Connect To: How to Change the Default URL

Connect To is an AppleScript applet that has a custom icon and whose file type and creator codes have been changed. If you want Connect To to use a different default URL, you can modify the applet or create your own applet. Each is explained below.

Creating Your Own Applet

The functionality of Connect To has been integrated into the Network Browser application program included with Mac OS 9. If you do not currently have Mac OS 9, or would simply like to create your own Connect To applet, please see article 60599: "Mac OS 9: Where is 'Connect To...'"

Modifying the Connect To Applet

You can modify the Connect To applet by first setting its file type and creator codes to match those of a standard AppleScript applet, and then modifying the applet with an AppleScript editor. Here is the procedure:

2. Using a resource editor, change the file type and creator codes to 'APPL' and 'aplt', respectively. If you wish to restore these original values later, record them now. Changing the codes does not alter the applet's functionality; it merely makes the applet editable by an AppleScript editor.

3. Drop the resulting file onto the Script Editor application for editing. (Mac OS 8 and 9 install the Script Editor by default in the Apple Extras folder.)

4. Substitute another URL for the one shown in the line "set defaultURL to 'http://www.apple.com'."

5. Save the new file using Save As. The resulting applet does not have a custom icon, but this does not affect its operation.

The original file type and creator codes can be restored to their previous values, though it is not necessary to do so.

Note: Apple does not provide technical assistance in the use of ResEdit or other such resource editing utilities.

You can make as many modified copies of Connect To as you like, but this is not the most efficient way to open frequently used URLs. Most Web browsers and ftp utilities allow you to save bookmark files to any location on your hard disk. Bookmark files are typically smaller, easier to change, and take you directly to the desired Internet location.