• Thank you for showing an interest in Creator Changer 2.8.4!
• Creator Changer will allow you to change what documents belong to what applications, as well as what the document type is.
• See the Version Notes section at the bottom for information on the latest changes to Creator Changer.
Instructions
• You must have System 7.0 or later and at least160k advised of free RAM to run Creator Changer 2.8.4.
• To change a file(s) type(s):
First, you must tell Creator Changer which file(s) you want to change. There are three different ways to do this.
Method 1:
Drag the file(s) you wish to change onto the Creator Changer icon. This is called drag opening.
Method 2:
Double Click on the Creator Changer icon. You will be presented with an open dialog. From here you can select a file to change.
Method 3:
If Creator Changer is already open, you can choose 'Open...' from the 'File' menu. You will be presented with a standard open dialog box. From here you can choose the file which you would like to change.
Once you have chosen which file(s) to edit you can give it (or them) a new type:
Either type in the new file type and creator and press the 'Ok' button.
OR
Choose the type from the popup menu in the lower left corner of the dialog and press the 'Ok' button.
OR
Press the 'Make Like...' button. You will be presented with an open box, which will allow you to choose a file to use as a template for the current file. This is useful if you don't know what to set the Creator or Type to, but know what kind of file you want to make.
OR
Just drag a file from the Finder to the "Change Dialog". This feture only works if your system supports the Drag Manager. In other words, System 7.5 and greater (or System 7.1 with the Drag and Drop extensions). This does the same thing as using the 'Make Like..." button; however, it is a lot easier!
Press 'Ok' to change the current file.
• Using the Automatic Change Feature:
If the 'Automatic Change' feature is turned on, and the 'Option' key is held down when a file is dropped on Creator Changer, the file will be automatically changed. For example, if you drop a bunch a 'TEXT' files on Creator Changer, it will automatically change them to 'ttxt', 'TEXT' files. Automatic Change ONLY works when files are dropped on Creator Changer.
Choose the 'Preferences...' from the 'File' menu.
When the dialog comes up, from the Pop-Up menu at the top, select the "General" item. Make sure the "Enable Option-key Auto Change" check box is checked. Now, when any files with the file types which are shown in the pop-up menu are dropped on Creator Changer, and the 'Option ' key is held down, they will automatically be converted to the specified types.
• To Modify Creator Changer's Preferences:
Choose 'Preferences...' from the 'File' menu.
When the dialog comes up, there will be a pop-up menu at the top. Use this pop-up menu to select the options that you wish to edit. The "Preferred Types List" lets you edit the pop-up menu displayed in the Changer Dialog. The "Automatic Chnage List" lets you edit the automatic change items. The "General" lets you select various options for Creator Changer.
You can add a file type by filling in the text boxes and pressing the 'Add' button.
To remove an item, choose it from the pop-menu and when its name appears in the menu, press the 'Delete' button.
You can also add a type by choosing 'Get File...'. You will be presented with an open box, which will allow you to choose a file of the same type that you wish to add to the menu. Another way, is to drag a file from the Finder to the Preferences Dialog. This does the same thing as the 'Get File...' button. This is useful if you don't know what the Creator or Type is.
• Other things to know about Creator Changer:
Creator Changer is also totally controlable from the keyboard. In the dialog boxes, typing the key and the first letter of the button, is the same as pressing that button with the mouse. To activate the default buttons (those with the double, heavy black border) just press the return key.
Disclaimer
• The author assumes no responsibility for direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages resulting from any errors/features contained in the manuals or in the program, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. Use this application at your own risk.
About the Author
• I WAS a student at the University of Connecticut. I HAVE a Bachelors of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering/Materials Science. I have a job ensuring that things you couldn't hear stay that way (or get quieter)!
• I initially wrote Creator Changer using Symatec's THINK C 7.0.5 for the 68k part and Symantec C++ 8.1 for the PowerMac part. However, due to popular demand, I have purchased CodeWarrior and recompiled Creator Changer. I'd rather use Symantec. I wrote Creator Changer on my PowerMac 7100/80, AV/CD, 32/700, running RAMDoubler 2 and SpeedDoubler. This computer used to rock, now it just whistles... Guess it is time to buy another.
Version Notes
If you are "upgrading" from Creator Changer 1.0.3, then you WILL have to rebuild your desktop file to get the drag opening to work. If you are "upgrading" from Creator Changer 2.0, then you might want to delete the old 'Creator Changer Preferences' file. This is not a must because Creator Changer 2.8.4 gives the NEW preference file a new name (Creator Changer Preferences 2.5). Sorry for any inconvienences, but I really had to rework the way the old preference file worked.
I have included two versions of Creator Changer with this release. There is a 68k version and a PPC version. For you people who can't stand having 30k of useless binary in your apps, you can rid your self of the offending version.
• I have made the following changes in 2.8.4 since version 2.8.3:
+ Fixed a problem where on MacOS 8, the types were not getting set.
I actually don't know why CC was working in the first place!
+ Creator Changer does not disply any Icon in the change dialog.
This IS the reason why 2.8.3 was crashing with the new compiler.
• I have made the following changes in 2.8.3 since version 2.8.2:
+ Recomplied for CodeWarrior Proffesional 1.0
+ Updated alot of code, so hopefully it will work under MacOS 8.0
• I have made the following changes in 2.8.2 since version 2.8.1a:
+ Changed the way I set the check boxes as they may not have been working properly
• I have made the following changes in 2.8.1a since version 2.8.1:
+ This was a special version for the software company Cyberlife. They make an
intersting game called Creatures.
• I have made the following changes in 2.8.1 since version 2.8:
+ Revised some code with the Macintosh Drag and Drop.
+ Changed the way I convert between TEXT and OSTypes (for those of you who care).
+ Updated my e-mail addresses. I will no longer be checking my school mail.
+ Fixed a small problem when getting Balloon Help on CC when in the Finder.
• I have made the following changes in 2.8 since version 2.7.2:
+ Added Macintosh Drag and Drop support. With a file opend, you can drag another
file to the 'Change Dialog' or the 'Preferences' dialog. Doing this will put the dragged
file's infomation in the 'Change To' boxes. This is the same functionality as the
'Make Like...' or 'Get File...' button.
+ Changed the window type in the 'Change' and 'Preferences' dialogs. This was cosmetic.
The drag hilite looked horrible with the previous window type.
+ Major bug fix in the creation of the preference file. A word to the wise, always make
sure that your 'c' arrays start at 0. This bug seemed to affect 68k's but could have
affected PPC's as well. Under certain situations, when Creator Changer was run for
the first time it would crash when the user would quit.
• I have made the following changes in 2.7.2 since version 2.7.1:
+ Recompiled with CodeWarrior version 11. I still include the Symantec Projects.
+ Fixed a typo in the pop-up menu.
+ Revised the way the Preference dialog looks. Now it makes more intuitive sense.
• I have made the following changes in 2.7.1 since version 2.7:
+ Recompiled with CodeWarrior 10. I still include the Symantec Projects.
+ Completed comments in the source code.
+ Fixed a typo in the Edit menu. Said "Patse" now says "Paste".
+ Updated e-mail addresses.
• I have made the following changes in 2.7 since version 2.5:
+ Changed the way the user interacts with the preference file.
+ Added basic support for the "Edit" menu.
+ Changed the "Options" menu to "File"
+ Added support for balloon help in the Change Dialog.
+ Made all dialogs Modless, now you can go to other applications!
+ The "I" beam cursor now appears when over the text boxes.
+ Major re-write to alot of code.
+ Recompiled with CodeWarrior. I still include the Symantec Projects.
+ Now, instead of a FAT version, there is a 68k and PPC.
• I have made the following changes in 2.5 since version 2.0:
+ Added the Automatic Change dialog.
+ Added the automatic Quit feature.
+ Added the current file's icon in the Change Dialog, rather than Creator Changer's
+ Changed the 'About Creator Changer...' dialog box.
These are internal changes which hopefully the user won't see:
+ Made the version FAT, for PowerMacs (not really needed, but I wanted to try it).
+ Revised the opening of the dialogs.
+ Revised the preference file resources.
• I have made the following changes in 2.0 since version 1.0.3:
+ Added the preferred types list pop-up menu in the change dialogs.
+ Added the Edit Types dialog.
+ Added support for the core AppleEvents (Drag and Drop included).
+ An immense amount of internal coding re-working.
+ Better memory management (if that is what you want to call it).
• These are my plans for future versions in order of priority:
+ Re-write the entire program from scratch. It's getting really ugly inside.
+ Support for folders. I attempted this before, with limited success. This is one
of the reasons why I want to re-write.
+ Alphabetization of the pop-up menus. Right now it only appends things to the
end. I would like (and I KNOW others) to see it put the items in some kind of
order.
+ Anything else that YOU can think of (within reason of course, as I don't get paid
for this, and nor do I want to).
+ AppleGuide support. I know this isn't really needed either, but it would be cool.
• This program is mailware. I only ask that you mail me and tell me what you think of it.
• If you upload Creator Changer to other archives, please include all of the following folders and files:
+ Creator Changer 2.8.3 68k
+ Creator Changer 2.8.3 PPC
+ Read Me
+ Code & Resource (folder)
+ Creator Changer Icons (folder)
• If anyone has plans to bundle Creator Changer with a software package (via CD's, books, etc.) I just require that you inform me and send me that pakage free of charge.
I can be reached at:
E-Mail: cwasko@snet.net
Snail-Mail: Christopher Lee Waskowich
7 Clark Place
Quaker Hill, CT 06375-1205
Special thanks to the following people/companies:
• Shawn Pearce, for giving me usefull programming related information over the net and for giving me the idea of the 'Make Like...' and 'Get File...' buttons.
• Celestin Company, makers of the Apprentice CD; for one: putting all previous versions of Creator Changer on the CD, and two: shipping me the CD. It helped me out quite a bit! Thanks Paul! By the way, I recommend the Apprentice CD to anyone who is interested / into programming the Mac.
• Ben Simpson and Paul Dobson at Cyberlife for wanting my program for Creatures!
• Micr$loth (Microsoft) for finally releasing Windoze 95. This will ensure that Macs stay the superior computer for a lot longer. Windows 95 = Macintosh 87!
• My girl friend, for not thinking I was too much of a geek for writing this. Thanks Janis!
