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PsL Monthly 1994 February
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DOS
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UT_SYSTM
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PB24.ZIP
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PB.DOC
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1993-12-14
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636 lines
**** Welcome to Playback! Version 2.4 12/10/93 ****
How many times do you use your computer to do the same task over and over
again? Maybe it's logging on to a bulletin board, backing up your hard
disk, uploading files to the home office, printing a letter, etc..
Wouldn't it be nice if you could just turn on a recorder, record the
complete task and then play it back with one keystroke whenever you
needed to do that task again? Enter Playback.
Playback differs greatly from most macro programs in that Playback
replays your keystrokes at the same rate you typed them in. For example
if you type in a program name and then wait for the program to load,
Playback will too. You can launch these recorded keystrokes (keyfiles we
call them) with the touch of a hot key, or turn them into stand-alone
programs. As an example of the later, let's say you record a sequence to
log on to an information service, get your stock quotes, save them to a
file, exit, import the file into your spreadsheet, and then print out the
results. You could save this task into a stand alone program call
"GETSTOCK" and then you would just enter "GETSTOCK" at the DOS prompt
when you wanted to replay this task. You can even have Playback replay
this task at some later time, completely unattended. If you want you can
group several keyfiles together in a batch file. And if you want, you
can start and stop your recordings from within a batch file, without user
initiation.
You can also assign your keyfiles to different "hot keys".
In addition, you can use the included Menu program to playback your
keystrokes using a point and select menu. The menu program also lets you
view the contents of your keyfiles, delete them, change their playback
speed, add explanatory notes to them, rename them, and launch them at
some later time.
OK, that gave you a brief overview of what Playback does, but how would
you use it? I hesitate here because I'm sure I've just scratched the
surface on ways it can be used, and I don't want to discourage you from
finding your own applications.
Menu program: Use Playback to record the keystrokes to start each of
your applications. Then use the Menu program to Launch them.
Batch files: I use Playback to record "batch" files. Why? I just start
recording the keystrokes using Playback and then save them to file. Next
time I run the Menu program all the keystrokes sequences I saved are
turned into keyfiles, and I just use the Menu program to rename them to
whatever I want. No editing, nothing. Just record and save. And I can
do so much more than normal batch files.
Desktop publishing: I not only use the Menu program to launch my desktop
publisher, but if I'm working on a large project I know I'll be doing for
a while, I create a keyfile that loads the file I want and then goes to
the page I want. In addition, when it comes time to print, I'm given a
whole slew of options that I must select every time I print a page.
Since my responses are always the same I just record the keystrokes and
then play them back using a "hot key".
E-Mail: Use Playback to create a keyfile of the keystrokes to load your
modem program, load an E-Mail macro, run it, and exit the program. If
you want, you can instruct Playback to run this sequence automatically at
a certain time so your E-Mail is waiting when you get to the office. One
of my registered users uses Playback to grab his stock quotes, manipulate
them, insert them into his spreadsheet, and print the results. All with
one keypress.
Keystroke expander: If I have occasion to replay the same set of
keystrokes over and over I just record them and then use the "hot key"
whenever I want to replay them.
Fun: Try creating a keyfile of yourself writing a letter and then launch
it at some later time when you're not there but someone else may be
watching. It's eerie seeing a computer going about the business of
writing and editing a letter with no one at the keyboard.
Demos: I have customers who have used Playback to create self-running
demos. Nothing like a real time demo, with no one at the keyboard!
Monitoring: Since you can start recordings from a batch file, without
user initiation, you can use Playback to monitor how people are using
your computer. If you can duplicate the initial conditions, you can
watch as what they did is played backed exactly as it happened.
Basically Playback eliminates repetitive tasks. Isn't that what
computers were meant to do in the first place?
Note: We have a program called KeyTrak that is specifically designed to
monitor computer usage by recording keystrokes without the user knowing
about it. In addition to letting you view and print the keystrokes in a
variety of methods it also lets you view a usage graph showing how many
keystrokes were pressed throughout the day. Use it to monitor computer
usage, to monitor employees suspected of fraud or theft, or as a
deterrent against misuse. Monitor departing employees to see what files
they take with them. Use it to monitor your own computer to see if
anyone accesses it while you're away. And because KeyTrak lets you
replay the keystrokes, you can even use it as a work backup... to
recreate that document you just accidentally deleted. Software
developers can also use KeyTrak for a variety of tasks such as recording
and recreating the actions of beta testers. If you'd like more
information on KeyTrak send a self addressed stamped envelope to the
address listed below and we'll rush you a brochure.
=== How Much? ===
Playback (tm) is copyrighted 1990-93 by RSE Incorporated. It is user-
supported shareware. This means you're given this copy in order to
evaluate it. If after a 21 day evaluation period you decide to continue
using it, you must become a registered user by sending the registration
fee of $35 +$1 shipping (add $1 for 3.5 disk, $5 overseas) to:
Playback Registration │ MC or Visa customers: │ Modem-It! to:
1157 57th Drive SE │ Call or FAX (206) 939-4105 │ (206) 939-2312
Auburn, WA 98002 │ Compuserve: 72371,1557 │ Product ID: PB
(Modem-It! (tm) is a free program that lets you use your modem to easily
place orders 24 hours a day with any participating merchant. Look for it
on any bulletin board.)
You are encouraged to freely distribute copies of the PB??.EXE file as
long as you don't charge anything for the copies. DO NOT distribute the
individual, extracted, files; only PB??.EXE.
As a registered user you'll receive these additional benefits:
1. No more annoying messages asking you to register.
2. Latest version of Playback, PLUS a "decoder" to convert all future
versions of Playback to registered versions.
3. The latest shareware versions of our other products, including
FileNotes, PC-Directory, Remind Me!, Nabbit, BriteLine and more.
4. Technical support
5. A sincere "Thank you" for supporting our efforts.
Those using Playback in a commercial or educational environment must
register. Site licenses are available, as well as quantity discounts.
An Instruction Manual containing printed documentation for all twelve of
our shareware products (including Playback) is available for an extra $5.
=== Let's Get Started ===
* Make sure you've created a new subdirectory for Playback. It's
important that the Playback files be the only files in the subdirectory!
* Go to the subdirectory where the Playback files are located and enter
"init" at the DOS prompt. Among other things, the "init" program gives
you the option to include this subdirectory (where the Playback files
are) in the PATH statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Your original
"AUTOEXEC.BAT" file will be saved as "AUTOEXEC.OLD". Init also tells
Playback where your Keyfiles should be saved and the Menu program where
to look for Keyfiles. If you don't want Init to modify your AUTOEXEC.BAT
file just press N when it asks you.
*