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==================================
“READ ME” for Obliterate, version 1.0
==================================
Copyright © 1992 Robert Gibson. All rights reserved.
January 3, 1992
Font: Geneva 12
This document must go wherever Obliterate goes. Please do not distribute
Obliterate without this documentation. Please do not modify this document.
INTRODUCTION
=============
This document contains information about Obliterate, a Drop Box by Robert
Gibson. Information specific to Obliterate itself is given in “Using
Obliterate”. Characteristics of Drop Boxes in general are discussed in the
“Using Drop Boxes” section. Other members of the Drop Rob•Box family are
listed under “Other Drop Rob•Boxes” Finally, information about the author
is provided in the last section, “About the Author”.
ABOUT OBLITERATE
=================
These sections are fairly detailed descriptions of how and why you may
use Obliterate.
If you use Obliterate, please please please send me a note. I love to hear
from users of my software. My addresses (post and e-mail) are given below
in “About the Author”.
Why Does Obliterate Exist?
------------------------
• Obliterate was designed because I hate having to select Empty Trash
all the time. I am not interested in any Extensions which
“automatically” empty the trash. I also wanted a facility to completely
remove a file’s data from my disk and make it totally unrecoverable. It’s
a scary idea, but it is sometimes necessary.
Using Obliterate
---------------
• Drag sets of files, folders, or disks into the application, “Drop Box-
style”. Obliterate will scan folders and disks provided, and will
delete ALL files and ALL of the directories provided, no matter
what their depth. Drop Boxes require Apple Events, and thus System
7.0 or higher. Files on locked disks or open files will not be deleted
(for obvious reasons).
• To cancel processing, just type a command-period. Cancelling in the
middle of a file might not prevent the current file from being
deleted. I suggest that you be ABSOLUTELY SURE that you can lose the
data.
• If you wish your documents to be totally unrecoverable (even through
file recovery utilities), you can optionally turn shredding on.
• Double-click on the application to change the preferences and see the
About... box.
Preferences
-----------
• The first time you try to modify a file using the program, the
preferences dialog will come up, just to make sure the correct
parameters have been set up. You can modify these if you wish. If
you don't want to see that window again, just say OK. You will have to
explicitly ask for for the Preferences window the next time you wish
to change anything.
• To show the Preferences dialog in Drop Box mode, hold down the option
key while the program is launching.
• The preferences are fairly self-explanatory. You can tell Obliterate
whether or not to display an alert to make sure you want the files to
be deleted. You can also tell it to shred files. Locked files can also be
obliterated. Remember that items on locked disks can never be
modified.
• Shredding files replaces the file’s contents with zeros. That means
that the data within the file is totally unrecoverable, even if you try
to use a file undeletion utility. This lets you keep private files private.
USING DROP BOXES
=================
Drop Boxes are applications which can take advantage of System 7’s Apple
Events. To use them, just drag a file over the application icon just as you
would drag a file over a folder to move it into that directory. The Drop
Box is then opened and processing is done. The program then quits. You can
also throw in whole directories and disks. You don’t have to throw in just
one, either. Select a whole bunch of files, directories, or disks, or any
combination of the three, and dump them in. The Drop Box will scan for
files of the required type and modify them accordingly. All files in all
directories within those dropped in will be modified.
At least, that is how Drop Rob•Boxes work.
OTHER DROP ROB•BOXES
=====================
The following is a list of other current members of the Drop Rob•Box
family. More are being added to the family all the time. Best of all,
they’re all free.
TextBreak
---------
Write messages and other files to be used on-line or on another type of
computer normally (don’t worry about hitting return at the end of each
line). Then toss your files (or folders/disks containing the files) into
this Drop Box. It determines the best location in the file to insert a CR
and, optionally, a LF, based on your criteria (number of columns, etc.).
Useful for those who communicate on-line and send messages (probably
everybody reading this). This utility can also be used without System 7.
(Available in the Utilities data library in MACSYS on Compuserve).
TextMerge
---------
Join text files into a single file. Very useful for telecommunicators (like
you) who wish to join several text logs or groups of messages into one
file. All directories dragged into this drop box are scanned, so you can
throw in sets of files, folders or even disks, or any combination of the
three, and all contained TEXT files will be processed. This drop box
requires Apple Events, and thus System 7.0 or higher.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
==================
If you use this program, have any comments or suggestions, or ideas for
other programs, please write me a note, e-mail or post.
Robert Gibson E-Mail:
RR#1 Carrying Place CIS: 71261,2236
Ontario, CANADA Internet: 71261.2236@compuserve.com
KØK 1LØ
This program is not to be included in any software collections other than
BBSs and on-line services (eg. CD ROMs, PD Disks, etc.) without prior
written consent from the author. Any distribution MUST MUST MUST
include this document, unmodified.
Obliterate copyright © 1992 Robert Gibson. All rights reserved.