A-10 ATTACK: is a flight simulator (game) for the Macintosh. Take-off and land your A-10 military fighter plane and battle against the enemy using your onboard weapons. From the makers of F/A-18 Hornet, Graphic Simulations Corp. A-10 Fighter Plane
~Aaron v1.4.1: an extension that changes the graphical interface (windows, menus, etc.) so that it resembles the upcoming MacOS8, "Copland."
A/ROSE (extension): "Apple Real-Time Operating System Environment only necessary for certain older Nubus cards which use the MCP (Macintosh Coprocessor Platform) platform and run the Apple Real-Time Operating System (i.e. Apple's short Ethernet card, Token Ring 4.16 NB card, Serial NB card, and Coax/TwinAx NB card).
About Apple Guide: This is the guide file which provides information about Apple Guide. When in the Finder, you can read the contents of this file by selecting About Apple Guide under the question mark icon in the upper right corner of your screen.
About this Macintosh: shows you how much memory your computer has by opening the Apple menu and choosing About this Macintosh. The number next to Total Memory is how much RAM your computer has and how much memory is being used by each application that is running at the present time. Also shows
what applications are presently open and how much memory they are using.
accelerator: a circuit board (throttle) in your computer that you can install to make your Mac faster. Additional hardware to perform some functions faster than is possible in software running on the normal CPU. Examples include graphics accelerators and floating-point accelerators.
access priviledges: is when your system folder protection is turned on and you cannot remove a file until you unlock the system folder in the general controls (in the control panels folder). There is also a lock for the Applications folder. This is nice to have if there are multiple users that have access to your computer.
ACCU: Association of C and C++ Users.
accumulator: In a central processing unit, a register in which intermediate results are stored. Without an accumulator, it would be necessary to write intermediate results to main memory and read them back. Access to main memory is slower than access to the accumulator which usually has direct paths to and from the arithmetic and logic unit (ALU). Modern CPUs usually have many registers, all or many of which can be used as accumulators. For this reason, the term "accumulator" is somewhat archaic. Use of it as a synonym for "register" is a fairly reliable indication that the user has been around for quite a while and/or that the architecture under discussion is quite old. The term in full is almost never used of microprocessor registers, for example, though symbolic names for arithmetic registers beginning in "A" derive from historical use of the term "accumulator" (and not, actually, from "arithmetic"). Confusingly, though, an "A" register name prefix may also stand for "address", as for example on the Motorola 680x0 family.
acoustic coupler: A device used to connect a modem to a telephone line via an ordinary handset. The acoustic coupler converts electrical signals from the modem to sound via a loudspeaker, against which the mouthpiece of a telephone handset is placed. The earpiece is placed against a microphone which converts sound to electrical signals which return to the modem. The handset is inserted into a sound-proof box containing the loudspeaker and microphone to avoid interference from ambient noise. Acousitic couplers are now rarely used since most modems have a direct electrical connection to the telephone line. This avoids the signal degradation caused by conversion to and from audio.
active window: the window in front (the window or file you are currently reading or typing in).
ActiveX: Microsoft's answer to Java. ActiveX is a stripped down implementation of OLE designed to run over slow Internet links.
actuator: is the motor that moves the read/write head over the platters. Voice coil actuators are used in better drives; cheaper drives often use a clumsy Step-per-motor based actuator. Stepper motors cannot provide the fine control of a voice coil actuator.
ADB (Apple Desktop Bus): is a serial interface designed for connecting input devices to the Macintosh computer. Pass-through connectors on each device enable you to chain several devices together. You will note that an ADB port is located in the back of your Macintosh and an ADB cable connects to the keyboard. Some other devices such as joysticks and trackballs have an extra ADB port allowing you to connect multiple input devices.
ADB (Apple Desktop Bus extension): a system extension that describes the cables and jacks used by the keyboard and mouse to the Macintosh.
ADB Port: is a port in the back of your Macintosh in which you connect the mouse cable into. If you have a joystick or trackball, they usually supply an extra ADB port with their device to allow hook up of both devices. Note: Always shutdown your Macintosh before connecting/disconnecting any cables.
Add Alias to AppleMenu: is an AppleScript application that does what it says automatically. (Also see AppleScript for creating your own scripts).
address bus: are the connections between the CPU and memory which carry the address from/to which the CPU wishes to read or write. The number of bits of address bus determines the maximum size of memory which the processor can access.
address mask (or "subnet mask"): a bit mask used to identify which bits in an IP address correspond to the network address and subnet portions of the address. This mask is often referred to as the subnet mask because the network portion of the address can be determined by the class inherent in an IP address. The address mask has ones in positions corresponding to the network and subnet numbers and zeros in the host number positions.
Adobe Acrobat Reader: allows you to read .pdf files. A product from Adobe Systems, for manipulating documents stored in Portable Document Format. Acrobat provides a platform-independent means of viewing, and printing documents.
Adobe Photoshop: is an application program (Graphics Editor) used to edit images either with a scanner or any pictures you have on hand.
Adobe Systems, Inc.: is a California font foundry and software house. Adobe created the PostScript page description language and wrote the Blue Book, Green Book, Red Book and White Book on it. They also developed PDF.
Adobe Type Reunion v1.2 (control panel): font menu utility, similar to Now WYSIWYG Menus, which groups font families together in hierarchical submenus and shows font names in their respective fonts.
ADSP (extension): AppleTalk Data Stream Protocol. Provided networking protocol under pre-7.0 systems. More specifically, it provided data flow and full duplex data delivery over a network. However, in order for the benefits to be realized, both Macs had to be running this extension.
Administrative Domain (AD): a collection of hosts and routers, and the interconnecting network(s), managed by a single administrative authority.
After Dark (RAM usage depends upon which "module" you are using): a popular screen saver. This control panel has been known to conflict with many things, and can cause quite a few crashes under certain configurations.
After Dark Files: not a control panel, but a folder within the Control Panels folder. This folder holds the modules and support files for After Dark.
AIFF Recorder: is a shareware application program that records sounds or music to AIFF format.
Al Unser Jr.: is a car racing game. The demo is available on the Internet.
Alert Box: a message that appears on your screen; Mac is communicating with you. An alert box is marked with either an exclamation mark or with a red warning hand.
Alias: a duplicate of a files icon (not the original file). This is a feature of system 7 or later and is indicated by an italicized icon name. Aliases are used to create a shortcut to open that particular file. Make Alias (M).
Alias Menu: is a control panel that allows you to create folders in the menubar. Like using a second, third or forth Apple Menu. This makes it easy to open files that you use often. The files can be accessed in the finder (or from the desktop).
Allocating More Memory: If you want a program to work with more or larger documents, you can increase the amount of memory it uses or if you want to open more programs at once, you can decrease the memory size of your programs, this also depends on how much RAM you have installed.
First you need to quit the application if it is open. Then open the folder in which the application is in, click on the application to highlight it. Then go to the menu bar where it says “File”, hold down on the mouse button and drag down to “Get Info” and release the mouse button. A dialog box will appear and at the bottom you will see minimum size, preferred size, and suggested size. In the box preferred size you can adjust this amount of memory. Move the cursor inside this box and click once then change the amount of memory here. Also see Get Info.
American Heritage Dictionary: contains common definitions like the Webster’s Dictionary. Not many computer definitions here.
AMMS MPEG Decoder (extension): hardware driver for the Apple MPEG Media System Card.
Apple Built-In Ethernet: used by Open Transport/Classic AppleTalk to allow access to the built-in Ethernet port on your Mac. Depending upon your system version prior to updating to 7.5.3, this extension could be called either of the above names; although they are quite different in code, they perform essentially the same function.
AppleCD Audio Player Guide: provides step-by-step instructions for using the AppleCD Audio Player. You can access the AppleCD Audio Player Guide from the Guide (question mark) menu, after you install and open AppleCD Audio Player.
AppleCD Player: is located in the Apple Extras folder on your hard disk.
You can also find control strip modules (3rd party shareware) to place in your Apple Control Strip, that comes with system 7.5.3, to quickly access the audio CD from the control strip on your desktop. As a shortcut to the AppleCD Player, an Alias has been put it in the Apple Menu for you by Apple Computer.
Apple CD-ROM: the driver software for any installed Apple CD-ROM drive.
Apple CD Speed Switch: from System 7.1. Allows you to switch between "standard" or "faster" speed. It is integrated into CD Software 5.0.
Apple Color Printer: enables your computer to print documents on an Apple Color Printer.
Apple Color SW Pro CMM: contains color-matching information used by ColorSync 2.0 to maintain consistent color between documents.
Apple DocViewer: is an on-line documentation application. It provides a standard way for Apple to distribute documentation to developers in an electronic form and provides a quick on-screen reference for browsing through multiple documents.
Apple Ethernet Built-in: if you’re not using Ethernet you can removed this extension or disable it.
Apple Ethernet CS, Apple Ethernet LC, Apple Ethernet NB: these Ethernet drivers are necessary only if you have a IIcs, LC, or NuBus Mac using the corresponding Ethernet expansion card.
Apple Events Manager: (for programmers) incorporated into AppleScript with System 7.5 and above.
Apple File Exchange: (PC Exchange) this was actually an application, rather than a control panel. PC Exchange replaces Apple File Exchange and allows your Macintosh to open PC files.
Apple Guide: is Apple's integrated help system and is the (?) located in the top right corner of the menubar. If you are not using Apple Guide you can remove it...Actually, only the Apple Guide extension takes up system RAM; the individual modules, called "mixins," are documents. But for those of us who just want to keep things neat, you can remove all of them: NOTE: There is a known bug in Apple Guide. If you are having trouble with Apple Guide functioning properly, make sure you don't have mixins installed for items that are not on your computer. Some examples of this: having the "PowerBook Guide Additions" on a desktop Mac; "Speech Guide Additions" on a Mac not running PlainTalk; AV-related mixins on a non-AV Mac. To solve the problem, just remove the offending mixins. (Thanks to Bob LeVitus and Chris Breen for this tip). Another quick tip to find these documents/related files is by using the Find File application (F).
Apple HD SC Setup: is an application program that is used to reformat your Hard Disk.
Apple Macintosh 24AC: used by the Radius Display Card 24AC.
Apple Menu: the menu bar in the upper left corner of the screen with the apple logo. This is where you'll find the aliases to the original files and folders to most of your applications, CD player, folders, control panels, etc.
Apple Menu Items: aliases of original items placed in this folder will appear under the Apple Menu or in the system folder under Apple Menu Items. The items in this folder are sorted alphabetically; to reorganize the order items appear in the menu, place characters such as spaces, periods, etc. at the beginning of names. If you are using a startup manager/utility which supports Apple Menu Items, you may also have a folder called "Apple Menu Items (Disabled)." This folder is located in the System Folder.
Apple Menu Options 1.1.2: is a control panel the creates the sub-folders in the Apple Menu.When you install 7.5.3 or System 7.5.2 Update 2.0, your preferences for this control panel are reset. You will have to manually reset them.
Apple Modem Tool: used with ClarisWorks to access a network connection or to dial a phone number.
Apple Multimedia Tuner: is a system extension includes a set of software enhancements that improve the performance and reliability of some software applications and multimedia titles that utilize Apple's QuickTime and Sound Manager software on Macintosh computers running system software versions 6.0.7, through 7.5. This extension is not required unless you have a tv connected to your Macintosh.
Apple Photo Access: this is part of the CD-ROM software which allows you to view Kodak PhotoCD's.
Apple Remote Access (ARA): you can send a fax while the ARA Answer Calls option is selected in the Remote Access Setup control panel. However, you will not be able to receive faxes while the ARA Answer Calls option is selected in the Remote Access Setup control panel. You must decide to either set the computer to answer ARA calls OR receive faxes. (That’s why my answering machine doesn’t work).
AppleScript: is located in the Apple Extras folder on your Hard Disk, it allows for "scripting" of operating system functions. Many scripts are provided with your Mac, or you can program your own scripts if you have the patience to learn the language. Apple Events Manager now built into this.
To use the Record button; press the record button and go through the motions for example, open the Hard Disk, open the Applications folder, open ClarisWorks folder, open ClarisWorks application, then go back to the finder and close all windows (option-click on the close box). Then return to AppleScript by clicking on its window to make it active. Press the Stop button. Now go back to ClarisWorks and quit the application. Return to AppleScript and press run. You will now see windows being opened and ClarisWorks application startup, then see all of the windows close. Remember to quit ClarisWorks before you record this example, otherwise you’ll get an error. All of your actions have been automatically recorded. Try it, it’s cool! ClarisWorks it is available at http://www.claris.com/ if you don’t have it.
AppleScript™: provides you with the ability to automate repetitive tasks within scriptable applications.
AppleScriptLib: is an extension required to use and edit AppleScript scripts. Provides native support for AppleScript on PowerPC-based computers.
AppleShare (v3.6.1): only necessary for access to networked volumes, if you're not on a network, you don't need it. If you are on a network, you only need it if you want to access other computers and file sharing must be turned on. This version of the AppleShare extension is incompatible with Connectix SpeedDoubler 1.1 and earlier, and could possibly be incompatible with other "copy accelerators." The bug only affects file transfers over an Ethernet connection.
Appletalk: a proprietary local area network protocol developed by Apple Computer, Inc. for communication between Apple products (e.g. Macintosh) and other computers. This protocol is independent of the network layer on which it runs. Current implementations exist for Localtalk, a 235 kilobyte per second local area network and Ethertalk, a 10 megabyte per second local area network.
AppleTalk ImageWriter: enables your computer to print documents on an ImageWriter or networked ImageWriter II.
AppleTalk Network: a Local Area Network (LAN) that lets everyone in a group connect their Macintoshes and other types of computers. Information such as documents, email and applications can be shared across the network.
AppleTalk Service: you can specify AppleTalk settings (such as connection port and zone) for use with Apple’s Open Transport networking. When you install Open Transport, the Network and MacTCP control panels are replaced with the AppleTalk and TCP/IP control panels. Works on all Mac OS–based computers that support Open Transport.
Apple Token Ring NB:
Apple Video Player: an application program that provides software to use your VCR with the Macintosh.
AppleVision (v1.0.4): if you have a 1710AV monitor and a PCI Mac, you must use v1.0.4 and the Monitors & Sound control panel. 1.0.2 is not compatible with PCI Macs running 7.5.3. If you have a non-PCI Mac, you must use 1.0.2, the Sound control panel, and the Monitors control panel. To update to version 1.0.4, you must first install 1.0.2, which is available from Apple's ftp sites, before you update to System 7.5.3.
AppleVision Guide Additions: adds step-by-step instructions to Macintosh Guide about how to use AppleVision displays with your computer.
AppleVision Setup: actually an application. On a PCI Mac, after upgrading to System 7.5.3, this "control panel" should be eliminated (if not, you can trash it manually). All of its functionality will be incorporated into the Monitors & Sound control panel. Also, if you hit the buttons on the front of the AppleVision 1710AV, the Monitors & Sound CP should appear.
Application: same as software program or software application (see application program).
Application Folder: stores most of the software programs that are added to the Mac. To find an application quickly, you can add aliases to the Apple menu.
Application menu: same as the Finder on system 7.0 or later. You can switch from one program to another by choosing names from the application menu.
Application (program): a piece of software that performs a specific function on your computer. For example, ClarisWorks is an application program that allows you to do Word Processing, Graphics, Databases, and Spreadsheets. HyperCard Player is an application that allows you to run HyperCard stacks. Each application has its own creator (so the Finder knows what to run when you double click on it) that it gives its documents.
Argument <programming> : the same as a parameter---a variable or value passed to a function.
Arrange Backgrounder: an extension installed by CE Software's Web Arranger.
ArtValve: allows AOL users to avoid the long "downloading art" periods.
ASCII: (text) pronounced "askee," PopChar Lite is a program that displays the ASCII characters (Option key shortcuts) in a window. Also see PopChar Lite.
ASFU Fixer: a third party INIT from GDT Technologies which disabled the DMA serial driver originally found on PowerMac and Quadra AV machines, reverting to the unused non-DMA serial driver in the ROMs of those machines. Apparently, the newer DMA driver was incompatible with GDT's PowerPrint and the StyleWriter printer. Also needed by a few other products because they were incompatible with the DMA serial driver and GeoPort architecture. However, applications which used the standard GeoPort architecture of these machines could encounter problems of their own when using the "patched" driver. The SerialDMA extension (now a part of System 7.5.3) eliminated the need for this extension.
Aspect Ratio: the aspect ratio of a monitor is measured in pixels high. For instance, the AppleColor 13” monitor has an aspect ratio of 640x480 pixels or 72 dpi (dots per inch). A monitor displaying a higher ratio on the same monitor does not mean a sharper picture, but it does make your desktop work space larger and all of the objects and text smaller. It’s just like using a camera and zooming out to a wider angle.
Assistant Toolbox: this is the base extension for AutoRemounter. AutoRemounter works on Macintosh PowerBook computers and allows file synchronization, battery management, and easy mobile computing. It also provides support for a persistent RAM disk and deferred printing. This extension may conflict with the LaserWriter Select 310 printer software to block printing. A solution is to turn off background printing in the Chooser.
Assistant Toolbox (v1.3.1): a set of routines for the PowerBook File Assistant which allow file synchronization, better battery management, and easier mobile computing. It provides support for a persistent RAM disk (normally, you would lose your RAM disk when the computer is shut down) and deferred printing when a printer is not available (if you are using the LaserWriter driver). It provides better cursor visibility on passive-matrix displays. It allows AppleTalk to be activated without restarting the computer. It also works with PCI Macs to enable deferred printing when a printer is not available (again, only if you are using the LaserWriter driver). This extension may conflict with the LaserWriter Select 310 printer software to block printing. A solution is to turn off background printing in the Chooser.
AT Commands: are commands or a language allowing you to comunicate with your modem (now they have us talking to machines:-). Modems speak to computers using their own language. The AT command is used for attention. DT is used for tone dial. Note that each modem manufacturer has a different language code for that specific modem. See your Modem Instructions Manual for your modem language codes. These commands also allow you to set advanced commands such as, error control, data compression, and high-speed connections.
Basic AT Commands...
Command Function Notes
ATA Answer phone
ATDT n Tone Dial n = number to dial, use commas for pauses.
ATDP n Pulse Dial n = number to dial, use commas for pauses.
ATHn Hook H0 hangs up, H1 answers phone.
ATMn Speaker M0 turns off, M1 turns on.
ATZ Reset Sets modem to power-on settings.
AT+++ Command Returns modem to command state.
ATO Online Returns to on-line (opposite of +++).
ATS0= n Answer Rings Sets # of rings to answer phone.
At Ease: allows you to set up your computer so that users can only use certain applications, folders, documents. It also prevents them from accessing and reconfiguring the system.
At Ease 7.5 Layer Patch: When "Show Desktop when in background" is not checked in the General Controls control panel, the System software "hides" the Finder when another application is in the foreground. At Ease, on the other hand, tries to stay visible in the background when an application is launched. When both of these circumstances occur at the same time (using At Ease with the "Show Desktop" box unchecked), the Process Manager in the System software can't decide whether to "hide" At Ease or not and crashes. This patch fixes this problem.
At Ease Items: this folder, stored in the System Folder, contains all the user info and preference files for At Ease.
At Ease Startup: extension which causes the computer to startup in At Ease instead of the Finder.
ATM (Adobe Type Manager) 3.9: allows Type1 fonts to display smoothly. Also required for Acrobat/Acrobat Reader to function. For your information, there is a conflict between ATM 3.8.3 and Suitcase 2.x.
ATM GX: installed by QuickDraw GX. Makes your Type 1 fonts look sharp and clear at any point size, both on your screen and on paper. Improves the output of QuickDraw printers, such as the ImageWriter and StyleWriter series. Works on all Mac OS–based computers that use System 7.5. Only necessary if you actually use GX (does anyone?). Version 3.7 is non-native; 3.8 is native. Supposedly can cause Norton Utilities to falsely report hard drive directory problems.
Audio CD Access: this is part of the CD-ROM software which allows you to play audio CDs through your internal or external CD-ROM drive. It requires the AppleCD Audio Player or equivalent to control the CD.
AudioVision: part of the AudioVision 14" monitor software package. Only needed on pre-7.5 systems.
Audio Volume Extension: on 5200, 5300, 6200, and 6300 series Macs, this file replaces/fixes problems with the Internal Modem Sound extension (actually, a newer version of the IMS extension is incorporated into the Audio Volume extension). Allows modem sounds to be played through the Mac's own speakers (or external speakers). Also loads a new sound driver which fixes a bug with poor sound quality on sounds played from the hard drive or CD-ROM's.
Aurora v4.1: is a third-party control panel (cdev) used to customize the look (in color) of your desktop, menu bar, windows, etc.
Auto Power On/Off: shuts down the Mac after a specified idle time, reboots after a power failure, and/or allows you to have the Mac shut down or start up at a certain time(s). According to Apple, works with IIsi, IIvx, IIvi, Color Classic (& CCII), LC 630, LC 520, LC 550, Quadra 630, Quadra 840AV, and all subsequent models (except for PB 500 models) up until the PCI Macs. However, many PowerMac owners claim that it doesn't work on their machines. It doesn’t work on the Performa 6290 either.
AutoRemounter (v7.5.3): only used for PowerBooks. Allows remounting of AppleShare server volumes after waking from sleep. Turns off "losing network services" alert that shows up when your PowerBook goes to sleep. For all PowerBooks except 100, 140, 145, 145B, and 170.
AV: stands for Audio Video/Audio Visual.
AV Guide Additions: adds step-by-step instructions to Macintosh Guide about how to use AV monitors with your computer.
AV/PPC Serial Extension: installed by the Global Village modem software on older systems. Used on pre-7.1.3 systems to enhance the serial port to allow the higher connect speeds which the Teleports were capable of supporting.
AV Serial: it is supposed to have fixed (a) difficulties when printing with the LaserWriter Select 310 printer; (b) a possible system error when both the serial port and an AppleTalk network connection are being used heavily; and (c) a possible system crash when simultaneously receiving a fax and transferring files over a network.
AV Setup: an extension used by Sound & Displays control panel included in the second release of System 7.5.2 and used to control AppleVision displays.
