General Notes/Warnings:
 
Written under OS 9.x & AppleScript v1.6; compatible with iTunes 2.0x (may or may not be compatible with other versions of iTunes or the Apple OS or other versions of AppleScript).
 
All files listed are Mac binhex (.hqx) archeives and require stuff-it expander (free!) to open. To download Stuff-It Expander for free, please visit Aladdin System's Expander Page
(or try: http://www.stuffit.com/expander/   )

• iTunes script: Enter_New_Artists-each_song.hqx

This script steps the user through entering new artist names for each track on the CD in order -- it was designed for situations where the artists are simply listed as "various artists" or "unknown" and you have the actual artist name available. When run, it brings up a dialog box with the song title, the track number and in a dialog box, the current contents of the artist field (which can be over-written), along with three buttons: cancel (the process), skip (to the next song without making a change), and OK (accept new entry).
 
Note: Effects only current Audio CD in the computer.

• iTunes script: Enter_Artist-all_songs.hqx

This script steps allows the user to change the artist entry for every song on the CD to a single new entry via a dialog box. Unlike the script above (Enter_New_Artists-each_song.hqx), it does not step through each song, but only asks once and the replaces all the Artist entries for the current audio CD.
 
Note: Effects only current Audio CD in the computer.

• iTunes script: Change_Album_Name.hqx

Asks the user for a new album name via a dialog box, then renames the Album entry for all the songs on the currently installed CD. Does not directly affect any entries the library, except in that the newly edited Album name will be retained if the songs are imported after using this script.
 

 
Note: Effects only current Audio CD in the computer.

• iTunes script: Reset_Genre_for_Album.hqx

Asks the user for a new Genre via a dialog box, then renames the Genre entry for all the songs on the currently installed CD. Does not directly affect any entries the library, except in that the newly edited Genre name will be retained if the songs are imported after using this script.
 

 
Note: Effects only current Audio CD in the computer.

• iTunes script: Get_Artist_from_SongTitle.hqx

Sometimes entries retrieved from the CDDB (cd database, where iTunes pulls the song & album names) are co-mingled, with the artist name appearing along with the song title in the Song field (and either the album name or 'various' appearing in the Artist field). This script is designed to correct those kind of entries for the current audio CD in the machine (does not alter already existing library entries). It prompts the user to tell it (via a dialog box) whether the artist's name is first or last -- before the song title or after it; then it prompts the user to tell it (via another dialog box) what the delimiter is that sets the song title and artist apart, such as a slash, a parenthesis, or dash. Using this information, it cycles through each song title and looks for the delimiter -- when it finds it, it uses it to separate the artist's name out of the song title and moves it to the Artist name field, plus puts the corrected Song title into the Song field.
  It also looks for closing parenthesis as a closing delimiter and deletes it (if found) on entries using the open parenthesis as their delimiter, and it cleans house a bit by deleting blank spaces at the beginnning and end of both the artist name and the song title if the name & title were co-mingled.
 
Note: Effects only current Audio CD in the computer.

• iTunes script: Remove_Artist_from_Songs.hqx

Does the same as the previous script, but it deletes the Artist name from the song field rather than reassigning it to the Artist field.
&bnsp; Sometimes entries retrieved from the CDDB (cd database, where iTunes pulls the song & album names) are comingled, with the artist name appearing along with the song title in the Song field (as well as appearing in the Artist field). This script is designed to correct those kind of entries for the current CD in the machine (not for already existing library entries). It prompts the user to tell it (via a dialog box) whether the artist's name is first or last -- before the song title or after it; then it prompts the user to tell it (via another dialog box) what the delimiter is that sets the song title and artist apart, such as a slash, a parenthesis, or dash. Using this information, it cycles through each song title and looks for the delimiter -- when it finds it, it uses it to separate the artist's name out of the song title and remove it, then puts the corrected Song title (sans the artist name) back into the Song field.
 
Note: Effects only current Audio CD in the computer.

• iTunes script: Remove_start&end_spaces.hqx

This goes through each song on the current CD in the machine (but not the main library) and finds and removes opening spaces and trailing spaces in the song title and artist name fields. Only deletes spaces (does not alter field if no beginning or trailing space is found), and only deletes a single space each pass.
 
Note: Effects only current Audio CD in the computer.

• iTunes script: Sample-get_sample_data.hqx

This script changes no information within iTunes, but is designed to illustrate to new iTunes scripters how to access various iTunes song data within the main library, including features not documented by the iTunes help file and/or user interface (such as comment fields, and the ability to adjust the volume for each individual song entry). It opens the library, then steps through various data, displaying dialog boxes of what it returns. The script is well commented and shows some important notes, such as how the database references individual songs internally.
 
Note: Does not make any changes to iTunes, only demonstrates how to access certain library song data.

General Notes/Warnings:
 
Written under OS 8.6 through 9.2.2 under AppleScript v1.3 through 1.6 (may or may not be compatible with other versions of AppleScript or the Apple OS).
 
Note that most or all of the file renaming scripts require Jon's Commands, an AppleScript Addition, which is available for free (for non-commercial usage) at Jon Pugh's Home Page.
Sidenote: this is the most useful addition I have ever stumbled across for any scripter -- thanx Jon!
 
All files listed are Mac binhex (.hqx) archeives and require stuff-it expander (free!) to open. To download Stuff-It Expander for free, please visit Aladdin System's Expander Page (or try: http://www.stuffit.com/expander/   )

• Recursive_Renamer_v1.21.hqx

The grand renamer, ultimately capable, ideal for anyone who needs to rename thousands of files in a single pass. This script is rather complex, but very well commented, if you want to follow along with what is happening as an advanced programming example. One of the core techniques that it uses is recursion -- the calling of a handler (called a subroutine in most programming languages) by same handler, thus spawning another copy of itself.

WHAT IT DOES:

Takes a target folder selected by the user, AND grabs all the files in that folder, as well as the folder's name, AND renames all the files to a temporary name (semi-randomly generated), AND then renames them again to the name of the folder, plus the file count, plus a suffix. Whenever it stumbles across a folder within the target folder, it spawns the same process over again, renaming everything within that folder using that folder's name, file count and suffix.

• Checks each folder for the presence of a system file or the name system folder, and stops if it encounters one (generates a message to the user);
• Checks each folder to see if the maximum number of files permitted under the HFS filing system has been exceeded, stops if it has (generates a message to the user);
• Checks each folder name to see if it will exceed the filename length limit, and if it will truncates the filename with an ellipse (...) before the index count.

WHISTLES AND BELLS:

• Tracks how long it takes to complete the process and how many files & folders it processed, then displays this information at the end of the run, OR...
• Tests for an option press right at the beginning of the script; if the user is holding down the option key, the script will tell the finder to shutdown when it finishes the renaming process (rather than displaying the statistics on files/folders/time; useful if you want to start the renaming and walk away for the night).

REQUIRES:

• Jon's Commands, an AppleScript Addition, available for free (for non-commercial usage) from:
  http://www.seanet.com/~jonpugh/
  Jon's Commands must be installed and the system restarted before this script will work (required for the actual file rename command, as well as to catch the option key at the start).

REVISION HISTORY

• 2 June 2002 - v1.2 - rewrote ZeroPadding Handler to execute significantly quicker (reduced calls to NumberOfCharsInChount to 1 call from 2 calls, removed a loop).
• 20 May 2002 - v1.1 - added test for option key if present, shut down computer after completion.
• Other mods (pre version 1):
  • Fixed: redundent file renaming error (by changing the file names to a temp name, then to the new name);
  • Fixed: nested folders now get renamed as well based on their own folder name;
  • Fixed: situations where the folder name length would generate too long a filename; automatically parses it down to a useful length;
  • Fixed: examines folder about to be renamed and verifies folder is skipped if contains or is System Folder (as handler), and informs the user.

NOTES: Requires Jon's Commands, an AppleScript Addition, to work; available for free (non-commerical usage) from: Jon Pugh's Home Page.

• Add_Suffix_to_files.hqx

This script will add a suffix to all the files names within a folder. Note that this is a very rudimentary script, good for beginners to look at, but does not deal with such issues as folders within the specified folder, nor with cases where the file name after adding the suffix will suddenly be too long (and thus generate an error). Good for quickly adding .jpg or .txt to a bunch of files you want to email to a WinDoze users...
 
Note: If user responds with blank entry, all files will have .txt added to their endings.
 
NOTES: Requires Jon's Commands, an AppleScript Addition, to work; available for free (non-commerical usage) from: Jon Pugh's Home Page.

• Direct_Renamer_v0.9.hqx

A very quick, clean way to rename everything within a folder to your choice of name and suffix, along with a count #. I.e. - rename everything in this folder to CyberPoet###.gif would result in CyberPoet001.gif, CyberPoet002.gif, etc).
  This simple script will prompt the user for a name to use for the files within a folder (via a dialog box), as well as for a suffix (via another dialog box), and then proceed to rename each file within the folder using the prefix (filename) given, a file index count (starting at 1), and the suffix. Note that this is a very rudimentary script, good for beginners to look at, and does not deal with such issues as folders within the specified folder; however, it does deal with situations where the resulting filename will exceed the 32 character limit from Apple under OS 8.6 - 9.x by generating an error message.
 
NOTES: Requires Jon's Commands, an AppleScript Addition, to work; available for free (non-commerical usage) from: Jon Pugh's Home Page.

General Notes/Warnings:
 
All files listed are Mac binhex (.hqx) archeives and require stuff-it expander (free!) to open. To download Stuff-It Expander for free, please visit Aladdin System's Expander Page (or try: http://www.stuffit.com/expander/   )

• NowContact to Address Book Utility (Application/ReadMe)

Duplicates every entry in NowContact version 4.2.x (idealized for 4.2.5) to Apple Address Book v3.0.x (idealized for v3.0.1). Requires OS X v10.2.x as of this writing. Consists of a RTF-formatted Read Me file and an Application that was written in AppleScript 1.9 (166Kb download). Contact me for the source code if desired (thecyberpoet@cyberpoet.net).

General Notes/Warnings:
 
All files listed are Mac binhex (.hqx) archeives and require stuff-it expander (free!) to open. To download Stuff-It Expander for free, please visit Aladdin System's Expander Page (or try: http://www.stuffit.com/expander/   )

• Do_The_Count(script).hqx

Prompts user with a file dialog box to point it at a folder or hard drive partion, then recursively counts the number of files and folders contained within an user-specified folder/drive and displays that information...

• Generate_ASCII_from_Char.hqx

The simplest AppleScript ever -- asks the user to type in a character (if you type in more than one, it only takes the first character of whatever you type in) and then generates the ASCII code for that character which is displayed in a second dialog box. Useful for quickly determining the ASCII code for any character you can type. Total of 4 lines.

• Convert_Spaces_2_Underscore.hqx

Some file servers don't handle spaces in file names real well; this script takes the files within a folder and replaces all the spaces in the filenames with underscores instead. E.G,:
This File Is Here.    becomes
This_File_Is_Here.
 
NOTES: Requires Jon's Commands, an AppleScript Addition, to work; available for free (non-commerical usage) from: Jon Pugh's Home Page.

• Wind_Chill.AppleScript_1.6.hqx

This nifty little script was written for an aquaintance who wanted to be able to quickly generate the wind chill factor. Prompts user for current temp, and current wind speed, does a little range checking to validate the data, then generates responses for the wind chill factor using the American standard Wind Chill formula (from NOAA), and recalculates it for the Canadian standard (from Environment Canada) and displays that.

• Handler_SearchNReplace

This handler (if you don't know what handlers are, please visit my applescript primer page) takes three parameters passed in (text to be searched, text to find within the main text, and text to substitute it with). Simple, modular search & replace.
 
NOTES: This script is 'exact' search specific. If you tell it to find three returns in a row and replace them with a space, when it encounters five returns, it will change the first three of the five into a space and retain the two returns (rather than replacing all 5).

• SuperPrivacy v5c2 for OS X/Jaguar & Tiger (application)
Copyright 1996 - 2005, All Rights Reserved.

This application is the latest OS X specific update to an extensive 'cleaner' script whose purpose is to scavage off cache files and temp files of various kinds from the following browsers: AOL for OS X, Netscape Communicator for OS X (v7.0.x), MS InterNet Explorer for OS X (v 5.x), and Apple's Safari Browser, FireFox (1.0 - 1.03), iTunes temp and scrap files, and RealMedia cookies.

• SuperPrivacy v5c2 for OS X/Jaguar & Tiger (script version)
Copyright 1996 - 2005, All Rights Reserved.

This applescript is the latest OS X specific update to an extensive 'cleaner' script whose purpose is to scavage off cache files and temp files of various kinds from the following browsers: AOL for OS X, Netscape Communicator for OS X (v7.0.x), MS InterNet Explorer for OS X (v 5.x), and Apple's Safari Browser, FireFox (1.0 - 1.03), iTunes temp and scrap files, and RealMedia cookies.

• SuperPrivacy v5A1 (5.1) for OS X/Jaguar (Application)
• same as above, sans .app extension Copyright 1996 - 2004, All Rights Reserved.

This application is an OS X specific update to an extensive 'cleaner' script whose purpose is to scavage off cache files and temp files of various kinds from the following browsers: AOL for OS X, Netscape Communicator for OS X (v7.0.x, v6.x), MS InterNet Explorer for OS X (v 5.x), Apple's Safari Browser (GM and versions 1 through 1.0.3), FireFix (v1.0), as well as iTunes Temp Files and Sherlock Temp Files. Note current version is 5C2, and is listed separately...

• SuperPrivacy v5A1 (5.1) for OS X/Jaguar (Script)
Copyright 1996 - 2004, All Rights Reserved.

This script is an OS X specific update to an extensive 'cleaner' script whose purpose is to scavage off cache files and temp files of various kinds from the following browsers: AOL for OS X, Netscape Communicator for OS X (v7.0.x, v6.x), MS InterNet Explorer for OS X (v 5.x), Apple's Safari Browser (GM and versions 1 through 1.0.3), FireFix (v1.0), as well as iTunes Temp Files and Sherlock Temp Files. Note current version is 5C2, and is listed separately...

• SuperPrivacy v5.02 for OS X/Jaguar (Application)
Copyright 1996 - 2003, All Rights Reserved.

This application is an OS X specific update to an extensive 'cleaner' script whose purpose is to scavage off cache files and temp files of various kinds from the following browsers: AOL for OS X, Netscape Communicator for OS X (v7.0.x), MS InterNet Explorer for OS X (v 5.x), and Apple's Safari Browser. Note current version is 5C2, and is listed separately...

• SuperPrivacy v5.02 for OS X/Jaguar (Script)
Copyright 1996 - 2003, All Rights Reserved.

This is the compiled script of the above application. It is an OS X specific update to an extensive 'cleaner' script whose purpose is to scavage off cache files and temp files of various kinds from the following browsers: AOL for OS X, Netscape Communicator for OS X (v7.0.x), MS InterNet Explorer for OS X (v 5.x), and Apple's Safari Browser. Because it is a script, all the code can be read and modified.
  Please do not redistribute this file without permission; we request that if you want to distribute SuperPrivacy v5 and later, that you link directly to the applicable page on our website (we want traffic!). Note current version is 5C2, and is listed separately...

• Super_Privacy_v4.92.hqx
Copyright 1996 - 2002, All Rights Reserved.

This is an extensive OS 9.x 'cleaner' script whose purpose is to scavage off cache files and temp files of various kinds from the following programs: AOL versions 2.x through 5.0x, Netscape 2.x - 4.7x, Netscape 6.0x, MS InterNet Explorer 2.x - 3.x and 5.x, and MRJ (Macintosh Runtime Java - temp caches). As newer broswers become available, I update this file for any browser that I have installed.
 
The script locates the system folder, verifies that the appropriate folders exist within it for each program, then move the cache, history and cookie files to the trash. After moving all the files it finds of those types to the trash, it empties the trash (caution: including anything else that might be in the trash).
 
SPECIAL FEATURE: If you hold down the option key when you first run this script (until you hear a beep), it will move the files to the trash, but skip emptying the trash, so you can examine the files that were moved.
 
WORKS WITH: Tested with Mac OS 7.6.1 - 9.2.2 under AppleScript versions 1.0 through 1.6.x. This script is not compatible with AppleScript version 1.7 (due to changes in the way file are referenced in version 1.7 -- a bug in my opinion), and probably is NOT compatible with OS X (be warned). Has not been tested with 1.8.x, but should work based on field reports. REQUIRES: Requires Jon's Commands, an AppleScript Addition, to work; available for free (non-commerical usage) from: Jon Pugh's Home Page.
 
ALSO REQUIRES: the editing of two lines of code to support your particular installation of NetScape 6.x (if you have this browser installed -- if not, you need not change anything). Before editing, please read the Description (header) of the file in your script editor (the places to make the changes are clearly noted both there and within the code).
 
UPDATES: As you can tell by the version number, I update this script fairly regularly. One of these days I will get around to making it search for NetScape 6.x's custom named folders on it's own, but haven't yet (check back in a couple months). I'll also make the move to OS X as my default operating system (I'm not there yet because I have too much software that is mission critical that doesn't like OS X).
 
RECOMMENDED USAGE: I have turned this file into a stand-alone application (the version listed here is still editable), and have slipped it into the start-up items folder of the system folder. Each time the system starts up or restarts, it clears all the cache files, which is a God-send in terms of stability and privacy. SPECIAL NOTE (A): Requires Jon's Commands, an AppleScript Addition, to work; available for free (non-commerical usage) from: Jon Pugh's Home Page.
 
SPECIAL NOTE (B): Many web sites permit you to retain your User ID and/or Password so you don't have to enter them again (examples: ebay, paypal, fed ex, etc). When they do this, these sites save that information into your browser's cookie file(s). Super Privacy (this script) will delete those same files, so do NOT use if you do not have these user id's and passwords saved elsewhere! [if you don't have them saved elsewhere, start doing it now, because sooner or later your cookie file(s) will become corrupt and you'll end up throwing them away anyway].