Copyright: Copyright© 1993, 1994 Zane Rathwick


Contents
 ToolQube Table of Contents

The following Help Topics are available:

About ToolQube

Installing ToolQube

Setting Up ToolQube

Keystroke Table

Running ToolQube

Troubleshooting

Purchasing ToolQube

For Help on Help, Press F1


About ToolQube
 About ToolQube 3.0

ToolQube lets you create floating toolbars for all of your Windows applications which link seamlessly with your programs.  These toolbars give you unprecedented control over your Windows applications, from sending keystrokes to launching other applications.

ToolQube Features

Launch programs from within any Windows Application

Send keystrokes to your application with the click of a button

"Stack" multiple commands on a single button

Create toolbars with as many buttons as you need

Control button size and graphics

Unique "Roll-Up" feature takes ToolQube out of the way


 Rolling-Up a ToolQube

If you need to temporarily move a ToolQube out of your way, just click on the UP arrow in the upper right-hand corner, and the ToolQube will "Roll-Up" out of your way.  To return the ToolQube back to it's normal size, click on this arrow again (now pointing down).


 Installing ToolQube

ToolQube was written with Visual Basic 3.0, and as such, it requires the file VBRUN300.DLL to be in your Windows directory.  If you don't have this file, look for it where you found this Program.

Unzip the file TOOLQB30.ZIP into its own directory.  This will create the ToolQube executable files as well as over a hundred button images, and some control files.  Move the files THREED.VBX and TOOLQUBE.INI into your Windows directory.


 Setting Up ToolQube

Setting the Size of a ToolQube

Attaching a ToolQube to your Application

Adding Pictures

Assigning Commands

Rearranging Buttons

Selecting a Pre-Configured ToolQube

Deleting a Pre-Configured ToolQube


 Setting the Size of a ToolQube

Right-click with your mouse on ToolQube to see the ToolQube menu and select the Resize menu item.  This will bring up the following Resize Window:

Set the number of columns and rows desired (remember: this can be changed later), then click Enter, or click Cancel if you change your mind.


 Attaching a ToolQube to your Application

Right-click with your mouse on ToolQube to see the ToolQube menu and select the Attach menu item.  You will be reminded to click the title bar of the program that you are creating a ToolQube for.  Click OK, then (while your mouse cursor is a crosshair) click on the correct title bar.  This is a very important step; you must click on the title bar of the application, or the ToolQube you create may not work properly.

This step must be done before you do anything else.


Adding Pictures
 Adding Pictures to ToolQube's Buttons

Adding pictures to ToolQube's buttons is a snap with its drag-n-drop interface.  Simply select Picture from ToolQube's menu to activate the following Window:

Select the drive and directory in which your pictures are located (several are included with ToolQube), then click on the name of the file to view it, then drag either the name of the file or the picture of the file onto the correct button of your ToolQube.  Repeat this as many times as necessary.

When you are finished, click OK to return to ToolQube.


ToolQube Menu

Right-Click you mouse over any ToolQube button to activate the menu


Assigning Commands
 Assigning Commands to ToolQube's Buttons

Select Commands from ToolQube's menu  to activate the following window:

Important:

This command will attach code to the button your mouse was over when you brought up ToolQube's menu , i.e. if your mouse was over ToolQube button one when you right-clicked, the code you enter in the code window will be for button one.

Enter the keystrokes of command you want to attach to this button in the text box provided.  The pictured code window will send two stacked commands; ALT-F,O for the file/open dialog box, then it will enter the filename C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT, then press ENTER.

Some keys (Alt, Ctrl, Enter, etc.) have no visible characters, so they are represented with codes:  %=Alt, ^=Ctrl, {ENTER}=Enter, etc.  Don't worry about memorizing all of these codes, because the most common ones are pre-coded; just press the key and the correct code will be entered for you.

Once you have entered your commands, click on Temporary to make these changes only valid for this session of ToolQube, Permanent to save these changes, or Cancel to change your mind.

Refer to the keystroke table for a complete list of available commands.


 Selecting a Pre-Configured ToolQube

Click on the ToolQube icon and select Launch Application.  The following window will pop-up:

Select an item from this list and click OK to launch it.  The program will run, and the appropriate ToolQube will load with it.


 Deleting a Pre-Configured ToolQube

Click on the ToolQube icon and select Launch Application.  The following window will pop-up:

Select an item from this list and click Delete to delete it.  The program name will be removed from the list, and ToolQube will no longer load a toolbar for this application.


Keystroke Table
 ToolQube Keystroke Table

The following is a list of special key commands that ToolQube understands  These should cover just about any commands you could think of:

Key	Code	Key	Code

Backspace	{BACKSPACE} or {BS} or {BKSP}	Break	{BREAK}

Caps Lock	{CAPSLOCK}	Clear	{CLEAR}

Del	{DELETE} or {DEL}	Down Arrow	{DOWN}

End	{END}	Enter	{ENTER} or ~

Esc	{ESCAPE} or {ESC}	Help	{HELP}

Home	{HOME}	Ins	{INSERT}

Left Arrow	{LEFT}	Num Lock	{NUMLOCK}

Page Down	{PGDN}	Page Up	{PGUP}

Print Screen	{PRTSC}	Right Arrow	{RIGHT}

Scroll Lock	{SCROLLLOCK}	Tab	{TAB}

Up Arrow	{UP}	F1	{F1}

F2	{F2}	F3	{F3}

F4	{F4}	F5	{F5}

F6	{F6}	F7	{F7}

F8	{F8}	F9	{F9}

F10	{F10}	F11	{F11}

F12	{F12}	F13	{F13}

F14	{F14}	F15	{F15}

F16	{F16}

To specify keys combined with any combination of Shift, Ctrl, and Alt keys,

precede the regular key code with one or more of the following codes:

Key	Code

Shift	+

Control	^

Alt	%

Special Commands

Stacking Commands


Special Commands

In addition to sending keystrokes to your applications, ToolQube offers these special commands:

RUN	The correct syntax for this command is RUN filename, where filename is the full path of the program you want to run.

example:  RUN C:\WINDOWS\NOTEPAD.EXE C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT

(this will run Window's notepad and load autoexec.bat into it)

PAUSE	The correct syntax is PAUSE milliseconds, where milliseconds is the time (in thousandths of a second) you want to pause.  This is useful when you need to allow time for some operation to complete, like opening a file.

example:  PAUSE 5000

(this will pause 5 seconds)

DATE	The syntax for this command is DATE.  This will insert the current date into your document at the cursor point with the format December 31, 1999.

To use these commands, simply type them into the code window just as you would any other commands.  These commands may also be Stacked.  See the keystroke table for more information on other available codes.

Note:  These special commands need to be entered in all caps in order to work properly.


Stacking Commands

ToolQube can send commands to your programs faster than Windows can process them.  This is especially true when you are calling up dialog boxes or opening files.  Because of this, ToolQube allows you to stack commands, that is, enter more than one set of keystrokes per button.  This causes ToolQube to make sure the last set of keystrokes was processed before initiating the next set.

For example:

Suppose you regularly open DAT files located in the directory C:\DOCUMENTS\TEXT with notepad.  Normally, you would select File then Open from the menu, then change to the correct directory, then type in *.DAT then press ENTER, then select the correct file to open.  The command in ToolQube to do all of this would be:

%FOC:\DOCUMENTS\TEXT\*.DAT{ENTER}

Unfortunately, immediately after the first "O", notepad loads the Open dialog and misses some or all of the remaining keystrokes.  This is where stacking comes in.  To stack commands, separate them with a "|" (shift+backslash) character, then end the command with the same character, as follows:

%FO|C:\DOCUMENTS\TEXT\*.DAT{ENTER}|

This will cause ToolQube to wait after the first "O" until the Open dialog is up, then continue sending the next command.  You may stack as many commands onto a single button as you wish.

See the keystroke table for more information on other available codes.


Dragging Buttons
 Re-Arranging Buttons

If, after building a ToolQube, you decide to rearrange the buttons in a different order, you may do so easily.

Just click and hold your left mouse button on one of the buttons you wish to move, and wait for the cursor to change to the drag arrow.  Now, drag the button on top of the button you want to trade places with and let go of the button.  ToolQube will swap the pictures and code for these two buttons.  Repeat as necessary.


 Running ToolQube

Once ToolQube is launched, and configured, it pretty much runs itself.  Each toolbar does have its own menu, however.  These menu items are listed below.

ToolQube Menu Commands:

Attach

Resize

Commands

Pictures

Button Size

Rolling Up a ToolQube


Changing the Button Sizes

Select Button Size from ToolQube's menu and you will be given three choices; small, medium, and large.

The small button is the default size, medium is just a little larger, and large is icon-sized.  The respective sizes are shown below only for comparison, as the size will vary depending on your screen resolution.

 Small

 Medium

 Large


 Troubleshooting

ToolQube has been thoroughly tested, and should perform properly on your system.  If, however, you find this not to be the case, or you have questions regarding this software, please contact me.

I can be reached on America On-Line for further help under the screen name ZaneR, or by Internet as ZaneR@aol.com.

*Note:  At least one program (Fox Pro for Windows), because of the way it loads itself, will not work with ToolQube.


Purchasing ToolQube

You have a thirty-day trial evaluation copy of ToolQube.  After thirty days, you should either purchase ToolQube or delete it from your hard drive.  After your evaluation period, ToolQube will cease to work until you purchase it.  When you purchase ToolQube, you will get a software key that restores the ToolQubes you have saved.

If you decide to purchase ToolQube, please fill out the enclosed order form and send it along with $19.95 (+$2 S&H) to the address below.

Zane Rathwick

6029 Machado Way

Sacramento, CA 95822

Please specify where you found this program.


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The Indigo BBS is the home of Indigo software.  You may purchase any of Indigo Software's products on-line with your major credit card, or browse our software libraries devoted to Windows games, utilities, and programming.

Registered users may download the latest upgrades, and technical support is available to everyone.

This service is not yet available.

Specifications:

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Indigo Software
About Indigo Software

Indigo software is dedicated to bringing you high quality Windows games and utilities at a low price.  Please feel free to send your comments and suggestions to:

Indigo Software

Attn.: Zane Rathwick

6920 Machado Way

Sacramento, CA 95822

BBS: (916)-682-2294