HasteCK DeskTop

BETA 0.1! PUBLIC ALPHA RELEASE 2

README FILE

Please read this file carefully to get all the information you need to run the program properly.


WARNING: HasteCK, or any THIRD PARTY member shall NOT be held responsible for the damage caused to your computer by the use of this program.

CHECK http://HasteCK.WireDUp.com for the latest updates.

Write to HasteCK@WiredUp.com to report all bugs/errors!


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HasteCK Desktop

This readme answers the following Questions:

1. How do I use HasteCK Desktop as a Shell?
2. How do I add an icon to the lanch button?
3. I want to edit the ini myself: What do i need to know?
4. I have too many icons, can i make Groups?
5. What is HasteCK TaskManager?
6. When i load the program, nothing happens: why?
7. Can i develop my own HasteCK Desktop compatible modules? Why would i want to develop using the module feature?
8. Where are my TaskBar Tray icons?
9. Why isn't there a TaskBar feature to access the programs directly?
10. What does this clock have that windows clock doesn't?
11. Why is the Desktop Module always on top? How do i get rid of that?
12. I still have more question: Who do i ask?




1. How do I use HasteCK Desktop as a Shell?
A. To use HasteCK Desktop, it is very simple, all you have to do is open your x:\Windows\system.ini file (where x is the Hard disk where windows is installed) and edit the section shell=explorer.exe! Add a ';' infront of that line, so that you can come back to your normal configuration later on, and add a new line with the following text:
shell=<HasteCK Desktop install path>\desktop.exe shell
Don't forget the 'shell' at the end of the the command line, or else the program will run in normal mode, and when you click on shutdown, you will not be presented with the menu to shut down windows!
This is the ALPHA RELEASE of HasteCK Desktop, so we don not really recommend you to use this program as a shell, as it has yet to be improved with extra features (see following questions), but if you want to test it in that mode, you can :=) Just make sure you have a launch button created for explorer.exe, or command.com, or you shall have trouble accessing you files as no run command is yet incorporated.
To simplyfy things, a new option in the Preferences shall soon be added, to pass to SHELL mode with out the need for the user to edit any files!


2. How do I add an icon to the lanch bar?
A. To add an icon to the launch bar, click on the MAIN Icon, and select: add shortcut, or click on the MAIN icon, and select properties, then select the General Options tab and click on Add new link.
Once the Add new icon module is loaded, simply click on Wizard mode (if it isn't already in that mode) to start with a step by step guide to add your Launch button.
If you still have trouble, try clicking on the HELP button in the Add new icon module, or see the 'how do i modify the ini' section in adding launch buttons manually!


3. I want to edit the ini myself: What do i need to know?
A. We do not recommend you in doing this, but it is the only way, as yet, to get the most out of HasteCK DeskTop. Open the file hdesktop.ini in any text editing program in normal ASCII text mode. You will see comments seperating the sections, these comments can be very helpful if you don't remember what a command means, but we have tried to keep the commands very 'talkative' so that they can appear simple to anyone, including first-timers.
All the commands start with 'hd' standing for HasteCK DeskTop.
*The first two commands state the position of the window: 'hdx' and 'hdy'. 'hdx' states the horizontal coordinate, while 'hdy' states the vertical coordinates of the main program.
*the second bunch of commands state the fonts used by the program. These settings are not yet being used, but shall soon be used as external-modules appear.
*the third set of commands sets the clock properties: 'hdcloacka' value differs from 0 to 1, where 0 means the clock is not visible, and 1 means the clock is visible. And once more 'hdclockx' and 'hdclocky' sets the clock position. You can modify the clock position simply by moving it with the mouse.
*the fourth set of commands can be a long list: these are all the launch buttons to be setup by the program: all lines are read in the order they are written, so if a link is stated before the other one, it's launch icon shall appear before the other ones.
 'hdexe' is for the path of the executable file to be launched. the number at the end of this line is the launch mode (see ahead for details).
 'hdico' is for the icon path for the icon to be displayed on the launch icon.
 'hdexehdsubicon' is to state that a group of icons is to be created (instead of a launch icon) (the number at the end states the group number: see 'how do i make groups' section)
 'hdsubexe' is for the executable path for the group icons
 'hdsubico' is for the icon path for the executable launch icons.
*the last line of code 'hdontop' determins if the program is to stay on top or not: 0 is for the program to go to normal mode, and 1 is for the program to go to ontop mode.
Here are examples for each command sets (except the Fonts commands, as they are of no use yet):
-sets the position
 hdx1234
 hdy1234 
-makes clock visible and sets its position
 hdclocka1
 hdclockx2345
 hdclocky2345
-adds two launch icons, one for explorer, and one for netscape
 hdexec:\windows\explorer.exe3
 hdicoc:\windows\explorer.exe
 hdexec:\windows\comm\netscape.exe3
 hdicoc:\windows\comm\netscape.exe
-makes the program top most
 hdontop1
as you must have noticed, the number on the end of each 'hdexe' line makes things confusing, well, it's pretty simple, here is what the numbers stand for:
1->Launched Normally
2->Launched Reduced
3->Launched Maximized
4->Launched Normally, but without focus
5->Launched Reduced, but without focus
****** NOTE : A new text file called iniguide.txt should be located in this package. All further modifications concerning the ini file shall be made to that file. Please check iniguide.txt for the most up to date commands valid for hdesktop. ******

4. I have too many icons, can i make Groups?
A. It isn't odd that you launch bar fills up in a few days, so it is important to make groups: groups is like a launch icon, but when you click on it, instead of running an application, it presents you with a new set of launch icons, all underneath it! HasteCK Desktop can create Groups with the implentation of a module, but there is no interface devellopped for it as yet, so you will have to edit the ini file by hand (see section on 'how to edit the ini file' for getting started guide). Here are the command lines used to declare the presence of a group: 
 'hdexehdsubicon' followed by a number declares a group, for now, the number can be inbetween 1 and 9 only, so you can't have more then 9 groups. But this should change very soon.
 'hdico' followed by an icon path: this is for the icon on the group button (same function as for a launch icon)
 'hdsubexe' followed by a number, and the exe path, followed once more by a number: the first number identifys the 'sub-icon', and places it in the correct group. So if you declared two groups like 'hdexehdsubicon1' and 'hdexehdsubicon2', to put a launch icon for explorer in one and netscape in the other, you would have to type 'hdsubexe1c:\windows\explorer.exe3' and 'hdsubexe2c:\netscape\netscape.exe3'. The 1 and 2 ARE NOT USED to nominate the launch icon number, so you can have many 'hdsubexe1', and all the launch icons shall appear under the group number 1 (see example for more details)
To understand the number at the end of the line, see the section on editing the ini.
Here is an example setting up 3 groups, one for applications, one for communication, and one for games:
hdexehdsubicon1
hdicoc:\icons\apps.ico
hdexehdsubicon2
hdicoc:\icons\comm.ico
hdexehdsubicon3
hdicoc:\icons\games.ico
hdsubexe1c:\windows\wordpad.exe3
hdsubico1c:\windows\wordpad.exe
hdsubexe1c:\windows\notepad.exe1
hdsubexe1c:\windows\notepad.exe
hdsubexe1c:\desktop\desktop.exe1
hdsubico1c:\desktop\desktop.exe
hdsubexe2c:\netscape\netscape.exe3
hdsubico2c:\netscape\netscape.exe
hdsubexe2c:\program files\internet explorer\iexplorer.exe3
hdsubico2c:\program files\internet explorer\iexplorer.exe
hdsubexe2c:\hasteck\net.exe3
hdsubico2c:\hasteck\net.exe
hdsubexe3c:\games\reverseme.exe1
hdsubico3c:\games\reverseme.exe
hdsubexe3c:\games\themakh.exe1
hdsubico3c:\games\themakh.exe
hdsubexe3c:\desktop\modules\minesweeper.hdm1
hdsubico3c:\icons\mineswp.ico
hdsubexe3c:\games\shoot.exe1
hdsubico3c:\games\shoot.exe


5. What is HasteCK TaskManager?
A. HasteCK TaskManager is the first module for HasteCK Desktop (see section on 'modules' for more information). It lists all the current running applications: their titles, and their executable path. It is by far, much more complete and powerful then the Windows TaskManager, as HasteCK TaskManager can display even the hidden programs loaded in memory.


6. When i load the program, nothing happens: why?
A. This usually happens when you run the program from a directory where no hdesktop.ini file exsists. To solve this problem, simply hold down CTRL+ALT+DELETE and when the shut down menu appears, select HasteCK Desktop and click on end task. Now reload the program and the problem should be solved.


7. Can i develop my own HasteCK Desktop compatible modules? Why would i want to develop using the module feature?
A. HasteCK Desktop Modules are external programs, not added to the executable during compilation, which are incorporated at the first run of the program (after which, the module files can be deleted). The goal of this method is to allow external users to develop modules so that they can configure the program to their own use, and also to allow them to develop pseudo-applications that shall run under HasteCK Desktop. The goal of this is to speed up applications time, as the pseudo-application shall load instantly, as it shall be incorporated in the program, but all this without slowing down the normal HasteCK Desktop loading time. All this is done by creating links to the objects already in HasteCK Desktop, instead of re-writting them, thus, as HasteCK Desktop shall load all the functions into the computers memory for its personal use, the modules can use the same functions instantly, without using up the pc's memory, or slowing down the computer.
There is no official PUBLIC developpment pack available as yet, but one should be released by HasteCK very soon.


8. Where are my TaskBar Tray icons?
A. You can not access these functions directly under HasteCK Desktop (not as yet) as it is in it's Beta Stages: but soon, you shall be able to access the TaskBar Tray icons, and therefor the applications related to it. However, we have had so success rates from the Internal Beta tester who were able to access some programs using HasteCK TaskManageR.


9. Why isn't there a TaskBar feature to access the programs directly?
A. As stated above, this is just the ALPHA release of the program, and this function shall soon be added, but for now, the only way of doing this, is either minimising the programs, or by using HasteCK TaskManager.


10. What does this clock have that windows clock doesn't?
A. Well, the clock in HasteCK desktop is much fancier that the Windows Clock, as it displays time in LED format. You can right click on the clock to bring up it properties page and configure it to display seconds, or sub-seconds.


11. Why is the Desktop Module always on top? How do i get rid of that?
A. Desktop Module is always on top so that you can access it at all times, but if you do not wish that, simply right-click on the MAIN icon to bring up the properties page, and select the GENERAL OPTIONS tab, where you can select if you want, or not, the program to be TOP MOST!


12. I still have more question: Who do i ask?
A. You can get more information and updates at:
  http://HasteCK.WiredUp.com
or by eMailing to HasteCK@WireDUp.com


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