Title Page
 Random Saver

Version 1.1 -- June 1994

Overview	What this program is all about.

Disclaimer	Legalities.

Other Products	View a list of other products available.


Overview

If you know how to install a standard Windows screen saver, then you know how to install the Random Saver.  If not, then look at the online help in the Control Panel Desktop application or your Windows manuals.

Like many of you I have a lot of screen savers that I have been collecting over the years.  However, I only get to see one at a time.  They can get boring as well.  Changing them isn't so hard, but it's not something one gets around to.  Sure sounds like a job for a program, huh?  Well this is it.  Once you install the Random Saver, it will take care of making sure you see all of  your screen savers at random.  Each time the system timeout occurs, Windows launches the selected screen saver.  The Random Saver will look through all of your savers, select one at random, copy it to a temporary file, and then run that file.

One of the drawbacks of having a lot of screen savers, is that they take up space in your  WINDOWS directory, which is already too cluttered.  This is taken care of in the Random Saver.  The only configuration item this program provides is the location of your savers directory.  I make a directory off of the WINDOWS directory called SAVERS and copy all of my SCR files (and whatever files they need) into it.  Then I type C:\WINDOWS\SAVERS into the editbox of the Random Saver's configuration dialog.  This dialog appears when you press the Setup button in the Desktop applet in the Control Panel.

You can also configure the Random Saver to show a password dialog when the user interrupts a running screen saver.  Just before this dialog appears the screen will be blacked out to protect any private data that may be on your screen.  The method of setting and verifying the password has been designed to emulate the same approach that appears when you use one of the screen savers that are bundled with Windows.  There are some minor differences, but it should seem familiar.   If you choose to use the password option, be sure to turn off this same option for each of the screen savers that will be in your collection.  Otherwise you will be entering two passwords.  The nice thing about this program is that you always have only one interface to your password control.  Configuring other parameters of the screen savers in your collection must be done on an individual basis by using the Control Panel.  Perhaps another version of the Random Saver will handle this.

An additional feature is the ability to beep the system speaker when the screen saver starts.  This can be handy to wake you up if you've been working too late.  I put this in for myself, but I hope it benefits you as well!.

That's it!  It has worked with all of the screen savers that I have thrown at it.  I've got about 50, so if you know about more than that, let me know.  Good luck and enjoy!


Registration
Legal Issues

Random Saver is copyright 1994 by Bob Dolan

Random Saver is distributed as freeware.  This means that you may use it at no cost, but that I own it.  In addition, it cannot be resold without express permission from me.

You may reach me on GEnie at the following EMail address: DOLAN

or by mail at

Bob Dolan Software

P.O. Box 16514

Rochester, N.Y. 14616-0514

Please make any donations payable to Bob Dolan (thanks!)

Distribution

If you distribute Random Saver to friends, associates, or to a computer bulletin board system (BBS),  you may only distribute the compressed file including the copyright and disclaimer.

Disclaimer

The Copyright Owner hereby disclaims all warranties relating to this software, whether express or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The Copyright Owner will not be liable for any special, incidental, consequential, indirect or similar damages due to loss of data or any other reason, even if The Copyright owner or an agent of The Copyright Owner has been advised of the possibility of such damages.  In no event shall The Copyright Owner's liability for any damages ever exceed the price paid for the license to use the software, regardless of the form of the claim.  The person using the software bears all risk as to the quality and performance of the software.


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