BunchOApps is a Control Strip Module that lists the most recently run applications followed by a list of permanent applications. Selecting an application from either list launches the application. If the application is already running, it is brought forward. Both lists are retained across restarts (see Preferences, below).
To remove an application from either list, select it while holding down the <SHIFT> key.
To move an application from the recent apps list to the permanent apps list, select it while holding down the <CONTROL> key.
BunchOApps is now compatible with Desktop Strip, the shareware Control Strip-like control panel.
You can set certain preferences by selecting the Preferences… menu choice which always appears at the bottom of the menu. From within the Preferences dialog you can:
• specify the number of recent applications to remember. BunchOApps can remember from 1 to 25 different recent applications. Use the up and down arrows to specify the number of entries to remember. Press and hold the mouse button over an arrow to make the count change rapidly. If you specify a number less than the current size of the list, the list is trimmed from the bottom up. BunchOApps remembers 25 permanent applications. You cannot change this limit yet.
• check the Clear Recent Apps List Now box to empty the list of recent applications.
• check the Clear Permanent Apps List Now box to empty the list of permanent applications.
• check the Clear Recent Apps On Startup box to clear the list of recent applications every time your Macintosh is started.
NOTE: If you have run BunchOApps 0.9 or 1.0, version 1.1 will automatically update the preferences located in the Control Strip (or Desktop Strip) Preferences file in the Preferences folder in the System Folder. After doing so, you should not run an older version of BunchOApps without throwing out the Control Strip (Desktop Strip) Preferences file. Unfortunately, by tossing the preferences file, you will lose the preferences for all modules. An alternative is to remove just the BunchOApps preferences in the preference file. Use ResEdit to do this, if you feel comfortable doing this kind of thing.
Additions planned for future versions:
- remember desk accessories and documents as well as applications, each with separate perferences
- ignore applications with certain suffixes, signatures, and the like
- <your suggestions - keep sending them>
Of course, you need either Apple's Control Strip or Men & Mice's Desktop Strip in order to use BunchOApps. BunchOApps is free, but not public domain. You may distribute BunchOApps as long as you do not modify the file and include this README file. Look for more interesting and useful Control Strip modules in the near future.
Enjoy,
Patrick McClaughry
patm@parcplace.com
Version History
0.9 - Beta release 14 July 1994
1.0b1 - Add preferences 30 July 1994
1.0b2 - Fix problem with occasional forgetting of recent apps. 15Aug 1994
1.0b3 - Fixed nagging problem with trashed preferences. 22 Aug 1994
