Pledge is a simple extension that removes user-specified files whenever your Mac starts up, to keep your desktop Shiny Clean and Lemon-Fresh.
How do I install it?
Drag both Pledge and *RemoveTheseFilesOnStartup onto your CLOSED System Folder. Pledge will be placed in the Extensions Folder, and *RemoveTheseFilesOnStartup will remain in the System Folder. Do not rename *RemoveTheseFilesOnStartup, or Pledge will not work.
How do I tell Pledge which files to delete?
Edit the file *RemoveTheseFilesOnStartup to contain a list of files you wish Pledge to delete. Pledge will only delete files from the current startup disk. You must specify the exact location and name of the file. Separate the folder and file names with colons, and put each file on a separate line:
System Folder:WordTemp-1
System Folder:WordTemp-2
System Folder:WordTemp-3
This file can be created with any text editor or word processor, but must be saved in text format, and named *RemoveTheseFilesOnStartup
Pledge will happily delete any file listed in *RemoveTheseFilesOnStartup, so be very careful!
To reduce the possibility of tampering, or mischievous use, you may want to make sure that *RemoveTheseFilesOnStartup is a read-only file. To create a read-only TeachText (or SimpleText) document, set the file type to "ttro" and the creator type to "ttxt".
To further discourage those who might mess with it, you may also want to make *RemoveTheseFilesOnStartup invisible. I find Laurence Harris' excellent shareware program File Buddy to be very handy for changing file types, making files invisible, etc.
How does Pledge work?
Pledge runs automatically whenever you start up your Macintosh. It reads each line in the file *RemoveTheseFilesOnStartup in the System folder. If a file exists that matches the line, it is deleted. If not, nothing happens. The file must be an exact match to be deleted. Pledge doesn't recognize any wildcards, nor does it know how to search for files.
Because of the obvious potential for misuse, Pledge is designed not to attract attention to itself. It doesn't create log files or generate error messages. It doesn't beep if it can't find a file, and it doesn't display an icon while running.
Pledge is very small (less than 2k on disk) and uses no memory once it has run during the startup process.
OK, how Much?
Pledge is copyright, but may be distributed freely. Please distribute the entire package, including this documentation.
If you have any questions, or have found an interesting or novel use for Pledge, I would like to hear from you. You can reach me at the following addresses.
Thanks for trying Pledge. I hope that you find it as handy as I do.
Pledge has been tested on a variety of Macintoshes and OS versions, (as far back as System 6.05 on Mac IIcx's, and as current as a Quadra 700 with a PowerPC upgrade card and System 7.1.2) and has been in use for years without incident at my clients' sites.
However...
In using this software, you understand and agree that this software is provided ╥as is╙ without warranty of any kind. The entire risk as to the results and performance of using this software lies entirely with you, the user. The author does not make any warranties, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to this software.
In no event shall the author be liable for any consequential, incidental, or special damages whatsoever (including without limitation damages for loss of critical data, loss of profits, interruption of business, and the like) arising out of the use or inability to use this software.
The author shall not be responsible for correcting any problems which you discover or otherwise help you maintain and use this software. Furthermore, the author may at any time replace, modify, alter, improve, enhance or change this software.
