Apple Menu Items

Changing the Order of Items

To do this, you should ensure that all the items in Apple Menu Items are aliases. This allows you to change the filenames of the items so as to set their order, but without changing the names of the original files. If alphabetical ordering isn’t adequate, you can add numbers, spaces or other symbols to the beginning of names. Mac OS characters come in the following order, beginning with a space:-

You can also use characters in conjunction with one or more spaces. Or you can use special software to copy a CR (carriage return) or another special code, such as DEL (Delete), and then paste it in front of a name. However, such characters are best used on aliases rather than actual files, since applications can object to such characters in filenames.

Creating Dividers

An empty file or folder with a name such as ------ can be used to create a ‘divider’ in your menu, although it has to be said that the result isn’t particularly attractive. You can prefix the name of the item with one or more spaces to set its position in the menu. And if the item is a file it can also convey useful information. In most instances you’ll also want to remove the icon that appears next to each divider item. To do this, you can paste an appropriate ‘blank’ colour (copied from an image in a graphics program) onto the icon box that’s shown in the item’s Get Info window.

Other Useful Ideas

By placing an alias of your hard disk in Apple Menu Items you can get to all your files, including some folders that are usually invisible. Depending on your version of the Mac OS, these can include Desktop Folder, containing files on the Desktop, Trash and the Temporary Items folder.

• In some applications it’s difficult to see inside your clipboard. You can fix this by placing an alias of the Clipboard file (which resides in the System Folder) in Apple Menu Items.
• An alias of the Apple Menu Items folder inside the folder itself can be useful.

Apple DVD Player adrp

This is an alias of the Apple DVD Player application, as supplied with modern machines.

Apple System Profiler APPL

This application provides information about your hardware and software. It requires a 68040 processor or better. Older models can be checked using Now Profile, part of Now Utilities.

Apple Video Player adrp

This is an alias of the Apple Video Player application, which can be used for viewing video images on the screen of older Macs that have video capabilities. If you don’t have a MacTV you should also enable Video Startup in the Extensions folder.

AppleCD Audio Player adrp

This is an alias of the AppleCD Audio Player application, which can be used to control an Apple-compatible CD drive that’s playing an audio disk. The Apple CD/DVD Driver or Apple CD-ROM file, as well as the Audio CD Access file should be enabled in the Extensions folder. This application may not work if you require special CD-ROM driver software for your drive.

Automated Tasks faet

This is an alias of the folder of the same name, which contains several AppleScript applets. The AppleScript and AppleScriptLib files should be enabled in the Extensions folder to use these files. The ObjectSupportLib extension is only required if you’re running Mac OS 7.x.

Calculator dfil

This DA is suitable for solving simple calculations. Although better alternatives are available this only uses a tiny amount of memory.

Chooser dfil

This DA lets you select a printer, enable AppleTalk or set up AppleShare. Rather curiously, the driver software for some types of scanner is also selected using this device.

Control Panels fact

This is an alias of the Control Panels folder that exists in the System Folder. It provides fast access to all of your current control panels.

Desktop Printers faet

This is an alias of the folder of the same name that’s used by some versions of the System Folder. It contains files that represent all the desktop printers that you’ve created.

Find File APPL

This application, which is only used by older systems that don’t have Sherlock or Sherlock 2, provides a comprehensive file searching facility. In addition, the Find File Extension lets you launch Find File in the Finder by simply pressing ⌘-F.

• If preferred, you can move the Find File application into your Applications folder and put an alias of it in the Apple Menu Items folder.

Any files that match the chosen criteria are shown in the upper part of Find File’s window, whilst its path is shown in the lower pane. The divider between these panes can be dragged to resize them. You can also open a folder containing an item by double-clicking on the folder in the bottom pane.

In the upper pane you can:-

• Open a file by double-clicking on it.
• Open items by Shift-selecting and choosing File ➡ Open Selected Item.
• Print items by Shift-selecting and choosing File ➡ Print Selected Item.

Prior to making a search you can:-

• Remove a criteria by Option-dragging it to the Trash.
• Choose special criteria by pressing Option whilst pulling down the menu.
• Limit the search by dragging a folder or drive onto the Find Items menu.

Graphing Calculator APPL

This very fast graphically-based calculator application only works on a PowerPC-based machine.

Jigsaw Puzzle APPL

This application is suitable for those who have nothing better to do. If inclined, you can paste a PICT image or an icon into this application to create your own customised puzzle. And if you’re desperate you can even use it to open PICT files.

Key Caps dfil

This DA shows you all the characters that are available in a font, with or without modifier key combinations such as Shift, Option or Shift-Option. The following points are worth noting:-

• Special fonts often produce different characters to standard Apple fonts.
• Some applications are unable to produce all the characters shown.
• The effect of key combinations can be modified using utilities such as QuicKeys or KeyQuencer. Keys can also be remapped by using ResEdit to modify the System file.

Note Pad APPL

This application accepts text that’s pasted or dragged onto it. It uses little memory and includes a Find feature, but employs the same font for all pages. Its contents are automatically saved to disk without you having to implement a Save command.

The textual information is stored in the Note Pad File inside the System Folder. However, you can make copies of this file and place them, suitably named, in the Apple Menu Items folder. You can then open these at any time from the Apple menu and edit them as individual documents.

Each of these folders contain aliases that are created by the Apple Menu Options control panel. Each one points to recently used items that you can reach via the Apple menu. The existence of these folders depends on whether Apple Menu Options is enabled and how it’s set up.

• You can prevent a specific ‘recent’ folder from appearing by going to the Apple Menu Options control panel, entering 0 in the appropriate box and moving the folder to the Trash.

Remote Access Disconnect APPL

This small application lets you easily disconnect from Apple Remote Access (ARA) without having to switch into the Finder. This is replaced by Remote Access Status in newer systems.

Remote Access Status APPL

This application provides a small window that lets you connect to a remote computer via a dial-up circuit using ARA or PPP Internet protocols, as determined by the Remote Access control panel.

Scrapbook APPL

This application accepts pasted or dragged text and graphics. Unwanted items can be cleared by pressing Clear or ⌘-B. The contents are saved automatically without a Save command.

• Copies of the Scrapbook File, which normally resides in the System Folder, can be placed in Apple Menu Items so as to provide multiple scrapbooks.

Sherlock APPL

This application is supplied in the form of Sherlock or Sherlock 2, and as an alias or application, depending on your version of the Mac OS. It replaces the older Find File application.

• To use Sherlock or Sherlock 2 within Internet Explorer you must put the application, not an alias, in Apple Menu Items.

SimpleSound APPL

This application lets you record and manipulate alert sounds, although modern versions of the Sound or Monitors ＆ Sound control panels are usually better suited to this purpose.

Speakable Items

A folder of AppleScript applets and small applications that can be launched using either Apple’s Speech Recognition system or directly from the Apple menu.

Stickies APPL

This application lets you create ‘sticky labels’ on the screen. Under its Preferences you can select Launch At Startup, with the option for it to launch in the background if you want to start in the Finder, Confirm Window Closing, which presents a dialogue for saving the sticky as a text file, and Zoom Box Collapses, which lets you choose what the zoom box actually does.

• Shut Down dfil

This desk accessory lets you shut down your computer without switching to the Finder.