List Launcher v0.8
November 11, 1998

About
-----

   Launcher is a generically named, freeware application that
   provides a quicker way to get to your most-used programs and
   files, while taking up less real estate than folders.

   It can also look very cool if you have an eye for colors.

What to do
----------

  Click on something to run it.

  Drag something in from Explorer, or a folder.

  Right-click to see the menu.

  Double-click the title bar.

  Double-click or drag with a separator.

Instructions
------------

Run launcher.exe.

   To start an application or file:  Click on it.

   To add something to start:

     1. Drag a file in from Windows Explorer, or from
        an open folder.  Drop it on top of the item that
        you want it to go over, if you want to insert it.
        Or you can drop it under everything else to add
        it to the end.  You can also drag several files
        at once.

     2. Right-click on the main list.  In the
        pop-up menu, select 'New item'.  Click browse
        and select a file to start.  Edit the title if it
        doesn't suit you, and click Ok.

   To rearrange items (and delete and add them quicker): Select
  'Manage items' from the pop-up menu.

   To change colors, fonts, and other options: Select 'Options'
  from the pop-up menu.

Options
-------

Stay on top
  The main list will float above normal windows.  Its other
  windows, such as the Options dialog, will not.

Minimize to taskbar icon tray
  When you click the minimize button, the main list will
  hide in the taskbar's icon tray.  If this option is turned
  off, the icon will be in the main taskbar like most
  applications.

Restore with one click
  Only applies if it minimizes to the icon tray.  When this
  option is turned on, clicking on the small icon will bring
  the main list up immediately.  If you turn it off, it
  will require a double click.

Fonts, colors, and justification
  The first box for changes the appearance of the separator
  entries, that is, the items in the main list that don't
  start anything.  Their title starts with the '@' symbol
  when you edit them.

  The second box changes the appearance of normal items.
  The top example shows what they will look like normally.
  
  The bottom example shows what they will look like as the
  mouse pointer passes over them.

Prompt on drag & drop
  When checked, anytime you drag a file into the list, the
  edit item dialog will come up so that you can edit the
  title.  If this option is off, the file will be added
  automatically with a default title.

Alphabetize sections
  Entries between separators are sorted.  Any rearrangement
  that you do in the 'Manage items' dialog will be undone
  when this is checked (except for separator movement).

Always autosize window
  The window will fit itself to the entries whenever the
  list changes.  Specifically, it will change size whenever
  entries are added or removed, or the fonts change.

  Double clicking the title bar will always make the window
  fit itself to the list, unless you had just double clicked
  it a moment ago, in which case it will go back to whatever
  size it was.


Menu item reference
-------------------

Properties
  Edit the item you right-clicked on.  Opens the dialog where
  you can change the title, make it a separator, or browse
  for a file to launch.

Delete
  Delete the item you right-clicked on.  There is no confirmation,
  so be careful.

New item
  Insert a new item.  If you right-clicked on another item, the
  new one will appear above it.  If you right-clicked in the
  empty space below the list, it will appear at the end of the
  list.

Manage items
  Opens a dialog to rearrange items, with buttons to add,
  delete, and modify items.

Preferences
  Opens the preferences dialog
  ----------------------------
    Clock/This text - Show a small clock on the title bar,
                      or something that you type in.
                      
    Seconds         - Show seconds with the clock.
    
    24hr            - Make the clock 24 hour, i.e. does not
                      show AM or PM and counts from 01:00 to 24:00.
                      
    Normal entries  - Change the justification, fonts, and colors
                      of items that launch something (vs. the items
                      that are just separators)
                      The highlight font/color buttons change what
                      is displayed as the mouse moves over the list.
                      
    Separator entries - Change the settings of items that are just
                      there for display.

    Default fonts and colors - sets the display colors of items to
                        whatever you've chosen for your windows,
                        in the 'Appearance' page of the 'Display
                        properties' dialog that shows up for the
                        Windows desktop.

    Stay on top       - Makes the list float above other windows.

    Restore with one click - Clicking on the tray icon makes
                        the list come back with just one click
                        (otherwise you need to double click).

    Prompt for title... When this is turned off, and you drag
                        a file onto the list, the program makes
                        a guess at a good title to show for it
                        and puts it in the list.  Otherwise
                        you will be prompted to type something
                        in.

    Alphabetize sections - When this is on, all entries between
                        any two separators will be sorted.  Trying
                        to rearrange them will make no difference.

    Always autosize   - Whenever something is added or removed
                        from the list, or you change a font,
                        the window fits itself to the list.

(continuing with menu items)

Show/Hide title bar
  You can turn the title bar off.  The window can still
  be dragged around by one of the separators.

  Double-clicking on a separator will also toggle
  the title bar.

Explore target
  Starts Windows Explorer in the directory of the item
  you right-clicked on.

Autosize now
  If you haven't turned on always autosize, or the title
  bar is hidden, here's another way to make the list size
  itself.

About
  Identify the program.

Close
  Shut it down.

(menu when right-clicking on tray icon)

Open
  Make the window visible.

Preferences
Close
  Same as above.


  

Feedback, requests for source code, etc.

Joshua Swink
jswink@softcom.net
http://www.softcom.net/users/jswink
    
