Copyright: Diego A. Aranda, 1993


Command Line Help Contents

Welcome to Command Line, a program launcher for Windows 3.1

To learn how to use Help, press F1.

About Bright Ideas! Software Design

Disclaimer

Introduction

Installation

Configuration

Aliases

AutoLoad

AutoRun

Clock

Date

Free System Resources

FunctionKeys

LaunchBox

Options

Status Indicator


About Bright Ideas! Software Design

Bright Ideas! Software Design is committed to providing useful Windows software.

All software produced by Bright Ideas! is entirely FREE.  There are no registration fees to pay, and no annoying nag screens to deal with. Bright Ideas! programs are publicly driven - applications and improvements are based entirely on the feedback and support of users.

Bright Ideas! Software Design may be contacted via:

America Online:   DiegoAA

Internet E-mail:     DAA7365@RIGEL.TAMU.EDU

Command Line is the first application from Bright Ideas! to be publicly distributed.


Disclaimer

There are no limitations on the use of Command Line v1.0.  Both individual users and corporations are  entitled to use this product without paying any royalties.  However, Command Line is to be distributed in its  entirety, without modification. A nominal distribution fee of not more than $2.00 U.S. is permitted.

Command Line is distributed as FREEWARE.  No warranty exists, either expressed or implied.  No liability  is  assumed for any damage or loss resulting from the use of this product.  No claims are made regarding  the quality of this product.


Introduction

Command Line is an application launcher, clock, system resource monitor, and shell for Windows 3.1.

Command Line allows a user to define up to fifty Aliases, which provide for program execution with only a few keystrokes. In addition, Command Line includes FunctionKeys, which allow a user to execute applications merely by pressing one of the twelve function keys, or some combination thereof. The integrated LaunchBox allows users to execute Windows and DOS applications, and supports any combination of switches or arguments. Command Line features AutoLoad and AutoRun, which enable it to act as the Windows shell.  Up to ten AutoLoad and AutoRun applications may be defined, and they will automatically execute (either minimized or in the normal window mode, respectively) whenever Command Line is loaded. Command Line includes a clock, date counter, free system resources indicator, and status panel, each of which may be displayed or hidden. An automated configuration program is built in, and Command Line is highly configurable. Despite all this functionality, Command Line requires less than two percent of system resources.


Installation

To install Command Line, place the files C-LINE.EXE and C-LINE.HLP in any convenient directory located on your PATH. Move C-LINE.INI to your Windows directory, and place THREED.VBX in your Windows system directory.  If you do not already have VBRUN200.DLL, you will need this file, and must place it in the Windows system directory.  VBRUN200.DLL is available on most commercial information services, bulletin boards, and the Internet, and is a royalty-free file.

To run Command Line, either double-click on C-LINE.EXE from File Manager, or create a new program item from within Program Manager, and double-click the Command Line icon.

Command Line may be configured as the Windows shell.  When Command Line is configured as the shell, Windows will load directly into Command Line, rather than into Program Manager (or another shell).  Command Line will not execute the programs in the LOAD and RUN lines of WIN.INI, nor will it execute the  applications in the StartUp group of Program Manager.  Use Command Line AutoLoad and AutoRun to load  or run applications whenever Command Line is loaded.  To configure Command Line as the shell, edit SYSTEM.INI (located in your Windows directory) with a text editor.  Replace the line SHELL=PROGMAN.EXE with the full pathname and filename under which Command Line resides.

The file C-LINE.HLP is nonessential, and may be deleted to save disk space.  Note, however, that this is the Help documentation.  If you feel you may need to refer back to this file, do not delete it.


Configuration

To configure Command Line to your needs, either hold down the Ctrl key and click the Status Indicator, or click the Status Indicator until the keyword CONFIGURE appears, then right-click once on the Status Indicator.  The configuration program will load after a slight delay as the C-LINE.INI file is read.

Enter the keywords for your applications into the textboxes in the Alias column. Each keyword may be up to 10 characters in length, though it is best to make each keyword as short as possible to speed application launching. If you wish to use Command Line Aliases, you must click on the Enable Aliases checkbox in the Options window.

Enter the full filenames and paths for your applications, as well as any documents, arguments, or switches into the textboxes in the Value column. The maximum length of each value field 125 characters.

Enter the directories you wish your applications to load into in the textboxes in the StartUp Directory column. The maximum length of the directory field is 50 characters. If you wish to use StartUp Directories, you must click on the Enable StartUp Directories checkbox in the Options window.

The FunctionKeys in the FunctionKeys textboxes may not be changed. They are present to inform the user of the key combinations which may be used to execute 48 of the 50 applications with a single keystroke or key combination. If you wish to use Command Line FunctionKeys, you must click on the Enable FunctionKeys checkbox in the Options window.

Press the << and >> keys to move backwards and forwards, respectively, between the 50 applications (10 will be shown at a time).  The << key will be disabled once the user reaches the first 10 applications, and the >> key will be disabled once the user reaches the last 10 applications.

Press the AutoLoad button to configure Command Line AutoLoad applications.

Press the AutoRun button to configure Command Line AutoRun applications.

Press the Options button to enable Command Line Aliases, AutoLoad and AutoRun, FunctionKeys and StartUp Directories, to display the Clock, Date counter, Free System Resources indicator, or Status indicator, to enable StayOnTop or Bold text, or to configure the Free System Resources alert warnings.

Press the OK button to save your changes and exit the configuration window.

Press the Cancel button to cancel any changes and exit the configuration window.

Press the Help button to view the C-LINE.HLP file.


Aliases

Command Line Aliases are keywords or macros which may be defined to take the place of long application names and directories, as well as switches and arguments. Instead of typing the complete path and filename each time, a user could define a short (from a single key up to 10 characters) alias which may be used instead. After an alias is defined, the alias may be typed into the Command Line LaunchBox. Command Line will accept the short alias, and execute the full value of that alias.

Enter the keywords for your applications into the textboxes in the Alias column of the configuration window. Each keyword may be up to 10 characters in length, though it is best to make each keyword as short as possible to speed application launching.

If you wish to use Command Line Aliases, you must click on the Enable Aliases checkbox in the Options window.

The following commands are reserved words, and may not be redefined with aliases:

ABOUT

CONFIGURE

EXIT

EXITWIN

HELP

RESET


AutoLoad

Command Line AutoLoad allows a user to define up to 5 applications which will be executed and minimized every time Command Line is loaded.

To configure AutoLoad applications, launch the configuration program and then press the AutoLoad button.

Enter the full filenames and paths for your applications, as well as any documents, arguments, or switches into the textboxes in the Program column. The maximum length of the program field 125 characters.

 Enter the directories you wish your applications to load into in the textboxes in the StartUp Directory column. The maximum length of the directory field is 50 characters.

If you wish to use Command Line AutoLoad, you must click on the Enable AutoLoad checkbox in the Options window.


AutoRun

Command Line AutoRun allows a user to define up to 5 applications which will be executed every time Command Line is loaded.

To configure AutoRun applications, launch the configuration program and then press the AutoRun button.

Enter the full filenames and paths for your applications, as well as any documents, arguments, or switches into the textboxes in the Program column. The maximum length of the program field 125 characters.

 Enter the directories you wish your applications to load into in the textboxes in the StartUp Directory column. The maximum length of the directory field is 50 characters.

If you wish to use Command Line AutoRun, you must click on the Enable AutoRun checkbox in the Options window.


Clock

Command Line includes a clock which diplays the current hour, minute, and second, as well as an AM/PM indicator.

If you wish to use Command Line Clock,  you must click on the Show Clock checkbox in the Options window.


Date

Command Line includes a date counter which diplays the current date in the format Day/Month/Year.

If you wish to use Command Line Date,  you must click on the Show Date checkbox in the Options window.


Free System Resources

Command Line includes a free system resources (FSR) indicator which diplays the current free resource percentage. It is updated once each second.

Once resources fall below a certain user-defined level, the FSR indicator text will glow yellow. This is FSR Alert #1. If resources fall below a second user-defined level, the FSR indicator will glow red. This is FSR Alert #2. To configure the FSR Alerts, type the new values into the textboxes in the Options window.

If you wish to use Command Line Free System Resources,  you must click on the Show Resources checkbox in the Options window.


FunctionKeys

Command Line FunctionKeys allow a user to launch applications with a single keystroke. The first 12 applications defined in the configuration program textboxes may be executed by pressing the F1 through F12 keys. The next 12 applications may be executed by pressing the Alt-F1 through Alt-F12 keys simultaneously. Applications 25 through 36 may be executed by pressing the Ctrl-F1 through Ctrl-F12 keys simultaneously. The last twelve applications may be executed by pressing the Shift-F1 through Shift-F12 keys simultaneously.

After using FunctionKeys for a short while, it becomes second nature to remember which application is associated with each FunctionKey. It may be helpful to define your most commonly used applications first, and progress down to the less-frequently used applications.

To execute an application using Command Line FunctionKeys, give Command Line the keyboard focus by clicking on the LaunchBox, or press Alt-TAB until Command Line is selected. Then simply press the keystroke or key-combination. There is no need to hit ENTER after the keystroke or combination.

If you wish to use Command Line FunctionKeys,  you must click on the Enable FunctionKeys checkbox in the Options window.


LaunchBox

The Command Line LaunchBox allows a user to launch any DOS or Windows application merely by typing the complete path and filename, and then pressing ENTER. Any combination of switches or arguments may used, and documents may be specified as well. The LaunchBox supports Command Line Aliases as well. Once aliases are defined, simply type the alias into the LaunchBox and press enter. The complete value of the alias will be executed.

The following commands are reserved words, and may not be redefined with aliases:

ABOUT

CONFIGURE

EXIT

EXITWIN

HELP

RESET


Options

The Options window allows a user to configure the appearance and utility of Command Line.

Click Enable Aliases to toggle Command Line Aliases on and off.

Click Enable AutoLoad to toggle Command Line AutoLoad on and off.

Click  Enable AutoRun to toggle Command Line AutoRun on and off.

Click Enable FunctionKeys to toggle Command Line FunctionKeys on and off.

Click Enable StartUp Directories to toggle Command Line StartUp Directories on and off.

Click Show Clock to toggle Command Line Clock on and off.

Click Show Date to toggle Command Line Date on and off.

Click Show Resources to toggle Command Line Free System Resources on and off.

Click Show Status Panel to toggle the Command Line Status Indicator on and off.

Click Show Lower Panel to toggle the display of the bezel on the Command Line on and off.

Click Enable Bold Font to toggle the appearance of the text on the Command Line.

Click Enable StayOnTop to toggle the floating window option on and off.

Enter a value between 0 and 99 in the FSR Alert textboxes.


Status Indicator

The Status Indicator displays information about the current condition of Command Line.

When text is entered in the LaunchBox, the Status indicator caption changes from READY to STANDBY.

Pressing Alt and clicking on the Status indicator with the right mouse button will immediately exit Windows if no DOS applications are running.

Pressing Ctrl and clicking on the Status indicator with the right mouse button will launch the Command Line configuration program.

Clicking on the status indicator with the left mouse button will display various commands. Right clicking on the status panel when a command is displayed will execute that command. These commands are (in order):

ABOUT - displays the About Command Line window.

CONFIGURE - displays the Command Line configuration window.

EXIT - exits Command Line.

EXITWIN - exits Windows.

HELP - displays the Command Line help file.

RESET - forces a global refresh of all variables.

If you wish to use the Command Line Status Indicator,  you must click on the Show Status Panel checkbox in the Options window.