AutoDelete ⌐1987 is an application written by John Lim that when launched automatically deletes all unwanted files in a folder or directory and then optionally self-destructs. This is particularly useful if you have a RAMdisk program that loads your system folder at bootup, and you have many INIT files (like BeepSound or JClock) that you want deleted from the RAMdisk to save space.
I use this program with Sequencer by Darin Adler. Sequencer is a program that can launch several applications sequentially. I set Sequencer to launch my RamDisk program followed by AutoDelete. When AutoDelete is launched, it will delete all the unneeded INIT files and the RAMdisk program from the RAMdisk.
There are 2 ways you can configure this program :
A) REMOTE-DELETE - set AutoDelete to delete files in a directory from another directory. This is useful if you have a hard disk. This configuration only works under HFS.
B) SELF-DELETE - delete selected files in one directory on the SAME disk that AutoDelete is on, and then self-destructs. AutoDelete need not be in the same directory as the files to be deleted, but it has to be on the same disk. This configuration is useful when you are booting up from a floppy and your RAMdisk program has the option of ejecting the startup disk. SELF-DELETE mode works under both HFS or MFS and on the old ROMs too !
HOW TO USE IT
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1. Launch ResEdit.
2. If you want to set AutoDelete to REMOTE-DELETE, find the 'STR ' resource named 'SelfDelete' in AutoDelete. Open that resource. You will see a string saying 'Yes'.The yes means it is set to SELF-DELETE mode. Change the string to 'No'. That sets it to REMOTE-DELETE. To change back to SELF-DELETE restore the string to the original i.e. 'Yes'.
3. Find the 'STR ' resource named 'Volume' in AutoDelete.
4. Open that resource. You will see a string, 'RAMdisk:'.
5. Change that string to the path-name of whatever directory that contains files you want deleted. For example, if all the files are you want to delete are on the disk named 'HAMMER' in the folder named 'Dolt', type 'HAMMER:Dolt:'. Remember to append the semi-colon at the end of the path-name.
6. Open the 'STR#' resource named 'DeleteFiles'.
7. You will see 3 stars at the bottom of the window. Click on the stars. A box will appear around the stars. Choose NEW from the File Menu. That creates a new string in the resource. Type the name of the file you want deleted from the directory you have named in step 5 (i.e. the directory 'HAMMER:Dolt' in the above example).
8. Repeat step 8 until you have listed all the files you want deleted.
9. To remove a file from the list CUT the stars just above the string holding the file name.
10. Close and save.
11. If you choose REMOTE-DELETE, you can launch AutoDelete from anywhere. If you chose SELF-DELETE, as a safety precaution, you can only delete any files when the application is on the same disk as the files it is to delete.
NOTES
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Ñ To prevent the erasure of files due to an accidental launching of AutoDelete, hold the mouse button dowm until you return to the Finder.
Ñ Any errors in deleting files or finding the appropriate directory are indicated by beeps.
Acknowledgements & PD Notice
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Ñ AutoDelete is dedicated to Darin Adler for all the goodies like EUA, SkipFinder, Sequencer, etc. that he's written.
Ñ This program is free. I hereby put it in the public domain. No warranties or liability is implied by me for any damages resulting from the use of this program.
Ñ Portions of this software ⌐1986 THINK TECHNOLOGIES.
