Six Pack review
by Andrew Roughan
Copyright (c) 1994 Apple Users' Group, Sydney
Republished from Applecations, a publication of the Apple Users' Group, Sydney, Australia.
"A refreshing collection of utilities designed exclusively for Apple IIgs System 6".
What is Six Pack?
Six Pack is a collection of nineteen accessory programs for the Apple IIgs System 6. Most of these programs are Finder Extras, although a few are New Desk Accessories (NDAs). The programs are completely independent - you can install one, some, or all of them.
Six Pack Components
Six Pack includes fourteen Finder Extras:
MoreInfo, HotKeys, SelectIcons, CDEV Alias, PrintCatalog, Crypt, FilePeeker, WorkSet, FileCompare, XtraSounds, ButtonBar, SizeUp, LaunchList, and Apple's IR.
It also includes five New Desk Accessories:
Alarm Clock, CPU Use, OpenSesame, Memory Use, SuperDataPath
Some of the components have been released in the past by Bill as shareware. However, those included with Six Pack are the latest versions and purchasers of Six Pack are not required to pay an additional shareware fee.
Six Pack Requirements
Six Pack requires Apple IIgs System Software 6.0, a hard drive and at least two megabytes of RAM. With the two megabyte minimal configuration you may not be able to load all of the programs. If you wish to use all of the programs at once three megabytes is recommended.
Six Pack Installation
Installing the Six Pack programs is very easy. An installer is provided to make sure that all the programs you wish to install are placed in the correct folders on your hard drive. You have the option of installing all the programs or selecting just the ones you want.
If you don't have three megabytes of memory, installing only a couple at a time would be prudent because after using the installer you are forced to reboot. If you don't have enough memory then problems will arise when you try to reboot your system.
Once you've installed the programs, use them and disable the ones you decide you won't need. This saves memory and shortens the time taken to startup. You can leave them on your hard disk for a quick install using 'IR' if you find that you do need them.
Alarm Clock
Alarm Clock provides a safe way of displaying the time on the desktop. Some other time INITs have been known to cause
problems. Alarm Clock can display the date and time in the menu bar or in a separate window. There is also an hourly chime and an alarm feature. The NDA allows user control of all the features.
ButtonBar
ButtonBar provides a user programmable way to associate common desktop actions with a button. The position of the bar, the number of buttons, and the actions they perform are all user definable.
Would you like to disable a Desk Accessory? Click the DAs button and the DAs folder is opened. Select the file you want, click the disable button and the file is disabled. Simple!
Would you like to calculate the amount of space used by a group of files? Select the files you want and click the calculator icon. Simple! (Requires SizeUp to be active)
CDEV Alias
CDEV Alias provides an easier way to open frequently used control panels such as Express and Pointless. Instead of having to open the control panels NDA and then select the control panel you require from the scrolling list, after creating an alias you just have to select the alias from the NDA menu.
CPU & Memory Use
CPU & Memory use provide a graphical way of showing how much of your system's resources are being used.
Crypt
Crypt provides a way of encrypting and decrypting files. A user definable key is used to provide basic file security.
FileCompare
FileCompare provides a way of showing the differences between two files. The files do not have to be in the same folder. The file information, data fork and resource fork can all be checked for differences. Unlike Glen Bredon's Utilities' file comparison (ProSel 16 or Merlin 16+), FileCompare does not allow you to move one buffer. This means that if one byte has been inserted into a file, FileCompare will report that everything after that byte is different. Glen Bredon's Utilities allows the buffer to be moved by a byte thereby allowing comparison to continue effectively.
FilePeeker
FilePeeker provides a quick way to take a 'peek' at the contents of any file. FilePeeker can display a file as text, hex/ascii, or, if FilePeeker recognises the format of the file, it is displayed intelligently. As well as rSounds and various text and graphic formats, FilePeeker can
intelligently display NuFX (Shrinkit) archives, AppleSoft BASIC programs, Fonts, Icons and filetype descriptors.
HotKeys
HotKeys provides both predefined keys for many Finder operations and way to define your own keys. HotKeys uses the numeric keypad as well as the function keys available on an extended keyboard.
IR & OpenSesame
IR is Apple's utility for installing system additions 'on-the-fly'. OpenSesame provides a way for Finder Extras (such as IR, EasyMount and FilePeeker) to open a file from within applications other than the Finder.
Say you forgot to install the GScii NDA before you began using GS Shrinkit to unpack the latest downloads from the internet. OpenSesame can be used to find the NDA, and pass along a message for IR to install it. All without leaving GS Shrinkit.
You can also open server alias files if you have EasyMount installed, or font, icon, filetype descriptor and rSound files if you have FilePeeker installed.
LaunchList
LaunchList provides a window containing a user configurable list of applications. The applications may be grouped into 'worksets'. Applications can be run by double clicking the name in the list.
MoreInfo
MoreInfo provides an easy way of viewing and modifying filetype, auxiliary type, creation and modification dates, and access bits from the Finder.
PrintCatalog
PrintCatalog provides a way of printing catalog information to the screen, a printer, or a file on disk. The user can configure what information to output and a number of print options.
SelectIcons
SelectIcons provides a comprehensive way of making file selections based on user definable criteria. It is easily possible to select all files with a name ending with "SHK", a size smaller than 800k, that were created after 1:00am, and were modified before 3:00am. A selection can be saved and restored. A quick method of selecting files based on a file specification (*.SHK) is also provided.
SizeUp
SizeUp provides a way to calculate the total size of the currently selected files and files within selected folders. SizeUp also reports the total number of files and folders
selected. This utility is great for determining just what will fit on a floppy disk!
SuperDataPath
SuperDataPath provides an easy way to navigate through folders from inside applications which use the standard file dialog. A default folder can be assigned to an application so that when the application is launched, the default folder is set automatically. The five last used folders are kept in a list so that you can return to them easily. Frequently used folders can be permanently added to the list.
Workset
Workset provides a way of combining related files into a group (workset). When you double click on the workset all the files will be opened. In this way you could save three AppleWorks GS spreadsheet files as a workset and have AppleWorks GS load and open all three, or you could save various folders as a workset and have the Finder open them at once.
XtraSounds
XtraSounds provides over 30 new sound events. The events are Finder menu options with the addition of FinderSaysHello, FinderSaysGoodBye, Finder Copy and Finder Rename. The functionality of associating a sound is the same as the Sound control panel.
Six Pack Documentation
The Six Pack manual is delightfully thorough and easily read. The component descriptions include what it does, how to use it, and handy hints on how to use it to the best advantage.
Final view
Six Pack is very refreshing indeed. I have been overwhelmed by just how useful and powerful this package is. I continually find new ways in which to apply features of the components. As well as providing new functionality and application integration, this package makes the Apple IIgs desktop environment even more easy to use and in my opinion is invaluable as a productivity enhancing tool. Do your GS a favour and buy a Six Pack today!
Availability
Six Pack is published by Q-Labs a division of Quality Computers and is available directly from Quality Computers for US$29.95 excluding postage.
Quality Computers
20200 Nine Mile Rd
St. Clair Shores
MI 48080 USA
Phone +313-774-7200
Fax +313-774-2698
BBS +313-774-2652
You should also try Jeff at II Series Software (02) 606-9343.

THIS CONTENT COPYRIGHT © 2007, APPLE MACINTOSH USERS' GROUP, SYDNEY
Permission has been obtained to make this material available on the Internet.

Permission is hereby granted for non-profit user groups to republish this content.
PLEASE CREDIT THE AUTHOR AND THE SOURCE: Applecations, publication of the Apple Users' Group, Sydney, Australia

THIS PAGE COPYRIGHT © 2007, ANDREW ROUGHAN