Dockernaut is shareware. It is not to be sold or distributed for profit (above any standard on-line service costs) without my expressed written permission. I.e.: Compuserve, AOL, etc., are OK. Educorp is not! Dockernaut may only be distributed with the accompanying documentation intact.
Try it out for a few weeks, if you like it and continue to use it, please register by sending $15 US to:
Steve Martin
6632 Warm Breeze Lane
Dallas, TX 75248-5021
Thank you.
Dockernaut has extensive balloon help. Please use to learn about its features.
DESCRIPTION
Dockernaut allows you to have different sets of application preferences for each dock that you use with your Duo. Other PowerBook users can have different sets when they use a different sized main monitor.
As a simple example, let's look at the location of the Trash icon in the Finder. Some people like to move the Trash icon to the very bottom right corner of the screen (or some other non-standard location). If you do this on a 640x400 display and then later use a 640x480 monitor, the Trash icon will no longer be in the bottom right corner, it will be an inch or two up from the bottom, since the Finder remembers where you put it. The Finder like many applications and extensions has a preference file where it stores options set by the user. The location of the Trash icon is one of the options stored in that file. Preference files are usually stored in a folder called "Preferences" inside the System Folder. If you look there, sure enough, you will find a file called "Finder Preferences".
This is where the magic of Dockernaut comes in. If you configure Dockernaut to manage the "Finder Preferences" file, it will keep two copies of that file, one for your 640x480 monitor and one for the 640x400 display. At startup, Dockernaut will look at the size of the screen and determine which "Finder Preferences" file to use. Once you place the Trash icon while using each sized monitor, the icon will stay where you wanted it when you switch back and forth.
Look in the Sample Dockernaut Uses section for a list of other preference files that people have used Dockernaut with to get some ideas.
Dockernaut has a number of secondary features that you can configure from within the control panel which will now be explained.
"Switch Colors in Dock"
When I first got my Duo 230, I also got a Duo Dock and added an E-Machines Futura MX card to drive a 16 inch monitor. I soon noticed that when I used my Duo away from the dock, the graphics card would forget the number of colors that I had configured it to display. Every time I came back, it would boot in black and white! Now of course I could fix it by opening the Monitors control panel but who wants to watch all of their extension icons load in black and white and then have to change the monitors control panel after startup. Not me!
If you check this box, Dockernaut will attempt to switch the main monitor to the specified number of colors when it loads at startup time. I say attempt because if you have it set to "Millions" of colors and the main monitor only supports 256 colors, it will switch to 256 colors.
"Type Set Key"
This is a very powerful feature that lets Dockernaut control popular extension managers like Conflict Catcher II and Now Startup Manager (part of Now Utilities). These extension managers allow you to create different sets of extensions and control which set gets loaded at startup time by holding down a key.
If you check this box, Dockernaut will hold down a key for you when you switch docks. You can therefore create a set of extensions to load for each dock and have Dockernaut automatically select the right one at startup time.
In order for this feature to work, you must have the Dockernaut Extension load before the extension manager. For this reason, Dockernaut Extension has two spaces before its name. You may have to edit its name or the name of your extension manger to make sure that Dockernaut Extension loads first.
"Every Startup"
This is a sub-function of Type Set Key that works around a quirk in Now Startup Manager 4.0.2. In the past (and still, with Conflict Catcher II) if you changed extension sets by holding down a key at startup, that set would remain in effect until you changed sets again. With Now Startup Manager 4.0.2, however, the set is only in effect for that one startup. The previous default set will load when you Restart.
If you check the "Every Startup" box, Dockernaut will type the set key at every startup instead of just when you switch docks.
The File List
Dockernaut displays a list of the files that you have chosen for it to manage. You can add to this list with the "Add..." button. This will present you with a standard file dialog so that you can select a preference file for Dockernaut to manage. By default, the Preferences folder will be visible since it makes most sense to add preference files to the list. You can remove files from the list by selecting them and clicking on the "Remove" button.
Current Dock Information
The upper right quadrant of the Dockernaut control panel displays information about the currently attached dock (if there is one). This information is displayed as defined in Apple's documentation but does not seem to be correct for some docks. Do not be concerned. This display is just for informational purposes. Use balloon help to get descriptions of the individual elements.
Sets
The lower right quadrant displays information about each set that Dockernaut has created and allows you to configure Dockernaut by telling it what information to use to create different sets. Again, use balloon help to get information about the individual dock attributes.
When you open the Dockernaut control panel, it will display the set that was made active at startup. The size of the main monitor is displayed, along with various dock attributes and what kind of power (battery or A/C) your Macintosh was running on.
You may look through the other sets that were created and delete those for docks or monitors that you no longer use. Deleting a set also deletes all the extra copies of the preference files that Dockernaut has created.
You can also change the set key (see "Type Set Key" above) for each set. Click the "Change Key..." button and when presented with the dialog, type the key that you want Dockernaut to type when it switches to that set.
Depending on how you use your Macintosh, you can control how Dockernaut determines it should create a new set. If you are only customizing preferences for things like the Trash icon placement or desktop background pictures (using Fun Pictures, for example), you may only want sets for different sized monitors. There would be no reason to have a set for a Floppy Adapter, a set for a SCSI MicroDock, and a set for no dock. You would only want different sets for 1024x768, 640x480, and 640x400 monitors.
"Use Screen Size" (checked by default)
If checked, Dockernaut will create a set for every monitor size that you use.
"Use Dock Attributes" (checked by default)
If checked, Dockernaut will create a set for every dock that you use.
"Use Power" (not checked by default).
If checked, Dockernaut will create a sets for battery and A/C power.
Lets walk through an example or two to see how this works. We will use a Duo 270c which can have two screen sizes (640x480 and 640x400) and a SCSI MicroDock. Here are examples of the sets that would be created depending on the settings of the various "Use" checkboxes.
All three checked
8 sets
640x480 undocked battery, 640x480 undocked A/C
640x480 docked battery, 640x480 docked A/C
640x400 undocked battery, 640x400 undocked A/C
640x400 docked battery, 640x400 docked A/C
Use Screen Size and Use Dock Attributes checked
4 sets
640x480 docked, 640x480 undocked
640x400 docked, 640x400 docked
Use Screen Size and Use Power checked
4 sets
640x480 battery, 640x480 A/C
640x400 battery, 640x400 A/C
Use Screen Size checked
2 sets
640x480, 640x400
When a set is created, all the information (Screen Size, Dock Attributes, and Power) are collected and displayed. If you change the settings of the "Use" checkboxes after sets have been created, you will still see all the information for the sets, but only the criteria you selected will be used to choose the set.
In the preceding example if you had originally checked all three and had 8 sets get created, but then later checked only the use screen size checkbox you would still have 8 sets, but only the first 640x480 and the first 640x400 sets would get used.
SAMPLE DOCKERNAUT USES
Finder Prefs
You can have different Trash can locations. This is useful if you like to have it in the extreme bottom right corner and use monitors of different sizes.
FunPictures Prefs (FunPictures™)
When docked and using a 1024x768 color monitor you can have FunPictures choose form a collection of high resolution color pictures.
When not docked you can have it choose from a collection of smaller greyscale pictures.
MacTCP Prep
When docked use one ip address for ethernet. When not docked use another address for PPP.
Now Menus Prefs
Use Chicago 12 font for large monitors.
Use Geneva 9 font for small monitors.
Now Toolbox Prefs
Keep different sets of recently used Applications for different environments.
PBTools™
Set it to always load Appletalk then...
When docked have Appletalk turned on
When not docked have Appletalk turned off
Randomizer (After Dark™ module)
Use all those colorful screen savers that only run with 256 colors when you are docked.
Automatically use a different set with those that look good in 16 grays when you are not.
SoftPC Prefs (SoftPC™)
When using a large monitor have the SoftPC™'s window open up in its larger size.
When using a PowerBook screen have it open in the smaller size (so it fits!).
Word Settings(5) (Microsoft Word™)
When docked you have plenty of screen real estate so you have the Toolbar enabled.
When not docked you can have the Toolbar disabled.
STARTUP ICONS
There are 5 startup icons.
1 - Shows the transition from a docked to undocked state.
2 - Shows the transition from an undocked to a docked state.
3 - Shows the transition from one dock to another.
4 - Shows docked status.
5 - Shows undocked status.
TECHNICAL NOTES (How it works)
For each file in Dockernaut's list, multiple copies will be made. They will have ".1", ".2", .etc.. as many sets as get created (based on how many docks or different sized Monitors you use). If you remove a file from Dockernaut's list you may want to delete these extra preference files. If you don't, they will not cause any problems, they will just take up disk space. And they will be there if you decide to add that pref file back again later.
When Dockernaut loads at startup time, it checks to see if your configuration has changed since the last time you started up. If it has it moves the current preference files, renaming them with the postfix corresponding to the previous configuration. It then copies the preference files with the postfix corresponding to the current configuration into their normal file names. If the current configuration had not been seen by Dockernaut before, a new "set" is created and new copies of the preferences files are created for it.
KNOWN LIMITATIONS
Switching Ethertalk vs. Appletalk. Apparently some people have gotten this to work but only by using the Network control panel version 2.3.3 which ships with System 7.1 installer disks.
Dockernaut cannot control the placement of other Finder icons, only the Trash icon.
Dockernaut cannot control the default printer selection.
Dockernaut cannot control the desktop pattern (except by using Dockernaut with Fun Pictures or Wallpaper, or possibly other desktop utilities).
Dockernaut cannot tell the difference between two docks of the same model. I've heard rumors that DuoDocks may have unique identifying numbers. If someone tells me how to read them, I'll add the feature!
DISCLAIMER
I make no warrantee as to the functionality or usefulness of this program. It has been beta tested by several Duo users but may still contain bugs. Please report bugs and suggestions to any of the addresses at the end of this document.
VERSION HISTORY
1.4.2
Minor fixes: Workaround for DuoDock vs. VM bug. Fixed version resource of extension.
1.4
Changed preference file format (sorry!) You will have to add the files again and let the sets get redefined.
Added balloon help.
Separated control panel and extension so the System puts them in the right place by default.
Allow the user to use any key as a set key.
".1", ".2", etc. files no longer show up in the "Add..." dialog.
The limit of 10 sets has been removed.
Dockernaut now works correctly with virtual memory (and RAM Doubler)
The SCSI and serial port attributes were switched. This has been fixed.
A delete set button has been added.
You can now define the key that gets typed by the "Type Set Key" feature to any key you want.
1.3
Put all information in one display.
Add extension manager startup key option.
Display proper startup icon on 640x480 Duo 270c (and 180c I imagine.)
1.2.2
Fixed a bug where the file list would become corrupted if you switched to the sets screen after adding or deleting a file from the list.
Fixed a typo that caused 1.2 to crash on machines without the DockingDispatch trap.
1.2
Added descriptions of the set information fields and startup icons to the documentation.
Get dock name from dock ROM.
Added color depth choice popup menu.
Worked around an apparent bug in DockingDispatch when in a DuoDock that crashes when Virtual Memory is on. The "Use Dock Attributes" feature is effectively disabled when VM is on.
1.1
Changed to support more than 2 sets and make the set choosing criteria more straightforward.
Made the color switching better, the video card PRAM and scrn resource are now also updated so that the setting is permanent (as if you changed it with the Monitors cdev).
Added information screen and ability to change dock differentiating criteria.
Fixed a bug that could cause Super Boomerang to hang at startup.
1.0
First release
CREDIT where it is due:
ShowIcon7 was used to draw the Startup icons. The following was in the header for its source code:
This code is based on Patrick C. Beard's ShowIconFamily
by Patrick C. Beard, which in turn was derived from the
original ShowInit by Paul Mercer, Darin Adler,
Paul Snively, and Steve Capps.
Modified by James W. Walker for compatibility with IconWrap 1.2,
for use as a separate code resource, and to use the new System 7
icon-dawing routines. This code is in the public domain.
Addresses for James W. Walker: 76367,2271@compuserve.com or
