 
 - - - - - - - - - - - EVENTMAN.EXE vs 1.31 Notes (07/29/95)  - - - - - - - -

Thanks for checking out SRO's Eventman!  
___________________________________________________________________________
EVENTMAN is SHAREWARE - NOT FREEWARE.  If you use it for an extended period 
(like 30 days) you are expected to register.  If you do, you'll receive the 
latest copy of the program (without that annoying guilt screen).  The $12 
registration fee ($14 outside the continental US) can be sent to:                       
		     
				SRO SYSTEMS 
				P.O. Box 5028
				Blue Jay, CA 92317 

Or you can register on Compuserve's shareware registration forum.  
Just GO SWREG,  ID# 5021.  

Print the "Register.txt" file for order info.
___________________________________________________________________________

DISCLAIMER
Heed this warning.  The very nature of Task Scheduling software makes it more 
particularily dangerous than most any other kind of program.  It is designed 
to unleash processes on a PC unchecked by the user.  TEST ALL OF YOUR EVENTS 
BEFORE LETTING THEM RUN WHEN YOU'RE NOT THERE!

The FINE Print
Due to the variety of software and harware that may be present on a user's PC, 
SRO SYSTEMS makes NO WARRANTEES NOR GUARANTEES OF ANY KIND.  SRO SYSTEMS, its 
employees, or anyone who had a part in developing this software will never be 
held responsible or liable for any damages to the software, hardware, physical 
being or emotional status of any user in any actual or consequential methods 
which might result from the use, misuse, or abuse of this software. 
____________________________________________________________________________

REQUIREMENTS
EVENTMAN.EXE is a Windows 3.1x task scheduler written in Visual Basic Pro vs. 
3.0.  Event Manager was designed to run on any 100% IBM compatible PC with a 
386 or better CPU and at least 4 megabytes of ram.  Eventman itself uses only 
200K of ram and 1% of system resources when idle (loaded minimized), however, 
when running events, your system must be able to load the event program, and 
Event Manager will just about double in size.

THIS PROGRAM REQUIRES VBRUN300.DLL TO BE IN YOUR WINDOWS\SYSTEM DIRECTORY. IF 
YOU HAVE ANY OTHER RECENT VISUAL BASIC PROGRAMS, YOU PROBABLY HAVE IT ALREADY.  
OR YOU CAN UPLOAD IT FROM MOST BBS's.  

INSTALLATION
Installing is easy.  Just run INSTALL.EXE in Program Manager or File Manager.

All functions (with the exception of Keystrokes) are pretty self explanatory, 
and the help bar tells you almost anything you need to know.  However, you 
should read the following so you know how Event Manager works before you let 
it loose to start running your programs.
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DESCRIPTION
The file EVENTMAN.EXE is a Windows 3.1 task scheduler.  Its purpose is to let 
your computer do things (like download files or perform backups) while you're 
away (or asleep).  You can schedule up to 41 "events or alarms" to run during 
the week.  Alarms can play a wave file and/or flash a message  on the screen, 
and can be set to go away after a specified amount of time, or stay on screen 
until you press OK.  Events can run with command line parameters to specify 
options or load files.  You can also have Event Manager send keystrokes to 
you programs to make them do ANYTHING you could do sitting in front of them.

What is an "EVENT"
An "EVENT" in Event Manager is a Program (.EXE, .COM, .BAT or .PIF) set to 
run on a specific day and time, with certain user definable options.  See 
"EVENT EDITOR" below for a description of event options.

What is an "ALARM"
An "ALARM" is simply a message to yourself set to appear on a specific day 
and time.  A wave file can be played back at the alarm time also.


Startup Screen

1) Button Bar
   Duplicates some of the most frequently used menu functions.

2) File
   Name of the currently loaded event data file.  

3) Current Day/Time
   There to let you know the current system time and day of week as set in 
   Window's Control Panel.

4) Scheduled Events
   The event list shows the descriptive titles assigned to your events.  You 
   can copy, paste, and clear events using the "Event Menu", or the standard 
   Windows "Ctl C", "Ctl V" and "Ctl X" commands.  To edit an event, click 
   the "Edit Event" button, double click on the event title, or choose "Edit" 
   from the "Event Menu".  You can run any event immediatly by clicking the 
   "Run NOW" button or by choosing "Run" from the "Event Menu".  

5) Type List
   The list in the middle shows the alarm/event status of each item.  Double 
   click the list to switch between alarms and events. 

6) Enabled List
   The small list on the far right shows the enabled on or off status of each 
   event.  Double clicking the list enables/disables individual events.  You 
   can still run any event immediately with the "Run NOW" button even if the 
   event's enabled status is set to "Off".

7) Eventman Startup
   Sets whether Eventman loads normal or minimized.

8) Help Bar
   The help bar at the bottom of the screen gives you instant information on 
   most of the controls and buttons you see on the screen.  Anything you move 
   the mouse over,or TAB to in the startup or editor screens will be described 
   here.  In addition to help, Eventman will also show here any errors that 
   occur during processing.  See "ERRORS" at the end of this file for more 
   information.

Event Editor
The Event Editor is where you set all the options for running your event.  You 
can reach this screen by double clicking an event, clicking the "Edit Event" 
button, or selecting "Edit" from the Event Menu.

1) Event
   This is a descriptive title for your event.  It's the title that appears 
   in the main screen's event list.  

2) Event Day
   This sets the day of week you want your event to run.  You can make your 
   event run on a single day, or have it run every day.  Event Manager checks 
   Windows for the current weekday, and displays it at the top of the startup 
   screen.  Be sure your computer's clock is set correctly!

3) Event Time
   Sets the time to run your event based on a 24 hour clock.  Event manager 
   checks Windows for the current time every 1/10th a second, and displays it 
   at the top of the startup screen.

4) Max Length
   This sets a limit on how long your event will be allowed to run.  You can 
   set the interval anywhere from 1 minute to 4 hours.  A setting or "00" 
   will disable the timer, and the event will run until it ends itself.  The 
   timer starts after the event program is loaded, and after any keystrokes 
   sent to the program have been processed.   After the timer expires, Event 
   Manager will end the program whether it's finished or not!  This may be 
   helpfull if your event logs on an online service, and you want to limit 
   your phone bill, but beware.  If your event is doing a backup or system 
   maintainence, early termination could be dangerous to your system.  Your 
   best bet is to use an application that can shut itself off when done!
   
	NOTE 1: TO TERMINATE A PROGRAM, EVENTMAN SENDS THE "ALT+F4" KEY 
	SEQUENCE.  NEARLY ALL WINDOWS PROGRAMS CAN BE CLOSED THIS WAY.  IF 
	A PROGRAM YOU USE CAN'T, DISABLE THE EVENT TIMER AND SEND THE EXIT 
	KEYS AT THE END OF THE KEYSTROKE SEQUENCE (explained below). 
   
	NOTE 2: EVENT MANAGER CANNOT TERMINATE DOS PROGRAMS.  IF YOU RUN DOS 
	EVENTS, THEY SHOULD BE "SELF TERMINATING" AND THE EVENT TIMER SHOULD 
	BE SET TO "00" SO EVENTMAN DOESN'T TRY TO SHUT THEM DOWN.  

9a) Program
    The set button in this box lets you choose the program this event will 
    run.  You can choose any .EXE, .COM, .BAT or .PIF file.  Event Manager 
    is designed to run Windows applications, however, Dos programs can also 
    run with a few limits you MUST OBSERVE.  Event Manager cannot Send Keys 
    to a Dos program, and it cannot terminate a Dos Event.  If you select a 
    Dos program as an event, disable (set to 00) the "Max Length" timer, and 
    pick a program that will "self terminate" and return you to Windows after 
    it's done.  

9b) Window Style
    Window style sets the way the program loads.  The "Normal", "Minimized" 
    and "Maximized" settings work just like the controls in the top left 
    corner of most Windows applications.  If you use any of these three modes 
    to run your event, Event Manager stays in the background and lets the 
    program do it's work.  NO OTHER scheduled EVENTS will be run.  The 
    background setting is different, it makes the program load as a minimized 
    icon at the bottom of the screen.  When run in this way, a program is 
    launched and forgotten by Event Manager.  It continues to run in the 
    background until it's finished.  OTHER scheduled EVENTS WILL be run.
   
10) Command Line
    This sets an optional parameter that is placed after the program name on 
    the command line.  Many programs can load a data file or run with special 
    options you specified on the command line.  See the program documentation 
    for command line options.

11) Keystrokes
	
NOTE :  You can now double click, or press enter in the keystroke box to use 
	a multi-line keystroke editor.

	OK, heres the big one!  This option lets you send keystrokes to a 
	program as if they were entered at the keyboard.  If your event 
	program is capable of running by itself, you should never need this 
	function.  Unfortunately, most programs can't do anything without 
	user input.   Windows comes with a macro recorder (recorder.exe) for 
	just this purpose.  In fact, if you know how to use recorder, you can 
	launch your macros from Event Manager and have the extra ability to 
	use mouse functions to run your programs.  Below are guidelines for 
	using the Keystrokes option to run your programs.

   NOTE : You CANNOT send keystrokes to a Dos application, or to any program 
	  set to run in a "BACKGROUND" or "MINIMIZED Window.  
  
   A) KNOW THE PROGRAM!
	This is the most important!  You must know what keys your program can 
	respond to if you want to send "key codes" to it.  Run the program, 
	and note what keys you press.  If you normally use the mouse, look at 
	the underlined letters on the menus and buttons as well as the key 
	combinations to the right of menu commands to know what keystrokes 
	are required.  If you use items that don't have underlines or key 
	combinations, you can usually use the arrow or tab keys to get to 
	them.   

   B) KEYCODES
      
      NOTE: Event Manager has a keystroke reference screen.  You reach it by 
	    double clicking the word "Keystrokes" in the "Event Edit" screen.

      Once you know what keys it takes to make the program do something, you
      turn those keystrokes into "KEYCODES".  Don't be intimidated, many key-
      codes are exactly what you type on the keyboard.  

      Here are the rules :
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      * The alphanumeric charachters (A-Z, 0-9) stay just the way they are.        
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      * "Action keys" and F-Keys (keys that "do things") are used by enclosing 
	the "key name" in braces.  # of times to press them goes to the right.
	
	Example: {TAB}  {TAB 3}  {ESC}  {F10}  {UP}  {DOWN 4}  {LEFT}  {ENTER}
	 
	The "ENTER" key can be specified either with {ENTER} or ~
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      * The "ALT" "SHIFT" & "CONTROL" keys "modify" other keys.  These have 
	special symbols.  Alt = %  -  Shift = +  -  Control = ^.

	EXAMPLE : ^C is "Control+C" which usually means "COPY"
		  %E is "ALT+E" which will usually access the edit menu.
		  
	These "modifier" codes modify the immediatly following key.  To show 
	several keys held down at once, you enclose the "modified" keys in
	parentheses ().  
    
	EXAMPLE : If you had an application that does something when you press 
		  "ALT", "SHIFT", and "F2" simultaneosly, you would use the 
		  following : %(+{F2})
	
	If you want to use any of the special symbols (~,%,^ or +) as text 
	instead of their "code" meanings, enclose them in braces.

	EXAMPLE : To put the charachters "100% + 10" into Notepad, then print
		  them, you could use the following : 100{%}{+}10%FP
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   C) COMMA'S 
	Event Manager uses comma's to separate commands.  You can specify any 
	number of keys to send to a program, and in most cases, the program 
	will be able to process them all at once.  However, if you need to 
	give the program time to finish something before sending the next set
	of keystrokes, insert a comma in the key sequence.  Eventman will wait 
	one second for each comma it finds.  This is also helpfull when you're
	testing your keystrokes as it allows you to see a menu item getting 
	highlighted before the next key is sent.

      NOTE : Event Manager see's the comma as an "END OF COMMAND" charachter.  
	     You must also put a comma at the end of the keystroke-sequence 
	     or the last charachters will be ignored! 

      COMMA'S CANNOT BE USED IN ANY OTHER WAY!  REMEMBER NOT USE COMMA'S IN 
      TEXT YOU ARE PASTING INTO AN APPLICATION.

   D) DELAY TIME
	The delay time control in the keystroke box sets the amount of time 
	Eventman waits after the application loads to send keystrokes to it. 
	Some programs take quite a while to load, and will not accept commands 
	until the loading process is finished.  If you find that the first 
	keystrokes don't get to your program, you should increase this time.


11) Kill Program
	This feature lets you select a program for Event Manager to kill 
	before running the event.  If you have a program that might conflict 
	with the scheduled event, Event Manager will end the program and 
	reload it after the event is finished.  To do this, you must specify 
	both "Window Title", and "program name".   

A) Window Title
	Event manager finds the program to end by its "Window Title".  This 
	is the name that appears in Windows Task List (run by double clicking 
	desktop) and below a program's icon when minimized.  When the event 
	finishes, Event Manager loads the program selected with the "set" 
	button.

B) Shutdown Method
	This specifies the keystrokes used to terminate the program that will 
	be shut down.  Most Windows software can be closed using the default 
	"ALT+F4".  If the program you are killing can not, you can specify 
	what keystrokes are to be used by typing them in this box.  You can 
	also hit the "DEF" button to restore the default shutdown keystrokes.

C) Reload
	This specifies the .EXE file name of the program to be loaded once the 
	event has finished executing.  It is presumed (but not required) that 
	this will be the same program which is terminated (listed under 
	"Window Title"). 


Alarm Editor
The Alarm Editor is where you set the options for your alarms.  You can reach this
screen by double clicking an alarm, clicking the "Edit Alarm" button, or selecting "Edit"
from the Event Menu.  The functions are identical to the Event Editor with the following
exeptions.

1) Alarm Text
	Text you want to show when the alarm panel appears onscreen.  Up to 250
characters can be displayed.

2) Alarm Style
	Mode to run alarm.  "Simple" just shows the alarm text, and plays a wave file (if
selected) once when the alarm loads.  "Flashing" will alternate the style of the alarm
text at regular intervals.  "Loop Wave" will repeat the selected wave file until the alarm
is deactivated.

3) Play Wave
	Enables wave audio playback to punctuate your alarm.  To use, an audio device
must be set up in Window's "Control Panel / Drivers"

Password Protection
Note : The initial password was preset to "abcdefg".

	The "Password" menu provides access to Event Manager's extensive password
protection options.  "Enter Password" will bring up a dialog box to enter your password
and disable the password protection, "Password Options" brings up the password
options screen, and "Secure" immediately enables password protection with whatever
options are specified.  If password protection is enabled with no protection specified in
the options screen, Event Manager will only disable the password options box.

	Password data file "evntpdf.dat" is encrypted using our own Multiple Unknown
Code Key (MUCK) encryption algorithm which renders the ecrypted file (by itself)
impossible to decode.  Even with the key codes, it would take a decryption genius at
least a few minutes to break.  If this file is tampered with or deleted when protection is
enabled, Event Manager will load in "full protection mode", with no possible access
whatsoever!

Password Options
	The "Password Options" screen sets all your protection options including
restrictions, time out value, password and password messages.

	Restrictions

	1) Disable all file commands.
	This disables the "open" and "save" buttons, as well as the entire file menu.

	2) Disable all edit commands.
	Disables the edit functions in the edit menu, the startup menu, and the "edit 	
	event" button.  Will also activate the password screen when an event is double-	
	clicked.

      3) Disable run (now) event.
	Disables the event menu "run" item and the "run now" button.  Events will still         
	launch as scheduled.

      4) Hide event list.
	Removes the event list.  Note : This does not disable event editing!

      5) Stay minimized.
	Forces Event Manager to remain minimized.  Prompts for the password if a user   
	double clicks the icon.  Hides startup screen until correct password is entered.

      6) Disable exit.
	Disables the file menu "exit" item as well as the "exit" button.  "ALT+F4" no   
	longer shuts down Event Manager at any time.

      7) Make invisible.  (watch out with this one!)
	This is the most stealthy and formidable protection.  Makes Event Manager       
	completely invisible!  No screen, no icon, nothing.  Can NOT be reached using   
	"ALT+TAB" unless it was previously accessed with Task Manager.  Even then,      
	it's invisible.  We had to create some way for the supervisor to reach Event    
	Manager without being easy for the average user to find, so here is the trick.          
	First, bring up Task Manager and click on Event Manager.  Next, select "switch 	
	to".  You won't be able to see it, but Event Manager will become the active 	
	program.  Pressing "Ctrl+F4" (password hotkey) will now bring up the password   
	dialog box.  If you enter the correct password, Event Manger will be visible    
	again, if not, it stays invisible PERIOD!  You will have to reboot to try again!

	Options

	Enable Protection on Startup
	Does just that.  Any restrictions selected will be automatically engaged when the       
	program is launched.    

	Timeout
	Password entry screen will time out after the interval (4, 8, 12 or 16 seconds)         
	has expired.  (Since there's no limit to attempts, this is only as usefull as its       
	annoyance to someone trying to guess the password!)


ERRORS 
Since Event Manager is meant to be run unattended, it doesn't do a whole lot 
of good for it to generate error message boxes like most programs.  If it did, 
no events would be executed until the user hit the "OK" button.  

When Event Manager encounters (harmless) errors either in its own processing 
or in the way it was configured by the user, it shows them in an overlay on 
the help bar at the bottom of the startup screen.  Errors are displayed this 
box (even after Eventman is closed) and are saved in the eventman.ini file.  
They don't go away until the user double clicks on the error message to clear 
it.  Errors without error numbers are USER errors.  Check your settings and 
try again!  If you get an error message with an error number ahead of it, 
DON'T FREAK OUT, ALL PROGRAMS GENERATE ERRORS, (they just don't always tell 
you!)  If you run into an error that stops or crashes eventman, then FREAK 
OUT (or at least let us know so we can fix it)!

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If you would like to :        
A) Register Eventman                 
B) Receive product information
C) Give us comments or suggestions

Please call, write, fax or email us.

  
You can reach us at:    
SRO SYSTEMS 
P.O. Box 5028
Blue Jay, CA 92317

Phone (909) 337-7535            Fax (909) 337-0575

Email:  COMPUSERVE               : 75604,3535
	AMERICA ONLINE           : SROSYSTEMS

We answer most calls/faxes/email within one day.


	      ENJOY . . . .
					       SEAN
