Please note: This program is shareware!!! You may test it for 10 days without obligation. After this time, please pay the shareware fee (see below for payment options). Thank you!!!
Background and creation:
For me, a typical session on the Internet includes downloading several megabytes' worth of files. These files are of various types: text files, sound files, movies, Binhexed files, etc. I have set up my Internet programs to place each downloaded file into one folder, so I know where to find them all later when I want to process them.
The "problem" is that in order to process batches of files, I almost always needed to hunt through the entire folder for files of the same type or with the same extension. With this in mind, I set out to try to find a way to sort these files and place them into appropriate folders. From this idea, Download Separator was born :-) I also thought that such an applet may be of use to others in the Macintosh community, so I am releasing it as shareware.
Requirements:
System 7.0 or higher
AppleScript extension
Choose File scripting addition
File Commands scripting addition
Jon’s Commands scripting addition
Use:
For best use, Download Separator should be kept handy. For example, it could be accessed from the Apple Menu, with an alias on the Desktop, or via a macro command. It is also perfectly safe to leave Download Separator in the source folder; the program ignores itself when it sorts files.
Before launching Download Separator for the first time, it will be necessary to create a folder for each file type recognized by this program. The file types (and the extensions Download Separator associates with each file type) are listed below. Files which are not recognized by Download Separator - including all invisible files - are left untouched in the source folder.
When ready, simply launch Download Separator. It will first ask for the source folder, then it will ask for the target folder for each file type. Once the folders have all been selected, the files will be sorted accordingly.
An error may occur when Download Separator tries to move a file. In most cases, the file which is currently being processed bears the same name as another file already in the target folder. In the event of an error, the file currently being considered will not be moved, and the program will consider the next file in the source folder. When the program is finished, one beep will sound for every error which has occured during program execution.
If there are a lot of items in the source folder, it could take Download Separator a long time to sort files into their appropriate folders, especially on slower computers. It may be a good idea to launch Download Separator, select the source and target folders, and then go get a mug of coffee.
How the files are sorted:
Files are sorted by their extensions. Since most files I download from the Internet have extensions, I felt this was the best (and easiest) way to sort the files. The following is a list of the extensions recognized by Download Separator for each file type:
Download Separator is being released as shareware. You may test this program for a period of ten days. To continue to use Download Separator after this time, please send in the shareware fee using one of the two options below:
Option 1) Please send $5.00 (cash, check, or money order; U.S. funds only, please) payable to "J. Stafford" to me at the snail-mail address below.
Option 2) Please send a disk containing one or more of your original shareware programs, registered to "J. Stafford," to me at the snail-mail address below. Please do not send programs electronically; overstuffing my mailbox is not very nice, and hogging Internet bandwidth creates many enemies >:-(
Site licenses and organization-wide licenses are also available. Please contact me at the address below for more information.
Contact information:
I may be contacted at the following addresses:
E-mail: FEATHER7@IX.NETCOM.COM
Snail-mail: Download Separator v1.0
c/o J. Stafford
414 S. Craig St. #238
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
USA
Version history:
Version 1.0
- Initial release of Download Separator and accompanying README file
- Developed on 68030 LC II running at 16 MHz
- Tested on 603e PowerPC Performa 6360 running at 160MHz
Future versions:
I definitely plan to continue to update Download Separator as new file types and new extensions are used on the Internet. If you feel I have neglected any file types or extensions, please contact me (see the contact addresses above) and I will be sure to implement them in the next release of Download Separator. The newest version of Download Separator will always be available at my Web site: http://www.netcom.com/~feather7/
About the author:
I am currently a graduate student studying French literature. In my spare time, I enjoy programming in AppleScript, and writing various poems and short stories. Check my Web site (at the Web address given above) for more information.
Thanks:
Thank you first to Apple for giving the world the Macintosh :-) Thanks also to Apple for creating AppleScript and especially for making it such an English-like language. And thank you also to the Berkeley Macintosh User Group (BMUG) for The Tao of AppleScript, which was my introduction to scripting.
Disclaimer:
As author of Download Separator, I claim no responsibility for the user's ability or inability to properly use this program as intended, nor for any harm which may be caused to the user's computer equipment or data. This program was clear of viruses at the time it was uploaded to the Internet. Download Separator may only be distributed when accompanied by this README file. Written permission of the author of Download Separator must first be obtained before this program may be included on CD-ROM and diskette shareware collections.
