Introduction

Add multiple desktops the easy way!

PX8 is a utility that increases the effective size of your screen, by allowing you to choose between a selection of desktop views.  Each desktop may have it’s own set of windows opened.  For example, you may have a word processor opened on one desktop, while another desktop has an Internet browser open, and yet another has a spread-sheet active.

This program is similar to the “pager” utility found on many Unix and X-Windows systems.

PX8 displays a form similar to the Windows START menu.  This form will hug one edge of the screen, and will automatically shrink to a thin line when not in use.  Simply pass the mouse cursor over the line and the form will expand to full size.  The form will contain the buttons needed to switch desktops or to launch your favorite applications.

Click here for information on installing PX8, or  here to learn more about using PX8, including how to enter the registration code to enable all the features available.  Click here to contact the author for questions and support.  And don't forget to read the legal disclaimer.

Contents

The package consists of a single ZIP file containing the PX8 program, this help file, and several bitmap images.  The images are suitable to be used on PX8 buttons to highlight the selected desktop, or for ‘short-cut’ buttons such as the Windows Explorer, the Control Panel, etc.

Installation

To install PX8, simply un-zip into a directory of your choice.  The PX8 program is completely self-contained, and keeps all of it’s needed data in an INI file.  The Windows’ registry is not used by PX8, thereby eliminating the chance of corrupting the sensitive registry files.

Using PX8

Once PX8 has started (either through clicking it'sicon or automatically through the Start menu), the menu bar will appear on the screen and "hug" (or "dock" to one edge of the screen.  The form may be re-sized by holding the left mouse button down and dragging the leading edge of the form.  The mouse cursor will change to a double-arrow when moved over that edge.  The form may be moved to another edge of the screen by holding down the left mouse button near one of the end-points of the form and dragging it to a new screen edge.  The mouse cursor will change to a form-drag arrow when placed over one of the ends of the form.

Right-clicking anywhere on the form will bring up the popup menu.  This menu contains all of the configuration options for PX8.  The options include increasing or decreasing the number of desktops, adding shortcut buttons to the form, configuring button appearance, and arranging button layout.

When first installed, the form will remain at full-size all the time.  This may be changed to automatically "shrink" when not in use by selecting that option on the popup menu.
 

Options Available

Right-clicking anywhere on the PX8 main form will bring up the popup menu.  These are the options available on that menu.
 

ABOUT PX8
Displays the 'about' box, copyright notice, and registration code for yur copy of PX8.

HELP
Displays this help file.

AUTO-HIDE
When set, the tool-bar will automatically shrink itself down next to the edge of the screen; it will then automatically re-expand when the mouse cursor is moved next that screen edge.  If AUTO-HIDE is not set, the tool-bar will remain expanded all the time.

ALWAYS ON TOP
When set, moves the tool-bar to the top of the Z-order when fully expanded.

SMOOTH-SCROLL
Only applies when AUTO-HIDE is set.  Determines if the tool-bar shrinks and expands smoothly, or if it snaps to full-size.

MOVE WINDOW ...
This option traps the mouse pointer and allows the user to move a window to a different desktop.  Right-click over a desktop button, then click an open window on the screen.  The window clicked will move to the desktop that was right-clicked.   Use this option to reduce clutter on a single desktop.

DOCK TO EDGE >>
The PX8 form may be assigned to any edge of the screen.  By default, it appears at the bottom of the screen.  It may be moved either by dragging the left or right edge of the form, or by selecting the edge from this sub-menu.

NUMBER OF DESKTOPS >>
Allows the user to select the maximum number of desktops to maintain (range 1 to 10).  When the number of desktops is selected, a series of buttons will appear on the main form (one button for each desktop).  Clicking a desktop button (or selecting a desktop from the GO TO DESKTOP menu) will de-activate the current desktop, and activate the new desktop.  Note that, although a desktop has been de-activated, the programs and windows on that desktop are still alive and working.  Those programs and windows are simply hidden from view - they are not stopped or suspended in any way.

GO TO DESKTOP >>
A new desktop may be selected simply by clicking it's button on the main PX8 form.  A new desktop may also be activated by selecting the desktop from this sub-menu.

NEW EXECUTABLE FILE
Creates a new button on the main PX8 form, and brings up the configurator dialog.  This button may have any file associated with it (for example, a *.EXE file for executables, a *.CPL file for a control panel, or a *.TXT for text files).  When the button is clicked, that file will be executed exactly as if it had be double-clicked in the Windows Explorer.  The configuration utility allows you to define the button's caption and icon image, as well as it's size and position.  See the CONFIGURE BUTTONS menu item for more information.

NEW CLOCK
Creates a button that shows current time and date.  The confure utility allows you to define the button size and shape, but no file will be executed when this button is clicked.  Instead, this button cycles through 4 time and date displays:  time as a 24-hour clock, time as 12-hour clock (AM/PM),  the day of the week, the current date (DD-MMM-YY) and an analog clock face.

NEW SYSTEM LOAD
This will put a button the main form that shows current system load as a function of memory used.  A red line shows the percent of physical memory current used; a green line shows the percent of paging (swapping) memory used; blue show the percent of virtual memory used; and a white ling shows the overall memory load on the system.

NEW CONTROL PANEL
Pre-defines an executable button to load and display the system control panel.

NEW WINDOWS EXPLORER
Pre-defines an executable button to load and disply the Windows Explorer.

CONFIGURE BUTTONS
This menu item will bring up the dialog to congifure all buttons (desktop selectors or executables) to display on the PX8 main form in any way you wish.  Button size, position, caption, and icon may be easily selected.  For an executable button, the (default) caption and icon are selected to match the executable.  If this option is selected when the mouse was held over a button, the configurator comes up ready to modify that button; if it was selected while the mouse was help over the main form, then a button will need to be selected from the list on the left of the dialog.  Modify as many buttons as necessary, then press APPLY before closing the configurator.

Configuration options:
Enable - determines if the button is shown on the main form or not.
ID - button identifier; do not attempt to modify
Left, Top, Width, Height - size and position of the button
Group - groups a series of buttons together, allowing only one to be selected at a time; default is 0 (no grouping)
Allow All Up - from a button grouping, allows no button to be selected (default for a grouping is to force one and only one button to be selected at a time)
Caption - the text to appear on the button
Font - the typeface and color of the caption text
Hint - a short line of text that appears when the mouse cursor passes over the button
Image - the icon picture to be displayed on the button
Index - if the image is taken from an icon library, determines which image to use
Layout - if the image should appear to the left, right, above, or below the caption text
Flat Button - should the button appear in 3D, or as a flat panel
Program - the program or file to be executed when the button is clicked
Directory - the startup directory for the program (defaults to the home directory of the program)
Arguments - any command-line arguments needed by the program

At the bottom is a sample of what you button will look like when it is configured.

ARRANGE BUTTONS
When selected, this will arrange all defined buttons on the taskbar in a simplified list on the taskbar.  This is usually called before customizing button arrangement with MOVE BUTTON, SIZE BUTTON, and CONFIGURE BUTTON.
 

MOVE BUTTON
Right-click over a button on the taksbar, then select this option to move the selected button around the form.  Move the mouse pointer to move the button, then click the mouse when finished.

REMOVE BUTTON
Right-click over a button on the taksbar to de-activate the button.  This can also be accomplished in the configurator by un-checking the ENABLE box for a button.

SET PANEL COLOR
This option allows you to define the backgound color for the main PX8 form.  This color is desktop-specific; that is, you can select a different panel color for each desktop.  This can be an aid to identifying "at a glance" which desktop is currently active.

SET WALLPAPER
Allows you to change the Windows wallpaper file that is displayed for the current desktop. Selecting between multiple desktops is much easier when the background wallpaper can be custom-set for each screen.  If a wallpaper has not been defined for the current desktop, then the last wallpaper displayed will remain as the current wallpaper.

REGISTER
After you purchase PX8, a registration code will be e-mailed to you.  Use this option to enter you newly acquired registration code.  When registered, all the capabilities of PX8 are available for your use.  If an invalid registration code (or no registration code) is entered, then PX8 will be limited to two active desktops and only two programmable buttons.

If you have an unregistered copy, go to ShareIt.com to get a new registration code.

EXIT
This should be fairly self-explanatory.
 
 

Legal
 

This software is provided "as-is".  This software comes without warranty  or guarantee, explicit or implied.  Use this software at your own risk.   The author will not be liable for any damage to equipment, data, or information that may result while using this software.

By using this software, you agree to the conditions stated above.

This software is sold as a registered product to the user; however, the source code is protected by applicable intellectual property rights and treaties.