This simple control strip module is for use with Open Transport/PPP and allows one to change between OT/PPP configurations without going through the control panel. If you have more than one phone number for PPP access to the Internet with your Mac, you should make configurations for each method and switch between configurations instead of changing the setting in the default configuration. In order to use OT/PPP Configuration Changer (OT/PPP CC) to make changing configurations easy, first set up the configurations you would like to use through PPP. Use the Configurations option under the File menu in PPP to set up each configuration. This module will recognize them immediately. The handy Open... feature allows one to open PPP from the module if changes are desired to the configuration, and the Connect/Disconnect feature is convenient for initiating and terminating PPP sessions.
Long Version
OT/PPP CC is a control strip module. To use control strip modules use either Apple's Control Strip (CS) or Ammon Skidmore's Extension Strip (ES). Place OT/PPP CC in the Control Modules folder in the System Folder and, if using CS, reboot. Modules are automatically recognized with ES. You should see an icon for OT/PPP CC in your strip that looks like the Earth and a telephone pole. The popup menu will contain the name of the configurations you have made with PPP as well as an Open... option.
To make a configuration in PPP, go to the File menu and choose Configurations. For each method of PPP connection make a configuration. You can do this by Duplicating the first configuration (which will be called Default the first time you run PPP). You will be given an opportunity to name the configuration at that time (alternatively you can choose Rename). For each configuration you will use, you need to make the configuration active and "configure" it for a method of connecting. Save each configuration and you should see them immediately in the OT/PPP CC popup menu. Do not change configurations with OT/PPP CC while the PPP Control Panel is open.
Note:
The Open... and Connect/Disconnect features are disabled for non-paid versions. PPP and Connect/Disconnect will be grayed out in the menu. To get a fully enabled version pay for OT/PPP CC and one will be sent to you by email(I’m doing this to encourage registration). Registered versions have a "p" in the name and in the version info. The item Open... is supposed to be grayed out to prevent selecting it instead of the control panel.
If you see an "X" through the module, turn on Balloon Help. The reason for the "X" will be given to you in the Balloon. The most common reason is OT/PPP not installed, and interruption of connecting due to user cancellation or not being able to make a connection. Make sure the scripting addition "PPP Commands" is in the Scripting Additions folder in the Extensions folder. This should come with the OT/PPP installer.
OT/PPP Configuration Changer is buckware. If you like the product, send me a buck. I think that there is room for a new form of software consisting of small utilities such as this that would go under the category "buckware". Pay a buck, add a nifty gadget that makes life a little easier. Also, there are some really great shareware products, like NetPresenz, and freeware products, like Frontier, that make it very difficult to justify a higher price when you look at the value of those products compared to this one. TCP Configuration Changer is free to all alumni, students, faculty and staff at the University of South Carolina, and all users of the USC MacBBS (First Class 129.252.42.104). Microsoft employees may not use this product.
Do not think because I'm only charging one buck that it was easy to do. We must support developers for Macintosh if the platform is to continue to be successful. I am trying to start a small Macintosh programming company and look forward to providing many fine products for the Macintosh community, but I can not do this if I do not receive financial compensation for my products.
Three people have made direct and indirect contributions that require special thanks:
John Stevenson did the icons for Modem CC 1.1. John does very professional graphics design work, both in media arts and web content. He also did the icons for TCP CC 1.1 and OT/PPP CC 1.1. He is available for design work and can be reached at jhs@well.com and samples of his work are available at http://www.well.com/~jhs. Please consider him if you are looking at establishing a web site.
Joe Zobkiw wrote A Fragment of Your Imagination, a very clear and detailed book on code fragments. Without this book I would not have been able to add the Open... feature. I would like to very publicly thank Joe for answering so many of my questions (and there's more on the way ;-) ). A Fragment of Your Imagination is published by Addison Wesley and can be previewed at http://www.triplesoft.com/fragment. This is a must-have book for any Mac programmer.
Jason Haas, of Extensions Guide fame, has a Macintosh/Internet consulting business, Madison Web Works, and is providing the space for the official Tim Kelly software page. Jason wants to build a top-notch Macintosh interest web site and has good rates for shareware & freeware authors as well as Macintosh special interest groups.
In addition, I found two utilities especially helpful in development:
Ammon Skidmore's Extension Strip prevented me from having to reboot each time I made a change (ES supports dynamic loading of CSM's).
Nobu Toge's Flash-It provided the screen shots I use in the ReadMe's. This was good because Apple's screen shot method doesn't work when the mouse is down.
There are international versions available of OT/PPP CC for all international systems that have OT/PPP (although the ReadMe is in English - I'm working on getting Spanish, French and German versions). Send one paper unit to the address below with an email address and I will email a copy to you.
Known "bugs":
1) When using the paid version of OT/PPP CC and a PowerMac with 7.5.5, make sure you have run Finder Heap Fix to increase the partition size of Finder by the recommended 23k. Failure to do so may lead to crashes as Finder is unable to load a library due to lack of memory.
2) When making a connection from CS, the window will not be in foreground mode even though it is the frontmost window. This is normal (try turning off file sharing with the Apple provided module - you will see the same effect). This effect does not occur with ES (which uses Troy Gaul's Windoid definition).
3) It's not really a bug with OT/PPP CC, but users should be aware of this: with some 68k Macs, opening the TCP/IP control panel, quitting, and then immediately opening the PPP contro panel through either the module or the AppleMenu can lead to a bus error. This situation does not appear to be repeatable with other control panel combinations and only occurs if PPP is opened by an AppleEvent sent to Finder ('sope', which both my module and AppleMenu do). I have duplicated this problem without my modules installed, and this leads me to conclude this is not a problem with the modules.
If you have a problem with OT/PPP CC, and can't find the answer on the FAQ page (http://www.madison-web.com/tkelly/faq.html), send one buck (registration) to the address below and include an email address with the problem. If I can't fix the problem I'll refund the buck. If you have already paid your buck and have a problem then tech support is free (I keep records of people who have paid me and add them to my mailing list to receive future versions and announcements of new software).
My apologies but I must ask that I get compensation for tech support (tech support for only a buck - can't beat it).
So, for one dollar you get:
a nifty gadget that makes life easier,
free tech support,
a fully enable version,
new versions sent to your email address,
new releases sent to your email address,
URLs to a page documenting hidden features in OT/PPP CC
Can't beat it!
There has never been consideration of a Windoze version and there never will be. Mac First, Mac Only! Stop the hegemony! Join the EvangeList mailing list by sending an email to <evangelist@macway.com>.
Send payment to:
Tim Kelly
5860 Ellisor Rd.
Columbia SC 29212-2112
Please include your email address so I can add you to my mailing list.
Distribution restrictions:
The paid version may not be posted to any software repository, BBS forum, or any other form of electronic distribution, including, but not limited to, CD's and floppies without express consent of the author. Posting of the paid version without express consent is agreement to render payment for all subsequent downloads of the posted product. The unpaid version may be posted freely to all of the previously mentioned mediums but the ReadMe must be included. Site licenses are available.
If you have questions (and have sent in the registration fee), I can be reached at tkelly@madison-web.com. The official Tim Kelly software pages are at www.madison-web.com/tkelly. At these pages you can find the most recent news about version changes and new releases, as well as plans for future releases. In addition, I have several Mac interest web pages beginning at www.cosm.sc.edu/~kelly. If you are a Macintosh programmer and have a web page and would like to be linked on my programmers' page, please send me the URL and I'll be glad to link it.
I would like to thank my Beta testers:
Grant Bayley, John Stevenson, Daly Jessup, Jesse Brown, Brian Oliger, Edouard Lagache
Version info:
1.1.1 Released Nov. 17, 1996
Fixed incorrect drawing of icons when Open Transport not present (thanks to Earl Curley for not just throwing out the modules)
Closed preferences file before making a connection
Changed menu choice algorithm
Increased memory checking calls
1.1 Released Oct 27, 1996
General distribution
1.0 Released Oct 20, 1996
Accidentally released to AOL, had old icon, only available for 36 hours
.9b Limited distribution
Beta release
Other software available from Tim Kelly:
For Open Transport/PPP
Modem CC (change Modem settings like speaker on/off by making a different configuration for each setting) - pictured to the right of the screen shot
Other
TCP CC (change TCP configurations) - pictured in the middle of the screen shot
App Switcher (freeware extension available at my web site that switches between open applications with a keystroke)
