Tools Plus is a set of powerful, yet easy-to-learn productivity libraries for Macintosh programmers using Symantec Corporation’s THINK C/C++, and THINK Pascal. Over 170 high-powered “set and forget” routines let you create your application’s user interface, while Tools Plus maintains it for you and takes care of event management.
With Tools Plus, you have the advantage of enhanced functionality, automation, and full integration of: windows, floating palettes, tool bar, cursors, buttons, picture buttons, scroll bars, editing fields, list boxes, pull-down and hierarchical menus, pop-up menus, the Edit menu, clipboard, alerts, event handling, and more. Once you create your user interface, Tools Plus makes it work. Virtually all Tools Plus routines can be executed with a single line of code.
Using Tools Plus simplifies your programming and accelerates development. You’ll create applications in less time, with less source code, with far fewer bugs, and with more features than if you use ordinary C/C++ or Pascal.
Tools Plus libraries can be compiled into applications intended for System 5 and 6 (running under Finder and MultiFinder™), and System 7.
Tools Plus is explained in greater detail in chapter 1 (Introduction) of the User Manual. For a summarized list of benefits and features, please refer to the following documents:
Read Me! Advantage Tools Plus
Read Me! Key Features
If you decide to register Tools Plus, you will receive:
√ the latest version of Tools Plus
√ a comprehensive, illustrated 250-page user manual
√ free technical support
√ free software updates
√ software upgrades at reduced prices
and you may distribute programs created with Tools Plus royalty-free.
MINIMUM Requirements to Develop Applications using Tools Plus
*Tools Plus takes advantage of System 7’s features, but you can
compile Tools Plus libraries into applications intended to run
on System 5, 6 or System 7.
Shareware
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This fully featured copy of Tools Plus is distributed at no cost as Shareware. The purpose of this is to allow potential users to EVALUATE the software before buying it. There are, however, terms and conditions to using this product, even for the purpose of evaluation.
Tools Plus is also available as a “fully registered” product for a registration fee. Registration entitles you to special privileges and benefits that are not offered to unregistered users.
For full details, please read the “ShareWare License & Legal Info” document.
What Is Shareware?
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“Shareware” is a method of software distribution that gives users an opportunity to try software before buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to register. Details vary for individual programs: some request registration while others require it. Some specify a maximum trial period. With registration, you get anything from the simple right to continue using the software, to an updated program with printed manual.
Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and the copyright holder retains all rights with a few specific exceptions as specifically stated. Like commercial authors, Shareware authors are accomplished programmers, and their programs are of comparable quality (in both cases, there are good programs and not-so-good programs). The main difference is in the method of distribution. The Shareware author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute the software, either to anyone or to a specific group. Some authors, for example, require written permission before a commercial disk vendor may copy their software.
Shareware is a method of distribution, not a type of software. You should always buy software that suits your requirements and budget, regardless if it’s commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes it easier to determine if the software suits your needs, because you can try it before you buy it. Furthermore, since the Shareware author’s overhead is low, prices are generally low as well. Shareware has the ultimate money-back guarantee: if you don’t use the product, you don’t pay for it!
Tools Plus Documentation
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The “evaluation” documentation that is included with this copy of Tools Plus is extensive, but well organized and easy to follow. It has, however, been edited to (a) reduce its size to facilitate electronic transfer, and (b) to allows users to read the files regardless of their brand and version of word processor. As a result, this documentation does not include, pictures, illustrations, programming tips, or an index. If you choose to register your copy of Tools Plus, you will receive a comprehensive 250 page professionally illustrated, indexed and bound Tools Plus User Manual.
For the best viewing results, please open the Tools Plus documentation by first launching your word processor, then use the File menu’s Open command to open the desired document. Display the document using a monospaced font (Monaco 9pt is recommended). As a last resort, if you do not have a word processor, you can double-click any of the documents and TeachText (a free application from Apple that comes with each set of System disks) will display them.
Tools Plus Documentation - Chapters
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The Tools Plus User Manual can be found as a number of documents in the “User Manual” folder. Each document in the “User Manual” folder is a single chapter of the User Manual. If you view the folder by name, you will see the documents sorted by chapter number (because the document’s name starts with the chapter number).
TeachText has a file limit of 32k (as do some low-end text processors), so chapters that exceed that limit have been split into several files (suffixed with “1 of 2” and “2 of 2” etc.)
The following is a summary of the User Manual’s chapters:
“ShareWare License & Legal Info”
• Copyright and trademark information
• An explanation of Shareware
• Software License and Warranty
• Registration information
“00-Contents”
• User Manual’s table of contents
“01-Introduction”
• What is Tools Plus
• An Overview of Tools Plus
• The advantages of using Tools Plus
• Who can benefit from Tools Plus
• What kind of applications can be written with Tools Plus
• What is Tools Plus not suitable for
• System Requirements (computer, system, memory, disk, etc.)
• Tools Plus Source Code and Site Licensing
• Before You Start Programming
• If you are new to Macintosh programming
“02-Installing Tools Plus”
• Installation instructions describing how to install Tools Plus
in your THINK C/C++ project, or THINK Pascal project.
• How to compile the demo application included with Tools Plus
“03-Designing Your Application”
• How to design your application to work with Tools Plus
• Overview of Macintosh events vs Tools Plus events
• The main event loop
• Differences in Finder, MultiFinder and System 7
“04-Initializing Tools Plus”
• How to initialize the Tools Plus libraries before using them
“05-Windows (1 of 2)”
“05-Windows (2 of 2)”
• Explanation of windows’ features
• Creating and using windows in your application
• Creating and using a tool bar in your application
• Creating and using floating palettes in your application
“06-Buttons”
• Explanation of buttons’ features
• Creating and using buttons in your application (includes push-
buttons, radio buttons and check-boxes)
“07-Picture Buttons (1 of 3)”
“07-Picture Buttons (2 of 3)”
“07-Picture Buttons (3 of 3)”
• Explanation of picture buttons’ features
• Creating and using picture buttons in your application
“08-Scroll Bars”
• Explanation of scroll bars’ features
• Creating and using scroll bars in your application
“09-Editing Fields (1 of 2)”
“09-Editing Fields (2 of 2)”
• Explanation of editing fields’ features
• Creating and using editing fields in your application
“10-List Boxes”
• Explanation of list boxes’ features
• Creating and using list boxes in your application
“11-Pop-Up Menus (1 of 2)”
“11-Pop-Up Menus (2 of 2)”
• Explanation of pop-up menu’ features
• Creating and using pop-up menus in your application
“12-Menus (1 of 2)”
“12-Menus (2 of 2)”
• Explanation of menus’ features
• Creating and using pull-down menus in your application
• Creating and using hierarchical menus in your application
“13-Cursors”
• Explanation of cursor features
• Automatic cursor changes (cursor tables and zones)
• Cursor animation
• Creating and using cursors in your application
“14-System Polling (1 of 4)”
“14-System Polling (2 of 4)”
“14-System Polling (3 of 4)”
“14-System Polling (4 of 4)”
• Explanation of Tools Plus’s automatic processes
• Polling for events (the main event loop)
• Tools Plus events vs Macintosh Toolbox events
• Responding to Tools Plus events
“15-Color Drawing/Multi Screens”
• Programming for Macs that have several monitors
• Color-dependent drawing (drawing that changes depending on the
monitor’s settings, such as: [1] color, gray or B&W, [2] number
of colors or grays)
“16-User Notification”
• Explanation of User Notification features
• Setting and triggering User Notification in your application
“17-Dynamic Alerts”
• Explanation of Dynamic Alerts’ features
• Creating and using Dynamic Alerts in your application
“18-Miscellaneous Routines”
• Several Macro routines that perform commonly used tasks, such
as drawing icon families, drawing “zoom lines”, and drawing the
standard progress thermometer.
“19-Other Macintosh Features”
• Creating and using the Macintosh toolbox’s alerts and dialogs,
custom controls, and list manager.
“20-Memory”
• List of Tools Plus routines that consume memory, and details as
to how much memory.
“21-Font Heights”
• List of commonly used fonts and their heights
“22-Special Routines”
• Macintosh toolbox routines that should be used with caution or
not at all.
• Substitute Tools Plus routines are listed where the toolbox’s
routines should not be used.
“23-Completing Your Application”
• Finishing touches needed to complete an application written
with Tools Plus. Most of this is similar to ordinary Macintosh
applications (i.e. the SIZE resource, the application’s icon
family, the BNDL resource, etc.)
“24-Technical Support & Updates”
• How Water’s Edge Software technical support can help you
• Free software updates and upgrades
P L E A S E R E A D ....
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Please read the “ShareWare License & Legal Info” document. It grants you to specific rights, and defines the limits of use of this Shareware software.
Also, please read the User Manual (“glancing” through it doesn’t count).
Feedback
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In the interest of providing you with the best possible product, we invite you to tell us your opinions about Tools Plus... even if you are not a registered user.
Tell us what you like, what you don’t like, and let us know what features you would like to see in future releases. Please send your feedback to the CompuServe address listed below:
73424,2507
If you are using AppleLink or another e-mail system, you likely have access to Internet. Water’s Edge Software can be contacted at the following Internet account:
73424.2507@compuserve.com
Please check your e-mail User Manual, or contact your e-mail Customer Service representative for information on accessing Internet accounts.
