Orientation to the NeXT File System
Campus Computing · University of Missouri - Columbia · 200 Heinkel Building · 314-882-2000
Update 23 June 1994 by ccpaulh@monad.missouri.edu. Subject to change!
This document is directed mainly to instructors. Here's an outline of a 20-minute presentation that will introduce new users to the basic facilities of NeXT.
- 1. Adjust brightness on keyboard. Some color stations also have brightness and power controls. Note location of volume controls. Power button can turn it on, but not off; normally, do not power off a public workstation, just turn down brightness when done.
- 2. Enter userid: lower-case c followed by six-digit student number. Press Return Key.
- 3. Enter password: birthdate as 6-digits yymmdd. Press Return.
- 4. Identify: Dock at right (commonly used applications), Menu area at left. File Viewer, Home Folder icon, Shelf of File Viewer. Files are organized as folders within folders within folders...
- 5. Mouse buttons are initially identical. Open a file by double-clicking.
- 6. Copy a (small!) file by dragging. Notice how the door of house opens!
- 7. Remove same file by dragging to recycler. Recyclers are emptied every night, but you can recall files before then by double-clicking the recycler and dragging the file out to your Home.
- 8. Put a file or folder on the shelf, by dragging it there. Remove items from the shelf by dragging them off into the grey background. Be careful! Dragging to the shelf is just a convient way to find a file. Dragging to your Home on the shelf duplicates a file.
- 9. Make a folder. Click on Home icon, press Command-n. Click on the NewFolder icon, then drag across title. Retype your name or something descriptive as title. A mark of a novice is to have a folder called ªNewFolderº. You can rename any file in your home folder in this way.
- 10. Diskettes. DD = 700 Kbytes, HD = 1.4 Mbytes (be$t buy), ED = 2.8 Mbytes. DOS format diskettes can be used, but you'll truncate file names. Best to format all new diskettes by inserting in machine, click on resulting icon, and select from menu at right ªDiskº, ªInitializeº.
All user homes are deleted at end of semester. Even before this scheduled house-cleaning, a lightning bolt or such problem might cause the system to lose your files. Even more likely, you yourself, not the system will mess up your own files. If you go to another public site, it may not have your home directory. So keep a copy, maybe more than one copy on diskettes.
- 11. Find the games! Move File Viewer slider to the left, click on PublicApps.
- 12. Change size of File Viewer by dragging small bar at bottom. Menu can change size and style of fonts.
- 13. Hide the File Viewer and bring it back.
- 14. Set password via Preferences.
- 15. Logout. Don't forget your diskettes!
Instructors notes:
If you want to save time and make a good first impression, have each station already logged on before the session starts! As an alternative presentation or self-study, use the booklet Here's How included with each NeXT system. Useful on-line materials that are short enough to make decent handouts include:
- /LocalLibrary/Mizzou_Info/01_GettingStarted1.draw
- /LocalLibrary/Mizzou_Info/01_GettingStarted2.draw
- /LocalLibrary/Mizzou_Info/01_GettingStarted3.rtf (this file)
- /LocalLibrary/Answers/Local/Unix.and.C.wn
- man pages (use "man -t" to print)
Questions and comments concerning these policies should be directed to the NeXT Lab site consultant or the MU Campus Computing "NeXT Lab Co-ordinator", 882-5000.