Contents

Welcome to FUTIL 4.0!  To get help on an item, click the underlined text.  For help on Help press F1.

What is FUTIL

How to Install FUTIL

How to use FUTIL

How to use FHOOK

Programs Included with FUTIL

Tutorial

How To Register

Legal Info


What is FUTIL?

FUTIL is a program for Microsoft Windows that allows the easy launching of applications.  Applications may be launched in three distinct ways:

-	Right clicking or middle clicking on either the system menu or the caption bar of the currently active application.
-	Pressing a user definable hot key combination.  These hot key combinations are much more flexible that the hot keys that Program Manager allows in that any combination of CTRL, ALT and SHIFT may be used instead of CTRL+ALT+x and CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+x combinations.  In addition to this, applications may be launched whether or not Program Manager has the focus, and if desired, more that one application may be launched.
-	Through the FUTIL menu.  This menu may be activated two ways. The first way is to find it under the system menu and select the application that you wish to launch.  The second way is to hit a user definable hot key combination that directly brings up this menu and then select the application to be launched in a manner identical to the first way.
Other features of FUTIL include:

-	As an option when launching an application, FUTIL can prompt you for command line information, and suggest default prompts.
-	Icons other that the normal default icon can be displayed in the FUTIL menu, which makes recognizing the application you wish to launch a snap.  In addition to this, the hot-key combination required to activate the program is also placed in the menu, which makes it easy to look up a hot key if you forget it.
-	DOS applications can be set to run with any icon, description and working directory that you want.
-	Several utility applications are included that make using Windows easy.
-	Drag and drop from File Manager is supported.
-	When launching an application, its main window may be set to normal, minimized, maximized, or a custom position that is captured by pressing a hot key while the application is actually running!  This means that you do not have to enter meaningless numbers in an attempt to place your window where you want it.
-	When an action is taken to launch an application, options are available to simply bring it to the front if it is already running through FUTIL, or to scan all running programs looking for the one you want without launching a second copy.
-	FUTIL does not hog any valuable screen space.  It is totaly invisible except when you are using it.
-	Place any program in an "Always on Top" mode.
-	Extract any or all Program Manager information in one simple step so that you do not have to do it manually!


How to Install FUTIL

Here are the steps that are necessary to install FUTIL:

-	Create a directory for FUTIL, or you may simply use the Windows directory
-	Copy all FUTIL files to this directory.
-	Edit the WIN.INI file and under the [Windows] section, modify or add run= or load= so one of them has the name FHOOK.EXE. If you used a directory other that the Windows directory, it is important that you specify it in addition to the name.  For example, if you created a directory called FUTIL, the line might appear run=C:\FUTIL\FHOOK.EXE. If either run= or load= already has something after the =, additional items may be added by separating them with a comma.  If editing the WIN.INI file does not appeal to you, you may add FHOOK.EXE to your startup group in Program Manager.
-	If you are running Windows, restart it now, otherwise start it.
-	If you are running the shareware version of FUTIL, a window will appear when you first start it.
-	Create a Program Manager group called FUTIL.  It is also OK to use any name you wish, or to use an already present group.
-	To the group you chose, add FUTIL.EXE.  An icon depicting a pair of keys over a flame should appear.
-	To the same group, add FUTIL.HLP (this file).
-	FUTIL is now installed.  See the "How to Use FUTIL" section for further information.


How to use FUTIL

The adding, deleting and modification of applications as well as the setup of FUTIL in general are done through the FUTIL.EXE program.  When you run FUTIL.EXE, the following window will appear.

The buttons at the top, New, Delete, Modify, Order, Done, Help, About, Extract PM Info, and Help Contents are each discussed in their own section.

There are two groups titled "Right Mouse Button" and "Middle Mouse Button".  The two combo boxes "System Menu App" and "Title Bar App" in each group assign an application to the appropriate object, either the system menu or the title bar.  When this object is right or middle clicked on, the application will be launched in a manner identical to that of using a hot key.  Note that for an application to appear in these combo boxes, one has to be added using the "New" or "Extract PM Info" function.

Important Note:  Not all mouse drivers support the middle mouse button.  If you are unable to launch an application by clicking with the middle mouse button, you have to either find a mouse driver that supports the middle button or simply do not use the middle button to launch applications.

The group titled "Popup Menu" contains controls that affect how the FUTIL menu appears and behaves.  The controls are discussed below:

Hot key, Ctrl, Alt and Shift	These controls determine the hotkey that is used to activate the FUTIL menu.
Display Initially	If this box is checked, the FUTIL menu will appear as soon as Windows is run.
Use Icons in Menu	If this box is checked, icons will be used in the menu.
Display Name and Hotkey	If this box is checked, both the application description and the hot key combination will appear in the menu.  If this box is not checked, only the icons will be visible.  Obviously, the box is only applicable when the "Use Icons in Menu" box is checked.

The group titled "Size and Position Capture" defines a hot key to be used for capturing the size of a window.

If a applications file from File Manager is dropped onto this window, the "New Application" window will appear with the Description, Executable name and Directory filled in.

See Also

New Application

Delete Application

Modify Application

Order of Applications

Extracting Program Manager Information

How to use FHOOK


Programs Included with FUTIL

FUTIL includes several utility applications that enhance the Windows enviroment.  These applications are:

SSAVE.EXE	This application activates your current screen saver.  If you do not have a screen saver, one may still be activated if you place the appropriate *.SCR file on the command line of SSAVE.EXE
EXITWIN.EXE	This application will close Windows for you with out the need to go through Program Manager.  Any application that has unsaved files will first ask if you wish to save the files.
CLOSEALL.EXE	This application, despite its name, will minimize (iconize) all active windows.
RESTART.EXE	This application is the same as EXITWIN.EXE except that it will restart Windows.  This is especially useful for programmers who find memory and resources getting eaten up by bugs in their programs.
FCONFIG.EXE	By activating this application ontop of another application, FUTIL will open FUTIL.EXE so that the application may be added as a new application, or if it already is known to FUTIL, so that its settings may be edited.  This application is only included for registered users of FUTIL.
FUNLOAD.EXE	This application unloads FHOOK.EXE.  This is useful for programs that you know FUTIL has a problem with or visa-versa. !!WARNING!! Do not attempt to launch this application using FUTIL!  Use Program Manager instead.  Failure to do so will result in a crash of variable severity.


How to Register

You may evaluate this program for a 15 day period, at the end of which if you decide that you wish to keep this program, you must register it for $19.95 + $3 S&H.  By registering this program,  you will receive a copy of the program without the initial sign-on message, and you become eligible for free technical support and upgrades for $5+$3 S&H.  As an incentive to register, you will get FCONFIG.EXE a program that allows you modify your FUTIL Application settings (such as hotkey, always on top, prompts and so on) with the press of a hotkey.  It saves you from having to open FUTIL and do it manually!  As well, it allows you to add new items to FUTIL by hitting the same hotkey!  On top of all of this, the registered version is about 5% lighter on system resources.  Also, if you register you will support the shareware concept, proving that you are a person who believes that good software can be distributed in this manner.

Send all Cheques or Money Orders to:

Fred Bulback

594 McCurdy Road

Kelowna, B.C.

Canada

V1X 2P5

Send all correspondence to the above address, or Fax it to 1-604-427-3564, attention Fred Bulback. All responses will be done via mail, or at your request, a collect-phone call.  Registered users will receive a phone number which the can call for technical support.

Help!

Even though this program has been thoroughly tested by myself and my colleagues and is in current use by us,  there may still be some undiscovered bugs.  I would very much appreciate hearing about these.  Also, I am always open to new ideas and suggestions. Any such idea that is implemented into the program by myself entitles the inventor to a free registered copy.


Legal Info

-	This product is shareware.
-	FUTIL refers to the 9 programs, 1 dynamic link library and 1 help file: FUTIL.EXE, FHOOK.EXE,  SSAVE.EXE, WINEXIT.EXE, RESTART.EXE, CLOSEALL.EXE, FUNLOAD.EXE, FCONFIG.EXE, FUTOOLS.DLL, and FUTIL.HLP.
-	FCONFIG.EXE may not be distributed in any form except by the author.  It is provided only to registered users.
-	The posting of FUTIL on a bullitin board or an online service is permitted as long as all components are included unmodified, and no charge beyond the mothly/yearly service charge of the board or service is made.
-	FUTIL may not be modified or disassembled in any manner.
-	FUTIL may not be distributed commercially, without the author's written consent.
-	FUTIL may not be included as part of any software package without the author's written consent.
-	Unregistered versions of FUTIL may not be used beyond a 15 day period.
-	FUTIL is Copyright 1992-1994, Fred Bulback.
-	Registered owners of FUTIL are allowed to make one backup copy.
-	Registered owners of FUTIL may use FUTIL on any number of computers they want as long as they either own the computer(s) or are the sole user of the computer(s).  If the ownership of a computer(s) with a registered copy of FUTIL is transfered in any way, all copies of FUTIL MUST be erased off of any media included with the computer.
-	A registered owner of FUTIL may transfer ownership to another individual providing no backup copies are kept in his/her possesion, and all copies are erased off of any media fixed, removable or otherwise in the possesion of the registered owner.

Disclaimer

-	I assume no responsibility for any damage or loss of data that may result due to the use or misuse of any of the programs included in this package.
-	All software programs cited are copyright of their respective company.


New Application

If the "New" button is clicked in the main window, the following dialog box will appear:

There are four edit boxes titled "Description", "Executable", "Command line", and "Directory" their functions are as follows:

Description	This is the description of the application.  It may be anything that you find appropriate to describe the application.  This description appears several places in this program, and in the FUTIL menu if the "Display Name and Hot Key" box in the main window is checked.
Executable	This is a full path to the executable file that you wish to launch.  For example:  c:\windows\write.exe.  Note that this name does not have to be only an executable file, it can be any program that has an executable file associated with it.  For example, *.wri files are associated with write.exe, so placing readme.wri as the executable would launch Write and open readme.wri
Command Line	This contains information that is to be passed to the launching program.  Many programs like Notepad and Write accept command line entries to indicate a file that you wish to see.  For example, if your executable name was notepad.exe and your command line was mlist.txt, the text file mlist.txt would be opened when you launch this application.  Macros may be inserted on the command line in the form %x where x is a number from 1-9.  If such a macro is used, the "Prompts" button at the right side of this window will become enabled and prompts and their default values may be entered.  When launching a program, the user will prompted to enter an appropriate text entry which will replace the %x.
Directory	This is the directory that an applications programs and documents are located.  Most Windows programs with ignore this setting.  It is however useful for DOS programs in that their starting directory can be set this way.

There is also a combo box titled "Hot key" and some check boxes titled "Ctrl", "Alt" and "Shift".  Use these controls to set the hot key you wish to use, if any, to launch the application.

Also present is a group box titled "Options".  Its controls function as follows:

Launch Only One	If this check box is checked, only one instance of the application will be launched.  Attempts to launch an application will result in it being brought to the front.  Note that this check box has no effect if the "Scan for Previous Active" check box is checked.
Scan for Previous Active	If this item is checked, FUTIL will search through all running applications to see if one of them matches the application you wish to run.  If a match is found, it is brought to the front.  If a match cannot be found, the application is launched normally.
Restore if Icon	If the applications is active and an icon, and you attempt to bring it to the front by pressing either a hot key, using the menu, or the right clicking approach, it will be restored from the icon state to its normal size if this box is checked.  Otherwise, is simply appears at front as an icon.
Always on Top	Some programs are more convienent if they are always at the front of the screen where you can see them.  By checking this box, an application will be launched in this manner.
In Menu	By checking this box, an application will appear in the FUTIL menu.  If this box is unchecked, that application can still be launched by using a hot key or the right click approach.
Iconize if Topmost	If the application is currently active, and you press its hot key combination, select it from the FUTIL menu or use the right click approach, it will be reduced to an icon, but still remain active.
Normal, Minimized, Maximized, Custom	These radio buttons determine how the application is to appear when first launched.  Normal, Minimized and Maximized launch the application in the appropriate state.  Note that not all applications can be minimized or maximized, but FUTIL will do it anyhow, so you may see some strange but non harmful (in theory) results.  Custom allows the application to have a custom size and position anywhere on the screen.  Its position and size are saved when the "Size and Position Capture" hot key is pressed.  See "How to Use FUTIL" for further details.

At the right side of this dialog are several buttons whose descriptions follow:

OK	Accepts all information in the dialog box and returns to the main window.
Cancel	Discards all information in the dialog box and returns to the main window.
Browse	Searches through drives and directories for applications to add to FUTIL.  See "Browsing Applications" for more details.
Search for Apps	Creates a list of file descriptions by extracting the description header from all executable files on all fixed disks on your system.  See "Searching for Applications" for further details.
Prompts	Allows the editing of descriptions and default values to be used for command line prompts.  See "Entering Command Line Prompts" for more details.
Modify Icon	This allows the selection of an icon for the application.  See "Selecting an Icon" for more information.

Note that this dialog box accepts drag and drop from File Manager.

See Also

How to Use FUTIL

Delete Application

Modify Application

Order of Applications

Browsing Applications

Searching for Applications

Entering Command Line Prompts

Selecting an Icon


Delete Application

If the "Delete" button is clicked in the main window, the following dialog box will appear:

Choose the application that you wish to delete from the list box and press OK.

See Also

How to Use FUTIL

New Application

Modify Application

Order of Applications


Modify Application

If the "Modify" button is clicked in the main window, the following dialog box will appear:

Select the application that you wish to modify and press OK.

See Also

How to Use FUTIL

New Application

Delete Application

Order of Applications


Order of Applications

If the "Order" button is clicked in the main window, the following dialog box will appear:

This dialog box allows you to reorder application names of the FUTIL menu.  To move one name to another location, select the name you want and then click on the >> button.  The space under "Current" will reflect your choice. At the end of the list, will appear the text **Blank**, which indicates that there is an item missing from the list.  To move the item back into the list, select an item from the list where you want it to appear before, and click the << button.  Items that do not actually appear in the menu have the text "**Not in Menu**" beside them, and the the order of them does not matter because they are not actually visible in the FUTIL menu.

See Also

How to Use FUTIL

New Application

Delete Application

Modify Application


Done

Clicking on this button closes FUTIL.


Browsing Applications

If the "Browse" button of the "Application" dialog box is clicked, the following dialog box will appear:

This is a standard Windows dialog box.  From within it you may search any drive or directory you wish for any program you wish.  When you have found the program you want, click on OK.  Information based upon your selection will be entered into the "Application" dialog box.


Searching for Applications

If the "Search for Apps" button of the "Application" dialog box is clicked, the following dialog box will appear:

Sometimes users not experienced with DOS are at a loss in how to navigate directories and change drives.  For these users the "Searching for Applications" dialog box can be an invaluable tool.  If will search all fixed drives looking for any extenstion or extensions that you specify and provide a two lists of file descriptions.  Select whichever file description you feel suitably describes the application.  More that one extension may be searched for at a time by separating each with a space.  The default extension is EXE.

Once you have found the application you want, click on the OK button.  The "Application" dialog box will be filled in with information appropriate to the selection you have made.


Entering Command Line Prompts

If the "Prompts" button of the "Application" dialog box is clicked, the following dialog box will appear:

Under the title "Prompt" enter the prompt you wish to see when FUTIL encounters the %x (x is 1-9) symbol at the left.  Under the "Default" title enter the value to default to.


Selecting an Icon

If the "Icon" button of the "Application" dialog box is clicked, the following dialog box will appear:

To select an icon for your applications, make a selection from the list.  To use a different file click on the "Browse" button and select a file which you wish to use an icon from.  Click on the "Original" button if you want to restore the icon to the icon specific to the application.    A standard DLL full of icons that ships with Windows is MORICONS.DLL.  PROGMAN.EXE also contains several icons.  Adding an icon to you application has the most benifit when that application is a DOS.  This is because you can select an icon which is appropriate for the application.


How to use FHOOK

FHOOK.EXE is the heart of FUTIL.  It is a device driver that hooks into various aspects of Windows to allow events such as hot key presses to be detected and acted upon.  Once FHOOK.EXE is run, all the settings of made using FUTIL.EXE are implemented into a totaly transparent interface.

The only visible portion of FHOOK is the FUTIL menu.  This menu is activated in two ways, pressing the popup menu hot key, which is set using the FUTIL.EXE program, or by accessing the menu via the system menu. The FUTIL menu has two different ways of being displayed, text only, and icons with or without text.  The text mode menu shows a list of applications, their hotkeys, and if the program is running, a star is drawn at the left side of the description.  At the top of the menu is an item to toggle whether or not the current window always on top.  The icon view menu shows the icons for each application, in addition to the description and hot key combination.  If an application on the menu is running, the word "RUN" appears to the left of the icon.  At the top of the menu is an icon to toggle always on top mode.  Note that through a setting in the FUTIL.EXE program, it is possible to display only icons in the menu without any of the text.

FHOOK.EXE also allows two applications to be launched by right clicking on the system menu or the title bar of the currently active application.  This is very useful for frequently used applications such as calculator or notepad.


Tutorial

Here is a simple tutorial to familarize you with FUTIL.  This tutorial assumes that FUTIL is installed, FHOOK.EXE is running, and FUTIL.EXE has an associated icon.  If one or more of these has not been done, please read the "How to Install FUTIL" section.

-	Run FUTIL.EXE by clicking on its icon.  The FUTIL setup window will appear.
-	Click on "New".
-	In the "Description" box type "Write for Windows".
-	In the "Executable" box type "write.exe".
-	In the "Hot Key" box type "W".
-	Check the "Ctrl" and "Alt" boxes.
-	Click on "OK".  The dialog box should close, and the main window should get the focus.
-	Click on "Done".
-	Press the key combination Ctrl+Alt+W, ensuring to press "Ctrl" and "Alt" either at the same time or before pressing the "W".  Write for Windows should become active, or if it was already running, it should be brought to the front.
-	Rerun FUTIL.EXE
-	In the combo box titled "System Menu App" find "Write"
-	Click on "Done".
-	Go to any window other than Write (if it is still open) and right click on the system menu.  Write for Windows should become active, or if it was already running, it should be get the focus.
-	Rerun FUTIL.EXE
-	Under the "Popup Menu" section change the hot key to Alt+Down Arrow.  "Down Arrow" may either be typed in or selected by opening the combo box and finding it.  "Alt" is specified by checking the "Alt" box.  Make sure that the "Ctrl" and "Shift" boxes are unchecked.
-	Once again, click on "Done"
-	Press the "Alt+Down Arrow" key combination.  The FUTIL menu should appear in the upper right corner of your window.  From this menu you can launch an application in an identical manner as pressing a hot key.  Press the escape key.  The menu should go away.
-	Look under the currently active windows system menu.  There should be the entry "FUTIL".  Look under this entry.  You should see the identical menu as in the previous step.  Close the menu.
-	You have just completed the tutorial!  You now know all that you need to know for enhancing windows with FUTIL, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.  For a greater understanding of the various aspects of FUTIL please see the "See Also" section below.
See Also

How to Use FUTIL

Extracting Program Manager Information

How to Use FHOOK

New Application

Browsing Applications

Searching for Applications

Entering Command Line Prompts

Selecting an Icon

Delete Application

Modify Application

Order of Applications


Extracting Program Manager Information

If the "Extract PM Info" button is clicked in the main window, the following dialog box will appear:

This dialog box makes it possible to extract information from Program Manager groups.  In the list box is a list of all applications that Program Manager knows about.  In the left most column there will appear the words "Hot Key" if the given item has a hot key associated with it.  By clicking on the button marked "Select all Hot Key Items", every item in the list that has an associated hot key will become selected.  The selection state of individual items may be toggled on and off simply by clicking on them.  When you are satisfied with your selections, click on OK.  When you do this, all the items you selected, along with all known information about them will be transfered to FUTIL as new applications.


Selecting a Description

When an application is dropped onto FUTIL, browsed, or selected with the FCONFIG.EXE utility, and there is more than one available description, the following dialog box will appear:

Simply select the description that you wish to use and click on OK.