Copyright: Copyright © 1994-1995, Frédéric THOMAS
Citation: Copyright © 1994-1995, Frédéric THOMAS


Contents
 Watcher - Contents

What's new in version 2.00

What is Watcher

How to register

About Watcher

Watcher's main window

Watcher's menu options

Watcher's configuration dialog box

Watcher's tool dialog box

Watcher's arguments dialog box

Watcher's Tools menu

Watcher's CD functions

Watcher, Refresh and mouse clicks

Watcher's future

Watcher, Windows 95 (Chicago) and Windows NT


What is Watcher
 What is Watcher ?

Watcher is a utility which is able to display the current available resources (Memory, GDI and USER), date and time, using different formats. This is very common though, but Watcher is also able to play you CD Audio, and will have more capabilities soon (see Watcher's future for more informations).


How to register
 How to register Watcher ?

Watcher 2.00 is a Shareware, which means that if you use it, you must register. I could have put some extra code to check for registration, display funny messages after a certain amount of time spent using Watcher, etc., but, in order to keep it as tiny as possible, I didn't. So, I really hope that people will be fair enough to register it.

If you want to register, please send me $6 (US dollars) or 30FF (french francs) at the following address:

Frédéric THOMAS

15, place des Impressionnistes

92500 RUEIL-MALMAISON

FRANCE

I also accept new ideas, comments, advices etc. If you like it, tell me, if you don't, tell me also !!!


 About Watcher

Watcher was born in 1994, and released on CompuServe.

This version (1.13 for the latest) was the first draft of this program, and because I received mails, advices, wishes, requests from users and friends, I decided to make another version, much more convenient to use, with a lot of options to suit everybody's needs.

So, Watcher was completly rewritten to increase it's usability and grew a little bit in size, even if I did my best to optimize the code for size. In "normal" mode Watcher 2.00 will use about 40-50Kb of memory (40Kb for Watcher 1.13). Watcher was written entierely with Borland C++ 4.02, and the Windows SDK (to keep it as tiny as possible) and has about 3,000 lines of code and 15Kb of discardable resources.

Remember that Watcher 2.00 is a Shareware, which means that if you use it, you must register by sending me $6 (USD) or 30FF (French Francs). See How to register for more informations.

Here are the credits for Watcher 2.00:

PROGRAMMER AND DESIGNER:

Frédéric Thomas

ADDITIONNAL IDEAS:

Brian Kayser

Edmond Zémantélian

Emmanuel Thioux

Jean-Pierre Thomas

Pascal Menoud

Robert Lasher

Xavier Dufaure de Citres

BETA-TEST:

Jean-Denis Munos

Jean-Pierre Thomas

Xavier Dufaure de Citres

GREETINGS GO TO:

Bernard Brugière

Dominique Fernandez

Edmond Zémantélian

Eric Stéfani

Gareth Bowles

Glynne Davis

Hideyuki Inada

Luc Puyfoulhoux

Martin Frid-Nielsen

Paul Johnson

Robert and Patricia Chevallier


 Watcher, Windows 95 (Chicago) and Windows NT

You wonder if Watcher is compatible with Microsoft's new Operating Systems ? Yes and No ! Watcher should be fully compatible with Windows 95 (as far as I can see), but Watcher will display wrong informations about GDI and USER percentages if used under NT. Otherwise, Watcher should run fine. If you encounter any problems under those two Operating Systems, let me know.


Watcher main window
 Watcher's main window

The Watcher main window displays several informations:

Click anywhere to have help on a particular option display.

See Watcher's configuration dialog box to know how to enable or disable each display.

Available memory:

This number represents the number of kilobytes (1024 bytes) that are available for your applications to run. This include also the Windows SwapFile if it exists, and is not necessary equal to the memory you installed on your motherboard (it's larger or equal).

Free GDI percentage:

This is the percentage of free GDI available for your applications to run. GDI, because it's limited under Windows, is a very valuable "kind of memory". Every application uses GDI, and some don't free it correctly, resulting in crashes for other apps. Watcher can warn you if GDI goes below a certain amount (see Watcher's configuration dialog box for more informations).

Free USER percentage:

This is the percentage of free USER available for your applications to run. USER is less important than GDI and you shouldn't have problem with it. Watcher can also warn you if USER goes below a certain amount (see Watcher's configuration dialog box for more informations).

Current Time:

Watcher displays here the current time using the format HH:MM:SS or HH:MM depending of the refresh rate you set (see Watcher's configuration dialog box for more informations). This is the DOS time, as defined when you use the TIME command. This is also the time you can find in the Control Panel, under the Date/Time section.

Current Date:

Watcher displays here the current date, using either a long or a short format (see Watcher's configuration dialog box for more informations). This is the DOS date, as defined when you use the DATE command. This is also the date you can find in the Control Panel, under the Date/Time section.

CD Tracks:

If you enable the CD Audio feature, and if you display the CD tracks (see Watcher's configuration dialog box for more informations), Watcher will display the CD track and the time of the track currently playing on you CD-ROM drive.


Watcher menu options
 Watcher's menu options

You can access Watcher's menu by right-clicking on Watcher's main window. You should have the following menu:

Caption

Always on Top

Config...

CD Audio >

Tools >

Refresh Window

Run ScreenSaver

How to Register

Exit Windows

Exit Watcher

Help

About...


Watcher configuration dialog box
 Watcher's configuration dialog box

To access the Configuration Dialog Box, right-click on Watcher's main window and select Config... This should display a dialog box which looks like this:

Click anywhere on the picture to get help on a particular option.

See also the Tools dialog box for more informations.


Watcher Tools menu
 Watcher's Tools menu

Watcher's tool menu is empty the first time you run Watcher. You can add your favorite tools to this menu (by using the Tools... option in Watcher's configuration dialog box), and if you keep Watcher on the top of all windows, you can quick-launch up to 10 custom applications. If you set an application to have run-time parameters, the corresponding menu option will have a small dot before it.


Watcher CD functions
 Watcher's CD functions

This menu is grayed if the CD Enabled options is not checked in Watcher's configuration dialog box. You will find here all the functions you need to play your CD Audio from your CD-ROM drive:

Play

Stop

Previous

Next

First

Last

Open


 Watcher's future

Yes, I've planned to release other versions of Watcher ! Here are couple of new features I'd like to include:

- Display date and time according to Windows Control Panel settings

- Add some more possibilities for Quick Positionning

- Add a phone directory directly available from Watcher

- User-defined configs

- Floating toolbar for CD functions

- Floating toolbar for Quick-Launching applications

If you have some more ideas, please let me know.

I received a lot of new ideas for this version, and I tried to implement them the best I can, especially when they sound interesting (see About Watcher for more informations). Some of them were not implemented, either because I ran out of time, or just because I didn't like them (yes, it could also be that). Anyway, I'll be pleased to hear from you !


Display - Caption

When it's checked, Watcher will display it's Caption, allowing you to move the main window around the screen.


Display - Movable

When checked, Watcher will make the window unmovable, thus you cannot drag and drop Watcher's main window. This could be helpful if you want to keep the caption but be sure that the window will remain in the same position.


Display - Clock

If checked, Watcher will display the Clock (below the resources). If unchecked, the Resources will be grayed. This is grayed if Resources are unchecked.


Display - Resources

If checked, Watcher will display the resources (above the clock). If unchecked, the Clock will be grayed. This is grayed if Clock is unchecked.


Display - CD Tracks

If checked, Watcher will display the current track being played on the CD (below the Clock). This is grayed if CD Enabled is unchecked.


Display - Quick Pos

If checked, Watcher will use one of the four pre-defined settings for its position (Top Left, Top Right, Bottom Left, Bottom Right). If unchecked, the positionning group box will be grayed.


Display - One Line

If checked, Watcher will display whatever informations you ask him to display on one line. This is useful if you want Watcher's main window to fit the caption or a status bar.


Miscellanous - Always on Top

If checked, Watcher will always on the top of your desktop, above every other window. This is very helpful if you want to see its informations all the time.


Miscellanous - Save on Exit

If checked, Watcher will automaticly save its configuration when closed, so the next time you open it, it will be in the same status you left it.


Miscellanous - Smart Caption

Smart Caption is a bit tricky feature. If checked, Watcher will try to be smart enough when you will remove the caption: if you are in the first top half of the screen, and if you remove the caption, Watcher's main window will be placed at the position of the caption. If you are in the bottom part of the screen, and if you remove the caption, Watcher's main window will stay where it was, the caption will simply disappear.

The other thing Smart Caption does for you, is to ensure that Watcher's main window is always fully visible (ie: if Watcher is at the far bottom of the screen, and if you add the CD Tracks, it will go up a little bit to make the CD part of the window visible). Anyway, to be able to use Smart Caption, you need to desactivate Quick Pos.


Miscellanous - Alert

If checked, Watcher will alert you (display you a message) when either the GDI or the USER will go under the amount you specified in the Alert field below. If unchecked, the Alert field will be grayed.


Miscellanous - Fast ExitWin
Miscellanous - Fast WinExit

If checked, Watcher will allow you to exit Windows even if some DOS boxes are open, when you use Watcher's Exit Windows menu option. This option may not be available under every version of Windows.


Miscellanous - 3D Controls

If checked, Watcher will try to use Chicago like 3D controls, provided by Windows. Watcher will then look for CTL3D.DLL or CTL3DV2.DLL on your system, and won't enable the 3D look if it cannot find it. Those two DLLs are usually in the SYSTEM directory.


Miscellanous - CD Enabled

If checked, Watcher will enable the CD Audio functions (ie the CD Audio menu, and the CD Tracks option). If unchecked, the CD Tracks option is grayed.


Clock Display - Date

If you choose Date, only the date will be displayed. The format used depends on the Short Date checkbox below.


Clock Display - Time

If you choose Time, only the time will be displayed. The format depends on the Refresh field below.


Clock Display - Date & Time

If you choose Date & Time, both date and time will be displayed. Format used for time depends on Refresh field below, and date format depends on Short Date below also.


Clock Display - Short Date

If you check this, the date will be displayed using a short format (ie: MM/DD/YY). If it is unchecked, date will be displayed fully (ie: Ddd, Month DD YYYY).

MM: Month on 2 digits (12 for December)

DD: Day on 2 digits

YY: Year on 2 digits (95 for 1995)

Ddd: Day of the week on 3 letters (Mon for Monday)

Month: Full month's name

YYYY: Year on 4 digits


Positionning - Top Left

Watcher's main window will appear at the top left area of the screen, leaving enough space on the left to see a possible system menu.


Positionning - Top Right

Watcher's main window will appear at the top right area of the screen, leaving enough space on the right to see the two possible minimize and maximize boxes.


Positionning - Bottom Left

Watcher's main window will appear at the bottom left area of the screen, leaving enough space on the left to see a possible horizontal scroll bar.


Positionning - Bottom Right

Watcher's main window will appear at the bottom right area of the screen, leaving enough space on the right to see the two possible horizontal scroll bars.


Font

This open the usual Windows Font dialog box, and allow you to change the font of Watcher's main window. This is grayed if the Font Reset checkbox is unchecked.


Text Color

This open the usual Windows Color dialog box, and allow you to change the text color of Watcher's main window. This is grayed if the Text Color Reset checkbox is unchecked.


Background Color

This open the usual Windows Color dialog box, and allow you to change the background color of Watcher's main window. This is grayed if the Background Color Reset checkbox is unchecked.


Tools

This button brings you to the Tools dialog box, allowing you to define custom tools which will take place in the Tools menu.


Save

If you press this button, Watcher will immediatly save its configuration. This is helpful if you want to save the config without Save on Exit checked.


Width Adjust

Watcher uses Windows datas to display its informations and position its window. For example, Watcher uses the Average Character Width to size its window. Unfortunatly, especially when using proportionnal fonts, if the display will contain more "large" characters than small, you will see a truncation of the display in the window. To help you to setup the width according to the font you are using, Watcher lets you specify a modifier for its window's width from -5 characters to +5 characters. This is grayed if the Adjust Width Reset checkbox is unchecked.


Alert

Let's you specify the % of GDI or USER below which Watcher will warn you. This is grayed if Miscellanous - Alert is unchecked.


Refresh

Let's you specify how often Watcher should refresh its window. Valid values go from 1 to 60 seconds. If you specify a value less than 10, Watcher will display the time with the seconds (HH:MM:SS). If you specify a value between 10 and 60, Watcher will display the time without the seconds (HH:MM).

HH: Hour on 2 digits

MM: Minutes on 2 digits

SS: Seconds on 2 digits


Font Reset

If unchecked, Watcher will use the system font. Otherwise, it will use the last font saved, and enable the Font button, allowing you to choose a font.


Text Color Reset

If unchecked, Watcher will use the standard text color (as defined in the Control Panel under the Colors section). Otherwise, it will use the last text color saved, and enable the Text Color button, allowing you to choose a color.


Background Color Reset

If unchecked, Watcher will use the standard background color (as defined in the Control Panel under the Colors section). Otherwise, it will use the last background color saved, and enable the Bkgr Color button, allowing you to choose a color.


Width Adjust Reset

If unchecked, Watcher will use the standard width (using the average character width). Otherwise, it will use the last width modifier saved, and enable the Adjust Width scroll bar, allowing you to set the custom width.


Configuration - OK

If you choose OK, Watcher will update its window to reflect the changes you made in the configuration. Remember that the configuration will be lost if you close Watcher unless you save it (using the save button) or the Save On Exit option is on.


Configuration - Cancel

If you clicked Cancel, the configuration won't change. Only Colors, Font and Tools settings will change, if you modified them and validated you choice by OK for Font and Colors or Add to Menu for Tools.


Caption
Menu - Caption

Click on this menu option to display or remove Watcher's caption. This is exactly the same than using the Caption option in Watcher's configuration dialog box. This has been placed in the menu just for convenience, because it's a very used command.


Always on Top
Menu - Always on Top

As Caption, this option is equivalent to the one in Watcher's configuration dialog box. It allows you to put Watcher as a top most window (always visible) or to remove it. It has been put here for convenience, because it's a very used command.


Refresh Window
Menu - Refresh Window

Refresh Window allows you to refresh Watcher's main window. This is helpful if you set the refresh time to 60, and if you want to have very accurate and fresh information.


Run ScreenSaver
Menu - Run ScreenSaver

This allows you to run the screen saver as it is defined in the Control Panel. If you go away for a while, this could help...


Exit Windows
Menu - Exit Windows

This allows you to exit Windows without any confirmation. This could also close every DOS box for you, if you set Fast WinExit in Watcher's configuration dialog box.


Exit Watcher
Menu - Exit Watcher

This allows you to exit Watcher. You can also double-click on Watcher's main window.


Help
Menu - Help

This option runs Watcher's Help system.


About
Menu - About

This displays the usual About box... You may like it !


Play
CD Audio - Play

This allows you to start playing your CD Audio. If the CD is already playing, the option should be Pause and if the CD is paused, this option should be Resume. Because a "real" Pause function is not available using Microsoft MCICDA driver, it has been simulated. So, if you quit Watcher, it will loose the current position, and the menu will become Play again.


Stop
CD Audio - Stop

This will Stop the current CD you are playing.


Previous
CD Audio - Previous

This will go to the previous track of your CD. If you already on track 1, it will start again this track.


Next
CD Audio - Next

This will play the next track of your CD. If you already on the last one, it will play it again.


First
CD Audio - First

This will play the first track of your CD.


Last
CD Audio - Last

This will play the last track of your CD.


Open
CD Audio - Open

This will open your CD-ROM drive. If your CD-ROM Drive is open, it will change into Close. Note that some CD-ROM does not have a "standard" Close feature, so it may not work everywhere.


How to Register
Menu - How to Register

This gives you all the information you need if you'd like to register Watcher 2.00.


 Watcher's tools dialog box

This is the tools dialog box:

In order to add a new tool to the Tools menu, you need to follow those 4 steps:

1. Select a slot (selecting an already defined spot will erase its contents)

2. Enter the name you want to appear in the menu into the Tool edit field (& for the pickletter)

3. Type the command line of the tool in the path edit field (you can use the Browse button)

4. Select Add to menu to validate your choices

Notes:

1. This procedure does not save the tools into the INI file. In order to do so, you have to save your configuration from Watcher's configuration dialog box.

2. If you add a question mark ("?") as the first and only parameter of the tool, Watcher will ask you for run-time arguments before running the tool (See Watcher's arguments dialog box for more information)

3. The Auto Path checkbox will go to the directory of the specified tool before running it. Useful when the tool requiered to be run from its own directory.


 Watcher's arguments dialog box

This is Watcher's argument dialog box:

Type your run-time parameters in order to run the tool. If you don't type anything, the tool is run without parameters.


Watcher and mouse clicks
 Watcher, refresh and mouse clicks

Watcher has several behaviour, depending on how you click on the main window:

Right-click to obtain the main menu (Lett and right buttons can be used to make a selection)

Left-click to refresh the display

Double-left-click to close Watcher

Ctrl-left-click to play/pause/resume the CD Audio

Ctrl-right-click to stop the CD Audio

Shift-double-left-click to exit Windows

Watcher will also refresh its main window on those conditions:

Left-click on the main window

Activate another application when Watcher is active

Activate Watcher when another application is active

Use Refresh Window from the main menu

Every time that "Refresh" seconds (the amount you specified in Watcher's configuration dialog box) are spent


Window - Memory

This is the free available memory in KiloBytes (1024 bytes).


Window - GDI

This is the percentage of free GDI available.


Window - USER

This is the free USER percentage available.


Window - Date & Time

This is the Date & Time display.


Window - CD Tracks

This is the current track being played.


Tools - List

In order to Add or Delete a tool from the menu, you need to select it from this list. The tool's informations are displayed in the bottom part of the dialog.


Tools - Delete

This will delete immediatly the selected tool from the Tools menu.


Tools - Add to menu

Once you filled up all the fields, click on this button to add the new tool to the menu. In order to make the changes permanent, use the Save button in Watcher configuration dialog box.


Tools - Browse

This will open the usual Browse dialog box, allowing you to select a program file to be run.


Tools - Auto Path

If this is checked, Watcher will run the specified tool from its own directory.


Tools - Tool name

Type the name of the tool exactly as you want it to appear in the Tools menu. You can use the & character to set a pickletter.


Tools - Tool Path

You can either use the Browse button or directly type the path of the executable corresponding to the tool you want to add. Then, you can add run-time parameters, or put a ? character as the last parameter to tell Watcher to ask you for parameters each time you run the tool.


Arguments - Command line

Type your run-time parameters here, then click Ok to run the tool. You can use the Browse button if your parameter is a file.


Arguments - Browse

This will open the regular Browse dialog box, allowing you to easily add filenames.


 What's new in version 2.00

Since I rewrote completly the program, Watcher 2.00 is brand-new, even if I kept a lot of previous features. The new ones are:

- Neat configuration dialog box: almost everything is now customizable

- Always on Top can now be toggled On and Off

- You can run up to 10 of your favorite tools from the Tools menu

- You can FastExit Windows from Watcher (even by closing DOS boxes)

- Watcher has now a Help file

- Watcher can position itself quickly in the four corners of the screen

- The CD functions are a bit more sofisticated

- Watcher is faster

- And more...

On the other hand, some features disappeared:

- Enum Windows was not very useful

In order to know if this suit your needs, you really should try it ! If not, please let me know !