WRunner
By Clifton Karnes

Copyright (c) 1992
All Rights Reserved

WinRunner is a Windows utility that makes it possible to run Windows programs
and specify an initial size for the window. As you probably know, most 
Windows apps start with a screen size that seems to be based entirely on the 
application's whim.

WinRunner cures this problem by allowing you to start any application in a 
maximized window, a minimized window, as hidden, or in an optimized window
(more about this option later).

Here's the command line syntax:

WRUNNER  MAX | MIN | HID | OPT  program [parameters]

The vertical bar (called a pipe) that separates the options MAX, MIN, HID, 
and OPT says that you can specify one of these options only. And since these 
options are not in brackets, you must specify one of them.

Here's an explanation of each command line item:

WINRUNNER. This is the name of this program and is naturally required.
MAX. This option will run the program in a maximized window, which will
     fill the screen.
MIN. This option will run the program in a minimized window, which will
     appear as an icon on your desktop.
HID. This option will run the program and hide the window so it doesn't
     appear at all, though the program is still running.
OPT. This option will run the program and optimize the window so it fills
     the screen, except for a small band at the bottom that allows you to 
     access your icons. This is the window size you get if you make one 
     window active, minimize all others, call Task Manager, and click on 
     Tile. This is probably the most useful WinRunner parameter.
Program. This is the name of the program you want to run.
Paramenters. These are any command line parameters program accepts. 
     These are optional. 

Examples
To run Microsoft Excel in an optimized window, you use the command

WRUNNER OPT EXCEL

If you wanted to start Excel without a Sheet1 as the default, you'd use 
the /E switch, and you'd have the following command line:

WRUNNER OPT EXCEL /E

To run Write in a maximized window, you'd use the command

WRUNNER MAX WRITE

To run Write with MYFILE.WRI loaded, you'd type

WRUNNER MAX WRITE MYFILE.WRI

If you use Recorder macro files, you almost always want to load these as 
minimized, so you'd use a command like the following:

WRUNNER MIN MYMACROS.REC


Associations
One of the best ways to use WinRunner is to specify it when you make 
associations.  For example, instead of just associating TXT files with 
NOTEPAD.EXE, associate them with the following line:

WRUNNER OPT NOTEPAD.EXE.

With this association, when you double-click on a TXT file, it will be 
loaded into Notepad, and Notepad will be sized just the way you want.


Notes
Although I've used uppercase for the examples, WinRunner is not case 
sensitive; you can use either upper- or lowercase.

To calculate the size of an optimized window, WinRunner looks at the video 
mode in which you're running and uses this info to determine the size of 
the window. Currently, VGA, SuperVGA, and 8514 are supported. The following
parameters are used for an optimized window.

VGA               640 x 408
SuperVGA          800 x 528
8514             1024 x 690


Please send suggestions or comments to:

Clifton Karnes
CompuServe 75300,2103

or

Clifton Karnes
2519 Overbrook Drive
Greensboro, NC 27408
