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From: tkav@allgfx.agi.oz (Tony Kavadias)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system
Subject: Misuse of the system folder...
Message-ID: <1991Apr10.093946.22779@allgfx.agi.oz>
Date: 10 Apr 91 09:39:46 GMT
Organization: All Graphic R+D
Lines: 46

This is too much!

I looked at my system folder one day and I thought "Apple made a system folder
for a reason - why are programs like PageMaker, Stuffit Classic, Excel, Word,
and hundreds of others all putting APPLICATION SPECIFIC files into a folder
which is designed for GLOBAL use????!!!!"  I see preferences files all over
the place in an ever-crowding folder.

The system folder is intended to hold files which may be used GLOBALLY, by ALL
applications (or at least by more than one). Why on earth are developers writing
applications which make their own files in the system folder if the files are
not to be intentionally shared?  That is what I call spastic!  They should be
stored in the same directory as the one the application was launched from.  NOT
IN THE SYSTEM FOLDER!

However, I have noticed Claris may be an exception.  Claris applications use a
Claris folder inside the system folder for keeping dictionaries, translators,
preference files, and the like.  The difference between Claris files in the 
system folder and files from other applications/developers are:

     a) grouped (placed in a folder), and
     b) are shared by more than one application (even if they are all Claris
          applications).

I would like to see offending software developers in future make careful plans
as to where they put their preference files.  DUMPING THEM IN THE SYSTEM FOLDER
IS NOT THE SOLUTION.  Thanks to them, we all have a messy System 6.0.  Let's
not make the same mistake for System 7.0!!!

There are a couple of suggestions which I would like to offer...

     a) place all non-sharable files outside the system folder.  The best
          place to keep them would be in the same folder as the application.

     b) for little things like preferences and other application-specific
          details, put them in the application file's data fork.  They will
          be hidden, save the system folder from congestion, and do their job.

If I find another application which installs application-specific files inside
the system folder, I'll send the Grim Reaper onto them (just kidding guys!)

I mean, Apple did not develop the system folder for all your garbage!


Tony Kavadias			|   "I've always known,
Melbourne, Australia.		|    I'll never die alone."