TattleTech provides extensive information about your computer, peripherals, and system software. The information can be viewed on screen by category, printed, written to a standard text file in standard or a special Bug Report format, or output in database readable format. As such, it also provides a record of your system configuration that can be used for reporting problems to software and hardware manufacturers, to compare configurations across multiple computers, or to simply learn about your machine. In addition, it enables you to Mount Volumes, Close Files that were left open, and examine and set File and Folder Attributes. The information provided varies greatly among these categories and is best understood simply by going to the dialog window and browsing through the above categories.
NOTES: If you received this copy of TattleTech as part of another product, some of the features mention above may not be available. Methods for contacting Decision Maker’s Software may be found at the end of this document.
System Requirements
TattleTech is compatible with the Mac+ and newer machines running System 7 or higher.
Installing TattleTech
TattleTech consists of up to three files for operation:
• TattleTech
• TattleINIT
• Tattle.Traps
TattleINIT is not required for normal operation of TattleTech. TattleTech defaults to using internal INIT information generating routines if the generated files are not found. TattleINIT, if used, must be in the Extensions folder. TattleINIT should be placed alphabetically at the beginning of the folder so the program can gather information on all subsequently loaded INITs. Its name is preceded by two non-printing characters to facilitate this. These two non-printing characters may be changed to other non-printing characters to accommodate INIT ordering requirements. (see Conflicts and Limitations below)
When TattleINIT runs at startup, it creates two files in the System Folder: TTINIT.TRecs and TTINIT.FRecs. These files contain information about the INITs that run after TattleINIT, and are used by TattleTech in subsequent reports. The first time TattleTech is run after start-up it converts these two files to TTINIT.TDB and TTINIT.FDB respectively.
Tattle.Traps, is required for all of the Trap-related reports except the Traps Patched by INITs report. Tattle.Traps if used, must be located either in the same folder as TattleTech or the System Folder. If you need to specify another location for Tattle.Traps, you can do so using the “Change Traps File” menu command.
In addition to the files listed, there are a number of files that provide for Registration and other support for TattleTech. Please refer to the manual for more information.
Using TattleTech
Selecting Categories From the Main Dialog Window
TattleTech consists primarily of the TattleTech dialog window and the TattleTech menu. Upon launch, the Main dialog window is visible and the first Category of information, General Hardware, is displayed in a scrolling "Screen Report" in the window. You can select other Categories from the pop-up menu above the list. Categories that are not available for a given computer and system software combination (e.g., Nubus on a Mac+) are disabled and cannot be selected.
Definitions
The Definitions button at the bottom of the dialog displays definitions for the fields contained in the displayed Category.
Other Buttons/Functionality
• Applications and DAs: If you hold down the <option> key before selecting these menu items, the listing will be alphabetically sorted across volumes. This is also true if the <option> key is held down while choosing Reports... from the TattleTech pull down menu.
• File/Folder Info…: The Set… button invokes a dialog which allows you to set various attributes related to the file or folder currently displayed.
• Network: When running OpenTransport, holding the <cmd> key before selecting this report from the menu forces TattleTech to load Open Transport TCP so that actual information (e.g. the connected DNS name) may be accessed. In contrast, if Open Transport TCP is already loaded (e.g. Netscape is already running in the background), the <option> key prevents TattleTech from accessing this same information.
• Nubus/PDS Slots: The All Slots checkbox forces the list to include slots with assigned functionality but no physical slot card. This is also true if the <cmd> key is held down while choosing Reports... from the TattleTech pull down menu.
• Open Files: The Close… button invokes another dialog which allows you to close any open file in the list. This Category also has a special listing feature. If you hold down the <option> key before selecting this menu item, any open Font files will not be listed.
• System Files (Other): If you hold down the <option> key before selecting this menu item, only Special Files in the System Folder specified with Configure TattleTech will be listed. If you hold down the <shift> key before selecting this menu item, all other system files will be listed.
• Volumes: The Mount button attempts to mount any unmounted volumes.
Copying Data Fields to Other Applications
Data Field lines in the "Screen Report" can be selected and copied to other documents using the standard copy and paste commands.
Closing and Quitting
Click the Close button or the Close box to close the window but leave TattleTech active. Get System Info in the TattleTech menu reopens the window. Select Quit from the File menu to quit completely.
Getting Help
Selecting General Help... from the TattleTech menu activates an abbreviated on-line version of the TattleTech manual.
Printing the Current Category
Select Print Current... from the TattleTech menu to print the Category that is currently displayed in the dialog.
Page Setup
Select Page Setup… to set parameters for printing report pages.
Specifying Volumes
Specify Volume allows you to restrict the volumes for which files are reported. This menu item applies only to the Special Files, Applications, and DAs (System 7) reports available in the pop-up menu.
Generating Reports
Select Reports... from the TattleTech pull down menu. Select the Categories you want to report by selecting their checkboxes. Click the All button to select all Categories. Click the None button to de-select the Categories. Select Default Reports to choose the standard preset Categories.
TattleTech Reports
TattleTech provides several options for reporting the different Categories of information. The following is a list of available reports:
• "Screen Report" (See Selecting Categories From the Main Dialog Window above.)
• "Printed Report"
• "Standard Text File Report"
• "Bug Report"
• "Tab-Delimited Text File Report"
"Printed Report"
To print the selected Categories to a printer, select the Categories that you want to print, click the Print Std Reports button, and then click OK.
Writing Reports to a Text File
Writing reports to text files offers flexibility in communicating and using the information that TattleTech provides. In addition, TattleTech uses the standard List Manager for both "Screen Reports" or "Printed Reports" and is therefore limited to 32K characters. Normally this is sufficient to handle the various lists within each Category. If a list runs out of space, however, a message is posted at the bottom of the list window. In this case, a full listing of the Category can be obtained by writing the Category report to the various forms of text files as described below.
Writing a "Standard Text File Report"
To write the selected Categories to the "Standard Text File Report", click the Write Std Reports to Text File radio button.
Writing a "Bug Report" to a Text File
Click the Write Bug Report to Text File radio button to add "bug report" information to the "Standard Text File Report".
Clicking the Bug Explanation... button accesses a dialog that allows you to describe the problem and to Save and Load the text that you have created for future reference.
The User Info... button allows you to input standard information including who you are and how you can be contacted. This information is read at program startup and is retained until changed by you.
Note:
Generally, in cases where a particular Data Field is not an appropriate or possible attribute of a particular machine configuration, that attribute is not included in any report other than the "Tab-Delimited Text File Report". (Please refer to Writing the "Tab-Delimited Text File Report".) An example of this would be the reporting of DuoDock attributes for a Quadra, which cannot possibly have a DuoDock.
Writing the "Tab-Delimited Text File Report"
To write the selected Categories to the "Tab-Delimited Text File Report" and thereby create a database-readable file, click the Write to Tab-Delimited Text File radio button.
Set Unit Info
Click the Set Unit Info... button in the same dialog to enter information related to the owner of the system. Click the Unit Info checkbox to place this information at the beginning of the three text file reports ("Standard Text File Report", "Bug Report", and "Tab-Delimited Text File Report"). The information is preserved the next time TattleTech is launched.
• Conflicts and Limitations
This section describes conflicts with other software and system limitations that affect TattleTech.
Accelerator Cards
Two conditions involving accelerator cards affect TattleTech. First, if your Macintosh has an accelerator card installed that copies ROM to RAM, you may need to disable this feature to run TattleTech. This problem occurs primarily on the Mac+/SE, but may occur with other configurations.
Second, if you have a Daystar Accelerator and:
• PowerCentral v2.0 with Enhanced FP routines is enabled, and
• QuickTime or Apple Photo Access is installed,
then you must disable Daystar Enhanced FP routines in the control panel.
Extension Manager
If you are running Extension Manager, EM Extension must be placed before TattleINIT in the Extensions folder.
List Manager
To conserve space, TattleTech uses the standard List Manager for both "Screen Reports" or "Printed Reports" and is therefore limited to 32K characters. Normally this is sufficient to handle the various lists within each Category. If a list runs out of space, however, a message is posted at the bottom of the list window. In this case, a full listing of the Category can be obtained by writing the Category report to the various forms of text files as described in Writing Reports to a Text File.
• BUG REPORTS:
Bug reports and suggestions are HIGHLY valued and MUCH appreciated. If at all possible, please report problems using the following method:
1) Choose "Reports…" from the TattleTech menu
2) Select the "Write Bug Reports to Text File" radio button
3) Fill in as much of the "Bug Information…" and "User Info…" dialogs as you have the patience to do
4) Select the report(s) with which you are having the problem (and any others that you feel are appropriate) to the ones already selected
5) Hit OK, name the file (just using your "firstname_lastname.TEXT" works great) and email the resulting text file to me
If the bug crashes while generating a particular report, please do the following:
1) Follow the above procedure selecting all reports except the problem (crashing) report
2) Choose "Reports…" again.
3) Hold down the <option> key and select the "Write Bug Reports to Text File" radio button. "[Flush]" should now appear at the end of this button name.
4) Select the problem report only.
5) Hit OK and add a "2" to whatever name you gave to the first file. Even though you will still crash when generating the report, this will generate a report file which indicates exactly where the problem is occuring in the report.
6) Email both report files to me
If you crash before TattleTech finishes loading, please try holding down the <cmd> key while launching TattleTech. This will prevent the "General Hardware" report from running automatically - this report is probably the culprit. You can then complete the reporting process by treating "General Hardware" as the problem report.
If you don't have the time and/or inclination for any of this reporting process, please just email a description of the problem and an indication of your willingness to run additional tests if necessary.
In either event, thank you in advance for your time and patience!
• REGISTRATION: This product is not free. Please refer to the accompanying Registration/Pricing document for details on how to Register using Configure TattleTech.
• LICENSE AGREEMENT:
Any entity who distributes and/or uses TattleTech® and any other accompanying software and documentation (“Licensee”) agrees to be bound by this License Agreement.
The TattleTech program is copyrighted and the TattleTech® name is a registered trademark. TattleTech, its documentation, and any accompanying software represent proprietary program products and information of Decision Makers Software, Inc. (“Licensor”). Licensee agrees not to reverse engineer, disassemble or decompile the licensed software in whole or part. Licensee may modify the licensed software only in the manner provided for either by the software itself or through ancillary programs provided by the Licensor expressly for modification or customization purposes.
All rights under the copyright laws are reserved.
Warranty: (Applies Only to Registered Users)
Licensee acknowledges that all licensed software items are of such complexity that they may have inherent defects, and agrees that as Licensor's sole liability and as Licensee's sole remedy, Licensor will attempt to provide services to correct documented errors that Licensor's diagnosis indicates are caused by a defect in an unaltered version of the delivered licensed software. Licensor does not guarantee the results of any such services or represent or warrant that any or all errors will be corrected. This warranty only applies to Licensees who have Registered with the Licensor.
Limitation of Liability:
Except for the express warranty set forth above, Licensor grants no warranties, either express or implied, with regard to any licensed software including, but not limited to, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The stated express warranty is in lieu of all liabilities or obligations of Licensor for damages arising out of or in connection with the delivery, use, or performance of licensed software. In no event shall Licensor be liable for incidental or consequential damages. Licensee also agrees to indemnify Licensor for any and all claims made by any entities to whom they distribute TattleTech.
Any use not in conformance with this Software License Agreement is expressly prohibited.
• DISTRIBUTION
TattleTech may be freely distributed in its Pre-Registered form at no charge except media costs or normal downloading charges provided that all documentation, auxiliary programs, registration and pricing information, and all other files in their original form accompany it. Any inclusion on media greater in capacity than 1.4 MB must be approved in advance. In addition, it may not be used, sold, included with other software sold commercially, or utilized in any commercial venture not already delineated without either payment of the appropriate Registration Fee or specific permission from Decision Maker’s Software, Inc. If you are in doubt, please contact us.
A special thanks to Rene Ros, publisher of the Gestalt Selector List. The Gestalt information contained in his list is used to generate a considerable amount of the data provided by TattleTech.
Issues regarding licensing, marketing, and general business issues should be sent to:
