Stripper™ is intended to complement programs like Apple PC Exchange, which allow DOS disks to appear on the Mac desktop. DOS files have, however, some internal differences: one of these is line feeds. Mac text files use carriage return characters (ASCII 13) to terminate lines, but DOS files use a carriage return/line feed (ASCII 10) sequence.
• How to use it •
Stripper is a System 7 DEPENDENT program which uses its drag-and-drop feature. Stripper is not run like a classic Mac program (e.g., double-click program icon, open files from file menu, quit program). Instead, simply drag the file(s) upon which you want Stripper to operate on top of the application icon. Because Stripper is System 7 dependent, it will not work under System 6 or less (in fact, I'm not totally sure what will happen if you try running it under 6). Sorry.
Stripper can remove and/or replace these line feed characters. To remove line feeds from a file (and Stripper will operate on ANY file), simply drag the file on top of the Stripper icon while under the Finder. Stripper will strip the file and place the results in a file of the same name with a “.strip” suffix (extension).
Stripper can also add line feeds back into a file. It will look for any carriage return characters in the file, and insert a line feed immediately after each one. To add line feeds, again, drag the files on top of the stripper icon, WHILE HOLDING DOWN THE OPTION KEY. Stripper will strip the file and place the results in a file of the same name with a “.unstrip” suffix (extension).
You CAN actually double-click on the Stripper program, at which time it will tell you a little about itself, and allow you to view some “about” information. In the future, this will be how you will set Stripper's preferences.
• Details (some technospeak) •
As mentioned, Stripper will operate on any file with a data fork (HyperCard stacks, PICTS, etc. i.e. almost any document). Since you probably don't want to strip or add line feeds to most non-text files, you should use Stripper with some care.
Stripper does copy the contents of the resource fork to the new file.
• Future directions •
There are a number of enhancements I will be adding over the near future. The include:
You will be able to specify how the unstripping/stripping action is set (using option key to specify whether to strip or unstrip, or to have the program ask the user explicitly).
A setting will be available that will tell Stripper to replace the original file with the newly stripped or unstripped one.
Speed. Stripper is unacceptably slow in its present incarnation. This will be remedied.
• Source Code •
I am considering making the source code to stripper public-domain. This would include a good example of how to write a drag-and-drop application (which relies on AppleEvents), and my own class library “MassApp,” which I designed to generate SMALL and FAST code (unlike some other nameless class libraries), and be “close to the toolbox” so that toolbox programmers would have an easy time adapting to it. If there is sufficient interest, I may do it. Please e-mail me if you are interested.
• License •
This program is offered as postcardware. If you like this program you are hereby given license to use it provided that you send me a postcard from your hometown or local attraction. PLEASE, support shareware, postcardware, etc.!
You have license to redistribute this program freely, so long as you include this file (“About Stripper") with the program. The only exception being that this program may not be distributed as an incentive to purchase some other product. This includes, but is not limited to, distribution with a for-profit collection of shareware programs (like shareware collections CDs), or as a part of “free” software distributed on hard disk drives. I don't want my program (which I provide essentially for free) to be used to line someone else's pockets.
• Disclaimer of Liability •
ERIK C. JORDAN AND STAT-EASE, INC. OFFER NO WARRANTY FOR THIS PRODUCT. WE MAKE NO CLAIM AS TO THE SUITABILITY OF THIS PROGRAM TO ANY GIVEN TASK. WE HEREBY DENY ANY AND ALL LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES THAT MAY OCCUR THOUGH THE USE OF THIS PROGRAM.