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From: howard@amdahl.amdahl.com (The Toolmaster)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Keeper & Finder improvements
Message-ID: <11680@amdahl.amdahl.com>
Date: Sat, 8-Aug-87 21:33:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: amdahl.11680
Posted: Sat Aug  8 21:33:25 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 9-Aug-87 13:04:42 EDT
References: <19906@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> <4524@nsc.nsc.com>
Reply-To: howard@amdahl.UUCP (The Toolmaster)
Organization: Amdahl Corp, Sunnyvale CA
Lines: 51

In article <7346@think.UUCP> barmar@godot.think.com.UUCP (Barry Margolin) writes:
>In article <1554@watcgl.waterloo.edu> kdmoen@watcgl.waterloo.edu (Doug Moen) writes:
>>chow@tcgould.tn.cornell.edu (Christopher Chow) writes:
>>>Well, one thing which I always wanted to see in the Finder was a way to
>>>display text files and MacPaint type files.  The Mac is the only computer
>>>which I know of that dosen't have a fairly accessible "display this file"
>>>type command.
>
>>  I'd rather have a working Juggler than a big, fat finder
>>with a built in text editor, and built-in MacPaint.
>
>I don't think he is asking for that.  There is a big difference
>between an EDITOR and a DISPLAYER (although on the Mac a simple text
>editor is pretty simple, because TextEdit does most of the work).  I
>would also like to see a standard way to simply display a text file.
>I usually use MockWrite for this, but its 32K limitation often forces
>me to use QED.  I would never use MacWrite, as it takes forever to
>convert a TEXT file to its format.
>
>A MacPaint displayer would also be nice, but since MacPaint is
>unbundled, it would be somewhat strange to include this as part of the
>standard Finder.  Perhaps MacPaint should come with a desk accessory
>that does this.  In fact, this would probably be a good idea for many
>programs: include a limited version of the program as a DA; for
>example, a Rolodex application might include a Rolo Lookup DA.

Now this is interesting.  A similiar discussion started a few months back
but for some reason I held *my* thoughts and didn't post.  This time, what
the hell...

The DA idea is on track but the wrong train of thought.  What *would* be nice
is if each application came with a DRIVER that was used for displaying the
contents of a type(s) of file with possibly support for rudimentary selection.
Problem: what does double clicking actually do, display or launch.
I leave that question to the masses.  But think of it, if the drivers were
public, you could send a document(s) to someone without worrying if they
have the right program or can convert the file.  Just send the driver with
the document.  I mean, do we really want to degenerate to ascii text when
we want to transport data, or what?

Oh gee, now that gives me an idea, how about a MacRN - readnews/postnews
mac style.  If you're using MacRN to post an article you can use Mac features
in your posting like styles, fonts, maybe even pictures.  And the reader
using MacRN could see what you created as you posted it.  On the other hand,
regular RN could be patched to pass over the excess data.  Sounds fun and
interesting, any takers?
-- 
"The value of knowledge lies not in its accumulation,        Howard C. Simonson
   but in its utilization."    E. Green                      amdahl!howard

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