AppMan

Desktop Application Manager Version 1.0

 Copyright  © 1993 Eddie McCreary

To learn how to use Help, press F1, or choose How To Use Help from the Help menu.

Overview

About AppMan

Distribution

How To...

Run AppMan

Add Applications

Change a Button's Application

Change a Buttons Icon

Move a Button

Arrange the Buttons

Hide the AppMan Icon

Display a Button's Menu

Menu Commands

Button Menu

Properties

Delete

Close

Hide/Show Icon

AppMan Icon Menu

Add Item

Hide

Arrange

About

Help


Running AppMan

To run AppMan, simply execute it from Program Manager or File Manager with no command line parameters as you would any Windows based program.

If you want AppMan to start everytime you load Windows, you may add the AppMan executable to the run entry of you win.ini.  For example:

[windows]

spooler=yes

run=e:\windev\appman\appman.exe

This will execute AppMan everytime you start Windows.  Alternatively, you can add AppMan to the StartUp group.  This has the same effect as adding it to the run entry.


Adding Applications

There are two methods you may use to add applications to AppMan.  The first, and easiest, is to drag the executable files from File Manager and drop them on the AppMan icon.  A button will be created for each file dropped.  The AppMan icon must be visible for this to work.  You may then customize the button using the properties menu item for that button.

The second method is to use the "Add Item" menu item from the AppMan icon.  This will display the properties dialog box and let you enter the relevant data by hand.  If Ok is chosen, a new button is created. By default, the first icon in the file will be displayed on the button.  You may change the icon used by using the properties item of the button menu.

See Also Properties.


About AppMan

AppMan is a small Windows based utility which will allow you to place buttons on the desktop that execute applications.  With AppMan running you have quick, easy access to your most commonly used applications.


Changing A Button's Application

To change to application a button executes, bring up the menu for that button by pressing the right mouse button on the AppMan button to change and select the "Properties..." menu item.  The File Name field determines the application to execute.  You may type the complete path in by name or press the "Browse..." button to bring up the Open dialog box.

You should type a new working directory or delete the current one in the Working Directory field if you need to.


Changing A Button's Icon

To change to icon a button displays, bring up the menu for that button by pressing the right mouse button on the AppMan button to change and select the "Properties..." menu item.  Then, press the "Change Icon..." button to bring up the "Change Icon" dialog box.  The File Name field determines the file to extract the icon from.  For a Windows application this will usually be the same file which is executed.  You can change this file by either typing a new file name or use the "Browse" button to select a new file.

The current icon list box displays the icons available in the selected file.  If you do not select one, the first one in the list will be chosen by default.


Arranging Buttons

To arrange the buttons on the desktop, bring up the main icon menu by pressing the left mouse button on the main icon.  The icon must be visible for this to work.  There are four options under the arrange menu selection: upper left, lower left, upper right and lower right.  If you choose one of these selections, AppMan will move all of the buttons to the selected corner of the screen.


Moving A Button

To move a button around on the desktop, press the left mouse button while the cursor is over the black border around the button.  While holding the mouse button down, move the mouse to the destination of the button.  An outline of the button will follow the cursor.  Release the mouse button to drop the button in the new location.

If you have trouble with this method, you can also hold one of the "Shift" keys down and press the left mouse button down over any portion of the AppMan button.  This has the same effect as clicking the mouse button over the black border.

Each button will remember it's position when it was last closed and be created there the next time AppMan is started.


Hiding the AppMan Icon

AppMan will left you hide the main application icon to give you more room on the desktop.  Selecting "Hide Icon" from the main icon's menu will make the main icon invisible.

If the main icon is visible, each button menu will have a selection titled "Hide Icon".  This has the same effect as selecting the item from the main icon's menu.  If the main icon is not visible, the selection will read "Unhide Icon" which make the main icon visible again.


Properties

The "Properties..." menu selection will display the "Properties" dialog box.

FileName

The File Name edit field displays the name of the file to be executed.  You may manually type in the name or use the "Browse" option to select a new one.

Working Directory

The Working Directory edit field determines the directory to execute the application from.

Ok

The Ok button makes the necessary changes to the button.

Cancel

The Cancel button aborts any changes you have made.

Browse

The Browse button brings up the browse dialog box for you to select a new executable.

Change Icon

The Change Icon button will bring up the Change Icon Dialog box:

The file name is file used to extract icons from.  You may manually type this in or use the "Browse" option to select a new file.  The list box display the icons available in the selected file.  If no icon is selected and Ok is pressed, the first icon in the list is selected.


Delete

Delete will remove the application from the ini file and destroy the button.


Close

Close will close the button, but not remove it from the list of applications.  You must restart AppMan to bring the button back.


Hide Icon
Hide/Show Icon

If the main icon is visible, this menu selection will read "Hide".  Selecting this item will hide the main icon.  If the main icon is not visible, this selection will read "Show".  Selecting this will make the main icon visible again.


Add Item

Add Item will bring up the properties dialog box for a new button.  Selecting Ok will create a new button.  Selecting Cancel will abort the process and not create a new button.


Hide

Hide will make the main AppMan icon invisible.


Arrange

Arrange will move all of the buttons into the selected corner of the screen.  You may choose from any of the four corners.


About

About will display the about box for the current version of AppMan.


Help

Help will bring up the help file you are currently reading.


Distribution

AppMan is freeware.  The only restriction on distribution is that you keep the original zip file containing the executable and help file intact.  Please report all bug reports to me at edm@twisto.compaq.com.  I also welcome suggestions on improving AppMan.

I'm considering writing a shell replacement for Windows 3.1 based around AppMan as soon as I finished the next two or three projects I have lined up.  If you'd like to see a shell like this or have any ideas on the subject, drop me a note and I'll add it to my idea notebook.  The more responses I get the more inclinded I'll be to actually write the thing.


Displaying a Button's Menu

You can bring up the menu for a button by clicking the right mouse button anywhere over the surface of the button.