CONTENTS

Quick Facts

Introduction

Getting Started

The Main Menu

Configuring Win Launch

Adding an Application to the Launch Bar

Setting Application Functions

The WinLaunch Desktop

Controlling the MS Window Desktop

Where to put the Icons

The Exception File

Running Minimized

Win Launch and Networks

Win Launch as the Shell

Contacting the Author


Quick Facts

To add an application to the WinLaunch bar drop a *.exe, *.com, *.bat, or *.pif file from the File Manager to the position on the bar you wish to place the icon.

Don't forget to use the right mouse button, or the left mouse button while holding the <Shift> key, to set up the way an application runs, select a new icon, remove an application from the bar, move an icon up or down the bar, or insert a new application.


Introduction

Welcome to WinLaunch.  This application is an icon launch bar much like many others, except this one has the ability to fundamentally change the way Microsoft Windows works.  WinLaunch allows you to control where and what size any application's window starts.  It completely eliminates the need to start an application, move it to where you want it, and then size it to what you want.  You simply start your application, move it, size it, left click on the WinLaunch icon button, select the Window Control menu item, push the Add button and you are done.  From then on your application will start where and what size you want it.  It's that simple, and once added completely transparent to the user.  The applications DO NOT have to be launched from the icon bar to be controlled.  Another powerful ability is to control the icon parking lot.  This means that WinLaunch can take over from Windows the positioning of icons.  You can have your minimized application icons handled in several ways and placed in several locations.


Getting Starting
Getting Started

To get started you need to copy wlaunch.exe, wlaunch.hlp, deskcont.dll, and deskcont.ini to your Windows directory.  WinLaunch will create wlaunch.dat, deskcont.dat, and wlaunch.ini in your Windows directory.  You may wish to add wlaunch.exe to your start-up group.  Start WinLaunch in any traditional current method.  Left click on the WinLaunch icon button to bring up the WinLaunch Menu.  Left click on the Up or Down icon button to switch between the panes of icons.  WinLaunch will allow you to fill 50 application icons.  To start an application after it has been added to the launch bar, single click the left mouse button on the application's icon.  You can also start the application by dragging an appropriate file from the File Manager and dropping it on the application icon.


Adding an Application to the Launch Bar

WinLaunch uses Drag and Drop to add applications.  Any Windows application, DOS application, PIF file or BAT file can be added by dragging the application file from the File Manager and dropping it on the launch bar where you wish it to be.  Multiple files can be added at one time.  The application will be placed on the button where you drop it and all applications will be shifted down.

Applications can also be added from the Application Setup dialog.  To access this dialog right click, or left click with the <Shift> key down, on the WinLaunch application area.  The Application Setup Dialog Box will appear with the information for the application where you clicked filled in.  To add an application you can enter the new information or use the Browse button to fill in the information automatically.  When the correct information is entered, hit the Insert button.


Setting Application Functions

To change various aspects of how an application will run or where it is located on the launch bar, you can right click, or left click with the <Shift> key down, the application icon button to start the APPLICATION SETUP dialog.  From here you can modify the application command line, set a start-up directory, have the application start when WinLaunch starts, have the application run minimized at start-up, move the application icon up or down the WinLaunch bar, insert a new application, change the icon used on the launch bar, reload the icons, or remove the application from the launch bar.


The Main Menu

The main menu is accessed by left clicking on the WinLaunch icon button at the top of the launch bar.

Application Control - This menu item starts the Application Control dialog.  From here you can add and delete applications from the list of controlled applications.

Exceptions - This menu selection will start the Exception dialog.  The exception dialog lists all the current exceptions.  The type of exception is denoted with a "c=" for creation, "m=" for minimize, "d=" for destruction or a "f=" for confinement.  Applications can be added to or deleted from the exception list from this dialog.  CAUTION - It is strongly recommended that you do not remove any of the default entries!

Time and Date - The clock can be toggled with this menu item.  When the clock is on the menu item will be checked.  WinLaunch will remember the state of this menu item.

System Resources - The system resource monitor can be toggled with this menu item.  When the system resource monitor is on this menu item will be checked.  WinLaunch will remember the state of this menu item.  The system resource monitor gives a continual reading of the USER heap, GDI heap and the available memory.

Help Contents - This menu item starts the on-line help system.

Arrange Icons - Selecting this menu item will straighten up all the icons.

Minimize - This will minimize WinLaunch.  WinLaunch will still control the desktop as an icon.

Configure - This will run the Configure dialog.  The Configure dialog allows you to select the position of the icons and choose the position for the WinLaunch bar.  This is also where you can adjust the WinLaunch Desktop.

Run - Starts the Run dialog.  The run dialog will run any application placed on its command line.  A browse button allows you to browse for applications.

About - Displays the About dialog.

Exit - This menu item will exit the WinLaunch program.

Exit Windows - This will exit Windows.  An "Are you sure" message box gives you a chance to change your mind.


Configureing Win Launch
Configuring Win Launch

The Configure dialog allows you to select the position of the icons and choose the position for the WinLaunch bar.  This is also where you can adjust the WinLaunch Desktop.  You specify the top, bottom, left, and right position of the WinLaunch Desktop.  These adjustments will affect where the icons go and what size uncontrolled windows will be so only minor changes are recommended.  The launch bar can be on the left side of the screen or the right side.  The icons can be on the side, top or on the bottom.  The direction that the Icons are filled can also be selected.  You can also choose to cache the icons.  If you choose to cache the icons WinLaunch will store the icons in memory and thus greatly speed the re-drawing of the launch bar when necessary.  However, caching icons requires approximately 1KB of memory per icon.  If you do not wish to have WinLaunch control the icons make sure the check box labeled Control Icon Positions is unchecked.  To control the confinement characteristics of the desktop choose the value desired in the Window Confinement radio button group.  No Confinement will let Windows determine the position of all non-controlled windows.  Partial Confinement will confine only a windows that uses default setting for its' starting position and its' height and  width.  Total Confintment will confine all windows not under WinLaunch control.  The confinement area is determined by the WinLaunch Desktop.


The WinLaunch Desktop

The WinLaunch Desktop is the area defined by the top and bottom of the launch bar as well as the space between the outer edges of the launch bar and the clock and system resource monitor.  This area can be specified in the Configure dialog.  This space can not extend beyond the boundaries of the visible screen.  If desired uncontrolled windows can be confined to an application workspace that is between the launch bar, the clock and resource utilities, and the first row of icons.  The first row of icons can be on the side, the top or the bottom.


Controlling the MS Windows Desktop

WinLaunch can control several aspects of the desktop.  Some of the things it does are very obvious like controlling the start-up position and size of an application or controlling the location of icons when an application is minimized.  Some things are rather subtle like returning focus to the top window in the Window Task List when you exit or minimize an application.  Most of the subtle things will become obvious as you become more familiar with WinLaunch.  The most powerful features are the most useful, however.  To control where and what size an application will start simply start the application, move and size it accordingly and then left click on the WinLaunch icon button.  This will bring up the WinLaunch Menu.  Choose the Window Control menu.  The parent window that had the focus when you left clicked will show up in the Controlled Windows list with a "?" in front of it.  If that is the application you wish to control simply push the ADD button.  An application can always be added again with a new size and position.  To remove an application from the list simply select it and then push the Delete button.  You should occasionally review your list and remove entries that no longer apply.  You should not add an application to the list that can remember where and what size to be on its' own, that is redundant.  WinLaunch will use the stored size and position for the first instance of the application only.  All other instances will revert to that annoying MS Windows default behavior.  Applications that do not control themselves can have their startup position and size determined by WinLaunch.  Weather WinLaunch is minimized or not, weather the icons are on the side, top, or bottom, and what size the WinLaunch bar is will all determine the size of the uncontrolled windows.  Confinement of uncontrolled windows can be set in the Configure dialog.  The control of icons can also be turned on or off there.


Where to put the Icons

WinLaunch has the ability to control where icons are placed when an application is minimized.  Enable Icons on Side gives more room for applications in the vertical direction.  When placed on the side the icons begin at the top or bottom side of the screen opposite of the WinLaunch bar and go down or up.  They then begin at the top or bottom of the application space.  Where the icons begin and the direction of filling are all configurable.  The choices are made by left clicking on the WinLaunch icon button and selecting Configure from the menu.  The number of icons that will fit on the side can be changed by modifying the [Desktop] section of the win.ini file to include (IconVerticalSpacing=) and giving it an appropriate value.


The Exception File

Although WinLaunch works with most applications there are always exceptions.  WinLaunch controls four aspects of the Windows Desktop.  It controls the creation attributes, the minimized attributes and monitors the destruction of windows.  It also can confine a application to a certain area on the Desktop.  Any one of these four control areas can be turned off for any application.  The exception of applications is controlled by a file called DESKCONT.INI.  When the Exception dialog is started the parent window that had the focus will appear at the top of the list preceded with a "?".  To add this application to the exception list you must first check the appropriate exception type and then press the ADD button.  Any or all of the exception types can be added at the same time.  Another way to exclude an application is to use notepad or another suitable asci text editor to include the class name or number of an application(i.e., m=MS Mail Spooler, c=#32768, etc.).  This allows you to ignore whole classes of applications.  However, the class names are not readily available.

The Exception File currently includes the following items.  These should not be removed!  User defined exceptions can be added as described above.

[Exception List]

c=#32768

d=#32768

m=MS Mail Spooler

An application can be excluded from all four control situations by entering the proper exception listing using all four exception codes.


Running Minimized

If you decide to run WinLaunch minimized there are a few things to consider.  If you do not plan to use it as a launch bar but just to control applications then do not add applications to the bar and do not cache icons.  You may also wish to turn off the control of icons and also turn of the confinement windows.  You should have the Program Manager start it minimized.  If you may occasionally use it to launch applications then you may wish to not cache the icons to conserve memory.  WinLaunch is still fully functional as a minimized application.  You can access all the functions from the system menu.


Win Launch and Networks

Win Launch should always be run locally on a network.  However, it is able to run and control network applications.  You should always use the default icon for network applications so Win Launch can indicate when the application is not available.  If you load a network application on the launch bar and you are not logged on to the network when you start Win Launch the button that holds the application will show you that application is not available.  If you try to run the application Win Launch will display a message telling you to check the path and file name.  Later when you log on and the application becomes available you can load its' icon by pressing the right mouse button, or the left mouse button while holding the <Shift> key, on any application launch button and pushing the RELOAD ICONS button.


Win Launch as the Shell

Win Launch will work very well as the shell for Microsoft Windows.  To make it the shell you will need to edit the [boot] section of the system.ini file.  It is best to make a backup of this file first.  Use the program sysedit.exe or a suitable asci test editor to change the line shell=progman.exe to shell=wlaunch.exe.  Wlaunch.exe  and deskcont.dll must be in your Windows directory.  You will have to restart Windows for the change to take effect.  Any programs loaded from the "run=" or "load=" lines of the win.ini file will be processed.


Contacting the Author

Russell E. Holcomb, Compuserve ID - 70062,2236.