(Reading this file or WEB Pages of above, please, consider that English is not my primary language. I did my best...)
Overview.
NameChum is a useful application for changing the name of files, folders and disks. It can add prefix and/or suffix by using one of offered options:
* user's choice,
* date,
* time,
* progressive number.
Moreover NameChum has other cool features for working on names:
* searches/replaces characters,
* removes any number of characters starting from whatever position into names,
* truncates start and/or end of names.
Through preferences you may decide:
* the default action,
* the default job system,
* whether NameChum should scan directories,
* whether it should change names of directories,
* whether it should restart the progressive number at each session,
* whether it should try to set the extensions of names following the Internet Config "File Mapping" setting,
* whether it should set the extensions of names following only the Internet Config File Mapping" setting,
* up to four file type to ignore during the renaming,
* up to four file type to rename, ignoring the other ones.
NameChum is useful for normal desktop usage, but is cool when works, fine, fast and in background, with thousands of files.
By using hot keys you may skip the "request" dialog and changing, on the fly, by using the default action. Moreover there's a key for setting the preferences before work.
The Eraser is Internet Config, Drag Manager and Navigation Manager aware, moreover it's Appearance savvy. It requires at least System 7 to run.
What's new in 2.1.0 version
• Unique FAT version.
• Acceleration buffer.
• Improved testing procedure.
• "Scan of directories" option.
• Mofidied "Remove from char/to char" option.
• Added general counter.
• Counters are now session related instead than globals.
• Windows position saving.
• Added Hot Key for setting preferences before works.
• Optimized Drag Manager support.
• Improved Modal Dialog filters.
• Better break keys management.
• Better alerts.
• Better error checking.
• Better error infos.
• Improved "Internet" routines.
• New trial time term.
• Moved preferences file to Yellowsoft folder.
• Removed custom CDEFs.
• Appearance savvy.
• Navigation Manager aware.
• Notification Manager support.
• 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.
• Addresses update.
• All code revisited.
Hardware and software requirements.
NameChum should work on any Macintosh using, at least, System 7. It's accelerated for PowerPC. Whether you've Appearance Manager you may take advantage of it. The same for Navigation Manager. Some menu items may be disabled if you don't have Internet Config 2.0 installed (only on PowerMac).
How it works.
You can open disks, folders, files by Drag&Drop onto NameChum desktop icon, by selecting them through "File" menu or by dragging theirs icons on NameChum main window.
After dragging on some items, the "Setting Dialog" appears:
This dialog shows the main elements of your preferences (see below…) you can temporary change them without affect the preferences. If you don't want to add prefix or suffix simply set one of two checkboxes or else (if your selection is "user") simply let empty the related edit field.
Note: if you're using the "Use only Internet Config" feature (see below), the "Setting Dialog" never appears.
After you have pressed the "OK" button and while NameChum is working, the "Info Window" window returns some informations.
Preferences.
The controls are auto-explaining, I think...
The upper elements will be shown in the "Setting Dialog" when you drag on some items, besides NameChum uses they when you're using a HotKey (see below)…
The first pop up menu allows you to set your preferred prefix, the second sets the suffix. There are four options for each one and you can combine them. The options are:
√...users (the extension you want),
√...date in short format (the separator is "-"),
√...time with seconds (the separator is "|"),
√...progressive number. The checkbox "Restart numbers" reset the numbers to zero at the end of any work session.
Be careful: if you select "user", please, don't add the separator period, NameChum adds it automatically.
To change even directories names, check the checkbox "Name of directories".
Note: "Name of directories" and Internet options (see Internet Config…) can't work together. Disabling "Scan directories" allows you to change just the names of file opened, without any scan. For infos about "Acceleration buffer" option, see "Last Info" section…
The fifth pop up menus option is "Search for/Replace with". If you set "Search for" in the first pop up menu, NameChum automatically sets "Replace with" in the second. And vice versa. When this option is on you can search/replace in the name of files. You must insert some text in the upper edit field, but you can leave blank the lower (this configuration is very cool for removing extensions from names…). The search is case sensitive.
The sixth pop up menus option is "Remove from char/To char". If you set "Remove from char" in the first pop up menu, NameChum automatically sets "To char" in the second. And vice versa. When this option is on you can remove, from names, the number of characters you want starting from any char in the name. You must insert some number in both edit fields. If the "Remove from char" number is greater than the size of the name currently examinated, NameChum don't change the name. If the "To char" number is greater than the size of the name currently examinated, NameChum sets it to the name size.
The seventh pop up menus option is "Char to remove from start/Char to remove from end". If you set "Char to remove from start" in the first pop up menu, NameChum automatically sets "Char to remove from end" in the second. And vice versa. When this option is on you can remove, from names, the number of characters you want starting from the beginning or from end of names. If you leave blank an edit field or else a number is greater than the size of the name currently examinated, then NameChum doesn't cut the related side of name.
In the "Preferences Dialog" you can set four file type (just in the "Skip files of type" area), if NameChum, while is running, finds a file having type matching one of four type you have set, then lets its name untouched. You can also set four further file type (in the "Treat only files of type" area), if NameChum, while is running, finds a file having type matching one of four type you have set, then change its name, contrariwise lets it untouched.
If both "Skip" and "Trat only" features are active, "Skip" has the priority, so if you tell NameChum to skip and treat the same type then it lets the file name untouched.
Note: in both "Skip files of type" and "Treat only files of type" areas, you may find a checkbox to the left of each of the 8 boxes for the types. The way to use this feature is:
◊ type the four letter code for the filetype (or choose a file type by the button to the left of the checkbox);
◊ check the checkbox (using the mouse).
If you don't check the checkbox then the typed code is not used by NameChum . In fact, if you close the dialog (by pressing the "OK" button) and then re-open it, then the four-letter code that you have just entered (but forgot to check the checkbox) is not there! It has disappeared! So, I hope you understand because the checkbox is there: simply for security confirmation. Furthermore if you check the checkbox but don't insert some text in the related field, when you re-open the "Preferences Dialog" the checkbox will be un-checked.
Are you perplexed about "Skip files of type" and "Treat only files of type" features? If you don't perceive theirs sense, simply don't activate them. When you need them you will understand them!
Internet Config.
Through the "Preferences" Dialog you can activate a cooperation with Internet Config (if available). When you open Internet Config (you may use the NameChum "Internet" menu to open it) you find this button:
by pressing "File Mappings" button the "File Mappings" window appears:
from Internet Config documentation:
"The File Mappings window lets you view and edit the table that is used to set the Macintosh file type and creator of incoming files based on their extension. If you don't understand this window then please don't worry. We've done our best to set up appropriate defaults. If you have any problems with file transfers, then resetting to factory defaults will probably help."
Well, in fact File Mappings is an useful, customizable, database of types, creators and name exensions that NameChum may use with benefit:
◊ If you check "Try Internet Config" checkbox then NameChum attempts first to add an extension name by using Internet Config File Mappings, if fails then follows your setting. This is an optimal option.
◊ If you check "Use only Internet Config" checkbox then NameChum attempts to add an extension name by using Internet Config File Mappings, if fails then ignores your setting and, consequently, the file currently examinated.
Note: even if you're using Internet Config File Mappings, NameChum always considers "Types to skip" and "Treat only files of type" (if active). Internet settings automatically disable"Name of directories" checkbox.
Hot Keys.
NameChum has some useful Hot Keys. When you're using these keys NameChum skips always the "Setting Dialog" and shows immediately the "Info Window", making its job:
<command> = if you hold down this key then NameChum adds only the prefix, by using the preferred prefix or, if suitable and if you've set "Try Internet Config", by using File Mappings.
<control> = the same of above, but concerning the suffix.
<command+control> = the same of above, but concerning both prefix and suffix.
<option> = open the Preferences before continue.
Note: if "Use only Internet Config" feature is active then NameChum ignores command and control Hot Keys.
If you've set, in the preferences, "Search for/Replace with", "Remove from char/To char" or "Char to remove from start/Char to remove from end" options, you may use only one of two first modifier as Hot Key.
Normally you can press Escape key to break changing.
Menus.
You may perform any action of above by using the "Open" menuitem inside the File Menu. You can also use Hot Keys, while you're selecting a file.
From Internet Menu you can launch Internet Config, send me e-mails, visit my web pages or copy my addresses.
Last Info.
NameChum works following this way:
1) builds the new name
2) tell the Finder to rename the file.
But working with name is complex rather than simple and, if the Finder doesn't accept the new name, it can have several reasons, each one well-founded. Troubles can occur, mainly, for some invalid characters or else for some weird alchemy, also files can be locked or else can have name locked…so don't be surprised, if sometimes, the result is different than your expectation, there's a valid cause.
There's another problem dragging/opening folders, instead than theirs contents: after changing the name of an item, the System also changes its folder indexation so, working by using this index, a single file may be processed two (or more) time but never a different one.
Bad thing.
If you check "Acceleration buffer" inside Preferences, NameChum first collect file infos into memory, then change the names, directly from memory without any indexation.
If you let unchecked "Acceleration buffer" then NameChum uses indexation…but, to avoid indexation troubles, it keeps, into memory, infos about files already renamed then, to change the "lost" files even, it tests directories up to 4 times. In this case you should observe the Info Window, there are two counters: "Names changed" and "Counter". If both counters show the same number then NameChum skips the remaining tests. Anyway you may skip Tests by pressing (softly) escape key.
Remember also that, using Drag Manager, NameChum collects infos into memory, before processing files, so if you want to drag a hell of a lot of files or if you want to work on directories, make sure to set rationally the NameChum memory partition size.
Acknowledgement.
√...Carla "The Stylist" Bidone.
√...Lucilla Guendalina "The Leader" Moliterno.
√...Fabrizio Oddone.
√...Jim Stout.
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 NameChum. 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.
2.1.0 Unique FAT version. Acceleration buffer. Improved testing procedure. "Scan of directories" option. Mofidied "Remove from char/to char" option. Added general counter. Counters are now session related instead than globals.Added Hot Key for setting preferences before works. Windows position saving. Optimized Drag Manager support. Improved Modal Dialog filters. Better break keys management. Better alerts. Better error checking. Better error infos. Improved "Internet" routines. New trial time term. Moved preferences file to Yellowsoft folder. Removed custom CDEFs. Appearance savvy. Navigation Manager aware. Notification Manager support. 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. Addresses update. All code revisited.
2.0.0 This is a totally new application.
1.0.0 19 Jan 95, first release, named FilePreSuf.
SHAREWARE $10 CASH.
NameChum is distributed as SHAREWARE: if you use NameChum you should pay the author.
You may register by sending US $10 CASH ONLY (or an equivalent sum with your local currency) to the author at the address above. A shareware registration form is available inside NameChum.
Please, please, no checks: to cash them I must pay the bank more than $18!!!!! if you nevertheless want to pay, in any case, by using checks, the requested price increases by $18, to a total of $28 for an individual.
I will trash, without reply, any check without the $18 contribution.
for fees over $50 I suggest you 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 licences, 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).
The unregistered version.
After the trial period of one week, the unregistered version of NameChum is, still, fully operational; however it will always show a reminder and its "about" box when you open it. When you register NameChum 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.
NameChum 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 :-).
NameChum may not be included in a commercial package without my prior permission.
Where's the 1.x.x version?
NameChum 2.x.x is based on a (very old and never updated) application of mine: FilePreSuf 1.0.0. Since the totally new interface and features I've changed the FilePreSuf name. This is all.
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
