This is a supplementary file to Info...'s built-in help feature. Info... is a desk accessory replacement for the Finder's Get Info... option, allowing you to view information about a file and attach a text comment to it. Some of its advantages include:
Up to 32,767 characters of text per file.
Viewing and editing file comments from within applications other than the Finder.
Allowing you to differentiate between different files created by the same application.
Text display in different fonts and font sizes.
Placing icons in the clipboard, where they can be pasted into programs like MacPaint or ResEdit.
Opening and editing text files.
An Undo feature.
Info...'s only major disadvantage is that it cannot attach comments to disks or folders.
So what can you use Info... for? Here are some ideas:
If you have a number of letters you can't keep straight, you can attach notes to them describing their purposes.
If you produce a shareware or public domain program, use Info... to attach help or a description of the program.
You can also use Info... to attach comments to files that you transfer by modem. Since the comments that Info... uses become an actual part of the file, unlike Get Info.. comments (which are stored in the DeskTop file), they are only destroyed when you erase the file.
Use the More Info option to change MacPaint documents to FullPaint documents, and vice-versa. It can also change the Finder to a normal, double-clickable application.
Use Info... to keep track of different kinds of documents created by the same application. For instance, the Font/DA Mover creates two types of documents: desk accessory and font files. Using the Add and Edit buttons, you can have Info... differentiate between the two. (Since the icons of the two files are different, this really isn't too useful╤but you get the idea.)
Using Info... under HFS and MFS:
Info... has been written to run under both HFS and MFS, on 128K Macs to Mac II's. Info... 1.0 had a nasty habit of destroying files on Mac II's; this version was written on a Mac II and that problem is now fixed. Compatibility with all Macs is NOT guaranteed, but Info.. SHOULDN'T cause any trouble. Test it before you really use it. A final note: the Get Info option will not work under MFS or on MFS disks.
Using Info... in the Finder:
Info... works just fine in the Finder; in fact, since it has to load the Desktop file into memory, it actually runs faster than usual. However, take care not to unmount a disk (by dragging its icon into the trash can) while working with a file on that disk, or Info... will be unable to save changes to the file when you're done. (It goes without saying that you shouldn't delete a file while working on it with the desk accessory.)
About Info...'s size:
You may wonder why Info... is so LARGE. It might seem that a 36K desk accessory should do more than just attach comments to files. Well, Info... does do more: changing fonts, handling text files, the More Info option and internal name lists all add to Info...'s size. The text that appears when you click on the Help button takes up 5K on disk alone.
Bells and whistles:
Info... lacks some sophisticated text editing capabilities, including search and replace and word count. However, it does support the standard Edit menu. Pushing the Enter key will automatically scroll you to the text insertion point and pushing the Tab key will insert a non-breaking space (the same character you get by pushing Option-space bar).
Modifying Info...:
All of the text that appears in Info... is stored in resources which can be changed with ResEdit. You can modify these resources to translate Info... into different languages.
Info... is shareware. If you use it, please send $1 to:
Zeba Kimmel
Box 4361
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Bitnet: ST702546@BROWNVM
Internet: ST702546@BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU
A final note:
If you find a major bug, or would like to make a comment about Info..., please write to me at the above address. Look for my shareware game, Pirate Attack! (which is also a dollar), as well as my public domain program CursorEdit (old but still serviceable).
