Path: sdcc12!network.ucsd.edu!sdd.hp.com!nigel.msen.com!caen!destroyer!ncar!noao!arizona!arizona.edu!cerritos.edu!dhw68k!macintosh From: greeny@top.cis.syr.edu (J S Greenfield) Newsgroups: comp.binaries.mac Subject: AutoLock 1.2 DEMO (part 1 of 2) Message-ID: Date: 18 Sep 92 16:00:14 GMT Lines: 576 Approved: bytebug@dhw68k.cts.com (Roger L. Long) [AutoLock 1.2 DEMO - part 1 of 2] AutoLock is a small application intended to alleviate some problems associated with running children's applications (games, etc.) under the System 7 Finder. AutoLock can help to prevent small children from accidentally sending a game to the background. In addition, AutoLock can salvage many old (but good!) games that are virtually impossible to use under System 7. Many existing children's applications were designed to run under Finder, rather than under MultiFinder. As most parents already know, running these programs under MultiFinder allows a child to accidentally send the application into the background, usually by inadvertently clicking the mouse outside of the application window. In the old days, this problem could be avoided by moving the system back to Finder mode. For users of System 7, however, this alternative is no longer available, since the system runs in a permanent MultiFinder-type mode. Furthermore, unlike the System 6 MultiFinder, the System 7 Finder moves to the foreground whenever the mouse is clicked anywhere on the desktop. As a result, even recent children's applications can be accidentally sent to the background by an inadvertent click of the mouse. For small children, this can be a serious problem. AutoLock solves this problem, by terminating the Finder and locking a single application into the foreground. AutoLock includes a small extension, LockSmith which can be used to create AutoLock aliases that launch and automatically lock applications. Using an AutoLock alias, launching and automatically locking an application is as easy as conventional launching. Changes from version 1.1: AutoLock 1.2 now permits locking an application into the foreground while other applications continue to execute in the background. AutoLock now uses a preference to allow the user to specify whether or not background applications should be automatically ignored when locking an application into the foreground. When this option is not set, AutoLock will query the user whether or not background applications should be ignored. AutoLock now uses a preference to allow the user to specify whether or not AutoLock should actively lock the launched application into the foreground. When this option is not set, AutoLock will terminate the Finder but will allow the "locked" application to be moved to the background (so that the user may interact with other applications). AutoLock supports its traditional mode of operation by appropriate selection of preferences. AutoLock now permits the user to lock an application even when it is already running. When AutoLock is directed to lock a document, and the creator application is already running, AutoLock will lock the creator and open the document (if possible). AutoLock now supports two modes of operation: "Demo" mode, and "Normal" mode. AutoLock will execute in "Demo" mode until an appropriate key (available through registration) is used to move AutoLock into "Normal" mode. Shareware. --- .