Contents

Welcome to WinDrop 1.1 (1993.11.21)

Basics

Icon bar

Menus

Dialogs

Goodies hotkeys

DDE and remote execution

MS-Mail support

Problems

Advanced Configuration

Credits

Registration

Other programms and the future

WHAT'S NEW

WinDrop lite

How to get the WinDrop 1.0 look back

Deutsch (German)

Click here to run WinDrop now!


Basics

WinDrop is a drag and drop program launcher and much more.

What you need to run WinDrop

Starting WinDrop

Features

WinDrop as Program Manager replacement

Files that WinDrop generates


What you need to run WinDrop

WinDrop requires Windows 3.1 or above. To take advantage of the remote execution and MS-Mail support you need Windows for Workgroups or the stand-alone MS-Mail application.

Most features can be done by keyboard, but to take full advantage of WinDrop you should have a two or more button mouse or other pointing device.

The WinDrop base pack consists of these files:

readme.txt	Getting started text file

windrop.exe	The executable to start WinDrop (English)

shotkey.dll	A generic DLL for hotkey management

(Header file and import lib available for developers)

windrop.hlp	This help file

windropg.dll	German language

windropg.hlp	A mini version of the German help file

Available as a separate add-on pack are:

readme1.txt	Getting started text file

vershow.exe	A utility made from sample source code written by Jeffrey M. Richter to show the version info of files (slightly enhanced, and needed to show the version info in the WinDrop task list)

wdrplite.exe	WinDrop lite (less features for low-end PCs and people who don't like too much features)

windropg.hlp	The complete German help file (replaces the one in the base pack)

windropb.dll	Bavarian language (If you speak German (or better Bavarian), get it. It's pretty funny)

Available soon as a separate international pack are:

readme2.txt	Getting started text file

windrops.dll	Spanish language

windropw.dll	Swedish language

windropf.dll	Finnish language

windropf.dll	French language (Not yet available)

windropd.dll	Dutch language (Not yet available)

If you distribute WinDrop further, you should pass along the other packs as well. ShareWare often bounces back and forth between Europe and America, so give other people, who might prefer their native language, a break as well. Thanks for being so considerate.

If you need other packs or products, they are all available on a support disk  that you can order directly from me.


Starting WinDrop

You can run WinDrop like any other program from the Program or File Manager.

After execution, you will see the signon dialog. After that, the main window of WinDrop will appear in form of an icon bar on the right hand side of your screen.

This icon bar can hold up to 100 program icons that you can install and run from this bar. When you run WinDrop for the first time it installs the most important applications included with Windows for you. You can install your own applications just by dragging them from the Windows File Manager and dropping them on a free slot on the WinDrop bar. Drag and drop doesn't work with the Program Manager, but WinDrop employs a different scheme here, called mark and pick. Just press the left mouse button over an empty slot and hold it down while you drag the mouse over a window or icon in the Program Manager and then release the button. The application will be installed with all Program Manager attributes. You can run a program by double clicking its icon on the WinDrop bar. To run a program with another file as parameter just drop this file from the File Manager on the icon on the bar. For details on how to install, configure or scroll these programs see icon bar. Help is available by pressing F1. Pressing and holding down the left mouse button over the WinDrop icon on the top of the bar or pressing F10 pops up the main menu.

In the options dialog you can select the language that you prefer. Select Options... from the menu.


Features

* Up to 100 programs available at a single click

* System wide hot keys for each program

* Window position and size save and restore

* Icon position save and restore

* Drag and drop for programs and parameters

* Installs programs directly from the Program Manager (mark and pick)

* Parameter prompt on execution

* Parameter builder in program dialog

* Configurable program instance handling

* Full Program Manager replacement (reads StartUp group)

* Stick to File Manager option

* Clock with optional chime

* DDE interface

* System wide goodies via menu or hotkey

  - Clipboard doubler (swaps clipboard contents with internal buffer)

  - Memory info

  - True task, module and window list

  - Entry/exit reminder dialog

  - Exit Windows

  - Window restore, maximize & minimize

  - US and alternate keyboard layout switch

  - Right and left mouse switch

  - CD player control (multimedia)

* MS-Mail support (send, check new mail)

* Remote execution NetDDE (needs Windows for Workgroups)

* Compile of stand-alone executables from slot data

* Hotkey list & duplicate check with detailed info


WinDrop as Program Manager replacement

You can make WinDrop your Windows shell and get rid of your Program Manager. See options dialog shell section for details.


Files that WinDrop generates

These files will be placed in your windows directory along with all other "*.ini" files.

windrop.ini	The configuration file

windrop.img	The quick start icon cache file

windrop.reg	This file contains your registration data


Icon Bar (Main Window)

The main window of WinDrop is an icon bar that usually sticks to the right hand side of the screen (or the Windows File Manager).

Using the mouse

Using the keyboard


Mouse in main window

Mouse

The following section summarizes the result of mouse actions in the WinDrop bar:

All the actions that can be performed over the WinDrop icon can be done over the caption. The close button pops up the menu, the clock area toggles between date and time.

Action	Result over WinDrop icon or caption	Result over program icon
Left click	Pops up the WinDrop Menu	Moves an icon by dragging it to a new slot while holding down the mouse button. Moving the icon outside of the WinDrop window deletes it from the bar. Pressing the left button and holding it down for about one second without moving the mouse outside the selected icon pops up a small window which contains the program title and the assigned hotkey. You can then browse thru the other descriptions by moving the mouse. Pressing the left mouse button over an empty slot and then moving the cursor over any window and releasing it, installs the application that owns the window on the bar. You can even select icons from the Program Manager. This is called mark & pick.
Control key & left click		Copies an icon
Right click	Scrolls the contents up and down when mouse is dragged to bottom or top of WinDrop bar. If you move the cursor to the left or right of the bar and then release the button you can swap between the time and date display respectively.	Scrolls the contents up and down when mouse is dragged to bottom or top of WinDrop bar. If you move the cursor to the left or right of the bar and then release the button you can page up and down.
Left double click	Runs a program selected from a file dialog (Same as File|Run)	Runs the program represented by the selected icon
Control key & left double click		Runs a new instance of the program even if Reuse Previous instance was chosen
Right double click	Brings up the options dialog	Brings up the program dialog of the selected icon
File drop	Runs the dropped program after prompting for parameters (You can drop files in the parameter prompt dialog)	Filled slot: Runs the program represented by the selected icon with the dropped file as parameter (if the parameter string is empty or contains "%p") Empty slot: Installs the program on the WinDrop bar. You should customize the defaults in the program dialog by a right double click on the icon

To select the first and second page of icons respectively, press the middle mouse button, move the cursor to the left or right of the bar and then release the button.


Keyboard in main window

Keyboard

WinDrop has program slots which can be scrolled with the cursor keys (up & down, page up & down, home and end). These keys move the selection first. To scroll the bar without changing the selected slot use the cursor right and left keys, or scroll with the mouse.

The main menu is shown if you press F10.

The Help feature can be invoked by pressing F1.

Note that there are a lot of accelerator keys defined for various menu entries. To modify icons look into the apps menu.


Menus

The WinDrop menu will be shown when you press the F10 function key while WinDrop is the active window or when you press the left mouse button over the WinDrop icon on the top of the bar, the close button or the clock area. It also pops up when you press and release the Alt key.

File

Apps (Applications)

Dialogs

Misc (Miscellaneous)

CD (Compact Disc)

Help


File menu

Load Config

Rereads the configuration file. WinDrop reverts to its previously saved state.

Save Config  Ctrl+S

Saves the configuration file. This makes only sense if the auto save feature is disabled. The configuration file is always saved when WinDrop or Windows is exited. Note that WinDrop only writes those parts to the configuration file that have been changed.

Save all  Ctrl+A

Saves the configuration file. This writes the complete configuration file, not only the changes. This makes only sense if you have deleted the "windrop.ini" file and want to recreate it. You can also use it to save if you don't trust WinDrop's dirty flags.

Auto Save

The Save immediately options dialog check box has the same purpose.

Run...  Ctrl+E

Pops up a file dialog and runs the selected program. You can also specify parameters in the edit field of the open file dialog. If you are using Windows for Workgroups, you can prefix a computer name, separated thru a vertical bar from the program file name. Note that if no path and extension are given WinDrop first searches thru the list of installed applications on the bar, and if it finds one that has that core file name it will be executed with the selected program options. Otherwise the path is searched, or the given path is used. You can use a "#" character to give slot number to run instead of a program file name. A "," specifies that WinDrop should search thru its slots and run the program that has an application title that starts with the given string. Every search is case insensitive. Note that the Shift+Control+Alt+E goody hotkey serves the same purpose, although it pops up a simple edit field for faster input. You can press return to confirm your input, or escape to cancel. If the edit field is empty and you press return, a file open dialog will appear.

For example: peter|write readme launches Write with the "readme.wri" file and the bar options on peter's computer.

Send Mail  Ctrl+M

If MS-Mail is installed on your system, this pops up the standard send mail dialog. Note that if you have WinDrop configured to log on to the mail service automatically, you will not be prompted to log in or to enter a password. Same as the Shift+Control+Alt+M goody.

Check Mail  Ctrl+Q

If MS-Mail is installed on your system, this checks for new mail immediately. If you have unread mail then MS-Mail is run automatically. Note that in order to perform this function you will be logged off briefly and then logged on again, so if you didn't give WinDrop your credentials in the options dialog, you will be prompted to enter your name and password. Same as the Shift+Control+Alt+Q goody.

Exit

Exits WinDrop only. If WinDrop is configured as shell your Windows session will not be terminated. You must leave Windows by closing all remaining applications or by running WinDrop again and choosing the Exit Windows menu item. Note that the behavior of Alt+F4 depends on whether WinDrop is installed as shell. If so it does the same as Exit Windows otherwise it's like Exit.

Exit Windows

This exits Windows after a confirmation dialog. See Exit Windows dialog.


Apps menu

Almost all menu items in this sub menu perform their function on the currently selected application icon. The selection is shown by a light green frame over the slot.

Open...  Enter

Runs or activates the selected application. Same as a left double-click.

Open New... Ctrl+Enter

Runs a new instance of the selected application. Same as a left double-click with the control key held down.

Props...  Alt+Enter

Pops up the program dialog for the selected application. Same as a right double-click on the program icon.

Pick...  Ctrl+K

Allows you to pick a window with the mouse and install the corresponding application on the selected slot. See mouse action table.

Insert  Ins

Inserts an empty slot before the selected slot. The last slot on the bar must be empty in order to perform this operation.

Delete... Del

Deletes the selected application from the bar after a confirmation dialog. All icons following the slot will be moved up by one.

Remove... Ctrl+Del

Removes the selected application from the bar after a confirmation dialog. All icons following the slot will remain in their position. The slot will then be empty. Same as pressing the left mouse button and quickly moving it outside the bar.

Search...

This pops up a dialog with a quick reminder that you can search thru the installed applications by just typing the quick find title or its core file name (optionally excluding the prefix "win") while the WinDrop bar is active. See find section in the program dialog.

Optimize all

This optimizes the program, directory and icon file names of all slots in order to remove redundant information. The intention behind this function is to upgrade a configuration file from WinDrop 1.0. Newer WinDrop versions always use the optimized version when installing applications. Note that if you go back to  WinDrop 1.0, it may have trouble locating icons if you have used this function. The following rules will be applied: All three paths will be converted to lower case. If the path given as working directory is equal to the path in the program file name, the path will be stripped. If the icon is to be extracted from the program, it will be set to an empty string. If you have specified the key "NukeDotExe=1" in the "WinDrop" section of "windrop.ini" then the extension ".exe" will also be stripped from the program file name.


Dialogs menu

Pops up the corresponding dialog.

Options...  Ctrl+O

Groups...  Ctrl+G

Slot List...  Ctrl+L

Hotkey List...  Ctrl+H

Info...  Ctrl+I

Task List...  Ctrl+T

Reminder...  Ctrl+R

Clipboard...  Ctrl+B

Registration...  Ctrl+N


Misc menu

Hotkeys on  Shift+Ctrl+H

Toggles all system wide hotkeys on or off. Note that this affects all applications that use the "shotkey.dll". This option will not be saved to the configuration file. The check mark reflects the current state of the DLL. It is intended only for brief disabling. If one of WinDrop goodies interferes with one of your applications, use the goody combo box in the options dialog to disable the key.

Always on Top

Puts WinDrop always on top of other windows. Same as in the options dialog.

US Keyboard

Switches to the US keyboard layout.

Alt Keyboard

Switches to the alternate keyboard layout. This layout can only be changed by editing the "AltKbd=" entry in the "[WinDrop]" section of "windrop.ini". The default for the alternate layout is the German keyboard. See advanced configuration.

Right Mouse

Switches to a right handed mouse. Logical left and right mouse buttons match the physical buttons.

Left Mouse

Switches to a left handed mouse. Logical left and right mouse buttons and physical buttons are reversed.

Garbage Collect

This forces Windows to discard all unused memory. See the info dialog for results. This is useful if you have many idle applications and want to increase the memory that is available to the currently active program.

Swap Clipboard

This menu item swaps the current contents of the clipboard with an internal buffer of WinDrop. You can then put other data on the clipboard. Later you can retrieve the original data, by swapping again. This doubles the capacity of the clipboard. Note that the hotkey is Shift+Control+Alt+V in accordance with the clipboard paste keystroke Control+V.

Show Cursor  Shift+Control+C

Turns the cursor on if you have a mouse, and off if you don't. Some programs leave the show count of the mouse cursor in an unbalanced state. With this you can fix it.


CD menu

If you have a CD-ROM drive connected to your computer and the proper Windows CD drivers installed then you will be able to control the playback of music CDs with the following menu items:

Eject

Stop

Play

Prev Track

Next Track

Note that there are also system wide hotkeys on these items.


Help menu

Contents

Opens WinHelp and display the contents of this help file. You can do the same by pressing F1.

Search for Help on...

Allows you to search for a specific topic.

How to Use Help

Helps you if you're unfamiliar with the Windows help system.

About WinDrop...

Shows you the release date and author of the WinDrop program.


Dialogs

Program dialog

Options dialog

Groups dialog

Slot list dialog

Hotkey dialog

Info dialog

Task list dialog

Reminder dialog

Clipboard dialog

Registration dialog

Exit Windows dialog


Program dialog

The program dialog allows you to change the options associated with a program that you have placed on the WinDrop bar. You can access this dialog by double clicking on the program icon with the right mouse button, or thru the Apps|Props menu item.

This dialog is subdivided into groups. It starts off with 7 edit fields. The first 6 of those support the browse feature. Here's how it works: select the edit field for which you want to browse and then click on the Browse button or hit Alt+B. For the first 4 edit fields a file dialog will appear. The 5th edit field for the window class name allows you to select a window with the mouse. After pressing the left mouse button the browse mode will be terminated and the last selected class name will remain in the edit field. If the program file name field was empty the application owning the window will also be set. See mark & pick in the icon bar. For the 6th edit field the browse button extracts the program description contained in the executable program file. In the second section of the dialog, which is available by pressing the More button, the last parameter edit field and the remote edit field also support the browse feature. The later opens a computer browse dialog.

Application executable specification (File name, Parameters, Directory)

Representation (Icon file, Main window class, Application title, Hotkey)

Window

Instance handling

Icon

Position

Compilation of stand-alone executables (Save)

To toggle between the previous and the following controls press the More button.

Misc

Find

Remote execution

Parameter builder


Program dialog Executable

Program File Name

This is the file name of the program. A full path specification is not needed if the program is in one of the directories in the path statement or if the given working directory is equal to the program directory.

If this file name is not an executable then a lookup thru the file extension associations is performed. For example: "notpad.hlp" will run "winhelp.exe" with "notepad.hlp" as parameter.

If the file name specifies a DLL then it will be loaded into memory. This might come in handy if you want speed up the loading of applications that use Borland custom controls just put the "bwcc.dll" in a slot and check the run on startup box.

Parameters

This is the parameter string that will be passed to the program when it is invoked. If you leave this field empty it defaults to "%p". You can use the parameter builder to assist you in compiling the program parameters. Hit the More button to get to the parameter builder. The parameter string may contain the following substitution expressions:

%p, %[default]p or %1	File name of dropped file, default is used if started without file drop ('c:\dir\filename.ext')

%d	Path of the dropped file ('c:', 'c:\dir')

%f	File name of the dropped file ('filename')

%e	Extension of the dropped file ('ext')

%g	Path & filename without extension of the dropped file ('c:\dir\file')

%d	Path with backslash of the dropped file ('c:\', 'c:\dir\')

%/ or %[default]/	Opens a file dialog with default selected

%? or %[title|default]?	Prompts for input with title and default string

%+ or %[default]+	Invokes the program with the last file name. If you hold down the Shift key, the old file is not used

%* or %[title|default]*	Invokes the program with the last file name or prompts for input with title and default string

%M	All dropped file names will be concatenated with space. Otherwise an instance of the program will be run with each individual file

%%	Literal percent character

For example:

-r %[Enter more switches|-t]? %[c:\doc\my.txt]p

This parameter line opens a prompter for command line switches with "-t" as default and then runs the program with the dropped file name or "c:\doc\my.txt" if it was invoked in any other way.

Directory

This directory will be set as the current directory when the program is executed.


Program dialog Representation

Icon File Name

This is the file name of the file that contains the icon that is displayed on the WinDrop bar. If empty, it defaults to the program file name. If you type a "*" here, WinDrop will insert the default icon file name for test purposes when you close the dialog.

Main Window Class

This specifies the window class name of the main window of this application. This information is needed in order to restore the window position and helps to find the window for activation. Since an application can have more than one window or a sign on dialog WinDrop must have some way of identifying the class of the window. You can use the browse button to find the class name. The class name is also listed in the task list dialog.

Application title

This application title will be displayed in the small window that pops up when you press the left mouse button over an icon and hold it down for about one second. If this field is empty the program file name will be used. You can use the browse feature to extract the program description from the executable.

Hotkey

WinDrop allows you to associate a hotkey with an application. You can modify the hotkey just by pressing the desired key combination in the hotkey edit field. WinDrop runs or activates the application when the key combination is pressed.

You should include the Alt key and the Control or Shift key or both because the key combinations without the Alt key are reserved for an application's use. Combinations of a key with only the Alt key are used by Windows and for accelerator keys. So always use:

Ctrl+Alt+

Shift+Alt+

Shift+Ctrl+Alt+

Note that Shift+Ctrl+Alt plus a letter are used for the system wide WinDrop goodies.


Program dialog Window

Window

Specifies how the window of the application will be shown when you run it.

Normal

Minimized

Maximized

Note that this is only a recommendation. Some applications may choose to ignore this for valid or brain damaged reasons.

If Run On Startup and Minimized are checked then the program is invoked in the normal state, if it has been closed and run again at a later time (not during startup).


Program dialog Instance Run

Instance Run

This sections defines how the event of multiple program invocations is to be handled.

Multiple

Each invocation of the program results in a new program instance. Note that some programs do not allow that multiple instances of them are executed. Most applications that use the multiple document interface open just another window inside their frame window.

Reuse Previous

If the program has already been started from WinDrop and is still running than it will only be brought to the top and activated instead of being run again. If the program has been started from any program (i.e. Program Manager or File Manager) other than WinDrop a new instance will be started.

Reuse Any

Same as Reuse Previous except that any old instance of the program will be reused no matter which program started it.

Run on Startup

When checked and WinDrop is configured as shell this program will be launched automatically after WinDrop has started. You can use this feature to get rid of your Program Manager StartUp group.


Program dialog Icon

Icon

Allows you to select the icon within the icon file that will be displayed on the WinDrop bar. You can either specify the icon number directly starting from 0 or browse thru the available icons by clicking on the small horizontal scroll bar. If you have changed the icon file name or number you can click on any of the arrows on the scroll bar to update the preview display.


Program dialog Position

Restore Window Position

When checked and a valid class name has been specified WinDrop restores the window size and position of a started program to the state is was when the window was last closed. This is useful for applications that do not save their own window position. Note that windows might be moved outside the screen if you change to a smaller screen resolution. Close the program, then hit the Clear button in this dialog to solve the problem.

This option reveals some of the shortcomings of certain programs. The NotePad program for example causes a repaint of the whole screen. (This is because it passes a NULL handle to an InvalidateRect function which causes all windows to be redrawn. This is the result on an improper initialization in the WM_CREATE message. NotePad creates child windows in WinMain and not in WM_CREATE where it should. When WinDrop moves the window the resulting WM_SIZE in NotePad passes this unintended handle.) However Windows will not be put in an unstable state due to this action.

Restore It All

If this and the option above is checked, then WinDrop not only saves and restores the regular window position and size but also the icon position and updates the normal, minimized, or maximized window state buttons to the state the window was in when it was closed. You should move the icon to a position other than the bottom of the screen because some icons may overlap otherwise.


Program dialog Save (Compilation of stand-alone executables)

Save

When you press this button the program dialog disappears and your changes are confirmed. The save file dialog appears and you can enter a file name of the ".exe" to which WinDrop will compile the slot.

What's this thing anyway?

There is a lot of information associated with each WinDrop slot that you have entered into the program dialog. What WinDrop does when you hit the Save button, is to pack this information into a executable program, that can be run on its own. The ".exe" file is about 8k in size and when run, it in turn executes the application given in the slot with the following data taken from the slot info:

program file name

working directory

parameters (no escape sequences yet though)

show mode (min, max, norm)

The compiled executable also contains the icon that was selected in the slot as first and only icon. This means that no matter which program launcher you are using you will see your selected icon and not the icon of the application you are launching. The application title will also be part of the executable.

Note that the show mode is taken from the slot data. But when you run the executable, it will be passed a new show mode. If this show mode is normal or maximized the slot application will be launched immediately, but if it is minimized the compiled executable pops up as an icon with the application title in square brackets. The application will not have been launched at this point. Only when you restore this icon (i.e. thru double-clicking) will the application be run. To launch the application with a different file as parameter, you can just drop any file onto the icon.

What do I do with it?

It is most useful to run applications with options that you have set in the following situations:

Applications that have been associated with an extension in the File Manager.

Remote execution.

This feature will be expanded in the next release.


Program dialog Misc

Slot number

The number in the right bottom of the dialog is the 1-based slot number of the application.

Last Parameters

This allows you to view and modify the last parameter with which a program has been called. It is only set if you have specified the "%+" or "%*" escape in the parameters.

Last Position

This shows you the left top and right bottom corner and minimized coordinates of the last position.

Clear

This clears the last position to which the window will be restored.


Program dialog Search

Quick Find

You can specify up to 4 characters that will be used for the incremental search in the icon bar. To use the incremental search just type the characters while the icon bar has the focus. The selection or focus rectangle will move to the application which core file name or quick find title begins with the letters that you have typed so far. The search will first use the quick find titles and then the core file name of the installed applications (prefix "win" must not be explicitly typed). You can press ENTER to launch the application or Alt+ENTER to pop up the program dialog. To search for the next occurrence press TAB. To find the first occurrence again press SPACE. To start a new search type ESC.

For example to find and launch Write it is usually sufficient to type W, R and then ENTER.


Program dialog Remote

Remote

You can enter a computer name on which the application will be launched remotely. Note that only the program file name and parameters will be used. If no directory and extension is given then the WinDrop bar on the remote computer will be searched for this application and if one is found the application will be launched with these options. Otherwise the path will be searched for the program. Note that you must run Windows for Workgroups on both machines and have the Install remote execution in the options dialog at least checked once on the remote computer. If you hit the Browse button while this edit field has the focus, an select computer dialog will appear.


Program dialog Parameter Builder

Parameter builder

This allows you to conveniently select the parameter mode for the application without having to remember all the cryptic escape sequences. If you select one of the radio buttons, the contents of the parameter edit field will be replaced by the appropriate escape sequence. If you have checked the append check box, then the escape will be appended to the current contents. See Application executable specification in the program dialog for details on the escape sequences.


Options dialog

The options dialog appears when you double-click the WinDrop icon or caption with the right mouse button, or select Dialogs|Options from the menu, or hit Control+O while the bar is active. It is subdivided into different groups. Note that you can press the More button to toggle between the first and the second page of the dialog.

Hotkey Goodies

Configuration

File Manager

Misc

WinDrop as shell

Clock

To toggle between the previous and the following controls press the More button

Bar

WinDrop position

Remote execution (NDDE)

MS-Mail

Language


Options dialog Goodies

Goodies Hotkeys

WinDrop allows you to associate each of the predefined actions with a Windows wide hotkey. The available actions are listed in the combo box. Selecting one of these actions shows the associated hotkey in the modified edit field just above the combo box. You can change the hotkey just by pressing the desired key combination. The input focus is automatically shifted back to the combo box so you can immediately select another entry. If you press one of the shift keys and then release it without pressing any other key you can clear any key binding of the selected action.


Options dialog Configuration

Configuration

Save immediately

When checked, WinDrop updates its "windrop.ini" file after each modification you make. This inflicts a small performance penalty but ensures that your configuration is saved if you cannot end your Windows session properly. The configuration file is always saved when WinDrop or Windows is exited.

The Auto Save menu item has the same purpose.

Save quick start file

When selected WinDrop uses a quick start file named "windrop.img" to save the icons of the installed programs. This slows down the save operation but tremendously speeds up the startup time of WinDrop. This is because there is no need to access each program file in order to extract its icon.


Options dialog File Manager

File Manager

Stick to file manager

By selecting this option WinDrop sticks to the right hand side of the Windows File Manager. This is convenient if you use the drag and drop feature a lot because WinDrop will always be within easy reach.

Stick even if minimized

By checking this option WinDrop sticks to the File Manager even when it is in its minimized state. Otherwise WinDrop will revert to its default position on the right hand side of the screen when the File Manager is minimized.


Options dialog Misc

Misc

Auto re-position

Checking this option makes only sense if you are using a virtual desktop enhancement utility like BigDesk. This lets WinDrop stay in the current screen even if you are switching from one screen to another. It comes in handy as well if you want to make it impossible to move WinDrop to another screen position accidentally by clicking into the caption.

Always on top

Puts WinDrop always on top of other windows. Same as in the menus.


Options dialog WinDrop as shell

WinDrop as shell

You can make WinDrop your Windows shell. A shell is the first program that Windows runs when it starts. This program should at least give you the opportunity to launch other programs. The standard Windows shell is the Program Manager. It is slow, resource hungry and takes up a lot of screen space. If you minimize it and want to run another program you have to wait for the Program Manager to restore and repaint itself. WinDrop is much faster, doesn't gobble up as many resources and you have all your favorite programs just a mouse click away, neatly packed at the right hand side of the screen. It has all of the useful features of the Program Manager plus a lot more. If you've decided to make WinDrop your shell, you don't have to part from the Program Manager completely. You can still run it like any other program from WinDrop and after you're done you can close it and it doesn't give you any trouble by asking you "Exit Windows?" either. There is only one quirk you should be aware of. When you assign a hotkey to the Program Manager it should not include the control key because this causes the Program Manager to execute the programs in the StartUp group which may have already been launched by WinDrop.

If WinDrop is configured as shell the file "shotkey.dll" must be in a directory that is in your path or in the Windows directory.

WinDrop allows you to select which groups of programs will be run on startup.

If you are using WinDrop as shell and have any problems, like a missing "shotkey.dll" error, you can reinstate the Program Manager as shell again manually, by changing the line "shell=windrop.exe" in the "[boot]" section of your "system.ini" back to "shell=progman.exe".

Run load/run line in win.ini

Checking this causes WinDrop to execute the programs specified in the "load=" and "run=" line in the "[windows]" section of "win.ini" when Windows is started and WinDrop is installed as shell.

Run ProgMan startup group

Checking this causes WinDrop to execute the programs specified in the Program Manager StartUp group when Windows is started and WinDrop is installed as shell.

Run WinDrop startup programs

Checking this causes WinDrop to execute the programs marked as Run On Startup in the Program dialog when Windows is started and WinDrop is installed as shell.

Use WinDrop as shell

This check box is initially gray indicating that no changes from the current shell installation will be made when the OK button is pressed. To install WinDrop as shell click the check box until the X is visible. To deinstall WinDrop and install the Program Manager click the check box until it is blank.

There are a couple of command line switches that change the shell behavior:

-x: WinDrop acts as a shell and startup programms are launched

-s: WinDrop acts as a shell, but no startup programms are launched

-a: WinDrop acts as a regular application


Options dialog Clock

Clock

Enable Clock

When this option is checked WinDrop displays the current time in the WinDrop icon on the bar or below the caption.

Hourly chime

This option turns on a chime that will be sounded at the full hour. If you don't have a Windows wave driver installed you will hear the default beep. However if you have a sound card and the appropriate driver installed, the sound that is associated with the "Hourly Chime" event will be played. You can change the association by selecting a new "*.wav" file in the "Sounds" dialog box of the Windows Control Panel. The hourly chime event will be automatically added by WinDrop. The association you have to make yourself. Note that most PCs can play wave files under Windows without additional hardware if you install the PC Speaker sound driver that is available on most electronic mail boxes. By the way, the association can also be made by modifying the "Hourly Chime" entry in the "[sounds]" section of "win.ini".

Click here to configure the sound now!


Options dialog Bar

Bar

Show caption

Checking this puts a mini-caption over the WinDrop bar. This enables you to pop up the menu, the options dialog all the time with the mouse, and allows you to move and resize the WinDrop bar.

Show WinDrop icon in bar

This includes the WinDrop icon as the first element in the bar. This is the WinDrop 1.0 look. All of the stuff that can be done with the WinDrop icon can also be done with the caption.

Maximum number of slots

This allows you to enter the maximum number of slots that are on the bar. To conserve memory and speed up the load and save, use a number that suits your needs (i.e. 10 slots more than you have installed applications). Note that if this number is lower than the last applications that you have installed, those configurations will not be accessable. Press the End key and Alt+Enter and look in the right bottom corner. This shows you the last slot number that you have used. The maximum maximum number of slots is 106 that can be configured with the current version of WinDrop. This limit will be lifted in a future version.

Show focus on activate

If checked the focus rectangle will be automatically shown if WinDrop gets activated. You can always show the focus by hitting Space if WinDrop is active and not in the incremental search mode. The default is checked which is the list box behavior. If left unchecked, WinDrop is compatible with version 1.0.

Hide focus on deactivate

If checked the focus rectangle will be automatically removed if WinDrop gets deactivated. You can always show the focus by hitting Space if WinDrop is active and not in the incremental search mode. The default is checked which is the list box behavior. If left unchecked and the show box is checked then the focus rectangle stays visible even if WinDrop does not have the focus.

Width of pop-up info

This is the width of the small popup window that contains the application name and hotkey that appears when you hold down the left mouse button over an icon for more than one second. The unit of this entry is icon widths. (3 means 3 times as wide as the icon bar).


Options dialog Position

Position

Restore WinDrop position

If this box is checked then the last WinDrop window position will be restored when WinDrop is started again. To toggle between the initial position and size on the right hand side of the screen and the last alternate position press Shift+Control+Alt+P system wide goody.

Last

This shows you the left top and right bottom corner coordinates of the last alternate position.


Options dialog NDDE

NDDE

(De-)install remote execution

The regular state of the check box is gray, indicating no change on confirming the options dialog changes with OK. If this box is checked a NetDDE share will be installed and thus remote execution enabled. The feature works only if you have installed Windows for Workgroups. Note that anybody on the network can run any program on your machine if you have installed the share. Use a password on the WINDROP$ share if you want to restrict access. To do this you need "addshare.exe" which is included in the Windows for Workgroups Resource Kit and also on the MSDN-CDROM. If the box is clear then the share will be removed when you press OK.


Options dialog Mail

MS-Mail

Auto logon

If checked, you will be automatically logged on to the mail service (WfW or stand-alone MS-Mail). If you leave the name or password blank you will be prompted to log on at startup. A shared mail session will be used and thus you must not log on again if you are running MS-Mail, Schedule, or any other mail-aware application. Note that you do not need to run MS-Mail for these features to work.

Sound

If new mail is waiting during the automatic mail check, then a sound will be used in addition to launching MS-Mail. If you don't have a Windows wave driver installed you will hear the default beep. However if you have a sound card and the appropriate driver installed, the sound that is associated with the "NewMail" event will be played. You can change the association by selecting a new "*.wav" file in the "Sounds" dialog box of the Windows Control Panel. The new mail event will be automatically added by WinDrop. The association you have to make yourself. Note that most PCs can play wave files under Windows without additional hardware if you install the PC Speaker sound driver that is available on most electronic mail boxes. By the way, the association can also be made by modifying the "NewMail" entry in the "[sounds]" section of "win.ini".

Click here to configure the sound now!

Name

Name used to log you on to your mail account.

Password

Password used to log you on to your mail account. If left blank, you will be prompted during logon. This password will be stored soft-encrypted.

Check for mail

This tells WinDrop how often it should check for new mail. If this value is 0, no check will be performed. If there is new mail MS-Mail will be launched and optionally a sound will be played. Note that due to a shortcoming in the documented mail API MS-Mail will not show the icon with the letter sticking out of the mailbox slot indicating new mail. When MS-Mail is already running, no mail check will be performed. The task is left to MS-Mail.


Options dialog Language

Language

You can choose between English, German, French, Spanish, Swedish, Finnish, Dutch and Bavarian. The selected language will be effective immediately after you leave the options dialog by pressing OK. You need the appropriate language DLL (See Needed Files):

windropg.dll for German

windrops.dll for Spanish

windropf.dll for French (Not yet available)

windropw.dll for Swedish

windropn.dll for Finnish

windropd.dll for Dutch (Not yet available)

windropb.dll for Bavarian


Groups dialog

Not yet available. Planned for version 1.2.


Slot list dialog

This lists all installed applications and their slot options. The order is as follows:

1-based slot number

program name

parameters

directory

application name

remote machine name

quick find key

icon number

window class name

hotkey

show mode (7,1,3):	7: minimized; 1: normal; 3: maximized

instance run (0..3):	0: multiple; 1: reuse previous; 3: reuse any

position restore (0..3):	bit 0: restore position; bit 1: restore minimized and showmode as well

run on startup (0..1)

last parameter

last position (x,y,dx,dy)

icon position (x,y)

If grand master flag is set then the following will be appended:

full file name

window handle for repositioning

window handle

instance handle

 instance handle for DOS-boxes

dirty flag (0..7);

Press Clip to copy the selected or all entries (if none is selected)  to the clipboard. TabClip does the same except that tabs will be used as field separators.


Hotkey dialog

This lists all the system wide hotkeys which are registered with the "shotkey.dll" sorted by keyname. Assignments that are prefixed with an asterisk "*" if they have been registered by WinDrop.

Press Clip to copy the selected or all entries (if none is selected)  to the clipboard. TabClip does the same except that tabs will be used as field separators.


Info dialog

This dialog shows you some vital windows statistics. About two thirds have to do with memory management. The numbers in the paragraph before the last are only valid if Windows is running in enhanced mode.

If you press the Env... button the MS-DOS environment will be shown.

Member	Description

MS-DOS Version:	Major and minor MS-DOS version number

Windows Version:	Major and minor Windows version number

Mode:	Processor, standard/enhanced mode, retail/debug version, float processor

User Resources Free:	Percentage of free space in the User segment (Window resources).

GDI Resources Free:	Percentage of free space in the GDI segment (Graphics resources).

Global Memory Items:	Total number of memory blocks.

Global Memory Items Free:	Total number of free memory blocks.

Global Memory Items LRU:	Total number of memory blocks least recently used.

Max Available:	Specifies the largest free block of contiguous linear memory 	in the system, in kilo bytes.

Max Lockable:	Specifies the maximum number of kilo bytes that could be allocated and locked.

Total Linear Space:	Specifies the size of the total linear address space, 	in kilo bytes.

Total Unlocked:	Specifies the number of unlocked memory in the system. This value includes free pages.

Free:	Specifies the number of kilo bytes that are not in use.

Total:	Specifies the total number of kilo bytes the virtual-memory manager manages. This value includes free, locked, and unlocked pages.

Free Linear Space:	Specifies the amount of free memory in the linear address space, in kilo bytes.

Swap File:	Specifies the number of kilo bytes in the system swap file.

Page Size:	Specifies the system page size, in bytes.

Win Dir:	Windows directory (where win.com is)

Win Sys Dir:	Windows System Directory (where the kernel is)


Task list dialog

The task list dialog contains lots of stuff for people who know what it means.

If the task dialog doesn't fit on your screen, you might want to consider installing the "courc.fon" font file that was provided as CGA font in Windows 3.0 but is no longer included with Windows 3.1. You can do this by adding the line "Courier 10,12,15 (60 dpi)=courc.fon" to your "[fonts]" section of "win.ini". This will make the dialog much smaller. You must restart Windows for the changes to take effect.

Click here to edit "win.ini" now!

Do not confuse the term task as used in this dialog with the word task as used by the Windows Task Manager which doesn't have anything to do with tasks. It shows you basically a list of window captions of visible top level windows. The button that says "End Task" does not end tasks, it just kindly asks the selected window to close itself if it wants to.

The dialog contains 3 list boxes:

Tasks

This is the real task list. Each program or "*.exe" file that you start is a task. The currently running tasks are listed here.

Modules

This list shows you all the modules that are currently in use by any of the running tasks. This includes the "*.exe", "*.dll" and "*.drv" files and shows their exact file location and usage or reference count.

Windows

This list shows you all the open top level windows, even those that are invisible, along with their window class and captions.

How it all connects

By selecting any entry in one of the list boxes the corresponding entries in the other two are highlighted. This is done via the 4 digit hex numbers which are called handles.

For example, if you start NotePad twice 2 entries appear in the task list but there is only 1 entry in the module list since the code is the same for both and can be reused. The reference count is 2 since it is used by both tasks. For each window the task creates there will be an entry in the windows list, in this case 1 for each task.

Additional Task List Features


Additional Task List Features

You can enable additional WinDrop features by proving that you know what you are doing. This is done by adding the line "1*1=2" to the "[WinDrop]" section of "windrop.ini". This sets the GrandMaster flag. See advanced configuration. You must be registered for this to work.

This turns the task list dialog into the window of destruction. It enables around 10 buttons next to the list for which they do work. Most of those buttons cause pain and destruction when pressed. So if you do not know exactly what the stuff in the list boxes means do not fiddle around and leave this option disabled.

But if you know what you are doing these buttons are very useful especially during program development.

Here is what they do:

Task list

Quit

This sends a WM_QUIT to the task asking it to drop out of its message loop. The open windows will be destroyed but there will be no WM_DESTROY sent to notify them in order to destroy other allocated resources (especially GDI objects) or give them the opportunity to save data.

Nuke

This is more severe than Quit because the application will be ended with TerminateApp. The negative effects are the same.

Run

Pops up a file dialog that allows you to run an application with parameters.

Module list

-

This decrements the usage count of the module by one. Each time a task references a module the usage count will be incremented. Each time a task releases a module it is decremented by one. If the usage count reaches zero the module will be removed from memory and the module list. Use this button only if you know exactly which task uses which module. Make sure that this task will no longer reference or free the module. If a module still uses its module handle after the count has reached zero you will be in deep deep trouble.

+

Bumps the usage count up by one.

Waste

Pressing this button sets a module's usage count immediately to zero causing Windows to remove the module from memory. This is extremely useful for developing DLLs. But be warned: if the handle is still referenced afterwards Windows crashes. If you waste any of the system DLLs you will be immediately thrown back to MS-DOS.

Load

Loads a new module into memory.

Version

Shows the version info by running Jeffrey M. Richter's VerShow utility and passing the selected file name as parameter. Note that you can launch any executable by changing the "VerShowProg" entry in the "[WinDrop]" section of "windrop.ini".

Window list

Close

This button is mostly harmless. It just sends a WM_CLOSE message asking the window to close itself. This is the same as double clicking its close button or what the Windows "Task" Manager does when you select "End Task". Data will be saved.

To Top

Brings the window to top.


Reminder dialog

The reminder dialog allows you to enter some text that will be saved into the configuration file. If you check one or both of the Remind on entry and On exit check boxes the same reminder dialog will be shown to you after WinDrop is opened or before it is closed respectively. If the On chime box is checked, the dialog will pop up every hour on the hour.


Clipboard list dialog

This dialog shows you a list of all the data formats that are currently on the clipboard. The data that can be put on the clipboard may have different representations. For example text, in a paint program, can be either seen as an ASCII text consisting of characters, or as a bitmap that includes color, font, and so on. The dialog lists the name of these representations. Note that the order of the formats is important, because programs usually pick the first format that they can understand. An Asterisk at the beginning of the name indicates a predefined format.

The Empty button empties the clipboard.


Exit Windows dialog

If you select Exit Windows from the File menu or press the assigned hotkey this confirmation dialog appears.

You can select one of four ways to terminate Windows:

To Dos

This button just exits Windows and does nothing else. Windows returns to its calling program. This will usually mean that you are back at the MS-DOS command prompt.

Logoff

This button does the same as the To Dos button, except that the return code of "win.com" is 1 instead of 0. This can be used in a batch file that calls "win.com" to perform a different action from the regular exit. The preferred action is to log off from the network but you can do anything you want to. Note that WinDrop does not perform the log off.  (See advanced configuration on how to change the button text).

Here is an example batch file to run Windows:

@echo off

win

if not errorlevel 1 goto done

rem *** here go the commands to log off

logoff

:done

rem *** regular windows exit

Or even shorter:

@echo off

win :

if errorlevel 1 logoff

Note that there are problems with this and the restart exit method. This is not a fault in WinDrop or Windows. The same function is called for the To Dos method, just the documented parameter for the "win.com" return value is 1 instead of 0. This problem is most likely to be caused by faulty DLLs of other applications thru bugs in the WEP (Windows Exit Procedure) which remain undetected because Windows suppresses faults in this critical situation.

Restart

Pressing this button exits and then restarts Windows. This is useful if you've changed the system configuration and want the changes to be effective.

Reboot

This exits Windows giving you a chance to save all your work and then reboots the system. This will mostly be used if something has messed up your system or you want changes in the "autoexec.bat" or "config.sys" to become effective.


Goodies hotkeys

Here is a listing of the available actions and their default key assignments. You can assign a different hotkey or none at all in the goodies group of the options dialog.

The Shift, Control and Alt key are abbreviated with their first letter.

Bring WinDrop to top	SCA+D	Puts WinDrop in front of other windows once

Maximize active window	SCA+W

Minimize active window	SCA+Y

Restore active window	SCA+A

Minimize & leave active	SCA+C

Active window always on top	SCA+Q	Toggles the always on top flag of the active window

Reposition WinDrop	SCA+P	Toggles the WinDrop position between the most recent and the right edge of the screen

Toggle stick to File Manager	SCA+L

Toggle always on top	SCA+O	Toggles the WinDrop always on top flag

Save configuration	SCA+S

Run program	SCA+E

Exit Windows	SCA+X

Remind	SCA+R

Task list	SCA+T

System info	SCA+I

Swap clipboard contents	SCA+V

US keyboard layout	CA+F1

Alternate keyboard layout	CA+F2

Right mouse	CA+F3

Left mouse	CA+F4

Windows garbage collection	SCA+G

CD eject	SCA+Up

CD stop	SCA+PageUp

CD play	SCA+Down

CD previous track	SCA+Left

CD next track	SCA+Right

Send Mail	SCA+M

Check for new mail	SCA+N

The strings that are used to describe the key combinations in the WinDrop program are generated by the keyboard driver and the language depends on the current keyboard layout. Most keyboard drivers use the name of the keys on the numeric key pad for the cursor keys, so if it says "Num 2" you can either press the "2" of the numeric key pad or the cursor down key. For some languages the descriptions are extremely long. For example the German driver uses only uppercase letters.

Note that the default assignment of the keystroke has been optimized for the American keyboard layout. For example if you are using the German keyboard you might want to consider changing the SCA+Y for minimize to SCA+Z.


DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange)

Plain DDE

WinDrop acts as a DDE Server with the service name "WinDrop" and the topic "WinDrop". It processes a DDE execute request by launching any of the specified application. The command string can be in one of the following formats:

<programfilename>[ <parameters>]

#<slotnumber>[ <parameters>]

,<applicationtitle>[ <parameters>]

<programfilename> is the file name of the program to run. If no path and extension is specified, then all slots are searched for a matching application with the same core file name. If none is found the standard search is performed.

<slotnumber> is the 1-based index in the slot.

<applicationtitle> is the prefix of any applications on the bar.

For example:

write readme	launches Write with the "readme.wri" file with options from the bar (if installed there)

write.exe readme	launches Write when found anywhere in the path (no bar options apply)

c:\win\write readme	launches Write when found the specific directory (no bar options apply)

,pc	most likely launches Paintbrush

#3	launches the program on position 3 in the bar

Net DDE

You can run any application on any remote computer over a network. You must have installed Windows for Workgroups for this to work. The remote machine must have installed the WinDrop NDDE Share. This is done in the options dialog. This basically adds a line in the "Share" section of "system.ini". If WinDrop isn't running if you want to launch an application remotely, then WinDrop will be launched first. (WinDrop must be in the path on the remote machine).

Setting up remote execution

Running an application remotely

Running an installed application a remote machine


MS-Mail

WinDrop can send and check for mail immediately with a system wide hotkey, check for mail periodically, and log you onto the system wide mail service without user interaction. This also saves you chunk of memory because the MS-Mail application does not have to be running to perform these operations. Note that you must have Windows for Workgroups or the MS-Mail application installed on your system.

Configuring WinDrop for MS-Mail

Send or checking for new mail


Problems

Q: WinDrop seems to run incorrect programs when I drop files from the File Manager that are located on drive A: or B: on icons on the bar.

A: This is due to a bug in the Windows File Manager which supplies invalid coordinates of the drop location when the files are on drive A: or B:. It is not a fault in WinDrop. You can verify this by trying a file drop on other programs that depend on the location of a drop. Let's all hope that Microsoft will fix the bug soon.

Q: Why can't I use the WinDrop hotkeys when a DOS box is the active Window?

A: This is because a DOS box receives almost all keystrokes to insure compatibility. DOS programs do not comply with the guidelines that are used by Windows applications on key assignment. But you can use Alt+Tab to switch to a Windows application and then the hotkey will work. (I'm writing on a VxD that will allow hotkeys in DOS boxes).

Q: I have WinDrop configured as shell and now I get a "Cannot find SHOTKEY.DLL" dialog box when I start Windows. After I press OK I'm back at the DOS prompt.

A: At the time Windows runs the shell program it only looks in the Windows directory or all the directories in the path for associated DLLs and not thru or the program's directory. To fix the problem you must copy the "shotkey.dll" and the language DLL that you have chosen to your Windows directory or add the WinDrop directory to your path statement in the "autoexec.bat". (Sorry, tell it to Microsoft).

Q: Every time I use a hotkey to run the Program Manager from WinDrop some other programs start and some iconized windows pop up.

A: You have assigned a hotkey to the Program Manager that includes the Control key. When the Control key is held down at the time the Program Manager starts, it executes all the programs in the StartUp group. There is no way that you can release the Control key that fast that the Program Manager doesn't catch it. To solve this problem you just have to assign a different hotkey combination without the Control key like Shift+Alt+P in the program dialog.

Q: WinDrop doesn't read the Program Manager StartUp group even though I have configured it as shell and checked the "Run ProgMan StartUp Group" box in the options dialog.

A: The current version of WinDrop can read the startup group only if the group file is named either "startup.grp" or "autostar.grp". The last file name will only be used if the Windows language has been switched to German. (That is if the "sLanguage" entry in the "[intl]" section of "win.ini" is set to "deu"). They have to nationalize even the file names, don't they!!! I don't have any idea of what they are called in other languages. If your StartUp group file is named differently you have to rename it to "startup.grp" and change the "progman.ini" entry to the new name. Do this only after you have exited the Program Manager.

Click here to edit "progman.ini" now!

Q: One of the programs in the StartUp group runs correctly when it is read by the Program Manager. But when WinDrop runs the group the program complains that it can't find one of its components.

A: This is because the current version of WinDrop only extracts the programs file name from the group and not the default directory. I will fix this in upcoming releases. The group file format is really messy, yecch.

Q: Even though I have checked the "Save Window Position" box in the program dialog the window still appears where it wants to.

A: You have probably forgotten to set the main window class correctly in the same dialog. To do this, run the program in question, pop up the corresponding program dialog and select the window class edit field, then hit the browse button, move the mouse cursor over the program's window. You will see its class name appear in the edit field. Click the left mouse button. Then press OK in the dialog. When you close and reopen the programs window will now be in the same position as when it was closed.

Q: Some of the options in the program dialog seem to have no effect on certain programs.

A: This is unfortunately true. Most of the options are just recommendations and can be overridden by the program if it wants to. Most likely there will be no valid reason to do this except for stupidity of the program's author. Please contact them for a full refund.

Q: I have assigned a hotkey to an application but nothing happens when I press it.

A: There is a possibility that another application uses a system wide hotkey which may prevent WinDrop from ever getting this key combination. (For example the Program Manager).

Q: The first time I have installed an application on the WinDrop bar the application name was set from the executable. I have edited it by mistake. How can I get it back without reinstalling the program to the bar?

A: Just click inside the edit field for the application name in the program dialog and then hit the Browse button.

Q: The Enable Hotkey configuration is not saved across WinDrop session.

A: The services that are provided by "shotkey.dll" are used by other applications and this option affects these too. The check mark reflects the current state and is not saved to the config file.

Q: When I click on the WinDrop icon on the bar I get an "Call to an undefined Dynalink Application Error".

A: You are using an older version of the "shotkey.dll" or have one in a directory that is in your path. Use the most recent version, usually the one provided with WinDrop.

Q: The task list dialog doesn't fit on my screen.

A: You need to install the "courc.fon" font. (See task list).


Advanced Configuration

There are a couple of WinDrop options which can only be changed by editing the "windrop.ini" file  directly. There is no user interface for those because there is usually no need for them to be modified, but it might come in handy for you to change them.

You can and should use the File|Load menu item after you have changed the configuration file and WinDrop is running. Otherwise just run WinDrop for the changes to take effect.

Click here to edit "windrop.ini" now! You must have run WinDrop at least once for this to work.

Click here to run WinDrop now!

These options are in the "[WinDrop]" section of "windrop.ini":

IniFileNotModified=1

This entry must be set to 0 whenever the "windrop.ini" file is edited by hand. It causes WinDrop to recache its icons and in later versions its binary config file. Otherwise your changes may be overwritten the next time the ini file is saved.

ClingToProgramFile=winfile.exe

This is the file name of the program that WinDrop clings to when this option is selected. The default is the Windows File Manager.

AltKbd=kbdgr.dll

Specifies the keyboard DLL that will be used when the alternate keyboard layout is selected. The last two characters of the DLL file name are the country abbreviation. The default is "gr" for the German keyboard. Look in your Windows system directory for the available DLLs. If you cannot find the one you prefer you might want to use the control panel to copy the DLL from the installation disks.

DefaultIconFile=progman.exe

This is the file from which the icon will be used if a program has no icons of its own. This may be any exe file or DLL. The default is the Windows Program Manager. (For example "moricons.dll").

DefaultIconNum=1

This is the number of the icon in the default icon file specified above. This icon will be used for DOS programs.

DefaultIconNumWin=8

This is the number of the icon in the default icon file specified above. This icon will be used for Windows programs that have no icon of their own.

LogoffButton=&Logoff

This is the text that appears in the logoff button of the Exit Windows dialog. Note that this entry is not written to the config file, only read. An Ampersand (&) character indicates that the next letter is the underlined accelerator key.

RGBFocus=0,255,0

This is the RGB color used for drawing the focus rectangle. The three integer form 0..255 specify the intensity of the basic colors red, green, and blue, in that order. The default is light green.

DontTestShellEntry=0

WinDrop employs 2 schemes to determine if it is the shell: The first method checks to see if WinDrop is the first task in the system. The second method examines the "[boot]" section of the "system.ini" file. The first method is neater but when Windows for Workgroups came along the first real task suddenly became the third task. This switch disables the second method if set to 1. This is better if you're using the regular Windows because you can exit WinDrop to update it without it rerunning the startup programs if you reenter it. This setting must be 0 if Windows for Workgroups is used or else the is-shell detection of WinDrop will fail. (Like always: tell it to Microsoft). Note that this entry is not written to the config file, only read.

BlindAsABat=0

The task list will have a larger font if the switch is set to 1.

MSMail=msmail

File name of MS-Mail.

VerShowProg=vershow

File name of program that will be launched when pressing the Version button in the task list. The selected module will be passed as parameter.

NukeDotExe=0

If this switch is set to 1 then the in most cases redundant ".exe" extension is removed from the program file name when it is installed, or the Apps|Optimize All is selected. This might lead to conflicts if a ".com" or ".pif" file with the same name is in the directory or path.

RestoreWithSysCommand=0

If this switch is set to 1 then a WM_SYSCOMMAND message is sent instead of OpenIcon, when restoring a already launched and minimized application.

NoMoreDialogs=0

When set to 1 the program and the options dialog are twice their regular height and the more button is gray. So you can view all the information at once without going over the more button. This is recommend only for screen resolutions of 1024*768 or higher.

ScrollSpeed=200

This is the rate at which the icons are scrolled with the mouse in milliseconds.

EnglishHelp=0

This always gives you the English help file if you have chosen an other language. Otherwise the help file that is defined in the language DLL will be used.

1*1=1

If you add the line "1*1=2" (sic) you enable the WinDrop grand master flag. When you do this you should be not only a very experienced Windows user but also a very experienced Windows programmer. Please resist the temptation to just try it out to see what's different if you don't meet these criteria. In particular the task list will be turned into the dialog of destruction. Please do not press any of the buttons that will appear if you are not 100% sure of the consequences and the inner workings of the Windows concepts for task, modules and windows. If you do it anyway, blame yourself and not WinDrop if your system gets bombarded with general protection faults, locks up, or if you're faster back at the DOS prompt than any exit-windows-program can put you.

Here's a list of where the behavior of WinDrop will be different if this flag is set:

The task list has more buttons which let's you nuke tasks, modules, and windows.

2 additional goodies will appear: SCA+End to nuke the task of the active window; SCA+Ins to perform an INT 3 and enter a debugger.

The slot list shows a couple of handles

The default changes from yes to no on hotkey warnings

A warning will not be shown when your selected options indicate that the WinDrop menu can only be reached by keyboard.


Credits

WinDrop was written by Dieter Prifling. See registration for details.

This program is dedicated to Martina not only because she has put up with him during the hours of development.

The author would like to thank all the guys at The Knowledge Base (Andi, Andy, John & Peter) as well as Oliver, Dave, Walter, Hans and Herman for inspiring some of the ideas and for using WinDrop in their daily work and thus participating in the beta test for this product.

Special thanks go to Oliver for doing all the e-mail handling, to Dave for translating WinDrop into Spanish and for proofreading this help file, to Andi for translating parts of the help file into German, and to Grim & Rauno for doing the Swedish & Finnish translation.


Registration

Why should I register and what do I get for it

How do I register and what does it cost

Where can I get in touch with you

Legal stuff

REGISTRATION FORM

Quick REGISTRATION FORM


Why should I register and what do I get for it

Moral obligation

The main reason why you should register if you use WinDrop over a trial period is because it is the morally correct thing to do. A lot of additional effort was necessary to turn WinDrop in a more professional product and make it available to a larger number of people. (For example this help file). If there is not enough response to acknowledge this work then future versions and programs developed by this author will not be distributed thru shareware. So much for the guilt producing part.

Peace of mind

The unregistered version of WinDrop has almost the full functionality of the registered version. To  remind you to register, the caption of all windows contains in addition to their regular title "Unregistered Copy".

After every 10 program invocations or activations from WinDrop the icon bar will show "Unregistered Copy" for 2 further invocations. The signon dialog will be visible longer and stay in front of other windows but the processor will not be hogged. You can already continue to work while the dialog is still up.

Support and upgrades

Registered users will receive free support. They will be notified of changes and new versions. Free upgrades up to the next major version will be available to them free of charge. (The author doesn't believe in incrementing version numbers that fast, so rest assured). (See The Future for details).

All software will be distributed via electronic bulletin boards. (See below). To receive the software on disk send me the filled out order form. This support disk contains lots of other programs as well.


How do I register and what does it cost

Method

To register you have to send your full name, address and phone number.

To make it easier a registration form has been provided.

The registration fee is 32 DM (deutsche mark) or 19 US$. Within Europe you can send a EuroCheque (please use the German currency DM). Worldwide you can pay with VISA Card (please include your card number, expiration date and signature (mail or fax) and state that you wish to pay 32 DM). If you are sending traveler checks or cash you are doing so at your own risk.

All information that is submitted will be treated confidentially and will not be given or sold to a third party.

After a reasonable time you will receive your authorization number. You have to enter your name, address as well as this number in the registration dialog which is available over the Dialogs|Registration... menu item. Please enter your personal information exactly as you have sent it in character by character. If your data was not specific enough you will receive an interpretation that you should key in instead. WinDrop will use this data to verify the authorization number. Key in the authorization number. Press return to close the dialog. Note that none of the data will be verified at this point. Restart WinDrop. If the signon dialog still says that WinDrop is unregistered, check the information that you have entered.

Your personal data will be saved in the "windrop.reg" file. This file must not be given to anyone.

You are encouraged to give WinDrop to all your friends or distribute it thru mail boxes. Be sure that you include all files as received.

If you have received "windrop.reg" in response to your registration request (for example over e-mail), you don't have to key them in, just copy "windrop.reg" to your Windows directory.

Note that the registration is only valid for one user. Please inquire details for a license for more users.


Where can I get in touch with you

All electronic mail handling is done by Oliver Besler and Andi Rosenberg. Please contact them with your registration details at:

CompuServe	100012,3651	checked almost daily

Internet	100012.3651@compuserve.com	checked almost daily

Internet	A.ROSENBERG@MSN.RMI.DE	checked weekly

GEnie	O.BESLER	checked monthly

BIX	OBESLER	checked monthly

FIDO	2:246/555.3	checked seldom

Mail address:

Dieter Prifling

Postfach 1122

93067 Neutraubling

Germany

Fax:

+49 9401 79531 (in Germany (09401) 79531) or

+49 9482 3249 (in Germany (09482) 3249)

Phone:

If and only if you don't have access to e-mail services or a fax and mail is to slow for your urgent questions, you can call me directly on weekdays during the day (Central European Time, (EST + 6 hours)).

Dieter Prifling

Phone: +49 9482 2832 (in Germany (09482) 2832)

You can talk to me in German or English.

If you wish to pay with direct bank transfer my account number is:

Country:	Germany

Bank:	Sparkasse Regensburg

Bank code (BLZ):	750 500 00

Account#:	503 4707

Click here for the registration form


Legal stuff

You are using WinDrop at your own risk. The author may not be held responsible in any way for any damage of any kind caused by this program.


Registration form

Click here to print this form now!. OR

Click here to copy this form to the clipboard and open Write. Then press Ctrl+V to paste this form from the clipboard into Write. Fill it out and print it, or save it as plain text and send it to me over e-mail.

Send this to:

Dieter Prifling

Postfach 1122

93067 Neutraubling

Germany

Fax: +49 9401 79531 or +49 9482 3249

CompuServe: 100012,3651

Registration and order form

If checked, I want:

( ) To register WinDrop at the cost of 32 DM (or 19 US-Dollars) for a single user license. I will receive an authorization number to switch WinDrop to its regular mode of operation. In addition I will be eligible for support and my authorization will work with upgrades up to the next major version number. Also I will be notified when the next release is available.

I will not give my authorization number or the contents of the "windrop.reg" to a third party.

All information that I submit will be treated confidentially and will not be given or sold to anyone.

( ) To register additional programs:

( ) To inquire about the cost of multi user licenses (huge discounts apply).

Number of users:

( ) To be sent the printed documentation for the current release for $10 or 15 DM incl. p&p.

( ) in English

( ) in German

( ) To be sent a disk with new versions for $10 or 15 DM incl. p&p.

( ) immediately.

( ) when the next release is available.

( ) when the next release is available but not earlier than:

I am aware that this disk contains all of the shareware programs by this author, and although they are fully functional, I must be registered for most of them, if I want to use them longer than the trial period. I also know that I need this service only once for all the programs that I have registered with this author.

First & last name:

Company (optional):

Street:

City:

Country:

Phone:

Electronic mail address (optional):

Fax number (optional):

The total amount I want to pay is:

Method of payment:

( ) VISA Card

Card number:

Expiration date:

( ) EuroCheck

( ) Check in German currency (for example Thomas Cook Draft)

( ) Bank transfer

Signature (if mail or fax registration):


Quick Registration form

Click here to print this form now!

Send this to:

Dieter Prifling

Postfach 1122

93067 Neutraubling

Germany

Fax: +49 9401 79531 or +49 9482 3249

CompuServe: 100012,3651

Registration and order form

Yes, I want to register WinDrop at the cost of 32 DM (or 19 US-Dollars) for a single user license. I will receive an authorization number to switch WinDrop to its regular mode of operation. In addition I will be eligible for support and my authorization will work with upgrades up to the next major version number. Also I will be notified when the next release is available.

I will not give my authorization number or the contents of the "windrop.reg" to a third party.

All information that I submit will be treated confidentially and will not be given or sold to anyone.

First & last name:

Company (optional):

Street:

City:

Country:

Phone:

Electronic mail address (optional):

Fax number (optional):

Method of payment:

( ) VISA Card

Card number:

Expiration date:

( ) EuroCheck

( ) Check in German currency (for example Thomas Cook Draft)

( ) Bank transfer

Signature (if mail or fax registration):


Other Products and the Future

First of all there is only going to be a future if enough people register. But if successful then there will be many future releases as well as other products. All released products are available on the support disk.

WinDrop

WinDrop is a drag and drop program launcher with system wide hotkeys and lots of additional goodies.

Planned enhancements are:

* Groups, groups, groups

* Variable number of icons horizontally and vertically

* Group browser

* Startup group with program sequence control

* Move cursor should be an icon.

* Expansion of compilation

* Small ini files (*.drp) to share configurations and one global ini

* WinDrop as DLL

* System menu

* Auto association for *.drp files

* Restriction of other maximized windows to leave WinDrop visible

* History in Run dialog

* Incremental search writes already typed characters in clock area

* Quick search text visible over icons

* GUI for resize of popup info

* Windows NT version (will be released soon)

DirAll

Produces text files that list the full directory of disks (floppy & hard). Lots of sorting criteria (within one disk or across multiple disks), verification and cross reference across multiple disks. Can be used to find file duplicates even if the file names and time stamps are different, and thus revive valuable hard and floppy disk space. Works in the background as well.

FmView

FmView is a File Manager add-on. It can display the contents of the currently selected file. It automatically determines the file format and selects an appropriate representation. Here are the representations that have been implemented so far:

* ASCII text

* ANSI text

* Hex

* WRI Write files

* DOC MS WinWord

* DOS Word

* BMP & PCX bitmaps

* WMF Windows meta files

* ICO, DLL, EXE icons

* DLL, EXE headers

* OBJ files

* ARJ, LZH & ZIP archives directories

* edit mode for text files up to 61k

* incremental search (text & hex)

* clipboard support

* limited selection of viewing mode

* font selection

* file info and statistics in a status bar

Planned features:

* resources on exe and dll files

* edit mode >61k

* selection of preferred viewing modes if more than one alternative is possible

* read 4DOS descript.ion files

* show an indicator during search process (status bar)

* inform the user if search failed (status bar)

* allow search from current position

* Edit menuitem in FmView menu in file manager to immediately edit the selected file.

* search/replace in edit mode

FmExtMan

FmExtMan (File Manager Extension Manager) is a File Manager add-on. It allows you to add more than the 4 add-on DLLs that File Manager limits you to. All top level menus are put into one menu as submenus, so your File Manager menu is not clogged up. The toolbar is supported.

Planned is: user interface to completely design and reorganize the menu.

DlgDrop

Dialog Drop allows file drop in all edit fields and file dialogs

MySound

MySound allows you to assign your favorite Windows wave files (*.wav) individually to the sound made by any application. No more boring default sounds. You can also shut up any overbeeped application.

Planned are: user interface for easy sound redirection, event based redirection.

Shouter for Windows for Workgroups

Lets you broadcast messages to any number of WfW users. Shouter will automatically be launched on the remote machine. It's like a cross between Chat (only one partner) and MS-Mail (only slow notification). It's best suited to notify more users immediately. Shouter lets you even send the same message as mail, "shout" it or both. It keeps a history of all sent and received messages.

OleWmf

Allows you to save the work done in an OLE mini-server as a Windows meta file. This for example turns MS-Draw included with Winword into a full featured meta file editor. This is faster and more predictable than the import/export of other drawing programs. (beta version).

Planned are: more file formats, clipboard interaction.

ShowPar

Small utility to show you all kinds of parameters, directory, & much more.

WWaitNGo

Windows Wait and Go lets you run applications on a during startup after confirmation or timeout. You can even select the application you want to run in Windows from your MS-DOS 6 boot menu.

NFileDlg

Replaces old file dialogs with the new common file dialog. (beta version, not yet available on disk).


What's new

Release 1.1

Major New Features:

- Configurable maximum number of icons instead of a fixed 50.

- Keyboard support, incremental search and visible focus

- Caption: sizable, moveable, minimizable

- Parameter builder in program dialog

- MS Mail support (send, check new mail)

- NetDDE support (remote execution) (needs Windows for Workgroups)

- Compile of stand-alone executables from slot data

- Insert/delete of icons

- Faster configuration save

- More-buttons in options and program dialog

- Hotkey list & duplicate check with detailed info

- Slot list

- Lots of task list enhancements: killing tasks, modules and windows, version info

- MS-DOS Environment in info dialog

- Lots of accelerator keys for menus

- More error reports & safety

In More Detail:

General

- WinDrop lite: bare bones version for low end PCs

- Optimized and faster save: dirty flags for parts in each slot and options, goodies & reminder

- Parameter switches for WinDrop: -s (just shell) -a (application) -x (shell and exe autostart)

- More secure check for cached bitmap file: header, sync count

- Version check for language DLLs

- Errors will be reported on all failed executes

- Errors will be reported on all failed CD, Mail, NDDE accesses

- Version info in WinDrop resource file

Menu

- Lots of accelerator keys for menus

- Apps menu for currently selected application in bar

- Optimize slots (removes redundant paths and icon file names from the "windrop.ini" file)

- Save all

- The file run dialog offers lots of different extensions, parameters are now allowed, dde "," for apps # for slot numbers

- Check for new mail immediately

- Send mail

- Incremental search info

- Menu pop up thru Alt+Space or pressing Alt and releasing it

- Bullets instead of check marks

Bar

- Configurable maximum number of icons instead of a fixed 50.

- Better keyboard support and visible focus for use without a mouse (see menu)

- Insert and delete applications in the bar

- Incremental search with core file name or quick find title

- Caption with close & min button, (in)active caption & fixed clock

- The middle mouse button scrolls to the first or second page (instead of right button)

- The right mouse button now scrolls page up/down instead of first/second page.

- End key goes to last used slot

- Save WinDrop's window position

- No reposition if iconized

- Program popup window pops up to the right if it doesn't fit on the left

- Slots can now contain DLLs that will be loaded into memory (i.e. "bwcc.dll")

Program dialog

- More Button

- Parameter builder

- Remember and edit last parameter

- Show last position & clear button

- Quick find for incremental search on icon bar

- Simple exe compile (Save..., saves a lot of the slot info to a stand-alone executable). If compiled exe is minimized, it runs app if opened or accepts dropped file as parameter

- Remote execution of program over NDDE (Windows for Workgroups)

- Browse button on the remote field allows you to select the remote computer name

- Hotkey duplicate checks with exact description to which program it has already be assigned (shotkey.dll) (for programs and goodies)

- Warning on suspicious hot keys

- Show slot number

- If run on startup and minimize is checked, the program is invoked in it regular state if it's closed and run again later.

- If a window class name has been specified, this will be used to locate an already open window and activate it.

- Optimized directory and icon file names (lower case, redundancy removed)

- The directory and any associations will be used in order to find the executable to extract the application description. (FindExecutable)

- Bug fixed for application description on non exes

- Bug fix file open dialog doesn't store directory name on %\

Command line escapes have been expanded

- %* %+  last parameter shown in popup window

- %d (dir) %f (corefile) %e (ext) %g (%d\%f) %D(dir\)

- Passing multiple dropped file names as parameter %M

- %p is empty string in parameter builder

Options dialog: Net, Mail DDE

- More button

- MS Mail support: auto logon, check for mail, send mail, sound "NewMail" on new mail

- Mail check only if no MS Mail is running

- Expanded DDE support: WinDrop DDE name service. Launch by application title, program name or any program with parameters.

- Net DDE share add/del

- Optional caption

- Optional WinDrop icon in bar

- Optional focus behavior

- Width of popup info window

- Languages in combo box

- Bavarian, Finnish & Swedish language

Goodies

- Quickrun edit field on system wide hotkey SCA+E

- Send mail on system wide hotkey SCA+M

Task list

- Lots of action if the grand master switch is set

- Version info (requires VerShow)

- Load of modules

- Increment and decrement of module usage count

- Bring window to top

- Scroll bar position in task list remains during updates.

- The scroll bar of the modules in the task list is set to the bottom on open

Info dialog

- Shows windows directory

- Shows MS-DOS environment

Reminder dialog

- Vertical scroll bar

- Larger edit field

New dialogs

- Hotkey list with detailed description of which program the key is assigned to.

copy to clipboard (optionally with tabs)

program dialog on double click

- Slot list which shows all slots with all the stuff stored with them and copy to clipboard

- New design for about dialog

Ini settings

- Grand master flag "1*1=2"

- Focus rectangle color with "RGBFocus=r,g,b"

- Task list font with "BlindAsABat"

- and much more...

Registration Scheme

The payback registration scheme has been dropped because most registrations have not been referred thru already registered users. It just made the registration fee higher that it should have been. Already registered users will receive a support disk free of charge, and are automatically registered for three of those programs. They should get it soon thru the mail.

Release 1.0

Initial release


WinDrop lite

WinDrop lite is intended for low-end PCs or users who do not take advantage of the advanced features of WinDrop. Although the lite version has only about 60% of the size of the regular version,  most memory is conserved by eliminating the need to load additional standard Windows DLLs that are necessary to perform these advanced functions. Note that even the regular version of WinDrop loads NDDE and Mail DLLs on the fly, and does not waste memory if these features are not used.

Here is a list of features that are not available with WinDrop lite:

- All dialogs except options and program dialog (tasklist, info, reminder, slotlist, hotkey, clipboard, registration). Note that to enter the registration information, you need to use the regular WinDrop or enter them into a text editor according to the instructions given in your registration.

- Ability to set the icon and window title of a launched DOS application

- Execution of Program Manager StartUp group

- Mark and Pick of applications from within Program Manager

- DDE & NDDE support

- MS-Mail support

- CD support

- Clipboard doubler

- Extracting of application descriptions from executables

- Compilation of slot data to stand-alone executables

- Ability to play wave files on chime

- Nuking task of active window in grand master mode


How to get the WinDrop 1.0 look back

Select Dialogs|Options from the menu. Then press the More button. In the upper left corner you will see the bar section. Now uncheck the Show caption and Show focus on activate. Then check the WinDrop icon in bar and Hide focus on activate. Press OK. Now you have back the WinDrop 1.0 look that you've grown accustomed to.