HandyMan is a Control/Desktop/Extension Strip Launching Module. It is designed to allow quick and easy access to applications, Control Panels, Desk Accessories, Folders and other documents stored on your Macintosh, without having to navigate through several “Finder Windows” or through a multi-layered, hierarchical apple menu.
System Requirements
HandyMan should run on any Macintosh model and requires at least system 7.1 and Control Strip or Desktop Strip (version 1.1.1 or higher) installed.
Make sure the “Finder Scripting Extension” is installed to work with Folder icons, Trash icons, Control Panel icons, and ordinary documents ...
If Drag Manager 1.1 is installed you can drag and drop documents on the applications, folders and trash icons in the strip. (System 7.5 has the Drag Manager included).
For best functionality you need the “Finder Scripting Extension” version 1.2 or higher, “Macintosh Drag and Drop” version 1.1 or higher, “Desktop Strip” control panel version 1.1.1 or higher or Extension Strip 1.0 or higher and “Apple Menu Options” with recent docs enabled.
Should you have any trouble running HandyMan on your machine, please write to me with the full specifications of your machine and what version of HandyMan you are using.
How to use HandyMan
HandyMan is designed to allow quick and easy access to applications, Control Panels, Desk Accessories, Folders and other documents stored on your Macintosh by clicking on the icons or dropping documents onto them. This approach is much handier than aliases that are on the desktop because the strips that contain the icons can never be covered by windows.
HandyMan is configured by dropping aliases in the configuration folder, or by dropping files onto the “+” applescript. If you Click on the “+” script it will open the aliases folder. This “+” script will ask you a folder the first time it is used. The suggested place is the right one so just click the “Choose” button when the file select dialog appears. After adding aliases you have to select “Update Icons” to reflect the changes.
There are a few simple modifier keys that can be used:
- Option click on the trash will empty it.
- Option drop on a folder copies the files, otherwise they will be moved.
- Control clicking on a folder icon filters out non-folder items from that popup menu.
- Shift clicking on a folder icon filters out folders from that popup menu.
- Control dropping on a folder will force the copy or move to happen (no dialog popping up).
- Control clicking on a text label allows you to resize the labels.
- Shift clicking on a finder clipping copies the content to the clip-board.
- Shift dragging on a finder clipping drags the content not the file.
- Command dropping onto a configuration icon moves the file into the folder i.s.o. making an alias.
Desktop/Extension Strip Users should put this module into its own strip (folder).
Users of Extension Strip can use the supplied “fat” version on PowerPC's. For other users this native version won't have any benefits.
An example Setup:
Advanced usage:
Use compiled Apple Scripts, onto which you can drag and drop just like onto an application, to add custom commands to the strip.
sample usage:
on run
-- User has clicked the script to run it....
end run
on open theList
-- User has dropped files onto script to open them....
repeat with x in theList
-- walk through the list of dropped items
end repeat
end tell
MakeHandyManAliases(theList)
end open
The configuration menu
Small icon size
Large icon size
You can figure out what this means...
BTW does anyone want to have mini icons?
Large icons are only available in Desktop/Extension Strip!
Show Popup Triangle
HandyMan has the ability to hide the configuration triangle to save some space on your desktop (or because it's neater without that triangle).
You can always use Command click on the module to make it show its configuration menu and change the settings.
Show Vertical icon list
The list of icons can be horizontally or vertical arranged.
This option is only available in Desktop/Extension Strip!
Show Folder Structure
To configure the strip, you must make a folder “HandyMan Aliases” in the folder that contains the HandyMan Module or in your preference folder. To make multiple columns you can put folders in the “HandyMan Aliases” folder and put on the “Folder Structure” option.
This way folders are parsed one level deep, folders in those folders show up as folders in the bar (for more information see included picture). To suppress the adding of a folder make the first letter of its name with a ‘¬’ (Option - ‘L’).
This option is only available in Desktop/Extension Strip!
Show InfoBar
Let HandyMan tell you what item the mouse is on.
This option is only available in Desktop/Extension Strip!
Show PopInfo
A text pops up when you keep the mouse steady over an icon. This is an alternative to “Show InfoBar” which needs less screen-space and also works in Control Strip.
The Text always pops up in the module bounds.
Show Text-Labels
Icons are shown with the name next to it.
(Option Selecting it removes the icon and only a text-label will be shown)
To resize the text labels click in them with the control key pressed. A vertical line will appear that can be dragged to the left or to the right.
Show Tiles
Icons are shown with a small frame so they look more like buttons.
This option is only available in Desktop/Extension Strip!
Show Alias Folder
An icon is added to the start of the bar onto witch you can drop things to add them to the script. On normal dropping an Alias is created and put in the configuration folder on Cmd ()
dropping the drop is moved to that location.
Resolve Dragged Alias
This only applies to installed applications.
It makes the application open the alias or the document the alias points to.
This requires “Macintosh Drag and Drop” version 1.1 or higher to be installed.
Enable Items Popup
HandyMan has the ability to let you select a file that is in a folder in a popup menu. Enable this option and click and hold onto the folder or folder alias installed in the bar.
If you have the ‘Apple Menu Options’ control panel installed and 'Remember Recent used files' is on, HandyMan will put up a popup menu on your installed applications, containing the recent files that the application can open.
(P.S. you can also make the folder yourself (“Recent Documents” in the apple menu) and put some aliases to documents in it to popup on applications. You also can lock aliases in that folder to have permanent items these will appear underlined in the menu for easy spotting).
Enable Drag Away
If on Items can be dragged from the bar away. Handy if you have an alias installed to the 'Find Original' script from apple. You can drag items from HandyMan to this script and the script will show you where the original is located.
If you are not using Extension Strip then please read known problems at the bottom.
This requires “Macintosh Drag and Drop” version 1.1 or higher to be installed.
Update icon list
Will re-parse your configuration menu and update all links.
About HandyMan
Guess what...
About the program
Current version 1.3
This program is freeware (although a postcard is appreciated), this means that you can copy it freely as long as you don't ask any more money for it than a nominal fee for copying. If you want to distribute this program you should keep this document with it. This program cannot be used for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.
HandyMan has proven to be stable in everyday use. The author is not responsible for any loss of data, damages to software or hardware that may result directly or indirectly from the use of this program. The author reserves the right to make changes to the software or documentation without notice.
None of the files of the HandyMan package may be modified. Crunching or achieving is allowed only if none of the HandyMan files get modified by it.
Special permission is hereby granted to include HandyMan in Public-Domain libraries.
Permission is also granted to Men & Mice to include HandyMan in their Desktop Strip package.
If you translate the program and send the translated version to me. I will use that translated version in new releases.
Currently available languages:
Japanese :
by Hisashi Nishimura (hisashin@axes.co.jp) and Christopher Li (MU1C-LI@asahi-net.or.jp).
About the Author
bugs, questions, or suggestions to:
Fido
2:292/603.76
e-mail
bert.wynants@innet.be
snail-mail:
Bert Wynants
Hogeheide 6
2260 Westerlo
Belgium, Europe
Thank you for all the feedback so far...
Frequent asked questions
Q:Why doesn't drag and drop work?
A:Your system does not have Macintosh Drag and Drop 1.1 or your finder isn't drag and drop aware. You should upgrade to at least Finder version 7.1.2 for powerpc or 7.1.3 for 68k Macs.
Finder 7.1.3 comes with System 7 Pro, and Finder 7.1.4 comes with System 7.5.
In this case you will not be able to drag Finder icons onto the icons. If you try, the icons will not highlight when you drag over them, and nothing will happen when you drop something on an icon.
You can get Mac Drag & Drop 1.1 via anonymous ftp at ftp.support.apple.com/pub/Apple SW Updates/US/mac/System Software/Other System Software/
Q:Do I (really) need the scriptable finder?
A:No, but if your system lacks the Scriptable Finder, some varieties of icons will not work. In fact, they usually won't be added to the strip. Folder icons, Trash icons, Control Panel icons, and ordinary documents require the Scriptable Finder in order to be fully operational.
The Finder Scripting Extension 1.2 comes with System 7.5, and you can get it via anonymous ftp at ftp.support.apple.com/pub/Apple SW Updates/US/mac/System Software/Other System Software/.
Q: You seem to indicate in the Read Me file attached to HandyMan that it is possible to have a number of folders (1,2 etc), in the Control Strip Module folder, with individual copies of HandyMan and HandyMan Aliases folders.
A:Yes this is possible. And each copy of HandyMan will run on it's own floating Window with it's own preferences. However you need to have either Extension Strip or DesktopStrip for this to work.
Q: I'm running a native Extension Strip and HandyMan seems to crash.
A: This should be fixed with 1.3. However, try to use your favorite resource editor to remove the 'Sdev' resource from HandyMan. Now Handyman is no longer fat and will run in 68k mode.
Q: I noticed that my harddisks keep spinning a very long time just after (or during) startup. This does not happen if I deinstall HandyMan. I'm using it with Desktop Strip on a Quadra 700 running D-7.5.1. It doesn't seem to be that severe on a Power Mac 7100/66av where I also tested it. Is this known? Any remedy?
A:After startup Handyman uses an idle time mechanism to get some more information about installed applications. It goes out looking what filetypes an application can open so only drops of that kind are accepted. It uses the translation manager to do so and if the translation manager is not available it uses a fall-back method. However this fall-back is not as fast as the translation manager. So make sure Macintosh Easy Open is installed.
Tips And Tricks
•If the option key conflicts with Control/Extension Strip first press the mouse then press the option key...
•To differentiate between folders you can give them a label color in the finder.
•As long as there are generic icons for documents or applications HandyMan watches Disk Inserts and tries to get the icons from the desktop database of the inserted disks. If you have apps or docks that really have a generic icon you better paste a custom icon onto them to stop HandyMan scanning inserted disks (although it won't heart watching the Disks).
•Put a floater over your trash containing only a Trash and put it on large icons. No more digging to find your trash!!
•To quickly spot a frequent accessed recent file, make it locked in the ‘Recent Documents’ folder, HandyMan will underline it in the popup menu.
•Give folders that have the same icon a different label color in the finder. HandyMan will colorize the icon too (after update icons that is).
•Dropping a dragged icon onto itself is the same as clicking the icon. This is added because sometimes you may start an unwanted drag.
•If HandyMan tells you it is unable to resolve an alias, you can try to do “Find Original” in the finder info window of that alias. This most often fixes the problem.
•Use spaces to sort your items. These spaces are removed in infobar and popinfo.
•Add the example Separator to the strip (not an alias to it!!!). This entry won't be clickable but gives you a nice separation bar.
Known problems:
Non of these problems occur when using Extension Strip!!!
•dragging an icon from HandyMan on a drag-able window of the current application fails (drag manager bug). I didn't remove the Enable Drag From option because dragging an icon from handyman works very well if you stay in the strip, and can be useful to drop it onto one of the handyman icons.
•no error reporting for apple events.
At this moment I don't know how to receive the result of an apple-event in the module. This means if you drop something onto a folder and the file was already in that folder the move or copy won't work. When you copy you will see that the file doesn't disappear from its original place. When you copy a file you won't see the copy progress bar from the finder.
Program History
Version 1.0d0
•initial release
Version 1.0d1
•many thanks to Sigurdur Asgeirsson for helping on drag and drop.
•added custom Finder icon recognition
Version 1.0d2
•Added possibility to add Folders, Trashes and Documents
•Faster parsing of icons
•Retrieving Icons From Desktop DataBase
•Added menu item to show or hide popup arrow
•Added folders parsing in preferences folder, these can be used to group your applications
Version 1.0d3
•Aliases folder can now reside in the module's folder in a folder called “HandyMan Aliases”
Version 1.0b4
•renamed to HandyMan.
•Control Strip support added (although Desktop Strip works much better)
•each invocation of HandyMan has separate preferences.
Version 1.0b5
•No more crashing if Drag manager is not installed. (reported by Peter Frings)
•No more showing of invisible files. (reported by Peter Frings)
•better icons for desk accessories. (reported by Peter Frings)
•uses system icons for default icons...
Version 1.0b6
•Fixed bug for MacApp Applications, they accept a drop now without a program error...
Version 1.0b7
•Using Finder label now for coloring...
•Added an optional info Bar...
•Added an About Menu Item...
Version 1.0b8
•Fixed bug that messed up icon positioning if some configuration folders where empty
•Fixed bug that caused crashes with a very narrow info bar (reported by Petur Petursson and thanks go to Angela for "borrowing" here Mac)
•Fixed problem with aliases to documents or applications on other disks.
•They are now updated as soon as the Finder has mounted those volumes, if you are annoyed by the fact is shows a generic icon for a while, then give those files a custom icon...(reported by Petur Petursson & Peter Frings)
•Added Option Click on trash to empty it (Asked by Chris Bastiaens)
Version 1.0b9
•No longer gets to front when asked to empty the Trash
•Fixed bug that sometimes messed up Info bar (introduced in the 1.0b8)
•Fixed bug that sometimes caused the bar to get empty after an update icon list
•If scriptable finder is not installed, only applications are added (Sugg. Koen Van de Poel)
•Fixed problem with aliases to documents or applications on other disks if you have a lot of Disks connected, The fix from b8 only worked for 1 external disk.
•Fixed problem that sometimes caused the Icon List to become empty (reported by Petur Petursson)
•Added Recent Files popup to application (optional)
•Dropping files on an open application was broken in the b8 revision, it's fixed again.
Version 1.0b10
•Fixed recent files popup :-)
Version 1.0
•Really Fixed problem with aliases to documents or applications on other disks if you have a lot of Disks connected. A note on this one: as long as there are generic icons for documents or applications HandyMan watches Disk Inserts and tries to get the icons from the inserted disks. If you have apps or docks that really have a generic icon you better paste a custom icon onto them to stop HandyMan scanning inserted disks (although it won't hurt watching the Disks)
Version 1.1b12
•Fixed about in Control Strip.
•Start dragging from strip as soon as you leave the selected icon's bounds if popup recent files is on.
•Although the docks say so 1.0 never looked in the preference folder for handyman files, this is fixed now.
•if Apple Menu Options was not installed, and the option popup recent files was active, no menu showed up after clicking an application and the icon became unselected. Now always a menu will show up with at least a Launch item in. (Thanks to Peter Frings for reporting)
•Small bug fixed in Update Icons.
•Added Popup for folders (default everything is shown, pressing shift means no files, pressing control means no folders, pressing both shows nothing ).
•Animation on Trash added.
•Opening a control panel or desk acc. now brings finder to front.
•Better support for screens in black and white mode.
•Added Tiling option.
•reorganized preference menu.
•Drags from the system 7.5 'find file' window are accepted now.
•Trashing a list of files is much faster now, the current speed can only improve if apple make a better scriptable finder :-(
•dropping a document on itself also works now, it opens the document...
•It no longer asks for Ejected disks if there are some when updating icons.
•AppleEvents work always now, also if front application doesn't know about appleEvents.
•AppleEvents made a bit more reliable (hope this fixes your problem Joseph).
•Info Text automatic jumps to condensed if it doesn't fit
•folders are added too ( unless the first letter is a '¬' (option-L)
•slightly faster icon parsing
•Better detection of disk drops on trash
•cmd key always shows configuration popup menu (Request from Angela McCormack)
•added ‘ Add Alias’ script, put a copy of it in each folder you make in the “HandyMan Aliases” folder, dropping a file on it will put an alias at an automatic configured place. You only need to select Update Icons after the drop. This script also serves as an example for dropping on a script.
•reduced Module Size :-)
Version 1.1b13
•Made handyman a bit smarter about finder scripting (Request from Boris Groendahl). If the Mac starts up with rebuilding the desktop you still need to select update icons manually after it has finished. When all icon's are visible, they won't disappear anymore by rebuilding the desktop and selecting update icons at the same time.
•looking for the original of an alias suppresses the log-on box now. it freezes the system! (report from Kristof Vanbecelaere). If possible HandyMan passes the request onto the finder, this means clicking on a folder to mount a volume still works!
•improved sensitivity to differentiate between drag from and popup on item...
•dropping handyman's own dragged icon onto itself fixed.
•updated docs to this version.
Version 1.1
•Cosmetic fix for combination of no icons and info bar option on.
•Cosmetic fix for info bar on B/W screens (end was sometimes messed up).
•Added limited Folder support if “Finder Scripting Extension” is not installed.
Version 1.1b15
•Fixed problem that sometimes caused the Icon List to become empty (reported by Stephen F. Levinson)
•Before showing configuration menu, the info string is cleared now
•Works on a plain 68000-non ColorQD machine now (reported by Evan Mair)
•Adding a Finder Alias works correct now.
•Slightly less memory use (system icons are taken in mem only when they are needed)
•Add a timeout on failed appleEvents
•Control key on copy or move will force it to happen
•Disk and server alias also have a popup.
•Popup won't show up on applications if Apple Menu Options isn't installed.
•Added support for Extension Strip. This one fixes problems with dragging from the strip and fixes problems with errors returned by appleEvents.
•On errors Handyman shows Alerts.
Version 1.1b16
•More Error Alerts added.
•Launching an Application by selecting it from a Folder Popup caused finder to pop in front i.s.o. the selected application.
•Fixed clicking on Control Strip (broken in b15).
•First Icon can be dragged off now (broken in b15).
•In case of kAEWaitReply on apple event app is brought to front before sending the appleEvent.
•Locked recent files are underlined now (easier to spot).
Version 1.1b17
•Drop on finder with option key works now (Thanks to Ammon Skidmore for the fix).
•TextLabels next to icons are possible now (Limited implementation).
•fixed open resfile.
•fixed not starting on a non ColorQD machine (reported by Evan Mair)
•changed email address
•No longer trying to fix bad aliases, if you have a bad alias do a get info in finder and select find original...
Version 1.1b18
•fixed port setting on HandyMan Alert.
•Recompiled with latest Extension Strip Header file + some other necessary changes.
•Native version on Extension Strip
Version 1.1b19
•Different way to make a unique preference file.
•Listening to fontsize from Extensions Strip Control Panel.
Version 1.1b20
•Better White Color Calculation (Thanks Ammon)
Version 1.2b21
•Resizable TextLabels.
•Full Label support (click, drag and drop)
•Dropping on an application is only possible when application can accept the filetype (Request by Steve Russillo).
•Building list of supported filetypes is done with the Translation Manager if possible.
•Corrected place of popup in items when textlabels is on.
•Localizing things added
Version 1.2
•fixed some D&D problems if D&D is done within HandyMan (reported by Chris Bastiaens).
•Icon of “Add Alias” Script changed.
•Fixed cancel problem in “Add Alias” Script (reported by Chris Bastiaens).
•Updated the Docs (Thanks Chris for proof-reading them.)
•TextLabels also enabled in Control Strip
•drops from newswatcher articles is supported now (thanks to Peter Frings for reporting and to John Norstad for helping)
•Shift dropping on applications disables filetype check.
•fallback if launching application fails.
•starting proper application now if you select a file from the recent files popup.
•dropping files in folders improved
Version 1.3b23
•Clippings support Added (thanks Ammon).
•shift clicking or selecting a clippings file from a menu copies the content to the clipboard.
•weak linking Translation library (crashed ppc version if Translation Manager was not present).
•selecting a file from the Recent Files Menu launches correct Application now.
•Native version no longer crashes if PPC Translation Manager isn't present
•Configuration through dropping on + icon (no longer required to install the applescript).
•Revesed key usage on folder click (shift and control)
•Fat Version, that's why it's that big now!!!
Version 1.3b24
•popup text as alternative to info bar (hold still over an icon) (Request by Harry Ehrlich)
•finder drags fixed (broken in 1.3b23)
•Optimized drawing routines
Version 1.3b25
•Locked recent items appear first in the list
•Folders appear first in the list
Version 1.3b26
•Using New features from Extension Strip 1.2.
•Disabled Files Support (thanks to Raymond Carles for the Icon).
•Better Balloon Help.
•starting spaces for Items are removed when shown.
•Sample Disabled Icon added (separator Bar).
•test if drop on configuration folder is not already there.
•separator lines in menu's only when necessary...
Version 1.3b27
•Invisible Icons added (quick switching between Adding and no Adding of config folder icon).
•Inserting with a separation line added.
•Dropping files on a folder will ask for a replace if needed (control forces the replacement).
•Option Selecting TextLabels hides Icons.
•Fixed adding of Word and Excel Icons. Where BW and are color now (reported by Dave Wise).
•Context sensitive Balloon help shows key shortcuts.
•Space removal at the start of a filename works now for multi byte char systems (Japanese).
•Taking only the needed (big/small) set of icontypes in memory. (-> switch between small and big icons requires rereading of the icons)
•Automatic creation of “HandyMan Aliases” Folder if it does not exists.
•Native version no longer crashes if PPC Drag Manager isn't present.
Version 1.3b28
•Fixed opening of docs when application was already open. (This applies only to a few applications...)
•Nicer Looking popinfo balloons (Sugg. Koen Van de Poel)
•Empty config folders also get the + icon
•when only lables are on (Option Textlabels) these can be dragged away too now
Version 1.3b29
•Fixed re-enterency problem that could cause a deadlock if one dropped icons quickly after each other (reported by Aron S. Spencer)
Version 1.3b30
•Fixed Balloon when not over an icon
•Fixed presentation of no icons (always shows triangle)
•Fixed creation of aliases
•On first Startup And when creating HandyMan aliases folder some default items are added...
