MacWorld 1996 March/MacWorld 03:96.toast/Utilities/User Interface/eXpress folder/eXpress v2.0.0 Documentation

Text File | 1995-11-08 | 10KB | 260 lines

                          *** eXpress v2.0.0 ***

                         Released November of 1995

                        - Official Documentation -


       REDISTRIBUTION OF ANY VERSION OF eXpress IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN
         WITHOUT THE DOCUMENTATION FILE FOR THE RESPECTIVE VERSION.

   (This file looks best if viewed in Monaco or another mono-spaced font)

*****************************************************************************
The eXpress source code, compiled code, and documentation are all Copyright ©
1995 by Stephen Maas. All rights reserved.
****************************************************************************


Table of Contents
=================

  1.  eXpress System Requirements
  2.  What eXpress Lets You Do
  3.  Using eXpress
  4.  Trouble shooting eXpress
  5.  Legal Disclaimer
  6.  The Shareware System
  7.  Registering eXpress
  8.  Acknowledgements



eXpress System Requirements
===========================

     eXpress requires a Macintosh running System 7.x with at least a 68020
microprocessor or a PowerPC chip. Once installed, eXpress uses 3K of RAM in
the system heap.


What eXpress Lets you Do
========================

     Once installed, eXpress allows you to access the Process menu (the one on
the far right side of the menu bar in System 7) from anywhere on the screen.
Simply hold down the key combination you selected, and click the mouse button.
A menu will pop up right at your mouse. Select "Processes" and you will get a
menu listing all the active processes. Select a process, and that process will
be brought to the front.

     You can also use eXpress to change you monitor's depth. Simply hold down
the key combination you selected, and click the mouse button. A menu will pop
up right at your mouse. Select "Monitor Depth" and you will get a menu listing
the depth's your monitor is capable of supporting. Select a new depth, and it
will become the current depth of your monitor. This depth change is only
temporary, and your monitor will revert to its original depth when you restart
your machine.

     Finally, you can use eXpress to find out how much free memory you have for
the current application, and for the whole system. Simply hold down the key
combination you selected, and click the mouse button. A menu will pop up right
at your mouse. Select "Memory" and the current amount of free memory for the
current application, and for the whole system, will be displayed.

     eXpress also offers shortcuts for the "Hide Others" and "Show All" menu items
in the Processes menu.

     To execute the "Hide Others" item in the Processes menu, just hold down the
key combination you selected and hit the tilde " ~ " key. (I realize this is a
break with standard Apple User Interface Guidelines, and I am sure that the thought
police will come after me for not making use of the command key, but I have my
reasons).

     To execute the "Show All" item in the Processes menu, just hold down the the
key combination you selected and hit the tab " tab " key. (See disclaimer above
about interface implications).

     eXpress is especially useful for Mac users on the go because it does away with
those frequent trips to the upper right hand corner which are so hard on your
fingers and your track ball.


Using eXpress
=============

     Using eXpress is very simple. When you launch the eXpress application,
you will be presented with a dialog box. Click if you want to select the
key combination which invokes eXpress, otherwise, just wait for the dialog
box to disappear (it takes about six seconds). That's all there is to it.
eXpress loads some code into memory, much like an INIT does, and then quits.

     eXpress needs to be run each time you start up your Macintosh in order
for it to do its magic. I suggest throwing it in your Startup Items folder.
Then you will always be able to take advantage of eXpress.


Trouble Shooting eXpress
========================

     eXpress can be picky about certain aspects of its operation. In order to
keep eXpress happy, please avoid doing the following.

     • Moving the location of the eXpress application after having run eXpress

     I promise you this will result in a crash. eXpress needs to make use of
this file whenever it is invoked, and if you move it, eXpress will become
badly confused and crash as a means of admonishing you.

     • Changing the name of the eXpress application

     I named it eXpress for a reason, and instructed it to refuse to function
if you tried to change its name. Please oblidge it and respect its birth name.

     • Modifying the eXpress resource file

     Resource files are for programs, not programmers. If you are the curious
type, feel free to browse around the eXpress resource fork, but don't touch,
just look. I told eXpress to cry for help at the first sign of anyone messing
with its resource fork, and it can throw quite a tantrum, so look all you want,
but don't make any changes.

     • Running eXpress multiple times with the same key combination

     This is unnecessary, indicates a confused user, and confuses the hell out
of the machine. Just don't do it. If you change the key combination, you will
be fine.

     If you haven't broken any of these rules, and eXpress refuses to function
properly, its possible the programmer screwed up. Please send me as much
information as you can about the bug, and I will do my best to remedy the
situation.


Legal Disclaimer
================

     I, the author, assume no responsibility for any damage you may cause to
your hardware or software by using the program eXpress. eXpress carries no
warranties, expressed, written, or implied. You use this software at your own
risk. The author assumes no liability for any damage or loss of data caused by
the use of eXpress. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. By using eXpress, you consent to the
above mentioned terms.


The Shareware System
====================

     The sharware system is a software distribution system created with you, the
end user in mind. It allows you to try out programs for an extended period of
time (thirty days) and then decide if you want to purchase the programs. If you
decide to purchase the program you pay your money and your set to go. If you
decide the program isn't worthwhile for you, you delete it.

     This entire system only works if you, the end user, keep your side of the
deal. That is, if, after FIFTEEN days, you decide you don't like eXpress, you are
free to throw it away. However, if you continue to use eXpress, you are OBLIGATED
to pay for eXpress. I am doing you a favor by letting you try out eXpress for
free. Do me a favor by being honest and registering your copy if you continue to
use it.

     Many shareware programs have become strictly commercial programs because end
users don't keep their end of the deal. Let's not let that happen to eXpress.


Registering eXpress
===================

eXpress is distributed by LaserPoint, LLC.
Please direct all purchasing inqueries to Laser Point.

The cost to register one copy of eXpress is $10.00 U.S. currency.
Site licensing rates are available. Contact Laser Point for details.

When ordering you MUST include the following information

       - Your Name
       - The ID number of your copy of eXpress (found in the eXpress
         dialog box)

You will receive instructions for registering and personalizing your
copy of eXpress.

NOTE: Your registration code will only be good for the copy of eXpress whose
program ID you send in. EVERY copy of eXpress has a UNIQUE program ID, so make
sure you send the ID of the copy you want to register!

Toll Free Ordering:  Visa and MasterCard orders may be placed by calling Laser
Point at [phone].  Sorry, but American Express cards are not accepted.

Ordering by Fax:  Orders may be faxed to [phone], please include the same
information requested for an email order.

Electronic Mail Ordering:  You may place orders via electronic mail by sending
the following information to [e-mail]

- Name of the product you are registering
- Visa or MasterCard Account Number
- Card Type (Visa or MasterCard)
- Card Expiration Date
- Name of card holder
- Your name (if different from card holder)
- eXpress program ID number for the copy of eXpress you want to register

If you would like to encrypt your email order using PGP, please write to [e-mail] for our public PGP key, or visit our World Wide Web site
at http://www.laserpoint.com and visit any of our product areas.

Postal Mail Ordering:  You may send cash or checks, drawn in U.S. funds on a
U.S. bank, to:

Laser Point
eXpress Orders
P.O. Box 2378
Watsonville, CA 95077

CompuServe users may register using the CompuServe shareware registration
service.  GO SWREG and register product id XXXX, and your CIS account will
be billed by CompuServe.

If you have any questions, you may contact Laser Point customer service
at [phone].


Acknowledgements
================

     There are a select few people, places, and things without which eXpress
would never have come to be what it is today. Listed in no particular order,
they include the following:

         * Cray Research Park, Eagan, Minnesota
         * [e-mail]
         * Sun Microsystems and the SPARC 4
         * [e-mail]
         * [e-mail]
         * Apple Computer
         * [e-mail]
         * Mom, Dad, and the rest of the family
         * Phil Kearney III
         * The guy who called me at 4:30 A.M. from England
           "Cheers to you too"
         * [e-mail]
         * The Internet
         * [e-mail]
         * Laser Point
         * [e-mail]
         * A few trillion electrons
         * The guy who called from Texas
         * Robert Berger
         * Dogcow
         * [e-mail]
         * The creators of X-Windows (and UNIX I guess)
         * [e-mail]
         * [e-mail]
         * The guy who sent me a letter from England
         * [e-mail]
         * Ed Martin, the only guy in the world who believes in Scholarware