You can schedule Insider Updates to run automatically during non-business hours so new updaters are automatically downloaded without your active involvement. To perform an update session, your Mac must be on at the scheduled time and configured to allow applications to automatically open an Internet connection.
Setting up PPP
To allow applications to open a connection, open your PPP Control Panel and turn on the checkbox to ‘connect automatically when starting TCP/IP applications’. This is the label for the OT/PPP Control Panel - your option text may be different depending on the PPP software you’re using. If you’re connecting to the Internet through a router, then you don’t need the PPP Control Panel and the router will connect automatically.
Setting up America Online
If you use America Online to access the Internet, then you must have AOL Link enabled and you must be signed on before running Insider Updates. Please refer to America Online’s documentation for setting AOL Link and ‘Auto AOL’ sessions.
To set the schedule, select ‘Schedule’ from the File menu. The following window appears:
Click on the days of the week on which you want to run your update. For most users, selecting one day (once a week) is sufficient. Specify the time by clicking on the hours and minutes and using the up/down arrows.
To Shut Down the Macintosh after the update is finished, click on ‘Shut Down when complete’. Make sure that you have saved any open documents so the Macintosh can shut down without asking if you want to save the documents. If you’d prefer not to leave your Mac on until the scheduled time, you can use the ‘Energy Saver’ Control Panel, part of the System software, to turn the Macintosh on before Insider Updates’ scheduled time. This feature works on all Macintoshes that support shutting down from the Finder’s ‘Special’ menu.
If necessary, Insider Updates places the ‘Auto Updater’ Extension in your Extensions folder. The ‘Auto Updater’ is a faceless, background task that launches the Insider Updates application. The Extension is contained within the Insider Updates application so if you trash or misplace it, the application will write a new copy. You do not need to restart after re-configuring the schedule.
After configuring the Schedule, click on the ‘Enable’ button to activate the schedule. To disable the Schedule, click on the ‘Disable’ button.
Configuring the Options
Select ‘Prefs’ from the File menu. The following window appears:
Downloading Beta Software
Some developers release beta software that is in the final stages of testing, but is not the final version. Select ‘Download beta software’ if you want to receive beta software. Please keep in mind that beta software may be unstable and you should use it with caution. Always keep an original version of the software so you can revert to the shipping version.
Automatically Decompressing
Insider Updates delivers updaters as stuffed files created with StuffIt™ from Aladdin Systems who can be reached at www.aladdinsys.com. To automatically decompress the files after they are downloaded, select the ‘Decompress files automatically’ checkbox. To delete the compressed files after they are expanded, select the ‘Delete after expanding’ checkbox. Insider Updates incorporates the ability to de-compress the files and does not require any ‘helper’ applications.
Please note that Insider Software does not rename the developer’s original updater. Therefore, the unstuffed file name may be cryptic and hard to identify. If possible, Insider Updates places updates in folders with descriptive names.
