                                  TaskBox V2.03
                                  -------------
(c) Copyright 1996 Kevin Ash
    e-mail:     k.a.ash@newcastle.ac.uk
    [ valid till June '97 ]
    snail mail: see end of document

Description: A simple OS/2 task manager

0.  Contents
------------

1.  Files
2.  Installation
3.  Usage
3.1 Running
3.2 General
3.3 Settings
4.  Getting in touch
4.1 Updates

1.  Files
---------

    TaskBox.txt         --  this file
    TaskBox.exe         --
    TaskBox.dll         --
    TBoxXtra.dll        --  dll which adds extra functionality( program will run without this)
    KAClock.dll         --  only needed if you want a clock
    clock.exe           --  only needed if you want to start the clock without running
                            TaskBox or want more than one clock.
    clock.txt           --  brief documentation for clock
    TaskBox.ICO         --
    install.cmd         --  install taskbox

2.  Installation
----------------

    In most cases running the install script should be sufficient.

    However if you don't use the wps or want to start TaskBox( or the clock) from a
command prompt you may want to add the directory that the files are contained in to
the libpath and path statements in the config.sys file.

3.  Usage
---------

    I hope you find this program relatively self explanatory, but if you do have a
problem and can't find the solution in this document you can always e-mail me.

    To run the program click on it's icon, or alternaively type TaskBox.

    Command Line Options
    --------------------
        /kill              -- kill existing taskbox
        /k                 -- as /kill
        /nolog             -- surpress writing of log file (TaskBox.log)

3.1 Running
-----------

    To run TaskBox double click the WPS icon( or alternatively enter a command prompt and
change to the directory in which TaskBox is contained in( eg cd D:\bin\TaskBox ) and then
type TaskBox ).

3.2 General
-----------

    To make the TaskBox Visible( or move it to the top if already on screen) move the mouse
over the activation bar( or press  Alt + Shift + 't' together, this can be disabled from
the settings book if you find it clashes with something).

    A context click( usually a single click with the right mouse button (*) ) on the TaskBox
background will bring up the TaskBox menu, from which you can choose.
    i)   Lower           --    To Lower the TaskBox
    ii)  Settings        --    Enter the Settings Dialog
    iii) Shutdown System --    Shutdown the system for the night or whatever (**)
    iv)  Lower Task      --    Lower a running task by point and click       (**)
    v)   Quit            --    Quit this program

    Click with mouse button 2( usually the right mouse button (*) ) on a task window
activates the task menu from which you can select:-
    i)   Switch to       --    Switch to this task.
    ii)  Lower           --    Lower's the task.
    iii) Minimize        --    Minimize the task.                            (***)
    iv)  Hide            --    Hide the task.
    v)   Remove From TaskBox -                                               (**)
            i)  Permanently  -- removes the task from the task list permanently
            ii) This Session -- removes from task from task list for this session only
    vi)  close           --    Close's the task                              (***)
    vii) TaskBox         --    the TaskBox menu ( see above)

(*)     --   menu's can also be activated by shift + F10
(**)    --   only if you haven't deleted TBoxXtra.dll
(***)   --   not all tasks have these options

    The colours and fonts can be changed by drag 'n' drop.
NB: Unfortunately you can't just drag 'n' drop a colour scheme onto the TaskBox.
    So you have to use the font palette, and the colour palette( remember dragging a colour
    with ctrl pressed changes the foreground colour).

   Clicking a task with mouse button 1( usually the left button), or mouse button 3( or a ctrl
mouse button 1 click) is a short cut to one of task menu options, this can be chosen from
the settings dialog.
NB:  You can also select the tasks by using the arrow keys and enter/space simulates a button 1
     click( or with ctrl for button 3 click). The Task menu for the desired task may achieved
     by first selecting the task you want with the arrow keys and then pressing shift + F10.

   The TaskBox may be moved by holding down the button 2( usually the right mouse button) and
dragging the TaskBox to whereever you want it.
   The TaskBox can be resized like any normal window( i.e. by holding a mouse button down on
the border and dragging it).

3.3 Settings
------------

NoteBook Settings Dialog
------------------------

  Settings page 1 - Tasks Buttons
  -------------------------------

    TaskBox display:-      Icon  only      -- for each task
                           Title only          ''       ''
                           Icon & Title        ''       ''
    NB:  in all cases the title is displayed when the mouse is moved across a task
         ( or the task is selected using the arrow keys)

    Maximum/Minimum width
    ---------------------

      The slider control on this page allows the width of each task window on the TaskBox to
    chosen, it ranges from a minimum value of 44 to a maximum of whatever the Maximum width
    spin button displays.
    NB: these values are ignored if display is set to Icon only


  Settings page 2 - Clicking Task
  -------------------------------

      From this page you can customize what happens when you click a task. For both mouse
    buttons you can choose one of the following options.

            (1) Minimizes Task.  --  minimizes task if visible otherwise shows it
            (2) Hides Task.      --  hides task if visible otherwise shows it
            (3) Raises Task.     --  always move it to top

      Mouse button 1( usually the left mouse button) is equivilent to pressing the space( or
    enter) key on the selected task( you can the select the task by using the arrow keys).
      Mouse button 3( the middle mouse button) is equivelent to a Ctrl-Button 1 click.
    ( i.e. holding the control key down and click mouse Button 1( or space/enter).


  Settings page 3 - Clicking Misc
  -------------------------------

    Activation Bar Pos
    -------------------

      The activation bar is the bar( along the bottom of the screen the first time you run
    the program), that causes the TaskBox to be pushed to the front of the screen when the
    mouse moves over it.
      If you don't have a mouse you can press Alt+Shift+t to activate the TaskBox or have
    it visible all the time.( see Hotkey Disabled)

    TaskBox to edge
    ---------------

      With this option checked the TaskBox will be snapped to the edge of the screen. The
    edge of the screen is same as the Activation Bar.
      Without this option checked the TaskBox will remain in the same position.

      If you want the TaskBox on a different edge to the Activation Bar follow these steps:-
        1) select the edge you want the TaskBox to snapped to.( By clicking relevent radio
           button in the Activation Bar Pos group box
        2) check this button  and click apply
        3) uncheck this button
        4) choose the location for the Activation Bar and click apply

    Activation Bar width/height
    ---------------------------

      This lets you choose the width of the bar.
      NB: if you sent the width to zero make sure the TaskBox has to be either visible all
          the time or the  hotkey( Alt+Shift+t ) must be enabled.

    Hotkey Disabled
    ---------------

        Selects whether you want the Alt + Shift + t hotkey enabled.
    NB: the hotkey only works in pm applications( i.e. if you are in a windows, dos,
        or os2 command shell it won't work.

    TaskBox Always Visible
    ----------------------

      As it says if this is checked the TaskBox will remain visible all the time.
    NB: it does not automatically float to the top so it may be covered by other windows.


  Settings page 4 - Clock
  -----------------------

    Position
    --------

        This group allows you to choose whether you want a clock and where to put it. The
    clock may be either placed on the TaskBox or on the desktop.
      If you choose to have the clock on the desktop you can move it by holding down either
    the left or right mouse buttons and moving the mouse, release the mouse button when the
    window is in the position you desire.

  Task List
  ---------

     This page contains a list of all the programs that you have chosen to remove
   from the task list permanently.
     By Selecting the tasks and selecting "Remove From List" the task's selected will
   no longer be removed from the task list.

If you have deleted TBoxXtra.dll some of the above will not be relevant and you will
be presented with a smaller settings dialog.

NB:  All TaskBox's settings are saved into TaskBox.ini, so if the worst comes to the
worst you can always delete this file and revert to the default settings, This file can be
located in the same directory as the executable, but it may be hidden.

4.  Getting in Touch
-------------------

    If you use this program and like it, let me know by sending an e-mail message to
the address at the top of the document or better still( if you don't want a reply)
send a postcard with any comments to:-
         41 Abbot Court, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, NE8 3JY, ENGLAND.

    If you don't like this program, discover any bugs or have any suggestions, please let
me know why or what they are by e-mailing a message to the address at the top of the
document.

4.1 Updates
-----------

    You should be able to get the latest version from:-

    http://www.ncl.ac.uk//~n4050728/os2/

