pLayer is an application that provides a floating window showing icons (up to ten) from a folder. This window will float above all applications. Just click on the icon to have the finder open it. (And it was all done without patching a single trap!) (Using a GNEFilter isn't patching a trap, is it?)
pLayer can handle data files, applications, control panel devices, alias files (to items on your mounted volumes, see below), QK Icons, AppleScript scripts saved as applications, Frontier appletts--anything you can double-click on the Finder for!
Version 1.0d5 and later can use an INIT called TSMHelper that patches one trap, but makes init interception more reliable and also allows cleaner hookup/unhooking. TSMHelper isn't required, but it does help make it a bit more reliable.
DISCLAIMER
While the copyright is owned by CE Software, this is a private, non-commercial project of Donald Brown. You may freely copy the program and use it. It may be uploaded to BBSes and included in software library exchange disks, provided this file is copied along with it. Programmers may use the code provided in their own projects so long as acknowledgement is given.
As a private, non-commercial project, NO SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS PROGRAM, either for users or programmers. It is guaranteed to have bugs (no significant ones I am currently aware of, but it is possible they exist). Neither Donald Brown nor CE Software will be responsible for any problems encountered while using this software. Comments/recommendations/complaints may be sent to the author on the following accounts: AppleLink: DON.BROWN. America Online: Don Brown. CompuServe: 70712,305. I look forward to your feedback, but cannot promise any responses.
REQUIREMENTS
pLayer requires System 7.1. If you don't have System 7.1, you'll get a pretty warning message.
HOW TO USE IT
When you first open pLayer, you'll be asked for the folder to display. From then on, pLayer remembers the last folder you used, and will show it. You can switch to another folder with the "New" command.
You can also save pallette reference files with the "Save As" command. This will create a small file with a reference to the folder currently being shown in the pallette. Double-clicking on a pallette reference file, or opening it with the "Open" command, or even putting it in a pallette and then selecting it, will immediately switch the pallette to show that folder.
LIMITS/BUGS/IDEAS FOR ENHANCEMENT
These are thoughts I've had about possible changes to pLayer. They may, or may not, be changed in the future.
(1) If you add files to the folder being shown, the pallette window isn't updated. We could periodically check the modification date of the folder, but that would slow down the Mac (particularly on PowerBooks).
(2) On rare occassions, clicks on the pallette will "bleed through" to the application's window. This is less rare with DAs than regular applications. Mac Developer Tech Support says that GNEFilter (which I'm using to avoid patching traps) doesn't see all clicks. If pLayer were to become an INIT, and we were to patch _GetOSEvent, this problem would be solved. TSMHelper helps a lot, but still isn't perfect.
(3) Do we want to provide keyboard shortcuts? Is the pallette too big, should we try small icons or something? In other words, now that the technology seems sound, should we fiddle with the user interface?
(4) Do we want to make this a background app? With a separate editor app, talking with AppleEvents, to the pLayer?
CHANGE HISTORY
1.0d1, pLayer, the motionless hack (June 8, 1993)
First version unleashed on the world--or at least CE Software.
1.0d2, pLayer, the hack of Khan (June 9, 1993)
Added code to run in either foreground or background-only mode (if resources fiddled with appropriately)
Put up error dialog when can't run (instead of debugstr call)
Clean up garbage when trying to select a folder, and no folders to select
Remembers the bottom-left corner of windows.
Keep list of icons, ignore invisible files
Ignore folders, only show files
Set maximum icons to 12.
1.0d3, pLayer, the search for more hacks (June 11, 1993)
Handle alias files to folders/volumes smarter
Use standard icons for apps and documents, if no custom or desktop manager icons
1.0d4, pLayer, the hack home (June 13, 1993)
Look for icons on all volumes, not just volume where file is.
