This chapter is similar to a "junk drawer" in a desk; where one would keep small items of value. New techniques, features and uses for ResEdit that I come upon, will be placed here.
SOUND (snd) RESOURCES
ResEdit 1.2 thru 1.3d1 had the ability to play sounds (snd's). This feature had been omitted from version 2.0ß2, but is now restored in version 2.1ß5 with a few new choices added to it:
"Beginning with system software version 6.0.4, the System file includes an editable resource named mcky. The five mcky resources numbered 0 to 4 correspond to the five speed choices, Tablet to Fastest, in the Mouse Control Panel. By using ResEdit version 2.0ß2 or later, you can edit the resources and adjust the mouse's responsiveness to suit your work habits.
Each mcky resource has eight threshold levels that determine how mouse movements affect pointer motion on the screen. For instance, the fastest speed, resource mcky 4, is preset to thresholds of 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 15, 16, and 255. I reset those values to 1, 2, 4, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11. Acceptable values range from 1 to 255, with lower numbers generating higher speeds and greater responsiveness."
Wayne Kauffman
Clayton, Indiana
 
(before changes...)
 
(after changes...)
"Start by making a copy of your System file. Open ResEdit and use it to open your copy of the System file. Scroll through the list of resource types until you find mcky, and double-click it to open it. A list of specific mcky resources appears. Double-click the one you want to edit. In the dialog box that appears, change the threshold values as you like. Quit ResEdit, saving your changes. After you've dragged the original, unedited System file out of the System Folder, drag the edited copy into it. Make sure the edited System file is named System. Restart your Mac..."—Lon Poole
Creating Version (vers) Resources
 
Examine the above illustration. Did you ever wonder how programmers include version information in the Finder Get Info Dialog Box? It's easy to create the resources that will display your information, and this information will remain permanently (even if you rebuild the Desktop File). I am referring to version (vers) resources.
Suppose you create a "nifty" animated cursor that you would like to share with others. You can save your cursor set as a separate ResEdit file and then upload it to your favorite bulletin board. How about including your name and version number in the file so that other people know that it is your piece of work?
To create the vers resources, launch ResEdit and open your file. From the Resource Menu, select Create New Resource. Select vers from the scrolling list of choices and click OK. Now fill in your information as I have using the Tab key to move about the fields. When you are satisfied, close the window. Now create another vers resource in the same manner, only this time, limit your text field to about half the length of one line.
 
 
Now we need to change the information about each vers resource. Select the first vers resource (id# 128) and from the Resource Menu, choose Get Resource Info. Change the id# from 128 to 1. Close the window. Repeat this step for the second vers resource (id# 129) changing it to an id# of 2. Close the window. Now save your changes and quit ResEdit.
Select your file and choose "Get Info" from the File Menu. Voila!