Contents

AOL Time    ( Version 3.0 )

Description

AOLTIME 'Options' Menu Items:

Always on Top

Show in America Online® Menu

Select Time Display Format

Change AmericaOnlinePath...

Reset 'Total Connect Time'...

Advanced Features...

Start America Online®

Exit

America Online® is a registered service mark of America Online, Inc.


Selecting this menu item allows the user to

change the Advanced Features settings.


Select the format to display your total connect

time ('Total Connect Time' or 'Total/Current' times).


Checking this menu item causes AOLTIME

to always stay on top of all other windows.


Checking this menu item causes the

'Total Connect Time' or 'Total/Current' times to

appear in the America Online® menu bar.


Selecting this menu item prompts

the user for a new path where America

Online® (WAOL.EXE) can be found.

Example: C:\AOL20


Manually reset the 'Total Connect Time'

counter back to 0:00:00.


Starts America Online® (WAOL.EXE),

using the 'AmericaOnlinePath' found in

the AOLTIME.INI profile file.


Exit AOLTIME and stop calculating

the 'Total Connect Time'.


Description
AOLTIME.EXE  (Version 3.0) calculates and displays the 'Total Connect Time' or 'Total/Current' times while using

 America Online® for Windows (WAOL.EXE).

What is AOLTIME?

AOLTIME keeps a running total of your total connect time while using America Online®.  It monitors America Online®  and calculates the 'Total Connect Time'  or 'Total/Current' times based on what it sees.  If the appropriate menu item in AOLTIME is selected, the 'Total Connect Time'  or 'Total/Current' times (default) will magically appear in the America Online® menu bar.

Why do I need it?

Why do you need such a program?  Well if you're like me, you probably get a little frustrated and tired going through all those menu items in the "GOTO BILLING" section to figure out your total connect time.  There had to be a better way.  So I sat down and wrote this program to calculate and track my total connect time without all those GUI menu gymnastics.

What's NEW in Version 3.0?

Version 3.0 of AOLTIME is a minor upgrade release designed to work with version 1.1, 1.5, or 2.0 of WAOL.EXE.   Included in this latest release is an updated Help file (AOLTIME.HLP), and a new feature which allows the user to invoke the AOLTIME utility from the WAOL menu bar.

Just click the mouse on the 'Total Connect Time' display in the WAOL menu bar!

The AOLTIME utility will jump to the top automatically.  No more fumbling around on the Windows Desktop to find the AOLTIME 'Options' and 'Help' menu items.

Features of previous releases found in AOLTIME version 3.0:

Version 2.5 of AOLTIME was a maintenance release for users of WAOL version 1.5.  Version 2.0 of AOLTIME has all of the functionality found in Version 1.0, plus some enhancements and improvements suggested by users of America Online®.  A new AOLTIME 'Options' menu item has been added called 'Select Time Display Format'.  The user may now choose whether to display the 'Total Connect Time' or the 'Total/Current' times (default), which shows the total connect time since the last reset as well as the current session time.  Improved time-keeping has been added, so the times shown are TRUE connect times.  Version 2.0 is easier to use, and needs less user setup. Finally this AOLTIME Help file has been totally revised with up-to-date information.  Oh yes, and for the 'techno-junkie', there's an Advanced Features area.

Is it hard to use?

AOLTIME is totally transparent to the operation of America Online®.  Just copy the appropriate files to their directories, and start the program.  If you want to select some options, do so from the AOLTIME 'Options' menu.  AOLTIME does not affect the operation of America Online®, and may be terminated at any time during your session.

How does it calculate 'Total Connect Time'?

The 'Total Connect Time' is calculated as the time you are actually connected to the America Online® service.  Please note, the term 'Total Connect Time' is a relative term and means the time between manual resets of the counter.  This software is meant to help monitor your total time and should not be used to calculate your actual  costs.  The program still requires manual user intervention in order to reset the 'Total Connect Time' counter.  'Current Time' is the time of each connection.  'Current Time' automatically resets before each session.  (Current session time accuracy  ± 5 seconds.)

The 'Total Connect Time' is saved in the AOLTIME.INI profile file every minute and after AOLTIME is terminated, so that it can be recalled when AOLTIME is started again.  In the event of a system reset (i.e. CTRL-ALT-DEL), AOLTIME will have updated the AOLTIME.INI profile file, in one minute intervals, with the 'Total Connect Time' .  The time will be accurate to one minute in case of an unexpected system shutdown.  The 'Current Time' automatically resets before each connection, and therefore is not saved.

What else can I do with it?

AOLTIME normally runs as an icon, and need only be maximized in order to select menu items.  Once started, AOLTIME may remain running even after America Online® has terminated.  You may substitute this application for the America Online® application in the appropriate Program Manager group, as AOLTIME will automatically start America Online® using the 'AmericaOnlinePath' path found in the AOLTIME.INI profile file.  The 'Total Connect Time' must be manually reset using the 'Reset 'Total Connect Time'...' menu item in the AOLTIME 'Options' menu.

Items in the AOLTIME 'Options' menu include, 'Always on Top', 'Show in America Online® Menu' 'Select Time Display Format', 'Change AmericaOnlinePath...', 'Reset 'Total Connect Time'...', 'Advanced Features...', 'Start America Online®', and 'Exit'.

What is the AOLTIME.INI profile file?

AOLTIME.INI contains the user-configurable parameters needed by AOLTIME.EXE.  Most will default to an initial value.    AOLTIME.INI must be located in the Windows directory. (The Windows directory must be in your DOS 'PATH' statement).

The 'AmericaOnlinePath' parameter is used to automatically start America Online® when AOLTIME is started.  Normally this parameter need not be set, if AOLTIME.EXE is located in the same directory as WAOL.EXE.  To set it, select the 'Change AmericaOnlinePath...' item from the AOLTIME 'Options' menu.  In addition, any ASCII text editor (i.e. NOTEPAD.EXE) may be used to edit the .INI file directly.

How do I install AOLTIME on my system?

Copy AOLTIME.EXE and AOLTIME.HLP files to the America Online® directory (probably C:\WAOL).  AOLTIME.HLP must be in the same directory as AOLTIME.EXE.  Copy the  AOLTIME.INI file to the Windows directory (this is optional, since AOLTIME will create a default AOLTIME.INI file if one is not found).

NOTE:   If you're UPGRADING from any previous version,  you may use your existing copy of AOLTIME.INI, as it has your total time up to now.

For previous users of AOLTIME, make sure that the 'AmericaOnlinePath' entry in your existing AOLTIME.INI file is set to your America Online® directory containing the latest WAOL.EXE file.

Better yet, just delete the 'AmericaOnlinePath' entry before starting AOLTIME.EXE.

The Windows directory must be in your DOS 'PATH' statement. If the profile file is not found when AOLTIME is started, one will automatically be created as a default.  You may edit it later (while AOLTIME is NOT running) to configure it to your particular configuration.

Files:

AOLTIME.EXE - Total Connect Time Utility used with America Online® (WAOL.EXE).

AOLTIME.HLP - AOLTIME Help file.

AOLTIME.INI   - Profile file containing the 'AmericaOnlinePath' path string, etc.

Most Commonly Asked Questions!

How do I reset the 'Total Connect Time' counter?

To reset the "Total Connect Time" counter....

1) Minimize WAOL.EXE to an icon on the desktop.

2) Look at the desktop for an icon called "AOL Time".

3) Double click on "AOL Time" icon and it will open up.

4) You will see an application with two menu items, "Options" and "Help".

5) In the "Options" menu, click on the "Reset 'Total Connect Time'..." item.

6) Press 'YES' when asked "Reset 'Total Connect Time' Now?".

The counter is now reset.

How do I set the 'Total Connect Time' counter to any time other than 0:00:00?

            To set the 'Total Connect Time' counter to a preset time (other than zero), simply edit the AOLTIME.INI file (in your Windows directory) with any text editor while AOLTIME is NOT running!  Simply change the 'TotalTime=' line to the total seconds you desire.

REMEMBER: Don't include any spaces before or after the equals sign (=).

Why doesn't the counter start counting?

Here are some suggestions:

1) Are both AOLTIME and WAOL.EXE running? (both required for AOLTIME to work).

2) Did WAOL.EXE actually connect to America Online® via the modem? Time only

   runs if the modem connection to the America Online® service has been established.

3) If you require more help, use 'Help' found in the AOLTIME menu.

Where is the 'Options' menu item?

The 'Options' menu is located in the AOLTIME application (AOLTIME.EXE), NOT the America Online® application (WAOL.EXE).  AOLTIME normally runs MINIMIZED on the desktop.  To see the AOLTIME menu, go to the desktop and double-click on the icon called "AOL Time".  AOLTIME will open up and the 'Option' and 'Help' menu items will be visible.  Don't bother looking on the WAOL.EXE menu bar for an 'Options' item, it's not there.

Time Display Formats:

Total Connect Time only	Total Connect Time and

Current (session) Time

Total Connect Time and

Current (session) Time

       (Short Format)

What is the Advanced Features area?

The Advanced Features area is strictly for the 'techno-junkie' who insists his or her clocks be synchronized to the cesium-beam atomic standard in Boulder, Colorado.  If your the type who insists that the 'Current' (session) Time match the session time shown in the "Sign-Off" dialog from AOL exactly, then this area is for you.  Otherwise don't bother, the default setting of "0" (Zero) will work just fine.  As for the rest of you who don't have a life, this menu item will bring up the AOL Time Advanced Settings dialog box.  It's really trial and error, but after a few sessions you should be able to tweak the seconds exactly.  In the mean time, "Get A Life, Will You!"

Disclaimer

This software is provided "as is" for the pleasure and benefit of the users of America Online® for Windows.  There is no charge for the use of this program, but we do encourage your comments and suggestions (select 'About AOLTIME...' in the AOLTIME 'Help' menu).  We assume no responsibility for any damage to your equipment or loss of data as the result of using this software (You Have Been Warned!).  Enjoy, its FREE.