This note describes the BeHierarchic 1.0.5 patcher program supplied with the MenuDropper distribution.
MenuDropper has been tested with an extensive list of system extensions and utilities, particular attention has been paid making MenuDropper work with hierarchical apple menu utilities. Although MenuDropper does support the menu interface of BeHierarchic 1.0.5, this extension has a programmed check for dropping onto (opening) menu items that are not directories, and drops into the system debugger if this situation occurs. Unfortunately that is precisely what MenuDropper does, so on systems without MacsBug system crashes will occur.
After much research I can identify no programmatic solution to this problem, short of patching the BeHierarchic 1.0.5 file 'behind the users back', which of course is not a nice thing to do.
So I have created this patcher program using ResCompare, a wonderful (and free) resource utility, to modify BeHierarchic 1.0.5 to replace the call to the debugger with an inoffensive 'NOP' (means No Operation, the computer will perform the next instruction and continue). If you execute this patcher program, disable virus checking for it to work correctly.
This patcher will NOT write to your original BeHierarchic 1.0.5 file, it creates a copy and applies the changes to that instead. The new file will be called BeHierarchic 1.0.6, and will contain the following differences to version 1.0.5
The INIT resource -4048 will be changed from
+$0012A2 _Debugger ; "$A9FF"
to
+$0012A2 NOP ; "$4E71"
The STR resource -4048 will be changed from
"This will automatically extend applemenu with sub menu."
to
"This will automatically extend applemenu with sub menu.
This version has been modified to work with MenuDropper"
(this change is to update the Balloon Help bubble for the file)
The VERS resources 1 & 2 will be changed from
1.0.5 to 1.0.6
• MenuDropper and BeHierarchic.
Please do NOT use MenuDropper and version 1.0.5 of BeHierarchic together on the same system, I guarantee that it will fail, and possibly mess up your system as well. I do certify that, within the constraints of the MenuDropper license agreement, that MenuDropper and BeHierarchic 1.0.6 will work together.
• BeHierarchic 1.0.6
The only reason I am providing this patcher, is because there are only 2 shareware hierarchical apple menu utilities available, and I am unable to make MenuDropper work with the other due to the way it takes over menu handling. Therefore BeHierarchic is the only current choice of a non-commercial companion to MenuDropper.
This patcher changes somebody else's program, BeHierarchic, that was written by Fabien OCTAVE. I have made attempts to contact him regarding this problem and the various solutions to it, but I have not been able to reach him, or get a reply. I am certain that Fabien OCTAVE will not support this updated program, and I have no rights to provide support either.
Therefore you may update this program AT YOUR OWN RISK, using this patcher program supplied with the MenuDropper package, ONLY if
a) you must have MenuDropper and BeHierarchic 1.0.5 work together.
b) you do not care about losing support for BeHierarchic 1.0.5 from its author.
c) you believe that my intentions are not malicious in modifying someone else's program.
d) you will NOT be allowed under the terms of the BeHierarchic 1.0.5 license agreement to distribute modified copies
Your alternative is to apply the patches I listed above, but only do this if you are aware of the risks inherent in playing with ResEdit, and only work on a copy.
