You may use and distribute Flipper FKEY at no charge, but you may not sell it or collect money for its distribution. Anyone wishing to distribute it along with any commercial software or include it in any public domain or shareware library may do so only with the express written consent of Chally Micro Solutions.
Chally Micro Solutions makes no warranties, either express or implied regarding the enclosed software package, its effectiveness or usefulness. Chally Micro Solutions releases itself from liability for any damages resulting from the use or abuse of the Flipper FKEY, and such liability rests entirely on the user. This disclaimer shall also be construed to release IDesign from any liabilities.
• The purpose of Flipper FKEY
If you use the Flexware® report interpreter and write your own custom reports, you may have already found out that you must convert a report file’s type to “Text” in order to edit it using a text editor. In order to use it with the report interpreter, you must change its type back to “FLWR”.
The Flipper FKEY was written so you can change the type of a Flexware® report file from “TEXT” to “FLWR” and back without mucking around in a special-purpose application program or a fInfo editor to do so--and thus, save a lot of time.
But that’s not all it’s good for! The Flipper FKEY has proven so useful that I decided to make it open to more file types...so it has been expanded to fit a “generic” need. It is now flexible enough to change a file of any file type and any creator to any other file type of any other creator—from anywhere you can press a key.
• To install Flipper FKEY
Place the “Flipper Info” file in your system folder. Paste the FKEY resource into your system file. If you already have an FKEY 0, it shouldn’t hurt to change the ID, but remember, whichever ID you choose corresponds to the key you use to activate it.
If you have Suitcase™, I'm told you can put the FKEY file into a folder named FKEYS in your system folder and Suitcase™ will allow you to load it, instead of pasting it into your system file. Read your Suitcase™ documentation for further info.
• To use Flipper FKEY
Press Cmd-Shift-0 (or other number if you changed the ID of the FKEY) and you will be greeted with an SFGetFile browser. If you did not put the “Flipper Info” file in the system folder, or if you have an old version of the “Flipper Info” file, the FKEY’s use will be very limited to changing between type “FLWR” and creator “FLFR”, and type “TEXT” and creatore “TPAS”, but not dissallowed. Be sure to kill any old versions of the FKEY and its info file you have around.
Selecting from the popup menus at the bottom of the browser will change the files you will view in the dialog. The items containing only a type will cause all files of that type (regardless of creator) to be listed when on the “from” side of the arrow, and only the type to be changed when on the “to” side, not the creator.
“Flipping” a file will change its type from the type and creator on the side the direction arrow points from to the type and creator on other side to which the direction arrow points.
The arrow between the popup menus acts much like any other Macintosh button. When you press it, the arrow is highlited. If you complete the selection, the arrow’s direction is reversed, changing the direction for the flow of type and creator conversion. In addition, pressing the left-arrow key causes it to point left, and pressing the right-arrow key causes it to point right.
Selecting “Done” dismisses the dialog and saves the current radio button positions and arrow direction.
Selecting “About…” spews the standard spooge at you.
All other items should react the way you expect them to.
If you would like to change or add to the types and creators that Flipper implements, you may do that by changing STR# resource number 1 (one) in the “Flipper Info” file. Of course, do this to a copy of the file and leave any versions you distribute unchanged. It is very important that you add strings in the format “TTTT,sCCCC” where “T” is a character element of the type , “C” is a character element of the creator, and “s” is a space (or really, any character, as long as it’s there ). If you do not, Flipper FKEY will misinterpret your string.
In order to make Flipper change the type, but not change the creator, a string can be specified in the format “TTTT” (Same format, just no filler and no creator) in the menu that the arrow points to. When used with the menu the arrow points from, this convention causes the creator not to be used for filtering out prospective files to flip. (Experimentation with the examples “TEXT ” and “FLWR ” should help you grasp this.)
There is also a feature through which Flipper can find a file of any type and convert it to the type and creator you desire. Do this by selecting the “ ” type/creator combination as the source. Choosing the “ ” selection as the destination has no effect.
• Modification History.
Version 2.0 - Added ability to change creator as well as type. Implemented popup menus and string list resources for use of multiple types of input and output types and creators instead of radio buttons fixed to ‘TEXT’ and ‘FLWR’ types, and added directional arrow.
Version 2.01 - Caused “Open” button to say “Open” when a directory is selected, and “Flip” when a file is selected. Left and right arrows now cause a change in the direction indicator. Added a checkmark to the current popup menu selection as a popup is being selected, to provide an appearance closer to other popup menu implementations.
Version 2.02 - Updated to take advantage of “blank” type, allowing a file of any type to be seen and converted.
• About Support, Appreciation, and the Hacker Ethic.
I believe in the Hacker Ethic. As I have come to understand it, the hacker ethic indicates that programmers should freely provide each other utilities, programming methods, concepts, and most importantly: support and understanding. If we work together and help each other solve problems that apply to us all, we can significantly enhance our world.
Where does that come into this? Well, I’ve done my part. After using a variety of “neat” shareware and public domain utilities (I have actually paid for shareware that I use), I’ve felt compelled to offer utilities such as this freely to all for the common good.
What do you owe me? Flipper is “WhoCaresWare”. I’m not gonna send a guy named “Guido” with a violin case after you so that you send me money or stop using this FKEY, nor am I going to suggest an amount of money or even make you feel guilty for not sending any. If you don’t want to send me money, don’t get all hot and sweaty worrying about it. If you do, then go ahead and send me what you think it’s worth (no coins, fruit, or vegetables please).
Okay, so what am I getting at? Just this: if my work has benefitted you, do something sporting about it: send me comments, bug reports, literary pats on the back, etc. Better yet, write something useful yourself!
• Now that you’re filled in
I really would like to hear from you (even hate-mail), especially the bug reports. You can send me your comments, suggestions, money, etc. at any of the following:
Chally Micro Solutions
P.O. Box 2295
Covina, CA 91722
chally@aol.com, chally@earthlink.net
http://home.earthlink.net/~chally
The Macintosh world is something really special, and I’m happy to be a part of it. Thanks to all of you who have “done your part”.
