Index

Index:

Intro	Introduction to OttoTask

Display	The OttoTask display

Using	Using OttoTask

Configure	Configuring OttoTask Items

Commands	Menu Commands


Commands
Menu Commands:

Task	Show

Hide

Terminate

Nuke

Pgms:	Programs

Launch

Edit Item

Window:Window


Introduction

OttoTask is a replacement for the Windows 3.1 task manager. It allows you to control running tasks (programs), and provides a quick way to launch new ones. You can show, hide, and terminate existing tasks as well as arrange their windows on the desktop.

There are also 6 iconic buttons that you can configure to launch your favorite programs or utilities; or you can choose the Launch menu item to run any program.

Prerequisites

OttoTask requires Windows 3.1.

Copyright

OttoTask is a copyrighted work by Doug Overmyer, 1993.

Disclaimer

You use OttoTask entirely at your own risk. Only you can determine its suitability for your configuration and needs. No other warrenties are offered or implied.


Display
The OttoTask Display

OttoTask runs as a single, fixed window. On the left is a list box with the existing tasks, and on the right are 6 iconic buttons that you can configure to run programs.

The same program items can be accessed through the Programs menu.


Using OttoTask

Double click anywhere on the Windows desktop, or hit the Ctrl-Esc keys, to launch Ottotask. It appears as a small, fixed size window at the spot you last used it. There is a list box with the current tasks (running programs) on the left, and an array of 6 iconic buttons on the right. You can highlight a task in the list box, and choose an option from the Tasks menu or Window menu.

The Tasks menu options let you show, hide and terminate running tasks. The Window menu has various options for rearranging the desktop windows, including shrinking them all to icons.

 Click on a program icon to startup the program, or choose it from the Programs menu.


Configuring
Configuring Program Items

To get the most out of OttoTask you need to setup some program items which appear on the iconic buttons and the Programs menu. Choose Programs/Edit Items and fill in the following dialog box.

You can choose to start any programs you like using OttoTask, both Windows and DOS programs will work.

Use the Up/Down arrows to choose an item to configure - as you cycle through the numbers the current configuration is displayed in the fields. When you reach the item you wish to change, you can fill in the fields manually, or use the Browse button to traverse the disk and find the program.

The Name field is displayed on the menu bar under Programs.

 Start Dir(ectory) and Params(parameters) are optional, but may be needed for one or another application depending upon the DOS path and the individual programs.

If you configure a DOS program, you can have OttoTask display an icon for it by associating an .ICO file with the program. To do this, create your icon, and place it in the same disk directory as the DOS program, and with the same root name but with an .ico suffix. For example, if you are configuring c:\sc\list.com, then you would name your icon file as follows:c:\sc\list.ico


Task/Show

Show or activate any running task. Just highlight the item in the task list, and choose Task/Show. If the task is hidden, it will be unhidden and displayed 'normal' size.


Task/Hide

Hide the selected task. Please remember that the task continues to consume system resources and memory. It is not clear why you would want to hide a task.


Task/Terminate

Kill the selected task - same as double clicking the system menu. This is the safe way to end a task.


Task/Nuke

If you have configured this menu item, it uses the Toolhelp function TerminateApp() to end the highlighted task. You use this function at your own risk - it may save your data, and it may not. The full details are available in the Ottotask.wri file.If you choose to attempt it, be sure to restart Windows immediately after saving your data.


Programs

You can configure OttoTask to launch 1 to 6 programs using the Configure Items... dialog. These same items appear on the Iconic Buttons and under the Programs menu. You can also select the Launch item which lets you browse the disk to find a program to start. See Configuring Otto Task above for the details on setting up program items.


Programs/Launch

Brings up a file dialog that lets you enter a program to run, or browse the disk to find the program to launch.


Programs/Edit

See Configuring OttoTask.


Window

This menu offers various options to arrange the existing windows. You can

Tile Horizontally

Tile Vertically

Cascade

Arrange Icons

Iconize All