This FKEY uses the MacinTalk speech driver (if present in the System Folder) to say a message based on the user’s selection in an alert. If the Caps Lock key is pressed first, a predefined person’s name is used also.
——— Installation ———
There are several ways to install the FKEY, depending on how you organise your disk. Personally, I use Suitcase™ to open the FKEY file, but if you prefer you can use a FKEY moving utility (such as the FKEY Manager) to copy it into a large FKEY file, or indeed the System file, or use one of several other utilities that are available. You could also use ResEdit™ to copy the FKEY resource into your System file, by following the instructions below:
1. Make a copy of your System file
2. Launch ResEdit
3. Open the FKEY file
4. Select all resources in the file except the ‘vers’ one (choose Select All from the Edit menu, then Command-click on the ‘vers’ resource’s icon)
5. Choose Copy from the Edit menu
6. Open the copy of the System file [Never use ResEdit on the current one]
7. Choose Paste from the Edit menu
8. Quit, saving the System file on the way.
——— Compatibilty ———
This FKEY should work on all Macintoshes. If you have any problems, let me know and I’ll see what I can do.
N.B. you will need to have the MacinTalk speech driver in your System Folder in order to use this FKEY. You can get a copy of MacinTalk from AAPDA, APDA, many BBSs and similar sources, and Apple resellers should be able to supply it also.
——— Customisation ———
This program has been written so you can easily customise the contents. I suggest that anyone who feels faint or starts to sweat when someone mentions ResEdit should skip this section: you will only need it if you want to change the messages or the name used.
Open a copy of the FKEY file (or the System if the FKEY is there) using ResEdit.
Firstly, if you want to change the name which can be included in the messages (see below) you simply need to change the contents of the only ‘STR ’ resource in the file: STR ID = 17600. Note: do not change the ID numbers of any of the resources, otherwise the program will not work.
To add a new message, there are a number of resources you will need to change:
1. Open the ‘DITL’ resource (there is only one) and choose New from the File menu to create a new button. Name this button with whatever name is appropriate, but remember that the initial letter should be unique as it is used for the keyboard equivalents. You then need to swap the item numbers of this new button and the prompt text plus icon over: click on the button item (in the DITL view) and set the item number to two minus what is was. Close the DITL resource.
2. Open the ‘STR#’ picker and choose New again, then Get Info and set the ID of this new string list to one greater than the highest previous string list—it must have the same last two digits as the item number for your new button. You then can add a few strings to the list: where you want to include the name, place a ‘^’ character. Do not allow any space before it, as the replacement procedure adds a space before the name. Look at the ones I did to get an idea what I mean. Close the string lists when finished.
That’s all! (!!) Quit and save the file. If you haven’t made an error somewhere, it should now offer your new message and actually speak it if you choose it. If not… I suggest you revert back to your backup copy (you did have a backup didn’t you?!) and try again, and again… You could always send a disk & note to me and I’d be happy to do it for you.
——— Usage ———
To use this FKEY, press Command-Shift-6 (or whatever you’ve changed it to) to be presented with a dialog giving you several possible messages which can be spoken. You should then decide if the predefined name should be included in the message or not. As I am distributing it, this program uses the word “you” as the name: you could change it to the name of someone who is always bugging you or coming to ask you things while you are using your Macintosh. If yes, then press the Caps Lock key, otherwise ensure it is not down. Next, you can either click the appropriate button for the message you like, or alternatively if your hands are quite happily on the keyboard you can just press the key corresponding to the initial letter of the chosen message. Of course, you can also click in Cancel or press the Return or Enter keys to say nothing.
Once you have activated the chosen message, it will be spoken using MacinTalk, and you will be returned to what you were doing before. Note that the speed, pitch and precise wording of the message is determined randomly by the FKEY, to add a bit of variety.
Docs: 5 February 1990 Updated MacinTalk information
1.0b1: 10 February 1990 Prepared for first distribution & changed Caps Lock
detection time to button press time (was at Cmd-Shift)
Docs: 10 February 1990 Updated information for distribution incl. About info
1.1b1: 5 November 1990 Added more variations for each message, added the
IdleTalk message, reduced the pitch, used my units
genDialogs, et al & implemented the genSpeech unit
Docs: 18 January 1995 Updated to reflect my new name and to use styled text
——— Dejal Userware ———
This program is being released as Freeware. You may give it away to anyone, provided you include this document with the software, and both are unmodified. Since it’s not Shareware, you may continue to use it without paying me any money, however if you’ve found it useful and want to donate something, I wouldn’t turn you down!
If you come across any bugs, please let me know. Rest assured I have checked it quite extensively, and found it works fine on my machine and those of my Beta Testers, but I accept no responsibility if it trashes your hard disk or blows up your Mac.
You may be interested in other programs I’ve written, including some high quality Shareware applications. Here are brief descriptions of just two of them:
• SndConverter Pro (Shareware): my most popular product to date; this application allows you to quickly convert a batch of sounds from one format to another. Additional options include the ability to downsample or compress sounds, filter the sound names, change sampling rates, convert 16-bit sounds to 8-bit, plus other features. It will help you find and extract sounds, and supports Apple events (file, folder and disk dropping), resolving aliases, and other features.
• QuickEncrypt (Shareware): drop a file on this application to quickly and securely encrypt it, or decrypt previously encrypted files. It is very configurable and has many features, including support for files of an unlimited length, multiple worksets, user-controlled password limitations, a default password, automatic encryption and/or decryption, verification of validity, the option of a standard source folder and various destination options, opening files once decrypted (via AppleEvents), and more.
Write to the address below, or contact me via e-mail, for more information. If you want to receive the Dejal Userware™ disk, which includes every program I have written and released as Shareware or Freeware, plus my sound catalogue, send US$5 or provide your credit card details. I can accept VISA, MasterCard, Bankcard, Diners Club and American Express, as well as cash & checks in any major currency or international money orders — I can even accept credit card orders via e-mail! I prefer cash (any currency, not only NZ$ or US$) for small amounts like US$5.
Please let me know if you use this program, by writing or e-mailing:
Snail: Dejal Userware, PO Box 33-1011, Takapuna, Auckland 1309, NEW ZEALAND
Internet: dejal@iconz.co.nz (preferred) or dejal@deepthnk.kiwi.gen.nz
Dejal Userware home page: http://amug.org:80/~dejal/
CompuServe: >INTERNET: dejal@iconz.co.nz or 100033,2435
I read the Internet mail every day, and will reply immediately (allow a day or two for net.delay), but only call CI$ once a fortnight, or less.
Note: my software is now available for anonymous ftp at ftp.amug.org in the /pub/dejal directory. Most of the software is also available on sumex-aim and its mirror sites, though my ftp site has the advantage of having all my software in the one directory, and you know they are the latest versions.
