═══ 1. About HKLaunch ═══ The HKLaunch program allows the user to control the starting of applications in a much better way than using the "Startup" folder of OS/2 (c) without the need of programming a "STARTUP.CMD" file. In addition it enables the user to specify keystrokes which are sent to the started programs, which is not possible with the "Startup" folder. HKLaunch allows the following: o working directory for each application o execution parameters o window style ( full screen, window, minimized ) o keystrokes to be sent to the application after start o different time frames for starting for each weekday o definitions of other applications which already must run to in order to allow to start the actual application o definition of other application which, when running inhibit the start of the actual application o starting of desktop (or other) objects, not only executable programs To run HKLaunch at system startup, generate a program folder, enter the fully qualified program name and the drive and path where you copied the HKLaunch files as working directory. Use the program parameter /S if you wish HKLaunch to perform immediately and close when finished. Use /s if you want HKLaunch to stay open. ═══ 1.1. Version and Requirements. ═══ The actual version of HKLaunch is 2.3, dated 23rd of december 1995. The minimum requirements are: o a computer system running OS/2 version 2.x or higher o the OS/2 REXX language environment installed o the VX-REXX runtime library VROBJ.DLL installed o 1 Mb disk space to install HKLaunch ═══ 1.2. Limitations of the Unregistered Copy ═══ The unregistered copy of HKLaunch has the following limitation: The program handles and stores an unlimited number of application definitions, but it only starts the first four. ═══ 1.3. Registration Fees ═══ The registration fee for this product amounts to: o CHF 25,--/$ 20.-- per copy for private users. o CHF 50,--/$ 40.-- per copy for commercial users. For each ten copies a reduction of five percent is given, up to a maximum of fifty percent for hundred and more copies. A handling fee of CHF/$ 5,-- to 15.-- is added to any order, regardless of the number of copies ordered and depending on the region from where the order originates. All direct payments have to be done in Swiss francs (CHF), any checks have to be drawn on a Swiss bank. Registration via the COMPUSERVE registration service (GO SWREG) is recommended, in this case payment is to be done in USD.The product identification number is 4852. ═══ 1.4. How To Register Your Copy ═══ You can use several methods to register your copy of the product: o Using the REGISTER menu entry to produce the registration form and send it with cash or a check to the author o Using the COMPUSERVE registration service GO SWREG. This is the recommended way for the registration. After the registration you will be mailed a registration document stating the registration number. You use the REGISTER menu entry to enter this number and its associated information into the application. If the application can verify the registration number, the application will have the registered status fron then on. In general the registration remains valid for all subsequent versions if not stated explicitly otherwise. ═══ 2. Disclaimer ═══ Disclaimer - Agreement Users of this product must accept the following disclaimers of warranty: "THIS PRODUCT IS SUPPLIED BY THE AUTHOR AS IS. THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY AND OF FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. THE AUTHOR ASSUMES NO LIABILTY FOR DAMAGES, DIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL, WHICH MAY RESULT FROM THE USE OF THIS PRODUCT." "THE AUTHOR MAKES NO WARRANTIES AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS GUIDE." "THE SOFTWARE IS PROTECTED BY THE COPYRIGHT LAWS OF SWITZERLAND AS WELL AS BY THE COPYRIGHT LAWS OF MANY OTHER COUNTRIES PURSUANT TO INTERNATIONAL TREATIES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS COMPUTER PROGRAM, DOCUMENTATION OR RELATED FILES MAY BE REPRODUCED, PHOTOCOPIED,STORED ON A RETRIEVAL SYSTEM, OR TRANSMITTED EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY SWISS COPYRIGHT LAW." ═══ 3. Trademarks ═══ OS/2, REXX and IBM Works are registered trademarks of the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). VX-REXX is a trademark of the Watcom International Corporation. dBase, dBase III or dBase IV are trademarks of Borland Corporation. FaxWorks is a trademark of the Keller Group Inc. Other trademarks are the trademarks of their respective trademark owners. ═══ 4. Main Window ═══ The main window is used to define the applications to be started, to simulate and test the definitions and to show the status of the actual execution. ═══ 4.1. Define ═══ Use this command to define the applications to be started. The data is stored in the HKLaunch.INI file. You can specify an unlimited number of applications. ═══ 4.2. Run ═══ This command starts the defined applications. If you want to start applications automatically at system startup, you may execute HKLaunch with the parameter /S or /s from within STARTUP.CMD or the "Startup" folder. The parameter in capital letters (/S) will close HKLaunch when finished, /s will let it remain open. ═══ Install ═══ This command generates a program object for HKLaunch with the parameter /S in the "Startup" folder. Please note, that the actual working directory is used (i.e. the one from which you started HKLaunch). ═══ List box ═══ The list box in the main window lists the started applications and the status of their invocation. ═══ 5. Application definition ═══ This is the main panel where you define the applications to be started. The fields have the following meaning: Application name This combo box is used to define, display and select the applications by their names. Please make sure that you choose unique names. Application caption This field contains the caption of the application and its title as used in the OS/2 task list, if the caption alone is ambigious. Caption and title are separated by a double exclamation mark (!!).Please make sure that you give the correct strings, as they must be used to check if the program is running. Use the List pushbutton to get a list of the captions (and titles) of all running programs. In oder to be sure to give the correct values, run all applications you wish to handle via HKLaunch and list their captions. You may encounter applications which do not have a caption, but only a window list title. In this case you select the blank entry in the caption window and the appropriate window list title. The application caption field will then start with !! Program name Enter the fully qualified file name of the executable program to be started. If you specify a program on a network drive, HKLaunch will only start the program if the station is logged on and thus the drive is known. Use the Find pusbutton to give the file name via the standard file open dialogue. You may also give the object-id or file name of a workplace object In this case the program parameters and the startup directory are meaningless, they are taken from the object settings. Keystrokes can be used, if the object handles them. Program parameters Enter the sequence of parameter strings as needed by the program. Please not that you cannot use [ ] to be asked for parameter input. Working directory As a default, the path of the executable file will be inserted. You can change this value if you like. When starting the application, in the local environment the current directory is switched to this working directory. Keystrokes Here you may enter up to 250 keystrokes which will be sent to the application after it has been started. You may split up the sequence in several groups to send by inserting the characters !! in between. Special keyboard characters are defined by their names enclosed in braces ({}). You have to define the keystrokes exactly as you enter them to the application via the keyboard. Refer to keystroke definitions for description of the key identifiers you can use for the special keys ( e.g. function keys). Please note that the full range of keys can only be used for PM applications. If you want to send keystrokes to a DOS or OS/2 window or full screen session and you use a non-english version of OS/2, then you must give the letter for the "Paste" function of the system menu at the beginning of the keystrokes, separated by !!. Style, minimize Use the radio buttons and the check box to define if the application shall run as full screen or windowed, and if it is to be minimized after the start. More >> If you want to specify times where the application shall not be started, or other applications which must run or must not run in order to start this application use this pushbutton to open the definition window. ═══ 5.1. Add ═══ To add an application, you type a new, unique name in the entry field of the combo box. Then you fill in the remaining fields for caption, program, parameters, keystrokes and specify the style and minimized definitions. Click on More >> if you like to specify further parameters. Click on Add to add the new definitions to the list of applications. ═══ 5.2. Change ═══ To change definitions of an application, choose the application by clicking its name in the combo box. Do not type the name in the entry field. Then enter your changes in the appropriate fields and click on Change to save the changes. The changed values will be used at the next start of the application. ═══ 5.3. Delete ═══ To delete an application, choose the application by clicking its name in the combo box. Do not type the name in the entry field. Then click on Delete to remove the application. ═══ 5.4. Test ═══ To test the definitions, click on Test. HKLaunch will perform all actions neccessary to start the applications and will print out the corresponding informations in the VX-REXX console window. You can file this information to a log file using the standard capabilities of the VX-REXX console. ═══ 5.5. List captions and titles ═══ This panel lists the captions of all open windows and thus also of the running programs. Start all applications you wish to be handled by HKLaunch and use this panel. Select the caption for the actual application. If this is ambigious because the application has several windows, you will see the corresponding window list titles in the lower list box. Select the appropriate title and click OK. The correct string will be placed in the Application caption field in the application definition panel. ═══ 5.6. More definitions ═══ This panel is used to specify the details on start time limits, applications which must run and applications which must not run in order for HKLaunch to start the actual application. In the Execution times group you specify for each day in the week the start time and the ending time for the application execution. HKLaunch will start the application only if the actual time is within these limits ( >= and <=). In the Other applications group you specify the application caption ( i.e. the identification of the application in the OS/2 task list). You can specify any application, not only those started by HKLaunch. If you choose the Runnig entry in the spin button, the corresponding application must be runnig before HKLaunch can start the actual application. If the Not running value is set, HKLaunch will not start the actual application if the corresponding application is running. Setting Run for an application which is defined in HKLaunch will start the actual application if the other application has already been started, regardless if it is still running or not. Please note that you can specify up to 7 other applications. ═══ Help Menu ═══ Access to the standard and application specific help panels and the product informations. ═══ Product Information ═══ This dialog shows the product name, version, short description, and copyright noice. ═══ 6. Registration ═══ This product is shareware. This means that you are entitled to test the software for 30 days. If you wish to use the software after this period of time you must purchase a usage license. The license fee is indicated in the product description under the heading Registration fees. Payment has to be made only in the currancy as stated there, in cash or by checks drawn on the banks as stated. Another possibility is using the COMPUSERVE registration service ( GO SWREG ). In any case, the registration form has to be sent to the author by clicking on the "Register" menu entry, filling in the appropriate values and printing the form. ═══ 6.1. Sending the Registration Order ═══ If you wish to register your copy of the product, click on the Register menu entry. Fill in the Name and Address fields. Make sure that the entries are complete (address must at least contain one entry) and correct. In case you want a commercial license, check the corresponding button and enter the number of simultaneous users in the Nodes field. Click the Send Reg. button. The amount due will be determined and the corresponding registration form will be printed on the default printer. Save a copy and send the form to the author. You will get back your Registration Number which you should enter into the application. ═══ 6.2. COMPUSERVE Registration Service ═══ Registration can be made via the COMPUSERVE registration service. This speeds up the registration process and eases the payment, as the registration fee is debted to your COMPUSERVE account. Use the product identification number as given in the Registration fees paragraph above. Please make sure that you also send the Registration Order to the author, as you can get the registration number only via this order. ═══ 6.3. Registration Number ═══ When you recieve your registration documents and your registration number from the author, activate the registration panel by clicking the Register menu entry. Enter the Name, Address, Date and Registration Number fields EXACTLY as you see them on the recieved registration document. If you ordered a commercial license, also check the checkbox and enter the Nodes value. If the registration number can be verified successfully by the application, it will change to the registered status and the Register menu entry will be disabled. Leave the application and restart it to access the capabilities which were limited in the unregistered state. The registration number will in general remain valid for the subsequent version unless explicitly stated otherwise. ═══ 6.4. Shareware ═══ Definition of SHAREWARE software Shareware software distribution gives users a chance to try software before buying it. If you try shareware software and continue using it, you are expected to register. Individual programs differ on details - some request registration while others require it, some specify a maximum trial period. With registration you get anything from the simple right to continue using the software to an updated program with printed manual. Remember that Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You should find software that siuts your needs and pocketbook, be it distributed commercially or via shareware channels. The shareware system makes fitting your needs easier to you, because you can try before you buy. And because overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware software has the ultimate money-back guarantee - if you don't use it, you don't pay for it. The essence of the shareware method is to provide personnel computer users with quality software without high prices, and yet to provide incentive for programmers to continue to develop new products. Shareware authors are professional software developers who use the inexpensive distribution method to reach a sufficiently large market. It is part of this method, that you are encouraged to pass along shareware products to your friends and collegues, as long as you transfer the complete, unchanged package without charging any fees, except the cost for the media on which you hand it over (diskettes e.g.). It is essential that you understand and accept, that shareware is protected by the copyright laws and that you have to register if you use the software after a reasonable trial period. Support the shareware method, which provides you with inexpensive software product by a fair registration policy. ═══ 6.5. Copyright ═══ Copyright laws apply to both shareware and commercial software, and the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific exceptions as stated below: The author specificially grants the rigth to copy and distribute the complete and unmodified software in order to hand it over to other users for trial. ═══ 6.6. Authors Address ═══ The author can be reached by surface mail or via COMPUSERVE. Mail address: H. Kiesbauer 4U - Software Steinackerweg 21 CH-4513 Langendorf COMPUSERVE ID: 100121,2715 Please send your questions and comments preferrably via COMPUSERVE, I will check my mailbox aproximately once a week. ═══ OK ═══ The OK button closes the Product information dialog. ═══ ═══ For sending special keys to an application, use the following key identifiers (enter them with the braces {..}!): F1 to F12 {F1} to {F12} Alt {Alt} Control {Ctrl} Escape {Esc} Tabulator {Tab}* and {Backtab} Backspace {Backspace}* Delete, Insert {Del}, {Ins} Home, End {Home}, {End} Enter {Enter}* Arrow up, down {Up}, {Down}* Arrow left, right {Left}, {Right} Page up, down {PgUp}, {PgDown} Shift {Shift} The keystrokes marked with * can also be used in DOS or OS/2 window or full screen sessions. To send the characters A, B and C in sequence, use the string ABC. To send a control character, prefix the character with the string {Ctrl}, as in {Ctrl}Z. The strings {Alt} and {Shift} are used to specify the Alt and Shift keys, as in {Alt}H or {Shift}{F3}. Function keys are specified as {F1}, {F2}, and so on. You can combine modifiers: {Ctrl}{Shift}J {Alt}{Ctrl}{F10} Modifiers only apply to a single keystroke. The following string is used to send the two keystrokes Alt+F and O: {Alt}FO A similar example sends Alt+Z followed by Ctrl+X: {Alt}Z{Ctrl}X There is no fixed limit on the number of keystrokes allowed in a single string, but you should keep the sequences fairly short.