Simplicity In the Age Of The GUI

evenprime writes: "Wired is running a story on Mark Hurst's extremely retro GoodEasy computing environment, and how it's old fashioned *nix approach to computing -- flat text, small simple programs that can be chained together -- increases user productivity" It's an interesting, hyper-simple approach, though any user outside of Mark's agency would have to apply some creative adaption. Every few months, I try to re-organize and simplify the documents and programs on my system, this looks like a good experiment for the next time.

Comments

and so it makes sense...

[Anonymous Coward]

The Good Easy
http://www.winterspeak.com/columns/goodeasy.txt

how to set up a mac
by Mark Hurst

version: 3/22/00 cf
version: 10/25/99 mh

DESKTOP

- your first job is to clear off the desktop. you want the desktop
to show (for now) ONLY the hard drive, and the Trash -- nothing
else.

- trash any aliases on the desktop.

- anything still on the desktop other than aliases, hard drive, or
Trash, put into the Utilities folder in the hard drive. now you
should have a clear desktop.

HARD DRIVE

- open the hard drive. your goal here is to have only four items,
all folders: System Folder, Applications, Utilities, and Creative
Good.

- open any folders OTHER than those listed above. just look one
level deep. trash any aliases you find.

- anything in the hard drive other than the four folders [System
Folder, Applications, Utilities, and Creative Good], put into the
Utilities folder.

- back in the hard drive, create a new Creative Good folder with
cmd-N.

- click once on the Creative Good folder to select it. then hold
down option-command and drag the folder onto the desktop. you now
have an alias on the desktop called "Creative Good". rename this
to "CG". (another way of doing this step: the Creative Good folder
selected, type cmd-M and then drag the alias to the desktop and
rename it "CG".)

- (once the mac is on the ethernet) use the chooser (Apple Menu ->
Chooser) to connect to Blue, the server. open Blue and create an
alias to "Creative Good - server", and place the alias on the
desktop of the Mac you're setting up. Rename the alias to "Server
CG".

APPLICATIONS FOLDER

- open the Applications folder. anything you probably will never
use (like Apple Video Player, or some bogus Apple Guide file), put
into the Utilities folder. you should now have an Applications
folder comprised of all the apps that you'll use commonly (or at
least once every couple of months).

- go through any folders like "Internet" and pull out the real app
folders to live in the Applications folder. for example, if the
"Internet" folder contains the Netscape Navigator folder, move the
NN folder up one level into the Applications folder. (general rule
of thumb -- when appropriate, eliminate folders within folders...
applies in cases like this bullet.)

CREATIVE GOOD FOLDER

- with cmd-N, create an folders called admin, backups,
special(used to be info), team, howto (used to be tools) and
personal, all spelled all lower-case. then, if appropriate at this
point, create folders for the client engagements you work on,
starting the name with a capital letter (Megasoft) or all caps if
it's an acronym (AT&T). this difference in spelling will help you
later on to distinguish easily (during a quick visual scan)
between client folders and "issue" folders.

- may want to create of those, then select View -> as List, and
then copy that folder so that the View as List preference gets
copied into the new folders. rule of thumb, EVERY folder should be
set to View as List.

SYSTEM FOLDER

- create a folder called "Apple Menu Items (Disabled)", without
the quotes.

- open the "Apple Menu Items" folder. View as List.

- anything you'll rarely or never use, move to the Disabled folder
you just created. this includes Scrapbook, Simple Sound, Remote
Access Status, Note Pad, Key Caps, Jigsaw Puzzle, Graphing
Calculator, Favorites, Automated Tasks, Internet Access, the video
and audio players, and the System Profiler. any aliases in that
list, trash them.

- open the hard drive folder. using cmd-M or option-cmd-drag,
create an alias to the Applications folder in the Apple Menu Items
folder.

- note on aliases: in the above step, name the alias
"Applications", not "Applications alias". on a Mac, you can always
tell an alias by the italics in its name, so there's no reason to
clutter things up with the "alias" in its name. if it's an alias
you'll be using for awhile (i.e. in your Apple menu), never
include the word "alias" in the alias's name.

- using the same method, create an alias to the Control Panels
folder and put the alias (*NOT* the Control Panels folder itself)
in the Apple Menu Items folder. rule of thumb, aliases are easy to
spot because their file names are in italics; actual files (non-
aliases) are displayed in regular plain type (non-italics). Do
this for the location manager as well.

- open the Applications folder in the hard drive folder. for the
following apps -- BBEdit, AppleWorks, Emailer, Excel, Word,
Netscape, and Up-to-date -- create an alias in the Apple Menu
Items folder to the application. for example, open the "Netscape
Navigator folder" and find the application called "Netscape
Navigator". with cmd-M or option-cmd-drag, create an alias of
"Netscape Navigator" in the Apple Menu Items folder.

- another note on aliases: in the Apple Menu, make sure all
aliases to apps are just the one-word name. for example, it
shouldn't be "Netscape Navigator 4.05 alias" or even "Microsoft
Word" -- it should be "Netscape" and "Word". keep the Apple Menu
as simple as possible -- it's one of the most important elements
of your Mac experience.

- for OS 9 move sherlock II into the Apple Menu Items (Disabled)
folder and copy Sherlock from the server into the Apple Menu Items
folder

APPS TO INSTALL

- BBEdit Lite 4
- Claris Emailer Lite 1.1v3
- Now Up-to-date 3.6.2 (don't install Contact, QuickDay, or any
other Now tchotchke)
- note: do NOT install quickday or quickcontact -- use the
custom installer to turn off those options and then go into
control panel and move quickday into the control panel (disabled)
folder.
- Netscape Navigator 4
- typeit4me
- QuicKeys 4.0
- Default Folder
- AppleWorks 5
- Microsoft Office '98 (make sure to run ppt to register copy)
- FileMaker
- Fetch
- digital camera software
- spell check
- Leave emailer installer in utilities folder

INTERNET CONFIG

- change the default Web browser to Netscape.

- change any file formats that read SimpleText into BBEdit's
format. (choose an example BBEdit file to get the right
settings...go to file mappings, sort by app, for simpletext .text,
.txt, .ascii change to BBedit by using the choose example button
and getting a BBedit file)

- change the default mailer to Claris Emailer. (not Outlook!)

- In the helpers editor change simple text to BBEdit, change
everything Explorer to Netscape, and change mailto to Claris.
Make sure to save preferences.

- change the Web home page to be the local file of 5 or so links
to key pages -- or nothing.

-make sure that the ms word icons are set to W8BN, W6BN, WDBN

PREFERENCES

- in BBEdit, make sure it's set to softwrap, window width, start
up with nothing, searches wrap around, don't print headers or date
stamp, don't show any toolbars and make veggie the default font.

- in Claris Emailer, set preferences not to prompt for reply or
deletions. (in Defaults tab, no checkboxes should be checked
except the bottom-right one; the top radio button in each pair
should be selected.) set Deleted Mail at 10-day window, Sent Mail
at 14-day window. when receiving mail, don't play sound and don't
flash icon in a menu bar

- in Claris Emailer under schedules, set the default connection to
once every 5 minutes. under easy set up set up the user, pass,
outgoing mailserver (mindspring.com or redconnect.net), and sig.
go to services -> internet and change the default encoding to
uuencode (NOT binhex). Have the downloads go to the desktop
(choosing the trash icon). Also, quoted text should be blue (use
crayon color picker). Put starter address file in address book.

- in emailer make sure that toggle schedule quickey works and move
column widths. make veggie default font.

- in Netscape, id is user (not a persons name) make sure the home
page is set to the local file open start.html which should be in
the info folder. Also, choose text only, no tool tips, no sound.
Set fonts to times 14 courier 12. Get rid of all preset bookmarks
under preferences and open bookmarks.html. also preload the
resizing bookmarks.

- in Up-to-Date, appointments get reminders never; todos get no
time attached (i.e. it shouldn't say "8:00 a.m." when a todo is
created); choose scrolling view; Under define calendar formats
make the current day bold and blue, make the weekends plain and
gold.

-in Appleworks, in preferences start up with nothing, make default
font times, under window choose hide toolbar

- in typeit4me, preferences -> expansion triggers -> click All so
that all the triggers are checked, then OK to make the preference
stick. also change # of entries

CONTROL PANELS

- in TCP control panel, put in DNS info.

- in speech control panel, go into Talking Alerts and turn off
both checkboxes (so it doesn't talk any alerts).

- in keyboard control panel make the repeat rate as fast as
possible and the delay as short as possible. Under options, assign
f keys (7 netscape, 8 emailer, 9 bbedit, 10 now up to date)

- in the apple control panel under appearance highlight color -->
others --> crayon choose fern; in the options tab uncheck smart
scrolling, check double click title bar; in the fonts tab uncheck
smooth

- in control panel --> control strip add hot key (cmd -ctl-s)

QUICKEYS

- import Quickeys sets from the installers folder on the server
- need to come up with standard set of quickeys to import into all
new macs as they come in; for now, here are the main ones
- cntrl-down goes to Finder; cntrl-up is Hide Others
- function keys map to switch to apps (only if they're running) as
follows:
- F6: AppleWorks (F6 may change to cmd-F6 on new Powerbooks;
have to check)
- F7: Netscape
- F8: Claris Emailer
- F9: BBEdit
- F10: Now Up-to-date
- F12 maps to "Show Rear Window"
- cntrl-C maps to "Creative Good" folder
- cmd-shift-F maps to Sherlock
- in Preferences, QuicKeys should be hidden except with cmd-option-
cntrl-click. (under options menu-configure quickeys. quickeys
menu should be hidden. pop-up menu everything should checked but
shift)
- in Emailer: cmd-shift-enter means Send Now; cntrl-S means toggle
Signature; cntrl-i gets inbox item; cntrl-o gets outbox.
- in Netscape: cmd-h means go home.

MISC

- get my current typeit4me data file, place it in the Creative
Good --> info folder. open typeit4me (menu to do so is in upper-
left of monitor) and choose that file to use.

- in Default Folder, make cmd-1 map to Creative Good folder, cmd-2
to Creative Good -> Good Reports. others are up to user.

- turn the mute button on (F6 on new macs)

- the info folder (in the CG folder) should contain the current
address file, calendar and typeit4me data file, the netscape
startup page.

- Put alias of main aps in the start up folder

- set up location manager and remote access

- make sure the battery thing on the control strip is set to
"better performance"

- trash should be viewed as a list

- pre-load the tools folder with the graphics and report templates
from the templates folder on the server

- make more liberal settings in the energy saver ctrl panel (at
least 10 minutes for each one)

* * * * * * *

Crib Sheet for Quickeys and other Key Strokes (and general
goodeasy tips)

ch 2/1/01
cf 3/22/00

Mac key combos

cmd-a - select all
cmd-c - copy
cmd-x - cut
cmd-v - paste
cmd-o - open
cmd-opt-o - open a window and close the one behind it
cmd-w - close
cmd-ctrl-w - close all
cmd-s - save
cmd-d - don't save
cmd-n - new
cmd-q - quit
cmd-. - cancel
cmd-z - undo

Universal Quickeys

cmd-shift-s - save as
control-down - go to finder
control-up - hide applications other than the current one (though
keep them
running)
Tab - go to the next field (works in all apps)
Shift-Tab - go to the previous field
cmd-delete - sends item to trash (in general and from open/save
dialog box)
cmd-tab - selects open windows in succession
shift right arrow selects text
cmd-f in the finder launches sherlock and brings up the Find File
tab
within sherlock:
cmd-g brings up Find By Content.

(open/save) dialog box:
-cmd-up - moves you up through the hierarchy
-cmd-down - moves you down through the hierarchy
- cmd-f opens that file in the finder, so you can use the various
sorting techniques there. (the finder is sort of like the desktop
in windows... the area where you can fly through the file system.)
-cmd-g finds next
- cmd-r allows you to rename the file
- cmd-1 takes you to the CG folder (if you'd like to map more
folders like this, choose the third folder icon from the left and
add the folder to favorites)

Shortcuts to Applications (f6 etc. are most effective on a full-
size keyboard, the kind you plug into the laptop. to make it
better for laptops, we've ALSO
installed these alternatives.

cmd-6 or f6 - appleworks
cmd-7 or f7 - netsacpe
cmd-8 or f8 - emailer
cmd-9 or f9 - bbedit
cmd-0 or f10 - now up to date

f12 toggles windows in an application
cmd-shift-a brings up addresses

In Emailer
- return - opens an email so you can read it. also closes it.
- cmd-right - closes the current email and opens the next one in
the list.
- cmd-left - moves you up through them
- cmd-opt-right - moves you down through your emails and delete
the last viewed open email
- cmd-opt-left - moves you up through your emails and delete the
last viewer open emial
- cmd-r - reply to sender
- ctl-r - reply to all
- cmd-j - forward
- cmd-opt-k -- send and receive messages
- cmd-return -- queue the current message to be sent (i.e. along
with all the others at the next scheduled connection, every 5
minutes or whatever)
- cmd-shift-return -- send the current message right now
- ctl-s - toggle signature
- ctl-d - disable schedule
- cmd-h - add recipient
- ctl-h add attachment and uncheck file compression
- option-up - top of email
- option-dn - bottom of email
- cmd-click on URL: opens netscape to that page
- cmd-click on e-mail address: creates a new e-mail message To:
that address
(these two only work in claris e-mailer... not in bbedit,
unfortunately!)
- cmd-opt-h changes your outgoing mail config for home
- cmd-opt-o changes your outgoing mail config for office
- cmd-' pastes text into emailer as if it is a return email (blue
with >s)
- cmd-1 takes you to the inbox
- cmd-2 takes you to the outbox
- cmd-3 takes you to the filing cabinet
- cmd-4 takes you to the address book
- home and end in claris emailer take you to the start or end of a
msg. (fn + left or right arrow)
*make sure you uncheck the compression box when attaching files

In Now-Up-To-Date
- cmd-n - new apt.
- cmd-t - new to do
- cmd-b - banner
- cmd-e - special
remember to use tab to go to next field (and shift-tab to go to
previous field).

In Netscape
- cmd-h - brings you back to your home page
- cmd-arrows take you forward and backward
- cmd-d - makes a bookmark

In Appleworks
cmd-t - scale by % (uses the % last defined in that menu option.
choose the menu option manually, Arrange -> Scale By Percent, to
change that %)
cmd-pgdn - move object to back (note that on a laptop, that will
be fn-cmd-pgdn)
cmd-pdup - move object to front (only in Draw mode)

In BBEdit

cmd-shift-\ - remove all line breaks
ctl-r - replace all
cmd-i - *italicizes*
cmd-arrow - takes you to the end of the line of text
opt-arrow - takes you to the next word
opt-up arrow - takes you to the top of the page
option-down arrow - takes you to the bottom of the page

In General

- mute the volume - on the laptop, f6 (or, to be exact, the button
that would be f6 with the fn button). please do mute your mac in
the office, unless you particularly need to hear something.

- when not in use for a few hours, have mac asleep -- point is, as
opposed to having it shut down (just shut the cover to put it
asleep).

- when you first get an app, do the following - play with all the
menu options - go through the preferences - memorize the major
keystrokes

- cmd-opt-esc force quits and application
- cmd-ctl-power button force restarts the computer

Typeit4me
e.g. dt, cg add more by "editing entries" in the typeit4me menu
** to disable triggers use shift-space

Remote Access:
Change location manager (in apple menu)
dial in with remote access (in apple menu)
change outgoing mail server (cmd-opt-h in emailer)

go over:

remote access/tcp/ip/appletalk
projector/monitor
docspace
text editor (find)
sleep
add mem to ppt and cwk
backups
attachments
server
file system
docspace
projector/monitor
how to zip and stuff
avoidance of cross platform issues
battery/disk removal
battery/sleep controls
remote access