AliasZoo is the quickest and easiest way to get control over the mountain of Alias files living on your Hard Drive. This version of AliasZoo has been COMPLETELY re-written, and includes many new features and ideas that were requested by people like yourself (who knows, maybe you'll even see some of your own suggestions in this version). I hope you like the result.
SOME CHANGES IN THIS VERSION
(1) Added a RESOLVE button. Now you can FIND aliases seperately from actually resolving them. This means you don't have to wait for aliases to be resolved when you just want to see them (if you prefer the old way of doing things, there is an option to make AliasZoo automatically resolve alias files after it finds them).
(2) The AliasZoo window is now fully re-sizeable. If you find you have the room, you can stretch the window as big as you'd like, to see those REALLY long pathnames. AliasZoo will also remember the last size you set its window to and restart itself at that size next time.
(3) When Resolving aliases, AliasZoo will not unmount volumes until it absolutely has to. This way you wan't have to repeatedly enter a password everytime an alias is resolved to a network volume which was previously mounted.
(4) You can tell AliasZoo to not mount removable volumes when resolving things. If you have a bunch of aliases to CD-ROMs or floppies, this will be a handy feature.
(5) AliasZoo can re-connect orphaned aliases automatically. If you turn this feature on, and then resolve all aliases, AliasZoo keeps track of all files whose target cannot be found. It then does an exhaustive search of all mounted volumes trying to find where the target has gone. If it can find it, it will automatically re-connect them. Great after restoring from backups!!! *NOTE: This will only find files with the same creator type, file type, and creation date. If you think this search is too limited, trust me, there are very good reasons for this.
(6) The About AliasZoo display is better looking, and the interface has been largely re-worked. Support for shift-clicking groups of files, and command-clicking multiple files has been added.
(7) When resolving network aliases, and you click 'Cancel' AliasZoo stops resolving ALL network aliases for that run (this is in keeping with Apple's Human Interface guidelines). As well, resolves can be cancelled by clicking Command-.
(8) A progress bar is now displayed when aliases are resolved.
(9) You can tell AliasZoo to automatically FIND all aliases on the startup volume right after it loads. I'm not sure if anyone will use this, but I found it handy.
(10) You can rename alias files from the 'Get Info' dialog in AliasZoo. This window will also display the icon for the alias's target (in colour where possible).
(11) AliasZoo now repairs a rather subtle alias problem (it took me a while to discover it even existed). If you move a hard drive to another Macintosh, and then create some aliases to files on that drive, the aliases take on the name of that new Macintosh as their 'home' computer. If you then move the drive back to your own computer, the system still thinks the aliases belong to the other Mac (they will work fine, but the 'Get Info' window will report their target as being on another computer). This error is checked for, and repaired, everytime you resolve aliases.
(12) Removed a problem that caused Error #-1304 to occcasionally occur during volume searches. As a side effect, searches should be a bit faster now.
And DOZENS of other changes and modifications.
For a complete description of how AliasZoo works see the 'AliasZoo Help' item under the Help menu when AliasZoo is running (the help file can be saved as a TeachText document for later reference). Please note that AliasZoo REQUIRES System 7 (otherwise there would be no Aliases to look at) - sorry System 6 users.
* BEFORE YOU START *
I suggest you rebuild the desktop file on each of your hard drive's before first using AliasZoo. This file is used extensively by all of AliasZoo's features and things will work best if it's completely up to date. If you don't know how to rebuild your desktop file, check the manuals that came with your Macintosh. Besides, rebuilding your desktop file regularily (I rebuild mine about once a month) is a good way to keep your System software happy.
AliasZoo is being distributed by Blue Globe Software as shareware. You have 15 days to try AliasZoo, after which, if you choose to keep it, you MUST register your copy by paying a (nominal) $15 fee. The easiest way to register is by choosing "Print Registration..." from AliasZoo's File menu, filling out the printed form, and mailing it along with your payment to:
Blue Globe Software
PO Box 8171
Victoria, British Columbia
V8W-3R8 CANADA
If you can't print the form, clearly write you name, street address, city, province/state, postal code, country, and phone number, along with the version of AliasZoo you are registering, on a sheet of paper. Mail this sheet along with your payment to the above address.
Sorry, but we cannot accept credit cards. If you wish to pay using plastic, you'll have to do so through CompuServe's shareware registry (see the next paragraph for information on this service).
You can also pay your AliasZoo shareware fee through CompuServe's ShareWare registry, but it costs $20 if you register this way (see CompuServe for more information on the registry). AliasZoo's shareware registry number is #125.
On a related note, site licences for AliasZoo are now available for $150. For more information about these, see the registration form you can print from within AliasZoo. Also note, site licenses cannot be purchased through Compuserve's shareware registry.
Using AliasZoo after the 15 day period without
registering is ILLEGAL (not to mention highly
dishonest), and is software piracy. Don't assist
in the destruction of the shareware ideal: Pay
for the software that you use. (I'll now get off
my little soap-box).
If you have any questions about AliasZoo please contact me at either of the following addresses (in order of preference):
Internet: cmccollu@ra.uvic.ca
Compuserve: 76170,601
AliasZoo can be freely distributed under the following conditions:
(1) This document is ALWAYS included with AliasZoo.
(2) It is distributed FREE of charge (except for disk or downloading costs where necessary).
(3) It cannot be included with other programs that are sold for profit without the consent of Blue Globe Software.
(4) Neither AliasZoo nor this accompanying text file can be altered, reverse engineered, decompiled, or modified in any way.
(5) If you wish to include AliasZoo in any commercial shareware compilations (such as CD's or Books) you must contact Blue Globe Software for permission.
Other than these five necessary restrictions, feel free to give AliasZoo to whomever (or whatever) you choose.
Thanks for your support of AliasZoo! I'm sure you'll find it's the easiest, and most powerful, Alias utility you've ever used.
Cliff McCollum
President,
Blue Globe Software
1993
*** Addendum.
• Though not listed in the help file there is an important aspect about AliasZoo that you should be aware of. If you are scanning a Network volume for aliases, and AliasZoo indicates that some of the alias files do not have owners (indicated by a large red 'X' being placed next to the file) be cautious before deleting them. This concern stems from the fact that network volumes can restrict portions of their contents from your view. As a result, you may be able to 'see' the alias files, but you may not be able to 'see' their owners in some cases. This will cause AliasZoo to tell you that an alias has no owner when, in reality, it does have an owner but you just don't have the access priviledges necessary to view it.
The moral #1: be careful when deleting alias files from network volumes.
• When an alias points to a file on another volume, AliasZoo will automatically mount it so that it can check the owner (if you have the appropriate preferences selected). When AliasZoo is finished checking aliases it will unmount these temporary volumes. However, since these volumes are being identified by name only, a volume with the same name as the startup volume may be mounted by AliasZoo, but it cannot be unmounted.
The moral #2: avoid giving two volumes the same name - it not only confuses the Finder, but it'll likely confuse you too (and if your hard drive still has the default name it shipped with, like 'HD80' or 'HD120' or whatever, PLEASE, for the sake of humanity, change it to something else - every Mac needs a little personality).
Version 2 Update History
Version 2.0ß3
- First version of AliasZoo 2 let loose. Never publicly distributed.
Version 2.0ß5
- Final clean-up of many features, the dialog boxes, etc. Fixed the searching code to remove error #-1304.
Version 2.0ß6
- Reworked the interface so there was more room to display aliases.
Version 2.0
- First publicly released version of AliasZoo 2
Version 2.0.1
- Fixed a small bug that occurred when "Resolve Aliases during Find" was selected, and then a search was conducted on a volume that contained no alias files (basically, this was a divide-by-zero error).
Version 2.0.2
- The Help dialog will now properly display its pictures on machines WITH colour QuickDraw but having B&W displays (no more big black box at the top).
- When more than ten volumes are used during a resolve scan (this is when the 'smart' volume management kicks in) unmounting of volumes happens in a more sensible fashion.
