The InformInit revision history is listed below, in reverse chronological order (most recent changes at the top). The revisions are listed by version number, and within each version by chapter name.
Unfortunately, there were just too many changes, additions, edits, corrections, etc. for a "revision history" to be feasible for version 1.3. It would have just delayed the release of v1.3 and added another 50K-100K to the size of the file. It also would have been more trouble to read than just browsing through the body of The InformInit! Basically, this was a major revision, and if you're really interested in every change, the contents are different enough to warrant a full read-through. Enjoy!
• Split the "Extensions" chapter into two chapters (each chapter can only hold 32k of data, and I ran over!)
• Split the "Third Party Inits" chapter into two separate chapters for extensions and control panels. I foresee the same problem that I had with the "Extensions" chapter (see above).
• Clarified the Foreign File Access system. Foreign File Access uses the various CD-ROM format components (Audio CD Access, High Sierra, ISO 9660) in order to allow your Mac to use these formats. Thus, you need both Foreign File Access _and_ the corresponding component in order to recognize each format. (Also added note regarding the RAM usage of FFA.)
• Changed the action you get when clicking on a title graphic. Previously, you were presented with the table of contents; now you get a "Find" dialog.
INTRO
• Added the main Apple home page and the Evangelist home page to the "Resources" section.
• (As usual) updated the "Help!" section.
• <embarrassment> I... uh... misspelled "indispensable" in the subtitle in all previous releases... </embarrassment>
7.5.3
• Added the following note regarding 7.5.3 -> Revision 2 vs. 7.5.3 -> Update 2.0 -> Revison 2: On that same note, there was an updated Open Transport DRVR resource that was added in System 7.5 Update 2.0. Apple forgot to include this resource in 7.5.3 Revision 2, so if you do not use Update 2.0 first, you will not have the latest Open Transport drivers.
• NOTE: if you go to "About this Macintosh..." under the Apple menu, and it says that you have "System Software 7.5.3 Updated to Revision 2," the version of 7.5.3 you have pre-installed on your compter is already updated to the latest version.
GROUPS
• GEOPORT/EXRESS MODEM & APPLE TELECOM APPLICATIONS: revised section to reflect Apple Telecom 3.0. Added problem with AppleTalk and Apple Telecom software.
• QuickDraw 3D Viewer: (document) provides the viewing system for QD3D applications. This includes the standard icons for switching between rotation, translation, etc. Also contains the code for the graphics interface which permits viewing 3DMF objects. For example, SimpleText uses this interface when loading a 3DMF object.
• QuickDraw 3D Accelerator: (document) contains PowerPC-native patches to the basic extension. NOTE: this file is supposedly only installed on systems where the installer detects a hardware accelerator card.
• SPEECH/PLAINTALK: NOTE: The Speech software can cause a Mac Plus (which does not support speech) to hang during startup. To avoid this problem, restart with extensions off, remove the Speech software, and restart.
• Speech Recognition (v1.5) [45/52]: enables speech recognition. Version 1.4.1 is installed with the latest PlainTalk installer. Version 1.5 fixes bugs with PowerPC PowerBooks using the built-in microphone, fixes a bug with PowerPC Performa models where sound output would be muted, and includes other minor fixes. It is available from the following URL as part of a special "full" install, or by itself:
<http://speech.apple.com/speech/ptk/ptk.html>
NON-RAM
• AppleScriptLib (v1.2.2): Version 1.1 is installed by the latest system software; version 1.2.2 is installed by Apple Telecom 3.0.
• Object Support Lib: noted that v1.0.2 is installed by the latest 7.5.3 installer, but v1.1 is available by installing newer versions of Netscape.
• LaserWriter 8.4: the installer will not function unless the "Finder Help" extension is installed. If you are missing this file, it can be found on Disk 2 of the LaserWriter 8.4 installation. Drag it to the Extensions Folder and then install again. On a separate note, if you are using Open Transport, in order to print to a LaserWriter you need the Shared Library Managager, Shared Library Manager PPC (if you are on a PowerMac), and the appropriate Open Transport and Open Transport AppleTalk files for your machine (see "Shared Libraries" and "Documents" above).
• AppleTalk-DECnet Tool: used to communicate with servers running the VMS operating system from Digital (also known as VAX/VMS or Alpha/VMS). DECnet is a network protocol used by VMS to copy files, establish terminal sessions, etc. with VMS servers (similar to TCP/IP in the Unix/Internet world). There are a few rare emulators which use this file. If you are using one of them, you'll know. Most people nowadays use TCP/IP to communicate with VAX machines.
• AppleTalk-LAT Tool: used to communicate with servers running the VMS operating system from Digital (also known as VAX/VMS or Alpha/VMS). LAT (Local Area Transport) is a non-routed network protocol used by VMS. It is used only to establish terminal sessions with VMS servers. There are a few rare emulators which use this file. If you are using one of them, you'll know. Most people nowadays use TCP/IP to communicate with VAX machines.
• Clarified the language for Open Transport shared libraries and components.
• OTGlobalLib: actually not a separate file, but part of the OpenTransportLib file. If OpenTransportLib or OpenTransportLibrary are not installed and you try to open the AppleTalk control panel, you may get an error message that OTGlobalLib could not be found.
• SNMP Macintosh Agent, SNMP MacTCP Agent, SNMP Manager, SNMP TCP/IP Transport (all v1.0.2): these files, along with the MacSNMP Client, were installed for SNMP support by the MacTCP 2.0.2 Installer. They are no longer needed if you have the latest version of MacTCP (2.0.6).
• PSPrinter (8.2.1): Also supports Apple-branded printers. In addition to the standard laser printer features, it also provides "virtual printer" support, allowing you to print to a PS file without having a printer connected.
• ColorSyncLib 68k (v2.0.1): Code Fragment Manager file for the Color Sync software included with the LaserWriter 8.4 installation on 680x0 Macs.
• NuQuickTimeLib.slb (v2.0.1): Code Fragment Manager file for the LaserWriter 8.4 installation on 680x0 Macs.
• NuThreadsLib.slb (v2.0.1): Code Fragment Manager file for the LaserWriter 8.4 installation on 680x0 Macs.
• QuickTimeLib: actually not a separate file, but a shared library which is incorporated into the QuickTime PowerPlug extension. Some applications, such as Graphic Converter, will display an error such as "Can't find QuickTimeLib" if QuickTime PowerPlug is not installed.
CONTROL PANELS
• Added the REMOVABLE designation to: Cache Switch, Memory, Monitors, Sound, Startup Disk, QuickTime Settings.
• Edited the "Energy Saving" control panels: Auto Power On/Off, CPU Energy Saver, Energy Saver 1.0, Energy Saver 2.0 and Screen.
• Added QuickTime Settings control panel.
• Views: This control panel includes a pop-up menu of all your fonts. If you have a corrupted font, it may prevent the control panel from opening or it may possibly freeze up your system. On that same note, if you have a lot of fonts installed, it can take as long as a few minutes for this control panel to load.
• Scrolling (v7.0.1)[1/0]: allows you to set the maximum window scrolling speed. Allows you to customize the time it takes to reach that maximum speed. Provides the option of "live" scrolling in windows (both in the Finder and within applications). NOTE: holding down the Option key temporarily restores the standard scrolling behavior. According to the author, Ken McLeod, an employee at Apple, he originally tried to get this control panel included as part of System 7.0.1 (hence the version number), but the "Blue Meanies" at Apple thought that "its functionality was 'too esoteric' and that it would confuse people." It is now available for free from the Info-Mac archives.
• •••AutoRemounter (v7.5.3): Allows remounting of volumes after waking from sleep. Turns off "losing network services" alert that shows up when your PowerBook goes to sleep. An Apple TechNote states that this control panel does not work with the PowerBook 100, 140, 145, 145B, and 170, but readers have noted that it works fine on some of these. The same TechNote (and others) state that this control panel is only for use on PowerBooks. However, a number of people have claimed that it works fine on their desktop Macs to remount shared disks instead of using the AppleShare "mount on startup" option.
EXTENSIONS
• Apple Share: updated to v3.6.2, available through the AppleShare Workstation software installer on Apple's FTP servers. Note that this installer incorrectly sets the bundle bit for AppleShare 3.6.2 to "off." While this is not a major problem, if you run Norton Disk Doctor, you will be alerted to it and should choose to fix it.
• Updated QuickTime, QuickTime PowerPlug, and QuickTime Musical Instruments to version 2.5. Added note about QuickTime Musical Instruments being changed from a component to an extension.
• QuickTime PowerPlug: The shared library QuickTimeLib is a part of this extension. On a PowerMac, some applications, such as Graphic Converter, will display an error such as "Can't find QuickTimeLib" if QuickTime PowerPlug is not installed.
• Sound Manager: updated to v3.2.1
• Finder Help: for some reason, the Laser Writer 8.4 installer won't work unless this extension is installed
•Video Startup: "If you are going to install System 7.5 Update 2.0, first check the version number of both Video Startup and the Apple Video Player. During the installation, you may get a message that says something like "a newer version is already installed." However, chances are it really isn't, and you do need to install. If you did already have 1.4 installed, leave it. If you have a version prior to 1.4, ignore the installer's warning and install the "older" version. This is a bug in the 7.5 Update 2.0 installer. You should end up with v1.4. If not, you should go back and do a custom install of only the Apple Video Player software."
• Additional info added to Apple Built-In Ethernet and Ethernet (Built-In) regarding differences and similarities.
• QuickTime PowerPC: apparently the precursor to QuickTime PowerPlug, provides PPC-native support for QuickTime. Will not work with QT PowerPlug; in fact, it will prevent QT PowerPlug from being loaded at startup.
• Installer Cleanup: you will most likely see this extension immediately after installing new Apple software. The Apple software installer often places this temporary extension in your system folder to make sure that the installation process was successful and that everything was installed in the proper place. It loads during the restart immediately following installation, and should then disappear on its own. However, some startup managers will not allow the Installer Cleanup extension to do its thing. You should make sure that if you install Apple software and the Installer Cleanup extension is "installed," that you allow it to load at the very next startup. It should disappear. On the other hand, sometimes it doesn't disappear no matter what you do. If you still have this extension after several restarts, or if you just find it sitting there, and everything seems to be working fine, you should be able to trash it.
• Find File Extension: For some strange reason it also disables the alert box which says that the functionality of "Find File" is limited when the Finder Scripting Extension is not installed.
• TrueType: needed by System 6.0.7 and all subsequent versions of System 6 to print TrueType fonts, as well as to display them on screen.
• Moved ~QuickTime Virtual Memory to the "Third-Party" chapter.
• Sound Input Amplification: adds the "microphone amplification" option to the Sound control panel. Some microphones, such as the Apple PlainTalk microphone, produce a "line-level" signal which does not need amplification to be properly received by your computer's sound hardware. However, other microphones produce a "mic-level" signal which needs to be amplified. If you are using a microphone which produces a mic-level signal, you will need to turn microphone amplification ON.
• Color SW 2000 Series CMM (v1.0): NOTE: If you have a 68000 Mac, this extension will not allow it to start up. You should start up with extensions off, remove this file, then restart.
• CFM-68K Runtime Enabler (v1.0.4) [72/544]: allows limited "code fragment manager" functionality on 680x0 Macs. This extension is necessary to use the Desktop Printer 2.0 software on 68k Macs. Installed as part of the LaserWriter 8.4 and Desktop Printer 2.0 installations.
• Slow SCSI Extension: addresses a potential conflict between PowerBook 5300 series computers and slow SCSI devices (such as single-speed CD-ROM drives, Zip drives, and other PowerBooks in SCSI disk mode). Not all PowerBooks will experience this problem and even PowerBooks that do will not necessarily experience it on a consistent basis (even with different units of the same make and model). NOTE: You should only install this extension if you are experiencing constant freezes or crashes when transfering files with a particular slow SCSI device, since installing this extension will impact performance with ALL SCSI devices by 10 to 50 percent! You can use a startup manager to disable the extension when not needed.
THIRD-PARTY INITS
MANY new additions and corrections (too numerous to list). Be sure you take a look at the whole chapter!
MISCELLANEOUS SYSTEM FOLDER CONTENTS
• System 7.5 Update: on all computers capable of running system software 7.5 and/or 7.5.1 and requiring a System Enabler, this file replaces the System Enabler. However, computers that did not previously need an Enabler to work with 7.5 and 7.5.1 still need "System 7.5 Update," since it contains most of the fixes contained in the update to System 7.5.3.
• System 7.5.2 Update: replaces the Enabler file on all computers capable of running system software 7.5.2. Also contains some of the fixes specific to computers which ran 7.5.2.
• System Enablers: On all Mac models introduced before June, 1996, the System 7.5 Update or System 7.5.2 Update acts as a universal "System 7.5.3 Enabler."
PRAM
• Substantially re-wrote introduction to PRAM.
• Changed chapter title.
• "Memory" control panel:
• 32-bit addressing: early Macs, "off"; later Macs (Quadra, etc.), "on"
• Disk Cache:
• Under 7.5.2 and earlier, 16K for every MB of physical RAM installed
• Under 7.5.3, 32K for every MB of physical RAM installed
• NOTE: the cache settings above are according to Apple; however, some people
seem to always default to 96k
• Minor editing to the "Finder Preferences" sections.
• Miscellaneous System Folder Contents: System7.5 Update: changed to read "part of System 7.5 Update 1.0. Includes numerous bug fixes and enhancements. There is some debate about whether or not this is needed after installing 7.5.3 or 7.5 Update 2.0. I was not able to find a definite answer by the time this version of The InformInit was released."
• Added "GO!" buttons: if you are running Netscape, clicking on these "buttons" will take you to the selected URL
• Added text box to the main title picture; if you click on it, a text box will appear which tells you what each icon is
• Removed PCI-specific notations. Now, items are marked by PM if they pertain ONLY to PowerMacs.
• Added chapter on PRAM
• Added chapter (still in the early stages) on miscellaneous System Folder contents
• New and improved table of contents (click on the box in the lower left corner of the document, or on the title graphic at the top of any page)
• Changed InformInit icon to avoid confusion... some people thought The InformInit was an extension itself!
• Numerous grammatical corrections/changes
• Added so many new inits that I can't remember all of them... Sorry!
INTRO
• Updated URL for Complete Conflict Compendium in "Resources" section
• Updated URL for Mac Resource Page in "Resources" section
• Updated "Help!" section
• Rewrote "Final Notes" paragraph and added links to Conflict Catcher, Now Utilities, and The ExAminer
7.5.3
• Updated entire page to correct Apple's initial assertion that 7.5.3 with Revision 2 is identical to 7.5.3 with Update 2.0 and Revision 2. It isn't!
• Slightly modified technicality in description of "Non-RAM" section
• Added section on Modem files
• LibMoto: added conflict with Geoport Modem software
• Corrected MAJOR typo regarding Open Transport "Lib" and "Library" files ("Lib" files are PPC-native, "Library" files are 680x0 emulation)
• Open Transport "Internet" files: removed part about using MacTCP; added part about only needed if you are using TCP/IP connections
• Added "Printing Lib"
• Open Transport "Library" files: added part about them being necessary on PowerMacs
CONTROL PANELS
• Clarified "REMOVABLE" label
• Map: changed note regarding Eudora. Eudora only needs this control panel if your Date & Time control panel is older and doesn't have "Time Zone" settings.
• Control Strip: added note about problems with screen savers
• Monitors & Sound: only installed on AV Macs
• PowerBook: updated
• Date & Time: latest version is 7.5
• MacTCP DNR: even though it's not a control panel, and it's not even in the control panels folder, many people have been confused about this file. I added a summary about it here because it claims to be a control panel.
EXTENSIONS
• 7200 Graphics Acceleration: added links to related resources
• Scanner: updated to read "used by 'Apple-Compatible' scanners"
• Assistant Toolbox: updated description
• Apple Event Manager: removed PowerPoint related crash (PowerPoint works fine without this installed)
• AV Serial Extension: note regarding some ambiguity as to what computers this is for
• Clipping Extension: updated
• EtherTalk Prep and EtherTalk Phase 2: updated
• QuickTime: 2.5 is in public beta
• Deleted SoundManager 3.0 (3.2 is latest "official" version and incorporated into the system software; 3.2.1 is available as part of some developer/beta releases)
• AppleShare 3.6.x patch from Connectix is no longer needed under 7.5.3 Revision 2
• Added URL's for Connectix under AppleShare
• Foreign File Access: updated
• Made clear the fact the both the Shared Library Manager and the Shared Library Manager PPC are needed on PowerMacs. 680x0 users only need the former
• Added Apple Ethernet CS, NB, and LC
• Added Color SW 200 Series CMM
• Added Text Preview
• Added Shared Code Manager
• Added Shared Code folder
• Added Hardware System Update versions 1.0 and 2.0
THIRD-PARTY INITS
• Added numerous new inits
• Added brief descriptions to some items
• Suitcase Extension: updated version to 3.0.1
• Speed Doubler: updated version to 1.3
• ~Aaron: update version to 1.4.1
• Microsoft Office Manager Patch: updated
• Added short summary of "minimum setup" for Microsoft Office
MODERN MEMORY MANAGER
• Added info
REGISTRATION INFO
• Finalized registration payment amounts and procedures (see the accompanying ReadMe file)
