This simple control strip module is for use with Open Transport and allows one to change between TCP/IP configurations without going through the control panel. If you have more than one way to connect to the Internet with your Mac (like PPP and Ethernet), you should make configurations for each method and switch between configurations instead of changing the setting in the default configuration. In order to use TCP Configuration Changer (TCP CC) to make changing configurations easy, first set up the configurations you would like to use through TCP/IP. Use the Configurations option under the File menu in TCP/IP to set up each configuration. This module will recognize them immediately. The handy Open... feature allows one to open TCP/IP from the module if changes are desired to the configuration.
Long Version
TCP 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 TCP 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 TCP CC in your strip that looks like the Earth with bidirectional arrows above it. The pop up menu will contain the name of the configurations you have made with TCP/IP as well as an Open... option.
To make a configuration in TCP/IP, go to the File menu and choose Configurations. For each method of TCP connection make a configuration. You can do this by Duplicating the first configuration (which will be called Default the first time you run TCP/IP). 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 TCP CC pop up menu. Do not change configurations with TCP CC while the TCP/IP Control Panel is open.
Note:
The Open... feature is disabled for non-paid versions. TCP/IP will be grayed out in the menu. To get a fully enabled version pay for TCP 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.
There are two things to be aware of with the current version. If an application is using Open Transport when you change a configuration, the configuration will not get changed until the next application requests to use Open Transport (this is normal Open Transport and should not be tinkered with). In addition, if the previous configuration you were using for TCP (Internet) access was MacIP based (like LANRover), you will still need to change the configuration through TCP/IP. This will be fixed in a future release (sometimes it's better to ship something instead of waiting to fix everything). Use the Open... feature to quickly change the configuration from a MacIP configuration. Future unpaid releases that have the MacIP fix will have this fix disabled (again, I'm doing this to encourage registration - it helps me and you)
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.
TCP 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 users of the MacBBS (First Class 129.252.42.104), all alumni, students, faculty and staff at the University of South Carolina. Microsoft employees may not use this product.
People who pay for this version will not be expected to pay for subsequent versions.
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 TCP 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:
Only the MacIP problem discussed above.
One problem (it's not a bug) is that CompuServe users experience a delay with the menu popping up. To fix this, duplicate the CompuServe configuration and delete the original.
If you have a problem with TCP 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 TCP 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, Edouard Lagache, Brian Oliger, Jesse Brown, John Huebner, Chris Spruck, Mike Epstein
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)
Changed menu choice algorithm
Increased memory checking calls
1.1 Released Oct. 27, 1996
Added Open... feature
New icons (see above) - rebuild your desktop when installing 1.1
Fixed incompatibility with Extension Strip (thanks to Vincent Tan and Edouard Lagache for the pressure to keep looking)
Fixed error with Mr. Bus Error (thanks to Chris Wiggs and Bill Hayden for pointing this out)
Added support for characters like "/" and "("
1.0.2 Released Sept. 22, 1996
Fixed problem with owner resource that was leading to a crash when using TechTool's Rebuild Desktop option (but not Finder's).
1.0.1 Released Sept. 3, 1996 Limited distribution (no structural changes)
Fixed Finder Balloon help, added incompatibility note.
1.0 Released August 14, 1996
New icon, added Balloon Help, cleaner code for faster response, changed name
.9b Limited distribution
Beta release
Other software available from Tim Kelly:
For Open Transport/PPP
OT/PPP CC (change OT/PPP configurations - great for the business traveler with lots of PPP numbers) - pictured to the left of the screen shot
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
App Switcher (freeware extension available at my web site that switches between open applications with a keystroke)
