DSTLaunch for Windows 95/NT 4.0



Index of Page

Section

Titles

Where To Download DSTLaunch
What Is DSTLaunch
Who Should Use DSTLaunch
What's The Current Version?
How Do I Contact DarkStar Technologies?
How Do I Register DSTLaunch?
Known Bugs In The Current Version?
Features to be added in the Future
Online Manual
Online Manual - Trouble Shooting



Where To Download DSTLaunch



You can download the latest version from this link.
Download the latest
version (1.X beta 1).



What is DSTLaunch



DSTLaunch is an application toolbar of Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 and above. It's main purpose is to allow easier access to your files and programs.

Many of the "easy of use" features of the new shell found in Windows 95 are very time consuming to use ( my personal belief is that as easy of use increases so does the length of time it takes to get something done :). For example if you want to get a list of files in c:\windows\system, you first have to go to My Computer, then c:, then windows, and then system. You can build short cuts, however you can never anticipate all the places you might want to go. If one of these directories has many files in it, browsing these directories could be very time consuming.

You could hit the start button, run a program and select the path, but if you do this often, this can be very time consuming. DSTLaunch places a toolbar on your screen like the start bar, however this toolbar gives you a command line that is always available to use.

All of the run program features are available, but so much more is possible:

Aliases DSTLaunch allows you to define aliases to command you use often.
DDE Calls to Web Browsers When opening a URL, DSTLaunch will connect to your web browser via DDE and open an new window, instead of just creating a new instance of the browser.
Drive Mapping Allows you to map drives from the command line and have DSTLaunch reconnect them later instead of Windows.
Definable History Size DSTLaunch allows you to set the size of the command history, and saves it when DSTLaunch is closed, and reloads it next time.
Multi-User friendly All configuration is stored in the system registry, system defaults are stored in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE while user options are stored in HKEY_CURRENT_USER. This allows multiple people to use the same system with completely different configurations for DSTLaunch.
Direct Access to Folders No more browsing through endless levels to get where you want, simple type in the folder and your off.
Explore or Browse You can open and explorer window by simply use the E command, allowing easy access to the explorer interface.
Start Your Screen Saver Allows you to start your screen saver with a single command.
Logoff, Reset or Shutdown Windows Easily end your windows sessions.
Command Guessing Type in the first few characters of the command you want and hit the tab key and the rest will be filled in for you.

Who Should Use DSTLaunch



DSTLaunch was built for those who have experience using CLI ( Command Line Interfaces ) and believe that a CLI still has benefits in this age of GUI's.

If you are squeamish about using a DOS Prompt, then DSTLaunch is definitely not for you. But if you like typing and find command line switch to be a godsend from all those check boxes, you might just like it :).

What's The Current Version?



DSTLaunch is currently in beta, beta 1 is being released to the public to get feed back from users so that I can improve what I have.

How Do I Contact DarkStar Technologies?



You can send me e-mail here

I will try and respond to your mail, however the priority goes as follows: REGISTRATIONS, BUGS, REQUEST FOR NEW FEATURES, GENERAL COMMENTS, COMPLAINTS.

Complaints will, of course, be completely ignored if they do not fall into one of the previous categories.

How Do I Register DSTLaunch?



Since it is in beta, there is no way to currently register DSTLaunch, the full release should be out shortly.

Know Bugs In The Current Version



Here is a list of the bugs that I know of and am working on, please do not send me mail about these.

Description Date Reported Status
There are no know bugs at this time. None None

Features to be added in the Future



Here is a list of features that I am planning on adding in version 2 of DSTLaunch.

Proiority Description Current Status
High Scripting - Basic In Though
Medium Scripting - Advanced ( C like ) In Though
High Rewrite command parsing to look for www. on command line In Though