AutoLock™ Documentation (Version 1.1.0, February 1992)
Introduction:
AutoLock™ is a small application intended to alleviate some problems associated with running children’s applications (games, etc.) under the System 7 Finder™. AutoLock can salvage many old (but good!) games that are virtually impossible to use under System 7.
Many existing children’s applications were designed to run under Finder, rather than under MultiFinder®. As most parents already know, running these programs under MultiFinder allows a child to accidentally send the application into the background, usually by inadvertently clicking the mouse outside of the application window. In the old days, this problem could be avoided by moving the system back to Finder mode. For users of System 7, however, this alternative is no longer available, since the system runs in a permanent MultiFinder-type mode.
AutoLock solves this problem, by terminating the Finder and locking a single application into the foreground.
AutoLock is intended for use only with System 7, and should work on any Macintosh computer operating under System 7. AutoLock is 32-bit compatible, requires approximately 15K of disk space, and uses a whopping 40K of RAM in order to run under System 7!
AutoLock includes a small extension, LockSmith™ which can be used to create AutoLock aliases that launch and automatically lock applications. Using an AutoLock alias, launching and automatically locking an application is as easy as conventional launching.
Changes from version 1.0:
AutoLock™ 1.1 uses a standard menu-driven Macintosh® interface and now includes the features of LockSmith™ as an integral part of the application. LockSmith 1.1 is a standalone application supporting the LockSmith features. It may be used for convenient drag-and-drop creation of AutoLock aliases.
AutoLock now supports launching and automatically locking ordinary documents, in addition to applications. If an ordinary document is launched then AutoLock will automatically launch and lock its creator (assuming that the creator is accessible on a mounted volume) and request that the creator open the selected document. As a result, it is now possible to launch and lock HyperCard stacks using AutoLock.
Similarly, LockSmith now supports the creation of AutoLock aliases for ordinary documents, in addition to applications.
LockSmith now copies custom icons onto AutoLock aliases, automatically.
Using AutoLock:
There are three basic ways to use AutoLock: launching an application from within AutoLock, dragging an application onto the AutoLock icon, or opening an AutoLock alias created by LockSmith.
AutoLock will only launch and lock a document when there are no applications or desk accessories running. When AutoLock is executed, it launches the selected document, terminates the Finder, and locks the launched application into the foreground. When the locked application is quit, AutoLock automatically terminates itself, and restores the Finder.
To launch a document from within AutoLock:
1. Launch AutoLock.
2. Select "Launch and Lock..." from the "File" menu.
3. Use the dialog box to select a document to be launched and locked. (You may find it convenient to place AutoLock in a folder along with your children's games. This will make launching from the dialog box easier.)
4. The selected document will be launched, and locked into the foreground.
To launch a document by dragging it onto the AutoLock icon:
1. Drag the document's icon onto the AutoLock icon.
2. The document will be launched, and locked into the foreground.
To launch a document using an AutoLock alias:
1. Double-click the AutoLock alias (or drag its icon onto the AutoLock application icon).
2. The document will be launched, and locked into the foreground.
Creating an AutoLock document using LockSmith:
If you wish to automatically lock a document when it is launched, then you can use LockSmith to create an AutoLock alias for the document.
To create an AutoLock alias using LockSmith:
1. Launch LockSmith.
2. Select "Make Alias..." from the "File" menu.
3. Select a target application (the one to be locked when launched) using the dialog box.
4. Specify a name for the AutoLock document (it can be any name you choose, and may be placed into any folder or disk) using the dialog box.
The "Make Alias..." command may also be found in the "LockSmith™" menu of AutoLock.
LockSmith creates an AutoLock alias that contains an alias to the target application specified. The alias is created using the same Alias Manager used by the Finder. The aliases are, therefore, reasonably robust. (That is, they can withstand many changes to the target application, including name changes and movement within a disk.) Some changes (like moving the target application to another disk) may not be properly followed by the alias, however, and may render the AutoLock alias useless (just like any Finder alias).
LockSmith automatically copies the target document's icon (if it can be found) into the AutoLock alias, as a custom icon. If the target document uses one of the Finder's default icons, then the AutoLock alias will use the default AutoLock alias icon.
When an AutoLock alias is opened (double-clicked), AutoLock is automatically launched, and the target document is launched and locked. The target document may always be launched, without being locked, at any time, simply by opening the target document in a conventional manner (double-clicking its icon, for example).
LockSmith (the standalone application) also supports convenient drag-and-drop creation of AutoLock aliases. Dragging a document (or documents) to the LockSmith icon will result in the automatic creation of an AutoLock alias (or aliases). The alias will be named by appending " AutoLock" to the name of the target document and the alias will be placed onto the Desktop.
LockSmith is 32-bit compatible and requires approximately 10K of disk space and 40K of RAM.
Important Notes:
If you used a previous version of AutoLock and LockSmith, then you will probably need to rebuild your Desktop Database for the system to properly recognize the new versions.
AutoLock does not lock out the operating system (or extensions), and does not prevent applications from being launched, after an application is locked (if you have installed an extension that allows such launching). No launching will be possible via the Finder (which is not running) or via the Apple Menu.
Should the locked application be sent into the background (for example, by selecting the "Hide" command from the application menu), AutoLock will automatically return the locked application to the foreground.
LockSmith will not create an AutoLock alias for AutoLock™ or any AutoLock alias. LockSmith will not replace any existing file when used for automatic (drag-and-drop) AutoLock alias creation.
An AutoLock alias for certain old applications may not properly display its icon. This is probably the result of a strange icon mask. The Finder seems to tolerate, and fix, these oddities, automatically, but AutoLock does not. If you have such a problem, then simply use the Finder's "Get Info" window to manually copy the icon onto the AutoLock alias. The icon should, then, display properly. (So far, StuntCopter provides the only known example of this problem.)
AutoLock Demo:
AutoLock Demo is a shareware demonstration version of AutoLock. AutoLock Demo functions in exactly the same manner as AutoLock, except that:
1. AutoLock Demo displays a registration reminder every time it is launched, and
2. AutoLock Demo may only be executed once per computer session. That is, you may launch and lock an application using AutoLock Demo only once after booting up your machine. After that, you will not be able to use AutoLock Demo again until after you restart your machine.
AutoLock Usage Rules:
AutoLock™, AutoLock™ Demo and LockSmith™ are all copyrighted software to which J. S. Greenfield and Singular Systems, inc. retain all rights. (AutoLock™, AutoLock™ Demo, and LockSmith™ were written using THINK Pascal 4.0. Therefore, some portions may be copyrighted by Symantec Corporation.) You may not modify AutoLock™, AutoLock™ Demo, or LockSmith™ in any manner, without the prior written consent of J. S. Greenfield.
AutoLock™ Demo is shareware. You may freely copy and distribute AutoLock™ Demo, provided that this documentation is included in any distribution package. You may not charge any fee for the use, copying, or distribution of this product, without the prior written consent of J. S. Greenfield. This product may not be bundled with any commercial or shareware packages, without the prior written consent of J. S. Greenfield.
Non-profit user groups are, hereby, given permission to charge nominal fees in distributing this product, only in order to cover actual media costs.
You may use AutoLock™ Demo without charge for a fifteen (15) day trial period. After that period you must either register your copy, or discontinue use of the product and delete all copies from your system. You may not continue to use this demonstration program after that period, without registering your copy.
The registration fee for AutoLock™ is eight dollars ($8). Upon registration, you will be provided a disk containing the complete AutoLock™ package, including the complete version of AutoLock™. Registration licenses AutoLock™ for use on a single computer at any one time.
Registered users of AutoLock will be entitled to use future updates of this product free of any additional licensing fee.
LockSmith™ is a freeware extension for AutoLock™.
Important Usage Notes:
Upon registration and receipt of your copy of AutoLock™, you should delete the AutoLock™ Demo from your system, in order to prevent the Finder from launching the demonstration version when you open AutoLock™ documents.
The commercial (complete) version of AutoLock™ may not be distributed in any manner. Copies of AutoLock™ may be made only for the convenience of a legally registered user. Please contact J. S. Greenfield at the address given below if you find an illegally distributed copy of the commercial version of AutoLock™.
Registration and contact information:
You may register AutoLock™ Demo and receive a disk containing AutoLock™ by sending a check or money order, along with a return address, to:
J. S. Greenfield
Singular Systems, inc.
362 Taft Ave. #27
Syracuse, New York 13206.
Make checks and money orders payable to J. S. Greenfield.
Please write "AutoLock™" in the memo portion of your check.
J. S. Greenfield may also be reached via internet, at
greeny@top.cis.syr.edu
Send all comments, bug reports, and suggestions to one of the above addresses.
Disclaimer:
AutoLock™, AutoLock™ Demo, and LockSmith™ are provided as is. Singular Systems, inc. and J. S. Greenfield hereby disclaim all warranties relating to these software products, whether express or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Neither Singular Systems, inc. nor J. S. Greenfield will be liable for any special, incidental, consequential, indirect or similar damages due to the use of this product. The individual using the software bears all risk as to the quality and performance of the software.
Macintosh, Finder, and MultiFinder are all trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
