K-Free index
K-Free(TM) help Index

Introduction

Installing K-Free

Operating K-Free

K-Free Windows

Main window

Changing K-Free Options

Choosing a new font

Changing the system settings

Changing the main window colors

Choosing a new time format

Choosing a new date format

Selecting drives to monitor

Viewing your hard drive specifications

Changing the free resource display

Command Line Parameters

Common Questions

How to Get Help


Introduction

Thank you for trying K-Free.  If you have purchased the program and are reading the printed documentation, then thank you for purchasing K-Free!

What is K-Free?

K-Free is, at its most basic level, a monitor for Microsoft Windows 3.0 that allows you to keep track of free memory in your computer.  If you enable K-Free's additional functions, the program becomes a disk space monitor, a task monitor, a computer configuration display program and a time and date display program.  K-Free also has the ability to monitor any drive you choose and alert you to potential space problems on those drives or with system memory or resources.


Installation
Installing K-Free

Installing K-Free is as simple and easy as starting Windows and running a program.  In fact, that is exactly what you need to do!

Please start Windows now.  Included with K-Free is a Windows program called INSTALL.EXE that is used to create a directory for K-Free and install it in a group within the Program Manager.  To install K-Free please follow these instructions:

1.	Run INSTALL.EXE by clicking on the file using either the File Manager or MS-DOS Executive.

2.	Type in the name of the directory where you would like K-Free to be installed and then click on Ok.  If the directory does not exist, Install will create it for you.  Install starts with a default directory of C:\DESUTIL.

Sit back and relax. The installation will only take a few minutes, so take this time to pet the cat, stare at the wall or just let your eyes glaze over as you look at the screen.  INSTALL will copy the K-Free program files and documentation to the specified directory and install K-Free in a Program Manager group named DES Util.


Operating K-Free

K-Free can be operated with both a mouse and the computer keyboard.  Please choose the information you need from the list below:

With a Mouse

With the Keyboard


Operating K-Free with a mouse

To bring up the K-Free command menu - press CTRL + click the left mouse button.  Then select the option you want to use.

To bring up the Options dialog - double click the left mouse button.

To exit K-Free - double click the right mouse button.

To bring up the hard drive information dialog box - press CTRL + click the right mouse button.

To move the K-Free main window - place the mouse cursor within the K-Free window and press and hold the left mouse button while moving the mouse.


Operating K-Free with the keyboard

Pressing the
Alt key plus	starts the

C	color dialog

D	drive selection dialog

G	resource settings dialog

R	drive information dialog

F	fonts dialog

H	help dialog

O	options dialog

S	system settings dialog

T	time format dialog

A	date format dialog.

X	Exits K-Free.

F4	Exits K-Free.

F7	Allows you to move the K-Free main window using either the cursor keys or mouse.

Pressing the
Ctrl key plus	turns the following option on/off.

I	iconic view

O	stay on top

H	help display

F	K-Free.  (enables and disables K-Free)

M	Windows memory display

E	EMS memory display

L	largest memory block display

D	drive space display

K	tasks display

W	Windows information display

R	free resources display

T	time display

A	date display.

Pressing
Shift+Ctrl plus	turns the following option on/off.

A	audible alarm

R	free resources alarm

M	Windows memory alarm

D	drive space alarm


Changing K-Free options

The Options dialog is used to configure K-Free so that it displays only the information you need.  To bring up the Options dialog you may double click on the K-Free main window with the left mouse button or press ALT-O.

Functional Options.

Display Options.

Miscellaneous Options.


K-Free functional options

1.	Memory

Selecting Memory instructs K-Free to monitor system memory and display the amount of RAM in your system that is unused by either Windows or any other program currently running on your computer.

The amount of total memory shown does not reflect the difference in the amount of RAM available as opposed to the size of your disk swap area (if you are using Windows in 386 Enhanced mode).  In other words, if you have a 4 Megabyte swap file and you have 4 Megabytes of RAM on your system, K-Free may display greater than 4 Megabytes as the amount of memory available.

2.	EMS Info

Selecting EMS Info causes K-Free to display the amount of Expanded (EMS) memory currently free, and the version of the EMS driver that you are using.

If you do not have any EMS memory set up in your system, this option will be grayed out, and you will be unable to select it, as shown on page 8.

3.	Largest Block

Selecting Largest Block will cause K-Free to display the size of the largest block of free memory that Windows can access.

This value is often a more accurate indicator of available memory than the number that is available through the Program Manager, as it represents the largest contiguous block of memory that may be requested by applications running under Windows.

4.	Drives

Selecting Drives allows you to turn the drive display option on and off.  By clicking on Set, you can select the drives to be monitored and the type of information to be displayed for those drives.

See Also: Selecting drives to monitor

5.	Tasks

Selecting Tasks causes K-Free to display the number of applications that are running in Windows.  This number can be used to track any applications that may be running on your system that do not usually need your attention.  These are applications that normally run in the background.

6.	Windows Info

Selecting Windows Info will display the mode in which Windows is currently running (Protected or Real), your machine's CPU type and if you have a math coprocessor installed in your machine.

7.	Free Resources

This option causes K-Free to display the percentage of free system resources within Windows.  The amount of free system resources is a general indicator that represents the amount of systemwide resources such as: bitmaps, fonts etc. that are currently available from Windows.  This number may steadily decrease as you execute and close programs within Windows.  This is due to these programs not properly freeing the system resources when they are finished with them.  If the free resource amount drops too low, you may need to shut down and restart Windows.

Using the resource dialog you can seperate the free resource values for User and GDI.  By default, K-Free displays the lowest of the two values.

See Also: Changing Resource settings

8.	Date Display

When the Date option is selected, K-Free will display the current date in one of six different formats.

See Also: Choosing a new date format

9.	Time Display

When the Time option is selected, K-Free will display the current time in one of four different formats.

See Also: Choosing a new time format


K-Free display options

1.	Font

Clicking on Select Font will bring up the font selection dialog, where you may change the font that K-Free uses in the main window.  Any raster-based font currently installed in your system may be used with K-Free.

See Also: Choosing a new font

2.	Change Colors

Clicking on Change Colors will bring up the Colors dialog box, where you may change the text and background colors that are used in the main window.

See Also: Changing the main window colors

3.	Stay on Top

Selecting the Stay on Top option causes K-Free to remain above all the other windows that are currently visible on the windows desktop, regardless of which window or program you are currently using, with the exception of screen blankers such as Idlewild, Intermission or Magic.

4.	Hide Help

This option, when selected, will cause K-Free to hide the main window line that reads: "Press AltH for help" so that experienced users will only see the information that they need.  Hide Help is de-selected by default.

5.	Iconic

Selecting Iconic causes the main K-Free display to appear in its smallest form.  The main window will only use the amount of space needed to display the information you have selected.  For example, the window shown above would appear if you had selected the options as shown in the Options dialog on page 8.

If you have selected Windows Info, the Windows information will not appear when Iconic is selected.


Miscellaneous options

1.	Save Settings on Exit

Selecting Save Settings on Exit causes K-Free to save the current Options dialog settings when K-Free is closed.  The current font, colors and window position will also be saved.

Save Settings on Exit is off by default.

2.	System Settings

Selecting System Settings will cause the System Settings dialog to appear, this allows you to enable or disable system alarms or to change the update frequency for the main window elements.

See Also: Changing the system settings

3.	Disable K-Free

When this option is selected, K-Free will be disabled, and the K-Free icon will appear at the bottom of your screen.  During the normal execution of K-Free, a small amount of time and system resources are used in order to update the main K-Free window.  While this will not normally interfere with your use of other programs, there may be some instances when you will want to turn K-Free off without actually closing the program.

About K-Free


K-Free Windows
K-Free Main Window

Main window

The K-Free main window is composed of several elements, all of which may or may not be displayed, depending on the options chosen from the Options dialog.  All of the possible elements are outlined below.

1.	The first element is the Windows Info section, which is composed of several items.  Windows Info will display the mode in which Windows is currently running (Protected or Real).  If Windows is running in Protected mode, K-Free will show that Windows is in either Standard or 386 Enhanced mode.  K-Free will also display your machine's CPU type (the one shown here is an 80386) and whether you have a math coprocessor installed in your machine.

2.	The next element is Memory.  In this section K-Free displays the amount of memory free under Windows.  If you have Expanded Memory (EMS) installed in your system or set up through the use of an EMS driver, K-Free will display the amount of EMS memory free and the EMS driver version.

3.	The third element is the Largest Block of free memory available from Windows.  This allows you to see how much contiguous memory is available from Windows to the programs currently running.  Often this number is a more accurate indicator of free memory, as the Windows Memory number includes all free memory, some of which may not be readily available to applications.

4.	The fourth element is the amount of system-wide free resources (bitmaps, icons, cursors etc.) available to Windows applications (such as K-Free).

5.	The fifth element is the number of tasks currently running on your system.  This number indicates how many applications are executing and may be used to detect programs that are running in the background.

6.	The sixth element is Drive information for all the drives selected in the Options dialog.  Each selected drive will be on its own line with the amount of free space shown on the right side as either Kilobytes or Megabytes (K or M).  K-Free will display information for up to 26 drives.

7.	The seventh element is the Help line that is displayed at the top of the window.  This line is intended to remind beginning users that on-line help is available and may be turned off from the Options dialog.

8.	The eighth element is the Time display.  This line displays the current time in one of four userselectable formats.

9.	The ninth element is the Date display.  This line displays today's date in one of five userselectable formats.


About K-Free

Clicking on About K-Free will cause the About box to appear.  The K-Free About box displays the serial number for the copy of K-Free that you are currently executing.  This dialog also contains purchasing information pertaining to K-Free.


Choosing a new font

The Font dialog is used to select the font that appears in the K-Free main window.  To choose the font that you want to use in the K-Free main window,  click one of the Typefaces listed, and then click on one of the available sizes as listed in the Size listbox.  After choosing the type and size, you may click on either Bold or Italic.

After you click Ok, the new font will be used in the main window.  If you have Save Settings on Exit selected in the Options dialog, the current font will be saved when K-Free is closed.


Changing the system settings

The System Settings dialog is used to change the update frequency for the main window and to set the alarm options for free memory, drive space and free resources.

The Update Time edit control is used to change the frequency with which the main window elements are updated.  The default is 1000 milliseconds, although you may want to change this to another value depending on the K-Free elements that you normally have displayed.

Selecting Free Memory will cause the K-Free main window to begin flashing when the amount of free windows memory falls below the value you have chosen.  The value in this edit control should be entered as kilobytes (roughly 1000 bytes); for example, the default value is 10000 which would cause the alarm to trigger when the free memory falls below 10 megabytes.

Selecting Free Resources will cause the K-Free main window to begin flashing when the percentage of free windows resources falls below the value in the edit control.  For example, since the default is 40 percent, the K-Free main window will begin flashing when the Free Resources value drops below 40%.

By selecting Audible Tone with the Warning Flash you will hear a beeping sound when any of the alarms are triggered.

Selecting Drive Space causes a listbox containing the currently selected drives to appear.  When Drive Space is selected, K-Free will alert you by flashing the main window and optionally sounding an audible alarm when the free space for the selected drive drops below the value you entered in the edit control.  To use the Drive Space alarm, select the drive you want the alarm attached to.  Now enter the threshold value (in Kilobytes) in the edit control below the listbox.  When the free space for the selected drive drops below this value, an alarm will be triggered.  To turn off the alarm for a particular drive, enter 0 as the threshold value.


Changing the main window colors

The Color dialog is used to change the text and background colors of the main window.  You may select an object and click on Set Color to change its color.  A representation of the main window is continuously visible at the bottom of the dialog box, which reflects your color choices after you click on Set Color.

In order to change a particular color, you should select one of the radio buttons in the upper left of the dialog.  By using the scroll bars you can create any color that is available under Windows.  To change the color of the text or background you should click on Set Color.

Please note that many colors in Windows are dithered colors.  That means that Windows is unable to create a solid color that is a mix of the red, green and blue values you select, and Windows must create a dot pattern that closely approximates the color you select.  If you attempt to set text to a dithered color, Windows will cause the text to appear in the closest solid color that is available on your system.

When you have finished changing the colors, press Ok to accept the changes or Cancel to abort.


Choosing a new time format

The Time dialog allows you to select the time format that is displayed in the main window.  To change the current format, all you have to do is click on the format that you want and then click on Ok.  To abort any changes you may have made just select Cancel.

You may bring up the Time dialog by pressing Alt-T when K-Free is the active application, by opening the K-Free menu and selecting Time Settings or by clicking on Set in the Options Menu.

See Also: Choosing a new date format


Choosing a new date format

The Date dialog allows you to select the date format that is displayed in the main window.  To change the current format, all you have to do is click on the format that you want and then click on Ok.  To abort any changes you may have made just select Cancel.

You may bring up the Date dialog by pressing Alt-A when K-Free is the active application, by opening the K-Free menu and selecting Date Settings or by clicking on Set in the Options Menu.

See Also: Choosing a new time format


Selecting drives to monitor

The Drives dialog allows you to select the drives to be monitored and the type of information to be displayed for those drives. You should begin by selecting the drives that you want K-Free to display information about, and then choose whether you want the number of bytes free or the percentage of free space displayed.

You may bring up the Drives dialog by pressing Alt-R when K-Free is the active application, by opening the K-Free menu and selecting Drive Settings or by clicking on Set in the Options Menu.

If you select Display bytes free and you have less than 10 Meg free on the selected drive, K-Free will display the number as Kilobytes; otherwise, you will see the amount represented in Megabytes.

If you select Display percent free, K-Free will display the percentage of total space that is currently unused.


Changing resource settings

The Resource Settings dialog is used to configure how K-Free displays the percentage of free Windows resources for both User and GDI.  These resources are where Windows allocates space for new windows, bitmaps, fonts etc.  When the percentage of free resources drops too low (typically below 30%) you may experience erratic behavior on the part of Windows.

The value that Windows displays is the lowest of User and GDI free resources.  Using K-Free, you may view either, both or the lowest of the two.

In order  to select either of the User or GDI selections, you MUST have Lower of User+GDI deselected.  Just select the items you want displayed and then press Ok.


Viewing your hard drive specifications

The Hard Drive Information dialog will display all the hard drives in your system, along with the following information for each of the drives:

1.	type of drive,  either Fixed, Network, RAM etc.

2.	number of bytes free

3.	free clusters

4.	number of sectors per cluster

5.	number of bytes per sector.

By using this dialog, you can quickly determine which drive has the most space available before doing a lengthy install or copy.  You may also identify the drives which would benefit from reorganization.


Command Line Parameters

To allow you to use K-Free with Windows batch files, the drives to monitor may be specified on the K-Free command line.

The command line syntax for K-Free is as follows:

KFREE [drive...]

where [drive...] is one or more optional drive letters followed by colons.  These drives will be monitored by K-Free upon startup.

For example, choosing Run from the Program Manager and typing in the following line:

KFREE C: D: E:

will cause K-Free to monitor drives: C, D and E and display the bytes free for each drive.

If no parameters are put on the K-Free command line, K-Free will begin by displaying current settings as saved in the KFREE.INI file.

*****************************  NOTE  *****************************

If you try to enter the above example on either the "RUN=" or "LOAD=" lines in the WIN.INI file, Windows will display error messages. These messages occur because Windows expects program names only on these lines.  If you want K-Free to run when you start Windows, you may use "Run" from Dragon's Eye Software. Run allows you to execute one or more programs at the same time and give each program its own command line.


Common Questions

Q.	When I close Windows, K-Free does not save the current settings, and I have to re-select them the next time I start Windows.

A.	K-Free will only save the settings when the Save Settings on Exit option is enabled on the Options dialog.  When K-Free is started, Save Settings is disabled by default.  It is assumed that you will set up K-Free once and then rarely change the default settings.

Q.	Why don't all my fonts show up in the font dialog?

A.	Because K-Free uses only the computer screen to show the information you have chosen, it does not need to make use of the fonts that are available on your printer.  Therefore, K-Free will only display the fonts that have been created for the screen.

Q.	Why don't my ATM fonts show up in the font dialog?  ATM is supposed to create screen fonts.

A.	Currently K-Free cannot handle "scalable fonts".  This will be added in a later release of K-Free.

Q.	I changed my screen driver so that is displays in a lower resolution and now K-Free does not run.  What happened?

A.	K-Free is still running, but it may be outside the visible area of the screen.  If you have K-Free on the right side or the bottom of the screen and change the screen driver, K-Free will run but may not be visible.  To make K-Free visible, exit Windows and open the KFREE.INI file that you will find in your Windows directory.  You will find two lines that begin with "Xloc" and "Yloc", respectively.  Set the values on these lines to zero (0) and then save the file.  When you next run K-Free, it will appear in the upper left corner of the screen.  You may then move it wherever you want, just remember to save the K-Free settings when you have it where you want it.

Q.	I can't put K-Free quite where I want it on the screen.  It seems to jump to positions on an invisible "grid" when I attempt to move it.  Why?

A.	The "grid" alignment that you noticed is to improve the speed at which the main window is drawn on the screen.  By Aligning the main window on this "grid", K-Free can draw it's window much faster than if it were un-aligned.

Q.	How can I prevent K-Free from displaying the opening screen when I first load Windows.

A.	Open the file KFREE.INI using Notepad and look for the option under [Misc] that is labeled Herald and set that option to 0.  This will prevent the opening screen from being displayed.


How to Get Help

If you have any suggestions or comments please contact us at:

Dragon's Eye Software

P.O. Box 200262

Arlington, TX  76006-0262

For telephone support, upgrade information or ordering, please call: (817) 265-5619 from 8 am to 10 pm Central time 7 days a week.

Or send a Compuserve message to CIS [76057,101].

To place an order by Visa, Mastercard or American Express please call the Public (software) Library at (800) 242-4775.


Public (software) Library

The Public (software) Library is a Houston, Tx based company that sells disks contaning shareware programs at practically the cost of the disk plus postage.  They will also take credit card orders for Dragon's Eye Software.

Orders:	1-800-242-4775

FAX Orders:	1-713-524-6398

Compuserve#:	71355,470

Info & Help:	1-713-524-6394

Mail:	P.O. Box 35704

Houston, TX 77235-5705