Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!crdgw1!cs.albany.edu!houch
From: houch@cs.albany.edu (Joseph Houghtaling)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Finder Get Info comments
Summary: What will we see in the System 7 Finder?
Keywords: Get Info, Finder, System 7
Message-ID: <258@karp.albany.edu>
Date: 21 Nov 90 03:01:33 GMT
Reply-To: houch@karp.albany.edu.UUCP (Joseph Houghtaling)
Organization: SUNY Albany, Comp. Sci. Dept.
Lines: 30


I'm starting to write an application that will add Finder Get Info comments
to a number of files concurrently.  I've not found much documentation on how
the Finder stores such comments (actually I've found none), so I have a 
couple questions.

I'm discovered the 'FCMT' resource in the Desktop file on the current Finder.
The format of this resource seems pretty straightforward, so I probably 
wouldn't have any problem implementing my program using the resource-based
Desktop file (<--famous last words :-) )  I am using Desktop Manager
on my harddrive; how are comments stored there?

I am aware that System 7 will incorporate the functionality of Desktop Manager
into the Finder.  Might it provide some facility for doing the kind of
mass-commenting I want to implement in my program?  What kind of data struc-
ture will that Finder use to store comments?  Is there any new kind of Finder
file commenting being offered?

Finally:  Would this be Apple-kosher?  Is there documented anywhere a 
statement from Apple DTS or elsewhere saying, "Don't muck with the Desktop
File"?

I look forward to your comments and, as always, thank you for your support.

j.

-- 
| joe houghtaling        | "In my opinion television | computer science dept.|
| jh0576@leah.albany.edu |  validates existence."    | suny at albany        |
|                        |                -calvin    | albany, ny 12222 usa  |