Welcome to Snail Manager Help

Snail Manager is an efficient, space-saving shell, but it can work with your existing shell as well.  With Snail Manager, up to seventy-six of your favorite programs can be just two mouse-clicks away.  Information is provided on the following topics:

  General Information

    Start Here

    Mouse Button Functions

    Registering Snail Manager

  Configuring Snail Manager

    Changing the Mouse Pointer

    Changing the Fonts

    Using Quick Setup

  Buttons

    Creating

    Deleting

    Moving and Copying

    Setting Shortcut Keys

    Special Control Buttons

  Using File Manager

    To Create Buttons and Open Files


'Snail Manager Configuration' dialog
Opening the 'Snail Manager Configuration' dialog

The 'Snail Manager Configuration' dialog box is activated using a Special Control Button.  Unless it has been moved or deleted, there should already be one in the Control Row labeled 'Snail Config'.  If it is no longer there, you can easily create one.  (See Special Control Buttons).  Simply click the 'Snail Config' button, and you are ready to make changes to Snail Manager.


Changing the Mouse Pointer

Snail Manager allows you to change the mouse pointer that is used for clicking buttons.  You can easily change the mouse pointer using the 'Snail Manager Configuration' dialog.


Changing Snail Manager Fonts

Snail Manager can display information on its buttons using any Windows fonts that you choose.  The Status Bar, the center of the Status Bar, and each row of buttons can use a separate font.  In addition, the height of each row can be adjusted to suit the fonts you choose.  To change these settings, do the following:

  - Open the 'Snail Manager Configuration' dialog.

  - From the list box below the 'Section Settings' header, select one of the five sections.

  - You can now make changes to the font and height for that section.

  - When you are done, click 'OK' to save these settings.


Using Quick Setup

Quick Setup copies your Program Manager groups into Snail Manager.  This allows you to begin using Snail Manager right away.  To use Quick Setup, do the following:

  - Open the 'Snail Manager Configuration' dialog.

  - Under the 'Quick Setup' header, click the 'Copy Program Manager Groups' button.

  - Quick Setup will notify you when it has completed its operation.

Cautions on using Quick Setup

Snail Manager groups files are located in the same directory as the Snail Manager executable.  They can be labeled 'group-99.sna' through 'group998.sna'.  'group999.sna' contains the programs found in the Control Row.  When Quick Setup is used, it begins creating group files with the name 'group0.sna', then 'group1.sna', and so on.  If any Snail Manager group files already exist with those names, they will be replaced.

If you plan to use Quick Setup after you have already created Snail Manager groups, be aware that some or all may be overwritten.  If you periodically update Snail Manager to reflect the current state of Program Manager, this may in fact be advantageous.  However, you may want to use Quick Setup and leave your current groups intact.

If you want to keep your existing groups, the easiest way to do so is to rename the group files.  Using the DOS command line, File Manager, or any other file utility, rename your group files 'group-1.sna', 'group-2.sna', and so on.  This will place your current groups just to the left of the groups that will be created by Quick Setup.


Creating Buttons With Snail Manager

Creating New Group Buttons

  - Right-click any button in the middle row to bring up the 'Group Name' box.

  - Type the name for that group.

  - Click 'OK' to save the name, OR

     Click one of the Arrow Buttons to save the name and move to the next button.

Creating New Program and Control Buttons

  - Right-click any Program or Control button to bring up the 'Program Properties' box.

  - Fill in the blanks, OR

     Click 'Browse' and select a program from the 'Select Program File' box.

  - Click 'OK' to save the settings, OR

     Click one of the Arrow Buttons to save the settings and move to the next button.

OR

  - Start File Manager.

  - Drag a file onto any empty Program or Control button.

  - Use the 'Program Properties' box to make any necessary changes.

Setting Window Size

  - Set up a program button to run a program.

  - In the Info line, enter [Min], [Max], or [Hide].

Note : Be careful using the [Hide] command.  Programs started using the [Hide] command will not be visible, and cannot be accessed using Task List.  They will be running and consuming memory, but you will not be able to close them manually.  It is primarily intended for programs such as DOS batch files, which terminate automatically when they are finished.


Deleting Buttons

Deleting Group Buttons

  To delete an entire group, including all of the Program buttons for that group,

    - Hold down the right mouse button and drag the button off of Snail Manager.

    - Click 'OK' to delete the group.

  To simply clear the group's name, leaving all of its Program buttons intact,

    - Right-click the Group button.

    - Press Delete or Backspace to delete the group's name.

    - Click 'OK' to clear the name.

Deleting Program or Control Buttons

  - Hold down the right mouse button and drag the button off of Snail Manager.

  - Click 'OK' to delete the button.

OR

  - Right-click the button to open the 'Program Properties' box.

  - Delete all lines using Delete or Backspace, OR

     Click 'Clear' to delete them all.

  - Click 'OK' to delete the button.


Moving and Copying Buttons

All moving and copying is accomplished by holding down the right mouse button and moving the mouse.  Group buttons can only be dragged and dropped within their own row.  This allows the Group buttons to be reordered.

Program and Control buttons can also be reordered by dragging and dropping them in their own rows.  In addition, they can be dragged to one of the group buttons.  This action brings up a box which allows the button to be copied or moved to that group.


Setting Shortcut Keys

Each button can be assigned to respond to single letter or number.  To assign a button to respond to a certain keystroke, do the following:

  - Open the 'Program Properties' or 'Group Name' dialog by right-clicking any button.

  - In the 'Title' or 'Name' line, place an '&' character before any letter or number.

  - Click 'OK'

That letter will now appear underlined on the button face.  Whenever that button is exposed and Snail Manager is the active window, striking the underlined key will activate that button.


Special Control Buttons

Special Control Buttons are used for the following:

  - Exiting or Restarting Windows,

  - Minimizing Snail Manager,

  - Opening the 'Snail Manager Configuration' dialog

  - Opening the 'Run Program' dialog, and

  - Toggling the Status Bar.

To create one,

  - Open the 'Program Properties' box by right-clicking any Program or Control button.

  - Click the 'Control' button to open the 'Make Control Button' box.

  - Select the type of Control Button you wish to create.

  - Click 'OK'.


Using with File Manager

Snail Manager buttons can be used to open File Manager files.  Simply drag a file from File Manager and drop it on any filled Program button.  That application will then be started using the file that you selected.

Snail Manager can also create new Program buttons for files you drag in from File Manager.  Just drag a file from File Manager onto an empty Program button and Snail Manager will set it up to run that program.  Then, if necessary, you can use the 'Program Properties' box to fine-tune the program settings


Introduction

Snail Manager is designed to take up very little screen space, allowing it to be visible even when other programs are running.  For this reason, no icons are used.

At the top of the screen is the Status Bar.  In addition to showing the name of the program, it displays the time, date, and amount of free memory and resources.  It can be turned on and off using a Toggle Status Bar button.  (See Special Control Buttons)

The top row of buttons are Control buttons.  These can be used to start programs which you always want to have available, or they can be Special Control Buttons.

The middle row of buttons are Group buttons.  When a group button is clicked, the Program buttons for that group are displayed in the bottom row.

The bottom row of buttons are Program buttons.  Just like Control buttons, these can start any program or can be Special Control Buttons.

Only eight buttons are visible in each row at any one time, but there can be many more.  On either side of each row of buttons, there is a small blank button.  This button allows you to scroll each row to the left or right, revealing additional buttons.

If you are using Snail Manager for the first time, you may want to use Quick Setup.  Quick Setup creates Snail Manager program groups which are identical to your Program Manager groups.  This allows you to begin using Snail Manager immediately.


Mouse Button Functions

Left Button:

  - Starting Programs

  - Switching Groups

Right Button:

  - Moving, Copying, and Deleting Buttons

  - Opening Properties Box


Registering Snail Manager

This program is not free!  It is being distributed as ShareWare, so that you can evaluate it before buying.  In addition, you are free to distribute Snail Manager, provided that all included files are passed on in their original forms.  However, if you decide to use it past the 30 day trial period, you must register your copy.  To register your copy, refer to the file 'REGISTER.WRI'.  When you register, you will be given a username and password, which will allow you to disable the ShareWare reminder screens.  This username and password will work for all future versions of Snail Manager compiled for Windows 3.1.

I encourage all users of Snail Manager to report bugs and give any comments, suggestions, or compliments.  It is currently in use on several machines and appears to be relatively well-behaved, but since this is the first release, I am sure it is not perfect.  I intend to continue refining it as problems come up, and improved versions will be posted.  Feedback can be sent to any of the following addresses:

Bill Hander

26 Knollwood Dr.

New Providence, NJ  07974

OR

wbh1@cornell.edu

OR

75210.741@compuserve.com