Here is a list of what you might do with this program :
1. Help you keep memory from getting fragmented.
2. Watch to see which processes are hogging up CPU time.
3. Quit any unnecessary processes.
4. Keep track of all the processes you use during a time period.
5. Check if any process started through the Intelliviewer quit with an error.
6. See more information about the processes running on your machine.
7. Quit all processes running on your machine at one time.
8. Launch more processes.
About the "Processes" window :
This window is designed to give you a look at some fundamental characteristics about each process.
- Process Name menu. This is a list of all the processes that are running on this machine.
- The Volume Name shown is where the program resides.
- The processes signature and file type are shown.
- Each process can be either an Application, Desk Accessory, or Background Application type.
- The process that was active in the foreground is recorded as the Process Launcher. If this process has already quit, it may be listed here as unknown.
- Total Size is the ACTUAL amount of memory taken up by a process. Keep in mind that this does not include any temporary memory that this process may have requested, which would reside outside of it's own heap, in the free memory area. Sometime soon I will add this to the program.
- Free Memory is how much total memory is unused by this process from within it's own heap. Memory often gets fragmented inside the processes heap, so a chunk of memory this size is most likely not attainable in one fragment.
- Launch Date is the calendar day this process was launched, If the clock is set right.
- Launch Time is the clock time. To the right in brackets is the Total Running Time.
- Active CPU Time is the total accumulated active time spent using the CPU. This is why you can have your computer doing several things at once. Like printing in the background. The process that is in front has to give up some CPU time to other processes that are running in the background. The percentage is calculated as : Used CPU Time / Total Time Running.
- Free Memory Bar. This bar should correspond to the free memory available. See Free Memory for more information.
- Quit It Button, Use this button to send a quit event to this specific process. It is as safe as selecting quit from the process itself.
- Information Button, Use this to view the flags that the event manager uses to interact with this process.
- Switch To Button, Using this is like selecting the process from the application menu or clicking in one of it's windows. Otherwise, it will bring it to the front.
- Also shown is a color icon for each process. Clicking within the icon will cycle you through the active process list.
About the "CPU" window :
This window is like a RPM gauge on a car. It will show how much time each process is using on the CPU. It uses a measurement of time called a tick. A tick is equal to 1/60th of one second.
- "Ticks :". This is the total time used of all processes shown for a given period of time.
- % & bar graph. This is the percentage if CPU time as compared with other processes.
-" Ticks". Total ticks used on the CPU for this time period.
This I think is one of the coolest things about this program. With this window you can see who is hogging up the CPU and what processes are being multi-tasking friendly. You can select how often this window is updated from the preferences window. The Foreground ticks & Background ticks is the minimum time period for each window update.
About the "Info" window :
This window shows the process flags that the event manager uses to determine how to interact with this specific process.
About the Dead Process windows (From the "OBITS" menu) :
This window shows starting and ending times for each specific process. Besides viewing its time, you can relaunch this process with the "Go" button. If the Intelliviewer launched this process and it quit because of an error, this window will open automatically.
About the "File" menu :
Show Process Information - Opens the "Process" window.
Show CPU Meter - Opens the "CPU Meter" window.
Close Front Window - Closes the front window. You cannot close the memory bar window or the Pan window if zoom is set above 1 power.
Save Log - Save the text log that shows all processes that have started and quit since the Intelliviewer has started.
Update Programs Menu - let's you search a directory for application programs to put in the "Programs" Menu.
Set Preferences - Make changes to the way you want my program to respond to starting up, quitting, and window update time intervals.
Quit.
About the "Special" menu :
Launch - Launch a Application, Desk Accessory, Background Application, or Finder.
Open Special - Ask a process to open a file.
Shutdown Applications - Quit all processes except the Intelliviewer and one optional other.
Automatic Display - Turns on and off the auto-switching feature for the "Process" window. When checked, this window will automatically show information for the foreground process. This command does not change the preferences file and is reset when you quit.
About the "Obits" menu :
This menu shows all processes that have run and quit, or are running on your computer. If the process has quit, it will be enabled and you will be able to see more information about it's running time in the Dead Process windows. Note: only processes that have quit while the Intelliviewer was running will be shown.
About the "Programs" menu :
This is the list of applications you selected and can launch. Hold down the command key to change its size before launching.
The information provided here is basic and bare minimum. Sometime soon I will make the Intelliviewer remember window positions, see temporary memory. Use this program at your own risk and HAPPY COMPUTING!
