Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!pacbell!ames!ncar!tank!nucsrl!accuvax.nwu.edu!bob
From: bob@accuvax.nwu.edu (Bob Hablutzel)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: a message box for the finder?
Message-ID: <10050064@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 9 Jan 89 13:56:14 GMT
References: <730078@hpcilzb.HP.COM>
Organization: Northwestern U, Evanston IL, USA
Lines: 27

> >Do the Macintosh gurus out there think it would be possible to write a VBL
> >task that would monitor a command-line window and carry out finder-like
> >commands?  What I have in mind is something like HyperCard's message box.
> >You would be able to launch applications, delete files, etc. all without
> >moving the mouse.  (Use pretzel-m to bring up the "message box", or just
> >use "blind typing").
> >
> >Before I start coding such a thing, I'd like to know if anyone sees any
> >fundamental flaws with it.
> >

> Other than the lack of 'Mac-ness' to it, I see one major flaw - YOU CAN'T
> DO THIS FROM A VBL!  The problem is that a VBL task is NOT permitted to do
> any action which will move memory (and I am sure that your 'thing' will.
> A much better method would be a GNE/WNE patch...

I hate to disagree, but I have to... *patching* GNE/WNE would not be a good
idea, because it would either have to duplicate a lot of GNE/WNE code, or
be a tail patch. (We wouldn't want to mess with MultiFinder, now, would we? :-)
Better would be to use jGNEFilter (or whatever the hell it's called), but 
even this is now frowned upon by Apple. I agree with a previous poster - 
make this a DA. Or, maybe even a small Application.

I do agree, however, that this should _not_ be a VBL task.

Bob Hablutzel	BOB@NUACC.ACNS.NWU.EDU
Disclaimer:	I know you didn't ask for my opinion. I don't care.