StartGen 1.0 Readme File

Thank you for giving StartGen, the Internet start page generator, a try. Here's a summary of what is contained in this file:

The first 100 registrations received before 3/31/97 will receive a free copy of Patrick Magee's new book, Brain Dancing.

BENEFITS
StartGen optimizes some frequently performed procedures when working on the Internet, such as going to search pages to begin a search. By taking control of your start page, you add structure to the Internet experience and this helps minimize the number of decisions you must make each time you log on. Some bookmarks are used far more often than others, and StartGen allows you to place these in a place you can get to any time just by clicking your browsers' Home button. The bookmark summary feature also allows you to place a table of contents type summary at the beginning of your bookmark file which you can link to your start page for quick access.

A sample startpage can be viewed by pointing your browser to startgen.htm located in the directory you installed StartPage. The top part of the start page contains frequently used bookmarks organized by Category and Subject. The Step By Step portion of this article gives you instructions on how to customize these selections. Just beneath the bottom of this table is a "Start Page Help" button that takes you a mirror image of your start page that is linked to descriptions each item. Hit the Back button to return to your start page and select the "Bookmarks" link to see a sample bookmark summary generated by StartGen.

Shareware gives you a chance to try software before buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue to use it, you are required to register it. You can do by completing the sending $19 as explained in the registration section of this document. Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and retail software, and the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific exceptions as stated below.

LIMITED WARRANTY AND DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY
THIS SOFTWARE AND ACCOMPANYING WRITTEN MATERIALS (INCLUDING INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE) ARE PROVIDES "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. FURTHER, ALTAIR SYSTEMS, DOES NOT WARRANT, GUARANTEE, OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE, OR THE RESULTS OF USE, OF THE SOFTWARE OR WRITTEN MATERIALS IN TERMS OF CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, CURRENTNESS, OR OTHERWISE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE RESULTS AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE IS ASSUMED BY YOU. IF THE SOFTWARE OR WRITTEN MATERIALS ARE DEFECTIVE YOU, AND NOT ALTAIR SYSTEMS NOR ITS DISTRIBUTORS, DEALERS, EMPLOYEES, OR AGENTS, ASSUME THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR, OR CORRECTION.

THE ABOVE IS THE ONLY WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, THAT IS MADE BY ALTAIR SYSTEMS, ON THIS ALTAIR SYSTEMS PRODUCT.

NO ORAL OR WRITTEN INFORMATION OR ADVICE GIVEN BY ALTAIR SYSTEMS, ITS DEALERS, DISTRIBUTORS, AGENTS OR EMPLOYEES SHALL CREATE A WARRANTY OR IN ANY WAY INCREASE THE SCOPE OF THIS WARRANTY AND YOU MAY NOT RELY ON ANY SUCH INFORMATION OR ADVICE. YOU MAY HAVE OTHER RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE.

NEITHER ALTAIR SYSTEMS NOR ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CREATION, PRODUCTION OR DELIVERY OF THIS PRODUCT SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION, AND THE LIKE) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE SUCH PRODUCT EVEN IF ALTAIR SYSTEMS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

This Limited Warranty shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
BY USING THE SHAREWARE VERSION OF PAINT SHOP PRO YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS LIMITED WARRANTY, UNDERSTAND IT, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY ITS' TERMS AND CONDITIONS. YOU ALSO AGREE THAT THE LIMITED WARRANTY IS THE COMPLETE AND EXCLUSIVE STATEMENT OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND SUPERSEDE ALL PROPOSALS OR PRIOR AGREEMENTS, ORAL OR WRITTEN, AND ANY OTHER COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE PARTIES RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE LIMITED WARRANTY.

Use of this software is permitted only to the extent reasonably required to determine whether to purchase the software. After payment is made, use of this software is limited to use on only a single personal computer or workstation which is not used as a server. An additional payment is required for each use on another personal computer or workstation. Only a single copy may be made of this software solely for backup or archival purposes. The software may also be transferred to a single hard disk. Any use of this software in violation of the above is not licensed.

INSTALLING STARTGEN
StartGen will run on any version of Windows, with the possible exception of Windows 3.0. After downloading the sgen10.exe file, run it from within Windows and it will guide you through the installation process. Click on the StartGen icon to begin using the software.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

  1. After installing, double Click the StartGen icon to launch the program.
  2. Click the "Show Bookmarks" button to display the bookmarks section.
  3. Click the Import Bookmarks button.
  4. Point to your Netscape bookmark file (such as c:\netscape\bookmark.htm) and select OK.
  5. Your bookmarks will then be loaded into the bookmark listbox. Note that actual bookmarks are indented slightly whereas folder names in your bookmark file are not.
  6. Double-click one of the bookmarks to add it to the currently selected Category and Subject.
  7. When the "Add Item" dialog appears, you may want to change the Item field to a shorter description to avoid cluttering up your start page. Click the OK button to finish adding the item.
  8. Select the Generate button and enter and assign a name to your start page file to be generated.
  9. Start your browser and open the generated start page. You should see the item you added in steps 6 and 7.
  10. Here's how to make this your new start page (the page that loads automatically each time you start your browser or whenever you click the "Home" button.:
  11. Notice the "Start Page Help" link that appears below the main table. This takes you to a mirror of your start page, except that clicking on an item takes you to a description of that item, rather than to the link site itself. As you transfer more and more of your abbreviations into long term memory (where your phone# is stored), you will probably use this help feature less and less.

GENERATING A BOOKMARK SUMMARY

Return to StartGen, select the "Tools" menu option, and the "Summarize Bookmarks" submenu option. Fill in the selections, and click "Save Changes and Close". It is recommended that you check the box at the bottom of the form to have your bookmark summary updated each time you generate your start page. Optionally, the "Summarize Now" button can be used to create a bookmark summary at any time.

ADDING A NEW SEARCH ENGINE INTERFACE

To add a new search engine interface, include everything between the FORM and /FORM tags and you should be ok. Study the html for the search engine interfaces that shipped with StartGen for more information.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR REGISTERED USERS
Limited technical support for StartGen can be obtained by sending email to mir@bdance.com

DISTRIBUTING
You are encouraged to pass a copy of the shareware version of StartGen along to your friends for evaluation. If you do so, you must provide them with the entire set of StartGen shareware version files.

PURCHASING THE LICENSED VERSION
You may use the shareware version of StartGen for a 30 day trial period. If you would like to continue to use StartGen after the 30 day trial period, you are required to purchase the licensed version. Click here to view the order form.

The first 100 registrations before 3/31/97 will receive a free copy of my book, Brain Dancing. See www.bdance.com/bdance for more information.