pmLaunch v2.0

For Windowstm 3.1

Copyright 1994 by pmSoftware.

Note:  Items in italics are for the registered version of this program.

pmLaunch is a very simple desktop organizer.  It allows you to place icons (for programs) on the desktop, separate from groups, so that you may enjoy viewing the wallpaper you have selected.  Each program may be launched by double-clicking on the icon, or by hitting the enter key when the icon is highlighted.  The icons also will accept a dropped file from the File Manager if APPLICATION ACCEPTS DROPPED FILES has been checked for the item.  In addition to the features for the icons, there is a small system resource gauge display for the desktop.

The best use of the program is to install pmLaunch.exe and pmLaunch.hlp in your Windows directory, add the run=pmLaunch.exe to your WIN.INI file (or put pmLaunch in the Program Managers Startup Group), and then select (and save) the Program Manager option to minimize on use.

pmLaunch creates the file pmlaunch.ini in your Windows directory.  You save the settings via the system menu item Save Settings. Each time you select this menu item,  the current information is saved.  You may edit this file directly, but you must insure the following format is followed:

[pmLaunch]

GaugeX=619

GaugeY=495

GaugeOnTop=1

[Applications]

App1=C:\WINDOWS\NOTEPAD.EXE

WorkDir1=C:\WINDOWS\

Title1=Notepad

ButtonX1=72

ButtonY1=401

IconFile1=C:\WINDOWS\NOTEPAD.EXE

IconIndex1=0

DoesDrag1=0

Each successive entry has a different number in the entry name (i.e. App2).  You must  number the groups from 1 to ...n.

If an item has been added, deleted, modified, or moved, and you are quitting the program or exiting Windows, you will be asked if you want to save the current settings.

Explanation of text fields

Program:

This is the application that will be launched.  Specify a full path name if the directory in which the application is located is not in your PATH or in the Working Directory (discussed below).  The application can be an executable (e.g. .EXE, .COM, .BAT, or .PIF) or a filename that has an associated application.  You may also add parameters to the end of this entry, leaving at least one space between the application and the parameters.  When you have entries, clicking on the down arrow to the right will show a list of applications that are on the desktop.

Working Directory:

This is the default directory when the application is started.  Please note that some applications will override this entry if there is a default directory in the applications .INI or .PIF file.

Title:

This is the text that is shown when the right mouse button is clicked on the desktop icon.  This helps you identify the icons use without having to display the dialog box.

Icon:

You cannot directly edit this entry, but it will show you the file containing the icon that is displayed on the desktop.  To change the icon file, use the Icon button.

Explanation of buttons

Done:

Minimizes the program.  Does not save, add, or delete any information.  The escape key performs the same function.

Add:

Adds a new button to the list and screen with the data presented in each of the boxes; Program, Title, Working Directory, and Icon.  It is possible to duplicate entries, so  please review these carefully.  The new icon is placed in the upper left-hand corner.  If several new applications are added one after the other, the icons will stack up unless you move them.  You may move the icons at any time.

Modify:

Changes the attributes (program, title, icon, etc.) of the  currently selected Desktop Icon. The selected icon is the one that was last selected, either by the dialog box or by selecting the actual desktop icon.

Delete:

Deletes the currently selected icon from the list and screen. The selected icon is the one that was last selected, either by the dialog box or by selecting the actual desktop icon.

Icon:

Brings up a simple icon selector dialog box.  You may select icons from .exe or .dll files (such as the application, progman.exe, or moricons.dll).  You may also specify an icon file with an .ico extension.  The file browser helps you find the file you want and the arrow keys let you review any icons in the selected file.  If you type in the name of the icon file and want to page through the icons, the Select button must be pushed to activate the file. The Select button will also reset the icon index number to 0 (the first icon in the file).  Ok returns you to the program selector with the selected icon and file source.

Browse:

Brings up a file browsing dialog box to hunt for applications or files to launch.  If you select OK from the file selector, the program will default some of the entries for you.  The Working Directory becomes the same directory the application was in, the Title is the name of the application minus the extension, and the icon is the application (if there is an icon in the file.)  You must push the Add button to add the item to the list and create a desktop icon.

Explanation of Drag and Drop

If you check the box for an icon to Application Accepts Dropped Files, while adding or modifying an icon entry, any file dropped will be sent as a parameter to the application.  Obviously, to enable this function only makes sense for actual applications, not files.  If you drop a file on an application icon that has a parameter in your saved command line, the dropped file will override that and be launched instead.  Dropping a file will override non-file name parameters.

How to display the Resource Gauges

The system menu on the dialog box controls how the gauges are to be displayed.  The gauge window itself has a close button in the upper left corner.  When you close this window, the dialog box system menu displays "Show Gauge Window".  When the gauge window is already showing, the choices are to have the window stay on top, or not.  When on top is chosen, the window stays in view as other applications are used and displayed.  Special applications that promote themselves to the top window, like screen savers, will cover this window, as they should.  Save Settings will save the current state (off, on, or always on top) of the gauge window.

General notes:

You may activate your screen saver via the system menu.  The screen saver must be one that is setup within the Control Panel Desktop.

You may use the tab key to select the different icons on the screen.  The order will be based on the list order, not placement on the screen.  Shift-tab will go through the list in reverse order.

If you right-click on an icon, the title will be displayed.

The main dialog box provides the X and Y position of the selected icon.  This point represents the upper left corner.

You may launch files (for applications) if they have the associations set up in Windows.  You may use a custom icon or select the one from the application itself.  The program entry item would be the file name.  For instance, if you have associated *.doc files with Word for Windows (TM), then a .DOC file selected will launch Word with this file being opened.  Review your Windows manual for information on how to associate files with applications.

You may append parameters to the end of your application entry.  Leave a space between the path/application and the parameter as the following example illustrates:

D:\WINDOWS\NOTEPAD.EXE myfile.txt

The above is useful when a standard file association is not desired.  For example, you may want to have a standard association for .TXT files to be for the Windows Notepad, but for a special .TXT file you may want to launch a Brief editor.

Normally, the program browser will look for program type files.  You may enter any search extension you want and override that default.

You may save your settings (icon location and program attributes) at any time by selecting Save Settings from dialog box system menu.

Pressing F2 when a desktop icon is selected will display the dialog box.

To quit the program, which also closes all the desktop icons, use the close option from the system menu for the selection dialog box.  You will be warned that quitting will remove all desktop icons. If any of the settings have changed you will be asked if you want to save them before closing.  Use the <escape> key or the Done button if you are finished making changes to the desktop icons and just want to get the dialog box out of the way.

Thank you for using the program.

pmSoftware