The Eraser Pro page: http://users.iol.it/yellowsoft/theeraser.html
(Reading this file or WEB Pages of above, please, consider that English is not my primary language. I did my best...)
Overview.
Make The Eraser Pro the cleaning application of your choice! There are its features:
•ERASING:
• Security method. The Eraser Pro deletes your files by using a sophisticated procedure. It lets you customize many details of this job. The recovery of deleted files becomes impracticable: there's no utility ables to do it!
• Simple method. You may also choose some details of this job.
The Eraser Pro returns several informations while it's using the features of above and allows you to stop its performance at any time. It works fine and fast in background, deleting large groups of items, you may also instruct it to ask you the permission, before deleting.
• DISK ERASING:
The Eraser Pro may initialize your disks by using its own, customizable, method. Through a co-operation with System, The Eraser Pro allows you to take advantage of HFS+ and FSM, if you want.
• CLEANING FEATURES:
The Eraser Pro creates a list, from where you may gather infos/trash/delete/view your selection. You may also trash/delete the whole list and you've always the option to erase by using the "Security method".
• Preferences search: The Eraser Pro searches orphan preferences files.
• System Folder search: The Eraser Pro searches orphan files inside the whole System Folder.
All following cleaning options allows you to select the objects to scan: disks, folders and, often , individual files.
• Orphan files search.
You may get a more accurate analysis, using the three cleaning option of above, by activating a couple of special options, but slackening the scan speed.
• Cache search:The Eraser Pro may scan the cache folders of your Browsers, excluding some files according to theirs modification dates.
• Duplicate file names search.
• Empty folders search.
• Folder icons search.
• Empty aliases search.
• Help files search.
• Custom icons search: you can't delete files in this list but you may just remove custom icons.
• Previews search: you can't delete files in this list but you may just remove preview resources.
• FAT objects search: you can't delete files in this list but you may just remove the useless code.
• Find: this is a cool feature! You may instruct The Eraser Pro to search files matching type, creator, flags, extension, prefix and name. It may also skip or include files created or/and modified within the period of time you want.
The Eraser Pro sports Drag and Drop and is Drag Manager aware: you may perform almost all actions of above simply dropping objects onto its main window or onto its desktop icon. You may choose the action The Eraser Pro should perform by using Drop Keys.
After all you may use the enclosed Contextual Menu Extension for asking The Eraser Pro to erase your selection.
The Eraser Pro is Internet Config and Navigation Manager aware, moreover it's Appearance savvy. It requires at least System 7 to run.
What's new in 2.7.0 version
• Contextal Menu extension.
• New "Remove Previews" feature.
• New "Remove Help Files" feature.
• Added, in the list window, the "Remove all Icons" option.
• Main window re-arranged.
• The list scroll down, while it's building.
• The list scroll up, while it's deleting.
• XTND recognized as System files, searching for orphans.
• Lists activation by Drop Keys.
• List navigation by directional keys.
• Bug, inside "Internet" code, fixed.
• Linked with MoreFiles 1.5.
• Linked with Internet Config 2.0.2.
• A bug in Navigation routines fixed.
• Recompiled with Interfaces-Libraries 3.3.2.
Hardware and software requirements.
The Eraser Pro should work on any Macintosh with a minimum of System 7. It's accelerated for PowerPC. If you have the Appearance Manager and/or same the Navigation Manager and/or same the Drag Manager, they will be taken advantage of. Some menu items may be disabled if you don't have Internet Config 2.0 installed (only on PowerMac.
Erasing items.
You can erase disks, folders and files by Drag&Drop onto The Eraser Pro desktop icon, by selecting them through File menu or by dragging theirs icons on "The Eraser Pro" drag window.
You may also open objects by calling The Eraser Pro by means of Contextual Menu, if you install the CM extension "The Eraser Pro CM".
Preferences.
You can decide in "Preferences" dialog how The Eraser Pro should work. You may reach The "Preferences" through File menu.
Be careful: in Simple erasing mode The Eraser Pro doesn't delete locked items. In Erase and move locked to Trash mode The Eraser Pro, finding in the trash a duplicate filename, shows an information alert, then stops its job. In Security mode The Eraser Pro deletes all, locked files even.
While The Eraser Pro is working, a window notifies several informations. You may press escape to stop its job. If you want to stop The Eraser Pro while it is working in Security mode you should hold down escape or command-period until it completes the erasing of current file, because it tracks the "exit" keys only at the end of deletion procedure (yes, it's a Security procedure!!! ;-) ).
When you delete disks The Eraser Pro will ask you to confirm! When you delete files or folders, you may decide whether The Eraser Pro should ask you the confirm or not.
If you hold down option key, while drag or select an item, The Eraser Pro lets you set the preferences, before work!
Disks.
If you select a disk then The Eraser Pro shows its "Format " dialog.
Erase Catalog: The Eraser Pro erases only the disk catalog.
Format: The Eraser Pro formats the disks and erases the disk catalog.
Verify: The Eraser Pro verifies the disks.
System Format: The Eraser Pro calls the System Format Dialog. Useful if you want to take benefit from the most recent System features (HFS+ and FSM).
Cleaning options.
Scan Preferences Folder, Scan System Folder and Scan Orphan Files… (work in the same way, but the third option requires you select a disk, a folder or a file): for each file examinated The Eraser Pro searches in the Desktop Databases for the application who created it. If the application doesn't more exists on your Disks then The Eraser Pro includes the examinated file into the list (see "List").
Intelligent checking: The Eraser Pro doesn't include, in the list, some common files (Inits, cdevs, drivers, fonts, and so on).
Advanced checking: The Eraser Pro searches for a System "component" related to checked file.
Check Navigator cache…, Check Explorer cache… (work in the same way): when you select one of them a dialog appears. From this dialog you may tell to The Eraser Pro to exclude files modified within a determined period of time. The Eraser Pro doesn't know your Cache folders location (since all Browsers let you to select your preferred folder) so (only) the first time you try to scan a Cache folder you must select it. The same if you've deleted an already selected folder. Use Forget cache folders if you've changed your Cache folders.
Scan Empty Aliases: The Eraser Pro searches for unconnected aliases (you may also select a single object).
Scan Empty Folders: The Eraser Pro doesn't consider as "empty" a folder having invisible files or folder icon.
Scan Folder Icons: The Eraser Pro shows you all icon files found.
Scan Duplicate File Names: The Eraser Pro doesn't report invisible files or directory names.
Scan Custom Icons: auto-explaining, I think.
Scan Previews: The Eraser Pro searches for files having Previews. A Preview is, usually, a 'PICT' resource contained inside an image file. The Eraser Pro may delete this resource as well as some associated resources (The Eraser Pro deletes associated resources only if a 'PICT' resource is present). The Eraser Pro searches previews inside 42 kind of image files.
Scan Help Files: The Eraser Pro searches for Apple Guide, Apple Help and QuickHelp™ files.
Scan FAT Objects: The Eraser Pro searches for files having both 68K and PPC code. You may remove the code you want from selected files, but you should consider that some applications running PPC code may still require the presence of 68k code so, before strip a FAT application, you should use some precautions (a backup copy is the better precaution!).
Find…: The Eraser Pro searches for files matching the "Find" dialog setting.
If you leave blank some fields or if leave uncheched some checkboxes in the "Find" dialog then The Eraser Pro ignores them. If you leave blank ALL field and ALL checkboxes then The Eraser Pro ignores YOU!!! :-)
After closing the "Find" dialog you should select a disk or a folder to scan (you may also select a single object).
There's no need of examples, I think, you may experiment all possibilities the "Find" feature treats to you.
Drop Keys:
When you drag one object on The Eraser Pro main window or onto its desktop icon, by default it activate its Erasing features. You may hold down a Drop Key, dropping object to perform different job:
o: Scan for orphan files.
a: Scan for unconnected aliases.
e: Scan for empty folders.
i: Scan for folder icons.
d: Scan for duplicate file names.
p: Scan for preview resources.
c: Scan for custom icons.
f: Scan for FAT objects.
h: Scan for help files.
List window.
While The Eraser Pro is creating the list you may type escape to break it.
From the list you may view the most important info of selected file. You may navigate the List by using directional keys. The buttons let you to operate in the way you want.
Delete and Delete All don't delete locked files. Security erasing and Delete All (security) use the Security options set in the preferences (they also delete locked files). Remove from List doesn't delete the item, simply remove it from list! Advanced checking: This works only if the list contains orphans. It is a bit more complex than the menu item with the same name: I suggest you to perform orphan searches activating only Intelligent checking menu item, then perform the Advanced checking from list.
By using the Trash icon at the left of "close" button,you may empty the Trash.
Be careful: if you scan for Custom Icons or for FAT Objects or for Previews, The Eraser Pro doesn't allow you to trash/delete any file. Remove Icon and Remove all Icons work only when you scan for Custom Icons. Remove PPC and Remove 68K works only when you scan for FAT Objects. Remove Preview and Remove all Previews work only when you scan for Preview resources.
Acknowledgement:
Carla "The Stylist" Bidone.
Alessandro "The Doctor" Giolitti.
Lucilla Guendalina "The Leader" Moliterno.
Alessandro "The Ace" Levi Montalcini.
Fabrizio "The Guru" Oddone.
Jim Stout for "Jim's CDEF".
A special thanks, for testing and precious suggestions, to Masatsugu "Mark" Nagata.
Author's note:
My software development group is made up by: me.
On the other hand, my beta-tester group is made up by: me.
This means that if you find a bug, both developer and beta-tester groups would greatly appreciate your reporting.
And don't forget to register your copy of The Eraser Pro. Remember that a shareware author should be supported. If you don’t pay for shareware software today, you will pay much more tomorrow for exactly the same features (but enclosed in a 'nice' commercial box).
Version history:
2.7.0 Contextal Menu extension. New "Remove Previews" feature. New "Remove Help Files" feature. Added, in the list window, the "Remove all Icons" option. Main window re-arranged. The list scroll down, while it's building. The list scroll up, while it's deleting. XTND recognized as System files, searching for orphans. Lists activation by Drop Keys. List navigation by directional keys. Bug, inside "Internet" code, fixed. Linked with MoreFiles 1.5. Linked with Internet Config 2.0.2. A bug in Navigation routines fixed. Recompiled with Interfaces-Libraries 3.3.2.
2.6.0 Added checking for unconnected aliases. Added checking for empty folders. Added checking for folder icons. Added checking for duplicate filenames. Added checking for custom icons. Added checking for FAT objects. Preferences: Added option to decide if The Eraser Pro should ask before deleting or not. Find: added searching by flags. List: bug, showing list name, fixed. List: Minor bug fixed. List: show and info button disabled selecting invisible files. List: better updating. New About Box. Window position saving for each window. Better catalog updating, after deletion. Better Appearance dialogs. Better Navigation dialogs. Rearranged menus. Recompiled by using the newest compiler. Linked with Appearance SDK 1.04. Recompiled with Interfaces-Libraries 3.3. The whole source code revisited: lots of new option with always small application size. Pro version.
2.5.1 Cosmetic adjustments. Better Navigation Manager support. Recompiled by using the newest compiler.
2.5.0 Unique FAT version. Find feature. Searching for orphan files. Searching for orphan preferences. Searching for orphan System items. Browser's cache cleaning. Improved disk deletion. Appearance savvy. Navigation Manager aware. Optimized Drag Manager support. Improved Modal Dialog filters. Better break keys management. Notification Manager support. Better alerts. Better error checking. Better error infos. Improved "Internet" routines. Linked with Internet Config 2.0. Linked with MoreFiles 1.4.9. Linked with Appearance SDK 1.03. Recompiled with Interfaces-Libraries 3.2. Recompiled by using the newest compiler. New trial time term. Moved preferences file to Yellowsoft folder. Removed custom CDEFs. Addresses update. All code revisited.
2.1.0 Added PPC version. Drag Manager support. Added ability to work using menus. Added "Internet" menu. Added Apple Script support. Removed windows zooming. Removed Drop Keys. Preferences now determine the whole job. Added ability to call preferences on the fly. Improved the registration form dialog. Improved the registration procedure. Movable modal dialogs can switch in background. Slightly changed desktop icon. Revisited and improved the whole code. Linked with MoreFiles 1.4.6. Updated e-mail address. Changed web page address. Minor changes.
2.0.0 Added tri-dimensional interface. All modal dialogs are now movable. Added the ability to work in background. Added the registration form feature. Added the security erasing option. Added drop keys to activate the security deletion. Added preferences window for security erasing. Completely rewritten the info window routine. Increased the number of informations returned by info window and improved its look. Improved the job speed. Added the escape key tracking. Added the ability to use menus while The Eraser Pro is the foreground application. Added a notification procedure. Optimized and improved any routine. Changed desktop icon. Optimized the cursor routine. Updated e-mail address. Minor changes.
1.5.1 Correct a bug in 'disk erase' mode. Correct a little bug occurring when the 'About' window is closed. Improved the job speed.
1.5.0 Improved all functions. Improved memory management. Added the deletion of nested folders. Added the erasing of disks. Added the command-period tracking. Improved the deletion of locked files. Added drop keys.
1.0.0 19 Jan 95, first release, named Filerase.
SHAREWARE.
The Eraser Pro is distributed as SHAREWARE: if you use The Eraser Pro you should pay the author.
Look at the enclosed "Registrations" folder to know how the register.
Pricing.
Single User: US $ 25
Site license: US $ 500
World-Wide license: US $ 2500
Academic Site license: US $ 250
The unregistered version.
After the trial period of one week, the unregistered version of The Eraser Pro is, still, fully operational; however it will always show a reminder and its "about" box when you open it. When you register The Eraser Pro the irritating windows don't appear and the "unregistered" notice will be replaced by the registration information.
Notice: soon after registering, you will receive the serial number via e-mail.
The Eraser Pro can also be included, without my prior permission, without changes and with this "Read Me", in all CD-ROM or disk shareware collections and in all CD-ROM or Disk magazines (anyway an e-mail or a snail mail would be welcome, as well a copy of the magazine or media would be welcome :-).
The Eraser Pro may not be included in a commercial package without my prior permission.
Disclaimer of Warranty.
This software is provided "as is" and without warranty of any kind, implied or expressed. When using it you assume all responsibility for any damages caused, directly or indirectly, by its use. Also registering this software doesn’t give you the right to require extra services (bug fixing, special assistance, the latest version on disk, and so on): you should pay only because you think the program you’re using now is worth the money
