Atari-launchpad: utility software (1)

Essential Atari ST utilities (1)

This page contains useful utilites for everyone, but has been made especially with the 'newbie' in mind, so that he/she won't need to go on an endless FTP search to find the various programs needed (especially as a newbie won't even know what to look for!).
It contains a variety of programs which will greatly improve the performance and effectivity of your ST computer -clear and concise explanations are also provided so you don't have to guess what they all do.

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Compression

STZip 2.6 is a 'ZIP' type compression/de-compression program which is compatible with UNIX Zip and PKzip/unzip for PCs.
(you can also use the supplied .TTP program together with 2-in-1).
Download this program first!! -you'll need it in order to decompress the rest of the files here
It's available as a self-extracting file (139 Kbytes), which can be used on the ST without any additional software (just double-click the program and it'll decompress by itself). You can then use it to decompress the other files within this archive. (all compressed files in the archive are 'ZIP' compressed).
It's also available in the ZIP compressed format (133 Kbytes) -in case you're downloading with another computer where a ZIP program is already installed.
Lharc 3.12 (267 Kbytes): Compress/decompress .LHA/.LZH files. Fast, efficient and easy to use.
(you can also use the supplied .TTP program together with 2-in-1).
2-in-1 (Deep sleep software): Compress/decompress several formats: ZIP, LZH, ZOO, ARC. Easy to use and replaces many of the more user-unfriendly archive programs such as "ZOO" and "ARC".
(actually, 2-in-1 isn't a compression program, but a user-interface for other such programs. You need to get hold of the various .TTP programs for those formats in order to use it, which is not included with 2-in-1).
IMPORTANT: Be sure to take note of the free "key" which unlocks the program and is available at the above website.
ARC 6.02 (30 Kbytes): Compress or decompress .ARC type files (use this .TTP program together with 2-in-1 for a more user-friendly interface)
Zoo 2.1 (46 Kbytes): Compress or decompress .ZOO type files (use this .TTP program together with 2-in-1 for a more user-friendly interface)

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System tools/enhancements

XControl (153 Kbytes): The Xcontrol control panel ACCessory from Atari replaces the old control panel adding new functions and versatility. (It's designed for TOS 2.06 in mind, but should work with just about any TOS version).
XControl uses one ACCessory slot, but lets any amount of 'CPX modules' to be installed, each one replacing many of the previous ACCessories. You can forget about the limit of 6 ACCessories and load/unload CPX modules as you wish!
Although the above package contains the basic control panel modules, there are lots of others available for additional functions; calculator, calendar, free disk/memory space indicator, telephone book, font displayer etc......

CPX-modules:

3D button 3D type buttons for AES 3.4 and up (Falcon).	Date/day Calculates day according to date.	Inutil Magnifying glass.
ASCII-table Display ASCII table with character values.	Deskpic Desktop background picture.	Invert 'Invert' game
ASM-CPX collection Various CPX modules by Andreas Mandel. -biorythm (biorhythm display) -callfsel (access the file selector) -d_free (shows free disk-space and memory) -drucker (printer setup) -horpuzz (a puzzle game) -monolupe (magnifying glass) -puzzel (another puzzle game) -solitaer (yet another game)	Dips Shows DIP switch settings on MegaSTE/STE with TOS 2.06.	JPG-68000 JPG image converter.
BASIC Make/run BASIC programs (with example-files).	Disk Set floppy-disk step-rate/verify and park harddisk	Key-codes Shows ASCII character values (including CTRL/ALT etc.)
Boot Select/de-select AUTO programs and ACCessories.	Diverses Alarm time, clock, printer etc.	Make CPX Make your own CPX modules.
Bootreg Shows time and date of last boot/reboot.	DJ-on Hewlett Packard Deskjet printer initializer.	Mastermind 'Mastermind' game
Calc A calculator.	Fcon Audio matrix setup (Falcon).	MS-cache Hypercache on/off/configuration.
Calc/memory Simple calculator and free-memory (TT and ST RAM).	Format Floppy disk formatter (SS/DD/HD).	Ping replace the system bell with a sample of your choice.
Calendar A calendar.	Frac Fractal generator demo (FPU/DSP/software).	Prg-info Change program flags.
Call-Fsel Access the file-selector.	GDOS-setup Speedo/GDOS font and printer setup.	Ps-MiNT Displays current running processes under MiNT.
Char-tab Displays ASCII table with character values.	HD-format High density (1.44MB) floppy disk formatter.	Reversi 'Reversi' game.
Change flag Change file flags (fastload etc.).	HD-free Bar-graph display of free disk-space/memory.	SBsearch Search for files on harddisk
Clipboard The Atari clipboard.	HP Laserjet 4 Hewlett Packard Laserjet 4 printer control modules.	Show cookie Shows which 'cookies' are installed.
Code Control various devices (printer/MIDI/modem etc.).	ICFS Iconify windows.	Serial fix Serial port (modem) fix patch.
CPX_mdls collection Various CPX modules by Dieter Fiebelkorn. -confnvdi (NVDI configuration) -cookies (shows 'cookies') -fileinfo (file-information: read/hidden/archive..) -system (shows various system info: addresses/vectors etc.)	Icon-demo Demo of a desktop icon editor.	Serial-CPX Serial-port (modem) improvement.
Show font View installed fonts.	Tele 2.01 Telephone/address book.	Vanity A personalized nameplate.
Spool Printer spooler	Tele 2.11 Telephone/address book- dial from your modem.	Wiederstand Resistor colour code calculator.
Trash Recoverable trashcan.	TT time Shows the time lag on an Atari TT's clock.	Wincolor Set window colours (frames/buttons etc.).

Chameleon (15 Kbytes): An accessory that lets you load or unload accessories without having to reboot the computer! Very handy while trying out accessories or for accessories which you only use once in a while.
MenuInfo (26 Kbytes): Shows information on top left hand corner of the screen, such as time/date, mouse position, memory, CAPS-lock on/off, CPU-load... (any of these are user-configurable and assigned as you wish).
You also get an alarm-clock, ASCII table (so you can select any character which can't be found on your keyboard), auto-topping of windows (instead of clicking on a window in order to select it, the location of the mouse-pointer determines which window is selected automatically!).
A VERY useful ACCessory which replaces a lot of other functions, and only takes up one ACCessory slot.
(NOTE: I've personally had some problems with this one on a TOS 1.62 Atari STe as for some reason it caused trouble with the disk drive (!!??). This may or may not effect you as it could very well be something entirely different, but worth a mention).
Fujidesk/Fujiwatch (14 Kbytes): This nifty little 'Auto' program rotates the Fuji (Atari) logo on the top left hand corner on the desktop. Apart from being cute it's also useful in cases where you're not sure if the computer has 'frozen' or not. In addition to this, Fujiwatch changes the 'busy bee' to a 'busy watch'.
LED-panel (18 Kbytes): Shows time, date, disk drive/harddisk in use, read/write etc. in menu bar.
Similar to 'MenuInfo', but simpler, less functions. Has some additional functions which the other doesn't though.
Let 'em fly (42 Kbytes): Gives keyboard shortcuts to most menu-dialogues (press 'ALT-o' instead of having to click the 'OK' button with the mouse), makes it possible to move fixed GEM windows around on the screen (making them transparent when clicked -useful for reading text in windows behind it without having to exit the menu)...
Environment (2 Kbytes): Set the environment variables for the Atari ST.
Many programs rely on environmental variables which tells them stuff like where the clipboard is located, which program is to be used for this and that. Use this program to set these variables.
ST-Guide 1.5 (80 Kbytes): Tired of all those boring (and time consuming) 'Readme' files and user manuals? Most Atari programs are almost self-explanetory and very easy to use, but there are times when you find yourself needing to find out about a specific feature or problem...
Now, instead of reaching for the user-manual or 'Readme' file(s), wasting time searching through huge amounts of text, you can have 'ST-Guide' installed and do that for you.
'ST-Guide' is a context-sensitive hypertext help system which basically means that a help-text is provided whenever you press the <HELP> key, and related to whatever you're doing at the moment.
Put another way: you're in your database and want to print out something, so you enter the 'Print' menu. Well, things are a bit unclear here, so you press the <HELP>, and hey presto!, up comes all the information you'll ever likely to need about printing!! Smart, eh? And since 'ST-Guide' can be installed as an ACCessory it will be available at any time.
'ST-Guide' reads .HYP (Hypertext) files which now come with almost any modern, well made program. In addition to text they are often filled with illustrations which help explain things and makes it all much more interesting.
Words which are underlined and clicked with the mouse will lead you to another page containing more information about that specific subject (just like with web pages on the Internet!).
In addition to help-files which are supplied with most programs, there are also lots of .HYP files around on the Internet for a range of subjects -mostly Atari related (programming information/error lists, hardware, Internet guides etc.), but you can even get hold of things like fairy-tales, coctail recipes, electronics information, postal-code lists and so on. You can even design your own .HYP files by using the tools included in the package!
'ST-guide' can also be installed on modern desktops (such as 'Thing') and assigned as the default program to display text files, and unlike the 'show' feature in plain TOS you can scroll back if you wish to do so.
ST-Guide utilities (74 Kbytes): Various utilties for converting other files to the ST-guide format etc.
ST-Guide tools (86 Kbytes): If you want to make your own ST-guide files you need these tools.

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Mouse/keyboard/screen tools

Autoraise (3 Kbytes): Automatically selects the window your mouse pointer is placed over.
Normally, to select another window on the dektop or in a program you have to click it once first, but with this ACCessory it gets selected simply by placing the mouse over it! (one of the functions of 'Menuinfo' (above) -use this one if you have problems with the above, even though this takes up an additional ACCessory slot).
Mauswindow (49 Kbytes): Another automatic 'window topper', similar to 'Autoraise', but more advanced as it lets you configure several of its functions.
Silkmouse (41 Kbytes): Mouse accelerator/screensaver -increases the mouse-speed (so you don't have to use the whole tabletop to get from one side of the screen to the other!!).
Also gives you a screensaver which prevents screen 'burn-in', dimming the monitor automatically after a set period of inactivity. Silkmouse has a couple of other useful features as well and comes with a CPX module for configuration.
Mousekamania II (89 Kbytes): Yet another 'Auto' program- it will let you design your own mouse pointers! Animated (moving) or standing still. Change the 'busy bee' into a flying bee or whatever. A whole range of mouse pointers and animations come with the package, but you can also design your own (or edit the existing ones). Cute!
(Even though this program was designed before the 'MagiC' operating system arrived it does work with it somehow -the only trick is that you need to have the ACCessory installed, which is normally used to edit mouse-pointers)
CKBD 1.5 (85 Kbytes): CKBD is a utility which allows you to access ANY of the characters available in your computer -that is, not just the characters available on your keyboard!
Say you have an English keyboard but occasionally write in German, Norwegian, French, Spanish etc. and find it cumbersome to access one of the many 'ASCII-tables' available in other programs/utilities, well how about 'composing' characters, simply by pressing <ALT> (and letting it go) followed by say 'a' and 'e' which will result in the 'æ' character!
CKBD also gives you other ways of accessing any character and in addition lets you redefine your keyboard (in case you have a computer with say a German keyboard, but upgraded to an English TOS and still want the keyboard to be German). To top things off, the package contains two CPX modules which lets you configure the program and speeds up your mouse (mouse accelerator) -Awesome!!
Hold it! (1 Kbyte): Ever tried using those .TTP or AUTO programs where you see brief messages of text only to disappear before you even get a chance to read them?
Well, with this tiny utility you get a chance to 'freeze' the screen for as long as you want to by holding down either the <SHIFT>, <ALT> or <CTRL> key(s) while the message appears!
Snip (17 Kbytes): A 'snapshot' accessory which allows you to grab any part of the screen and save it as a .IMG file. The difference between this one and the other 'snapshot' programs is that it also allows you to view .IMG files as well!!