Backdrop Plus
Memory Management and a Custom Backdrop for the Newton OS

Table of Contents


1 	Welcome and Registration	
1.1		About Backdrop Plus	
1.2		Registering Backdrop Plus	
1.3		Contacting Stand Alone, Inc.	
1.3.1		Business Hours	
1.3.1		Email	
1.3.2		Phone	
1.3.3		Regular Mail	
1.3.4		World Wide Web	

2	Installation	

3	Installation and Memory Management	
3.1		Special Installation Instructions	
3.2		Memory Management	

4	Using Backdrop Plus	
4.1		Battery Level	
4.2		OwnerÍs Info	
4.3		Heap Level
4.4		Date and Time	
4.5		Logo Artwork	
4.6		Volume Control	
4.7		Save Mode	
4.9		Open NotePad	
4.10		Rotate Screen	
4.11		Extras Drawer Folders	
4.12		Apps Button	
4.13		Application Icons (The Dock)	
4.14		Info Button
4.14.1		About	
4.14.2		Help	
4.14.3		Prefs	
4.14.4		Personal Info	
4.14.5		Edit Apps	
4.14.6		Beam Backdrop Plus	
4.14.7		Remove	

1	Welcome and Registration

1.1	Welcome

Welcome to Backdrop Plus, a memory manager and backdrop for the Newton OS. 
Backdrop Plus is an
application that replaces the NotePad as the standard Newton OS backdrop, using 
less heap than the standard
NotePad.

Included in this archive are the following packages:

Backdrop Plus.pkg 
This is the software package that you need to install on your Newton.

Backdrop Plus.pdf 
This is the usersÍ manual for Backdrop Plus. You are reading it right now.

Backdrop Plus.txt 
This is the text only version of the manual. If at all posible, use the pdf 
version of the
manual, as it has layout and graphics that cannot be included in the text 
version. The pdf format is viewed
using Adobe¬ Acrobat Reader¬, which can be obtained free of charge at 
www.adobe.com.

SAStuff.txt 
A list of all of the software available from Stand Alone Inc.


1.2	Registering ButtonBar Plus

The Backdrop Plus Demo will work for a 30 day trial period. At the end of the 30 
Days, it will stop working.
To avert this tragedy, you need to get in touch with Stand Alone, Inc. to 
register your software. You can
register with us by several different methods.

You will need to include the following information, no matter how you choose to 
register. Most importantly,
you need to include your name EXACTLY as it is entered in your Newton, including 
spaces. We use this to
generate your password, so it must be precise. You need to specify which 
programs you wish to register,
and include payment for each of them. We accept Visa, Mastercard, and American 
Express. If you are using
normal mail, you can send us a check as well. Make sure to include your card 
number, the expiration date,
and what type of card you are using. You also need to give us a way to get in 
touch with you. Email is the
preferred way, followed by your address and phone number. An Email address is 
not strictly necessary,
but it will result in much faster service.

For instant gratification, register by phone, and pay using Visa or Mastercard. 
To do so, call (773)
477-2492 and we will give you a password right over the phone.

Alternatively, you can send us a check for $25 to the address below.

You can also Email us one of several ways. The application has a Register 
section under the  button, tap on
that to open up a registration slip. If you fill out that slip, and have an 
Email client on your Newton, it will
automatically Email us and we will send you a registration code. You can also 
just Email us the relevant
information from your Newton or a desktop machine, and weÍll send you a code. If 
you are registering
through Compuserve, use GO SWREG # 9566.

Once you register, you will receive a password from us. There is an option to 
Enter Password under the
menu. Tap on it to bring up a screen that has a space to enter the password. 
When the password is entered,
you will receive a message confirming the entry. Backdrop Plus is now registered 
and ready to go.

1.3	Contacting Stand Alone, Inc.

There are several ways to get in touch with us here at Stand Alone.  Email is 
the preferred form of
communication, but whatever works for you is fine. If you have any questions, 
comments, suggestions or
compliments, please don't hesitate to contact us through any of the methods 
listed below.

1.3.1	Business Hours
Stand Alone is open from 9 AM to 7 PM Monday to Thursday, 9 AM to 6 PM Friday,
10 AM to 4 PM Saturday and we are CLOSED on Sunday. These times are CST and GMT 
-5.

1.3.1	Email: 
internet: 		info@standalone.com 
AOL: 			Std Alone
CompuServe:		76342,3057

1.3.2	Phone: 
Voice: 			(773) 477-2492 
Fax:			(773) 477-2579

1.3.3	Regular Mail: 
Stand Alone 3171 N. Hudson, Suite 1 
Chicago, IL, 60657
USA

1.3.4	World Wide Web: 
http://www.standalone.com 

Stand Alone is open from 9 AM to 7 PM Monday to Thursday, 9 AM to 6 PM Friday,
and 10 AM to 4 PM Saturday.  We are Closed on Sunday. These times are CST and GMT -5.

2	Installation

The first thing that you need to do to get your software up and running is to 
install it on your Newton. To do
this, you need to have Newton Backup Utility, or Newton Connection Utilities, 
set up to talk to your Newton.
If you have problems with this part of the installation, please contact  consult 
the documentation that came
with your Newton. Once Newton Backup Utility is set up, just follow the steps 
listed below to for each of
the packages you wish to install.

1. Open the Newton Backup Utility , or Newton Connection Utilities on your 
Desktop machine.

2. On your Newton, go to the Extras Drawer  and tap the Connection icon . The 
connection icon could also be
found on the ButtonBar.

3. Once the Newton Backup Utility has loaded on your desktop machine, make sure 
your cables are connected
and tap the  button on your Newton.

4. For each of the packages you wish to install, do the following:

´ Tap the Install Package button in the Newton Backup Utility

´ Go to the folder where your packages are, and select the desired package.

´ Click on the ñInstallî button 

3	Installation and Memory Management

3.1	Special Installation Instruction

Backdrop Plus provides a custom backdrop for your MessagePad. To use it, you 
must install Backdrop Plus
on the internal memory of your MessagePad. It is important to save it into the 
internal memory, otherwise,
it will not work correctly.  Once installed, a window appears asking if you want 
Backdrop Plus to be the
backdrop application.  Tap ñMake Backdropî to close the NotePad and start 
Backdrop Plus as your new
backdrop application.  If you ever need to change the backdrop application or 
remove Backdrop Plus, you
have two options. One way to do it is to open your Extras drawer, select the 
Notes icon, and hold until you
hear a squeak.  Then tap the action button envelope at the bottom right of the 
screen and select ñMake
Backdrop.î  Backdrop Plus now appears in the Extras Drawer, like a normal icon. 
Another way to beam or
delete Backdrop Plus is through the  menu, as is detailed in sections 4.14.6 and 
4.14.7.

3.2	Memory Management

A NewtonÍs heap is the equivalent of a Desktop machineÍs RAM. Heap is used by 
applications when they are
installed and when they run. When an application is installed on your Newton, it 
consumes a small amount of
heap. When the NotePad is used as the backdrop for your Newton, it consumes heap 
as well. When Backdrop
Plus is used as the backdrop, it saves an average of 8k and up to 15k less heap 
then the standard NotePad,
which leaves you with more memory for the rest of your NewtonÍs functions. For 
more information on
memory management, see section 4.3, or the Stand Alone FAQ Sheet, which is found 
at
www.standalone.com.


4 	Features of Backdrop Plus


The Backdrop Plus screen contains a wealth of information. All of its features 
are outlined below.


4.1	Battery Level

Shows the power left in your battery.

4.2	OwnerÍs Info

Backdrop Plus displays your owners info here.  The  button menuÍs Personal Info 
option lets you edit this
information. For more details, please see section 4.14.4.

4.3	Heap Level

Backdrop Plus Shows unused heap here.  You should try and keep your heap above a 
certain level. depending
on the type of Newton you own.

MP 120: 40-50k 
MP 130: 120-150k 
MP 2000: 95-115k 
eMate: 95-115k

As applications are run, they tend to use a certain amount of heap. You will see 
your available heap drop
after an application is opened, and probably a little more when it is closed. 
This heap is not permanently
lost, and most of it is marked as unused, but will not get added back to the 
main heap until you perform a
Garbage Collection. Tapping any clear space on the backdrop screen will run a 
Garbage Collection. Garbage
Collections are best performed before opening large packages, to insure that as 
much heap as possible is
available. To perform a Garbage Collection, just tap on any blank space on the 
backdrop.

4.4	Date and Time

This runs by the Message PadÍs internal clock. Tapping it opens a standard 
window where both date and
time can be set.

4.5	Logo Artwork

Backdrop Plus includes four graphics, or this spot can be left blank. You can 
set your choice of graphics
using Prefs under the   button. To do this, please see section 4.14.3. It is 
also possible to include your own
artwork, or a company logo.  To customize your version, please contact Stand 
Alone.

4.6	Volume Control

Tap to adjust the sound volume.

4.7	Save Destination

When the icon is a Newton, all items you save (like notes, dates, names, etc.) 
are saved to internal
memory.  Tap the icon to automatically save information onto a card. When it 
saves to a card slot, the
graphic is a Newton with a card showing.

4.8	Quick Note

This is a fast way to enter info to the NotePad.  A small edit window lets you 
type or write in info, and
when you close it, the information is automatically converted into a standard 
note. Using Prefs, you can set
what kind of note pops up when using Quick Note. If you tap and hold on this 
button, a list pops up where you
can set the type of note.

4.9	Open NotePad

Tap this icon to open the NotePad. Tapping and holding the icon pops up a list 
of the folders in the Extras
drawer.

4.10 	Rotate Screen

Tap to rotate the display between Portrait and Landscape. Tap and hold this icon 
to cause the system to
reboot.

4.11	Extras Drawer Folders

Tapping on this brings up a list of the folders in your Extras Drawer. Tap one 
to go directly to the icons in
that folder.  Tap and hold to put the Message Pad to sleep.

4.12	Apps button

Displays a  popup menu of all apps included in the list.  You can launch 
applications directly from this list. To
add or remove apps from the list, please refer to section 3.14.5.

4.3.13	Application Icons (The Dock)

Tap on these icons to launch applications. To remove icons from the dock, tap 
and hold on an icon and a
dialog box will open and ask you to confirm removal. For more information on  
adding  or removing icons,
please see section 3.14.5.

4.14	Info Button

The Info button  gives you access to a number of important features of the 
program.

4.14.1	About 
Tells you a bit about the program and lets you know how to contact us.

4.14.2	Help 
This includes a full on-line manual for Back Drop Plus.

4.14.3	Prefs 
The Prefs menu has a number of choices to help you customize Backdrop Plus to 
your
needs.

At the top of the window, you can set the font, face, and size using the 
available pickers. Below the pickers
are a number of preferences for Backdrop Plus. If the boxes are checked, then 
the option is turned on. To
turn them off, just uncheck the box.

Close Extras Drawer when opening apps This tells the Newton OS to automatically 
shut the extras drawer
once a new app is launched.

Show Silk Screen Floater in Landscape You can open up a floating window of the 
silkscreen buttons when the
Newton is set to landscape view. This only works on MP 120Ís and MP 130Ís.

Show Sound Volume This will put an icon on the desk top that allows you to 
adjust the sound levels.

Show Silk Screen toggle button Here you can place a toggle button on the desk 
top that opens up a floating
widow with the silk screen buttons. This feature only works on the MP 120Ís and 
MP 130Ís.

Show Backlight Toggle This places an icon on the screen that lets you turn the 
back lighting off and on.

4.14.4	Personal Info 
Use this menu to change your personal information. Any changes you make here
will be displayed in the Owner  Info space on the back drop.

4.14.5	Edit Apps 
This screen is used to set or change the programs that are accessed through the 
Apps
Button, or the Dock.

The Edit Apps menu gives you a list of all of the programs in the NewtonÍs 
memory. Next to each program
are two boxes. The first list ñin listî sets which programs are included in 
Backdrop PlusÍ Apps button. The
second list, ñin dockî determines which icons are placed on the back drop. In 
both cases, if the box is
checked, then the program will be included. If the box is not checked, than the 
program will not be included.
The buttons at the bottom of the screen remove all applications from either the 
Apps Button or clears all
the icons from the Dock. An alternate way of removing the icons from the Dock is 
to tap and hold on them.
You will then be given the option to delete the icon.

4.14.6	Beam Backdrop Plus 
This choice gives you a quick way to beam Backdrop Plus to another
Newton.

4.14.7	Remove 
Selecting this will erase Backdrop Plus from your MessagePad. Make sure that you
really want to do this, because once chosen it cannot be undone.