This Read Me contains only the most essential information, as most documentation has been moved into the on-line help. Access it from the System 7 Help menu or the Apple menu. the file File Buddy Help must be in the same folder as your copy of File Buddy and must be named "File Buddy Help".
Complete registration information is now found at the end of this document. Please read it. The 2 essentials are: File Buddy is $25, and I can't accept credit cards.
Overview
File Buddy is a general utility for working with files and folders. It can:
Obtain and set a wide range of file and folder information.
Find files using an extensive set of search criteria.
Find files containing specified resources.
Modify a batch of file names, e.g., remove ".txt" from several file names at once.
Create custom icons: from PICTs on the clipboard; from other icons; for folders; with blank icons; using only small icons.
Create aliases.
Find empty files and folders, duplicate files, unattached aliases, and unused preference files.
Rebuild the desktop.
Move and copy files.
Delete resource forks.
All program documentation that was in the Read Me of previous versions of File Buddy and much more is now contained in a topic-based, on-line help which frees the documentation of the 32,000 character limitation imposed by TeachText/SimpleText.
Some Future Version:
PowerPC native. I'm still working on this. It's a long process.
More Macintosh Drag and Drop.
Better support for searching resources.
Version 3.4.3:
Fixed a window zooming bug in the file list window.
Fixed bugs in the Find Duplicates code.
Fixed a bug in file list updating.
Fixed a bug in the folder expanding code.
Selections in the file list have a new appearance that's more consistant with what the Finder and other programs do.
The Unattached Aliases window is now resizable, and if Macintosh Drag and Drop is installed, you can drag a new target into the Path To Target area of the window to reconnect the currently selected aliases.
Some users have requested that the Find window not restore previously used settings when opened. There is now a preference for that in the Preferences dialog.
Version 3.4.2:
Fixes a bug that kept File Buddy from creating its little drag&drops.
Version 3.4.1:
Fixes a bug that kept the item information in the file list window from updating after certain actions on the list.
Supports dragging items from the Finder into the file list window if you have Macintosh Drag and Drop. Other drag support, such as dragging items out will come later. I just happened to have this part working when I found the bug above, so enjoy it.
Version 3.4:
Version 3.4 brings 3 long and frequently requested features, improved code, and lots of minor bug fixes.
File Buddy no longer requires PBCatSearch to search disks.
Folders can be expanded in the file list. Very similar to the Finder, but with some differences. Read the Expanding Folders topic in the on-line help.
You can choose between viewing file type and creator, or kind in the file list.
File list sorts should be faster for long lists with few selections.
File list is much better at updating entries when you make changes to them.
Rewrote most of the code used in dragging and resizing file list columns. No longer exhibits some former bugs and weird behaviors.
Version 3.3:
If an item in the Get Info dialog resides on a locked disk such as a CD-ROM, nothing can be edited in the dialog.
Some users experienced crashes when searching for empty files and folders. This has been fixed.
The file 'File Buddy Help' must be in the same folder as File Buddy. If it isn't and you try to access the on-line help, an alert now explains why nothing happens.
On some machines (PowerMac 8500, for instance), default button outlines weren't showing up, and using keys to click OK and Cancel buttons didn't work. I have replaced the system routines for this with my own.
In previous versions, the Open With... popup menu in the list window did nothing when there wasn't enough memory to launch the requested application. It now handles low memory situations better and posts a message if the application can't launch.
Memory usage has been modified to increase compatiblity with OptiMem.
Several minor bugs have been fixed.
Version 3.2:
The name field of the Get Info dialog is no longer locked when the Name Locked checkbox is checked.
Data forks of files in the File List window can now be deleted.
If you try to "show" invisible items from the File List window, File Buddy now gives you the option of making them visible or canceling, since the Finder says it can't find invisible items.
The list is now sorted after "Find Invisible Items...", and there are options to ignore custom folder icon files and desktop files.
Page Up, Page Down, Home, and End keys work in the File List window.
When finding unattached aliases, there is an option to ignore aliases to items on unmounted volumes. Page Up, Page Down, Home, End, and arrow keys work in the list of unattached aliases.
Buttons now enable properly when the file directory dialog is shown at launch.
The Find Resources dialog remembers the last settings used.
The Help key now brings up the on-line help window.
All of the version information is correct, unlike v3.1.2.
When creating a list of duplicate files, files are sorted by name within duplicate groups.
Locked files can be moved to the trash even when something in the trash has the same name.
The Move/Copy... menu item has been replaced by separate Move... and Copy... items.
Registered copies of File Buddy now back up all data in the preferences file to a file in the Preferences folder called "FB Prefs Backup" See the help topic "Preferences" for details.
The file type in the Get Info dialog can now have a label attached for use in file type menus. Use the Label File Type "xxxx"... item in the Extras menu.
After 90 days, the registration reminders start coming up every 5 days instead of every 10.
Some minor Balloon Help revisions.
Fixed a bug that interfered with finding files by creator or file type when SpaceSaver¬ or AutoDoubler¬ is installed.
Some minor bugs fixed.
I will now accept non-US checks from users in other countries. The only exception is Eurochecks, which I can't get processed very easily.
Version 3.1.2:
Fixes a bug when moving a file to another disk that could cause the original to be deleted even if the copy operation failed.
Kanji users should be able to read path name when finding unattached aliases.
Version 3.1.1:
You can now set a default button in the File List window by dragging the black bar under the current default button until it is under the desired button.
If File Buddy launches and sees that its name is ╥Find File╙, it goes into a special mode in which it ignores the launch option set in the Preferences dialog and automatically opens the Find window at launch. Thereafter, anytime File Buddy comes to the foreground, it will reopen the Find window if it has been closed. This facilitates replacing System 7.5's Find File utility with File Buddy.
When creating a small icon for something, you can now specify where you want it located. You can use this to put up to 4 small icons in the space normally used by one large icon.
Fixed a bug that kept files in the file list from being updated when they were changed. As a side affect, this fixed a bug that could cause File Buddy to report empties that had been flagged to not be reported. If you have flagged items to be ignored in a scan for empties, recommend you clear them with the Clear Flagged Set button the next time you scan.
Fixed a bug that slowed the Check Aliases function to a crawl.
Fixed a bug that kept tabs from separating some fields when using Save List to File... and Save Selection to File....
Version 3.1:
There is now a preference to use a larger version of the Get Info dialog on monitors larger than 610x384.
The preferences in the Preferences dialog are now viewed by group to reduce clutter.
There is now an Exact mode for searching the contents of files during a Find. This should allow users of 2-byte scripts like Kanji to search file contents.
Fixed a bug in the Find that kept File Buddy from finding files during certain name-based finds.
All on-line help is now contained in a separate file called 'File Buddy Help' and contains more topics. File Buddy will only be able to find it if it resides in the same folder as File Buddy and the name is not changed. The helps can now be exported as SimpleText files, and there is a Go Back button.
Fixed a bug that caused a crash for some users when printing the registration form.
Added the Balloon Help for Find Resources and Find Empties dialog boxes.
A couple of minor bugs fixed.
Contrary to an earlier prediction, the PPC native version will have to wait a bit. I felt some of the bugs fixed in this version needed to be released without waiting for that. It is in the works, however.
Version history for 2.x is gone to save space.
What╒s New in 3.0:
File finding now runs in two modes: faster, and more responsive. See the Preferences topic in the on-line help for more details.
Along with the other settings saved when a Find is started, the drives being searched are now also saved, and will be marked in the drives menu when the Find window comes up again. Added an alert if you try to do a Find with no drives selected.
There is a "Don't search disks whose names start with" preference you can use to get File Buddy to ignore audio CDs.
The functionality of the Fewer/More Options button in the Find window is now available in a menu, and there is a command key for it.
There are new options in the Name and Only report/Don't report popups in the expanded Find window.
Finding is faster with some options.
The Set Date dialog can now be accessed from the Get Info dialog by simply double-clicking the date you wish to change.
You can make custom folder icons (a la Folder Icon Maker) from the Get Info dialog, and you can make a custom icon from the item's small icons.
A preference has been added that hides File Buddy's windows whenever File Buddy is in the background.
Files can now be "moved" from one disk to another. In reality they are copied, and upon being successfully copied the originals are deleted.
Another preference has been added to chose between quitting File Buddy and closing the File List window if you take any action in the File List window with the Option key down.
The file list now uses little picture buttons instead of text buttons, and there are more of them. One of them displays a popup of special actions. In version 3.0, one lets you change a group of file names (change or remove an extension, for example); and the other lets you delete resource forks.
The file list can now be navigated with arrow keys, and supports key scrolling, i.e., the list scrolls to match characters you type in.
The file list now reflects changes made to items with the Get Info dialog, and can handle most other cases of changes to its items.
Lists of duplicate files can now be generated using one of two methods, and allows substantial flexibility. See the description in the on-line help for details.
Lots of bugs have been fixed.
Registering File Buddy ╩
File Buddy is shareware. Shareware is try-before-you-buy-software. It is not use-it-as-long-as-you-like-for-free software. That kind of software is called freeware. If you like it and use it, please register as follows:
Registered Alias Director users: $20
Registered File Buddy 1.x users: $15 if registered before Oct 1, 1994. If registered after Oct 1, 1994, the upgrade is $10.
Registered File Buddy 2.x users: $5 if registered before Oct 1, 1994. If registered after Oct 1, 1994, the upgrade is free when you ask for the new code.
All others: $25
As little as these amounts seem, it really makes a difference-at least in my case-when people send it. It takes a lot of time to design, write, and debug software. It then takes even more time and some money to send out registration codes and provide technical support. And then there are taxes, but this has been so much fun, let's not get depressing.
I cannot take credit cards. I'm just a guy writing software and getting a few checks. I looked into this and it would be a big hassle for me at the present time to set myself up to accept credit cards.
CompuServe Users: File Buddy 3.x can be registered via CompuServe's SWREG using registration ID 4840 ($30). Registered users of any version prior to 3.x can use ID 4841 ($10 - the SWREG minimum).
Why $5 more?
1) Because CIS takes 15% for this service.
2) There is a delay of up to 60 days for me to get money from SWREG registrations.
The discount for Alias Director users is not available if you register via SWREG.
Site licenses are available at the following rates:
First copy: $25
Copies 2 - 4: $20 each
Copies 5 - 10: $15 each
Copies 11 - 30: $12 each
Copies 31 and above: $10 each
For example, the fee for 8 copies would be: $25 + $20x3 + $15x4 = $145
If you have a site license for a previous version of File Buddy, contact me for a site license upgrade.
Foreign Users: If you are outside the US, please send the fee in US funds. My bank has to submit foreign currency to a federal reserve bank to collect payment, which entails a delay. Foreign checks are now accepted, except those that say Eurochecks. US cash is OK by me, and uncirculated specimens of your currency are an option if I agree ahead of time.
Please do not send registered mail. The only practical difference seems to be that you have to wait until I make a trip to the post office to get it.
When you register, PLEASE let me know where you got it, more important, what version you are registering (this is on the registration form if you print it out), and that you are registering File Buddy, as I have more than one piece of software out there, and they use different registration codes. If you send me a check and all you say is "for shareware" and I can╒t figure out what you╒re registering, I'll take your name down, cash your check, and when you write me and say "Why didn't you send my File Buddy registration code?", I'll send it.
If you have an e-mail address, PLEASE include it, and write legibly. I'll e-mail your registration code to you, and it will get there much faster. While my recent printer purchase has reduced the delay with written replies, they are still done on a batch basis, so it will still take a little longer to get a response if I don't have an e-mail address for you. I can mail to CompuServe, AOL, Internet, AppleLink, eWorld, Genie, and NiftyServe addresses.
Known Problems:
Some RAMDoubler users have reported that when they create stand alone drag&drops from the Get Info dialog, the first attempt doesn't work, but the second does. Will be chasing this one at some point.
Disclaimer:
I have endeavored to make File Buddy as reliable and stable as possible. Nevertheless, it has bugs. I don't know of any, but just about every piece of software with more than 20 lines of code has bugs. I use File Buddy all the time. It works flawlessly for me and I trust it. If I become aware of any problems, I fix them. However, you--as do I--use it at your own risk.
All applications suffer limitations at the hands of the Finder when you drop files on them, and File Buddy is no different. If you drop certain items on any application, the Finder will intercede in the following ways.
If the file is an alias, the Finder will resolve the alias and the application sees only the item it pointed to, not the alias itself. Use the Get Info command in the File menu to work with aliases.
You can't drop the Trash onto an application, because the finder will tell you can't move it off the desktop.
So if you run into these, I'm sorry, but there is nothing I can do.
ÑÑ If File Buddy won't hilite when you try to drop things on it, try rebuilding the desktop. Finder does the hiliting, not File Buddy.
Please contact me if you find any bugs, unexpected behavior, or have a suggestion for a new feature except for the following:
File Buddy's Get Info is modal. This is a design decision. At some point this may change, but for now it seems the best thing to do.
While I welcome ideas, I can't use them all, or File Buddy will need over a meg of disk space, and the interface will suffer terribly. Only features which would have wide appeal can make it in.
Well, that's all for now folks. File Buddy works without a hitch for me, and I have tested version 3.4.1 extensively, but that doesn't preclude the possibility that it may have a fit on a differently configured system. PLEASE let me know if you find any bugs, so I can fix them asap. A few people have already helped me track down bugs that never showed up for me, and I appreciate that.
Hope you like it.
Acknowledgments
I want to thank the people who registered a prior version of File Buddy for their financial and moral support. Without their appreciation, File Buddy 3.x would never have been done.
Thanks to those users--too numerous to list--who reported bugs so I could fix them and you could have a better product.
Thanks to everyone on CompuServe that helped me with technical questions, now too numerous to mention. Thanks to everyone who tested some version of File Buddy to see if I had been successful in fixing a bug I couldn't reproduce.
