The Finder is like Workbench, it manages the Mac environment. The Mac 'environment' is actually known as The Desktop, this is where all disk, file and folder management takes place.
The Desktop File is managed by the Finder, and is a type of database, it stores; all icon positions, and remembers what each file's icon should look like, from the applications stored on your hard disks. Pic 13.2 shows you all the elements that make up the Finder's Desktop screen.
MacOS 7.x to 8.1 are Single Tasking operating systems. Although in MacOS 8 you can empty the trash and copy files at the same time.
Maximum number of open files: 346.
Maximum number of Apple Menu Items: 52. More items can added, but only 52 appear when clicking on the Apple Menu icon.
Maximum number of files supported by the Desktop: Unlimited. This is limited to the available disk space - see HFS/HFS+ limits.
Maximum number of applications in memory: The Finder does not limit the number of applications, but the amount of available RAM does.
Maximum number of volumes available on the Desktop: 32.
Maximum number of items in a folder by list view: Up to 32,000 depending on the computer and RAM. Note: With System 7.x, attempting to view a large number of files in one window, something in the range of 500-1500 files, creates very slow opening times and drop-out viewing problems. The specific number depends on RAM and CPU. With Mac OS 8.x, it is possible to view as many as 32,766 files, though it is dependent upon the amount of RAM available, and performance is significantly degraded.
Maximum number of resources in the System File: 32,767 or 16 Megabytes.
Maximum number of system Extensions or Control Panels that can be loaded into memory: The Finder does not limit these, but hard disk space and RAM can limit them.
Maximum RAM allocated to an application with the Finder: 99,999K.
The Finder supports 24-bit color, BUT icons are only 8-bit.
QuickDraw supports 48-bit color, but the current operating system maximum is 32-bit color.
Recommended Disk cache size: 32 KB per megabyte of installed RAM.
The Finder & HFS limits filenames to 31 characters.
The Finder & HFS do not allow these characters in filenames: ":" & ";".
The maximum number of fonts you can have open at any one time: 128.
The maximum number of files that can be opened at once: 346.
The maximum number of items you can have in the Apple Menu: 50.
On all Mac volumes, you'll find (with the necessary utility) a number of invisible files and folders, whatever you do, do not delete or edit them in any way, as this may invalidate your hard disk and cause an untold amount of hassle for yourself. These are the files/folders in question;
Invisible Folders
Trash - Contains the files you place in the Wastebasket. If you see this on a networked volume, it'll have a belt round it (locked), it makes sure any files (from that hard disk) you've placed into your Wastebasket, is actually put into it's own Trash folder.
Desktop Folder - Contains all icons that have been placed on the Desktop's background.
[][][]Move&Rename - A special temporary folder for files that were in the middle of being edited (filename) or moved to a different location, but crashed before it could be completed.
Temporary Items - Contains any temporary files created by programs. These temporary files are often deposited in the Wastebasket after a crash and reboot. They are mostly useless and unopenable, and so are safe to bin.
Invisible Files
Desktop DB and Desktop DF - Contains the icon association database file. This makes sure that all files on your hard disk have the correct icons.
OpenFolderListDF - Makes a note of the opened folders that were displayed when you shutdown or restarted, so that it can display those folders again when the Finder is reloaded.
Icon - Is the custom icon used on a folder or disk's icon (usually found in that folder's or disk's root directory).
Shutdown Check - Is a file that tells the MacOS, that the Mac didn't shutdown correctly.
DesktopPrintersDB - Is a data file that keeps a track of what Desktop Printer icons you have.
The following menus are taken from System 7.5x. MacOS 8.x's extra menus follows afterwards..
The APPLE (icon) Menu
About This Macintosh... - Displays the current programs in memory, what System version you're currently using, the amount of free RAM, and whether virtual memory is in use.
Automated Tasks - Is a folder that contains executable Apple Scripts, for Finder operations.
Calculator - A useful little GUI based calculator.
Chooser - The network and printer selector interface.
Control Panels - Is an alias of the Control Panels folder in the System Folder, for easy access.
Find File - A Find utility. This can also be accessed via the Finder's File menu.
Jigsaw Puzzle - A simple puzzle game.
Key Caps - Displays all characters of a highlighted font (selected from the menu). Just press any key combination, ie. Apple+Control, and further hidden characters will shown.
Note Pad - This is very simple text input program, mainly for reminders etc.
Scrapbook - A useful utility for storing text, sounds and pictures, just cut and paste into it.
Stickies - Is a utility that places little notes on the screen to help you remember things.
*Shutdown - Another way to shutdown the Mac.
The FILE Menu
New Folder - Creates a new folder with the default name "untitled folder".
Open - This is pretty much a universal command, to open: folders, launch files or programs.
Print - The Print command allows you to print out the contents of the selected folder.
Close Window - Simply enables you to put away an open folder - a useful key command: #W.
Get Info.. - Select any icon, folder or disk, and this will display information about it, such as (for a file) it's last modified date, file size, program creator, disk space used.
Sharing - Allows you to 'Share' over a network, eg. everything in a folder(s) or even whole disks.
Duplicate - Makes a copy of the icon/folder/disk you've just highlighted.
Make Alias - Creates a pointer file to absolutely anything you like, from documents to disks.
Put Away - Allows you to either: eject a disk, or put an icon (from the desktop) back into it's original folder, or root directory, eg. from your wastebasket back into a network volume.
Find - This useful feature allows you to do fast searchs of any local or networked volumes.
Find Again - If you couldn't find a file the first time, select this to go back to your original find settings.
Page Setup.. - Displays the print settings of the currently selected printer driver. To be used in conjunction with the Print menu.
Print Desktop.. - Output a graphic dump of the Desktop in it's current state.
The EDIT Menu
Undo - Resets what you just did (x1 undo only).
Cut - Copy the item, then clear that selected item.
Copy - Makes copy of the selected item (text, sound or picture) into memory. Cut and Copy can be used just about at any time, and in Save/Open dialogue boxes.
Paste - Takes the current item that was last copied or cut, and places it at the cursor's current position.
Clear - Erases the highlighted item or text, and does not copy it.
Select All - Highlights all text/pictures, or icons/folders in a folder or disk.
Show Clipboard - Displays the contents of what was last Copied or Cut, currently in memory.
The VIEW Menu
by Small Icon - Displays all files in a folder as small icons.
by Icon - Displays all files as in a folder as normal sized icons.
by Name - Lists all files in that folder by filename, alphabetically (includes a small icon).
by Kind - Lists all files in that folder by file type, & then in alphabetical order.
by Date - Lists all files in that folder by it's modified date.
by Size - Lists all files in that folder by file size, from largest to smallest.
The LABEL Menu
Labels can be applied to all icons and folders. The purpose of Labels is to enable you to keep tabs on certain files, or to differentiate between them.
Essential
Hot
In Progress
Cool
Personal
Project1
Project2
The SPECIAL Menu
Clean Up Desktop - Relocates all icons into a default icon grid.
Empty Wastebasket - Deletes all files and folders held in the Trashcan.
Eject Disk - Ejects the highlighted disk - you cannot eject disks manually, MacOS has to get shot of it first (from the desktop), otherwise you'll freeze the Mac. Note that in Shapeshifter, a little "1" character flashes on and off on the right hand side of the menu bar, when you've dragged the disk's icon to the wastebasket, indicating that it is safe to manually eject the floppy disk.
Erase Disk.. - Formats any alien disk format to MacOS's HFS or HFS+, or if you have PCExchange loaded, it'll let you format floppies disks as PC DOS or Mac formatted disks. Note: if the disk is already Mac formatted, it will only create a new directory structure, in other words a 'quick format'.
Restart - Reboots the Mac, the System will then reload.
Shutdown - This command quits all applications, and ends MacOS emulation.
The ? (help) Menu
About AppleGuide - Is the Mac's help system, press the Help key to display the AppleGuide for the currently used program (see picture 13.3), or the Finder and MacOS (see picture 13.4).
Show Balloons - When selected, this will display little speech bubbles with descriptive text when the pointer is placed over any icon or menu in the Finder environment.
Macintosh Guide - Is a help file for the whole of the Finder. This AppleGuide file must be in the Extensions folder in order to gain access to it from this menu.
Shortcuts - Is another AppleGuide file (must be in Extensions folder to enable it) that lists useful keyboard shortcuts when using the MacOS.
The APPLICATIONS (program's icon) Menu
Hide Finder - This will hide all open windows and transfer you to the last used program in RAM.
Hide Other - This will hide all other programs from view, except the last one you just used.
Show All - Displays every programs' elements, eg. floating palettes.
Finder - Is always listed in this second half of the menu. It is an application after all!
Icon + Application Name - All programs loaded into RAM are listed in here, for easy access.
The FILE Menu
Move to Wastebasket - Immediately moves the selected icon to the bin.
Label - This is where the Labels menu from System 7.x, is now located.
Show Original - Displays the Alias's original item's location.
The EDIT Menu
Preferences... - This is the Finder preferences window. It contains Font size, Spring Loaded Folder switch, Label names, icon spacing and Simple Finder settings. See picture 13.5.
The VIEW Menu
as Icon - Displays all files as in a folder as icons.
as Buttons - Lists all files in that folder by filename, alphabetically (includes a small icon).
as List - Lists all files in that folder by file type, and then in alphabetical order.
as Window - Reverts a Popup Window back to a normal folder.
as Popup Window - Makes that folder into a special pop-up folder, that is always on the Desktop. See picture 13.6.
Cleanup - Relocates all icons into a default icon grid.
Arrange - Displays a sub-menu, which lists the number of different ways a list can be sorted: by Date Modified; by Date Created; by Size; by Kind; by Label.
View Options... - Allows you to customise the icon and list views in any window. See picture 13.7.
The SPECIAL Menu
Erase Disk - In MacOS 8.1, you can now format a disk with the new HFS+ (HFS Extended) format.
The HELP Menu
About Help - Displays an AppleGuide explaining how Apple's Help System works.
Help - Displays the AppleGuide Help file for the current program (inc. the Finder).
