Monster Media 1994 #1/monster.zip/monster/WIN_UTL2/VBBAR1.ZIP/VBSYSBAR.TXT

Text File | 1994-02-08 | 15KB | 334 lines

Program:    VBSystem Resource Monitor - Bar version
Version:    1.00
Author:     Michael Krane
Date:       Feb 10,1993

NOTE: This program needs the file vbrun300.dll. (Usually it
should be in your Windows System Directory or in your path.) It
does not come with this program because most people will
already have it and it takes too long to download. If you don't
have it, you will need to download it to use this program and
the many other new Visual Basic Programs that are coming from
Visual Basic 3.

Summary:

This program is designed to help a user monitor many system
resources at all times and to combine some utilities that you
may already use.

It will monitor:
Hard Drive Disk Space, Free System Resources, Free Memory
(Which includes Swap file if you have one), Number of Tasks
running, Date,and Time, all in one small bar type display.

Some options include:
The option to adjust the update interval.
The option to warn on Exit/Restart or Quick Exit.
The ability to Stay on Top of all other windows.
The option to Restart Windows.
The option to Completely Exit Windows.
The ability to Change level to warn of low Resources.
The option to Select which drives to monitor.
The ability to customize color of display.
Button Bar for Options.
View More DOS and Window Info in Seperate Window.
Many other little features.
The Registered Version Will save most options including
colors, position, which drives, warn level, etc..


Installation: Put vbsys.dll and threed.vbx in your
windows/system directory,(Use the newest versions), and put
vbsysbar.exe anywhere you want. When you run program, you
should not select minimized or maximized, it should be run
"NORMAL".

More Details: Just copy the vbsysbar.exe file to any directory.
(This file replaces all previuos versions of vbsysbar.exe, you
can delete those; Future versions will all have the same name.)
Then copy the files threed.vbx and vbsys.dll to your
Windows\system directory. If you already have any of these
files, then keep the newest ones; Many programs can use these
files. (BE SURE that vbrun300.dll, threed.vbx, and vbsys.dll
are all in your windows/system directory BEFORE trying to run
the program.) Run the program from File Manager, Add it to
Program Manager, and/or add it to your Startup Group (as it was
made for) to always have it running as I do.

 The program should start up monitoring all local Hard Drives.
(If you have more than a few drives, then depending on your
video resolution, the display may not fit on your screen. If
that happens go to the "O" button to set options and change the
drives to be monitored to less drives so it will fit on your
screen. Otherwise use the standard version of vbsys that
displays everything in a corner of the screen instead of a
bar). (It will not monitor floppies, remote, or removable
drives.) It should be in a skinny bar window in the bottom
right of your screen.

  The display initially updates every 5 seconds, (The more info
window updates every 15 seconds). To hide the title bar and
save room, just click the FSR bar graph. The bar gragh changes
from green, to yellow (below 60%), and then to red as Free
System Resources get low. (If they get low, (RED), you should
restart Windows.)

The Disk Drive Letters Change color from normal Blue above
10MB, to Green below 10MB (OK, but watch), and to red below 2
MB (Time to clean up your disk).

On most systems the free RAM memory displayed in the MEM box
will be greater than your installed RAM, this is because it
includes the size of yor Swap File if you have one because
Windows treats that as memory when using enhanced mode.) You
can click the M fore more memory, DOS, and Windows info to show
up in a seperate large window. You can click on some of the
labels on the main small window to change the color of their
display.

You will have 8 buttons for the options. These buttons' colors
can NOT be changed. Move the mouse over the button and it will
tell you what the button does on the Title Bar if you have the
Title Bar visible. The program should be mostly self
explanatory. If you don't understand something, feel free to
ask me.

Uninstall:

If you decide to uninstall this, just delete the vbsysbar.exe and
vbsys.dll files. (I suggest you do NOT delete the vbrun300.dll,
or threed.vbx for other programs) (If you have the standard
version of vbsys.exe, don't delete anything but vbsysbar.exe or
vbsys.exe won't work)

Background:

I wrote the standard version of this program for ME! I wrote
this bar type display version because I had a few requests for
it. Like most other Windows users, I have used and tried many
different utilities for different things. I wrote these to
combine the utilities that I was using into one SMALL display
program. It is written to use minimal screen space and minimal
resources. It will always yield to all other programs.

Suggestions:

You might want to run this program and then watch the numbers
change as you load or unload other programs, monitor your disk
space, use it as your clock, etc... If you find some programs
that you seldom use are using a lot of resources, then you
might want to unload those programs from memory when you are
not expecting to use them soon. Windows will generally run
faster and be more stable with the least amount of programs
running which frees up memory and resources.

Use Examples:

FSR: When I first load Windows, my System Resources are about
80% with nothing loaded and drop to about 65% with my normal
startup programs loaded. As I run programs, I watch to see how
low the resources get and when they start getting below 50%,
(Trouble doesn't really begin until about 15% but I like to
leave room to run memory and resource guzzling programs such as
Word or Excel to avoid problems after they start up), I start
thinking about what I can close temporarily until I really need
it like a calendar program, etc....

Memory: Memory is a little harder to watch, but the main thing
to look for is that the amount remaining is larger than your
swap file size; (If it's not, then everytime you run a program
it will swap some things stored in memory to your hard drive
which will slow things down.) (If you don't know the size of
your swap file, then check in control panel- 386Enhanced-
Virtual Memory. (I'm using a 6105 swap file on a system with 8
meg RAM.)  So basically, I watch the memory number to see that
is stays above about 7000 (7000-6105=895 Free Memory in
addition to the swap file) which allows me to have enough free
memory to run programs without swapping to disk first. If you
can't keep the memory at a figure above your swap file size,
then you probably need to either stop running certain things or
buy more memory, (8 Meg of RAM is best, 4 is Minimum.) (In the
more info Window, the Largest block of Memory is what Windows
will generally use; It is a better indication than the total,
but it is slower reading, which is why it is not on the main
screen)

        The hard drives are really more obvious, but the thing
to watch for there is that you have enough room for Windows to
operate with. The drive that Windows is installed on, I like to
have at least 5M free. In addition the drive that has your temp
directory  files, (in autoexec.bat file-set temp=c:\win\temp
for example), I like to have at least 5M more free. For
example, if my temp directory is on my c: drive as well as my
Windows directory, I would like to keep at least 10M free on
the c: drive. Basically, you won't have problems because of
drive space if you always have at least 5M or more free.)

        The other items are mainly just general info. Tasks
reminds you of how many things are running; Sometimes you
forget about hidden programs that you don't need such as cursor
changers, sound programs, etc..

The main thing to use is the restart Windows. A lot of people
leave things on all day or for a few days. After a while some
programs use some resources and don't return them to Windows
even after they close; After running a few programs, the
available memory becomes non-contiguous causing disk swapping
and slowing things down. When you're not busy, restart Windows
to reset things the way they started. (I restart every few
hours or after running a few different programs.)

HISTORY:

Version 1.00 of VBSYSBAR Feb10, 1994
First release of vbsysbar. It is operationally the same as
vbsys except it is limited to displaying 6 drives at once
instead of 10. Due to screen space anymore is impractical at
most resolutions.

History of the standard VBSys

Version 1.35 Feb 20,1994
A Few minor bug fixes on the options screen of the shareware
version when change of drives were selected. Made a Bar type
version available also as vbbar100.zip

Version 1.34 Feb 1, 1994
Fixed bug that caused improper size on startup if ran from
startup group and told to run minimized. (Should be run
"NORMAL") Also, recompiled for new version of threed.vbx
included.

Version 1.33 Dec 1, 1993
Fixed bug that caused On Top not to always save on some systems
(Registered version only)

Version 1.31 Oct 1, 1993
Fixed centering problem in 1280 Res. by changing some 3D styles.
Changed Disk Label Colors to make more readable with some video.

Version 1.30 Sept 15, 1993
New Button can change how often display updates, (1-30 Sec.)
Added Option to Not warn on Exit for those who want Quick exit.
Optimized the code a little more.

Version 1.21 Aug 23, 1993
Fixed a bug that caused some systems with a CD Rom to
incorrectly identify the installed drives.

Version 1.20 Aug 20, 1993
Added option to display More Info temporarily in separate large Window
        More Info includes:
        DOS ver, Win ver, CPU type, Win and TEMP DIRs, More
        detail on Memory and Resources, Video Driver, and some more.
Removed ability to monitor largest free block (It was slow) and
        is available in the More Info Window.

Version 1.10 Aug 1, 1993
Virtually the same as ver 1.10 except:
A few bug fixes of minor sizing problems.
Tightened the code a little more.
Registered version has .ini file saving options.

Version 1.10 Aug 1, 1993
Added option to turn off Title Bar to shrink display.
Did away with the menus in lieu of using a button bar.
Added Largest Block Memory option.
Did away with minimized view-(not usefull)
Reduced the amount of memory used.
Changed the .DLL name to vbsys.dll.

Version 1.02 July 27, 1993
Allowed display to get smaller and show more info.
Added button bar.
Slightly adjusted a few display items.
Changed the .exe name to vbsys.exe for this and future versions

Version 1.01 July 23, 1993
Fixed a few display irregularities.
Added option to change colors.

Version 1.0 July 21,1993
Changed and added almost everything.

Version .07  06/29/93
Added 3D Controls

Version .06  05/11/93 This is the initial release, sort of a
test program.

Known Problems:

    A Pentium will appear as a 486. The method that
Microsoft suggests to identify CPU types does not include the
Pentium. When one appears I will fix it.

        If you are using Windows for Workgroups 3.11, It will
still show up as version 3.10. This is due to an internal
setting IN Windows for Workgroups. It will probably be
corrected in the future.

Future releases: There is really nothing PLANNED at this time,
I may add more things later if I feel it will improve it, but
it's getting hard to keep the size of the display down as I add
things which defeats the purpose of this utility which is to
Monitor things and stay out of the way.

I hope you find this program as useful as I do. It is released
as SHAREWARE. It does NOT have any "nag" screens. You can use
it for thirty days as long as you agree that I am not
responsible for anything directly or indirectly related to
using this program. After that time, either delete the program
or send the nominal fee of just $5.00 to help cover costs, make
you feel better, and to help keep the shareware concept going,
(It takes a lot of time to write these programs and do the
research. I know most people don't like to pay for shareware,
that's why it's only $5.00. If you use it every day it IS
certainly worth $5.00.) After payment, I will send you the
current version which will include the ability to save all
settings in an .ini file so it will always come up the way you
want, such as which drives, where display is on screen, and
colors. If you have any minor revision requests, I'll try to
add it to your version if I can. If a minor update follows I'll
try to get it to you free of charge. Future major updates if
any after registration for cost: $2.50-Mail $1.00-Compuserve
FREE-America Online

There is still the standard version available that displays in
one corner.  Shareware version is available on CIS or AOL and
is titled VBSys; The .zip file should be VBSys134.zip or newer.
Registration for that version is also only $5 or $7.50 for both
versions.

$5.00 Registration gets version with a save settings feature! Will
save all settings!

State which version VBSys or VBSysbar (or Both)
Include your Compuserve or America Online E-Mail Address if you
know it.

                Michael Krane
                4 Azurean Ct.
                Mt. Sinai, NY 11766

        E-MAIL: Miklk       (on America On-line)(Preferrable)
                70242,2317  (on Compuserve)

The program has been fully tested but obviously not in every
possible configuration, so PLEASE report any
bugs or ideas to me at the above addresses.




        THIS PROGRAM IS DISTRIBUTED AS IS. THE AUTHOR (Michael Krane) MAKES NO
        WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
        TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE,
        WITH RESPECT TO THIS SOFTWARE AND DOCUMENTATION. IN NO EVENT SHALL
        THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, LOST
        SAVINGS, OR ANY OTHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING
        OUT OF THE USE OF OR THE INABILITY TO USE THIS PROGRAM.
        ----------------------------------------------------------------