Nov

17

User Finds Bento 3 Easter Egg

Filed Under Bento News, Bento Tips 

Bento user Mark found a Bento 3 easter egg (a hidden, undocumented feature): when you hold down the Option key upon launching Bento, a dialog box pops up which lets you choose any database file, set a default file, and more.

I tried it out and it displayed some strange behavior. Luckily, I had copied the database file I tested the feature with. Bento moved the file (removing it from my back-up folder where it resided). Since I didn’t specify that file as the default database, it later automatically reverted to the previous file, and the other file was gone, I couldn’t find it anywhere! I had to move the copy back into its old location by hand. Sounds a bit dangerous and complicated, right?

I recommend to use this hidden feature with big caution! So far, the documentation never mentioned the possible use of more than one database file, even though many users are using them, including myself. This would be another reason for the release of an updated version of Bento 3 that includes a new users guide! The users guide would need to include instructions on how to create additional database files.

Comments

7 Responses to “User Finds Bento 3 Easter Egg”

  1. Jolin Warren on November 22nd, 2009 2:28 pm

    Interesting find. I haven’t updated to Bento 3 yet, and can confirm that this is also an easter egg in Bento 2.0v5.

  2. Florian on November 22nd, 2009 2:41 pm

    Thanks, Jolin. That’s amazing. I wonder why it’s STILL undocumented then! Maybe the Bento team is using it for testing purposes and forgot to remove it…

  3. Simon on November 22nd, 2009 2:54 pm

    This has actually been mentioned a couple of times previously and in particular in the comments about the Bento Database Manager. When I’ve used it in the past I’ve found it to be pretty stable and in fact Digestive uses one of its tricks to help with managing multiple database files.

    As for why it is undocumented, I think that it is because it is essentially an in-house tool for the Bento team and perhaps they think that exposing it to the users is just opening up a can of worms and would make things too complicated for the majority of their users.

  4. Stan on February 8th, 2010 9:33 am

    I have found this tool very useful and seemingly stable.

    I BackUp bento.bentodb using the built in ‘Reminder’ facility which is set to jog me to take action once each week.
    Automator is also used to make bento.bentodb BackUps on a more frequent basis. Automator places the Package in a Folder which is named with the Year and Day of the Year, and when required, the Number of the BackUp that day e.g. 2010 39 3. This leaves no doubt as to which is the latest BackUp.

    This tool is great for checking that all is well with these BackUps.
    It would be even better if the Path was confirmed in the same way that the Default Path is shown.
    Ticking ‘Use selected Database for this session only’ seems like a good idea.

  5. Florian on February 8th, 2010 1:20 pm

    Stan,
    the tech support person in the Bento forums claims that this “tool” might not stay around much longer, because it was only to be used by the delvelopers… so don’t get too comfortable with it.

  6. Stan on February 10th, 2010 6:06 am

    Florian

    Thanks for the heads up on this Tool.

    Given the importance of making BackUps AND checking that they are fully functional it is in every Bento Users interests to maintain the present Tool, or at least something similar which will simplify BackUp checking.
    Please may I encourage all BentoUsers Members/Readers/Participants to make the point on the Bento for Mac Forum?

  7. Florian on February 10th, 2010 6:30 am

    Stan,
    Simon is developing a helper application for Bento called “Digestive” which will greatly help with back-ups. See one of his recent posts.

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