Contents

Resource Monitor Manual

Resource Monitor for Windows 3.1x Version 1.40

Resource Monitor for Windows 95 Version 1.50

___________________________________

Welcome to Resource Monitor!!

Please select the version of Windows you are using to access the manual for that version of Resource Monitor:

Introduction

Windows 3.1x

Windows 95

For help with Help, press F1 now.

To see what's new in this version of Resource Monitor, see the Version History.

Thank you for using Resource Monitor


Introduction

Welcome to Resource Monitor

The Resource Monitor monitors your Windows enviroment, showing you the status of the system resources, and alerting you when they get low.

The system resources are segments of memory.  They very important because they, basically, operate Windows.  No matter how much memory you have installed in your computer, only a fixed amount is devoted to this task.  If you have many programs running, they can get dangerously low very quickly.

There (should be) two .EXE files supplied.  RESMON.EXE is for Windows 3.1x, and will only run on Windows 3.10, Windows 3.11 for Workgroups, or regular Windows NT.  RESMON95.EXE is for Windows 95 or Windows NT with the Windows 95 interface.  These .EXEs are not exchangable, and will not run on the wrong operating system.  If using Windows 95, you can probably delete RESMON.EXE (unless you plan on distributing this program),  but if you're using Windows 3.1x, then don't delete RESMON95.EXE as you may someday need it!

Contents

Windows 3.1x

Windows 95


Windows31

Resource Monitor for Windows 3.1x

Resource Monitor for Windows 3.1x  is an easy, convenient way to make sure you don't run out of system resources.  Windows 3.1x doesn't handle low-resource situations very well.  When it gets down there, you'll notice slower disk access, screen refresh delays, and mabye even a crash!!

Here are the topics availalble for the Windows 3.1x version:

Installation

Operation

Monitor Mode

The Graphs

The Alarm

Moving the Monitor Window

Advanced Configuration

About Resource Monitor

Version History

Contents


System Resources:  The system resources are two segments of memory.  They very important because they, basically, operate Windows.  No matter how much memory you have installed in your computer, only a fixed amount is devoted to this task.  If you have many programs running, they can get dangerously low very quickly.  This is what Resource Monitor monitors.


Installation

Installing Resource Monitor for Windows 3.1x

There is no installation program provided (SORRY), but installation is easy!

You can install the Resource Monitor to any directory, but it must be in it's own directory.  Make sure the PERSON.DAT file is in the RESMON.EXE directory.  Also, make sure VBRUN300.DLL is in your Windows system directory.  If it is already there, great.  If not, and if it was not provided, most BBSs and online services have it.

When all the files are together, create a Program Manager icon for RESMON.EXE. If you don't use Program Manager, follow the documentation for the shell you use.   For Program Manager, use the New command under the File menu.

I also suggest you copy the icon if Resource Monitor to your Startup group.  Then, in the Program Item Properties dialog there, check Run Minimized so Resource Monitor will start everytime you start Windows, and start in Monitor Mode!

That is all there is to it!!!

Operation

Windows 3.1


Operation

Operating Resource Monitor for Windows 3.1x

Operating Modes

Resource Monitor has two modes of operation:  Window mode, and Monitor mode.  When you start the Resource Monitor, it starts in window mode (unless you start it minimized).  This is what you will see:

GDI Resources

a graph showing you how much of your GDI resources remain.  There is a numerical percentage to the right of the graph

User Resources

a graph showing you how much of your User resources remain.  There is also a numerical percentage to the right of this graph

Window Mode Window Controls

Enable Alarm

if enabled, displays message when either resource type drops to or below the percentage in the adjacent text box

Always On Top

if enabled, the Resource Monitor window will stay on top of all other applications' windows

Monitor Mode

starts Resource Monitor's Monitor mode

About

displays the NIFTY About dialog

Monitor Mode

Windows 3.1


Monitor Mode

Resource Monitor for Windows 3.1x's Monitor Mode

When you minimize Resource Monitor (or start it minimized), Resource Monitor goes into Monitor Mode.  During monitor mode, a little window in the lower-right corner of the screen replaces the standard window.

This little window has two panes:

The left pane is the current GDI resource level percentage

The right pane is the current User resource level percentage

The background of each pane has the same color-coding as the "opposing" bar in the normal window's graphs.

To reposition (move) the window to somewhere else on your screen, see Moving the Montior Window.

To return to window mode, double-click anywhere on the monitor window.

The Graphs

Windows 3.1x


The Graphs

The Graphs in Window Mode

On the main window, the graphs show the available resource percentage in white.  As the percentage drops, the white bar retracts left, showing an opposing bar.  The opposing bar, and the background on the monitor mode window panes, are colored according to the percentage, so you can just glance and see what condition your Windows enviroment is in.  The color coding follows these guidelines:

56% - 100% 	Green

Everything is fine, plenty of resources for everyone

20% - 55%	Yellow

You're OK, but don't start any resource-intensive applications

0% - 19%	Red

Carefull!  You will probably want to close some applications to restore some system resources.

The Alarm

Windows 3.1x


The Alarm

The Alarm in Resource Monitor for Windows 3.1x

Whenever either of the resource types' percentages drop to or below the percent in the main window's edit box, this happens:

Window Mode	The numerical indicators turn red

Monitor Mode	The pane(s) flash rapidly

And, if the Enable Alarm box is check, you get a message alerting you!

Remember:  you can set the alarm to wherever you want your resource-dwindling to stop!

Moving the Monitor Window

Windows 3.1x


Moving the Monitor Mode Window

You can move the monitor window anytime while it is displayed.  To move it, simply drag the window with the right mouse button.  (When you have the window where you want it, you will probably have to click once with the left mouse button to stop the drag.)

Both windows' positions will be automatically saved when the program ends.

Advanced Configuration

Windows 3.1x


Monitor Mode:  When in monitor mode, Resource Monitor displays the resource status with a little monitor window that is usually in the lower-right corner of the screen (but can be moved.)


GDI (Graphical Device Interface) Resources:  This is one of the resource-memory heaps that Resource Monitor monitors.  Every control, window, and such takes up space in the GDI resource heap to react to user events (like clicking) and other things.  See Also:  User resouces


User Resources:  This is the second of the resource-memory heaps that Resource Monitor monitors.  The User resorces store memory allocation settings, and the mundane things Windows does.  (Kind-of general, huh?)  See Also:  GDI Resorces


Window Mode:  When Resource Monitor is started normally, the regular window is displayed.  This is window mode.


There are two segments, or heaps, of resource memory:

GDI Resources

User Resoruces


Advanced Configuration

Advanced Configuration for Resource Monitor in Windows 3.1x

There is one advanced thing you can change... if you want to.  The casual user doesn't need to worry about this:

If you want system-modal low-resource messages then:

1.  Open the RESMON.INI file in your Windows directory with any text editor (like Windows Notepad).

2.  Under the [Settings] section, add the line:

UseSysModalAlarm=True

3.  Restart Resource Monitor (if it is running)

About Resource Monitor

Windows 3.1x


System modal:  When a system modal window is displayed, the entire system, all applications, are suspended until it goes away.  An example of a system modal window is the infamous General Protection Fault dialog.


About Resource Monitor

The Resource Monitor was written in Visual Basic 3.0.  Make sure you have the file VBRUN300.DLL in your Windows system directory before starting it.

This program is FREEWARE (public domain).  It can only be distributed, however, released with all

files:

RESMON.EXE

README.NOW

RELEASE.TXT

RESMON.HLP

PERSON.DAT

And, if the Windows 95 version was included, with this file also:

RESMON95.EXE

The file VBRUN300.DLL is optional.

WARNING:  Do NOT tamper with the PERSON.DAT file.  This is a license file.  It MUST be in the same directory as RESMON.EXE, and must not be edited.  If you edit it, you will invalidate it and the program will detect this.  Resource Monitor is set not to operate unless a valid license file is present.  If you give the program to another person, don't worry about the license file's info, but make sure it is inlcuded.  If you tamper with the file, you might not get a new one because you shouldn't have tampered with it in the first place!

NOTICE:  This program supports the Extended Pseudo-3D Specification!  The colors can be changed!  Email the address below for deails on how to do it.

These public domain copies (versions 1.40 and 1.50) have been released to (the party listed in the About dialog).

If you:

- find this program useful

- have a comment about this or another one of my programs

- want information on my other programs

- are a VB programmer and would like my beautiful API .BAS file

then feel free to contact me at this address:

joseph.hoevet@swcbbs.com

Please read about known bugs.

Version History

Windows 3.1x

Windows 95

Contents


Windows95

Resource Monitor for Windows 95

Resource Monitor for Windows 95 is an easy, convenient way to make sure you don't run out of system resources.  It is a lot better than the one that comes with Windows 95!!  Windows 95 does a much better job of providing plenty of resource memory space, but it still can get low.  As more and more programs are developed for Windows 95, the drain will be getting bigger and bigger.

Here are the topics availalble for the Windows 95 version:

Installation

Operation

Monitor Mode

The Graphs

The Alarm

Advanced Configuration

About Resource Monitor

Version History

Contents


Version History

Resource Monitor for Windows 3.1x

1.0  [Initial release] (07-2?-1995)

1.02  Enhancement (07-2?-1995)

- fixed minor bugs

- added system-modal message support

[Created README.NOW]

[Created RESMON.WRI]

1.09  Enhancement (08-01-1995)

- fixed Always On Top option so it always changes modes

- added restraint for any Windows version not 3.10 or 3.11

[Updated README.NOW]

[Updated RESMON.WRI]

1.21  Enhancement (08-11-1995)

- fixed bug that caused main window to display at old minimized location

1.30  Enhancement (08-12-1995)

- added Monitor Window Dragging to move the window

- the width of the monitor window was reduced slightly to help conserve desktop space

[Updated README.NOW]

[Updated RESMON.WRI]

1.31  Enhancement (08-15-1995, 10-20-1995)

- redesigned Pseudo-3D graphic effect for text box on main window

- added Extended Pseudo-3D Specification support

[Updated README.NOW]

[Updated RESMON.WRI]

1.35  Enhancement  (11-18-1995)

- added line adjacent to up/down buttons

- fixed bug with Ext-Pseudo-3D/2:Func_Update controller that set the text-box foreground color to the wrong Ext-Pseudo-3D color

- added RESMON.INI [Pseudo3D] section support!

[Updated README.NOW]

[Dropped RESMON.WRI]

[Added RESMON.HLP] (yea!!)

1.40  Enhancement  [Current Version]  (12-18-1995)

- changed online help call from Shell function to API call for compatiblity on networks

- added online help access from monitor-mode (window)

- once and for all fixed the width of the monitor-mode window

[Updated README.NOW]

[Updated RESMON.HLP]

Resource Monitor for Windows 95

1.21	Initial Creation (spun off of Resource Monitor) (08-11-1995)

[Created README95.NOW]

[Created RESMON95.WRI]

1.31  Enhancement (08-15-1995)

-redesigned Pseudo-3D graphic effect for text box on main window

[Updated README95.NOW]

[Updated RESMON95.WRI]

1.32  Enhancement (10-23-1995)

-added Extended Pseudo-3D Specification support

[Updated README95.NOW]

[Updated RESMON95.WRI]

1.35  Enhancement (11-18-1995)

-fixed bug with Ext-Pseudo-3D/2:Func_Update controller that set the text-box foreground color to the wrong Ext-Pseudo-3D color

-added RESMON.INI [Pseudo3D] section support!

[Updated README95.NOW]

[Updated RESMON95.WRI]

1.39  Enhancement  (11-30-1995)

-changed window mode's window's border style to make the window look more Win 95ish.  (Just ignore the sizing arrows!!)

-added (extended) pseudo-3D effect to graphs;  (I like it.)

-fix text-box so correctly shows extended pseudo-3D settings

-added popup context menu, and online help access

[Dropped README95.NOW]

[Updated README.NOW]

[Dropped RESMON95.WRI]

[Added RESMON.HLP]  (Hurray!!)

1.40  Enhancement  [Not Distributed]  (12-18-1995)

- changed online help call from Shell function to API call for compatiblity on networks

- added Manual for Win 95 Version command on context-menu Help menu

- fixed context-menu appearance (comma lack-thereof) on the % sign for the threshold box

- fixed redundant "What's This?" message so the Help dialog only shows once

[Updated README.NOW]

[Updated RESMON.HLP]

1.50  Enhancement  [Current Version]  (12-19-1995)

- added caption-flashing feature

- fixed various bugs

[Updated README.NOW]

[Updated RESMON.HLP]

Please read about known bugs.

About Resource Monitor

Windows 3.1x

Windows 95

Contents

[resmon.hlp; 12181995]


Installation95

Installing Resource Monitor for Windows 95

 There is no installation program supplied (SORRY), but this is easy to do:

Resource Monitor can be installed to any directory, as long it is in it's own directory. Make sure the PERSON.DAT file is in the same directory as RESMON95.EXE.  Also, make sure VBRUN300.DLL is in your Windows system directory.  If it is already there, great.  If not, and if it was not provided, most BBSs and online services have it.

When you get all the files figured out, create a Start Menu entry for RESMON95.EXE.  To do this, follow these steps  (unless you know how to do this and like to do it a different way):

1.	If you want to put Resource Monitor above Programs in the Start Menu, then you can use the Windows Explorer and drag the RESMON95.EXE file to the Start button.  Otherwise, go to step 2.

2.	Position your mouse over the Start button and right-click.  Select Explore from the menu.

3.	Open the folder you wish to put the shortcut to RESMON95.EXE in.

4.	On the File menu, select New and then Shortcut.  Enter a folder path to where you installed Resource Monitor

I also suggest you copy the icon if Resource Monitor to your Startup Start Menu folder.  Then, on the Shortcut tab on that Startup shortcut's Properties dialog there, change the Run: drop box to Minimized Window, so Resource Monitor will start everytime you start Windows, and start in Monitor Mode!

That is all there is to it!!!

Operation

Windows 95


Operation95

Operating Resource Monitor for Windows 95

Operating Modes

Resource Monitor has two modes of operation:  Window mode, and Monitor mode.  When you start the Resource Monitor, it starts in window mode (unless you start it minimized).  This is what you will see:

GDI Resources

a graph showing you how much of your GDI resources remain.  There is a numerical percentage to the right of the graph

User Resources

a graph showing you how much of your User resources remain.  There is also a numerical percentage to the right of this graph

Window Mode Window Controls

Enable Alarm

if enabled, displays message when either resource type drops to or below the percentage in the adjacent text box

Always On Top

if enabled, the Resource Monitor window will stay on top of all other applications' windows

Flash Window

when checked, the window caption (and taskbar button) will flash if either of the resource levels dip to or below the threshold level

Monitor Mode

starts Resource Monitor's Monitor mode

About

displays the NIFTY About dialog

Monitor Mode

Windows 95


Monitor Mode95

Resource Monitor for Windows 95's Monitor Mode

When you minimize Resource Monitor (or start it minimized), Resource Monitor goes into Monitor Mode.  During monitor mode, the button on the Taskbar will show the current resource-level status.

If the Flash Window checkbox is checked, the Taskbar button will flash like the window caption would.  This will let you use a passive alarm, instead of the alarm message, to remind you when resources get low.  Plus, in the Windows 3.1x version, the Monitor mode window flashes when resources get low to remind you;  this will do the same thing.

(In a future version, the icon might refect status colors, but not in this version.)

To return to window mode, click on the taskbar button.

The Graphs

Windows 95


The Graphs95

The Graphs of Resource Monitor for Windows 95

On the main window, the graphs show the available resource percentage in white.  As the percentage drops, the white bar retracts left, showing an opposing bar.  The opposing bar is colored according to the percentage, so you can just glance and see what condition your Windows enviroment is in.  The color coding follows these guidelines:

56% - 100% 	Green

Everything is fine, plenty of resources for everyone

20% - 55%	Yellow

You're OK, but don't start any resource-intensive applications

0% - 19%	Red

Carefull!  You will probably want to close some applications to restore some system resources.

The Alarm

Windows 95


Monitor Mode:  When in monitor mode, Resource Monitor displays the resource status on it's button on the Taskbar.


The Alarm95

The Alarm in Resource Monitor for Windows 95

Whenever either of the resource types' percentages drop to or below the percent in the main window's edit box, this happens:

Window Mode	The numerical indicators turn red

Monitor Mode	The pane(s) flash rapidly

And, if the Enable Alarm box is checked, you get a message alerting you!

Plus, if the Flash Window box is checked, the Resource Monitor window title-bar will flash, to alert and remind you of the low-resource situation!!

Remember:  you can set the alarm to wherever you want your resource-dwindling to stop!

Advanced Configuration

Windows 95


Advanced Configuration95

Advanced Configuration for Resource Monitor in Windows 95

There are now two advanced things you can change... if you want to.  The casual user doesn't need to worry about these:

System-Modal Warning Messages

If you want system-modal low-resource messages then:

1.  Open the RESMON.INI file in your Windows directory with any text editor (like Windows Notepad).

2.  Under the [Settings] section, add the line:

UseSysModalAlarm=True

3.  Restart Resource Monitor (if it is running)

Title-bar (Caption) Flash Rate

You can adjust the speed with which the caption (and Taskbar button) flashes when Flash Window is turned on:

1.  Open the RESMON.INI file in your Windows directory with any text editor (like Windows Notepad).

2.  Under the [Settings] section, add the line

FlashRate=x

where x is the flash delay, in milliseconds.  Valid range is from 1 to 20,000, with the default being 500.

3.  Restart Resource Monitor (if it is running)

About Resource Monitor

Windows 95


Known bugs:  0

There are no known bugs at this time:

Bug Fixed!!:  Main window caption sometimes retains "GDI: xx, User yy" form after coming from Monitor Mode


Bug1:


Bug 1:

Version(s) affected:  Resource Monitor for Windows 95, versions  1.21 to 1.40

Cause:  behavior was by (poor) design

Symptoms:  Occasionally, Resource Monitor gets confused when switching in and out of Monitor Mode.  Occasionally, the main window will retain the caption "GDI: xx, User yy" from Monitor Mode.

Status:  This problem has been fixed.  Also, the code has been tightened to conserve resources and memory!  (The Monitor Mode window from the Windows 3.1x version is no longer used or included at all.)

Known Bugs


GDI Resources

Click here for an explanation of GDI Resources.

See also:

User Resources

System Resources


User Resources

Click here for an explanation of User Resources.

See also:

GDI Resources

System Resources


Window caption:  another term for the title-bar