Yank searches the Preferences folder (inside the System Folder) on your startup disk, and exams each file. If a file is found that was created by an application not on the volumes you're searching, Yank assumes the file is no longer needed and moves it to the Trash. Normally this is a safe assumption, but it's always safest to have the “Ask before Trash” option set before moving any file to the Trash.
One way to verify if you have the application that created a file:
Double-click on the file. If the Finder says “could not find the application program that created the document,” that usually means you no longer have the application (or you need to rebuild your Desktop). Time to Yank the file to the Trash!
Keep these things in mind:
• You can move files from the Trash back to where they came from with the Finder's "Put Away" command:
1) Click on the files in the Trash that you want returned.
2) Select "Put Away" from the File menu (or type Command-Y).
• It is possible that a developer of an application gave the applications preference file a different creator type than the application, so Yank will think the preference file is no longer needed. However, this doesn't happen too often. For example, the application “Find File” uses one creator type for the application and another for its preference file “Find File Preferences,” so Yank will think the preference file is no longer needed, even though you have Find File on your hard disk. Normally an application will create a new preference file if it does not find one in the Preferences folder, so it's rarely harmful to delete preference files — at times it can do good, as preferences files can sometimes become corrupted.
• Only files are moved to the Trash, not folders. For example, you may have a folder called SuperAppFolder in the Preferences folder, and inside it are obsolete SuperApp files. Yank will move the SuperApp files to the Trash, but not the folder SuperAppFolder.
• It's possible that a preference file was created by an application on another unmounted volume, such as a CD, but Yank may think the file is not needed.
• Before you use this feature, it's recommended that you first rebuild the desktops on all volumes (to rebuild the desktop, restart the Mac, and hold down the option—command keys until your're asked to rebuild the desktop—click OK).
• If you use Yank, please send in the requested small fee!!
