Microworks Toolbox v1.0.
Open Desktop for Windows 3.1
Copyright (c) 1992.
Jeff Franks, (Microworks),
Sydney, Australia.
Compuserve 100026,1134.
Release date: November 30 1992.


This readme file contains the following information,

			*   Introduction

	
			*   Description


			*   Quick Installation


			*   Registration

	
			*   Support Service


			*   Licence Agreement

			
			*   Guarantee


			*   Acknowledgments


			*   Future Plans



INTRODUCTION:

	Congratulations! You've just got your hands on a "most excellent piece 
software". I should know -- I wrote the program! 

	But why did I bother? Wasn't it a wasted effort? I mean -- giving you 
all those utilities and a complete desktop replacement for Windows -- all for 
just  $15.00. 

	Well -- I was fed up! Fed up with being taken for granted by 
commercial and shareware software developers alike!

	Why did I have to pay hundreds of dollars for programs that 
just weren't worth it. Why did I have to pay upwards of a thousand dollars
for a good drawing program. 

	Then -- as if that wasn't enough along came Windows 3.1 and yet another 
round of necessary upgrades. Some as much as $A150.00.

	So I turned to shareware -- and found some excellent programs. I've  
registered 6 to date. I would like to register more. There's this picture 
program -- but $A79.00 ($US49.00) is just not on for any shareware program! 
Where do some programmers think there coming from! Why should you have to pay 
for programs still in the beta stage -- with lots of bugs. Why should I have 
pay for the privilege of helping some programmers perfect his or her program. 
And why should you have to pay for a program with an interface that looks like 
a two year old child could've done better. Why! Why! Why!

	Well -- in February this year I took the plunge and bought Turbo 
Pascal for Windows. I was going to teach myself windows programming. My 
friends laughed. You've never programmed anything more than the odd DOS batch 
file. You'll never learn Windows' programming. Boy -- am I glad I didn't 
listen to them!

	I was making a point -- and having fun doing it! I believed I could 
produce a commercial quality shareware program, sell it at a low price and 
still make it worth my while. What a silly idea! -- when you consider that 90% 
of shareware users don't register their programs. But I have this faith!
I think?

DESCRIPTION:

	 Toolbox is an open desktop that replaces program manager and combines 
file manager into one seamless desktop for Windows 3.1. It provides both file 
management and program launching facilities on the desktop at all times. Just 
a mouse click away. Toolbox features breakthrough design concepts that makes 
Microsoft Windows fun and easy to use.

	TOOLBOX is an Open Desktop for Windows. It features a 'transmutable 
3-D interface', a drag and drop desktop, a drag and drop popup program 
launcher with subgroups and up to 6 desktop drive icons giving you drive 
window access to the windows file manager. Toolbox comes bundled with several 
utilities including Attache, Autoload, Drivepak, Guidebook, Resource Alarm, 
Shredder, Trashcan and Workbench. Toolbox displays custom bitmapped dialog 
boxes and is compatible with 640*480, 800*600 and 1024*768 screen resolutions.

	THE OPEN DESKTOP is formed by the combination of Drivepak, Toolbox and 
Workbench. If you don't use Norton Desktop you'll need the complete package 
but if you do, you'll only want Toolbox as Drivepak and Workbench provide 
functions already found in Norton Desktop. 

	THE TOOLBOX forms the central part of the open desktop. It's a drag 
and drop popup program launcher with subgroups that replaces the windows task 
manager. When you double click the left mouse button on the Windows desktop 
Toolbox appears. Toolbox is totally configurable. Its main interface has 4 
different views, Toolbox lite, Toolbox Midi, Toolbox Maxi and Toolbox Pro. You 
can flip between views with the press of a button. The four views can use 
either the same or separate ini files letting you store the same or different 
programs in each view. The subgroups have two views...either button or 
Iconblox. In the iconblox view each icon in the group is displayed on a 
bitmapped block along with its program title. Each group, group window and the 
associated bitmapped dialog boxes all display a user configurable group name 
on the title bar. The main interface displays real time system information -- 
the date, time, free memory and free system resources.

	ATTACHE: Attache is an executive files manager that lets you create a 
system of folders to manage all your documents and files. You choose a 
directory, file extension and an application (optional) to run those files and 
store the information in a folder. Your folder names can be up to 30 
characters long. Your can either run attache and then select the folder you 
want or you can launch straight into any folder by adding the folder name as a 
parameter after executable file -- Attache.exe. You can delete files and 
folders at any time using attache's delete function.

	AUTOLOAD: Is an internal utility (not a separate file) that lets you 
store up to 12 programs for loading on windows startup.  

	DRIVEPAK:  Drivepak is a utility that places up to 6 drive icons on 
your windows desktop. If you've been using winbatch files to keep multiple 
copies of winfile.ini (and hence different setups for file manager) you must 
have found it very slow waiting for the batch file to copy 
over...say...winfile1.ini to winfile.ini and then launching winfile.exe. 
Drivepak does this automatically and since it's an 'exe' file, it's fast. 
Drivepak adds no perceptible time to the launching of winfile.exe. Try it! It 
takes 4 seconds to launch file manager using both winfile.exe and drivepak.exe. 
The winbatch file take 11 seconds (on my computer).

	Each of drivepak's drive window icons, numbered 1 to 6, correspond to 
the files winfile1.ini to winfile6.ini. All you do is run file manager, set it 
up as you want...say as Drive C:, maximise the file window and exit File 
Manager saving your settings on exit. Next load winfile.ini into any text 
editor and save it back as winfile1.ini. Now when you double click on the 
Drive window 1 icon winfile1.ini is copied to winfile.ini and then winfile.exe 
is launched displaying your custom setup. You can give each of your drive 
window icons a different customised file manager setup (eg drive A, drive B, 
drive C or a dual drive). Just repeat the ini file setup for each drive icon 
you on your desktop. Drivepak comes with four drive icon bitmaps (FloppyA, 
Floppy B, hard disk and dual drive). You can use the predefined drive icon 
positions or set your own. I am sure you'll find that Drivepak turns File 
Manager into an extremely versatile and easy to use program.

 	GUIDEBOOK is the On-line documentation and help system that will make 
learning about Toolbox easy. This program can be deleted when you no longer 
need it. 

	RESOURCE ALARM is an internal utility that runs as a hidden window, in 
the background, waiting to warn you when system resources fall to a preset low 
level.

	RUNFILE is a command line utility that lets you place a window any 
where on the desktop and change its title.

	SHREDDER is an animated file deletion utility that is fun to use. It 
has no message boxes. You just drag the files you want to delete from file 
manager to the Shredder icon and the animated shredder shreds them on the 
desktop, and there gone.

	TRASHCAN is an animated file deletion utility that gives you a second 
chance at recovering files before there deleted. You just drag the files you 
want to delete from file manager to the Trashcan icon. As you drop the files 
the trashcan lid opens and the can bulge's with trash. A dialog box appears 
centre screen displaying a list box listing all the files you dragged. You can 
either delete or recover all or part of the listed files, or cancel the entire 
operation.

	WORKBENCH is a drag and drop desktop. With Drivepak and Toolbox it 
forms part the Open Desktop. Workbench appears differently in each of the 
three screen resolutions. In each resolution workbench has three views. It can 
appear as a row of iconblox across the top of the screen, with or without a 
title bar and control menu, or it can be viewed as a row of iconblox down the 
right hand side. Drivepak can be launched with workbench by checking the 
appropriate checkbox in the workbench options dialog box. You can flip between 
different views of Drivepak and workbench with the press of a button.



QUICK INSTALLATION:

1.	Unzip Toolbox.zip into its own directory.


2.	Unzip Inifile.zip into the your windows directory.


3.	Move Bwcc.dll into your windows' system directory.


4.	Copy the SYSTEM #6 font from the Win 3.1's disk 1 into your 
	windows' system directory. (Ensures dialog boxes look right)


5.	Alter or add the following line to the Boot section of
	system.ini

		TASKMAN.EXE=drive\directory\TOOLBOX.EXE

	where drive and directory are the drive and directory where 
        Toolbox.exe is kept (if not in your DOS path).


6.	Make Toolbox.exe your shell by altering the "SHELL=" line in 
	system.ini's [Boot] section to read,

		SHELL=drive\directory\TOOLBOX.EXE


That's it.! Now your ready to explore your new toolbox. Later, when 
you're totally confused and want to know more -- read through the on-line 
documentation "Guidebook' (guide.exe). Have fun!



REGISTRATION:

	Toolbox is being released as shareware with a registration fee of 
$A15.00. I originally set the price way back when -- just in case I ever  
finished the program. From there Toolbox just grew! But I kept the same price. 
There are no nag screens (I hate those things). The program is fully 
functional. The only difference between the  unregistered  and registered 
versions is that the unregistered version is unregistered. Registration relies 
totally on your honesty.

	When you register your copy of Toolbox you get a nice letter thanking 
you for registering and a registration number. As yet the registration number 
does nothing. It's for future versions should it become necessary. Hopefully --
if I'm satisfied with the registration response -- it wont.

	If for some reason (I Don't know why!) you want a copy on disk add 
$3.00 handling and shipping charges and I'll emblazon your name in living colour
on the Toolbox About boxes and send it to you. 

	If it becomes necessary to add a nag screen this is how it would work. 
Any version of the same number, eg 1.x will be upgradable free. Your 
registration number will remove the nag screen. Upgrading to the next major 
version eg 2.x would be half price. 

	Toolbox version 1.0 is well researched and developed and shouldn't 
need any bug fixes. But you never know?

	Payment is by Postal or Money order (Australian dollars 
prefered)  or cheque if you really have to (for international customers add $A1.00 
for chequing charges back to your overseas bank). 

	A few weeks after the release date Toolbox can be(if its approved)
registered on compuserve in the "Go SWREG" forum. Check forum for details.

	If I get a good response credit card facilities will be availble in 
future versions.

PLEASE MAKE PAYMENT TO

			Jeff Franks
			33 Bayview st,
			Bronte Beach,
			Sydney, Australia. 2024
			Compuserve 100026,1134




SUPPORT SERVICE:

	If you have any problems/suggestions leave me a message on compuserve.
I check compuserve daily so you should get a prompt reply.



LICENCE AGREEMENT:

 	You are licensed to use Toolbox and its Utilities for a trial period 
of 30 days. If you continue to use Toolbox beyond this trial period  -- you 
must register the program -- Please!

	You are not permitted to distribute any of the files from this 
program separately.

	You are encouraged to distribute Toolbox and its utilities to your 
friends, enemies, and anybody who will accept a copy provided it is 
distributed as TBox10.zip and the files have not been interfered with in 
anyway. You can freely upload this program (as TBOX10.ZIP) to any electronic 
Bulletin Board service.

	It is illegal to distribute or sell this program on a disk alone or 
with other programs for moneys other than the reasonable cost of the disk.

	

GUARANTEE and DISCLAIMER:

	I guarantee that Toolbox does everything I say it will, as described in 
GUIDEBOOK, the on-line help system.

	I will not be held responsible in any way, shape or form for damage or 
loss, whether to your data, computer, computer desk, car or house incurred just 
because you happened to be using my program at the time.

	Although I guarantee that Toolbox does all the things I say it will, 
you accept all responsibility and use it at your own risk. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

	Toolbox version 1.0 was programmed in Borland Turbo Pascal for Windows 
v 1.5. 

 	I would like thank Borland, and all those individuals who make 
examples of source code available on the Compuserve BPascal Forum. Also I want 
to thank Neil J. Rubenking for his excellent book (a must for every TPW 
programmer) Turbo Pascal for Windows -- Techniques and Utilities.

	All reference to other products in this documentation are the property 
of there respective owners.



FUTURE PLANS:

	Now that Toolbox v1.0 is finished I can get started on my next 
project. I want to expand Attache into a fully functional Document and Files 
Manager that displays long directory/file names and a programs own icon. 
Hopefully it will manage normal and compressed files, have a transmutable 
interface and be compact and fast. If that doesn't keep me busy for the next 6 
- 9 months then there's always Toolbox v2.0. But don't expect anything much 
before the middle of 1993. 	




