Start The Workshop

When you start a workshop for the first time, it will have nothing in it (unless you use a preconfigured workshop, of course). Hence, you will see a blank screen except for the small top menu. This will look something like this:

This is the time to become familiar with how to configure a workshop. Begin by dropping down the menu option for configuration. This will look something like the figure at right. Let's begin by turning on the configuration mode. Simply click indicated the menu option.

In Configuration Mode, the 144 buttons can be setup. This will look something like this:

(For the sake of space, only a portion of the screen is shown here.)

Configure A Shortcut Button

We'll begin by discussing a full manual configuration for a button so you'll better understand what's going on. Pick out a "shortcut" you'd like to have and click on the button of your choice--the button where you'd like your new "shortcut" to appear.

For the textbox labelled as "Target Program/File" we need to enter the full path to the program path for our new "shortcut." To help with this, you can use the browser button to the right of the textbox (purple folder icon). Once you find your program and click OK, notice that the file path shows in the textbox.

Next, you'll want to indicate it if this is a file to be used inside your browser or if it is a path you want to use Windows Explorer to open. You have another alternative, too--it could be a command-prompt item and that could have an argument for the program it is to run. If this is the case, check the box labelled "Use Command Prompt" and, if needed, type the command's argument in the box just below that checkbox.

Enter a "brief description for this shortcut." In this textbox enter a brief description for the "shortcut." This is what will show up when you use the mouse and "hover" over the "shortcut button" in the workshop.

Now that you've entered the target for your "shortcut" it's time to enter its visual identification. You can either select an icon file (.ico or .bmp) or enter a brief, 3-short-word text ID for the "shortcut." If you select an icon file, it will show up in the small picturebox, just to help you know you have the correct one.

Finally, you can select the background color for the "shortcut button." The rounded rectangle to the right of the color-selection drop-down will show the selected color.

You can cancel out of the configuration process at any time by clicking the "STOP"/cancel button.

If the "shortcut" is defined as you want it to be, hit the "OK" button (Green Door) to finish.

Delete a "Shortcut Button"

To delete a "Shortcut button" use the "Configure -- Config Shortcuts Mode ON" menu option to turn on configuration. Select the button whose definition is to be deleted. On the "Setup n Position" form, be sure you have the right button, then hit the black skull and crossed-bones button and verify your deletion.

Change A "Shortcut Button"

To make a change to a "shortcut button" use the "Configure -- Config Shortcuts Mode ON" menu option to turn on configuration. Make the desired changes in the "Setup n Position" form, then click the "OK" (Green Door) button.

Using Drag/Drop to Configure "Shortcut Button"

Now that we've talked about and you understand how to manually configure a button, let's make it a little easier. Begin by getting an existing shortcut (or file in Windows Explorer) for the desired target program visible. Now resize the ITSBITS^® Catapult Garage so that you can see the existing shortcut (or file in Windows Explorer). Use the "Configure -- Config Shortcuts Mode ON" menu option to turn on configuration. Click the button you want to use as your new "shortcut button." Drag the existing shortcut (or file in Windows Explorer) onto the topmost textbox on the "Setup n Position" form. This will try to fill in the blanks for you, but you will often have to help.

If you're entering a program, the system may be smart enough to move the filename into the Target textbox for you. If it's not smart enough, click the down-arrow-button on your left to put the file name or path in the Target box. Fill in the rest of the information as you want it to be and hit the OK button (green door).

If you're entering a file that is to be opened in the browser, the program may be smart enough to know that and fill in the browser and filename for you. If it's not able to do that, you may have to check the "Use Internet Explorer" check box, then hit the down-arrow-button on your right to put the file name or path in the box. Fill in the rest of the information as you want it to be and hit the OK button (green door).

Now let's talk about that upper-most button with "DIR" and a purple-folder icon. If you want to have this "shortcut button" open a folder (A.K.A. directory or catalog), or use it as the argument for your target command, use this button to locate it and get its path. The selected path will be placed in the textbox.

If you're entering a file or directory path and want windows explorer to open it when this "shortcut button" is clicked, you'll need to click the check box to "Use Windows Explorer." When you leave the check box checked, you'll notice that the Target is filled in as Windows Explorer. Now use the down-arrow-button on your right to put the file name or path in the box. Fill in the rest of the information as you want it to be and hit the OK button (green door).

In most cases you'll notice that the icon is showing after the drag/drop is done. The system will always try to extract the icon from the selected file. If it isn't, you'll need to select a graphic(.ico or .bmp) for the purpose.

Finally, there are many times when you can drag/drop the program or file directly onto the button and accomplish much the same thing, but you'll still need to inspect the results and be sure they're what you wanted.

Configure A Browser Spot

There are 5 possible browser spots that can be put on a single Workshop page. Once they've been configured, you can move and resize them as you desire. Use the "Configure -- Config Shortcuts Mode ON" menu option to turn on configuration. Next, use the CONFIGURE--Browsers menu option. Select the browser you want to configure and click on that option. This will bring up a configuration dialog something like this:

On this form, select a "Picture Frame color" to use. Enter a "URL to Display" in the browser--this will be the "home" page for the browser window. Finally, designate how often the URL will be "refreshed." Note that if you set to refresh too often it will slow your computer. If you don't really need to refresh more than every 8 hours, enter 480 and let it go at that.

Once you've configured your web browser, go back to the "Configure -- Config Shortcuts Mode OFF" menu option to turn off configuration. Now you'll see the chosen browser. You can resize and relocate it by dragging and dropping each corner to its final location.

Configure A Photo Spot

There are 5 possible photo spots that can be put on a single Workshop page. Once they've been configured, you can move and resize them as you desire. Use the "Configure -- Config Shortcuts Mode ON" menu option to turn on configuration. Next, use the CONFIGURE--PHOTO FRAMES menu option. Select the frame position you want to configure, then click to configure the frame. This will bring up a dialog something like the one shown below:

Notice that you can use a Single Picture or a Rotate Pictures configuration. The single-picture configuration will place a single picture that you specify into the frame for display. The rotation option will look at the folder you'll specify and step through it showing each picture in the folder in turn.

If you select the rotation option, you'll also be asked, "How long shall I display each picture (in seconds)?"

Once you have the selection as you want it, click the "OK" button to exit. Notice that you must enable a frame before it shows up. To do this, use the CONFIGURE--PHOTO FRAMES menu option. Select the frame position you want to configure, then click to enable the frame.

Once you've configured your picture frame, go back to the "Configure -- Config Shortcuts Mode OFF" menu option to turn off configuration. Now you'll see the chosen picture frame. You can resize and relocate it by dragging and dropping each corner to its final location.

Configure A Background Photo For Entire Workshop

You can select your favorite photo and use it as a background image for the entire workshop. To do this, use the "Configure -- Config Shortcuts Mode ON" menu option to turn on configuration. Now use the menu option "Configure--Background--Define" to bring up a screen something like the one shown below:

Enter the image file path in the text box (you can use the browse button to find and get the path). The selected image will be shown to help you. Then click the "OK" button.

Now use the menu option "Configure--Background--Reset Size" to bring the photo up as your backround. Once you get it as you want it, use the menu option "Workshop -- Save CFG file" to save it to the hard disk. Finish by using the "Configure -- Config Shortcuts Mode OFF" menu option to turn off configuration.

Move A Button

No matter how well you plan a workshop, you'll occasionally want to move a "shortcut button" to another location. To do this, you'll use the "Configure -- Config Shortcuts Mode ON" menu option to turn on configuration. Next click the menu option for "Configure -- Move Button." Follow instructions. Basically, you'll click on the button you want to move, then click on the button you want to move to. Then click "Yes" to make the changes a permanent part of your configuration file.

Cut/Copy/Paste A Button

(NOTE: you can't paste a button until you copy or cut it.) To do this, you'll use the "Configure -- Config Shortcuts Mode ON" menu option to turn on configuration. Next click the menu option for "Configure -- Cut Button/Copy Button or Paste Button." Follow instructions. Basically, you'll click on the button you want to cut or copy or paste.

Browser Menu

When one or more browser is configured and used in a workshop the appropriate parts of the browser menu, as shown at right will be enabled. You can maximize a browser within the workshop--just select the enabled option you want to use. You can also do a "home" for each enabled browser, thus causing it to go to the page you have configured as its home. Finally, you can refresh the content on any of the browsers that are in use on the workshop page just by clicking on the appropriate menu option.

Front Menu

From time to time you may want to bring your "shortcut buttons" to the front or you may want to bring your browser(s) or picture(s) to the front. That's what this little menu lets you do.  Simply click on the option you want to use.

Workshop Menu

This menu will let you save your configuration file either as a new file or as the same file. You can also open a different configuration file.

ITSBITS^® is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as the property of IHS, Incorporated. ITSBITS^® Catapult Garage, all tools, workshops, related software, and documentation, regardless of medium, is ©2007 by IHS, Incorporated...all rights under all applicable copyright laws reserved by IHS, Incorporated.