ConMan version 0.92: A Windows Network Connection Manager.
Copyright GAGE Software 1990-91
Portions Copyright Microsoft Corporation
*** Shareware Notice ***
Thank you for trying ConMan. This is a ShareWare product. Please feel free to use this program for a 15 day evaluation period. If you find it useful and would like to continue to use it, you will need to register by sending $15.00 check or money order to:
Gage Software
P.O. Box 2594
Renton, WA 98056
Voice: (206)235-4813; CompuServe: 72760,3023
Your support is greatly appreciated and will lead to the development of new products by Gage Software.
Introduction:
The intent of this product is to provide a easy way for Windows users to access the features of their network without having to go through Microsoft's File Manager and Control Panel.
The primary interface allows the user to easily make and break network connections. This includes server disk shares as well as printers. It provides a list of the current connections and allows a user to store frequently used connection paths for quick access. Secondarily, the interface provides access to the extended features that are built into some Windows network drivers.
Use:
To use this product your network software must be loaded before you start Windows. You must be running a Windows network driver that supports the Microsoft Windows Network interface specification (if it works with the File Manager and the Control Panel, you're okay). You can run ConMan from the Program Manager by running it from the File/Run menu or by adding it to a group and double clicking on its icon. Personally, I run it from the Tools menu in Metz TaskManager (or the ThreadZ TaskManager if you've upgraded). ConMan will not load if your network is not running. If this is the case, exit Windows and start your network software. The first time you run ConMan you will be greeted by a share notice message, read it and click OK to run ConMan. Your current network connections will be displayed on the right in the list box labeled "Current:". If have no connections the list will be empty.
The "Connect" button:
This button is used to connect to a network resource. Select a device label from the "Redirect Device:" combo box. The available drive letters are listed first followed by the available printer ports. Enter a name of or path to the resource in the "Network Path:" edit. For example if you are using the MSNET driver then you would enter "\\server\share". If the resource requires a password, enter it in the "Password:" edit. Then click on the "Connect" button. If the operation was successful, the device and resource name will appear in the "Current:" list box. If you forgot to enter a password or misspelled it, you will be prompted to enter the correct password. Enter the correct password and click the "OK" button to connect or click the "Cancel" button to cancel the operation.
The "Disconnect" button:
This button is used to disconnect from a network resource. Select the resource you wish to disconnect from the "Current:" list box. Then click on the "Disconnect" button. If the operation was successful, the device and resource will be deleted from the list.
The "Add" button:
This button is used to add a network resource to the "Previous:" list. Select the resource you wish to add from the "Current:" list box. Then click the "Add" button. If the operation was successful, the resource will be added to the "Previous:" list.
The "Remove" button:
This button is used to remove a network resource from the "Previous:" list. Select the resource you wish to remove from the "Previous:" list. Then click on the "Remove" button. If the operation was successful, the network resource will be removed from the "Previous:" list.
The "Browse" button:
This button is used to access the browse feature of you Windows network driver. If "Browse" button is grayed, then this feature is not supported by your network driver. The implementation of this feature varies from driver to driver. The basic idea is to allow you to browse through a list or lists of network resources available to you on the network. When you select a resource and click the OK button, the resource name will be inserted into the "Network Path:" edit. Select a device label from the "Redirect Device:" combo box, enter a password if necessary then click the "Connect" button to connect to that device. If the operation was successful, the device and resource name will appear in the "Current:" list box.
The "Network" button:
Some Windows network drivers have extended functionality that you can access by clicking the "Network" button. This button has the same functionality as double clicking on the network icon in the control panel.
Conclusion:
Well that's it for now. This product works quite well with LanMan Basic and Enhanced and PC LAN using the msnet.drv. If you are using ConMan on a Novell network you may have some problems if you are not using the latest drivers from Novell. One way to test this is to try connecting to and disconnected from network resources using the Windows File Manager. If this works then ConMan should work too.
All feed back, good, bad or indifferent, is welcome. Please tell me if it works, if its useful and if it makes sense. It will be best to communicate through CompuServe. My id is 72760,3023.
Bug/incomplete List:
1) The OnLine help for ConMan has yet to be written and is currently disabled.
Bug Fixes List:
Fixed in v0.92
1) The "Add" button did not work correctly in v0.91 and now works as documented above.
