'Switch-It' (Switch Applications via the Keyboard)

Version 1.8 - September 29, 1998
Copyright 1996-1998 Michel MARIANI - All Rights Reserved

Contents

• Introduction
• Feature Overview
• System Requirements
• Installation
• Directions for Use
• Standard Customization (Control Panel)
• Advanced Customization (ResEdit)
• Known Problems and Shortcomings
• Planned Improvements
• Contacting the Author
• Web Site
• Credits
• Copyright
• Disclaimer
• Distribution
• Acknowledgements

Introduction

• With Switch-It, you can use the keyboard to switch between applications.
  
  
• Switch-It is yet another application switcher. It has been mainly developed to suit my needs, but I guess it shall be useful to anybody who looks for a simple piece of software.
  
  
• Switch-It works under System 7.0 or later, and is distributed as freeware.

Feature Overview

• Switch-It lets you switch between running applications using the keyboard. Several view modes are available.

• Switch-It allows you to request the termination of any number of running applications, either individually (quit) or globally (kill-all).

• Many parameters can be easily customized, including hot keys, font name and size, text and background colors, view mode (plain, icon list), ordering of applications, etc.

System Requirements

Switch-It works under Mac OS System 7.0 or later (System 7.5 or newer is recommended). It has been successfully tested on Macintosh Classic, PowerBook 520C, Power Macintosh 7200 and Performa 6400.

Installation

To use Switch-It feature, place the file in the Control Panels folder and then restart the computer.

Warning:

The version number at the end of the control panel's file name has been dropped soon after version 1.4.2. Now, under the improved naming scheme, a new version simply overwrites the previous one. In case your last installed version is "Switch-It 1.4.2", don't forget to throw (or hide) it away before installing the new version.

Directions for Use

• Hold down the activator key (Command) and press the switch key (Tab) to cycle through the running applications. Release the activator key to select an application.
  
  
• Having also the Shift key depressed at switch time reverses the direction of cycling.
  
  
• Switch-It action can be canceled by pressing the cancel key (Escape) before releasing the activator key (Command).
  
  
• While in switch mode, and provided 'Enable Quit' has been enabled in the Control Panel, it is possible to require running applications to quit by pressing the key labeled 'Q' or 'X'. The application icon (or its name, if the display of the icon has been disabled) is then marked with a red cross, in a toggle way. All the terminate requests of the selected applications are actually performed when the activator key is released (which means that the whole process can be aborted using the cancel key).
  
  
• It is possible to prevent the Finder from being quitted by unchecking the appropriate check-box: "Allow Quit Finder". By default, it is not allowed to send a quit request to the Finder. Actually, quitting the Finder is generally considered to be a bad idea, unless you are a "power user" and know exactly what you are doing...
  
  
• Provided 'Enable Auto-Step' has been enabled in the Control Panel, it is possible to cycle automatically through all running applications by keeping pressed the switch key (Tab). After an initial delay of 1 second, the auto-step mode starts (the next application is displayed every half a second) and can be stopped by releasing the switch key.
  
  
• While in switch mode, it is possible to jump directly to the Finder (provided it is running) by pressing the key labeled 'F'. Note that it is just a convenient short cut, as if you had cycled through running applications until you reach the Finder.
  
  
• While in switch mode, and provided 'Enable Quit' has been enabled in the Control Panel, it is also possible to require all running applications but the Finder to quit, by pressing the key labeled 'K'. This convenient short cut is functionally equivalent to cycling through all running applications, except the Finder, flagging each one with a red cross, then going to the Finder.
  
  
• Running applications can be displayed according to three different orders, depending on which ordering method has been selected in the "Applications Ordering" pop-up menu:
  • System: applications are listed in the same order they have been launched.
  • Alphabetic: applications are listed just like in the "Applications" system menu, on the right side of the menu bar.
  • Front to Back: applications are listed as they visually appear on top of each other on the Desktop. This order gives quicker access to the most recently used applications, and is specially convenient to switch between the two last-frontmost applications.

Standard Customization (Control Panel)

On / Off	Enables / Disables Switch-It.
Start-Up Icon	Shows / hides Switch-It's icon at system start-up.
Hot Keys	Allows the customization of Switch-It's hot keys.
Activator	Changes the modifier (activator) key used to bring up the switch window.
Switch Key	Changes the switch key used to bring up the switch window.
Cancel Key	Changes the cancel key used to dismiss the switch window. Selecting "None" means that any unused key will act as a cancel key.

Display	Allows the customization of Switch-It's display options.
Font	Changes the font of the switch window.
Size	Changes the font size of the switch window.
Bold	Allows the text to be displayed in bold style.
Text Color...	Changes the text color of the switch window.
Background...	Changes the background color of the switch window.
View Mode	Changes the way the running applications are displayed in the switch window, either individually or accompanied with a list of all the applications' icons.
Show Application Icon	Allows the application icon to be displayed in the switch window.
Reduced Window	Allows the use of a reduced (smaller) switch window.

Special	Allows the customization of Switch-It's special options.
Applications Ordering	Changes the order in which the running applications are displayed in the switch window: either in system (launch) order, in alphabetic order, or in front to back order.
Enable Quit	Allows sending quit requests to running applications.
Allow Quit Finder	Allows the sending of a quit request even to the Finder, provided "Enable Quit" has been checked.
Enable Auto-Step	Allows auto-stepping through all running applications while the switch key is still down.

Quick Help

Provides information about Switch-It's basic operation.

About	Provides further information about Switch-It and other programs from Mikaeru Software.
Clicking on the underlined links brings up a pop-up menu which allows you to: copy the Internet location to the clipboard, or go to the web site of Mikaeru Software, using your favorite Web browser, copy the author's e-mail address to the clipboard, or send a message to the author, using your favorite e-mail application.

Notes:

• Balloon help is available.
• Changes made in the Control Panel take effect immediately.
• In order to automatically open your favorite Web browser or e-mail application, Internet Config Extension must be installed in your system.

Advanced Customization (ResEdit)

Here is the description of some resources of Switch-It which could be modified by a "power user" through ResEdit (templates are provided where useful):

General Settings Resources

• 'Stgs', -4063 sets:
  • the window sizes (standard and reduced),
  • the window type (proc ID),
  • the window title,
  • the 'Send Quit', 'Alt Send Quit', 'Kill All' and 'Goto Finder' character codes,
  • the initial delay and repeat rate of the 'Auto-Step' mode, expressed in ticks (60ths of second),
  • the icon gap, frame inset and frame size for each icon list view (small and large),
  • for the icon list views, two flags indicating whether 3D color effects are used, and if the icon list should be displayed below or above the plain view.

Keyboard-Related Resources

• 'Keys', -4064 and -4063: contain the lists of switch and cancel key codes which will appear in a readable form in the control panel's pop-up menus. These key codes are keyboard-dependent; you can get possible values from the 'KCHR' resources in the System file.

Notes:

• Always make a back-up copy of the original file before modifying it by ResEdit!
• Unlike settings made through the control panel, which are kept in a separate preferences file, changes made by ResEdit will be lost when a new version of the software becomes available.
• Changes take effect at restart.

Known Problems and Shortcomings

• In order to work correctly even when an input method is active (while typing Chinese or Japanese for instance), Switch-It patches extra system calls, in addition to the Apple-sanctioned method for filtering key events (jGNEFilter).
  
  
• While the pop-up window is displayed, any other visible activity is suspended: application windows, menu bar, etc. appear to be "frozen".
  
  
• In order to make running applications quit, Switch-It uses the sending of 'quit' AppleEvents. Unfortunately, this method does not work (nothing happens) if the front application is not AppleEvent-aware.

Planned Improvements

• Implement a "Hide Other Applications" feature.

Contacting the Author

If you have any questions, suggestions, words of appreciation or bug reports, you can contact me at the following address:

E-Mail

<mmariani@wanadoo.fr>

Snail Mail

Michel MARIANI
47, rue des Remparts-d'Ainay
69002 LYON
FRANCE
 

If you ever send me a message, please tell me which version of Switch-It you are using and, if possible, where you got it from:

• Internet site (URL),
• CD-ROM coming with a magazine (name, issue number and month),
• etc.

Web Site

Latest versions of Switch-It and other freeware programs from "Mikaeru Software" are available at:

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/mmariani/soft/soft.html

Credits

Written with THINK Project Manager 7.0.4, THINK C 7.0.3 &ResEdit 2.1.3.

The code to display icons is adapted from the snippet GetFileIcon 1.1 written by Jeff Beeghly (Universal Headers conversion by Erik A. Johnson), based on code from FindIcon by James Walker.

Copyright

This software is freeware, it is provided for public use free of charge. However, it is NOT public domain. This software is copyright © 1996-1998 by Michel MARIANI. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer

You expressly acknowledge and agree that use of this software is at your sole risk. The software and the related documentation are provided "as is" and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including, but not limited to, any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.

In no event shall the author be liable for any consequential, incidental or indirect damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of profits, business interruption, loss of information, or other pecuniary loss) arising out the use of or inability to use the software or related documentation, even if the author has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Distribution

This software may be freely distributed in electronic form on computer networks, including posting on Internet sites, on online services, BBSs and user groups, but always in its unmodified form and together with this document. Please contact the author to obtain the most recent version.

This software may NOT be sold or resold, or bundled with any other commercial product. The software may be posted on an information service which charges its users for general connection time and downloading, but it may NOT be posted to an information service which will charge for the specific right to download this software.

This software may NOT be included on any CD-ROM or floppy collection (including, but not limited to, software collections coming with books, magazines or other media) without the author's prior knowledge and express written permission.

The author can be contacted at: <mmariani@wanadoo.fr>

Permission to include this software on a CD-ROM or floppy collection will be granted if, and only if, it is the most recent version of the software, the original package is included in its entirety, and a complimentary copy is sent to the author at the following address:

Michel MARIANI
47, rue des Remparts-d'Ainay
69002 LYON
FRANCE

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to the following people (in chronological order):

• Michel Rousset, for testing and providing useful comments, and proofreading the first version of this document.
• Cj Zinngrabe, for pointing out a crash under Mac OS 8, and kindly testing the fix.
• Julian E Gomez, for pointing out a problem of missing icon in System 7.6, and kindly testing the current beta version.

Here are the names (in alphabetic order) of all the nice folks who took the time to send me questions, suggestions, words of appreciation or bug reports; I really appreciate getting feedback, it is highly motivating and encouraging:

Stefan Anthony, Yoshihisa Asayama, Wil Baden, Boris "Bissia" Bertrand, Rick Carpenter, Winson Cheung, Nathan Cross, Sean Embury, Hanno Foest, Hideyuki Fujioka, Jeff Gilbert, Julian E Gómez, Greg G., Michael Hanna, James Huffman, Helen Hulskamp, Michael Jacovides, Ted Kaehler, S.M. King, Thomas v. Landsberg-Velen, Roger Lier, Rich Long, John D. Muccigrosso, Steve O'Neill, Masayuki Ozawa, John Paolini, Peter, Shinbone, Deryck Stave, Peter Terhoeven, David Tiselius, Mitsuo Tsugita, Zoltan Vastag, James Vernon, Cristian Viola, Matt Wills, Kaori Yokono, Cj Zinngrabe.

And finally, here is the list of magazines or editors who asked me permission to include Switch-It on their CD-ROM:

• Graphics World - Japan (Yasuyo Ishizuka)
• HyperLib - Japan (Toshiroh Arai)
• Kids Art Project - Japan (Kinya Takahashi)
• Mac 100% - Japan (Kuniharu Hanai - Masayoshi Takei)
• MacAddict - USA (Kris Fong)
• Mac Fan internet - Japan (Yasuto Niyama)
• Mac People - Japan (Motoko Mori)
• MacUser Japanese Edition - Japan (Noriko Goto)
• Nikkei Mac - Japan (Sayaka Kato, Shigenobu Kokubo, Taisuke Ukigai)
• Professional DTP - Japan (Hiroshi Nihei)
• SoftBank - Japan (Masuyo Kitajima)
• Takarajima - Japan (Yoko Shimizu)