Manipulator is a file manipulation utility. It allows you to Move, Copy, Delete, Rename, Change File Types and Creators. You can limit which files are manipulated using a variety of criteria, including Size, Label, Name, Attributes, Comments, Image Type, Version, etc... You can also build Droplets to perform common file manipulations.
What does Manipulator require to run?
Any Power Macintosh running Mac OS 8 or greater. It runs great on Mac OS 9.0.
How do I use Manipulator?
Manipulator is designed to create customized Droplets to perform manipulation of files. The custom settings of a Droplet are organized into Missions, Conditions, and Actions. They are described as follows:
Missions:
A Mission contains a set of Conditions and Actions that work together to process files. Each file processed through a Mission is checked to see if it satisfies the Conditions you have specified. If these Conditions are satisfied, all of the Actions you have specified are performed. You can set up a Mission to require that all Conditions are satisfied (similar to an AND operation in Boolean Logic) or apply the Actions if any Condition is satisfied (similar to an OR operation in Boolean Logic). Missions can also have a title to more easily recognize them. You can create as many Missions as you want and each Mission may contain as many Conditions and Actions as you want. An example Mission might contain a Condition to check the file size (e.g. files greater than 1 megabyte) and an Action to copy the file to the Desktop.
Conditions:
A Condition is the criteria by which you can limit which files have Actions applied to them. You might for example, only wish to apply a set of Actions to a file if it has a specific letter in it's filename or if it is of a certain size.
Here's a list of the available Conditions:
Comment:
Allows you to search the file's comment to determine if it should be processed.
File Flag:
Allows you to check the file's Locked, Invisible, Name Locked, Stationery, or Custom Icon flag to determine if it should be processed.
File Size:
Allows you to compare the file size, with option of using only the resource fork or only the data fork, with a size you specify, to determine if it should be processed.
File Type/Creator:
Allows you to check the file type and/or file creator to determine if it should be processed.
Image Type:
Allows you to check for an image file of a specific type to determine if it should be processed. This Condition looks inside the file to determine to actual image type so it can check files that may have incorrect file types and/or filename extensions.
Kind:
Allows you to check if the item is a file, folder, or volume to determine if it should be processed.
Label:
Allows you to check if a file has a specific label to determine if it should be processed.
RGB TIFF/EPS Checker:
Allows you to look inside the file to determine if it is an RGB TIFF or RGB EPS file to determine if it should be processed. This currently only works with Photoshop TIFF and Photoshop EPS files.
Version:
Allows you to compare the file's version to determine if it should be processed.
Actions:
An Action is something to be performed on a file, if the Conditions you've specified (if any) are satisfied. Actions are where all the modifications of a file take place. You might for example, wish to move a file to the Desktop, rename it to remove a certain filename extension, or change the file type o creator.
Here's a list of the available Actions:
Change File Type/Creator:
Allows you to change the file type and/or file creator to anything you choose.
Copy:
Allows you to copy files and/or folders to a specific folder or to one of the many standard folders available. Some of these standard folders include: Apple Menu Items, System Folder, Control Panels, Desktop, Trash, Fonts, etc...
Warning: This Action can take a long to complete when used with large files and/or folders.
Move:
Allows you to move files and/or folders to a specific folder or to one of the many standard folders available. Some of these standard folders include: Apple Menu Items, System Folder, Control Panels, Desktop, Trash, Fonts, etc...
Warning: This Action can take a long to complete when used with large files and/or folders.
Delete:
Allows you to delete files and/or folders.
Warning: This Action is not undoable and can cause loss of data if used incorrectly. Use at your own risk.
Log:
Allows you to log the full pathname of every item that is processed. This is useful for creating catalogs of your files or to test out custom Droplets to see which files they would process.
Rename:
Allows you to rename an item to a specific filename. This is useful when used in conjunction with very specific Conditions.
Rename: - Change Case :
Allows you to change the case of each letter of the filename. Some of the options include: All UPPERCASE, all lowercase, Title Caps, etc...
Rename: - Remove Phrase :
Allows you to rename a file by removing a phrase from it's filename. This has an option for case sensitivity, allows you to remove all instances of the phrase instead of just the first, and to allows you to perform the removal, only if the phrase is at the beginning or end of the filename.
Rename: - Remove Characters :
Allows you to rename a file by removing a specified number of characters from the beginning, end, an offset from the beginning, or an offset from the end.
Rename: - Insert :
Allows you to rename a file by inserting a phrase at the beginning, end, an offset from the beginning, or an offset from the end.
Rename: - Number :
Allows you to rename a file by adding a number to the filename. There are a number of options with this Action. You can replace the current filename with a base name with a number added to it. You can add a number to the end of the filename, insert it at the beginning, insert it at an offset from the beginning, or insert it at an offset from the end of the filename. You also have the option of adding leading zeros to the number and removing existing numbers from anywhere in the filename, only from the beginning of the filename, or only from the end of the filename.
Putting it all together:
Using Missions, containing Conditions and Actions, creates almost endless possibilities. You can create Droplets to sort important files, change downloaded files to their correct file type and creator, rename batches of files based on very specific criteria, delete old files from your hard drive, find unused files taking space on your hard drive, and much more... There are several example Droplets included with this package to give you an idea of what you can do with Manipulator as well as how to create them. Droplets are fully editable so you can create simple ones at first and build on them later too.
If you create any interesting Droplets and would like to share them, please e-mail them to manipulator@chaoticsoftware.com.
How do I pay for Manipulator?
See the document included with Manipulator titled "How Do I Pay?"
What should I pay for?
If you are using Manipulator and it's Droplets only for personal use, a single user license is all you need. If you are distributing Droplets to more than 100 people, please purchase a site license. Each person using Manipulator and/or creating Droplets should purchase a single user license, unless a site license has already been purchased. If you have any questions, e-mail them to manipulator@chaoticsoftware.com.
What about registration numbers?
Manipulator does not require a registration number. I rely solely on your honesty to pay. When you have paid for Manipulator, check the "I Have Paid" checkbox in the preferences. This will stop Manipulator from displaying the shareware reminder.
Can I distribute Manipulator?
Yes, please do! You may distribute this application as long as you include the full package and do not charge for it. Reasonable media and distribution costs excluded. We want as many people to get this as possible.
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How do I contact Chaotic Software?
For help or information about this application and/or Chaotic Software, send mail to support@chaoticsoftware.com.
For information about Kagi Shareware and/or the Register application, send mail to shareware@kagi.com.
You can also check out our web site at: www.chaoticsoftware.com.
