   CommEx (tm) : Common Dialog Extensions for Windows 3.1 and 3.11
   ---------------------------------------------------------------
               Copyright 1995   by Cottonwood Software


Thank you for trying CommEx!

CommEx adds file management functions like Find, Copy, Delete, Rename, 
and MakeDir to the Open and Save dialogs of most Windows applications 
(any that use the Windows common dialogs in COMMDLG.DLL). No more jumping 
back and forth between your application and File Manager or DOS to do 
common functions!  Search every disk drive at once for files, specifying 
multiple masks if necessary.  Make a new directory as you save files, 
delete old versions, make backups before you open a file, etc. -- it's so 
easy, all from the same Open or Save dialog.


If you have just installed CommEx and are reading this from the Notpad
program, try it out now by selecting File from the menu, then Open.  You
should see an extra row of buttons at the bottom of the Open dialog.
If you need help, click the 'CommEx' button, and then the Help button 
from that dialog.  Enjoy!


Readme Contents:
----------------
  File Packing List
  System Requirements
  Installation
  About the Evaluation Period
  Giving Copies to Friends -- (Please Do!)
  Distribution by Vendors, BBS's, etc.
  Registering
  Site licenses & multiple-user pricing
  Troubleshooting
  Support
  Un-installing CommEx
  ASP Ombudsman statement
  Warranty & License info


File Packing List
-----------------
These files should be included in this distribution set.  If any are 
missing, please contact Cottonwood Software or your distributor for a 
complete set.  (You can download the latest version from Compuserve or 
our Web page -- see the Support section)

  README.TXT    This file
  SETUP.EXE     Installation program
  COMMEX.DLL    CommEx main program (installs as commdlg.dll)
  CTL3DV2.BIN   3-D look DLL (installs as ctl3dv2.dll)
  ORDER.FRM     Text order form for registering CommEx (print from DOS)
  FILE_ID.DIZ   Short description file
  VENDOR.DOC    Vendor distribution info (not always present)
  VENDINFO.DIZ  Vendor distribution info, automated (not always present)
  COMMEX.BIN    Data file (not always present)


System Requirements
-------------------

CommEx will work with Windows versions 3.1 and 3.11.


Windows 95 and NT users:
------------------------
Do NOT install this version of CommEx if you run Win95 or NT!  It will 
work fine for 16-bit applications, but will cause 32-bit applications to 
malfunction.  There will be a 32-bit version of CommEx available by Fall 
1995.

    Let us know if you need an upgrade to CommEx-32 (for Win95 and NT).
    Just E-mail, FAX, or mail your address to us, and we will let you know
    when CommEx-32 is released and where to download it from.  (You may
    also order a CommEx-32 evaluation copy from us for $2.00 postage &
    handling.)

    Registered users can upgrade to registered CommEx-32 free within one
    year of registration, and for only $2.00 shipping & handling after one 
    year.


Installation
------------

To install CommEx, run SETUP.EXE from Windows:

1. From the Windows Program Manager, select File, Run...

2. In the Command Line box, type d:\path\SETUP, where 'd' is the letter of
   the drive and 'path' is the directory where the CommEx files are.
   For example:
     C:\COMMEX\SETUP

3. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen.


Technical information on installation
-------------------------------------
The installation procedure does the following:
  Rename commdlg.dll (in the Windows System directory) to commold.dll
     (CommEx passes most functions through to commold.dll)
  Copy commex.dll to commdlg.dll
  If ctl3dv2.dll does not exist already, copy ctl3dv2.bin to ctl3dv2.dll
  If any of the above rename/copy procedures fail, create a DOS batch
     file to do it from DOS.
  Add a CommEx group with a Notepad icon to read the file readme.txt,
     and a Help icon for commex.hlp. (Although the help file is not
     installed directly -- see below.)
  Add the setup program to the run= line in win.ini
  Exit to DOS, execute the batch file (if needed), and return to Windows
  (When setup runs again after returning to Windows:)
    Verify that the operations succeeded (files in the right places)
    Run notepad to display the readme.txt file

When CommEx is actually invoked for the first time (through a File/Open 
or File/Save command), it validates the information files (readme.txt,
file_id.diz, and order.frm).  CommEx also extracts commex.hlp (from the 
dll) into the Windows System directory, so it doesn't need to be 
distributed and installed as a separate file.  These procedures ensure 
that CommEx cannot be modified and re-distributed with different company 
contact/order information.


About the Evaluation Period
---------------------------

CommEx is Shareware.  This means that you are free to try it out for 30 
days. It will be fully functional during that time, so you can try all 
of its functions.

After using it for 30 days (not necessarily calendar days, but when it's 
been used on 30 different days), some of the functions will be unavailable.
You will still be able to use the basic functions like Copy and Delete, but
the advanced functions (Find and MakeDir) will not be available unless you 
register (purchase) the program.


Giving Copies to Friends -- (Please Do!)
----------------------------------------

Shareware works best when you 'share' it with other people!  If you like
this program, we would appreciate it if you spread it around.  Give copies
to friends and co-workers, or even upload it to your favorite BBS.

Within the CommEx dialog (press the CommEx button on any Open/Save dialog
that has it), there is a convenient 'Make Copy' function.  This will 
generate a complete CommEx evaluation copy wherever you want (on a floppy 
disk, or in any directory).  This can even be used to make a backup copy 
for yourself.


Distribution by Vendors, BBS's, etc.
------------------------------------

Commercial vendors please refer to the VENDINFO.DIZ file (or VENDOR.DOC)
for complete details.  If this file is not present, please contact 
Cottonwood Software for a replacement copy.


Registering CommEx
------------------
For a complete order form you can print the text file ORDER.FRM, or click
the 'CommEx' button in an Open/Save dialog and select the 'Order Form' 
button.

Benefits of registering:
    The latest version as of the day you register, with no 'reminders',
      registered in your name.
    Notification of bug fixes and update releases when available.
    Access to a special section of the BBS (see below) with user-provided
      utilities and information (scheduled to be available in 1995).
    Access to free registered version updates for one year.
    Free technical support.
    Big discounts on further updates and other products.
    A good feeling that you're helping to support the shareware industry!

To register, send $15.00 (U.S.) plus $2.00 S&H ($4.00 S&H outside the
U.S. or Canada) to:

      Cottonwood Software
      P.O. Box 6546
      Leawood, KS 66206-0546   USA

Please pay by check in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. Bank, by international
money order, or in U.S. currency.

(Do not send credit card orders to this address! See below for credit card
orders.)

All orders are usually shipped within 24 hours.

You may also register online through Compuserve: GO SWREG, product #6689.


CREDIT CARD ORDERS ONLY -
-------------------------
You can order with Mastercard, Visa, American Express, or Discover 
from Public (software) Library.

Phone:           800-2424-PsL (800-242-4775)  
International:   713-524-6394
FAX:             713-524-6398
Compuserve Email:71355,470
Mail:            PsL, P.O.Box 35705, Houston, TX 77235-5705  USA.

Please refer to product ID #14153

THE ABOVE NUMBERS ARE FOR CREDIT CARD ORDERS ONLY. THE AUTHOR OF THIS 
PROGRAM CANNOT BE REACHED AT THESE NUMBERS.

Any questions about the status of the shipment of the order, refunds,
registration options, product details, technical support, volume 
discounts, dealer pricing, site licenses, non-credit card orders, etc, 
must be directed to Cottonwood Software (see Support... below).

To insure that you get the latest version, PsL will notify us the day of 
your order and we will ship the product directly to you the same or next 
day.


Site licenses & multiple-user pricing
-------------------------------------

CommEx registration for multiple users (computers) is possible, and
substantial discounts are given.
  For 2-3 users,  subtract 15% from the registration price of each copy
  For 4-7 users,  subtract 25% from the registration price of each copy
  For 8-10 users, subtract 35% from the registration price of each copy
  More than 10 users, subtract 50% from the registration price of each copy

Please contact Cottonwood Software directly before ordering multiple 
copies.  Other registration channels, such as SWREG and PsL, are not 
set up to apply the discount to multiple copy orders.


Support
-------

We will gladly answer any questions and help you with CommEx problems
during the 30-day free evaluation period.  (After the free trial, we will 
still answer 'simple' questions, but may, at our discretion, require you 
to register before providing technical support.)

Any suggestions, comments, support questions and bug reports are welcome 
and encouraged!  All questions will be answered promptly.  If you report 
a bug, you will get a free updated copy in the mail (or however is most 
convenient for us both) when the problem is fixed. This is offered
to both registered and unregistered users because we appreciate the
assistance in making the program better!

For support, contact Cottonwood Software by phone, fax, mail, or E-mail.
(E-mail is preferred, and will get a fast response.)

 Mail:        Cottonwood Software
              P.O. Box 6546
              Leawood, KS 66206-0546  USA
 Phone:       (913) 663-3022
 FAX:         (913) 663-3747
 Compuserve:  75264,1630
 Internet:    75264.1630@compuserve.com
 WW Web:      http://delta.com/cotton/cotton.html 
 BBS:         The Cottonwood BBS (coming soon!)


The Cottonwood Software Home Page on the World Wide Web
-------------------------------------------------------

Visit our home page for information about all of our shareware programs.
You can download the latest versions from there, view online documentation
for all of our software, and even send us E-mail.  It also has links to
other worthwhile shareware pages, like the ASP and STAR home pages.


The Cottonwood BBS
------------------

The Cottonwood BBS, coming in 1995, will be our own support system.  In
addition to support for both registered and unregistered users, it will
provide the best place to get the latest version and will have other 
related files available for download.

To find out when it's available, contact us at any of the above numbers
and ask to be put on our mailing list.  We'll notify you and give you 
instant access when it's online.  (Registered users will be automatically 
notified and have instant access as soon as the BBS is online.)


Troubleshooting
---------------

---If you get an error message when trying to use CommEx):

If you get a message like: "COMMOLD.DLL file not found" when you try to
Open or Save a file, then CommEx was not installed successfully.  This is
most likely due to not finishing the installation (an error occurred or 
you aborted before it exited to DOS).  CommEx will attempt to reconstruct
it the first time it encounters this error  -- if that is successful, you 
should not see this error again.   If it is not successful, check the 
explanation of the next error condition below for more information on 
installation problems.

If you get system errors (General Protection Fault, for instance), then 
you have probably installed CommEx from within Windows, and did not exited
Windows during the installation.  If this is not the case, or if the 
problem persists, call for support.

---If you don't see anything different in your Open or Save dialogs

This could be an installation problem.  Make sure that the date on the
COMMDLG.DLL file in your Windows System directory matches the
COMMEX.DLL date in the CommEx installation set.  If they do not match,
then perhaps the installation was aborted, or could not succeed because
of a write-protected windows system directory (common when running
Windows from a network drive).

    Network Installations:  The network administrator (with write access 
    to the Windows System directory) should install CommEx.  It will then
    be available for all users.  (See Site Licenses for information on
    registering CommEx for networked installations.)

If the dates DO look OK, and you're sure that you have started Windows
fresh during installation or since you installed CommEx, then it could be
that the application you're using does not use the common dialogs in
COMMDLG.DLL.  Some programs, especially older ones and ones with
unique requirements in their Open/Save dialogs, have internal custom
dialogs that we cannot add CommEx to.  Some known 'customized'
programs are listed below.  If you find another one, we would like to 
hear from you, so we can investigate it!

CommEx will have no effect on these programs (because they don't use 
COMMDLG):
- Paintshop Pro
- Microsoft Word 2.0 or 6.0
- Microsoft Excel 5.0
- Windows Draw 3.0
- Aldus PhotoStyler 1.1a
- WordView 6.0
- After Dark
- Easy Works Business Letters 1.0
- Bitstream MakeUp 1.0
- HSc Interactive SE 1.0
- Lotus Organizer 1.12


---If some of the buttons at the bottom are greyed out (unusable)

This means that your free evaluation period has run out.  To re-enable
these functions, you must register CommEx.


Other problems
--------------

If you encounter any other problems, please contact us for support.  We
will gladly answer any questions and help with problems during the 30-day
free evaluation period.  After the free trial, we will still answer 
'simple' questions, but may (at our discretion) require you to register 
before providing technical support.


If you need to un-install CommEx
--------------------------------

If you encounter insurmountable problems, or just don't like the new
functions that CommEx provides, you may need to un-install it.  This is
a simple procedure, but must be done carefully.  Do NOT just delete
COMMDLG.DLL!  This will cause most Windows programs to stop working!

---To un-install CommEx:

In your Windows System directory (usually C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM), copy
COMMOLD.DLL to COMMDLG.DLL.
  Example:
     C:
     CD \WINDOWS\SYSTEM
     COPY COMMOLD.DLL COMMDLG.DLL

You may also delete COMMOLD.DLL (after you verify that the Copy has 
worked!)



ASP Ombudsman statement
-----------------------

                     _______
                ____|__     |                (R)
             --|       |    |-------------------
               |   ____|__  |  Association of
               |  |       |_|  Shareware
               |__|   o   |    Professionals
             -----|   |   |---------------------
                  |___|___|    MEMBER

Cottonwood Software is a member of the Association of Shareware
Professionals (ASP).  ASP wants to make sure that the shareware
principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related
problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP
may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a
dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical
support for members' products.  Please write to the ASP
Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI USA 49442-9427, Fax
616-788-2765, or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to
ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.


Warranty and license info
-------------------------

===== Warranty =========================================

LIMITED WARRANTY

THIS SOFTWARE AND MANUAL ARE PROVIDED FOR EVALUATION
ONLY, ON AN "AS IS" BASIS.  COTTONWOOD SOFTWARE
DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES RELATING TO THIS SOFTWARE,
WHETHER EXPRESSED  OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NEITHER COTTONWOOD
SOFTWARE NOR ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE
CREATION, PRODUCTION, OR DELIVERY OF THIS SOFTWARE
SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR
INCIDENTAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO
USE SUCH SOFTWARE, EVEN IF COTTONWOOD SOFTWARE HAS
BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR
CLAIMS.  THE PERSON USING THE SOFTWARE BEARS ALL RISK AS
TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE.

This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Kansas and
shall inure to the benefit of Cottonwood Software and any successors,
administrators, heirs and assigns. Any action or proceeding brought by
either party against the other arising out of or related to this agreement
shall be brought only in a STATE or FEDERAL COURT of competent
jurisdiction located in Johnson County, Kansas. The parties hereby
consent to in personam jurisdiction of said courts.


===== License for Use and Distribution =================

TRIAL USE LICENSE

This package is NOT a public domain program.  It is copyrighted by
Cottonwood Software.  This software and accompanying documentation
are protected by United States copyright law and also by international
treaty provisions.

Cottonwood Software grants you a limited license to use this software for
evaluation purposes for a period not to exceed thirty days.  If you 
continue using this software after the thirty-day evaluation period, you 
MUST make a registration payment to Cottonwood Software.

You may not use, copy, rent, lease, sell, modify, decompile, disassemble,
otherwise reverse engineer, or transfer the licensed program except as
provided in this agreement.  Any such unauthorized use shall result in
immediate and automatic termination of this license.
All rights not expressly granted here are reserved to Cottonwood
Software.


LIMITED DISTRIBUTION LICENSE

ASP member vendors may distribute this package, completely unaltered,
without further permission.  For other cases or to distribute in modified
form, you must consult the attached data record (VENDINFO.DIZ or
VENDOR.DOC), which is hereby incorporated by reference.  Any
distribution satisfying all the distribution requirements expressed in 
that data record is hereby authorized.

Permission to distribute this package is not transferable, assignable,
saleable, or franchisable.  Each vendor wishing to distribute the package
must independently satisfy the terms of this limited distribution license.

U.S. Government Information:  Use, duplication, or disclosure by the U.S.
Government of the computer software and documentation in this package
shall be subject to the restricted rights applicable to commercial computer
software as set forth in subdivision (b)(3)(ii) of the Rights in Technical
Data and Computer Software clause at 252.227-7013 (DFARS 52.227-
7013).  The Contractor/manufacturer is Cottonwood Software, P.O. Box
6546, Leawood KS, 66206, USA.

Cottonwood Software may revoke any permissions granted here, by
notifying you in writing.  All rights not expressly granted here are 
reserved to Cottonwood Software.
