YAKCLOCK.TXT - YAKKITY CLOCK PRODUCT DOCUMENTATION - VERSION 1.04 _______________________________________________________________ INTERIM RELEASE NOTICE ---------------------- Version 1.04 is a maintenance release which implements a number of corrections to the program's support file handling routines. These corrections improve program reliability, but do not alter the program's interface or command set. The dialog boxes (including the configuration, voice selection, and alarm set dialogs) have been redesigned, but their functionality is unchanged. This version also implements a "Program Window Always Visible" option in the Program Configuration dialog box. The changes implemented in this version only apply to the following files: YAKCLOCK.EXE, YAKCLOCK.HLP, YAKCLOCK.TXT, and YAKCLOCK.INI. The voice/sound library files (*.DLL) remain the same. NOTE: Version 1.04 handles select configuration settings differently than prior releases. As a result, when installing version 1.04, you should delete or overwrite the old YAKCLOCK.INI file. Do NOT attempt to run version 1.04 using the YAKCLOCK.INI file from a previous release. When in doubt, you can always delete your existing YAKCLOCK.INI and then run Yakkity Clock 1.04. The program will create a new YAKCLOCK.INI file in the correct format. INTRODUCTION ------------ Yakkity Clock is a powerful, easy-to-use "talking clock" utility for the Microsoft Windows operating environment (versions 3.1 or above). Yakkity Clock takes advantage of the sound capabilities introduced in Windows 3.1. The program provides digitized voice time updates at the touch of a button, or at regular intervals set by the user. You may select either a male or female voice for Yakkity Clock's updates. A library of "built-in" sound effects are included, any of which may be substituted for the voice time reminder. Yakkity Clock is an alarm clock, too! Up to four different alarms can be set to play bell tone or buzzer sound effects -- and can even be configured to play stand-alone .WAV sound files! Yakkity Clock's flexibility makes it the ultimate "custom" clock utility for the Microsoft Windows environment. PROGRAM FILES ------------- The YAKKITY CLOCK package consists of twelve files: README.TXT Introductory program ASCII text file. YAKCLOCK.EXE The executable program file for this version of Yakkity Clock. YAKCLOCK.INI The initialization file, used for recording the program's configuration information. YAKCLOCK.HLP The Windows Help file, used for providing comprehensive run-time help. Help topics may be easily printed through the Windows Help menu bar "File/Print Topic" command. YAKCLOCK.TXT This file, containing program information, notes, and general operating instructions. YAK01M.DLL, YAK02M.DLL, and YAK03M.DLL The Yakkity Clock "male" voice libraries, containing digitized speech data for the program's voice time features. YAK01F.DLL, YAK02F.DLL, and YAK03F.DLL The Yakkity Clock "female" voice libraries, containing digitized speech data for the program's voice time features. YAKSNDS.DLL The Yakkity Clock sound effects library, containing digitized sound effects data for the program's interval sound and alarm features. YAKKITY CLOCK PROGRAM NOTES --------------------------- Yakkity Clock runs within the Microsoft Windows environment (versions 3.1 or higher), and requires the following: * VGA graphics capability. * A Windows-compatible mouse or other pointing device. * A Windows-compatible sound card (AdLib, Roland, Sound Blaster, etc.) installed... or... * The Microsoft Windows 3.1 PC Speaker driver. Yakkity Clock runs in 16-color mode, but will run acceptably on monochrome or black & white VGA systems. The program will run in any Windows 3.1+ operating mode. SOUND DRIVER NOTES ------------------ Yakkity Clock makes use of the sound functions implemented in Microsoft Windows version 3.1 or later. So, obviously, you must have the correct version of Windows installed and correctly configured for your system. As stated earlier, you must also have one of the following: 1) A Windows-compatible sound card (AdLib, Roland, SoundBlaster, etc.) correctly configured via Microsoft Windows' "Control Panel" utility. 2) Microsoft's proprietary PC speaker driver. The speaker driver is a small program that allows music and sound effects to be played through a standard PC case speaker. This driver is available from Microsoft, as well as from a number of on-line information services. It, too, must be correctly installed and configured via Windows' "Control Panel." YAKKITY CLOCK SETUP ------------------ Yakkity Clock requires very little in the way of configuration or setup. Although it can be run from a floppy disk, we strongly recommend installation to a hard disk. INSTALLATION GUIDELINES ----------------------- 1. MAKE A BACKUP COPY We strongly recommend making a backup copy of your program disk. Keep the master copy in a safe place and use the backup disk for program installation. 2. COPY THE PROGRAM FILES Although Yakkity Clock can be run from a floppy disk, we strongly recommend its installation to a hard disk. To do this, copy the program files (YAKCLOCK.EXE, all *.DLL files, YAKCLOCK.INI, and YAKCLOCK.HLP) from your master disk to an appropriate subdirectory on your hard disk (e.g., C:\YAKCLOCK). The ASCII text files, YAKCLOCK.TXT and README.TXT, are an important source of program information, but are not REQUIRED in order to run Yakkity Clock. All other files ARE required, and must reside together in the same drive and directory in order for the program to work properly. Yakkity Clock can make use of independent .WAV files in its alarm feature. Toward that end, any .WAV files you might want to use with Yakkity Clock must be copied into the Yakkity Clock directory. 3. ASSIGN AN ICON You may use the "Windows Setup" utility to assign Yakkity Clock's program item (icon) to a program group. Setup will recognize the YAKCLOCK.EXE file and assign its icon to a program group for you. or... You may assign a program item icon to Yakkity Clock manually, through the Program Manager menu bar "File/New" command. Always make sure that the complete path and correct filename (e.g., "C:\YAKCLOCK\YAKCLOCK.EXE") is assigned to the YAKCLOCK program item. The "Browse" control in the Program Item dialog box will make it easy to locate and assign the correct path and filename. You do not need to specify a "Working Directory" for Yakkity Clock. 4. RUN THE PROGRAM If installed correctly, the program should load from the Program Manager screen when the Yakkity Clock icon is double-clicked (or from File Manager when the Yakkity Clock listing is selected with "File/Run" or double-clicked). Naturally, you do not HAVE to assign Yakkity Clock executable file to a Program Manager group. The program can easily be run directly from File Manager or any "substitute" Windows shell or desktop application. GETTING STARTED --------------- Yakkity Clock's performance is entirely dependent on the accuracy of your computer's system time setting (also called "DOS Time"). You can check and/or adjust this setting from the DOS prompt by using the "TIME" command, or from within Microsoft Windows via the Control Panel "Date/Time" applet. Assuming your system time is correctly set, Yakkity Clock should display the correct current time as soon as it appears on your screen. Yakkity Clock will also display the current time when reduced (minimized) to its iconic state. SCREEN SAVER NOTE: When running the Program Configuration option to display the current time in the iconic caption, Yakkity Clock's refresh of the iconic text will defeat most Windows screen savers. If you need to run a screen saver, be sure to set the Program Configuration "Iconic Caption Text" selection to "Program Title (Default)." This prevents the automatic refresh of the iconic caption that is necessary only when updating the current time. A pushbutton control is located below the digital time display. This button can be "clicked" with the mouse pointer to provide a voice time update. Yakkity Clock can be configured to automatically provide periodic voice time or sound effects updates. In addition, up to four independent alarms can be set, and will sound even if Yakkity Clock is not the active window or if the program is minimized. All configuration controls are accessible through the program system menu. All configuration settings are automatically saved by Yakkity Clock (and written to the YAKCLOCK.INI configuration file). Until they are changed, these settings will be placed into effect every time the program is run. To take advantage of all Yakkity Clock features requires a familiarity with the Yakkity Clock system menu commands, which are listed and summarized in the following section... SYSTEM MENU COMMAND SUMMARY --------------------------- RESTORE This command restores a minimized program to its full size. MOVE This command allows the program window or icon to be manually moved from one position to another. It is primarily used with program windows that have no caption or title bar (which can be "clicked" and "dragged" with a mouse pointer as a way of moving a program window). MINIMIZE This command minimizes (reduces) a program window to its iconic state. Yakkity Clock will display the current system time while minimized to an icon. In addition, all alarm and interval features remain fully functional while the program is iconized. CLOSE This command closes Yakkity Clock. SWITCH TO... This command opens the Windows Task List utility, which can be used for quickly switching to, or closing, any other active applications. PROGRAM CONFIGURATION... This command opens the Yakkity Clock main configuration settings dialog box. From this dialog, the user can adjust the "Iconic Caption Text" feature and control the Interval Alert functions, which can be set to issue periodic voice time or sound effect reminders. Several "built-in" sound effects may be subtituted for the voice time reminder. A checkbox control is also available for enabling a "Program Window Always Visible" option, which configures Yakkity Clock to remain in front of any other active program windows, even when it doesn't own the input focus. The Interval feature can be disabled by selecting the radiobutton control labeled "None/Mute". SCREEN SAVER NOTE: When the "Iconic Caption Text" option "Current Time" is selected, Yakkity Clock's refresh of the iconic text will defeat most Windows screen savers, effectively preventing the screen from being blanked. If you need to run a screen saver, you MUST set the Program Configuration "Iconic Caption Text" selection to "Program Title (Default)." This disables the automatic updating of the iconic caption necessary only when displaying the current time in the iconic caption. VOICE SELECTION... This command opens the Yakkity Clock voice selection dialog box. From this dialog, the user can select either the "male" or "female" digitized voice libraries to use for Yakkity Clock's voice time updates. ALARM 1 This command opens the Alarm 1 settings dialog box, from which the first of four available alarms can be enabled and/or custom-configured. A series of radio button controls allow choices of the type of sound effect to be played -- the alarm can also be configured to play a stand-alone .WAV sound file instead of one of the default bell or buzzer tones. Scrolling controls are provided in the "Alarm Scheduling" area for setting the alarm time. ALARM 2 This command opens the Alarm 2 settings dialog box, from which the second of four available alarms can be enabled and/or custom-configured. ALARM 3 This command opens the Alarm 3 settings dialog box, from which the third of four available alarms can be enabled and/or custom-configured. ALARM 4 This command opens the Alarm 4 settings dialog box, from which the fourth of four available alarms can be enabled and/or custom-configured. HELP... This command accesses Yakkity Clock's comprehensive run-time help. This command runs the Windows Help system and loads the file, YAKCLOCK.HLP, which contains full documentation and program notes on Yakkity Clock. You may select specific topics to read, or browse from topic to topic. You may even print topics for later reference. REGISTRATION INFORMATION... This command opens a dialog box containing Yakkity Clock registration information. ABOUT YAKKITY CLOCK... This command opens a dialog box containing Yakkity Clock's version and copyright information. PRODUCT SUPPORT --------------- If you have a problem with this program, and can't find the answer in the Help System or text file documentation, you can contact Pegasus Development's Tech Support Hotline (furnished courtesy of Advanced Support Group, Inc.) by telephone Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. C.S.T. Our number is: (314) 965-5630 Please be prepared to furnish us information regarding your PC hardware, operating system, and version of Microsoft Windows you are currently running. And, if you manage to stump us, we can usually get back to you within a day with a solution. LIMITED WARRANTY AND REMEDIES ----------------------------- Before release, our applications software is tested on a wide variety of hardware configurations, under the most rigorous test conditions possible. We therefore warrant that the software will perform in substantial compliance with the specifications set forth in this text, provided that the software is used on the computer hardware and operating system(s) for which it was designed. Pegasus Development makes no other warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this software or media, including its quality or fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will Pegasus Development be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the use of or the inability to use this software, even if Pegasus Development has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Pegasus Development is not responsible for any costs including, but not limited to, those incurred as a result of lost profits or revenues, loss of time or use of the software, loss of data, the cost of recovering software or data, the cost of substitute software, claims by third parties, or similar costs. In no event will Pegasus Development's liability exceed the amount of the paid purchase price. This version of Yakkity Clock is licensed to Starlite Software Co. and distributed by Advanced Support Group, Inc. As such, the terms expressed here with regard to Pegasus Development should be considered equally applicable to Starlite Software and Advanced Support Group. PRODUCT REGISTRATION -------------------- Yakkity Clock is shareware, not freeware. Product registration is necessary if companies like ours are to continue providing quality software for the shareware marketplace. Registration entitles a single end-user to install and run this program on a single personal computer or work station. If you are interested in obtaining a registration for more than one user, please read the "Site License Registrations" section below. Registered users receive the registered version of this product (available in 3.5" or 5.25" disk formats). Registration also entitles the user to advance release information on upcoming Pegasus Development products (including updates and upgrades to this program) -- as well as other new titles in our expanding product line. The single-user registration fee for this product is $15.00 (U.S.). Registrations are accepted both by telephone (with a major credit card) or by mail. Before ordering, please note the following: * For orders within the continental U.S. and Canada, please add $1.50 for shipping and handling. Missouri (U.S.) residents, please include an additional 6% sales tax. * For orders outside the continental U.S. and Canada, please add $2.75 shipping and handling. * Checks and money orders must be drawn on a U.S. bank. Registrations are handled by Advanced Support Group, Inc. As a result, all credit card registrations will appear on your statement as "ASG, Software - Services." For your convenience, a registration form is provided here and within the program's help file (accessible via the Windows Help system as outlined previously). The help file registration form, or any help topic, is easily printable through the Windows Help menu bar "File/Print Topic" command. SITE LICENSE REGISTRATIONS -------------------------- Site license registrations are available for groups wishing to obtain multiple (20 or more) registrations of this product. Site licenses allow many users to obtain product registration at a substantial discount from the standard registration fee. Please contact Pegasus Development for site license information. PRODUCT INQUIRIES ----------------- Please direct any questions or comments regarding this program to: Pegasus Development 11900 Grant Place St. Louis, MO. 63131 U.S.A. We at Pegasus Development appreciate your support, and hope you enjoy using Yakkity Clock 1.04. YAKKITY CLOCK (Version 1.04) Copyright (c) 1993 Pegasus Development "Microsoft" and "Windows" are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation Published by: Starlite Software Company Box 370 Port Hadlock, WA. 98339 Distributed (USA) by: Advanced Support Group, Inc. 11900 Grant Place St. Louis, MO. 63131 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOFTWARE REGISTRATION FORM -------------------------- Return this form along with your remittance to: Pegasus Development Yakkity Clock Registration 11900 Grant Place St. Louis, MO. 63131 U.S.A. You can also register by telephone using your MasterCard, American Express, or VISA through Advanced Support Group's Product Registration Hotline at 1-800-788-0787. ____ Yakkity Clock Registration(s) @ $15.00 U.S. each * For orders within the continental U.S. and Canada, please add $1.50 for shipping and handling. Missouri residents only, please include an additional 6% sales tax. * For orders outside the continental U.S. and Canada, please add $2.75 shipping and handling. * Checks and money orders must be drawn on a U.S. bank. Total enclosed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $______________ Payment by: [] Check [] AmEx [] MasterCard [] VISA Card# _______________________________ Exp. Date __________ Signature of Cardholder __________________________________ Name _____________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________ City __________________________ State/Province ___________ Zip/Postal Code________________ Country __________________ Telephone (______)________________________________________ Disk Size Required: [] 3.5" (720K) [] 5.25" (360K) Please indicate where you obtained Yakkity Clock: (Mail Order, BBS, etc) ___________________________________