                         Count Characters
                       Funduc Software, Inc.
             Copyright 1998 - 2002, All Rights Reserved
     http://www.searchandreplace.com   http://www.funduc.com
            
Thank you for using Funduc Software utilities!

This is FREEWARE, Copyright 1998-2002 Funduc Software Inc.

Count Characters was written for several reasons: 

 - To allow users to dump the contents of combo, edit and list
   boxes as well as static and button fields to the clipboard.
   This can come in handy for browser lists, as well as items
   displayed by other applications to which you otherwise have no
   access.

 - To help users understand how applications are built (what types
   of controls are used).  Other tools are available for this of
   course but they are usually known only to programmers.
   
 - To help if you have lost track of shielded passwords. Count
   Characters will reveal the plain text counterpart to some '***'
   type password fields in various windows programs. Please note
   that the program is intended for your own legitimate use only
   in this area. Furthermore, it cannot 'crack' passwords and will
   not work with all password fields. For example, some NT-related
   passwords have additional security coding that causes Count
   Characters to reveal a false password.

 - To allow users to know at any time how many characters they
   have typed in an edit box. For example, if a site asks you to
   only enter a certain amount of data in their fields but don't
   tell you that you went over until it's too late.

 
Using Count Characters:
----------------------

Note: There is also an online usage page with graphics & 
more info at 
  http://www.funduc.com/count_chars_demo.htm
That page is mirrored at 
  http://www.searchandreplace.com/count_chars_demo.htm

- Launch Count Characters.  The Count Characters dialog will
  display some information about itself and you will also see the
  string "Use Ctrl+C to copy contents to clipboard".

- At this point you may wish to move the Count Characters dialog
  off to one side of your display.

- WITHOUT clicking your mouse or using a task switcher (e.g., ALT-
  TAB), move your mouse over another open program on your screen.  
  The Count Characters dialog will display various information 
  about the area under the mouse.  Experiment by moving the mouse 
  over data areas, toolbars, dialogs, etc. 

- Press CTRL+C to copy the data to the clipboard.  If the data was 
  successfully copied, Count Characters will present a message box 
  confirming the action. 

- If the data is of a type that cannot be copied to the clipboard 
  (see "Please Note" section below), no action will occur.  
  Depending on your Windows configuration, Windows may issue a 
  'Default Sound' when CTRL+C cannot be accomplished. 

- To capture the data in combo boxes, move the cursor to the down 
  arrow button to the right of the combo box before pressing 
  CTRL+C.  For some programs, you may need to activate the combo 
  box by actually clicking on the arrow button in order to make 
  all the data in that combo box available for capture by Count 
  Characters.  Doing so will 'inactivate' Count Characters so 
  please see the next step. 

- Any action with your mouse or keyboard other than CTRL+C will 
  inactivate the Count Characters clipboard copy mode.  If at any 
  point you don't see the "Use Ctrl+C to copy contents to 
  clipboard" string in the Count Characters dialog, you may fully 
  re-activate Count Characters by either: a) using ATL-TAB to 
  switch to Count Characters or b) clicking once with the mouse on 
  any area of the Count Characters dialog (except the blue link to 
  our web site) to put Count Characters back into an active state.  
  Some experimentation may be necessary for you to get the hang 
  arranging your program windows before you put Count Characters 
  into clipboard copy mode. 

- Once you're done experimenting, go ahead an click on that blue 
  link to our web site... 

New features in v2.0-3.0:
-------------------------
- Handling for additional controls added.

- Improved handling of password edit fields. Thanks to 
  "Brian Friesen" <bfriesen@falcon.csc.calpoly.edu> for making 
  the code available. 

- The program can read and put into the clipboard the contents of
  password edit fields, in case you forgot what a password was set 
  to.

- Counts the number of words in the text being put into the 
  clipboard.

- Shift+Ctrl+C puts the name of the control under the cursor in 
  the clipboard followed by the control contents (if possible).

- Window is sizable so you can make it smaller.
- Handling for additional control types.

Note: Version 3.0 is in 32 bit form only. Write me at
support@funduc.com is you are interested in the older version of). 

I hope this comes in handy,

Mike Funduc
Funduc Software Inc.

Please see the 'FunducProducts.txt' file in distribution zip for
information on other products from Funduc Software, Inc.

