Using MultiFinder

NOTE-- In 2000 we retired MacNail construction software, and replaced it with an improved program: Goldenseal software for construction. Our computer software programs are developed for builders, remodelers and other small business. Goldenseal is an integrated program that handles accounting, construction estimating, and project management, plus simple construction scheduling. Note that this page is obsolete, since newer Macintosh systems automatically allow multiple programs to run at the same time.

Using Macintosh MultiFinder

If you have extra RAM, you can use MultiFinder to use several programs at the same time in the MacNail project management software. This can be a real convenience!

A few MultiFinder quirks:

* Always open Excel 1.5 before opening any other program. Excel 1.5 must be in the first megabyte of memory. Excel 2.2 is more forgiving, and need not be opened first.
* Be sure to set the memory partition for each program (see page 136).
* Always save before switching between programs-- MultiFinder can cause occasional bombs, although the latest versions are fairly reliable.
* Less memory will be available for Excel 1.5-- you may have to use Set Startup under the Finder's Special menu to return to the regular Finder, when running some operations.
* After a while, you may be unable to open files with Excel, even though there is sufficient memory available. This is caused by fragmentation of the System heap (in simpler words, scrambled memory). Quit from Excel and restart to fix this problem.
* If you throw out a file while in the Finder, choose Empty Trash from the Special menu, before returning to the MacNail construction scheduling software. Otherwise Excel will still "see" the file in its original folder.
* File changes made in Excel may not show up in the Finder immediately.