Based on requests from NAUTILUS users, here are some tips for using this CD ROM-based information service, and a description of the features we've built in to make your use of NAUTILUS easier and more convenient. If you can't find an answer to a specific difficulty you have encountered, be sure to contact Customer Service, 614/766-3165.
COPY THE SHELL TO YOUR HARD DISK
CD ROM access time is considerably slower than that of a hard disk. Your overall NAUTILUS experience will be substantially improved by copying the NAUTILUS Shell application from the ROM to your hard disk and launching it from there. Of course, the CD ROM will still need to be present in your drive so that the hundreds of megabytes of data can be accessed, but the performance of the Shell will be greatly enhanced.
MEMORY
The partition size of the NAUTILUS Shell application is set to 2000k. If you do not have enough memory with your system configuration to run the Shell, then, after dragging it to the hard disk, try setting the partition size down to 1600k.
WINDOWS
Using the pull down menu entitled Windows you can immediately go to the Table of Contents or any Section Card on the disc. This menu will also indicate (with a check mark) any cards that are currently open on the desktop.
PREFERENCES
Using the Preferences selection found under the File menu you can set your preference for returning to the NAUTILUS Shell from any of the "Launched" applications. You can choose to return to the Table of Contents, the last card displayed, etc.
NAUTILUS LINK
Whenever you have a comment, idea, suggestion, question, or problem, you can upload it to us directly using the NAUTILUS Communications Link. This is a toll free transaction in the U.S., Canada, and Caribbean Islands.
For detailed instructions select "About Link" from NAUTILUS Link (located on the main menu bar within the NAUTILUS Shell).
NAUTILUS AND SYSTEM 7
The NAUTILUS Shell is System 7 compatible. However, not all the material published on each disc will be. As a result, you may encounter some difficulty accessing certain software under System 7.
Further, because of the memory requirements of System 7, some applications which prior to System 7 would have launched successfully from the NAUTILUS Shell may return "out of memory" errors under System 7. Should this occur, you may be able to gain the additional memory required by quitting any other applications resident or by quitting NAUTILUS itself momentarily and launching from the Finder¬ level. (You can set Preferences so the NAUTILUS Shell remembers your place when you leave, making it easy to pick up where you left off). Applications may then be opened directly from the NAUTILUS CD ROM in many cases though some must be transferred to hard disk for launching.
Because NAUTILUS runs on such a wide variety of Macs, it isn't possible for us to tell you which applications will require special launching on your system. The NAUTILUS Team flags the potential difficulties of this kind likely to affect most subscribers (if we've encountered them ourselves or you point them out) and suggests options that you can try.
HOOK UP THE AUDIO
NAUTILUS discs sometimes contain CD Audio tracks (Redbook Audio) as well as computer data. If your CD ROM drive has audio outputs (most do), you will want to hook them up so that you may completely enjoy what each disc has to offer. See the "Audio Hookup" cards in the NAUTILUS Services Section for more information. You may also play the audio selections on the NAUTILUS disc in any standard CD audio player.
BE CAREFUL, HOWEVER, THAT YOU NEVER PLAY TRACK 1 OF THE NAUTILUS DISC IN A CD AUDIO PLAYER.
Specifications call for all digital data to be located on Track 1 of a CD ROM. Playing this data track on a CD audio player can damage stereo components and/or speakers due to the square-wave nature of the data and the associated high level harmonics created.
IF YOU ENCOUNTER DIFFICULTY PLAYING AUDIO FROM THE SHELL...
Option 1: Check the Control Panel to determine the amount of memory allocated to the RAM cache. As a test, turn OFF the cache entirely and restart your Mac, then run the Shell and attempt to play the audio which was problematic. If this solves the problem, adjust the allocation of memory to the RAM cache on a trial and error basis (note that at present we recommend not setting the RAM cache higher than 256k). If this is not successful, try Option 2:
Option 2: From the Shell, hold down the Command and Option keys simultaneously, then pull down Preferences from the File menu. A dialog box will appear prompting you to enter the sound length. Initially enter the value 300 and click OK. Try running a sound file again. If that alleviates the problem, "play" with different values (within the range of 10 - 300). Reducing the value reduces the amount of memory used by the custom sound player which NAUTILUS employs.
IN AN INSTANT
An additional service available through NAUTILUS is In an Instant¬, your opportunity to review, try, and instantly purchase software programs and material "encrypted" on each NAUTILUS disc. For full details of this service, see the "About IAI" document located in the IAI folder on the desktop.
PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN GET BETTER
We truly believe that you, the NAUTILUS user, have unique ideas and suggestions for how this service can be improved that we may never come up with. So, let us know about glitches, problems and so forth as well as any ideas for content or operational features which you think will make NAUTILUS a better service.
One of the most convenient ways to share those suggestions or concerns is with the toll free NAUTILUS Link. Select "About Link" from the NAUTILUS Link menu (accessible from the main menu bar, within the NAUTILUS Shell) for details. Of course, the NAUTILUS Voice Mail line (614/761-4112) is always available to take your calls. Use whatever means are most convenient for you, but do contact us so that we can make NAUTILUS the service you need and deserve.
