August 14, 1997

Morgan Creek Medical

http://www.simplemed.com/



*** Footprint only works with Newton OS 2.1 ***



Welcome to Footprint!  Footprint is Free Ware.  You are free to download Footprint for your own use. Use it at your own risk.  Morgan Creek Medical will not be held responsible for any data loss, damage or any other "bad thing" attributable to this software.



Footprint is a small "backdrop" application for your Newton OS device.  In the spirit of powerBack by PowerPen (which is now defunct) Morgan Creek Medical is releasing this as freeware.  We do not have the computing capability to provide user customization at build time, so we have released Footprint as a small, simple application that may be modestly customized via the "prefs" slip.  Also, the relatively empty button bar should allow for added enhancements in the form of Auxiliary Buttons.  Morgan Creek Medical has a few useful buttons for use in the backdrop application which are available at our web site.



*** Footprint only works with Newton OS 2.1 ***



New in this version is a bug fix.  Some users were experiencing problems with auxiliary buttons not working or giving error slips on resets when Footprint was the backdrop.  This has (hopefully) now been fixed.



*** Footprint only works with Newton OS 2.1 ***



Q. What is a backdrop application?



A. A backdrop application is the base application that is visible on your Newton OS device when all other applications have been closed.  For instance, the backdrop application initially visible on a MP2000 is the Notepad application.



Q. How do I set the backdrop application?



A. You set the backdrop application by selecting an application in the extras drawer, and selecting "Make Backdrop" from the action button.  Backdrop applications can only be set on Newton 2.x devices.



Q. What is an auxiliary button?



A. An auxiliary button is a separate application that places a button on the button bar of an application.  Most auxiliary buttons place themselves onto the button bar of the backdrop application.  These buttons can add functionality to your Newton OS device.  Morgan Creek Medical has a few useful buttons for use in the backdrop application which are available at our web site.



Q. Will Footprint work on my MessagePad 120 or 130?



A. No.  Footprint only works on OS 2.1 devices (MP2000 is the only device tested so far).



Q. What will happen if I load Footprint onto my MessagePad 120 or 130?



A. I don't know.  I wouldn't try it.



*** Footprint only works with Newton OS 2.1 ***



Please report suggestions, bugs, praises or complaints to Morgan Creek Medical at freeware@simplemed.com.





John Starmer

Morgan Creek Medical