Help Index
Contents

General

Overview

Installation

Licensing

Limitations

Technical Support

Commands

File Menu

Run Menu

Help Menu

Toolbar

Toolbar Commands

Procedures

Running a profile

Exiting

Keyboard Topics

Windows Key Strokes


For information on how to use Help, press F1 or select Using Help from the Help menu.


Overview

The UZEvProf Windows Event Profiler allows you to statistically examine the frequency of Windows events handled by each running application.  This utility immediately illuminates the hidden costs of each application executing under MS Windows, and gives a partial answer to the question: why is the computer running so slow?

Windows events are normally generated and dispatched from each Windows application to cause it to do work.  When too many events are posted to an application (specially, if it's sitting idle, or relatively unimportant), either due to poor design, bugs, or necessity, the computer has to spend time to handle each one of them, thus leaving less time to do other (perhaps more important) tasks in other applications.  The proliferation of software,  and the complexity of the operating system increases the need for diagnostic tools to fine-tune your computing environment.

UZEvProf identifies the applications with the most frequently posted Windows events, and lets you decide whether the hidden cost is worth it or not (or at least, to give you ammunition for a bug report).  It was inspired by the WinSight tool provided with Borland C++ 4.0.  While WinSight does a good job of listing a detail of all events posted to an application,  it does not provide statistical numbers as to the frequency of these events, does not let you save anything,  and it is only provided as part of Borland C++ 4.0 (which costs more than $100).  UZEvProf is also a complement to the DeMystifier package by Jeffrey Richter.

When you start a profile with UZEvProf,  all windows registered by running applications are listed in the profile view.  Every 5 seconds, the view is updated with the latest statistics for each window.  Windows are listed and sorted by event frequency,  with the worst perpetrators at the top, and applications consuming more than 10 events per seconds are highlighted in red. The section Running a profile provides more details.

The intended usage for this version is for short-term diagnostics of new applications.  You start a profile before you start working with a new application,  and stop (or pause) it when

you are done.  The profile view will list event statistics for the windows created by the application (and any other running applications)


Installation

INSTALLATION (WINDOWS 3.X)

Since there are many ways to get UZEvProf,  there are as many ways to install it,  and one simple alternative is to follow these instructions:

1) Copy the files from the distribution medium onto your computer.  This depends on how you got your copy of the product,  and how familiar you are with DOS or Windows:

a) first make a separate directory on your hard-disk (either by using MKDIR from the DOS prompt, or "File" "Create Directory" from the File Manager),  for example C:\UZEVPROF ;

NOTE: It is highly recommended to install into a newly created directory, so that you can easily upgrade or uninstall later.

b) then copy the files from your distribution medium:

   - if you got UZEvProf in a downloaded archive file (PKUNZIP, LHARC, ZOO, ...), you need to extract it with an extraction program;

   - if you have it on a diskette or CD-ROM,  just copy the files into that directory (for example: in DOS type

XCOPY A:\UZEVPROF\*.* C:\UZEVPROF

or in the File Manager use the "File" "Copy" command).

NOTE: if you have a previous registered version of UZEvProf, we still recommend installing into a new directory.

For example, if you named the old directory UZEVPROF, you can rename it to UZEVPROF.OLD.

After having copied the new software, copy the old license file (eg. UZEVPROF.OLD\UZEVPROF.LIC ), configuration (UZEVPROF.OLD\UZEVPROF.INI)  and any data files you saved to the freshly installed directory.  This will save you the time (and cost!) of reregistering the software and keeps your old data. When you are sure that the new revision is working well, you can remove the old version by deleting the directory UZEVPROF.OLD.

2) if you have not done so already, create a new program item.  You can do this in the Program Manager either by

a) dragging the "UZEvProf" executable file from the File Manager into a program group (consult your Windows manual);

or by

a) restoring a program group (for example, by double-clicking on its icon); and

b) choosing the "File" and "New..." menu entry of the Program Manager.  Choose "Program item" and hit "OK".  Set its "Description" to "UZEvProf", its "Command Line" to "uzevprof" and its working directory to the directory where you installed the UZEvProf files. When you are done, the "UZEvProf" icon should be in the currently selected program group.

3) double-click on the UZEvProf icon to start running the program.

To uninstall UZEvProf in the event you are not going to use it, simply reverse the steps above, that is:

1) stop running the program;

2) remove the program item from any program group that you added it to;

3) remove the files from the directory where you copied them to.

INSTALLATION (WINDOWS 95)

Since there are many ways to get UZEvProf,  there are as many ways to install it,  and one simple alternative is to follow these instructions:

1) Copy the files from the distribution medium onto your computer.  This depends on how you got your copy of the product,  and how familiar you are with DOS or Windows:

a) first make a separate folder on your hard-disk (either by using MKDIR from the DOS prompt, or "File" "New" "Folder" from the "My Computer" utility or the Windows Explorer),  for example C:\UZEVPROF ;

NOTE: It is highly recommended to install into a newly created folder, so that you can easily upgrade or uninstall later.

b) then copy the files from your distribution medium:

- if you got UZEvProf in a downloaded archive file (PKUNZIP, LHARC, ZOO, ...), you need to extract it with an extraction program;

- if you have it on a diskette or CD-ROM,  just copy the files into that folder (for example: in DOS type

XCOPY A:\UZEVPROF\*.* C:\UZEVPROF

or in the Explorer open the floppy disk or CD-ROM, select all the files, then use the "Edit" "Copy" command to copy them, open the folder that you created in step a), then use "Edit" "Paste").

NOTE: if you have a previous registered version of UZEvProf, we still recommend installing into a new folder.

For example, if you named the old folder UZEVPROF, you can rename it to UZEVPROF.OLD.

After having copied the new software, copy the old license file (eg. UZEVPROF.OLD\UZEVPROF.LIC ), configuration (UZEVPROF.OLD\UZEVPROF.INI) and any data files to the freshly installed folder.  This will save you the time (and cost!) of reregistering the software and keeps your old data. When you are sure that the new revision is working well, you can remove the old version by deleting the folder UZEVPROF.OLD.

2) if you have not done so already, create a new program shortcut.  You can do this in the Explorer dragging the "UZEvProf" executable file from the Explorer onto the desktop.

3) double-click on the UZEvProf shortcut.  UZEvProf is started when its icon shows on the Taskbar.

To uninstall UZEvProf in the event you are not going to use it, simply reverse the steps above, that is:

1) stop running the program;

2) remove the shortcut from any folders that you added it to;

3) remove the files from the folder where you copied them to.


Licensing

UZEvProf is copyrighted material by UZful Software, Inc., and is

distributed as shareware.  Shareware  distribution  of  a  program gives

users a chance to try  software  before buying it.  The copy of UZEvProf

you have received is given an evaluation license for a certain number of

days (generally  30 days,  depending on the version).  You can check the

status of your license with the  "About" menu command.  For the duration

of the evaluation period,  the  program  is fully  functional.  When the

evaluation is over, it will give you a notice and no longer run!  If you

try a  Shareware program and want to continue using it, you are expected

to register.

Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and  commercial software,

and  the  copyright  holder  retains  all  rights,  with a  few specific

exceptions as stated below. Shareware authors generally are accomplished

programmers,  just  like  commercial  authors,  and  the programs are of

comparable  quality  (in  both  cases,  there  are good programs and bad

ones!). The main difference is in the method of distribution.

Shareware is a distribution method,  not a type of software. You

should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook,  whether it's

commercial or Shareware.  The  Shareware system makes fitting your needs

easier, because you can try before you buy.  And because the overhead is

low,  prices are low also.  Shareware has the ideal money-back guarantee

-- if you don't use the product, you don't pay for it.

DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT

----------------------

Users of UZEvProf must accept this disclaimer of warranty:

UZEvProf  is  supplied  as  is.   UZful  Software,  Inc.  disclaims  all

warranties,  expressed or  implied,  including,  without limitation, the

warranties  of  merchantability  and of fitness  for any purpose.  UZful

Software Inc. assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential,

which may result from the use of UZEvProf.

UZEvProf  is  a "shareware program" and is provided at no charge

to the user for evaluation. Feel free to share it with your friends, but

do not give it away altered or as part of another system. UZful Software

grants  the  right  to  copy  and  distribute  this  version of UZEvProf,

provided  that all  files in the received package  (as shown in the file

packing.lst)  are  unmodified  and  distributed together,  either on the

same disk or in the same archive.

The recipient of this copy shall not  use,  copy,  rent,  lease,

sell,  modify,  decompile, disassemble,  otherwise  reverse engineer, or

transfer the licensed program  except  as  provided  in  this agreement.

Any  such  unauthorized  use  shall result  in  immediate  and automatic

termination of this license.

U.S.  Government Information: Use, duplication, or disclosure by

the U.S.  Government  of the computer software and documentation in this

package  shall  be  subject  to  the  restricted  rights  applicable  to

commercial  computer  software as set forth in subdivision (b)(3)(ii) of

the     Rights  in  Technical  Data  and  Computer  Software  clause  at

252.227-7013   (DFARS 52.227-7013).   The   Contractor/ manufacturer  is

UZful Software, Inc., PO Box 2089, Merrimack, NH 03054-2089, USA.

All rights not expressly granted here  are  reserved  to  UZful

Software, Inc.

REGISTRATION

------------

The essence of "user-supported" software is to provide personal

computer users with  high quality  software at a  low cost,  and yet to

provide  incentive for programmers to continue to develop new products,

and to maintain and improve released products. If you find this program

useful and find that you are  using  UZEvProf  and want to  continue to

use  UZEvProf after the evaluation period, you must make a registration

payment  of   $5.00  to  UZful  Software, Inc.  The   $5.00  individual

registration fee will license one copy of this version of UZEvProf  for

use on  one  computer.  You must register  UZEvProf  for every computer

on which you want to run it.  Specifically, the  individual  license is

issued for a certain computer and the program will  not run on  another

computer  without  registering  it.

To register your copy of UZEvProf,  run the utility  "uzlicinf"

provided with this distribution at the  DOS prompt on the computer that

you  want to  run  UZEvProf  on,  and  send  its  output along with the

registration payment to

UZful Software, Inc.

PO Box 2089

Merrimack, NH 03054-2089

------------------------

Please use the form in the file  register.txt  to register this program

and allow for (at least!)  1 week  of transit and administrative delay.

Don't forget to indicate a  return  postal address  or  e-mail  account

where  we  can  return your  license.  If you live  outside  the United

States,  payment must be made by a bank check in U.S. $ drawn on a bank

in the U.S.

Commercial users of  UZEvProf  must  register and pay for their

copies of UZEvProf within  30 days  of first  use  or their  license is

withdrawn.  Non-restrictive Site-License arrangements and custom orders

may be made by contacting UZful Software, Inc. directly.

DISTRIBUTORS

------------

Anyone distributing  UZEvProf for any kind of remuneration must

first contact  UZful Software  at the  address below for authorization.

This  authorization  will  be  automatically  granted  to  distributors

recognized by the  (ASP)  as  adhering to its guidelines  for shareware

distributors,  and  such  distributors  may  begin  offering   UZEvProf

immediately  (however UZful Software must still  be advised so that the

distributor can be kept up-to-date with the latest version of UZEvProf).

UZful Software, Inc.

PO Box 2089

Merrimack, NH 03054-2089

------------------------


Limitations

The following limitations are present for the current version:

- upto 64 windows can be profiled


Technical Support

UZful Software provides on-line support to registered users via e-mail at uzful@mv.mv.com.  Before you report a problem, please look at the list of frequently asked questions in FAQ.TXT . To report a problem, please include

- the version of UZEvProf,

- the type of PC, and

- the symptoms of the problem (any special circumstances that make the problem appear? How often does it occur? Can you reproduce the problem?).  The more info you provide, the quicker we can fix it.

If you have additional suggestions on how to make our products even more useful, please drop us a line.


Edit Menu
Run Menu

The Run menu provides commands to control the execution of an Event Profile.

Start	Start running an event profile.

Stop	Stop the profiler.

Pause	Pause the update of the profile view.

Resume	Resume the update of the profile view.


File Menu

The File menu provides commands for saving event profiles, and exiting the application.

Save	Save the event profile.

Save As	Save the event profile under a new name.

Settings	Change the program settings.

Font	Change the program font.

Exit	Exit the UZEvProf application.


Help Menu

The Help menu provides commands to display help text.

Contents	Display the Help table of contents.

Search for...	Search for topic in the Help file.

Using help	Display help on how to use Windows Help.

About	Display licensing information.


Running a Profile

To start a profile, choose Run|Start from the menu.  The icon switches to a runner to remind you that the profile is running.  While running, the profile puts slightly more load on the CPU, thus you would not want to run it all the time.

The statistics in the profile view are updated every 5 seconds.  The header indicates

1) the elapsed time since the start of the profile,

2) the total cumulative number of events that have been seen,  and

3) the average number of events per second.

The 6 columns for each window show

1) the window ID,

2) the window title (only the beginning, some of the titles are quite long),

3) the program executable name,

4) the cumulative events posted to the window since the start of the profile,

5) the (long-time) average number of events per second, and

6) the average number of events per second since the last view update.

The entries in this table are sorted by the last column, thus showing you the most recently active windows.  In addition,  entries with recent averages larger than 10 events per second are marked in red.

Event activity for each application will largely depend on what you do with it at any point in time (ie. whether it sits idle, or whether you interact with it, for example move the mouse).  As long as all entries are below 10 events per second when they are sitting idle,  event processing can be considered normal.


Exiting

To exit the application, choose File|Exit from the menu.


File|Exit Command

The File|Exit command exits UZEvProf.  If you are running a profile, you'll be prompted to stop it before exiting.


File|Save Command

The File|Save command saves the current profile output in the active window to disk. If the profile has not been saved before, the Save File As dialog box is displayed so you can name the file, and choose where it is to be saved.


File|Save As Command

The File|Save As command allows you to save a profile under a new name, or in a new location on disk.  The command displays the Save File As dialog box.  You can enter the new file name, including the drive and directory.  If you choose an existing file name, you are asked if you want to overwrite the existing file.


File|Settings Command

The File|Settings command allows you to change the program settings. A popup dialog box lets you enable or disable the tool bar and status bar, or change the display update interval.


File|Font Command

The File|Font command allows you to change the program font. A popup dialog box lets you change the font, size and style. If you click OK, the program will subsequently use this font to display the profile.


Run|Start Command

The Run|Start command starts running an event profile.  A running profile is indicated by a runner in the cursor bitmap.  The profile view is updated approximately every 5 seconds with the latest event statistics.  A running profile is stopped with the Run|Stop command.


Run|Stop Command

The Run|Stop command stops a currently running event profile.  The profile view will contain the latest statistics of the last running profile.  Once stopped, a new profile can be started with the Run|Start command.


Run|Pause Command

The Run|Pause command stops the update of the profile view, but does not stop the profile from running.  This can be used to further study the profile numbers, while letting the profile continue running in the background.  Once paused, the update of the profile view can be resumed with the Run|Resume command.  You can pause and resume the update of the profile view as many times as you want.


Run|Resume Command

The Run|Resume command resumes the update of the profile view, that was previously paused by the Run|Pause command.  The profile view will continue displaying the latest event statistics.


Help|Contents Command

The Help|Contents command displays the table of contents for the UZEvProf help file.


Help|Search For Command

This command lets you search for keywords in the UZEvProf help file.


Help|Using Help Command

This command tells you how to use Windows help.


Help|About Command

The Help|About command prints version and licensing information for the currently installed copy of UZEvProf.


Toolbar
The Toolbar

The Toolbar is a row of buttons at the top of the main window which represent application commands. Clicking one of the buttons is a quick alternative to choosing a command from the menu.  Buttons on the toolbar activate and deactivate according to the state of the application.

Button	Action	Menu Equivalent

Exit the application.	File|Exit

Change program settings	File|Settings

Save the profile in the active window	File|Save

Save the profile with a new name	File|Save As

Start an event profile	Run|Start

Stop the active profile	Run|Stop

Pause the active profile	Run|Pause

Resume the active profile	Run|Resume

Display help file contents	Help|Contents

Display application information	Help|About


Windows Keys

Cursor Movement Keys

Dialog Box Keys

Editing Keys

Help Keys

Menu Keys

System Keys

Text Selection Keys

Window Keys


Cursor Movement Keys

Key(s)	Function

Arrow key	Moves the cursor left, right, up, or down in a field.

End or Ctrl+Right Arrow	Moves to the end of a field.

Home or Ctrl+Left Arrow	Moves to the beginning of a field.

Page Up or Page Down	Moves up or down in a field, one screen at a time.


Dialog Box Keys

Key(s)	Function

Tab	Moves from field to field (left to right and top to bottom).

Shift+Tab	Moves from field to field in reverse order.

Alt+letter	Moves to the option or group whose underlined letter matches the one you type.

Arrow key	Moves from option to option within a group of options.

Enter	Executes a command button.

Or, chooses the selected item in a list box and executes the command.

Esc	Closes a dialog box without completing the command. (Same as Cancel)

Alt+Down Arrow	Opens a drop-down list box.

Alt+Up or Down Arrow	Selects item in a drop-down list box.

Spacebar	Cancels a selection in a list box.

Selects or clears a check box.

Ctrl+Slash	Selects all the items in a list box.

Ctrl+Backslash	Cancels all selections except the current selection.

Shift+ Arrow key	Extends selection in a text box.

Shift+ Home	Extends selection to first character in a text box.

Shift+ End	Extends selection to last character in a text box


Editing Keys

Key(s)	Function

Backspace	Deletes the character to the left of the cursor.

Or, deletes selected text.

Delete	Deletes the character to the right of the cursor.

Or, deletes selected text.


Help Keys

Key(s)	Function

F1	Gets Help and displays the Help Index for the application. If the Help window is already open, pressing F1 displays the "Using Windows Help" topics.

In some Windows applications, pressing F1 displays a Help topic on the selected command, dialog box option, or system message.

Shift+F1	Changes the pointer to [image] so you can get Help on a specific command, screen region, or key. You can then choose a command, click the screen region, or press a key or key combination you want to know more about.

(This feature is not available in all Windows applications.)


Menu Keys

Key(s)	Function

Alt	Selects the first menu on the menu bar.

Letter key	Chooses the menu, or menu item, whose underlined letter matches the one you type, when a menu has focus.

Alt+Letter key	Pulls down the menu whose underlined letter matches the one you type.

Left or Right Arrow	Moves among menus of the main menu bar.

Up or Down Arrow	Moves among menu items within a drop-down menu.

Enter	Chooses the selected menu item.


System Keys

The following keys can be used from any window, regardless of the application you are using.

Key(s)	Function

Ctrl+Esc	Switches to the Task List.

Alt+Esc	Switches to the next application window or minimized icon, including full-screen programs.

Alt+Tab	Switches to the next application window, restoring applications that are running as icons.

Alt+PrtSc	Copies the entire screen to Clipboard.

Ctrl+F4	Closes the active window.

F1	Gets Help and displays the Help Index for the application. (See Help Keys)


Text Selection Keys

Key(s)	Function

Shift+Left or Right Arrow	Selects text one character at a time to the left or right.

Shift+Down or Up	Selects one line of text up or down.

Shift+End	Selects text to the end of the line.

Shift+Home	Selects text to the beginning of the line.

Shift+Page Down	Selects text down one window.

Or, cancels the selection if the next window is already selected.

Shift+Page Up	Selects text up one window.

Or, cancels the selection if the previous window is already selected.

Ctrl+Shift+Left or Right Arrow	Selects text to the next or previous word.

Ctrl+Shift+Up or Down Arrow	Selects text to the beginning (Up Arrow) or end (Down Arrow) of the paragraph.

Ctrl+Shift+End	Selects text to the end of the document.

Ctrl+Shift+Home	Selects text to the beginning of the document.


Window Keys

Key(s)	Function

Alt+Spacebar	Opens the Control menu for an application window.

Alt+Hyphen	Opens the Control menu for a document window.

Alt+F4	Closes a window.

Alt+Esc	Switches to the next application window or minimized icon, including full-screen programs.

Alt+Tab	Switches to the next application window, restoring applications that are running as icons.

Alt+Enter	Switches a non-Windows application between running in a window and running full screen.

Arrow key	Moves a window when you have chosen Move from the Control menu.

Or, changes the size of a window when you have chosen Size from the Control menu.