Well it will not work for all application and in particular the Pro
Audio applications can not be patched in this way. Here is what I do:
When I encounter an application like Net4Mac in which buttons or other
controls have not been labeled with accessibility features I open the
application package and try and find the English project .nib files.
Then with the Interface Builder application, part of Xcode, I edit
that .nib file putting in the missing accessibility features.
WARNING: Do this ONLY ON A COPY of the software never the original
application. You've been warned!
Read that last part again!
If this works then you have an accessible version of the application.
Next step is to build a patch program to install it into an unmodified
copy of the program. So copy the .nib files you modified to a
temporary location and use AppleScript, create an Application bundle
and in the scrip part enter something like the following changing the
paths as needed:
-- Start of appleScript
--Here we check to make sure the application is installed in the /
Applications directory
if (do shell script "ls /Applications") contains "Net4Mac.app" then
-- set appPath to the path of the patcher application.
set appPath to path to me as string
-- add the path to the nib file we are going to install here we are
placing it into the script application.
set nibPath to appPath & "Contents:MainMenu.nib"
-- Make the whole thing into a unix path name
set nibPath to POSIX path of nibPath
-- copy it to the correct path in the application to be patched.
-- the -R option is used because technically .nib files are
directories.
do shell script "cp -R " & nibPath & " /Applications/Net4Mac.app/
Contents/Resources/English.lproj"
--tell the user we're done.
display alert "Net4Mac has been patched."
else
--tell the user he need the application installed before he can patch.
display alert "Please install Net4Mac allication before running patch."
end if
-- End of appleScript
Now like I said this approach of modifying applications to provide
accessibility is limited and not all applications can make use of it
but when it does work it works well. Where it does not work is for
applications which have not followed the Apple specification for GUI,
like the Pro Audio application. If developer would just pay attention
they would have the items added as they make their programs.
I have no idea if any of this is legal.
Greg Kearney
535 S. Jackson St.
Casper, Wyoming 82601
307-224-4022
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
On Apr 14, 2008, at 7:42 PM, Kevin Reeves wrote:
Hey Greg. Can you explain the process by which a program could be
made accessible? How do you make the patch program? Now you've got
my curiosity up. Looking forward to reading your response. Thanks.
