Copyright c 1995, 1996, Don Beusee's Software Page 1 WINX32 Version 1.7 WINX32 is Freeware for personal, non-commercial use. You may freely distribute WINX32, as long as all files from the archive are included. WINX32 requires no runtime libraries, since it was written in Borland's Delphi32! ***** LIMITED WARRANTY ***** THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THESE PROGRAMS IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU (NOT DON'S SOFTWARE) ASSUME THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY REPAIR, SERVICING, OR CORRECTION. IN NO EVENT WILL DON'S SOFTWARE BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS, OR OTHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THESE PROGRAMS, EVEN IF DON'S SOFTWARE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS, WHICH VARY FROM PROVINCE TO PROVINCE OR STATE TO STATE. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES SO THE ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, UNDERSTAND IT, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY ITS TERMS AND CONDITIONS. YOU FURTHER AGREE THAT IT IS THE COMPLETE AND EXCLUSIVE STATEMENT OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN US, WHICH SUPERSEDES ANY PROPOSAL OR PRIOR AGREEMENT, ORAL OR WRITTEN, AND ANY OTHER COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN US. INSTALLATION Just run INSTALL.BAT to install winx32 (you can double-click it from the windows explorer). Winx32.exe will be installed into the windows directory then winx32 will be associated with .wx files. DESCRIPTION WINX32 lets you run several window programs as one icon or shortcut. It will either wait for a program to finish or not (your choice!). It will execute programs starting with the command line arguments. "@file.ext" tells WINX32 to read and execute commands from file.ext. These can be nested, as long as any of the files called do not result in the original file getting called again. You also have the choice of starting a specified program maximized, minimized, or hidden. TO USE Using WINX32 is pretty easy. All you need to do is create a .wx file that contains the commands you want to execute and put it on the desktop or in the Start menu anywhere you like. Copyright c 1995, 1996, Don Beusee's Software Page 2 For instance, to create a shortcut on the desktop, just right-click on the desktop and select New then Text Document. Now name it anything you like and make sure it ends with .wx and click Yes to change the extension. Now right- click on it and Edit it to put the commands that you want to execute when you double-click this file. Once you have done this, you can execute the file by simply double-clicking on the .wx file you created. Options that can be given right after the program name (before space and its arguments) are: Option Description ------------ ------------------------------------------------ /w waits for program to terminate before continuing. /h start program hidden. /min start program minimized. /max start program maximized. Example: notepad/w/max starts notepad maximized and waits for it to terminate. There are also internal winx32 commands, which are specified on a separate line: Command Description --------------- -------------------------------------------------------- /cd change to to run all following commands in. /sleep sleep for seconds before starting next command. /pause display with an OK button to continue before starting next command. /waitall wait for all started commands to finish (those that were started without /w). A maximum of 50 commands will be waited on. The commands to wait on must have been started by this instance of winx32 (i.e. from the same shortcut). There are also comment characters (which must be the first printable character on the line). A `#' or `;' character represents a comment line. Example .wx file: command/w # Start Notepad notepad ; Start Word winword excel /waitall netscape The above will start a dos prompt and wait for it to finish, then start notepad, winword, and excel and wait for them all to finish, then start netscape. Copyright c 1995, 1996, Don Beusee's Software Page 3 If you have any questions or suggestions regarding WINX32 you can send E-Mail to the author at one of the following Internet address: dbeusee@us.oracle.com dbeusee@compuserve.com Please be sure to put WINX32 and the version number in the subject field. Send me a note if you use the program so I can inform you via email of new versions, and so that I know it is being used, which would motivate me to make enhancements. Updates to this program can be found at the following URL: http://www.simtel.net/simtel.net/win95/util.html (scroll to the bottom of the list and look up from there for a file beginning with "WINX32"). If you like the program and you feel like sending me a donation (as a reward for my hard work) or a postcard, please send it to: Don Beusee 312 Commander Ln Redwood Shores, Ca. 94065 Keep in mind any check should be cashable at a bank in the U.S. without a fee. List of files in the archive: FILE_ID.DIZ For BBS use INSTALL.BAT Installs winx32 WINX32.TXT This README file WINX32.EXE WINX32 executable file WX.REG Registers association of .wx to winx32 (install.bat calls this). Version History: 1.1 Added /min, /max, and /hide options. 1.2 Fixed bug were an extra line was required at the end of all files read by WINX32. Also Fixed FILE_ID.DIZ to 45 chars. 1.3 Added ability to associate .WX extension with WINX32 so you can simply put the .WX file in an icon or shortcut and have WINX32 execute it. A /cd command was also added to allow programs to be started in different directories. 1.4 Added new syntax for command line to support Windows 95 long filenames. Curly braces delimit each command and double-quotes delimit words. This allows long filenames to be passed with spaces, like this: {notepad "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Dao\Dao.cnt"} Copyright c 1995, 1996, Don Beusee's Software Page 4 1.5 Give Message Box when executing WINX32.EXE with no argument(s). Gives hints on what to do. /sleep and /pause commands added. WINX32.TXT (this file) brought up to date on syntax and my address. 1.6 Fixed problem with 32 bit version where you could not execute a .wx file that was already being executed. Also fixed the /sleep command. 1.7 Fixed problem where winx32 could not run shortcuts or other non-executable files directly. Simplify documentation by removing documentation of old (still supported) cryptic usage, since it was confusing. Supply install.bat to install winx32 and automatically associate .wx files with winx32. Also fixed problem with 'winx32 "file with spaces.wx"' (handling of double-quotes) which failed with the default association. Fixed documentation (/hide should be /h). /waitall command added.