User's Choice Windows CD/User's Choice Windows CD (CMS Software)(1993).iso/windows1/access22.zip/CHANGES.TXT

Text File | 1992-01-22 | 18KB | 399 lines

Except for Registered User Requested bug fixes or bugs that I find, the
revisions to Accesses will be slowing down until I get a new issue of
Archives developed.  As far as I am aware, Accesses will satisfy every
need that was requested.  If you are a registered user and you wish that
Accesses would do something that it doesn't concerning running or placing
programs, call me.  It probably does it already.

CALL ME, CALL ME, CALL ME...  I'm not lonely.  I need to know what you need.
I'm in this to make $$$$$$ and your in this to save time and have fun with
Windows.  A $2 phone call, at your expense, benefits us both.  I'm amazed
that people will spend $1000 -$3000 on a computer system and nothing on
phone calls....

Changes thru 1/16/92        (Version 2.2 versus Version 2.1)

1.    Added a Sort the Task List.  For users who have already initialized
    Accesses, their Task List maybe unsorted and will have to press the
    following keys to resort their Task List:

        Ctrl+Esc, Alt+S, / (the slash key).

2.    Saving user changes before reading the INI file during some of the
    dialog box functions.  I am still minimizing INI writes, I dislike
    programs that are always writing to my disk.  However some of the
    user's settings (eg Show Attached) were not saved until the end of
    the session and these settings would be reset to the INI file when
    the user executed some of the major ini file update functions
    during a windows session.  eg. Saving the DEFAULTSIZES of windows.
    For some functions, I am writing the revisions and then rereading
    the whole INI file to reorganize Accesses' data.

3.    No one reported an error in the Run Only One copy of a program,
    I guess because it worked when the program was launched from another
    program.  But it did not work when the program was launched thru
    Accesses! Works now.  I didn't notice it either for the last few
    revisions.

4.    Redefined the startup menu so that it matches my current
    preferred configuration for Accesses.  The Word Processor is
    assigned to F2, Text Editor to F3, and the File Manager to F4.
    The Accesses.hlp explains the benefits of this assignment in
    the Mouse Clicking functions and Tutor.

5.    Stopped saving program names in a Folder when the limits of
    20 Parent programs were found.

6.    Clearing the modem DTR signal after a phone call.  I didn't
    notice that it wasn't clearing when the phone call function was
    1st added.

7.    Added ACCDRIVE.EXE, a registered user Requested pop-up displaying the
    Free Drive Space.  This program is NOT self contained and must be
    launched from Accesses Run+Free Drive Space menu on the Task List.
    This was done to minimize using your windows resources.  Do not
    even add the program to Program Manager.  It doesn't even have its
    own icon.  Double click on the AccDrive pop-up window for options.

    Setting the "Read Drive Every (so many) Seconds" to too small
    a value in the Windows 3.0 mode will noticeably slow Windows. Every
    10 seconds in Windows 3.0 for a 20 mHz 386 computer seems acceptable.

8.    Deleted an unnecessary check for VGA or better monitors in WM_PAINT.
    Unfortunately, this means that you will have to adjust the
    iPixelUpDown by -1 to get exactly the same display if you have a
    VGA or better monitor and you manually tweaked the iPixelUpDown
    variable in the Accesses.ini file.

9.    Changed the Name of Accesses as shown in the Task List to
    "z Accesses".  This way Accesses is at the bottom of the Task List
    Display.  The AccDrive window (the newly developed Free Disk Space
    pop-ups) is also named "z AccDrive" for the same reason.

    Then Added an option to exclude all Accesses and AccDrive windows
    from the Task List displays under the Setup Menu item.  It is
    called "Exclude 'z Acc' on/off".

10.    Determining the proper Free System Resources for Win 3.1 users.
    (eg. Using the GetFreeSystemResources for Win 3.1)  Though, Still
    compiling Accesses using Win 3.0 SDK.  Cheating a little here...

11.    Still more improvements to the installation and de-installation
    of Accesses for the 1st time user.  I interviewed people who
    didn't even like Accesses to find what they wanted.

12.    Added an "Auto Insert" check box on the Run Dialog box to give the
    user control and to indicate when Accesses will insert the filename
    selected in the Filename List box to the program name listed in
    the Run edit text box.  Much, much nicer now...

    Checked or grayed means that the dialog box is will be
    auto inserting or has already auto inserted.

    Not checked means that the user is over riding the default insert
    mode.  Basically, the Run Dialog box is complicated but makes much
    more sense to the user and fewer errors are made due to this
    addition.

    Also functions very well with the Drag Drop version of Accesses.

13.    Discovered and Fixed an error where the correct Focus was not being
    established when the user would open the Task List and then close
    the Task List by mouse clicking on another window.  The symptoms
    were, for example, WinWord's cursor would not blink while the user
    could still move the cursor and the Notepad cursor in would not
    even exist on some Windows systems.  My error and not Windows.

14.    Accesses is not now showing hidden windows that do not have at least
    a minimize box, maximize box, or a thickframe window. I was having
    too many users getting into trouble showing and not understanding
    hidden windows.  Rarely will a window cause a problem when shown
    that passes this test.

    This isn't taking much away from you.  If you really want to see
    what Accesses isn't showing press Ctrl+Esc, Alt+S, Shift+D.
    However, you cannot do anything with the windows shown this way
    since Accesses cancels the Shift+D as soon as the Task List list
    box is filled.

    This does mean, however, that Accesses will not Hide a Window that
    does not have a minimize box, maximize box, or a thickframe window
    since it cannot show it.  If this causes a problem, call me and we
    can add a small INI editable switch (switch is there already, I
    just want to understand why you want to do this).

15.    Speeded Accesses by carrying about 4K more in non-discardable
    Global memory.  Accesses still minimizes your resource memory but
    I had users request Accesses to be faster.  Now, Accesses is as
    fast as your Windows' memory for the Task List and Run Dialog box
    options.

Changes thru 1/8/92        (Version 2.1 and 2.0 versus Version 1.1A)

1.    Added phone calling functions where Accesses now accesses a user
    configured phone list.

2.    Fixed the Esc key switch to other apps.  I fouled this when I
    rushed a fix for Norton Desktop before Christmas.  Sorry...

3.    Completed the Norton Desktop functions for Accesses for the Norton
    Desktop users.  If you need something else, let me know.

4.    Closing Accesses on a WM_ENDSESSION instead of WM_QUERYENDSESSION,
    especially since Accesses is a Task manager.

5.    Eliminated switches from a switch if running statement.  eg
    Winword.exe /n would fail the switch if running statement in the
    prior version of Accesses.

6.    Built a minor function to launch the user's menu if it was not
    running when the pop-up window is Left Mouse Double Clicked for the
    CMDPOST users and for other menus that can be closed without exiting
    Windows.

7.    Fixed the user defined save window position for Top ╜, Bottom ╜,
    etc.  Worked in Ver 1.0 but fouled in Ver 1.1A, again Christmas rush.

8.    Allow the user to change the name of the "Show+Middle Right" and
    "Show+Middle Left" menu items of the Task List.  This way the user
    can replace the "Show+Middle Right" with, for example, a
    "Show+Above Icons" menu item.

9.    NOTE, THE FOLLOWING HAS LIMITED DOCUMENTATION...
    (A "semi-undocumented" procedure?)

    Established a primitive "start a program without a filename in a
    user defined directory" function.  The format for starting a program
    in a particular directory is as follows:

        accesses.exe notepad.exe*d:\textfile\

    or when running from Accesses RUN PROGRAMS dialog box or adding to
    Accesses Menu, the same example is as follows:

        notepad.exe*d:\textfile\

        (You don't have to include accesses.exe when running
         the program from Accesses.)

    Where the directory follows the program name and is separated by an
    asterisk.  You cannot enter a filename for this function.  The last
    backslash is required since Accesses will not append the last
    backslash.

    If you enter a filename, Accesses always starts the program in the
    directory of the filename.

    Otherwise, Accesses will always start the program in the directory
    that the program was launched from if you do not use the
    *drive:\directory\   or   enter a filename when launching programs.

    eg. If you launch a program from Program Manager using the following
    command line:

        accesses.exe notepad.exe

    then Accesses will launch that program from the directory specified
    by Program Manager or from the directory that Program Manager is
    currently in depending on what you specified in the Program Manager
    options of Program Manager.

10.    Added an "ExcludeWindowNames" application heading to the
    Accesses.ini file.  This section allows the user to add up to 10
    Window Titles to exclude from all Task List displays.  This is
    especially useful to the Norton Desktop users or to those folks that
    run programs that have hidden windows that the user would never want
    to show.

    Another example, if you get tired of Dr.Watson's dialog box popping
    open when you select the Restore All Windows function from Accesses,
    you can "ExcludeWindowName" from all Task List displays using this
    function.

    Accesses can show hidden windows on your system and you may be
    surprised by the Hidden Windows you never knew about.  Accesses has
    only one window on your system and this is called "Accesses".  The
    other hidden windows you'll see are from other programs.  One that
    surprised me was Winhelp.exe.  When you close Winhelp.exe it is
    actually hiding itself (my Winhelp Version 3.07 is doing this.)

    The following programs are automatically added to this list:

        [ExcludeWindowNames]
        01="Norton Task Manager"
        02="TheUlitmateMrSlate"
        03="QAddeRegName"
        04="Srvr"

    If you never run Norton Desktop, then you can delete all the
    above names from this list.

    To save a window to this list press Ctrl+Esc, then select the window
    name from the Task List display, then press Alt+U, V, Alt+F, Alt+S.

    You will have to manually delete the Excluded Window Title from the
    [ExcludeWindowNames] if you ever want to re-include a window that
    was saved to the Accesses.ini file for Exclusion.  To delete a
    Window Title from the ExcludeWindowNames list, select Ctrl+Esc,
    Alt+U, V, then press the 'Edit List' button located at the Lower
    left of this dialog box.

11.    Improved the installation of Accesses for the 1st time user and
    improved the de-installation of the SYSTEM.INI and WIN.INI changes
    for the unregistered user.  I was asking too much from the user
    that was "trying out Accesses" in prior versions.

12.    Fixed an infinite loop if a WIN.INI extension was incorrectly
    included Accesses.exe but not another program name following.

    eg.    txt=accesses.exe ^.txt will now open the Run Dialog Box when
        a *.TXT file is double clicked on from another program like
        File Manager or Norton Desktop.

13.    Fixed the "Delete Document from Title" check box on the Save one
    Window Position dialog box.

14.    Changed the "Keep dialog box open" check box on the Phone Call dialog
    box to always enabled for user input.

15.    Added a "Destroy a Task function" where Accesses can Destroy the
    applications one at a time so you can monitor what is happening.
    However, temporary files, handles etc. may be left open if the
    program does its cleanup work on a WM_CLOSE command verses the
    WM_DESTROY.  It is up to the user to determine if all is going well
    for each case.

    I HIGHLY recommend that you use the 'End Tasks' to normally close
    windows.  Programs will not notify you if you forgot to save a file
    or normally not of anything else if your use the Destroy Task
    function!  Communications programs may leave a port open, etc.

16.    Added a switch that will Maximize the application after it is
    launched and placed in the user defined position.
    (the switch is ignored when launching !folders)

17.    Added a dialog box to edit the DEFAULTSIZE table so you can find
    "almost duplicate" Titles and can discover why something is being
    sized the way it is.

18.    Added a "New and Improved" (sounds like I'm selling soap) dialog
    box to edit the !Folders and the Run User List found on the Run
    dialog box.

19.    Fixed an error in the Phones, where Accesses would terminate if
    the user made a call and the call was busy, then the user tried to
    add a phone # to the list.

20.    Added an "Add/Subtract Pixel Width" and an "Add/Subtract Pixel
    Height" variable to Accesses.  This number will adjust the width
    and height of the pop-up either + or - pixels for those who want to
    tweak the pop-up size to absolute perfection.  These numbers can be
    changed only using a text editor like notepad.

    The format for the keyword is:

        PixelUpDown=iTextUpDown,iWidthPopup,iHeightPopup

    and an example is:    PixelUpDown=2,-12,-3

    See Accesses.hlp for more...

21.    The interaction of the 'List Apps on/off', 'List Icons on/off', and
    'List Hidden on/off' is changed and added a 'List All of Above'
    menu selection to the Show Menu of the Task List.  The changes
    should be obvious and considered an improvement in understanding.
    ie. when you select one option, the others are selected or
    de-selected automatically to avoid the user from having to keep
    opening this menu item to select or de-select Hidden, or Apps, or
    Icons.

22.    For the Run Program dialog box:
    Fixed the Run User List selection so that you can include sizing
    information for a program in the Run User list and that that sizing
    information is appended to the document selected in the Run program
    with filename list box.

23.    Added a Repeat the Run Dialog box to be used for launching multiple
    programs not in a !folder.

24.    Found and Fixed a fatal error when a document was launched with a
    program that was in the root directory...

25.    Removed the Delete key option to close Accesses to avoid accidental
    closing of Accesses.

26.    Compiled a Version of Accesses that will receive WM_DROPFILES
    messages for Versions of Windows 3.0 where users have SHELL.DLL and
    to Beta test with Windows 3.1 beta.  This version of Accesses is
    stored in ACCE2D.ZIP (version 2.2 dated 1/18/92)

27.    Fixed a Registration problem where a Registered user could not
    register Accesses in Win 3.1 Final Beta Release.

Changes thru 12/21/91        (Version 1.0 versus Version 1.1A)

1.    Found an error in identifying the Norton DLL Windows that would
    cause the window to be accidentially hidden.

Changes thru 12/20/91        (Version 1.0 versus Version 1.1)

1.    Fixed the problem with Norton Desktop where the User Menu
    name could not be found.  Also prevented a similar problem
    with other "Menu" programs.  NORTON USERS, please read NORTON.TXT.

2.    After buying Norton's Desktop, I Added functions that support and
    greatly enhance Norton Desktop.  These functions are transparent
    although still available to non-Norton Desktop users.  eg.
    Displaying only "Children" windows under the Show Window functions
    of Accesses.

3.    Collecting directory information for programs that are launched
    thru Accesses from another application without a document.  When
    a document is launched I am starting that program in the document's
    directory.

4.    Fixed a fatal Windows exit when the user answered NO to the very
    1st question on Startup.

5.    Added an undo to the taskman.exe=accesses.exe line in the SYSTEM.INI
    file.  This question is asked every time Accesses is closed for
    Unregistered Users.

6.    Added a section to Accesses.hlp covering the Norton Desktop features.

7.    Added a Selection mode for displaying just windows that are
    "Children" on the Task List dialog box.  "Children" includes DLL
    windows of Norton Desktop and Pop-up windows of any program where the
    Parent is Enabled for user input.

8.    Increased the number of Windows that Accesses will process
    from 50 to 100 during a single Windows session after seeing the
    number of Windows that Norton Desktop will open.


    apps in the Top Left, Bottom Left, Top Right, and Bottom Right
    positions in the respective sequence.

15.    The x,y,w,h data are now optional for DESKTOPx keywords in the
    ACCESSES.INI file.  The DEFAULTSIZEx keyword is used for the program
    if a default size is listed in the ACCESSES.INI file.

16.    Eliminated the upper right as a default, Default Position for
    applications that were not listed in the DEFAULTSIZEx keywords.

17.    Added a Ctrl+Shift+Esc key combination to bring up a run dialog box.

18.    Changed the cursor to display the Double Mouse Click function to be
    executed when the cursor is over the Pop-up window.

19.    Add one more variable to the Accesses DEFAULTSIZES to:
    0=Use Max after Run setting
    1=minimize the application after placing
    2=restore the application after placing
    3=maximize the application after placing

    Add this to the folder stuff

    Can be edited from the Edit - RunUserList and Edit- DefaultSize list