDoubler, you must have DiskDoubler 3.7.3 or later to work properly with AutoDoubler. Do NOT use an earlier version of DiskDoubler with AutoDoubler. The recommended version of DiskDoubler is 3.7.5.
• The AutoDoubler manual refers to "AD Expand Util App". This is the same as "DDExpand". The only difference is the name. Both programs can be freely distributed, though all copyrights, trademarks and patents remain the property of Salient. Commerical distribution requires a license.
• DiskDoubler 3.7.3 and later can compress in AutoDoubler format, provided AutoDoubler is installed. Use DiskDoubler's Settings dialog to use AutoDoubler compression. DiskDoubler is aware of AutoDoubler files (in fact they are standard DisKDoubler files). DiskDoubler 3.7.3 and later can expand files created by AutoDoubler and can make SEAs out of them.
• For considerably better performance, you should convert all your existing DiskDoubler files to AutoDoubler format. The easiest way to do this is to just expand them. AutoDoubler will compress them automatically. As an alternative, you can use the "Convert" command in the DiskDoubler 3.7.3 application.
• If you have files created by DiskDoubler 3.1 or earlier, you MUST expand (or convert) them to AutoDoubler format in order to work with AutoDoubler. Files created with DiskDoubler 3.7 or later will work with AutoDoubler, but we recommend converting them to AutoDoubler format for best performance.
Information That Didn't Make It Into The User Manual
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• When making a backup copy of your AutoDoubler master disk, make sure the backup disk name is identical to the original disk name. Otherwise, the AutoDoubler installer will not install correctly. Do not modify the master disk in any way, or the installer may not work.
• AutoDoubler uses three cursors. The AD "C" cursor indicates that AutoDoubler is compressing a file. The AD "S" cursor indicates that AutoDoubler is scanning the disk for files to compress. The AD "..." cursor indicates that AutoDoubler is expanding a file because some program is requesting that it be opened and/or written to.
• You can run AutoDoubler with or without DiskDoubler, Salient's other compression product. DiskDoubler offers additional features not offered in AutoDoubler such as self-expanding files, compressed backups, floppy disk compression, split files, combined files. If you run DiskDoubler, it must be version 3.7.3 or later.
• If your machine crashes, AutoDoubler may create a folder at the top level of your disk called "AutoDoubler Rescued Items". This folder contains backup copies of certain files you were using at the time of the crash. Although AutoDoubler cannot damage files, a crash can. You may want to check that the original files are OK, just in case. Otherwise, just throw the "AutoDoubler Rescued Items" folder into the trash.
NOTE: after a crash (with or without AutoDoubler), it is a good idea to run Disk First Aid to check the disk. Disk First Aid is supplied with Apple system software.
• Page 10 of the manual contains a table with the recommended File Cache size. This is actually the recommended MAXIMUM cache size. You can use a larger File Cache if desired, but for most users it will not improve performance. AutoDoubler always presets to a default size based on the amount of RAM (memory) installed in your Macintosh. Most users should leave the File Cache set to this size. However, if you are working with multi-megabyte files or with a program that opens large numbers of files, then you may wish to increase the size of the File Cache.
• AutoDoubler will not compress any items in the System Folder itself or its subfolders. This also applies to any folder named "System Folder", whether or not it is the startup folder.
• Free Space Goal: This option lets you decide how much AutoDoubler compresses. You choose how much disk space you need by setting the free space goal. AutoDoubler will stop compressing files when it meets the free space goal. For example, if you have a 100 MB disk, and set the free space goal to 80%, AutoDoubler will compress files until 80 MB of disk space are available, or until everything is compressed.
Most users will want the maximum amount of disk space. To maximize your disk space, set the Free Space Goal to 99%. The Free Space Goal is discussed on page 13 of the manual.
• Checkup & Optimization Scan: When AutoDoubler starts working, it first compresses files using an extremely fast compression technique. After compressing, if it still has not met the free space goal, then it compresses the files smaller using a slower compression technique that saves more space. (Both methods are extremely fast when opening compressed files or applications).
The fast technique is called a "Checkup" scan and the slower one is called an "Optimization" scan. A checkup scan is also used periodically after AutoDoubler has compressed everything it can. You can see what AutoDoubler is currently doing by using the "Status" button in the AutoDoubler control panel.
Recommendations:
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• If you decide to compress a server volume automatically (an AppleShare® server, for example), we recommend that only one machine be responsible for compressing it since the network is generally the bottleneck.
• We recommend that you do not install AutoDoubler on an AppleShare server itself as we have not yet tested this configuration. Note that it is ok to have a client compress files on the server. In general, though, all clients should run AutoDoubler if they want to access compressed files.
• After installing, leave your machine on for a few hours. AutoDoubler will do the rest.
• If you experience crashes or plainly bad behavior with AutoDoubler, try removing other INITs or control panel devices from your system; you may have an INIT conflict. While we have tested with literally dozens of INITs, INIT conflicts are possible.
• If you anticipate moving an external hard disk to another Macintosh, and you do not have AutoDoubler installed on it, we recommend placing a copy of "AD Expand Util App" (or DDExpand or DiskDoubler) on it so that you can decompress your files on the other machine.
• AutoDoubler by default compresses only your boot disk. Most users will probably want their other disks compressed as well. Use the AutoDoubler control panel to turn on automatic compression on your other disks.
FYI (For Your Information)
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• To minimize disk activity, we recommend turing on the Mac's Disk Cache to at least 32K (128K is good if you can afford the memory). Under System 6.0.x, the disk cache (RAM cache) is accessed in the general control panel. Under system 7.0.x it is accessed in the Memory control panel. The disk cache caches disk from the disk. Do not confuse it with AutoDoubler's File Cache, which caches expanded data.
• For users running System 6.0.x MultiFinder: we recommend increasing the size of the Finder's partition to 250K or more instead of the default 160K. (This is recommended even if you don't have AutoDoubler installed). To do this, use the Finder's "Get Info" box on "Finder" (in the System Folder) and type the new size into the size box.
• The Finder always shows the expanded sizes of files and folders when you use the "Get Info" command. This is because AutoDoubler is completely transparent, even to the Finder. You can use the Status dialog in the AutoDoubler control panel to see the effective disk size. The effective disk size is somewhat conservative; it is likely you can actually fit more than the amount shown.
• When copying or duplicating files in the Finder, the copies or duplicates are always expanded. This means you never have to worry about putting compressed files on a floppy disk that someone else can't read; it also means you can't copy compressed files to a floppy disk for backup purposes. If you have DiskDoubler, you can copy files in compressed form using the "Copy To" command.
• Most backup programs will backup AutoDoubler files in compressed form. If your backup program does not do this, contact us and we can change AutoDoubler so backups will be compressed.
• Under System 7, turning on "Calculate Folder Sizes" in the Views control panel can cause heavy disk activity. We recommend leaving "Calculate Folder Sizes" off, unless you don't mind the disk activity.
Known Conflicts/Problems
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In general, if you encounter a problem, it may be caused by an interaction with another program, (usually an INIT or control panel). Before calling us, it's best to try to determine if you are experiencing an INIT conflict by disabling other INITs. The easiest way to disable other INITs (or control panels) is to drag them onto the desktop, then restart your Macintosh. If the problem goes away, then it may be a conflict with the INIT(s) you removed.
• Dove Marathon Racer accelerator boards for the MacPlus and MacSE:
Older versions of these hardware accelerator boards do not work properly with AutoDoubler. Newer versions appear to work correctly (we purchased one and have not found any problems with AutoDoubler). Because the conflict is severe, you should exercise extreme caution if you want to use AutoDoubler with these accelerator boards.
We believe there is a hardware/software bug in the older versions of these boards. We are investigating the problem, but so far we cannot locate a machine which has the problem. Basically, files appear to compress properly, but do not expand properly. Please contact us if you are local to the San Francisco bay area and have a machine we could test with.
If you still want to try to install, first remove the “Racer 030” INIT from your system folder. Next, install AutoDoubler, and put the “Racer 030” INIT back into your system folder. Then restart your Macintosh.
NOTE: Before doing any of this, we recommend you make a complete backup!
• GateKeeper conflicts with AutoDoubler because it prevents AutoDoubler from creating certain types of files. Do not run GateKeeper with AutoDoubler. A new version of GateKeeper should be available soon which works with AutoDoubler.
• If you are running TOPS 3.0, AutoDoubler must load AFTER TOPS in order to function correctly. Under System 6.0.x, an easy way to do this is to rename AutoDoubler to "zAutoDoubler", since INITs load alphabetically (the installer usually does this for you automatically). The problem lies with TOPS, but assuming AutoDoubler loads after TOPS, they will work together properly.
• If you are running Empower, AutoDoubler must load AFTER Empower to work correctly.
• Under System 7.0.x, running HandOff II (from Connectix) in conjunction with AutoDoubler with FileSharing turned on can result in freeze ups. FileSharing can be turned off in the "Sharing Setup" control panel. This problem will be fixed in a future version of HandOff II.
• If you are running a anti-virus program see the "Configuring Virus Checkers" for notes on how AutoDoubler interacts with anti-virus programs.
• Utilities that launch files under System 6.0.x may not work correctly in some cases when launching compressed applications. We are working on the problem.
• Fourth Dimension (4D) does not work properly with compressed files. For this reason, AutoDoubler will not compress Fourth Dimensions files. Acius is aware of the problem, and we hope a fix will be available in the future.
• The shareware INIT "Magic Apple" does not work properly with AutoDoubler. The problem is due to a bug in Magic Apple.
• DiskLock from 5th Generation systems: we recommed not encrypting folders containing compressed files. If you do encrypt these folders, you will end up with copies of the files you have encrypted in the "AutoDoubler Rescued Items" folder. These items are copies, and can be discarded.
• INITs that track deleted files, such as FileSaver, SUM Shield, etc slow down performance substantially with some applications. Although these utilities are useful, we recommend making regular backups as the best way of preserving your data. We are working with the vendors of these programs to improve their performance.
• Under System 6.0.x, you cannot change the memory allocation of an application using the Finder's Get Info box while it is compressed. Quick workaround: (1) duplicate the application, (2) change the memory allocation, (3) delete the original, (4) rename the duplicate to the original name.
• The following INITs have a problem which causes items in the Extensions folder to not load if AutoDoubler loads before them. This problem occurs only under System 7. To work around this, load AutoDoubler after all items in the Extensions folder.
-- On Startup™ (part of On Cue II from Icom Simulations)
-- InitPicker 2.0x from Microseeds (problem will be fixed in not-yet-released 3.0)
Vendors of both these products are working on fixes.
• When running Norton Disk Doctor, it may report that some files in the AutoDoubler Temporary Items folder are damaged. They are not damaged and nothing bad is afoot. We recommend quitting all other applications before running Norton Disk Doctor to avoid this problem.
• Some applications need to be able to modify themselves in order to personalize themselves. This is typically done just after you intall a new application. If the application is compressed, when you run it, AutoDoubler opens it read-only and the personalization will fail. Therefore, you should always personalize your applications as soon as you install them. If you encounter this problem, expand the app using "AD Expand Util App", then run it & personalize it.
• Do not run DiskLight™ (part of Norton Utilities) with or without AutoDoubler. Using it can result in sporadic system crashes. It violates standard programming conventions and moves memory when it is not supposed to.
