OS/2 Shareware BBS: 11 Util/11-Util.zip/hklnch23.zip/HKLAUNCH.HLP

OS/2 Help File | 1995-12-23 | 21KB | 504 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. About HKLaunch ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The HKLaunch program allows the user to control the starting of applications in
a much better way than using the "Startup" folder of OS/2 (c) without the need
of programming a "STARTUP.CMD" file. In addition it enables the user to specify
keystrokes which are sent to the started programs, which is not possible with
the "Startup" folder.

HKLaunch allows the following:

o working directory for each application

o execution parameters

o window style ( full screen, window, minimized )

o keystrokes to be sent to the application after start

o different time frames for starting for each weekday

o definitions of other applications which already must run to in order to allow
  to start the actual application

o definition of other application which, when running inhibit the start of the
  actual application

o starting of desktop (or other) objects, not only executable programs

To run HKLaunch at system startup, generate a program folder, enter the fully
qualified program name and the drive and path where you copied the HKLaunch
files as working directory. Use the program parameter /S if you wish HKLaunch
to perform immediately and close when finished. Use /s if you want HKLaunch to
stay open.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.1. Version and Requirements. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The actual version of HKLaunch is 2.3, dated 23rd of december 1995.
The minimum requirements are:

o a computer system running OS/2 version 2.x or higher

o the OS/2 REXX language environment installed

o the VX-REXX runtime library VROBJ.DLL installed

o 1 Mb disk space to install HKLaunch


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.2. Limitations of the Unregistered Copy ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The unregistered copy of HKLaunch has the following limitation:
The program handles and stores an unlimited number of application definitions,
but it only starts the first four.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.3. Registration Fees ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The registration fee for this product amounts to:

o CHF 25,--/$ 20.-- per copy for private users.

o CHF 50,--/$ 40.-- per copy for commercial users. For each ten copies a
  reduction of five percent is given, up to a maximum of fifty percent for
  hundred and more copies.

A handling fee of CHF/$ 5,-- to 15.-- is added to any order, regardless of the
number of copies ordered and depending on the region from where the order
originates.

All direct payments have to be done in Swiss francs (CHF), any checks have to
be drawn on a Swiss bank.

Registration via the COMPUSERVE registration service (GO SWREG) is recommended,
in this case payment is to be done in USD.The product identification number is
4852.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.4. How To Register Your Copy ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You can use several methods to register your copy of the product:

o Using the REGISTER menu entry to produce the registration form and send it
  with cash or a check to the author

o Using the COMPUSERVE registration service GO SWREG. This is the recommended
  way for the registration.

After the registration you will be mailed a registration document stating the
registration number. You use the REGISTER menu entry to enter this number and
its associated information into the application. If the application can verify
the registration number, the application will have the registered status fron
then on. In general the registration remains valid for all subsequent versions
if not stated explicitly otherwise.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. Disclaimer ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Disclaimer - Agreement

Users of this product must accept the following disclaimers of warranty:

"THIS PRODUCT IS SUPPLIED BY THE AUTHOR AS IS. THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL
WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE WARRANTIES
OF MERCHANTIBILITY AND OF FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. THE AUTHOR ASSUMES NO
LIABILTY FOR DAMAGES, DIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL, WHICH MAY RESULT FROM THE USE OF
THIS PRODUCT."

"THE AUTHOR MAKES NO WARRANTIES AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS GUIDE."

"THE SOFTWARE IS PROTECTED BY THE COPYRIGHT LAWS OF SWITZERLAND AS WELL AS BY
THE COPYRIGHT LAWS OF MANY OTHER COUNTRIES PURSUANT TO INTERNATIONAL TREATIES.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS COMPUTER PROGRAM, DOCUMENTATION OR RELATED
FILES MAY BE REPRODUCED, PHOTOCOPIED,STORED ON A RETRIEVAL SYSTEM, OR
TRANSMITTED EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY SWISS COPYRIGHT LAW."


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. Trademarks ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

OS/2, REXX and IBM Works are registered trademarks of the International
Business Machines Corporation (IBM).

VX-REXX is a trademark of the Watcom International Corporation.

dBase, dBase III or dBase IV are trademarks of Borland Corporation.

FaxWorks is a trademark of the Keller Group Inc.

Other trademarks are the trademarks of their respective trademark owners.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Main Window ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The main window is used to define the applications to be started, to simulate
and test the definitions and to show the status of the actual execution.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1. Define ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use this command to define the applications to be started. The data is stored
in the HKLaunch.INI file. You can specify an unlimited number of applications.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.2. Run ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This command starts the defined applications. If you want to start applications
automatically at system startup, you may execute HKLaunch with the parameter /S
or /s from within STARTUP.CMD or the "Startup" folder. The parameter in capital
letters (/S) will close HKLaunch when finished, /s will let it remain open.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Install ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This command generates a program object for HKLaunch with the parameter /S in
the "Startup" folder.

Please note, that the actual working directory is used (i.e. the one from which
you started HKLaunch).


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> List box ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The list box in the main window lists the started applications and the status
of their invocation.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. Application definition ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This is the main panel where you define the applications to be started.

The fields have the following meaning:

Application name
          This combo box is used to define, display and select the applications
          by their names. Please make sure that you choose unique names.

Application caption
          This field contains the caption of the application and its title as
          used in the OS/2 task list, if the caption alone is ambigious.
          Caption and title are separated by a double exclamation mark
          (!!).Please make sure that you give the correct strings, as they must
          be used to check if the program is running. Use the List pushbutton
          to get a list of the captions (and titles) of all running programs.
          In oder to be sure to give the correct values, run all applications
          you wish to handle via HKLaunch and list their captions. You may
          encounter applications which do not have a caption, but only a window
          list title. In this case you select the blank entry in the caption
          window and the appropriate window list title. The application caption
          field will then start with !!

Program name
          Enter the fully qualified file name of the executable program to be
          started. If you specify a program on a network drive, HKLaunch will
          only start the program if the station is logged on and thus the drive
          is known. Use the Find pusbutton to give the file name via the
          standard file open dialogue. You may also give the object-id or file
          name of a workplace object In this case the program parameters and
          the startup directory are meaningless, they are taken from the object
          settings. Keystrokes can be used, if the object handles them.

Program parameters
          Enter the sequence of parameter strings as needed by the program.
          Please not that you cannot use [ ] to be asked for parameter input.

Working directory
          As a default, the path of the executable file will be inserted. You
          can change this value if you like. When starting the application, in
          the local environment the current directory is switched to this
          working directory.

Keystrokes
          Here you may enter up to 250 keystrokes which will be sent to the
          application after it has been started. You may split up the sequence
          in several groups to send by inserting the characters !! in between.
          Special keyboard characters are defined by their names enclosed in
          braces ({}). You have to define the keystrokes exactly as you enter
          them to the application via the keyboard. Refer to keystroke
          definitions for description of the key identifiers you can use for
          the special keys ( e.g. function keys). Please note that the full
          range of keys can only be used for PM applications. If you want to
          send keystrokes to a DOS or OS/2 window or full screen session and
          you use a non-english version of OS/2, then you must give the letter
          for the "Paste" function of the system menu at the beginning of the
          keystrokes, separated by !!.

Style, minimize
          Use the radio buttons and the check box to define if the application
          shall run as full screen or windowed, and if it is to be minimized
          after the start.

More >>
          If you want to specify times where the application shall not be
          started, or other applications which must run or must not run in
          order to start this application use this pushbutton to open the
          definition window.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.1. Add ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To add an application, you type a new, unique name in the entry field of the
combo box. Then you fill in the remaining fields for caption, program,
parameters, keystrokes and specify the style and minimized definitions. Click
on More >> if you like to specify further parameters.

Click on Add to add the new definitions to the list of applications.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.2. Change ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To change definitions of an application, choose the application by clicking its
name in the combo box. Do not type the name in the entry field.

Then enter your changes in the appropriate fields and click on Change to save
the changes. The changed values will be used at the next start of the
application.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.3. Delete ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To delete an application, choose the application by clicking its name in the
combo box. Do not type the name in the entry field.

Then click on Delete to remove the application.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.4. Test ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To test the definitions, click on Test. HKLaunch will perform all actions
neccessary to start the applications and will print out the corresponding
informations in the VX-REXX console window. You can file this information to a
log file using the standard capabilities of the VX-REXX console.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.5. List captions and titles ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This panel lists the captions of all open windows and thus also of the running
programs. Start all applications you wish to be handled by HKLaunch and use
this panel. Select the caption for the actual application. If this is ambigious
because the application has several windows, you will see the corresponding
window list titles in the lower list box. Select the appropriate title and
click OK. The correct string will be placed in the Application caption field in
the application definition panel.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.6. More definitions ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This panel is used to specify the details on start time limits, applications
which must run and applications which must not run in order for HKLaunch to
start the actual application.

In the Execution times group you specify for each day in the week the start
time and the ending time for the application execution. HKLaunch will start the
application only if the actual time is within these limits ( >= and <=).

In the Other applications group you specify the application caption ( i.e. the
identification of the application in the OS/2 task list). You can specify any
application, not only those started by HKLaunch. If you choose the Runnig entry
in the spin button, the corresponding application must be runnig before
HKLaunch can start the actual application. If the Not running value is set,
HKLaunch will not start the actual application if the corresponding application
is running. Setting Run for an application which is defined in HKLaunch will
start the actual application if the other application has already been started,
regardless if it is still running or not.

Please note that you can specify up to 7 other applications.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Access to the standard and application specific help panels and the product
informations.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Product Information ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This dialog shows the product name, version, short description, and copyright
noice.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. Registration ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This product is shareware. This means that you are entitled to test the
software for 30 days. If you wish to use the software after this period of time
you must purchase a usage license.

The license fee is indicated in the product description under the heading
Registration fees.

Payment has to be made only in the currancy as stated there, in cash or by
checks drawn on the banks as stated.

Another possibility is using the COMPUSERVE registration service ( GO SWREG ).

In any case, the registration form has to be sent to the author by clicking on
the "Register" menu entry, filling in the appropriate values and printing the
form.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.1. Sending the Registration Order ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

If you wish to register your copy of the product, click on the Register menu
entry. Fill in the Name and Address fields. Make sure that the entries are
complete (address must at least contain one entry) and correct. In case you
want a commercial license, check the corresponding button and enter the number
of simultaneous users in the Nodes field.

Click the Send Reg. button. The amount due will be determined and the
corresponding registration form will be printed on the default printer. Save a
copy and send the form to the author. You will get back your Registration
Number which you should enter into the application.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.2. COMPUSERVE Registration Service ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Registration can be made via the COMPUSERVE registration service. This speeds
up the registration process and eases the payment, as the registration fee is
debted to your COMPUSERVE account. Use the product identification number as
given in the Registration fees paragraph above.

Please make sure that you also send the  Registration Order to the author, as
you can get the registration number only via this order.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.3. Registration Number ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When you recieve your registration documents and your registration number from
the author, activate the registration panel by clicking the Register menu
entry.

Enter the Name, Address, Date and Registration Number fields EXACTLY as you see
them on the recieved registration document. If you ordered a commercial
license, also check the checkbox and enter the Nodes value.

If the registration number can be verified successfully by the application, it
will change to the registered status and the Register menu entry will be
disabled. Leave the application and restart it to access the capabilities which
were limited in the unregistered state.

The registration number will in general remain valid for the subsequent version
unless explicitly stated otherwise.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.4. Shareware ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Definition of SHAREWARE software

Shareware software distribution gives users a chance to try software before
buying it. If you try shareware software and continue using it, you are
expected to register. Individual programs differ on details - some request
registration while others require it, some specify a maximum trial period. With
registration you get anything from the simple right to continue using the
software to an updated program with printed manual.

Remember that Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You
should find software that siuts your needs and pocketbook, be it distributed
commercially or via shareware channels. The shareware system makes fitting your
needs easier to you, because you can try before you buy. And because overhead
is low, prices are low also. Shareware software has the ultimate money-back
guarantee - if you don't use it, you don't pay for it.

The essence of the shareware method is to provide personnel computer users with
quality software without high prices, and yet to provide incentive for
programmers to continue to develop new products. Shareware authors are
professional software developers who use the inexpensive distribution method to
reach a sufficiently large market.

It is part of this method, that you are encouraged to pass along shareware
products to your friends and collegues, as long as you transfer the complete,
unchanged package without charging any fees, except the cost for the media on
which you hand it over (diskettes e.g.).

It is essential that you understand and accept, that shareware is protected by
the copyright laws and that you have to register if you use the software after
a reasonable trial period. Support the shareware method, which provides you
with inexpensive software product by a fair registration policy.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.5. Copyright ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Copyright laws apply to both shareware and commercial software, and the
copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific exceptions as stated
below:

The author specificially grants the rigth to copy and distribute the complete
and unmodified software in order to hand it over to other users for trial.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.6. Authors Address ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The author can be reached by surface mail or via COMPUSERVE.

Mail address:

   H. Kiesbauer
   4U - Software
   Steinackerweg 21
   CH-4513 Langendorf

COMPUSERVE ID: 100121,2715

Please send your questions and comments preferrably via COMPUSERVE,  I will
check my mailbox aproximately once a week.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> OK ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The OK button closes the Product information dialog.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden>  ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 For sending special keys to an application, use the following key identifiers
(enter them with the braces {..}!):

F1 to F12           {F1} to {F12}

Alt                 {Alt}

Control             {Ctrl}

Escape              {Esc}

Tabulator           {Tab}* and {Backtab}

Backspace           {Backspace}*

Delete, Insert      {Del}, {Ins}

Home, End           {Home}, {End}

Enter               {Enter}*

Arrow up, down      {Up}, {Down}*

Arrow left, right   {Left}, {Right}

Page up, down       {PgUp}, {PgDown}

Shift               {Shift}

The keystrokes marked with * can also be used in DOS or OS/2 window or full
screen sessions.

To send the characters A, B and C in sequence, use the string ABC. To send a
control character, prefix the character with the string {Ctrl}, as in {Ctrl}Z.
The strings {Alt} and {Shift} are used to specify the Alt and Shift keys, as in
{Alt}H or {Shift}{F3}. Function keys are specified as {F1}, {F2}, and so on.

You can combine modifiers:

 {Ctrl}{Shift}J
 {Alt}{Ctrl}{F10}
Modifiers only apply to a single keystroke.
The following string is used to send the
two keystrokes Alt+F and O:
 {Alt}FO
A similar example sends Alt+Z followed
by Ctrl+X:
 {Alt}Z{Ctrl}X
There is no fixed limit on the number of
keystrokes allowed in a single string, but
you should keep the sequences fairly short.