Trash•Desktop is a freeware drag and drop utility for rebuilding the Desktop. It sets the files “Desktop DB”, “Desktop DF” and “Desktop” to visible and then move them to the Trash.
Just drag and drop any unprotected local disk and then restart the Mac for rebuilding fresh new Desktop files.
The AppleScript file called “Trash All & Restart.as” shows how to select all mounted volumes and move the Desktop files to the Trash. The file “Trash All & Restart” is the applet version, you just need to select Trask•Desktop the first time you launch it.
Caution: The Finder comments are lost when you rebuild the Desktop files with Trash•Desktop.
Keep this in mind: The Desktop files are always in use when you move them to the Trash until you restart or unmount the disk.
Trash•Desktop is now Mac OS 8.5 savvy, it uses the new Navigation Services for selecting a disk, the Red Alerts for displaying warnings and messages. Finally, the Ballons help have been added for the menus and the preferences dialog.
What’s new in version 1.1
Preferences dialog
The Preferences dialog allows to choose other files to move to the Trash. The below dialog shows the default preferences.
File Menu
- Move Desktop Files to the Trash allows to select a disk or volume and then move the Desktop files to the Trash.
- Move All Desktop Files to the Trash allows to move the Desktop files for all unprotected and local disks or volumes.
- Put Away Desktop Files allows you to reinstall correctly the moved Desktop files from the Trash to the disk. This command is valid until you restart or unmout the disks.
- Preferences allows to choose other files to move to the Trash, like the “AppleShare PDS” file.
Change History:
1.2.1 (05.03.99)
The Navigation Services is now "weak linked" (oops!:) and used only when present.
1.2 (28.01.99)
Mac OS 8.5 savvy, when Mac OS 8.5 is present TD uses the Navigation services
for selecting a disk. The warnings and messages are now displayed with the
Red Alerts when the Appearance Manager is present (Mac OS 8.x).
Balloons help have been added for the menus and the Preferences dialog.
1.1.4 (10.07.98)
End of text item in the Preferences dialog was invisible.
1.1.3 (06.07.98)
Fixe some memory problems and spelling errors
(Thanks to Larry Lloyd). Now 100 KB is required.
1.1.2 (23.06.98)
Dialogs and alerts adapted for Mac OS 8 Platinum Appearance (:-)
1.1.1 (18.12.97)
Checks the preferences before to move the Desktop and AppleShare PDS
files to the Trash (version 1.1 moves always the Desktop and the
AppleShare PDS files)
Replace the words trashed or to trash with right terms, I hope :-)
1.1 (17.12.97)
"Trash Desktop Files…" menu item added.
"Trash Desktop Files on All Volume" menu item added.
"Preferences…" menu item added.
New e-mail address.
1.0.2 (07.01.97)
Fixed minor problems with the bundle info (BNDL).
1.0.1 (15.11.96)
Don't report AE error -1700 (errAEEventNotHandled) with AppleScript.
Add a small AppleScript example to show how to trash all Desktop files and
restart the Mac. Thanks to Alan Summerfield for his suggestion.