QUITTER 4.0 by Allan Honey and David Empson QUITTER is a small application that installs a special "program selector" into the RAM resident copy of ProDOS, which lets you choose the next program to run from a list of all the available disks, directories and system (SYS) files. The actual selection is handled by a program called BIRDS BETTER BYE, written by 'Beagle Bro', Alan Bird, (of APPLEWORKS 3.0, TIMEOUT and POINTLESS fame). BIRDS BETTER BYE (or BBB for short) replaces ProDOS's program selector. Once installed in RAM, BBB is activated every time a ProDOS application quits. QUITTER is effectively a "front end" for BBB. BIRDS BETTER BYE is similar to the QUIT code provided by Apple in ProDOS-8 1.9 (and later versions), however BBB works on a 40 column Apple ][ Plus. STARTING QUITTER You can start QUITTER from BASIC by entering the command: -QUITTER (or -QUITTER.SYSTEM see below) This assumes the PREFIX is set correctly. You might need to give slot and drive numbers or a full pathname. If you have already run QUITTER since you last booted ProDOS, you can get back into BBB from AppleSoft BASIC using the command: BYE You can also choose QUITTER from ProDOS's old "CHOOSE NEXT APPLICATION" dialog. If you want QUITTER to be run automatically when you start up ProDOS, rename it to QUITTER.SYSTEM and make sure it is the first file that ends with ".SYSTEM" in the main directory. If you are using IIgs System 6.0.1, you can hit the "8" key while booting (before the graphic screen appears) and you will go straight to ProDOS-8 and then QUITTER.SYSTEM! Once you have run QUITTER, there is no need to run it again unless you reboot the computer. A DETAILED LOOK AT QUITTER If you have the date set, will be displayed to the right of the program name. If you have a ProDOS-compatible clock card installed, the date and time will be updated, including the seconds on a IIgs. The current ProDOS PREFIX is displayed underneath the title. This maybe the root directory of a disk volume or a sub-directory. ABOUT Pressing "?" will bring up the "About" info screen. It will tell you who to blame. Note that QUITTER is Freeware which means it can be used and copied by anyone BUT copyright is still held by ALLAN HONEY and DAVID EMPSON (and ALAN BIRD). This means you can't sell it. OK? Any key returns you to the main screen. BOOTING A DISK To boot a disk in drive 1 of any slot, press the number of the slot. The disk may be from ANY Apple II Operating System; i.e. ProDOS, DOS 3.3 or PASCAL etc. The "boot a slot" command will not let you boot a slot that cannot normally be booted from (e.g. a printer card or 80-column card). If there is no disk in the drive you can get back to QUITTER by pressing CONTROL- RESET. COLD BOOT Hitting "0" will reboot the machine, just like hitting CONTROL-APPLE-RESET. On a IIgs it will cause the disk designated in the Control Panel settings to be booted. On all other Apples, it will generally boot Slot 6, Drive 1. CHECK ALL DRIVES Press the spacebar to list all the currently available disks. Select the disk from which you want to run a program by using the arrow keys and pressing RETURN when the desired disk is highlighted. This will put you into BIRDS BETTER BYE. SYSTEM INFORMATION When first run, QUITTER gives a indication of the type of Apple II and the version of ProDOS-8 you are using. QUITTER 4.0 knows about versions of ProDOS-8 greater than 1.8. Earlier versions of QUITTER did not display these correctly. ProDOS-8 2.0.3 is the current version. Just to confuse you, ProDOS-8 2.0.1 returns a version of 2.1. To make things really interesting, ProDOS-8 1.9 returns a version of 1.8. IF AN ERROR OCCURS An error could be caused by a damaged directory or the removal of a disk without QUITTER knowing. If a error occurs, the message ERR and a hexadecimal number appears at the bottom of the screen. Once you have (if possible) rectified the problem, press any key to continue. ABOUT BIRDS BETTER BYE Alan Bird wrote BIRDS BETTER BYE several years ago. It has been revised several times by Alan since. The version that is in QUITTER has been further enhanced by David Empson. BIRDS BETTER BYE Once running BBB, you will see BIRDS BETTER BYE at the top of the screen. Underneath is a reminder of the keys you can use :- CR Carriage Return ESC Escape TAB Tab SPACE The Space-Bar The current prefix is displayed below this. Underneath the prefix you will see a list of the SYS files in the current directory, together with any subdirectories (preceded by a "/" symbol). If there are more than 16 files to choose from, they will be listed in two columns. Initially the first file will be highlighted. To choose the program to be run, you can use the following keys: Arrow keys: Move the highlighted bar through the list of files. RETURN: For a SYS file - run the selected file For a subdirectory - open the directory. ESCAPE: "Back up" one directory level (no effect if you are in the root directory already.) TAB: Move on to the next drive. SPACE: Re-read the disk in the current drive (use this if you change disk in the current drive). If an error occurs while reading from a particular drive, BBB will move on to the next drive automatically (if you have no disk in any drive, it will keep going around all your drives until insert a disk). If there are no SYS or DIR files in the current directory, the file list will be empty and no highlighted bar will be present. You can still use TAB, ESCAPE and SPACE to change directories or disks. The UP and LEFT arrow keys move up once in the file list. The RIGHT and DOWN arrow keys move down once. If two columns are visible, moving down from the last line of either column will put you at the top of the other column, and vice-versa. In general, to select the program you want to run: 1. Insert the disk with the program on it into any drive. 2. Press TAB until the correct drive is selected. 3. If the program is in a subdirectory, select the necessary directory using the arrow keys and RETURN. 4. Use the arrow keys to highlight the desired program and press RETURN. BBB will then run the program for you. When the program quits back to ProDOS, you will return to BBB. The SPACE bar can be used to back up fast to the 'root' directory of a volume. It also allows you to change disk, then hit the SPACE bar to re-read the new disk WITHOUT having to TAB around all available disks. P.S. The ability to store the current prefix in BIRDS BETTER BYE has had to be removed for RAM space requirements. APPLE //GS ONLY There are features in QUITTER especially for GS Users. Most important is the ability to return to GS/OS from the ProDOS-8 environment, simply by hitting the DELETE key. Here's what can happen. You have booted up GS/OS and run a 8-bit ProDOS-8 program. Now most SYS files will return to GS/OS but there still are a number of undisciplined programs that don't. How do you get back to GS/OS?? Simply run QUITTER and hit the DELETE key! Providing the integrity of GS/OS is sound you will find yourself back in 16-bit land. This also works if a program replaces the ProDOS-8 QUIT code (including QUITTER!) ADVANCED USER FEATURE If you were running GS/OS and "accidentally" boot a ProDOS-8 or DOS 3.3 (or PASCAL or even CP/M) disk, chances are that GS/OS is still intact in high memory. By booting a ProDOS-8 disk with QUITTER on it you will find the 'Return to GS/OS' option will not be available. However, by hitting APPLE-DELETE, QUITTER will attempt to return to GS/OS. This may return you to a perfectly functioning 16 bit world. The IIgs will still think that it was booted from a 8 bit operating system. QUITTER does not change the GS boot information. The authors make no guarantee that this will work. We recommend that you then save what files should be saved (if possible), backup your /RAM5 disk and exit gracefully with a System Shutdown. Also available is OPTION-DELETE. This performs a ProDOS-16 Quit call (which uses a different entry point from GS/OS). There is little reason to be still using ProDOS-16. P.S. Don't forget to put the QUITTER.ICON to the ICONS folder!! HINTS AND TECHNIQUES Apple II Plus users: there is no TAB key on the II Plus keyboard, so you will have to use the CONTROL-I key sequence (which is equivalent to TAB). If you run QUITTER from BASIC.SYSTEM, it is normal to see no Prefix set at the top of the screen. If you run QUITTER and do NOT wish to install BBB, push EITHER of the Apple buttons (Apple OR Option respectively on a IIgs) and ESCape at the same time. This will execute the existing Quit code in ProDOS, NOT Birds Better Bye. If you use BBB to run a program then remove the disk once the program is running, then quit back to BBB, BBB will attempt to find that disk by searching all drives. This can be annoying if you are not aware what is happening. ----------------------------------------------------- QUICK SUMMARY OF KEYS ? Info about QUITTER and a reminder of Birds Better Bye keys / Same as '?' 1 If disk drive available, will boot that slot. 2 -ditto- 3 -ditto- 4 -ditto- 5 -ditto- 6 -ditto- 7 -ditto- 0 Jump to ROM PWRUP routine - i.e. Cold BOOT ESCAPE Jump to BIRDS BETTER BYE on current ProDOS prefix SPACE List online volumes DELETE Return to GS/OS if available APPLE-ESCAPE Quit to current QUIT code. OPTION-ESCAPE -ditto- APPLE-DELETE Forced GS/OS quit call OPTION-DELETE Forced ProDOS-16 quit call -------------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT THE AUTHORS Allan and David are both keen //gs owners who live in Wellington, New Zealand. How about dropping them a line telling them what you like/hate about this program. Write to the WELLINGTON APPLE USERS' GROUP, Inc. PO BOX 6642 WELLINGTON NEW ZEALAND or call our Bulletin Board NZL - AREA - NUMBER +64 - 4 - 567 1205 FILES You should have the following files- QUITTER A ProDOS program QUITTER.DOC This file. QUITTER.ICON For IIgs owners to put in their ICONS folder. * SHARE AND ENJOY!!! *