Contents for AL Help
Select one of the following topics for more information on AL.

    Overview of AL
    Bank Buttons
    Text Buttons
    Icon Buttons
    Scroll Buttons
    AL System Parameters
    Built-in Functions


AL Overview
Overview of AL
AL is a Microsoft Windows 3.1 utility that allows you to quickly and easily run all of your most used Windows, DOS and OS/2 2.1 applications.  AL eliminates the need for double-clicking through group icons and hassling with sizing, scrolling, and moving windows around in the Program Manager while searching for the desired application icon.  Application are run via Text Buttons or Icon Buttons.  Text and Icon buttons can be grouped together under Bank Buttons so that they may be easily found and accessed.


Bank Buttons
Bank Buttons allow you group related applications together, such as: Productivity applications, Games, Utilities, etc.  AL displays only the Text Buttons and Icon Buttons that have been assigned to the currently selected bank.  When a different Bank Button is pressed, AL displays the Text and  Icon Buttons for the newly selected bank.  You can put all your applications in one bank if you desire, although you must create at least one bank.  For more information, select one of the following topics.

    Creating a new Bank
    Editing an exisiting Bank
    Deleting a Bank
    Cloning a Bank


Creating A New Bank
Follow the steps below to create a new Bank Button.

1) Select Configure->Edit Bank Buttons from AL's menu.
2) Press the New Button.
3) Double-click on New Button in the Button List to clear the fields.
4) Customize the button (see Editing an exisiting Bank).
5) Press the Update Button to save your changes.

Note that pressing the Update Button will update the currently selected button in the button list with whatever information is in the other controls.  Make sure that the button you want to update is the button that is selected!


Editing An Existing Bank
Follow the steps below to modify the characteristics of a Bank Button.

1) Select Configure->Edit Bank Buttons from AL's menu.
2) Double-click on the button you want to modify in the button list.
3) Change any of the button characteristics.
4) Press the Update Button to save your changes.

Select a topic for more information on button characteristics.

    Button List
    Button Title
    Password Button
    Browse Button
    Font
    Sound File
    Use Default Config
    Color List
    Move Up Button
    Move Dn Button
    Delete Button
    New Button
    Update Button
    Button Columns
    Bank Button Rows
    Text Button Rows
    Icon Button Rows


Text Buttons
Text and Icon Buttons are used to run applications. Text Buttons are identified by the user-defined text displayed on them. They give a little more information about their function than Icon Buttons do.  For example "View README.WRI" tells the user more about the function of the button than just displaying the Write icon on it.  Text Buttons do not require the extra time to load and additional memory usage that Icon Buttons do.  If you are creating a button for an application that resides on removable media such as the floppy drive or CD-ROM, it is recommended that you use a Text Button. For more information, select one of the  following topics.

Creating a new Text Button
Editing an exisiting Text Button
Deleting a Text Button
Cloning a Text Button
Copying Text Buttons


Creating A New Text Button
Follow the steps below to create a new Text Button.

1) Select Configure->Edit Text Buttons from AL's menu.
2) Press the New Button.
3) Double-click on New Button in the Button List to clear the fields.
4) Customize the button (see Editing an exisiting Text Button).
5) Press the Update Button to save your changes.

Note that pressing the Update Button will update the currently selected button in the button list with whatever information is in the other controls.  Make sure that the button you want to update is the button that is selected!


Editing An Existing Text Button
Follow the steps below to modify the characteristics of a Text Button.

1) Select Configure->Edit Text Buttons from AL's menu.
2) Double-click on the button you want to modify in the button list.
3) Change any of the button characteristics.
4) Press the Update Button to save your changes.

Select a topic for more information on button characteristics.

    Button List
    Button Title
    Password Button
    Browse Button
    Program
    Sound File
    Arguments
    Color List
    Copy Btns
    Move Up Button
    Move Dn Button
    Delete Button
    New Button
    Update Button


Icon Buttons
Icon and Text Buttons are used to run applications. Icon Buttons are identified by the application icon displayed on them. AL allows you select the icon displayed on the button from any file.  This allows you to set up Icon Buttons for applications that may not even have an icon.  There are three drawbacks to using Icon Buttons.  The first is  that AL must load all the icons that are needed when it is started. This time may be noticeable if you have a slow computer or have a lot of Icon  Buttons defined.  The second drawback is that Icon Buttons require the  extra resources to store the icons that Text Buttons do not.  Lastly, if you use an icon for an application that resides on removable media such as  the floppy drive or CD-ROM, and that application is not available when AL is started, the button will be displayed with no icon.  On the other hand, Icon Buttons look nicer on the screen and do not take up as much screen space. If you limit the number of Icon Buttons that you define to the applications that you frequently use, there should be no problem.  For more information,  select one of the following topics.

Creating a new Icon Button
Editing an exisiting Icon Button
Deleting an Icon Button
Cloning an Icon Button
Copying Icon Buttons


Creating A New Icon Button
Follow the steps below to create a new Icon Button.

1) Select Configure->Edit Icon Buttons from AL's menu.
2) Press the New Button.
3) Double-click on New Button in the Button List to clear the fields.
4) Customize the button (see Editing an exisiting Icon Button).
5) Press the Update Button to save your changes.

Note that pressing the Update Button will update the currently selected button in the button list with whatever information is in the other controls.  Make sure that the button you want to update is the button that is selected!


Editing An Existing Icon Button
Follow the steps below to modify the characteristics of an Icon Button.

1) Select Configure->Edit Icon Buttons from AL's menu.
2) Double-click on the button you want to modify in the button list.
3) Change any of the button characteristics.
4) Press the Update Button to save your changes.

Select a topic for more information on button characteristics.

    Button List
    Button Title
    Password Button
    Browse Button
    Program
    Sound File
    Icon File
    Num
    Arguments
    Color List
    Copy Btns
    Move Up Button
    Move Dn Button
    Delete Button
    New Button
    Update Button
    Next
    Prev


Scroll Buttons
Scroll Buttons appear in the AL window when more Bank Buttons, Text Buttons, or Icon Buttons have been defined than will fit in their respective portion of the AL screen.  When a Scroll Button is pressed, the beginning of the Button List is either moved forward or back equal to the number of buttons that fit on the screen.  This allows you to cycle through buttons until the desired button is visible on the screen.  Note that it actually changes the order of the button in the Button List.


System Parameters
The System Parameters define variables that globally affect AL.  This is where the default screen configuration, bank button type, system password, and screen size are defined.

    Button Columns
    Bank Button Rows
    Text Button Rows
    Icon Button Rows
    Panel Style Bank Buttons
    AL Size
    Password


AL Built-in Functions
AL contains several useful functions that you can acces through buttons just as you would any normal program.  Simply enter the name of the function in the Program edit box of either the Edit Text Buttons or Edit Icon Buttons dialogs.

    *DOSSHELL
    *LOCK
    *PROMPT
    *QUIT
    *REBOOT
    *RESTART
    *RUN
    *SHUTDOWN
    *UNLOCK


Deleting Buttons
Use the following procedure for deleting buttons. If you wish to delete a Bank Button, for safety purposes, you must first delete all the Text Buttons and Icon Buttons assigned to that bank.

1) Invoke the desired button edit dialog from the Configure menu.
2) Select the button from the Button List that you wish to delete.
3) Press the Delete button (You will be prompted before the button is deleted).


Cloning Buttons
Use the following procedure for cloning buttons.  When you clone a button, you make an exact duplicate of the button in the same bank, which you can  then edit.  This is a quick way to create a button without having to enter  all the information.  You can also use the Copy Button  function if you wish do duplicate Text or Icon Buttons in the same, or different banks.

1) Invoke the desired button edit dialog from the Configure menu.
2) Double click on the button you wish to clone in the button list.
3) Press the New button.
4) Select the button titled "New Button" in the Button List (Do not double click on it).
5) Press the Update button.

All the information from the original button should have been updated to the new button.  You can now change any of the paramters to customize the button. Remember to press update to save any changes you have made to the button.


Copying Buttons
You can use the Copy Buttons function to copy Text or Icon buttons within the same, or across different banks.  For example, if you wish to have a button to Exit Windows in each bank, simply create it in one bank, then copy it to the remaining banks using the Copy Buttons function.  See Cloning Buttons to copy Bank Buttons.

1) Invoke the desired button edit dialog from the Configure menu.
2) Select the button from the Button List that you wish to copy.
3) Press the Copy Btns button.
4) When the Copy Buttons dialog comes up, select the banks you wish to copy the button to.
5) Select whether you want Text, Icon or both types of buttons created in the destination banks.
6) Press the OK button.


New Button
The New Button is used to create a new Bank Button Text Button, or Icon Button.  AL creates a blank button called New Button and adds it to the button list in the respective edit button dialog.  You can then modify any of the button's characteristics.


Update Button
The Update Button is used in the edit button dialogs to copy the currently defined button characteristics to the currently selected button in the Button List.  Make sure the button you want to update is selected or you will copy the current characteristics to the wrong button.


Button List
The Button List shows all the Bank Buttons Text Buttons, or Icon Buttons that you have currently defined (depending on which dialog you are in).  You can double-click on a button to bring up all its characteristics, which you can then edit.  Use the Move Up Button or Move Dn Button to move the currently selected button around in the list.  Buttons are displayed in the AL window in the order that they appear in the list.


Browse Button
The Browse Button is used to bring up a dialog for searching the file system for a given file, or selecting a font.  When browsing the file system, you can go to a different drive or directory by double-clicking on it. Double clicking on a file is the same as selecting the file and pressing OK.  For fonts, select the desired font and press OK.


Font
AL allows you to select the font that is used on the Bank Buttons and Text Buttons. You can assign a different font to each bank.  That Bank Button and all Text Buttons under it will be displayed using the font you assigned. The font can be changed by editing the Bank Button.  Note that all the fonts you have currently set up in Windows may not be available.  AL screens them to filter out fonts that would make no sense on a button such as symbol and math equation fonts.


Sound File
You can attach .WAV files to any of the buttons you create.  These are defined in the edit button dialogs.  Whenever you press a button, AL will play the .WAV file that you assigned to it.  You can create buttons that just play sounds by not assigning any program for the button to run.


Color List
When you create or edit any button, you can assign a color to it from the color list.  Each button can be assigned any color listed.  If you are using Panel Style Bank Buttons, you may notice that only half of the colors are listed.  This is because AL reserves the lighter colors to use when that particular bank is selected.


Move Buttons
The Move Buttons are used within the edit dialogs to change the order of the buttons listed in the Button List.  Both Move Up and Move Dn act on the currently selected button.  All the buttons in the AL window are displayed in the order that they appear in the Button Lists.  When AL is started, the first bank that is displayed is the first one in the list.  By changing the order of the Bank Buttons, you can determine the default bank that is selected on start up.


Button Title
The Button Title is the text that appears on all the Bank Buttons and Text Buttons. It is used with Icon Buttons to identify a given button in the Button List.  When a new button is created, it is given the title New Button.


Button Columns
This is the number of button columns displayed in the AL window. One Bank Button, one Text Button and three Icon Buttons will fit in each column. Button Columns are defined either in the AL System Parameters, or the edit bank button dialog.


Bank Button Rows
This is the number of rows of Bank Buttons displayed in the AL window.  You can set this parameter to 0, and no Bank Buttons will be displayed and the portion of the AL window where the Bank Buttons normally reside will be removed.  If you have more Bank Buttons than will fit with the number of Button Columns and Bank Button Rows defined, Scroll Buttons will appear to allow you to access all your Bank Buttons.  Bank Button Rows are defined either in the AL System Parameters, or the edit bank button dialog.


Text Button Rows
This is the number of rows of Text Buttons displayed in the AL window.  You can set this parameter to 0, and no Text Buttons will be displayed and the portion of the AL window where the Text Buttons normally reside will be removed.  If you have more Text Buttons than will fit with the number of Button Columns and Text Button Rows defined, Scroll Buttons will appear to allow you to access all your Text Buttons.  Text Button Rows are defined either in the AL System Parameters, or the edit bank button dialog.


Icon Button Rows
This is the number of rows of Icon Buttons displayed in the AL window.  You can set this parameter to 0, and no Icon Buttons will be displayed and the portion of the AL window where the Icon Buttons normally reside will be removed.  If you have more Icon Buttons than will fit with the number of Button Columns and Icon Button Rows defined, Scroll Buttons will appear to allow you to access all your Icon Buttons.  Icon Button Rows are defined either in the AL System Parameters, or the edit bank button dialog.


Selecting Icons
Al allows you to assign icons from any file to your Icon Buttons via the Edit Icon Button dialog. Either type the name of the file that contains the icon you want to use, or use the Browse Button next to the Icon File edit box.  The first icon (Icon 0) will be displayed in the lower left hand corner of the Edit Icon Button dialog box. Note that some files contain more than one icon (MOREICONS.DLL has over 100). You can use the Next and Prev buttons to cycle through the icons, or enter an icon number in the Num edit box.  If you hit the end of the icons, AL will indicate that the icon number is non-existant. You can use the icon from any valid file that contains icons for any application.  This allows you to set up icon buttons for DOS programs, Batch files, or OS/2 applications (who's icons cannot be used by AL).


Passwords
AL offers three levels of password protection.  The different password levels prevent users from changing banks, activating Text Buttons or Icon Buttons, changing the System Parameters, or altering any of the buttons without the proper password.

The highest level is the System Password.  It is set in the System Parameters dialog.  It prevents users from bringing up the System Parameters dialog, or editing Bank Buttons.

The next level of passwords are assigned individually to Bank Buttons in the Edit Bank Buttons dialog.  Users are unable to change to a given bank without the password that has been assigned to it.  The specific Bank Buttons cannot be modified either.

The last level are passwords that are assigned to individual Text Buttons and Icon Buttons.  Users are unable to launch applications using these buttons without the password.  These buttons cannot be modified either.

Remember your passwords!  The only way to clear them is to delete your button data file and remake it!


Use Default Config
Use Default Configuration
AL allows you to change the screen configuration for each bank.  For instance, if you have a bank that contains no Icon Buttons, you can set the number of Icon Button Rows to 0 for that bank.  This option is enabled by the Use Default Config check box in the Edit Bank Button dialog.  If it is checked, the screen configuration for the selected bank is set by the System Parameters, otherwise it is set by the rows and column edit boxes.  When you select this bank, AL will change the screen size to that specified by the bank's parameters.


Bank Button Style
There are two styles of Bank Buttons that you can choose from.  The first, and default setting, is LED style buttons.  The Bank Buttons each have an LED on them that lights when the bank is selected.  The second style is Panel Buttons.  The whole button lights up when the bank is selected.  You can enable Panel Buttons by checking Panel Style Bank Button in the System Parameter dialog.


Program
The Program edit box in the Edit Text Buttons or Edit Icon Buttons dialogs is where you enter the actual program you want the given button to launch.  You can either enter the data manually, or use the Browse Button.  AL accepts .EXE, .COM, .BAT, or PIF files.  You can enter the whole pathname for the program, or just the program name if it is in the path.

You can also enter one of AL's Built-in Functions in the Program edit box instead of a program.  If you leave the Program edit box blank, AL will not execute anything when the corresponding button is pressed. This is useful for setting up buttons that just play Sound Files.

Do not enter command line arguments here.  Instead, enter them in the Arguments edit box.


Command Line Arguments
You can specify command line arguments for any of the applications you set up buttons for.  For example, suppose you want a button to view the README.WRI file.  You can create a new button that contains WRITE.EXE in the Program edit box and README.WRI in the Arguments edit box. This button will run Write and load README.WRI automatically when it is pressed.  Also see *PROMPT for parameter prompting.


*DOSSHELL Function
This function shells to DOS by reading the and executing the program specified by the COMSPEC environment variable.


*LOCK Function
This function puts AL in Lock Mode.  In Lock Mode, you cannot activate any Bank Button, Text Button, or Icon Button without entering the System Password.  This overrides any passwords that the buttons may have had.  Note that this only affects activating buttons.  All passwords for editing buttons, if they had any, remain the same.  Use the *UNLOCK function to exit Lock Mode.  Lock Mode is not very effective if you have no System Password defined.


*PROMPT Function
When used as a function, *PROMPT brings up a small dialog box that lets you enter a path and program name to execute without defining a button for it. This is similar to *RUN with the exception that *RUN lets you select the program using a Browse dialog.

If you use this button as part of a Command Line Argument, AL will prompt you to enter a parameter before launching a program.  For example, you could set up a button to run Write, using *PROMPT as the Argument.  AL will prompt you for the file you want to edit before executing Write.


*QUIT Function
This function quits AL as if you selected Close from AL's System Menu.


*REBOOT Function
This function closes all Windows applications, exits Windows, and reboots your computer as if you pressed CTRL+ALT+DEL.  This is much safer than pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL without shuting everything down.


*RESTART Function
This function closes all Windows applications, then exits and restarts Windows.


*RUN Function
This function brings up a Browse dialog, from which you can select a program and execute it.  It is nice for applications that you do not use enough to set up a button for.  Also see *PROMPT.


*SHUTDOWN Function
This function closes all Windows applications and exits Windows.  It's an easier way to quickly exit Windows without using Close from the System Menu on the Program Manager.


*UNLOCK Function
This function reverses the *LOCK function.


AL Size
AL comes in three sizes.  Normal AL is the default size and is basically sized by how big an Icon Button would have to be to hold a standard sized icon.  Baby AL is 75% the size of Normal AL.  Big AL is 150% the size of Normal AL.