- JCLOCK8D.PRG Documentation -
by John L. Stanley
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Please read all of this document at least once (even if
you're already somewhat familiar with JClock). There are
several important changes you might miss if you don't....
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Program Description
JClock8d installs a tiny (less than 1200 bytes) interrupt handler that
displays an am/pm style clock in the upper right hand corner of the ST
screen. The "am" or "pm" will display as "AM" or "PM" when CapsLock is
on. The clock remains on-screen thru all known programs and can be used
in any screen resolution. The display can be turned on or off at any
time (in any program) with a special keystroke.
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This program solves 6 problems I've had with other ST corner-clock programs:
1) It shows the correct am/pm style time.
2) It can be disabled at any time in any program without rebooting,
running a separate program, or having to access a desk accessory.
3) It's very small and fast, written totally in 68000 assembly language.
(Some resident clocks spend too much time in an interrupt. This can
cause the keyboard to go crazy sometimes when you move the mouse...)
4) It can be run in any screen resolution and survives resolution changes
if installed from within the AUTO folder. (More on this later.)
5) It runs inside any and all ST programs (not just those that obey
GEM psudo-multitasking rules) and under all known versions of TOS.
6) It doesn't use up an accessory slot.
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Program Features
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CapsLock Indicator...:
When the clock is on-screen and the CapsLock is active, the "am" or
"pm" of the clock display changes to "AM" or "PM" respectively.
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Display On/Off Switch...:
Once loaded, the clock display can be switched on or off at any time in
any program using the following key sequence.
Hold down both (Left -and- Right) [Shift] keys FOR AT LEAST 1
SECOND. Then, while still holding down both shift keys, hit
the [CapsLock] key.
If you're using software that already steals the left+right [Shift]
keystroke, holding down [Alternate] with [Right-Shift] and then hitting
the [CapsLock] key will also work...
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Screen Resolution Changes...:
JClock (version 8D) will now detect screen resolution changes and
reconfigure itself to display in the new resolution. (Past versions
caused a garbled clock to be displayed on the screen while running in
the alternate resolution.)
This new feature will only work properly on some machines if you load
JClock from the auto folder. (During a resolution change, some versions
of TOS will un-install JClock if it wasn't loaded from the auto folder.)
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Time-Setting...:
This version of JClock (version 8D) reads the time from the GEMDOS clock
only once when installed. No amount of altering the system time after you
install the clock will have any effect on the time displayed!
Older versions of JClock read the time from the keyboard clock rather
than the gemdos clock. This change allows those who have hardware clock
software that only sets the Gemdos time (and Mega users) to run JClock
without needing a special program to set the keyboard time.
This also means that on a 1040 or 520 ST you'll still need to use some
auto folder program to set the Gemdos clock -before- you install JClock.
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"How much does JClock cost...?"
The cost for this program is one postcard. Picture or plain is up to
you. If you want, I'll also accept a letter, 3.5" disk, or e-mail...
Why just a postcard minimum-payment? Why no money? Because I primarily
want to hear from you to find out who's using JClock, what you like, what
you dislike, and to get ideas for improvements. I know that most people
look at a "tiny" program like JClock and don't realize what it's really
worth so I don't expect that many people would pay the $2 - $7 that most
authors would ask for it. Other people just hate to write letters. I'd
rather make it easy and painless for you to "pay" me so I can tell you're
out there using what I've spent my time creating and just maybe I'll get a
few good ideas for the next version...
If you really like JClock, feel free to send me a letter or disk. If
you think it's only "ok", then briefly tell me how you would improve it.
Either way, if you use JClock, even if you hate to write, please take 60
seconds to put my address on a postcard along with a stamp, your own
return address, and the word "JClock8d" and drop it in the mail to:
John Stanley
4157 Lyndale Av. S.
Minneapolis, Mn. 55409
USA
(I can also be reached on Usenet via john@dynasoft.UUCP or on GEnie as JLS.)
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-- Disclaimer & Distribution Rights --
(with much regret that such things are necessary...)
I hereby explicitly disclaim any implied warranty on JClock for any use
what so ever. JClock is -not- guaranteed to work with any and all ST or
Mega software and hardware. (The ST has too many unknowns...)
On the other hand, JClock has served the author and many of his friends
(with occasional improvements and enhancements) for well over two years.
If JClock doesn't work with some combination of programs/hardware that you
use, let me know what they are so I can try to fix the problem. Thank you.
I hereby grant the right to distribute (all together, with -no- changes)
JCLOCK8D.PRG, this text file, and the associated history file via all BBS
systems (local and national), non-profit user groups, and by individuals.
This explicitly excludes all commercial "Public-Domain" distributors and
any other agencies, groups, or companies unless written permission is
granted.
John L. Stanley
PS: If this is distributed to members of an Atari users group, I'd really
appreciate if your editor would mail me a copy of your club newsletter.
After I read it, I'll contribute it to my local users group library.
