TIME! - timer plugin for PM123 (Version 1.2)
============================================


1) Descrition
-------------

With this DLL for the mp3 player PM123 you can turn off
your ATX-computer after a certain time or after a certain
number of songs automatically.

This could be handy in some cases, especially if you want
to listen to a few mp3 songs before going to sleep. With TIME,
you don't have to get up again to turn off your computer
manually!



2) Conditions
-------------

You need the following components to use TIME.DLL:

- ATX-Hardware
- OS/2 Warp 4, FixPack >= 6 (for APM 1.2)
- The program APM/2 by Roman Stangl.
  It's included in this package.
  APM is a shutdown tool, that is launched by TIME.DLL to
  turn off your computer.
- PM123 >= 1.1 Beta 1



3) Installation
---------------

Unpack the time.zip archive into the visplug directory of PM123
(well, at least the files "time.dll" and "shutdown.mp3" should be there)

After that, you have to do the following steps:

- Unzip APM.ZIP into a directory of your choice

- Open your current skin file with a text editor and append the following line:

  5=visplug/time.dll,0,0,0,0

  The trailing number (ID) should be unique. That is if there is another
  plugin installed using this ID you have to alter it.

- start PM123

- Right-click on the PM123 window to open the "properties" dialog

- Choose the page "plugins"

- Choose "time.dll" in the visual plugin section. (Well, time.dll isn't really
  visual, but this was the only way to do it :-)
  Press "Configure"

- The time configuration dialog will pop up:

- Enter the path to APM incl. all paramteres into the "APM/2 location"
  entry field.

  Example: If APM is located in C:\APM, then type:

  C:\APM\APM.EXE /poweroff

- Confirm with "ok"



4) How to use
-------------

In order to set the shutdown time, you have to call
the properties dialog again and press the "configure" button for
time.dll.

There are 3 different ways of telling time.dll when to shut down the
computer:

a) You can shut down after a certain play time
b) or after a certain number of songs played
c) or after a certain idle time

You can either use one of these methods or even all together if
you like. To use an option, check the trailing checkbutton.

Now let's look at the 3 possibilities in detail:

a) You can configure a certain playing time by setting up
   the hour and minute values using the spin controls. When you press
   "Ok" time.dll will turn off the computer after the specified time.

b) If you mark the checkbox for "Shutdown after x songs", time.dll will
   play exactly x songs and then turn off your computer. Just use the
   spin control to set up the number of songs. Use with care: If you set
   up a maximum of 5 songs and there are only 3 songs in the playlist,
   your computer will not be turned off. I always use PM123 in repeat mode
   when using this option, so the computer won't be running all night :-)

c) This is useful when you want time.dll to shut down after finishing the
   playlist. Drag a few songs into the playlist and then enable this
   option. When the playlist has finished, PM123 is idle and time.dll will
   shut down after the configured idle time (30 seconds is a good value)
   Caution: PM123 also is idle BEFORE starting a playlist. So you should
   only activate this option after PM123 started playing or at least be
   quick in starting the playlist afterwards ;-)


The "status" section in the dialog informs you about the currently remaining
times.


If you check the "Play shutdown.mp3" checkbox, the mp3 file "shutdown.mp3"
located in the visplug directory of PM123 is played. By default, you hear
an order of the Star Trek Voyager Doctor, but you can replace the mp3 if you
like (maybe a good night message or someting). It shouldn't be longer than
10 seconds, though.

Now, click "Ok" to save the configuration and hand it over to PM123.
"Cancel" will restore the old configuration.



5) Version history
------------------

Version   changes

1.1       - made plugin compatible to PM123 1.1 Beta 1
1.2       - redesigned configuration dialog
          - added "idle time" option
          - added "Play shutdowm.mp3" option



6) License
----------

Time.dll ist freeware.

The author of this program is not responsible for any damage this program may cause.



7) Download
-----------

You can download the newest version of time.dll at
- My homepage (http://andreas.schoesser.org) -> Goto "Andi's Programming Projects"



8) ToDo
-------

- Perhaps my own shutdown code, so that APM.EXE is no longer required.



9) Contact
----------

Questions, bug reports, feedback or laudation :-) to:

the.defender@web.de



February 2002
Andreas Schoesser
