Lights Out!
===========

Convenient Shutdown/Restart/Close Utility for Windows 95/NT 4.0

- Bryan Lau
  Toronto, Canada
  Email: bryanl@interlog.com

NOTE:
This text file is best viewed in a monospaced font.

Overview
--------
Thank you for trying Lights Out!, a convenient shutdown utility for Windows 
95 and NT 4.0 operating systems.  Lights Out! is a program for people who 
would rather not click Start and select Shut Down, click another radio 
button and click yet another button in order to shut down or restart their 
Windows 95 or NT 4.0 machines.  With Lights Out!, a mere double click of the 
mouse, will shut down your computer in a flash!  Lights Out! also features a 
handy pop-up menu, also allowing you to restart your computer and 
conveniently close all of your currently running programs!


Installing Lights Out!
----------------------
Lights Out! needs no special installation.  Just unzip the files into a 
directory of your choice and run the LIGHTSOUT!.EXE file.  If you want 
Lights Out! to automatically run at startup, copy the executable file into 
your Windows Startup folder, usually:

  "C:\WINDOWS\START MENU\PROGRAMS\STARTUP"

Alternately, you can place a shortcut to the executable file in the Startup 
folder.


System Requirements
-------------------
Lights Out! will only run on a Win32 operating system.  Windows 95 and 
Windows NT 4.0 Server/Workstation are both Win32 platforms.

To use Lights Out! in Windows NT 4.0, you must be logged in as the 
Administrator or a user with Administrative privileges.

The program has not been tested under Windows NT 3.51 or any version of 
Win32s.  The program may not work reliably--if at all--in these conditions.


How to Use Lights Out!
----------------------
When you run Lights Out!, a small unobtrusive icon appears in your Windows 
system tray area (On the Taskbar, beside the time).  The icon (hopefully) 
looks like an old fashioned lever-style power switch.

If you double click the icon, Lights Out! will try to quickly close all of 
the applications that you are running and shut down Windows.  Note that if 
one of your applications prompts you to save your work or to confirm the 
quit command, then the shutdown procedure will naturally take longer.

If you right click the icon, a handy pop-up menu appears listing the 
following choices:

- About
- ShutDown
- Restart
- Close Programs
- Exit


About
-----
Nothing mysterious here.  A dialog box appears and brightly proclaims its 
presence to all within visual range.  The version number of Lights Out! 
that you are currently running is displayed here.  Not coincidentally, it 
also mentions my email address--albeit in tiny letters.


ShutDown
--------
Choosing ShutDown will perform the same action as double clicking the Lights 
Out! icon.  All of your programs will be closed and Windows will be shut 
down.  Again, if one of your applications prompts you for anything, then you 
will most likely have to take care of it before shutting down.


Restart
-------
This menu option is the same as clicking Start, selecting ShutDown and 
choosing Restart the computer.  All of your applications will be closed and 
Windows will restart.  Of course, if one of your applications prompts you 
for anything, then you will most likely have to take care of it before 
proceeding.


Close Programs
--------------
The Close Programs menu option will attempt to close any applications that 
are currently running except for Lights Out! itself.  If an application 
requires confirmation before closing, it will display the appropriate dialog 
box first.  Please note that programs that do not respond correctly will not 
close properly.  Programs that have crashed will definitely not close 
correctly and Lights Out! does not make any attempt to forcibly close them.


Exit
----
Choosing Exit will close Lights Out!.  The icon in the system tray will 
vanish.


Command-line Parameters
-----------------------
Lights Out! may be run from a command prompt as follows:

  LightsOut!.exe [parameter]

There are three command-line parameters you can specify when running Lights 
Out! in this way: SHUTDOWN, RESTART and CLOSEPROGRAMS.  These parameters 
are not case sensitive and correspond to the Lights Out! menu choices when 
it is running in the system tray.  You can only specify one parameter at a 
time.  To close all of your currently running programs, you would type:

  LightsOut!.exe CLOSEPROGRAMS

As an example, you can use this capability to grant other software packages 
the ability to shut down or restart your computer.  If the software package 
allows you to run external programs, simply enter the Lights Out! executable 
followed by the appropriate command-line parameter.

Lights Out! does not remain resident after executing a command-line 
parameter.  Therefore, using Lights Out! to close all of your currently 
running programs from a command prompt will not place the Lights Out! icon 
in your system tray.  In fact, closing all of your programs from a command 
prompt will also close Lights Out! if it also happens to be running in the 
system tray.

NOTE:
Lights Out! will run from an MS-DOS window or command prompt, but will not 
run in MS-DOS mode.


Pricing
-------
Lights Out! is free.  I have written Lights Out! primarily for my own use, 
and the use of my friends and colleagues.  Thus, I do not require a donation 
fee for this program since I do not feel that it is warranted.  This does 
not mean that future versions will be free, however.


Bugs and Enhancements
---------------------
If you encounter any problems with the program or have suggestions for 
improving it, you can email me at the email address listed at the beginning 
of this file.  I appreciate positive, encouraging comments and delete 
negative, inflammatory (hare-brained) messages.  Please note that I have an 
extremely busy schedule and can only devote attention to the project as time 
permits.

There are definite features I would like to add to the program in order to 
enhance its functionality.  All in due time, however.


Uninstalling Lights Out!
------------------------
Lights Out! does not create any additional files or registry entries at this 
time.  To uninstall Lights Out!, simply delete the Lights Out! executable 
file (LightsOut!.exe) and its associated files.


Acknowledgements
----------------
No work stands completely on its own, and Lights Out! is no exception.  My 
thanks go out to the following people (in no particular order) for testing 
the program and providing me with valuable feedback:

- Andrew Brooke, Vartex Nicolian, Wai Ip and Terry Egan.

My apologies if I've missed anyone out.


DISCLAIMER
----------
A necessary evil in this day and age, but here goes...

I do not make any claims, expressed or implied, as to the suitability of the 
software for your particular application.  Use Lights Out! (the Program) at 
your own risk.  I am not liable for any damages, real or imagined as a 
consequence of running the Program.  In fact, I do not guarantee it will do 
anything except take up space on your hard drive.  I reserve the right to 
make changes to the Program's executable and accompanying files without 
notice.

Lights Out! may not be distributed for profit.  The executable and 
associated files must be distributed together in the same archive and may 
not be modified in any way.  This program and associated files are protected 
under Canadian Copyright law, including countries belonging to the Berne 
Copyright Convention, the Universal Copyright Convention and the World Trade 
Organization.  Which is to say, most countries.

Your usage of the Program indicates your understanding of the above.

- Copyright (c) Bryan Lau, 1997.
