_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ / EasyCD, Version 1.02 \ \ (C) Copyright 1996, GHL Software, All rights reserved. / -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- About EasyCD ------------ I created EasyCD out of a fairly simple desire. I noticed that all the audio CD player applications had the same annoying feature. They didn't go away. None of the CD player applications I tried ran ONLY when an audio CD was in the CD player. They stayed there even after the audio CD was removed, telling me something I already knew, "there is no audio CD in the CD player," meanwhile taking up tray space and or system resources. So, I decided to dive in see if I I could come up with a CD player that did what I wanted. EasyCD is designed to use the Auto Run feature of Windows 95. The major difference between EasyCD and other audio CD player applications is that EasyCD detects when an audio CD is removed from the CD player and EXITS. Basically, EasyCD follows the lifetime of an audio CD and is not running when there is no audio CD in the CD player. I don't know about you, but when I play an audio CD on my computer, it's definitely not the main thing I am concentrating on. EasyCD's interface is based on the Windows 95 system tray. This allows EasyCD to occupy the smallest space possible while allowing for good user control over the CD player and provide useful information about the status of the audio CD being played. I purposefully kept EasyCD simple, providing only the basic functions that a CD player should provide. I used the model of a portable CD player to define the required functionality. I left track naming feature because almost everybody I have talked to, have tediously entered the name of each CD they played AND all it's tracks for about a month (if that long.) I also tried to make EasyCD as efficient as possible. I I wanted EasyCD to operate without impacting the normal operation and use of the computer. The default "CD Player" application provided with Windows 95 is a good example of what I did not want to provide in my CD player application. It uses about 40% of the CPU (on a lowly 486DX266, sorry that's all the horsepower I have at home) while playing an audio CD. This is not my idea of efficiency. All I want to do is listen to the music, not to have the CD player application eat up half of my CPU. Lastly, I decided not to partially disable, time expire, or otherwise nag the user about EasyCD being shareware. The only information about EasyCD being shareware, is in the "About" dialog, where it should be. Installation ------------ 1. If your distribution is a zip file, unzip it using an appropriate unzip utility (I prefer and recommend WinZip which is also available as shareware.) 2. To install EasyCD, run: setup.exe. 3. Follow the instructions provided. The defaults are as follows: Directory: EasyCD Program Group: None (base of the Start/Programs menu) The installation for EasyCD places the executable and this file into the user specified directory. It adds an icon to the user specified program folder. Finally, it modifies the registry entries that determine which application is started when an audio CD is placed in the CD-Rom drive. SPECIAL NOTE: Because of limitations (bugs) in Windows 95, do not place the EasyCD executable in a directory path that does not conform to the Windows 3.x naming convention, i.e. the "Program Files" directory. For some unknown reason, if the path to EasyCD contains spaces or is too long, Windows 95 can not find the icon that should represent audio CD's for EasyCD and ends up using the default Windows icon for the audio CD. Uninstalling ------------ To uninstall EasyCD, open the 'Control Panel' and select the 'Add/Remove Programs' icon. Select EasyCD from the displayed list and press the 'Add/Remove...' button. Confirm the remove and EasyCD will be removed from your system. Using EasyCD ------------ EasyCD is automatically started when an audio CD is placed in the CD-Rom drive. EasyCD then starts to play the audio CD. The Tray Icon ------------- Left Mouse Button: When the CD is playing, a single click will pause the CD. If the CD is paused, a single click will continue play. If stopped, a single click will play the CD from the start of the first track. Right Mouse Button: Displays the EasyCD main popup menu. The menu options are described below. The Popup Menu -------------- Play: Always plays the CD from the start of the first track. Pause: Pauses the CD at the current position or continues play from previously paused position. Stop: Stops CD player. Eject: Ejects the CD from the CD player (this also will also cause EasyCD to exit.) Next Track: Starts play at the next sequential track. If in 'Shuffle' mode, play is started at a randomly selected track from the remaining unplayed tracks. Previous Track: Starts play at the previous sequential track. Select Track: Allows the user to select which track to play. Tracks that have already been played have a check mark next to them. Shuffle: Toggles EasyCD between sequential track and random track play. Intro Play: EasyCD will play the first 10 seconds of each track when in 'Intro Play' mode. Repeat: When repeat mode is set and all tracks have been played, EasyCD will reset the 'played' status for all tracks and restart play. Auto Eject: If auto eject is set, EasyCD will eject the CD if EasyCD is exited, or when all tracks are played and 'Repeat' mode is not set. About EasyCD: Displays registration information for EasyCD. Also displays the CD status, current system CPU utilization, and the number of threads currently active in the system (added just for fun.) Exit EasyCD: Exits EasyCD and if auto eject is set, this will eject the CD in the player. Registration ------------ To register EasyCD, please send $10.00 or whatever you deem this program to be worth, to the address listed below. Registration will, in addition to easing your conscience (yeah right) entitles you to all future versions of EasyCD. I will attempt to notify you by e-mail when new versions are available. Your registration will also fund the chiropractor that I need due to hunching over my computer during all my after hours in addition to all the time I spend hunching over a computer at my official job. How to Contact GHL Software --------------------------- E-Mail: leichner@ix.netcom.com gleichner@transdyn.com Snail-Mail: GHL Software Greg Leichner 1205A Vicente Dr. Sunnyvale, CA 94086 USA Known Bugs (Undocumented Features) ---------------------------------- I wouldn't quite classify this as a bug, but this is the best place for this. I have found some CD-Rom games contain readable CD audio tracks. In this case, Windows 95 does not automatically start EasyCD since it detects it as a data disk. EasyCD is able to play these CD's, it just needs to be manually started. This software has not been tested on a system that contains more than one CD-Rom drive or on a system that has a CD-Rom changer (I don't have either one.) If your system has either of these configurations, I would greatly appreciate it if you would give me some feedback about how EasyCD behaves and obviously I will waive any registration fee. Future Plans ------------ 1. Identify the currently playing track on the "Select Track" popup menu somehow (I have unsuccessfully tried a couple of methods, but I will keep trying.) 2. Track programming. 3. Specify and save the CD name (no track lists.) 4. Support for the Windows NT SUR (Shell Update Release.) I have done preliminary tests and I think the NT SUR has some bugs in the Auto Run feature, specifically with it's updating the icon associated with the CD-Rom. Otherwise EasyCD runs fine. Distribution ------------ You are hereby licensed to make as many copies of EasyCD as you wish and provide them to anyone as long as: the EasyCD distribution is not modified in any way, and you do not charge any money for any of the copies of EasyCD you make. If you wish to include EasyCD in any sort of distribution that will be sold commercially or otherwise, you must get written permission from GHL Software and Gregory Howard Leichner to do so. A small royalty may be charged depending on the nature of the distribution. All rights not expressly granted are reserved to GHL Software and Gregory Howard Leichner. Disclaimer ---------- THE INFORMATION, CODE AND EXECUTABLES PROVIDED ARE PROVIDED AS IS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL GREGORY HOWARD LEICHNER AND OR GHL SOFTWARE BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF GREGORY HOWARD LEICHNER AND OR GHL SOFTWARE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. Personal Feelings ----------------- I hope I never have to use that crap in the above section.