.TOPIC:
DON'Ts:

Do NOT manually open the CD drive while it is under program control.  Use the Eject button instead.  NEVER manually eject the CD while in Play mode.  (This way MyCDplayer will work properly and your drive will most likely last longer.)
.TOPIC:
DISCLAIMER:

"MyCdPlayer" COPYRIGHT (c) 1995 WOLFGANG JOHN  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR ENDORSEMENTS REGARDING THE USE OF, THE RESULTS OF, OR PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM, ITS APPROPRIATENESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR CURRENTNESS.  THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE USE OF THIS PROGRAM IS ASSUMED BY THE USER.  IN NO EVENT WILL THE AUTHOR OR HIS EMPLOYEES BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL, RESULTING FROM ANY DEFECT IN THE PROGRAM, EVEN IF THE AUTHOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.  THIS DISCLAIMER SHALL SUPERSEDE ANY VERBAL OR WRITTEN STATEMENT TO THE CONTRARY.  IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THESE TERMS YOU MUST CEASE AND DESIST USING THIS PROGRAM.
.TOPIC:
Help:

The help system is organized into Main and Sub topics.  Click on the Main topic to obtain general information about the topic - click on a Sub topic to obtain detailed information about the sub topic.

Please note, the topics at the left are not in alphabetical order.  They are in a logical - operational order.

You may also use the Help system to create your own help files, catalogs, recipes, etc.  Select "MyHelp files" on the File menu for more information.
.TOPIC:
     Display SubTopics:

'SubTopics' / 'No SubTopics' is a toggle control.  Pressing it will alternately display and not display the subtopics.  This comes in handy when there are many topics and subtopics.

Displaying only the main topics makes it easier to zero in on the desired topic.  If a main topic is selected now, the main topic will move to the top of the topics display (unless you are at or near the end of the topics) and the system will revert to the 'SubTopics' mode.
.TOPIC:
     OutPut Topic:

The text of the selected topic will be placed into the Windows Write program.  From here it may be printed, saved to another file, or otherwise manipulated.  Don't forget to exit from the Write program when finished with it.
.TOPIC:
How to Register:

Until you register your copy of the MyCDplayer program, the program will be in the "unregistered" mode.  All  features are fully functional, except you will be limited to a 30-day free trial period.

To register, select 'Registration Form' from the Main Help menu, fill out (type into the form) and print it.  Mail the form together with your check or money order to the address indicated.

After you receive your registration certificate, select 'File' 'Register Program' from the main MyCDplayer menu to actually register your copy of the program.

You may also register through CompuServe (GO SWREG).  The ID for MyCDplayer is: 4318. You will then be registered via E-mail. 

Once you have registered your program you will receive a registration number and the name the program is registered under.  You MUST key in both the name and the number EXACTLY as they appear on your registration certificate.  As soon as you do, your copy of the program will assume the "registered" mode.

It is ILLEGAL to give your registration number to another person.
.TOPIC:
Overview:

MyCDplayer offers the following features:

--  Imports Win95 CD Player library
--  Plays multiple CDs
--  Plays your Audio CDs while you are performing other tasks.
--  Lets you create a library of all your CDs.
--  Library entries include an index to easily find your CD in storage.
--  Lets you exclude certain tracks every time you play that CD.
--  Has a Program, Shuffle and Sample mode.
--  The programmed mode may be saved to the library.
--  The library may be searched.
--  Library data may be saved to a text file for printing etc.
--  Individual tracks or the entire CD may be automatically repeated.
--  Displays elapsed and remaining times of tracks and entire CD.
--  Displays number of enabled tracks and their total playing time.
--  Has a volume control.
--  Has StayOnTop feature.
--  Offers up to 3 appointment books/diaries.
--  Create your own help files, recipe files, etc.

The author eagerly accepts and solicits your suggestions for making this product more useful to YOU.
.TOPIC:
Getting started:

After you have MyCDplayer on your screen and a CD in your drive, click on the Load button to load the CD.  Once the CD is loaded, you will see the tracks and their duration displayed in the View window.  (Click on the View button if the View window is not open.)  The indicator above the Load button will turn green.

You will also see two values displayed in the Total Selections indicator.  The first is the number of tracks on the CD, the second is the total time of all selections.  If you have excluded some of the tracks from being played, or are in programmed mode, those two values will be adjusted accordingly - so you will always know the total playing time.

An indicator next to the Repeat button shows the present repeat mode.  The Mode indicator shows the present play mode - either Normal, Program, or Shuffle.

The Play, Prev, Next and Eject buttons are now enabled and you may click on Play to play the CD from the top.  Once in Play mode, the Pause and Stop buttons are enabled and the indicator below the Play button turns green.

Always use Pause or Stop to stop the player, NEVER manually eject the CD while the player is running.  When the player is stopped, use the Eject button on MyCDplayer to remove or insert a CD.
.TOPIC:
Operation:

This section explains the operation of MyCDplayer.
.TOPIC:
    Select a Drive:

If you have a multiple drive CD player, click on "Drv" on the main menu to select the drive of your choice.  For single drive units use the "Load" button only.
.TOPIC:
    Select a Track:

You may click on Prev or Next to change tracks, you may select a track and press Enter, or you may click on the desired track.

If you click on Prev while the CD is playing, it will position to the start of the track.  Press Prev again immediately to move to the previous track.
.TOPIC:
    Enter Track Titles:

Note:  You can not use identical titles for different CDs.  If you must, use "#1", "#2", or something similar to distinguish one from the other.

You should be in "Stop" or "Pause" mode before attempting to enter titles.

The best way to enter all titles, is to start from the top.  Click on the first track and then enter the title at the bottom, next to "Enter Track Title".  When you have entered the title, press "Enter" on the keyboard and the program will automatically go to the next track.
.TOPIC:
    Exclude Tracks:

You may mark tracks so they will be skipped automatically every time you insert that CD.  Click on the track to be excluded, then press the Alt and Delete keys at the same time.

Tracks marked in this fashion will not be selected for play in Normal, Sample and Shuffle modes.  They are programmable in Program mode.

If you wish to skip tracks without excluding them as above, select Program mode and double click on the undesired track.  The track is now unprogrammed.
.TOPIC:
    Reset Excluded Tracks:

Click on the track to be reset, then press the Alt and Insert keys.
.TOPIC:
Repeat Mode:

Clicking on the repeat button cycles the repeat mode from Off - to Disk - to - Track.
.TOPIC:
    Repeat entire CD:

Press the Repeat button once to place the program into "Repeat Disk" mode.  When the final track is completed, the program will begin again with the first enabled track.
.TOPIC:
    Repeat Track:

To repeat a particular track, first select it (double click on the track display in the View window, or click on Prev or Next) and then place MyCDplayer into the Repeat Track mode by pressing the Repeat button twice.  Double clicking on another track cancels the Repeat mode, as does selecting another track with Next.
.TOPIC:
Normal Mode:

In Normal mode, all tracks in the "trck" column of the View window will play unless they are excluded.  The order is from top to bottom.  The "order" column is ignored.
.TOPIC:
Program Mode:

Note:  The Program mode has access to all tracks, including excluded tracks.

This mode enables you to set up a program of selected tracks to play in the order you select them.  This order may be saved for the next time you load that CD.  Pressing the same button again (now labeled "Normal") returns to Normal mode.

If the unit is in play mode, it will be stopped.  You must select Play after programming your selections.

Use the Clear button to clear the entire "order" column.

To select tracks to play, double click the tracks in the order you want them to play - double click again to deselect a track.  (Or select and press Enter.)

Watch the "Total Selections" display for the total time of your selections.
.TOPIC:
    Clear:

The Clear button is a toggle control.  It toggles between Clear and Reset.
In Clear mode it clears the "order" column, resulting in zero selections.
.TOPIC:
    Reset:

The Clear button is a toggle control.  It toggles between Clear and Reset.
In Reset mode it initializes the "order" column from 1 to the number of tracks, resulting in all tracks being selected.
.TOPIC:
Shuffle Mode:

The Shuffle mode is similar to the Program mode, except the selections are programmed for you in random order.  Pressing the same button again (now labeled "Normal") returns to Normal mode.
.TOPIC:
Sample Mode:

In Sample mode the program will "sample" each enabled track for 20 seconds.

To stop sampling, press the same button again, which is now labeled "Normal".  The player will continue playing.
.TOPIC:
Search Mode:

Use the Search mode to move forward and backward within a track while in Play or Pause mode.
.TOPIC:
Volume Control:

Enables you to control the volume of your speakers, either locked together or separately.

To accomodate most systems, more than one control on the mixer control will be adjusted.  If that is not satisfactory, use the mixer controls instead.

See "Hint" in "Set Options" for StayOnTop suggestions (Win 3.1x only).
.TOPIC:
Change Colors:

This feature is accessed from the 'File' menu.

Enables you to change the colors of MyCDplayer.  You can preview the changes on the little sample form.  Select OK if you wish to implement the new colors, select Cancel to keep the colors you had before entering this mode.

The color of buttons and some of the panels cannot be changed.

The four selections are:

1.  Form Background    changes the background color of forms
2.  Form Foreground     changes the text of items on the form
3.  Panel Background   changes the background of 3-D panels
4.  Panel Foreground    changes the text of items in the panel

You may click on one of the four buttons or directly on the form or text of the sample display.
.TOPIC:
Set Options:

- StayOnTop -  (Windows 3.1x only)

If selected, causes the minimized MyCDplayer and Volume icons to stay on top of any display.

Generally, the form minimized last will stay visible.  The other one becomes visible, if the visible one is clicked.

- Sort by Title or Artist -

Sorts library by either title or artist.

- Multiple CDs -

When checked, will play CDs in succession.  If "Repeat Disk" is also selected, all CDs will be repeated.  (Visible only if multiple CD drive.)
.TOPIC:
Search Win95 Library:

This feature - available from the File menu - makes it possible to import library data from the Win95 CD Player library.  Simply insert the desired CD and select this feature.  (Only visible on Win95 systems.)
.TOPIC:
Shortcut Keys:

It may be difficult to see, but most buttons have one of their characters underlined.  It is usually the first character.  You may press that character together with the "Alt" key as an alternative to a mouse click.

The buttons and their characters are:

Load       L
Repeat   R
View        V

Program  P
Shuffle      H
Save         S
Normal     N
.TOPIC:
Calendar:

Displays one of 3 convenient appointment calendars/diaries.  Under 'Options' you can set the default calendar.  It is the one that will be loaded automatically.  From the calendar File menu you can bring up the other ones, but the default remains until you change it.  Empty books require no storage on your system.

You enter (edit, delete, select, copy etc.) text as with any other Windows editor, such as NotePad.  Once you enter text into the day's NotePad, that day will be highlighted in red on the calendar as soon as you leave that date.  Delete the text and the highlight will disappear.

Click on any day to bring up the NotePad for that day.

Click on the scroll bar arrows to change the month.
Click in the area between the arrows to change the year.
You may also drag the center knob to change many years at once.

DO NOT manipulate the appointment book files directly, they must remain unaltered.

- Output Book Entries -

Enables you to output book entries to the Windows Write program, from where you can print or otherwise manipulate them.  It is also a method of finding out what forgotten items are still taking up space in your book.  The data in the Write program is presently in a temp file which will be deleted, therefore you must save the data in another file if you wish to keep it.  Don't forget to exit the Write Program when you are finished with it.

Select 'Entire Book' and 'Output' to output the entire book.

Select 'Range of Dates' to output a range of dates only.  Then click on the calendar for either the start or end date as instructed on the panel.  Select 'Output' to output the data.

Note:

In the interest of speed and program size, the size of each appointment book is presently set to approx. 32,000 characters.  You will be told when you are getting close.  A later version of DiaLog (after Windows 95) will overcome this limitation.  (You will most likely never reach that limit!)
.TOPIC:
    Select Delete Range:

Select 'Range of Dates' to be deleted.  Click on the calendar for either the start or end date as instructed on the panel.  Select 'Delete' to delete the data.
.TOPIC:
    Options:

- Start Week on Sunday -

The left most calendar column will be Sunday.

- Start Week on Monday -

The left most calendar column will be Monday.

- Set as Default Book -

The present appointment book will become the default book.  It is the one that will be loaded whenever you select the "Calendar" mode.  The others are accessible from the File menu.
.TOPIC:
Library:

Once you save the data from a CD, that data goes into the CD library.  You access the Library from the main menu bar.

Select subtopics at the left for more information on the library features.
.TOPIC:
    General:
Whenever you insert a CD into your drive and press the "Load" button on MyCDplayer, the program "loads" that CD and creates an image of it in memory.  Included with this image is an identification code of that CD.  If you then simply exit, that image is lost.  To preserve it in your library, you must "Save" the data.  Once in the library, the CD information will be located automatically every time the same CD is inserted and loaded.

The CD provides only track number and length of play information, therefore all other information must be entered by you.  It is a lot of work to enter all the information for each CD, so be sure you regularly back up the file "CDlist.dat".  This may be accomplished from the  File menu by selecting "Backup Library", or any other method you have established for backing up your system.

A CD may be entered into the library without any information, except for the CD title.  Changes may be made at a later time from the main View window.
.TOPIC:
    Changing Entries:

You may change the CD Title, CD Artist, CD Track Titles and CD Index in the appropriate fields at the bottom of the display after clicking on the desired item in the titles and/or track lists.  However, only the CD Index may be changed from the Library if that CD is presently loaded.
.TOPIC:
    CD Index:

Besides the track and title information, you may also enter a "CD Index" value.  It is meant to serve as an ID for your CD (more likely its case) so you can easily find it in your storage space.  Simply enter a desired number and label your CD with that number.  Now you can go from your library directly to that CD without having to read the title on the case.

The left hand "CD" column is not suitable for that purpose.  Those numbers show the number of CD's, but they do not stay with a CD.  They change as CD's are entered and deleted.
.TOPIC:
    Output to File:

Enables you to output library data to a file from where it can be printed or otherwise manipulated.
.TOPIC:
        Titles and Artists:

Outputs each CD's Title and Artist only.
.TOPIC:
         Single CD:

Outputs CD Title and Artist and all tracks with Titles of presently selected CD.
.TOPIC:
         Entire CD:

Outputs CD Title and Artist and all tracks with Titles for all CD's in the library.
.TOPIC:
    Backup CD:

The File menu includes a feature to backup your CD library file.  Once you select "Backup Library", your are prompted with: "a:\CdList.bak".  If you simply wish to leave the backup in the MyCDplayer directory, delete the first 3 characters so only "CdList.bak" is left.

If you have backed up with the extension "bak", you must change it to "dat" before the backup will be usable by MyCDplayer.

.TOPIC:
    Delete CD:

To delete an entire CD from the library, select that CD in the library window and select "Delete CD" from the File menu.  You will be prompted for confirmation.
.TOPIC:
    Save Data:

The CD data may be saved in two ways.  One way is by pressing the Save button in the View menu of the main display - the other is upon exiting MyCDplayer, or changing to another CD listing while in the Library, where you will be prompted if you made any entries or changes.
.TOPIC:
Exiting MyCDplayer:

You may exit MyCDplayer by selecting Exit from the File menu, or double clicking on the top left corner of the MyCDplayer display.  If you are not presently in stopped mode, the program will first stop the player and give you a chance to save any changes to your CD library.

Some other CD player programs allow you to exit and leave the player in play mode.  If you then suddenly want to shut the player down, or at least pause it, you are not able to do so.  Therefore it was decided not to allow this with MyCDplayer in the regular exit mode.  MyCDplayer requires so few resources, so just reduce it to an icon and continue with your other work.

However, if you insist on exiting and leaving the player running, you may select "Special Exit" from the main file menu.  If you are not in Play or Pause mode, the program will just end without any message.
.TOPIC:
Remove MyCDplayer:

1.  Remove all files from MyCD directory
2.  Remove the MyCD directory
3.  MyCDplayer did NOT modify any of the files on your system
4.  Remove the MyCDplayer icon from the Program Group
5.  Remove the Program Group

MyCDplayer installed the following files in your Windows\System directory.  You may delete them if you are sure they are not used by other programs (leave them alone if you are not sure):

     CMDIALOG.vbx
     CSspin.vbx
     CSCalndr.vbx
     CurTime.vbx
     MCI.vbx
     ThreeD.vbx
     MSAFINX.dll
     QPRO200.dll
.TOPIC:
Problems:

If you encounter problems while trying to use MyCDplayer, check here for some possible solutions.
.TOPIC:
    CD does not load:  (Applies to Win 3.1x)

Before MyCDplayer (or any other CD player) can play audio CD's through your CD ROM drive, it must first be "connected" to the Windows software via a driver.  See the topic "Installing and Configuring Drivers" in the Windows 3.1x User's Guide.  It will direct you to the Windows Control Panel where you double click on "Drivers" which then displays the installed drivers for you.  Look for "[MCI] CD Audio".  If it is not yet installed, click on "Add" and find "[MCI] CD Audio".  Select it and click OK.  You must restart Windows for the new driver to take effect.  Your driver is now installed and MyCDplayer should be able to load and play your CD.

The above assumes you have properly installed your CD ROM drive and Audio board.
.TOPIC:
VendInfo:

The file "VendInfo.diz" on your installation disk is a text file with more information about MyCdPlayer installation, distribution, requirements, list of files, etc.
.TOPIC:
Other Programs:

The author has the following other programs available as Shareware:

          ***** DiaLog - A Phone Dialer and Logger and much more *****

             This program offers the following main features:

> Tone or Pulse dialing.

> Logging of incoming and outgoing calls

> 24 Name Speed Dialer

> Manual dialing if no modem.  (All other features still functional)

> 4 address books.  Empty books require no disk space.

> Up to 6 phone numbers and up to 4 BBS User ID's per entry.

> 3 convenient popup calendar/appointment books/diaries.
    (Books are compatible with books in MyCDplayer if in same directory.)

> Special Tone-Dial services that require additional numbers and/or digits.

> Auto-redial busy numbers.
 
> Accepts non-numeric phone numbers ( 1-800-Egg-Head ).

> Easy to set the system time while calling your local time operator.

> Phone logs may contain job codes.

> Phone logs may be viewed, printed and saved to another file.

> Password protection.

> Quick NotePad for each address book and one if no name selected. 

> Prints envelopes on LaserJet.

> Functions as a stop watch.

> Features an alarm clock.

> Programmable 6-City world clock.

> Lots of Help data - with output (print, etc.) capability.

> Create your own Help files, recipe books etc.

> Search Address Books.

> Import Address Book data.

The program is available as FoneW.zip on CompuServe forums IBMSYS, WinShare, WinUser and EURForum.  On AOL as fonew.zip.  On the Internet at:  ftp://ftp.webcom.com/pub1/wjohn/www/fonew332.zip.  You may also request it directly from the author for $3.00 on this continent, $4.00 from everywhere else.  (See registration form for address.)  Please visit us at the Web at:  http://www.webcom.com/wjohn/
.TOPIC:
The Shareware Concept:

Shareware is copyrighted software which is distributed by authors through bulletin boards, on-line services, disk vendors, and copies passed among friends and acquaintances.  It is commercial software which you are allowed to try before you pay for it.  This makes Shareware the ultimate in money back guarantees.

If you decide the program is not for you, you remove it from your computer and erase all copies, including the data files.  If you do decide to keep it, then - and only then - do you pay for it.

Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software.  Shareware is produced by accomplished programmers, just like retail software.  There is good and bad Shareware, just as there is good and bad retail software.  The primary difference between Shareware and retail software is that with Shareware you know if it's good or bad before you pay for it.
.TOPIC:
Record of Revisions:

- Version 1.3.0   4 Jan 96 

1. Added multiple CD capability. 

2. Import library from Win95 CD Player (Theirs has a size limit). 

- Version 1.2.4   4 Dec 95

1.  Fixed bug in library delete mode.  Program would exit if in "Sort by Artist" mode.

2.  Added option to display either track time or track title when program is minimized.

- Version 1.2.3   17 Nov 95

1.  Fixed problem of skipping tracks in View display.  While playing and clicking on another track and holding the mouse down a bit too long, the selection would skip back and forth.

2.  Fixed problem with MyCDplayer reporting changes in the library data when there were none.

- Version 1.2.2   8 Nov 95

1.  Fixed bug which caused first track to play twice while in RepeatDisk mode.  This only happened on the first repeat cycle.

- Version 1.2.1   6 Nov 95

1.  Changed CD Identification calculation to overcome a bug in Win95.  A partial fix was implemented with version 1.0.9, but it did not work for all systems.  The problem will only show up if you entered CDs under Win3.1 and are now trying to use the same CDs with Win95.

2.  Fixed bug that caused some fast machines to continue playing after "Stop" was pressed while playing track 1.

- Version 1.2.0     10 Oct 95

1.  You may now select from multiple drives.

2.  The library may be sorted by title or artist.

3.  The library now has 4 digits for disk and index numbers.

4.  The load feature should now close the door of drives that have that capability.

5.  Options may be set from both the File and the library menu.


- Version 1.1.1   18 Aug 95

1.  Version 1.1.0 introduced a minor bug which caused a colon (:) to be displayed as the first character on the track length display for systems running with a 24hr clock.

- Version 1.1.0   11 Aug 95

1.  The program would not report the track times correctly if the computer is set for 24 hr clock operation.  The same bug also caused the 1st two characters of the title to be clipped.

- Version 1.0.10   26 Jul 95

1.  Disabled the Mute feature of the volume control for Win95 users because of a bug in Win95.

- Version 1.0.9    5/31/95

1.  Made adjustments for Win95.


- Version 1.0.8    3/01/95

1.  Allowed a dash (-) within a registration name.

2.  Added "StayOnTop" option to the main File menu.

3.  When excluding tracks while playing, the program now continues with the next playable track.


- Version 1.0.7    2/18/95

1.  Added a volume control.

- Version 1.0.6

1.  If attempting a CD deletion from the library after a search, the program reported the wrong disk title for deletion.

- Version 1.0.5    1/29/95

1.  If ejecting after Special Mode (ProgramMode, ShuffleMode, SampleMode), the program did not always reset properly to Normal Mode.

2.  There was a bug in ShuffleMode if DiskRepeat was also selected.


- Version 1.0.4    1/25/95

1.  The "Normal" light was accidently turned on upon "Load" after the 1.0.3 fix.


- Version 1.0.3    1/23/95

1.  Fixed a minor bug which did not reset the Shuffle mode after ejecting and loading another CD.


- Version 1.0.2    1/16/95

1.  Version 1.0.1 introduced a bad bug.  If the calendar was exited via the exit button or the menu File Exit, all data in the appointment book was lost.  Exiting from the upper left corner control box worked alright.


- Version 1.0.1    1/13/95

1.  Fixed bug which showed up if the Calendar was selected and exited with a CD loaded that was not yet in the library.  Subsequent double clicks on any track in the View window would display incorrect data in the track display panel at the left.


- Version 1.0 -    Original version
