Finder Extensions Enabler (formerly known as Finder Alias Extensions Enabler) is a system extension that enables a number of hidden features to the Finder:
1. If you control drag an item, it will create an alias instead of moving/copying that item (System 7.1 Pro or later).
2. Reveal Original (R) menu item is added to the File menu: if you have an alias selected and choose Reveal Original, the folder that holds the original item is opened and the original item is selected (System 7.5 or later).
3. Control delete will move the selected item to the trash (System 7.5.3 or later).
In addition, through the use of ResEdit, you can also:
4. Change the command key equivalent for Reveal Original (System 7.5 or later).
5. Disable the opening and closing zoom rectangles (System 7.5.3 or later).
6. Disable translucient dragging (System 7.5.3 or later on PowerMacs only).
Licensing
Finder Extensions Enabler is being distributed as DropMeANote-Ware. Just send me a note and tell me how you feel about this software. If you could send a picture of yourself along with the note, that would be even cooler. For site licensing or commerical distribution, please contact me, and let's make a deal! Contact information for me is near the end of this document.
Publishers of collections of shareware and freeware software on book or disk may include Finder Extensions Enabler if and only if the publisher sends me a copy of the book or disk collection at the address below, or makes other arrangements with me (I'm very reasonable).
Installation
Finder Extensions Enabler requires System 7.1 Pro or later (I've tested this version with System 7.5.3 as of the time of this release, and the first version, which was known as Finder Alias Extensions Enabler 1.0.0, with both 7.5.1 and 7.5.5) to do anything useful at all.
If you used the first version of this extension known as Finder Alias Extensions Enabler you need to remove it from your Extensions folder first.
To install, just drop Finder Extensions Enabler in your Extensions folder and reboot.
Holding the shift key down while Finder Extensions Enabler is loading will disable the extension.
There is balloon help, in case you forget what Finder Extensions Enabler does.
Hackers
This extension will set any arbitrary Gestalt selector/value pair (although the corresponding 'TMPL' resource is set up specifically for the hidden Finder features); just add another 'Gslt' resource, the format of which is a list of (literal longint) selector / (longint) value pairs.
How can I enable/disable a specific feature via ResEdit?
1. Make sure you have a backup of "Finder Extensions Enabler".
2. ResEdit "Finder Extensions Enabler".
3. If the dialog "The resources in file “Finder Extensions Enabler” are locked. Changes will not be saved." appears, then:
3a. Choose "Get Info for Finder Extensions Enabler" from the File menu.
3b. Uncheck the "Resources locked" checkbox.
3c. Close the window, and confirm that you wish to save the changes.
4. Modify the 'Gslt' 128 "Finder" resource.
5. To turn off/on a feature, choose '0'/'1' for the corresponding bit. The bits (if they are set to '1') defined as of System 7.5.3 are:
disable zoom rects
command delete move to trash
Reveal Original menu item
control drag aliases
disable translucient dragging
6. If you wish to modify the Balloon Help text, it can be found in the 'STR ' 128 "Balloon Help" resource.
7. Close ResEdit, saving all changes to "Finder Extensions Enabler".
8. Reboot.
How can I change the command key equivalent for Reveal Original via ResEdit?
The relevant resource is 'fdmn' 5004 in the Finder itself (System 7.5 or later). The command key is stored at offset $C. If you want to change it via ResEdit:
1. Duplicate both the Finder (found in the System Folder) and the Finder Preferences (found in the Preferences folder of the System Folder) files.
2. ResEdit "Finder copy" and "Finder Preferences copy".
3. Copy resource 'fdmn' 5004 from "Finder copy" and paste it into "Finder Preferences copy".
4. Modify resource 'fdmn' 5004 in "Finder Preferences copy".
5. Go to offset $C.
6. Change the 1-byte ASCII equivalent from $52 ('R') to the command key you wish to use for Reveal Original. Make sure it doesn't conflict with other command key equivalents in the Finder.
7. Close ResEdit, saving all changes to "Finder Preferences copy" (there should be no changes to "Finder copy").
8. Drag "Finder copy" and "Finder Preferences" (not "Finder Preferences copy") to the Trash.
9. Rename Finder Preferences copy to Finder Preferences, and place it in the Preferences folder of your System Folder.
10. Reboot. If all is well, then empty the Trash.
Release Notes
1.1.0 March 12th, 1996
Renamed the extension to Finder Extensions Enabler.
Added 'fndµ' selector to 'Gslt' resource (all the other bits are in the 'fnd≈' selector), to support disabling translucient dragging on PowerMacs under System 7.5.3 or later.
Enabled command delete for moving selection to trash under System 7.5.3 or later.
Added 'TMPL' support for disabling zoom rectangles under System 7.5.3 or later.
Added documentation and 'TMPL' support for enabling/disabling any of the features via ResEdit.
1.0.1d0 January 17th, 1996
Added documentation for changing the command key equivalent for Reveal Original.
1.0.0 January 11th, 1996
First released, under the name Finder Alias Extensions Enabler.
Credits
I was skimming the Gestalt selectors list, and I came across these two hidden features of the Finder. I grabbed ControlDragEnabler from the info-mac archives, but that only implemented control dragging. After hacking it to enable both features, I decided that I wanted to implement it in a cleaner way. I wrote this extension in under an hour, complete with a resource ('Gslt') for the Gestalt selector/value pairs so that it can be modified trivially with ResEdit, in case Apple decides to add more hidden features in the future. I've been a bit under the weather lately, so I polished it up and released it to the world.
I would like to especially thank the following people: Rene G.A. Ros, for maintaining the Gestalt selectors list, which is where I first discovered these hidden features; Leonard Rosenthol and Anthonis DeRobertis for discovering the control dragging; Marco Piovanelli for discovering Reveal Original; Mark Bizer for finding the System 7.5.3 hidden Finder features; Jim Luther and Eric Slosser on the SmartFriends™ Network who pointed out GestaltValue calls to me; and of course the Finder team at Apple for implementing these wonderful features. Thanks, y'all!
About the Author
Who am I? Well, I like to tell people that I am an International Secret Agent and Swashbuckling Hero Extraordinaire, cleverly disguised as a computer science graduate student at the University of Arizona in Tucson (please don't blow my cover). In former times, I have been a Blue Meanie and a Speech Recognition Guy at Apple Computer, Inc., as well as a Phone Cop at AT&T Bell Laboratories. If you wish to reach me, here are my URLs:
mailto://nevin@CS.Arizona.EDU
usps://USA/AZ/Tucson/#1007/405 East Prince Road/85705-6154/Nevin “:-)” Liber
phone://011-01/1-520/293/2799
or, in case your Internet helpers don't support those:
This is a legal agreement between you and Nevin J. Liber covering your use of Finder Extensions Enabler. Be sure to read the following agreement before using the software. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, DO NOT USE THE SOFTWARE AND DESTROY ALL COPIES OF IT.
The software is owned by Nevin J. Liber and is protected by United States copyright laws and international treaty provisions. Therefore, you must treat the software like any other copyrighted material (e.g. a book or musical recording).
Commercial distribution of the software is restricted without permission of Nevin Liber. I am more than happy to allow you to distribute my software, but you must first have a license to do so. Contact Nevin Liber for details on obtaining a license.
You may not rent or lease the software, nor may you modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the software. If you violate any part of this agreement, your right to use this software terminates automatically and you then destroy all copies of this software in your possession.
The software and related documentation are provided “AS IS” and without warranty of any kind and Nevin Liber expressly disclaims all other warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Under no circumstances shall Nevin Liber be liable for any incidental, special or consequential damages that result from the use or inability to use the software or related documentation, even if Nevin Liber has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
All trademarks are held by their respective owners.
This software is not designed or intended for use or resale as on-line control equipment in hazardous environments requiring fail-safe performance, such as in the operation of nuclear facilities, aircraft navigation or communication systems, air traffic control, direct life support machines or weapons systems in which the failure of the software could lead directly to death, personal injury, or severe physical or environmental damage ("high risk activities"). Nevin “:-)” Liber & Sector Scan Software specifically disclaims any express or implied warranty or fitness for high risk activities.
If I had lawyers, they would probably be happy. On second thought, I doubt it; generally lawyers are never happy unless they are in a lawsuit.
