Help Contents
Mini-Dashboard V1.0 Contents

Purpose:

While program manager and the file manager provide you with the ability to launch other programs, many times it is tiresome to search through groups and directories just to run a program.

Mini-Dashboard V1.0 is a handy Windows utility where you can configure it for quick access to other programs without all the hassle of using the program manager.

I hope you find Mini-Dashboard V1.0 enjoyable and fun to use.

How to Use

Registering

About


About Mini-Dashboard V1.0

Mini-Dashboard V1.0

Copyright (c) 1993 by

Matthew P. Raffel

3101 Treelodge Pkwy

Dunwoody, GA 30350

CIS 73113,2625

Mini-Dashboard V1.0 is distributed as a shareware application. This is a full featured application.  Nothing is left out or disabled in an unregistered copy of Mini-Dashboard V1.0.  You are granted a 30 day trial use of this application--after which you must register your copy, if you continue to use it.

Please register your application, if you have not already done so.

I appreciate any feed back (comments, critiques, suggestions, etc..) that you have.  You may contact me at the address above or on Compuserve.  Support for using this application is only available to registered users.

Warranty/Disclaimer


Registering Mini-Dashboard V1.0
Registering your copy of Mini-Dashboard V1.0

If you continue to use Mini-Dashboard V1.0 for more than 30 days, then you are required to register your copy with the author.

To Register:

1)	Registration Fee = $10 US Funds drawn on a Continental US Bank

2)	Make checks and money orders payable to Matthew Raffel.

3)	Mail your payment, with the completed registration form (see below) to:

Matthew Raffel

3101 Treelodge Pkwy

Dunwoody, GA 30350

Benefits of Registering

Once your registration form is processed, you will receive some simple instructions on how to enter the registration number, as well as printed documentation, and the most current version.  Further, I will give free end-user support to registered users.

NOTE

You can print a copy of the registration form  when in the registration form topic, by selecting print topic from the file menu or by clicking the print button.


Registration form (print it for a copy)
Registration Form for Mini-Dashboard V1.0

To Print this form, select print topic from the file menu or click on the print button on the toolbar above..

NAME __________________________________________________

ADDRESS:_______________________________________________

ADDRESS:_______________________________________________

CITY:_________________________STATE:_____ZIP:____________

COUNTRY:_______________

HOME PHONE (optional): __________________________

WORK PHONE (optional): __________________________

Are you a member of Compuserve?_____Prodigy?_____BIX?____

GENIE?____America Online?_____

Disk Size	3.5 ____	5.25_____

Low Density Required? ____

# of Copies to be Registered	________

x $10.00

Total 	________

Thank you for registering your copy of Mini-Dashboard V1.0


Shareware Definition

Shareware is a distribution method whereby users have the opportunity to "try before buying" a software package.  Shareware is not free software, as it is copyrighted by the author(s).

Shareware means you are granted a limit trial use of the application.  If during this period, you decide to continue to use the product, you must register your copy with the author.  If you do not want to register the program, then you must uninstall the program from your computer.


Windows Terminology

The help, as it is presented in this file, assumes that you have some understanding of Windows and its terminology.  If some of these terms appear confusing, please refer to the Windows documentation for further clarification.


Warrenty/Disclaimer Information
Warranty/Disclaimer Notice

Governing Law

This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Georgia.

Disclaimer of Warranty

This software and the accompanying files are sold "as is" and  without warranties as to performance of merchantability or any other warranties whether expressed or implied.  Because of the various hardware and software environments into which Mini-Dashboard V1.0 may be put, no warranty of fitness for a particular purpose is offered.

Good data processing procedure dictates that any program be thoroughly tested with non-critical data before relying on it.  The user assumes the entire risk of using the program.  Any liability of the seller will be limited exclusively to product replacement or refund of purchase price.  By using Mini-Dashboard V1.0, you indicate your acceptance to this aggreement.

All trademarks, registered or otherwise, are property of their respective owners.


How to Use Mini-Dashboard
Using Mini-Dashboard V1.0

Overview

Mini-Dashboard V1.0 always displays 6 buttons.  Buttons 2 - 5 can be configured to execute any valid MS-DOS or Windows application.  Button 1 is the setup button.

You click on button 1 to setup the remaining buttons 2 - 5--a screen called "System Menu" will open when you click on button 1.

Setting up a Button

Using a button

Moving Mini-Dashboard around on the Screen

Mini-Dashboard V1.0 Options

Overview of the buttons on the "System Menu" screen


Setting Up a Button

Example of Setting up a button

First:

Click on button 1, which will display a screen titled "System Menu".  The top part of the window is for setting up a button.

The bottom left half is for setting up application options.

And, the bottom right hand side displays 5 radio buttons, numbered 2 -5.  Each of these buttons represents a button on the Mini-Dashboard V1.0 main bar.

Second:

On the bottom right-hand half of the screen, select the number of the button you desire to configure.  If this button is already configured when you select it, the values which are valid for that button will be displayed on the top half of the screen.

Third:

In the field called EXE NAME:  enter the name of the application--you do not have to include the exetension, but if the extension is anything other than .exe, you must include the extension.

Fourth: (Optional)

In the field labeled PATH:  enter the complete path to the application.

FIFTH: (Optional)

In the field labeled COMMAND LINE:  enter any command parameters that your application can accept.  In most cases, this is a name of data file the program will use.

SIXTH: (Required when Allow Multiple Instances is NOT checked)

In the field called WINDOW NAME:  enter part of the title as it appears in the title, or caption, bar.

SEVENTH:

Click on the save button.  This saves your work.  You are now ready to use the button you just set up.  (HINT: Registered users receive detailed information about setting up many common Windows applications.)

Using a button

Mini-Dashboard V1.0 Options


Using a Button

Once a button has been setup, all you have to do is click on the button and Mini-Dashboard V1.0 will automatically start the program, as setup.

Setting up a Button


Placement of Mini-Dashboard on Screen
Moving the location of Mini-Dashboard

When Mini-Dashboard V1.0 loads, it does not appear on the screen like most Windows applications.  Mainly, it does not have a caption (sometimes called a title bar).

Mini-Dashboard V1.0 works like the Window application Clock because Mini-Dashboard V1.0's title bar can be toggled on or off.

To make a caption bar appear:

Activate Mini-Dashboard V1.0 by clicking on the border or making it active via Task Manager  .  Next, press the escape (ESC) key.  This should make the caption bar appear.  If the caption bar is visible when you press the escape key, the caption bar will disappear.

Moving Mini-Dashboard V1.0 to Other screen positions:

Once you have a caption bar (see above), simple click on the caption bar and drag the application to the window position you desire.


Example of Setting Up a Button

The example here shows the entries needed to setup notepad for a button and have it open a file called read.me.

EXE NAME	notepad.exe

PATH	c:\windows\

COMMAND LINE	c:\temp\read.me

WINDOW NAME	notepad


Overview of the buttons on the "System Menu"

BUTTON NAME	FUNCTION

RETURN	closes the "System Menu"

ABOUT	displays some information about

Mini-Dashboard V1.0

CLOSE	ENDS the application

RUN	attempts to execute the information in

the top half of the window

SAVE	save the data that appears in the top

half of the window


Mini-Dashboard V1.0 Options

Currently, only one option has been setup for Mini-Dashboard V1.0.

ALWAYS ON TOP

When this check box (or option box) is checked, Mini-Dashboard V1.0 will never disappear or get covered by other windows.  This is a handy option if you always want Mini-Dashboard V1.0 in view and for easy access.

Moving Mini-Dashboard around on the Screen