Copyright: Minimized Window View c1994 Eric Peyton


General Information
System Overview

I have found that accessing icons on the Desktop is sometimes a tedious task.  I wanted to be able to view my icons and control them in ways which no Desktop program which I have used has let me.  The closest I have come to being happy with icon control is with OS/2s Minimized Window Viewer. Alas, this program still did not include all of the functionality which I wanted.  So I developed my own.

This program is mostly based on OS/2s Minimized Window Viewer.  I have added functionality and features to customize this program for the windows environment. Enjoy!

Using the Minimized Window View System

System Commands

Registration Information


Using the Minimized Window View System

The Minimized Window View is an easy system to use and master.

Highlighting an Application

In order to control an application you must first have it highlighted.

To highlight an application simply click on the icon or the label for that application once.  You may now choose menu options which require a highlighted application.

Restoring an Application

In order to restore an application to its previous size and position on the desktop, either double click on the application icon or title or highlight the application and select Icon, Restore Application.  The Minimized Window View does not directly affect the workings of the desktop so any thing which can normally be done to an icon can still be done. If Minimize Applications to Viewer has been selected then all applications which are only in the viewer must be restored through the viewer.

Closing an Application

To close an application simply highlight it and then choose Icon on the menu bar and then Close Application.  The accelerator key for this process has purposely been set to Delete in order to allow the user to quickly close an application.

Placing Applications on the Desktop

Some applications do not minimize to the viewer well.  These include DOS prompts and moving icons (including icons which show time or other information).  These applications will show up as a question mark in the viewer.  To always have the icon on the desktop, highlight the application in the viewer and select Icon, Place Application on Desktop. A maximum of fifteen applications can be set up this way.  The next time you select Minimize Applications to Viewer, applications which have been placed on the desktop in this manner will not minimize to the viewer (i.e., they will still appear on the desktop in unaltered form and they will appear in the Windows Task Manager lists.)

Retrieving Help on Applications

To retrieve Windows Help on a running application simply highlight that application and select Help, Help on a Running Application.  If the application has Windows Standard help then that help will be retrieved.  If that application does not have Windows Standard help then the help file for Minimized Window View will be retrieved.  The accelerator key has purposely been set at F1 such as to facilitate quick retrieval of help for any running application.  If no application is highlighted then F1 will retrieve the help for Minimized Window View.

Placing Applications in the Viewer/On the Desktop

To place your applications in the Minimized Window View window only, select Settings, Minimize Applications to Viewer.  In doing so you will remove all application icons from the desktop (except those explicitly left out by Place Application on Desktop.)  In order to restore your application icons to the desktop, either select Settings, Minimize Applications to Desktop or close the Minimized Window View.  Closing the sytem will always return all application icons to the desktop.

More...

There are other functions of the system (running a new application, placing the Minimized Window View window always on top, etc.) which do not necessarily need to be discussed here. For further help see the System Commands Menu  in this help file.


List of Commands

System Commands

The Minimized Window View is not an overly complex system but it does include a few useful system commands which will allow the user to control the icons of running applications in ways which Program Manager (and other Third Party shells) does not.

Icon Menu

Close Application

Open Application

Restore Application

Place Application on Desktop

Exit

Settings Menu

Minimize Applications to Desktop

Minimize Applications to Viewer

View Window Always on Top

Help Menu

Help on Minimized Window View

Help on a Running Application

About Minimized Window View


Registration Information

This program is shareware , not freeware, and as such I am charging 10$ ( plus 1$ for shipping and handling)  for the cost of registering the program.   You are free to try out Minimized Window View for a period of 21 days (3 weeks).  If after this time you decide to continue to use this software please register it.

Why should I register?

Registration of this software entitles you to free upgrades in the future and blesses upon you the gratification of the programmer.  I enjoy programming but many hours of my personal time went into the production of this piece of software.  To ensure that I can continue to produce quality software I ask that all of my software is registered.

How do I register?

Registration is easy:

Send a check, certified check, money order, or even cash with a total amount equal to 11$ US (10 $ for the program and 1$ for Shipping and Handling) to:

Eric Peyton

525 N. Quentin # 416

Palatine, IL 60067

Feel free to include any comments about the software, including things you like, dont like, future upgrade requests, etc. with your registration.

Even if you dont register, comments on the software is appreciated.

Comments:

Internet Mail Address:  eric.peyton@pwrpalce.com


Close Application

This menu item allows the user to close any highlighted application.  To highlight an application you must click on the icon or title for that application.  This function will NOT close applications which still require user input.  (ie, it will not close most standard DOS Prompts)


Open Application

This menu item allows the user to run windows applications.  Exe, Bat, Com, and Pif executables are allowed.


Exit

This menu item allows the user to close the Minimized Window View and replaces all applications on the desktop.


Place Application on Desktop

This menu item allows a user to permanently place an application on the desktop, when it is run.  Whenever Minimize Applications to Viewer is selected these applications will be left on the desktop.  This allows the system to display icons on the desktop  which would not display in the viewer well.  A maximum of fifteen applications can be permanently placed on the desktop.  To delete or edit the applications on this list, edit the [Desktop] section of the mwv.ini file.


Minimize Applications to Viewer

This allows the user to remove all minimized applications from the desktop (except the Minimized Window View itself).  When this option is selected the applications will not appear in the standard Windows task list nor will the user be able to ALT-TAB to the applications.  These applications are effectively under the control of the Minimized Window View program.


Minimize Applications to Desktop

This menu item allows the user to minimize all applications to the windows desktop.  This is the windows default and the system default for Minimized Window View.


View Window Always on Top

When this option is selected (ie, there is a check mark next to it) the view window will stay on top of all other windows while it is not minimized.  Once it is minimized it may fall below other windows.


About Minimized Window View

This option brings up the registration status and the version number for Minimized Window View.


Help on a Running Application

This option brings up the help for the application which is currently highlighted.  If the applications help cannot be accessed, help for the Minimized Window View is brought up.


Help on Minimized Window View

This option brings up the help for Minimized Window View.


Restore Application

This menu item allows a user to restore an application to its original size and position on the desktop.