DFaultD is a cdev/INIT that lets you "link" a default folder to any application or desk accessory. When you launch a DA or a linked application by itself (ie. not by double clicking on a document), DFaultD sets things up so the file dialog boxes initially open in your default folder.
DFaultD can also provide pop-up menus in the file dialog box to allow you to switch between folders and between volumes. The folder menu allows access to:
1) The current application or DA's default folder.
2) Any one of the last 10 folders you used.
3) One of a reserved set of folders "locked" in the menu. The volume menu allows instant switching to any available volume. It also provides "smart volume switching." DFaultD remembers the last folder you accessed on each volume, and switches to that folder rather than to the top of the folder hierarchy when you change disks. This works with both the volume menu and the "Drive" button.
To use DFaultD's pop-up menus, simply place the mouse over the volume name in the file dialog and two pop-up menu buttons will appear. Push on the button with the folder icon for switching between folders, or the one with the disk icon for volume switching. DFaultD puts a little icon next to the disk icon to remind you where it is.
DFaultD's folder linking and smart volume switching features merely require HFS to operate, but you need to be running System 6.0 or higher to use the pop-up menus.
This cdev is shareware. If you use it, please send $20 (or more, if you like it that much…) to:
Jon Gotow
129 Iron Run Road
Bethel Park, PA 15102
I'll then keep you up to date on any new releases or bug fixes as soon as they become available. If you would like to include a floppy disk, I'll return it with the most recent version of DFaultD on it, as well.
To all those who have registered in the past: Your support is greatly appreciated! Hearing your comments and feedback is very rewarding and helps steer the product in the direction you users want.
To all those who don't register: How 'bout it folks? This isn't one of those utilities that you can justify stealing by saying "Well, I only use it once in a blue moon." You either use it or you don't, and if you do, chances are you use it all the time. So pay for it!
DFaultD is a copyrighted product and I retain sole rights to it. It is not to be redistributed for profit (with the exception of BBSes like GEnie and Compuserve) and is not to be bundled with any other product without my written consent.
In addition to the above address, I can be reached by electronic mail on ARPAnet at jong@k.gp.cs.cmu.edu, through my GEnie login as J.GOTOW, and on Compuserve as 72330,3455 (I log into GEnie and Compuserve fairly infrequently, though).
The DFaultD cdev lets you create different "Link Sets," each with any number of linked applications and DA's, and any number of folders "locked" into DFaultD's pop-up menu in the SFGet/PutFile dialogs. To make a new set, click in the "New…" button. You will then be able to use the "Edit Set…" button to add applications, DA's and folders (see "Editing Link Sets" below). The "Delete" button simply deletes the selected link set (gee, wasn't that a tough one to figure out?). The "Prefs…" button is used to set preferences which control DFaultD's operation.
Note that the active link set (the one DFaultD uses) is the one you leave selected when you exit the cdev.
You can make several sets for different people, or one for work and one for programming, etc. Entire link sets can be duplicated by using the "Copy links from current set" check box in the "New…" dialog.
After clicking the "Edit Set…" button, you'll be presented with the link set editing dialog. To add applications or DA's to the link set, click "Add…". You'll be prompted to link a folder to each one as you add it. The "Link…" button can be used to change the linked folder of any application in the set. The "Delete" button does what you think it does.
Note that when adding DA's and applications, only DA's with a file type of DFIL (a Font/DA mover file) or dfil (a System 7.0 desk accessory) and applications with a file type APPL will normally be shown. For goofy INITs like Font/DA Juggler, and for DA's in your system file, click the "Show All Files" check box in the file selection dialog so you can pick from other file types.
The list of locked folders can be modified using the "Add&Lock" and "Remove" buttons next to the list. These folders will be permanent choices in the pop-up menu which DFaultD puts into your file dialog boxes.
To save any changes you've made during the editing session, click on the "Save" button. If you click "Done" without first saving, the Link Editor will ask you if you want to save your changes.
Quick Hint #769: Holding down the option key while clicking the Delete, Remove, and Done buttons bypasses the normal warnings.
The "Prefs…" button in the cdev displays a list of preferences you can control:
1) Show DFaultD cursor during disk access. This is primarily to show you how much overhead you're incurring by using DFaultD (see #2a). This feature may break with future system releases - it uses some techniques not officially sanctioned by the ATP (Apple Thought Police).
2) Put pop-up menu in file dialogs. Checking this option tells DFaultD to put its pop-up menu in all file dialog boxes. The next two options modify the pop-up menu's behavior. Note that you need to be running System 6.0 or later to use this feature.
2a) Auto-remove deleted folders from menu. Before a file dialog comes up, DFaultD will normally check to see if all the folders in its menu still exist. If any have been deleted, it removes them from its pop-up menu. This is very friendly, but a bit slow (especially on a network) since DFaultD must look at the disk to see if each of the folders exists. Unchecking this box defeats this, making the file dialogs a little more speedy, but you may occasionally end up with nonexistent folders in the menu (this doesn't do any harm - it just ain't pretty).
2b) Include recently used folders in menu. DFaultD will keep track of the last ten folders you've used and offer them as menu selections if you so desire. Check this box to enable this "history" tracking.
3) Use command key without pop-up menu. Even if you don't use the pop-up menu, you can have the benefit of command-key switching to an application's default folder. Using this option results in a "hidden feature" in your file dialog boxes - a bit of an anti-user-friendly practice in my opinion, but for the purists who don't want the little DFaultD button, this option is available.
4) Command key to switch to the default folder of the current application. There's a command key equivalent to switch to the current application's default folder, if one exists. Typing any letter changes this command key.
• Thanks, Acknowledgements, and Other Ramblings:
DFaultD was inspired primarily by the gripes and vision of a friend of mine, Adel Assaad. I'd like to thank him for his contributions to both the conceptual and user interface design.
Thanks to Adel, John, John, and John for beta testing.
Thanks to Paul Mercer for his ShowInit code.
Thanks to Michael Kahl and all the folks who made Lightspeed - whoops - THINK C the most fantastic development environment around. Four second turnaround is great for testing all those minor little changes you always make at the end.
TMON is wonderful - thanks to ICOM Simulations. If you program and you don't own TMON (or even better, TMON Pro), you're wasting a lot of time….
"Thanks" to Microsoft, who's programmers seem to have a wonderful knack for making all other programmers' lives a little more difficult. They have their own special little piece of code in DFaultD's INIT, just to handle their "different" philosophy about the Mac toolbox.
Finally, the biggest thanks have to go to my wife, Jessica, for putting up with me disappearing into the study for hours (days?) at a time. Really, I promise I'll take out the garbage right after this one last change…
