Alessandro Levi Montalcini
C.so Re Umberto 10
10121 Torino
Italy
e-mail: LMontalcini@pmn.it
anonymous ftp: //ftp.alpcom.it/software/mac/LMontalcini

 

DragAnyWindow 3.1.1 documentation - March 1995

• Shareware: $5
◊  This control panel is distributed as shareware: if you like it please honor the shareware system by sending $5 to the author at the address above. Since cashing international cheques is very expensive, please send cash only (U.S. dollars are best, but any other currency is fine).
◊  If you work on the Macintosh, there are many things you can send me instead of the money. Here are some suggestions: original software (but don't send any shareware/freeware unless you're the author), books or computer-related magazines (any free issue or subscription is welcome), CD-ROMs, any piece of new or used hardware, or anything else you've created.
◊  There's still another thing you could do: I'll finish my physics studies sometime in 1996 and I'm looking for a one-year job as a programmer (or maybe a scientist?) outside of Italy. Let me know if you have anything to offer.
◊  If you can't afford any of the above an e-mail, a postcard or a letter is welcome. I speak English, French and Italian. Please forgive me if I don't answer to all of your letters - I am often overloaded with my school work.

• Introduction
◊  DragAnyWindow is a control panel that allows you to easily move any kind of window, including dialogs, alerts, standard "Open" and "Save" dialogs, game windows and other non-movable windows. It also lets you bring back to the desktop any window that has gone out of sight, or center the front window on the main screen with a single keystroke. It is very useful for old applications designed for the 9" screen (which often use fixed windows) and for moving modal dialogs and windows behind them. This is what you see when you drag a modal dialog with DragAnyWindow:

 

◊  DragAnyWindow gives you three different ways to change a window’s position. A drag takes place when you click on any part of a window while holding the drag keys down; a gray outline follows the mouse until the button is released, then the window is moved to its new location. This works on both frontmost and background windows, as long as they belong to the active application. If the window is not visible, you may force it to jump to the current mouse location by holding down the jump keys and clicking on any part of the screen; the frontmost window is immediately centered around the current mouse location and keeps following the mouse as a gray outline until the button is released. The last way to get your window where you want it is to center it on the main screen with a single keystroke.
◊  Please note that jump and center only work on the frontmost window. If there are other windows in front of an invisible one you won't be able to move it, so try closing them before.

• Instructions
◊  You may configure DragAnyWindow by opening its control panel; the following options are available:
◊  [Drag]  The Drag checkbox lets you turn window dragging on and off; the modifier key checkboxes let you choose which modifier keys will activate window dragging upon a mouse click. Please note that the command key checkbox can’t be unchecked because dragging background windows wouldn’t work without it.
◊  [Jump]  Works pretty much like Drag, except you can check or uncheck the command key checkbox as you like.
◊  [Center]  The check box lets you turn the hot key on and off. Clicking on the key combination field brings up a dialog where you can change the hot key itself.
◊  [Show startup icon]  If this checkbox is on, DragAnyWindow shows an icon during the startup process.

• Installation
◊  System 7: Move the DragAnyWindow control panel to your Control Panels folder (inside the System folder) and restart your Macintosh. Open the Control Panels folder and double click on DragAnyWindow’s icon to configure it.
◊  System 6: Move the DragAnyWindow control panel inside your System folder and restart your Macintosh. Open the Control Panel desk accessory to configure it.
◊  DragAnyWindow uses less than 3K of system memory (less than 6K on Power Macs).

• Version history
◊  3.1.1 - Optimized PowerPC code, added pictures and a contents menu to the online docs.
◊  3.1 - FAT version! Installs fat patches on Power Macs to run at top speed in all situations.
◊  3.01 - Recompiled with latest version of the compiler and updated documentation.
◊  3.0 - Added a hot key to center the front window on the main screen (thanks to Gary S. Huvard for the suggestion).
◊  2.0 - This version was completely rewritten and uses a different method to work its magic. The Finder and modal dialogs can no longer see DragAnyWindow’s mouse clicks.
◊  1.1 - DragAnyWindow can now bring invisible windows back to the desktop; the key combinations may be configured in the control panel.
◊  1.01 - Added support for system 7 default items calls.
◊  1.0 - First public release on 3"1/2 Mac Disk Magazine.

• Distribution
◊  DragAnyWindow is ©1994-95 Alessandro Levi Montalcini. It can be freely distributed as long as it is not modified and there’s no charge for it, but it may not be included in any commercial package without my consent.
◊  You may find the latest version of all my shareware programs by anonymous ftp to ftp.alpcom.it, inside the /software/mac/LMontalcini directory. The complete ShareDisk package, which contains all my stuff and can be registered at a very low price, is also available there.
◊  All online services and bulletin boards may make it available to their users at no charge other than the normal connection fees.
◊  All non-profit user groups may distribute it at no charge.
◊  All magazines may publish it on floppy disk without asking me first, as long as I get a copy of the issue containing my software.
◊  All CD-ROM shareware collections and CD-ROM magazines may include it without my prior consent, as long as I get either a copy of the CD-ROM or an offer to buy the CD-ROM at a discounted price.
◊  All redistribution companies such as Educorp may distribute it, as long as I get a copy of each media containing my software and a catalog of the company’s offerings (where applicable).

• Disclaimer
◊  DragAnyWindow shouldn’t cause any damage, but you’re using it at your own risk. As an independent software developer, I can make no warranties whatsoever on it.

• Have fun!
◊  And don't forget to $$$ send your contribution $$$ so that more cool utilities will see the light in the near future, at the low-low-low costs of shareware.