Copyright: Copyright © SIMCOM Software Pty Ltd
Citation: Copyright © SIMCOM Software Pty Ltd


Introduction
SimViews Scheduler Introduction

Welcome to SimViews, another useful product from SIMCOM Software!  This program started off as a simple Windows wallpaper changer, and has grown to a useful images viewing program as well. Like all of our products, this program was designed to fill voids that we found in other Wallpaper Changers (and I am sure that you have seen a number of them).

These are the features that we found that we needed...and that in general other programs did not have (or not all had, or not in the way that we liked).

Needed to load BMP files quickly. Since source images are stored as JPG files (in general), and Windows only like BMP files, the JPGs have to be converted to BMPs every time the wallpaper is changed. Some slow programs were causing my machine to pause while I was working - I didn't like that!

I have some 800 wallpaper images. I know I have only seen a handful of these, and the ones I have seen I have seen so many times they are getting tedious. I needed some way to make sure that I moved through all of my images in a planned and regular way.

I needed to quickly remove source image files if I found a faulty one or one that I was tired of. This is usually quite difficult, especially finding the one file (usually with a cryptic filename) amongst a thousand. I also had a few images that were the wrong shape (ie narrow ones).

I also needed to remove older small resoltion images - ie, those at 640x480, for example. I now run at 1280x1024, and the small pictures were starting to look pretty poor in quality as they had to stretch too far to fit the screen. I needed some way to find and remove all of these files quickly.

I needed a fast preview system.

When the system came to a particular image I liked - I want to be able to lock the system so that the image does not change until I get tired of it - then carry on with the original planned changes when I told it to.

I needed some way to label the images. We have a lot of images we have taken with our digital camera. It would be great to actually add some information to each image - ie a title or date or something.

So - these were the basic design aims of this program. And we have come up with a product that does this and I guess a lot more. It is by far the best (and most attractive) Wallpaper changer I have seen. modesty prohibits me from saying too much more..!

So - how to get started??

The program should have installed itself and out itself into the Startup group. So it should run automatically. But if not, the main program to run is the Scheduler...ie 'sv_scheduler.exe'.

The other program is 'sv_listmaster.exe', and this is the program used to manage the list of wallpaper images. Once this has been setup, you should never have to use it again - unless you want to add new images, of course.

The first thing to do

We do not supply the wallpapwer images - you need to do that yourself. We do provide some on our website (for free), and we provide links to some good sites on the Internet.

The first thing to do is run Link Manager. This is done from the Scheduler front screen (simply click the button), or you can run the separate program 'sv_linkmaster.exe'. A link is provided for this in the Start Menu group we create.

Add all the images you like. There is no limit to the number of images you can add. And they can be anywhere on your hard disk(s). And you do not have to have all the images in one place - each image can be in a different location if you like. And you can add images more than once if you are particularly appreciative of certain images.

Run the Scheduler.

This will look at the list you just setup, and start the sequence running. You can change how often the wallpaper images are changes (from every few minutes to every month) from the Scheduler

That is it...just leave the Scheduler running in your taskbar.

Change schedule

Clock

Introduction

Lock

Main Functions

Preview Rotator

Registration

Support

Web Update


Main Functions
SIMCOM SimView scheduler

This program is designed to run the from system traybar. It is normally run on system startup through a link placed in the Startup folder. This form is usually minimized (ie not seen). You can bring this form up by clicking on the traybar icon. Once click opens the form, another closes it. Simple, eh!

Close Button

This button at the top right of the form simply hides the form. It does not quit the program. To do this, you have to bring up the menu, then select "Quit Program". You can gete this menu up by

right clicking on the form anywhere

right click on the traybar icon

click on the big 'M' (for Menu) button

Menu

This is the menu - click the 'M' button to bring it up - or right click anywhere on the for, or right click on the traybar icon. These options basically give an alternative way to perform operations. Most you can get to from buttons around the form.

List master

Full image list management system. This is where you setup the list of images that the scheduler uses. This is a program that contains alist of images paths and other information - it does not contain the actual images.

Change now!

Make scheduled change the wallpaper immediately. Don't wait for the scheduled time. This will update the schedule - so the system acts as if this was the actual scheduled event.

Schedule

This is where you setup the time period between wallpaper changes. More info here

Show Preview

This shows a preview pane of the current image, plus you can go to previous or future images. More information here.

You can click on the clock face to update anytime (ie without waiting for the minute to change), or you can click on the Refresh button to do the same thing. This will update the information labels and the progress bar (on the right). You should never have to press this as the system should update itself. You will notice that the 'Next Change due at' time will change to reflect the current time.

These options are fairly simple. the version number of the program is on the About box. The Web Update is discussed at some length here.

These buttons can be a bit funny - you usually have to click on the purple line parts...just in case you think that the buttons are not working!

You can Lock the Scheduler - ie turn off image changes. More information here

Progress Bar

The progress bar on the right of the formindicates how much time is remaining until the next wallpaper change. It is not an absolute time - it is reletive. So it you have set the change period to 10 minutes, the bar would represent 10 minutes. If it was set to 7 days, the bar would indicate 7 days - so it would take seven days for the progress bar to move from top to bottom. If you move your mouse over the progress bar, you will be shown the time to run (in minutes).

About

About this program. shows program version information and Contact Information. You get to this option from the Menu.


Change schedule

This screen is reached from the main form - simply press the Schedule button. You can also select it from the Menu (either the Right Mouse popup menu, or press the 'M' button).

You can select any ONE of these options. The lines at the bottom of the screen show you when the last image was changed, and when the next change will take place - this depends on what you have selected, of course.

Cancel

Cancel any changes and close the form

Save

Save changes and close form


Registration

This program is not locked or limited in any way. You have the full version - but unless you eventually register, you will only have 30 days from the first time you run the program.

This program can be registered from the main menu "Help/Register" option. If this option is not visible, then the software is registered. The cost is AUD$19.95.

To register, simply contact SIMCOM with your Personal Code and Registered Name, and SIMCOM will provide you with a Registration Code. If these are then entered into the appropriate fields on this screen, the software will be unlocked.

Personal Code

This code is generated by the system when you first run the program, and it cannot be changed. You will need to quote this number to SIMCOM Software to register. This number is computed from your hardware, so if you change a hard disk or replace your motherboard, then this number will be different. This will make your program unregistered again. If this happens to you, then simply call SIMCOM and we will provide you with another registration code.

Registered Name

This a is name that you want to register the software under. It could be you name, your company's, or anything at all (40 char max). This field is case sensitive (meaning that upper/lower case is important).

Registration Code

This is the number that we provide you to unlock the software. It is not case sensitive - in fact, it is a hexadecimal number (ie 0-9, A-F only). I say this because sometimes it may be hard to discern between similar looking letters/numbers. ie 1,i, l all look the same, etc. With this system, you do not have that problem.

Register

Once you have entered in the Registered Name and the Registration Code from SIMCOM Software, press the Register button to make it happen! If it succeeds (or not) you will be informed.

Cancel

Forget it all, and close the form.


Support
Contact Info/Support

PO. BOX 801

Springwood

Brisbane

QLD  4127

Australia

Telephone	+61-7-3841-3999

Fax	+61-7-3341-7579

EMail	support@simcomsoftware.com

Internet	http://www.simcomsoftware.com

http://www.simcomcity.com

http://www.allclear2000.com

Visit the SIMCOM Internet websites for other software titles.

ACN 011 062 010

You can also jump to our Simcomsoftware site on the Internet directly by clicking on our SIMCOM logo at the top left of the form (it is a hyperlink).

If you liked this product, then have a look at the other ones we have!

Kerry Neighbour

General Manager

SIMCOM Enterprises


Preview Rotator
Image Rotator

To start off the Image Rotator, simply press the small button at the middle-top of the screen. This will bring up the Preview pane, and it will display a small version of the current desktop image. Just like below. To remove the Preview pane, simply click the small button again.

This view shows a preview image of the wallpaper images. It is useful to see what is coming up next! Or to quickly go back to a previous image that you particularly like, but the system has just changed out for you!

The image is 'centered' and 'fit-to-page'. This means that the image is sized from the origianl to fit in this small size. It does so while maintaining original image aspect ratio. This is why some imahes show a black border sometimes. It just depends on the origianl size and shape.

At the bottom of the pane is the Information panel. this will always display the imahe resolution in pixels. You can setup in the List Manager a general comment for each image. If this is the case, this is also displayed here. This is a useful way of putting a title on your wallpapers.

These two arrow buttons let you go to the previous and next images. The order is as setup in the List Manager (as displayed in 'Sort' order). This is the sequence that the program has and will show the images to you. Simply click the Next button (right arrow) to show the image that will be displayed next. This is the image that will be displayed when the time set by the Scheduler expires (ie every 10 minutes, or whatever).

The Prior (or Left arrow) button will take you back to the image displayed previously - ie just before the last change. If you really wanted to keep this image a bit longer, this is a quick way of getting it back!

Simply press this button to put the image that you have displayed in the Preview pane as the Wallpaper. This will also update the List Manager to place it on the new image. If you have a schedule set, it will start again with this new image.

This button lets you animate the preview process. It will cycle through the images automatically without you having to press the 'Next' button all of the time. It only cycles to the Next image...not to previous ones.

Click the button once to start the auto-timer off. The cog will start turning to indicate that the auto-timer is running. After a preset time, the image will change to the next in the sequence as set by the List Manager. This time is set to 5 seconds as a default.

You can change the time delay between images by pressing the Left and Right buttons. The Left button will slow the cycle rate down by 1 second for every click (down to 1 second minimum). The Right button will increase the cycle rate - ie make the images display faster. the best you can achieve is 1 image/second.  Because the system is doing so much work at this time, it can sometimes miss you hitting the buttons, so you may need to press them a few times to make the changes effective.

Once you alter the time delay, it is stored for you - so next time you will use this sane delay.


Clock

Since the Scheduler needs a clock to determine when to change the Wallpaper image, we decided to put in one of our clocks from one of our other products - World Clock. You might want to have a look at this product if you need a top of the line multizone clock. The link to our website is http://www.simcomsoftware.com

This clock simply displays the computer time, as does the Day and date information below it.

Schedule updating is done 'on the minute' - ie, when the minute hand reaches zero. This is when the next image is changed, etc.

Refresh

You can click on the clock face to update anytime (ie without waiting for the minute to change), or you can click on the Refresh button to do the same thing.


Lock

One of the things that bothered my about other Wallpaper changers is that once you came across a striking scene - you often lost it before you wanted it to go. This was particulalry so in the Win 95 days when it seemed like you were rebooting all the time!

This Lock button will stop the change operation. No matter what schedule you have set up - it will be ignored.

So as soon as a great wallpaper appears that you want to display for a few days longer, open up the scheduler (a single click on the traybar icon), and simply press the Lock button.

The Progress bar on the right will change colour to RED to indicate that the system is Locked.

To carry on with the change sequence, simply press the Lock button again to unlock the system. The progress bar on the right will change to blue to indicate a running system.

The progress bar indicates how much time is remaining until the next wallpaper change. It is not an absolute time - it is reletive. So it you have set the change period to 10 minutes, the bar would represent 10 minutes. If it was set to 7 days, the bar would indicate 7 days - so it would take seven days for the progress bar to move from top to bottom.


Web Update

From the front screen, click on the Help menu button, then select "Web Update" You should see the following screen.

The first thing to note is the current version of your software. Thisis listed in the main windows, plus in large letters at the bottom left. This is also the same version number as shown on your About screen, or as displayed fromt he Windows/Properties/Version information from your Windows Explorer

.

Proxy

You might need to connect through a proxy server or firewall to get to the Internet. If this is so, then you may need to enter a few details here to all access to the proxy. This is simply the proxy name (or IP), login name and password. Many proxies do not need a login name or password.

Latest News

This will take you to the 'Whats New' page on the SIMCOM Software website.

You can also click on the product image at the left to go directly to the product page on the SIMCOM Software website - or on the bottom link to go to the SIMCOM Software main page.

Ok - you have configured the proxy settings (if necessary). Press the 'Check Now' button to connect to our server on the Internet to check for later version of the software.

Messages will appear in the list window showing what is going on. A small configuration file is downloaded to your computer and from that we tell the version on the Internet.

If there is a new version, you are asked to confirm that you want to download it. The download file will normally be around 1.5 - 2 megs in size. This is a Windows standard CAB file. When the file has been downloaded, the files from the CAB file are extracted, and the application you are running quits and restarts again. This is because we are actually updating the program you are running - but we cannot do that until you exit the program. The computer will not reboot.

That is it.

At no time is any information from your computer sent to our server (or to anywhere else for that matter). We are very sensitive about such matters!