This program is in the form of an FKEY, which means that it is accessed by typing the key combination Command-Shift-<number>, where in this case the number is 6, though this number may be changed using Suitcase™ or a similar utility.
This FKEY uses the MacinTalk speech driver (if present in the System Folder) to say a message based on the user’s selection in an alert. If the Caps Lock key is pressed first, a predefined person’s name is used also.
Compatibility
This FKEY should work on all Macintoshes. If you have any problems, let me know and I’ll see what I can do.
N.B. you will need to have the MacinTalk speech driver in your System Folder in order to use this FKEY. You can get a copy of MacinTalk from AAPDA, APDA, many BBSs and similar sources, and Apple resellers should be able to supply it also.
Installation
Simply install the FKEY either in your System file or using Suitcase™, and ensure MacinTalk is in your System Folder, and you’re ready to go. If you are one of the few poor unfortunate users who don’t have Suitcase, and don’t have any other FKEY installers, you can use the magic of ResEdit to install the program:
1. Launch ResEdit
2. Open the Message file
3. Select all resources in the file except the ‘vers’ one
4. Choose Copy from the Edit menu
5. Open a copy of the System file [Never use ResEdit on the current one]
6. Choose Paste from the Edit menu
7. Quit, saving the System file on the way.
Customisation
This program has been written so you can easily customise the contents. I suggest that anyone who feels faint or starts to sweat when someone mentions ResEdit should skip this section: you will only need it if you want to change the messages or the name used.
Open a copy of the FKEY file (or the System if the FKEY is there) using ResEdit.
Firstly, if you want to change the name which can be included in the messages (see below) you simply need to change the contents of the only ‘STR ’ resource in the file: STR ID = 17600. Note: do not change the ID numbers of any of the resources, otherwise the program will not work.
To add a new message, there are a number of resources you will need to change:
1. Open the ‘DITL’ resource (there is only one) and choose New from the File menu to create a new button. Name this button with whatever name is appropriate, but remember that the initial letter should be unique as it is used for the keyboard equivalents. You then need to swap the item numbers of this new button and the prompt text plus icon over: click on the button item (in the DITL view) and set the item number to two minus what is was. Close the DITL resource.
2. Open the ‘STR#’ picker and choose New again, then Get Info and set the ID of this new string list to one greater than the highest previous string list—it must have the same last two digits as the item number for your new button. You then can add a few strings to the list: where you want to include the name, place a ‘^’ character. Do not allow any space before it, as the replacement procedure adds a space before the name. Look at the ones I did to get an idea what I mean. Close the string lists when finished.
That’s all! (!!) Quit and save the file. If you haven’t made an error somewhere, it should now offer your new message and actually speak it if you choose it. If not… I suggest you revert back to your backup copy (you did have a backup didn’t you?!) and try again, and again… You could always send a disk & note to me and I’d be happy to do it for you.
Instructions
To use this FKEY, press Command-Shift-6 (or whatever you’ve changed it to) to be presented with a dialog giving you several possible messages which can be spoken. You should then decide if the predefined name should be included in the message or not. As I am distributing it, this program uses the word “you” as the name: you could change it to the name of someone who is always bugging you or coming to ask you things while you are using your Macintosh. If yes, then press the Caps Lock key, otherwise ensure it is not down. Next, you can either click the appropriate button for the message you like, or alternatively if your hands are quite happily on the keyboard you can just press the key corresponding to the initial letter of the chosen message. Of course, you can also click in Cancel or press the Return or Enter keys to say nothing.
Once you have activated the chosen message, it will be spoken using MacinTalk, and you will be returned to what you were doing before. Note that the speed, pitch and precise wording of the message is determined randomly by the FKEY, to add a bit of variety.
Future Enhancements
Any ideas? I’m reasonably satisfied how it came out, but if you would like some improvement done, let me know, and I’ll see what I can do.
Docs: 5 February 1990 Updated MacinTalk information
1.0b1: 10 February 1990 Prepared for first distribution & changed Caps Lock
detection time to button press time (was at Cmd-Shift)
Docs: 10 February 1990 Updated information for distribution incl. About info
1.1b1: 5 November 1990 Added more variations for each message, added the
IdleTalk message, reduced the pitch, used my units
genDialogs, et al & implemented the genSpeech unit
About Message…
I am releasing this FKEY as Freeware, which means that you may give it to anyone you like, and you don’t have to send me any money (though I wouldn’t be offended if you did!) Also, you may not charge anything for it, apart for the usual Freeware distribution charges. However, I ask that you send me a letter, postcard or e-mail to register as a user of this program (even if you don’t use it much!) as I maintain a database of my registered users, even for Freeware such as this. If you didn’t get this program from the Dejal Userware disk directly, please make sure you let me know where you got it from. Also, you may be interested in other programs written by me, including some high quality Shareware applications. Write to the address below, or contact me via e-mail, for more information. If you want to receive the Dejal Userware disk, send US$5 or provide your credit card details (I can accept VISA, MasterCard, Bankcard and American Express, as well as cash & checks in any major currency or international money orders) — I can even accept credit card orders via e-mail!
If you find any bugs, or would like any improvements done, please write to me and I’ll do my best to help you. Remember, this program is Freeware, not Shareware, so it is nowhere as good as my Shareware products, and hasn’t had anywhere near as much testing as them. Don’t judge the quality of my paying Shareware efforts based on free hacks like this one. Of course, I can accept no responsibility for any loss in profits, damage or whatever occurring from the use of this program (though let me know if anything like that happens!)
