Fetch Softworks

Fetch stopped working (8 posts)

• Started 18 years ago by Bonnie
• Latest reply 18 years ago from Scott McGuire

• Bonnie Member

  I've been using Fetch since 2001. I was using version 4 at least 3x a week with Tiger just fine--until tonight.

  Symptoms:

  When I clicked on the Fetch icon in my dock, it started the Script Editor program. I thought the alias got corrupted somehow so I trashed it and tried to make a new alias, but the Fetch icon wouldn't go onto the dock (the other icons already on the dock wouldn't make room for it).

  That's when I noticed the Fetch icon looked different. Instead of the side profile of the dog's body, it now was a more crudely drawn frontal profile of the dog's face.

  I repaired my disk permissions, but Fetch still didn't work. I rebooted with the disk that came with my iBook and repaired disk permissions again, and then repaired the disk. (No repairs were needed for the disk, but there were several for the permissions). It still didn't work.

  Then I downloaded a fresh version of 4.03 and restarted, but the icon is still the crudely drawn one rather than the old, familiar side profile. It still would not go onto the dock, and clicking on it still started up the Script Editor rather than the Fetch program.

  I finally downloaded the new 5.0 Fetch and it works, but I was happy with my old one and don't want to upgrade.

  I realized this is probably not a Fetch problem, but something to do with my computer, but I tried all the other programs in my dock and they work just fine. It's only Fetch having problems right now. I haven't downloaded any new programs or changed any settings that I can remember.

  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I thank you for any help you can offer.

  [This message has been edited by Bonnie (edited 01-01-2006).]

  [This message has been edited by Bonnie (edited 01-01-2006).]

  Posted 18 years ago #

• Scott McGuire Administrator

  Hi,

  Sorry to hear you're having problems. Try the following steps - I realize you've done some of these already, but please bear with us and go through every step below in this exact order:

  (1) Go to your Applications folder, and put all copies of Fetch or folders named Fetch that you see there into your Trash.
  (2) Remove all Fetch icons from the Dock.
  (3) Go to the Fetch Softworks website and download a fresh copy of Fetch 4.0.3 - you can do that from http://www.fetchsoftworks.com/downloads.html . Click on the "Fetch 4.0.3 for Mac OS X" link.
  (4) Move the newly downloaded Fetch 4.0.3 folder to your Applications folder.
  (5) Open the Fetch 4.0.3 folder.
  (6) Double-click on the Fetch icon in the Fetch 4.0.3 folder. It should run Fetch. If not, stop here and let us know.
  (7) If it ran Fetch correctly, drag the Fetch application icon to the Dock to create a new alias there.
  (8) Try running Fetch from the new Dock icon.

  Let us know if this does not solve the problem.

  Thanks,

  Scott McGuire
  Fetch Softworks

  Posted 18 years ago #

• Bonnie Member

  Thanks for your help. I appreciate it!

  I did exactly as you said, step-by-step. When I came to the part about clicking on the icon within the freshly-downloaded Fetch folder in the Applications folder, the Script Editor application opened instead.

  I temporarily moved the Script Editor icon to my desktop, and now the Fetch icon opens the Automator application. I moved the Script Editor icon back to its rightful place, and clicking the Fetch icon continues to open the Automator application.

  Also, the fresh 4.0.3 Fetch download still has the more crudely drawn icon of the dog's face, rather than the nicely drawn side profile of the dog's body.

  I have a feeling it is something awry in my computer system, but so far only Fetch seems to be affected by it.

  Posted 18 years ago #

• Scott McGuire Administrator

  Hi Bonnie,

  Try this:

  * Select the original Fetch 4.0.3 application.
  * Rename it to just "Fetch 4" (no periods in the name).
  * Now try running it.

  That should fix the problem, let us know if it does not.

  Thanks,

  Scott McGuire
  Fetch Softworks

  Posted 18 years ago #

• Bonnie Member

  I did as you suggested, but clicking on the renamed, "Fetch 4" icon still starts up the Automator application. I tried renaming it just "Fetch" and the result is the same.

  I can't figure this out--it was working just fine until yesterday.

  Posted 18 years ago #

• Scott McGuire Administrator

  Hi,

  Hmm. Try this:

  * Select the Fetch icon by clicking once on it.
  * Choose "Get Info" from the "File" menu in the Finder.
  * In the Name & Extension field of the Finder info window, type "Fetch.app" (without the quotes).
  * Close the info window.

  If you are asked if you are sure you want to change the extension to ".app" instead of something else, choose ".app".

  Then try running it. Does that fix it?

  Scott McGuire
  Fetch Softworks

  Posted 18 years ago #

• Bonnie Member

  Hooray! You are my hero!

  When I got info on the icon, it said "Fetch.3" I changed it to "Fetch.app" and the icon immediately changed back to the nicely-drawn side profile of the dog. When I clicked on it, my old tried-and-true Fetch application started up!

  Thank you VERY much. That was the oddest thing to happen to any of my software in a good long time.

  Posted 18 years ago #

• Scott McGuire Administrator

  Hi,

  Glad to hear it's fixed at last - sorry for the many extra steps involved to get it fixed.

  This was probably the result of an uncommon problem in Mac OS X 10.4 for applicaitons whose names end in with a period followed by a number (in this case, .3).

  Anyway, now that you've renamed the application, you shouldn't run into it again.

  Best,

  Scott McGuire
  Fetch Softworks

  Posted 18 years ago #