by Dave Polaschek <mailto:davep@best.com> or <mailto:davep@kagi.com>
Current information available at <http://www.best.com/~davep/software/gxmask/>.
Download Version 1.0
What it is:
Some applications need the GXGraphics Extension installed in order to function correctly. Other applications (a few Desktop Publishing packages are the most common offenders) refuse to run if this extension is installed. This used to mean that you'd have to reboot your Mac to switch between applications, which isn't very friendly behavior.
GXMask is a Control Panel which lets you hide the existance of the GXGraphics Extension from all applications other than ones you select (a list of applications which are known to need GXGraphics is included). This allows you to have GXGraphics installed, and happily use applications which would normally refuse to run with it installed. In all the cases I've tested, this has proven safe, since those applications don't call GXGraphics, so the fact that it's installed would have little effect on them anyhow.
Installation:
To install GXMask, just unstuff the archive with either StuffIt Expander or MindExpander, and then drag GXMask to your closed System Folder (or directly into your Control Panels folder, which is within the System Folder) and then restart your Macintosh.
Using it:
For the most part, you should just be able to ignore GXMask. However, you may discover additional applications which need to know about the GXGraphics Extension. If that's the case, you can easily add those applications to GXMask's list by clicking the "Add..." button in the Control Panel, and then selecting the appropriate application.
If you later find you've added an application which you shouldn't have, you can delete an application by selecting it in the list, and clicking the "Remove" button.
Shareware:
GXMask is shareware, which means if you use it, you should send me $20. The exception to this is if you've received GXMask in conjunction with Multi-Ad Creator2. Multi-Ad has bought a license for GXMask for all users of Creator2. They distribute a special version of GXMask which should already be registered.
The pricing for GXMask may seem steep to you. If that's the case, you're welcome to remove it from your system. On the other hand, it saves you having to reboot your machine to switch between applications. My feeling is that this is a “niche” product. The people who need it, really need it, and the savings in time from not having to restart your Mac to switch applications ought to be worth the $20.
Paying for GXMask is fairly simple. Open the Register program that accompanies GXMask. Enter your name, your email address, and the number of licenses you wish to purchase. Save or Copy or Print the data from the Register program and send the data and payment to Kagi, which handles my payment processing. Once you've paid, you can check the "I Paid" checkbox.
Site and Worldwide licenses are available, as well. Site licenses are good for all users in your company within 100 miles (160 kilometres) of where the application is registered.
If paying with Credit Card or First Virtual, you can email or fax the data to Kagi. Their email address is sales@kagi.com and their fax number is +1 510 652-6589. You can either Copy the data from Register and paste into the body of an email message or you can Save the data to a file and you can attach that file to an email message. There is no need to compress the data file, it's already pretty small. If you have a fax modem, just Print the data to the Kagi fax number.
Payments sent via email are processed within 3 to 4 days. You will receive an email acknowledgement when it is processed. Payments sent via fax take up to 10 days and if you provide a correct internet email address you will receive an email acknowledgement.
If you are paying with Cash or USD Check you should print the data using the Register application and send it to the address shown on the form, which is:
Kagi
1442-A Walnut Street #392-4Z8
Berkeley, California 94709-1405
USA
You can pay with a wide variety of cash from different countries but at present if you pay via check, it must be a check drawn in US Dollars. Kagi cannot accept checks in other currencies, the conversion rate for non-USD checks is around USD 15 per check and that is just not practical.
If you have a purchasing department, you can enter all the data into the Register program and then select Invoice as your payment method. Print three copies of the form and send it to your accounts payable people. You might want to highlight the line that mentions that they must include a copy of the form with their payment. Kagi can not invoice your company, you need to act on my behalf and generate the invoice and handle all the paperwork on your end. Please do not fax or email payment forms that indicate Cash, Check or Invoice as the payment method. As far as we know, there is still no technology to transfer physical objects via fax or email and without the payment, the form cannot be processed.
Payments send via postal mail take time to reach Kagi and then up to 10 days for processing. Again, if you include a correct email address, you will hear from Kagi when the form is processed. If you do not have an email address and want confirmation, you should check the "Postcard receipt" button in the Register application.
Warranty:
Polaschek Computing, Inc. hereby disclaims all warranties relating to this software, whether express or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Polaschek Computing, Inc. will not be liable for any special, incidental, consequential, indirect or similar damages due to loss of data or any other reason, even if Polaschek Computing, Inc. or an agent of theirs has been advised of the possibility of such damages. In no event shall Polaschek Computing, Inc. be liable for any damages, regardless of the form of the claim. The person using the software bears all risk as to the quality and performance of the software.
Redistribution:
GXMask may be redistributed on compilations of feeware and shareware, but not sold for profit. Please distribute only the complete, original archive containing GXMask, this ReadMe file, and the accompanying Register application. If you sell GXMask for profit, I'll have to say bad things about you, and we wouldn't want that. If you would like to license a customized version of GXMask for inclusion with other software, please contact me at one of the email addresses listed above.
Version history:
1.0.1: First public release. Fixed a problem in 1.0 that caused problems in some applications.
