Copyright: Stay Live 2000 Help Version 2.3 Copyright © 2000 Gregory Braun. All rights reserved.
Citation: Copyright © 1999-2000 by Gregory Braun. All rights reserved.


Introduction
Stay Live 2000

Copyright © 1999-2000 by Gregory Braun. All rights reserved.

Overview

Does your Internet Service Provider drop your dial-up connection after what seems like only nanoseconds of account inactivity?

Stay Live 2000 keeps your Internet Dial-Up Connection active and on-line by periodically sending a small TCP/IP packet to one of the many Atomic Clocks maintained by the United States Government. Sending these small packets prevents your ISP from dropping your connection due to inactivity.

You may also optionally select to have your computer's internal real-time clock updated each time one of these packets is sent and a response is returned from an NIST Time Server.

You can use this utility in one of two ways. Either run your web browser or other Internet software and then launch Stay Live to keep your connection active, or launch Stay Live first to establish an Internet connection and then run your web browser or other software.

Stay Live 2000 is fully Y2K compliant and will run on MS Windows 98 as well as 95/NT systems.

Freeware

This software is free. You may copy and distribute this program as long as all copyright notices remain intact and the application files are not modified in any way.

Desktop Locations

Stay Live 2000’s location on the desktop is saved when the program is exited. Whenever you start Stay Live 2000 it will reappear on the desktop where you last placed it.

National Institute of Standards and Technology

For further information regarding NIST Time Servers visit their web site on the Internet at:

NIST Time & Frequency Division

(http://www.bldrdoc.gov/timefreq)

and view the Network Time Service page. Here you will find a listing of all current time servers as well as a description of the NIST Time Protocol (RFC-868) used by Stay Live 2000.


Installing Stay Live 2000

Installation

To install Stay Live 2000 on your computer simply create a new, empty folder and place the files; STAYLIVE.EXE, STAYLIVE.HLP and STAYLIVE.CNT there.

STAYLIVE.EXE	The Stay Live 2000  Application

STAYLIVE.HLP	The Windows 95/NT Help File

STAYLIVE.CNT	The Help Contents File

If you installed Stay Live 2000 using the SETUP.EXE program and selected the default installation setting, Stay Live 2000 will be installed in the C:\Program Files\Software by Design folder.

Note If you have an earlier version of Stay Live 2000 installed on your computer, simply replace the STAYLIVE.EXE, STAYLIVE.HLP and STAYLIVE.CNT files with the newer versions.

The various application settings specified in the Stay Live 2000 Options property sheet as well as the main window’s size and location on the desktop are stored in the MS Windows 95/NT System Registry.

Warning If you rename the STAYLIVE.EXE file you must also rename the STAYLIVE.HLP file using the same basename. For example if you change the Stay Live 2000 application file name to NewName.exe, rename the help file to NewName.hlp. Do not rename the STAYLIVE.CNT file however. The HLP and CNT files must reside in the same folder as the Stay Live 2000 application file itself.

The MS Windows 95/NT Help program creates a pair of files associated with the STAYLIVE.HLP file. These files will have file extensions of GID and FTS. These files are used to store specific information about the help window location on the desktop and the word list used for topic searching. These two files will be created when the Stay Live 2000 Help file is first used.


Configuring Stay Live 2000

Stay Live 2000 Options

Double-click your mouse on the Stay Live 2000 icon in the Taskbar Notification Tray to open and display the Stay Live 2000 property sheet. This window will allow you to change the various Stay Live 2000 program settings listed below.

Refresh Rate

Use this entry field to specify a refresh rate of between 1 and 15 minutes.

Suspend Transmissions Temporarily

Check this box to temporarily suspend packet transmissions.

Retain Window Sizes and Positions

Check this item to save the size and desktop locations of the Stay Live 2000 window.

Keep Stay Live 2000 Topmost on the Desktop

Check this item to keep the Stay Live 2000 window topmost on the desktop.

Warning Sounds with Dialog Boxes

Check this box to play a short beep sound when Stay Live 2000 displays a warning dialog box or an error occurs.

Exit

Press this button to exit the Stay Live 2000 program. You will be asked to confirm your wish to exit.

Hide

Press this button to hide the Stay Live 2000 property sheet.

Help

Press this button to open the Stay Live 2000 Help Window and go directly to the Configuring Stay Live 2000 topic.

Note The options you have selected will be saved when you press the Exit or Hide button. The desktop location of the Stay Live 2000 Options window itself will also be stored. Your settings will be saved in the MS Windows 95/NT System Registry.


Stay Live 2000 Connections

Stay Live 2000 Connections

Select the Connections tab to specify a dial-up network connection and one of the several atomic clocks maintained by the United States National Institute of Stands and Technology.

Use the Default Dial-Up Connection

Check this box to use your computer’s default dial-up network connection.

Dial-Up

Use this entry field to specify a dial-up network connection other than your default settings.

Servers

Select a time server from the list displayed.

Cycle Through All Time Server Connections

Check this box to cycle through all time servers. Each time a packet is sent a new time server will be used.

Update the Real-Time Clock

Check this box to synchronization the MS Windows clock each time a NIST time server packet is retrieved.

Help

Press this button to open the Stay Live 2000 Help Window and go directly to the Stay Live 2000 Connections topic.


Stay Live 2000 Statistics

Stay Live 2000 Statistics

Select the Statistics tab to monitor Stay Live 2000 operations.

Server

The currently active time server.

Address

The currently active time server IP address.

URL

The currently active time server URL.

Packets Sent

The total number of packets transmitted.

Errors Detected

The total number of receiver errors detected.

Help

Press this button to open the Stay Live 2000 Help Window and go directly to the Stay Live 2000 Statistics topic.


Stay Live 2000 Explorer Setup

Stay Live 2000 Explorer Setup

Select the Explorer tab to display MS Windows 95/NT Explorer setup options. This window will allow you to integrate Stay Live 2000 with the Microsoft Windows 95/NT Explorer.

Create a Start Menu Item

Check this item to create a Stay Live 2000 Start Menu entry. The Stay Live 2000 program will be located in the Software by Design folder on the Programs menu. This item will be disabled (grayed) if a Stay Live 2000 item already exists in the Software by Design folder.

Remove this Start Menu Item

Check this item to remove the Stay Live 2000 entry located in the Software by Design folder on the Programs menu. This item will be disabled (grayed) if a Stay Live 2000 item does not already exist in the Software by Design folder.

Create a Desktop Icon

Check this item to create a Stay Live 2000 program icon on the Explorer desktop. This item will be disabled (grayed) if a Stay Live 2000 desktop icon already exists.

Remove Icon from the Desktop

Check this item to remove the Stay Live 2000 program icon from the Explorer desktop. This item will be disabled (grayed) if a Stay Live 2000 desktop icon does not already exist.

Create a Startup Folder Item

Check this item to automatically run Stay Live 2000 whenever Microsoft Windows is started. This option creates a Stay Live 2000 program icon in the MS Windows Explorer Startup folder. This item will be disabled (grayed) if a Stay Live 2000 startup item already exists in the Startup folder.

Remove the Startup Folder Item

Check this item to remove Stay Live 2000 from the MS Windows Explorer Startup folder. This item will be disabled (grayed) if a Stay Live 2000 startup item does not already exist in the Startup folder.

Help

Press this button to open the Stay Live 2000 Help window and go directly to the Stay Live 2000 Explorer Setup topic.


Troubleshooting FAQs

Troubleshooting FAQs

This is a compilation of frequently asked questions I have received from users. If you do not find an answer to your question here please feel free to contact me.

Will Stay Live 2000 work with MS Windows 98?

Yes, Stay Live 2000 is designed to run on MS Windows 95/98 systems as well as Windows NT v4.0.

Is Stay Live 2000 year 2000 compliant?

Yes, Stay Live 2000 is fully Y2K compliant.

Stay Live 2000 windows and dialog boxes move!

Some versions of MS Windows incorrectly report desktop window locations. If the main Stay Live 2000 window location changes position each time it is launched, or the various tabs on the Stay Live 2000 Options property sheets cause the window to move during use turn off the Retain Windows Sizes and Positions option setting.


Comments and Upgrades

Comments and Suggestions

If you have comments, questions or find any bugs in Stay Live 2000 please feel free to contact me via email message or on CompuServe.

Gregory Braun – Software Design

CompuServe:	71613,2175

Email:	Gregory_Braun@CompuServe.com

Web Site:	http://www.gregorybraun.com

Phone:	1.414.444.8497

Web Site

Visit my web site on the Internet to download the latest versions of all of my software offerings.

Software Design Web Site

(http://www.gregorybraun.com)


Release History

Stay Live 2000 Release History

v2.0	Original in-house development and testing of MS Windows 95/NT conversion using the Microsoft Win32 SDK.

v2.1	Added 95/NT version resources for release.

v2.2	Initial freeware release.

v2.3	Added MS Windows 95/NT Help file.

Last Update  April 11th, 2000

Web Site

Visit my web site on the Internet to download the latest versions of all of my software offerings.

Software Design Web Site

(http://www.gregorybraun.com)


System Registry

Stay Live 2000 System Registry Key

Stay Live 2000 stores configuration settings in the MS Windows 95/NT System Registry. These settings are updated automatically while Stay Live 2000 is running. There is no need to edit these settings manually.

If you insist upon editing these settings, you do so at your own risk. Stay Live 2000 automatically updates registry entries when it exits. If you edit these settings make sure Stay Live 2000 is not running while you edit them. If Stay Live 2000 is currently running your changes will be overwritten when Stay Live 2000 exits.

Stay Live 2000 stores configuration settings in the following system registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER

Software

Software by Design

Stay Live 2000

Section

Label = Value

Warning There is no need to edit these settings manually. Stay Live 2000 will automatically maintain these settings for you. If you do edit these, you do so at your own risk.


Removing Stay Live 2000

Removing Stay Live 2000

If you find that Stay Live 2000 does not meet your needs you can remove it from your computer system by simply deleting the following files from your hard drive.

All of these files will be located in the folder that you originally installed Stay Live 2000 in.

The default location for all Stay Live 2000 program files is the C:\Program Files\Software by Design folder. Unless you specified a different folder when you ran SETUP.EXE you will find the Stay Live 2000 files there.

StayLive.exe	Stay Live 2000 Application.

StayLive.cnt	Stay Live 2000 Help Topics File

StayLive.hlp	Stay Live 2000 Help File

If you have opened and used the Stay Live 2000 Help files your system may contain the following two (2) files. These files are created by the standard MS Windows 95/NT Help program WinHlp32.exe. These files may also be safely removed.

StayLive.gid	MS Windows Help settings file. This file contains the Stay Live 2000 Help window size and desktop location as well as any bookmarks you may have created.

StayLive.fts	MS Windows Help word database. This file is created when you build a custom word list for Stay Live 2000 Help files. This file is used to search for words and phrases in the Stay Live 2000 Help files.

Stay Live 2000 does not use any custom DLL files or system drivers. If you delete the files mentioned above from your system’s hard drive you will have completely removed Stay Live 2000 from your computer system.


Software Design Web Site

Software Design

You can download the latest versions of all of my software from my web site on the Internet. I post the latest releases of my software there first. Click your mouse on the link listed below to visit the Software Design web site.

Software Design Web Site

(http://www.gregorybraun.com)

Software Titles

The following software titles are available at my web site on the Internet and can also be found on CompuServe, ExecPC, MSN and ZD Net.

AppPaths for Windows 95/NT	(APPPATHS.ZIP)

Audition for Windows 95/NT	(AUDITION.ZIP)

BattleStar for Windows 95/NT	(BSTAR32.ZIP)

BattleStar for Windows	(BSTAR.ZIP)

CardBase for Windows 95/NT	(CARDBASE.ZIP)

Crypto for Windows 95/NT	(CRYPTO.ZIP)

Disk CleanUp for Windows 95/NT	(CLEANUP.ZIP)

DLL Show for Windows 95	(DLLSHOW.ZIP)

File Editor for Windows 95/NT	(FXEDIT32.ZIP)

File Editor for Windows	(FXEDIT.ZIP)

File Shredder for Windows 95/NT	(SHREDDER.ZIP)

FontShow for Windows 95/NT	(FONTSHOW.ZIP)

Go Postal for Windows 95/NT	(GOPOSTAL.ZIP)

Icon Extractor for Windows 95/NT	(ICONX32.ZIP)

Icon Extractor for Windows	(ICONX.ZIP)

Kart Data for Windows 95/NT	(KARTDATA.ZIP)

Kart Log for Windows 95/NT	(KARTLOG.ZIP)

MIRV 2000	(MIRV2000.ZIP)

NoteBook for Windows 95/NT	(NBOOK32.ZIP)

NoteBook for Windows	(NBOOK.ZIP)

Password Keeper for Windows 95/NT	(PASSKEEP.ZIP)

Phantom Desktop Screen Saver	(PHANTOM.ZIP)

Programmer's IDE 95/NT	(PMAN32.ZIP)

Programmer's IDE	(PMAN.ZIP)

Quiz Wizard for Windows 95/NT	(QUIZWIZ.ZIP)

Reminders for Windows 95/NT	(REMIND32.ZIP)

Reminders for Windows	(REMIND.ZIP)

RGB Editor for Windows 95/NT	(RGB32.ZIP)

RGB Editor for Windows	(RGB.ZIP)

Screen Loupe for Macintosh	(LOUPE.SEA)

Screen Loupe for Windows 95/NT	(LOUPE32.ZIP)

Screen Loupe for Windows	(LOUPE.ZIP)

Stay Live 2000	(STAYLIVE.ZIP)

Software Log for Windows 95/NT	(SOFTLOG.ZIP)

Submit It for Windows 95/NT	(SUBMITIT.ZIP)

ToolBar for Windows 95/NT	(TBAR32.ZIP)

ToolBar for Windows	(TBAR.ZIP)

Touch for Windows	(WTOUCH.ZIP)

TxEdit for Windows 95/NT	(TXEDIT.ZIP)

WebTime for Windows 95/NT	(WEBTIME.ZIP)

World Radio for Macintosh	(WRADIO.SEA)

Note The latest versions of my software programs are always posted on my web site first. Versions found on the other online services may be earlier releases.


BBS and Internet Operators

Webmasters

Please upload the original ZIP file intact and title the submission:

"Stay Live 2000 v2.3"

--Author Gregory Braun

Web Site

Visit my web site on the Internet to download the latest versions of all of my software offerings.

Software Design Web Site

(http://www.gregorybraun.com)

Note This site also supports anonymous FTP transfers.


Customizing Help

Customizing Help

You can customize this help file to better suit your needs and uses. The following topics describe the various settings that can be configured. The settings you specify will be saved and used again each time you view this help file.

Font Size

The size of the font used in this help file can be made larger or smaller by selecting the Font item from the Options menu above. Select Small, Normal or Large fonts from the popup menu. The font size you select will be saved and used again each time you view this help file.

Window Size

The size of this Help window and its location on the desktop can be adjusted using the standard Windows resizing and placement methods. The window size and its location on the desktop will be saved and used again each time you view this help file.

Window Background Color

The background color for this help window can be changed to white if you prefer. To change the background color to white select the Use System Colors item from the Options menu above. For the color changes to take effect you will have to close and then reopen the Help file. You will be prompted to confirm this action. Your background color selection will be saved and used again each time you view this help file.

Window Placement

By default this help window positions itself in front of all other open windows. If you would prefer to have it covered up by other active windows select the Keep Help on Top item from the Options menu and then select Not on Top from the popup menu. Your selection will be saved and used again each time you view this help file.

Note The settings described on this page refer to options available in the MS Windows Help program not Stay Live 2000. Right-click your mouse anywhere on this page to display a small popup context menu containing the settings described here.