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Why do various OS 8-9 desktops and menus differ?

What I mean? I have used every Mac OS from 8.1 to 9.2.2, with an emphasis on 8.6, 9.0, 9.1, and 9.2.2. There are several inconsistencies which really impact my regular uses of these systems:

Aliases - On some systems, I can drop a file on a desktop application alias to open it. For example, drop a large text onto BBEdit. But on other systems, drag and drop does not work aliases.

Apple Menu - I often have several large folders of programs in subfolders for certain uses. Such as: Video:Compressors, Adobe:Tutorials, or the giant audio folder: Audio:Analysis, Audio:Design, Audio:Editing. What I like to do is make aliases of these big folders and keep them in the Apple Menu, so I can conveniently pull down directories of my frequently used apps instead of futzing around in Finder windows. On some of my systems, I get full hierarchical folder browsing. On other systems, only one folder deep. Yet others, no directories appear - but I can clip the name to open the folder in the Finder.

Desktop Folder - One of those folders I like to include in the Apple Menu is the desktop itself. This is much quicker than moving windows around. It is a bit fussy to set up, and on other setups does not work. This I imagine has to do with OS X needing the OS 9 Desktop to be a "real" directory, as opposed to earlier systems maybe having it be a small database of stuff. As I recall, I get File Buddy to list invisible files in my root directory, then I can make it visible and create an alias. On a double boot with X it is even easier since the OS 9 things are not hidden, at least in Path Finder.

Any tips or explanations?

 
The Apple Menu Items Control Panel allows tweaking of hierarchical menu settings. Have you tried it?

Interesting uses of the Apple Menu, by the way. I've only just started to use it more extensively, after 20 years of using the Launcher and Finder windows!

 
The Apple Menu Items Control Panel allows tweaking of hierarchical menu settings. Have you tried it?
I had forgotten about it! Looks like it is my 9.1 system on my 8600 which has this problem with hierarchical folders, and the Apple Menu control panel does not work! So I guess there is something weird going on here. It says something to the effect that the panel is not installed, and needs to be dropped into my System Folder to be used. But it is already there, with my other panels. I will check if it is the right version, or if it has corrupted preferences. Thanks for the reminder!

 
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