Witchdoctor is distributed as SHAREWARE: if you use Witchdoctor you should pay the author.
You may register by sending US $10 CASH (or an equivalent sum with your local currency) to the author at the address above. A shareware registration form is available inside Witchdoctor.
Please, please, no checks: to cash them I must pay the bank more than $15!!!!! if you want to pay, in any case, by using checks, the requested price increases by $15.
I will trash, without reply, any check without the $15 contribution.
for fees from $50 use an international postal money order.
Special licences:
pricing:
Site licence: US $ 200
Country licence: US $ 500 (a licence to use the software in any your office in one country)
World licence: US $ 1000 (a licence to use the software in any your office around the world)
To register a special license, please follow this steps:
1) send an international (postal) money order to the address above,
2) send me a letter or an e-mail containing your personal data (the same data requested in the "normal" registration form).
Witchdoctor 1.0.0 also can be included, without my previous 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 notice will be welcome, as well as a copy of the magazine or media :-).
Witchdoctor 1.0.0 may not be included in a commercial package without my permission.
The unregistered version.
The unregistered version of Witchdoctor is fully operational, but will always show its "about" box when you open it. When you register Witchdoctor the irritating "about" box doesn'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.
Introduction.
Witchdoctor is a program that allows the user to manipulate files in several way by means of plug-ins. It has two kind of plug-ins: Watcher (the plug-in that does everything) and Module (a plug-in containing resources). You may create plug-ins, quickly and easily using Witchdoctor itself. After its creation a Watcher can perform up to five series of actions:
1) Nothing. Two ways file conversion (docA<->docB). One way file conversion (docA->docB, docB->docA). According to file opened, and following the plug-in setting, Witchdoctor may change Finder Infos, add resources from a Module or may zap the whole Res Fork. For example: up until now in order to create self-extracting compressed archive, you need to open the document with whatever program goes with it, then save it as a self-extractor. Now instead, after you've created the appropriate plug-in, you can just drop the document on Witchdoctor, and it will output a self-extractor, and vice versa. You may also create simple de-sea plug-ins or else custom plug-ins to just change types and creators of specific files.
2) File filter. The Watcher, here, may stop itself or else continuing according to its setting.
3) Nothing. File's Finder flag bits changing (stationery, locked, invisible and so on). The Watcher allows you to change all bits or else what you want.
4) Nothing. Type and/or Creator changing. Unlike the first action, here the Watcher may change without perform any check.
5) Nothing. File deletion. Direct file launching. File launching by means of alternate applications. File duplication. File trashing. File copying. Alias creation.
You may select manually the plug-in that should work, or let Witchdoctor choose the appropriate one. In a few words plug-ins creation is limited only by your creativity. By using a bit of fantasy you may create plug-ins for (little) security erasing, or to launch a self-extracting archive after its creation, or to open all dragged files by using one alternate application, or to open any dragged file by using several alternative applications. And so on...
Last but not least, Witchdoctor may create Witchcraft! Witchcrafts are stand-alone applications containing a Watcher and, optionally, a Module. You may create Witchcrafts as 68K, PPC or FAT application type. They work just as Watchers selected manually. As bonus Witchcrafts may contain custom About boxes.
Both Witchdoctor and Witchcraft may work on folders!
Witchdoctor is Internet Config aware, Appearance Savvy and requires at least System Seven to run. Think different, use Witchdoctor!
Plug-Ins.
In order to work with Witchdoctor you should create appropriate plug-ins (or obtain plug-ins by thirdy part). "Plug-ins" folder is situated inside "Yellowsoft" folder, inside "Preferences". If you haven't these folders Witchdoctor will create them the first time you drag an item or the first time you create a plug-in. You may also make these folders by yourself.
You may create a Module by means of "New Module…" menu item. After selecting the file you want, simply save it inside the "Plug-ins" folder with the name you want. All of resources the file contains will be saved into the Module.
By means of "New Watcher" menu item you may create Watchers. Witchdoctor shows you the "New Watcher" dialog. There are five areas, inside the dialog: Step 1, Step 2, Step 3, Step 4, and Step 5. Each area contains several items.
Are you scared by "New Watcher" dialog? don't worry, you may consider each area as a stand-alone tool moreover, when you open the dialog, all areas are inactive so, if you type the Watcher name then press "OK", you've just create a blank Watcher that does absolutely nothing.
Now we explore the "New Watcher" dialog items, trying to understand how Witchdoctor works!
Step 1 Area.
"Select Module" button. Lets you to select a, pre-existing, module. If you press cancel in the "Get File" dialog, then Witchdoctor clears the Module field.
"Sample docA/res file" and "Sample docB" buttons. These let you to select two sample files. Witchdoctor will record several Finder infos about these files, not only Types and Creators.
Inside the "Step 1" area there are also three check-boxes:
"Target docA file type", "Target docB file type" and "Strip Res Fork from docA file type". The first two are the most important. If you leave both check-boxes unchecked then the "Step 1" area of your Watcher simply will not work!
If you select "Target docA file type" then your Watcher will consider only opened files having Type and Creator equal to "Sample docA/res file". It changes Type and Creator to match that of "Sample docB" ( but only if "Strip Res Fork from docA file type" was set, will it strip the Resource Fork of examined file) and changes some its Finder Info.
If you select "Target docB file type" then your Watcher will consider only opened files having Type and Creator equal to "Sample docB". It changes Type and Creator as "Sample docA/res file" then,
but only if a Module was selected, adds all of resources the Module contains to examined file and changes some its Finder Info.
If you select both check-boxes then your Watcher will consider only files having Type and Creator equal to either "Sample docA/res file" or to "Sample docB" following the procedures of above.
Notes: if you don't select one of two sample files, Witchdoctor sets the required Type and Creator as four spaces and the required Finder infos as zeroes. So if you want, for example, to create a de-sea plug-in, you should not only select a SEA application as "Sample docA/res file", but also select an archive as "Sample docB" then check "Strip Res Fork from docA file type" and "Target docA file type". If you don't select a "Sample docB" the Watcher zaps the code from sea application but sets its new Type and Creator as four spaces!!!!!
If you want, instead, to works only on one file type you may use the same file used for "Sample docA/res file" as "Sample docB". In this case Witchdoctor considers the matching, examined, files as docB and doesn't change any infos (but allows you to zap the res fork and, naturally, to perform Steps 2, 3 and 4).
Step 2 Area.
"Check Target type" check-box. Witchdoctor performs the Steps 3, 4 and 5 only if the Type of examined file matches the Target Type.
"Check Target creator" check-box. Witchdoctor performs the Steps 3, 4 and 5 only if the creator of examined file matches the Target Creator.
Notes: if both check-boxes are checked then Witchdoctor performs the Steps 3, 4 and 5 actions only if Type and Creator of examined file matches those of Target sample.
When both check-boxes are unchecked Witchdoctor performs the Steps 3, 4 and 5 actions even if the examined file is different from Target sample or even if there aren't Target present. Naturally this occurrence happens only when you select the Watcher manually (see "How to use"). Naturally, Type and Creator in question are the original file's Type and Creator before any Step 1 manipulation!
Step 3 Area.
File's Finder flag bits changing. You've four chances: do noting, set bits checked, unset bits checked, change all bits.
What say about flag bits? "hit and miss" changing can be catastrophic! change them when you know what you do!
Step 4 Area.
Type and Creator changing. Blank field means: don't change.
Step 5 Area.
"None"Witchdoctor does none.
"Open File" check-box. Witchdoctor will try to open the file examined.
"Open File with" check-box. Witchdoctor will try to open the file examined with the application of you choice.
"Duplicate File" check-box. Witchdoctor will try to duplicate the file examined.
"Trash" check-box. Witchdoctor will try to trash the file examined.
"Delete File" check-box. Witchdoctor will try to delete the file examined.
"Make Alias" check-box. Witchdoctor will make an alias of file examined. It lets you to choose the Alias destination.
"Copy file" check-box. Witchdoctor will copy the file examined to destination you want.
How it works.
You may open files by dropping them on the Witchdoctor icon, or by using "Open…" menu item, inside the "File" menu. The "Open…" command lets you to choose only one file by time. By using drag and drop, instead you may open however many files you want. Moreover if you open Witchdoctor by dragging files onto its icon then, after completing its job, it quits itself automatically.
For each file dropped on Witchdoctor, it searches inside the Plug-Ins folder for a Watcher having a Target matching the file's Type and Creator. If it finds one Watcher then it execute it, but if more than one Watcher is found, then Witchdoctor asks you to select manually the Watcher you want to work on examinated file. If you manually select a Watcher having Targets different than examinated file, Witchdoctor ignores the Step 1 procedures, but if "Check Target type" and/or "Check Target creator" allow it, it executes the Steps 2, 3, 4 and 5 anyways.
Holding down Option key while opening files, means "Manual Selection". Witchdoctor shows you a Get File dialog, letting you to choose a Watcher, then uses (or at least tries to use) the choosen Watcher on every files opened.
You may drag also folders, but Witchdoctor doesn't scan theirs contents, simply it treats folders as single files. This means that only Steps 2 and 5 work on folders.
Witchcrafts.
You may create Witchcrafts through the "New Watcher" dialog. Witchcrafts are stand-alone applications containing a Watcher and, optionally, a Module.
A Witchcraft works just like Witchdoctor: you may open files by dropping them on the Witchfraft icon, or by using "Open…" menu item, inside the "File" menu. Like Witchdoctor if you open a Witchfraft by dragging files onto its icon then, after completing its job, it quits itself automatically.
Since a Witchcraft contains only one Watcher it works just as a Watcher selected manually works.
You may create Witchcrafts as 68K, PPC or FAT application type.
You may also add a styled text file (limited to 32K) as custom about box. Text inside about-box will scroll automatically when you click on it!
Suggestions.
I've made several experiments with Witchdoctor, you will find inside the package some Watcher I've created and one Module for exchanging from QIM compressed archive (qca) to QISEA self-extractors and vice-versa (QIM is an Installer Maker and compression/encoding utility. See at http://yellowsoft.home.ml.org/quickinstaller.html).
You may create custom Watchers to change the Type and Creator, but if you want faster and more skilled utility for this kind of action, try FileT&C (See at http://yellowsoft.home.ml.org/filetandc.html). You may also create Watchers for little security erasing, but for a real and strong security erasing try The Eraser (See at http://yellowsoft.home.ml.org/theeraser.html). You may use Witchdoctor for opening some file types by using an alternate application, or to open any file dragged by using the same application. Witchdoctor is very very useful when does this but...there's another application, DocJet, that lets you to performs the same action (and more) by using shortcuts and one very speed configuration way (See at http://yellowsoft.home.ml.org/docjet.html). You may use Witchdoctor as simple Alias Manager but, if you want a very powerful Alias Manager with several features, you must absolutely use AliasCrony (See at http://yellowsoft.home.ml.org/aliascrony.html). At least you may protect your files by hiding and locking them, but if you want a REAL file's protection, with passwords and encryption, you must use The MacLocksmith (See at http://yellowsoft.home.ml.org/maclocksmith.html).
Contact Steve Rusher (see "Aknowledgements") for infos about Modules and Watchers, obtaining new ones, receiving help, suggestions, and so on...
Feel free to create and distribute Watchers, Modules and Witchcrafts without contacting me, but if you create a Module remember that the resources that the Module contains are not property of you, unless you made it! You must contact the owner of original file from wich the resources has been copied, before distributing the Module (even if the Module is inside a Witchcraft), or at least check the legal terms first.
Can you create Watchers, Modules or Witchcrafts then sell them? yes but only if they contain intellectual works of you. Specifically you may not create Watchers or Witchcrafts by using the normal features of Witchdoctor then try to sell them, unless you include a Module containing resources made by you.
Menu Internet.
•Menu item "Copy my e-mail address": copies the author's e-mail address into clipboard.
•Menu item "Copy my Web Site URL": copies the author's web pages URL into clipboard.
•Menu item "Send me e-mail": if Internet Config is available launches your favourite e-mailer to send an e-mail to the author.
•Menu item "Jump to my Web Site": if Internet Config is available launches your favourite browser to visit the author's web pages.
•Menu item "Open Internet Config": launches Internet Config if it's available.
Acknowledgement:
Carla "The Stylist" Bidone. Lucilla "The Leader" Guendalina Moliterno.
A special mention for Steve Rusher who urged me to write Witchdoctor and helped me with suggestions and for designing all of Icons Witchdoctor uses. Contact him at droptothefloor@yahoo.com, or visit his DropToTheFloor Web Site: http://surf.to/dttf.home.
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 Witchdoctor. 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:
1.0.0 Final version.
1.0b4 Public beta, released on the WEB.
1.0b1, 1.0b2, 1.0b3 No public release.
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.
