Using "Talisman", you can build any interface for your computer.
"Talisman" hides the standard desktop of Windows.
You create and add almost any type of object to the Talisman desktop, and attach
any type of internal Talisman commands or run any application. Objects
(which can be either visible or invisible) can be programmed to react to
mouse clicks or mouse movements. You can also add background pictures
to the desktop and add sounds to different events. All settings and pictures
are stored in a theme file. You can even make more than one theme and use
objects with links to go from one theme to another.
You can use Talisman as your default shell instead the Windows Explorer.
Talisman has its own startup ,system tray, taskbar and startmenu procedures.
Features:
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╖ Creating multilevel user defined desktops
╖ Use of any number of pictures of any type or dimension, instead of standard icons.
╖ Place, free-moving and imposing of objects in the Talisman workspace.
╖ All objects can run external programs or internal shell commands by one click of the mouse.
╖ The number of forms (screens) in one theme can range from 1 to 1000. Any screen object can be set to switch from one form to another.
╖ You can create a set of independent themes, and store them on any disk in the local computer or on a local area network.
╖ You can easily switch between different themes through your own objects or through the Talisman menu.
╖ The Built-in Object Editor allows the creation, modification and removal of any element in a theme.
╖ Large number of basic elements (forms, pictures, buttons of different types,text blocks, HTML objects)
╖ Customizable system tray, taskbar and clock.
╖ Sound support for all events.
╖ Applications menu, Task menu, Theme menu, Foldermenu, Run, Find, Desktop, ControlPanel, Network, Dialup, Documents and other internal commands.
╖ Script language.
╖ Plugins.
New in version 2.3
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1. New LVDM (Virtual Desktop Manager) plugin.
2. New LDrive (drive space indicator) plugin.
3. New "commandmenu <inputbox>" command allows to bind the menu of last used commands and the list of all available commands with any inputbox object (see default theme as example).
4. Improved procedure of drawing of menus and HTML objects.
5. Thumbnail preview in the theme submenu.
6. Bug corrections.
Known problems:
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1. FindFile command does not work in shell-mode.
2. Shutdown dialog does not work with Windows 95.
3. Animated icons are not displayed in the Talisman tray.
We'll correct these problems as soon as possible.
Installing the program:
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- Install the newest version of Talisman.
- If you want Talisman to execute at startup, place a Talisman shortcut in your
- Read an information about Shell mode of Talisman if you plan to use the Talisman as shell.
Installing as default shell
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Please read the" What to do if the system will not startup with Talisman as the shell?" before installing Talisman as your default shell!
To start Talisman as default shell:
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Run Talisman Shell Switcher (TSS) program tss.exe to switch between shells (Talisman and Explorer). Select shell and press Ok. Computer will be restarted with selected shell.
Notes for multiuser configuration of Windows2000/XP:
To have the possibility to use different shells for different users you have to login as Administrator and switch shells with Shell Switcher (tss.exe) at least once. TSS will make all necessary changes in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE key of your register. These initial changes are available only from Administrator account.
After that you can use TSS to switch shells from any user account.
To start Talisman as default shell without using TSS (manually):
Or you can switch between shells manually. Below are described all operations (same operations are made by TSS automatically):
Win9x/ME:
1) Open system.ini in a text editor like notepad or type sysedit at the run
dialog box.
2) In the [boot] section find the line shell=Explorer.exe
3) Either change the line to shell=c:\talisman\talisman.exe where c:\talisman
is the path where you have installed Talisman to, or you can put a
semicolon (;) infront of shell=Explorer.exe, hit return, and on the new
line type shell=c:\talisman\talisman.exe .
Note: if you have installed Talisman in a directory whose name contains more than eight characters, you will have to use the MS-DOS name in the shell= command. For example, if you installed Talisman in C:\Program Files\Talisman, the shell command becomes shell=c:\progra~1\talisman\talisman.exe. To find the MS-DOS name right click on the folder, select "Properties" and find the statement "MS-DOS name."
4) Save the file and either reboot your system or if you have multiple
profiles logoff and log back in.
NT4/Win2000/XP:
1) To make Talisman shell available for all users:
from "USR:Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" to "SYS:Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon".
9) Close regedit.exe.
10) Press Ctrl-Alt-Del and Restart Windows.
For Windows 95/98:
1) Restart your computer - either turn it off, then back on or hit the reset button.
With this step timing is critical. As your computer reboots, it will run through a series of checks (memory, hard drives, etc.). After the checks, it will normally display a screen showing your basic hardware configuration. When it does that, push the F8 key (Windows95 and Windows98 do things a little differently here: Win95 shows a statement Starting Windows95, but Win98 does not). Shortly after pushing the F8 key, you will be presented with a menu of startup options.
2) Select "Start at command prompt"
3) When you get a c:> prompt, key in
edit c:\windows\system.ini
(if your windows directory is named something else use that).
4) The screen will change and you will be presented with a basic text editor. Most likely, you won't be able to use your mouse, so you will have to navigate with the keyboard. Use the down arrow to get to the proper line (shell=), then change this string in
shell=explorer.exe
5) Exit the editor. The keystrokes are alt+f to open the File Menu; then x to exit; then y to save the changes.
6) Restart.
For Windows ME:
1) You need to have a bootable diskette and start computer from this diskette.
2) When you get a c:> prompt, key in
edit c:\windows\system.ini
(if your windows directory is named something else use that).
3) The screen will change and you will be presented with a basic text editor. Most likely, you won't be able to use your mouse, so you will have to navigate with the keyboard. Use the down arrow to get to the proper line (shell=), then change this string in
shell=explorer.exe
4) Exit the editor. The keystrokes are alt+f to open the File Menu; then x to exit; then y to save the changes.
5) Restart.
Uninstalling the program:
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If you want to uninstall Talisman, use the Control Panel's "Add/Remove Programs."
Attention! Do not uninstall Talisman in the shell mode of Talisman. Return your shell in explorer.exe (useTalisman Shell Switcher tss.exe ) and only then uninstall Talisman from standard Windows shell.
Starting:
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Start Talisman.exe from Windows environment (by double click in Explorer for example).
PAYING
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1. Internet Online Registration
The simplest way to register, is by registering online with a major credit card
through a secure server. Point your browser to the following URL and follow
