My Mac Online: The Archives: January 1999: Software Review

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My Mac Magazine #45, Jan. '99

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By:Russ Walkowich
Editor, My Mac Magazine
editor@mymac.com

Action Files Picture ACTION Files 1.1
Company: Power On Software
Estimated Price: $49.95
electronic version $39.95, upgrade $29.95
http://www.actionutilities.com 1-800-344-9160

In the October issue of My Mac Magazine, I reviewed Action Files 1.0. At the time that the review was being posted, version 1.1 of Action Files was just hitting the streets. After utilizing the update, I thought it would be a good idea to come back and update the review for those of you who are considering the purchase of must-have software for your Mac.

As in the previous version, ACTION Files 1.1 adds a multitude of capabilities to your System. You have access to Finder level commands, letting you know at a glance how much space is left on your hard drive or information about each file to include size, label, date, and kind. You can rename items, create aliases, sort by name, size, date, kind and label in ascending or descending order. It permits you to change how you do things by choosing the items to display, and features a Find command to find those finicky files with a search by name, kind, size, label, date created, or date modified; quite a bit more than the standard Open and Save box. It permits you to navigate by keyboard and command keys, allowing faster access to files and commands.

Newest features that stand out in Action Files 1.1:

Finder menu added to File Open that tracks all recent and favorites right in the Finder.

User assignable keyboard commands

Default folder can be set for each application

Windows remember last location for each application

For those of you whose work continually involves particular folder usage, like editing magazines for example, Action Files lets you set a specific folder as a default so that when you give the Save command, the Open-Save dialog box will automatically show that folder. The ability to assign a default folder for each application you use is a bonus.

System Requirements
Color-capable Mac (except Macintosh Plus, Macintosh SE, PowerBook 100 models), System 7.5 or later, System 8.5 compatible.

Summary
I said it before and I'll say it again: The easiest way to decide if a piece of software is a good and a worthwhile investment is for you to install it on your computer (try a demo version first if you can!), use it for a month, and then take it off. If you can't work as easily as before or find yourself searching frantically for the software to reinstall it, it's a keeper. ACTION Files 1.1 continues to be a keeper!

MacMice Rating: 4

Russ Walkowich
editor@mymac.com

Websites mentioned:
http://www.actionutilities.com

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