Copyright 1996-1998 Michel MARIANI - All Rights Reserved
Contents
• Introduction
• System Requirements
• Installation
• Directions for Use
• General Settings (Control Panel)
• Known Problems and Shortcomings
• Planned Improvements
• Contacting the Author
• Web Site
• Credits
• Copyright
• Disclaimer
• Distribution
• Acknowledgements
Introduction
• With MagicalKeys, you can "magically" open up to four often-used Finder items: volumes, folders, applications, documents, control panels, desk accessories, etc., by quickly pressing down 2 or 3 times the modifier key (Command, Option, Shift, Control) they are associated with.
• As a "bonus" feature, assigning a modifier key to the Finder file located in the active System Folder allows you to switch to it automatically (normally, double-clicking on the Finder icon brings an error message dialog, telling you the file cannot be opened because it is used by the system software). In addition, if the Finder is not currently running for some reason, it is automatically restarted.
• MagicalKeys works under System 7.0 or later, and is distributed as freeware.
System Requirements
MagicalKeys works under Mac OS System 7.0 or later (System 7.5 or newer is recommended). It has been successfully tested on Macintosh Classic, PowerBook 520C, Power Macintosh 7200 and Performa 6400. A specific version is available for Mac OS 8 (& 7.6).
Installation
To use MagicalKeys feature, place the file in the Control Panels folder and then restart the computer.
Warnings:
• Under Mac OS 7.6 or later, please don't use the standard version, but use instead the specific version located in the folder named "* For Mac OS 8 (& 7.6) *".
• The version number at the end of the control panel's file name has been dropped soon after version 1.3.2. Now, under the improved naming scheme, a new version simply overwrites the previous one. In case your last installed version is "MagicalKeys 1.3.2", don't forget to throw (or hide) it away before installing the new version.
Directions for Use
• Once the installation has been done for the first time and the computer has been restarted, it is already possible to use MagicalKeys' feature: quickly press down 3 times any modifier key (Command, Option, Shift, Control) and the control panel shall open automatically!
• In the control panel window, either click one of the "Set..." push-buttons or double-click the Finder item icon or name located to its right, on the same line. A customized selection dialog appears. Navigating through it, select any volume, folder, application, document, control panel, desk accessory, etc. you want to associate with the modifier key. Aliases are normally resolved at selection time but, if you wish, you can override the standard behaviour by checking the box: "Select Alias instead of original".
• Alternatively, you can drag an item from the Finder and drop it onto the control panel, in the rectangular area of the modifier key you wish to associate the Finder item with. Here again, aliases are normally resolved, unless the Command (or Control) key is pressed down during the drag. You can also exchange two Finder items in the control panel by dragging any item from one modifier key area to another. If the Option key is pressed down during the drag, a copy is performed instead of a move. Please note that all these functions are only available if Drag and Drop is enabled (standard feature of System 7.5 and later).
• MagicalKeys automatic opening can be selectively disabled for each modifier key by unchecking the key name in the control panel. The whole feature can also be globally disabled by selecting the radio-button labeled "Off".
• You can choose between 'Double-Tap' and 'Triple-Tap' (the default setting). Presently, the time between double-keydowns is assumed to be the same as the one for the mouse double-clicks, as set in the Mouse or Trackpad control panels.
• Provided "Open Control Panel when Caps-Lock Down" is enabled, you can automatically bring up MagicalKeys' control panel at any time, by having the Caps-Lock key down while double-tapping or triple-tapping any modifier key. If "Enabled Modifier Keys Only" is also checked, the auto-opening feature is limited to the modifier keys which are actually enabled (allowed to "magically" open the Finder item they are associated with). This limitation is especially useful to prevent conflicts with any other software which would use modifier keys in a similar way.
General Settings (Control Panel)
• Off / On
Disables / Enables MagicalKeys.
• About...
Displays more information about MagicalKeys.
• Start-Up Icon
Shows / hides MagicalKeys' icon at system start-up.
• Double-Tap / Triple-Tap
A Finder item is opened by double-tapping / triple-tapping the modifier key it is associated with.
• Open Control Panel when Caps-Lock Down
Enables / disables the automatic opening of MagicalKeys' control panel when the Caps-Lock key is down at the time of double or triple-tapping.
• Enabled Modifier Keys Only
Allows the auto-opening feature to be limited to the modifier keys enabled below.
• Command / Option / Shift / Control
Allows the modifier key (Command, Option, Shift, Control) to "magically" open the Finder item it is associated with.
• Set...
Brings up the customized selection dialog to select the Finder item the modifier key is associated with.
Notes:
• The name and icon of the Finder item are displayed for each modifier key it is associated with.
• When the Finder item is not available (the original item has been deleted, or is located on some unmounted removable media), the name is dimmed and the icon is not displayed.
• When the selected item is the Finder file located in the active System Folder, the name is displayed in bold (Finder), indicating that MagicalKeys performs a special "Switch-to-Finder".
• When the selected item is an alias file, its name is displayed in italic. Note that selecting an alias pointing to the active Finder doesn't trigger the special "Switch-to-Finder" feature.
• Balloon help is available. It can easily be toggled on or off, just by clicking the Help icon in the upper right corner of the Control Panel.
• Changes made in the Control Panel take effect immediately.
Known Problems and Shortcomings
• There are two different versions of MagicalKeys:
- a standard version for Mac OS up to 7.5.5,
- a specific version for Mac OS 8 (& 7.6).
• MagicalKeys' standard version is a "fake" control panel which launches itself as a stand-alone application. This is necessary in order to get Drag and Drop support. Unfortunately, in this implementation, the Finder icon is not dimmed even though MagicalKeys is running. This small visual defect doesn't appear when you use MagicalKeys' specific version for Mac OS 7.6 or later.
• MagicalKeys may have trouble detecting double or triple-keydowns when the Virtual Memory is on (as set in the Memory control panel), and the system is busy accessing the hard disk.
• A Finder item may be inadvertently opened while fiddling with the keyboard, specially if the current setting is 'Double-Tap'.
• The Finder is always activated whenever an alias is "magically" opened. And there is no visual or audible feed-back if resolving fails. It appears to be a Mac OS feature, not a bug...
• When the "magical" opening of a Finder item fails, it can be quite difficult to know exactly why. In that case, it might be advisable to switch to the Finder and try to directly open the Finder item by double-clicking its icon. Hopefully, more meaningful messages will be displayed by the Finder.
• Selecting the Trash is not possible through the customized selection dialog, brought up by clicking one of the push-buttons labeled "Set...". Moreover, under some system configurations (Mac OS 8), you can't drag the Trash directly. To select the Trash, you need to make an alias of the Trash and then drag this alias onto MagicalKeys' control panel.
Planned Improvements
• Manage named sets of Finder Items (create, modify, delete).
• Make the time between double-keydowns independent of the time between mouse double-clicks.
• Allow launching of stand-alone code resources, FKEYs, etc.
Contacting the Author
If you have any questions, suggestions, words of appreciation or bug reports, you can contact me at the following address:
E-Mail
<mmariani@wanadoo.fr>
Snail Mail
Michel MARIANI
47, rue des Remparts-d'Ainay
69002 LYON
FRANCE
If you ever send me a message, please tell me which version of MagicalKeys you are using and, if possible, where you got it from:
• Internet site (URL),
• CD-ROM coming with a magazine (name, issue number and month),
• etc.
Web Site
Latest versions of MagicalKeys and other freeware programs from "Mikaeru Software" are available at:
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/mmariani/soft/soft.html
Credits
Written with THINK Project Manager 7.0.4, THINK C 7.0.3 & ResEdit 2.1.3.
• The code to display file icons is adapted from the snippet GetFileIcon 1.1 written by Jeff Beeghly (Universal Headers conversion by Erik A. Johnson), based on code from FindIcon by James Walker.
• The code to display volume and folder icons is adapted from Find_icon 3.0.1, by James W. Walker.
• Find_icon uses the MoreFiles library 1.4.6, by Jim Luther and Nitin Ganatra.
• The application skeleton code is based on TransSkel 3.26, by Paul DuBois.
You expressly acknowledge and agree that use of this software is at your sole risk. The software and the related documentation are provided “as is” and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including, but not limited to, any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
In no event shall the author be liable for any consequential, incidental or indirect damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of profits, business interruption, loss of information, or other pecuniary loss) arising out the use of or inability to use the software or related documentation, even if the author has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
Distribution
This software may be freely distributed in electronic form on computer networks, including posting on Internet sites, on online services, BBSs and user groups, but always in its unmodified form and together with this document. Please contact the author to obtain the most recent version.
This software may NOT be sold or resold, or bundled with any other commercial product. The software may be posted on an information service which charges its users for general connection time and downloading, but it may NOT be posted to an information service which will charge for the specific right to download this software.
This software may NOT be included on any CD-ROM or floppy collection (including, but not limited to, software collections coming with books, magazines or other media) without the author's prior knowledge and express written permission.
The author can be contacted at: <mmariani@wanadoo.fr>
Permission to include this software on a CD-ROM or floppy collection will be granted if, and only if, it is the most recent version of the software, the original package is included in its entirety, and a complimentary copy is sent to the author at the following address:
Michel MARIANI
47, rue des Remparts-d'Ainay
69002 LYON
FRANCE
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to the following people (in chronological order):
• Michel Rousset, for testing and providing useful comments, and proofreading the first version of this document.
• Mark Nagata, for suggesting the Switch-to-Finder feature, kindly testing new versions, and sending useful information.
• Shinbone, for kindly testing a specific version for Mac OS 8.
• Jean-Claude Jesior, for kindly testing new versions.
Here is the list (in alphabetic order) of all the nice folks who took the time to send me questions, suggestions, words of appreciation or bug reports; I really appreciate getting feedback, it is highly motivating and encouraging:
• Douglas Anderson, Yoshihisa Asayama, Gilles Berkovitch, Boris "Bissia" Bertrand, Kenneth T. Bruseth, Denis Chagnon, Joseph Debono, Gayle, Greg G., Makoto Imai, Jean-Claude Jesior, Bernard Jomain, Marlene Kloster, Osamu Kobiyama, Thomas v. Landsberg-Velen, Knut Lorenzen, Camillo Lugaresi, Mark Nagata, Julien Perret, Richard Rothstein, Nathan Schmidt, Sam, Shinbone.
And finally, here is the list of magazines or editors who asked me permission to include MagicalKeys on their CD-ROM:
• HyperLib - Japan (Toshirou Arai)
• Mac 100% - Japan (Masayoshi Takei)
• MacAddict - USA (Kris Fong)
• Mac Fan internet - Japan (Hideyuki Chihara, M. Hishioka, Yasuto Niyama)
