[comp.sys.mac.misc] what does Transform INIT do?

cohen@boulder.Colorado.EDU (COHEN MATTHEW I) (10/24/90)

I just picked up the Transform INIT from the sumex archinves, and I have no
idea what it's purpose is or what it does.  I know it loads, 'cause I can
see it's funky picture, but that doesn't help much

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanx much

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joseph@cooper.cooper.EDU (Joe Giannuzzi) (11/01/90)

in article <28587@boulder.Colorado.EDU>, cohen@boulder.Colorado.EDU (COHEN MATTHEW I) says:
> 
> I just picked up the Transform INIT from the sumex archives, and I have no
> idea what it's purpose is or what it does.  I know it loads, 'cause I can
> see it's funky picture, but that doesn't help much

The Transform INIT, besides for the cute icon, is meant to be a companion
to INIT choosing utilities like INIT cdev. The way INIT cdev selects which
INITs and cdevs to load is by changing the file type. In this way, things
that shouldn't load get changed to types xNIT or xdev respectively. The
side effect to this is that you lose the icon for anything turned off, and
instead get the generic document icon.

Now, being the slighty insane person that I am, I like to see the icon for
anything that is in my System Folder, partly because I like the icons, and
partly because if the icon is gone I assume that the INIT or cdev has either
become damaged or infected.

So I decided to write Transform so that I would see the proper icons even
if the file type was changed. A friend asked me "Joe, why don't you post
it to the net?" So I drew the icon and away it went, with what I admit
isn't the best explanation. Transform works with HFS systems since that's
what I have. It also has a "hidden feature" (aren't they always called
features :) When you make a copy of an INIT or cdev that has it's file type
changed to xNIT or xdev, the copy will be changed back to INIT or cdev.

That's about the size of it. Hope this helps.

Joseph -> joseph@cooper.cooper.edu OR cmcl2!cooper!joseph

Disclaimer -> You are dealing with the nonsensical ravings of a lunatic mind