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APLAUNCH.DOC
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1991-07-24
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APPLICATION LAUNCHER
A Visual Basic Application for Windows 3.0
Purpose:
Provide a list oriented alternative for the desktop populated with icons.
An important part of my motivation was to explore what is possible in
Visual Basic. The result is a reasonably convenient means of launching
Windows 3.0 applications by selecting from a list, where facilities are
provided to maintain the list.
Operation:
APLAUNCH.EXE requires the presence of VBRUN100.DLL to operate. It
searches for a file called APLAUNCH.INI in the directory from which it is
executed. The File/Save menu option provides a means to store the list of
current choices (in the directory from which execution began). Subsequent
execution will automatically read this INI file and fill the list
appropriately.
The list of applications may be increased by pressing Add. You will then
be able to add any exe, com, bat, or pif file, together with an
appropriate description. Highlighted list elements can be removed by
pressing Delete. Execution of the file linked to a description happens by
either double clicking on the list element or by pressing the Execute
button with an element highlighted.
Assumptions:
The big assumption is that the Visual Basic Dynamic Link Library,
VBRUN100.DLL, is accessible at execution time. Microsoft explicitly
allows free distribution of this file. You should be able to find a copy
of this Dynamic Link Library on any bulletin board on which you find this
file.
This application was developed on monochrome systems. No effort was made
to select appropriate colours. If you have a full copy of Visual Basic,
modify the code if you want different colours. It also assumes the
presence of 8 and 10 point System fonts. This should not pose a problem
for most Windows 3.0 environments. Again, change the code if you want
to use different fonts.
Limitations:
There is an explicit limit of 100 entries for the list of applications to
launch. Change the declaration for glist() in the Global module,
remembering to also change gsize (currently initialized to 99). Some
effort has been made to trap "errors". It is almost certainly the case,
however, that there remain a number of untrapped possible error
conditions.
This code is offered as a demonstration. I retain the copyright, but am
happy to see it freely distributed. I would appreciate it if this
commentary remains attached to the code. No warranties of any kind are
provided. If it doesn't operate as you would like, modify the code and
recompile. I see no reason why this code should do any harm, but there
are always exceptions. Exercise due caution!
Files:
APLAUNCH.EXE Windows 3.0 executable file
APLAUNCH.INI The INI file generated/used by APLAUNCH.EXE
VBRUN100.EXE The Visual Basic DLL (not provided)
APLAUNCH.DOC This file
CODE.ZIP An archive containing all of the files required
to work on the application within Visual Basic
You may also which to consult my review of Visual Basic which is to appear
in one of the August issues of Direct Access.
Robert Fabian
Toronto, Canada
07-23-1991