Inside The System Folder - Control Panels

What is a Control Panel? A Control Panel is a small piece of software that allows you to customise certain settings that meet your needs. For example, you can change the pattern or colour of your computer's desktop using the Desktop Patterns Control Panel.

Depending on the type of computer you have and the System version you're using, the contents of your Control Panels folder may vary. You might also have Control Panels that were added by third-party applications. You can see a complete detailed list of all Apple Control Panels in the Macintosh
Guide via the '?' menu, or press the Help key (only in System 7.5 or later).

Below, I've listed some miscellaneous Control Panels that the installer placed in your system, but you may not need. See Other Control Panels for further details.

Appearance (MacOS 8 only)
Controls how the MacOS 'looks', this is also where you can add Themes to the GUI. See picture 14.1 and picture 14.2.

Apple Menu Options
Provides hierarchical sub-menus in the Apple Menu. See picture 14.3.

AppleTalk
You can specify AppleTalk settings (such as connection port and zone) for use with Apple's Open Transport networking. See picture 14.4.

At Ease Setup
Allows you to start up your Mac in a simple, configurable launcher, which replaces the standard Finder.

ATM
Makes your Type 1 fonts look sharp and clear at any point size, both on your screen and on paper. Improves the output of QuickDraw printers, such as the ImageWriter and StyleWriter series. See picture 14.5.

ATM GX
For displaying smooth QuickDrawGX fonts. Apple no longer supports QuickDrawGX features.

AutoRemounter
Allows remounting of volumes after waking from sleep, on Powerbooks. It also works on desktop Macs, to remount shared disks instead of using the AppleShare 'mount on startup' option. See picture 14.3.

Cache Switch
For 68040/680LC40 Macs only. Allows you to turn off the 68040 processor caching for compatibility with older applications. See picture 14.6.

Colour
You can set the colour of highlighted text and window borders. See picture 14.7.

CloseView
You can magnify your computer display for easier viewing.

ColourSync System Profile
Part of the ColourSync system that provides consistent colour across various types of equipment (printers, scanners, monitors, and so on). In the Control Panel, you can view and select ColourSync profiles for the types of equipment you use. See picture 14.7.

Control Strip
You can display or hide the Control Strip, and specify a font for Control Strip menus. With the Control Strip, you can control a variety of settings directly from your desktop, such as sound volume, monitor resolution, file sharing, and so on. See picture 14.8.

Date & Time
You can set the date, time, and time zone on your computer. You can also set how dates and times are displayed. See picture 14.9.

Desktop Patterns
You can change the pattern or colour of your computer's desktop. See picture 14.10.

Desktop Pictures
This Control Panel replaces Desktop Pictures in MacOS 8.x. This time not only can you select a pattern for the Desktop, but you can also place an image onto Desktop. See picture 14.11 and picture 14.12.

Easy Access
Provides keyboard enhancements, and easier mouse input, and audio/visual feedback on keyboard entries for people with disabilities.

Editor Setup
You can specify which OpenDoc parts to use for different kinds of file formats. System 7.6-8.1 only.

Extensions Manager
You can turn your computer's system Extensions on or off. Extensions include items in the Extensions folder, Control Panels, and other startup programs in the System Folder. See picture 14.13.

File Sharing Monitor
When file sharing is turned on, this Control Panel displays a list of users who are connected to your computer. Only available on networked Amigas. See picture 14.14.

General Controls
You can set various options, including desktop hiding, Launcher visibility at startup, folder protection to prevent folders and files from being deleted, insertion point blinking rate, menu selection blinking, and the default folder that appears in the Save dialogue box. See picture 14.15.

Keyboard
You can set the repeat rate and delay before repeat for your keyboard. Also lets you switch keyboard layouts. See picture 14.10.

Labels
You can customise the colour and text of icon labels. See picture 14.16.

Launcher
You can open the Launcher window, where you can easily find and open programs. You can add items to the Launcher by placing an alias to your favourite applications, files, or folders in the Launcher Items folder in the System Folder. See picture 14.8.

Mac OS Easy Open/Macintosh Easy Open
Allows you to select the way a Mac or DOS/Windows file is translated/opened when you don't have the application that created it. See picture 14.13.

MacIPX
Used with the MacIPX network Extensions to provide support for the MacIPX network protocol.

MacPPP
Is System 7.5x's PPP Control Panel for connecting the modem to the internet. This Control Panel can be found on the System 7.53 or 7.6 CD, it is actually called Config PPP, and is relatively easy to set-up despite the number of options screens available for you to fine tune. It also comes with a PPP system Extension, which you manually drop into the Extensions folder.
MacPPP's main setup (see picture 4.17); the IPCP Options and Authentication windows (see picture 4.18); the Command Script window (see picture 4.19); the LCP Options (see picture 4.20).

MacTCP
Used to configure and connect to TCP/IP-based networks, either locally or dial-up. Replaced by the TCP/IP Control Panel under Open Transport. See picture 14.21.

MacTCP DNR
This file, which is loose in your system folder. DNR (Domain Name Resolver) contains part of the information needed by TCP/IP applications.s

Map
You can locate popular cities around the world, and display longitude and latitude coordinates and local time. Lets you set the location of your computer. See picture 14.9.

Memory
Lets you control settings such as virtual memory, disk cache size, the Modern Memory Manager, RAM disks and 24/32-bit addressing switch. See picture 14.22.

Modem (MacOS 8 only)
The Modem Control Panel allows you to use Modem Scripts, or modem drivers. This allows MacOS to optimise performance of the modem and allow for a much smoother operation when in use. The System installer, installs drivers for most of the up-to-date modems for you, however if your particular model is not listed, then down load a Mac Modem Script from the manufacturer's web site, or look in the MacOS CD (quite a few are not installed). See picture 14.23.

Monitors
Allows you to configure your monitors; no. of colours/greys, resolution, main monitor on multiple monitor systems for non-PCI Macs and the 7200 series PCI Macs. See picture 14.24.

Monitors & Sound (MacOS 8 only)
A combined Control Panel that replaces the separate Sound and Monitors Control Panels. Monitor setup (see picture 14.25); sound setup (see picture 14.26); alerts setup (see picture 14.27).

Mouse
You can set the tracking speed and double-click speed for your mouse. See picture 14.24.

Network
Used to choose the type of network in Systems 7.0-7.1x. Replaced by the AppleTalk Control Panel under Open Transport. See picture 14.4.

Numbers
You can control how numbers and currencies are displayed on your computer (for example, where decimal points appear). See picture 14.28.

PC Exchange
Allows your computer to read files from ProDOS and MS-DOS disks. You can specify the Mac OS application program used to open a DOS document. You can also use SyQuest and Bernoulli disks on your desktop. See picture 14.29.

PPP
Is part of the Open Transport PPP package (download from Apple). This allows you to use PPP through Open Transport. Picture 14.30 shows PPP disconnected. Picture 14.31 shows PPP connected.

QuickTime Settings
This changes the preferences for QuickTime 2.5 (onwards).You can set options for MIDI instruments, and set a CD to play automatically when inserted.

Sharing Setup
You can set file sharing options and specify a network name for your computer. Only available on networked Amigas. See picture 14.32.

Sound
You can set the alert sound and volume and specify a sound input and sound output source for your computer. On PowerPC-based computers with PCI slots, this Control Panel is replaced by the Monitors and Sound Control Panel.

Speech
You can set options for hearing text read aloud by the computer. If you have Speakable Items software and a PlainTalk-compatible microphone, you can set options for giving spoken commands to the computer. Works on all Macintosh 660AV and 840AV computers. Also works on all computers with PowerPC microprocessors. See picture 14.6.

Startup Disk
Select the disk you want to start up your computer (it must have a compatible System Folder on it). See picture 14.28.

TCP/IP
You can specify TCP/IP settings for use with Apple's Open Transport and Ethernet. TCP/IP can also be used to setup your modem's PPP/ISP details. There is one drawback to the Mac's TCP/IP Control Panel, it cannot connect to an Ethernet network, and connect to the internet via PPP at the same time, unless you're connected via Ethernet to internet router system. See picture 14.33 and picture 14.34.

Text
You can select from the text features for the script systems installed on your computer. See picture 14.28.

Users & Groups
Specifies who can access your computer's hard disk when sharing is on. Available on networked Amigas only. See picture 14.35.

Views
You can customise how information is displayed in Finder windows. Note: Can be found in the Edit menu under "Preferences" in System 8 to 8.1. See picture 14.16.

WindowShade
Specifies whether to hide a window by clicking on its title bar. Note: Can be found in the Edit menu under "Preferences" in System 8 to 8.1. See picture 14.3.

Some of these Control Panels (CPs) may have been installed with the standard set of Control Panels. 99% of these will not apply to you, or simply won't work (it'll give an error message if you try to double click on an incompatible CP), so you can safely bin most of them.

AppleCD Speed Switch
From System 7.1. Allows you to switch between "standard" or "faster" speed. It is integrated into CD Software 5.0.

AppleShareSetup
Allows you to change many of the AppleShare parameters.

AppleTalk Options
Part of the Open Transport package, but not installed automatically. It allows a user to suppress unwanted router-related alerts.

AppleVision Setup
For PCI Macs; after upgrading to System 7.5.3, this Control Panel should be eliminated. All of its functionality will be incorporated into the Monitors & Sound Control Panel.

Auto Power On/Off
Allows your Mac to automatically shut down after a specified idle time, reboot after a power failure, and/or start up or shut down at a certain times.

Button Disabler
Allows you to disable the volume, brightness etc. buttons on the front of certain computer models, ie. the LC/Performa 500 series Macs.

CPU Energy Saver
Allows you to turn your Mac off at a specific time or after a specified amount of idle time.

DOS Compatibility Software Update / PC Setup
Used by Macs with the DOS Compatibility Card.

Energy Saver
Allows you to put your external monitor into sleep mode after a specified idle time. It only works with Macs that have the built-in video, it also requires an Energy Star compliant monitor. Compatible with PCI based PowerMacs only.

LaserWriter Bridge
Open Transport-compatible version of LaserWriter Bridge and LocalTalk Bridge. Allows you to use LocalTalk printers and access LocalTalk networked Macs over an Ethernet or TokenRing network.

LocalTalk Bridge
Allows you to bridge Ethernet and LocalTalk networks.

MODE32
Under System 7, gives the Mac II, IIx, IIcx, or SE/30 (68000 & some 68020 CPUs) the ability to run in 32-bit addressing mode. With 32-bit addressing on, your Mac can take advantage of more than 8MB of RAM. Under System 7.5, a new version of MODE32 was released. You MUST use MODE32 v7.5 if you are running System 7.5.
This CP is not necessary for Mac emulation on Amigas - 32 bit addressing is guaranteed, except with 68000 CPUs.

Network Time
If you are on a network with a Time Server, this Control Panel checks the server and synchronizes your Mac's clock.

Password Security
Used on portable Macs only, and will not work in emulation anyway. Allows you to lock-out the Mac's hard disk, so that thieves cannot use the computer.

PC Setup
Used by Macs with the 610 PC and DOS Compatibility Cards, and is replaced by the DOS Compatibility Software Update 1.5.

Performa
Included with Performa models running System 7.1P. Provides functionality similar to the General Controls Control Panel.

Power Macintosh Card & 601 Processor Upgrade
Allows the use of a PowerPC accelerator on a real Mac. Cannot work in emulation.

ScriptSwitcher
Provides a quick way to automatically switch the primary script system resources in your System software.

Serial Switch
Provides compatibility for some applications that use the printer or modem port. You can set the serial port option to Faster or More Compatible. Works on Macintosh IIfx and Macintosh Quadra 950 computers only.

Token Ring
Under Open Transport, works with the AppleTalk Control Panel to allow access to a Token Ring network.

Trackpad
Used on portable Macs only. It controls the trackball, for speed control and button use.