Note:  Here is a collection of common Questions and Answers on FirstApps and Express 3.0.  

Dick Hamilton
hDC Technical Support

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A question: I've opted to have First Apps run from each window application.
Now, when I boot windows, Program Manager starts up as an icon. I've played
with the order of loading in win.ini, but whichever one I put first, I still
get this result. Am I overlooking something? I'd like Program Manager to boot
up full screen.

There is 1 Reply.


 Make certain that nothing is in the "run=" line of your WIN.INI file and
that PROGMAN.EXE is not in the "load=" line.  Anything in the "run=" line will
get priority over the "shell" application, whether that shell is Program
Manager, Express, or any windows application.

 Program Manager, or any program defined as the "shell", will initially start
minimized if there is an entry in the "run=" line of the win.ini file.  Check
your win.ini.  If microman.exe is listed in the "run=" line, backspace it out,
and put "microman.exe" in the "load=" line of the win.ini file.  This will
allow Program Manager to come up in a window initially.


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I am having a problem, however. I'm trying to configure screen saver to display
a polygon, and it shows it in the edit screen when I click OK. But when it goes
to save a screen, all I get is your logo. Am I missing something?

There is 1 Reply.

Chances are that the screen saver that you are seeing is not the
FirstApps screen saver but the one in Windows Express.  Go into Express
preferences and disable it, then you can test the Desktop screen saver...
polygons, Rocks, or bitmap.  If you put 0 for "delay before activation" the
screen saver will come on after 10 seconds...One tip:  the Desktop MicroApp
must always be loaded or running in order for the screen saver to function.

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The desktop options for fractals and calender were greyed out - I presume
that's because I'm running with onlyl 640K in Real mode.

  
 You're correct.  Fractals and Calendar will only work in standard or
enhanced mode.
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Is it possible and how (if so) can I use the Program Mgr Icons in Exp. It
would be great if it were possible.
 
There is 1 Reply.

Unfortunately, because Program Manager does not support Windows
Clipboard for the way it handles icons, it's not possible to export Express
icons for use with Program Manager.  Express icons can be copied to the
clipboard for use in paintbrush or other windows apps that support the
clipboard.  We may see a shareware product that will provide the ability to use
icons with Program Manager *AND* supports the clipboard. I'm not aware of
anything that does this yet.

UPDATE:  There is a nice shareware product, Icon Draw, supports the clipboard
through a "paste bitmap" option and is available on MSWIN (DL#1).  Icons saved
in Icon Draw can be used with Program Manager.

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