Copyright: © 1996 Graphical Dynamics, Inc.


Bob


Error:  Program file not found.

When an alarm occurs, instead of running the program, ClockMan95 gives you the above message.

This error message appears when ClockMan can’t find the program to run.  Possible problems.

Resolution

The target file may have been moved or deleted.

If this program is on a network, the network connection may not have been established at the time the alarm occurred.  Make sure the required connection is established at the time your alarm is scheduled.

Verify the file named in the alarm (Event - Pgm line) is indeed correct.  Use the browse button to have ClockMan find the file instead of typing the filename in itself.  It’s easier and more reliable.

Tip

Don't forget to use the Test button when creating your alarm!


Can't find a window
Can’t find a window whose title starts with “title” to activate.

When an alarm occurs, instead of finding the window, ClockMan95 gives you the above message.

Resolution

You may be using the old method for finding window titles (see note below)

You may have incorrectly identified the title.

Note

We have changed the method in which ClockMan looks for window titles.  In earlier versions of ClockMan we used the quote marks (“”).  But with the advent of Windows95, Windows uses the quote marks for denoting long filenames.  (ex:  “c:\Program Files\filename”).  ClockMan95 adopts the new Windows naming convention and now we use the square brackets to specify window titles [ ].

Some program’s windows title changes dynamically when the program is running.  Microsoft Exchange’s title can change depending whether or not you’re viewing the Inbox, Outbox or a custom folder.  Carefully examine the program’s window title to make sure it is correct.  For some programs this can require some detection work.  For the most difficult programs, you should automate the program with the WIL language where the most comprehensive way of manipulating other program’s Windows.


Limitations in sending keystrokes to other programs

It is difficult to automate more complex jobs using the keystroke box in the Set Alarms dialog.

Resolution

Use the WIL language to automate complex or multi-step jobs.

Note

There are two different ways to send keystrokes and automate other applications with ClockMan.  The first is with the Keystroke in the Set Alarms dialog.  And the second is with the WIL language.  Generally, the more steps required in your jobs, the most likely that the WIL language is the correct tool to use.

Familiarize yourself with the commands that can be embedded in the Keystrokes line in the Set Alarms dialog.

If you find sending keystrokes to other applications demanding more power and flexibility than the simple Keystrokes line in the Run A Program line in the Set Alarms dialog offers, consider using the WIL language to handle these jobs.


ClockMan keeps telling me that I've exceeded the Evaluation Period.
ClockMan keeps telling me I’ve exceeded the Evaluation Period.

When you start ClockMan, you get a dialog box saying you’ve exceeded the evaluation period.

Resolution

You need to enter your license number to disable the introduction message that can appear notifying your evaluation period has passed.  This information is supplied in your ClockMan95 box and is a yellow card titled

"IMPORTANT! KEEP THIS CARD".

Note

You need to enter the information exactly as it appears on the card.


ClockMan keeps beeping after an alarm has gone off.

Resolution

If you wise to turn off the tune immediately, click "Turn beeper off" from ClockMan’s system menu.

Note

With most message types you can associate with ClockMan, when you acknowledge the message box, the alarm immediately stops.  However, by allowing you to have a tune associated with an alarm that has no message box (invisible), your computer can be playing a tune and you may not know why.  The best way to resolve this is by limiting the number of times a tune repeats in the Options dialog


When an alarm runs, I get this big blank box and that's it.
When an alarm runs, I get this big blank box and that’s it.

Resolution

With every alarm, you can choose whether or not you want a message to accompany it.  If you choose not to add a message to your alarm, make sure you select "invisible" as the message type.

Note

You can make the message type invisible by default in the Options dialog.


Sometimes some of my alarms interfere with my high speed downloads or Internet Web browsers.

There are a number of reasons why an alarm might interfere with a sensitive tasks such as surfing the WEB, they are:

Your alarm might be starting another resource hungry application.

You may have long tunes associated with alarms.

Resolution

Make the alarm use the Countdown or Confirm message types.

Use short tunes or the system beep if you want a sound associated with your alarm.

Note

Using the Confirm and Countdown message features gives the operator final control over whether or not events occur when they’re scheduled.  If there is a high likelihood the computer will be unattended when the alarm occurs, you should use the Countdown message as it will eventually time out and run the alarm.

Generating sound on a PC is a processor-intensive task.  We have taken pains to make ClockMan work well in a multitasking environment, but sometimes a real-time process running in a DOS session can get interrupted long enough to lose information.  Try using shorter tunes for your alarms, or turn audible alarms off from the Options dialog before running a high speed real-time process.  You can also press Esc while the tune is playing to cut it off.


Error -  "That date and time has already occurred.  Use it anyway?"

When you try to set the time of an alarm, ClockMan95 gives you the above message.

Resolution

Check to make sure the alarm time you specified isn’t in the past.

Note

If you've defined a one-time alarm with a date & time that comes before the current system date & time, the alarm will never go off.  Check the numbers in the spinfields.  Or perhaps you should choose PM instead of AM.

ClockMan95 will never give you this message unless the time you specified in the When box will never occur.


Technical Support

Technical help with ClockMan can be answered many different ways:

If you call bulletin boards, a quick answer can be had by your local computer guru.  She'll know!

You can drop an e-mail to us on the net at tech@graphicaldynamics.com

You can visit our WWW page for the latest up-to-date versions of ClockMan as well as new and exciting Automation Assistants at http://www.graphicaldynamics.com

There's always The Graphical Dynamics Support BBS - (206)938-2398  (Seattle) - 24 hrs, 28,800 8N1.

If you call CompuServe, you can address a message in the WinShare forum (GO WINSHARE).  Technical support on CompuServe is handled by Koll Simonds (CIS 70144,1540).

If you've registered your copy of ClockMan, you can call Graphical Dynamics Technical Support line:  (206) 935-6032  9:00am - 6:00pm PST (1700h - 0200h GMT).  (Be sure to have your license number handy.)


Can't find Window to Activate in ClockMan95's Set Alarms

In the ClockMan User’s Guide on page 32, it states that to activate an already running window, place it in quote marks ("").  This works fine with ClockMan 1.3x (for Windows 3.x), but it has been changed for ClockMan95.

Fix/Workaround:

Use square brackets [  ] to enclose window titles instead of quote marks.

Example:

[Microsoft Word] winword.exe


How do I Invoke Automation Assistants?

To invoke an Automation Assistant:

You simply move your mouse's cursor into the DateBar or TimeBar (we call these "InfoBars").

You'll notice that the cursor takes on a "ClockMan95" icon.

Click on it with your right mouse button. That brings up the ClockMan95's system menu.

Select Automation Assistant... from the system menu


What is a WIL file?

A WIL script is written in Windows Interface Language (WIL). WIL is a high level language with over 400 functions that allow you to control almost any aspect of the Windows environment. With WIL you can:

Run programs

Run programs concurrently or sequentially

Run programs using the WinExec, ShellExecute, CreateProcess API methods

Communicate and control other applications

Send keystrokes directly to Windows and DOS applications

Act as a DDE client

Act as an OLE client

Read/write LOCAL environment variables

Rearrange, resize, hide, and close windows

Display information to the user in various formats

Prompt the user for any needed input

Copy, move, delete, and rename files

Read and write files directly

Copy text to and from the Clipboard

Perform string and arithmetic operations

Make branching decisions based upon numerous factors

WIL scripts are written in plain ASCII and can be created with simple editors (like Notepad). They are executed at run-time by ClockMan95.

To test out a WIL file associated with a ClockMan95 event, you select it from the Event menu in the Set Alarms dialog. Then press "test".


Is there a Version for Windows NT?

Yes. ClockMan95's program files work on both Windows95 and NT 3.51 (Intel) and NT 4.0. Where there is a need for NT specific code, we put it in there. ClockMan95 knows what version of Windows it's running on and behaves accordingly so that all functionality and operations go smoothly and ClockMan95 is a good citizen on your desktop.

There is no special pricing for the Intel NT version.

Other NT flavors (Alpha, MIPs & Power PC) will carry different prices and executables - when available.

Notes:

ClockMan95 will run on both NT Workstation and NT Server, but it is a desktop application, not a service.

Workgroup capabilities are implemented in a shared datafile methodology.


Multi-user Discount

If you're ordering ClockMan for a workgroup or department, oftentimes site licenses are the most economical way to purchase software. We agree with you! Your users need not be on a LAN - all we ask is you designate one ClockMan Specialist within your organization who will handle your users' technical support questions. This specialist is always welcome to call us with the difficult questions.

Our site licenses are called Office Packs. With office packs, disks and manuals accompany licenses on a diminishing ratio. So, if you have 20 users, you would receive 1 set of disks/manuals and 20 licenses.

Office Packs:

Part #	Desc	Licenses	Manual sets	Price	cost per user
______	______	________	___________	______	_____________

00022	5 pack	5	1	$199	$39.80

00023	10 pack	10	1	279	27.90

00024	20 pack	20	1	399	19.95

00025	50 pack	50	2	699	13.98

00026	100 pack	100	5	999	9.99

00027	200 pack	200	5	1,499	7.50

00028	500 pack	500	10	2,999	6.00

00029	1000 pack	1000	20	4,999	5.00

You can trade up to more users!

When you add ClockMan95 users to your workgroup, you can add extra licenses for them for just the difference.

Example:

You've purchased a 10 pack for $279.00 and you want to add 40 more users. You pay only the difference between 50 users and 10; $699 - 279 = $420.

Example:

You've bought a single-user license for $79.95 and now you want to put 10 users on ClockMan95.

Pay just $279.00 - 79.95 = $199.05.

Call our sales office at 800-779-1799 (206-935-6032 international) to upgrade immediately!