Copyright (C) 1999, by kykz's Software. All rights reserved.
What is it?
FavorStrip is a Control Strip Module which makes easier launching applications, opening files, accessing folders, disks and servers, and achieving sites which Internet URLs are stored in the Favorites folder in Apple menu.
Installation
To install FavorStrip, simply drag it over the active System folder.
You will be prompted to accept storing it in Control Strip Modules folder. Click OK.
Then after a while another Control Strip Module will appear in Control Strip. And done.
Important for Extensions Strip users:
- You will not see row of icons if "Miniature Modules" option is chosen in Extensions Strip Control.
Like in case any other control strip modules if you press and hold down option key and place cursor above FavorStrip, you can move the module around control strip panel.
System Requirements
FavorStrip requires MacOS 8.5 or later.
How does it work?
FavorStrip works in two modes: "Single Menu" mode and "Multiple Menu" mode.
- In "Single Menu" mode you see small control strip module with familiar Favorites folder icon placed on it.
All the items are displayed in one pull down menu with many subtitles (less space on desktop occupied by FavorStrip module, but slower access to items).
- In "Multiple Menu" mode you can see row up to ten icons.
There are many separate pull down menus each with own title (more space on desktop occupied by FavorStrip module, but quicker access to items).
Settings:
If you press and hold down shift key and click on FavorStrip module, another pull down menu appears.
When name of item in this menu has bullet at the beginning - option represented by its name is on and respective submenu will be displayed in menu (in"Single Menu" mode) or respective icon will be displayed on FavorStrip module and you will gain access to one of many menus (in"Multiple Menu" mode).
When there is no bullet - option is off and respective submenu will not be shown.
Selecting an item toggles between on and off.
Items in this menu are grouped in two sets: "Display settings" and "Menu settings".
Display settings:
"Display settings" contains ten items: Applications, Accessories, Documents, Folders, URLs, User Items 1, User Items 2, User Items 3, User Items 4, Trash. First five are connected with Favorites folder.
When something is in Favorites folder, FavorStrip evaluates to which category of the five it belongs and displays under respective subtitle in one pull down menu (in "Single Menu" mode) or in smaller pull down menu under respective icon (in"Multiple Menu" mode).
During installation FavorStrip creates in System folder "FavorStrip Items" folder with subfolders "1_User Items 1", "2_User Items 2", "3_User Items 3" and "4_User Items 4".
Stored items within these folders are displayed under respective subtitles "User Items 1", "User Items 2", "User Items 3" and "User Items 4" (in "Single Menu" mode) or under respective icons (in"Multiple Menu" mode).
You can modify these folder's names, but the prefixes 1_, 2_, 3_, and 4_ must be retained. The name displayed in the menu is changed when you alter the folder name.
- When you will select "Trash" item you will gain access to functions connected with trash.
In "Single Menu" mode its icon will appear in pull down menu with word "Trash". Under it will be displayed text "Empty Trash".
When you will select "Trash" item in this menu - you will open Trash folder.
When you will select "Empty Trash" item - you will just make trash empty.
In "Multiple Menu" mode trash icon is displayed on the right side of the row of icons on FavorStrip module.
When you will double click this icon - you will open Trash folder.
When you will click this icon - small menu appears with words "Empty Trash".
When you will select "Empty Trash" item - you will just make trash empty.
Be aware that choosing "Empty Trash" works without prompting to confirm, then you have to be careful using this item.
Menu settings:
In set "Menu settings" there are four options: "ActionStick", "Folder Submenu", "Multiple Menu", "Large Icon".
- "ActionStick" option:
When selected - pull down menu appears, when you place cursor on icon displayed on FavorStrip module (in "Single Menu" mode) or one of icons displayed on FavorStrip module (in "Multiple Menu" mode) and stay on screen until you click anywhere; when unselected - pull down menus appears on screen only when you click on icon displayed on FavorStrip module (in "Single Menu" mode) or one of icons displayed on FavorStrip module (in "Multiple Menu" mode) and stay on screen as long as you hold mouse button down.
- "Folder Submenu" option:
When selected - you have direct access to items contained in folders displayed in menu (submenu appears near selected folder); when unselected - you can only open folders displayed in menu.
- "Multiple Menu" option:
When selected - you are in "Multiple Menu" mode; when unselected you are in "Single Menu" mode.
- "Large Icon" option:
When selected - large icon will be displayed in menu; when unselected - small icons will be placed in menu.
Adding items:
There are many ways to add items to menu.
- Most primitive is to add aliases to Favorites folder in System folder. You can also choose "Add To Favorites" from "File" menu in Finder.
- But FavorStrip makes it easier: just drag & drop items into one of the Favorites folder icons on FavorStrip (in "Single Menu" mode) or hold down shift key, and drag & drop items into one of the icons on FavorStrip (in "Multiple Menu" mode).
- Be aware that FavorStrip will evaluate to which category given file belongs. You can not place an application in menu Folders. Only menus "User Items" are free open for all files.
Removing an item:
Removing an item is also as quite easy.
- To do it, hold down control key, and click on FavorStrip, the FavorStrip menu will open and trash icon will appear, select the item that you wish to delete from FavorStrip's menu. And done.
Launching an item:
Starting application and opening folders goes in similar way.
- You have to select an item from FavorStrip's menu. And done.
- To open document from an application contained in the FavorStrip menu, drag & drop it into the small menu icon on FavorStrip module (in "Single Menu" mode) or drag & drop it one of the icons on FavorStrip module (in "Multiple Menu" mode), then FavorStrip's menu will open and the small icon of document will appear, select an application from menu to open document in chosen application.
Displaying an item:
- To display an item, hold down command key and select an item from FavorStrip's menu.
Opening folder:
- To open Favorites folder, double click FavorStrip's module (in "Single Menu" mode) or double click one of the icons besides User Items icons on FavorStrip module (in "Multiple Menu" mode).
- To open FavorStripItems folder, hold down shift key and double click FavorStrip's module.
- To open User Items folder, double click one of the User Items icons on FavorStrip (in "Multiple Menu" mode).
Moving files:
- To move files to a folder in the menu, drag & drop into the small menu icon on FavorStrip module, when FavorStrip's menu is opened, select a folder from menu (in "Single Menu" mode) or drag & drop into one of the icons on FavorStrip module, when FavorStrip's menu is opened, select a folder from menu (in "Multiple Menu" mode).
- To copy files to a folder contained in the FavorStrip's menu, drag & drop into the small menu icon on FavorStrip module, when FavorStrip's menu is opened, hold down option key and select a folder from menu (in "Single Menu" mode) or drag & drop into one of the icons on FavorStrip, when FavorStrip's menu is opened, hold down option key and select a folder from menu (in "Multiple Menu" mode).
Distribution
FavorStrip is shareware. FavorStrip is copyrighted software and is freely distributed.
FavorStrip must be licensed for commercial distribution. To contact the author, use the e-mail address below.
Disclaimer
Use this software at your own risk. The author does not provide any warranty with this software and cannot be held liable for any problems caused by its use.
The author would like to receive bug reports from users, but cannot make any promises regarding future versions.
Registration
If you find FavorStrip useful and continue to use it beyond the 20 times (Macintosh startup) free trial period, you are required to register your copy.
Follow the instructions in the "Registration by Kagi" file included in the download package.
A $10 registration fee will license a single user.
For more details, contact the author.
Contacting the author
Send bug reports, suggestions for new features or other information to:
E-mail:kykz@kagi.com
The latest versions of this program and others by the same author are available at:
http://www.246.ne.jp/~kykz/
Version History
v2.2.0 1999.10.24
- added file-type of URL files.
v2.1.1 1999.10.3
- improved compatibility with "ACTION GoMac".
v2.1.0 1999.9.19
- added function of connecting with trash.
v2.0.0 1999.8.15
- added function of multiple menu.
- added function of displaying large icon.
v1.4.1 1999.8.9
- fixed bug in dragging files onto the menu icon.
v1.4.0 1999.8.8
- added sub menu to folder menus.
v1.3.1 1999.7.29
- added function of modifying original menu names.
v1.3.0 1999.7.25
- changed this product name.
- changed directory of original classified items.
- improved behavior of original cursors.
- improved behavior when double click.
v1.2.1 1999.7.23
- improved compatibility with "Extensions Strip" on previous MacOS8.5.
v1.2.0 1999.7.21
- added function of original classifications.
- added function of removing real URL files.
- added original cursors.
v1.1.0 1999.7.20
- supported TEXT(URL) drag data.
v1.0.1 1999.7.19
- fixed bug in unsupported drag data type.
- resolved conflicts with Auto Stick option and Balloon help.
v1.0.0 1999.7.19
- first release.
Acknowledgments
Special thanks for Wlodzimierz Z. Czarzasty for writing "Read Me" and beta-testing.
