HyperLink 1.1  README.TXT

Integrated Graphics
312 Nevada St.
Northfield, MN 55057

E-mail: hansonr@stolaf.edu

hyprlnk2.zip    Hyperlink ProgramManager groups to one another

ABSTRACT
--------
HyperLink 1.1 enables the user to place 'hyperlinks' to one Program 
Manager group into another group, similar to what is possible for
Macintosh computers. Double-clicking on the link then calls up that 
program group, just as though the actual group icon were double-
clicked. Make as many hyperlinks as you wish; deleting them only 
deletes the link, not the actual program group. Switch between program
groups at a double-click of the mouse.

INSTALLATION
------------
To set up HyperLinks, just unzip HYPRLNK2.ZIP and copy HYPRLINK.EXE into 
your Windows directory. Add the program to a program group using 
File New Item from the Program Manager:

       Description:  HyperLink
       Command Line: hyperlink

and start'r up. Also included in HYPRLNK2.ZIP is DDEML.DLL, which you only
need put in your C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory if HYPRLINK fails to start.
HYPRLINK.EXE is a 15K Visual Basic 3.0 program. Thus, if you don't have 
VBRUN300.DLL, pick it up from an FTP site and put it, too, in your 
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory.

HOW TO USE THE PROGRAM
----------------------
HyperLink 1.1 should be installed in your windows directory (preferably).
To install hyperlinks, click on the HyperLink icon. Operation is fairly
self-explanatory. Nonetheless, here's the whole works:
   To add links, first select from the top list using a left-click 
for a single link, SHIFT-left-drag for a series, or CTRL-left-click 
for specific non-adjacent links. Then choose a group to add the links 
to from the combo-box below, and click on OK. An option is to create a 
new program group to hold the hyperlinks. 
   Your links will look just like Program Manager icons, but they will
have curly brackets around their names, this this: {my group}. 

HOW DOES IT WORK?
-----------------
HyperLink is a tiny Visual Basic program which uses the same DDE link to 
the Program Manager used by all SETUP programs that you may have used to 
install many other application, namely:

  LinkTopic = ProgMan|progman
  LinkMode = 2
  LinkExecute = [ShowGroup("Group Name Here",1)]
  LinkTimeOut = 100 

Hyperlinks are really just the shell command: 

         c:\windows\hyprlink.exe Group Name Here

connected with a pretty icon. You can make these links yourself, or 
(better) let HyperLink make them for you.  

HyperLink is not a program which runs in the background and eats up memory.
Rather, it loads, runs, and ends in the instant between when you click on a
hyperlink and when you see the group window (about 0.5 second).

HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS
---------------------
Any computer capable of running Windows 3.1 should be adequate. 

COMMENTS FROM USERS
-------------------

   Why didn't the people at Microsoft think of this???? 

   After a day, I can't imagine living without it.

 
LICENSE AND DISTRIBUTION
------------------------
HyperLink is FREEWARE (too tiny to charge for!) uploaded by the author.
It may be freely distributed in any form whatsoever. Visual Basic source
code available for $10. Comments to the author are welcome. If you know of 
a good resource for DDE calls to Program Manager, WordPerfect for 
Windows, etc., let me know.

Robert M. Hanson
Integrated Graphics
312 Nevada St.
Northfield, MN 55057
hansonr@stolaf.edu 
