		  TopWin Software for ObjectVision Developers

Version 1.4
October 14, 1993


Copyright 1993, Phillips Design, All Rights Reserved.

Ken Phillips Jr. 
Phillips Design
2726 Robert Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio  45211-8116
(513) 661-4494
CompuServe: 71561,711

Why this product was developed...

I like Borland development tools; most of my applications are written using 
their C and C++ compilers, and the Paradox Engine.

Sometimes, when time and budget restraints demand, I will write an application 
using ObjectVision 2.1. Although this is the quickest method of getting a 
program on-line, the OV startup screen leaves much to be desired. The "splash"
screen screams OBJECTVISION! I prefer that the method of development remain
in the background, so I wrote this little program to allow the developer to 
use his own graphic, in the form of a Windows Metafile (*.wmf).

New this version:  Previous versions of this program required the startup.ini file 
to be in the Windows directory. Per Jim Wetzel's suggestion, I have now modified
the program to look for the startup.ini file in the current working directory. 
Choice of full screen startups, or a square screen, centered on the display.

The following files are included in the .zip file:

readme.txt      This file!

main.exe        Displays your graphic and launches your .OVD application.
		Can be renamed. Has a fairly generic icon. Stays on top of
		ObjectVision until your program is loaded, thus obscuring
		that infernal OV splash screen! Checks screen resolution,
		and loads the appropriate application (more on this below).                  
	
end.exe         This is how we make sure that your app is fully loaded 
		before removing your graphic: you include the "end.exe"
		program in your ObjectVision app's stack "OPEN" event.
		When it is called, it shuts down the graphic window, and
		returns you to the OV program. If you are changing menus, 
		etc., simply put the "@exec("end.exe",1) line after all of
		your changes are made.
	
phillips.wmf    A Windows Metafile, which contains the information needed 
		for Windows to create a graphic "on-the-fly". Unlike bitmaps,
		metafiles can be scaled in size without quality degradation. One
		important note: You can use any *.wmf file... as long as it does not
		include the viewable image header! Most graphics programs, such as 
		Corel Draw, give you a choice as to whether the viewable header is
		incuded. If you need a bitmap converted to a metafile, or a logo 
		scanned and converted, contact Phillips Design.

vga.ovd         I ran into a problem with one app I wrote for a large company.
svga.ovd        Like many businesses, they had a wide range of machines that ran
		Windows. While most had Super VGA, with a screen resolution of 
		800 x 600 or more, some had ordinary VGA, with a 640 x 480 screen.
		Some of the more complex forms required scroll bars, which really
		slowed things down, so I rewrote the program to check the current
		resolution, and run one of two possible programs: one designed for 
		SVGA, or onewith a standard VGA layout. These two OV apps are to
		demonstrate this feature; the OV screen will tell you which app it
		chose. If you can change your resolution you can experiment and see
		both screens. Also check the applications' OPEN event, for the function
		that kills the startup screen.

startup.ini     This file includes all of the parameters need by the main.exe program
		to operate. When you open it in any text editor you will see this:


	[setup]

	;the aspect ratio of the startup screen: only the lower case word "full" will work,
	;selecting a full screen with the graphic centered...
	;if the aspect= is left blank, the default is a square startup window... 
	aspect=full 

	;the name of your startup graphic, in Windows Metafile format...
	;note that the graphic must be nearly square to avoid distortion!
	graphic=phillips.wmf

	;the full path to the OV executable, which can be renamed...
	exe =c:\vision\vision.exe

	;the name of your 640 x 480 application...
	vga = vga.ovd

	;the name of your Super VGA application...
	svga = svga.ovd

	;the Startup Window Title...
	windowtitle = Phillips Design


		When you modify this file for your application, be sure to change only
		the information on the right side of the equal sign. Change nothing else!
		Also, make sure that the startup.ini file gets installed in the working
		directory; if the program can't find it there, it uses the defaults, which
		match the original .ini file above.
		
TopWin is copyrighted shareware; you may distribute the .zip file to other 
developers if you charge no money for it, and all the files are included, 
with no changes whatsoever. 

If you distribute this software with an application, you must include the
following statement, either on a visable application screen or in your 
documentation (though not in a readme file!):
	
		Portions Copyright 1993, Phillips Design

If you use TopWin in any application, other than testing or satisfying your 
curiousity, you must register! This includes "In-House" stuff.Registered users 
can distribute the executables files with their applications, royalty free.

Custom versions ("hard wired") available, at modest cost.

Registration is $24.95 per developer; if two developers use the product, 
two registrations are due. 

Check, M/O, Visa, MasterCard accepted. Add 5.5% sales tax in Ohio.

If you want another neat software tool, try downloading ontop.zip from
CompuServe. This little utility can replace taskman.exe, and can keep any
window on top of any other. Just GO IBMSYS, and you will find it in library 4.


		









