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ExactTime (VERSION 1.00)
Copyright (c) 1997 Ziff-Davis Publishing Company
Written by Charles Petzold
First Published in PC Magazine, US Edition, November 18, 1997.
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About ExactTime:
ExactTime calls up one of two time-of-day services, obtains the 
correct time, and sets your system clock. An "auto" mode that 
requires no input lets you use a scheduler utility to 
automatically run ExactTime at regular intervals, or put ExactTime 
in your StartUp folder so it's run every time you boot up Windows.

Usage:
Install ExactTime by copying its program files to a folder on your 
hard disk. When you run ExactTime, you'll see a dialog box with 
two radio buttons at the top. These let you select whether the 
program will call the NIST or USNO. Pick whichever site is closest 
to you; you'll be connected for less than a minute.

This is usually the only selection you'll need to make. But if you 
need to change your modem settings or dialing location, ExactTime 
lets you do this without opening the Control Panel. The Configure 
Modem button invokes the same dialog box as the Properties button 
in the Modems applet of the Control Panel. The Dialing Properties 
button invokes the same dialog box as the Dialing Properties 
button in the Modems applet of the Control Panel.

When you press the Dial button, ExactTime saves the time-of-day 
service and modem you selected in a file named ExactTime.ini. 
The location you're calling from is saved elsewhere in Windows. 
ExactTime then displays the Dialing dialog box, which reports 
on the progress of the telephone call.

ExactTime will report any problems it encounters while 
attempting to connect to a time service. For example, the modem 
may be in use by another program on your PC, or the phone number 
may be busy, or the time service may not answer. You can also 
stop any dialing in progress by pressing the Cancel button.

If ExactTime successfully connects, you'll see a few lines of 
coded input from the time service and then ExactTime will set 
your system clock. The status line at the top of the dialog 
box will display the previous local time and the new local 
time, and the Cancel button will change to an OK button. 
Click OK to close the Dialing dialog box.

If you're running Windows NT 4.0, you must be logged on under 
a username with the right to change the system time or 
ExactTime will not work. To find out if you have this 
privilege, try changing the system time from within the 
Control Panel. If the system will not let you do it, you will 
not be able to use ExactTime, either.

To enable you to automate your clock setting using a scheduling 
utility (such as System Agent, which comes with the Windows 95 
Plus! pack) or the Startup folder, ExactTime offers an "Auto" 
mode. The program will display the usual windows and run 
normally, but it won't require any input from you. To run 
ExactTime in Auto mode, include any parameter in the command 
line, for example:

C:\PCMAG\EXACTTIME\EXACTTIME.EXE auto

If ExactTime pops up in Auto mode at an inopportune time, you 
can cancel the program by clicking the Cancel button.

Note: The file ET_SRC.ZIP contained in EXACTT.ZIP is the source 
code for RoboType.  This will only be of interest to you if you 
are a programmer, and can be discarded if you choose.

Support for ExactTime:
Support for the free utilities offered by PC Magazine can be 
obtained electronically in the discussion area of PC 
Magazine's Web site. Go to the URL 
http://www.pcmag.com/discuss.htm/ and select the Utilities 
area. You can also access the Utilities discussion area from the 
utility's download page. The authors of current utilities 
generally monitor the discussion area every day. You may 
find an answer to your question simply by reading the 
messages previously posted. If the author is not available and 
you have a question that the sysops can't answer, the editor of 
the Utilities column, who also checks the area each day, will 
contact the author for you.

Charles Petzold is a contributing editor of PC Magazine.
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