README FILE
---------------------------
HelioExplorer 0.5 (alpha)
By Joshua Foster
(c)2002 JF Software
http://www.angelfire.com/la3/JFSoftware/helio
joshua_70448_2@ureach.com


Testing Warning
---------------
This program is still in testing stages, so if anything screws up, don't blame me.
This program is especially risky because it has the ability to modify (and
therefore, corrupt) your applications and databases.  It is HIGHLY recommended that
you make a backup copy of every APP and HDB before you edit it.  Note also that as
long as you don't rename or change the owner of any files, you should be all right.
(See the "Options Window" section for information on disabling renaming and changing
owners)


Description
-----------
Annoyed by how VSync shortens the file names of all of your APPs and HDBs?  Well,
here's a workaround: browse through your files by their Helio names.  HelioExplorer
lets you do that.  It shows apps and dbs, and also previews the icons of the apps!


Files in this Package
---------------------
Program Files
=============
Asycfilt.dll (145KB) - Microsoft Windows OLE server *
Comcat.dll (22KB) - Microsoft Component Category Manager Library *
HelioExplorer.exe (164KB) - The main program.
mscomctl.ocx (1042KB) - Windows Common Controls ActiveX Control DLL *
Msvbvm60.dll (1356KB) - Visual Basic 6.0 Runtime *
Oleaut32.dll (585KB) - More OLE stuff *
Olepro32.dll (161KB) - Even more OLE stuff *
Runprog.pif (967 bytes) - The Runprog batch file settings file
Stdole2.tlb (18KB) - There's no end to the OLE stuff! *
Vb6stkit.dll (100KB) - Visual Basic Setup Toolkit Library DLL *
VBUninstall.exe (16KB) - A program that runs the uninstallation process. *

Support Files
=============
readme.txt (17KB) - This readme document.
heliodb.bas (16KB) - A Visual Basic module with the source code for manipulating
                     Helio applications and databases, straight from HelioExplorer!*

File Type Installation Files
============================
Double-click these files to add a file type to your HelioExplorer program or to
replace a corrupted file type.  Your HelioExplorer program should automatically
install these.
BASIC.reg (288 bytes) - The BASIC (SmallBASIC Program) file type
EReader.reg (220 bytes) - The > (EReader Document) file type
File Type Template (3.97KB) - This example should help developers make their own
                              installation files.  Just read the instructions to
                              learn how.  And be sure to delete the commented lines
                              (those starting with //)
FontPDB.reg (281 bytes) - The FontPDB (Palm Font) file type
Frotz.reg (285 bytes) - The Frotz (HelioFrotz Game) file type
GrayscaleFile2.reg (226 bytes) - The GrayscaleFile2 (GrayScale Picture) file type
monoFont.reg (124 bytes) - The monoFont (Snarf Font) file type
Snarf File.reg (129 bytes) - The Snarf File (Snarf Website) file type
TADS Save Game.reg (318 bytes) - The TADS Save Game (HelioTADS Saved Game) file type
TADS.reg (282 bytes) - The TADS (HelioTADS Game) file type
Text.reg (285 bytes) - The Text (TextView Document) file type
TOC.reg (305 bytes) - The TOC (TextView Document - Table of Contents) file type


* - Not installed in the Minimal package


What's New
----------
HelioExplorer 0.1 (Alpha)  ===>  HelioExplorer 0.1.1 (Alpha)
- Options:
  - Confirm deletion
  - Disable name/owner editing (for the faint of heart)
  - Disable name editing of Liberty apps (Gmbt_*) (Liberty games tend to refuse to
    run if they are renamed)
- The Context Menu button (next to the Windows key on the right side) is enabled
  for the context menu
- Toggles installed and uninstalled files
- Minimal package now uses a different installer to save download times.  Note that
  the installer program is one that I wrote, and might have bugs in it.  Should
  work just fine, though.

HelioExplorer 0.1.1 (Alpha)  ===>  HelioExplorer 0.5 (Alpha)
- Multiple user support
- Reverse sort ability
- File types
- Shell abilities (double-clicking files, etc.)
- Self-searching capabilities (no user intervention required!)


Getting Started
---------------
After installing HelioExplorer, run it through the Start Menu icon.  You will be
brought to a file listing window very similar to Windows Explorer (that's what this
program was designed off of).  If you are using the program for the first time, or
if you just installed a new file type, there might be a long delay while the program
retrieves a listing of all of your computer's folders.  This is so that it can find
programs for you.  It only does this once per use, and only when it REALLY needs it.

You may also experience a small delay as the program gets a list of all of your HDBs
HDBs and APPs and gets the Helio names and types of them.

Once the program is done searching, it will display all of the files.  When you
first use the program, everything will be sorted by Helio name, and the columns
will all be the same width.  If you click once on a column header, the list will
sort on that column.  Click again, and the sort will be reversed.

If you want, you can drag the lines between the column headers to a comfortable
comfortable width.  Also, you can change the order of the columns by dragging the
headers between other headers.

If you have multiple users set up, there will be a drop-down box on the top of the
HelioExplorer window.  If you want to use another user, click the box and select the
user you wish to use.

You can access the menu system in four ways:
- Click a menu on the top of the window
- Right-click any file
- Select a file and press the Context Menu key on your keyboard (next to Windows)
  (same as right-click)
- Right-click in any empty space in the window


The File Menu
-------------
Edit - If you've installed the file type for the file you've highlighted (or if the
       file type came installed), then this option is available.  If you've
       highlighted an application or don't have the correct file type, it will be
       disabled.
       This option allows you to edit a database and save it back into a database.
       After a short pause while the program converts the database to a usable file,
       its editor will appear, allowing you to view and edit the file.  If you save
       any changes you've made onto the original, then the new file will be
       converted when you close the editor.  You MUST close the editor before
       HelioExplorer will let you back in, or convert the file into an HDB.
       If you get a message box telling you that the program was "Unable to view
       exported database because there is no extension specified!" then the file
       type being used to view the file is corrupt.  Download and install a
       replacement file type. (see the "Installing File Types" section for info)
       If you get a message box telling you that "There is no program associated to
       view XXX files!" then you have no program installed to view XXX files
       (replace XXX with the three-letter ending, like txt or bmp).
       If you get a message box telling you that the program was "Unable to convert
       database XXXXXXXX.HDB!" then there was an error while converting the database
       with the associated program.
Edit (Read-Only) - See notes under "Edit" for availability.
                   This option, similar to the Edit option, allows you to view a
                   database.  However, it will not be converted over your old file.
                   You can save over the original, but the original file will be
                   deleted and no changes will be saved.  Again, you MUST close the
                   editor before HelioExplorer will let you back in.
       If you get a message box telling you that the program was "Unable to view
       exported database because there is no extension specified!" then the file
       type being used to view the file is corrupt.  Download and install a
       replacement file type. (see the "Installing File Types" section for info)
       If you get a message box telling you that "There is no program associated to
       view XXX files!" then you have no program installed to view XXX files
       (replace XXX with the three-letter ending, like txt or bmp).
       If you get a message box telling you that the program was "Unable to convert
       database XXXXXXXX.HDB!" then there was an error while converting the database
       with the associated program.
Edit (Read-Only in Notepad) - See notes under "Edit" for availability.
       This option, similar to the Edit (Read-Only) option, allows you to view a
       database.  The file will be viewed in Windows Notepad, regardless of its
       type.  Again, you MUST close the editor before HelioExplorer will let you
       back in.
       If you get a message box telling you that the program was "Unable to convert
       database XXXXXXXX.HDB!" then there was an error while converting the database
       with the associated program.
Convert - See notes under "Edit" for availability.
          Convert allows you to simply convert the selected database into a usable
          file.  Choose where you want to save the converted file at, and click the
          Save button.  After a short delay, a message box will appear telling you
          whether the convert was successful or not.
          If you get a message box telling you that the program was "Unable to
          convert database XXXXXXXX.HDB!" then there was an error while converting
          the database with the associated program.
Delete (Del) - Deletes the currently selected file(s).  If the appropriate option
               has been set, then it will ask for confirmation before deleting.
Rename (F2) - Changes the currently selected file's Helio name.  Note that this
              changes the name that appears on your Helio, not on your PC.
              Databases are limited to 31 characters, and applications to 19
              characters.  If you have disabled name and owner editing, then this
              option will be grayed out.  Also, if you disabled Liberty renaming,
              then this option will be grayed out when you select a Gmbt_ app.
Change Type (Ctrl+F2) - Changes the type (owner) of the currently selected file.
                        This only works when the selected file is a database.  The
                        owner can be up to 31 characters.  Note that many Helio
                        programs use the owner name to distinguish their files from
                        others, so be careful!  If you have disabled name and owner
                        editing, then this option will be grayed out.
Change Filename (Shift+F2) - Changes the DOS filename of the currently selected
                             file.  This is the name shown on your PC, not your
                             Helio.  You can have up to about 508 characters in
                             this name, but it will be shortened to 8 when you sync
                             your Helio.  (Blame it on VSync, not me!)
Toggle Install (F12) - Toggles between "Install on next sync" and "Don't install".
                       When you toggle a file to be installed, its icon will turn
                       red and the file type will have "New" somewhere in it.  Now,
                       next time you sync your Helio, the file will be installed.
                       When you toggle a file to not be installed, its icon returns
                       to its normal color and the "New" in the file type will be
                       removed.  You can select multiple files at a time.
Properties (F3) - Shows the Properties window for the currently selected file(s).
                  See the "File Properties Window" section for more information.
Close - Exits HelioExplorer.


The Edit Menu
-------------
Select All (Ctrl+A) - Selects all of the files.
Invert Selection - Makes selected files unselected, and unselected files selected.


The View Menu
-------------
Status Bar - When checked, the status bar will appear on the bottom of your screen.
             It is recommended that you leave this on; otherwise, you won't know
             what your computer is doing.
Large Icons - Changes the current view to Large Icons.
Small Icons - Changes the current view to Small Icons.
List - Changes the current view to List.
Details - Changes the current view to Details.
Arrange Icons - The subitems of this will change how your icons are arranged.  If
                you are in Details view, you can simply click the appropriate
                column header to sort.  Note the "Known Bugs" section at the end of
                this file for information on sorting by Size and Date.
Refresh (F5) - Refreshes the file list.  There will be small delay as the program
               reads each file's information.
Options - Brings up the Options window.  See the "Options Window" section for more
          information.


The Tools Menu
--------------
Install (F4) - Clicking this will bring up a browsing box.  Select any HDB, HDO,
               APP, or APO files that you have downloaded, and HelioExplorer will
               copy them to your \1\Acc folder for you.  It will also rename them
               so that they will be installed in the next sync.


The Help Menu
-------------
Readme (F1) - Brings up this document in Notepad.
About HelioExplorer (Shift+F1) - Shows the About screen.


File Properties Window
----------------------
The icon and filename tell you which file you are looking at.  Also, if the file is
an application, then a preview of the icon that it shows on the Helio will be shown
in the upper-right corner.  Also listed are the Type, DOS Name, Size, and Date
Modified.


Options Window
--------------
There are currently three options you can set here:
- Never confirm deletion of files: If checked, then HelioExplorer will never ask
  you if you REALLY want to delete files: it will just delete them.  This is
  unchecked by default.
- Disable name and owner editing: This is for the faint of heart who don't want to
  risk messing up their apps and databases.  If checked, then the Rename and Change
  Owner options will always be disabled, preventing you from changing the files.
  This is unchecked by default, but people who are unsure of what they are doing
  should check this box.
- Disable name editing of Liberty apps: This is a very important option.  If you
  rename a Liberty app, then it will not work until you put its name back to the
  original setting.  If this option is checked, then the Rename option will be
  disabled whenever you select an app starting with "Gmbt_" (the first five letters
  of every Liberty app's name).  This is checked by default.


Installing File Types
---------------------
If there are no updates of HelioExplorer put out soon, then you may have to install
brand new file types yourself.  Don't worry, it's easy.  Just download the .REG file
and double-click it.  You should get a message box telling you that the information
was successfully entered into the registry.  You're done!  Next time you run
HelioExplorer, the program will find the programs needed, so it may take a little
longer to start up the first time.


Source Code
-----------
HelioExplorer was written in Visual Basic 6 (SP4).  Although the actual program's
code is not available, I have compiled some of the functions for getting HDB and
APP information into a Module (.bas) for other VB programmers to use.  That module,
heliodb.bas, should have come in this ZIP file.


Known Bugs
----------
* The File Properties window sometimes shows previously shown information.
* Sorting by Size and Modified sort numerically, not correctly. (130KB comes before
  1KB, etc.)
* If the file you are working with has been renamed or deleted and you haven't
  refreshed recently, then the program, in an attempt to work with the file, will
  create a blank or very small file of that same name.


Coming up in Future Versions
----------------------------
Version 1.0
- Editable application icons
- Easy import and creation abilities (using the file types)
- File type manager like the one in Windows Explorer
- More file types (go to the JF Software website for file type updates)
- Easy transfer of files to the Helio through Y-Modem?
- Fixed Size and Date sorting?


I Need Info!
------------
User feedback is really important for this program.  I'm trying to work out every
bug I can find before moving on to Version 1.0.  So, if you want 1.0 out sooner,
then send me every suggestion, complaint, bug, error, etc.  My email is
joshua_70448@ureach.com
