XTimer Quick-Start Guide

XTimer Essentials

What is XTimer?

XTimer is a timer for calculating time based charges, particularly online charges.

For easiest access, XTimer fits well on the Apple menu.  Just place it in the Apple Menu Items folder, in your System folder. Note: Inserting a space before its name will make it appear higher up in the menu list. You can also create an alias of XTimer and place it on your desktop, if you really want quick and easy access.

How XTimer is Different From Other Timers

The controls are like any standard timer, but the time shown is a little
different. The time shown is the time you've been charged for, each minute
or part of a minute counts as a full minute. This is the way most time based
charges are calculated. The seconds left in the current minute being charged
to you, before the next minute will be charged, are shown as an added help.

Getting Started

1.  Skim over the chapter "XTimer Features."  This will give you a quick preview of what XTimer can do.

2.  If you want to use automatic tracking for America Online or CompuServe, you must install XTimer Spy.  The XTimer Spy extension, and only the extension, should be placed in your Extensions folder, located in your System folder.  Be sure to check your General Preferences and make sure Auto-Tracking is not turned off.  After you install the extension, restart your computer to load it into your System.

3.  Select a convenient location to launch XTimer from.  I place XTimer in my Apple Menu Items folder, located in the System folder, so I can launch XTimer directly from the Apple Menu.

4.  Launch XTimer.  Walk yourself through every selection on the Settings menu.  Fill in the settings, so they fit your needs.  If you need more information about them, read the through the help chapters.  XTimer can automatically handle many things for you, like setting the current charge rate correctly, adding times to the log, and clearing times as needed.

5.  Before logging on with your service provider, have XTimer out and running.  You can use the Auto-Launch features, configured under the Settings menu, to launch your communications software, or other programs, and to Open and Close your PPP connection.

6.  Select the appropriate rate from the Rate menu, if you haven't already configured XTimer to set it for you.  Check the box labeled "Auto-Return" on the larger timer.  Auto-Return causes XTimer to return control back to the program previously in front after you click on XTimer's controls.  This is an unusual feature, so you may want to experiment with it to understand how it works.  You can switch between the mini-timer and the larger timer by clicking in the grow box, in the upper right-hand corner, of either timer window.

7.  If Auto-Tracking doesn't track your particular usage of XTimer, then you will need to click the Start, Stop, Reset, and Pause buttons manually, to track your time.

8.  If not already automatically configured to do so, you can log your times into XTimer's General Log for any of the 7 possible rates.  The File menu has commands to Save a time on the timer as the log total for a rate, to Add the time on the timer to the log total for a rate, or to Clear the log total for rates.  You can also restore a rate total from the log to the timer, or Modify the log total for the currently selected rate by adding or subtracting time from its total.

9.  When you've had a taste of XTimer and want to get serious about using it, read all of the help and other chapters included in this guide.

10.  If you continue using XTimer, pay for the program.  Register your copy!

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