Quick Launch Copyright (c) 1993 by C. Michael LaMantia - All rights reserved. This file contains the following sections: -- Overview -- Brief Tutorial -- Support and questions -- Installation and System Requirements -- Shareware Evaluation Version Information ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Overview -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quick Launch provides fast and easy access to any application. Quick Launch uses a "Tool Box" or "Tool Bar" metephore. The size of Quick Launch's window is totally custimizable and can contain up to 80 applications, each of which will have its own icon. The icon is chosen by the user. The default setting is to load the icon that is within the EXE file. As an alternative, icons can be loaded from other EXE files, DLL files, and ICO files. Also, the application can be started maximized, minimized, or normal size. Once the applications have been properly defined, with one click on the appropriate icon, the application will be started. Quick Launch can be positioned any where on the desktop and will always start in the position it was last moved to. Also, there is an "Stay on top" option that will keep Quick Launch on top of all other Windows (similar to the Clock that comes with Windows 3.1. Quick Launch can be used in two ways. The first is to use it in conjunction with the Program Manager (or another shell). This will allow access to all applications via the Program Manager (or another shell) while providing "QUICK" access to frequently used applications. The second method of running Quick Launch is as the Windows shell. Quick Launch can be configured to be used as the shell by selecting the appropriate option in the Quick Launch setup. This method will provide a simple interface for users that are new to computers or the Windows environment. Quick Launch is distributed as Shareware. This means that users are encouraged, subject to restrictions described in the License Agreement, to share copies of this program with friends, associates and bulletin boards. Please remember that if you use this software you are required to pay the registration fee of $5 as described in the section titled Copyright/License Agreement/Warranty. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Brief Tutorial -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- This section provides a brief tutorial on basic Quick Launch operations. It assumes the following: - Your system meets the requirements described in the section titled System Requirements and you have installed Quick Launch as described in the section titled Installation. - You know how to use standard Windows features, such as dialog boxes, menus, and the drag and drop interface. If you are not are familiar with these features, please consult your Windows documentation. When Quick Launch is started for the first time one icon will be shown in the window. This icon is the SETUP icon and can not be removed or disabled (if there is an interest, this may be an option in future versions). After clicking once on this icon you will be given the Quick Launch Setup Window. This window is divided into two sets of options, the first is titled "Quick Launch Setup" and the second is titled "Application Information". Quick Launch Setup options -------------------------- The options that fall under this are related specifically to Quick Launch, its appearence and its operation: - "Stay on Top": This option will make Quick Lanch the top most window, meaning it will always be visible, even when applications are maximized. - "Use as Shell": This option will make Quick Launch the shell for Windows. See the Overview section for a breif description and examples of use. - "Number of Columns"/"Number of Rows": Quick Launch is totally custimizable, which allows the users to define how many columns and how many rows of icons will be shown in the Quick Launch window. - "Max Number of Apps": Is a read-only field that show the maximum number of applications that could be accessed based on the number of columns and rows selected. - "Preview": This shows an example of the Quick Launch window based on the number of columns and rows selected. Application Information options ------------------------------- The options that fall under this are related to the applications, their icons, and the type of window (maximized, minimized, or normal) when the application is started that will be assigned to the Quick Launch window: - "1": This is a read-only field that shows the information related to that application. To change the application number, simply click on the up and down arrows next to the number. The information will change as you scroll through the applications. Note that Quick Launch will assign the application icons in the Quick Launch window, starting with number 1 up to the maximum number of application, right to left, top to bottom. - "Program Name and Path": This field contains the full path and filename for the current application. By pressing the FIND button you can use a dialoge box to find the applications. An application can be a PIF, BAT EXE, or COM file. - "Icon Name, Path and Index": This field contains the full path and filename for the icon for the current application. An icon can be contained in an EXE, DLL, or an ICO file. The index field contains the icon number of the selected icon in an icon library. By pressing the FIND button you can use a dialoge box to find the icon for the current application. - "Window State": This field describes how the current application will be started when clicked from the Quick Launch Window. After Quick Launch has been setup correctly, the Quick Launch window will provide instant access to the applications that have been setup. The location of the Quick Launch window will be recorded, so the next time the system is started and Quick Launch is started it will be located in the same position. For best results, Quick Launch should be placed in the StartUp group be added to the Load line of the WIN.INI. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Support and questions -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Technical support is available at no charge by sending electronic mail to 72621,1372 on CompuServe or by sending US Mail to C. Michael LaMantia, 1891 Braeburn Park Drive, Euclid, Ohio 44117. Registered users have priority but I will try to answer all questions. When reporting problems with Quick Launch, please include the following information: 1) Is the problem recreatable? If so, how? 2) Did the problem occur when running Windows in Enhanced, Standard, or Real mode? You can determine which mode is active by choosing About in the Program Manager's Help pull-down menu. 3) If a dialog box with an error message was displayed, please include the text of the message. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- System Requirements and Installation -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- System Requirements: - Windows 3.0 or Windows 3.1. - VBRUN300.DLL - Visual Basic run-time module. This module can be found on Compuserve or the BBS you download Quick Launch from. If you need the file please contact me either via US Mail or Compuserve E-Mail. Quick Launch-Related Files: README.TXT introductory information LICENSE.TXT license agreement/warranty disclaimer QL.TXT extracts from documentation in ASCII format QL.EXE required executable ORDER.TXT order form SPIN.VBX module needed for QL.EXE (should be placed in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM) CMDIALOG.VBX module needed for QL.EXE (should be placed in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM) THREED.VBX module needed for QL.EXE (should be placed in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM) Installation: 1) If you already have installed a previous version of Quick Launch, backup and delete all files in your Quick Launch directory. Otherwise create a directory to hold the Quick Launch related files. For example, "C:\QL". 2) Copy all Quick Launch-related files to this directory. At a minimum you need the following file: QL.EXE. 3) Copy all *.VBX files to the Windows system directory. The default location for this directory is C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM. 4) Run QL.EXE. If Windows is not loaded, issue the WIN command, and specify the full path name to QL.EXE. For example, if you copied the Quick Launch related files into a directory named C:\QL, issue the following command from the DOS prompt: WIN C:\QL\QL.EXE Alternately, if you are already running Windows, simply double click on the QL.EXE entry in the File Manager. If you are not familiar with the File Manager, you can instead follow these four steps to run Quick Launch for the first time: a) Activate the Program Manager. b) Choose Run... from the File menu. The Run dialog box appears. c) Type the full filename of QL.EXE in the Command Line text box. For example, C:\QL\QL.EXE d) Choose OK. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Shareware Evaluation Version Information -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quick Launch is distributed as Shareware. This means that users are encouraged, subject to restrictions described in the License Agreement, to share copies of this program with friends, associates and bulletin boards. Please remember that if you use this software you are required to pay the registration fee of $5 as described in the file LICENSE.DOC.