Ethervane StopWatch (Cinco de Mayo edition II)
Version: 1.3
Release date: 2009-05-05
First released on: 2009-05-05
Author: marek@tranglos.com
Requirements: Windows 2000 / XP / Vista or later (No Windows 95, 98 or ME)
License: Freeware. Copyright (c) Marek Jedlinski 2009

--- description ---

Ethervane Stopwatch is a simple timer for Windows 2000 or later. It can be used for example to track the time spent working or performing other activities on the computer. The timer can be pauysed and resumed at any time. If you close the program while the timer is running, it will continue counting from where you left off when the program is restarted.

See "History" below to find out what's new in this version.

--- installation ---

No need to install. Just unpack the executable (estopwatch.exe) to any directory. You can create a Start menu shortcut for the program manually.

The program does not store any data in the registry. Configuration is saved in the following folder (Windows XP):
c:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Ethervane\eStopWatch\

--- features ---

Ethervane Stopwatch will display elapsed time in days, hours, minutes and seconds.

There is a global keyboard shortcut to pause/resume the timer (without interacting directly with the program).

The tray icon indicates the current state (idle / running / paused or suspended).

The program has a handy option to suspend counting when there is no input from the mouse or keyboard. That is, the time you spend away from the computer is not included in the count (this feature can be disabled).

When the program is paused or suspended, the display can optionally be faded or blink slowly to indicate the paused state.

The program window can optionally be semi-transparent when it does not have focus. Click the window to retore the normal (opaque) display.

Settings are saved between sessions.

--- usage ---

1. Start the program. Click the Start button (or press F9) to start the timer.

2. Pressing F9 again will pause the timer. To resume, again press F9.

3. To stop the timer, click the Stop button.

Pressing Shift-Esc will minimize the program. Click the StopWatch icon in the system tray to restore.

You can also restore the program window and bring it to front by pressing the global keyboard shortcut: Win+F9.

When the timer is running, you can pause and resume it by pressing the global keyboard shortcut: Shift+Win+F9.

(These shortcuts can only be changed by editing the configuration file, eStopWatch-config.ini, in a text editor such as Notepad. You can also disable the shortcuts entirely.)

Click the Options button to dsplay a menu of configuration settings. See "Configuration settings" below for details.

Right-click the timer display area for a menu of available commands.

--- configuration settings ---

Click the Options button to display a menu with the following options:

Stay on top
- When enabled, Ethervane Stopwatch will always be displayed on top of other windows.

Show time in window title
- When enabled, elapsed time will be displayed in the titlebar, as well as on the taskbar button. When disabled, the titlebar and taskbar button display the current state (idle, running, paused or suspended).

Transparent when deactivated
- When enabled, the program window will be made semi-transparent when it does not have focus. Click the window to restore normal (opaque) display.

Display when paused
- Opens a submenu with the following two settings:
a) Blink time display: the display will blink slowly when the timer is paused.
b) Dim time display: the display will be dimmed when the timer is paused.
You can enable either of the two options, or disable both.

Suspend on no input
- When enabled, the timer will be suspended after there has been no mouse or keyboard input for more than a minute. Timer will automatically resume when you press a key or start using the mouse. This lets you walk away from the computer without manually pausing the timer.

Minimize on start
- When enabled, the program will automatically minimize when the timer starts (when you click the Start button or press F9).

On restart resume from last count
- When enabled, Ethervane Stopwatch will remember the current value if you close the program while the timer is running. When you start the program again later, it will automatically resume the timer from the saved value. (If the program was paused while you closed it, it will resume in the paused state).

Fonts and colors
- Opens a submenu with self-explanatory options for setting the fonts and colors of various elements of the display. Click "Reset font and color" in this submenu to restore default color and font settings.

About
- Displays program name, version number and license information.

--- limitations ---

Ethervane Stopwatch will NOT work with Windows 95, 98 or ME.

Currently the timer can only count up. An option to count down from a preset time value may ba added in a later version.

Timer resolution is 1 second. This program is not designed for measuring time with higher precisions.

Several configutation settings are not available in the main interface, and can only be changed by manually editing the configuration file, eStopWatch-config.ini. The file is stored in the following folder:
c:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Ethervane\eStopWatch\
You can edit the file using a text editor, such as Notepad. Remember to close the program before editing the configuration file.

--- download ---

Currently the program is only available via DonationCoder website: www.donationcoder.com

--- support ---

Email the author at marek@tranglos.com if you encounter a problem.

--- distribution ---

The program is free to download and use. Written permission from the author is required to bundle, repackage or redistribute the program.

--- history ---

Version 1.3: 2009-05-06

1. Added a few command-line parameters to allow StopWatch to be used in batch files and scripts. The program recognizes the following command line parameters:

/start
The timer will start automatically when the program is launched. (If an autoresume file exists, it will be used instead, as before).

/noresume
The timer will not automatically resume even if a resume file is found, regardless of the setting in the configuration file. This parameter can be used together with /start. In that case, resuming will not occur, and StopWatch will start the timer from zero.

/localconfig
Forces the program to read and write all its configuration files in the local directory, i.e. the folder where the program is installed (rather than under c:\Application Data).

/nowriteconfig
Disables writing any configuration files, including the resume file. The program will still read any existing config files, but will not update them on exit.

2. If the program detects it is running from a removable drive (such as a pendrive), it will read and write all configuration files in its local directory, i.e. the directory where the eStopWatch.exe resides. This is to prevent polluting the host computer with config files if you run the program from a pendrive.

