Copyright: Copyright ®1993 Oakley Data Services


Index
  SmartTop

 Welcome to SmartTop.

 How to use SmartTop

 Advantages of registration.

 How to register a copy of SmartTop.

 How to get support.

 This product is Shareware. Shareware is a form of software distribution, not free software. If you have not already registered this product, you have the right to evaluate it for a period of 30 days from the date you initially install it. If you find that it suits your needs and you wish to continue to use it after the 30 day period you are required to register it with the copyright owners, Oakley Data Services, or their agents. There are significant advantages to registering your copy, not least the continued availability of good quality software at reasonable prices.

 You also have the right, and in fact you are actively encouraged, to distribute copies of the shareware version of this product. It must, however remain in its original, unmodified state, and all its constituent files must be included. No-one may charge for the program itself, although a reasonable fee for the media used and copying costs is allowable. You may not distribute copies of the registered version of this product.

 This software is supplied as is without warranty or representation either express or implied with respect to the program or its documentation including their quality, performance, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose.

 In no event will Oakley Data Services or any of its agents or assigns, or any organization distributing SmartTop on its behalf be liable for direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of the use of, or inability to use the program.

 All trademarks are acknowledged.


 How To Use SmartTop

  Introduction

 SmartTop is very easy to use. Simply click on the SmartTop Icon and an extended version of the normal menu will appear. There are three additional items, one to access this Windows Help File, one to access the normal "About" box, and one that says "SmartTop-It", which is the one that does all the work.

  Setting Windows "On-Top"

 Clicking on the "SmartTop-It" option causes the cursor to become either an "upward facing arrow" or a "downward facing arrow" or the normal pointer, depending on which area of the screen the cursor is over. While traversing the desktop the cursor will be the normal pointer, and clicking the left mouse button will have no effect other than to relinquish SmartTops' control of the cursor. As you pass over application windows or icons the cursor will become either the upward or downward facing arrow. When it is the upward facing arrow, clicking once with the left mouse button will cause the window below the cursor to become an "always on top" window. Conversely, if the cursor is a downward pointing arrow then clicking with the left mouse button will cause the window below to lose its "always-on-top" status.

  Other Things

 And that is pretty much all there is to it. You can click the right button to cause SmartTop to relinquish control of the cursor if you change your mind. You can also use SmartTop to set itself as always on top, a state which it remembers from run to run. Note that if you use SmartTop to set or remove the always-on-top status of an application that also has that capability itself, then the application in question may get a bit confused. For example, Windows Help can end up displaying a check-mark next to its "Always-On-Top" menu item when it isn't in fact in that state, because it assumes that it is in the state it last set itself, and doesn't take account of anything else toying with it!


 Advantages of Registering

  On-Top-Time

 The shareware version of SmartTop only keeps the Windows you set as "on-top" in that state for a limited period of time before they revert to their previous state. The registered version has no such limit.

  Starting Applications "On-Top"

 If you have the registered version of SmartTop you can also use it as a front-end to cause other applications to start as "on-top". To do this you simply replace the normal command associated with starting the application with a command to start SmartTop with as a parameter the name of the application you want to start "on-top".

 For example, via the FILE|PROPERTIES menu item in Program Manager, change the start command for the calculator from "CALC.EXE" to "SMARTTOP.EXE CALC.EXE". You can then replace the original Icon via the "Change Icon" option, and then the calculator will always start "on-top". Anything you start in this fashion you can always relegate to "Not-On-Top" later by using SmartTop.


 How to Register

  Prices

 The price in North America is $14.95 + $4.00 S&H. Add an additional $5.00 for shipping outside North America.

  How To Pay

 You can pay by Check, or by Credit/Debit card (Mastercard or Visa). We accept orders by phone, fax or by surface or electronic mail. Orders to:-

 Shareable Software International,

 P.O. Box 59102, Schaumburg, IL 60159, U.S.A.

 Tel: (708) 397 1221 -- Fax: (708) 397 0381

 Orderline:- 800-622-2793

 Compuserve: 76226,2652

 EXEC-PC:- Bill Dickson


 How to get support

 We of course provide a full support service to registered users, either by phone, fax, mail, E-Mail or Bulletin Board. We are also quite happy to provide sufficient support to unregistered users to at least get you going. After all, we can hardly expect you to buy our product if you can't make it work properly!

 You can contact us via any of the methods given under the "How to Register" topic,  or via The Runway BBS, on 215-623-6203. Users of the BBS must join Conference 77.


Shareware is copyrighted software which is distributed by authors through bulletin boards, on-line services, disk vendors, and by copies being passed among friends. It is commercial software that you are allowed to try before you pay for it. This makes shareware the ultimate in money back guarantees.

 Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. There is good and bad shareware, just as there is good and bad retail software. The primary difference between shareware and retail software is that with shareware you know if it's good or bad before you pay for it.

 You benefit because you get to use the software to determine whether it meets your needs, before you pay for it.  Authors benefit because they are able to get their products into your hands without the expenses it takes to launch a traditional retail software product.

 The shareware system and the continued availability of quality shareware products depend on your willingness to register and pay for the shareware you use. It's the registration fees you pay which allow us to support and continue to develop our products. Please show your support for shareware by registering those programs you actually use and by passing them on to others. Shareware is kept alive by your support!