The typical and preferred way to use Mini-Edit is to keep the ITS database files (the *.ITS or *.MDB files) you need in the same directory as the application. The other provided application tools and support files also reside in this directory. If these are found to be missing when the tool is started, various warnings are produced. If this folder ordering is followed, then many times default file names and paths will be filled in for you in dialogs.

Aside: This is somewhat different from the method used by older copies of the tool, when it was possible to have a unique copy of the tool placed into each different folder. Because the tool registers itself with the system now, such multiple copies can cause problems and should be avoided.

The exception to this rule is the use of 1st Word. This application can be placed anywhere you desire. The most common style of use is to create a separate folder with the major components of your final document in it. Place into it a copy of 1st Word and a copy of the Mini-Edit settings file. Place into it all the component parts needed to build your final document (the template file you use, any included files, any included images or figures). When ready to run off a document, transfer a current copy of the database file to this folder, click on 1st Word, click on your default preferences, and go. Regardless of the folder organization you choose, your document will have a complete set of timestamps and file paths of all documents used in its creation listed on the final page.

A word about file naming: Most SDOs choose to use a file naming format that is a combination of the standard and its revision or release so that they can tell at a glance what edition of data it is. For example, the file ATIS_3_0_r74.its is the SAE Advanced Traveler Information (ATIS) standard, officially called SAE J2354, and this file would be revision 74 of that file. Its major and minor revisions would be 3 and 0 respectively. If you will be creating your own database files, a similar naming may be useful to you.