Open Axess V. 2.10 November 27, 1992
What Is It?
~~~~~~~~~~~
Windows 3.1 provides built-in support for Common Dialog Windows to perform
operations such as File Open and File Save As from within an application.
These Common Dialog Windows provide a consistent interface across all
applications that use them. However, you still have to climb and descend
directory trees and manually select drives or file types to locate the file,
type, or directory you want.
Open Axess makes it easier to use the Windows 3.1 Common Dialog Windows for
file selection by:
1. automatically remembering the last 5 Types, the last 5 Files, and the last
5 Directories used for each application that uses Common Dialog Windows.
2. allowing you to specify 5 additional Permanent Types, Files, and
Directories for each application that uses Common Dialog Windows.
3. allowing you to create and change to a new subdirectory from within a file
selection Common Dialog Window. This permits you to create and change to
a new subdirectory from within the Save As Dialog Window before saving a
file.
4. allowing you to optionally display the following file properties at the
bottom of the Common Dialog Window for a selected file:
the file size in bytes,
the date and time the file was last modified, and
the file attributes: Read, Write, Archive, and Hidden.
5. allowing you to find a file from within a file selection Common Dialog
Window and open the file by double-clicking on it.
6. making the above options available by attaching itself to the Control Menu
of the Common Dialog Window.
Update History
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Version 1.00
Private release
Version 1.01
First public release
Version 1.02
This version added the following corrections and features:
- The detection algorithm for file dialog boxes has been
improved, which eliminates the annoying time lag between
the display of a file dialog and the connection of Open
Axess.
- Occasionally the Open Axess system button disappeared after
a standard file dialog lost and regained focus. This has
been corrected.
- Support for files on removable media has been improved. Open
Axess will now prompt the user to insert the disk containing
the desired file. Previous versions were at the mercy of the
host application to service bad or missing files.
Version 1.03
This version was in direct response to user mail regarding a subtle
problem with Open Axess crashing the Program Manager when browsing
from the "Change Icon" window. This seems to be due to a peculiar
handling of the browse file dialog by Windows.
Open Axess is now disabled when the "Change Icon" browse button is
pressed. (Sorry, but you'll have to browse by hand - not fatal in
this case)
Version 1.04
Some users reported a bug which appeared in the previous version of
Open Axess which caused the program to crash occasionally during a
"SaveAs" operation. This was due to the fact that memory was being
allocated in an improper way. This was corrected.
Previously noted conflicts between Open Axess and the Program Manager
"Change Icon" file browser were resolved. This problem also
affected Microsoft's Dialog Editor program.
The AXESSDLL.DLL file was renamed to AXESSLIB.DLL. The older file
may be deleted.
Added was support for Microsoft Project's file dialog boxes.
Version 2.00
A simple file finder was added, which permits users to search entire
drives and or directories for a file specification. Double clicking
will open any found file into the current application.
Interaction with Microsoft Project and PowerPoint was improved. Some
users reported problems with these applications.
The ability to edit the maximum number of entries in an Open Axess
list of Types, Files, or Directories was added to the Open Axess
Configuration Dialog Window.
For registered users, the macros for Word for Windows and Word Perfect
for Windows have been improved. Problems with exporting files from
Word have been corrected. The file type list in the Open Dialog for
both applications was corrected.
Version 2.10
This version fixes the bug that caused the error message "cannot find
BWCCxxx.DLL", (where 'xxx' denotes a Language setting in the Windows
International Control Panel other than 'English (American)') when Open
Axess is loaded.
AXESSLIB.DLL and BWCC.DLL (if not used by another running application)
are now unloaded from memory when you close Open Axess in Windows.
Notes
~~~~~
To install the new version, copy AXESS.EXE, AXESSLIB.DLL, & AXESS.HLP
files to your Windows directory, and copy BWCC.DLL to the SYSTEM
subdirectory in Windows. If you are replacing a previous version of
Open Axess, make sure you close any running copy before you replace
it.
Once installed, you can create a program item for Open Axess and place
the icon in your Program Manger Startup group to load Open Axess when
Windows is started.
Registered Users
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you are a registered user of a previous version of Open Axess, you
may freely install the new version.
NON-REGISTERED USERS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you have been using Open Axess for a while and still have not
registered with us, please do so. It's only $10, and your
registration fee helps fund improvements to Open Axess as well as
new programs we would like to write. Registration also insures that
we can notify you of any program changes.
CompuServe members can use their credit card to register Open Axess
using CompuServe's online Shareware Registration Database. GO SWREG
and follow the instructions there to register shareware. The
Registration ID is 436.
EVERYONE
~~~~~~~~
We want to hear from everyone who uses Open Axess to get your general
opinions on what we did right and/or wrong. We would like to know
what you think we can do to improve Open Axess.
If you find a bug or a program the does not work with Open Axess, we
would especially like you to send some mail, describing the bug and
program, version, etc, so we can fix it.
You can reach the authors at:
Internet: GUTZ@cc49.crl.aecl.ca, or
71054.3220@compuserve.com
CompuServe: 71054,3220, or
>INTERNET:GUTZ@cc49.crl.aecl.ca