MyExplorerBar Help

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Welcome to the MyExplorerBar -- add-on enhancement for Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer.  MyExplorerBar integrates directly with Explorer window -- it acts as communication band.  MyExplorerBar provides features missed by many users of Windows Explorer, that is, selection masks for selecting files with the same characteristics (e.g., "my*.tx?"), fast access to favorite folders and shortcuts to favorite programs, files or WWW links.  All items are arranged inside fully customizable toolbars, so they can be accessed usually by one or two mouse clicks.  MyExplorerBar supports drag and drop for easy customization as well as set of Add Wizards.

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The following list briefly summarizes all major features of MyExplorerar:

Current version is 1.10.  MyExplorerBar is shareware -- it can be evaluated for 30 days and after this period it has to be registered or removed from the system.  We appreciate to hear every user's feedback, comments or suggestions to improve MyExplorerBar and make next versions as useful as possible.

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MyExplorerBar depends on several technologies introduced by Internet Explorer 4.0, so it can run on the following platforms:

Internet Explorer has to be installed with user interface enhancements (Desktop Update).  It is recommended to use Internet Explorer 5.01 service pack 1 or Internet Explorer 5.5 for the best results.

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Desktop Update is discussed in detail inside an article "How to Add or Remove Windows Desktop Update" (Article ID: Q165695) provided by Microsoft Product Support Services.  This article can be reached by searching Knowledge Base at Microsoft Developer Network web site (msdn.microsft.com) or by following this direct link:

        http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q165/6/95.ASP

User interface (UI) enhancements (Desktop Update) are installed by Internet Explorer (version 4.x).  UI enhancements influence mainly look and feel of the Windows Explorer window and enable technologies used by MyExplorerBar to provide its functionality. User can easily determine if UI enhancements are enabled or not:

If UI enhancements are disabled you can enabled them following this (tedious) procedure:

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Files are selected using a user defined selection mask.  Selection Mask can contain wild card characters -- '*' for arbitrary string and '?' for arbitrary character.

Enter selection mask in selection mask combo box and press <Enter> or click a button inside selection mask toolbar.

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Drag selection mask icon from the selection mask combo box and drop it on the toolbar.   Window with selection mask properties will appear.  Modify required properties and click OK to create a new selection mask item.

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Select Shortcuts tab inside MyExplorerBar window and choose one from the following options to create a new shortcut item:

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Select Folders tab inside MyExplorerBar window and choose one from the following options to create a new folder item:

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Move mouse pointer over required tab during drag and drop operation.  Wait for a moment until the tab is selected.  Delay time can be set inside drag and drop properties.

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Switch to folders tab if it is not selected.  Move mouse pointer over folder you want to navigate to.   Wait for a moment until the folder is selected.  Delay time can be set inside drag and drop properties.

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MyExplorerBar window integrates with Windows Explorer or Internet Explorer window -- it acts as communication band.

MyExplorerBar window has the following parts:

Use right mouse button to open context menus:

When Windows Explorer window is too small to display all items inside a toolbar then small arrow buttons will appear on left or right side of the toolbar.  Use left mouse button to scroll the toolbar, use right mouse button to open menu with current non visible (or partially visible) items.

MyExplorerBar is fully customizable.  A user can add, move and delete items inside all toolbars (Selection Masks, Folders and Shortcuts).  There is several ways how to create a new item:

To move item within a toolbar just drag item you want to move and drop it at the desired position.

To delete an item invoke on the item the Item Context Menu and select Delete.

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Add Wizard provides step-by-step instructions how to create a new item.  A special wizard is provided for each item type (Selection Mask, Folder or Shortcut).  Each Add Wizard has the following pages:

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Drag and drop can be used to configure MyExploreBar:

User can change order of items inside a toolbar by dragging an item (toolbar button) and dropping it at new position.

When an object (folder, file, etc.) is being dragged over a tab then this tab will be automatically selected after certain time (default time is 0.5 second and user can change it inside Drag and Drop Properties).

When an object (folder, file, etc.) is being dragged over a folder item inside folders toolbar then this folder will be automatically selected inside Windows Explorer after certain time (default time is 0.5 second and user can change it inside Drag and Drop Properties).

If drop on folder button is enabled (see Drag and Drop Preperties) then user can drag multiple folders and files and drop them on a folder button.  The folder button has to define folder using full path otherwise the drop cannot be supported.

When data is dropped on a button a special drop menu appers.  The menu has the following items:

All operations are delegated to the shell (Windows Explorer), so undo can be used (go to the Windows Explorer select menu Edit).

If drop on shortcut button is enabled (see Drag and Drop Properites) then user can drag multiple folders and files and drop them on a shortcut button.  The shortcut has to define an application using full path otherwise the drop cannot be supported.

The drop operation is delegated to the shell, so behaviour is the same as the dragged data were drop on a desktop shortcut, etc.

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Selection Masks make possible to select files with the same characteristics.  Selection Mask can contain wild card characters -- '*' for arbitrary string and '?' for arbitrary character.  Each mask can contain multiple patterns, for example:

Selection Mask toolbar has two extra controls -- selection mask combo-box for manual entering of selection mask and select button to select files and folders using mask inside the combo-box.

Selection Mask has the following properties (invoke Item Context Menu and select Properties):

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Folders makes possible very fast navigation to the most used folders.  Click on folder item and Windows Explorer will switch to it. 

Folders can be also used for copying or moving files from one location to another using drag and drop.  Drag a file, move it over folder item (inside folder toolbar) and MyExplorerBar will automatically navigate Windows Explorer to this folder.  Once the folder is selected move mouse cursor to the list view and drop the file to its new location.

Folder has the following properties (invoke Item Context Menu and select Properties):

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Shortcuts make possible to launch your favorite programs or files, explore (inside separate Explorer window) favorite folders or browse favorite links.

Shortcut has the following properties (invoke Item Context Menu and select Properties):

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Track Shell Menu feature is available for shortcut and folder buttons specifying a full path to a folder or file.  If full path is specified then shell can be queried for context menu of given item.  When the shell context menu is available then the Item Context Menu has one more item -- Track Shell Menu.

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Change Icon dialog extracts icons from specified file and lets user to select an icon to be used with Selection Mask, Folder or Shortcut.

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To open MyExplorerBar General Properties invoke Main Context Menu or Tab Context Menu and select Options or click on Options button inside main toolbar.

The following properties can be set:

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To open MyExplorerBar Drag and Drop Properties invoke Main Context Menu or Tab Context Menu and select Options or click on Options button inside main toolbar.   Then click on property page Drag and Drop.

This property page lets user to set required drag and drop behaviour.  The following options are available:

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To open MyExplorerBar Show Policy Properties invoke Main Context Menu or Tab Context Menu and select Options or click on Options button inside main toolbar.   Then click on property page Show Policy.

This property page lets user to define how MyExplorerBar will be invoked inside Windows Explorer or Internet Explorer window.  The following options are available:

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Support is provided on myexplorerbar@pitrinec.com and is free for all registered users and users evaluating the MyExplorerBar.

When reporting bugs or problems please include:

Please, keep in mind that more information you provide us about your problem give us better chance to find a solution.

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Upon your acceptance of this Agreement, Pitrinec Software (Author) grants to you a nonexclusive license to use the MyExplorerBar software (Software).

A. Use of the Software.

The Software has been released for distribution as a SHAREWARE and may be distributed at no cost.

You may install the Software on a hard disk or other storage device; install and use the Software on a file server for use on a network for the purposes of (i) permanent installation onto hard disks or other storage devices or (ii) use of the Software over such network; and make backup copies of the Software.

B. Restrictions.

Unregistered use of the Software after the 30-day evaluation period is in violation of international copyright laws.

You are not allowed to modify, translate, reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble or otherwise attempt to discover the source code of the Software.

The number of the (licensed) Software instances running at the same time may not exceed the number of licenses purchased.

You are not allowed to redistribute or provide to 3rd party already registered versions of the Software as well as you may not publish the registration number(s) that unlocks the Software.

The Software can be distributed only as the package provided by the Author.This package cannot be changed in any way without written Author's permission.

C. No Warranty.

ALL WARRANTIES ARE DISCLAIMED, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SOFTWARE. THE ENTIRE RISK OF THE USE OR THE RESULT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE REMAINS WITH THE USER.

Unpublished-rights reserved under international copyright laws.

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As stated in "License Agreement" part of this document, MyExplorerBar is a shareware program and must be registered if user decides to keep it.  There are several ways how to register it.  User can either use on-line registration or send registration form via e-mail or snail mail (in such a case there is a Register.exe program provided with the package allowing user to generate registration form).  User can choose among several payment methods including credit cards, cash, money order, etc.

MyExplorerBar Price List:

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