Copyright: Murphy 96 Copyright © Mike Stanley
Citation: Murphy 96 Copyright © Mike Stanley


Murphy 96

Copyright © 1995-1996 Mike Stanley.  All rights reserved.

Welcome to Murphy 96.

It was Murphy who first observed that if anything can possibly go wrong, it will go wrong.

Deceptive in its simplicity, this profound insight marked a turning point in our understanding of why things happen the way they do.  Indelibly etching itself into the human psyche, this revelation ensured that never again would we look at the world in quite the same way.

Not content to rest on his laurels, Murphy went on to expand on his theory and formulate the now famous laws that bear his name.  Truly one of the great thinkers of our time, Murphy somehow managed to unravel the very fabric of the cosmos itself and lay bare the fundamental perversity with which it is woven.

“Mother Nature is a bitch.”, he said.

It was a defining moment in history and Murphy’s accomplishments provided the foundation for a host of others who would follow in his giant footsteps.  There will only ever be one Murphy but his successors have, nonetheless, made significant contributions to his work.

Murphy 96 is the embodiment of the collective consciousness of these intellects—a compilation of hundreds of laws, corollaries, axioms, rules, maxims and other truisms.  Place Murphy 96 in your StartUp folder and it will present you with a different pearl of wisdom from Murphy and his cohorts every time you start Windows.

Murphy 96 is offered free, gratis and for nothing to all those who seek true enlightenment about that which we call reality.

Enjoy!

Installation Instructions


Software Requirements

Murphy 96 is a 32 bit application that will run only under Windows NT, Windows 95 or later versions of the same.

Also, the program is written in Visual Basic 4 which means that it requires the use of an additional run-time module (VB40032.DLL).  In order to reduce the download time from on-line services and because many people have this module already, it is not included with Murphy 96.

If you do not have the VB run-time module, you should be able to get it from the same place you found this program.


Installation Instructions

Important—Use at Your Own Risk

Murphy’s Laws are universal and not even Murphyware such as this can be immune to their effects.  While every effort has been made to ensure a reliable, high-quality product you should note that this software is provided ‘as is’ without any kind of warranty whatsoever, neither explicit nor implied.

You have the right to use, copy and distribute this program in any way you wish, free of charge, on condition that you do not alter any of the files and that you agree 100% that I will not be held liable in any way, shape or form (not even a little bit) for anything untoward that befalls anyone or anything, either directly or indirectly, as a result of using this software no matter how calamitous, disastrous or inauspicious the occasion may be.

Your use of this software constitutes acceptance of these terms.

How to Start Murphy 96 Each Time Windows Starts

   Click the Start button, and then point to Settings.

   Click Taskbar, and then click the Start Menu Programs tab.

   Click Add, and then click Browse.

   Locate Murphy.exe, and then double-click it.

   Click Next, and then double-click the StartUp folder.

   Type the name that you want to see on the StartUp menu, and then click Finish.

   Click OK.


Continuing the Good Work

I am sure that many of you have discovered your own Murphyisms—I even added one of my own to the list (see Stanley’s Law of Taking Things Apart).  If you would like to share your discoveries with others (and perhaps gain a modicum of fame and immortality), send them to me by email and I may include them in the next release of this software.

Let me know too if you find any bugs in the program or have any suggestions for future improvements.

Mike Stanley

New Hampshire

USA

Email: 74632.2227@compuserve.com


Technical Support

Technical support is available via e-mail only.

Please send questions, comments, criticisms, etc. to Mike Stanley at 74632.2227@compuserve.com.


VBMax 3D Effects

VBMax3D.dll is an in-process OLE server that lets you add three-dimensional visual effects to your VB 4.0 applications without the overhead of third-party controls.

With the release of Windows 95, 3D does not just mean shades of gray anymore.  VBMax3D.dll understands this and uses the Windows 95 color scheme settings to create the 3D effects.

VBMax3D.dll contains methods and properties for creating panels, borders, frames, lines, drop shadows, status bars, progress meters and a variety of text effects.

Not only that but you get the source code too, so you can see how it works and can tweak it any way you want to suit your own needs.


VBMax Message Box Wizard

A 32-bit add-in for VB 4.0 to simplify the process of coding message boxes.

When you reach a point in your code where you want to display a message box, select the VBMax Message Box Wizard from the VB Add-Ins menu and type in your message.  Click a control or two and you’re done—the generated code is written into your source file.

There are several configuration options and shortcuts you can use to tailor the utility to your own style of working.  If they are not enough, you also get fully-commented source code which you can tweak any way you want.  The code is up to date with new VB 4.0 features such as class modules, predefined constants and use of the registry.

Written entirely in VB 4.0, this program uses no third-party controls.  With that in mind, check out the icon selection bar in Step 1 and the spin button on the Options dialog—they work with the keyboard too and adapt themselves to changes in the Windows color scheme.


VBMax Liquid Crystal Display

An in-process OLE server for adding LCD/LED style controls to your VB 4.0 applications.

VBMaxLCD.dll contains methods and properties for setting the digit and background colors, autosizing the display, blinking colons, flashing digits, showing or hiding unlit segments and aligning digits left, right or centered.

Written entirely in VB 4.0, VBMaxLCD.dll provides all the functionality of a third-party control but without the overhead.

Not only that but you get the source code too, so you can see how it works and can tweak it any way you want to suit your own needs.


VBMax Electronic Message Display

An in-process OLE server for adding electronic message style controls to your VB 4.0 applications.

Written entirely in VB 4.0, VBMaxEM.dll contains methods and properties for controlling static or scrolling displays, adjusting the speed, changing the foreground and background colors, showing or hiding the grid, handling callbacks, and dozens of special effects.

Not only that but you get the source code too, so you can see how it works and can tweak it any way you want to suit your own needs.


Making the Move to Visual Basic 4 from COBOL

Message to COBOL Programmers

From Pinnacle Publishing, Inc.

This isn’t just any old Visual Basic book.  This one is written especially for you, the COBOL programmer, as you emerge into the strange, new world of personal computers, or PCs, about which you may know little.  Whether you like it or not, the programming world as you know it is changing—and changing fast.

This book introduces you to programming Windows using the Visual Basic programming language, and, at the same time, explains why making the transition to VB is a good move and how to overcome the inevitable culture shock.

Using COBOL as a point of reference, I’ll show you a different way of doing things, highlighting the differences and similarities between the two languages.  As a COBOL programmer, you already know how to program, you just need to become familiar with a new environment and new tools.  Wherever possible, I have tried to convey Windows and Visual Basic programming concepts in terms familiar to your COBOL experience.

This book wasn’t written by an academic perched in a remote ivory tower, totally divorced from the real world with no concept about what it takes to program computers for a living.  I am a working programmer with many years of COBOL programming experience.  Now, as an independent consultant specializing in Visual Basic, I not only continue to find gainful employment but am enjoying the change enormously.

Although learning Visual Basic was a little strange at first, it was not hard work.  On the contrary, it was fun.  Visual Basic programming is fun, and if you can get paid for doing it, so much the better.  If you enjoy programming, you’ll love Visual Basic.  It offers many more possibilities and opportunities than you will ever find with COBOL.

If I can make the transition, so can you.


Services

About the Author

Now specializing in VB software development, I am a mainframe refugee with extensive experience designing and programming business applications using a variety of hardware and software.

I have been programming in Visual Basic ever since version 1.0 was released and have written articles for Visual Basic Programmer’s Journal and VB Tech Journal.  I also authored the book Making the Move to Visual Basic 4 from COBOL from Pinnacle Publishing, Inc.

My client-server experience is with VB and MS SQL Server, currently using Remote Data Objects (RDO).  I also speak COBOL, CICS and DB2.

Software Development

I provide VB software development services in the Southern New Hampshire/Northern Massachusetts area and also areas further afield for those willing to let me telecommute.

For examples of my work, download some of the software described in this help file.  See VBMax 3D Effects, VBMax Electronic MessageDisplay, VBMax Liquid Crystal Display and VBMax Message Box Wizard.

Help File Authoring

I also provide on-line help authoring services.  This help file is an example of my work.

E-mail Mike Stanley at 74632.2227@compuserve.com.


Murphy 96

Murphy's Laws for Windows