MODEMSTA, version 1.0: 
Modem status iconic indicator for Windows using 3D animated icon! 


INTRODUCTION

If You have an internal modem or an external modem out-of-sight of Your 
computer, this is the program for You! Internal modems save space on the 
table, save some cable mess at the backside of Your machine and generally 
saves a few $ as they are cheaper. However, there is one drawback, and that is 
the lack of the status light display, showing what the modem is doing, if it 
is connected and if data is flowing.
ModemSta, the MODEM STATUS ICONIC INDICATOR, will help You operating Your 
modem by showing a small animated icon replica of a modem's front panel! Two 
larger indicator display windows are also available. 
ModemSta offers the following features:
* For use with internal and external modems connected to COM1-COM4.
* Automatically scans COM1-COM4 at start-up to determine available ports.
* Square, horizontal and ANIMATED icon to display status lights of the signals 
CTS, RI, DCD, DSR, TD and RD. 
* Red lights/grey background 3D look.
* "Always on top" setting or "Auto detect on top" feature.
When the auto detect mode is select, ModemSta goes automatically into Always 
on top mode during Receive/Transmit activity. After a determined inactivity 
time (user adjustable), Always on top is deactivated until further 
Receive/Transmit activity.
* Can be started after other programs accessing the com ports. Even possible 
to start during a connected modem session.
* Remembers all its settings between sessions.
 
Even if the icon area offers very limited space, I wrote this program to 
display six status indicators with text indicators using an animated icon 
because I am sure the You will appreciate the very compact format! I also made 
the larger square and horizontal views available, so it should cover a number 
of screen resolution and personal preferences. 
Test the "Auto detect on top" feature! With this active, ModemSta will only 
stay on top when the modem is activated and working!


INSTALLATION

It is very simple: Copy MODEMSTA.EXE to any directory of Your choice. The 
directory does not have to be a directory in Your PATH, but it will be easier 
to start the program in a PATH-directory. An initiation file (MODEMSTA.INI) 
with the Port setting, screen positions etc. will be created in Your Windows 
directory (e.g. C:\WIN) the first time You start the program.
You can add the file name MODEMSTA.EXE (with path name if MODEMSTA.EXE is not 
located in a directory in Your PATH) to the LOAD= line or RUN= line in Your 
WIN.INI file or put the icon in Window's start-up group, so ModemSta loads 
each time You start Windows. ModemSta will always remember its setting between 
the sessions.
Removal: Delete MODEMSTA.EXE (in the directory of Your choice) and 
MODEMSTA.INI (in the Windows directory, e.g. C:\WIN).


THE PROGRAM AND SETTINGS

ModemSta will run under Windows 3.x. ModemSta does not have to be started 
prior to any other application that use the internal modem. ModemSta will 
check COM1-COM4 and select the first active port# (e.g. COM1) first time You 
run the program. ModemSta will then remember all its settings from session to 
session. 
Settings can be changed using the SYSTEMS MENU:
- The available COM ports are enabled at start-up time (COM ports not 
responding at start-up time are "greyed" in the menu and are not possible to 
select). Stored port# from last session is tried as default port.
- Square and horizontal view can be selected using the menu. Minimizing 
ModemSta will show an animated icon of the square view. Double click on the 
icon to restore to square or horizontal view.
- Checking "Always on Top" will keep ModemSta always visible.
- Checking "Auto detect on Top" will activate ModemSta's auto detected Always 
On Top feature. ModemSta listens for activity on the Receive/Transmit lines 
and goes into Always On Top mode when activity is detected. After a 
predetermined time, ModemSta deactivates the Always On Top mode until further 
activity on the Receive/Transmit lines. 
The inactivity time setting can be changed by the user by editing the 
'MODEMSTA.INI' file in the Windows directory. Use any text editor (e.g. 
Notepad), open 'MODEMSTA.INI' and check for the line 'AutoDelay='. Value is 
inactivity time in seconds. Default value is 60 (1 minute).
Checking "Always on Top" will automatically deselect "Auto detect on Top" and 
vice versa.
- "About" selection will show the usual information.


ABOUT THE ICONIC INDICATOR AND MODEM STATUS SIGNALS

The small icon shows six indicator lights and they are:

	CTS	RI	DCD
	DSR	TD	RD

CTS = Clear To Send. This signal indicates that the modem is ready to accept 
data from the computer.
RI = Ring Indicator. This signal indicates an incoming call. It is an hardware 
equivalent of the Hayes modem's RING message.
DCD = Data Carrier Detect. Indicates that a signal carrier has been detected 
which usually means that the modem is connected to another modem.
DSR = Data Set Ready. Indicated that the modem is active and waiting 
instructions.
TD = Transmit data. Data is transmitted from the computer to the modem.
FD = Receive data. Data is received to the computer from the modem.


COMMENTS & LIMITATIONS

- A normal modem status at computer start-up before trying to connect to 
another modem would normally be CTS and DSR indicators active. Some modems may 
also indicate DCD before a connection has been established (my internal modem 
shows this light after power-on). On Hays-type modems, the command AT&C1 can 
then be used to initiate the modem to show DCD active only when a connection 
has been made.
- Most data communication is made without any local echo; the host machine (or 
modem) is echoing the character back to Your screen (the terminal). This means 
that inputting data from Your keyboard will normally force both the TD and RD 
signal active.
- I have an internal modem on COM1 and the mouse connected to COM3. ModemSta 
then reports both ports are available, but no information can be detected on 
COM3, where the mouse is.
- If a DOS communication program in a DOS box accesses the com ports, ModemSta 
will not update the status of the com lines. This limitation is not in itself 
due to ModemSta, but to Windows communication drivers. 


ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND THE AUTHOR.

ModemSta was written using Borland's Turbo Pascal for Windows (TPW) version 
1.5 and is my first Windows programming project. It is distributed as 
freeware, but if You like it and continue to use it, a contribution of UDS 5 
(or equivalent in Your currency) would be appreciated! No registration is 
necessary and I can not guarantee any support. 

Send Your comments, problems and bugs to:
	Ted  Johansson, 
      Valborgsmassovagen 25, S-126 37 HAGERSTEN, SWEDEN 
	Internet: eka.ekated@memo.ericsson.se 
	Fidonet: 2:201/236 (Ted Johansson).

Ted Johansson, Dr. Tech., is doing R&D at Ericsson Components AB, KISTA, 
SWEDEN in the area of semiconductor process and device technology, 
concentrating on high-frequency discrete power devices and circuits for 
cellular radio applications. He has been writing computer programs for 
pleasure since high-school and occasionally even writes programs at work.


REVISION HISTORY

Dec. 21, 1993:    Version 1.0
First public release.






