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/                   EasyCD, Version 1.02                    \
\   (C) Copyright 1996, GHL Software, All rights reserved.  /
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About EasyCD
------------
I created EasyCD out of a fairly simple desire.  I noticed
that all the audio CD player applications had the same
annoying feature.  They didn't go away.  None of the CD
player applications I tried ran ONLY when an audio CD was in
the CD player.  They stayed there even after the audio CD was
removed, telling me something I already knew, "there is
no audio CD in the CD player," meanwhile taking up tray space
and or system resources.  So, I decided to dive in see if I
I could come up with a CD player that did what I wanted.

EasyCD is designed to use the Auto Run feature of Windows 95.
The major difference between EasyCD and other audio CD
player applications is that EasyCD detects when an audio CD
is removed from the CD player and EXITS.  Basically, EasyCD
follows the lifetime of an audio CD and is not running when
there is no audio CD in the CD player.

I don't know about you, but when I play an audio CD on my
computer, it's definitely not the main thing I am
concentrating on.  EasyCD's interface is based on the
Windows 95 system tray. This allows EasyCD to occupy the
smallest space possible while allowing for good user
control over the CD player and provide useful information
about the status of the audio CD being played.

I purposefully kept EasyCD simple, providing only the basic
functions that a CD player should provide.  I used the model
of a portable CD player to define the required functionality.
I left track naming feature because almost everybody I have
talked to, have tediously entered the name of each CD they
played AND all it's tracks for about a month (if that long.)

I also tried to make EasyCD as efficient as possible.  I
I wanted EasyCD to operate without impacting the normal
operation and use of the computer.  The default "CD Player"
application provided with Windows 95 is a good example of
what I did not want to provide in my CD player application.
It uses about 40% of the CPU (on a lowly 486DX266, sorry
that's all the horsepower I have at home) while playing an
audio CD.  This is not my idea of efficiency. All I want to
do is listen to the music, not to have the CD player
application eat up half of my CPU.

Lastly, I decided not to partially disable, time expire, or
otherwise nag the user about EasyCD being shareware.  The
only information about EasyCD being shareware, is in the
"About" dialog, where it should be.


Installation
------------
1. If your distribution is a zip file, unzip it using an
   appropriate unzip utility (I prefer and recommend
   WinZip which is also available as shareware.)

2. To install EasyCD, run: setup.exe.

3. Follow the instructions provided.


The defaults are as follows:

Directory:	EasyCD
Program Group:	None (base of the Start/Programs menu)


The installation for EasyCD places the executable and
this file into the user specified directory.  It adds an
icon to the user specified program folder.  Finally, it
modifies the registry entries that determine which
application is started when an audio CD is placed in the
CD-Rom drive.

SPECIAL NOTE: Because of limitations (bugs) in Windows 95,
do not place the EasyCD executable in a directory path
that does not conform to the Windows 3.x naming convention,
i.e. the "Program Files" directory.  For some unknown
reason, if the path to EasyCD contains spaces or is too
long, Windows 95 can not find the icon that should
represent audio CD's for EasyCD and ends up using the
default Windows icon for the audio CD.


Uninstalling
------------
To uninstall EasyCD, open the 'Control Panel' and select
the 'Add/Remove Programs' icon.  Select EasyCD from
the displayed list and press the 'Add/Remove...' button.
Confirm the remove and EasyCD will be removed from
your system.


Using EasyCD
------------
EasyCD is automatically started when an audio CD is
placed in the CD-Rom drive.  EasyCD then starts to play
the audio CD.

  The Tray Icon
  -------------
    Left Mouse Button: When the CD is playing, a single
      click will pause the CD.  If the CD is paused, a
      single click will continue play.  If stopped, a
      single click will play the CD from the start of the
      first track.

    Right Mouse Button: Displays the EasyCD main popup
      menu.  The menu options are described below.


  The Popup Menu
  --------------
    Play:           Always plays the CD from the start of
                      the first track.
    Pause:          Pauses the CD at the current position
                      or continues play from previously
                      paused position.
    Stop:           Stops CD player.
    Eject:          Ejects the CD from the CD player (this
                      also will also cause EasyCD to exit.)

    Next Track:     Starts play at the next sequential
                      track.  If in 'Shuffle' mode, play is
                      started at a randomly selected track
                      from the remaining unplayed tracks.
    Previous Track: Starts play at the previous sequential
                    track.
    Select Track:   Allows the user to select which track to
                      play.  Tracks that have already been
                      played have a check mark next to them.

    Shuffle:        Toggles EasyCD between sequential track
                      and random track play.
    Intro Play:	    EasyCD will play the first 10 seconds of
                      each track when in 'Intro Play' mode.
    Repeat:	    When repeat mode is set and all tracks
                      have been played, EasyCD will reset 
                      the 'played' status for all tracks and
                      restart play.
    Auto Eject:	    If auto eject is set, EasyCD will eject
                      the CD if EasyCD is exited, or when all
                      tracks are played and 'Repeat' mode is
                      not set.

    About EasyCD:   Displays registration information for
                      EasyCD.  Also displays the CD status,
                      current system CPU utilization, and the
                      number of threads currently active in
                      the system (added just for fun.)
    Exit EasyCD:    Exits EasyCD and if auto eject is set,
                      this will eject the CD in the player.


Registration
------------
To register EasyCD, please send $10.00 or whatever you
deem this program to be worth, to the address listed
below.

Registration will, in addition to easing your conscience
(yeah right) entitles you to all future versions of EasyCD.
I will attempt to notify you by e-mail when new versions
are available.

Your registration will also fund the chiropractor that I
need due to hunching over my computer during all my after
hours in addition to all the time I spend hunching over a
computer at my official job.


How to Contact GHL Software
---------------------------
E-Mail:     leichner@ix.netcom.com
            gleichner@transdyn.com

Snail-Mail: GHL Software
            Greg Leichner
            1205A Vicente Dr.
            Sunnyvale, CA 94086
            USA


Known Bugs (Undocumented Features)
----------------------------------
I wouldn't quite classify this as a bug, but this is the
best place for this.  I have found some CD-Rom games
contain readable CD audio tracks.  In this case, Windows 95
does not automatically start EasyCD since it detects it as
a data disk.  EasyCD is able to play these CD's, it just
needs to be manually started.

This software has not been tested on a system that contains
more than one CD-Rom drive or on a system that has a CD-Rom
changer (I don't have either one.)  If your system has
either of these configurations, I would greatly appreciate
it if you would give me some feedback about how EasyCD
behaves and obviously I will waive any registration fee.


Future Plans
------------
1. Identify the currently playing track on the "Select Track"
   popup menu somehow (I have unsuccessfully tried a couple
   of methods, but I will keep trying.)

2. Track programming.

3. Specify and save the CD name (no track lists.)

4. Support for the Windows NT SUR (Shell Update Release.)
   I have done preliminary tests and I think the NT SUR has
   some bugs in the Auto Run feature, specifically with
   it's updating the icon associated with the CD-Rom.
   Otherwise EasyCD runs fine.


Distribution
------------
You are hereby licensed to make as many copies of EasyCD
as you wish and provide them to anyone as long as: the
EasyCD distribution is not modified in any way, and you
do not charge any money for any of the copies of EasyCD
you make.  If you wish to include EasyCD in any sort of
distribution that will be sold commercially or otherwise,
you must get written permission from GHL Software and
Gregory Howard Leichner to do so.  A small royalty may
be charged depending on the nature of the distribution.

All rights not expressly granted are reserved to GHL
Software and Gregory Howard Leichner.


Disclaimer
----------
THE INFORMATION, CODE AND EXECUTABLES PROVIDED ARE PROVIDED
AS IS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO
EVENT SHALL GREGORY HOWARD LEICHNER AND OR GHL SOFTWARE BE
LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT,
INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, OR
SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF GREGORY HOWARD LEICHNER AND OR GHL
SOFTWARE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.


Personal Feelings
-----------------
I hope I never have to use that crap in the above section.
