From: chh9@ellis.uchicago.edu (Conrad Halling)
Subject: PowerBook 160 tip
Reply-To: chh9@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 21:19:38 GMT

If you set the screen to 16 grays using the Monitors control panel, you'll
notice that the scroll bars and grow region of a document window are drawn
using grays but that the title bar, including the go away box and the zoom
box, are drawn in black and white.  On any other Macintosh, if you set the
monitor to 16 grays (16 colors doesn't work), the title bar of the window
will be drawn using the grays.  Hmmm.  What's going on here?  Why is a
regular feature of the Macintosh interface disabled on the PowerBook 160?

The drawing of windows is controlled by a 'WDEF' resource.  Apple wrote a
special WDEF resource just for the PowerBook 160 that causes the title bar
to be drawn in black on white on a PowerBook 160 screen.  This is because
the "swimming pixel" illusion is plainly visible in a title bar that is drawn
using the grays.  However, as PowerBook 160 owners know, the six horizontal
black lines in the title bar of a window cause annoying shadows on the
screen.  If you, like me, would prefer that your windows be drawn in the
standard manner, this tip explains how to get rid of the windows with the
black and white title bars.

The custom 'WDEF' resource is contained in the "System Enabler 111" file in
the System folder of a PowerBook 160.  This 'WDEF' resource can be removed
using ResEdit 2.1.1 (available from ftp.apple.com).  Once the custom 'WDEF'
resource has been removed, the next time your computer is started, the
system software will use the standard 'WDEF' resource that is in the
System file itself.

Here's how to make the change:

1)  Standard warning:  use ResEdit only with a _copy_ of a file, never with
    the original.  It is easy to screw things up so bad that you'll have to
    reinstall the system.  Disclaimer:  I have done this on my own PowerBook
    160, but I am in no way responsible if you screw up and lose all your
    files.  If you're not sure of what you're doing, at least back up all your
    files before you start, and have your System 7.1 installation disks
    handy.  It's very unlikely that you'll need them, but just in case....

2)  Open the System folder.  Holding down the option key, drag the "System
    Enabler 111" file to the desktop.  The Finder makes a copy of this file
    on the desktop; the original remains in the System folder.  You will make
    changes only to the copy on the desktop.

3)  Use ResEdit to open the copy of "System Enabler 111" that is on the 
    desktop.

4)  Click on the 'WDEF' line (or icon, depending on how you have set up
    the views of the resources).  From the Edit menu, choose "Cut" or "Clear".
    The 'WDEF' resource will be deleted.

5)  Save the file and close it (but don't quit ResEdit).

6)  In the "File" menu, choose "Get File/Folder Info...".  Open the modified
    copy of "System Enabler 111" that is on the desktop.

7)  Click the check box that unlocks the file.  Then change the name of the
    file to something like "System Enabler 111 (modified)".  Click the
    check box that locks the file.

8)  Save the file and quit ResEdit.

9)  Create a new folder in the System folder named something like "Unmodified
    System Enabler".

10) Drag the original "System Enabler 111" file into the new folder.

11) Drag the modified system enabler "System Enabler 111 (modified)" into
    the System folder.  You have now replaced the original system enabler
    with the modified one, and you have cleverly saved a copy of the original
    system enabler where the system software can't see it.  However, no
    changes will occur until you restart your computer (but WAIT! -- don't
    do a restart just yet).

12) If you haven't already done so, use the Monitors control panel to set
    your screen to 16 grays or 16 colors.

13) Find your Disk Tools disk that came with the System 7.1 disks.  You will
    need this if anything goes wrong.

14) Restart your PowerBook 160.  Open a window if one isn't already open.
    The title bar should now be drawn in grays.

15) If something has gone wrong (the PowerBook will not start if the
    System Enabler file is missing or grossly damaged), restart your
    PowerBook 160 using the Disk Tools disk (I told you to get it earlier,
    didn't I?).  Drag the modified system enabler "System Enabler 111
    (modified)" to the trash, and drag the unmodified "System Enabler 111"
    from the "Unmodified System Enabler" folder into the "System" folder.
    Restart your computer.

-- 
Conrad Halling
c-halling@uchicago.edu