Animated Inverse Cursor Scheme Version 1.0

Copyright 1998 by W. J. Harnden, Jr., all rights reserved.
Latest version available at http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Heights/2569/AniInvPg.htm.

Use "Word Wrap" to view this file.

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Introduction

This is a collection of inverse cursors which replace all the standard cursors in Windows 95 or NT. You'll never have to worry about having to look at only one color, just move the cursor and it changes! Also included are a number of alternate animated cursors in keeping with the inverse or multi-color theme. For installation under Windows 95 see the "Instructions" below. These cursors are also usable with NT, but instructions are not available since I do not have access to a computer with it.

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Instructions for Windows 95

The installation instructions provided in this file are given only as a courtesy. If you don't know what you are doing, please get help from someone who does. Since not everyone wants their setup to change to someone else's arbitrary default, this setup has intentionally been made to allow manual user input.

Installation

1. Unzip the AniInv10.zip file using an unzip utility which can handle long file names such as WinZip. The default directory will be "\Windows\Cursors\AniInverse." If for some reason you put the cursors into a different directory when unzipping, make a "\Windows\Cursors\AniInverse" directory and copy the cursors into it.

2. In Windows Explorer go to the "\Windows\Cursors\AniInverse" directory. You have a choice to install just the cursor scheme and not change your cursors or to install the scheme and the cursors. To install the scheme but not change any cursors, right click on the "AInvScheme.reg" file and click on "Merge." This adds the Animated Inverse Cursors Scheme to the mouse control panel, but will NOT make any changes to your existing cursors.  To install the scheme and the cursors, right click on the "AInvInstall.reg" file and click on "Merge."

3. To activate the "Animated Inverse Cursor Scheme," manually select the scheme, or to make any changes to the alternate cursors in the set, follow the directions below.

4. In Windows 95, click on "Start," then "Settings," then "Control Panel."

5. In Control Panel, double click on "Mouse" for Mouse Properties. Click on "Pointers" in Mouse Properties.

6. Under "Scheme," if not already showing the "Animated Inverse Cursor Scheme" scheme, click on the arrow for the drop down menu and double click on the "Animated Inverse Cursor Scheme" entry. You should now see the Animated Inverse Cursors for each default entry.

7. To keep the set shown, just click on "Apply" and go to step 8. To change any of the cursors, select that cursor and click on "Browse," double click on the AniInverse directory, then select the new cursor desired from those listed. Then click "Open." You should now see the new cursor shown for that event. Continue this until you have all the cursors the way you want. At this time you may want to save this as a custom scheme. Type in a scheme name and click on "Save As." To initiate the new cursors, click on "Apply."

8. Exit Mouse Properties and Control Panel. You're done! 

Note 1: Ainvatom, ainvspin, ainvstarcolor1, ainvstarcolor2, and ainvstargold are 256 color cursors. You must have Windows 95 Plus! installed and a true or high color video card to take advantage of these icons (enable high color mode under "Settings/Control Panel/Display Properties/Plus!"). You can also use Microangelo Engineer (shareware) or MULEVEL (freeware), but still must have a true or high color video card. MULEVEL is available from the 3D Red Animated Cursors home page.

Note 2: Ainvtimer is a 60 second timer and can be used to measure waiting time for your applications.

To uninstall:

1. Select new cursors that are not in the "\Windows\Cursors\AniInverse" directory for your default cursors using Steps 3-8 under Installation. When done, select the Animated Inverse Cursors under Scheme and click on "Delete."

2. In Windows Explorer delete directory "\Windows\Cursors\AniInverse."

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CAUTION!

If you do not use a white background for your main window, your text insertion pointer may be too similar in color to your background and may "disappear." This is usually only a problem with setups using 16 or 256 colors. This is easily solved by going to a white or other primary color background to get proper contrast. This is done by going to "Settings," opening "Control Panel," opening "Display," selecting the "Appearance" tab, selecting "Window" under "Item," clicking on "Color" and selecting the white block, and then clicking "Apply" and "Close."

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License

These files are copyrighted and being released as freeware for personal and non-profit use only. If you wish to use ANY of these cursors for ANY OTHER USE than the ones stated above, send a request for permission via email to joeslinks@geocities.com. 

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Disclaimer of Warranty

These cursor files are "AS IS" and come WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. Because of the various hardware and software environments into which these cursors may be put, NO WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE IS OFFERED. You take full responsibility for their use, suitability, and consequences. They are not guaranteed to work on your computer or your application. You should perform your own virus screenings and perform your own tests for suitability. The user must assume the entire risk of using these files, including their installation. If your computer crashes, I am NOT responsible, nor am I responsible for any collateral damages or consequences of any kind. YOU are the ONLY one responsible for their use.  (Remember you got this for free!)

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Credits

These inverse cursors are my unique work. A few unanimated inverse arrow cursors have shown up on the internet, but this is the first full inverse scheme and I experimented with a number of ideas which would keep the inverse concept yet still be easy to find against a similar colored background. I believe that I was able to develop these into a set that could be used everyday. I have also included ideas developed from making my other cursor sets: 
3D Green Animated Cursors located at http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Heights/2569/3DGCurPg.htm.
3D Yellow Animated Cursors located at http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Heights/2569/3YGCurPg.htm
3D Red Animated Cursors located at http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Heights/2569/3DRCurPg.htm

The gold star cursor is used with permission from a freeware gold cursor set by Matt Brown. Matt's home page was at http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~mattb, but this link recently stopped working.

The animated pendulum clock cursors were made based on a clock cursor I saw by Juan C. Pradas-Bergnes.

Some of the alternate 256 color cursors were developed from animated gifs. All were unattributed and/or in the public domain except the following: 
The animated color star and atom were made by me based on animated gifs by Matt Brown (since I didn't have a conversion program when I did this, it was alot more complicated than it sounds).
(If someone is the original author of an unattributed gif and does not want me to use it for a cursor, contact me and I will remove the subject cursor.)

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Version History

Version 1.0  (2/3/98) -- Initial issue of the Animated Inverse Cursor Scheme with 34 cursors.

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Animated Inverse Cursor Scheme "ZIP" File List for Version 1.0

ainvalt.ani        - "UpArrow" or alternate cursor
ainvappshrgls.ani  - "application starting" rotating hourglass
ainvappswatch.ani  - "application starting" stopwatch
ainvarrow.cur      - "arrow" cursor
ainvatom.ani       - "wait" 256 color rotating atom
ainvbeam.cur       - "Ibeam" or text select
ainvboot.ani       - "wait" walking shoe
ainvbuzy.ani       - "wait" sleeping
ainvcrazyclock.ani - "wait" crazy pendulum clock
ainvcross.cur      - "Crosshair" or precision select
ainvdiagl.ani      - "SizeNWSE" or diagonal move cursor
ainvdiagr.ani      - "SizeSWNE" or diagonal move cursor
ainvdisp.ani       - "application starting" disappearing tail
ainveyes.ani       - "application starting" blinking eyes
ainvheart.ani      - "wait" pulsing heart
ainvhelp.ani       - "help" cursor (with red blinking question mark)
ainvhelp2.ani      - "help" cursor (with inverse/red blinking question mark)
ainvhor.ani        - "SizeWE" or horizontal move cursor
ainvhourglass.ani  - "wait" vertical rotating hourglass
AInvInstall.reg    - registry file to install the cursor scheme and cursors
ainvjump.ani       - "Wait" jumping arrow
ainvmove.ani       - "SizeAll" or move cursor
ainvno.ani         - "No" cursor rotating
ainvno2.ani        - "No" cursor blinking no
ainvpen.ani        - "NWPen" or handwriting cursor
ainvpendclock.ani  - "wait" pendulum clock
AInvReadme.txt     - this readme file
AInvScheme.reg     - registry file to install just the cursor scheme
ainvspin.ain       - "wait" spining color pinwheel
ainvstarcolor1.ani - "wait" 256 color rotating star with black background
ainvstarcolor2.ani - "wait" 256 color rotating star with no background
ainvstargold.ain   - "wait" 256 color gold rotating star
ainvstopwatch.ani  - "wait" stopwatch
ainvtimer.ani      - "wait" 60 second timer
ainvvert.ani       - "SizeNS" or vertical move cursor
ainvwag.ani        - "application starting" wagging tail
ainvwipeout.ani    - "wait" "wipe out"
file_id.diz        - short description (BBS) file

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EPILEPSY WARNING

Although intentionally made without "flashing" animations, this warning is provided for your benefit. These cursors are animated and could induce epileptic seizures in those with epilepsy. These problems can arise even in those who have not been previously diagnosed with the condition. If you notice any unusual conditions develop (seizures, loss of awareness, etc.), STOP USING THESE CURSORS IMMEDIATELY and seek medical aid.

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