Alias Assistant 2.0.7 is a shareware control panel, which enables your Macintosh to automatically delete all the alias files associated with an original file when the original file is emptied from the Trash. Alias Assistant 2.0.7 supersedes the freeware control panel, TrashAlias and all commercial versions of Trash Alias and Alias Assistant. It also fixes a problem in version 2.0.5 (there was no 2.0.6 version), which would, under certain circumstances, cause a system crash when opening the control panel.

In System 7, users can create multiple desktop icons to represent a single document, application, or folder. One represents the actual original, but the others, called aliases, just point to it. This feature, for example, allows a user to keep an application located within one folder, but be able launch it by double-clicking on its alias from another location, such as the desktop. The alias is actually a separate file created and maintained by the Finder. However, if a user deletes the original file, the alias file still remains.

Alias Assistant remedies this problem by automatically deleting any alias files associated with a file (or folder) when it is deleted.

Alias Assistant does its work on alias files created and deleted in applications whose name is listed in its inclusion list in the control panel. Alias Assistant comes equipped to work with the Finder, where most alias creation and deletion will take place. Click the “Add…” button where a file dialog is continually displayed asking for an application to be added to the list. Click the Cancel button to finish adding. To remove an application from the list, select it in the list and click the “Remove” button. Changes to the list take effect after a restart. Only applications that are concerned with making alias files for the user and/or deleting files for the user should be added. The Finder cannot be removed from the list.

When it is loaded for the first time, Alias Assistant creates a file called “Alias Assistant List” in the Preferences folder. Alias Assistant records information about new aliases files when they are created after the user has chosen “Make Alias” from the File menu in the Finder or performs the equivalent operation from within another application included in the list. When the “Scan New Volumes for Aliases” button is on, Alias Assistant records information about the aliases on all available volumes at startup and whenever a new volume is mounted (except for floppies, locked disks, and remote volumes). The maximum number of items in the list is determined in the Control Panel under “Monitor up to xxx aliases” where xxx is the number in the range of 500 to 5000. When this limit is about to be exceeded, the list is rotated; that is, items are removed from the list on a first in first out basis. The list is also updated whenever an item in it, either an alias or a parent file, is emptied from the Trash or when an equivalent operation occurs in an application included in the list. However, Alias Assistant does not keep track of aliases that are copied from the volume they were created on.

Alias Assistant provides two option controls:

First, it can be set to present a confirmation dialog when it is about to delete an alias file. To do this, check the “Warn on Alias Deletion” button. Then when the confirmation dialog is presented, you can choose if you want the deletion to proceed, or you can choose to have Alias Assistant leave the alias alone. 

Second, if that option is checked, it is still possible to bypass the dialog by checking the “Option Key overrides warning” button and holding down the option key during the deletion process.

In addition, Alias Assistant can, in the Finder, present the icon of the original file if the control key is down when double-clicking on an alias file icon or the Get Info box of the original if, instead, the command key is down.

Alias Assistant requires a version of System 7 to run. It runs emulated on Power Macintoshes.

Alias Assistant was written by Maurice Volaski and is now published by Flux Software. Flux Software maintains a web site at http://www.fluxsoft.com. Visit it to learn all about Flux Software’s other products and to obtain the latest versions of Alias Assistant. For technical support and other information, please contact Flux Software directly at support@fluxsoft.com. Alias Assistant comes with no warranty, either expressed or implied. Both Flux Software and Maurice Volaski, the author, claim no liability for any damages arising out of the use of this software.

Try out Alias Assistant for thirty days for free. Alias Assistant is not crippled in any way, requires no serial number to run, and doesn’t post any registration reminders. However, if you like it, please pay the shareware fee of $10 (US). Registered users of any version of Atticus™ Super 7 Utilities™ are not required to pay. You can enter your name and organization by clicking on the User • Organization text area and entering that information into the dialog that appears.

Alias Assistant uses the Kagi Shareware system for submitting shareware payments. Kagi Shareware is a payment processing service that can accept many forms of payment including major credit cards. To pay via Kagi, please use the Register program that accompanies the Alias Assistant package (if your package did not contain Register, you can obtain a complete Alias Assistant package by visiting the Flux Software web site or via ftp at the Flux Software ftp site at ftp.fluxsoft.com). After you fill in the fields for payment, you can, depending on the payment method, mail, fax, or email the payment and form to Kagi Shareware. CompuServe users can pay via Compuserve’s shareware registration system. Go SWREG and Alias Assistant’s ID is 7242.

Alias Assistant may be distributed freely so long as it is accompanied by its About text and the Register program and that none of these items have been modified.