is encountered when our Web Browser launches a third or fourth helper program. "Config PPP" is forced closed at this time by the Finder and when we attempt to open it afterwards we are greeted by the error message:
Config PPP Error!
Opening Preferences
This program, "pppPrefFix", is an AppleScript® application which was inspired by a work around to this problem of Lofty Becker's. He found that he could solve the problem of opening "Config PPP" being unable to open by duplicating the PPP preference file, moving the old file out of the preference folder, renaming the copy to the original's name, and then opening "Config PPP".
By double clicking "pppPrefFix" you launch an AppleScript® application which automatically performs the above outline steps. You only need to make sure that you have at least 200 kbytes of free RAM before double clicking.
This program requires system 7 or greater, the "AppleScript™" extension installed and the extension "Finder Scripting Extension" installed or that you have the runtime library "FinderLib" somewhere locatable with the finder. You also should have ran "Config PPP" at least once before attempting to use this program.
You will also need about 200k of free memory. So remember that you may have to quit an application in order to run this script.
Place "pppPrefFix" or an alias of it in the "Apple Items" folder of your "System" folder or anywhere else handy. I have mine in the "Launcher" in the same "•" folder as the alias of "Config PPP".
Thanks to Lofty Becker for the original idea and helpful suggestions.
This script is freeware. It can be distributed in any fashion as long as it is distributed freely and in the original compressed format. As always, the user assumes all responsibility for the use of this program. I am not liable for any damages, including loss of data, lost profits, cost of cover or any other special, incidental, consequential or indirect damages arising from the use of this program.
If you have the time send me some email telling me you are using if you are using this program, if you like it, don't like it or whatever.
NOTE1: the script is distributed as the SimpleText file, pppPrefFixScript, included with this package.
NOTE2: the original file is placed in the TRASH. This should not be a problem unless the duplicate is damaged which more than likely means the original was already damaged. But in the event that the original is okay, it is in the trash and if needed you can put it in the "Preference Folder" of the "System Folder" replacing the duplicate. If the original and duplicate is damaged, you need to trash the original and copy, and re-configure "MacPPP".
If you do need to re-configure "MacPPP" (using "Config PPP"), the easiest way is from screen shots of the configuration windows. If you have not made screen shots of your configuration windows you should. If you don't know how see below.
NOTE3: If you get an error message -1762 (Could not run the script "pppPrefFix" because of a problem connecting to the scipting component.") or -108 (Could not run the script "pppPrefFix" because there is not enough Memory) you forgot to quit an application so that "pppPrefFix" could have its 200k of free RAM.
Version History
1.0.0- Localized pathnames which ran only with system 7.5 and "Finder Scripting Extension"
1.0.2- Dynamic pathnames and added "FinderLib" support
1.0.3- Made into a Run-Only application
1.0.4- Elaborated on low memory errors encountered on launch, clarified some points in readme file and changed application name to "pppPrefFix" from "pppEasyPrefDelete".
Making Screen Shots
Screen shots of set up windows are neat because you don't have to worry about writing down a detailed description of all the important information (especially since it doesn't become important until you have forgotten to write it down). These instructions are specific to MacPPP but can be easily generalized.
First find your "System Folder" and see if there are any files with it (not in it) labeled "Picture 1" or "Picture 2" and so on. If there is create a file called "Old Pictures" and put all those files in it. (Later you may want to open these files and see if they are worth saving.)
Select "Control Panel" from under the Apple and open the Monitor control panel. Record which button is selected and then select the "B&W" button. (If you have lots of disk space you can omit this step files can be more than 20 times larger.) From the "Control Panel" window open "Config PPP". Press the three keys, CMD-shift-3, simultaneously. Next click the "Config..." button and do the same thing for that window and the four other windows which are displayed when you click the "Connect Script...", "Authentication...", "LCP Options..." and "ICPC Options..." buttons. Close "Config PPP" and re-open the "Monitor" control panel. Re-select the button you had previously recorded.
The six screen shots you created will be saved in the same folder as your "System Folder" and will be labeled "Picture 1", "Picture 2" and so on. Open the same folder as your "System Folder". Make a new folder and label it "Config PPP Screen Shots". Put all these six files in this folder. Now if you ever have to re-configure "MacPPP" to its original settings you will have a record of all its settings which you can refer to by simply double clicking on these files if you have SimpleText, a paint program or any program which will let you view PICT files. If you have a printer you might want to print these six files for easy future reference. You might also want to open them all in a paint program and combine them into a separate file removing all the extraneous parts of the screen shot. These six files could take over a quarter of a megabyte of disc space. With a paint program you can reduce this to less than 20k with editing and if you save the file as black and white.
