ProgramBar v1.2 --------------- (C) Ian Jefferies 1995 Inspired by the task bar found in Windows95, this program has been written so that the same kind of functionality and ease of use can be brought to Windows 3.1 and Windows For Work Groups 3.11. This file contains information on the features of ProgramBar, how to install ProgramBar, a legal disclaimer, version information about bugs fixed and new features, and a copy of FILE_ID.DIZ for BBS SysOps who lose the original. Features -------- * A `Start' button that gives access to much of the functionality of ProgramBar. * Access to, and running of, any program in your Program Manager groups. * Access to all of the Control Panel configuration applets * Each running application is represented on the ProgramBar as a button. A push of the button makes that application active. * Right click on the ProgramBar panel to display a list of active applications that can be closed. * Shutdown Windows, either returning to DOS, restarting Windows again, or rebooting your machine. * Fast access menus for your most frequently used programs, documents and help files. * Access to this help file (click on the ProgramBar logo on the right hand side of the bar.) * Hidden out of the way when you don't need it. May also be permanently visible on your desktop. * Fast search for files on your hard disk. They may be launched or added to the fast access menus. * Run a program specifying the command arguments, or a data file with an association. The file can be browsed for. * Colourful icons help navigation through the main popup menu. * Flyby help hints when you let the mouse hover over part of the ProgramBar interface. * Drag and drop of files from File Manager onto ProgramBar. Automatic separation into Applications, Documents and Help files. * The state of ProgramBar is saved between sessions. * The Control Panel may be inhibited from running in order that a potential clash between ProgramBar and Control Panel is avoided. * Control over the fonts used on the ProgramBar panel and menus. Installation ------------ There are three files required for the correct use of ProgramBar. They are: PROGBAR.EXE The executable that provides all of the functionality of ProgramBar. PBHOOK.DLL A DLL that is used by ProgramBar to monitor system activity, notify of programs being opened or closed. PROGBAR.HLP This help file. To install ProgramBar follow the steps below: 1. Create a new directory for ProgramBar. (e.g. C:\WINAPPS\PROGBAR) 2. Copy all the files listed above into this directory. 3. Then activate Program Manager and choose the program group that you want to place the ProgramBar launch icon into. 4. From Program Manager's menu chose File|New... 5. Select Program Item, then press the OK button. 6. Fill in the name of the icon and the path where the executable may be found. 7. If you want to have ProgramBar launch when you run Windows, place a copy of the icon in the StartUp group. This may be done by keeping the CTRL key pressed down while clicking on the ProgramBar icon and dragging it to the StartUp group. Clicking on the ProgramBar icon will now run the program. ProgramBar creates an initialisation file called progman.ini in the windows directory. ProgramBar assumes that both the Program Manager and WinHelp executables are available. Some default icons are taken from these files for display purposes. Some legal jazz --------------- This software is bookware, but you can choose the best way of showing your appreciation of it. If you like this software, find it very useful and want to thank me for it please drop me an e-mail. Alternatively, you might forward a postcard so that I can see how far around the world my software has gone. If you feel very strongly about how much this program has changed your life and have a good book or two that you no longer read and want to pass onto a good home then please mail it/them to me at the address given below. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED FREE AND "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. THE AUTHOR FURTHER DISCLAIMS ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE AND DOCUMENTATION REMAINS WITH YOU. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION, OR OTHER PECUNIARY LOSS) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE OR DOCUMENTATION EVEN IF THE AUTHOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. DISTRIBUTION You may distribute this software freely on any electronic based medium including but not limited to: uploading to a FTP site, uploading to a BBS, downloadable from a WWW page. May be distributed as part of a CD-ROM collection of shareware/freeware. Any distribution should not limit my rights (either explicitly or implicitly) to distribute this software using the same medium or any other. The software should be distributed as received in the original archive file. The only charges allowed for distribution shall be limited to the medium by which the software is delivered, and those incurred in handling/distribution. A small shipping and handling charge may be made if this software is distributed as part of a collection. OTHER NOTES ProgramBar is Copyright (c) Ian Jefferies 1995. All rights reserved. The most recent version of ProgramBar may be obtained from the SimTel archive at ftp.coast.com in the directory SimTel\win3\desktop, or any of the mirror sites. ProgramBar is also uploaded to the new `CICA' site: ftp.winsite.com/pub/pc/win3/desktop Contact address: Ian Jefferies, 24, Meredith Close, Pinner, Middx, HA5 4RP, England. Tel: England (0)181-428-1466 Windows, Windows95 and MS_DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other product names may be copyrighted and registered or unregistered trademarks/trade names of their respective owners. Version information ------------------- Version 1.2, released 23-Oct-95 * Crashing bug. When a popup menu is closed and the cursor is at the very bottom edge of the screen, ProgramBar locks up. Fixed. This is the only improvement to this version, but warrants a new release to prevent data loss. Version 1.1, released 22-Oct-95 * Task switching to full screen DOS application from the button bar failed, doing nothing. Fixed. * ProgramBar failed to popup if the cursor was at the bottom edge of the screen and sitting over an icon title or window resizing frame. Fixed. * ProgramBar became confused if another application forced ProgramBar to display/hide its main window, refusing to popup when hidden. Fixed. * An application that forced ProgramBar to minimize its main window succeeded. This should now not be possible. * Cursor now changes to an hourglass while ProgramBar loads or performs a time consuming operation. * All menus now display colourful icons to aid navigation. * A Program Manager item that specified a working directory different to the full path prepended to the executable file name could not be run. Items that did not specify a directory in which to find the executable were unaffected. Fixed. * The ProgramBar panel display font and point size may now be adjusted in the progbar.ini file for those people using high resolution display modes. * Flyby hints for the front panel give more information than the (possibly) truncated title text. * While scanning for the DLL's and drivers managed by Control Panel, a non-existant driver will no longer produce a `File not found' dialog box during start up. * Added ability to change fonts used on the front panel and in the menus by user request. * Menu handling improved, menu's now split when they are larger than the screen height rather than a fixed number of entries. The list of Program Manager groups will now split into two if you have an excessive number of groups. This is a hint that you should rationalize the number of groups in Program Manager :) * Added Maximized checkboxes to the file finder and program run dialog boxes. * FILE_ID.DIZ added for the benefit of BBS Sysops. Version 1.0, released 9-Oct-95 * First public release. FILE_ID.DIZ ----------- Cut--------------------------- (1.2) ProgramBar - App launch/switch/close ProgramBar brings much of the functionality of the Win95 TaskBar to Win3.1. A button bar at the bottom of the screen displays active tasks for switching. All Program Manager groups may be accessed. Control Panel items may be run for configuration. Fast launch of commonly used applications, documents and help files. (C) Ian Jefferies, 1995. Bookware. jeffers@teaching.physics.ox.ac.uk End Cut-----------------------