SWEEPER IS MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU AS SHAREWARE. You may use Sweeper for a limited evaluation period before deciding whether you wish to keep and register it. You may freely copy this evaluation copy of Sweeper and give copies away as long as this doc AND the Installer is included with it. You are not allowed to modify any part of the Sweeper package including the control panel, program code or documentation in ANY WAY for distribution purposes.
If you like and use Sweeper and don't decide to bin it then please register by sending £5 sterling (or equivalent in your country's currency) to the address below. Also please write where and when you obtained Sweeper 3.0. After receiving your letter I will send you a code word which you can enter in your copy to properly register it. This code is yours to keep and will work in future versions of Sweeper.
My name and address is:
Christian Riley,
PO Box 22, Co. Durham, DL17 8XE, England.
Introduction
Sweeper is designed as a behind-the-scenes utility, it’s only function to free valuable space on your floppy and hard disks (Sweeper doesn't do anything with CD's or other read-only media). Sweeper can also speed up floppy disk access time, usually by around 50%. It does this by deleting a special database used only by the Finder called the Desktop Database. This database resides on any Macintosh disk and is used to store the icons and document-to-application program links of all items on a disk. Before a disk appears on your desktop, Sweeper checks the database's age and deletes it if it is older than the number of days set in the control panel. On a floppy disk Sweeper then rebuilds the database from scratch before returning control, on a hard disk the Finder rebuilds the database.
What’s the point in doing this? When you delete, copy, or rename files on a disk, the Finder does not remove the file’s old information from the Desktop Database and thus the database gets larger and larger. After a few days the database can be much larger than it should be. On a floppy disk this can be around 100K of disk space wasted. And the larger the Desktop Database the longer the Finder takes to open it.
Using Sweeper you can improve the performance of your disks and use all of the space to the maximum.
• Please note: you can still use the Command-Option key shortcut to rebuild the desktop database at any time (see the Finder Shortcuts on the Help Menu).
System requirements
This version of Sweeper will work on any Macintosh with a 68020 processor or better (Macintosh Classic II, Performa 200 or PowerBook 145 or better) running System 7.1 or greater, or any Power Macintosh, Performa or PowerBook running System 7.1 or greater.
This version of Sweeper will not work on the Macintosh 512K, Plus, Classic or PowerBook 100 and will not work on any Macintosh running System 7.01 or less.
This version of Sweeper has been optimised for more modern system requirements as I did not receive any registration letters for Sweeper 2.0 from people with Macintoshes with a 68000 processor (Macintosh Classic, for example) or who were still running System 6.x or System 7.0.
If you would like a version of Sweeper that will work on a 68000 Macintosh then please let me know.
Before installation
If you want to see how effectively Sweeper works, put a frequently used floppy disk in your disk drive before installing Sweeper and note the 'K in disk' and 'K available' figures at the top of the disk's window. Then install Sweeper exactly as under 'Installation' below. Press and hold down the option key and insert the disk used before installing. You should see the wristwatch cursor and hear the sweep sound if checked in the Control Panel and after a few seconds the disk appear on the desktop. Note the difference between the 'K in disk' and 'K available' figures from before. I hope you are impressed!
Installation
Double-click on the Sweeper Installer. When loaded the Installer will tell you exactly where Sweeper will be installed on your startup disk (usually your internal hard disk). Then just click on the Install button. After installation, Sweeper will be activated when you restart your Macintosh.
Using the Control Panel
• Use the 'On' and 'Off' buttons to turn Sweeper on or off at any time. Sweeper is always loaded at startup.
• The number of days between sweeps on a disk is displayed in the 'days' edit box. You can type a zero in this box to always Sweep disks (same as holding down the option key).
• When 'Startup Disk Only' is on Sweeper will only work on the startup disk (usually your internal hard disk).
• When 'Any Disk' is on Sweeper will work on any disk.
• When 'Always sweep when option key is down' is checked Sweeper will immediately sweep any disk when you insert it while holding down the option key.
• When 'Sweep Sound' is checked Sweeper will play a 'sweep' sound after sweeping a disk.
You can also use Balloon Help to learn about each item.
Disclaimer
I make no warranty, either express or implied, with respect to this software, its performance, merchantability, quality, or fitness for a particular purpose. As a result this software is distributed "as is", and the person using it is assuming the entire risk as to its quality and performance. In no event will I be liable for direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages resulting from any defect in this software, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.
And finally…
I enjoy writing Macintosh programs endlessly and only your registration fees will keep the lights on late at night. At present (21st August 1996) I am working on 2 programs/ideas and have another 2 on the back burner. I hope to have my next program out in December 1996.
If you want to make any comments about Sweeper, find a bug, have a job offer!, or want to make any suggestions for future versions, don't hesitate to contact me.
