including everything to do with alias tracking.

Everything else is done using standard System software methods,



the attached documentation.)

language and compiler for Apple events written by Jens Peter Alfke.  (See

Apple event construction is done using AEBuild, a simple representation



sound helps the user know when to release the keys.

at the time when the converted alias is opened.  Attaching a quiet action

Keyboard state checking is unsophisticated, so what matters is the state



the countdown timer control.

See the section entitled “Programmer Notes” for more information about

and off like a button, but shows an animated counter.

Timed dialogs are done using a special countdown timer, which turns on





you specify when you convert the alias file.

simple.  Most of what Maybe does is to carry out the actions and options

enhances it.  Therefore, opening or printing the target item is quite

Maybe doesn’t make the alias file; it takes what Finder has created and




xBackground Information







Items folder, so that it will always be ready when you need it.

don’t mind tying up a bit of memory, put an alias to Maybe in your Startup

automatically.  If you expect to use converted aliases frequently, and

If Maybe is opened in any other fashion, it will not try to quit



Maybe’s other functions.

menu command or equivalent keyboard action, indicating an interest in

background.  This automatic quit feature is disabled if the user selects any

Maybe tries to excuse itself after about five seconds of inactivity in the

open or print a converted alias.  Therefore, if opened in this fashion,

It would be bothersome to have to quit Maybe manually every time you





converted aliases are Maybe documents.

automatically whenever a converted alias is opened or printed, because

an alias or to change existing converted alias options.  Maybe also opens

You will need to open the Maybe application whenever you want to convert




xAutomatic Quit Feature







special action.

Stationery pad status has no effect on the way it acts if opened to do its

key, in which case you can change the options in the stationery pad itself.

will be prompted to save a copy first, unless you also press the Control

converted alias is a stationery pad, and you ask to change the options, you

alias:  one, to do its special action; and two, to change its options.)  If the

change the options.  (Maybe actually has two ways to “open” a converted

If you press the Option key, the Options dialog will appear, so you can



not appear, and “Yes” will be assumed.

press the Command key while opening or printing, the Prompt dialog will

If the action is to prompt the user for a “Yes” or “No” answer, and you



converted alias which affect those actions.

There are a couple of things you can do while opening or printing a



various action types.

See the section entitled “What Does Maybe Do?” for descriptions of the

action chosen when the options were set.

What happens when you open or print a converted alias depends on the





whatever.

folder or Startup Items folder, on the desktop, attached to a macro, or

alias anywhere you would use an alias file:  in the Apple Menu Items

its name.)  From Finder’s point of view, though, you can use a converted

question-mark “brand” over the icon, and add “ (Maybe)” to the end of

original and not an alias to it, the default options will stamp a rather large

file.  (If you want it to look different, to make it clear that it’s not the

A converted alias is really a Maybe document that looks like a Finder alias




xUsing a Converted Alias









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on the options you chose.

either identical or very similar to those of the Finder alias file, depending

called a converted alias.  This document has a name and an icon which are

accept the options, Maybe converts the alias file into a Maybe document

button which opens another dialog, with more choices to make.  If you

and any of its special options.  Some action types require you to click a

You then fill out the options in the Options dialog, including the action type







in the list of files.)

without selecting it for conversion, press the Option key while selecting it

not the case here.  (If you want to trace from an alias to its target item

alias in a file dialog is equivalent to selecting its target item, but that is

dialog asks you to choose an alias file to convert.  Ordinarily, selecting an

place of the usual “New…” command in the File menu.  The resulting file

Everything starts with the “Convert Alias…” command, which takes the




xSetting Options for Converted Aliases








åHow Does Maybe Work?


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