README for TkGoodStuff version 4.2b1-7, 30 Nov, 1996

TkGoodStuff for the X Window System is an alarm clock, biff, modem
dialer/network status indicator, note-taker, web-browser launch tool,
system load monitor, application/utility menu, Win95-like task bar,
and whatever else you want.

TkGoodStuff produces a button bar.  It is easily configured and
modified with the on-line GUI preferences manager (*no* rc-file
hacking).  The main envisioned use is as an always-on-top destop
utility to serve the user's common needs for indicators and buttons.
There is a "screen-edge" mode, in which the bar occupies an edge of
the screen, can be dragged to other edges, and can auto-minimize
(shrink to a line at the screen-edge).  For users of the fvwm window
manager (though tkgoodstuff works without fvwm), tkgoodstuff serves
all the functions of the Windows95 taskbar, and then some.

You can configure buttons to launch applications (with lots of
configurable options), you can "swallow" any application's window into
your tkgoodstuff panel, and several "clients" are included (you can
also write your own with a tcl/tk script---an example is provided):

	-- analog/digital alarm clock
	-- biff (check/scan/read new mail; handles multiple folders
	   and alert levels, MH folders, IMAP mailboxes)
	-- PPP (or SLIP or TERM) net link GUI dialer and status
	   indicator (with sophisticated redialing and login
	   scripting). 
        -- FVWM support, including Win95-like bar of buttons for open
	   and iconified windows, as well as a pager.
        -- launcher for WWW browsers (lets you visit the URL in the
	   current X selection with one click)
        -- note-taker (tool for quickly jotting down and organizing
	   scraps of information)
	-- calendar/alarm support (for Ical-generated calendar files)
	-- system load monitor (graphical and/or digital display)
        -- Menu button, for launching applications and running
	   utilities (the menu is GUI-configured).
        -- "webster" net dictionary client
        -- calculator with scrollable history and hex/dec/oct modes
           (perpetually alpha, until someone adopts it as a project!)
	-- POP/IMAP mail fetch scheduler.
        -- file watcher: look for changes in log files
	-- launcher for tkman (operates with X selection like WWW
           client) 

Documentation including screen-shots is available on the WWW,
at:

  http://www-personal.umich.edu/~markcrim/tkgoodstuff

The html documentation also is included in the distribution.

Source and a Linux ELF binary distribution are available at the web
site, or by ftp at:

 ftp://merv.philosophy.lsa.umich.edu/pub/

!   !  *********  Requires tk4.2. **********  !   !

INSTALLATION: please read the html documentation.  If you know what
you are doing and just hate reading, you can try the "./configure" and
"make" and "make install" thing.  It might work.

---
markcrim@umich.edu