OS/2 Shareware BBS: 11 Util/11-Util.zip/infob13.zip/INFOBAR.HLP

OS/2 Help File | 1997-01-14 | 18KB | 376 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. InfoBar Information and Tuning Utility, OS/2 Version. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

InfoBar displays various system settings and data. Some of which are otherwise
difficult to discover.  This first version of InfoBar does not bother to
display settings that are otherwise easy to discover. That may come in later
versions.

InfoBar consists of two main areas:

1. The Title Bar  and

2. The information display window.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.1. The Title Bar. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Title Bar (the rectangle on the middle top of InfoBar) displays four
numbers:

-the Initial Size of the system swap file (prefixed by "Init-")

-the Current Size of the system swap file (prefixed by "Curr-")

-the Maximum Size of the system swap file (prefixed by "Max-")  (This is the
maximum that InfoBar has observed since it was last started.)

-the amount of free space on the disk partition where the swap file resides.

All numbers are in decimal kilobytes, that is each thousand is 1000, as opposed
to binary kilobytes, where each thousand is 1024.

In fact, all numbers in InfoBar are in decimal. All thousands are in decimal
thousands. For a detailed explanation, see the Number Representation section.

The Title Bar is updated once per second.

Watching this number while you work should give you a good idea of your own
personal swap file usage.

If the Current or Maximum swap sizes are different from the Initial swap size,
you should consider increasing your default swap file size to the maximum size
of swap file you typically create.

The registered version of InfoBar will tune your swap file for you. See Tune
Swapper for complete details.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.2. The information display window. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This window displays one of many possible system values that InfoBar is aware
of.

To see some other value, click (either left or right) the mouse anywhere in
this window, and InfoBar will update the display with the next (or previous)
data item.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.3. Number Representation. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

All numbers in InfoBar are displayed in decimal.  Kilobytes are expressed as
decimal kilobytes where each thousand is 1000 (base 10), as opposed to binary
kilobytes, where each thousand is 1024 (base 10).

This may seem trivial at first;  but helps make sense of the case where you are
expecting 48 megabytes of something (that's binary megabytes) and the display
reads: 50,331,648 (decimal megabytes).


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.4. Tune Swapper ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This feature of the registered version of InfoBar sets a new initial size for
your SWAPPER.DAT file, depending on your preferences and situation.

For more details on tuning options see:

Tune to Current

Tune to Maximum

Tune to Minimum

The tuning option you pick will be used by the system as soon as you re-boot
OS/2.

If you don't know why you might want to use this feature, please read on:

Your swapper file has an initial size.  As you use your system, it will grow
and (occasionally) shrink.

To get the best performance out of your system, you should set the initial size
of your swap file to be the size it achieves when you are doing your typical
work.

If you were doing something unusually large during the current session, and
your swap file has shrunk since then, you will want to use the "Tune to
Current" option to insure your swap file is not oversized, which would waste
disk space.

If there's something you do rarely which needs top performance, you would use
the "Tune to Maximum" option.

If Current and Maximum are the same, and are larger than Initial, you could use
either tuning option.

When you make a major hardware or software changes to your system, it is useful
to set the swap file size down to the minimum, reboot, run your typical load
and re-tune your swapfile to its new maximum (or current) size.

A backup of your CONFIG.SYS is created during the tuning process. The backup is
named CONFIG.nnn where nnn is a number from 000 to 999. The next available
number is used, and backups are never overwritten. For example, if you already
have CONFIG.000 and CONFIG.001, the next backup will be called CONFIG.002.

If your system fails during the tuning process (due to, for instance, a power
outage), you may need to recover from the backup.  To do so, simply copy the
latest backup to CONFIG.SYS.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.5. Tune to Current ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Sets the initial size of swap file to it's current size (as displayed after the
"C-" on the top of InfoBar).

Also see:

Tune Swapper

Tune to Maximum

Tune to Minimum


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.6. Tune to Maximum ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Sets the initial size of the swap file to it's maximum size this session (as
displayed after the "M-" on the top of InfoBar).

Also see: Tune Swapper.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.7. Tune to Minimum ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Sets the initial size of the swap file to it's minimum permissable size, which
is 1024 k ( 1 binary megabyte ).

This option is very useful when changing hardware configurations (like: adding
or deleting memory or disks), or when your typical software mix changes.

When you make a major change to your system, it is useful to set the swap file
size down to the minimum, reboot, run your typical load and re-tune your
swapfile to its new maximum (or current) size.

Also see: Tune Swapper.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.8. Log ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This feature of the registered version of InfoBar records all of the
information InfoBar has at its disposal to a file at regular intervals.

This is intended as an aid in performance analysis and capacity planning.  The
file is named: INFOBAR.LOG , and is in QCD  (Quote-Comma-Delimited) format,
which is suitable for importation into most spreadsheet packages.

A skeleton spreadsheet in .WKS format is supplied. Most modern spreadsheet
packages can read .WKS format. The skeleton contains column titles that
correspond to the fields in the INFOBAR.LOG file.

From this basis, you can create numerical analysis, charts and graphs as an aid
to analyzing your system performance.

This kind of analysis is especially helpful in deciding when to add memory to
your system, as well as proving to your boss that the memory upgrade you
recommended worked to reduce system swapping.

The log records are recorded at 10 second, 1 minute, or 10 minute intervals, as
chosen by the user on the Log menu.

The 10 minute interval does not operate on OS/2 versions 2.1 and below. The
menu item for this option will be disabled in such cases.

Logging may be started and stopped at any time.  After you stop the logging,
you may start it again using the same, or a different, interval.

Please be aware that logs with mixed intervals in them can be quite a challenge
to analyze with spreadsheets.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.9. Legal Notices, Service and Contacting the author. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Copyright 1996 Bob Meizlik [e-mail] .

THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. THE AUTHOR
DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT
LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND
MERCHANTABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROGRAM. BY FURNISHING
THIS PROGRAM, THE AUTHOR GRANTS NO LICENSES TO ANY PATENTS OR COPYRIGHTS.

THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL LIBILITY FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL OR SPECIAL
DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST REVENUE OR LOST PROFITS WHICH MAY ARISE FROM THE USE
AND/OR MISUSE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
DAMAGES.

OS/2 and IBM are trademarks and property of IBM, its successors and assigns.
All trademarks that appear herein are the property of their respective owners.

No service is supplied with the no-charge version of InfoBar. However, the
author sometimes monitors the Usenet newsgroup: comp.os.os2.apps and discussion
of this program properly belongs there.

The registered version of InfoBar entitles the user to e-mail support of issues
that are directly related to this software.  Send questions to: Bob Meizlik at
[e-mail] .

I'm making no representation as to response time to support inquiries. So, if
you are in a critical situation, restore your system from your latest backup.

Bug reports are welcome and may be sent to Bob Meizlik at
[e-mail] .


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.10. Registration Form ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Registered InfoBar is obtained through BMT Micro.

     Mail Orders To: BMT Micro
             PO Box 15016
             Wilmington, NC 28408
             U.S.A.

      Voice Orders: 8:00am - 7:00pm EST (-5 GMT)
             [phone] (orders only)
             [phone]

       Fax Orders: [phone]  24 hours / 7 Days
             [phone]  24 hours / 7 Days

 Online Orders via modem: [phone]  10 lines, all 14.4K
             [phone]  Direct 28.8K line

      via Internet: [e-mail]
             [e-mail]
             http://www.bmtmicro.com
 Secure Ordering:
 http://wwws.wilmington.net/bmtmicro/secure_form.html

 Ordering and general ordering questions:

             Via AOL: bmtmicro
             Via MSN: bmtmicro
           Via Prodigy: HNGP66D
         Via Compuserve: 74031,307

 We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Diners
 Club, Carte Blanche, Cashiers Check, Personal Check.  Personal
 checks are subject to clearance.  Eurochecks in DM are welcome.
 DM, Sterling, and US Currency is welcome but send only by
 registered mail, return receipt requested.  We cannot be liable
 for lost cash sent through the mail.

 If you reside in a country with an unconvertible currency please
 contact us for alternatives.

 Purchase orders are welcome, subject to approval.  The minimum
 amount is $250.00.

 Information for our German customers is explained in the last
 paragraph of this order form.

 _____________________________________________________________________

   Company:_____________________________________________________________

   Name:________________________________________________________________

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       _____________________________________________________________

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   E-Mail #1____________________________________________________________

   E-Mail #2____________________________________________________________


   Product           Quantity Price  Number of copies
   _________________________  ______________  ________________

   __________________InfoBar  __________15.00  x ____________ + $ _______

   _________________________  ______________  x ____________ + $ _______

   _________________________  ______________  x ____________ + $ _______

   Latest Version on Diskette   _____$3.00____  x ____________ + $ _______

   North Carolina Residents add 6% Sales Tax           + $ _______

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    Email - Subject to Credit Card Verification   Free
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     (Including Canada and Mexico), allow up to
     7-10 days ............................... $  25.00 US
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     3:00 pm the following day) .............. $  15.00 US
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   Total:                             =  $ _______


    For credit card payment only

    Circle one: VISA / Master / Discover / American Express / Diners

    Credit card number: _____________________________________________

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    Authorization signature: ________________________________________



          ORDERING FROM INSIDE GERMANY ONLY

 Persons in Germany wishing to order shareware may also transfer funds
 into our account with Deutsche Bank.  Once the money is deposited you
 may either fax a confirmation to us with proof of deposit or wait until
 Deutsche Bank notifies us of the transaction (usually 10-18 business days).
 Account information is as follows:

 Deutsche Bank / Frankfurt Branch
 Empf=84nger:  Thomas Bradford
 Konto-Nummer: 0860221
 Bankleitzahl: 500-700-10

 When you make the transfer, be sure to put your name and the program you
 are registering on the transfer.

 Current exchange rates can be obtained by sending an email to
 [e-mail].  An automated reply will return todays exchange
 rates.

 It is very important that you send us a completed order form by
 either email or fax if you deposit money into this account for a
 registration.  Fill the order form out as usual except in the credit
 card number field put "DEUTSCHE BANK".  We will file the order and
 use it to match against the deposit information we receive from the
 bank.

                IMPORTANT!
                ----------
 When you email us your order form, we will reply with an
 acknowledgement.  If you do not get an acknowledgement within 24 hours
 please send your order again in case it was lost.  This extra bit of
 caution can save a lot of confusion.

 If you are concerned that your order is taking too long to process, feel
 free to check with us about the status of your order.  It's important
 to all of us that you feel safe doing business with our company and
 please feel free to suggest ways we can improve our service to you.