Black Box 4/BlackBox.cdr/os2/alrm16.arj/ALARMCLK.INF

OS/2 Help File | 1992-04-28 | 17.0 KB | 585 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. About Alarm Clock ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Alarm Clock Event Scheduler Version 1.6

 WalkerWerks
 572 Sabine
 Memphis, Tn. 38117
 [phone]
 Compuserve 70304,2705
 (C) Copyright 1992 all rights reserved


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. Overview ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Welcome to Alarm Clock version 1.6. With Alarm Clock you have a DeskTop clock
and event schedular. It maintains a database of up to 100 events and processes
them at the given date and time. Send yourself reminders or have applications
run unattended at the proper time. Brought to you by:

 WalkerWerks
 572 Sabine
 Memphis, Tn. 38117
 [phone]
 Compuserve 70304,2705


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. Disclaimer ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This program is provided as is. The author accepts no liability for damages, or
loss of income caused directly or indirectly through the use of this program.

This program is SHAREWARE all rights and priviledges provided by law are
reserved by WalkerWerks and the author. If you use this program please register
your copy. Registered users will recieve one update when available.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Registering ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Alarm Clock version 1.6

This program is not FREEWARE. If you use it you should register your copy.
Registeration is only $25 per copy. Site licenses can be negotiated on request.
Registered users will recieve one update when available.

Send Registration to:

 Bryan Walker DBA WalkerWerks
 572 Sabine
 Memphis, Tn. 38117
 Compuserve 70304,2705

 Note:  Please include a personal contact and the version number you are
 registering.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. Clock Settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Colors dialog allows you to set the color preferences for the different
parts of the clock face. Select the part to change by clicking on the radio
button for that part (i.e. Second Hand). Then click on the desired color for
that part. In addition you may elect to have the title bar display the date or
digital time.

To change the size of the clock use the mouse to drag the edges of the window
to the desired size. Move the window to your prefered position on the screen.
When you save the changes the size and position will also be saved.

Warning: The changes are not saved unless you choose the Save option from the
menu or save from the Desk Top shutdown window.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.1. Set Background ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Click on this radio button to change the color of the clock face background.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.2. Set Secondhand ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Click on this radio button to change the color of the clock's Second Hand.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.3. Set Hour hand ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Click on this radio button to change the color of the clock's Hour Hand.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.4. Set Minute hand ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Click on this radio button to change the color of the clock's Minute Hand.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.5. Set Hour Tick Marks ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Click on this radio button to change the color of the clock face Tick Marks.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.6. Title Bar Date ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Click on this radio button to have the title bar display the date.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.7. Title Bar Clock ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Click on this radio button to have the title bar display the digital time.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.8. Hourly Chime ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Click on this checkbox to activate or de-activate the hourly chime option. If
active Alarm Clock will produce an audible sound at the top of each hour.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.9. FRQ ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Enter the frequency for the hourly chime. The default is 545Mhz. Any value from
37 to 32767 is valid.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.10. DUR ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Enter the duration for the hourly chime. The default is 400. The value is in
1/100 seconds.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.11. Working Directory ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This is the directory where Alarm Clock will locate the events database and
other temporary files. The default setting is '.' which points to the current
default directory for this process. To insure that Alarm Clock can always find
the events database enter the complete drive and path in the format
d:\dir\subdir where d stands for the correct drive letter.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. Types of Events ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Alarm Clock currently has 3 types of events. Alarm messages that pop up to
remind you of important information, Installed Applications that launches
applications as if you clicked on their icon at the scheduled time, and command
line applications for starting applications not defined to the Desktop Manager
or in a different way from how it was installed.

Alarm Clock can also be set to beep at the beginning of each hour. This can be
activated and the tones frequency and duration set under the Clock settings
option.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.1. Alarm Messages ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

An Alarm message allows you to leave yourself a message. The text entered in
the box will be displayed on the screen at the specified time and date, along
with an audible alarm.

Note:  You may schedule reminders to occur once, Annually, Monthly, or on any
given day(s) of the week.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.2. Installed Application ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use this to schedule programs that have been defined to the DeskTop manager.
The path and name of the program must appear exactly as entered in the desktop
managers setup dialog. The entry IS case sensitive. The application will be
launched at the scheduled time and will use the same working directory and
parameters as those entered in the desktop setup.

Note:  This option is not currently available in OS/2 version 2.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.3. Command Line Applications ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

For applications not installed on the desktop, or those where you want the
parameters or working directory to differ from that specified to the desktop,
use this setting. Enter the application name complete with path in the first
box. Enter any command line parameters in the second box (this is optional).
Enter the drive and path for the working directory in the third box. If you
specify a drive you must follow it with the colon ':'.

To start a .CMD file use CMD.EXE as the application and /C name.CMD as the
command line parameters.

Warning: Command Line Applications are started through a .CMD file.    If you
schedule more than one for the same hour and minute some may be missed as the
file is rewritten for the following application.

Note:  Currently This is the only way to schedule applications under the new
OS/2 desktop shell.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.3.1. Program ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Enter the drive, path, and program name here. If you use a drive letter be sure
to follow it with the colon.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.3.2. Parameters ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Enter any command line parameters for the program here.    These include switches
used by programs such as /h used by many shareware programs to display help
about the application.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.3.3. Directory ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The drive and directory entered here will be set to the active directory before
your program is started.  If this is blank the program will be started in the
directory used by Alarm Clock.  If you state a drive be sure to follow with the
colon.  Also if it is a Floppy drive be sure to have a disk in place to prevent
any errors.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. Set the Time and Date ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use this to set the current time and date for the computer's system clock. This
changes the actual time for all applications on the computer.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.1. Hour ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Enter the new hour in 12 hour format. Use the AM PM buttons to set the time of
day.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.2. Minutes ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Enter the new minutes.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.3. Seconds ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Enter the new seconds.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.4. Month ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Enter the month, from 1 to 2 digits.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.5. Day ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Enter the day, from 1 to 2 digits.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.6. Year ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Enter the year including century. i.e. 1992.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. Scheduling Events ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Every event starts here. In this dialog you enter the time for the event and,
if the event is one time or annual, the date. You also specify the type of
event and the frequency. Your choices here will determine the options that
follow for completing the setup of a new event.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.1. Hour ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This field is used by every event type. Enter the hour in 12 hour format. Use
the AM PM buttons to set the time of day.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.2. Minutes ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This field is required and used by every event type.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.3. Month ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This field is only used by One Time and Monthly events.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.4. Day ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This field is only used by One Time and Monthly events.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.5. Alarms ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Click on this button to schedule alarm messages to be displayed on your screen
at the designated time.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.6. Installed Apps ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Click on this button to schedule programs that appear as Icons on the Desk Top
Manager.

Note:  This option is not available in OS/2 2.0.  Use Command Line.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.7. Command Line Apps ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Set this button to schedule programs not on the desktop or to start programs in
different directories or with different parameters from those in the Desktop.

Warning: Command Line Applications are started through a .CMD file.    If you
schedule more than one for the same hour and minute some may be missed as the
file is rewritten for the following application.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.8. One Time Events ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Set this button for events you only want to occur one time.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.9. Recurring Events ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Set this button for Daily, Weekly, Monthly, or Yearly events.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9. Recuring Events ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Click on the button for the appropriate frequency of an event. Annual will
occur on the specified month and day each year. Monthly will open a dialog for
entering the day of month for the event. DLY\WKLY will open a dialog box of the
days of the week. From there you will select the days for the event to occur.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9.1. Annual Events ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select this button for events that will occur on the specified month and day of
each year.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9.2. Monthly Events ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select this button for events that will occur once each month. You will be
taken to another dialog to enter the desired day of the month.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9.3. Daily, Weekly Events ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select this button for events that you want to occur every week or every day.
You will be taken to another dialog box where you can enter the day(s) for the
event to occur.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10. One Time Events ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

One time events only occur at the specified time and date once, then are
deleted from the events database. The event will be maintained until the
designated date even if that is 364 days away. No year is given so no event can
be scheduled farther than 364 days ahead as a one time event.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11. Database Editing ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This allows you delete scheduled events or change their settings. The type of
event (i.e. Alarm, Installed App, Command Line) cannot be changed in this
version. You also cannot change the frequency (one time, weekly, monthly, etc.)
right now. You can change the dates, times, and text information for each event
or delete events from the database.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11.1. Hour ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This is the currently saved hour for the event. Changes to this field will
affect any type of event.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11.2. Minute ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This is the minute at which the event occurs. This value is used by all event
types.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11.3. Month ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The month is only used by Annual and One Time events. All other event types
will ignore this field if edited.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11.4. Day ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Day field is used by every event type except Daily\Weekly events.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11.5. Program or Note ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

For Alarms the message text is entered or edited in this box. For applications
the program with drive and path will appear here. The field may be left blank
for alarms if no message text is desired.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11.6. Program Parameters ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This field is only used by Command Line programs. N/A will appear for all other
event types.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11.7. Working Directory ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

For Command Line programs this is the default directory for the program. N/A
will appear for all other event types.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11.8. Next Event ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

If there are more events in the database selecting this button will move you to
the next one. The button will be grayed out and will not function if you are on
the last record.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11.9. Previous Event ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

If you are beyond the first event in the database this button will allow you to
move backward in the records. If you are at the first record this button will
not function.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11.10. Save ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This button saves any changes to the event currently displayed on the screen.
If you forget to click this button a warning message will appear before you
move to another record or exit.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11.11. Delete ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select this button to delete the event currently on the screen. You will be
asked to confirm the deletion before the record is destroyed. Deleted events
cannot be recovered.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11.12. Day of Week Buttons ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

For day of week events the currently selected days will be set. Click on the
various radio buttons to remove or add days. These buttons will not work with
other event frequencies.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 12. Schedule for Day of Week ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

There is a radio button for each day of the week appearing in this dialog.
Click on those days that you want the current event to take place. You may
select from 1 to all 7 days. All buttons that are darkened will be scheduled.
The event will occur at the time entered in the original schedule dialog.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 13. Schedule Monthly events ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Enter the day of the month for the scheduled event to occur. The event will
occur at the stated date and time each month.

Note:  If you want an event to occur on the last day of each month use 31 as
your date. Alarm Clock will start the event on the last day of each month even
if the day is before the 31st.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 14. Installation ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To Install Alarm Clock copy Alarmclk.exe and alarmclk.hlp into a directory.
Install the application on the desktop and set the working directory to the
directory where you placed the files. The program creates a file named
event.dat and event.tmp. Be sure no other applications create files by these
names in the same directory or they will be destroyed by Alarm Clock. The
program will read the database and reset its schedule each time it is started
so it doesn't have to be on all the time. To be sure you won't miss events you
should leave it on.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 15. Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The menu provides a way to get to the various options for Alarm Clock. Each
item can be reached by pressing Alt+M then Alt+ the underlined letter of the
menu item. In addition each option has an accelator key combination that will
take you directly to the option without going through a menu. The menu also
appears in the system menu because Alarm Clock will continue to function as an
icon under OS/2 1.3.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 15.1. Schedule ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Choose this menu to schedule new events. You can go directly to the events
dialog by using ALT+S.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 15.2. Database ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This menu option allows you to browse and edit the events currently scheduled
in Alarm Clock.  Use ALT+D to reach it directly.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 15.3. Clock Settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Choose this menu item to set the color and display aspects of the clock. The
accelerator key is ALT+C.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 15.4. Save settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Always select this option after changing the colors, size, or position of the
clock.  The changes will be stored and the clock will appear the same way every
time it is started.    ALT+A will save the settings without going through the
menu.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 15.5. Time & Date ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Selecting this brings up a dialog for setting your computer's time and date.
Any changes will affect the time and date for all applications run on your PC.
Use ALT+T to skip the menu.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 16. Glossary ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Definitions for some commonly used terms in the help text.

Accelerator keys - Key stroke combinations that carry out a command such as
saving changes.

Alt+ - Carry out actions through Accelerator Keys by holding the ALT key down
at the same time as pressing the designated text key.

Application - The executable file such as CMD.EXE. Most applications end with
.EXE although some may end with .COM.

Box - The rectangular areas where text is to be typed in. Such as the line
where you enter your reminder text.

Button - The rectangular gray blocks with commands such as Save. To carry out
the command without using the mouse you can TAB to the button or press Alt+ the
underlined letter.

Click - The act of placing the mouse pointer (arrow) on a button and pressing
the left mouse button to select the item.    It is also possible to click on a
button by moving the focus to that button and pressing enter or pressing ALT+
the underlined letter.

Command Line - Options sent to an application by entering them at the prompt
behind the name of the program such as COPY A:\*.*. Here A:\*.* would be the
command line.

Dialog Box - The rectangular areas that appear on the screen asking for
information or notifying you of errors or messages.  The Event Schedule is an
example of a common dialog box type.

Edit Field - See Box.

Field - See Box.

Focus - An item has the focus if keystroke and mouse actions will take place
against it.  When an edit field has the focus a vertical bar cursor appears.
When most types of buttons have the focus they are surrounded by a black broken
line.  The window that has the current focus is usually brighter on the edge
(frame) than the other windows appearing on the PC's screen.

Path - The complete name of the directory where a file or program physically
exists. This can include the drive letter. The syntax is D:\dir\subdir where D
is the drive letter.

Program - See Application.

Radio Button - The small circle to the left of a word such as AM. Commonly used
to select one or more choices from a group of common options. If the circle is
one color (usually gray) the item is not selected. If the center is darkened
the item has been selected.

TAB - Pressing the tab key to move you to the next item such as a Field or
Button. Pressing the Shift and Tab key together will move you backwards through
the items.

Text Field - See Box.

Window - Most rectangular areas on the screen are actually windows, however the
term usually implies the main window for an application.  Areas that can be
sized and have the system menu and minimum and maximum buttons along the top of
the programs display area are considered WINDOWS.

Working Directory  - The directory where you started a program. Often programs
are physically located in one directory and run from another directory so that
the data (such as word processor documents) are seperated from the program.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 17. Calendar ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The calendar displays the current month and allows you to move forward or
backward through the months. Select a day to schedule an event. The day and
month selected will be automatically entered into the event setup and the event
scheduling dialog will be displayed for you to complete.

To move forward or backward by months select the UP and DOWN arrow buttons or
press PageUp or PageDown.  To move by years select the up and down triangles or
press SHIFT + PageUp or SHIFT + PageDown.  To return to the current month
select the double headed arrow button or press the Home key.