What is it and what does it do?
In short this program takes the content of the clip and creates a file on the desktop containing that text.

MacOS 8.5 introduced something called Internet location files. This was a file that, if double-clicked, would open an Internet location in the web browser. Many programs can, since MacOS 7, create clip files by having a text dragged onto the desktop, but sadly not all. This program intends to remedy that it cannot be done from all programs.
The clip is where text go that are cut or copied using the Edit menu in programs. The clip can be used to transfer text between programs, say select a piece of text in one program, Copy, switch programs, Paste. Likewise this program or FKEY can read text from the clip. If there is any text in the clip, the FKEY will create a file with it on the desktop, preferably a mail, http or ftp location file, but if this is not possible it will write a normal text clip file.
This program is not started by double-clicking it in the Finder. Instead it will become a part of the system, like a font and can be started with a simple predefined keypress, just like you can take pictures of the screen by pressing Command-Shift-3.

Why this program?
I used to use Netscape (use iCab now), and it really bothered me that it lacked support for drag and drop, or the ability to drag a piece of text from the program onto the desktop and get a text clip file, or an Internet location file. So I made this FKEY, and I can honestly say I use it myself a lot.

What is a FKEY?
An FKEY is a very small program that relies on old Mac technology. On the Mac Pluses a press on Command-Shift-1 would eject the internal diskette (remember diskettes?), Command-Shift-2 would eject the external diskette, Command-Shift-3 would take a picture of the screen and Command-Shift-4 would print the screen on an Imagewriter. Of these Command-Shift-3 remains today.
But it was (and is) possible to write programs that is called when you similarly press other number keys in conjuction with Command-Shift.

Installation
Install this program by dropping it onto the System folder. Your Mac should now automatically place it inside the Fonts folder inside the System folder. If it does not you will have to place it manually inside the fonts folder. Finder must be the only active program, but there will be no need to restart.

The file is locked because if it is _not_ locked, the MacOS will add all kinds of stuff needed for Fonts, but not needed for this FKEY. The file will grow in size if it is not locked when placed inside the Fonts folder.

Operation
1. Place a piece of text on the clipboard...
by selecting the text and pressing Command-C (or selecting Copy in the Edit menu)

2. Press Command-Shift-7 .

(all three keys at once) and presto, you will have either a http location file, a mail location file, a ftp location file or just a normal text clip file.

Example:
Select the current location in your web browser, copy it (Command-C) and then press Command-Shift-7, this will give you a htrp file on the desktop. Doubleclicking this file will open the location in a browser.

Browser url and resulting file.

Modifying the FKEY.

This FKEY has an ID of 7. You can open the program in Resedit (search www.apple.com if you do not have it) and change the ID to any number, but a number 5 to 9 is recommended, as numbers 1-4 are reserved for Apple use. This number is the key that should be pressed with Command and Shift to call the FKEY. So if you change it from 7 to 8, you should press Command-Shift-8.
You will need to unlock the file before doing this, and do not forget to lock it afterwards.

Modifying with Resedit.

Version History

v. 1.0 First public release.

Support for standard text clip, mail, http and ftp Internet files.

Copyright notice.

I own this program. You may use it under the following conditions.
Permission to use and copy (but not redistribute) this software and it's documentation for personal, non-commercial use is hereby granted provided that * this copyright notice and appropriate documentation appears in all copies. This software may not be distributed for fee or as part of commercial, "shareware," and/or not-for-profit endevors including, but not limited to, CD-ROM collections, online databases, and subscription services without my express permission.

Licence
This program is freeware (as per above conditions) but any comments, bug-reports, tokens of appreciation etc. can be directed to me.

© Copyright 2000
Christian Beijner
Vikbyvägen 58
181 43 Lidingö
d88-cbr@nada.kth.se
http://home5.swipnet.se/~w-55684/