Copyright: Copyright ® 1995 CMP Publications, Inc.


WinTune '95 - Memory
Wintune 95 - APPS

The APPS analyzer runs external applications or macros, then records the results into Wintune's database. This lets you extend the functionality of Wintune by adding your own benchmarks. Use of the Apps analyzer is optional, and you don't need to use the Apps analyzer if you are just interested in the built-in tests and tuning tips.

For questions on a particular item reported by this analyzer, click on the item in Wintune's Details tab and press F1, or right-click on the item and select "Tell Me More". You can also browse the help topics using the >> and << buttons above, or select a specific item from the list below.

FAQs

How do I use the Apps analyzer?

How do I write my own test for the Apps analyzer?

Results

File info

Action

Run time


How do I use the Apps analyzer?

If you create an APPS subdirectory under the directory where you put the Wintune95 files (e.g., C:\WT95\APPS) the Apps analyzer will run the files it finds in that subdirectory. This can be an EXE file, a BAT file, a shortcut to a file, or an application data file that is associated with a program. If you put a data file or a shortcut there, it will run the associated application and pass it the file name. The Apps analyzer calculates the total execution time and places it into Wintune's database.

Wintune comes with a sample to show you how the analyzer works. The sample is a macro for Excel called WTXL95.XLM. Create the APPS subdirectory and copy or move this file to APPS. It depends on having the XLM extension associated with Excel. If Excel is correctly installed on your system, the macro should run without any user interaction.


How do I write my own test for the Apps analyzer?

Pick an application or activity that you use frequently. For example, if you do a lot of image processing, use a graphics package. The application must have a way that it can be automated so that you don't have to press any keys or use the mouse for it to start running. Many word processors, spreadsheets, computer-aided design packages, and developer tools have built-in macro languages that can be used for this purpose. You can also use a batch file or a third-party automation tool such as Wilson WindoWare's WinBatch to create a test.

To get repeatable results, whatever you run shouldn't require any user input. If, for example, you started a word processor, you wouldn't get a very useful or repeatable execution time if it required you to type in a file name.

Windows 95 Shortcuts are a convenient way to pass command-line parameters to an application or to change the default directory. Create the shortcut in the Apps subdirectory, then right-click the shortcut and select Properties.

Related Topics:

Special file processing

Adding items to Wintune's database


Special file processing

To make operation with certain applications easier, Wintune will ignore or clean up certain files during its processing. Here's what happens to different files when Wintune initializes and searches the APPS directory:

  *.BAK	Deleted

  *.TMP	Deleted

  "Backup of *"	Deleted (note this is a long file name)

  ~*.*	Deleted (any file name that begins with "~")

  !*.*	Not run (any file name that begins with "!")

  Any other file will be run by Wintune.

Backup files are deleted because some applications prompt you to overwrite or recover them, which would interrupt the test and cause the application timing to be incorrect. Please do not use the filenames listed above for files that you wish to keep!


Adding items to Wintune's database

Wintune has a technique for the application to pass parameters back that will be incorporated into the database. To use it, the application should place text on the clipboard. The first line should always be the text "!WINTUNE!". The following lines should be a list of "Name=Value" pairs. Here's an example:

!WINTUNE!

Bitmap name=CLOWN.TIF

Draw bitmap=33 s

Overall macro time=47 s

The Excel sample macro uses this technique, you can see how it's done by opening the macro.  Start Excel, then click File/Open and select WTXL95.XLM. Hold the Shift key down as you click Open to keep the macro from executing.  The clipboard select and copy is at the very bottom of the macro.


Command

Not currently used


File info

The size and last modification date of the file that will be executed.


Action

For data files (that is, files with extensions that are attached to an executable file), this specifies the action that will be taken when the file is launched. Typically it will be open.


Run time

The total amount of time it took to execute the macro or program during testing. This includes the time it took to launch the application itself.