Copyright: Copyright © 1995 by TANSTAAFL Software
Citation: Help File Copyright © 1995 by TANSTAAFL Software


Benefits of Registration

Registered users of Tipster are entitled to the following benefits:

No about box.  Tipster is completely configurable to become an indistinguishable part of your application.

Unlimited royalty-free distribution of Tipster with your application.

A Tip Editor will be shipped to all registered users when it is finished.  This will allow developers to create tip files without having to use a text editor.

Upgrade from any version to the current version for $5 shipping and handling.


ButtonTextFont=
This setting determines which text appears on the Font button.  This button, when pressed, allows the user to change the font.  If not specified, it defaults to &Font.


ButtonTextHelp=
This setting determines which text appears on the Help button.  This button, when pressed, allows the user to call up the help file for your application.  If not specified, it defaults to &Help.


ButtonTextNext=
This setting determines which text appears on the Next Tip button.  This button, when pressed, reads and displays the next tip.  If not specified, it defaults to &Next Tip.


ButtonTextOK=
This setting determines which text appears on the OK button.  This button, when pressed, exits Tipster.  If not specified, it defaults to OK.


Contents
 Tipster

Overview

Using Tipster

The Tip File

Benefits of Registration

Support

Order Form

The Product Line

Future Enhancements

Revision History


Credits
The Tipster program and help file were written by Dana Cline

Inspiration was from the first issue of Visual Basic Tech Journal, and their coverage of another program that does the same thing for more than twice the price (ZIPTIP, at $49!)

Thanks to Oliver Pincus, who made suggestions that resulted in versions 1.10 and 1.20.


Element/Font
Click the Font button or press Alt-F to change the font used to display the tips.  The presence or absence of this button is determined by the FontButton setting.  The text on this button can be changed with the ButtonTextFont setting.


Element/Help
Click the Help button or press Alt-H to run the help file named in the HelpFile setting.  The presence or absence of this button is determined by the HelpButton setting.  The text on this button can be changed with the ButtonTextHelp setting.


Element/Next Tip
Click the Next Tip button or press Alt-N to view the next tip.  The text on this button can be changed with the ButtonTextNext setting.


Element/OK
Click the OK button or press Enter to exit Tipster.  The text on this button can be changed with the ButtonTextOK setting.


Element/Scroll Bars
The scroll bars are used to scroll tips that are too large for the text box.


Element/Startup
This checkbox can be used by the end-user to disable the display of tips.  If ShowTipsBox is set to 0, this area will be blank and the user cannot disable the tips.


Element/Tip Area
This area shows the tip text.  The tip text will wrap to fit the size of the text box.  If a tip is larger than the text box, a scroll bar will be shown.


Element/Tip Header
This area shows the tip header as defined in the TipHeader setting.


FontButton=
This setting determines whether Tipster shows a Font button.

FontButton = 0	No font button is shown.  The only way the user can change the font is to edit the tip file.
FontButton = 1	Tipster shows a Font button.  The user can then change the font.  The new font name is saved in the tip file.


Future Enhancements

Tipster's features are sufficient for general-purpose use.  If you have any special features you'd like to see, contact us.  Planned enhancements, in no particular order, include:

Context-Sensitive Help:  Each Tip could have a corresponding Help Context ID, allowing each tip to have a help topic that provides further explanation.

More Customization:  This could include the ability to specify your own icon in place of Tipster's light-bulb icon, or perhaps the ability to determine the font name and size used for the tip header.

Tip Editor:  This feature is planned for release 1.4, and would only be available to registered users.  The tip editor would simplify the process of creating the tip file, and could be used by anyone conversant with Windows programs in general.

Longer Tips:  Currently, each tip is limited to 2000 characters.  Contact us if you need longer tips.

Smaller and Faster:  Other programming languages, such as Delphi and Visual C++, could be used to produce a smaller, faster program that would not need the Visual Basic runtime DLL.


HelpButton=
This setting determines whether Tipster shows a Help button.

HelpButton = 0	No Help button is shown.
HelpButton = 1	The Help button is shown.  If the user presses the Help button, the help file named in the HelpFile setting is called.


HelpFile=
This setting tells Tipster which help file to call when the user presses the Help button.  If this setting is not present and the HelpButton is enabled, Tipster will use TIPSTER.HLP.  The help file must be in the same directory as Tipster.


LastTip=
This setting is written by Tipster when it exits, if RandomOrder is set to zero.


LaunchAfter=
This setting can be used to run any application.  The application is started after the user clicks the OK button or presses the Enter key.  Tipster exits immediately after starting this application.  The entire command string is passed to Windows, allowing you to start any program, document or DOS.


LaunchBefore=
This setting can be used to run any application.  The application is started after the tip window is shown, and is perfect for having your application start while the user is viewing a tip.  The entire command string is passed to Windows, allowing you to start any program, document or DOS.


Order Form

NAME:	_____________________________________________

COMPANY:	_____________________________________________

ADDRESS:	_____________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

CITY:	____________________________________________________

STATE:	_______________	ZIP CODE:	__________________

PHONE: 	______________________________________________

E-MAIL ADDRESS:	_______________________________________

WHERE DID YOU RECEIVE THIS PRODUCT?	__________________

___________________________________________________________

DISK SIZE NEEDED: [  ] 3-1/2      [  ] 5-1/4

COMMENTS:  _______________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

Tipster     	@ $ 20.00	__________

IconTile    	@ $ 10.00	__________

2x4 Labeler    	@ $ 20.00	__________

3x3 Labeler    	@ $ 20.00	__________

EzDlg     	@ $ 20.00	__________

DrvUtils.DLL	@ $ 20.00	__________

CRITTER	@ $ 20.00	__________

Colorado sales tax	(7.1%)	__________
(CO residents only)

Non-US Shipping	@ $5.00 	__________

(Payments must be in US Dollars, US bank)

TOTAL:	__________

Checks or money orders only.  Sorry, no company P.O.'s or credit cards.

(This order form fromTipster 1.30)

Please make checks or money orders payable to:

Dana W. Cline

Mail to:
TANSTAAFL Software
P.O. Box 260075
Lakewood, CO  80226
USA


Overview

Tipster is a "Tip Engine" that allows you to add tips to any application, in any language supported by Windows.  Tipster accepts a tip file name on the command line, and will display a tip from that file.  Tipster can be used by any programming language that can execute another program, and is normally called from the program's start-up code.  For applications that cannot run others, Tipster has the ability to run an application either before or after viewing a tip.

Tipster can access up to 9999 tips per tip file, and each tip can contain up to 2000 characters (subject to the limitations of size inherent in Windows .INI files).

Tipster has several options for the tip author.  Tipster can display a Help button, and can call your help file if the user presses this button.  Tipster can display a Font button, allowing the user to change the tip font and size.  Tips can be displayed randomly or sequentially, and Tipster will remember which tip to use next.  All text visible to the user can be changed, allowing for foreign language support.

This version of Tipster is written in Visual Basic and requires the Visual Basic runtime VBRUN300.DLL (not included in shareware version, but available on most bulletin boards).  It also requires the common dialog control CMDIALOG.VBX (included).  Future versions may be written in a different language (Delphi or Visual C++) and will not require the Visual Basic runtime.


Positioning
The Left and Top settings are used to determine where the tip window will appear.  If these settings are not present, Tipster will center the window on the screen.  If the user then moves the tip window, the new position will be stored using these settings.  Don't add these unless you want to determine where to place the tip window.


RandomOrder=
This setting governs whether the tips are initially random or not.

RandomOrder = 1	This enables random tips.  When Tipster is run, it will generate a random number between 1 and the total number of tips.  That tip is then displayed.
RandomOrder = 0	This enables sequential tips.  The next available tip is used, based on the LastTip setting.


Revision History

1.00	2/16/95

Original release.

1.10	2/21/95

Get button text from .TIP file, allowing total foreign language support.  Widen buttons to accomodate longer text.

1.20	2/23/95

Added ability to launch other applications both before and after Tipster runs.  Tip window will now stay on top of other applications.

1.20	3/7/95

Reconstructed after hard disk crash - no new features yet.  Back up your hard disk!

1.30	3/28/95

Added the checkbox to enable/disable tip display.


ShowTips=
This setting governs whether the tips are shown or not.

ShowTip = 1	This enables tip display.
ShowTip = 0	This disables tip display.  The LaunchBefore and LaunchAfter settings will still launch applications, but Tipster will no longer show a tip.

Warning:  Once the user turns off Tipster's tip display, the only way to turn tip display back on is to edit the .TIP file.


ShowTipsBox=
This setting governs whether the tips can be turned off by the user.

ShowTipsBox = 1	This enables the checkbox at the bottom of Tipster's window that will allow the user to turn of tips.
ShowTipsBox = 0	This hides the checkbox.  The user will not be able to turn off Tipster.


ShowTipsMsg=
This setting determines which text appears next to the ShowTips checkbox.


Support

Support for Tipster is available through the following methods, in order of preference:

CompuServe	73700,3053 I check this daily.
Internet	dcline@tanstaafl-software.com I check this almost daily.
GEnie	tanstaafl I only check this weekly.
US Mail	TANSTAAFL Software P.O. Box 260075 Lakewood, CO  80232
Phone	(303) 989-7389 Please call between 8 AM and 10 PM Mountain time.  I have a day job, so the best times to reach me are during the evenings and weekends.
Visit our new Web pages:

http://tanstaafl-software.com/~dcline/tanstafl.htm


The Product Line

Tipster allows your application to have a "Tip of the Day" screen.  Tipster's options allow customization to make it blend seamlessly into your application.  Tipster can show up to 9999 tips, each up to 2000 characters long.  Originally released on 2/16/95.  Current version 1.30.

IconTile helps maximize screen real estate.  IconTile will tile all running program icons to the very bottom of the screen at a user-defined interval.  Perfect for people who run a lot of applications and keep most of them minimized.  Originally released on 4/18/94.  Current version 1.20.

2x4 Labeler creates labels for 3 1/2" floppy disks using the Avery L7664 label for the European A4 page size.  2x4 Labeler is feature-identical with 3x3 Labeler.  Originally released on 03/06/94.  Current version 1.63.

3x3 Labeler produces labels for 3 ½" floppy disks using the Avery 5196, which contains three rows of three labels each on an 8 ½" by 11" page, suitable for a laser or ink jet printer.  Each label can contain file names, directory names, or multi-line text.  Each label can have different fonts, sizes and edge/banner text, or can use the default global values.  Different sets of label defaults can be loaded and saved by name.  Originally released on 07/05/93.  Current version 1.63.

The Drive Utilities DLL is a collection of disk and file routines for Visual Basic programmers.  The disk routines allow you to get the total size of any drive, as well as the bytes used and free and sector and cluster sizes.  File routines allow you to get or set file dates, times, sizes or attributes.  A special FileZAPP routine will clear all the clusters of a file, then delete the file.  The registered version includes full source code and a license to distribute the .DLL with your software.  Originally released on 03/06/94.  Current version 1.00.

EzDlg is a tool for Visual Basic programmers to eleminate the hassles of using the common dialogs and message box.  All options are presented in easy-to-understand dialogs.  Test mode shows what the dialog will look like.  Generate code to clipboard or file.  Anticipated release on 04/01/95.

CRITTER is the TSR Critical Error Handler that DOS forgot.  CRITTER replaces the ugly "Abort, Retry, Ignore" message with an attractive pop-up window.  Command line options include printer logging, automatic response with time-out, automatic reboot and response patterns (such as Retry 4 times, then Fail).  This utility is perfect for unattended systems such as bulletin board systems, packet radio repeaters, robotics assembly lines and print servers.  Originally released on 04/26/90.  Current version 1.32.


The Tip File

Tipster's tip file uses the same format as Windows .INI files.  There are two sections, TipSettings and Tips.  While this is normally a separate file, Tipster can use your program's .INI file if it contains the same stuff.  Tipster always looks in the same directory as the program for the tip file.  Click on any item for further information.

[TipSettings]

RandomOrder=

LastTip=

TipCount=

TipFont=

TipSize=

FontButton=

HelpButton=

HelpFile=

TipsTitle=

TipsHeader=

Left=

Top=

ShowTips=

ShowTipsBox=

ShowTipsMsg=

ButtonTextOK=

ButtonTextNext=

ButtonTextFont=

ButtonTextHelp=

LaunchBefore=

LaunchAfter=

[Tips]

Tip0001=


Tip0001=
This setting contains your first tip.  The entire tip must fit on one line.  If you cannot create long tips in your editor, use Windows Notepad.  Each tip can contain up to 2,000 characters.


TipCount=
This setting tells Tipster how many tips there are in the [Tips] section.  If this setting is not present, Tipster assumes there are no tips.


TipFont=
This setting contains the name of the font used to display the tips.  Since the developer cannot know in advance what fonts the user may have, we recommend that either the System font or a font included with Windows be used.


TipSize=
This setting governs the font size used to display the tips.


TipsHeader=
This setting is used for the text that is displayed above the tip itself.  We recommend something like "Today's Tip".


TipsTitle=
This setting contains the text that will be displayed in Tipster's title bar.  We recommend something like "Tip of the Day", or "ThisApp Tips".


Using Tipster

Tipster is easy to use for both the application developer and the end user.  The application developer creates an ASCII text file containing options and the tip text, and then calls Tipster from the application program to display a tip.  Tipster accepts the tip file name as the command line parameter, as follows:

TIPSTER TIPSTER.TIP

The tip file contains options governing the display of tips, including the font name and size, whether to display tips randomly or sequentially, and whether to display the Font or Help buttons.  For an overview of Tipster, run Tipster with either of the included tip files, TIPSTER.TIP or WINDOWS.TIP.

Since some applications cannot run other applications, Tipster has provided a method of launching any application either before or after showing a tip.

Click on any area of Tipster's window for further information.


[TipSettings]
This is the section header for all default information about Tipster.


[Tips]
This section contains all of the Tips.  Tips are numbered sequentially from 0001 to TipCount.  They do not need to be in numeric order.  Using four digits, you can have up to 9999 tips, although response time will slow down the more tips you have.