Mac OS 8.5 Technote: Part XXIII

Copyright 1998 by Apple Computer, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

[Previous section] [Mac OS 8.5 Contents Page] [Next section]

Inside the System File (Continued)

Folder Manager

The Folder Manager provides facilities for locating "special" folders (for example, the Extensions folder) without relying on the names of those folders. This aids developers in application localization.
  • Folder Manager defines new auto-routings for preferences files of type 'pref' (the Preferences folder), shared libraries (the Extensions folder), data fork fonts (the Fonts folder), Open Font Architecture plug-ins (the Extensions folder), and AppleTalk extensions (the Extensions folder).

  • FindFolder now returns the actual location of the Printer Descriptions folder.

  • Auto-routing has been added for files of type 'issp' (to Internet Search Sites).

  • Files of type 'JPEG' are now auto-routed to the Desktop Pictures folder.

  • As in pre-Mac OS 8.0 versions of the system software, the FindFolder folder cache now detects volume changes and keeps the cache up to date. In Mac OS 8.0 and Mac OS 8.1, it was possible for FindFolder to return stale data.

  • Several new folders have been defined for Mac OS 8.5. Table 7 lists these new folders and their types.


    Table 7. New folders for Mac OS 8.5.

    Folder Name

    OSType

    Description

    Launcher Items

    'laun'

    Items appearing in the Launcher control panel. Items included in folders with names beginning with a bullet (option-8) character will appear as a separate panel in the Launcher window.

    Internet Search Sites

    'issf'

    Internet search site specification files used by the Find application when it accesses Internet search sites. Files of type 'issp' are auto-routed to this folder.

    TheFindByContent Folder

    'fbcf'

    An invisible folder located in a volume's root directory. This folder is used to store files created by 'Find by Content'.

    Find

    'fnds'

    Contains files used by the Find facilities in Mac OS 8.5. This folder is located in the Extensions folder.

    Installer Logs

    'ilgf'

    A location for saving installer log files.

    ColorSync Profiles

    'prof'

    A location for storing ColorSync profiles.

    Appearance

    'appr'

    Appearance-related materials

    Theme Files

    'thme'

    The location for storing theme files

    Sound Sets

    'snds'

    The location for storing appearance-related sound sets

    Desktop Pictures

    'dtp'

    The location for storing desktop picture files. Files of type 'JPEG' are auto-routed into this folder when dropped into the System Folder.

    Favorites

    'favs'

    The location for storing Internet location files, aliases, and aliases to other frequently used items. Facilities for adding items into this folder are found in Contextual Menus, the Finder, and Navigation Services, et al.

    Scripts

    'scr'

    A location for saving AppleScript scripts.

    Recent Applications

    'rapp'

    Apple Menu Items saves aliases to recent applications here.

    Recent Documents

    'rdoc'

    Apple Menu Items saves aliases to recently opened documents here.

    Recent Servers

    'rsvr'

    Apple Menu Items saves aliases to recently mounted servers here.

    Speakable Items

    'spki'

    A location for scripts and items recognized by speech recognition.

    Internet

    'int'

    A location for saving Internet-related applications, resources, and tools.

    Location Manager Modules

    'walk'

    Location manager modules are stored here.

    Location Manager Prefs

    'trip'

    Location manager preferences files are saved here.

    Locations

    'fall'

    Files containing configuration information for different locations are stored here.




    Related Materials:

[Previous section] [Mac OS 8.5 Contents Page] [Next section]

To contact us, please use the Contact Us page.