RandomSaver
Version 2.0 - 06/14/2002
Copyright 1999-2002 Stephen W. Chappell
steve@steveswebshed.com
http://www.steveswebshed.com/

Welcome to the new and improved RandomSaver! Thank you for downloading this
program, I hope you enjoy it! While most of the configuration of RandomSaver is
pretty self-explanatory, I've created this readme file to help you navigate the
myriad options that exist. Also, be sure to read the "Known Issues & Other
Miscellaneous Notes" section for known issues and limitations.

If you haven't registered RandomSaver yet, I hope that you will consider
registering it. The cost is only $10, and can be done safely and securely from
my website.

ABOUT RANDOMSAVER
=================
RandomSaver is a screen saver manager that randomly displays any of your other
screen savers. You have complete control over which savers are included in the
randomizer list. And you can preview or configure all your savers right from
the Random Saver Settings window.

RandomSaver is nag-free shareware, that is not limited in any way. It is only
$10, so if you find it to be useful, please register it! These funds will go
towards helping to defray the development and maintenance costs of this and
future projects, and also towards justifying all my hours in front of the
computer!

WHAT'S NEW
==========
* Saver changing while running - RandomSaver can now change to a new screen
  saver while the saver is active. You control how long each saver is
  displayed, and RandomSaver does the rest.
* Improved configuration options make managing your saver groups easy
  and convenient.
* Now supports WindowsNT.
* New installer/uninstaller makes installation and removal even easier.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
===================
Windows 95 or better;
Pentium-class or better processor
One or more screen savers

LEGALESE
========
This software is provided as shareware. You are hereby granted the license to
use and distribute this software as you see fit, subject to the limitations set
forth in this document, so long as the "zip" file is distributed unmodified.
This means you can upload it, stick it on a CD, give it to a friend, or
whatever. Only the unmodified "zipped" file may be distributed.

You are expressly prohibited from distributing RandomSaver registration codes.
Moreover, you are granted the license to register RandomSaver only on
computers for which you are the primary user.

The software is provided "as-is" and without warranty of any kind, expressed,
implied or otherwise, including and without limitation, any warranty of
merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. In no event shall the
author be liable for any special, incidental, indirect or consequential damages
whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of profits,
business interruption, loss of information, or any other loss), whether or not
advised of the possibility of damage, and on any theory of liability, arising
out of or in connection with the use or inability to use this software. Use
of this software indicates you agree to this.

CONTENTS
========
The installation package consists of two files: rssetup.exe (the installer) and
RandomSaver.txt (this file).

INSTALLING RANDOMSAVER
======================
Installing PictureSaver is simple: just run the PSSetup.exe file, and follow
the directions on the screen.

Installed Files
---------------
The following files will be copied to your Windows directory (or the directory
of your choice):

    RandomSaver.scr - the screen saver
    RandomSaver.txt - this file
    uninsXXX.exe    - uninstall file (XXX = 3 digit number assigned by the
                      installer; usually 000 but may be different in the event
                      of multiple installations or installations using the
                      same installer)
    uninsXXX.msg    - uninstall file
    uninsXXX.dat    - uninstall file

After you configure RandomSaver, it creates the following file in the same
directory as RandomSaver.scr to store your saver list:

    RandomSaver.cfg

Note: If you don't select any savers to randomize, you're effectively turning
OFF the screen saver. So make sure you configure something!

It also creates the following registry key to store the options under:

     HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Stephen W. Chappell\RandomSaver

UNINSTALLING RANDOMSAVER
========================
Though I can't imagine why anyone would want to do this :), RandomSaver is
easy to uninstall: From the Start menu, select Settings -> Control Panel. From
the window that pops up, double-click Add/Remove Programs. Scroll down until
you find RandomSaver 2.0, click it once to select it, then click the
Add/Remove button.

CONFIGURING RANDOMSAVER
=======================
Once RandomSaver has been selected as your screen saver, you'll need to
configure it with the savers that you want to randomize if you want to have
your screen saved. RandomSaver's configuration dialog makes this simple to
do.

Savers Tab
----------
The "Savers" tab is where you perform most of the tasks you'll need to do. On
the left hand side is the browser area. Here, you can browse your hard drive
to find screen savers you'd like to include. You can also preview any savers
that you select using the preview button beneath the window (the one with the
picture of glasses), and select multiple savers using the selection buttons.

The browser area is designed to work just like Explorer, so you can browse in a
familiar fashion. All the same keyboard and mouse shortcuts for selecting
multiple files work here also.

The right half of the window shows you the savers you've chose to randomize -
this is called the randomizer list. From here, you can preview or configure any
of the savers selected in the list using the appropriate buttons (beneath the
list), reorder the list by using the arrow buttons beneath the list, and select
multiple pictures using the selection buttons. You can also select multiple
files using the usual keyboard and mouse shortcuts.

To add files to the randomizer list, find the savers you want and select them
in the browser window, and click the add key. Or just double-click them. If you
already have an Explorer-like window open (such as the Find Files window), you
can drag the files from there directly onto the RandomSaver configuration
dialog to add them to the list.

Note that you can only add savers to one group at a time. To change groups,
select the tab for the group you want to change from the tabs over the
randomizer list.

Removing savers is just as simple. Select the ones you want to remove, and
click the remove button. Or just double-click them.

Options Tab
-----------
RandomSaver now provides options for when and how often to change the current
saver. By default, RandomSaver will choose a new saver only when it is started.
Once selected, that saver will remain active until it is stopped (e.g., by a
mouse movement) and RandomSaver is restarted.

By selecting the "Change saver while running" option, you can specify how long
to let each saver run. When the time expires, the current saver will be
stopped, and a new saver from the same group will be started in its place. The
"Change saver after X minutes" selection lets you specify how long to let each
saver run. It can be set to anywhere from 1 minute to 360 minutes.

See "Known Issues & Other Miscellaneous Notes" below for issues and limitations
on this feature.

Groups Tab
----------
Sometimes just randomizing your existing savers isn't enough. Sometimes you'd
like to group similar savers together, for example you may have several holiday
savers that you only want to be displayed over the holidays. This is where
Groups come in.

On the Groups tab, you can create, copy, delete, or rename groups. "Create"
makes a new, blank group, "Copy" creates a new group that is an exact copy of
an existing group, "Delete" permanently deletes a group, and "Rename" changes
the name of a group.

You automatically start out with one group called "Default". As you add and
delete groups, the group list at the left will grow. Each group will get its
own tab on the Savers page. Selecting that tab will show you all the savers in
that group.

Back on the Groups tab, the box on the left shows all the groups that you have.
Each group has a check box next to it. Use the checkbox to tell RandomSaver
whether or not to include that group in its randomizing. If a group is checked,
its savers will be included; if not, its savers won't. This lets you set up
all your groups without worrying about showing, for example, holiday savers
for the wrong holiday -- just uncheck it's group until the right time of year!

About Tab
---------
The About tab provides some convenient information about RandomSaver, including
how to get in touch with me and how to get to my web page. It also provides
buttons for uninstalling RandomSaver and for registering RandomSaver if you
haven't yet done so.

KNOWN ISSUES & OTHER MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
========================================
- RandomSaver is not able to effectively change savers while running when
  password protection has been turned on. To use RandomSaver in this
  environment, you can a) turn off password protection, or b) check "Change
  saver only on startup" on the Options tab.
- There are some problems changing savers while running when certain types of
  screen savers are in use. Specifically, savers that use separate executable
  files to perform the actual screen saving may not be able to be properly shut
  down. This has led to sporadic anomalies, including multiple savers running
  at the same time. Savers made using the CineMac screen saver engine are
  particularly susceptible to this behaviour. If you want to use this type of
  screen saver, it is recommended that the "Change saver only on startup"
  option is selected.
- If you are using DirectX and/or OpenGl screen savers, it is recommended that
  either power saving be disabled or that you do not set the option to change
  savers while running. Otherwise, if one of these screen savers is kicked off
  AFTER power saving has started, it may crash your computer.

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, TECH. SUPPORT
==================================
If you have any questions or comments, need technical support, want me to add
some cool feature to the saver, or just want to tell me what a great and
wonderful person I am, send me an email at support@thewebshed.org. I'll be sure
to get back to you as soon as I can!

Enjoy!

REVISION HISTORY
================
Version 2.0.3 - 06/14/2002
- Updated website address (again)

Version 2.0.2 - 02/10/2002
- Updated website address

Version 2.0.1 - 01/02/2001
- Fixed configuration box to display correctly (or at least usably) when
  Windows is configured to use large fonts

Version 2.0.0 - 9/24/2000
- Major new feature: Now able to switch savers while running
- Improved configuration box, including better list management options
- Miscellaneous minor improvements to the code
- Now works under NT

Version 1.0.4 - 12/13/1999 (unreleased)
- Added a readme button to the configuration box
- Created an installer/uninstaller
- Updated a few components to newer versions & to components I developed for
  PictureSaver
- Added a gradient to the bottom of the config box, 'cause I like it.

Version 1.0.3 - 7/18/1999
- Changed the weblink on the About tab

Version 1.0.2 - 6/3/1999
- After the 1.0.1 fix, a subtle configuration change caused a major problem.
  Running the RandomSaver configuration box through Display Properties would
  lock up the Display Properties window on some machines - it looked like only
  on networked machines. This is now fixed.
- Fixed another problem that caused RandomSaver not to run properly if only one
  screensaver was selected to be randomized, which could happen if you only
  pick one or if you have a group of one, and it is the only group checked off.

Version 1.0.1 - 5/28/1999
- Fixed a problem that caused RandomSaver to potentially delay the startup of
  a screen saver.
- Miscellaneous code tweaking to try to reduce the filesize a few bytes.

Version 1.0.0 - 5/16/1999
- Initial release
