Sound Dialog Examples Version 1.0 --------------------------------- by Mike Mezaros A [x]CheckBox Software Freeware Release INVENTORY --------- This archive should've included: SOUNDEX.EXE - The SOUND DIALOG EXAMPLES application. SOUNDEX.TXT - This text file. REQUIREMENTS ------------ Hardware: 286 or 386 PC with at least 1 megabyte of RAM. VGA or better graphics hardware. Software: Microsoft Windows 3.1 or higher running in either Standard or Enhanced mode. A sound driver capable of playing .WAV files (such as for a SoundBlaster card or the PC speaker). VBRUN100.DLL, the royalty-free Visual Basic runtime DLL file. This DLL is widely available. It can be found on CompuServe in the Microsoft Windows Advanced Forum (GO WINADV) as VBRUN1.ZIP in library #16 and on GEnie in the IBM PC RT (IBMPC) as VBRUN.ZIP. It can also be found on BBS systems and in shareware disk vendor catalogs throughout the world. PURPOSE ------- Sound Dialog Examples is a simple example program for Windows 3.1. Windows 3.1 allows users to assign certain .WAV format sounds to different system events. The events include Windows Start, Windows Exit, Default Beep, Asterisk, Critical Stop, Exclamation, and Question. The last four events are types of dialog boxes that Windows applications may present. They contain an icon used for visual effect. Asterisk dialog boxes show either an asterisk or a lower-case i (the asterisk is considered more language-independent) and generally provide important information. Critical Stop dialog boxes show a stop sign and generally provide information about a serious error or problem. Exclamation dialog boxes show an exclamation point and generally provide some sort of warning. Question dialog boxes show a question mark and generally require that you make a choice between two different options. You may have already encountered a number of these dialog boxes under Windows 3.1, and you may have been surprised not to hear the sound that you had assigned to it. You may have heard the default beep, or perhaps you heard nothing at all. To make a long story short, the programmer has to explicitly call the sound. It isn't a big deal; no more than a single line of code in most languages. However, prior to Windows 3.1, there wasn't much reason to bother. In fact, the applications included with Windows 3.1 don't even bother... All of this will change soon, now that Windows 3.1 is in the hands of users. Sound Dialog Examples was created simply to show users that their assigned sounds really ARE assigned, and that properly written applications (eventually, with any luck, all applications) will make use of them. INSTRUCTIONS ------------ Sound Dialog Examples is simple to operate - just click one of the buttons ("Asterisk/Information", "Critical Stop", "Exclamation", or "Question") to see a sample dialog box and hear your assigned sound. The "About..." button provides a copyright notice. If no sound driver is installed, you will hear the normal system beep. ABOUT CHECKBOX SOFTWARE ----------------------- CheckBox Software is a software developer and distributor concentrating on the Windows shareware market. Some of our current titles include: STAY-ON-TOP CALCULATOR Stay-On-Top Calculator "stays on top" of other Windows applications - so it's perfect for quick & dirty calculations for users of Excel, 1-2-3/Win, or any spreadsheet/accounting/finance package! Don't waste time with blank spreadsheet cells or keeping a real calculator beside your keyboard! All standard functions are supported - including memory, uses very little screen space, clipboard support, and more! The most convenient calculator for spreadsheet users! Available on CompuServe (WINADV) and GEnie (IBMPC RT) as SOTCAL.ZIP. STARTUPSWAPPER StartupSwapper varies the Windows startup screen! Each time you run Windows, you can be greeted with a different screen of your design or choosing: corporate logos, family photos, sports cars, "heavenly bodies," custom designs - whatever you'd like! A new screen each time you start Windows! Complete instructions in Windows Help format and two sample startup screens are included. Available on CompuServe (WINADV) as SWAP.ZIP and GEnie (IBMPC RT) as SWAP10A.ZIP. Both of these programs, and other titles from CheckBox Software, are also available on a number of other services (including America On-Line) and BBS systems, as well as in many popular disk vendor catalogs. CONTACTING CHECKBOX SOFTWARE ---------------------------- Mail: CheckBox Software, One Leary Drive, North Brunswick, NJ, USA 08902 FoReM-Net E-Mail, Mike Mezaros: Node 593 GEnie via Z*Net Publishing: Z-NET CompuServe via Z*Net Publishing: 75300,1642 InterNet via Z*Net Publishing: 75300.1642@compuserve.com Z*Net Headquarters BBS, Mike Mezaros: (908)-968-8148 LEGAL DISCLAIMERS AND NOTICES ----------------------------- This package (consisting of the Sound Dialog Examples software and associated documentation) is Copyright 1992 by Mike Mezaros. All Rights Reserved. It 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; its appropriateness, accuracy, reliability, or currentness. The entire risk as to the use of this package is assumed by the user. In no event will Mike Mezaros or CheckBox Software be liable for any damages, direct, indirect, incidental or consequential, resulting from any defect in the package, even if Mike Mezaros or CheckBox Software has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Any and all use of this package, for any purpose, with no regard to the legality of such use or purpose, is the complete and sole responsibility of the user. All terms are subject to change without notice. This disclaimer shall supersede any verbal or written statement to the contrary. Should any part or parts of this disclaimer be deemed unlawful or unapplicable, the remainder shall continue to apply. If you do not accept these terms, you must cease using this package immediately. This package is offered as "freeware." Freeware is defined as a software package that is copyrighted, and which you may not reverse-engineer or otherwise modify, but which you may use and distribute freely. Vendors approved by the ASP (Association of Shareware Professionals) are granted permission to distribute this package for a fee without prior written permission. All other vendors must contact us for further information. The Microsoft Visual Basic runtime DLL (VBRUN100.DLL) is Copyright 1991 by Microsoft Corp. All Rights Reserved. Stay-On-Top Calculator and StartupSwapper are trademarks of CheckBox Software. Windows and Visual Basic are trademarks of Microsoft Corp. CompuServe is a registered trademark of CompuServe Information Service, Inc. GEnie is a registered trademark of General Electric Corp. Z*Net is a trademark of Rovac Industries, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies. [x]CheckBox Software - 4/20/92 The End