“Flush all disks FKEY” is an FKEY which lets you make sure that everything in your disk cache is completely saved to your disks — with one keystroke.
Huh?
The disk cache in the Memory control panel can greatly speed up your hard disk, especially with System 7.5 or better, by keeping the most recently used data in RAM. However there's a payoff: when data is “saved,” it’s usually only saved to the disk cache in RAM. It only goes onto the disk when the disk cache gets full or the application “flushes” the cache. If you crash or have a power failure before the cache is flushed, any changes in the cache will be lost.
Most programs guard against this by flushing the disk cache when a save is completed. This lets them benefit from the cache's speed during the save, while making sure your data is safely on the disk when the smoke has cleared. However there are a few applications (SimpleText seems to be one, and the current version of a very popular spreadsheet is rumoured to be another) that omit to flush the cache when you save. You think that your data is saved, but in fact it may still be vulnerable to a power cut or crash.
“Flush all disks FKEY” expressly flushes the cache for every disk that’s currently mounted, making sure that everything that’s supposed to be saved is actually on the disk (the System always flushes a disk whenever you unmount it).
How to Install
“Flush all disks FKEY” is cunningly disguised as a font suitcase. If you have System 7.1 or better, simply drop it onto your closed System Folder icon, or directly into your Fonts folder. There's no need to restart, but currently running applications (except the Finder) won’t see the FKEY until they have quit.
If you don’t have System 7.1 or better, you must use a proper FKEY installer (such as Suitcase) to install it - follow the instructions for that installer. Or you can use ResEdit to paste the FKEY into a copy of your System file, and replace your old System file with the new one.
Requirements
“Flush all disks FKEY” was tested with System 7.5.1 and should work with System 7.0 or better. It may work with System 6, but I haven’t tested it.
Usage
To use it, just press command-shift-9 (the 9 on your main keyboard, not the 9 on your keypad).
In most cases, you’ll see and hear nothing when you use it, because usually the disks are fully up to date with the cache. But sometimes you‘ll hear a disk spin, or see the network arrows flash in the menu bar. That means there was something of yours in the cache that’s now safely on disk.
If you are handy with ResEdit you can assign another number by changing the resource ID of the FKEY resource (but don’t use 1 to 4 — they are reserved by Apple).
Don't do this while the file is active, ie in your Fonts folder.
Fine Print
“Flush all disks FKEY” is postcardware. Non-commercial distribution is encouraged, but please only distribute the original compressed archive so that all the files stay together. Commercial distribution requires my express written permission. Distribution on CD-ROM is permitted provided you send me a free copy of the CD-ROM.
If you like “Flush all disks FKEY”, send me a postcard at:
230 Wandsworth Bridge Road,
London,
United Kingdom.
SW6 2UD.
Please. Or send me email if you prefer.
“Flush all disks FKEY” is distributed as is in the hope that it may be useful. I believe it to be safe, but you are warned that I wrote it in about fifteen minutes and I accept no responsibility for any loss or damage caused by its use. So if it trashes your hard disk and you lose $1,000,000 worth of unbacked-up data, that’s your problem.
All trademarks are acknowledged.
Richard Buckle hereby disclaims all warranties relating to this software, whether express or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Richard Buckle will not be liable for any special, incidental, consequential, indirect or similar damages due to loss of data or any other reason, even if Richard Buckle or an agent of his has been advised of the possibility of such damages. In no event shall Richard Buckle be liable for any damages, regardless of the form of the claim. The person using the software bears all risk as to the quality and performance of the software.
US Government:
Government End Users: If you are acquiring the Software on behalf of any unit or agency of the United States Government, the following provisions apply. The Government agrees: (i) if the Software is supplied to the Department of Defense (DoD), the Software is classified as "Commercial Computer Software" and the Government is acquiring only "restricted rights" in the Software, its documentation and fonts as that term is defined in Clause 252.227-7013(c)(1) of the DFARS; and (ii) if the Software is supplied to any unit or agency of the United States Government other than DoD, the Government's rights in the Software, its documentation and fonts will be as defined in Clause 52.227-19(c)(2) of the FAR or, in the case of NASA, in Clause 18-52.227-86(d) of the NASA Supplement to the FAR.
