WorkStrip is the first in a suite of utilities from Softchaos designed to make using your Macintosh more efficient, to make you more productive.
Full instructions on how to use WorkStrip can be found in the accompanying User Guide, and in the online help installed with WorkStrip.
Brief Description:
a: AutoShrink control - use to turn AutoShrink on or off,
b: Finder Icon - one click access to desktop and open folders,
c: Tagged applications - always available even when application is not running,
d: Other running applications - switch instantly to any running application,
e: Easy access to any open window, even in hidden or obscured apps,
f: Control panel support - eliminates need for Apple Control Strip,
g: WorkSpaces - tracks your open files automatically following your work patterns,
h: Quick Access menu - one click access to a host of common actions,
i: Grip - click to switch to reduced size, or drag up and down to position WorkStrip.
Changes in WorkStrip 1.5.3
New features
[WorkStrip 1.5 and later]
Many preferences have been added to the WorkStrip Control Panel to allow better control of WorkStrip's features, where previously a specific key combination had to be remembered/discovered. Most significantly, it is now possible to have item previews always enabled when using WorkStrip menus.
WorkStrip now supports skins to allow its appearance to be altered (via the WorkStrip Control Panel). For information on designing your own skins, please download the Skin Design Kit from <http://www.softchaos.com/workstrip/workstripsdk.hqx>.
Most movie/sound formats supported by QuickTime can now be previewed directly from within WorkStrip's menus. These include QuickTime movies, MPEG, MP3, AIFF and Flash 4 animations. To play such files, simply move the mouse over the preview image generated by WorkStrip.
HTML files located on your hard disk can now be previewed in WorkStrip's menus. (Requires Mac OS 9 or later)
WorkStrip can now be anchored to the right hand side of any monitor, as well as the left.
Recently visited Internet sites can now be bookmarked within a workspace. (Requires Internet Explorer)
Improved Functionality
[WorkStrip 1.5 and later]
Added support for even more third party Control Strip modules.
WorkStrip will now attempt to find alternative versions of tagged applications if the original application can no longer be found (e.g. after installing a newer version of an application).
Previously, when WorkStrip was Auto-Shrunk it was possible to temporarily expand it to get to its items' menus; it would then shrink back as soon as a menu was used. It now waits a short while after using a menu to allow further menus to be accessed.
WorkStrip will no longer flicker as it changes size.
WorkStrip is now more intelligent in determining recent items for applications that do not provide information about open files.
WorkStrip now stores a maximum of 15 recent folders per workspace.
WorkStrip's menus are now more responsive.
The Recent Applications can now be cleared.
Added support for previewing additional types of clipping files.
Control Panels can now be tagged on WorkStrip.
The export workspace feature now allows you to select which items within the workspace should be exported.
[WorkStrip 1.5.1]
It has always been possible to tag an application in a particular WorkSpace by holding down a key combination when selecting 'Tagged'. To make this facility more accessible, the Tagged menu now has a sub-menu to allow you to choose between System Wide and WorkSpace tagging.
When a folder is bookmaked in an application, selecting that folder from the Bookmarked Items menu will no longer try to get that application to open the folder unless the application is able to open folders. For applications that cannot open folders, the Finder will open the folder instead.
Previously, when trying to select a folder from a WorkStrip menu, you had to wait until its sub-menu was fully created before WorkStrip would open the folder. Now the folder will open as soon as you release the mouse button.
Items in the Add to Bookmarked Items and remove Bookmarked Item sub-menus now have '+' and '-' symbols overlaid on their icons. This helps to differentiate such items from their equivalents in the Recent Items and Bookmarked Items sub-menus and reduces the risk of doing the wrong action inadvertently.
Added a workaround to prevent parts of the World Clock Deluxe Control Strip module drawing incorrectly.
Files that exist in TechTool Pro's Trash Cache will no longer be displayed in WorkStrip menus.
[WorkStrip 1.5.3]
The Licensing dialogs were reworked to avoid confusion.
Bug Fixes
[WorkStrip 1.5 and later]
No longer displays an image whilst dragging Control Strip modules from WorkStrip as this was leaving unwanted artefacts on the screen afterwards.
WorkStrip no longer flashes off and on when using some applications' pop-up menus.
WorkStrip now sets the mouse pointer correctly when using its menus.
WorkStrip no longer fails to validate license information with uppercase letters in the email address.
WorkStrip no longer loses its license information when a disk is recovered from a backup.
Auto-Shrink now works correctly with Final Cut Pro.
[WorkStrip 1.5.3]
Control Strip module incompatibilities were resolved for the following modules:
As a result of the changes for these modules, many other modules should also benefit.
Comments, suggestions, or bug reports:
You can report bugs in WorkStrip from the following web page:
http://www.softchaos.com/forms/custInterface.html
Alternatively, email support@softchaos.com.
Disclaimer
Softchaos Limited, its distributors and dealers make no warranties, either express or implied, with respect to the information contained in this document, or its fitness for any purpose.
This information is made available only on an "as is" basis. The entire risk as to its quality is with the customer. Softchaos Ltd. its distributors or dealers are not liable for direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages even if Softchaos Ltd. have been notified of errors in this information.
