Installing Gatekeeper

To install Gatekeeper you'll need the following files: Gatekeeper, Gatekeeper Controls, and Gatekeeper Aid. Where these files are placed, however, varies depending on the version of the System you happen to be using. Regardless of the System you are using, though, you can install Gatekeeper quickly and correctly by following the steps below.

1. Find your System Folder's icon.

2. If the System Folder window is open (the System Folder's icon will appear gray if it is), find and close that window.

3. Select the Gatekeeper, Gatekeeper Aid and Gatekeeper Controls files and drag them onto your System Folder's icon.

4. If you're running a System earlier than version 7.0, the files will be copied and that'll be that. If you're running System 7.0 or later an alert will appear and you'll be told that the items "need to be stored in special places inside the System Folder" - just click the OK button in this alert and everything will happen automatically.

5. Double-check the installation by making sure those items are in the locations shown in the following diagrams.

6. If you've used Gatekeeper 1.2.x on your Mac before, look for the Gatekeeper Prefs file in either the System Folder or the Preferences folder. If you find it, and you're using System 7, put it in the Trash, but don't bother trying to empty the Trash. If you're using System 6 or earlier, just drag the Prefs file out of the System Folder. This will force Gatekeeper 1.3 to create a new Prefs file when you restart your Mac. The new Prefs file will contain the latest set of default privilege information, so it is normally preferable to earlier versions of the file. (Once this is done you'll be able to throw away that old Prefs file.)

System 4.1 to System 6.0.x Gatekeeper Component Locations

System 7.x Gatekeeper Component Locations

NOTE: Once Gatekeeper is installed and operating it will create two new files named "Gatekeeper Log" and "Gatekeeper Prefs". System 7 users will find these files in the Preferences folder, while users of earlier systems will find them in the System Folder.

Because of the way Gatekeeper Controls was written, you are not required to place it in the Control Panels folder under System 7. In fact, you can put it anywhere that happens to be convenient, or you can even remove it altogether if you are certain you won't need it to configure Gatekeeper at some later date. In general though, it's best to put it in the Control Panels folder and leave it there, so that there won't be any question of where to find it when you need it.

System 6 users do not have the option of relocating the Gatekeeper Controls file; it must be located in the System Folder for the Control Panel desk accessory to find it. However, it is possible to omit the Gatekeeper Controls file, if you are certain you won't need it to configure Gatekeeper at some later date. Omitting Gatekeeper Controls is useful when you're setting up a facility like a public access lab in which you don't want users changing Gatekeeper's configuration.

For the sake of flexibility there are three valid locations for the Gatekeeper Log and Gatekeeper Prefs files under System 7. They can be in the Preferences folder, the System Folder, or the same folder that contains Gatekeeper. Under System 6, however, the choice of location is limited to the System Folder or the same folder that contains Gatekeeper (there are a few INITs which make this distinction relevant).

NOTE: If, after you install Gatekeeper, you do not see the new Gatekeeper icons (particularly the color icons available under System 7) you will need to delete all previous versions of Gatekeeper from your disk(s) and rebuild your Desktop file. This is done by restarting your Macintosh while holding down both the command and option keys until menus reappear in the menu bar at the top of the screen. At this time you can release those keys. You will soon be asked if you want to "rebuild the desktop" on your disk(s). Click on the OK button, and the Finder will do the rest for you. Remember, however, that rebuilding your Desktop file will remove all the comments attached to your files in the "Get Info..." dialog - other than that, though, it's a harmless operation.