PrefsFolder XObject
Detects standard location of Mac preferences files
The PrefsFolder XObject allows you to detect the name of the Preferences
folder on the Macinstosh startup disk. This can be very handy when you need to store
information in a standard location on every Macintosh. It's often used
to store a small text file which indicates the actual installed location
of a Director presentation on the hard drive.
The PrefsFolder XObject is free.
Note that Macromedia's free FileIO Xtra for Director 5 and later has a
cross-platform global
handler 'getOSDirectory' that serves much the same purpose as this older style XObject.
If you build installers with Stuffit InstallerMaker from
Aladdin Systems, you can use the
Preferences Plug-In for InstallerMaker, also from Dirigo Multimedia,
to automatically create a custom preferences text file from the installer program
itself. Your Director code running from a CD can then find the
installed location of the software, using the PrefsFolder XObject. More information
about the Preferences Plug-In
is available from Dirigo via email to gpicher@maine.com.
If you are interested in similar functionality for use with Developer VISE or other
Mac installer products, please contact me at
gpicher@maine.com.
Accessing the Preferences folder can also be
particularly useful when designing CDs that automatically run when
inserted (using Windows 95's AutoRun feature, and QuickTime 2.0 and
later's AutoStart feature on the Macintosh). The application that
starts automatically can determine whether to run an installer if no
preferences file yet exists, or run the already-installed software
on the hard drive in the location indicated by a preferences file in the
Preferences folder.
There is no direct equivalent of the Preferences folder on Windows, so
the PrefsFolder XObject only exists for the Macintosh. You can, however,
use the WinDirs XObject, also from Dirigo Multimedia, and also free,
to detect the Windows directory, where private .INI files can be stored.
Same strategy, but a slightly different XObject implementation.
A demo movie is enclosed with the PrefsFolder XObject which
demonstrates the use of the external. The demo movie is
in Director 4 format, but can be opened and used without
modification in Director 5 and later. The demo movie contains a script
castmember with cut-n-paste Lingo handlers, to get you up and
running immediately.
I'd appreciate a note from you
if you pick up a copy of PrefsFolder here. I'll
keep you informed of updates. Email me at
gpicher@maine.com.
The .sit.hqx format is standard for Mac shareware distribution,
and can be downloaded to either a Mac or a PC with
Stuffit Expander
for Mac
or
for Windows
from
Aladdin Systems.
You should be
able to download this Mac XObject even using a PC (decompressing the .hqx or
.sit file on a Mac).
Glenn M. Picher: Dirigo Multimedia
Back to Glenn's home page
Download the Mac PrefsFolder XObject (.sit.hqx)
