SetPrefs is supplied on an `As Is' basis and has no warranty of any kind. Please don't come running to me if your kettle blows up as a result of using any files included in the archive.
Copyright - The copyright for the whole distribution belongs to me, Danny Shepherd. Nobody may alter any of the distribution in any way. Don't decompile, dissasemble, or do any related activity to any of the source. Nothing may be changed in any way.
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Introduction.
Are you sick of setting your default tools for loads of different types of files? You think you've done them all only to find out that a better viewer has arrived for a type of file and to swap to that new viewer you'll have to swap many tool types.
Well, SetPrefs could end all of that! I suppose you could call it a MIME like utility. You set every default tool type to SetPrefs and when SetPrefs loads it identifies the file that loaded it and chooses your preset viewer.
If a new viewer is released you simply change one entry in SetPrefs! It really is as simple as that. Plus you can use CLI options to refine your viewer just as you would type them into a Shell/CLI! Try adding the following as a default tool
C:Lzx x
It simply won't work. Workbench treats it as one command - "C:Lzx x"
SetPrefs will allow you to add CLI options anywhere in the filetype settings. You can even tell SetPrefs to open a CLI window for output.
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Installing.
Installation is easy. Simply copy main file 'SetPrefs' to C: and set SetPrefs as the default tool for all of your icons.
I have also included an example Prefs file which you can copy to Envarc: and Env:
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Usage.
All of this power is very simple to use. SetPrefs consists of 1 small executable file.
If you run it without any arguments the preference window will open.
If you run it with <?> as the argument then you will recieve some help text.
If you run it with the name of a file as the argument that file will be identified and then run.
If SetPrefs cannot identify a file then you will be notified and given the option of running the default viewer eg. Multiview.
The Preferences.
This is the main part of SetPrefs and allows to add, edit, copy and remove file types.
Adding a new type.
Click on The Add Type button. A new entry will appear at the top of the list looking something like this:
File Type Extension Content Viewer
application/
Use the Cycle Gadget to select an apropriate type for your entry eg. image/.
Enter the specific type in the String Gadget next to the Cycle Gadget eg. 3D-Imagine.
Enter any common extensions into the String Gadget below eg .obj. You can specify more than 1 extension just leave a space in between each one.
The next part deals with the actual file content. The Cycle Gadget allows you to tell SetPrefs to identify the file using 'Extensions Or Contents' or 'Extensions AND Contents'. This can be useful if different filetypes share extensions.
The String Gadget next to the Cycle Gadget allows you to input the file content starting from the beggining of the file. You have a few options here:
If the first few bytes of the file are always the same printable ASCII chars you can just enter them into the String Gadget. Eg. BMP
If the first few bytes are always the same but are not printable you enter their Hexedecimal code instead. However you must tell SetPrefs or it will think you've entered an ASCII string.
To do this click one on the '%' Button next to the String Gadget and select '$ - Begin Hexedecimal String'. A $ sign should appear int the String Gadget. Now enter your Hexedecimal chars Eg. 0304.
To tell SetPrefs you've finished with the Hexedecimal select the '%' Button again and select '; - End Hexedecimal String'. A ; should now appear in the String Gadget.
Note that your Hex strings should always be even in length eg $0001345F; 0 is NOT the same as 00. Every ASCII char must be represented as 2 Hex Chars.
If the first few bytes are not always the same but some further on are you can tell SetPrefs to skip some bytes. To do this select the '%' Button and select '? - Ignore Next Byte'. A ? should now appear in the String Gadget, Do this for every byte you want to skip and then simply proceed as above. Eg ????PK would itentify a file with PK 4 bytes into the file. You can also choose Hex Mode eg. ????$0001;
You can mix and match all of the above methods if you need to eg. TH???$020001;AHM?J would denote a file beginning with TH with the Hex String $020001 at bytes 6, 7 and 8, the next 3 bytes would contain AHM and byte 13 would be J. This is a very complex example purely to demonstrate the feature. I've never found a real file this complex.
The next String Gadget specifies the Viewer that should be loaded whent the file has been identified. Click on the 'L' Button to call up a file requestor.
If you simply press return after entering the viewer '&f' will appear next to it to show where the filename will be placed.
You can add this string yourself if you wish. You can add further arguments before and after the filename and if you want to send the file out put to a CLI type Output Window add &c. Both &f and &c are available from the '%' Button next to the String Gadget.
If you leave the Viewer completely blank then the general viewer will be used. E.g if you define image/bmp and leave the viewer blank then the viewer from image/* will be used intead.
You have now finished adding the filetype. The entry will be sorted in the list when you add another entry or Save/Use the preferences.
Editing an existing type.
Simply click on the required item in the list and then edit the fields in each gadget (see adding a type). If required, the item will be resorted when you add another entry or Save/Use the preferences.
Copying a type.
Click on the source item and click on the 'Copy Type' Button. The duplicate entry will be added to the BOTTOM of the list. Simply edit the fields in each gadget (see adding a type). If required, the item will be resorted when you add another entry or Save/Use the preferences.
Removing a type.
If you wish to remove a type simply selected it in the list and click on 'Del Type'. Then entry will be removed.
The other button are fairly self explanitory.
Save - Saves the the new settings to ENV: and Envarc: The new settings will still be used after system resets.
Use - Saves the new settings to ENV: only. The old settings will be used after system resets.
Cancel - Forgets all changes and continues with current settings.
About - Some information about SetPrefs and it's official site.
Note: Adding and Copying types is not available without Registering (Chocware).
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System Requirements
You don't need anything flash to use SetPrefs, just the following:
1.OS/WB 2.0+
2.About 300k free mem.
I would recomend a hard drive to be able to get maximum use out of SetPrefs but most people have those now, don't they?
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Chocware
Chocware. I'm sure you will have heard of it many times. This is nothing new. You get a demo of the program with Chocware stamped all over it. Certain features will be disabled and and many pop up intentionally annoying requesters every two minutes. SetPrefs pops up one requester at the beginning and one at the end and has a few of the luxuries removed. To register SetPrefs simply send me a bar of chocolate and a postcard of your village/town/city/country. I will then send you the password to enable the full version of SetPrefs. I will send your password via EMail if you tell me your EMail Address.
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Distribution
There are a few rules concerning distribution.
1. I hereby give permission for anyone to upload the distribution to aminet or any other FTP site. If anyone wants to put my product on their website then don't! Instead link to http://start.at/shepherd SetPrefs is updated regularly and it is easy if their is only one SetPrefs to update! Also please don't link directly to the downloads section of my site as I often change the site and many filenames are renamed. The index.html is the only file which has stayed the same!
2. I hereby give permission for any PD library to add the distribution to their lists so long as they don't charge more than £2.00 per disk.
3. I hereby give permission for the distribution to be included on any Aminet CDs.
4. I hereby give permission for any magazine to review the distribution and or include it on their cover-disks and cover-cds.
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Addresses
My home address is:
Field View,
20 Skiddaw Court,
Annfield Plain,
Stanley,
Co. Durham
DH9 8UB
England
My EMail address is:
sprefs-support@gespatcho.u-net.com
My Website address is:
http://start.at/shepherd
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Bugs
What SetPrefs has bugs? Well no, not to the best of my great wisdom (which is not all that great). If you do find a bug then fill out the @{"report form" link BugReport} and send it to one of the @{"addresses" link Addresses}.
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BUG REPORT FORM: SetPrefs V1.02
NAME:______________________________
ADDRESS:___________________________
:___________________________
:___________________________
:___________________________
:___________________________
:___________________________
:___________________________
DESCRIBE THE BUG IN DETAIL:__________________________________________________________
