Eradicator is my answer to a problem with MacOS 9 that has been gaining a lot of attention on the Mac Websites lately. It seems that, unlike previous versions of the MacOS, MacOS 9 does not delete temporary files from your computer's hard drive when the computer is shut down or restarted.
Many applications will put temporary files that they use while in operation into an invisible folder on your hard drive named, appropriately enough, "Temporary Items Folder". Applications are supposed to delete these temporary files when they are done with them, but many do not. Older verions of the MacOS would take any files it found left over when the computer is restarted in the "Temporary Items Folder" and put it into the trash in a folder named "Rescued Items from Macintosh HD". You were then free to delete these files, unless you wanted to save them (which you usually don't).
MacOS 9 doesn't seem to do this as reliably, and so these temporary files tend to build up on your hard drive, eating away at disk space, without your even knowing it (aside from your noticing that you have less and less room available on your hard drive).
Eradicator allows you to peek inside this invisible "Temporary Items Folder", see what files are in there, and delete those files, if you wish.
How to use it
Simply double-click on the Eradicator icon to launch the program. Eradicator's main window will appear, showing you a list of all the files currently in the "Temporary Items Folder". This list lets you know the file's name, its size, the program that created the file, as well as whether or not it is being used at the moment.
If you want to delete a file, simply highlight the file in the list and click the "Delete" button. The file will be moved from the "Temporary Items Folder" to the Trash. (Note that even though the button is marked "Delete", Eradicator does not actually delete the file. Instead, it moves the file to the trash, where you can decide if you really want to delete the file by emptying the trash.)
If you want to delete more than one file at a time, simply highlight each file you want to delete by clicking on the file's name while holding down the Command key (the one with the apple on it).
Eradicator will not let you delete a file that is currently in use.
The "Refresh" button is used when you want to update the list of files in the "Temporary Items Folder" (such as when an application is launched, or quit, but Eradicator is still running). Note that when you delete a file or files from the "Temporary Items Folder", the list of files will automatically update.
What it does not do
That's all there is to this program. It doesn't do anything else, other than that described above. If you are looking for a full-fledged file manager, there are plenty of good choices available on the web.
Legal Disclaimer
This software is provided AS IS. I make no warranties in regards to the use of this software. I have done my best to make sure that this software is bug-free and it should not cause any problems with your computer, however, as will all software of this nature, use it at your own risk. I am not responsible for any damage or other hardship that is caused in relation to the use of this software. If you are not comfortable with the concepts described above, please be extra careful.
Licensing Info
Eradicator is freeware. Feel free to distribute this software as you like, with no restrictions, other than you may only distribute the original self-extracting archive, and not the individual files contained therin. Feel free to place this software on any software compilation, for-profit or otherwise. The only thing I ask is that if Eradicator is included on a for-profit software compilation (such as those CDs distributed with magazines), please e-mail me letting me know that you are including the software.
