home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- BLANKER
- =======
-
- What is Blanker?
- ================
-
- Blanker is a utility for Windows 3.0 that will blank your screen when it is
- not in use. This helps prolong the useful life of your monitor and also
- reduces the distraction of a colorful computer screen when you aren't
- using it.
-
-
- Why does Blanker exist?
- =======================
-
- Yes ... there are a lot of screen savers available. Some are available
- commercially, some as shareware and some as freeware. The more expensive
- ones tend to provide you with lots of colorful and fanciful animation
- on your screen. This is cute, but can get annoying after a while. Some
- just do a basic job of blanking your screen, but don't always work properly.
-
- So, Blanker was born out of frustration. I needed it for myself and wasn't
- happy with any of the availble products.
-
-
- What does Blanker do that makes it special?
- ===========================================
-
- 1) It operates invisibly. There is NO icon displayed when it is loaded.
- The Windows Desktop is valuable "real-estate" and shouldn't be wasted
- displaying the existence of basic utilities.
-
- 2) It is VERY small and takes up VERY little processor. A screen blanker
- is a necessary utility. The fancy versions take up valuable resources.
- Blanker is economical ... MUCH more so than most competing products.
-
- 3) It works "properly" with DOS applications. VERY few screen savers
- seem to behave well with DOS apps when you are running in 386 Enhanced
- mode. The default option will NOT blank a DOS session that
- is running in full-screen mode. But, it will still blank normally if
- a DOS app is currently active while in Windows. (You can choose to
- blank full-screen DOS sessions as an option).
-
- 4) It includes an option which allows "instant blanking" of your screen.
-
- 5) It is FREE!!! Use it and abuse it and hopefully enjoy it.
-
-
- How do I use Blanker?
- =====================
-
- BLANKER.EXE can exist anywhere you wish. If you don't care, just put it
- in your default Windows directory.
-
- The file, BLANKER.INI does not have to be present. However, if you use it,
- you must place it in the default Windows directory.
-
- The default options for Blanker are:
-
- Delay = 3 (minutes)
- Blank DOS = No
- Instant Blank = Yes
-
- Most people will want to load Blanker whenever Windows is active. To do
- this, add "BLANKER.EXE" to either the RUN= or LOAD= lines in your WIN.INI
- file. (If BLANKER.EXE is not in your search path, be sure to add the path!)
-
- Once Blanker is installed it can be removed from memory by running it a
- second time. A message will be displayed that it has been removed. If you
- want to load and unload frequently for whatever reasons, you might wish
- to add Blanker to one of your Program Manager groups.
-
-
- Operational Notes
- =================
-
- For "instant blanking", just put your mouse in the extreme upper-left
- corner of the screen and leave it be. The screen will blank within 5
- seconds (unless you have the "Instant Blank" option turned off).
-
- If you choose to blank DOS sessions (only applicable to full-screen DOS
- apps running under 386-Enhanced mode), it will take approximately
- 15 (fifteen) times longer to blank than the normal delay.
-
- Blanker will NOT operate properly in a large-frame EMS envionment (Real-mode).
- Very few people use this mode, and I chose to ignore it in order to
- keep Blanker as small and efficient as possible.
-
-
- Closing Notes
- =============
-
- Blanker is FreeWare and may be used without cost. When it is distributed,
- please include this small document with it.
-
- Please send any feedback to:
-
- CompuServe 73040,334
-
- Internet 73040.334@compuserve.com
- 73040.334@compuserve.com@saqqara.cis.ohio-state.edu
-
- Prodigy VSFB48A
-
-
-
- Blanker was produced by:
-
- David G. Mandell
- PLANNET CRAFTERS
- 14 February 1991