MindDial-Up Counter

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Revision history

Being an open project, MindDial-Up Counter continues updating (as usual for free... :) Of course you will download from here only the latest version...
To track down the changes that's the revision history:
Date Core version Changes
10/6/2000
1.2
First public version. Shipped with a example DLL (buggy :).
10/5/2000
1.2
The SimpleStatistics DLL has been changed to get rid of the nasty day bug. I added some cool stats also and the over-requested file dump.

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What's MindDial-Up Counter?

MindDial-Up Counter is a little taskbar program designed to track down your dial-up connections (internet or whatever accessed by remote connection applet). Basically it looks for a connection and, when it's done, saves in a binary file some informations. Later you can use one of the MindDial-up compliant viewer to access/view the data.
I designed this way so everybody can write it's own viewer and, also, the program gets smaller and faster (it's important because you have to keep it in the tray =).
And, most important, it's freeware! I also ship the source code to let you view it but you're not allowed to resell it and / or modify the code! Also, if you want to include MindDial-Up Counter in a distribution, please notice me with an e-mail.

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For the end user

This section illustrates how to install and use MindDial-Up Counter on your system.
To install:

  1. Download the binary file.
  2. Unzip it in a directory you chose.
  3. Run once the program.
  4. Make sure that the "Autorun at startup" checker is marked (via right-click).

If you're successfully you should see the little icon in the tray. This means that the program started right. You should also left your mouse on the icon so you can see the info text: it tells you if the program is waiting for a connection or (in case you're connected) is monitoring it.

That's all! Another thing you should know is how to activate the viewers. Just right click on the icon e follow the menu thru Visualizers. Here you should see a list of compatible viewers (right now you may only have the demo visualizer). Just select it and it will pop-up. That's all? No! I want to tell you about memory and HD uses!
The program itself it's just 60 Kb and in memory it uses at least 150 Kb. For the log file you should expect that a single saved connection will use about 200-300 bytes (that means about 3500 connection per Mb!). So you shouldn't bother about memory and Hd wastes.

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Requirements

To use this program you should have:

  • Windows 95/98/NT (and maybe ME but not tested).
  • 200 Kb of free memory ;-)
  • About 1 Mb of HD (just to play it safe, at minimum 200 Kb! ;-)
  • A Pentium or better processor.

Neat...

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How to use

I suppose you already started the program (either manually or automatically at startup). That way your system tray should look similar to this one: . As you may have noticed, the MindDial-Up Counter's icon is the one prior of the time (it may be in a different position in your tray).
Leaving for a while the mouse over it let's you know if a connection is in progress.
To access the pop-up menu, just right click: . The menus are straightforward enough to let you guess what they do. Notice that the program changes its icon during a monitored dial-up: .
You're wondering what for the hell this icon mean? I don't know but these are the coolest things I was able to do... :-)
That's ok? no? write me at mindflavor_posta@hotmail.com.

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Plug-in viewers

This program is designed in a way that you can write your own visualizer and tell use it in a simple manner. To see how do this, go to developers page.
If you just want to install your downloaded viewer, simply put the DLL in the same directory where MindDial-Up Counter executable (MDU.exe) is located. Then the viewer should appear under the "Visualizers" menu. If something is wrong, just e-mail me.

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For developers

You want to develop a viewer (do it please! ;-) and you want to know what you should do. Since this topic is technical, I moved it in a separate page. Check it out now!

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Download

There are two distributions of this program (each freeware :). If you intend to develop a viewer or just see the code, download the Developer distribution. Else you can download End user distribution witch is smaller and doesn't ships the source files.
Version Description Size Download
End user distribution Only the executable and the DLL needed to execute the program.
88 Kb
Developer distribution All you need! Source code and binaries for writing a specialized viewer.
107 Kb

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Last revision: September 8, 2003

@2002 Francesco Cogno.