═══ 1. InfoBar Information and Tuning Utility, OS/2 Version. ═══ InfoBar displays various system settings and data. Some of which are otherwise difficult to discover. This first version of InfoBar does not bother to display settings that are otherwise easy to discover. That may come in later versions. InfoBar consists of two main areas: 1. The Title Bar and 2. The information display window. ═══ 1.1. The Title Bar. ═══ The Title Bar (the rectangle on the middle top of InfoBar) displays four numbers: -the Initial Size of the system swap file (prefixed by "Init-") -the Current Size of the system swap file (prefixed by "Curr-") -the Maximum Size of the system swap file (prefixed by "Max-") (This is the maximum that InfoBar has observed since it was last started.) -the amount of free space on the disk partition where the swap file resides. All numbers are in decimal kilobytes, that is each thousand is 1000, as opposed to binary kilobytes, where each thousand is 1024. In fact, all numbers in InfoBar are in decimal. All thousands are in decimal thousands. For a detailed explanation, see the Number Representation section. The Title Bar is updated once per second. Watching this number while you work should give you a good idea of your own personal swap file usage. If the Current or Maximum swap sizes are different from the Initial swap size, you should consider increasing your default swap file size to the maximum size of swap file you typically create. The registered version of InfoBar will tune your swap file for you. See Tune Swapper for complete details. ═══ 1.2. The information display window. ═══ This window displays one of many possible system values that InfoBar is aware of. To see some other value, click (either left or right) the mouse anywhere in this window, and InfoBar will update the display with the next (or previous) data item. ═══ 1.3. Number Representation. ═══ All numbers in InfoBar are displayed in decimal. Kilobytes are expressed as decimal kilobytes where each thousand is 1000 (base 10), as opposed to binary kilobytes, where each thousand is 1024 (base 10). This may seem trivial at first; but helps make sense of the case where you are expecting 48 megabytes of something (that's binary megabytes) and the display reads: 50,331,648 (decimal megabytes). ═══ 1.4. Tune Swapper ═══ This feature of the registered version of InfoBar sets a new initial size for your SWAPPER.DAT file, depending on your preferences and situation. For more details on tuning options see: Tune to Current Tune to Maximum Tune to Minimum The tuning option you pick will be used by the system as soon as you re-boot OS/2. If you don't know why you might want to use this feature, please read on: Your swapper file has an initial size. As you use your system, it will grow and (occasionally) shrink. To get the best performance out of your system, you should set the initial size of your swap file to be the size it achieves when you are doing your typical work. If you were doing something unusually large during the current session, and your swap file has shrunk since then, you will want to use the "Tune to Current" option to insure your swap file is not oversized, which would waste disk space. If there's something you do rarely which needs top performance, you would use the "Tune to Maximum" option. If Current and Maximum are the same, and are larger than Initial, you could use either tuning option. When you make a major hardware or software changes to your system, it is useful to set the swap file size down to the minimum, reboot, run your typical load and re-tune your swapfile to its new maximum (or current) size. A backup of your CONFIG.SYS is created during the tuning process. The backup is named CONFIG.nnn where nnn is a number from 000 to 999. The next available number is used, and backups are never overwritten. For example, if you already have CONFIG.000 and CONFIG.001, the next backup will be called CONFIG.002. If your system fails during the tuning process (due to, for instance, a power outage), you may need to recover from the backup. To do so, simply copy the latest backup to CONFIG.SYS. ═══ 1.5. Tune to Current ═══ Sets the initial size of swap file to it's current size (as displayed after the "C-" on the top of InfoBar). Also see: Tune Swapper Tune to Maximum Tune to Minimum ═══ 1.6. Tune to Maximum ═══ Sets the initial size of the swap file to it's maximum size this session (as displayed after the "M-" on the top of InfoBar). Also see: Tune Swapper. ═══ 1.7. Tune to Minimum ═══ Sets the initial size of the swap file to it's minimum permissable size, which is 1024 k ( 1 binary megabyte ). This option is very useful when changing hardware configurations (like: adding or deleting memory or disks), or when your typical software mix changes. When you make a major change to your system, it is useful to set the swap file size down to the minimum, reboot, run your typical load and re-tune your swapfile to its new maximum (or current) size. Also see: Tune Swapper. ═══ 1.8. Log ═══ This feature of the registered version of InfoBar records all of the information InfoBar has at its disposal to a file at regular intervals. This is intended as an aid in performance analysis and capacity planning. The file is named: INFOBAR.LOG , and is in QCD (Quote-Comma-Delimited) format, which is suitable for importation into most spreadsheet packages. A skeleton spreadsheet in .WKS format is supplied. Most modern spreadsheet packages can read .WKS format. The skeleton contains column titles that correspond to the fields in the INFOBAR.LOG file. From this basis, you can create numerical analysis, charts and graphs as an aid to analyzing your system performance. This kind of analysis is especially helpful in deciding when to add memory to your system, as well as proving to your boss that the memory upgrade you recommended worked to reduce system swapping. The log records are recorded at 10 second, 1 minute, or 10 minute intervals, as chosen by the user on the Log menu. The 10 minute interval does not operate on OS/2 versions 2.1 and below. The menu item for this option will be disabled in such cases. Logging may be started and stopped at any time. After you stop the logging, you may start it again using the same, or a different, interval. Please be aware that logs with mixed intervals in them can be quite a challenge to analyze with spreadsheets. ═══ 1.9. Legal Notices, Service and Contacting the author. ═══ Copyright 1996 Bob Meizlik 72074.3272@compuserve.com . THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND MERCHANTABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROGRAM. BY FURNISHING THIS PROGRAM, THE AUTHOR GRANTS NO LICENSES TO ANY PATENTS OR COPYRIGHTS. THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL LIBILITY FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST REVENUE OR LOST PROFITS WHICH MAY ARISE FROM THE USE AND/OR MISUSE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. OS/2 and IBM are trademarks and property of IBM, its successors and assigns. All trademarks that appear herein are the property of their respective owners. No service is supplied with the no-charge version of InfoBar. However, the author sometimes monitors the Usenet newsgroup: comp.os.os2.apps and discussion of this program properly belongs there. The registered version of InfoBar entitles the user to e-mail support of issues that are directly related to this software. Send questions to: Bob Meizlik at 72074.3272@compuserve.com . I'm making no representation as to response time to support inquiries. So, if you are in a critical situation, restore your system from your latest backup. Bug reports are welcome and may be sent to Bob Meizlik at 72074.3272@compuserve.com . ═══ 1.10. Registration Form ═══ Registered InfoBar is obtained through BMT Micro. Mail Orders To: BMT Micro PO Box 15016 Wilmington, NC 28408 U.S.A. Voice Orders: 8:00am - 7:00pm EST (-5 GMT) (800) 414-4268 (orders only) (910) 791-7052 Fax Orders: (910) 350-2937 24 hours / 7 Days (800) 346-1672 24 hours / 7 Days Online Orders via modem: (910) 350-8061 10 lines, all 14.4K (910) 799-0923 Direct 28.8K line via Internet: orders@bmtmicro.com telnet@bmtmicro.com http://www.bmtmicro.com Secure Ordering: http://wwws.wilmington.net/bmtmicro/secure_form.html Ordering and general ordering questions: Via AOL: bmtmicro Via MSN: bmtmicro Via Prodigy: HNGP66D Via Compuserve: 74031,307 We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Diners Club, Carte Blanche, Cashiers Check, Personal Check. Personal checks are subject to clearance. Eurochecks in DM are welcome. DM, Sterling, and US Currency is welcome but send only by registered mail, return receipt requested. We cannot be liable for lost cash sent through the mail. If you reside in a country with an unconvertible currency please contact us for alternatives. 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