WindowList is an INIT file that will drop down a list of open windows underneath the titlebar of the front window. This allows for easy access to windows that are obscured by other windows.
To use WindowList, place it in your System Folder and restart your machine. When you want the list to pop down, hold down the command key while you click in the name of the front window. Selecting a window from the list will bring that window to the front.
WindowList can be defeated at startup time if you hold down the mouse button before WindowList is loaded. Instead of the normal WindowList startup icon, you will get an image of a dehilited window.
Compatibilty Notes
WindowList has been fairly thoroughly tested on the Mac 512K Enhanced, Mac Plus, Mac II, and Mac IIx under System 6.0.2. WindowList works with almost all applications. The only application that I╒ve found that WindowList has problems with is ResEdit 1.2b3. I don╒t know why it doesn╒t work, but I╒m looking into it.
WindowList disables itself temporarily if you run VersaTerm. This is because of VersaTerm's pop up Commands menu, which interferes with WindowList╒s operation.
WindowList also disables itself under PageMaker. PageMaker keeps track of its Tools, Styles, and Colors windows internally to make them stay in front of the document window. WindowList calls _SelectWindow to bring a window to the front. This has the side effect of overcoming PageMaker╒s internal window management. I have a theory on how to avoid this, but it involves a lot of messing around with mouse coordinates, and it would probably break of a lot of Apple╒s rules, so I don╒t think I will ever fix this.
LightSpeed Pascal 2.0 users must use an Option-Command combination to use WindowList. This is to prevent the overriding of LSP╒s procedure menu that drops down when you command-click in the title bar.
Floating palettes don╒t seem to cause any problems. The one exception is SuperPaint 2.0. It was found that if you open a desk accessory, use WindowList to bring a SuperPaint window to the front, then use WindowList to bring the DA back to the front, it causes a lot of problems, so WindowList is disabled if you are running SuperPaint 2.0 and have a DA as the front window. WindowList works normally under SuperPaint otherwise.
Shareware Fee and Distribution
WindowList is a Shareware program. If you use it, you must send me $5, or delete the program. You may distribute WindowList freely as long as you include this file and do not modify WindowList or this document.
Mail the $5 to:
Dean Yu
20 Krebs Rd.
Plainsboro, NJ 08536
Sorry, I can only accept checks. Site licenses can be negotiated.
If you send in the fee, I will mail you any updates free of charge, and I might toss in some other programs that I╒m working on at the time. At any rate, do drop me a note if you have comments or suggestions for future release of WindowList.
Reporting bugs.
PLEASE! If you find a problem, tell me so I can look into it! I╒ve had many people test this program for me over the past week and a half, and many problems have been corrected, but that doesn╒t mean that every problem has been fixed! You can send me mail at the above address, or, if you have access to the Internet, you can send mail to mystone@sol.engin.umich.edu, and I will respond.
Future updates
Sometime in the future, I plan to make WindowList grab a list of all windows open under MultiFinder. This way, you can switch between applications and go directly to a specific window. A cdev is also in the works to allow the user to specify which key combination will activate WindowList. I am also thinking of incorporating WindowList into HigherMenus, another INIT that I am currently working on. HigherMenus allows you to move hierarchical menus in and out of the menubar. Remember, if you pay your shareware fee, you╒ll get any enhancements FREE!
Legal stuff
WindowList is copyrighted 1989 by Dean Yu and Starship Enterprises.
It may not be distributed in any modified form, nor without this file.
WindowList may not be sold, nor can it be used as an enticement to buy another product unless you clear it with me.
Acknowledgments
I╒d like to thank Mike Neil for giving me the idea in the first place. Also many thanks to my beta testers: Steve Bollinger, Dave Falkenburg, Pam Ho, Mike Neil, Ace Swerling and Dave Walker. They╒ve been the cause of many sleepless nights, and many many headaches. But without them, it would have taken me a lot longer to get this out into the public! Thanks, guys!
