Is Mercutio Patcher not free anymore? Why, and how do I pay?
Yes, thats correct, Mercutio Patcher is now shareware.
Many of you may think, "why did he make it shareware now?!". Its because I need
money to keep on developing Mercutio Patcher and other programs. The fee isnt
high, 15$. Please support my software!
You can pay by printing the form thats included with Mercutio Patcher ("Order Form",
if you dont have a printer, write your own order form similar to that included) and mail
it to me with your payment.
When I have recieved the order with the payment, I will send you the serial number in
an email or with the diskette (mail) if you specify it on the order form(+4.95$).
Why doesnt Mercutio Patcher allow me to patch applications?
Until you have registered Mercutio Patcher, you can only scan or check applications
not patch them.
When you have registered Mercutio Patcher you will be able to patch.
How do I install the Mercutio Patcher?
Its very easy! You don't need to install anything. The only thing you need
is, of course, the Mercutio Patcher. Just double click upon the Mercutio
Patcher and off you go!
What do I do when I have launched Mercutio Patcher?
If you want to, you are now able to search entire folders for applications
that use Mercutio MDEF. Push the button 'Scan folder...' and select a folder.
(Scaning of harddrives now supported)
After a while (the time it takes depends on how many files there are in the folder,
aprox. 1 min for 250 applications) it will pop up some names in a list in the main window.
You can now either select on of the applications shown and patch that
singel on by pushing the button 'Patch Selected' or patch all the applications
in the list by pushing the button 'Patch All'.
You can also check and patch only on application. Push the button 'Check & Patch'
at the bottom of the window. Now, select the application you want to check and click open.
Mercutio Patcher will now check if the application needs to be patched.
If it does need to be patched, a new window will pop up and you have
to select if you want to patch or not.
***NOTE Older beta versions of the Mercutio Patcher 2.0 (2.0b6 and
earlier) had a ResEdit file with them. That file is no longer needed with
Mercutio Patcher 2.0b13 and later. The only thing you need is the
application Mercutio Patcher 2.0.
What is the Mercutio MDEF?
To make it simple, the Mercutio MDEF is a resource inside an application
program that draws the menus of that application.
Why do I need to patch my applications?
First, not all applications use Mercutio MDEF. Only some of them (read included readme
document 'Mercutio Apps').
The reason why you need to patch some applications is that they use an old
version of Mercutio MDEF. That old version can make some applications
crash or behave strange under MacOS 8.x. (ugly menu colors or pop-up menu
glitches)
How do Mercutio Patcher work?
Mercutio Patcher use a new version of Mercutio MDEF (v.1.5.2) and simply
replaces the old one in an application with the new one.
Before replacing the resources, Mercutio Patcher makes a copy of the
application you have chosen, so that if the patch did not work, you still
have the old version left. This copy is placed in a folder called '[appname]- unpatched'.
It is also important that you know that if there in the future comes an
upgrade for your application, it may not work with the version you have
patched with Mercutio Patcher. That is because some updater programs check
to see if you have made any changes in your application. So, to be on the
safe side, save the unpatched copy of your program! You may find it more
convenient to keep the unpatched copy in some form of archive format (such
as .sit, .sea, .img, or .smi), so when you double-click upon a file whose
creator is that the program then the patched version will launch.
Otherwise, if both variants of your application are on mounted volume(s)
it will be a matter of chance as to which is launched.
How do I know which applications to patch?
There is no good way other then if the application won't work under MacOS
8.x OR instead to use the Mercutio Patcher and click the button 'Check & Patch'.
Then Mercutio Patcher will check the application you have
chosen to see if it needs to be patched.
A list of applications that use Mercutio MDEF is included ('Mercutio Apps').
It contains 99 applications, but there can be more of them out there.
Please help me and others by sending in lists of other applications that
can be patched! (ola.ekedahl@goteborg.mail.telia.com)
How do I know that its the right application I am patching?
If you know that you have more versions of the same program, and all of the
programs were added in the list after a scan, then just double click on one
of the applications in the list and Mercutio Patcher will show you the
full path to the application.
I can not find the copy of my program Mercutio Patcher should have made?
You can find the copy Mercutio Patcher made in the folder '[appname]-Unpatched' in
the same folder as your application i.e in the application you have
patched. If you are unsure, read the logfile in same folder as Mercutio Patcher. In that file you will find the path to the unpatched version and the patched version.
What is the system requirements?
For PPC:
A minimum of 2MB free memory
Any PPC processor
For 68k:
A minimum of 1.5MB free memory
Not much of a system require list. The 68k version has been reported to work on a Macintoh Plus (system unknow).
Version history
The only beta versions released to the public has been: 2.0b6 and 2.0b13.
There has also been many small bugfixes in every version that I havent written here (below).
2.5.1 - Changes was made with the serial codes after serious bug found.
- Minor bugfixes and user interface changes.
- Both Dutch and German versions of Mercutio Patcher 2.5.1 is now downloadable.
2.5 - Mercutio Patcher is no longer freeware. The fee is set to 15$ (US)
Fixed a bug that could cause Mercutio Patcher not to make a copy, or put it in the wrong folder.
Added version number of the current MDEF when you scan folders/drives.
Added version number of the current MDEF when you select "Check & Patch".
2.1.1 - Double click in the list and MP will show you the path to the application.
Logfile added so it is easier to find unpatched applications and patched applications.
First German version.
Minor bugfixes.
2.1 - Fixed problems that made scaning harddrives impossible.
Mercutio Patcher no longer resoloves alias.
Better errormessages.
Minor bugfixes.
2.0 - Final release!! Minor bug fixes.
2.0b24 - Progressbar is now invisible when it's not in use. To make it simple to
know when Mercutio Patche is idle.
2.0b23 - Minor bug fixes.
2.0b22 - A serious bug was fixed.
Made it impossible to select other then applications in the 'Check & Patch'
2.0b21 - Some error messages didnt show properly.
2.0b20 - Fixed some bugs that made a resize of the window impossible. May not work on 68k.
Complaints about user interface problems on b&w macs made me change
the background color to gray (default). Maybe it will work better now?
2.0b19 - Window is now resizable
2.0b18 - 'Patch All' button now works
2.0b17 - First released (closed) beta with working 'scan folders' feature
It was also possible to patch by clicking 'Patch Selected'
2.0b16 - Big parts of the code was rewritten to make it smaller and faster
2.0b15 - Second test with scan folders feature.
2.0b14 - First test with scan folders feature.
2.0b13 - The resource file is now built in to the program wich renders the file 'Mercutio MDEF 1.5.2'
usless
Some of the code had to be rewritte too.
Version history has been lost for later versions.
Disclaimer & Copyright
I can not be held responsible for any damage or problems you might
encounter while using this program or after having used this program. You
use Mercutio Patcher entirely at your own risk.
I am in no way affiliated with Mercutio or its development; and please do
not contact Ramon about this program, as he had nothing to do with it, nor
does he know anything about it at all !!!
The code for this program is not free!
Mercutio Patcher is shareware. The fee for Mercutio Patcher is 15$ (US).
Mercutio Patcher can be distributed on any CD's, inluding CD's that that
isnt free, i.e. CD's included with magazines, other commercial programs et c.
Mercutio MDEF is also totally free and can be found at
http://www.digitalalchemy/mercutio
Mercutio Patcher (C)Copyright 1998 Ola Ekedahl, All Rights Reserved
Mercutio MDEF (C)Copyright 1992-1998 Ramon Felciano
