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OS/2 Help File
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1999-12-20
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23KB
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704 lines
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. Installation Notes ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Requirements
You must have Rexx support installed to run this program. Rexx is
normally part of the default installation of OS/2. If Rexx is not
installed you must go to Selective Install and install support for it
there.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Installation
There is no actual installation needed for ShowTime/2 other than
unzipping the archive into the directory of your choosing and creating an
icon for it. The install.cmd script will create the desktop icon for you
if you wish. If you decide to uninstall ShowTime/2, just delete the
directory containing the program and delete the desktop icon.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ShowTime/2 is fully functional but time limited. This version of ShowTime/2
will expire January 31, 1997.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. Introduction ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Nothing really earth shaking here, just a tool to flip pix. ShowTime/2 is a 32
bit multi-threaded background changer and slide show tool. Some of ShowTimes'
features include:
Change OS/2 desktop backgrounds on cue (timer).
Run a slide show of your bitmaps in a folder.
Showtime/2 places the bitmap work in a separate thread.
Set the timer from 1 second to 24 hours in 1 second increments.
Show bitmaps in order or in random order.
Run bitmaps in "Normal", "Tiled" or "Scaled" mode. (see notes below)
Set grid size in "Scaled" mode.
Run bitmap cycles or shows automatically at startup.
Drive trees and large listboxes make choosing files easy.
Save as many different shows as you like.
Make solitary bitmap changes by double clicking file.
Change the background color on the Desktop or the slideshow folder.
Set priority level of program in WPS.
ShowTime/2 was originally meant to run bitmaps that can be "Scaled" to the
background. This means that you will want to choose bitmaps that are in a 4:3
ratio or so. The standard 640x480, 800x600 and 1024x768 are all a 4:3 ratio.
Sizes like 512x384, 400x300 or 160x120 are also the same ratio as well as most
scans of photographs in "landscape" mode will "scale" well. Other bitmaps, for
example, a scan of a photo in "portrait" mode will appear distorted as they
are "stretched to fit the desktop dimensions. So if you use a photo of your
mother-in-law in portrait mode she will appear to be *very* wide. :-)
Support has been added for "Tiled" and "Normal" formats after some testing
here. It seemed to me before I had even thought about doing this project that
I had heard there was a bit of a problem in the past with some bitmaps in one
of these two modes (I don't remember which one). In testing here with
ShowTime/2 though, I have had no such problems. I hope I had just heard wrong
and find that there is no such problem. In the meantime please let us know if
anything of this nature crops up. Enjoy!
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
POTENTIAL PROBLEM
Ever notice the difference in your system speed when you change from a *huge*
background bitmap to a smaller one? On a marginal system it is very noticable.
Just changing the default Warp bitmap from *.bmp form to a *.jpg makes the
file much smaller and the system noticably faster. If you're using one of
those 1 meg bitmaps on a small (RAM) system, it may pay to convert it or to
use a smaller one.
Besides the performance hit associated with large bitmaps. Aparently OS/2
stores desktop and folder bitmaps in memory (the swapfile) during any session.
That wouldn't be a major problem except that the swapfile never seems to
release any of them. If you are viewing slides, for example, the swapfile will
store them so it doesn't have to access the disk again to view them the next
time around. If you continue to view different bitmaps the swapfile will
continue to add them and grow thinking they may be needed in the future. Not a
big deal for most people as they shutdown daily and the swapfile is resized
but for people like me that don't shut down their systems, this is could
present a problem. It may mean rebooting every once in a while to allow the
swapper to resize itself.
While doing other things I have let 5 bitmaps cycle for just over a week with
no change to my original swapfile size. Once your bitmaps have been loaded for
the first time, your memory requirements (swapfile) should not change.
If this becomes a problem for you, you may not want to use this utility.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
IN THE FUTURE?
These items may or may not be addressed in the future as I have bigger fish to
fry right now. No promises, I'm just acknowledging a couple of things that I
would see as useful.
Add an actual graphics window for viewing slideshows which, in turn,
would allow more control over memory releases at program end.
Duh... I've added some things already and can't think of anything else
off hand.
I really haven't played with graphics that much in the past so I am interested
in hearing what you would like to see in ShowTime/2.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. General Help ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Click on "Search" to find help on any particular item.
Most of the controls have a tip on the message bar at the bottom of the screen
and are otherwise pretty well understood by most experienced computer users. If
you look down there you'll see the tips as you move your mouse over the menu's
and buttons. If you don't look down there you'll actually be able to see what
you're doing and hit the mark most of the time with your mouse clicks.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.1. Start/Stop ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The Start/Stop button actually serves as an ON/OFF switch for ShowTime. When
you click the green "Start" button the program starts changing bitmaps and the
button turns into a red "Stop" button. Click on it again and the show will stop
while button is changing back into the green "Start" button.
START BUTTON
Starts the slide show or the bitmap changing mode for the desktop using
current settings.
STOP BUTTON
Stops the slide show or the bitmap changing mode for the desktop.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.2. Timer cycle ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
TIMER CYCLE
Sets the interval between bitmap changes in hours, minutes and seconds.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3. Background type ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
BACKGROUND TYPE
Selects whether the background changes on the desktop or in a slide show
folder.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.4. Cycle order ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
CYCLE ORDER
Selects whether to cycle the bitmaps randomly or in order.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.5. Select all/none ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
SELECT ALL
Selects (highlights) all items in the listbox.
SELECT NONE
Unselects (unhighlights?) all selected items in the listbox.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.6. Add to/Delete from list ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ADD TO LIST
Copies all selected items from the listbox to the slide show listing.
DELETE FROM LIST
Removes all selected items from the slide show listing.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.7. Available drives ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
AVAILABLE DRIVES
Selects a drive to scan for directories. Double click any directory name
to view its files in the listbox.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.8. Running ShowTime/2 at Startup ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
RUNNING SHOWTIME/2 AT STARTUP
If you want a particular set of bitmaps to run through their cycle whenever the
computer is running, ShowTime/2 will automagically run them at startup. It is
actually very easy to do although by explaining it we are making it sound alot
more difficult. Here are the step by step instructions.
Start the program.
Set up a show file by selecting the bitmaps you wish to cycle.
Select "Desktop" from the background types.
Select whether to show them randomly or in order from the cycle order
selection box.
Set the timer for the interval you prefer.
Save the show settings. perhaps: MyShow.shw
Drag a shadow of the ShowTime/2 icon to the "Startup Folder" (hold down
the "Control" key while dragging.)
Open the properties notebook of the new shadow.
Enter the name of the showfile in the parameters field.
Restart OS/2.
When OS/2 starts up, ShowTime/2 will automatically load and run the bitmap
cycle you have set up.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.9. Changing a bitmap ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
CHANGING A BITMAP
Changing the desktop or slideshow folder background to any particular
bitmap for a once only change is easily done by double clicking any
bitmap file currently listed in the bitmap file list. Be sure to select
which background you wish to change in the "Background type" selection
area.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.10. Changing background colors ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
CHANGING BACKGROUND COLORS
Changing the desktop or slideshow folder background to any particular color is
accomplished by:
Choose which background you wish to change in the "Background type"
selection area
Click the "Background" button.
The OS/2 Mixed color pallette will appear and the background button text
will change to "Accept"
Drag the new color from the Mixed color palette and drop it onto the
"Accept" button
The "Accept" button will change to the newly selected color
Click on the "Accept" button to change the background to your new
selection
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.11. Show/Hide drives ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
SHOW/HIDE DRIVES
The Drive/Directory container now hides itself from view when not in use. The
"Show Drives" button will change to "Hide Drives" according to the visibility
of the Drive/Directory container. The Drive/Directory container will appear
only under a couple of conditions:
When choosing a new drive from the "Available Drives" combobox in search
of bitmaps
When the mouse passes over the down arrow in the "Available Drives"
combobox
When the "Show Drives" button is clicked. This button will change to
"Hide Drives" and will toggle the Drive/Directory container on or off.
If the Drive/Directory container is open you may click "Hide Drives" to hide
it.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.12. Display as ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
DISPLAY AS
The "Display as" selections allow you to choose how your bitmaps will be
displayed. The choices are:
NORMAL - Displays bitmaps as originally sized and centered on the screen
or folder.
TILED - Displays bitmaps as originally sized and padded with copies of
the bitmap to fill the screen if needed.
SCALED - Displays bitmaps stretched to the screen dimensions or gridded
according to the selection made from the "Scaling ratio" spin button.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.13. Setting Priority ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Setting Priority
The spin button just under the Start/Stop button will allow you to set the
program priority for ShowTime.
The range in value is from minus 31 to plus 31. To set the program priority to
it's lowest point, turn the spin button down to minus 31. To set it at it's
highest, turn it up to 31. Normally you would want to run a program like this
in the background at it's lowest priority so it would be unlikely that it would
interfere with the running of any other program.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Menu Items ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Menu item help
FILE MENU
HELP MENU
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1. File ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
FILE MENU
OPEN SHOW - Brings up the file dialog box to search for an existing show
file.
SAVE SHOW - Saves all information related to the currently loaded show.
START SHOW - Starts the currently loaded cycle of bitmaps in it's own
thread.
STOP SHOW - Kills the thread that the slide show is running in.
EXIT - Exits the program.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.2. Help ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
HELP MENU
HELP INDEX - Opens an indexed listing of help topics.
GENERAL HELP - General help dialog. Use the "search" facility or the
"index" to maneuver.
HELP FOR HELP - Brings up the help dialog to teach you how to use the
help dialog? (Hey! Great idea!)
PRODUCT INFORMATION - Shows product name, version number and registration
status.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. Ordering ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ShowTime
ShowTime is shareware. You may use ShowTime for 30 days for evaluation purposes
only. After the 30 day trial period you must either register it with the author
or delete it from your system and discontinue use of it. Registration entitles
you to the latest version of ShowTime and technical support. To avoid having
old versions of this software floating around, this version of ShowTime will
expire January 31, 1997. If you've obtained this file after the expiration
date, try setting your system clock back to evaluate it.
Commercial environments and government agencies must inquire on registration or
site licensing deals.
$7 ($10 through BMT Micro) registers the most recent version for online
delivery (email attachment), gives you tech support and low cost upgrades. All
documentation is online. If and when there is a packaged version with printed
documentation the price structure will change.
You can order online from BMT Micro (http://www.bmtmicro.com/) or order via
mail. The BMT Micro and PillarSoft order forms are included in this help file.
To order via mail, you may print out either order form by opening the form you
wish to use, select "Services" from the menu and then choose "Print". A dialog
box will open, choose "This section" and then click on "Print".
BMT is a full service order desk. They accept many forms of payment (credit
cards etc.) and can give you the fastest service as far as getting ShowTime
registered. Check the "BMT Order Form" in this archive to find out how to
contact BMT.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.1. BMT Order Form ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Mail Orders To: BMT Micro
PO Box 15016
Wilmington, NC 28408
U.S.A.
Voice Orders: 8:00am - 7:00pm EST (-5 GMT)
(800) 414-4268 (orders only)
(910) 791-7052
Fax Orders: (910) 350-2937 24 hours / 7 Days
(800) 346-1672 24 hours / 7 Days
Online Orders via modem: (910) 350-8061 10 lines, all 14.4K
(910) 799-0923 Direct 28.8K line
via Internet: orders@bmtmicro.com
telnet@bmtmicro.com
http://www.bmtmicro.com
Secure Ordering: https://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:________________________________________________________________
Address:_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
City: _______________________________State/Province: ________________
Postal/ZIP Code: ____________________Country:________________________
Phone:_______________________________________________________________
Fax: _______________________________________________________________
E-Mail #1____________________________________________________________
E-Mail #2____________________________________________________________
Product Quantity Price Number of copies
_________________________ ______________ ________________
ShowTime/2 ____$10.00____ x ____________ = + $ _______
Latest Version on Diskette _____$3.00____ x ____________ = + $ _______
North Carolina Residents add 6% Sales Tax $ _______
Shipping and Handling (no quantity limit / see below) $ _______
Email - Subject to Credit Card Verification Free
Fax (USA/Canada)........................... 1.00 US
Fax (Non-North America).................... 2.00 US
Worldwide 1st Class ....................... Free
2nd Day Priority, USA Only ................ $ 4.00 US
US Postal Service International Express
(Including Canada and Mexico), allow up to
7-10 days ............................... $ 25.00 US
Airborne Select Delivery (USA Only) $ 8.00 US
FedEx Overnight, USA Only (delivery by
3:00 pm the following day) .............. $ 15.00 US
FedEx Europe/Japan (guaranteed delivery
within 3 days) .......................... $ 35.00 US
Total: $ _______
For credit card payment only
Circle one: VISA / Master / Discover / American Express / Diners
Credit card number: _____________________________________________
Expiration date: ________________________________________________
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
EmpfДnger: 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
dm_to_us@bmtmicro.com. 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.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.2. PillarSoft Order Form ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ORDER SHOWTIME
______ # of copies of ShowTime/2 @ $7/copy
______ Shipping and Handling (US & Canada)($3)
(no charge for email delivery)
______ Shipping and Handling (overseas)($8)
(no charge for email delivery)
______ Total charge
______ Deliver by email
______ Deliver by mail
Name, address:
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
Email address:
________________________
Make checks payable to:
PillarSoft
PO Box #1403
Jamestown, ND 58402
Fax: 1(701)252-5543
email: Psoft@Tech-Center.com
http://fm-net.com/pillarsoft
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. What's new ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This file will hold the program update history. The first version was v1.0.
Because this program continues to evolve and I don't want versions floating
around forever, there is an expiration date on it. If you've downloaded this
after the ShowTime/2 expiration date and want to try it, set your system time
prior to the expire date to evaluate ShowTime/2.
Version 1.03 - 12/15/97
Changed layout (just a little)
Added ability to set priority of program.
Expires January 31, 1997
Version 1.02 - 11/20/97
Changed layout - Drive/Directory box stays hidden
Added "Normal" and "Tiled" selections
Added spin button to set "Scaled" grid dimension
Added background color change
Expires December 31, 1997
Version 1.01 - 11/10/97
Added "Last changed" time to titlebar
Currently loaded bitmap is highlighted in file listing.
Double click file in list to make single bitmap change
Stays hidden if run at system startup.
Expires December 31, 1997
Version 1.0 - 11/05/97
First release
Expires December 31, 1997
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. License Agreement ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
LICENSE AGREEMENT
ShowTime/2
ShowTime/2 is not public domain software, nor is it free software, it is
user supported.
Non-registered users are granted a limited license to use ShowTime/2 on a
trial basis for the purpose of determining whether it is suitable for
their needs. Use of ShowTime/2, except for this limited purpose,
requires registration.
Use of non-registered copies of ShowTime/2 beyond a 30 day evaluation
period by any person, business, corporation, governmental agency or other
entity or institution is strictly forbidden.
Use of registered copies of ShowTime/2 by any business, corporation,
governmental agency or other entity or institution is strictly forbidden
without prior licensing arrangements and written consent of the author.
Registration grants a user the right to use ShowTime/2 only on a single
computer unless prior arrangements are made with the author. A registered
user may use the program on a different computer, but may not use the
program on more than one computer at the same time.
You may not modify ShowTime/2 in any way, including but not limited to,
decompiling, disassembling or otherwise reverse engineering the program.
All users are granted a limited license to copy the unregistered version
of ShowTime/2 only for the trial use of others subject to the above
limitations. The following limitations also apply:
ShowTime/2 must be copied in unmodified form, complete with the file
containing license and ordering information.
The full documentation for ShowTime/2 must be included in the archive.
No fee, charge or other compensation may be accepted or requested by any
licensee beyond a reasonable price for the media ShowTime/2 is
transferred on.
Operators of electronic bulletin board systems and internet web/ftp sites
may post the unregistered version of ShowTime/2 for downloading by their
users as long as the above conditions are met.
Distributors of public domain or user supported software may distribute
copies of the unregistered version of ShowTime/2 subject to the above
conditions.
ShowTime/2 is a shareware product and can be registered through BMT Micro
($10.00) or directly from PillarSoft ($7.00). BMT will certainly be much
quicker turning around registrations.
ShowTime/2 is copyright (C) 1997, PillarSoft
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. Support ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
We are happy to answer any questions you may have regarding this software. Keep
in mind that the email workload has been almost overwhelming at times. When
there is too much email be assured that registered users get immediate and
prompt attention.
How to contact us
PillarSoft
PO Box #1403
Jamestown, ND 58402
Fax: 1(701)252-5543
email: Psoft@Tech-Center.com
http://fm-net.com/pillarsoft