Here are six new tips for DeskMate users, covering DeskMate- compatible program installation, file-handling operations, desktop organization, PC-Link access, and more. For more tips (and general references and guidance) on using all versions of DeskMate 3, look for GETTING THE MOST OUT OF DESKMATE 3, by Michael A. Banks, in your local Radio Shack or Waldenbooks store. The book is published by Brady Books/Simon & Schuster. (You can also order it by calling the voice number 800-624-0023.) Copyright (c), 1990, Michael A. Banks DeskMate-Compatible Program Installation Tip Tandy and other publishers offer a number of DeskMate- compatible software, including Lotus 1-2-3, Q&A Write, and the DeskMate Thesaurus. Installing such programs on a hard disk is fairly straightforward; just put the program's distribution diskette in your computer's drive A, select "Install" on DeskMate's Desktop menu (F7), and follow the prompts. However, be sure you have logged into the DeskMate directory (DESK or DESKMATE) before beginning the installation process, if you intend to work in that directory. If you don't do this, the installed program's program and data files will be stored in whatever directory you were in when you started DeskMate. Note that you can change the current directory via the desktop's File (F2) menu. Organizing Application Data Files It is often useful to keep different applications' data files in their own directories. This simplifies copying, deleting, and other file-management tasks. DeskMate allows you to specify where an application's data files are stored via the "Redefine..." option on the Desktop (F7) menu. To change an application's data directory, highlight its application box on the desktop and press F7. Then select "Redefine..." and the name of the application to be redefined. The Redefine menu allows you to specify a "Start-up directory" which is where the application's data files are stored. This works with DeskMate's applications as well as DeskMate-compatible programs. (You will, of course, need to create a directory for the data files beforehand.) Delete or Copy Groups of Files by Name, Date, Type, or Size A little-known DeskMate "secret" is its ability to delete groups of files quickly. All that's required is that the files be sorted so they are next to one another in directory listing in the Tree View. Sort options--name, type, date, and size--are specified on the desktop's "Sort by" (F6) menu. To delete a group of files, switch to the Tree View with Ctrl-T. Sort the files to put them in the desired order. Move the cursor to the first file of a group to be deleted, using the arrow or PgUp/PgDn keys, or by pressing the first letter of the file's name. Then press Shift-Up arrow or Shift-Down arrow to highlight additional files below or above that file. Next, select "Delete..." on the File (F2) menu, select "ALL" in the dialog box that is displayed, and press Enter. You can delete a wide range of files using this method. For instance, to delete all files in a directory older than a certain date, sort them by date, highlight the files older than the desired date, and use the "Delete..." option as described above. The same techniques can be used to copy groups of files; the only difference is that you select the "Copy..." option rather than "Delete..." on the File menu. Keeping DeskMate's Desktop Organized As with physical desktops, a well-organized DeskMate desktop is an efficient desktop. With DeskMate, organizing the desktop is mainly a matter of dispensing with buttons and icons for applications you don't use often. Get rid of these by highlighting them and using the "Remove" command on the Desktop (F7) menu. Then, move the Program list box to the upper left- hand corner of the screen (use the "Move" command on the Desktop menu); with the Program list box in this location, you can start any application by pressing the first letter of its name and Enter. Remove all accessories from the desktop. You can access any accessory faster via the Accessory (F10) menu than you can from the desktop. For greatest efficiency, the only items on the desktop aside from the Programs list box should be list boxes for applications that have data files (such as Text or Worksheet), which you may wish to open when you start the applications. "Trimming Down" DeskMate Want to conserve space on your hard disk? Remove the DeskMate files you don't need. Here's a quick guide to files most users can remove (this will vary depending on your applications, of course): PLAY.PDM This is the tutorial program; after you're finished with the tutorial, remove it. *.TUT Files with the extension .TUT contain data used by the tutorial program. *.HLP These are files used by DeskMate's online help feature. You can also remove the program (.PDM) and resource (.RES) files for any application you don't intend to use. Delete files for the application in question by typing DEL NAME.*, where "NAME" is the name of an application, such as ALARM or FILER. If you don't use ADDRESS or CALENDAR, remove their data files (PERSONAL.ADD and PERSONAL.CAL or PERSONAL.CLN, respectively). Portable PC-Link Access If you use a laptop and want to access PC-Link on the road, you can do so if you have DeskMate and its PC-Link files installed on your laptop's hard or floppy disks. However, before you leave, copy the file DB01.PCL from your desktop computer to your laptop's disk. DB01.PCL is the file that contains the information required by PC-Link for logon, and it is updated every time you log on. Thus, you must use the version of DB01.PCL you used the last time you logged on to be able to access PC-Link. After you return home, be sure to copy DB01.PCL from your laptop's disk to your desktop computer's disk to enable logon. (If for some reason you do not log on to PC-Link while you're gone, don't bother; you'll still have the latest version of the file on your desktop computer's disk.) # Interested in modem communications? Check out THE MODEM REFERENCE, also by Michael A. Banks and published by Brady Books/Simon & Schuster. Recommended by Jerry Pournelle in Byte, The New York times, The Smithsonian Magazine, various computer magazines, etc. (Check your local bookstore or computer store, or call 1-800-624-0023 to order.) Want the lowdown on getting more out of your word processor? Read the only book on word processing written by writers, for writers: WORD PROCESSING SECRETS FOR WRITERS, by Michael A. Banks & Ansen Dibel (Writer's Digest Books). (Check with your local bookstore, or call 1-800-543-4644 to order. In Ohio, 1-800-551- 0884.)