This is the README for DefaultMgr.2.0.N.b.tar.gz [Download] [Browse] [Up]
DefaultMgr
Release 2.0
The defaults database on the NeXT is a wonderful mechanism for setting
application and system-wide preferences for users. Using the tools provided
by NeXT (dread, dwrite and dremove) one can set these preferences outside of
their owner applications. The problems with these tools that have come up so
far (and what DefaultMgr does):
1) Thus far only command-line utilities are provided. Daunting for
UNIXphobes.
--> DefaultMgr uses a NeXTSTEP front end.
2) Too many defaults for applications that are no longer used. One has to
wade through the list of defaults to purge these from the database.
--> DefaultMgr presents defaults in a browser where you can select multiple
owners and defaults at once for deleting or moving (see #3).
3) People who move from machine to machine without the same user account
have to reset the defaults through each app or dumping the database with
dread -l and writing with dwrite - quite tedious and prone to error.
--> DefaultMgr allows saving and moving groups of defaults through the
familiar "drag and drop" interface. Just select the defaults you want
to move and drag the icon to another DefaultMgr window, a Workspace
window, or any other window that accepts dropped files! This also
allows users to keep "working sets" of defaults for applications.
Great for applications developers!
4) All of the possible defaults for the application are not available
through the command line tools. Each application may have tantalizing
secrets hidden in their defaults (Workspace and loginwindow are two such
apps).
--> DefaultMgr has the unique feature of "investigating" applications
for _all_ defaults available in an easy-to-use menu choice!
Drew Davidson
drew@fnbc.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
v4 Final Release Notes
- Fixed save bug that wouldn't allow saving to files
(sowa@amdew.llnl.gov)
- Fixed resizing bug that put icon well out of reach if window resized larger
and then smaller again.
(drew@fnbc.com)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
v2 Final Release Notes
Fixed:
------
- NXSplitView delegate now limits sizing so that the icon well and
text is not lost.
(drew@fnbc.com)
Improvements:
-------------
- Tested under 3.0 (PR1) -> it works! Investigating poses problems,
though.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
v2 Beta Release Notes
Fixed:
------
- Open Database bug that caused a crash when there were no defaults defined for
a user.
(steved@essex.com)
- Revert to Saved now works correctly for database and files.
(mdixon@parc.xerox.com)
- UNTITLED count is only incremented once after investigation.
(drew@fnbc.com)
Improvements:
-------------
- Investigating is more robust after adding code to actually parse the output
from gdb instead of relying on fixed number of lines.
- Reads UNIX file permissions and reflects that status in the windows by
allowing/disallowing changes to be made to the file.
- Temporary files created when dragging icons from a defaults window are
removed from /tmp when the file is closed or app is exited.
- Quitting and closing windows bring up appropriate warning panels and allow
one to save all or quit.
These are the contents of the former NiCE NeXT User Group NeXTSTEP/OpenStep software archive, currently hosted by Netfuture.ch.