SmartDelete adds the keyboard commands you now lack:
Ñ Forward delete character.
Ñ Forward delete word.
Ñ Backward delete word.
These functions are made available most any place you can type text: in dialog fields, Finder icon names, TeachText, SimpleText, Note Pad...really, almost anywhere. Please note that SmartDelete does not add these functions to the more powerful text-processing applications, most of which already have these functions. Unlike its competitors, SmartDelete causes no conflicts with commercial word processors, yet now you can enjoy these functions everywhere else you can type. For the technically inclined, SmartDelete is a TextEdit patch.
SmartDelete is not the first of its kind, but it's the sexiest and the absolute best:
Ñ Useable on PowerBooks.
Ñ Deletes proper amount of space around words.
Ñ Contractions and single quotes done right.
Ñ Correct handling of all special characters.
Ñ Consistent forward/backward behavior.
Ñ Fast--does not slow typing.
Ñ In general, works like you expect it to.
Forward delete is attached to the "del" key (near home and end keys) on keyboards that have it. You can also forward delete on any keyboard using shift-delete (a.k.a. shift-backspace, the usual delete key every keyboard has). That means PowerBook users can enjoy SmartDelete too.
Press option-del (or option-shift-delete) to delete whole words to the right of the insertion-point or selection. Press option-delete to delete whole words to the left of the insertion-point or selection.
Undoing Deletes
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In many, if not most, of the simple editors for which SmartDelete was specifically designed, no undo command is available at all. Further, among those editors that do have undo, there is no technical standard regarding how it should work. Undo may work or may not work on a deletion, depending upon the methods used by the individual editor. I wish I could have perfected this for you, but that is not possible.
Installation
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SmartDelete is a system extension (INIT), compatible with any Macintosh running System 6.0.5 or higher. It's easy to install-
1) Drag the SmartDelete extension to your System Folder.
2) Restart your Macintosh.
Note that you can bypass SmartDelete when your Macintosh starts up by holding down either the shift key or the space key. Of course, you can completely remove it from your system by dragging it out of the System Folder (System 6) or out of the Extensions Folder (a folder inside the System Folder, if running System 7).
Legal
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This (unmodified) Read Me file must accompany the (unmodified) SmartDelete extension if distributed to another person or service. Permission is hereby granted to freely distribute SmartDelete subject to those conditions.
Fee
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Your token $1 donation (send to address below) will help fuel other nifty Macintosh enhancements. I have plenty of them in mind for you. Tell me you're interested!
Bill Karsh
5220 S. Kenwood Ave. #601
Chicago, IL 60615
Thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions. Send them to billKarsh@AOL.com.
Credits
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Many thanks to Jametha Smith for her careful quality assurance testing. "Nobody sees it until I say it's ready, smart boy." - yes Ma'am!