Apple Desktop Services has begun a program called "Support Stacks" to organize, develop and distribute desktop support tools throughout Apple Computer. As a part of Central Support at Apple, Desktop Services is working to build the3 Tier world-wide network of Macintosh Support, a network designed to help empower Apple employees at the desktop. This network is made up of people like you, employees from organizations around the world. To build this network at Apple, we are concentrating on providing tools, like these Support Stacks.
Most of the tools will be based in HyperCard and we are looking at the development of 4 types of stacks:
• Pointer (Catalog) Stacks
This type of stack would point to other support/info resources.
POSSIBLE EXAMPLE: a "Support Roadmap" Stack that would point to desktop
support resources throughout the company.l
• Info Stacks
This type would provide large amounts of searchable information on a focused
subject.
POSSIBLE EXAMPLE: a "Virus Encyclopedia" Stack
• Tutorial Stacks
This stack would take a user through a step-by-step tutorial on such areas as
3rd party software, hardware installation, troubleshooting, etc.
EXAMPLE: "QuickMail Help Stack" (SEE BELOW)
• Tool Stacks
The Tool stacks are utilities...the kind that allow you to do diagnostics,
management, etc.
EXAMPLE: Version Checker (SEE BELOW)
Listed below are the Support Stacks that have been released with this disk:
1) VERSION CHECKER
This stack will scan the applications contained on any volumes attached to your Macintosh and compare the version numbers against an internal database. If the volumes contain applications with old version numbers, the stack will notify the user and provide a contact address for the software update. If the stack finds an application that it does not know about, or a version more recent than contained in its database, it will generate an AppleLink with the information that can be sent back to us for a revision of the Version Checker database.
2) QUICKMAIL HELP STACK
This stack provides users with a tutorial on QuickMail, including installation, usage and a great deal of information about troubleshooting the electronic mail product.
3) MICROSOFT MAIL HELP STACK
Like the QuickMail stack, this Support Stack tackles Microsoft Mail.
4) HYPERCARD INTERFACE TOOLKIT
This stack pulls together several HyperCard XCMDs and XFCNs for extending the interface of HyperCard. The tools included in this stack are freeware, which means that they can be used for free in your HyperCard development efforts.
We have several ideas for future Support Stacks, including:
-System 7.0 Upgrade Stack
-Backup Strategies/Retrospect Help Stack
-MicroWaves/Desktop Focus Newsletter Index Stack
-Apple File Exchange Stack
-HyperLab Top 40 HyperCard Tools
We are sending copies of the Support Stacks to all members of the 3 Tier Network. In addition, we will be posting copies of these in the Desktop Services folder, within HotLinks. If you have any suggestions for stacks, or questions about the ones listed above, please let us know. You can contact us throught AppleLink, at the address: MICRO.SUPT.