Copyright: Copyright (c) Judy's Applications 1992-1997


Index
Contents

Topic	Description

Getting Started	Reviews the basic fundamentals of Judy's CountDown and helps you begin using the program.

Tasks	Explains how to use Judy's CountDown to accomplish various goals.

Menus	Outlines the purpose of each menu option.

Keyboard	Explains how to use the keyboard (rather than a mouse) to navigate the menus.

Registration	Explains how to register your copy of the program in order to receive the latest updates.


Getting Started

Judy's CountDown™ provides a fun and reliable way to track important dates.  You can use it to remind yourself of holidays, birthdays, business meetings, whatever you want.  We suggest familiarizing yourself with the program by reviewing the following help sections:

Topic	Description

Benefits	Explains the services which Judy's CountDown provides.

Configuring Your Program	Helps you set up Judy's CountDown to best suit your individual needs.

Example Operations	Outlines the basic approach to using Judy's CountDown.

Registration	Explains how to register your copy of the program in order to receive the latest updates.


Benefits
Benefits Of Judy's CountDown

Judy's CountDown™ provides the following services:

Event Reminder:  Judy's CountDown helps you keep track of upcoming important events, and "counts down" the days until the big day arrives.  You can have multiple events per day, and can choose the number of upcoming events to show on screen.

Customization:  Judy's CountDown comes configured for most holidays, and allows you to add your own important events.  Judy's CountDown also remembers your favorite screen position and displays itself there every time.

Automatic Updates:  You can download the latest holiday details from the Internet and automatically merge them into your own personal event file.


Tasks

This section explains how you can use Judy's CountDown to accomplish common tasks:

Topic	Description

Configuring Your Application	Helps you set up Judy's CountDown to best suit your individual needs.

Your Own Events	Describes how to use Judy's CountDown to track your own personal events.

Get Date Updates	At least once a year you should get holiday updates over the Internet so that the dates are correct.

Registration	Explains how to register your copy of the program in order to receive the latest updates.


Configuring Your Application

You can use the "Settings | Modify Dates..." menu option to specify the events for Judy's CountDown to track.

You can also decide how many events to show on your display at one time.

Finally, you can set Judy's CountDown to display its window in the same position every time it starts.  To make Judy's CountDown remember its current position, choose the "Save Position" option from the "Settings" menu.


Adding Events

From the Dates Dialog you can add new events:

1)	Press the <New> button.

2)	Enter the name the new event.

3)	Select an icon to represent the new event.

4)	Choose the date for the new event.

3)	Make any other changes to other events you want.

4)	Press <OK> to record all changes you have made to any events (or press <Cancel> to ignore all changes).


Modifying Events

From the Dates Dialog you can modify existing events:

1)	Find the event you wish to modify by using the <Next> and <Prev> buttons.

2)	Change any information fields you want (name, icon, date).

3)	Make any other changes to other events you want.

4)	Press <OK> to record all changes you have made to any events (or press <Cancel> to ignore all changes).


Deleting Events

From the Dates Dialog you can delete existing events:

1)	Find the event you wish to delete by using the <Next> and <Prev> buttons.

2)	Press the <Delete> button.

3)	Make any other changes to other events you want.

4)	Press <OK> to record all changes you have made to any events (or press <Cancel> to ignore all changes).


Registration Procedure

Judy's CountDown™ is distributed via retail channels and via copyrighted shareware.  If you have not purchased your copy of the program directly, you must register to continue using it after the 30 day evaluation period.  If you have purchased your copy directly, you should register (at no charge, of course) to make sure you receive timely notification of new releases.  See also Registration Benefits.

To register your copy, send your name, address, and check or money order for $9.95 plus $2.95 shipping and handling (CA residents please add 7.75% sales tax; retail customers send no money at all) to:

Judy's Applications

2464 El Camino Real, Suite #125

Santa Clara, CA 95051

USA

For your convenience, you can print a registration form directly from Judy's CountDown using the "Settings | Register" menu option.  If you do not have a printer, feel free to send us a handwritten note instead.  Just remember to send us your name and your address!

If you choose not to register your copy, please uninstall Judy's CountDown from your system.


Registration Benefits

If you have not purchased your copy of Judy'y CountDown, you must pay a registration fee to continue using it after the 30 day evaluation period.  Registration provides the following benefits:

32-Bit Version:  Registered users receive both 16-bit (runs on any version of Windows equal to or better than 3.1) and 32-bit versions of the program (more efficient for newer operating systems such as Windows NT or Windows '95).

Update Notification:  You will receive timely notifications of new version releases, and will qualify for a reduced upgrade fee.

Support:  Any questions you may have about the use of Judy's CountDown will be answered for a period of at least one year.  You can contact us via email (support@JudysApps.com), or U.S. mail (see Registration Procedure for our address).  If you encounter a serious problem using Judy's CountDown within 3 months of registration, we will either fix the problem or refund your registration fee.  Judy's CountDown has been produced by a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals, entitling you to their support in problem resolution.

Peace Of Mind:  You will be able to sleep at night knowing that you have acted ethically.  If you wish to encourage the continued development of low-priced shareware, you must do your part to support it.  A great deal of work has gone into the creation of this program, and the requested registration fee is quite modest.

If you purchased your copy through a retail distributor (such as CompUSA), you may register your copy at no additional cost.  You will be notified of new version releases, and be eligible for reduced fee upgrades.

See also Registration Procedure.


Registration Dialog Box

The Registration Dialog Box is available from the "Settings | Register" menu option.  It summarizes registration instructions and provides access to additional information via the following buttons:

Button	Description

Print Form...	Prints a registration form which you can fill out and mail to Judy's Applications.

More Info...	Brings up the help topic which describes registration benefits.


Evaluation Period Over

Judy's CountDown gradually warns you that your evaluation period is ending, and finally prevents the program from running.  If you decide you like the program, you should have plenty of time to order and receive a registered copy before the evaluation copy stops operating.

Evaluation Period Too Short or Non-Existent

If you get a premature message that your evaluation period is over, make sure you have installed the program according to instructions.  You MUST use the installation program, for both this reason and a host of other operating system issues.

Registered Copy Complaining About Evaluation Period

If you own a registered copy of Judy's CountDown, and it starts complaining about an expired evaluation period, make sure you have installed the program according to instructions.  You MUST use the default user name suggested by the installation program, or the installation program will think another user wants to evaluate the program, and install an evaluation copy.

Contact support@JudysApps.com if you need further assistance.


Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP)

This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP).  ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products.  Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.


Operations

Judy's CountDown tracks and display the number of days remaining until your next important event.  To start Judy's CountDown, simply double-click on its icon (if you installed it to automatically start with Windows, you don't even have to do this!).

Judy's CountDown will automatically read the system date, scan its internal calendar, and display the information concerning your next event.  You can leave Judy's CountDown running indefinitely -- it knows when the date changes and will keep its display current.

Judy's CountDown comes configured to track most holidays; you can add your own events or modify predefined ones via the "Settings | Modify Dates..." menu option.


Menu Commands

Menu commands can be accessed via the mouse or the keyboard.

Option	Purpose

Settings	Define CountDown events, save window position, register your copy of the program, get date updates, or exit.

Help	Access this help system.


"Settings" Menu Commands

These commands provide the following functions.

Command	Function

Modify Dates...	Allows you to specify events to track.

Number Visible...	Lets you decide how many events to show on the screen at once.

Save Position	Saves the current screen position of the CountDown window so that the program will display itself there every time it starts.

Get Update	Merges more recent holiday date information into your personal CountDown file.

Register	Provides instructions for registering your copy of Judy's CountDown™.  Judy's CountDown is provided as © shareware, which means that if you decide you like the program and you wish to continue using it, you must pay a small licensing fee.

Exit	Closes Judy's CountDown.


Dates Dialog

The Dates Dialog is available from the "Settings | Modify Dates..." menu option, and enables you to specify the events you wish Judy's CountDown to track.  Each event is defined by:

1)	Name of event (type in whatever you want).

2)	Icon to show for event (pick from predefined list).

3)	Date of event (select the month and day for the event).

You can move from one event to another by pressing the <Prev> and <Next> buttons in the upper right-hand corner of the dialog box.  When you have finished making any changes, press <OK> to record all your changes (or press <Cancel> to discard them).

See also Adding Events, Modifying Events, and Deleting Events, and Getting New Holiday Dates from the Internet.


Number Events Visible

The "Number Visible" Dialog is available from the "Settings | Number Visible..." menu option, and enables you to specify the number of events you wish to see at the same time.

The easiest way to understand this option is to try it.

For example, if you select 5 events, Judy's CountDown will resize its display window to show you the next 5 events in your file.  Some of the events may or may not occur on the same days.

Judy's CountDown automatically remembers this setting, and uses it from that point until you change it.


Get Update Dialog

Judy's Applications periodically posts new CountDown holiday dates to the Internet (some holidays change dates each year).

1)	Using your Internet browser, go to www.JudysApps.com\CountDown and download the date file you find there.

2)	Then use the "Settings | Get Update" menu command, and press the <Merge> button.  The updated holiday information will be merged with your current CountDown information, leaving your personal events unchanged.


Help Menu Commands
"Help" Menu Commands

These commands focus the help system on the selected topic:

Command	Topic Description

Contents	Top level outline for help system topics.

Search for Help on	Brings up dialog that allows you to search help system for specific keywords.

RegistrationRegistrationProcedure	Explains how to register your copy of the program in order to receive the latest updates.

About	Displays the program version number and the owner of this copy.


Buttons & Keyboard

At the top of the CountDown window is a basic menu bar that provides access to the menu commands.  You can access this menu bar using the mouse or the keyboard.

Press the <Alt> key to access the menu bar.  Use the arrow keys to navigate through the menu choices.  Alternately, you can skip directly to your desired choice by typing the letter that appears underlined in that choice.  Press the <Enter> key to activate a choice that you have highlighted.


Installing Judy's CountDown

To install Judy's CountDown, run "install.exe" from within Windows.  See also Network Installation.

1)	Press the <Install> button.

2)	Enter your name in the "Your Name" field (for example, "John Smith").

4)	Enter the directory where you would like to install Judy's CountDown (C:\Program Files\CountDown by default).  Judy's CountDown will create it if necessary.

6)	Optionally set Judy's CountDown to start every time you start Windows.  You can later undo this choice by removing Judy's CountDown from the Startup group.

7)	Press the <OK> button.

You must use the installation program that comes with Judy's CountDown to install your copy, or your installation will not be licensed and you will eventually receive warning messages whenever you start the program.

Network users should not each run the installation program; the installation program should be run only once per site.  Individual network users can simply begin using the program as they would any other shared program (to create an icon for Judy's CountDown, simply drag the "cntdwn.exe" file to an appropriate place for a shortcut).

See also Program Files.


Network Installation

To install Judy's  CountDown on a network, your system administrator should install Judy's CountDown following normal installation procedures.

Individual users do not need to run the installation program.

Each user should access Judy's CountDown the same way they access other shared applications.  For example, a networked user could create an icon for Judy's CountDown by simply dragging the "cntdwn.exe" file icon to an appropriate place for a shortcut.  Configuration settings for individual users are stored in their local Windows directory, in accordance with Microsoft Windows standards.


Uninstalling Judy's CountDown

Users of the latest versions of Windows can uninstall Judy's CountDown by using the Add/Remove Programs icon from within the Windows Control Panel.

Windows 3.1 users can use the "Uninstall" icon found within the "Judy's Applications" group.


Program Files

The following files are required for Judy's CountDown operation:

File	Purpose

cntdwn.exe	The main executable program file.

cntdwn.hlp	The help file.  Must be located in the same directory as the executable file.

cntdwn.ini	The initialization file (stores your configuration settings).  Must be located in the Windows directory.

cntdwn.dat	The event definition file.  Must be located in the Windows directory.

cntdwn.lic	The license file.  Must be located in the same directory as the executable file.

Do not attempt to move or rename these necessary program files unless you are an experienced Windows user.

Moving Program Files

If you move the location of the main program files, remember that the "ini" file must remain in the Windows directory, and the others must remain together.

The installation program looks in your "win.ini" file to find the location of the CountDown files (for uninstalling). If you move the files, you may want to update the CountDown section in your "win.ini" file to contain the new location of your TenKey files.

win.ini file
[CountDown]
Path=C:\Program Files\CountDown