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gbTalkTimer
gbTalkTimer is an easy-to-use timer application. It's two major features
are the ability to speak the time at intervals and to automatically size the time to match
the size of the gbTalkTimer dialog. Time display in in MM:SS format.
gbTalkTimer can count up or count down. At the end of a count down cycle, an optional
alarm can be sounded. During all counting cycles, minute intervals can be spoken (1 minute,
2 minutes, ...). Also, during a count down cycle, the last 10 seconds can also be spoken
(ten, nine, eight, ...).
Several built-in count down cycles are available and a custom count down cycle can
also be entered.
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Download (v1.4, 145K)
Online update of gbTalkTimer is supported.
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Feature List
Here's a summary of the key features offered by gbTalkTimer.
- Count up, count down
- Start/stop/reset a counting cycle
- Time display automatically sizes to fit the gbTalkTimer dialog
- Alarm at end of count down cycle (at zero time). Alarm can be continuous until stopped by user.
- Voice announcement at 1 minute intervals and last 10 seconds of a count down cycle
- Standard, selectable count down cycles
- Custom count down cycle can be defined
- Time of day alarm
- Set text/background color
- System tray support
- Online update of EXE
- Online Help
These, and other gbTalkTimer features are discussed in the following
sections.
Overview
gbTalkTimer was written to provide a very basic set of up/down counter capabilities,
which keeping the user interface very simple. The entire application consists of
just a 6-button toolbar and a time display which takes up the entire, remaining
gbTalkTimer client area.
The ability to enlarge the current time in a cycle allows the user to monitor the status
of a counting cycle. The alarm and the option to hear the counting status (minute intervals) provides
a similar ability to monitor a counting cycle, but without having to view gbTalkTimer itself.
Count Up Cycles
A count up cycle consists of starting at zero and counting upward until
the user stops the cycle. When Reset is pressed during a count up cycle,
the cycle is stopped and the counter is reset to zero.
In a count up cycle, gbTalkTimer can optionally speak the time at minute intervals.
Count Down Cycles
A count down cycle consists of starting at a specified cycle interval,
such as 5 minutes, and counting down to zero. The user can stop the count down
cycle at any time and the cycle will stop automatically when the counter reaches
zero.
In a count down cycle, gbTalkTimer can optionally speak the time at minute intervals.
It can also speak the last 10 seconds of a count down cycle.
Toolbar
The gbTalkTimer toolbar consist of the following buttons:
On/Off
Toggles the timer counting cycle on and off
Reset
Resets the time of the current cycle - to zero in a count up cycle and
to the cycle interval for a count down cycle.
If pressed during a counting cycle, the counting cycle is stopped.
Clicking on the time display has the same effect as pressing the toolbar
Reset button.
Up
Puts gbTalkTimer in a count up mode.
If pressed during a counting cycle, the counting cycle is stopped
and the time is set to zero.
Down
Puts gbTalkTimer in a count down mode
If pressed during a counting cycle, the counting cycle is stopped
and the time is set to the current count down interval.
Settings
Pressing the Settings button opens a dialog in which the user can
define a custom count down cycle time.
If pressed during a counting cycle, the counting cycle is stopped
and the time is set to the current count down interval.
The Settings button also has
a dropdown arrow which exposes the following context menu options.
- 0:30
Sets the count down cycle to 30 seconds
- 1:00
Sets the count down cycle to 1 minute
- 3:00
Sets the count down cycle to 3 minutes
- 5:00
Sets the count down cycle to 5 minutes
- 10:00
Sets the count down cycle to 10 minutes
- 30:00
Sets the count down cycle to 30 minutes
- Custom (0:12)
Sets the count down cycle to the custom count down time. The current custom count
down interval is displayed in the menu itself.
If pressed during a counting cycle, the counting cycle is stopped
and the time is set to the entered count down interval.
- Speak
Enables speaking of minute intervals and the last 10 seconds of a count down cycle
- CountDown Alarm
Enables playing a sound file at the end of a count down cycle
- Time of Day Alarm
Enables playing a sound file at a specific time of day
- Repeat Alarm
Enables playing a continous alarm sound file at the end of a count down cycle.
Press ESC to stop the sound.
- On Top
Maintains gbTalkTimer on top of all other applications
- Enter Custom CountDown Interval (MM:SS)
Opens a dialog in which the user can enter a custom count down interval
- Create Custom CountDown Interval From Time of Day (HH:MM:SS)
Opens a dialog in which the user can enter a time of day (later than now) from
which gbTalkTimer will create a custom count down interval
- Enter Time of Day
Opens a dialog in which the user can enter a time of day (HH:MM:SS in 24-hour format).
Time of day can be used in two ways - to set a time of day alarm, and to create a custom
count down interval.
- Select Text Color
Opens the color selection dialog to select the text color
- Select Background Color
Opens the color selection dialog to select the background color
- Reset Colors to Black & White
Sets the text color to black and the background color to white.
- System Tray
Places gbTalkerTimer into the System Tray
- Online Update
Updates the gbTalkTimer EXE
Help
Opens this online Help page.
Accelerator Keys
These accelerator keys are supported:
- F - Online Help
- Ctl-B - Toggles the timer cycle on/off
- Ctl-D - Set gbTalkTimer in count down mode
- Ctl-R - Reset the current timer cycle
- Ctl-U - Set gbTalkTimer in count up mode
- Ctl-Z - Toggles debug mode
Comments
Miscellaneous information is provided in this section.
Sessions
When gbTalkTimer starts, it restores the previous session content.
Manual Settings
These three settings are used by gbTalkTimer but no mechanism is provided
by which the user can change the values. The 3 settings weren't judged important
enough to warrant space on the user interface, so this backdoor mechanism of
changing the values was provided.
- BGColor - background color
- FGColor - text color
- TalkPoint - time in count down cycle below which talking begins (11s is default)
- FontName - font used to display the time
But all four may be manually changed by editing the gbtalktimer.ini file.
INI File
gbTalkTimer application settings are saved in an ANI file, kept in
the same folder as the gbTalkTimer application.
Instances
Multiple instances are allowed. However, all instances use the same INI file. So the INI
file reflects the settings of the most recently close instance of gbTalkTimer.
Comments and suggestions are welcome!
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