README.TXT 1/11/97
Documentation for CD Player v1.1 for Windows 3.1 & NT 3.5
by Nate Smith
nate@cryogen.com
www.cryogen.com/freecd
INSTALLATION
------------
To install CD Player and create an icon for it in Program
Manager, simply follow these steps:
1. Copy the file CDPLAYER.EXE into your Windows directory
(i.e.: C:\WINDOWS) or any other directory of your choice.
2. In Program Manager, select the Program Group where you
would like the CD Player icon to appear.
3. Select File | New.
4. Select Program Item and click OK.
5. In the Description box, enter "CD Player".
6. In the Command Line box, enter "C:\WINDOWS\CDPLAYER.EXE"
(or enter the directory where you copied CDPLAYER.EXE).
7. Leave the Working Directory and the Shortcut Key boxes
as they are, and click OK.
8. Double-click the new icon to run CD Player.
Hope that covers all the bases. If you encounter any problems
getting CD Player to work, see the end of this document for my
e-mail address.
USING CD PLAYER
---------------
Operation is pretty straightforward - I tried to make the interface
resemble a typical home stereo, with a few extras. Here's a list
of all the buttons, and what they do:
(from left to right)
Reverse Skip - skip to the previous track; from track 1, skips to
the last track on the disc
Play/Pause - Plays the CD; while the CD is playing, pauses the CD
(the current status is indicated by the little orange marks
on the time display)
Forward Skip - skip to the next track; from the last track on the
disc, skips to track 1
Time Display - click here to display the total length of the CD
Four little buttons, clockwise from top-left:
About - displays version info as well as my e-mail
address for emergencies(?)
Minimize - minimizes the window onto the Taskbar
Eject - ejects the disc, or if the drive is open, closes it
Always On Top - toggles whether the window stays above all
other windows, or behaves like any other window
(the status is indicated by the little orange check)
Click & drag the title bar to move the window around, and double-
click the CD icon in the upper-left corner to close the program.
My best advice for using the program is this: just play around and
try clicking on everything. There are no hidden buttons or menus or
anything that aren't in plain view - what you see is what you get.
TODAY & TODAY ONLY, WE'RE GIVING THEM AWAY!!!
---------------------------------------------
Yes, that's right folks, we're overstocked, undersold, and we
wear plaid liesure suits!! Move over, shareware, here comes
FREEWARE! Yep, 100% free of charge. You can copy it, modify it,
sell it, distribute it by electronic or other means, or, heck,
do pretty much anything you want with it!
(Just one little request, since it is free and all: If you do
decide to SELL it, please give credit to the author, and if you
MODIFY it, please send me a copy of your changes - I'd be very
interested in what other developers think of my software. That's
all, thanks :)
RELEASE NOTES
-------------
Version 1.1 is the second "real" release of this program, although
there were a couple "pre-1.0" alpha releases which I'm not especially
proud of :). This version is a significant update to version 1.0,
although not nearly enough changes were made to warrant a step all
the way up to 2.0. Among the changes made are:
- v1.1 now has individual 16-bit and 32-bit executables. Make sure
you have the proper version for your operating system (i.e.:
16-bit for Win3.1 and 32-bit for Win95)
- as far as I can tell, all the bugs have been fixed - no more:
disappearing buttons
erratic time display
multiple instances loading every time you insert a new CD
- the window can now be moved around to your heart's content
- automatically plays the CD when the program starts and when a new
CD is loaded
- automatically repeats the CD when the end is reached
- includes a disc eject button
and, as before, still includes:
- always on top feature
- disc length display
- OK, so it doesn't do much; but hey, what it does, it does well,
and it looks pretty nifty to boot
SOURCE
------
Version 1.1 was programmed and compiled with Borland's C++ 5.0
Development Suite (a great product), adapted from the 16-bit
code for v1.0. I may or may not continue to work on this
particaular program for much longer, so if you'd like to pick it
up where I leave off, let me know. Or if you'd simply like to
know what makes it tick, I'd be glad to satisfy any source code
requests (you can get this through my e-mail or my CD Player web
page - see below).
HOW TO CONTACT ME
-----------------
Thanks much for giving CD Player a try. Again, if you experience
any problems or have any questions I'd be glad to help, and I always
accept constructive criticism and suggestions for improvements. You
can reach me at my e-mail address:
nate@cryogen.com
Please include "CD Player" in the subject line, and remember to
mention somewhere which version you're using (in this case, v1.1).
Also, for problems with running the program, please include as
much information as possible about your computer hardware and
whatever software was running at the time the problem occurred.
(NOTE: one problem I hear about quite often is that CD Player
displays NO DISC and doesn't play even when a CD is loaded. In
this case, it's most likely a problem with either your CD-ROM
setup or your Multimedia setup. To make sure, try playing a CD
with Windows Media Player. If this doesn't work, then you'll
have to consult either your Win95 documentation or your computer
manufacturer to properly set up your multimedia hardware and
Windows drivers.)
A FINAL WORD
------------
Although I will continue to distribute my software free of charge
until I start writing commercial-grade, truly useful programs,
I'll be accepting job offers and charitable donations to the Nate
Smith Memorial College Fund for the next four (or so...) years.
E-mail me if you'd like to pursue either of these.
Thanks again for your interest and support.
- Nate Smith, 1/11/97
e-mail: nate@cryogen.com
CD Player web page: www.cryogen.com/freecd
(
geocities.com/siliconvalley/pines) (
geocities.com/siliconvalley)