Easy Access v1.1 (c) 1993 Browns ComputerWorks If you are just getting started, please take the time to read the information for each topic, to get the most out of Easy Access. Click on the HELP button while using Easy Access to review the these instructions. Disclaimer: Reasonable care has been used during the development of this program but it is not possible to test under all possible conditions. No destructive commands or routines are supported within Easy Access. It will not delete, rename, relocate or format anything, but it is great for running your favorite programs. No guarantees of any kind are made regarding the operation or suitability of this program for your system. The Concept..... This Utility was designed to provide a convenient program launcher, note keeper and memory/resource monitor while using a minimum of desktop space. Your work sessions can be more productive with a launcher that is always available. Easy Access can be used without disturbing other applications, even when they are running full screen. Starting Easy Access.... The EASYACC.EXE file can be copied to any directory on your hard drive. Add the EASYACC.EXE file to your Windows Startup Group to have the program available automatically whenever Windows is started. The program file can be added to other Program Manager Groups or launched by other means if you only want to use Easy Access at selected times. Adding Programs to the File List Window (Setup).... Click on the Easy Access Icon to display the File list window. Then click on the SETUP button. Note the Item number indicator, arrows and scroll bar, these allow you to advance or back through the settings. Type the description or name of the program you want to add to the list in the DESCRIPTION box. Click on the BROWSE button to locate the file. When you select the file to run, the name and working directory information will be added to the PROGRAM and STARTUP directory boxes. Click on the arrow button or scroll bar to advance to the next item to repeat the process of adding a description and then locating the file to run to add the program and directory information. If you want to start a program in the minimized mode, click on the MIN button while viewing the item information. Parameters can be added after the program filename as you might use from the command line, enter them manually after using the BROWSE feature. For example 'C:\Windows\Pbrush.exe C:\Windows\Castle.bmp' would launch Paint Brush and load the Castle.bmp picture. The Startup Directory can also be manually set. The Startup directory for Paint Brush could be changed to a directory where your picture files are kept. Before exiting, click on the SAVE button to save the new settings to disk. Suggestions for Icon Placement.... Drag the Easy Access Icon to a position somewhere near the top or bottom edge of the Screen. I like to place it just to the right of the Windows control/exit box when running a program full screen. Click on the MOVE button to locate the Program list window. Click on the OK button to save the positions of both the Icon and the File list window. Icon Mode.... At the lower right of the Setup window you will find the controls for the Easy Access icon. Selecting STAY ON TOP keeps the icon from getting covered behind other windows. Easy Access is most useful when it is always visible. If you are using the standard Windows 3.1 screen savers, do not check the DRIFT option as the drifting activity may cause the screen saver to fail to activate. The Easy Access Icon may stay on top of some screen savers including the After Dark collection. If the Easy Access Icon stays on top of your screen saver, choose drift to keep the Icon from staying in the same location too long, After Dark will continue to work with the icon in drift mode. Note: It is your responsibility to protect your screen by selecting the proper icon mode or manually relocating the icon occasionally. The DRIFT control enables the icon to move right and then left slightly over long periods of time to lessen the possibility of imprinting the screen by being in the same place for many hours. When using the MOVE feature to set the locations, allow a little space on each side of the icon. When the icon is located near the top or bottom of the screen, a little movement usually does not matter. Click on the SAVE button to record the updated settings to disk. Using the Quick Run feature.... Click on the '>' button to display a standard File box for running programs that have not been added to the File list. Double click on the name of the program you want to launch or click the OK button. The Quick Run feature can be helpful for running programs from floppies as well as programs that are not used very often. Quick Run can be used to view or access files other than programs. After clicking on the '>' button, change the file type to 'ALL FILES' to display files other than programs. Text, Readme, and INI files will be loaded and displayed with Windows NotePad. Wri files will be loaded with Write. Bmp files will load with Paint Brush. Wav, Mid and Avi files will be loaded with the Media Player and Hlp (HELP) files for any application can be viewed. This ability enables Easy Access to be used for browsing several types of text, graphics, sound & music and help files. Add frequently used programs to the File list. Using the NoteKeeper.... With the file list window visible, click on the NOTES button to access the NoteKeeper. Four pages are provided, to change pages, click on the bottom of the notepad near the page number, or use the PAGE menu under the EDIT menu. Notes will be saved automatically when exiting. Note: The Easy Access Icon center will be bright red when you have one or more messages stored and will change to a dark red when there are none. Memory and Resource Indicators.... The free memory indicator is located below the file list. It displays the amount of RAM available to Windows, the value may include some disk based virtual memory. The red bar in the background does not relate to RAM, but to the percentage of System Resources used. There are two types of Resources that are monitored, 'USER' and 'GUI'. The indicator bar will display the resource that has the greatest percentage used. This is similar to the info Windows Program Manager provides. If the Program Manager lists the System Resources available to be 66%, you can expect the Easy Access indicator bar to be about 1/3rd of its full length (33% of resources used). Program suggestions for your file list.... The applications listed below are all standard issue Windows items that are very useful. The file names are provided to help you find them. All the programs listed here can be found in your windows directory - usually C:\Windows Task Manager filename taskman.exe to switch to or close applications Control Panel filename control.exe Windows settings File Manager filename winfile.exe Utility functions Calculator filename calc.exe Media Player filename mplayer.exe sounds, music & Video Easy Access vs Icon Bar Launchers.... We believe that Easy Access has some important advantages over Icon type launchers. Easy Access uses less desktop space than even one standard size icon. Easy Access is always available, not buried under several other windows. The program also uses less memory, and adds a simple notepad, memory and resource monitors and Windows shutdown functions without getting in your way. Icon Bars are colorful and provide quick recognition. After a week or so of use, Easy Access will become familiar and very easy to use. Quitting Easy Access.... To exit entirely, click on the SETUP button to display the settings window. Click on the exit button located on the lower left of the window. It is not necessary to quit the Easy Access utility before exiting Windows. Program Registration.... Try our utility for 30 days free, by the completion of the trial period you should make the decision to register, or dispose of your copy. Registering will help promote future efforts and improvements and will halt the reminder messages. Once registered, you will be entitled to a registration number for future versions of Easy Access without cost. Please send a check or money order for $10.00 to.... Browns Computerworks 9424S. 250 E Hamlet, Indiana 46532