DeskTop Minder is a simple script which can save the position of everything, or some things, on your desktop, and later, restore those items to their saved positions. This script application is intended to be run from the AppleMenu, or from ScriptMenu (or some other utility like ScriptMenu or possibly from the Launcher). If you only want to save the location of some items, select those items and save the position(s). If you want to remember where everything is, either select everything or don't select anything. If no items are selected when you save, the postion of everything on the desktop is saved. All of the positions are saved within the script application itself. If things get moved around and you want to restore evrything to that nice neat arrangement, just run DeskTop Minder and load the saved position. If you want to save different arrangements of your desktop, duplicate the file, name it something that will remind you of what arrangement you are saving, and then save that position by running the script.
This script application is handy for those neat freaks that like to keep all their disks, drag and drop applications, and the trash in certain positions on the desktop. If you are like me, things can get moved around, so I just load up my preferred desktop arrangement when I want to straighten up the place. This is v1.6 which adds a Cancel option to the main options screen, just in case you invoked the script in error. I have also updated and re-written this ReadMe file--I am not a technical writer, so these instructions are pretty crude, but should give you the basic idea.
1. Applescript must be installed on your system. This is a standard part of the MacOS these days, so it should be installed if you are running any version of System 7.5 or higher.
USAGE:
In order to use the application, place it in the AppleMenu Item folder within the System Folder. One good way of storing this application is to keep a folder of script applications (called something like Scripts) inside the AppleMenu Items folder. There you can store a set of script applications that you want to have quick and easy access to. Apple provides a similar arrangement with the default installation of system software by creating an Automated Tasks folder with a set of simple script applications. An alias to this folder is installed in the AppleMenu Items folder, and the actual folder is placed with your copy of the Script Editor. If you want, just place Desktop Minder in with these automated task scripts. You can also keep this script in the Finder folder if you are using ScriptMenu. ScriptMenu provides a system wide menu bar item and has its own installation requirements.
You cannot properly use this application by simply double clicking on it while it sits on the desktop. Activating the script by double clicking on it will cause DesktopMinder to be selected in the Finder, and that will cause the DesktopMinder to be the only item whose position you can store and reset.
To store the positions of items on the desktop, you can select those items you wish to store--disks, trash, any drag and drop items you keep on the desktop, etc. Do not select any removable disks, as they may not be mounted on the desktop when you run the script again (removables shouldn’t crash the script). When you run the script, the positions of only those items you selected will be stored. If you select nothing on the desktop, the script will store the positions of everything it can find on the desktop.
WARNING:
This is a simplified script. It does little error checking. It relies on default timeouts for AppleScript. It will only partially warn you if there is a problem in getting or storing data.
DISCLAIMER:
This is freeware for personal use. I can not promise tech support. If there is a problem, e-mail me, and I will try to help. I cannot be held liable for any problems you may have with this script application--this is try at your own risk. There should be no problem, but if your hard drive melts, you are on your own (tell me about it, so I can figure out what went wrong).
E-MAIL:
You can e-mail me at tjb@inch.com with any comments, suggestions, gifts, praise, adoration, or whatever. Please drop me a line to say hello, and tell me what you think of this script. If you are in need of a more comprehensive script solution, I'm not against the idea of being paid! Make me an offer.
WEB:
I have a web site where you can check for the latest versions, and any info that may be relevant to my script projects at http://www.inch.com/~tjb/adoor.html
