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No need for all those steps
Authored by: PCheese on Jan 24, '07 01:21:44PM

There's a much easier way to get this working. You don't specifically need a broken alias; any non-sound item in the Sounds folder will do it, such as a blank text file or even a folder. I would rewrite this hint like so:

1. Navigate to ~/Library/Sounds (create the folder if it does not yet exist).

2. Create a new folder within the Sounds folder and name it "Flash Screen.aiff"

3. Quit System Preferences if it's running, then start it and go to the Sound -> Sound Effects tab. You should now see Flash Screen as a custom alert sound, and as a new mail sound in Mail.app, and other places).

Note that when you re-enter the Sound preference pane, the Flash Screen option may no longer appear to be selected. However, your Flash Screen selection will stick unless, of course, you then select a different sound.

Also, I was unable to get the Flash Screen alert to work in Mail with either method. It shows up as an alert sound in Mail's preferences (only when the folder name ends with .aiff), but I get no auditory or visual feedback when new mail arrives.



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Re: No need for all those steps
Authored by: jiclark on Jan 24, '07 02:44:00PM

I can confirm that this works, and is a bit easier. I used TextEdit to save a plain text file, with one space in it, as Flash Screen.aiff. I got the usual dialog about the file extension not being recommended, but just hit "use .aiff" anyway, and it works like a charm.

It's a bit easier than the original hint, but very cool either way!



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