MacStart.V1.3.2.README.TXT -- README file for MacStart Version 1.3.2 at 2010-10-17

MacStart is an AppleScript for OSX which you can customize and use
to start your favourite applications quickly.

Using MacStart, you only need two mouse clicks to start your favourite applications from the Desktop. 

If present, MacStart loads a previously-saved Chooser list from a file called 
MacStart.options.conf in your home folder.

If the .conf file is not present, MacStart will scan the folders listed in the script,
create the .conf file and then use it to launch the Chooser.

This way you can have quick access to all your favourite OSX applications without cluttering up your Dock.

Files included:

	MacStart.V1.3.2.README.TXT	-- this file
	MacStart.V1.3.2.scpt		-- the Applescript source file 
	MacStart.V1.3.2.app		-- the Applescript file saved as an application (OSX PPC 10.4.11)
	MacStart32			-- copy of MacStart.V1.3.2.app with custom icon
	MacStart.V1.3.2.jpg	   	-- sample image file.

As provided, version 1.3.2 of the application scans these folders:
	
	"Macintosh HD:Users:<username>:Applications:"
	"Macintosh HD:Applications:"
	"Macintosh HD:Applications:Utilities:"

Notes: 

	1) "Macintosh HD:Applications:Microsoft Office X:" was removed from the default list in MacStart V1.3.
	2) "Macintosh HD:Applications:Applescript:" is not included.

To run MacStart32 "as is", first create any folders that do not already exist.  Then "Open" the MacStart32 application object.

If this does work, you might need to load the .scpt file into your system's Script Editor, recompile it, and save it as a new application.  See below.    

INSTALLATION

1) Download the .dmg file, mount it, and then drag the MacStart application object to your Desktop.

You now have a "MacStart32" icon on your Desktop and you can also drag this to your Dock.

PROGRAM MODIFICATION AND COMPILATION
  
1) Edit a copy of the Applescript source file "MacStart.V1.3.2.scpt" and modify the list of folders to be scanned as needed. 
2) Be sure to remove "MacStart.options.conf" from your home folder as required in order to force a re-scan of the search folders. 
3) Save your modified Applescript file, compile it, and run it to test it.   
3) Save it as an application without "Startup Screen" and copy this file to your Desktop.
5) Do a "Get info" on it in Finder.
6) You can rename it to "Start" or anything else that takes your fancy.
7) To change the icon:
	- In Preview.app, load the new image you want and do Edit/Copy.
	- In Finder, do "Get info" for your new application object.  Click on the icon in the top left to select it, and then do a Paste to replace it.

Michael Cook
m06orama@gmail.com

Proposed future enhancements:

- Dialog to collect or modify the list of folders to scan.

Change history:

 - Version 1.3.2 2010-10-17:

	- Version 1.3.1 was updated to Version 1.3.2 2010-10-17 to change the icon.
	- Provided a new sample image file.
	- Removed the icons+images folder from the .dmg as it is no longer required.	

 - Version 1.3.1 2010-10-01:

	- Apple event timing out on start from Dock
	- time taken to start and create application list from cold before change was about 1m 18s
	- removed homefolder from search list to speed things up.
	- time taken to start and create application list from cold after change is now about 34 sec 
		on 1.45 GhZ /mac Mini PPC OSX10.4.11 (compared to 8 sec for AppMenuBoy)
	- time taken to start with prebuilt application list is less than 2 seconds.

 - Version 1.3 at 2010-09-12:

	- Removed "Macintosh HD:Applications:Microsoft Office X:" from the default scan list (as above).
	- Sort the Chooser list by Application name.
	- Added additional icon files "vista 3b" to the .dmg
	- Updated the file README.TXT as README.V3.TXT.

 - Version 1.2 at 2007-08-12:

	- Provided .dmg and added checksum to the packaging
	- Added these folders to the scan list:
		- "Macintosh HD:Users:<username>:"
		- "Macintosh HD:Applications:Microsoft Office X:"

 - Version 1.1 2007-08-01:

	 - Provided .zip packaging.	

 - Version 1.0 2007-05-03.

Bugs:

There are no known bugs other than that using "info for file" causes the folder scans to take a very long time.
Therefore you might also want to consider the alternative solution you can find at: see http://code.google.com/p/appmenuboy/ 

Copyright (c) 2007-2010 Michael Cook.

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