A Find Alternative is a shareware utility designed to help users of System 7.5 (and higher) choose which utility they want to use in place of the System 7.5 Find File. Currently, the Find Alternative supports users of Norton Fast Find, File Buddy, Find Pro III, the System 7.5 Find File and UltraFind. If there is a utility you use for file searching and you'd like the Find Alternative to support it, please contact me at one of the the adresses below.
If you are using a version of the system software lower than System 7.5.3, then you must use ResEdit to install the Find Alternative. Complete instructions are given how to perform the installation, but if you are uneasy with using ResEdit, may I humbly suggest upgrading to Apple's latest version of the system software. There are many benefits, and with the fact that System 7.5.3 is a universal operating system and will work on any Mac from the Mac Plus to the PowerPC-based Mac OS computers used today, it is an win/win situation.
What's new in version 1.4 of the Find Alternative?
The Find Alternative 1.4 is now easier to install than ever. Thanks to self-running patches, the Find Alternative now perform the installation for you.
The Find Alternative has been renamed. Formerly known as "Stefan's Find Alternative", the Find Alternative has been taken under the wing of Stellaris Illustration and Design, a media publisher and software development company.
Why would someone want to use the Find Alternative when there are other utilities that provide the same features and functionality?
The Find Alternative is implemented by modifying your existing system software, which is written by the best software developer I know, Apple Computer. The Find Alternative does not install any additional control panels or extensions, and doesn't do anything nasty to your system (i.e. patching traps) which could cause conflicts with other programs.
The Find Alternative is also the Cheaper Alternative when you compare the shareware fees asked by other authors of equivalent utilities. Also, the Find Alternative is not being distributed as crippled software and there are no annoying shareware reminders.
How does the Find Alternative work?
The Find Alternative consists of several programs (components) that modify your system software (the Find File Extension and Finder, namely) so the utility of your choice is launched when choosing "Find..." from the Finder's File menu, or when you type a Command + F.
If permitted, the Find Alternative will also modify your Finder, so that the File menu's "Find..." and "Find Again" commands are replaced by a command displaying the name of your prefered utility. For example, if you use the shareware program File Buddy, then your "Find..." command will be replaced with "File Buddy...".
The modification of your Finder is purely a cosmetic enhancement, so you may want to skip this option if the thought of modifying your Finder makes you uneasy.
Sounds great! How do I get started?
If you are using a version of the system software lower than System 7.5.3, then skip these instructions and read below.
The short way to install the Find Alternative:
The Find Alternative is very simple to install. Double-click the Find Alternative component that reflects the utility you use, and navigate to your Find File Extension and Finder when asked.
Just make sure your newly modified Finder and Find File Extension are in the right places when you restart your computer.
The more detailed (and recommended) way to install the Find Alternative:
1. Launch the application with the name appropriate to which utility you prefer to use. For example, if you use File Buddy, launch the "File Buddy patch" application found in the File Buddy folder.
2. After you have launched the patch, you will be asked where your Find File Extension can be found. This file should be located in your Extensions folder.
3. The patch will prompt you for a new name for your modified Find File Extension. Just click "OK" and the patch will make a copy of your Find File Extension and then will start to modify the copy.
4. After successfully modifying the copy, the patch will ask you where your Finder can be found. Your Finder should be located in your System Folder.
Keep in mind that the modifications applied to your Finder are purely cosmetic. The only file that needs to be modified for the Find Alternative to work is your Find File Extension.
You can skip this step by clicking the "Quit" button.
5. Again, the patch will prompt you for a new name for your modified Finder. Click "OK" and the patch will make a copy of your Finder and then will start to modify the copy.
6. If all goes well, the Find Alternative has performed its work successfully. Now what you need to do is remove your original Find File Extension and Finder from the Extensions and System Folder, respectively.
It may be a good idea to keep your original Finder and Find File Extension in a safe place in case you change your mind in the future and decide to use another file searching utility, or in the event that you run into problems.
7. Making sure that the modified Finder is named "Finder" and it is in your System Folder and that your modified Find File Extension is in your Extensions folder, Restart your computer.
How to install the Find Alternative with ResEdit:
These instructions will describe how to install the modifications to both the Find File Extension and Finder. Remember, the changes to your Finder are only cosmetic; you may skip them if you wish.
(1) Open the For the [Find File Extension or Finder] file with ResEdit.
(2) Select all the resources and copy them to the Clipboard (type †A, then †C).
(3) If you are going to apply modifications to your Find File Extension, open a copy of your Find File Extension with ResEdit. Similarly, if you are going to apply modifications to your Finder, open a copy of your Finder.
(4) Paste what you have on the Clipboard into your Finder copy with a †V.
(5) You'll be presented with a dialog box. Click "Yes".
What you really want to know about the Find Alternative:
The Find Alternative is $5 shareware. If you're a student or just flat broke, then the very least you can do is send your comments and suggestions.
Why should you pay for shareware?
Although writing software is something I enjoy doing, I cannot justify the enormous amounts of time and effort it takes to publish and support this software. If you find that the Find Alternative is useful to you, then please consider paying for it.
Where the author can be reached:
You can reach me at these addresses:
America Online: Stefan A3
Internet email: stefana3@aol.com
And via U.S. Postal Mail:
Stefan Anthony,
Stellaris Illustration and Design.
924 Talus Drive
Yellow Springs, OH, 45387
U.S.A.
If you want to give the Find Alternative to a friend or upload it to a BBS, then including this Read Me is a must. If you are authoring a book or CD-ROM and would like to include this software with it, please contact me in advance.
