==================
EppieDesktop 2.0aa
==================
8/28/99 7:41am


Copyright 1998-1999 Jeff Epstein
Copyright 1998-1999 Epstein Enterprises
Email          -- jepstein@u.arizona.edu
Web (author)   -- http://www.u.arizona.edu/~jepstein/
Web (program)  -- http://www.u.arizona.edu/~jepstein/epdsk/


WHAT IS EPPIEDESKTOP?
---------------------
This is a small program for Windows 95 and Windows 98 that lets you
customize the way your Windows desktop looks. Specifically, you can
change the picture shown on your Start button on the task bar, and
you can change the "frame controls": that is, the buttons in the
upper-right corner of your windows that let you minimize, maximize,
and close the window.

EppieDesktop is freely redistributable, if unmodified and with
all files intact. However, please do not modify this program
and distribute it.


WHAT FILES DO I NEED?
---------------------
The EppieDesktop distribution consists of two files:

EPSHELL.CPL     Main program.
README.TXT      This file.


HOW DO I INSTALL EPPIEDESKTOP?
------------------------------
There is no installation program, but that's okay because installing
EppieDesktop is very simple. Simply copy the program file, EPSHELL.CPL,
into Windows' system directory, which on most systems will be
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM. Then, without even having to restart your computer,
EppieDesktop will appear as an applet in your Control Panel folder.


TERMS
-----
This document, and EppieDesktop itself, use the terms 'frame' and
'frame controls' a lot. The frame is the rectangular border around
most windows that allows you to size and move it. Frame controls
are the little buttons in the upper right that you can use to
minimize, maximize, and close the window.

By default, the frame controls look something like this (in my best
ASCII art):

_ [] X


HOW DO I USE EPPIEDESKTOP?
--------------------------
To configure your system with EppieDesktop, simply double-click
on the EppieDesktop icon in your Control Panel folder. From here
you have several options:

+ You can use the tab labeled 'Start button' to change the picture
  displayed on your Start button. To do this, click 'Other' to indicate
  that you want to use an image of your choosing. Then click the Browse
  button to select the image file of your choice.

  Please note that the image must be in Windows BMP format, so you may
  have to convert formats using a tool such as LView Pro or Photoshop.
  It may be best to create the image in Microsoft Paint, which
  comes with Windows.

  If you want, you can have EppieDesktop stretch the picture you
  select to exactly fit the Start button. To enable this feature,
  click the 'Stretch' button. Otherwise, your Start button will
  show only the upper-left-most portion of your picture.
  
+ You can use the tab labeled 'Frame controls' to change the pictures
  displayed on your frame control buttons. To do this, first select from
  the list which frame control you want to modify. Then, click 'Other'
  to indicate that you want to use a picture of your choosing, and then
  click 'Browse' to find it.

  This is a little confusing, because some frame controls have two varieties
  (up and down) and most have three (up, down, and disabled). This is
  because when you click the mouse on a frame control button, Windows
  gives it a three-dimensional look by showing a "pressed" button,
  until you release the mouse. You can change both of these images
  separately. For example, 'Minimize button up' sets the appearance
  of the minimize button normally. 'Minimize button down' sets the
  appearance of the "pressed" minimize button. And finally, 'Minimize
  button disabled' sets the appearance of the minimize button when
  you are not allowed to actually minimize the window.

  As with the Start button, any image you choose must be in BMP format.
  It doesn't matter how big the picture is you select: EppieDesktop
  will automatically stretch it to fit the frame controls.

+ When you have adjusted the appearance of Windows to suit your desires,
  press the 'OK' button. Your specifications will be in effect until
  you change them again.


WHERE CAN I GET IMAGES TO USE WITH EPPIEDESKTOP?
------------------------------------------------
You can always design your own EppieDesktop buttons with your
favorite art program. Or you can download images submitted by users
of EppieDesktop from the EppieDesktop Schemes home page at this address:

http://www.u.arizona.edu/~jepstein/epdsk/scheme/scheme.html

If you have a good EppieDesktop design you want to share with the world,
email it to me and I'll put it on the Schemes page.


SO, WHAT DOES IT COST?
----------------------
EppieDesktop is EgoWare. This means that if you enjoy my program
and use it regularly, you should send me an email telling me so.
That's it. No money necessary (although any money sent will be
accepted). This will just let me know that people are using my program,
and that makes me feel good, and that makes me more inclined to write
more programs. So, please, if you use EppieDesktop, drop me a line.


WARRANTY
--------
There is no warranty. None whatsoever. If it breaks you, you're
out of luck. I wash my hands. That's the legal formality of the
situation.

The actuality is that if something doesn't work right and you let
me know, I will do my best to resolve the situation. This may mean
fixing EppieDesktop, since I'm sure there will be situations that
it fails to work in. Just email me, and I will try to fix it, but I
can't guarnatee anything.


REMOVAL
-------
So, you don't like EppieDesktop and want to get rid of it. Well, I'm
sorry to hear that. Or maybe you just want to upgrade to a new version.
Either way, you need to remove the current version of EppieDesktop from
your system. This is easy: just use Windows' Add/Remove Programs
panel in the control panel. Then restart your system and remove
the file EPSHELL.CPL.


TECHNICAL INFORMATION
---------------------
EppieDesktop has been tested on these operating systems:

Windows 95 Retail (English)
Windows 95 OSR2 (English)
Windows 98 (English)
Windows 98 Second Edition (English)

If you are using Windows NT, the ability to modify the frame controls
will not work. However, the Start button feature should work.

If you have any questions about EppieDesktop (i.e. it doesn't work),
first try to get the most recent version at the web address above.
Then go ahead and email me with your questions.


SHOUT-OUTS
----------
Greets to West-coast crew, East-coast crew, and everybody else. You
know who you are.

I would also like to thank Eric Heimburg, whose article in WDJ provided
the inspiration for this program.


REVISION HISTORY
----------------
2.0aa - relased 8/28/99
Added Windows 98 SE support.

2.0a - released 1/15/99
Added Windows 98 support.
Added uninstall, sortof.

2.0 beta - released 12/31/98
Added frame control modification.
Refined UI.

1.0 - VIP release only
Removed task list option.
Refined UI.

0.5 - VIP release only
Added UI.

0.1 - VIP release only
Initial version.

