Quick Change was designed to save you time when accessing files from the Apple menu. This software only works under system 7.0 and up. System 7.0 gives you the added ability to place any desktop icon in the Apple menu and then have access it from within other programs. The problem I ran into, was that my Apple menu grew out of control. So I started organizing my icons into different folders within the Apple menu. I hated the two step process of choosing a folder from under the Apple menu, and then having to find & double click on the icon I wanted. Quick Change will give you a menu containing the contents inside each folder you place into the Apple Menu Items Folder. Below are before and after pictures using Quick Change.
My original goal was to access the Control Panels through a menu, just like the other folders. I ran into a snag which I still cannot figure out. I cannot launch the Control Panel files like I can other Desk Accessories or Applications. So for now, you still have to go through the two step process when accessing Control Panels.
Setting up Quick Change:
Quick Change is very simple to operate. Simply drop it into your System Folder (it doesn't matter where) and then organize your Apple Menu Items folder the way you like it.
Create New folders inside the Apple Menu Items folder like I have done with DAS and Writing. You can give them any name you like. They cannot be alias folders. Now create alias files of the applications you would like access to through the Apple Menu, and place the alias files into the new folders. If you include the "ƒ" character in any part of the folder name, Quick Change will leave it alone. This should solve the problems of accessing things that Quick Change just can't handle at this stage. To type the "ƒ" character just press the Option-f keys.
Restart you computer. (Next version you will not have to restart your computer... I would like it to work just like System 7.0 works. As you change the files, the Menu Items change.)
Things to watch out for:
I have found that a few older programs do some strange things to the menus. Microsoft for example deletes or disables all menu items that it thinks it has control over. So if you are using WORD, the menus will not show up. Just click on the desktop somewhere and the finder will come to the front which will give you access to all the menus again. The only other program I have had problems with is PageMaker. For some reason when you access the Apple Menu, PageMaker crashes. Every other program that I have tested it with works perfect.
SHAREWARE:
This software is shareware in its early stages. I would ask for a $5.00 contribution if you are using the software now, and would like to see enhancements made in the future. Send all inquiries to the address below. The next version will be out at the beginning of November. It will include Document launching and Control Panel launching... Maybe even Folders inside Folders.
