
Chameleon Clock for Windows 95/98/NT

        Version 2.3
	July 12, 2000.

	Copyright (C) 1998-2000 Softshape Development. All Rights Reserved.
	http://www.softshape.com


Program description
-------------------

      * Chameleon Clock is a digital desktop clock that changes the look 
        of your standard desktop clock. It uses Winamp skins and bitmap 
        digits to make simply clock a real piece of art. 

      * Chameleon Clock offers all of the most important features a system 
        clock may have: 

      - It replaces Windows system tray clock and thus doesn't eat any desktop
        space. If you don't like it in the system tray, you can always make it
        float on your desktop somewhere else.

      - The time/date display can appear in thousands of different ways using
        the popular Winamp "skin" format. The clock comes with a number of
        sample skins. Besides, a large number of skins are distributed freely
        via the Internet and may be downloaded directly from the program.

      - The time synchronization with major Internet Atomic Time Servers 
        will be done on demand or on a regularly scheduled basis.

      - With the alarm feature you can make messages using MP3, WAV, MIDI, 
        and CD-Audio sounds, open applications/documents, and shut down your PC
        at the specified time.  However, if you need just a simple reminding
        message (like to make a call or turn off the oven) without spending 
        time on options, Quick Reminder feature will set it for you in three 
        mouse clicks.

      - You will have a quick access to a enchanced calendar in the Tooltip 
        or floating.

      - Any number of different time zones are quickly accessible in the Tooltip.
        Daylight savings time is properly considered.

      - The feature of ladies' periods watch and forecast can be hidden, if you
        don't need it or don't want others to see it.

      - Interface is multilingual.


What's new
----------

      * See History.txt


Installation
------------

      * Copy the distribution kit content into the temporary directory and run 
	setup.exe.

      * Note: If you've got Chameleon Clock not from its web page, but from
	the other source (magazine CD or some software library), please
	visit its home page at www.softshape.com/cham - you'll probably find 
	the later version.

      * If you need to reinstall Chameleon Clock or Windows and want to save 
	your settings, run batch-file SaveSettings.bat (you'll find it in the 
	Chameleon Clock application directory, usually in C:\Program Files\Chameleon Clock) 
	before. After reinstallation run RestoreSettings.bat to restore 
	previously saved settings.

	Please note that alarms are stored in alarms.lst file.


Uninstallation
--------------

      * Run Uninstall from Chameleon Clock group.

        Important ! You must exit Chameleon Clock before run Uninstall. 
	Otherwise some files and registry settings could not be removed.


Where to get skins (free, of course)
-----------------------------------

      * If you have Winamp, use its skins. Look, for example, at URL
	www.winamp.com/skins.
	Recommended. As a rule, it results into the smallest and beautiful
	clocks.

      * If you have no Winamp, you still can use its skins. Download them and
	put in SKINS directory.

      * Any images designed for counter applications can be used. These images
	are usually cut into separate pictures. Look for www.digitmania.com -
	there are more than 500 of them. Unpack the downloaded zip-file into a
	separate subdirectory inside SKINS directory. You may also use directly
	gif-files from this site. To do this (like in MSIE 3,4) click the right
	mouse bottom on an image and choose the "Save as..." command. Choose
	SKINS directory. These gif-files contain (inside in comments) the
	information on width of each digit and, therefore, can be used
	independently.


How to find skin (quick way)
----------------------------

      * Click on "Download Skins" button in "Skins" page and choose the site
	you want from the list. This list is a) incomplete (of course)  b) made
	according to the author's taste. If you want to make your addition to
	the list, please email to the author and send URL of a site.

      * If you do not want to spend much time on searching for skins, choose
	in this list "Cham Clock Collection". This site contains the best
	samples for using in Chameleon Clock specially.

      
Help system
-----------

      * Chameleon Clock help system uses latest HTML Help technology
	for easy searching answer for your questions. HTML Help support is
	included in latest versions (at least 4.0) of Microsoft Internet 
	Explorer, Windows 98, Windows NT 5.0, and Visual Studio.

        If you haven't HTML Help installed, you need to download it as 
	standalone component from 

		www.microsoft.com/workshop/author/htmlhelp/

        In others case please read Chameleon Clock online manual on

		www.softshape.com/cham/manual/


Alarm Icons
-----------

      * To use your custom icon in alarm message, copy the icon file
	to 'Icons' directory. Supported file types are :

	.ico	Icon File
 	.icl    Icon Library
	.dll    Windows Dynamic Library
	.exe    Windows Executable
	.bmp    Bitmap
	.cur    Cursor
	.ani    Animated Cursor


System Requirements
-------------------

      * 80386/486 based IBM PC compatible computer (or higher)
	4 Mb of free memory
	About 1500 Kb free disk space
	Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0
	A mouse
	SVGA card with High color mode is recommended

Order
-----
      * Chameleon Clock is a trial software. It's fully functional during 
        trial period, but some settings won't be saved between sessions. 
        See Order.txt for order details.

License
-------
      * See License.txt


Technical support
-----------------

      * If you've got a problem, please contact Jury Gerasimov at
	jury@softshape.com. Please inform me about the following:

  	- program version (from "About" dialog)
  	- Windows 95/98/NT version (including service packs and other
    	  fixes installed), US or international, OEM or not
  	- description of your problem (as much information as possible
    	  to retrieve the problem)

    	If you're reporting about program error, please attach the log files 
	clock.log and clock.lo0 from the Cham Clock directory.

    	It's also may be useful to restore your configuration on the author's
	computer. In the Cham Clock directory there is SaveSettings.bat.
	Run it, and it creates ChamSettings.reg. Attach this reg-file to your
	report email.


Jury Gerasimov
www.softshape.com
