This patch modifies the Apple Menu Options Control Panel version 1.0.2, recently distributed by Apple as a replacement of Apple Menu Options 1.0.1 and the original Apple Menu Options 1.0. It does not patch versions earlier than 1.0.2, to patch one of those you’ll need an earlier version of this patch.
What it does:
The Apple Menu Options Control Panel supplies your Mac with a hierarchical Apple Menu. Without this patch, files with the name ‘-’ (A single dash character) will show up, in your Apple Menu’s Submenus, as Menu Items named ‘-’ (obviously).
After applying this patch, these items will show up as Menu Separation lines. If you think “Wow, that’s useful!”, this patch is for you, otherwise don’t bother. What’s more: Files ending with a ‘$’ character will also show up as Menu Separation lines.
How to create order in your Apple Menu’s Submenus:
The main difficulty is to order the items in your (Sub-)menus. I do this by putting a ‘ ’ (space) character in front of their name to get them at the top of the Menu. You may also change their order by putting special characters in front of their names, like ‘•’, or ‘»’ or so. Another way is to number them (i.e. “01. ”, “02. ”, …). A more obscure way to order items is by pasting Return characters (just copy one empty line using your favourite text editor) in front of the names of the items you want at the top.
Now that you've got your Menu Items ordered, you can start using Menu Separator lines. You can do this by using empty folders or small (preferrably zero-k) files. Give this item a name so that its in the correct order among your other items, then append a ‘$’ to its name.
i.e. A folder holding the files has a Menu Separator at the 2nd position. A CR character was pasted in front of ‘Chooser’:
Chooser
d$
Audio Player
Find File
Key Caps
Stickies
FAQ:
Yes, there's already a Frequently Asked Question.
Q: How do I create Menu Separator lines in the main Apple Menu?
A: Not with this patch. There's an Extension called DividerLines, written by Stefan Kurth (last seen at stk@contrib.de, but that address doesn’t work anymore), which provides this. DividerLines also uses files ending with the ‘$’ character to create Menu Separator lines, which is why I chose to do the same.
Q: After applying your patch, I've still got a ‘-’ in my Submenu!
A: Apple Menu Options caches its Submenus, even over Restarts. Therefore you won’t see any changes before the Submenu’s folder is somehow modified (e.g. a Filename has changed).
Warning:
This patch may not work properly while virus detection software is running. Please make sure that you have disabled any virus detectors before applying the patch.
This patch applies only to an unmodified Apple Menu Options 1.0.2. If you've already applied a previous patch to your Apple Menu Options, please restore an unmodified copy first.
Apply this patch only on a copy of the Apple Menu Options Control Panel. Restart your Mac after applying this patch. This patch is free.
Disclaimer:
All the risks of applying this patch are on YOU!
Special Displaimer:
This patch may NOT be distributed on MacFormat magazine’s CD ROM. If MacFormat distributes this patch anyway either on Floppy disk or on CD ROM, MacFormat agrees to pay me, the maker of this patch, a sum of 42,000 Pounds Sterling, to be paid before the end of the same year the patch is distributed.
People’s Disclaimer:
If the above sounds severe, it is due to MacFormat’s endless distribution of software without permission.
Regards,
950517
Ernst ‘pooh’ Mulder
pooh@brokendrum.stack.urc.tue.nl
This patch application was made with ResCompare, a free resource comparison and patch generation utility. ResCompare can be FTP’ed from most Macintosh archive sites. Send e-mail inquiries regarding ResCompare to Michael_Hecht@mac.sas.com.
