Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!unmvax!ncar!tank!mimsy!haven!umbc3!chris
From: chris@umbc3.UMD.EDU (Chris Schanzle)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Desktop Manager, what it is/isn't & suggestions
Keywords: Desktop Manager, Apple, uncertainty
Message-ID: <1422@umbc3.UMD.EDU>
Date: 8 Dec 88 06:38:15 GMT
References: <3167@cs.Buffalo.EDU>
Reply-To: chris@umbc3.UMD.EDU (Chris "Zorf" Schanzle)
Followup-To: comp.sys.mac
Organization: University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Lines: 118

In article <3167@cs.Buffalo.EDU> cohen@cs.Buffalo.EDU (Alexander Cohen) writes:
>	The Desktop Manager, an init which comes with the AppleShare Software,
>they inform me, is *only* intended for use on AppleShare Servers, they say
>it has never been adequately tested on user machines and they say that there
>are certain anomalies in using it for any other purpose than for what it was
>intended.

I'm surprised Apple is STILL saying this BS about the Desktop Manager
INIT (henceforth referred to as DM) not being supported.  It has been
around for quite some time (as long as AppleShare?) and it results in
a tremendous (orders of magnitude) reduction in the time it takes to
update the desktop.  I suggest ANYONE with a hard disk who sees the
dialog box "Updating Desktop..." for more than 5 seconds when copying
a new application to give DM a try.

>	It speeds up access to desktop information because it replaces the
>normal desktop file which uses the Resource Manager and replaces it with
>"B-Trees".

I can't remember the last time I have questioned a posting from someone
at Apple, but the two slips on HFS and floppies makes me reconsider this
person's credibility.  Have you ever run Disk First Aid, typed COMMAND-S
and then checked out an HFS volume (floppy or HD)?  It does several checks
of "B-Trees," which leads me to believe that the Mac OS is already using
B-Trees, so the question still stands - how does DM do it's stuff?

What is it about DM that Apple doesn't want us to be using it?!?  I
have not had any difficulties with DM with release 5.0 or release
6.0.2 (and probably initially with sys 4.1/5.3).

>	I was assured that future versions of the Finder will deal more 
>effectively with the desktop issue, but that for now its use at your own risk
>if you want the speed up the Desktop Manager can provide.

I'm curious what "risks" our file server is NOT in, compared to the
risks that my own Mac+ COULD BE subjected to.  Or, twist that the other
way around - what "risks" could our file server be in if it's running
software that "works only for one specific condition" (Appleshare)?

>	As for myself, I'm going to test it out...

Do so.  I have been using DM since two weeks after I bought my HD at
the beginning of this year.  I will not give it up!!  I do offer a few
suggestions, however:

[what happens with DM: After copying DM into your system folder,
reboot and you should find the two new files "Desktop DB" and "Desktop
DF".  They are invisible.  (I'm still waiting for someone to cry
"Virus! Virus!" on these files. :-)]

You do not need your old Desktop file any longer; you may delete it.
As mentioned before, if you boot off a floppy that does NOT have DM in
the system folder, you will have that opportunity to get that CCU
(Carbonated Caffeine Unit) while a new and complete Desktop file is
created.  This is bogus.

What I have done is delete the (big) old Desktop file and copy the
desktop file from a freshly formatted HFS disk to my HD.  Now,
when I boot off a floppy w/o DM, the Finder will "find" a desktop file
and have no need to recreate one.  Naturally, at this time w/o DM,
most documents will not have their application's ICONs linked.  That's
OK, since I usually only boot off floppy for special temporary reasons
(e.g., file recovery, make backups, or when I just can't deal with
all those nifty INIT's).

Without DM installed on bootup, when you open folders on your HD that
contain applications, they will be added to your "fake" Desktop file.
This is basically the same thing as when you copy a new application
or rebuild the desktop:  applications are searched and their Finder
attributes (icons, type/creator links to data files) are added to the
Desktop file.  In summary, if you don't want your old Desktop file
to take much space, don't let the Finder "see" your applications when
you are NOT running with DM.

Note:  I have not seen any conflicts with DM's desktop files and
keeping the old Desktop file around.  In fact, I have not had any
situation which I can specifically attribute DM for crashes or
other Mac strange behavior.

The Desktop Manager is (was?) a terrific opportunity for some third-
party to market a functionally equivalent INIT.  As you have probably
read here, Apple has plans to do something about the Desktop file.
Whatever they do, I hope it maintains compatibility with Desktop
Manager!  (just kidding...it should be BETTER!  Save Comments!)  But
when will this come about?  System 7.0?  Due when?  With what new
features?

[Do you feel it getting warm in here?  Furnace must have come on...]
Reflecting on 6.0.2: I can't tell you how incredible I think the
Notification Manager is...and how about that Sound Manager, gang?
Oh, and those new dialog boxes indicating which drive the Mac II is
formatting -- as if it makes a difference at that point -- makes my
mouse run in circles on it's pad.

Worthy of a major release?  I'm sorry, but I'm pretty disappointed
with Apple's releases of system software since 5.0.  MultiFinder was
big stuff -- certainly worthy of a new release number.  Bug fixes
and/or small enhancements should be 5.1, 5.2, etc.  Release 6.0 was a
letdown (actually, I never let the 6.0 disks come NEAR my CMS SD60
hard drive much less actually TRY it.)  OK, this is getting off the
subject, but I really wanted to express my feelings...maybe even
spark a new discussion!
[Brrrrr....getting chilly again!]

Personal details:
  Mac+, 1Meg, CMS SD60 external HD (still 3.2q drivers), System Release 6.0.2.
  Inits:  Dimmer, hierDA, SoundMaster 1.2, Autoblak, CPSSaveDeletes,
	Menu Clock3, MFKeys, MoveOver, Rear Window, RWatcher, SFScrollINIT II
	SFVol INIT 1.5, Suitecase II, Macintalk, and of course, Desktop
	Manager.
  23 yrs, 5' 10", ~150lbs, single, available, relatively normal personality,
	anticipate CMSC degree next Spring and megabucks shortly thereafter.

-- 
ARPA   : chris@umbc3.UMD.EDU		BITNET : chris@umbc
       : nerwin!umbc3

Speed it up.  Keep it simple.  Ship it on time.    -- Bill Atkinson