Super Task Man Help Contents

Super Task Man is a task manager utility that allows you to launch programs, manage both hidden and visible windows, perform task operations on more than one task at a time, Tile and Cascade windows selected from the task list, position windows within a corner of the desktop, and configure your task manager environment according to your own preferences.

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Introduction

What is Super Task Man?

ASP Ombudsman Statement

Why Register?

Register

How to...

Replace the Windows TASKMAN.EXE

Launch Applications With The Run Command

Perform Task List Operations

Set Run History Preferences

Set Task List Preferences

Work With Hidden Windows

Set General Options

Modify the Launch Menu

Add or Edit Launch Menu Items

Set Group Menu Preferences

Define the Windows Default Printer

Exit Windows from Super Task Man


What is Super Task Man?

Super Task Man is a Windows™-based application that can be setup as a replacement for the standard Task Manager or as an additional task manager utility.  Super Task Man contains all the functionality of the standard Task Manager with enhanced features such as the following:

A run command line with a configurable history list.  The run command keeps a list of all successfully launched commands and the command list can be configured to store from 1 to 50 commands.

A Multi-select task list for performing operations on more than one application at a time.  The task list can also optionally display the icon associated with an application showing it in a scale from 100 to 50 percent of it's actual size.  The task list also supports a popup menu (right button click) for additional task list operations not available from the menu or buttons.

An Enhanced Tile and Cascade feature that allows you to select applications from the task list for performing tile and cascade operations.

An option to position selected windows from the task list on any of the four corners of the desktop or in the center of the desktop.

A Status bar that shows the number of applications running, free memory, and free system resources.

An option to define the default printer without running the Control Panel.

A Configurable launch menu.  Define the launch menu to contain applications that you want to access quickly.  You can even change the positions of the menu items if their priority of access changes.

Menu support for Super Group.  Super Task Man gives you quick access to another Super utility called Super Group.  There is also a dialog for setting preferences for the Group menu.

Options for setting personal preferences for virtually all of the Super Task Man features.


ASP Ombudsman Statement

This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP).  The ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you.  If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help.  The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products.  Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.


Why Register?


Registration Form


Why Register?

The Super Stuff utilities are considered "shareware" and are provided at no charge to the user for evaluation.  The evaluation period is 10 days.  The essence of "user-supported" software is to provide personal computer users with quality software without high prices, and yet to provide an incentive for programmers to continue to develop new products.

If you find any of these utilities useful and continue to use them beyond the 10 day trial period, you are required to make a registration payment only for the utilities that you continue to use.

Registration for the Super Stuff utilities does provide some generous benefits:

1.	You will receive a registered copy of the latest version of each utility that is registered.  The registered version will also eliminate the registration reminder message.

2.	You are entitled to one hour free phone support for 90 days.  No collect or returned calls please.

3.	Gets you on our user mailing list so that you can be notified when updates or other products become available by the author.

And thats not all...

As an added BONUS!!!  Everyone who registers any of the Super Stuff utilities will also receive these additional Windows™-based applications created by the authors of the Super Stuff utilities:

STMINIED:	STM INI Editor is a multiple document interface (MDI) that allows you to edit your INI files.  The MDI feature means that you can view/edit more than one file at a time.  Jump to different sections of an INI file by just selecting the section from a drop down list on the toolbar.  STM INI Editor also supports the Windows drag and drop functionality for loading multiple files at one time.

STMALARM:	A message alarm program.  Set alarms to display messages.  Set the date and time for an alarm.  A Visual Basic application that only requires a small amount of memory when not active.

WINTOUCH:	A Windows based file TOUCH for time stamping files.  This utility supports both drag and drop or command line passing of filenames.  Touch files according to a date/time stored in INI or with the current time.  A great development tool during builds as well as preparing files for release.

STMCAL:	A window calendar program.  This calendar allows you to move forward and backward through months or years.  Jump to any particular month or year.  It is even an active calendar while it is iconic (displays a visual layout of the month with the current day highlighted).  It also saves it's window position.

STMRES:	A small 1 line window utility that can either view free physical memory or free system resources.  Also has an Options dialog for setting an alarm if free resources drop below a certain amount.

STMHIDE:	Use this little application to start an application in a hidden state.  Just the past the command line parameters to this application and it will be started as a hidden application that can be listed within Super Task Man's task list.

HIDEPM:	This application hides Program Manager.  If you have converted to using Super Groups instead of Program Manager for launching applications, then this little utility can be put in your Startup group to get Program Manager out of the way.


Super Stuff Registration Form

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Super Stuff Utilities 3.21 Registration Form/Invoice.

Please remit to:

    Super Tools

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    Plano, TX 75086-6125

You can order by sending a check and this order form to the address

above.  Payments must be made in US dollars.

Select disk type (circle one):	5.25"	3.5"

Super Task Man          @ $15.00 each  x  _____ = $___________

Super Group             @ $15.00 each  x  _____ = $___________

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Order all 3 Utilities and save 50%

                        @ $20.00 each  x  _____ = $___________

Shipping & handling (outside USA)         $5.00 + $___________

                                    Total payment $___________

Ordering with CompuServe's Software Registration Service:

GO SWREG and follow the menus.  Super Stuff Utilities

registration id is 2601.  Registration fee is $20.

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Where did you get your copy of Super Stuff from?

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Comments:


Replace the Windows TASKMAN.EXE

Windows 3.1 supports a feature that allows you to replace the utility that is displayed every time you double-click on the desktop or select the Switch To... menu from an applications system menu.  The application that typically gets launched is called TASKMAN.EXE.  Any application that you would like to have started automatically with just a double-click can be defined to replace TASKMAN.EXE.

To define any application as a Task Manager replacement, a line has to be added to the [BOOT] section in the SYSTEM.INI file located in the Windows directory.  The line should read as follows:

TASKMAN.EXE=application, where application is a program (ex. notepad.exe).

Super Task Man provides a dialog that makes defining the TASKMAN.EXE entry in the SYSTEM.INI file much easier.  To use this dialog, just select Replace TASKMAN.EXE... from the Help menu.  The Replace TASKMAN.EXE dialog displays the currently selected TASKMAN.EXE replacement as well as provides an edit box for defining any applications full path.  There is also a browse button that is available for searching for applications.


Launch Applications With The Run Command

The Run Command provides an quick way to launch an application or document.  A Browse button is provided for searching the exact location of an application or document.  The Run Command also provides a history list that can contain from 1 to 50 previously executed commands.

The following is a description of the run command controls:

Command Line

Set focus to this box and fill it in by any of the following methods:

Type the full path and filename of the application or document you want to run or load.

Type the filename of the application or document you want to run or load, followed by a space, and any program parameters you want to pass to the program when it runs.

Use the Browse button to select a directory and file.

Click the arrow next to the edit box (or press Alt+down arrow) to select from a list of previously executed applications or documents.

Type the beginning of a previously launched command (ex. CO for CONTROL), followed by the down arrow and the history command that resembles the string the closest will be displayed.

Run State

Select the state to initially start the application or document that is defined in the command line.  The application or document can be started in a Normal, Maximized, Minimized, or Hidden state.

Browse...

This displays a standard Browse dialog box to help you locate the application or document you want to run.

Run

Executes the command displayed in the Run Command edit box.


Set Run History Preferences


Perform Task List Operations

The task list is a list box that contains all visible and hidden (optional) applications that are currently running.  The task list is an extended selection list box which allows you to perform operations on more than one application at a time.

The Tasks menu that is available from the main menu supports all actions that can be performed on the task list.  This menu is also available as a popup menu that is accessed by clicking the right mouse button when the cursor is in the task list.  Some of these commands are also available from the button commands that are positioned by the task list.

The following is a description of the commands that are available for the task list operations:

Position

This cascading menu allows you to either move a selected task to any of the four corners of the desktop or center the task on the desktop.

Select

This cascading menu allows you to select all tasks, none, or invert the current selection.

Always on Top

Click on the Always on Top button to give the selected task(s) the Always on Top window style.  This allows you to provide this feature to any window on your desktop.

Switch To

Click on the Switch To button to restore all the selected tasks in the task list to their normal state.

Show/Hide

Click on the Show/Hide button to show or hide the selected tasks based on their current window state.

Minimize

Click on the Minimize button to minimize all the selected tasks.

End Task

Click on the End Task button to terminate all the selected tasks.

Tile

Click on the Tile button to tile the selected tasks.  DOS windows that are in an icon state are ignored to avoid restoring a full screen DOS window.  Windows can be tiled either vertically or horizontally.

Cascade

Click on the Cascade button to cascade the selected tasks.  DOS windows that are in an icon state are ignored to avoid restoring a full screen DOS window.

Arrange Icons

Arranges the icons along the bottom of the desktop.

Refresh

Refreshes the contents of the task list.


Set Task List Preferences

Set General Options

Work With Hidden Windows


Set Run History Preferences

Use the Run History dialog to define preferences for the run command such as the size of the command history or which run history items can be removed or added to the launch menu.

Setting the History Size

The history size indicates the number of history commands to store that are successfully launched from the Run Command.  The history size can range from 1 to 50.  Super Task Man is optimized to load the history list only when the list is requested.  This allows large history lists to be stored without affecting load time for Super Task Man.

Removing History Commands

To remove any unwanted history commands from the history list, select the history command you want to remove and then click on the Delete button.  The history list is and extended selection list box which allows you to perform the delete operation on more than one selection at a time.

To remove the entire existing history list, click on the Clear List button.

Adding History Commands to the Launch Menu

To add a history command to the Launch menu, select the history command(s) to add to the launch menu and then click on the Add to Launch button.  The Add Menu Item will be displayed allowing you to specify a menu title for each history command added to the launch button.


Launch Applications With The Run Command

Set Task List Preferences

Set General Options

Modify the Launch Menu

Add or Edit Launch Menu Items


Set Task List Preferences

Use the Task List dialog to define settings for use with the Super Task Man task list.

Setting Task List Display Preferences:

Use the Sort By and Sort Order options to define the display preferences for the Task List contents.  To sort the tasks by their window title, click on the Window Title radio button.  To sort the tasks by their window order (the order that they appear with Alt-Tab), click on the Window Order radio button.  Use the Window Order option to list the tasks is Ascending or Descending order.

Setting the Icon Size:

Use Task Icon Size option to define the icon height for each task listed in the task list window.  Each value represents the percentage (%) size to make the icon.  100% indicates a normal size icon, 50% indicates an icon half the normal size, and None indicates that no icon is displayed next to each task.

Displaying a Long Task List

To display a longer than normal task list, click on the Long Task List check box.

Setting Task List Content Preferences:

Super Task Man's task list is capable of including hidden windows.  Use the Include Hidden Windows check box to toggle the state of including hidden windows.  Use the Include 0 Size Windows check box to include windows of 0 size in height or width.

If you have several Super Groups displayed an you don't want the Super Group icons displayed in the task list, check the Exclude Super Groups check box.  You can still get to the Super Group windows by selecting them from the Groups menu.


Work With Hidden Windows

Set Run History Preferences

Set General Options


Work With Hidden Windows

Super Task Man provides a unique feature that allows you to hide or unhide a selected window based on it's current state.  Hiding windows is an easy way to unclutter your windows desktop if a task is taking desktop space and you don't want to terminate it.  When your ready to use the hidden window just bring up Super Task Man select the hidden window from the task list and click on the Unhide button.

To display hidden windows, just click on the Include Hidden Windows checkbox in the Task dialog.  The task list will then display both visible windows and hidden windows. Hidden windows are preceded with "(hidden)" in front of their task name, and zero sized windows are preceded with a "(0 size)" in front of their task name.


Set Task List Preferences

Perform Task List Operations


Set General Options

Use the Options dialog to setup general preferences for use with Super Task Man.

Setting the Default Focus:

The default focus relates to which control will have the initial focus when Super Task Man is displayed.  To have the default focus set on the edit box for the run command, click on the radio button assigned to Command Line.  To have the default focus on the Task List like the traditional Task Manager, click on the radio button assigned to Task List.

Tiling Preference:

To define how windows are tiled when using the Tile button, use the Tile Windows option.  To tile the windows horizontally, select the Horizontal radio button.  To tile the windows vertically, select the Vertical radio button.

General Check Box Options:

To have a message box displayed to confirm shutting down windows from Super Task Man, select the Confirm Exit Windows check box.

Super Task Man is designed to terminate (close) when the focus is lost from switching to another window.  The standard Task Manager is designed the same way.  If you don't want Super Task Man closing when the focus is lost, select the Don't Close on Switch check box.

To have Super Task minimized automatically after switching to another application, select the Minimize on Switch check box.

Super Task Man is designed to initially be displayed in the center of the desktop.  If you want to have Super Task Man remember it's location, select the Save Window Position check box.

Setting Tile/Cascade Preference:

Super Task Man supports an enhanced Tile and Cascade feature.  By selecting the Enhanced radio button, Super Task Man works together with selections made from the task list when performing the Tile/Cascade operation.  Also, by clicking on the Use Icon Space check box, Super Task Man uses the entire desktop for the Tile/Cascade operation.  To perform Tile/Cascade operations like the standard task manager, select the Standard radio button.


Set Run History Preferences

Set Task List Preferences


Modify the Launch Menu

The Launch Setup dialog allows you to create a custom Launch menu for quick access to programs that you use the most.  Use the Launch Setup dialog to perform maintenance on your custom Launch menu.

To Add a New Launch Item:

1.	Click on the Add button.  The Add Menu Item dialog will be displayed.

2.	Enter the menu text and command line information

To Edit an Existing Launch Item:

1.	Select the menu item to edit and then click on the Edit button.  You can also double-click on the selected menu item.  The Edit Menu Item dialog will be displayed.

2.	Update the information for the menu item.

To Delete a Launch Item:

1.	Select the menu item to delete and then click on the Delete button.

To Change the Position of a Launch Item:

1.	Select the menu item whose position will be changed.

2.	To move the menu item up, click on the Move Up button.  To move the menu item down, click on the Move Down button.


Add or Edit Launch Menu Items


Add or Edit Launch Menu Items

Use the Add/Edit Menu Item dialog to create a new launch menu item or to update an existing one.

To create a new launch menu item:

1.	Enter the menu item text describing the command to run.  For example, to edit your WIN.INI file with NOTEPAD, enter the description Edit WIN.INI.

Tip:	To define an accelerator key for the menu so that a letter from the menu is underlined, enter an & before the letter you want to make the accelerator key.  Using our example again, we could add the & just before the E for Edit.  This will cause the command to run if you enter "E" from the keyboard when the menu is displayed.

2.	Enter the command line to execute.  If you don't know the full path of the command to run and the command is not located on the path, use the Browse button to locate the command to place in the command line.

Using our example again, the command could look something like this: "Notepad.exe c:\windows\win.ini"


Modify the Launch Menu


Set Group Menu Preferences

Use the Super Group List Options dialog to set preferences for the Groups menu available from Super Task Mans main menu.

To define how many group menu items are displayed before the "More..." menu item is added to the bottom of the Groups menu, enter the maximum number of group menu items to display.

Tip:	To eliminate the "More..." menu item altogether from the Groups menu, enter a number larger than the total number of groups that are stored in Program Manager.

To have the Group menu items sorted in alphabetical order, select the Sort groups menu check box.

To have the Group menu automatically rebuilt every time a change has been detected with the Program Manager groups, select the Autosync Groups menu check box.  If this check box is not selected, you will need to select the Rebuild Group Menu from the Groups menu each time you want the menu rebuilt.


Define the Windows Default Printer

Super Task Man provides an option for defining the Windows default printer whithout using the Control Panel to perform this operation.  This allows those who change the default printer quite frequently to perform this task much quicker.

Changing the Default Printer:

From the list of installed printers, select the printer you wish to make the default printer and the click on the OK button.  Double-clicking on the selected printer will produce the same action.  To set options specific to the selected printer, click on the Setup button and set the options as needed.

Note:	For specific information about the printer-driver options, choose the Help button or press F1 while using the Setup specific dialog box.


Exit Windows from Super Task Man

Super Task Man provides a useful feature for exiting Windows.  This feature supports several methods for exiting Windows.  From restarting Windows to performing a reboot of the system.  Use this feature to have quick access to the Exit Windows command or to restart your Windows session after it has become unstable (UAE or GP Fault), if Super Task Man is defined as a Task Manager replacement.

To Exit Windows:

From the File menu select Exit Windows.  This will display a cascading menu.

To just return back to DOS, click on the Return to DOS menu.  This will perform a standard Windows shutdown.  If any applications have been modified, you will receive message boxes asking whether to save the changes or not.  The accelerator key for this action is Ctrl+D.

To immediately restart Windows, click on the Restart Windows menu.  This will also perform a standard Windows shutdown and then restart Windows.  The accelerator key for this action is Ctrl+W.

To just reset the computer, click on the Reboot System menu.  This will perform the same action as pressing the reset button on your computer.  The accelerator key for this action is Ctrl+B.


Super Group

Super Group is  a utility that allows you to customize your access to Program Manager groups.  Super Group allows you to view your groups in up to 5 different formats.  The different views supported by Super Group are, Icon view, Vertical List view, Multi-Column view, Text view, and a Toolbar view.


Normal State

A normal state for a window is when it is displayed as a window and it is not maximized or minimized.


Extended Selection

A list box that has the extended selection characteristic allows multi-selections to be made in the list box.  Multi-selections can be performed by selecting the first item and then dragging the mouse by holding the left mouse button to select items that are next to each other.  You can also select items that a not next to each other by holding down the Ctrl key while selecting items.


Minimize

Minimizing a window causes the window to become an icon.


Task Manager replacement

To define any application as a Task Manager replacement, a line has to be added to the [BOOT] section in the SYSTEM.INI file located in the Windows directory.  The line should read as follows:

TASKMAN.EXE=application, where application is a program (ex. notepad.exe)

When Super Task Man is installed, an option is given whether to make Super Task Man a Task Manager replacement or not.


Terminate

When terminating an application with Super Task Man, the application is sent a close message such as selecting close from the system menu or performing a File/Exit from the application.