WinBatt Toshiba Battery Monitor for Windows 3.0/3.1 Version 1.0, 3/20/92 SHAREWARE Licensing in effect! Copyright 1991,1992 F. Scott Porter SHAREWARE: This program is shareware and is not in the public domain. There are distribution requirements, and licensing rules. This program required a substantial amount of my time to write and your support is required if upgrades and improvements are to be made. If you find this program useful please send $20 to: F. Scott Porter Porter Gable Associates 143 Woodbine St. Providence, RI 02906 Also please read the licensing and distribution information at the end of this file. INTRODUCTION: WinBatt was constructed in response to several shortcomings in the popup window interface to the special features of Toshiba laptop computers. Notably that the popup window does not function while running Microsoft Windows 3.0/3.1 in '386 Enhanced mode. In addition I found the popup window to be inconvenient in that I had to warp my hand around the Toshiba keyboard in order to view my battery status. The result of these two complaints is the program included here. Winbatt uses the same technique as the popup window to obtain the computer's battery status by querying the special hardware registers in the Toshiba power supply. Winbatt, however, was designed from the ground up to be a native Windows 3.0/3.1 application and integrates completely into that Environment. Winbatt can be left running continuously just like the Windows clock, updating the battery status once every second and a half, and it is completely compatible with all operating modes of Windows 3.0 and Windows 3.1. Winbatt has been written to function with all models of Toshiba laptop and notebook computers that are capable of running Microsoft Windows including those with one or two battery modules. Winbatt will automatically recognize the type of computer that it is running on and configures itself accordingly. FEATURES: WinBatt contains the following features: - Automatically recognizes which Toshiba computer it is running on. - Works with one and two battery systems. - Updates itself once per 1.5 seconds, with speed optimized display techniques. - Battery set function is through menus and easy to use dialog boxes. - Completely compatible with all modes of Windows 3.0/3.1 - Accesses the Toshiba special hardware registers directly to obtain battery information. - Battery status is reflected in the programs icon when the program is minimized to the Windows desktop. (only on one battery systems) - WinBatt stores its position on the desktop in WinBatt.ini so that it will always reappear at the last place you left it on the desktop. - Compatible with Windows 3.1. In the future (hopefully soon) I will implement the following additions: - Battery gauge graphic with sizing that appears like a car fuel gauge. - Dynamic icons for two battery systems. INSTALLATION: You may install this program either by selecting "New" and then "Program Item" in the "File" menu of the program manager, or by running the Window's setup program in the "Main" program group. INSTRUCTIONS: The program is virtually self explanatory. If you want to view your battery status double click on the WinBatt program icon or run the program by selecting "Run" in the "File" menu of the program manager. If you want the program to run automatically every time you start Windows then you must edit the "win.ini" file in your main windows directory and add the full DOS path to the "load =" (for loading the program minimized) or "run=" (for running the program as a window). For example: run = C:\BIN\WINPROGS\WinBatt.exe or load = C:\BIN\WINPROGS\WinBatt.exe If you want to "load" or "run" multiple programs then you must put a space between program items. In Windows 3.1 you simply drag the WinBatt icon to the "StartUp" group on your Program Manager desktop. Once WinBatt is running the battery status of your computer will be displayed in one or two bar graphs depending on whether your system has one or two batteries. If your battery is not installed then "N/A" will be displayed. If your battery needs to be set, for example if you have just installed a fresh battery, then "???" will be displayed. This behavior is identical to the Toshiba "popup window". If you need to set the battery then you must select "Set Battery..." in the "Main" menu on single battery systems, and either the "Left Battery..." or "Right Battery" submenu items for dual battery systems. A dialog box will be displayed and you may tab between the various items if your system does not have a mouse. The "Full" control button is preselected so that if you are installing a fresh battery you can just hit the return key when the dialog box is displayed. The bizarre percentage numbers displayed (14%, 28%, etc...) are just a result of how many discrete battery states the Toshiba hardware monitoring system supports. You may leave WinBatt running continuously and the battery status will be updated once per 1.5 seconds or you can "minimize" the program to an icon and the battery status will be reflected in the icon(on one battery systems). I have WinBatt preloaded on my system along with the Windows clock so that I always have visual access to these utilities. WINDOWS ENHANCED MODE: The instructions for installing WinBatt under Windows 3.0/3.1 Enhanced mode are the same as in standard or real mode except that it is incompatible with two of the Windows virtual device drivers. WinBlank, WinTosh, and the Toshiba AutoResume driver are also incompatible with these drivers. If you are using '386 Enhanced mode then you will need to edit the file "system.ini" in your main Windows directory. You will need to insert a semicolon before the lines "device = *int13" and "device=*wdctrl" if they exist in the [386Enh] section of this file. For Example: locate and change: [386Enh] ... device = *int13 device = *wdctrl to: [386Enh] ... ;device = *int13 ;device = *wdctrl This will comment out the lines and prevent the int13 and wdctrl drivers from loading. ALSO AVAILABLE: I have also implemented the following utilities in an effort to bring all of the Toshiba's special features into the Windows 3.0 environment: WinTosh: (Available now for T2000SX, T2000SXe) Toshiba control panel for Windows 3.0 which allows you to set all of the special features of your Toshiba computer including Modem On/Off, Speaker On/Off, Battery Alarm On/Off, Hard disk power down time, Display power down time, Boot/Resume mode, Sleep mode On/Off, etc... Currently works only with T2000SX and T2000SXe computers but will be expanded shortly to function with the entire line of Toshiba computers. $15. WinBlank: (Available now) A special Windows 3.0 screen blanker for Toshiba computers which will power down the display backlighting during periods of inactivity. This differs significantly from the built in power down feature in that WinBlank understands mouse activity and allows the screen to power down even when connected to external power. $15. WinChad: (Yet to be completed) VChad like program for Windows 3.0 to control the computer's display palette and to load and save palettes from disk. DISTRIBUTION: You may receive updated versions of this software from any of the following locations: 1) The Toshiba America Computer Systems Division bulletin board at 1-714-837-4408 2) By mail to registered owners: $5 for updates (US addresses), or $20 for new owners (includes license). 3) By Email free to registered owners who have access to the internet. 4) By anonymous FTP from cica.cica.indiana.edu in the pub/pc/win3/utils directory (or possibly in the pub/pc/win3/misc directory). LICENSING: You are authorized to use this software on a trial basis for a period of 30 days from the date that it is installed on your computer. After that period you must purchase a valid licensed version from me (F. Scott Porter) or you must remove WinBatt from your system. You are free to distribute this program in its original zipped form with all of its files intact (WinBatt.Txt, WinBatt.Wri, WinBatt.exe, Readme.txt) as long as you charge no more than a reasonable copying fee. All trademarked items mentioned in this text are trademarks of their respective owners. ADDRESSES: You may contact me by Email at ST402248@Brownvm.brown.edu or by mail at: F. Scott Porter Porter Gable Associates 143 Woodbine St. Providence, RI 02906 (401)272-4255 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: I would like to thank Scott Reed of Toshiba America for his advice, helpful discussions, beta testing and the source code to his utility "BatStat1". I would also like to thank Cheryl Blount of Toshiba America for allowing me to see the source code to her utility "ToshUtil".