Since the System Folder has appeared on all Macintosh computers, it has been a dependable place to store and locate files. Files were not put there only by Apple software but also by other applications and even by the users themselves. However, for users of earlier versions of system software, this led to cluttered System Folders, whose contents were often difficult to maintain or decipher.
System 7 introduced a new organisation for the System Folder, facilitating file management for the user. This new organisation introduces a set of subdirectories to hold related files. One of these subdirectories holds all preferences files.
Over the last few months, I noticed I still had preferences files for applications I removed from my hard disk several weeks earlier. There's no harm in keeping these files, but they waste valuable harddisk space. So I decided to something about it and I wrote PrefsCleaner, an application that deletes all redundant prefs files in the Preferences Folder.
PrefsCleaner is system 7.0-dependent. If you aren't using system 7.0 yet, you will get a warning saying you need at least system 7.0 and the application will quit.
PrefsCleaner checks for each application, desk accessory, control panel and extension if it has a prefs file in the Preferences Folder. In this case the prefs file is marked. When the search is completed, there may still be some unmarked prefs files left. Those prefs files are considered to be redundant and can be deleted.
Unfortunately, things aren't as simple as that. Some prefs files have a different creator signature than the programs that created them. It's even possible that an application resides on a volume that is currently unmounted, so you don't want to delete its prefs file, although PrefsCleaner couldn't find the application.
To overcome these problems you can control PrefsCleaner's level of independence in the Preferences Dialog:
When a prefs file's creator can't be found, there are three possibilities:
(1) When you want PrefsCleaner to delete the file unconditionally, choose "Delete the preferences files".
(2) When the prefs file was created by an application not currently on any of the mounted volumes (but possibly on an unmounted volume), its modification date is probably recent (i.e. the file has been modified less than 30 days ago). When you choose "Delete prefs files older than 1 month", all prefs files that weren't modified in the last 30 days will be removed.
(3) When you're not sure what PrefsCleaner will find in the Preferences Folder (i.e. the first time you use PrefsCleaner), use the "Ask the user what to do" option. You will be presented a list of redundant prefs files and you can select the ones to be deleted yourself.
When you only want to check the startup volume, select "System volume only". When you want to check all mounted volumes, including removable volumes and CDROMs, select "All mounted volumes". As I mentioned earlier, PrefsCleaner checks the system volume for applications, desk accessories, control panels and extensions. All other volumes are only checked for applications and desk accessories.
Note: When checking all mounted volumes, the search may take some time. However, you can switch PrefsCleaner to the background and continue your other work. If PrefsCleaner needs user intervention while running in the background, it will post a notification.
PrefsCleaner 1.0 only has the basic stuff. I am currently working on version 1.1, introducing some nice features:
* The "modification date" option can be set by the user (version 1.0 has a default value of 30 days).
* You will be able to set the background speed.
* You will be able to define a set of "permanent prefs files" (these prefs files will never be deleted, even if PrefsCleaner couldn't find their creators).
This software is distributed under the shareware system. There is a significant difference between shareware and public domain software: public domain software is free, shareware isn't. This means that you have to pay for it, just as you have to pay for commercial software. The most important difference is that a shareware program is distributed through low-cost distribution channels, without fancy packaging and advertising. This system allows you to evaluate software before you decide to pay for it. Support the shareware system by paying your shareware fee!
You can try out PrefsCleaner for two weeks. If you decide to keep it you have to pay $15. If you don't keep it, at least give it to all your friend before you erase it!
If you live in Europe, you can send cash (dollars or Belgian franks (BEF)) or a Eurocheck. The Eurocheck must be made payable in Belgian Franks (BEF). The fee is 450 BEF.
If you live outside Europe, you can send cash (dollars) or an International Money Order . Please do not send any checks because cashing a foreign check is often more expensive than the amount it was written for. If you send cash, consider the following steps: wrap a piece of paper (the registration form) around the money and put it in a firm envelope. Send the letter by air mail.
My address is:
Luc Pauwels
August Wautersstraat 14
9140 Temse
Belgium (Europe)
If you have any problems with PrefsCleaner and you want to send me a bug report, be sure to include the Macintosh model and system version. A list of system extensions and cdevs may be helpful too. Describe the problem clearly: What happens? Under which circumstances? Is the problem reproducible (try to include a description saying how to reproduce the problem)? Any suggestions for future versions and/or comments are welcome too!
You can distribute this software by giving it to friends, upload it to a BBS or to on-line services like Compuserve and AOL. You may also send it to any ftp site. Basically you can distribute it any way you like, as long as you don't ask any money for it, other than a small charge related to distribution costs (cost of a disk, postage or download fee). PrefsCleaner must be distributed together with this unmodified document and the registration form in the original compressed archive this product came in.
You may not sell this product or bundle it with any other products (commercial or other) without explicit written permission by the author of this software.
You may not modify PrefsCleaner or this document in any way.
THIS SOFTWARE COMES 'AS IS'. THE AUTHOR MAKES NO WARRANTY AS TO THE PERFORMANCE OF PREFSCLEANER. THEREFORE, THE AUTHOR CAN NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE OR LOSS OF DATA CAUSED BY THIS PRODUCT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY.
