Program:        WAOL-Minimize 
Version:        2.20
Date:           2/1/95
Author:         Michael Krane

The information below is ALL in the waol-min.hlp file.

This program is meant to serve two purposes only; The main 
thing is that it adds the ability to minimize WAOL during File 
Transfers; That is why I wrote this. The other item is an AOL 
Timer to track online time and costs. I had many, many requests 
for one so I added it.

If you like to be able to use your computer while doing file 
transfers and/or want an AOL Timer then this program is for you.

NOTE: This is intended to work with America Online Windows 
Software Version 2.xx. If you have an older version it may 
work, but I suggest you upgrade your WAOL software to version 2.

Also: This program needs the file vbrun300.dll. (Usually it 
should be in your Windows System Directory or in your path.) It 
does not come with this program because most people will 
already have it and it takes too long to download. If you don't 
have it, you will need to download it to use this program and 
the many other Visual Basic Programs that are available.

Installation:

Put the file waol-min.exe in your WAOL directory or any other 
directory you want. If you want the help file handy for 
reference then put waol-min.hlp in the same directory. That's 
it! (If you want to save disk space then you can delete 
the help file if you don't need it.)

(Note: There are some people having trouble with WAOL starting due to 
incorrect WAOL installations, (a line incorrect in win.ini). If 
you have trouble getting WAOL started, then put WAOL-min files 
in your WAOL directory and it will work properly anyway.)

To uninstall, just delete those files. 

Program Overview:

This program is meant to serve two purposes only; The main 
thing is that it adds the ability to minimize WAOL during File 
Transfers. If you like to be able to use your computer while 
doing file transfers, then this program is for you. I do a lot 
of file uploads or downloads on AOL. The makers of the WAOL 
Software decided not to let people minimize WAOL during file 
transfers; (The reason is probably due to low system resources 
and to minimize the impact of other programs during file 
transfers.) However, if you don't do disk intensive tasks in 
other programs while downloading from WAOL, you should be able 
to allow file transfers to occur in the backround while you 
still use your computer. That's why I wrote this program. The 
other item is an AOL Timer to track online time and costs. I 
had many, many requests for one so I added it.  Remember: The 
timer in this program is just aproximate times; Check your WAOL 
official time online through AOL.

Some Features of this program:

Launch WAOL automatically when started. 

Will allow easy Minimizing and Restoring of WAOL, even during 
file transfers when the WAOL software normally won't allow it.

Will automatically exit WAOL and Waol-min at same time.

Timer tracks online time, monthly costs for current month and 
past 12 Months, automatically stops, starts, saves, and lets 
you set your specific settings.

Some Options that can be set in registered version include:
        AutoMatic Billing Cycle Tracking
        AutoMatic Sign-On at Start-Up
        AutoMatic Closing after unattended sign-off.
        AutoMatic Timer Stop at Start-Up.
        Billing Rate, Free Time, Monthly Fee.
        Position of Display.
        Many Other little things.

(You need the registered version to do things that require 
writing to the waol.ini file such as: Tracking monthly costs, 
saving any settings, position, options, AutoSignOn, AutoExit, 
etc...)

Using the Program:

Just run waol-min.exe instead of the normal waol.exe to start 
America Online. Waol-min will automatically find and run 
America Online. Waol-Min will start up near the top-left of 
your screen and stay on top so you can always see it. Waol-min 
has just 3 buttons, "U" for UP, "D" for Down, and the Timer 
display.

(You can also start WAOL-min after WAOL is already running if 
desired.)

Click anywhere on the running Waol-min display, then hit F1 key 
to bring up the help file reference.

Buttons: 

Left Click "D" to bring Down (minimize) WAOL. 
Left Click "U" to bring UP (restore) WAOL if minimized.

Note: When using the WAOL-Min "D" Button to minimize WAOL, you 
MUST restore WAOL by clicking the "U" button. (The minimized 
WAOL icon will not respond to insure compatibility.)

Right Click "U" to move the Waol-min buttons.

To Move: Grab and drag the title bar to new location. 
Then Right Click "U" again to hide title bar again.
(Position will be saved on exit in Registered version)

Right Click "D" to exit WAOL (Waol-min will exit automatically)
Right Click "D" while holding Ctrl Key to exit just Waol-min.
Left Click Timer Display to Stop (or Start) Timer

(When Timer is stopped, an S will be next to the display to 
indicate Stopped.)

Right Click Timer Display to Show All Timer Functions and Set 
Options.

Timer Section:

The Timer display shows the approximate number of minutes that 
you have been on AOL during this current session.

The Timer will automatically start up about 1 minute after 
starting WAOL software and should automatically stop within 3 
minutes of signing off of AOL. (It only checks if signed off 
every 3 minutes to not impact the rest of your computer system 
as it is a fairly long process.)

Left Click the Timer display to Stop or Re-Start the Timer.
You will want to manually stop the timer when going to a free 
area, working offline with mail, etc.. so it doesn't count that 
time you are not being charged for. 
There will be an S next to Timer display to indicate it is stopped.
Click again to restart Timer after leaving a free area.

Right Click the Timer Display to Show Monthly Billing and Set Options
Note: You need the registered version to track monthly costs and set 
options. In the shareware version it will always show the 
default values for costs, times, etc... (Writing of 
waol-min.ini is disabled in shareware version, Sorry.)

Reset Time for This Session but Save Time So Far
This adds the current session time showing on the Timer to the 
monthly time and saves it to the waol-min.ini and then resets 
the Timer Display for this session to zero .

Reset Time for This Session but Do NOT Save Time
This resets the Timer display to zero. The previously saved 
monthly time is unchanged.

Reset Monthly Time to Zero
Resets monthly time to zero and writes it to the waol-min.ini;
Current Timer is not affected. Do this if you want to reset the 
current month's time.

Adjust Monthly Time to Match WAOL Official Time
This Timer is just approximate times as it doesn't 
automatically track free area time, etc.. Depending on how you 
use WAOL, it can become inaccurate after a while. Use this 
feature to correct the previous monthly time in the 
waol-min.ini file. Check your billing information on WAOL and 
then adjust your minutes used here.

Time for This Session: is same as main Timer display.

Monthly Time Prior To This Session: is from waol.ini file saved 
earlier. 

Monthly Time Including This Session: is Both above added together.

Current Monthly Bill: is derived from the rate,free time, 
monthly charge, and monthly time including this session.
Click to see detail breakdown.

Set WAOL-min Options: Click to go to the Options Set-Up Screen

Show Past Bills: Shows Previous 12 Months Bills.

Close This Window is how you close the Timer Window.

About is how you register and contact me.


Options Set-Up Screen

Set Rate, Time, or Monthly Charge: Set your personal billing 
information: Hourly Rate, Free minutes, and Basic Monthly 
Charge so the Timer can figure your costs accurately.

Set Start of Billing Cycle so WAOL-min will automatically 
prompt you, reset, and save monthly costs according to your 
Billing Cycle.

Option Buttons: Set Each the Way you Want Them.

Future Start Timer Off or On:
If you don't usually sign on right away, then you may want the 
Timer to start turned Off. Then just manually start it when 
ready to sign on.

AutoClose:
AutoClose when goodbye is detected means that after signing off 
from AOL, if WAOL-min finds the GoodBye Window on WAOL it will 
automatically close, save times, and exit both programs. (This 
is good to use if you frequently do unattended downloads and 
select sign off when finished.)
(Note: This is a Timer Function and will only work when the 
Timer is running as it would be when doing downloads; If the 
Timer is stopped, this will not work.)

WAOL AutoSignOn:
AutoSignOn should automatically click the Sign-On buuton of 
WAOL when you first start it. (This is good to use if you 
usually sign on as soon as you start the program.)

Close this Window: Saves the Settings that were changed and 
closes the Option Set-Up Window.


Future releases: There is really nothing PLANNED at this time, 
I may add more things later if I feel it will improve it, but 
other than any bug fixes that may come up, nothing is planned. 
There are many other programs that do more; This is designed to 
do 2 specific tasks well and be very small. Waol-min does the 
two tasks very well using little memory, resources, disk space, 
screen space, no nag screens, etc. .  If you want a program to 
allow minimizing WAOL during file transfers, and/or a Timer 
then THIS IS IT. (The timer in this program is aproximate only 
and that's one of the reasons that this program is inexpensive; 
It will not actually know when signed on or off, it estimates 
and therefore can lose a couple minutes each session; It does 
not know when you switch to a free area automatically, you must 
tell it. You need to check and adjust your actual times with 
the AOL official times.)

The main purpose of this program is to allow minimizing while 
doing file transfers and it does that perfectly. The Timer 
program should be accurate enough for most people's needs and 
includes quite a few features to make things easy to use.

(If you need a more accurate Timer then look at the other, 
larger, more expensive, etc.. programs.)

Registration:

Registering adds the ability to Track Monthly Costs, Set Timer 
Options, Save WAOL-min Position, Auto-Sign on, Auto-Exit, and 
do everything else that requires writing to the .ini file. 

All items that require writing to the waol-min.ini file are 
turned off in the shareware version; Sorry, but I have spent 
a lot of time and resources on this program. It can easily be 
evaluated and you can see all the features it has but you need 
to register to use most options.

The registration fee is only $5.00 to cover costs; Still a very 
affordable program! 

I hope you find this program as useful as I do. It is released 
as SHAREWARE. It does NOT have any "nag" screens (But, if you 
do something that tries to write to the .ini file it will then 
remind you that you can't do that without registering.) You can 
use it for thirty days as long as you agree that I am not 
responsible for anything directly or indirectly related to 
using this program. After that time, either delete the program 
or send the registration fee to add the ability to Track 
Monthly Costs, Set Timer Options, Save WAOL-min Position, 
Enable all other options including Timer/Off On at start-up, 
Auto-Exit after sign off, AutoSignOn at startup, AutoReset 
Monthly cycle, Cover Costs, Make You FEEL BETTER, and to help 
keep the shareware concept going, (It takes a lot of time to 
write these programs and do the research. I know most people 
don't like to pay for shareware, that's why it costs so little. 
If you use it a lot, it IS certainly worth it. After payment, I 
will send you the registered version by E-Mail. All registered 
users will receive future updates if any free for one year.

Current Fees: $5.00

Send Registration to me at: 
              
                Michael Krane
                4 Azurean Ct.
                Mt. Sinai, NY 11766

Please, Please, Please: Include your AOL E-Mail address. Files 
will be sent by E-Mail. (I will not be able to send you files 
if I don't have your E-Mail address.) Also state which program 
you are registering!

Contact me at:  

        E-MAIL: Miklk   (on America On-line)                 

The program has been fully tested but obviously not in every 
possible configuration, so PLEASE report any bugs or ideas to 
me at the above addresses so I can fix it.

Other Programs available from me:
VBSys Windows System Monitor (Standard Version)
VBSysBar Windows System Monitor (Bar Version)
(Standard and Bar version are released as one now)
PCECM for ProComm+ 2 Windows
VBECM for WinFax 4 


History:

2/1/95 Version 2.20

Added Features:
        AutoMatic Billing Cycle Tracking
        AutoMatic Sign-On at Start-Up
        AutoMatic Closing after unattended sign-off.
        Added 12 Month Billing Tracker.
Enhancements:
        Moved Option Setting to Different Window.
        Made it Easier to Adjust official Time.
        Added more error checking.
        Fixed bug with Scheduled Flash Sessions.
Many Other little things to make it better.

12/94 Version 2.00 and 2.01

Original Full Release Version with Timer

11/94 Version 1.xx with No Timer Released.
        
        
        THIS PROGRAM IS DISTRIBUTED AS IS. THE AUTHOR (Michael Krane) MAKES NO
        WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
        TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE,
        WITH RESPECT TO THIS SOFTWARE AND DOCUMENTATION. IN NO EVENT SHALL
        THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, LOST
        SAVINGS, OR ANY OTHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING
        OUT OF THE USE OF OR THE INABILITY TO USE THIS PROGRAM.
        ----------------------------------------------------------------


(Please Register! It's only $5.00)
