Please feel free to distribute this package far and wide but please keep it in tact and also do not modify it in any way.
OVERVIEW
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Folder Watcher is a faceless background application that keeps an eye on an unlimited number of folders on your Macintosh, or a remote Macintosh. If the contents one of these folders ever changes, Folder Watcher will alert you via a Notification Manager alert, a system beep, a custom sound, by writing to a log file, or any combination of these.
Unlike other similar utilities, Folder Watcher:
• Does not patch any traps.
• Allows you to keep an eye on an infinite number of folders.
• Does not require a reboot after adding new folders and will work between reboots.
• Does not require that the target folder is empty (ie: some other utilities alert you whenever an item is placed in an empty folder but then never again as long as a single item is in the folder! yech!)
Folder Watcher requires System 7. Although it does not require a network, it is most useful when used on one.
HOW IT WORKS
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In it’s current incarnation, Folder Watcher is an “appe” (application extension). You should drag it into your Extensions folder (or System 7 will put it there for you) and it will launch at startup. You can not quit it (unless you have a utility like TaskIt or ProcDoggie) because there is really no need to. It takes up very little memory.
When launched, Folder Watcher looks for a folder called ‘Folder Watcher Aliases’ inside your Preferences folder. If it does not find it, it will be created (and left empty) for you. Any aliases to anything (including folders, AppleShare volumes, etc.) that are inside this folder will be watched. You should fill this folder with aliases to the targets you wish to watch by using the Make Alias command in the Finder’s File menu.
NOTE: Folder Watcher Config, explained later, will also create the ‘Folder Watcher Aliases’ folder if it does not exist.
After a minimum sleep time (that you set with the Folder Watcher Config application) Folder Watcher will peek at the folders that the aliases point to. If any of them have changed since the last time Folder Watcher took a peek you will be alerted with a Notification Manager alert and/or a sound something like:
“Folder Watcher has noticed a change: Drop box alias”
Folder Watcher will also write more detailed information to a log file if you so desire including the number of files in the folder and the time of the change.
IDEAS FOR USE
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Folder Watcher has many great uses such as:
• Network Administrators who want to track changes to folders on the network.
• Users can see when someone adds a new file to a ‘Public’ folder and can be the first ones to check out the goodies.
• Users can keep an alias to their ‘drop box’ located on the network server.
• Users who share a dropbox on their local hard disks can keep an eye on it for files that another user drops off. When a user drops a file in your dropbox, you will be alerted as soon as possible!
EDITING PREFERENCES
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Folder Watcher Config is the application you use to edit the preferences associated with Folder Watcher. Simply launch the Folder Watcher Config application and make your changes. Pressing the “Save” button will automatically update the preferences file however you must restart for changes to take effect in version 1.0 of Folder Watcher. Folder Watcher need not be loaded to edit the preferences.
Preferences include:
Audible Notification: You can have Folder Watcher play a unique custom sound when it notices a change, play a system beep, or make no sound at all.
Visual Notification: You can choose to have Folder Watcher show an Alert dialog box when it notices a change and/or write the change to a log file. The log file is located in the ‘Folder Watcher Aliases’ folder and is called ‘! Folder Watcher Log !’.
Maximum Sleep Time: This is the maximum time in seconds that Folder Watcher will be at rest. If this is set to 60 seconds then it is possible that Folder Watcher will not notice a change for up to 60 seconds after it occurs. The higher this number the less CPU time Folder Watcher will use.
KNOWN “What you might call” PROBLEMS
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• Make sure your clock is correct on a network, otherwise strange things can happen (ie:I had a server that had a clock time 12 hours ahead of my computer, it took me 15 minutes of bug tracking to realize the reason Folder Watcher wasn't working was because of this time difference.)
• If you have an alias to an unmounted volume, Folder Watcher will not mount the volume for you. It is up to you to mount the volume. Once the volume is mounted, Folder Watcher will check it the next time it “peeks”.
NOTE: I have tested this software on the following configurations and have found it be quite robust. Macintosh IIcx with a Radius Rocket (25MHz), 8 RAM & 20 RAM, 7.0.1 with Tuner 1.1.1 and various extensions, etc. Macintosh IIx with 50MHz DayStar accelerator, 20 RAM, 7.0 with Tuner 1.1.1 and various extensions, etc. SE/30, 5 RAM, 7.0.1 with Tuner 1.1.1 and various extensions, etc. Quadra 700, 8 RAM, 7.0.1 with Tuner 1.1.1 and various extensions, etc.
SHAREWARE
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If you find you are using Folder Watcher for more than 7 days, you are asked to send $10 for each copy you use to the author. In return, you will be entitled to the next updated version of Folder Watcher at no cost and will be considered a registered user for life.
Joe Zobkiw
172 Charles St, Suite A
Cambridge, MA 02141-2118
WHO TO CONTACT
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If you have any suggestions, comments, or bug reports -- you can contact the author at any of the following or the above USMail address:
America Online: AFL Zobkiw
Internet: zobkiw@world.std.com
CompuServe: >INTERNET:zobkiw@world.std.com
AppleLink: zobkiw@world.std.com@INTERNET#
DISCLAIMER
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I, nor anyone else, makes any warranty as to the suitability or use of this product for any purpose. I, nor anyone else, will be held responsible for any damage attributable to this product. Use this product at your own risk.
