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Instructions for the Steampunk clock/calendar |
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Wednesday, 01 December 2010 |
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This is the Steampunk Clock/Calendar Help file.
Version 1.0
Information :
I wrote this tool as I heartily dislike the Windows operating system's limited
choice of interface. The user interface should be separated from the operating
system functions allowing you to theme the GUI as you wish.
Fed up of the glossy cr@p that was shipped with the later versions of Windows I
decided to make a series of widgets that can replace certain system functions.
Windows is shipped with a particularly rubbish clock and if you have XP you
don't have access to Vista's sidebar. So this clock was created to cater for a
certain taste.
It is steampunk (whatever that means) and unashamedly so. If you want to make
any recommendations then please do.
The Pendulum is switched off by default, there is a good reason for this:
The graphics of a swinging pendulum in Javascript requires processor power. Some
Intel single core or older
dual core machines may take exception to the pendulum and cause it to use of a
lot of cpu. I have a dual corePentium D 3.0 ghz system that is no slouch, it
runs twice as fast as my laptop. However, when the pendulum is turned on it
travels at a third of the speed when compared to the laptop and uses an
inordinate amount of the cpu.
I don't know why this is but it does not happen on slower machines with core2duo
processor. I guess this is to do with some processor design element that allows
it to cater for certain animation functions better. The pendulum is pure math so
it could be a shortcoming in this area. It has a side-effect, if you right click
in order to get the preferences screen it may refuse to show immediately and
then wait for 30 seconds or more before it appears. If it does not then close
the widget, restart and click on the pendulum, it will turn off the swing and
the preferences will then be accessible.
This widget works with Windows XP SP3, it has not been tested on Vista, Windows
7 and only lightly on Macs. However, we have received no report of errors on
these o/s. It has no specific Windows functionality and so should work for Macs
too, if you have any problems please post your email queries to
news@lightquick.co.uk. Your post will go onto the blog and I will endeavour to
answer them as soon as I can.
The tool has two modes, Clock mode and Alarm mode. In clock mode the clock
ticks, the calendar shows the date. In alarm mode you can set alarms and when
the time has passed the alarm will sound.
Instructions for use:
By the left of the calendar are five brass toggles/keys. Pressing on each will
have the following effect:
 H
Key - will show the first help canvas indicated by the brass number 1 on the top
left of the wooden bar. clicking on the brassnumber 1 will select the next drop
down help canvas.
Clicking on the ring pull at the bottom will make the current canvas go away.
A Key - will activate the alarm mode and will also show the help canvas the
first time
it is pressed. Click on the ring pull at the bottom to make the canvas go away
(If you do this note that it will still be in alarm mode). Clicking on the bell
set will also cause
the clock to go into alarm mode.
When you have pressed the A key it will release the slider and you may move it
to the right
or left and change time. When you have selected the date/time you want then move
the slider
to the central position and click on the bell set. The alarm will set. You can
set up to five alarms.
Alarm mode - Normal operation is this: When the slider is released the further
you move the slider from the
centre position the more quickly the date/time will change.
When you are ready to set the alarm, click the bellset, two bells will sound and
the alarm is set.
* Please note that while the timepiece in Alarm Mode all clock functions are
switched off * Alarms will not sound whilst in alarm mode
To cancel an alarm setting or viewing operation just click on the clock face.
To cancel a ringing alarm - just click on the bellset.
Each time you press the alarm bell to set an alarm, a pop-up will display
indicating
which alarm you are going to set. Each time you press the A key, it will select
the next alarm.
To the right of the clock there are from zero to five alarm toggles depending on
how many alarms you have previously set. If you click on the toggle it will
display the date and time set for this alarm. If you then click on the
associated 'cash-register-style' pop-up it will allow you to delete this alarm.
L Key - gently quietens the whole clock: ticking, chimes, alarm sounds all
reduced by 21db.
M Key - leaves all other sounds alone but turns off only the chimes. Another
click turns the
chimes back on again. You will see the bell clapper move to/from the bell set.
P Key - Turns off the pendulum. Another click turns it on again. Single-click on
the pendulum itself also turns off the pendulum.
Crank - The hand crank is the master volume control. Crank it down to mute all
sounds and crank it up to restore the sound back to the level it was prior to
muting.
To the left of the digital clock is another brass toggle:
S Key - Raises the transparent screen logging the various controls you select.
Because the screen is transparent the text may be hard to see when used on a
dark desktop background. A new 'B' key will also appear on the right of the
screen frame that allows you to raise/lower the back screen.
This will allow you to read the text.
The screen currently only displays clock/calendar operations but may do more in
the future.
At the back-end there are more preferences that may be changed, all are
documented by an associated description.
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