◊ Startup Player is a definitely cool extension that plays a sound over and over until all other extensions have loaded and the Finder comes out. The sound must be in a Finder sound file called "Startup Loop" inside the Extensions folder (or in the System folder if you’re running System 6). Since you’ll want Startup Player to start playing early in the startup process, you may add a space before the extension name. If you’re using some kind of startup manager, put Startup Player among the first extensions to load (see notes below).
◊ QuickTime 1.6.1 and 1.6.2 seemed to prevent Startup Player from playing its sound at startup, whereas later versions should work fine. You should install the latest version of QuickTime if you haven't already done so.
• Notes on the Sound Manager extension
◊ Startup Player works well with the new Sound Manager, but both the Sound Manager extension and the QuickTime 2.x extension must load before Startup Player. If you add a space before Startup Player’s name, you’ll have to add spaces before both extensions’ names as well. If you’re using a startup manager, make sure QuickTime is loaded first; the Sound Manager must follow, and Startup Player should be the last.
• Memory warning
◊ Startup Player releases all of its memory when the sound stops playing, but the sound has to stay in memory until the startup process is over. Using a very large startup sound makes your system heap grow larger (even if the memory is released and free) because other extensions usually allocate memory that can’t be moved around. Try experimenting with various sound sizes and checking the Finder’s memory window to make sure you’re not wasting memory.
◊ System 6 only: the system heap is not as smart in System 6 as it is in System 7. Startup Player may not be able to load large sounds under System 6 unless you add a specific 'sysz' resource to it (I can’t do it because I don’t know how big your startup sound will be). The 'sysz' resource should contain a 4-byte integer equal to or larger than the total size of the 'INIT' resource plus the 'snd ' resource you want to play. Don’t try to add a 'sysz' resource if you’re not a programmer, just use a smaller sound and everything will be fine. Also, don’t distribute Startup Player with a 'sysz' resource in it because the 'sysz' is size-specific and other users may end up wasting memory.
• Thanks to…
◊ Giovanni, who had the original idea and did the beta testing;
◊ Fabrizio Oddone, who thought of a smart way to stop the sound;
◊ Alberto Ricci, who helped with Sound Manager weird result codes;
◊ Valentina Pavia, who’s waiting for your postcards…
• Version history
◊ 1.0.4 - Now freeware, updated documentation and recompiled with CodeWarrior 9.
◊ 1.0.3 - Cleaned up the code.
◊ 1.02 - Recompiled with latest version of the compiler and updated documentation.
◊ 1.01 - Fixed a bug in the documentation and added an error message.
◊ All online services and bulletin boards may make it available to their users at no charge other than the normal connection fees.
◊ All non-profit user groups may distribute it at no charge.
◊ All magazines may publish it on floppy disk or CD-ROM without asking me first, as long as I get a copy of the issue containing my software.
◊ All CD-ROM shareware collections and CD-ROM magazines may include it without my prior consent, as long as I get either a copy of the CD-ROM or an offer to buy the CD-ROM at a discounted price.
◊ All redistribution companies such as Pacific HiTech, AMUG, Celestin or Educorp may distribute it, as long as I get a copy of each media containing my software and a catalog of the company’s offerings (where applicable).
◊ You may find the latest version of all my shareware and freeware programs by anonymous ftp to ftp.alpcom.it, inside the /software/mac/LMontalcini directory. The ALM Share and ALM Free packages, which contain most of my stuff and can be registered at a very low price, are also available there.
• Disclaimer
◊ This software should never cause any damage, but you’re using it at your own risk. As an independent software developer, I can make no warranties whatsoever on it.
• Have fun!
◊ And don’t forget to register your shareware, so that more cool inexpensive utilities can see the light in the future.
