Redecorator(TM) Wallpaper Manager v1.1

Copyright 1999 Seraline Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia. All Rights Reserved.

Redecorator Web Site: www.seraline.com/wallpaper
Seraline Screensavers Web Site:
www.seraline.com

CONTENTS

What is Redecorator
Menu
Collections
Options
Colors
Preview
How to order
License
Customer Support
Web Site & Other Screensavers
Uninstall
ASP Ombudsman Statement
Disclaimer

WHAT IS REDECORATOR WALLPAPER MANAGER

Redecorator is a wallpaper manager, or randomizer, for Windows 95/98/NT.

It allows you to have your desktop background images come from any folder on your computer, and your background can change automatically as often as you like.

Redecorator will also create beautiful fractals for your backgrounds, and color your icon text so that it remains readable, along with transparent icon backgrounds so that more of your wallpaper shows through.

Redecorator can optionally create seamless tiles of your images to give the appearance of a single large texture.

The supported image types are 24-bit color JPEG, PNG and Windows Bitmap (BMP). GIF images are also supported when using Active Desktop.

Redecorator is designed to run on Hi or True Color systems (16 or 24-bit color). It is not designed for 256-color mode.

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MENU

Redecorator runs in your System Tray, which are the icons found next to your clock. Running Redecorator in your tray gives you fast access to its settings screen, as you can right-click on Redecorator's icon to bring up a menu. You can also click or double-click on the icon to change your background immediately.

Redecorator's right-button menu has the following options:

Change Wallpaper This will start changing your desktop background immediately. This is the same as left-button clicking on Redecorator's icon.
Redecorator Settings Displays the Settings screen for Redecorator.
Refresh Image List If you add new images to your selected folders while Redecorator is running, choose this menu item to tell Redecorator to refresh its internal list of available images. There is no need to do this if you load the Settings screen, as the list is always automatically refeshed when the Settings screen is closed.
Display Properties Brings up the properties screen for your display. You normally show this screen by using Control Panel, or by using the Properties menu item when right-clicking on your background. The Display Properties screen is used for selecting your active screensaver, your background and other settings.
Disable Redecorator When you select this option, Redecorator's tray icon turns red, and your wallpaper will not change automatically. You can re-enable Redecorator by using the right-button menu, and selecting Enable Redecorator. Disabling Redecorator only applies to the current Windows session, and next time you re-start Windows, it will be enabled.
Exit Redecorator Closes Redecorator and removes it from the tray.

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SETTINGS

Collections

Redecorator chooses the images from the list of folders you specify. You don't add individual images to Redecorator - you add folders, and then Redecorator will choose images from all those it finds in the folders. To add a folder to the list, click the Add button and navigate to a folder, and click Ok.

If you click the Search button, then Redecorator will search all the disk drives you specify, automatically adding any folders in which it finds supported images (jpg, png, bmp). You can use the Search button as often as you like - a folder is not added to the list if it is already there.

You can have different collections of folders. To add a new collection, click on the New button. You will be asked for the name of the new collection. To remove a collection, click on the Delete button. The Default collection cannot be deleted. The collection that Redecorator uses to choose the images from is the last one shown in the collection list when you finally click OK.

To view the images in a folder, click on the Preview button. See below for notes on the Preview screen.

The Cycle Through In Order option means that when Redecorator is choosing which image to show next, they are shown alphabetically within folder, and the folders are also chosen alphabetically. The sequence is reset to the first one whenever you change the folder list. If you choose the Select At Random option, then the images are chosen at random across all folders.

How often to create a fractal background determines what percentage of time Redecorator chooses to use one of your images for the background or chooses to create its own new fractal background. Please note that the creation of a fractal can take several minutes depending on the speed of your computer and how busy your other running programs are. Redecorator's icon turns yellow briefly if it is using one of your images, or it turns blue if it is creating a fractal. Redecorator creates the fractal as a low priority job so it has minimal impact on your other programs. To check the progress of the fractal, hover your mouse over Redecorator's tray icon and you will be shown the percentage completed as well as the estimated time left. You can click on the blue icon to stop the fractal creation.

If you wish to save a copy of the fractal, it is stored as a bitmap called Redecorator.bmp in your Windows folder. It is overwritten by each new image or fractal, so make a copy into a new folder before the next change is due.

The name of the last image shown appears in Redecorator's tray tooltip (Full Version only), as well as at the bottom of the Collections Settings screen.

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Options

Redecorator will change your wallpaper as often as you specify. You can choose the number of hours and minutes, and the minimum period is one minute. For example, if you want the wallpaper changed every quarter of an hour, set the Hours to zero, and the Minutes to 15.

You can ask Redecorator to tile, or repeat, smaller images. The default is to tile images that are smaller than 40% of the full screen size. Similarly, images which are larger than the default 60% of the screen size are stretched to full screen size. Use the Preview screen to see what percentage of the screen your images take, and then you can adjust the percentages to suit your preferences. (Note that GIF images are only displayed when using Active Desktop, and they are always tiled.)

Default background color - this is the color that Redecorator will set your background to. It is usually not visible, as it only shows around images that are not tiled or stretched.

Default icon text bolor - this is the color that Redecorator will use for the text captions on your desktop icons. Choose something that is readable against your Default Background Color. The icon text color is only used if you do not let Redecorator automatically choose the color (see below).

Change icon text color automatically - if you have, for example, your icon text as black, and then a dark image or fractal becomes your wallpaper, then it is difficult to read the icon text. Redecorator can automatically select the icon text as black or white, depending on the average wallpaper color, to make the text as readable as possible.

Use transparent background for icons- normally the icon captions have a solid block of color as a background, which means you see less of your wallpaper. Redecorator can remove this background, allowing more of your wallpaper to be seen. Note that some programs, such as DirectX games and screensavers, can cause Windows to re-draw the colored background. Redecorator will turn it transparent again the next time it changes the background.

The use of the above options for the icon text color may lead to more flashing when the background changes. The flashing happens automatically under Windows, and varies with different computers. You can see if you can reduce it by trying Active Desktop on or off if you have it available, and by turning the above options off.

Change wallpaper on startup - Redecorator will change the wallpaper when it starts running. Choose this option if you would like a new wallpaper whenever you re-start your computer (assuming you have selected the following option to have Redecorator to start running with Windows).

If Create Seamless Tiles is selected, then when Redecorator tiles an image, it will blend the edges together to give the appearance of a single continuous image.

If you select the option to Load into tray when Windows starts up , then Redecorator will be run in your system tray each time you start your computer. This is the normal way to run Redecorator.

Don't change if screensaver running - If this option is selected, then Redecorator will not change the wallpaper if it detects a screensaver is running at the scheduled change time. This is because you are probably away from your computer, and also it may slow down the screensaver, affecting animation. The option is only available for Windows 98 & 2000.

Show ToolTips - turn this off if you no longer wish to see the little popup notes.

Exit after changing wallpaper - if you prefer to have your wallpaper changed just once and use that background until you computer is restarted, then select this option. You should also select the option to Load Into Tray When Windows Starts Up. With both these options selected, Redecorator will change your wallpaper after Windows has loaded, and then Redecorator will close, no longer appearing in your system tray. If you wish to run Redecorator without re-booting, click your Start menu and select Start/Programs/Redecorator Wallpaper Manager. This option is only available in the Full Version.

Don't change between specified times - if you leave your computer on overnight, you may prefer to skip changing the background during this period. Especially if you run some disk management process which can be interrupted by disk usage, such as backup or defragmenting. For example, to skip changing the wallpaper between 6pm and 8 the next morning, enter a From time as 6:00 PM, and the To time as 8:00 AM. This option is only available in the Full Version.

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Colors

These sliders control the colors used when creating fractals Adjust the sliders to increase the frequency of use of your favorite colors. 

The Brightness slider is used to control how light or dark the fractals art. If you prefer a darker background, move the slider further to the left. If you prefer a brighter fractal, move the  slider further to the right. Having the slider in the middle position allows the maximum range of colors to be used.

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Preview

The Preview window is used to see what images are in the selected folder. This is particularly useful if you use the Search button to locate all folders on your computer which contain images, as you can then preview what has been found, and remove any folders that are not suitable for wallpaper.

On the Preview window, a list of images found in the folder is shown - select an image to view it. The image's size is shown underneath it, along with the percentage of the screen area that it takes. This percentage is used with the figures entered on the Options screen to determine if it will be tiled, stretched or centered when it is used as the wallpaper. You can override the tiling option, and click on the button Make Wallpaper Now, and the image will immediately become your desktop wallpaper. If you find that images are being tiled more often than you like (or less), then take note of the image percentages that suit your preferences, and enter them into the Options page.

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HOW TO ORDER

Redecorator is time-limited "try before you buy" software, and is provided with a 14-day evaluation period. The Trial Version of Redecorator adds a small logo to each background image and fractal. This does not appear in the Full Version.

Your support is appreciated and will encourage the development of additional features.

If you wish to use Redecorator after 14 days, you can purchase a licensed version for US$9.95.

You can  order Redecorator with MasterCard, Visa or Amex securely online via the Web. Follow the Ordering Information links on the Redecorator Web site, from www.seraline.com/wallpaper/order.htm.

Redecorator can only be purchased by on-line credit card order. It cannot be ordered by check, mail or fax. The on-line order pages also have details on how to place a telephone order.

These prices and conditions are valid until 30th June 2001 for this version. Prices are subject to change with future versions.

If you have already paid a fee to others (eg disk or CD vendors) to obtain this evaluation copy, that fee was for their copying and distribution services, rather than a payment for continued use of the program, and Seraline does not receive any part of that fee.

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LICENSE

Redecorator is NOT a public domain program. It is copyrighted by Seraline Pty Ltd. This software and accompanying documentation are protected by Australian copyright law and also by international treaty provisions.

The registration fee will license Redecorator for use on any computers in your home, and on one computer at work on which you are the main user.

Seraline Pty Ltd grants you a limited license to use this software for evaluation purposes for a period not to exceed fourteen days. If you wish to use this software after the fourteen-day evaluation period, you MUST make a registration payment to Seraline Pty Ltd.

You may not use, copy, rent, lease, sell, modify, decompile, disassemble, otherwise reverse engineer, or transfer the licensed program except as provided in this agreement. Any such unauthorized use shall result in immediate and automatic termination of this license.

Distribution license details for vendors are in the accompanying file VENDINFO.DIZ.

Seraline Pty Ltd may revoke any permissions granted here, by notifying you in writing. All rights not expressly granted here are reserved to Seraline Pty Ltd.

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CUSTOMER SUPPORT

Seraline provides its registered users with free support via email. If you have a question, please send an email message to support@seraline.com. Before doing this, please read the online answers to commonly asked questions on www.seraline.com/wallpaper/faq.htm.

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WEB SITE and SCREENSAVERS

Redecorator Web Site: www.seraline.com/wallpaper
Seraline Screensavers Web Site:www.seraline.com

3aline Screensaver - Dynamic 3D shapes move and hover around your screen, creating colorful images.

Seraline Screensaver - displays an endless variety of colorful abstract-art-like images.

Adrift Screensaver - draws floating lines across the screen, creating beautiful patterns.

Seractal Screensaver - uses the beauty of fractals to create full-screen designs while you are not using your computer.

Photo Mishmash Screensaver -Stretch, squeeze and swirl your own photos.

Serandom Screensaver - a screensaver manager, or randomizer, which allows you to specify how often and how long each of your selected screensavers should run.

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UNINSTALL

If you used a full Redecorator Setup procedure to install, then you will be able to uninstall Redecorator by using Control Panel / Add/Remove Programs. Before doing this, you should first use the Uninstall button on Redecorator's Settings screen, as explained on the Uninstall tab.

Otherwise, delete the folder Redecorator from your Program Files folder using Windows Explorer.

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ASP OMBUDSMAN STATEMENT

This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 157-F Love Ave., Greenwood, IN 46142 USA, Fax 317-888-2195, or send email to omb@asp-shareware.org.

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DISCLAIMER

REDECORATOR IS SOLD "AS IS" AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES AS TO PERFORMANCE OR MERCHANTABILITY OR ANY OTHER WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE ENVIRONMENTS INTO WHICH THIS PROGRAM MAY BE PUT, NO WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE IS OFFERED. IN NO EVENT SHALL SERALINE P/L OR ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CREATION, PRODUCTION OR DELIVERY OF THIS SOFTWARE BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE REDECORATOR. IN NO EVENT SHALL SERALINE P/L'S LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES EVER EXCEED THE PRICE PAID FOR THE LICENSE TO USE THE SOFTWARE, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF CLAIM. THE PERSON USING THE SOFTWARE BEARS ALL RISKS AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NSW, AUSTRALIA, AND ANY ACTION BY EITHER PARTY SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT LOCATED IN NSW, AUSTRALIA.

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