(For details, about XTimer Spy, see the documents in the folder, "XTimer Spy ƒ.")
This document is not the "Help" . Full documentation for XTimer is available on XTimer's Apple Menu. Save a text copy of the Help for easier reading. For additional information, beyond the Help, See the document, "XTimer Q&A" . Also: Press the space bar for a pop-up short-cuts screen, when you have XTimer running.
If you haven't seen XTimer with "Greg's Buttons" , GO DOWNLOAD IT NOW!
For most users, XTimer now virtually manages itself! And, all of you out cruising the Web via FreePPP (MacPPP), you can now use XTimer to automatically track and log your time and expenses! If you have multiple online accounts, XTimer can now adjust the current rate as needed. When your billing cycle resets every month, XTimer can clear your logged times from the previous month and begin logging your new charges! After configuring the right settings (see the Help for more details); you may need to do little more than leave XTimer out running!
XTimer Spy automatically tracks the online services. MacPPP tracking does not require XTimer Spy. (For more information on XTimer Spy, read the document, "XTimer Spy - MUST READ".)
XTimer is a very versatile and useful program. It's worth your time and money to invest in a program that pays for itself. XTimer isn't available at computer stores, it's only available in the global computer warehouse store-- the internet! If you pay for commercial applications that do what you want, then you should take seriously the shareware concept; and when you find a quality shareware program that meets your needs-- buy it! XTimer takes you seriously, when your time is money.
For more information on the new Rate Switcher and Log Clearing, see the Help. Both features may be selected and configured from the Settings menu. For information about Auto-Tracking, see "XTimer Auto-Tracking & XTimer Spy" in the Help, and read the documents included with XTimer Spy.
You'll find answers to your questions in the documentation. If you are having problems, it is possible there's a bug in the program that must be fixed, but it is likely you're encountering a common situation, which has been covered in the Help. Don't be afraid to twiddle with the program. Experiment and see what happens; try out the different menu items. You can always start over by trashing the XTimer Preferences, located in your Preferences folder, within your System folder. Learn by doing is the easiest way to see how it all works.
The XTimer Web Page
http://members.aol.com/XTimer4Mac/
This site is a great place to introduce your friends to XTimer. It's also a place to hear what's coming up in future releases, and to download new versions with features and fixes not yet released anywhere else. You can also download any of my other programs which are publicly available. If you enjoy the site, I'd be very pleased if you link it to other sites, if, or when you have the opportunity. Thanks!
Other plans:
I plan to introduce alternate registration payment methods, such as by credit card, to make it easier to register, especially for those outside of the United States.
I'm hard at work on XTimer 2.0, a major upgrade release which is a complete overhaul of the code, to make it more efficient and more modular, enabling me to expand features more easily and to allow scripting, for even more power. 2.0 will not be scriptable, but versions shortly thereafter will be. 2.0 will change the format of how some things are handled, so users can have greater control over how rates are calculated. 2.0 will add "Accounts" to the present structure, which uses only "Rates". This will allow users to bill multiple rates to accounts. The current limitation of 7 rates will be increased. I am not sure where that will land, yet, since I would like to introduce a commercial version. I can't put everything into the shareware version; however; I will put enough in to convince users who need the more powerful features that the commercial version is worth investigating. Keep your eyes peeled!
The Mailbag:
I know a lot of the mail I receive is from those who are new to the online world. That's no surprise, since the number of people coming online is growing exponentially. There's a lot to get used to when you come online for the first time, and it may seem overwhelming at first. I remember asking, "Hey, what does .sit mean?!" "What files should I download?"
Everyone becomes an explorer when they enter cyberspace. I've posted little tidbits in the notes, here, before, just for the fun and interest of readers; like the information at the end of this document about where registrations have or have not come from. (Are there any Mac users in Idaho?) People seem to like it, so this time I thought I'd just share what some of my favorite downloads are, for those of you who are just getting into the water, or even for those of you who know your way around. Who knows, maybe one of my favorites will become yours.
Favorites In Our Home: I mentioned Greg's Buttons, above. That's my all-time favorite. Décor makes our desktop pretty, by displaying graphics in place of the usual patterns. Bail prevents many useless accidental launches of large programs, which take forever to load; by letting you kill the launch, in process, by holding down the mouse button. ArtValve has saved me loads of time, which would have been wasted receiving artwork, I can do without, from AOL. My wife plays Solitaire Til Dawn, endlessly. Jewelbox had us both addicted, for a long time. As an author, I couldn't live without DropStuff and ResCompare. I'm also pretty fond of a simple extension that does nothing except cause the default button to be REPLACE when you get that system dialog that asks you if you want to replace the existing file with your new one of the same name. Its name is what it does, Replace! Another fine program, I use daily, is TypeIt4Me. It's name is also what it does. If you are always running amuck through your hard drive, searching folders, launching applications; Hover Bar could change your life!
Hope you find something interesting in that list. (-:
Note: The files above that are shareware are all programs we have registered.
(The author of ArtValve graciously provided me with a complimentary registration. Thanks, Bill.)
What does it mean to register?
Registration simply means that you pay for the program. XTimer will prompt you with a shareware screen every few days, reminding you that if you continue to use XTimer, you should pay for the program.
What to do:
First, print out the registration form.
Either select the item, "Print Registration Form" from the Apple menu, or click
the button on the shareware screen, and XTimer will dutifully print it out for you.
Second, fill out the form. No biggie. Just enough info to tell me who you are, how to
contact you, what your system setup is like (so I can identify problems that may
come up on certain systems), and there's space for you to write comments about
XTimer.
Third, fold up the form and mail it to the address shown on the form, along with your
payment.
What happens next:
Lickity split, you get a registration code that will work with your name. Time to let XTimer know you're a paying customer. Select "Register" from the shareware screen, or from the Apple menu. Enter your name and code into the spaces provided. Presto, XTimer personalizes your copy (peek at the About screen now...), pats you on the back, and you're on your way. No more shareware screen, or bothersome items on the Apple menu!
XTimer can be registered online via CompuServe (GO SWREG), XTimer is #5002.
You will usually receive your code within hours of registering.
Users mailing in registrations from outside of North America may deduct $3.00 towards the cost of their postage, from their registration fee.
Note: Those of you who registered, paying at the old shareware fee of $5, after the grace period ran out; will not be able to register versions of XTimer beyond v1.5, until you send in your upgrade payment. I notified those this applies to of this consequence when I sent you your registration code.
If you should have received a new code for version 1.6 and I have not contacted you, please contact me. I have complete records and I can verify your registration and forward your new code to you quickly.
Support for XTimer-XTra, sibling program to XTimer, was discontinued in March 1995 due to lack of interest; however, in time XTimer will incorporate features that will eliminate the need for two versions.
States not represented in registrations:
Idaho, Utah, North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas, Mississippi
West Virginia, Delaware, Maine, and Vermont.
International registrations have come from these countries:
Canada, Germany, Belgium, Austria, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Spain, The Netherlands, Denmark, Australia, Norway, Hong Kong and Japan.
