Desktop Launcher V1.0

Introduction

Instalation

Getting Started

Launching a program

Program icons menu

Main icon menu

Other Options

Program License


Introduction

Desktop Launcher is a Windows 3.1 program designed to "launch" programs from the "Desktop". The main idea is to associate one icon to each program we want, let us move the icon to any screen position and let run the associated program through the icon.


Instalation

The program use 5 files to work:

File       	Description	Directory

DESK.EXE	Executable program	DESK

DESKSP.HLP	Help file (Spanish)	        	DESK

DESK.HLP	Help file (English)        	DESK

BWCC.DLL	Borland Control Library	WINDOWS\SYSTEM

DESK.INI	Configuration	WINDOWS

Where DESK Directory is any directory selected to install Desktop Launcher.

Optionally we can place BWCC.DLL in the DESK directory.

The DESK.INI file is automatically created and this file have all the configuration information.

In a multi-user environment, each user can have his own  DESK.INI file, and install the file just before start DESK.EXE to have a personalized desktop.


Getting Started

The first step is to run the DESK.EXE program (normally we will include the program in an autostart group).

The program run always minimized.

We will call this icon "main icon".

The next steep is the program configuration, adding as much icons as we will (the limit is 99)

Desktop Launcher is a program that exploit the file manager "drag&drop" feature. The easy way to associate one program to one icon is to find the program in the file manager  and drag it to the main icon.

Automatically one program icon is created and the Program icons PROPERTIES dialog box is displayed. Through this dialog we can configure the icon.

Another way to associate programs to icons is through the "New Icon" menu option in the Main icon menu. This menu is bring up clicking the mouse left button.


Program icons PROPERTIES dialog box

The fields that have the "drag&drop" indicator [image] can be modified using this method. These are "Command", "Parameters" and "Icon File". The last field is the default field for drag&drop, if when we release de mouse button in a drag&drop operation, the mouse isn't over the "Command" field neither the "Parameters" field, then the name dropped is interpreted as a Icon File.

With this dialog box we can set all the data to run a program;

Command

Program o Document (if has a program associated) name. Can be the full path o a name relative to the working directory.

Working Directory

Default directory for the program to run.

Parameters

Default parameters for the program. NOTE: This field is only used when the program is executed without additional parameters.

Icon Title

Name under the icon.

[] Icon Title

Show/hide the icon title with this button.

[] Always on top

If this button is checked, the icon is always on top the other windows.

Icon File

Specify de file who has the icon. The default file is the program to run.

Icons in file

There are 8 buttons that can have until 8 icons. Selecting one button you select the icon. If the file has more than 8 icons, we can use the up and down arrows buttons to access 8 icons each time.

Program

The Program button present the first icon in the program to run. This is the default icon and we can select it at any time using this button.

NOTE: if the icon is this [image] is because the command line or the working directory are wrong. In this case we can't select any icon.

If the icon is this [image] the file has no icons.

Selected

Here is the icon selected in the final form.

[] Border

If this button is checked a 3D border around the icon is drawn. You can use this option to remark the programs that can have parameters.

[] Logo

Draw a small rocket in the top left corner of the icon. You can use to avoid confusions between "launch" icons and minimized programs.


Launching a Program

You can Launch (Run) a program equal that you can restore a minimized program:

- Double-clicking the icon.

- Using the Launch option from the icon menu.

- Performing a "drag&drop" operation dropping a parameter on the icon (this parameter substitute the default parameter if any)


Program icons menu

Launch

Run the program associated with the icon.

Move

Move the icon.

Restore Position

Move the icon to a previously saved position.

Save Position

Save the current position as the new default position.

Properties...

Show the Program icons PROPERTIES dialog box.

Delete

Delete the icon. First there are a confirmation message box.

Help

Load the help file.

About...

Display information about the program, version and author.


Main icon menu

Move

Move the icon.

New Icon

Create a new program icon.

Restore Positions

Move all the icons to its previously saved positions.

Save Positions

Save the current position as the new default position in all the icons.

Properties...

Show the Main icon PROPERTIES dialog box.

Close

Finish "Desktop Launcher"

Help

Load the help file.

About...

Display information about the program, version and author.


Main icon PROPERTIES dialog box

[] Always on top

If this button is checked, the icon is always on top the other windows.

[] Icon Title

Show/hide the icon title with this button.

[] Border

If this button is checked a 3D border around the icon is drawn. You can use this option to remark the programs that can have parameters.

[] Activate Snap

Perform Snap to grid when moving icons.

Snap Value

Set the grid size.

NOTE: The icon size is 36x36 points. The default value of 9, is 1/4 icon.

Language

You can choose the language for the menus, dialog box and help. English and Spanish are available.


Other options

Pressing the mouse right button in the main icons you bring to front all the program icons.


Program License

Program	: Desktop Launcher

Version	: 1.0 BBS

Language	: C

Compiler	: Turbo C++ 3.1

Date	: Aug. 10, 1993

Author	: Julio Pons Terol

Desktop Launcher is distributed as-is.  The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied.  The author will assume no liability for damages either from the direct use of this product or as a consequence of the use of this product.

Desktop Launcher may be used by any private individual or non-commercial organization for any purpose, if all the terms of this license are accepted.

This version of Desktop Launcher can be distributed only through BBSs and Anonymous FTP sites. Including all the files without modification.

The files that must be included are:

readme.txt	Presentation file (English)

leeme.txt	Presentation file (Spanish)

desk.exe	The executable program

desk.hlp	English Help

desksp.hlp	Spanish Help

bwcc.dll	Borland control library.

If you find this program useful, you must register the program, sending to me your name and address by e-mail or regular mail. It isn't necessary to pay a fee, but I would appreciate a donation.

Comments and suggestions also can help me.

Julio Pons.

e-mail: jpons@etsit.upv.es

Julio Pons.

Universidad Politécnica de Valencia.

Departamento DISCA

Camino de Vera, 14

46080 Valencia.

SPAIN.