Version Finder is a Mac OS Application that keeps track of the current version numbers of all your Applications, Extensions, Control Panels, Drivers, etc. on your hard disk. You can quickly determine which version of a program you have by consulting Version Finder. If you have internet access and a web browser, you can use Version Finder to help search various internet sites for possible updates to your files. If you have MacOS 8.5 or later, Version Finder can use Sherlock to help find items on the internet.

Version Finder has many other useful features such as the ability to display the full pathname of items in its list, open Finder "Get Info" windows for any of the items in its list, open the folder containing an item in the list, and opening (launching) any item in the list. You can also restrict the display to show only duplicate items, which can aid in cleaning up duplicates on your disks.

Please consult the "Read Me" file included in the download package for more information.

Download the latest version:

VersionFinder v2.5 (VersionFinder.hqx; about 325K; Macintosh Bin Hex Archive)

New with version 2.2 (and later) - Sherlock Integration under MacOS 8.5!

Register your copy of the program:

Register Online at Kagi.com

Version Finder is shareware and costs $15 for a single user license. Site licensing is available. Making payments is easy. You can pay online by accessing the secure web server at Kagi.com. You can pay by check or credit card by running the enclosed "Register"application. Unregistered copies can only be run a limited number of times.

Thank you very much.

Bill Tudor

 

Table of Contents

  1. Revision History
  2. System Requirements
  3. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
 

Revision History

Version Finder is currently at v2.4.

New features introduced with each version:
 Version New Features Introduced
 2.0
  • Initial Release
2.1
  • Added more internet search sites
  • Added more MacOS 8.5 features and minor display enhancements
  • Minor bug fixes
 2.2
  • Added Sherlock Integration under MacOS 8.5 and later
  • Minor window size bug fixes
 2.2.1
  • Changes to the Version Tracker search command to support the improved Version Tracker search engine
 2.3
  • Added more internet search sites
  • Search for Update button now contains a drop-down menu
  • Balloon Help added
  • Better error handling of internet searching
  • Added popup window for showing item location
 2.4
  • Optional "Live" window dragging
  • Improved Internet searches designed to produce more "hits"; updated search sites
  • Minor user interface improvements to the tip windows and other areas.
  • More options when saving lists to disk.
 2.5
  • Updated the internet search sites

System Requirements

Note: Optional Internet Connection and Web Browser need for World Wide Web links and Sherlock searching.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. My "Search For Update" button does not work. What is wrong?

A. The "Search For Update" button, as well as the items in the Internet menu and the Web links located in the help system, all require the optional MacOS component called "Internet Access" and a Web Browser. You can install Internet Access using your System 8 (or later) installation CD. Web browsers are currently available for free from Microsoft (Internet Explorer) and Netscape (Navigator).

If you have installed "Internet Access" or have used the default installation of the MacOS system software, check and make sure the file named "Internet Scripting" is located in your "Scripting Additions" folder (MacOS 8.0 and 8.1).

If internet searching still does not work, check to make sure that your have the correct "default browser" setting in the Internet control panel (MacOS 8.5 and later) or in the Internet Config application (MacOS 8.0/8.1). In Internet Config, the default browser is set by assigning the browser as a "Helper Application" for the "http" protocol. Click the Helpers button and make sure the HTTP protocol helper is properly set.

 Q. "Search for Update" launches my web browser, but the page displayed indicates that an error has occured?
 A. Version Finder searches a number of popular version tracking web sites, such as the Version Tracker web site, for updates. Occastionally, these web sites will update and/or change their search engine or search syntax. When this occurs, Version Finder is no longer able to search that site. In these cases, all attempts will be made to update Version Finder as soon as possible. In the mean time, you can search an alternate site by choosing a different site from the Internet menu or from the search button popup. You can also change which site is considered the "default" search site in the user preferences under the File menu.
Q. "Search for Update" launches my web browser, but the page displayed indicates that the file was NOT FOUND.
 A. Version Finder identifies a program, extension, control panel, etc by its filename on disk. Most of the internet search sites identify programs by their "real" name. Frequently, a program is not found in a search site's database when the program is searched for by filename. Version Finder attempts to use the most likely parts of a filename that will match the search. For example, the filename "Adobe PageMill(R) 3.0" will cause Version Finder to search for "ADOBE+PAGEMILL" (dropping the registered trademark symbol and the version number), which normally yields the correct result.
 Q. Where can I get the latest version?
A. The latest version of the program can be found at Version Tracker or the Version Finder Home Page.
Q. How do I register and pay for the program?
A. You can pay online using the secure web server at Kagi.com or you can send payment directly to Kagi. You will receive a registration number that will enable your copy of Version Finder to operate after the 10-time trial period limit has expired.
 Q. When I run Version Finder, the main window is too large for the screen and I am not able to resize the window because the resize box is off the screen. What do I do?
 A. You can delete your Version Finder preferences from the Preferences folder (do this when Version Finder is not running), or you can drag the window by clicking anywhere on the widow frame and drag it so that the resize box is on the screen. You can also update your copy of Version Finder to version 2.2 or later, which fixes this potential problem.

Version Finder Copyright©1998-99 by Bill Tudor. All rights reserved.
Version Finder is distributed as SHAREWARE. No warranty, either expressed or implied, is provided. Bill Tudor hereby disclaims all warranties relating to this software, whether express or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Bill Tudor will not be liable for any special, incidental, consequential, indirect or similar damages due to loss of data or any other reason, even if Bill Tudor or an agent of his has been advised of the possibility of such damages. In no event shall Bill Tudor be liable for any damages, regardless of the form of the claim. The person using the software bears all risk as to the quality and performance of the software, and, since the software is distributed as shareware, may choose to pay for the software based on the results of their own merchantability and fitness evaluation.
Please send all questions and/or comments to wtudor@nycap.rr.com.
MacOS is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
Copyright © 1998-99 by Bill Tudor · All Rights Reserved (C)1998-99.