ThinkTank Manual

an easier, more efficient way —— backing up your outlines in

text files.

You will need one or more disks, formatted for the PASCAL operating system, to store the backup files. The files should be arranged in STRUCTURED style, which is more compact than ThinkTank’s regular file format. You will be able to back up more than one outline on each backup disk, generally between two and six depending on the size of your outlines.

Remember the rule discussed in Chapter 3:

Never get caught without a backup copy of any information you could not, or would not want to, re—enter if it were lost.

You should back up an outline whenever you make substantial changes to it. Before you close the file, move the bar cursor to the top of the outline and press “PTSS” to select PORT/TEXTFILE/SEND/STRUCTURED. When ThinkTank asks you for the name of your text file, enter the device number or volume name of your backup disk and a name describing the outline.

The next time you back up the outline, you can port it to the same backup disk if you wish. If you use the same file name, ThinkTank will replace the old copy with the new one. However, since backups themselves sometimes fail, we recommend that you keep copies of each outline on two different backup disks, alternating between them. Don’t take a chance on destroying an old backup copy until you have successfully created a new one.

If you conscientiously follow this procedure, you will be sure of having a recent backup copy if your outline disk becomes damaged. If you ever need the backup copy, use PORT/TEXTFILE/RECEIVE to port the file back into ThinkTank.

Use RECALL When Porting Between Outlines

When ThinkTank prompts you for a pattern or file name, it remembers the last one you entered. You can use the RECALL ommand to redisplay it. If you’ve just ported an outline to a text file and want to port it back into another outline,

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