CommentKeeper 1.0 is a freeware extension for System 7. One missing feature in System 6 was that the so-called “Get Info” comments were erased whenever the desktop file was rebuilt. Apparently, a remedy for this never came to fruition in System 7. In fact, the only change made is that the Finder now warns users that the info comments will be erased. CommentKeeper provides a solution to this problem by preserving the info comments whenever the desktop file is rebuilt. CommentKeeper also works with System 6 if the Desktop Manager extension is present at startup.
For those users using System 6 with the Desktop Manager extension, CommentKeeper can be installed. To do this, drag the CommentKeeper file icon into your System Folder. Be certain that the Desktop Manager loads before CommentKeeper. To accomplish this, rename either CommentKeeper or the Desktop Manger to reverse their alphabetical order.
To install it under System 7, drag the CommentKeeper file icon over the System Folder icon and click OK to the dialog or drag it directly into the Extensions folder.
The desktop file is a file used by the Finder containing information about which documents go with which applications. It allows the Finder to know which icons to display for a file and which application to open when a document is opened in the Finder. Over time and especially if the user adds and removes applications, the desktop file grows slowing down Finder operation. A useful optimization is to rebuild the desktop file, and the Finder provides a method. Upon its launching at startup, hold down the command and option keys. A dialog appears asking if the user is sure about rebuilding the desktop file. Normally, in System 7, this dialog also says that the info comments will be erased.
However, after CommentKeeper is installed, the dialog says that the info comments will, in fact, be saved (This part won’t work for foreign System files. It is then necessary to copy the second string from the 'STR#' 11500 resource in the Finder to the first string in the 'STR#' -4047 resource in CommentKeeper. Finally, the second string in 'STR#' -4047 should be translated to the appropriate language, leaving the ^1 intact). Just after clicking OK, the cursor will change to a miniature animated Get Info window as CommentKeeper searches the desktop file for comments. After a short time, the Finder will begin the task of rebuilding the desktop file. Upon its conclusion, if any comments were found, CommentKeeper adds them to the new desktop file, and the cursor will once again change to a miniature Get Info window for a very short time. Lo and behold, the comments should appear intact as if the desktop file were never touched.
Though there is no harm in running CommentKeeper if there are no “Get Info” comments or if you are not rebuilding the desktop file, it’s unnecessary: You need to have CommentKeeper installed only when you wish to rebuild the desktop file. Also, CommentKeeper does not work on floppy volumes whose capacity is under 2 megabytes.
To disable CommentKeeper from loading at startup, hold down the shift key.
Thanks to Fred Terry for beta testing.
Distribution of CommentKeeper must be accompanied with this documentation.
CommentKeeper comes from:
Maurice Volaski
Internet: volaski@contra.med.buffalo.edu
Address: 173 Princeton Ave. Apt #2, Amherst, NY 14226-5006
