ATools is an enhanced task and application management utility.
Tools provides three main functions:
the task switcher
the task, document and system status list view
the application panels
Tools is not intended to replace the system screen, it is more a powerful extension to it. Use it as an information platform for gaining a quick look at all the relevant key info of your machine.
XAThe task switcher can be invoked by pressing Ctrl Space and keeping Ctrl pressed while selecting between open programs using Space and the cursor keys.
Pressing Space cycles between open programs as well as the cursor down key. Use the cursor up key to cycle backwards.
After releasing the Ctrl key Tools switches to the selected application.
BThe list view is one of the basic mechanisms of Tools.
Usually Tools is continuously running in the background. After pressing the hotkey (by default this will be Ctrl T) Tools comes to the foreground. You will see one of the three main lists:
the system status
the task list
the list of recently used documents (this feature is currently only available on 5mx machines)
If you are selecting the orange system button, you may press system once more after Tools has come to the foreground to switch to the system screen.
Selecting Filter from the View menu restricts the lists content to the currently selected document (respective it
s associated program).
AIf you are selecting a specific document type within the task list or the recent document list, selecting Filter from the View menu will restrict the displayed documents to that specific program / document type.
Select the Filter menu item again to reselect all documents.
DCThe application panel is primarily a replacement for the machines Extras bar, and it is especially useful if you have a large number of programs installed (which to handle via the Extras bar
overflow
list can be very clumsy).
The application panel can be called by pressing the orange Extras key on the very right side of the display. Every further key press will switch between the four panel pages (as well as the Tab key). Press Shift Tab to cycle from right to left between the pages.
You may also go quickly to any page by pressing it
s index (1 for the first page, 2 for the second and so on).
Pressing the first letter of a labels identifier (together with the shift key) also switches to this page.
Or you can select a page by tapping on it
s label using the pen.
You may quickly rename a panel by tapping onto it
s label.
AThe system status is presented in two ways:
The graphical buttons on the top of the list view (permanent visible).
The system status details list, which has to be selected via Ctrl S or by cycling through the views using the space key or the view button on the very left.
CFrom the left to the right you will see the following status buttons:
The view indicator button can be used to cycle through the list views (as well as the space key)
The memory status button shows the percentage of free memory as well as the amount of free memory in kilobytes. Press this button to switch between the internal memory status and the disks status (if there is any)
The link indicator button shows the current status of the link. Every key press on this button switches the link on and off (depending on the last used type of link and speed)
The sound status button shows the system speaker status
and can be toggled between on, off and a quiet time period.
The battery status button gives the current voltage of the main batteries as well as a prediction of how long the batteries will stay alive.
The system status details list, which has to be selected via Ctrl S or by cycling through the views using the Space key or the view button on the very left.
BThe system status details list gives some more information and provides an interface for a quick change of system parameters:
Free memory is the amount of the currently available memory.
Link shows the current status of the link which can easily be changed by pressing Enter.
Sound reflects the current status of the machines speaker which can be changed by pressing Enter.
Battery shows the voltage of the main batteries as well as the amount of consumed energy in mAh. Pressing Enter switches to the battery information dialog.
Backlight shows the status of the backlight setting which can be changed by pressing Enter.
If there are Plug-In
s (like Backup) installed, they can also be seen from within this view.
@AYou may tap onto the date box (which also displays the number of days / hours in real-time, not battery consumption) and press cursor left / right to switch between the stored battery usage data records.
If you decide that any of the historical records is not representative, you can delete it by using the del button.
CStart an application by simply tapping on it using the pen.
As an alternative, you may press any of the cursor keys to get an selector which can be moved around (and between the pages) of the panel and pressing Enter on any application will start this application.
Remove an application from the panel by simply pressing the Del key.
Move an application by dragging it from one position to another place using the pen.
Once more, as an alternative, you may use the cursor keys to move around the panel, then press Ctrl X to cut any application followed by Ctrl V to insert it anywhere else.
You may also select an application by pressing it
s names first letter.
Tapping on the very left side of the panel will bring up the menu (as well as pressing Ctrl M or the Menu key).
\AThe Task list gives the usual overview of running programs as well as a (close) estimation of how much memory the regarding application is using in kilobytes.
Press the Del key to stop any running program. If the program rejects to be closed, Tools will ask if you want to wait some more seconds or kill it (WHICH WILL NOT SAVE ANY UNSAVED DATA).
AYou may cycle between running tasks via Ctrl Space.
Tools can (by default) be invoked by pressing Fn T.
Ctrl T shows a list of all running tasks.
Ctrl S shows the system status.
Ctrl R shows recently opened documents.
Space cycles between the different list views.
ACapture system key - will catch the system key and popup Tools. Press the system key once again to go to the system screen.
Tools hotkey - If you prefer not to use the system button below the display this option specifies the relevant hotkey for Tools.
Capture Extras - if selected, you may use up to 8 application panels.
Switch tasks by Ctrl Space - activates / disables task switching via this key combination.
oBYou may register Tools as following (depending on additional charges) by:
sending $20 USD in cash to the authors address
using RegNet
s shareware registration site on the internet ($31)
sending a cheque for $34 (including bank charges) to the authors address
If you want to receive the latest version of the software on a floppy disk plus a printed manual, please add another $8.
Please state your name as it is entered into the owners data from within the system screen and enclose an e-mail address (if possible).
You will receive a code for removing the restrictions and nag screens via e-mail or snail mail in return.
AAfter using Tools for a period of two weeks you will see nag screens every time you start it or switch to it.
Unless you do not register Tools there are some further restrictions:
You may not use Plug-In
You may not stop running tasks.
You may not see the battery status statistics.
?AFor reasons of registration fee payment or technical support you may contact the author of Tools as following by:
Thomas Nemec
Gladbeckstrasse 1/12a/10
Schwechat, AUSTRIA
Tel.: +43 664 5452060 (European daytime!)
Fax: +43 664 5451233
e-mail: info.psion@xpoint.at
Internet:
http://www.user.xpoint.at/tnemec/
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Preferences: MiscR
Confirm task stopping - asks before stopping an application via the delete button.
Popup on app close - will bring Tools back to the foreground if any application is ended.
Tools!
Settings customising
Tools is Shareware!R
You may try it for a period of two weeks, after which you have to pay a registration fee to the author.
Unless you do not register Tools there are some restrictions.
You may distribute the package UNMODIFIED.
Please support the shareware concept!
Tools!
registration
How to register ToolsR
Tools!
registration shareware
.Restrictions on the unregistere*
d copy of ToolsR
Tools!
registration shareware
Contacting the authorR
Tools!
registration shareware
Tools IntroductionR
Tools!
about getting started help
Task switcherR
Tools!
task switching
List viewR
Tools!
/System status list recent files documents tasks
FilterR
Tools!
(Document restriction view selection find
Application panelR
Tools!
*Applications programs extras bar start run
Application panel: RescanR
If you have installed new applications or removed applications you may use this function for scanning the system for these programs.
This will also be useful if you have deleted an application from a panel and you want to have it back again.
Tools!
*Applications programs extras bar start run
System statusR
Tools!
System status list
System status: Graphic buttonsR
Tools!
"System status list buttons graphic
System status: DetailsR
Tools!
System status list details
Battery StatusR
Tools!
1battery batteries current status statistics graph
Application panel: NavigationR
Tools!
/Applications programs extras bar start run keys
Task listR
Tools!
$Tasks list programs stopping running
KeypressesR
Tools!
shortcuts keystrokes keys
Preferences: HotkeysR
Tools!
"Settings customising keys keyboard
Preferences: ApplicationsR
Define up to 8 new application panels.
Remove them or give those panels new names.
New application panels can only be appended to the end of the list.
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