BUTTON MANAGER INFORMATION
==========================

Welcome to Button Manager for Windows!  The topics listed 
below are discussed within this file, and more information 
is available in the other text files included with this 
document  (Section 3 describes what is contained within each 
of the files).  Note that ALL this information is located 
within the Button Manager Help file, which can be accessed 
by executing it within windows.

1.	INTRODUCTION TO BUTTON MANAGER FOR WINDOWS
2.	INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
	A)	MANUAL INSTALLATION
	B)	DISTRIBUTION KIT INSTALLATION
3.	REQUIRED FILES
4.	REGISTRATION
	A)	BY CREDIT CARD
	B)	VIA COMPUSERVE
	C)	BY CONTACTING US
5.	CONTACTING US



1.	INTRODUCTION TO BUTTON MANAGER FOR WINDOWS
==================================================

Welcome to Button Manager, an application which provides the 
Windows user with more control over their workspace.  Button
Manager allows you to organize your favorite applications
into groups of buttons (defaults to Program Manager Groups),
and instantly launch any of the applications at the touch of
a button.

This application allows you to manage your Program Manager 
application groups as button sets, which can each be 
resized, reconfigured, minimized, moved, and arranged in the 
way that best suits your needs.  For those cases where a set 
of buttons should always be available, you can even force 
the group to float on top of all other applications.

Each button displays the icon associated with the 
application that will be launched when it is pressed.  
Additionally, if the button help option is selected, the 
user will be shown the application details when the mouse 
crosses over the button.  And, further to the topic of HELP, 
context-sensitive help is available from anywhere in the 
application by pressing F1.

Instead of replacing the functionality of Program Manager, 
as other applications do, this application compliments it.  
The advantage here is that the application groups can be 
maintained in one place so that no matter what changes are 
made within Program Manager, the same changes will 
automatically be reflected in Button Manager.  However, 
unlike Program Manager, you can limit the amount of 
information you see by displaying only those groups that 
interest you most.

Button Manager also provides the ability to search and sort 
the list of buttons that are currently active (in a textual 
list), so that you may more easily find those applications 
that "just seem to be misplaced".  This list provides 
detailed property information for the buttons, which is far 
more convenient than looking up each button individually 
using Program Manager.

Additionally, Button Manager remembers your setup from run-
to-run.  Therefore, you could, for instance, "load" groups 
of buttons around the perimeter of your screen the first 
time you start Button Manager.  Then, every time you start 
up Button Manager the same groups would be loaded in the 
same location and shape.  This option provides the most 
power when Button Manager is added to the STARTUP group in 
Program Manager.  In this instance, your same application 
workspace would be loaded automatically every time you start 
Windows.

Button Manager is fairly intuitive to use, but context-
sensitive help has been provided for the application to make 
it even easier to use.  Also, a drop-down menu will appear 
on the button groups when you right-click on any button in 
that group.  This menu provides access to the most commonly 
used functions, such as exiting windows, searching for 
applications, configuring the environment, and the like.

We hope that you find this product as beneficial as we have.  
If you do, we ask that you please support shareware by 
registering this product.


2.	INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
=================================

To install this application, it is necessary to determine 
which set of files you have.  If one of the files is 
SETUP.EXE, then refer to the DISTRIBUTION KIT INSTALL 
process documented below.  Otherwise, please refer to the 
MANUAL INSTALLATION discussion (note that registered users 
receive the full installation kit on disk, if they elect to 
have a disk sent to them).

Note that if you perform an install using the SETUP program,
and the application fails to start due to an "Incorrect DLL
Version", this means that a Visual Basic application was 
running at the time of the installation.  To remedy the 
problem, stop all other applications (or just the VB one, if
you know which one it is) then re-install.  VBRUN300.DLL will
then be correctly copied to your system directory.


2A.	MANUAL INSTALLATION
===========================

If you do not have a file called SETUP.EXE, then you will 
need to perform a manual installation of the files.  This is 
fairly simple, and requires the following steps:

   a.	First, look to see if you have the Visual Basic 
	runtime file (VBRUN300.DLL) included with the set of 
	files.  Sometimes, a BBS may exclude this file from 
	the set you have, to save on space.  Assuming this is 
	the case, and you do not already have the file in the 
	windows \SYSTEM directory (eg. 
	d:\WIN31\SYSTEM\VBRUN300.DLL), you will need to 
	download this file as well.  It is available from most 
	bulletin boards.  Alternatively, you could register 
	the product and receive all files on a single disk in 
	the INSTALLATION KIT INSTALL format, described below.

   b.	Create a directory in which you would like to store 
	the files (i.e. C:\BTNMGR).

   c.	Store the files in the directory you just created 
	(this will require that the files be decompressed 
	using the PKUNZIP utility if you downloaded from a 
	BBS). 

   d.	Move THREED.VBX and VBRUN300.DLL into the windows 
	\SYSTEM directory.

   e.	Finally, set up an icon for the BTNMGR.EXE application 
	in the STARTUP group of the windows Program Manager.  
	Please consult the Button Manager help file under 
	TIPS: Startup Group, if you are unfamiliar with how 
	this is done.


2B.	DISTRIBUTION KIT INSTALLATION
=====================================

The distribution kit contains all the files required to 
automatically set up and run the application.  When the 
product is registered, this is the type of kit the user 
receives when they order disks.  It will install all files 
and create the appropriate Program Manager groups by just 
typing SETUP.

Once installed, the files that are moved to the installation 
directory on the hard drive include:

	BTNMGR.EXE	The Button Manager program
	BTNMGR.HLP	The context-sensitive Windows Help file
	FILE_ID.DIZ	The information for the BBSs
	LICENSE.TXT	The license and warranty information
	README.TXT	Introductory information about the 
			product
	REGISTER.TXT	The registration form
	VENDOR.TXT	The vendor-specific information

The files that are moved to the Windows System Area include 
the following two files (THEREFORE, IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO JUST 
COPY THE INSTALLATION DIRECTORY TO PASS THE SOFTWARE ON TO 
SOMEONE ELSE!)

	THREED.VBX	Used to the 3D controls
	VBRUN300.DLL	Needed to make everything work



3.	REQUIRED FILES
======================

As described in the Installation Instructions Section, there 
are two versions of this product that are distributed.  
Depending on which kit you have, there will be a different 
set of required files.  

The MANUAL INSTALLATION KIT provides only the bare minimum 
required files, and is aimed at being small enough for 
download.  This version typically does not have the Visual 
Basic runtime module (VBRUN300.DLL) included with it, which 
can be downloaded from almost any bulletin board.

The DISTRIBUTION KIT contains all the required files, and 
allows the application to be installed by just typing SETUP.  
This is always the kit that is distributed to registered 
users.

Note that all required files are installed to your 
installation directory, except THREED.VBX and VBRUN300.DLL 
which are installed into the windows system directory.  
Please remember this if you give the package to a friend.


MANUAL INSTALLATION KIT REQUIRED FILES
======================================

	BTNMGR.EXE	The Button Manager program
	BTNMGR.HLP	The context-sensitive Windows Help file
	FILE_ID.DIZ	The information for the BBSs
	LICENSE.TXT	The license and warranty information
	README.TXT	Introductory information about the 
			product
	REGISTER.TXT	The registration form
	VENDOR.TXT	The vendor-specific information
	THREED.VBX	Used for the 3D controls
	VBRUN300.DLL	The Visual Basic run-time module
	
DISTRIBUTION KIT REQUIRED FILES
===============================

	FILE_ID.DIZ	The information for the BBSs
	LICENSE.TXT	The license and warranty information
	README.TXT	Introductory information about the 
			product
	REGISTER.TXT	The registration form
	SETUP.EXE	Setup Program
	VENDOR.TXT	The vendor-specific information


4.	REGISTRATION
====================

The process of registering this product is very simple, and can
be done by credit card (phone, fax, e-mail or mail), via 
Compuserve, or by mail order.  Each method is described below.
Note that by registering you can receive a disk which has the
latest version of the application (if you do not want a disk,
then the registration fee is reduced - but only if you order
from AKC via mail).  

If you do not receive your registration kit within 2-3 weeks,
you can contact us via one of the methods provided under the
Contacting Us help topic (or by looking at the Contacting Us
section, below).  Generally, once we have your order, you will
receive your registration kit in the mail within 3-10 days.
Please do not contact the Credit-Card-Order numbers regarding
the status of the mailout, as they are an order-taking company
only.


4A.	REGISTERING BY PHONE, FAX, E-MAIL, OR MAIL USING A CREDIT CARD
======================================================================

FOR CREDIT CARD ORDERS ONLY:
You can order with MC, Visa, Amex, or Discover from Public
(software) Library by:

  o	calling 800-2424-PsL or 713-524-6394; or 
  o	FAX to 713-524-6398; or
  o	CIS Email to 71355,470; or
  o	mailing credit card orders to PsL at P.O.Box 35705,
	Houston, TX 77235-5705, USA.

*****>>>>> THE ABOVE NUMBERS ARE FOR ORDERS ONLY <<<<<*****

The cost is the same as was detailed in the registration form:
$20US for orders within North America, and $25US for orders
outside North America.  All credit card orders result in a disk
of the latest version being sent to you.

Any questions about the status of the shipment of the order,
refunds, registration options, product details, technical support,
volume discounts, dealer pricing, site licenses, etc, must be
directed to AKC Applied Knowledge Corporation.  Please refer to
the Contacting Us help topic for information on how we can be
reached.

To insure that you get the latest version, PsL will notify
us the day of your order and we will ship the registration kit
directly to you.


4B.   REGISTERING BY COMPUSERVE
===============================

Compuserve has a shareware registration facility available to
all its users.  Follow this procedure to register Button
Manager through Compuserve.

1.	From within Compuserve, type GO SWREG.  

	This will take you to the Software registration area.

2.	Indicate that you would like to register Button Manager.

	It is quickest to access the Button Manager Registration
	by using ID #2823, but you can also search for it by name
	if necessary.

3.	Immediate Registration.

	By registering on this service, the registration fee of
	$20US will be charged to your Compuserve account, and they
	will immediately forward your name and address to us.  We
	will then send the registration kit to you in the mail.


4C.   REGISTERING BY MAIL
=========================

Note that only cheque and money-order orders are processed by this
method.  If you wish to order by credit card, please consult the
Credit Card Order topic, above.

1.	Fill in the Registration Form.  

	This form can be produced by printing the associated help
	topic, or by printing the file REGISTER.TXT.  The 
	registration screen, which is shown to unregistered users 
	when they start up Button Manager, has a button in the
	lower left corner which will allow you to edit a copy of
	the registration form.  The button is called "Fill Form".

2.	Mail in the Registration Form, with the registration fee.

	Mail the registration form to the address stated on the
	form, with a cheque or money order for the amount you have
	indicated on the registration form.

3.	Register Product.

	Once your registration form has been received, it will be
	processed and you will receive a Registration Kit in the
	mail containing any disks you have ordered as well as your
	personal registration number.  


5.	CONTACTING US
=====================

We can be contacted in several ways, each of which is listed 
below.  If you are waiting on a registration kit from us, 
please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.  Generally, once we have
your order, you will receive your registration kit in the mail
within 3-10 days.

	MAIL:			6128 Red Willow Drive,
				Gloucester, Ontario,
				Canada, K1C 7J8

	PHONE:			(613) 841-6020

	FAX:			(613) 841-6021

	E-MAIL (Compuserve):	70252,1364

	E-MAIL (Internet):	av293@freenet.carleton.ca


