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OS/2 Shareware BBS: SysTools
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btask10a.zip
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btask.txt
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1995-12-03
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About BTask▄
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BTask is simply a Task Switcher, a different Window List, so to
speak. It is small enough and should not interfere with other
programs. BTask creates a button bar, and each button represents a
task, tasks are currently represented by their name (and by their
icon, if the user wants to. This way, you know, Warp could look a
bit too much like Windogs 95...). Only the windows that appear in
the switch list will be added to the button bar and buttons are
created and removed as new tasks are opened or closed, so you don't
have to bring up the Window List to switch them. Just press the
buttons. You can perform other operations on the tasks, by using
the Task menus, and configure BTask by using the System menu.
Disclaimer▄
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This product comes without warranty, either expressed or implied.
The author is not responsible of damages caused by the use or misuse
of this program. If you don't agree with this, then just don't use
BTask.
Installation and system requirements.▄
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The installation of BTask is rather simple :
1) Automatic method
Just run the Install.cmd that was shipped with BTask, and answer the
questions.
2) Manual method:
Copy the BTask.exe file where you want in your HD.
Copy btaskdll.dll in a directory specified in the LIBPATH entry of your Config.sys.
Then migrate it to the Desktop in the usual way.
Technical notes :
I am currently using BTask under OS/2 Warp V3 with FixPack 5
installed, but it should work with OS/2 V2.1 and above, since BTask
was compiled with a V2.1 specific compiler and include files.
However, this was not tested. My opinion is that a 486-33Mhz with
8MB is actually the minimum system to effectively use OS/2 Warp,
although BTask is small and does not have special needs. BTask
works by intercepting the WM_DESTROY, WM_CREATE, and
WM_SETWINDOWPARAMS (issued to change the title in a VDM window), and
by reading the switch list. Actually I am searching for a better
method to do that. If anyone knows if the task list receives or
sends a specific message every time is updated, please contact me.
BTask actually works, but in some rare cases may happen that the
task list is not updated correctly. If this happens, the user can
update it using the Btask System Menu.
Am I Free to use and copy BTask ?▄
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BTask is SHAREWARE, you are free to spread the word and the disk,
but if you like it and if you use it, you must send me a small
contribution. I decided to do so because I really need some money
to support developing under OS/2. I hate crippleware, so BTask
isn't crippled in any way. Only remember that without a significant
number of registered users, new versions will not be released, or
will be released with some form of nag. (registered users will
always have the new versions uncrippled, though). The price for the
registration is 15US$. It's not very much, I think, but it will
help me to buy more sophisticated developing instruments and to
create more sophisticated products in the near future. So if you
really like OS/2, please support the Shareware programmers too.
They will help to keep the scene alive.
The Task Menu▄
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Press the right mouse button over a button.
This will pop up the task menu.
Using this menu you can perform several operation on the windows.
Show
Make a window visible if it was hidden.
Hide
Make a window invisible.
Maximize
Maximizes a window.
Minimize
Minimizes a window.
Restore
Restores a window that was previously maximized or minimized.
Close
Closes a window.
Kill
Closes a window by killing its process.
(WARNING!! By killing an application all data is lost !!!)
The BTask System Menu▄
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Press the right mouse button over the BTask window frame.
This will pop-up the BTask System Menu.
Using this menu you can configure, view the product info, and quit BTask.
Float above other windows
When enabled, makes the BTask window float above other windows.
(Pressing the Central mouse button, will pop Btask to front or
behind the active window if it was already to the front).
BTask 95 Mode
When enabled, task icons are displayed on the buttons.
Set Bar Colors
Opens the Set Colors dialog.
Update task list
Manually updates the BTask's window.
This is not usually needed.
About
Displays a dialog with informations about BTask.
Quit
Quits BTask. Informations about the window and the font are saved.
Switching Tasks▄
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Press the button with the task name you want to switch to..
This will switch to the selected application.
The active application appears highlighted on the bar.
(the window is made visible if it was hidden or minimized).
Changing The Font▄
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Drag the font from the Font Palette to the BTask window frame.
This will change the font for all buttons and resize the button bar.
Changing The Colors▄
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Select Set Bar Colors from the BTask System Menu.
This will open the BTask Colors dialog. Use the spin button
to select of what BTask item you want to change the color of.
The choices are :
Hilite Bright
3D border, bright.
Hilite Dark
3D border, dark.
Bar
The button bar background.
Current Task Foreground
The active task button background.
Current Task Background
The active task button background.
Task Foreground
The buttons foreground.
Task Background
The buttons background.
Use the palette to select the color you want, colors will be updated
in real time. To accept the changes, push the Set button, to revert
to the previous scheme push Reset button.
Contacting the author and Registering▄
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Well, I hope you will like and use BTask. If so, you can register
your copy by sending the equivalent of 15US$ (cash or cheque) or
20000 italian lire, and your name & address to the author. Bug
reports, suggestions and constructive criticism are well accepted.
I am also searching contacts with other OS/2 programmers to exchange
experiences and source code. The address is :
Snail mail :
Enrico Demarin
Via Redipuglia 28, 31100 Treviso (ITALY)
E-Mail :
pmd@paola.dei.unipd.it
Enrico_Demarin@p13.f901.n333.z2.fidonet.org