Copyright: StatBar Help v2.1. Copyright © 1994-1996, Cygnus Productions.


Welcome to StatBar
StatBar

Welcome to StatBar's online help. You can get to this help file from StatBar at any time by pressing 'F1'. You can also get specific help on most items by right-clicking on them and selecting "What's This?" Choose from the following options:

What's new in this version

Display the latest features and options added to StatBar.

StatBar features

Get a run down on the features in StatBar.

Program operation

Detailed information on how to use StatBar.

Legal information

Important legal information regarding copyrights and distribution of this program.

About Cygnus Productions

Information about our company.


What's new with StatBar
What's new

Version 2.1 has two new features not present in v2.0. The following is a detailed list of the new features:

StatBar can now be minimized to the system tray. Most options/features can be accessed while StatBar is in the system tray. (Note: This feature will work on NT4.0 but is not available for NT3.51 users)

New CPU monitor. StatBar now shows you the load your system CPU is currently under. (Note: This feature is not available to NT users)

Miscellaneous bug fixes.

We hope you enjoy the new features we've added to StatBar. We plan to make continuous updates to the program and add as many new things as we can. Your input is always valuable to us. Send any comments, problem reports or your wish list to us via e-mail. Click here for information about our company.

Related Topics


Features of StatBar
Features

It's amazing what you can get for free! Below is a detailed list of the features included in this version of StatBar:

Resource monitors

Under 16-bit Windows 3.1, low resources could bring your system to it's knees and in many cases result in a crash. Windows 95 improves this situation, but you can still run into trouble. That's where the resource monitor comes in. It tracks the three key areas that Windows uses to support the applications it runs: System, User and GDI. If the monitor slips into the red in any of these areas, you'll know before the system comes grinding to a halt. If resources are low, start closing applications to free them up. (NT users: Since there is vastly greater resources under NT, it's unlikely that any of the resource meter settings will ever budge from 90%)

CPU Monitor

StatBar has a CPU monitor to let you see the load your CPU is under. The higher the percentage, the more work you CPU is doing. Great for finding those apps that are real CPU hogs. (NT users: This feature is not available under Windows NT)

System shutdown and restart

With a click of the mouse you can shutdown Windows, log off the system, or even reboot the entire machine.

Application Launcher

And you thought the Windows 'Start' button was fast! With StatBar's application launcher you can add your favorite applications to it's menu and launch them with just a double click! You can give each program it's own custom name in StatBar's program window and arrange them to your own liking.

Drive space monitor

Why open up 'My Computer' and click on the drive icons to find out the free space on them. StatBar can monitor the free space on all your local and network disk drives. It can display the free space as a percentage or in megabytes, and formats it into a neat list. You can tell StatBar to exclude certain drive types, like CD-ROMs or removable drives, and best of all, you can set it to update the free space list automatically.

Drive information

For the techno-buff in us all. Simply double click on a drive in the drive list and it will give you detailed information about the drive, including the file system it uses.

Rollup button

You can hide most of the features of StatBar to conserve desktop space. Clicking the white rollup button will cycle through hiding and displaying the various features of StatBar.

Minimize to the system tray

You can set StatBar to minimize to the system tray under Windows 95 and Windows NT4.0. While on the tray, you can see current free system resources and still have access to all of StatBar's great features with just a right-click of your mouse. (NT users: This feature is not available under Windows NT v3.51)

Full on-line and What's This help

StatBar comes with complete, context sensitive on-line help. Just press 'F1' in any dialog box for specific information. StatBar also supports What's This help. Right-click on most any object and select What's This from the pop-up menu for quick information on it's use.

Related Topics


Program operation

Choose from the following list of features:

Using the shutdown/reboot functions

Information on using the shutdown, logoff and reboot functions.

Using the application launcher

Information on using the application launcher.

Using the drive monitor

Information on using the drive monitor.

Using StatBar in the system tray

Information on using StatBar while in the system tray.

Using the rollup button

Information on using the rollup button.

Setting program options

How to set different options in StatBar.

Related Topics


Using the shutdown/reboot functions

1	Make sure you have saved any work you're doing in other applications.

2	Terminate any DOS programs that may be running. StatBar cannot do this for you.

3	Select the type of restart you want to perform.

Note

If you haven't checked 'Warn before shutdown, logoff or reboot' in the Options window, Windows will restart without giving you a chance to cancel.

Related Topics


Using the application launcher

To add an application to the display:

1	Click the 'Add' button in the Programs tab.

2	In the resulting dialog box, find the program you wish to add and click the 'Open' button.

To start an application:

1	Double click on the name of the application in the Programs tab or right-click on the name and select 'Execute'.

To rename an application:

1	Click the 'Edit' button in the Programs tab or right-click on the name of the application and select 'Rename'.

2	If you clicked edit, in the resulting dialog box, type the new name you wish to display for the program and click 'Done'. If you selected 'Rename' from the right-click menu, type the new name for the program and press Return key.

To move an application up or down in the list:

1	Click the 'Edit' button in the Programs tab.

2	Click the appropriate button to move the application's name to the desired location in the list.

To remove an application from the list:

1	Click the 'Edit' button in the Programs tab or right-click on the application.

2	If you clicked edit, in the resulting dialog box click 'Remove From List' and click 'Done'. If you right-clicked on the name, select 'Remove' from the right-click menu.

Related Topics


Using the drive monitor

To update the information currently displayed:

1	Click the 'Update' button in the Drives tab. Alternately, you can set StatBar to automatically update the drive information. See 'Setting program options' for more information.

To view detailed information about a specific drive:

1	Click the 'Info' button in the Drives tab.

Related Topics


Using StatBar in the system tray
Using the StatBar icon in the system tray

If you checked 'Minimize to system tray' in the Options dialog box, when you minimize StatBar it will appear as a small icon in the system tray under Windows 95 or Windows NT v4.0 (this feature is not available to Windows NT 3.51 users since that OS doesn't use the Win95 interface). The icon shows the current free System resource rounded down to the nearest 5%. For example, if the System resource was at 68%, the StatBar tray icon would show as 65. The color of the icon will change from green to yellow to red as resources become depleted.

To obtain detailed current free system resources:

1	Position the mouse pointer over the StatBar icon in the system tray. After a short pause a help tip will be displayed showing the current free System, User, GDI and CPU resources.

To restore StatBar to it's normal window size:

1	Left-click the StatBar icon in the system tray. StatBar will now be restored to it's previous position and size before being minimized.

To access all other StatBar functions:

1	Right-click the StatBar icon in the system tray. StatBar will display a menu that allows you to launch any applications you've previously loaded into it's launcher, view free drive space and information, open the Options window or access the system shutdown features.

Related Topics


Setting program options

General:

Check 'Warn before shutdown, logoff or reboot' to receive a warning before such actions occur.

Check 'Chromatic status bar colors' to view the resource status bars using a smooth transition from green to yellow to red. Unchecked, the three solid colors will be used when resources are high, medium or low.

Check 'Always on top' to prevent StatBar from being covered up by other applications.

Check 'Don't display splash screen on startup' to bypass the StatBar logo screen when the program is initially started.

Check 'Minimize to system tray' to place StatBar on the system tray when minimized instead of the taskbar.

Drives:

Use the radio button to select whether StatBar displays free drive space by megabyte or percent.

Check 'Automatically refresh drive list' to have StatBar refresh the drive contents list at intervals you specify. When this box is checked you may use the radio buttons to select whether you want the list updated in seconds or minutes, and the interval.

Exclude:

Check the boxes of the drive types you don't want StatBar to display in the drive list.

Related Topics


Using the rollup button

Clicking on the rollup button will cycle StatBar through hiding and displaying it's various features.

The first click will hide the resource meters. The second click will hide the application launcher and drive monitor. A third click will display the resource meter. A fourth click with display the application launcher and drive monitor. Clicking the rollup button again will restart the hide/display cycle.

Related Topics


Legal Information

StatBar is ©Copyright 1994-97, Cygnus Productions. All Rights Reserved. The Cygnus Productions logo is a trademark of Cygnus Productions. Cygnus Productions retains all rights over all aspects of the StatBar program.

StatBar is being released as Freeware. It may be used by individuals or companies at no cost as long as the software remains unmodified. StatBar may be freely distributed by individual users. Modification to the software, and any files included with it, without the written permission of Cygnus Productions is strictly prohibited.

StatBar is NOT public domain software. It may not be resold for profit, or included in or with any other software without the written permission of Cygnus Productions. The program code may not be decompiled, reverse engineered or reused for any reason.

Because this program is being released for free, Cygnus Productions cannot be held liable for any problems or damage this program may cause to your computer. Use it at your own risk.


Information about Cygnus Productions

Founded in the year 2112, Cygnus Productions awoke to a city of software utility deprived people. Watching the people, humbled by the large institutions that insisted upon tremendous expense for basic needs, CP stepped forward to bring simple, easy to use utilities like this one to the common man. We hope StatBar will prove to be as useful to you as it was fun to make.......(with a tip o' the hat to Neil Peart and the Boys)

This utility is free to all, but donations will be accepted. If you wish to send money, send what you think the program is worth to you to the address below. Make checks or money orders payable to David M. Fornalsky. Rush fanatics and National Midnight Star members need only think about us while playing 'Camera Eye' real loud. We'll hear you...

We welcome all comments, suggestions and bug reports. E-mail them to the address below or visit us on the web:

Cygnus Productions

cygnus@mcs.com

http://www.mcs.com/~cygnus/

7336-1 Winthrop Way

Downers Grove, IL 60516

USA


Resources

All versions of Windows rely on three key areas to support the applications they run: System, User and GDI. If any of these resource areas become used up, Windows may crash.


This is the StatBar toolbar. These buttons allow you to restart, logoff or reboot your PC, or change StatBar's options.


This is the System resource panel. It shows the percentage of free System resources.


This is the User resource panel. It shows the percentage of free User resources.


This is the GDI resource panel. It shows the percentage of free GDI resources.


This is the CPU monitor panel. It shows the load the CPU is currently under.


Click this button to hide/display the resource meters, application launcher and drive monitor.


This is the application launcher. Double-click on an application to start it or right-click for other options.


Click this button to add a new program to the application launcher.


Click this button to change the name of an application in the launcher, move it up or down in the list, or remove it.


This is the drive list. It displays the free space of the drives on your system and the network. Double-click on a drive for more detailed information.


Click this button to refresh the list of drives and free disk space.


Click this button to receive detailed information about the selected drive.


This text box display the path to the application's executable file.


This text box displays the name that appears in the application launcher's list.


Click this button to move the selected program in the application launcher up one position.


Click this button to move the selected program in the application launcher down one position.


Click this button to remove the selected program from the application launcher.


Check this box to receive a warning before shutting down, logging off or rebooting your system.


Check this box to view the free resource status bars using a smooth transition of color from green to yellow to red.


Check this box to make StatBar appear on top of other windows. This will prevent it from being hidden by other applications.


Check this box to bypass the StatBar splash screen on startup.


Check this box to send StatBar to the system tray when minimized instead of the taskbar.


Select this option to view free drive space in megabytes.


Select this option to view free drive space as a percent.


Check this box to have StatBar automatically update the free drive space list.


Enter the number of seconds or minutes you want to pass before StatBar automatically refreshes the free drive space list.


Select this option if you want StatBar to refresh the free drive space list in the number of seconds you provide.


Select this option if you want StatBar to refresh the free drive space list in the number of minutes you provide.


Check this box to hide local disks in the free drive space list.


Check this box to hide removable disks in the free drive space list.


Check this box to hide network disks in the free drive space list.


Check this box to hide CD-ROM disks in the free drive space list.


Check this box to hide RAM disks in the free drive space list.


Click this button to save changes and close the window.


Click this button to cancel changes and close this window.


Click this button to save changes and leave the window open.