Help for EyeBall
 Help for EyeBall Version 2.3

EyeBall is a handy utility for viewing and capturing painted areas of the screen. It allows expansion of icon-sized screen areas for viewing. Expanded views may be copied to the clipboard or saved as bitmaps, or as Windows icons. If Windows 3.1 or greater is used, the EyeBall application may be floated on top of existing applications to facilitate viewing.

Using EyeBall

EyeBall Help

This is the unregistered version of EyeBall. In this version, you get to execute the application 30 times before the Save As and Copy functions become disabled. You dont want that, so please do register. Its cheap and it makes you feel so good. The following topic gives full instructions:

About Form/Registering EyeBall


Using EyeBall

This topic explains how to use the EyeBall application. Other topics detail the individual commands available from the EyeBall menu.

To look at an icon-sized area of the screen:

1.	Move the mouse pointer into the picture square at the center of the EyeBall window.

2.	Press and hold the left mouse button.

3.	Move the mouse to the required screen location.

4. 	When the required area is centered, release the mouse button  -  the picture is held.

To Magnify a screen area:

1.	Examine a screen area as described above.

2.	Use a numeric File menu option to magnify the area held.

Or

1.	Use a numeric File menu option to set the magnification.

2.	Use the mouse to point to the required screen area as described above.

See Also

Keyboard Controls


EyeBall Help

Using EyeBall

Commands

Save As

1x1..5x5

Active Option

Always on Top Option

Grid Option

Exit

Copy

Clear

Help Index

Help Using Help

Help About EyeBall

See Also

Keyboard Controls


Save As Command

This command displays a File Save dialog to allow you to enter or select a file name for the file to contain the contents of the viewer. You may choose between the standard formats:

Bitmap (*.BMP)

A windows bitmap is created with the same size as the current viewer area. This bitmap is suitable for use in bitmap editors such as Paintbrush, or may be used where any other bitmap is suitable.

Standard Icon (*.ICO)

A standard icon is a 32 by 32 pixel bitmap and mask representation of the 1x1 (actual size) scaled version of the viewer contents. This icon may be used in the Windows Program Manager, or may be used where any other icon is suitable.

Note: The Save As process utilizes the Windows clipboard. If the clipboard already contains any information, that information is lost.


1x1 .. 5x5 Commands

These selections set the scale of magnification for the selected area. The 32x32 pixel screen area is enlarged by an integer scaling factor to ensure even magnification. Once the magnification is set using one of the available sizes (1x1 through 5x5), that magnification remains until reset. Any picture already in the view area is re-scaled to the new magnification.

The last-used size setting is applied when the EyeBall is started.


Active Option

This option causes the viewing area of the EyeBall to be updated from the current screen every 0.25 of a second. Any changes that take place in the viewed area are represented in the viewer. The check mark against the option indicates whether active updates are enabled or disabled.

The last-used setting of this option is applied when the EyeBall is started.


Always on Top Option

This option is only available when EyeBall is used in Windows 3.1 or higher. When selected, it causes the EyeBall viewer to remain 'floating' on top of all other application windows, regardless of which window has the focus.

The last-used setting of this option is applied when the EyeBall is started.


Grid Option

When this option is set, a black line grid is drawn over the view area to enable pixels to be lined up or counted more easily. Since the grid lines are each one pixel in width, you may only select this option when the scaling factor is 5x5. At other scaling factors, the option will be disabled. In addition, the grid is not shown when the Active Option is set (this is because the grid drawing process delays the update process).

Note that if you save the viewable area as a bitmap when the grid is displayed, the grid is NOT saved as part of the bitmap.

The last-used setting of this option is applied when the EyeBall is started.


Exit Command

This command terminates the EyeBall application and returns to the previously active application. The current settings for the EyeBall Options and the current scaling factor are saved in the [EyeBall] section in the WIN.INI file.


Copy Command

This menu option copies the contents of the viewer into the system clipboard. The data placed in the clipboard is in Bitmap format and is the same size and magnification as the current Eyeball view. If you wish to use the clipped data as an icon or cursor, you should make sure that magnification is set to 1x1 before copying to the clipboard. Alternatively, use the Save As ... dialog to save the viewer contents as an icon file.


Clear Command

This menu option clears the viewer to white. Scaling has no effect on the view after clearing. Note that the Copy command may still be used to copy the cleared viewer contents.


Help Index Command

Enters this tutorial at the highest level.


Help Using Help Command

Activates Windows primary Help Index for instructions on using Windows Help, including annotations, bookmarks, and the Search feature.


The 'About' Form
About EyeBall

This window displays copyright information.

It is very important that you register your copy of the EyeBall. Why ? ... Its like this...

Shareware is the National Public Radio and Public Television of software. We in the shareware developers community only stay in business because people like you send in the (generally small ) amount of money requested for the fruits of our labor. By sending in money you achieve these goals:

 You take an active part in the development process by supporting those products that you use and find useful. This makes us happy to develop other products that you are likely to like too.

 You ensure that you have full distribution rights to the shareware, allowing you to pass this on to a friend.

 You remove the guilt that you get when you picture us working late at night and at weekends without even a thank you from the 99% of shareware users who simply like to pretend that they don't have $10 to spare.

 You get a friend in the development community who is likely to keep you in mind when beta-test versions of new software are being given out, is always ready to provide helpful hints on development, review your software, send you freebies and so on.

Now, stop reading if you didn't like the EyeBall or think that you don't have $10 to spare. Also, consider uninstalling the EyeBall. Continue reading if you are one of the growing number who think small software companies made the industry great (and think that technical support should be FREE).

Here's how to register the EyeBall....

Send $10 + $2 shipping (US please) to this address:

Ninth Wave Software

P.O.Box 13962

Scottsdale, AZ 85267-3962

You can also call us at: 1-602-816-0426

We will respond by sending you:

 A nice letter,

 A registered copy of the EyeBall,

 Infomation on our other products and services.


Keyboard Controls

To ease the difficulties of pointing the mouse at a specific location, various keys can be used in combination with the mouse to freeze or slow the mouse, or to move the mouse pointer a pixel at a time in any direction. Whether you use the keyboard or not, releasing the left mouse button will stop the view area being updated from the mouse position.

Active Keys:

Spacebar

While the Spacebar is held down, the mouse moves at its lowest level of sensitivity. The original setting is restored when the Spacebar is released, or when the left mouse button is released.

Shift

While a Shift key is held down, mouse movements are ignored. You may use this to ensure that the mouse cannot move when releasing the mouse button.

Cursor Keys

While the mouse button is depressed, you may use the four cursor direction keys to move the mouse pointer by a single pixel in the direction specified. The view area is updated to reflect the new mouse position. If you hold down a cursor direction key, the movement is repeated until you release the key.


Icon-Size
Icon-Sized

Standard Windows Icons are 32 pixels in both width and height. This is also the default size of the EyeBall viewing area. Note that although a primary use of the EyeBall is to create icons from the clipboard contents, other resources such as Cursors, which are the same size as icons, may also be created from clipboard bitmap entries created by the EyeBall (with the aid of a Cursor Editor application).