Contents

     Registration

     Overview

     Main Menu

     Getting Started

     System Information Display

       Time and Date Display

       Launch Buttons

       Button Groups

       Windows Exit Button

       Keyboard Controls

     Moving or Copying Buttons Between Groups

       Groups and Applications Lists

Dialog Boxes

       Settings Dialog

       Button Setup Dialog

       Cycled Information Dialog

       Button Groups Dialog


Registration Information

   Please feel free to distribute this Software with others.  All we ask is that if you like and use this

   Software, that you register with us by sending $15.00 along with your Name, Address, Daytime

   Phone(optional),  Media Size (3.5" or 5.25", 1.44kb or 720kb, etc...), and where you found this

   program, to the address below.

   If you are member of compuserve you may wish to include your compuserve address so

   that we may e-mail your information instead of using the postal service.

   After Registering with us you will recieve the latest registered version of Starting Line. As well

   as a uitility to copy all your existing Program Manager groups to Starting Line.  You will also be

   notified of upgrades and their availability.  Also, the registered version does not have the pop-up

   about box.

   Print the Topic Registration Form, Fill in the information and send with your check or money

   order to the address below.

   We welcome your comments and suggestions and can be reached at the following:

                 Paul Traver

                 P.O. Box 998

                 Bishop,  Ca.  93515

                 (619) 873-8754

                 Compuserve CIS: 72144,422

   Thank You For  Registering with us!


Keyboard Controls

     Cntrl + N      Minimizes Starting Line to an Icon

     Cntrl + F       Returns Starting Line to Normal Size

     Cntrl + L       Displays the "Main Menu" and the "Groups and Applications" Listing

     Cntrl + X  or Alt + F4     Exits Starting Line and Windows

     Cntrl + R      Brings up the "Run..." box

     Cntrl + D      Set System Date or Time

     Cntrl + T      Toggles Button Bar on and off

     Cntrl + {UP arrow}         Changes current group to the next group

     Cntrl + {Down arrow}   Changes current group to the previous group

Button Focus

     When any Button has a wide black line around it.  This is the button that currently has the

     focus.   You may use the <Tab> key  to move the focus between the buttons.

     When any Launch Button has the focus.  The following keystrokes will apply.

           <Enter>                Launches the associated application

           <Space>             Brings up the button setup dialog (Button Attributes)

          Alt + <Enter>      Brings up the button setup dialog (Button Attributes)

     When the Exit Button has the focus

            <Return>             Will Exit Windows


Moving or Copying Buttons Between Groups

      From the Main Menu,  move your cursor over the "Groups" button,  and the

      Groups and Applications lists will appear.

      When any group in the "Groups" list is selected, it's applications are listed in the

      "Applications" list.  You may select 1 or more groups in the "Applications" list and then

      Drag and Drop them on the group in the "Groups" list you want them moved to.

      To Copy buttons to another group,  simply repeat the above steps and hold down the

      <Cntrl> key while Draging the applications to the new group.

      Applications may also be launched from here by double clicking on any application listed

      in the "Applications" list, or by clicking the "Run" button.

      You may also view or change any selected application's button attributes by pressing

      <Alt> + <Enter> or <Spacebar>.

      Pressing the <Delete> key will delete any selected group(s) or application(s).


Groups and Applications Lists

     Click on the portion of the form that you require help with.


Run Box - Command Line
Command Line "Run... Box"

You may enter a program path directly into this box and then click "Run" or press <Enter>, to

Launch a particular application.

You may also retrieve a path by clicking the "Browse" button and selecting the Path.


OverView

     Starting Line is meant to be a replacement for program manager.  It was designed primarily,

       to be easily accessible, small on desktop space, yet offer most of what you get with Program

       Manager. If Starting Line is Sized to either 1 or 2 (see Settings Dialog), and set to float on top,

       it will sit very neatly at the upermost portion of the screen and will not interfer with any of your

       applications, other than possibly covering the application's title bar. This gives you imiediate

       access to your shell, regardless of what appilication you ar using.

       Starting Line maintains Button Groups similar to what you are familar with, up to 40 groups in the

       registered version and up to 5 in the unregistered version.  Each group may contain up to 40

       Launch Buttons, although, realisticaly, depending on your screen resolution and button size,

       most groups maximum will average between 12 and 20.  You may set the max allowed per

       group from the Settings Dialog, so that starting line will let you know when you have a

       reached a groups limit.

       Starting Line also includes a group a preconfigured buttons, accessable from the System Apps

       button on the Main Menu.  This group contains buttons for various Apps. such as File Manager,

       Program Manager, Notepad, Paint Brush, Write, etc.   This gives you imiediate access to your

       system should you set up Starting Line as shell.

       The registered version will also include a small utillity program that will copy all of your existing

       Program Manager groups over to Starting Line.

       Starting Line also has a System Information Display.  if you choose to include it on the button bar,

       It will display various bits of information about the system you are using.

       You can also also attatch sounds to various events in Starting Line. (i.e.  Launch an Application)

       And you get a windows exit button with "query before exit" or "exit with no query".  These and

       many other settings and options can be set via the Settings Dialog.


System Applications

     You may use any of these preconfigured buttons to run the application listed on

     the each button, provided the application lies somewhere within the Path line specified

     in your autoexec.bat file.


Using the Main Menu

     To access the main menu simply position the mouse cursor over the Main Arrow button, and the

     menu will drop down.  The menu choises are:

        Settings:              This will take you to the Settings Dialog where you will be able to set various

                                       options and settings to customize Starting Line to your liking.

        System Apps:   This will bring up a group of preconfigured buttons to run various windows

                                       Apps., such as File Manager, Notepad, Program Manager...etc.  For

                                       more help, please see System Applications.

        Run Box:              This brings up a comand line Run Box similar to that of Program Manager's.

        New App.            This brings up the Button Setup Dialog,  so that you may add a new

                                        application launch button to the current group.

        Groups:                This Button actually performs two functions.  Just moving the mousecursor

                                        over the  button will display the Groups and Application list.  From here

                                         you can change groups or drag Applications. from one group to another.

                                        Clicking on this button will bring up the groups dialog where you can Add,

                                        Rename, or Delete groups.

        Help:                     This will bring up the Starting Line help program. (or hit the <F1> key)

        Exit:                        Exit Starting Line without exiting windows.

        Close:                    Will close this menu, as will hitting the <ESC> key, or simply moving the

                                        cursor off the menu.


Gettinfg Started
Getting Started

    Positioning Starting Line on the Desktop

    Using the Main Menu

    Putting buttons on the Bar

    Button Groups

    Using Starting Line as a Windows Shell


Using Starting Line as a Windows Shell

     Starting Line may be used as a replacement windows shell (instead of Program Manager).

     To Accomplish this you will need to change the "shell=" line in your system.ini file.  You may

     use notepad or another suitable text editor to do this.  Always make a backup copy of any .ini

     file before altering it.  This way if you experience problems you may restore the file.

     Change the old "shell=" line to read:

     "shell=c:\startlne\startlne.exe",  (or similar depending on the location of your "startlne.exe" file.)

     Now restart windows and "Starting Line" will be present on your desktop now instead of program

     manager.

     The registered version will also include a small utillity program that will copy all of your existing

     Program Manager groups over to Starting Line.


Positioning Starting Line on the desktop

    You may place Starting Line anywhere on the desktop you like.  Simply drag it by either the

      Exit button or the Information Display Panel and drop it wherever you like. It will remain there

      until moved again.


Registaration Form
                                     Starting Line Registration

Mail To:   Paul Traver

                   P.O. Box 998

                   Bishop,  Ca.    93515

Name:_____________________________________________________________________________

Address1__________________________________________________________________________

Address2__________________________________________________________________________

Address3__________________________________________________________________________

City________________________________________________State:________Zip:_______________

Phone:_____________________________________________

Compuserve Number:_________________________________

Media Size (check one):    5.25________               3.5________                             High Density________

Where did you obtain this software?____________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________


System Information Display Panel
System Information Display

Any of the following information can be displayed on the Information Display Panel, Just

above the System Resources Guage.

              CPU Type(286,386,486)

              Windows Mode(Standard or Enhanced)

              Windows Session Time

              Free Memory(Ram + Virtual Memory)

              Drive A: Type(size)

              Drive B: Type(size)

              Drive C: Free Space (and all other drives up to your lastdrive)

              Windows Version

              DOS Version

You may designate any one of these as the default info. to display. Clcking on the

Information Display Panel will cycle through all of the above, one at a time.

Or you may select any combination of the above which will automatically cycle through

on the display at 2 second intervals.  For info. on how to do this, please see the SettingsDialog.


Time and Date Display
Time and Date

     The Time and Date are shown just above the Information Display Panel.  They are shown

     in the default format that was set in the Settings Dialog. To change the Time or Date

     formatting, you must use the Settings dialog.Clicking on the date or time display will enable

     you to set your system date and/or time.  This can also be done from the Settings dialog.

   Note:  The Time and Date sections are not visible on sizes 1,2, or 3.

                   For more on button sizes see the Settings dialog.


Button Bar

     This refers to the program launch buttons located to the right of the info. panel.  You may

     have up to 40 groups of buttons with each group containing from 0 to 40  buttons, giving you

     a maximum of 1600 possible Launch Buttons.  Each button will launch an application of your

     choosing with either a Single or Double left mouse button click, depending on your specified

     settings.

Adding a Button

     By far the easiest way to add new buttons is to DRAG and DROP, from the File Manager, any

     files you need buttons for and Starting Line will configure the buttons for you automatically.

      Another way to add a button to Starting Line is:  From the Main Menu click on the "New App."

      button, then using the Button Setup Dialog set the button's Program Path, Title, and the

      button's Icon.

      There are 2 ways to set the program path, they are:

                 1. Click the "Get Path..." button to locate the desired path for the button.

                 2. Manualy enter the path from the keyboard into the "Program Path" box.

     Now enter the Application Title in the "Program Name" box.  This is the name that is displayed

     when the cursor is over the Launch Button.

     The Icon you display on the button can come from any file that contains 1 or more icons.  To

     extract an icon for use on a button follow these steps:

                 1. Click on the "Get Icon" button and using the dialog, select the file to extract the icon from.

                 2. If more than one icon is present in the file you may use the "<<" and ">>" buttons to

                     to move to either the next or previous icon in the file.

      Once you are satisfied with the button setup click on the "OK" button to save the settings.

       You may edit these attributes at any time by right clicking on the Launch Button.

       Buttons are always added to the current group.  The current group is the group whose Launch

       Buttons are currently displayed on the button bar.

     There are 3 ways to change the current group

            1.  Using the Group Selection Arrows will change the current group to the next or

                 previous group.

            2.  Cntrl + {UP arrow} and Cntrl + {DOWN arrow} will also move to the next and previous

                 groups, respectivly.

            3.  Another way to change the current group, is to move the mouse

                 over the "Groups" button on the Main Menu. You will see two lists, they are

                Groups and Applications, Selecting a group in the list will display its applications in the other

                list.  Double clicking on a group in the list will make that group the current group.

Removing or Editing a Button

     Clicking on a Launch button with the right mouse button will bring up the Button Setup Dialog,

      Which will allow you to edit the Program Path, Title, and/or Icon.  To see how this is done

      follow the instructions for adding a button using the Button Setup Dialog.

Reordering the Buttons in a group

     You may move the buttons and reposition them on the button bar by draging and dropping

     them in their new position(s).  The buttons will remain in these positions until moved agian.


Button Groups

The Starting Line Launch Buttons are organized in groups similar to that of Program Manager.

You are allowed up to 40 button groups, with each group containing a maximun of 40 buttons.

Note: the maximum number of buttons per group should be limited to the no more than

            what will be visible on your screen.  This will vary according to your screen resolution,

            and the button size you decide to use. If in doubt use 12 for a start, you may change it later.

            The following is only a guide to assist you,  your actual number may vary.

                                   LF = Large Fonts          SM = Small Fonts

Adding Groups

      To add a new group, click on the groups button.  The Groups Dialog will popup.  From

      here click on the "Add Group" button and then enter the name of the new group

      in the edit box.  Click on "OK" when done. (or press <Enter>)

Startup Groups

      Creating a startup group is quite simple.  Any group Name containing the word "start" will

      be considered a startup group, meaning all applications residing in the group will be

      started when windows is started.  Keep this in mind when naming your groups, as it is

      possible to create more than one startup group.

      Examples:   Startup,   Startup Programs,   Apps. to Start,   Starting Group,   etc....

Renaming Groups

      To rename an existing Group, click on the groups button.  The Groups Dialog will popup.

       Now select the group from the list that is to be renamed, and click on the

      "Rename" button, then edit the name in the edit box.  Click on "OK" when done.

      (or press <Enter>)

Deleting Groups

       To Delete an existing Group, click on the groups button.  The Groups Dialog will popup.

      Now select the group from the list that is to be renamed, and click on the

        "Delete" button.  Click on "OK" when done.  (or press <Enter>)

Selection Arrows

The Group Selection Arrows allow you to cycle though all of your button groups, either forward or

backward. (Provided you have more than one group.)

Starting Line will default with one group containing no buttons.  The default name of this group

is "Group 1".   You may change the name of this group using the steps mentioned above.


Windows Quick Exit Button
Windows Exit Button

This allows the user to exit windows without going back to the "Program Manager".  You can set

this button to query you before exitting windows(Default and highly recomended) or it can be set

to instantly shut down windows(no questions asked).  For more Info please see Settings Dialog.

Clicking on the Exit Button with the right mouse button will minimize Starting Line to an icon.

Double clicking the icon will return it to its original state.

You may load any bitmap or icon you like as the picture for the Exit Button. for more on how to do

this, see the Settings Dialog.


Settings Dialog Box
Settings Dialog

Click on the portion of the dialog that you require help with.

This Dialog Box can be accessed from the Main Menu via the "Settings" button.


Button Setup Dialog

Click on the portion of the dialog that you require help with.                    See also Button Bar.

The Button Setup Dialog Box can be accessed in the following ways.

     1. Right Clicking on any Button will bring up the Button Attributes for that Launch Button.

     2. From the Applications List, pressing <Alt>+<Enter> or <Spacebar> will bring up the

         button Attributes for the selected application's button.


Button Groups Dialog box
Button Groups Dialog

Click on the portion of the dialog that you require help with.

This Dialog Box can be accessed from the Main Menu via the "Groups" button.

For more help, please see Button Groups.


Cycled Information Dialog Box
Cycled Information Dialog

     Click on the portion of the dialog that you require help with.

     This dialog box can be accessed From the Settings Dialog by selecting "Cycled      Information"

     from the System Information DropDown List.

     For more help, please see System Information Display.


Show Information Panel

If this box is checked, then the Information Display Panel portion of Starting Line is displayed.  This

is the portion that displays the system date,time, and information.


Show Exit Button                                     See Also:  Windows Exit Button

If this box is checked, then the Windows Exit Button will be displayed on the Starting Line.


Always Float on Top

If this box is checked, Starting Line will be displayed on top of all other forms on your desktop.(Floating)


Sound On

If this box is checked, any ".wav" sound files that have been attatched to any of the designated

actions will be played whenever that particular action has been performed.(A Sound Card or

Sound driver for internal speaker is required.)


Query Before Exit

If this box is checked, when you click the Windows Exit Button, You will be asked, "do you

want to Exit Windows?", before actually exiting windows.  Otherwise windows will not check with

you before exiting.


Animation Frame Interval

If you are using the default animated picture for the Windows Exit Button, this setting will adjust

the speed of the animation, in hundredths of a second.  (i.e. 50 = 1/2 a second).  To turn off the

animation set the frame rate to 0 or null.  If you are using a custom bitmap or icon as the picture

for your button, this setting is ignored.


Launch on Single Click

If checked Applications will Start with a Single mouseclick on the appropriate button.  Otherwise,

they will start with a DoubleClick on the button.


Hide Buttons on Launch

If checked, after a button has been used to start a program, The button portion of Starting Line

will be hidden.  Only the Main Arrow Button, Exit button and/or Info Display sections of launch pad

will be visible, depending on the "Show When Hidden" options you have chosen.

To view the button portion of Starting Line again, simply click on the Main Arrow Button.

Clicking the Main Arrow Button again will hide the buttons.


Show Only the Exit Button

If selected, allows only the Exit and Main Arrow Button to show when the Button bar is  hidden.


Show Exit Button With Status

If selected, allows the Exit button, Main Arrow button, and the Info. Display portion of Starting Line to show when the application buttons are hidden after starting an application.


Display Information

Select the item from the list you would like displayed on the bottom portion of the Info. Display.

If "(Cycle Information)" is chosen from the list the Cycled Information Dialog will appear and

you can choose any number of the items in the list and have them cycle though on the

display at 2 second intervals.  For more Info on how to accomplish this,

please see Cycled Information Dialog.


Action For Sound

Choose the action you would like to attatch a ".wav" sound file to.

If you attatch a sound to any of these actions, and you've checked the "Sound On", then every

time one of these actions takes place, the attatched sound will be played.


Sound Path

Displays the path and filename of any sound attatched to the currently selected action.


Remove Sound

This button will remove any attatched sounds from the currently selected action.


Test Sound

This button will play the sound currently displayed.


Add or Change Sound

Click here to add a sound to the currently selected action.(or to replace the previous sound)


Date Format

Select the format that you would like to have the Date displayed in on the Info.Display portion

of Starting Line


Time Format

Select the format that you would like to have the Time displayed in on the Info.Display portion

of Starting Line.


Setting System Date and Time

This button will allow you set your system date and/or time.


Custom Exit Button Picture (.bmp or .ico)

You may use any bitmap or icon (a filename with the extension ".bmp" or ".ico") picture you like

for the Windows Exit Button.  If the picture is larger or smaller than the button, the picture will be

sized to fit the button.  If to large a picture is used, the results will be poor.  You can use

"paintbrush", which comes with windows, or any other drawing program that can save to ".bmp"

or ".ico" format,  to create your own custom picture.


Default Exit Button Picture

If you were using a custom picture, this button will reset the picture to the original animated design.


Selected Icon

This is the icon you have selected for display on the launch button.


Icon Number

Denotes which icon in the current icon path is being displayed.


Browse for Icons

Allows you select a file from which to extract an icon for display on the launch button.


Move to Previous Icon

If the currently selected file from which you wish to extract an icon contains more than one icon,

this button will change the displayed icon to the previous icon in the selected file.


Move to Next Icon

If the currently selected file from which you wish to extract an icon contains more than one icon,

this button will change the displayed icon to the next icon in the selected file.


Total Icons In File

This line shows you the total number of icons in the currently selected file from which you wish

to ectract an icon.


Icon FileName and Path

This line shows you the path and filename of the file from which the icons are currently being

extracted.  This may or may not be the same path as that of the application for which the button

has been created.


Program Path and FileName

This Displays the current path and filename of the application that is started when this button

is clicked.


Program Title

The program Title is displayed when ever the mouse cursor is over this appliction button.

You may enter anything you like for the program Title.  By default Starting Line will use the

program's filename minus the extension.


 Get Program Path and File

You may select the button's path and filename using this button, rather than entering the

path manually in the "program path" box.  There is also less chance for error this way.

Simpler yet would be drag the program's file from the File Manager and drop it onto Launch

Pad and the new button will be configured for you automatically.


Delete Launch Button

This will remove the currently selected button from the Starting Line.


Move Button to new Group          See Also:  Moving or Copying Buttons Between Groups

Use this button if you wish to move the currently selected button to a different group.


Available Information

This is all the availlable sytem Information.  Click on any item in this list to add it to the other list.


Information to Cycle

All the items listed in this box will be displayed in the Info. Display portion or Starting

Line at 2 second intervals.

Click on any item in this list to remove it from this list.


Add All

This will add all items in the above list to the list below.


Clear

This will clear the bottom list.


System Resources Guage

This is the area of the Display panel that resembles a thermometer.  The red area indicates

the percentage of system resources Used.

The actual percentage of free resources is just above the guage on the right.  This may look

like G-67% or U-73%.   The "G" denotes GDI resources and the "U" denotes USER resources.

Starting Line always shows the lesser of the two.


List of Groups

This is a listing of all your current groups.  Select any group from this list to edit or delete and

then click the appropriate button for the action you wish to perform.

Note:  When a group is deleted, all buttons remaining in that in that group are deleted as well.


Group Name Edit Box

This box is used to enter or edit a group name when adding a group or editing an existing

group name.  All groups must have a Name.  It is best to keep them at about 20 characters

or less.


Add a Group

Click here and enter the new name for the group in the edit box.

The new name will be saved upon your next action.

 Note:  Every group must have a name.


Edit a Group

Click here to edit a group you have selected from the group list.  The name will appear

in the edit box and once there you may alter the name.  The new name will be saved

upon your next action.


Delete a Group

Click here to delete a group you have selected from the group list.  When deleting a group,

any buttons still contained within the group will also be deleted.


Instruction Bars

If checked, turns on Instruction bars.  These appear when the cursor is over certain areas of

Starting Line and tell you what the mouse click will accomplish.


Vertical

If checked, aligns Starting Line vertically as opossed to horizontally.  When vertical, the Information

Display can not be show.


Clock

If checked, puts a clock button at the end of Starting Line, which, when the cursor is over, will

display the current system time and date.  Click on the button to adjust your system

date and/or time.


Button Size

Starting Line offers 5 possible sizes that you may switch between at any time.

The sizes range from 1 to 5, 1 being the smallest and 5 the largest.  (Default is 3)

Button size will affect the number of buttons that can be displayed on your monitor.  For

more information on this, please see Button Groups


Maximum Buttons                                                              See Also:  Button Groups

This is set so that Starting Line will let you know when you have reached the maximum number

of buttons in a particular group and that there are no more buttons available for the group.  This

number can be changed at any time.

If You decrease this setting you will have either move any buttons over the new limit to other

groups or you will have to access the applications from the applications list.

Exmple:  If you have the max set at 20 and you had 20 buttons in a given group and you changed

                  the max to, say, 15.  Then you could not view the last 5 buttons of the group.  Although you

                  you would be able to run and view them from the application's listing.


Colors

Allows you to set the information background color, Information text color, time and date color,

application and group text colors, and application and group background colors.


Run Minimized

If checked, will run this program as an icon on the desktop when the application's button is clicked.


The Various Parts Of Starting Line


Group List

     This list displays all of your Starting Line groups.  Any group that is selected from this list,

     displays all the applications contained within the group, in the Application List.

     Pressing the <Delete> key will delete the selected group(s).  To select more than one

     group, hold down the <Ctrl> key while selecting the groups.

     Use the "Make Current" button to make the selected group the current group. Double

     clicking on any group in the list will accomplish the same task.  The current group is the

     group whose buttons are currently displayed on the button bar portion of Starting Line.


Application List

     This List displays all the applications contained within the selected group, in the Group List.

     Pressing the <Delete> key will delete the selected application(s).  To select more than one

     application, hold down the <Ctrl> key while selecting the applications.

     You may Move any selected application(s) to any other group by dragging one of

     the selected applications to the appropriate group in the Group list.  To Copy an application

     to another group, hold down the <Ctrl> key while dragging the application(s).

   Use the "Run" button to launch any selected application in this list.  Double clicking on any

    application in the list will accomplish the same task.

     Pressing <Alt> + <Enter> will display the Button Setup Dialog for the selected application,

     as will pressing the <Spacebar>.


Selected = Current

     If marked, every time you select a new group from the list this group becomes the current

     group.  The current group is the group whose buttons are currently displayed on the button

     bar portion of Starting Line.


Make Current

     Makes the selected group in the list the current group.  The current group is the

     group whose buttons are currently displayed on the button bar portion of Starting Line.


Flip

     Reverses the positions of the Groups List and the Applications List.


Run

     Launches the currently selected application in the Application List.  Double clicking on any

     application in the list will accomplish the same task.


Main Menu Section

     For more information on this, please see Main Menu.