PPClock
========

A simple application that sits on the traybar and gets the
current time from the internet. Requires Windows 95 or NT.
To install, place the program in any directory you desire and
create a shortcut to ppclock in the startup folder.
The time server address can be any address that have the time server
service at port 37 (you can try: ns.arc.nasa.gov, 200.246.218.1,
www.embratel.net.br, etc.).

This program is provided free for non-commercial purposes.
No reverse-engineering, disassemble or modifications allowed.
The author is not responsible for any damages or malfunctions,
so don't sue me if your hard disk begin to smoke... ;)
Any questions, suggestions or donnations are welcome. :)

My english don't takes me anywhere... Please, be patient...


Pedro Paulo da Gama e Silva
email: pedro.paulo@originet.com.br
URL:   http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/3782  <-  updates can be found here
                                                        (software section)


Acknowledgements:

This program is dedicated to all Delphi programmers around the world, specially
that good-guys which are developing and sharing code, freeware components and
helping newbies like me at the Borland Newsgroups. Thanks to the Rageman
(www.rageman.com), author of the invaluable Dynamo DNS, for the precious tips
that helped me to develop the code to detect ppp connections.
Last, but not least, thank you Borland guys! Delphi 3.0 is great!


Revisions:

V3.0.3.0 (10/13/1997) - Atention: No code changes on this version. The main
                        purpose of this release is to correct a mistake that
                        I have commited: The name NetClock is copyrighted by
                        David W. Yutzi since 1995 and is a comercial product.
                        Today, I received an email from the author of the
                        oldest NetClock and agreed that the mistake was mine.
                        So, I changed the name and request to you, my dear
                        user, to get this new version and delete the older
                        versions of my program (NetClock.exe). Well, one
                        more thing: The two NetClocks are different, so keep
                        a look at the excellent shareware program of David
                        (the TRUE NetClock! - an app that keep you informed
                        about the costs of your connections, and more...).
                        The David's page is at:

                        http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/6304/
                        
                        Thank you for the patience and keep using PPClock!

V3.0.2.0 (10/04/1997) - Corrected the link resolver at the app launcher (on
                        previous versions, it was unable to load more than
                        one .lnk file).
                        Corrected a bug that was avoiding setup saves in some
                        situations.
                        Changed the interface of the email notifier. Now, it
                        is less obstrusive, as it displays one animated icon on
                        the traybar. A little click on the icon and, presto! It
                        shows the message box with the status/options.

V3.0.1.0 (10/02/1997) - Some changes on the wave player routine. The TCP timeout
                        routine was adjusted to avoid recurrent alarms.

V3.0.0.0 (10/01/1997) - Added the email notifier. Now, the program periodically
                        verifies your POP-3 account for new email. 

V2.0.3.0 (09/29/1997) - Minor adjustments (no, not that cable-tv series...) on the
                        error handling routines. Some code optimization, also.
                        Changed the online/offline detect time. Now is only 5s.

V2.0.2.0 (09/22/1997) - Now you can use (again) the .LNKs. The program have support
                        to initial window state, initial directory and arguments (if
                        already configured in the link file). Not fully tested...
                        Please report any errors to me!

V2.0.1.0 (09/18/1997) - Restart computer failed in some situations. Fixed a little
                        bug at the OnCloseQuery event. (Sorry!)

V2.0.0.0 (09/17/1997) - Major functionality added, so, I decided to release as
                        version 2. 
                        Now, in automatic mode, the program launches applications
                        when the ip changes and, if the connection is lost, the
                        applications are closed. At recconection, they'll be
                        launched again, etc...
                        CAUTION: This code is not fully tested and can fail under
                        some circunstances (with some programs, perhaps). Test
                        carefully with the programs that you want to use. If
                        you find any errors, please send a email to me, with
                        detailed descriptions of the problem, environment, etc...
                        The extensions that can be launched using this version
                        are: .EXE, .COM and .PIF (don't try to use .LNKs cause
                        they remain appearing on the listbox but are not 
                        launched).

V1.1.1.0 (09/12/1997) - No more screen flickering when the application starts.
                        Minor adjustments on the launcher and time routines.

V1.1.0.0 (09/12/1997) - New ListBox at the Application launcher. Now, the control
                        have horizontal scroll, to simplify the visualization of
                        that looooooooooong pathnames (Thanks to the authors of 
                        the wonderful RxLib!).
                        No more .Ini files are needed. Now, the application uses
                        the registry (finally!).
                        Better app launcher and the get time routines. (I've
                        removed minor bugs too). Enjoy it!

V1.0.9.0 (09/10/1997) - Too many changes to relate! Now, the program can launch
                        another applications, once connected at the Net. This
                        code only works one time per execution of the NetClock,
                        because I don't know any method to nicelly unload lots
                        of apps, and believe that brute-force methods can be
                        risky to your system integrity (I'm a good guy, huh? ;) ).
                        The file types that can be launched: .COM, .EXE, .PIF 
                        and .LNK.
                        Another change was made on the gettime routine. Now, 
                        the app don't updates the time (if connected) at program
                        startup. This was made 'cause it simplifies the code of the
                        application launcher routine (I'm lazy too... ;) ).
                        Added a radio group to allow the user to select manual
                        or automatic mode, as requested by Andreas Martino/It
                        (Hey, Andreas! Forget that SLIP thing and use PPP... ;)) )
                        Many cosmetic changes on the program... (but my ugly
                        photo stay firmly seated at the about box, Teixeira/Br!
                        :)) ).

V1.0.8.0 (09/06/1997) - Modified the code of email launcher. Now, the subject
                        includes program version (for easier support).

V1.0.7.0 (09/01/1997) - Sometimes, the popup menu don't disappear, specifically
                        when the user don't select any options. Added code to
                        fix this bug (I hope...).

V1.0.6.0 (08/31/1997) - Added wave sounds to the application events. Not yet 
                        tested on micros without multimedia but I think that,
                        in this cases, the program maintain the old and good
                        beep. (suggested by Eduardo Pires/Br. - Tks!)	
                        When there are many entries on the dial-up, the program
                        assumed an strange behavior. Fixed (Tks to Teixeira/Br)
                     
V1.0.5.0 (08/30/1997) - A minor bug caused the program to got the time
                        twice, only when the internet connection was started
                        by this app. Fixed. (Tks to Jean Paul H./Fr) 
                        Some code otimization was made at the detect routine.

V1.0.4.0 (08/29/1997) - Added code to check if the computer is connected
                        on the internet (works only with a PPP connection).
                        If true, the application gets the time automatically.
                        This code is executed at program startup and if your
                        IP change (as a result of reconnection). Note that the
                        program verifies the connection status at every 30
                        seconds, to avoid any overheads on your computer.

V1.0.3.0 (08/28/1997) - Improved error handling. The application now also
                        reports to the user any winsock errors.
                        The get time operation is no more possible
                        unless all the windows (setup, error and about)
                        are closed.

V1.0.2.0 (08/27/1997) - Added automatic email launcher to the about menu,
                        to help the users to send complaints to me... ;)

V1.0.1.0 (08/19/1997) - If the server address is blank at startup, the
(first public release)  program will display the setup screen.
                        The program beeps after successful clock updates.
                        (Tks to Eduardo Pires/BR)
