WINSCRIPT 1.00 4th November 1995 ======================================================================== Welcome to WinScript! --------------------- Thank you for trying WinScript, the simple programming language for Microsoft Windows. WinScript's aim is to allow you to quickly develop simple programs or automated procedures (scripts) for Windows with the same ease as you might have written a batch file or Basic program for DOS. Most WinScript programs can be written and tested in a few minutes. The WinScript language has a simple syntax, variables are typeless, and programs can be tested instantly using the WinScript interpreter with its integrated editor and debugger. Full context-sensitive help, including a language reference and examples, is provided. WinScript runs under both Windows 3.1 and Windows 95. It is a 16-bit application, but it has been written with Windows 95 very much in mind. Examples of things you can use WinScript to do are: * load applications at start-up, depending on options you choose from a dialog; position them where you prefer on the screen; * control applications using DDE; * schedule regular activities like backups, virus scans, collecting email; * create software installation programs; * create simple utilities such as databases; * create front-ends for DOS programs, which can run invisibly in the background; * produce visual educational tools that display bitmap images and allow users to interact with them. Several example scripts are included, such as an address book database, a chiming clock and resource monitor, a calculator, a file housekeeping tool and a Zip shell. If you write an interesting or useful utility using WinScript, please let us know, or upload it to an online service where others can have access to it. We will be producing an electronic newsletter containing hints, tips and example scripts which will be sent to registered users. Installation ------------ To install WinScript, run the program SETUP.EXE, which will copy the files to the desired directory (if they aren't there already), create a Program Manager group and set up Registry or INI file entries so that WinScript will run properly. Removing WinScript from your system ----------------------------------- WinScript adds files to no other directories than its own. To remove it, simply delete all the files in the WinScript directory and then remove the directory. Registering WinScript --------------------- We hope you like WinScript and find it useful. However, WinScript is not free or public domain software. You are granted a free licence to use the software for the purpose of evaluation only for a period of not exceeding 28 days. If, on the expiration of this period, you wish to continue using the program, you are required to register. Details of the terms of the license agreement, and of how to register, will be found in the online help. The version of WinScript you have here is fully functional. However, while it remains unregistered the software will display its About box, with a reminder to register, whenever you launch the IDE. The About box is also displayed on termination of any script which is run directly. We hope that this will not unduly affect your ability to evaluate the product. When you register the product and enter the personal serial number which you will receive, the About box will cease to appear except when you want to see it. Other benefits of registering include: - receipt of the latest version of WinScript; - free technical support; - a regular email newsletter containing information, techniques and news about WinScript; - the warm feeling that comes from knowing that you now have a legal copy and that you are supporting further development of the product. About the examples ------------------ To give you an idea of what WinScript can do, we have included several example scripts. These examples have been installed in the WinScript group and are ready to run. We hope you find them useful, either in their own right or in provoking ideas for your own applications. A number of shorter examples are also found in the online help. These examples are intended more to illustrate various techniques, though you can easily copy / paste the code to WinScript's script window and then run them. ADDRESS BOOK: This script implements a simple address database, with text search and the ability to copy an address to the clipboard. The data is stored as a comma delimited text file. Address Book takes advantage of WinScript's powerful string list feature to store the data, making the program itself surprisingly simple - less than 140 lines! CALCULATOR: WinScript can be used for all kinds of applications. This calculator demonstrates the mathematical functions available in WinScript, as well as being a more unusual example of what is possible. CLOCK: Clock displays a useful panel at the top left of the screen showing the time, date and information about the system status. If you have a sound card then a cuckoo clock chimes the hour! If you click the little button that is supposed to look like an alarm clock then you can set an alarm message. You may wish to add to the status information displayed by, for example, reporting the space remaining on drives other than D:. DRAG'N'PLAY: This very simple script (only 25 lines!) implements a drag-and-drop WAV file player. FLUSH: This useful application searches all the directories on a specified drive for files matching a particular specification, such as *.TMP, which are then displayed in a list. Individual files can be reprieved, and all the files listed erased, at the click of a button. This is a good example of WinScript's file handling capabilities. LAUNCHPAD: This script demonstrates a number of features: displaying bitmaps, processing mouse clicks, popup menus and drag and drop. Drag a Windows EXE from File Manager to the LaunchPad to add its icon; double-click on the icon to launch it. Right-click to pop up a menu from which icons can be deleted, and an About dialog displayed. REGISTER: WinScript is shareware. We hope that you find the program useful and will want to continue using it after your 30-day evaluation period. To do this legally, you must register (details of how to register are contained in the online help.) On registration, you will receive your own unique serial number. Use the Register script to enter this, and your personal details, so that WinScript will unlock any registered-user-only features and disable the 'nag' dialog that is displayed at start-up. SETUP: Not shown in the program group, the Setup script is worth examining as it is an example of how to use WinScript as an install program. Techniques demonstrated include testing the Windows version, copying files, updating INI files and the Windows 95 Registry, and DDE communication with the Program Manager to create a program group and install icons in it. ZIP SHELL: This script creates a Windows shell for running the DOS shareware utility PKZip to create archive files. You add files to the list by using drag and drop from File Manager. Edit the name and path of the output Zip file. Then press the Zip button. The program PKZIP.EXE must be in the DOS path, or you must edit the script to specify the full path to the program. Under Windows 95 you may have to edit the property sheet for PKZIP.EXE to get the program to run minimized and to close the DOS window on exit. Note: We hope you find the example scripts interesting and useful. Doubtless you will also think of improvements to them. We leave the incorporation of extra features and the elimination of any bugs as an exercise for the reader! Technical support ----------------- Technical support is available by Internet email, only to registered users. However, we will endeavour to answer any questions that may arise during your evaluation of the product. Support is provided via internet email at: support@jmtech.demon.co.uk. CompuServe members may also obtain support via CIS ID: 100015,1242. ======================================================================== J M Technical Services, 11a Cedar Lane, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 9HN. United Kingdom.