Copyright: Copyright © 1994-95 AWS/Aaron J Margosis


Contents
ScrnSaveSwitchPlus

Windows Screen Saver On/Off Switch

Version 2.50

for Microsoft Windows 3.1+

© 1994-95 AWS (Aaron Writes Software)

ScrnSaveSwitchPlus lets you enable, disable, or start your Windows screen saver with a single mouse-click to a small button on your desktop.  It also lets you set the screen saver delay in one second (rather than one minute) increments.  Finally, it provides quick methods to restart your Windows session, to safely close Windows and reboot your machine, or to exit to DOS without the pesky “This will end your Windows session” OK/Cancel query.

ScrnSaveSwitchPlus is a Shareware – not a freeware – program.  You may use and evaluate it for 30 days without cost or obligation.  After 30 days, you must send in your registration if you wish to continue using ScrnSaveSwitchPlus.

Topics:

Why ScrnSaveSwitchPlus?

How to Use the Switch

Activating the Menu

Shareware Information and Registration

Technical Notes and System Requirements

Technical Support


Why ScrnSaveSwitchPlus?

Let your screen saver run when you want it to, and only when you want it to!

  So programs run correctly:

Not all software behaves correctly if the screen saver suddenly comes on.  Clicking the green dot Button to red is a simple and convenient way to protect your downloads, tape backups, faxes, etc.

  Security:

If your screen saver is password-protected, a quick click of the “S” Button starts the screen saver immediately and lets you leave your workstation without fear of others’ prying.  (Remember that the Windows screen saver will not start otherwise if the active application is a DOS program, whether it’s running full screen or windowed!  Click that Button!)

  So you can work:

Your computer can’t tell whether you’re reading what’s on the screen, attending to another matter, or fast asleep!  It’s all “inactivity” as far as the computer is concerned — but it can be an annoying interruption to you.

Plus — [image] The “Windows Exit...” utilities:

Many programs never release the memory resources they acquire.  The only way to make those resources available again is to quit Windows and then restart it.  Sometimes a whole reboot is required to restore a system to “normal”!  These utilities make that reinitialization safe, simple, fast and keyboard-free.  (By the way, they also let you bypass the “This will end your Windows session” OK/Cancel query.)

What do you think?  What else would you like to see?  Contact me at the E-Mail or USMail addresses under “Technical Support”.


How to Use the Switch

Run ScrnSaveSwitchPlus using Windows’ Program Manager or File Manager.  One of the small ScrnSaveSwitchPlus Buttons will appear on your screen.  (Until you choose to position the Button somewhere else, it will appear in the lower right corner of your screen.)

The default Button switches from a green [image] to a red dot [image] when you click on it with your primary mouse-button (usually the left mouse-button).  A green dot means that the Windows screen saver is enabled and will start after a period of inactivity.  A red dot means that the screen saver is disabled and will not start on its own.

An alternate Button has an “S” on a green [image] or red [image] background.  Your screen saver starts immediately when you click on the “S” button.  The background color tells whether the screen saver may also start from inactivity.  The green background means that the screen saver is enabled and will start either by clicking on the Button or after a period of inactivity.  The red background means that the screen saver has been disabled and will start only by clicking on the Button.

Another alternate Button [image] provides fast access to Windows Exit.  Clicking on this Button will pop up the Windows Exit dialog.

For more information about Windows screen savers, consult your Windows documentation.


Activating the Menu

Activate the menu by clicking ScrnSaveSwitchPlus with your secondary mouse-button (usually the right mouse-button).  The menu contains the following options:

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   Screen Saver:

Run Now	→ · Starts the screen saver immediately (just like clicking on the [image] or [image] Button).

Settings...	→ · Set screen saver parameters and make permanent changes.

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   Button(s):

Position...	→ · Place the Buttons anywhere on your screen.

Action...	→ · Choose which actions your Buttons will perform.

Size and Spacing...	→ · Resize your Buttons and set the spacing between them.

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   Always On Top	→ · Choose whether the Buttons should appear on top of other programs.

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   Help...	→ · Provides on-line assistance for ScrnSaveSwitchPlus.

   About...	→ · Displays version and shareware registration information.

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   Windows Exit...	→ · Restart or leave Windows, or reboot your computer (just like clicking the [image] Button).

   Exit ScrnSaveSwitch/Plus	→ · Removes ScrnSaveSwitchPlus from the screen and restores the most recent permanent screen saver settings.

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Technical Notes and System Requirements

Technical Notes:

•	ScrnSaveSwitchPlus will have no effect with screen savers not installed into Windows Control Panel / Desktop.

•	Using Control Panel’s Desktop dialog may change your ScrnSaveSwitchPlus settings for screen saver enabling and delay.

•	No screen saver will activate if ScrnSaveSwitchPlus enables screen saving but Windows’ Control Panel has no screen saver specified (i.e., Screen Saver Name = “(None)”.)

•	For more information about Windows screen savers, consult your Windows documentation.

•	Because ScrnSaveSwitchPlus has no keyboard interface, it always tries to pass control (input focus) to another application, usually the one that most recently had it.  If this ever causes a problem, you can disable the control-passing functionality by editing the SSSWITCH.INI file in your Windows directory.  Using NOTEPAD or another text editor, change the line that reads “KeepFocus=0” to “KeepFocus=1”.  You can change this setting even while ScrnSaveSwitchPlus is running.  Note that because ScrnSaveSwitchPlus also has no title bar or window frame, you won’t be able to tell when it has the input focus — your desktop may appear to have no active programs!  To activate another program, click on one with the mouse, or use Alt-Tab, Alt-Esc, or Ctrl-Esc.

System Requirements:

Microsoft Windows version 3.1 or higher;

Intel386-compatible or higher personal computer;

Mouse or similar pointing device.


Shareware Information and Registration

ScrnSaveSwitchPlus is a Shareware – not a freeware – program.  You may use and evaluate it for 30 days without cost or obligation.  After 30 days, you must send in your registration if you wish to continue using ScrnSaveSwitchPlus.  Registration is only $10.

As a registered user, you get Resizable Buttons, and the “Multi-Button” option to have multiple action buttons on the screen side by side.  You also get free upgrades, free technical support, and immediate product announcements, including all upgrades and bug fixes.

You may register either by:

»	Registering on CompuServe using the Shareware Registration Database, which is now part of CompuServe’s Basic Services.  Simply GO SWREG; the registration ID is 4158.

OR

»	Filling out the Registration Form and mailing $10.00 cash or check (US currency) to:

Aaron J Margosis

1100 North Kentucky Street

Arlington, VA  22205

USA


Technical Support

If you have any problems with ScrnSaveSwitchPlus, or any ideas, suggestions, comments, or criticisms, please contact the author, Aaron J Margosis:

Internet:	74747.2561@compuserve.com

CompuServe:	74747,2561

U.S. Mail:	1100 North Kentucky Street

Arlington, VA  22205

USA

Phone (emergencies only, please):  703-716-8767

Fax:  Call first


Screen Saver Settings

When you choose Screen Saver Settings from the menu, a dialog will appear with which you can:

•	Enable or disable the screen saver timeout.  (This is the same as clicking the [image] or [image] button – please refer to How to Use the Switch for more information.)

•	Specify the screen saver timeout delay in seconds (Windows’ Control Panel only allows 1 minute increments).

•	Make your settings permanent.  Checking this box will preserve your settings so they will be in effect the next time you start Windows or when you exit ScrnSaveSwitchPlus.  The existing permanent settings are displayed on the right-hand side of the dialog.


Button Position

This menu selection lets you place ScrnSaveSwitchPlus anywhere on your desktop.

To place it in one of the four corners of the screen, the top center, or the bottom center, click the corresponding button inside the rectangle in the Button Position dialog.

To place ScrnSaveSwitchPlus anywhere else, click the “Arrow Move” button.  This works just like any other window’s Move command.  The cursor will become a four-way arrow.  Press an arrow key or the spacebar, then reposition the Button using the mouse and/or the arrow keys.  Press Enter or click the left mouse-button to establish the Button’s position.


Button Action

This menu selection lets you select which type of ScrnSaveSwitchPlus Button you want to have on your desktop:

•	the [image] Button to enable or disable the screen saver timeout,

or

•	the [image] Button to start the screen saver immediately,

or

•	the [image] Button to exit or restart Windows or reboot your computer.

With the Registered version, you can have any or all of the Buttons on your desktop side by side.  With the unregistered version, only one Button can be on your desktop at a time.


Button Size and Spacing

This menu selection lets you resize the Button(s) and set the amount of space between them if you have more than one on the screen at once.  Measurements are in pixels.  The smallest Button size is 18 pixels.

“Defaults” restores the system defaults of 18 pixel Buttons with 2 pixels between Buttons.

The “Button Size and Spacing” option is available only in the Registered version of ScrnSaveSwitchPlus.


Always On Top

This menu selection toggles whether ScrnSaveSwitchPlus always appears above all other windows.  When this item is checked, the ScrnSaveSwitchPlus Buttons will be visible even if you are running another application maximized.


Windows Exit

The Windows Exit menu selection or [image] Button pops up a dialog box with several buttons.  With one mouse-click, you can:

»  Restart Windows:	Closes all applications and restarts your Windows session.

»  Exit Windows:	Closes all applications, shuts down Windows and returns to DOS.

»  Reboot Computer:	Closes all applications, shuts down Windows and reboots your computer.

»  Cancel:	Cancels “Windows Exit” — no action is taken.

See “Why ScrnSaveSwitchPlus” for more information.


Exit ScrnSaveSwitch/Plus
Exit ScrnSaveSwitchPlus

To end ScrnSaveSwitchPlus, choose “Exit ScrnSaveSwitch/Plus” from the menu.

This will remove the Button(s) from the screen, and restore the most recent permanent screen saver settings.


Registration Form
ScrnSaveSwitchPlus Registration Form

(Choose “File / Print Topic” to print out this form.)

Please fill out the following information and mail it along with US$10.00 (cash or check) to:

Aaron J Margosis

1100 N. Kentucky Street

Arlington, VA  22205

USA

Name:	______________________________________________

Company:	______________________________________________

Address:	______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

E-Mail Address:	______________________________________________

Day Phone (optional):	_________________________________________

Evening (optional):	_________________________________________

Version of ScrnSaveSwitchPlus you are currently using:    ______________

(You can find the ScrnSaveSwitchPlus version number by choosing “About” from the ScrnSaveSwitchPlus menu.)

How did you hear about ScrnSaveSwitchPlus?

Comments or Suggestions: