HandyMan is a Control (Desktop) Strip Launching Module. It is designed to allow quick and easy access to applications, Control Panels, Desk Accessories, Folders and other documents stored on your Macintosh, without having to navigate through several “Finder Windows” or through a multi-layered, hierarchical apple menu.
System Requirements
HandyMan should run on any Macintosh model and requires at least system 7.1 and Control Strip or Desktop Strip (version 1.1.1 or higher) installed.
Make sure the “Finder Scripting Extension” is installed to work with Folder icons, Trash icons, Control Panel icons, and ordinary documents ...
If Drag Manager 1.1 is installed you can drag and drop documents on the applications, folders and trash icons in the strip. (System 7.5 has the Drag Manager included).
For complete functionality you need the “Finder Scripting Extension” version 1.2 or higher, “Macintosh Drag and Drop” version 1.1 or higher and “Desktop Strip” control panel version 1.1.1 or higher .
Should you have any trouble running HandyMan on your machine, please write to me with the full specifications of your machine and what version of HandyMan you are using.
How to use HandyMan
It is designed to allow quick and easy access to applications, Control Panels, Desk Accessories, Folders and other documents stored on your Macintosh by clicking on the icons or dropping documents onto them. This approach is much handier than aliases that are on the desktop because the strips what contain the icons can never be covered by windows.
HandyMan is configured by dropping aliases in a configuration folder (or by dropping files onto the (+) applescript).
There are a few simple modifier keys that can be used:
- Option click on the trash will empty it
- Option drop on a folder copies the files, otherwise they will be moved.
- Shift clicking on a folder icon filter out non folder from that folders popup menu.
- Control clicking on a folder icon filter out folder from that folder popup menu.
Desktop Strip Users should put this module into its own strip (folder).
Use compiled Apple Scripts, onto which you can drag and drop just like onto an application, to add any custom command you like to the strip. Base your script on the ' Add Alias' script included in this distribution which shows the drag and drop usage.
An example Setup:
The configuration menu
Small icon size
Large icon size
You can figure out what this means...
BTW does anyone want to have mini icons?
Large icons are only available in Desktop Strip!
Show Popup Triangle
HandyMan has the ability to hide the configuration triangle to save some space on your desktop (or because it's neater without that triangle).
You can always use Command click on the module to make it show it's configuration menu and change the settings.
Vertical icon list
The list of icons can be horizontally or vertical arranged.
This option is only available in Desktop Strip!
Folder Structure
To configure the strip, you must make a folder “HandyMan Aliases” in the folder where HandyMan is or in your preference folder. To make multiple columns you can put folders in the “HandyMan Aliases” folder and put on the “Folder Structure” option.
This way folders are parsed one level deep, folders in those folders show up as folders in the bar (for more information see included picture). To surpress the adding of a folder make the first letter of its name with a ‘¬’ (Option - ‘L’).
This option is only available in Desktop Strip!
Show InfoBar
Let HandyMan tell you what item the mouse is on.
This option is only available in Desktop Strip!
Show Tiles
Icons are shown with a small frame so they look more like buttons.
This option is only available in Desktop Strip!
Resolve Dragged Alias
This only applies to installed applications.
It makes the application open the alias or the document the alias points to.
This requires “Macintosh Drag and Drop” version 1.1 or higher to be installed.
Enable Items Popup
HandyMan has the ability to let you select a file that is in a folder in a popup menu. Enable this option and click and hold onto the folder or folder alias installed in the bar.
If you have the ‘Apple Menu Options’ control panel installed and 'Remember Recent used files' is on HandyMan will put up a popup menu on your installed applications, containing the recent files that the application can open.
(P.S. you can also make the folder yourself (“Recent Documents” in the apple menu) and put some aliases in it and you also can lock aliases in that folder to have permanent items).
Enable Drag From
If on Items can be dragged from the bar away. Handy if you have an alias installed to the 'Find Original' script from apple.
Also see known problems at the bottom.
This requires “Macintosh Drag and Drop” version 1.1 or higher to be installed.
Update icon list
Will re-parse your configuration menu and update all links.
About HandyMan
Guess what...
About the program
Current version 1.1b14
This program is freeware (although a postcard is appreciated), this means that you can copy it freely as long as you don't ask any more money for it than a nominal fee for copying. If you want to distribute this program you should keep this document with it. This program cannot be used for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.
HandyMan has proven to be stable in everyday use. The author is not responsible for any loss of data, damages to software or hardware that may result directly or indirectly from the use of this program. The author reserves the right to make changes to the software or documentation without notice.
None of the files of the HandyMan package may be modified. Crunching or achieving is allowed only if none of the HandyMan files get modified by it.
Special permission is hereby granted to include HandyMan in Public-Domain libraries.
Permission is also granted to Men & Mice to include HandyMan in their Desktop Strip package.
About the Author
bugs, questions, or suggestions to:
Fido (home)
2:292/603.76
e-mail (home)
Bert.Wynants@p76.f603.n292.z2.fidonet.org
e-mail (work)
bwynants@eps.agfa.be
snail-mail:
Bert Wynants
Hogeheide 6
2260 Westerlo
Belgium, Europe
Frequent asked questions
Q:Why doesn't drag and drop work?
A:Your system does not have Macintosh Drag and Drop 1.1 or your finder isn't drag and drop aware. You should upgrade to at least Finder version 7.1.2 for powerpc or 7.1.3 for 68k Macs.
Finder 7.1.3 comes with System 7 Pro, and Finder 7.1.4 comes with System 7.5.
In this case you will not be able to drag Finder icons onto the icons. If you try, the icons will not highlight when you drag over them, and nothing will happen when you drop something on an icon.
You can get Mac Drag & Drop 1.1 via anonymous ftp at ftp.support.apple.com/pub/Apple SW Updates/US/mac/System Software/Other System Software/
Q:Do I (really) need the scriptable finder?
A:No, but if your system lacks the Scriptable Finder, some varieties of icons will not work. In fact, they usually won't be added to the strip. Folder icons, Trash icons, Control Panel icons, and ordinary documents require the Scriptable Finder in order to be fully operational.
The Finder Scripting Extension 1.2. comes with System 7.5, and you can get it via anonymous ftp at ftp.support.apple.com/pub/Apple SW Updates/US/mac/System Software/Other System Software/.
Known problems:
•dragging an icon from HandyMan on a dragable window of the current application fails (drag manager bug). I didn't removed the Enable Drag From option because dragging an icon from handyman works very well if you stay in the strip, and can be useful to drop it onto one of the handyman icons.
•no error reporting for apple events.
At this moment I don't know how to receive the result of an apple-event in the module. This means if you drop something onto a folder and the file was already in that folder the move or copy won't work. When you copy you will see that the file doesn't disappear from it's original place. When you copy a file you won't see the copy progress bar from the finder.
Program History
Version 1.0d0
•initial release
Version 1.0d1
•many thanks to Sigurdur Asgeirsson for helping on drag and drop.
•added custom Finder icon recognition
Version 1.0d2
•Added possibility to add Folders, Trashes and Documents
•Faster parsing of icons
•Retrieving Icons From Desktop DataBase
•Added menu item to show or hide popup arrow
•Added folders parsing in preferences folder, these can be used to group your applications
Version 1.0d3
•Aliases folder can now reside in the module's folder in a folder called “HandyMan Aliases”
Version 1.0b4
•renamed to HandyMan.
•Control Strip support added (although Desktop Strip works much better)
•each invocation of HandyMan has separate preferences.
Version 1.0b5
•No more crashing if Drag manager is not installed. (reported by Peter Frings)
•No more showing of invisible files. (reported by Peter Frings)
•better icons for desk accessories. (reported by Peter Frings)
•uses system icons for default icons...
Version 1.0b6
•Fixed bug for MacApp Applications, they accept a drop now without a program error...
Version 1.0b7
•Using Finder label now for coloring...
•Added an optional info Bar...
•Added an About Menu Item...
Version 1.0b8
•Fixed bug that messed up icon positioning if some configuration folders where empty
•Fixed bug that caused crashes with a very narrow info bar (reported by Petur Petursson and thanks go to Angela for "borrowing" here Mac)
•Fixed problem with aliases to documents or applications on other disks.
•They are now updated as soon as the Finder has mounted those volumes, if you are annoyed by the fact is shows a generic icon for a while, then give those files a custom icon...(reported by Petur Petursson & Peter Frings)
•Added Option Click on trash to empty it (Asked by Chris Bastiaens)
Version 1.0b9
•No longer gets to front when asked to empty the Trash
•Fixed bug that sometimes messed up Info bar (introduced in the 1.0b8)
•Fixed bug that sometimes caused the bar to get empty after an update icon list
•If scriptable finder is not installed, only applications are added (Sugg. Koen Van de Poel)
•Fixed problem with aliases to documents or applications on other disks if you have a lot of Disks connected, The fix from b8 only worked for 1 external disk.
•Fixed problem that sometimes caused the Icon List to become empty (reported by Petur Petursson)
•Added Recent Files popup to application (optional)
•Dropping files on an open application was broken in the b8 revision, it's fixed again.
Version 1.0b10
•Fixed recent files popup :-)
Version 1.0
•Really Fixed problem with aliases to documents or applications on other disks if you have a lot of Disks connected. A note on this one: as long as there are generic icons for documents or applications HandyMan watches Disk Inserts and tries to get the icons from the inserted disks. If you have apps or docks that really have a generic icon you better paste a custom icon onto them to stop HandyMan scanning inserted disks (although it won't heart watching the Disks)
Version 1.1b12
•Fixed about in Control Strip.
•Start dragging from strip as soon as you leave the selected icon's bounds if popup recent files is on.
•Altough the docks say so 1.0 never looked in the preference folder for handyman files, this is fixed now.
•if Apple Menu Options was not installed, and the option popup recent files was active, no menu showed up after clicking an application and the icon became unselected. Now always a menu will show up with at least a Launch item in. (Thanks to Peter Frings for reporting)
•Small bug fixed in Update Icons.
•Added Popup for folders (default everything is shown, pressing shift means no files, pressing control means no folders, pressing both shows nothing ).
•Animation on Trash added.
•Opening a control panel or desk acc. now brings finder to front.
•Better support for screens in black and white mode.
•Added Tiling option.
•reorganized preference menu.
•Drags from the system 7.5 'find file' window are accepted now.
•Trashing a list of files is much faster now, the current speed can only improve if apple make a better scriptable finder :-(
•dropping a document on itself also works now, it opens the document...
•It no longer asks for Ejected disks if there are some when updating icons.
•AppleEvents work always now, also if front application doesn't know about appleEvents.
•AppleEvents made a bit more reliable (hope this fixes your problem Joseph).
•Info Text automatic jumps to condensed if it doesn't fit
•folders are added too ( unless the first letter is a '¬' (option-L)
•slightly faster icon parsing
•Better detection of disk drops on trash
•cmd key always shows configuration popup menu (Request from Angela McCormack)
•added ‘ Add Alias’ script, put a copy of it in each folder you make in the “HandyMan Aliases” folder, dropping a file on it will put an alias at an automatic configured place. You only need to select Update Icons after the drop. This script also serves as an example for dropping on a script.
•reduced Module Size :-)
Version 1.1b13
•Made handyman a bit smarter about finder scripting (Request from Boris Groendahl). If the Mac starts up with rebuilding the desktop you still need to select update icons manually after it has finished. When all icon's are visible, they won't disappear anymore by rebuilding the desktop and selecting update icons at the same time.
•looking for the original of an alias surpresses the logon box now. it freezed the system! (report from Kristof Vanbecelaere). If possible HandyMan passes the request onto the finder, this means clicking on a folder to mount a volume still works!
•improved sensitivity to differentiate between drag from and popup on item...
•dropping handyman's own dragged icon onto itself fixed.
•updated docs to this version.
Version 1.1
•Cosmetic fix for combination of no icons and info bar option on.
•Cosmetic fix for info bar on B/W screens (end was sometimes messed up).
•Added limited Folder support if “Finder Scripting Extension” is not installed.
ToDo:
•Use module name for aliases folder name (multi module in one strip)
