Help Contents

Click a topic listed below to see information about that topic. Read Essentials if you are new to WinSight or new to this version of WinSight. If you need information on using the Help system, return to the Help menu and choose Using Help.

	Essentials and concepts you'll need to know for working with WinSight, including what messages WinSight traces.
	Tasks and procedures you need to know when using WinSight.
	Menu Commands.

Shortcut: Use the Search button at the top of this Help window if you're ready to look for something by name.


Essentials

What you need to know to use WinSight

Controling the WinSight desktop

Messages tracked by WinSight

Using the Keyboard

Using the Mouse

Using WinSight


Tasks

Choosing panes (Class List, Window Tree, Message Trace) for display

Choosing which messages to trace

Controling the WinSight desktop

Displaying, expanding, or collapsing Window Tree pane entries

Displaying window details

Seeing what messages WinSight tracks

Locating Windows

Tracing Messages

Turning real-time updating of panes on and off

Using the Mouse

Using the Keyboard

Using WinSight

Understanding the Window Tree pane format

Understanding the Class List pane format

Understanding the Message Trace pane format


Using the mouse

Here's a list of actions and mouse and menu equivalents.

Desired action	With the mouse	With menus

Select an item	Left click

Toggle highlighted item	Ctrl+left click

Show details of item	Left double-click	Spy|Open Detail

Expand window tree	Right click on <+>	Tree|Expand Branch

Left click on <+>	Tree|Expand One Level

Collapse window tree	Left click on <->	Tree|CollapseBranch

You can also use the mouse to resize the WinSight window or the panes.


Using the keyboard

Here's a list of actions and keyboard and menu equivalents.

Desired action	With the keyboard	With menus

Select an item	Up or down arrow

Move selection bar	Ctrl+up or down arrow

Toggle highlighted item	Spacebar

Expand one level	+	Tree|Expand One Level

Expand branch	*	Tree|Expand Branch

Expand tree completely	Ctrl+*	Tree|Expand All

Collapse branch	-	Tree|Collapse Branch

The right and left arrows scroll horizontally.

Use Tab or F6 to move the focus between panes. Use Shift+Tab or Shift+F6 to switch the focus in the opposite direction.


Using WinSight summary
Using WinSight

WinSight is a tool that gives you information about window classes, windows, and messages. You can use it to study how any application creates classes and windows, and to see how windows send and receive messages.

When you use WinSight to study applications, you use the Window Tree pane.

When you use WinSight to watch which Windows messages get sent to which windows, you

find the window(s) you want to watch

trace the messages that get sent


Finding windows

WinSight has a special mode, Find Window mode, for locating windows.

You use Spy|Find Window to enter Find Window mode.


Find Window mode

Find Window mode locates windows.

When you're in this mode, WinSight

−	identifies the line in the Window Tree pane that corresponds to a window you point at with your mouse, or

−	highlights the windows that corresponds to the entry you select in the Window Tree pane.

Once you've located the window you want, you leave Find Window mode by clicking the mouse button, or by pressing Escape. This removes the border from the screen and leaves the current window selected in the Window Tree pane. (If you press Enter, you'll see the Window Detail window.)


Tracing messages

Once you've located the window (s) you want to trace messages for in the Window Tree pane, you can trace messages going to that window.

You can trace messages for a selected window or windows, for all windows, or for entire classes of windows. Use the Messages menu to configure message tracing.


WinSight menu commands (summary)
WinSight Menu Commands

Here's a list of the menus and menu commands in WinSight. The menus are listed in the order they appear.

Control menu

Restore

Move

Size

Minimize

Maximize

Close

Switch to

Spy menu

Open Detail

Find Window

Exit

View menu

Class List

Window Tree

Message Trace

Split Horizontal

Split Vertical

Tree menu

Expand One Level

Expand Branch

Expand All

Collapse Branch

Messages menu

Trace Off

Selected Classes

Selected Windows

All Windows

Clear

Options...

Stop! and Start!

Help menu

Index

Finding Windows

Tracing Messages

Menu Commands

Keyboard

Mouse

Using Help

About WinSight


Spy menu

The Spy menu is where you display more details for a window, locate the window for which you want to trace messages, or exit WinSight.

The Spy menu commands are

Open Detail

Find Window

Exit


Spy|Open Detail

Use Spy|Open Detail to display more detail about the selected class or window.

When you choose this command, you'll see either the Class Detail window or the Window Detail window.  The window that's displayed depends on the current active pane, indicated by the dotted rectangle. Additional information about the details present in the Open Detail windows is available in the Object Windows Programming Guide.


Spy|Find Window

Use Spy|Find Window to locate the window for which you want to trace messages. When you choose this command, you enter Find Window mode.


Spy|Exit

Use Spy|Exit to exit WinSight.


View menu

The View menu is where you choose what panes WinSight displays in its main window and how they are displayed.

Here are the View commands

Class List

Window Tree

Message Trace

Split Horizontal

Split Vertical


Window panes summary
WinSight panes

WinSight can display three panes within its main window.

Class List

Window Tree

Message Trace

WinSight automatically tiles the panes within the main window. You can choose to look at any or all of the panes. You can also resize them.


View|Class List

You use the View|Class List command to display the Class List pane.

This command is a toggle. If the Class List pane is displayed, choosing this command hides the pane.

Note: the term "class" refers to the class name with which the window class was registered with Windows via the RegisterClass API function. It does not refer to C++ classes.


Class List pane

The Class List pane shows all the currently registered window classes.

You can see more information about a window class by double-clicking the window class in the Class List pane, by selecting the window class and pressing Enter, or by selecting it and choosing Spy|Open Detail. You'll see the Class Detail window.

See Also

Class List pane format


Class List pane format

Here's the format of the Class List pane:

Class (Module) Function Styles

Class	The name of the window class. Some predefined Windows classes have numeric names. These classes are shown with the number and a name.

The diamond next to each window class shows whether the window class has any children. If it is hollow, there are no children. The diamonds invert color momentarily when the window receives a message.

If the diamond contains a plus sign, there are children but they are hidden. To expand and see the children, click on the diamond, or select the window and press +. To expand to show all levels of child windows select a window and click with the right mouse button.

If it contains a minus sign, there are children and they are visible. To hide the children again, click on the diamond, or select the parent window and press -.

Module	The name of the executable module (.EXE or .DLL) that registered the class.

Function 	The address of the class window function.

Styles 	A list of the CS_ styles for the class. The names are the same as the CS_xxxxxx definitions in WINDOWS.H, except that the CS_ is removed and the name is in mixed case.


Class Detail window

The Class Detail window shows detailed information about the selected window class. Information about the additional information in the Detail window can be found in the Object Windows Programming Guide.


View|Window Tree

You use the View|Window Tree command to display the Window Tree pane.

This command is a toggle. If the Window Tree pane is displayed, choosing this command hides the pane.


Window Tree pane

The Window Tree pane displays the hierarchy of windows on the desktop. This is the default display.

You can use this display to

−	determine what windows are actually present

−	see the status of windows, including hidden windows

−	see which windows are receiving messages

−	select the windows you want to trace messages for

You can see more information about a window by double-clicking the window item in the pane, selecting the window item and pressing Enter, or by selecting it and choosing Spy|Open Detail. You'll see the Window Detail window.

See Also

Window Tree pane format


Window Tree pane format

Here's the format of the Window Tree pane:

Tree Handle {Class} Module Position "Title"

Tree	The lines on the left of the pane show the window tree structure. Each window is connected to its parent, siblings, and children.

The diamond next to each window class shows whether the window class has any children. If it is hollow, there are no children. The diamonds invert color momentarily when the window receives a message.

If the diamond contains a plus sign, there are children but they are hidden. To expand and see the children, click on the diamond, or select the window and press +. To expand to show all levels of child windows select a window and click with the right mouse button.

If it contains a minus sign, there are children and they are visible. To hide the children again, click on the diamond, or select the parent window and press -.

If a window has child windows that are collapsed out of the tree display, that window's diamond shows message activity for the collapsed children.

Handle	The window handle as returned by CreateWindow.

Class	The name of the window class. Some predefined Windows classes have numeric names. These classes are shown with the number and a name.

Module	The name of the executable module (.EXE or .DLL) that created the window.

Position	The window's position. If the window is hidden, the text "(hidden)" is displayed. If it is visible, (xBegin,yBegin)-(xEnd,yEnd) is displayed. For top-level windows, these are screen coordinates. For child windows, they are coordinates within the parent window's client area.

Title	The window title or text, as returned by GetWindowText or a WM_GETTEXT message. If the title is the null string, the quotes are omitted.


Window Detail window

The Window Detail window shows detailed information about the selected window in addition to information about the window's class.


View|Message Trace

You use the View|Message Trace command to display the Message Trace pane.

This command is a toggle. If the Message Trace pane is displayed, choosing this command hides the pane.


Message Trace pane

The Message Trace pane displays information about messages received by selected windows or windows classes.

Messages received via SendMessage are shown twice, once when they are sent and again when they return. Dispatched messages are shown once only, since their return value is meaningless. The message display is indented to show how messages are nested within other messages.

See Also

Message Trace pane format


Message Trace pane format

Here is the format of the Message Trace pane:

Handle "Title"-or-{Class} Message Status ...

Handle	The window handle receiving the message.

Title	The window's title. If the title is a null string, the class name is displayed in curly braces.

Message	The message name as defined in WINDOWS.H. Known undocumented Windows messages are shown in lower case.

Unknown message numbers (user-defined) are shown as: WM_USER+0xXXXX if they are greater than or equal to WM_USER  or WM_0xXXXX if they are less than WM_USER.

Registered message numbers (from RegisterWindowsMessage) are shown with their registered name in single quotes.

Status	One or more of:

Dispatched	The message was received via DispatchMessage

Sent [from XXXX]	The message was received via SendMessage. If it was sent from another window, "from XXXX" gives that window's handle. If it was sent from the same window receiving it, this is shown with "from self". If it was sent from Windows itself, the "from" phrase is omitted.

Returns	The message was received via SendMessage and is now returning.

...	Additional information specific to each message.

If a returning message, the return value, either in numeric form, or with more specific information for messages such as WM_GETTEXT.

If a sent and dispatched message, the message parameters. WinSight interprets the parameters to give a readable display. If a message has associated data structures, those structures are included in the display.


View|Split Horizontal

Use View|Split Horizontal to stack the panes on top of one another.


View|Split Vertical

Use View|Split Vertical to display the panes side by side.


Tree menu

You use the Tree menu to display, expand, or collapse window entries in the Window Tree pane.

Here are the Tree menu commands

Expand One Level

Expand Branch

Expand All

Collapse Branch


Tree|Expand One Level
Tree|Expand One Level (+)

Use Tree|Expand One Level to expand an entry one level in the Window Tree pane.

A plus sign in the diamond next to an entry indicates that the window has children but they are hidden.

When a window has more than one level of child windows, you can use this command repeatedly to show additional levels.


Tree|Expand Branch
Tree|Expand Branch (*)

Use Tree|Expand Branch to expand an entire branch in the Window Tree pane.

A plus sign in the diamond next to an entry indicates that the window has children but they are hidden.


Tree|Expand All
Tree|Expand All (Ctrl+*)

Use Tree|Expand All to expand all entries that are collapsed in the Window Tree pane.


Tree|Collapse Branch
Tree|Collapse Branch (-)

Use Tree|Collapse Branch to collapse an entire branch in the Window Tree pane.

A minus sign in the diamond next to an entry indicates that the window's children are currently hidden.


Messages menu

The Messages menu is where you choose the types of messages you want to trace for the selected window(s).

You can configure WinSight to trace messages by

−	window

−	window class

−	message type

−	a combination of these

Here are the Messages menu commands

Trace Off

Selected Classes

Selected Windows

All Windows

Clear

Options...


Messages|Selected Classes

Use Messages|Selected Classes to trace messages going to a particular class.

This command is only active if you've selected a class in the Class List pane.

Changing the selection in the Class List pane will immediately change which windows have messages traced.

Choosing Messages|Selected Classes when the Message Trace pane is hidden causes the pane to become visible.


Messages|Selected Windows

Use Messages|Selected Windows to trace messages going to a particular window.

This command is only active if you've selected a window in the Window Tree pane.

Changing the selection in the Window Tree pane will immediately change which windows have messages traced.

Choosing Messages|Selected Windows when the Message Trace pane is hidden causes the pane to become visible.


Messages|All Windows

Use Messages|All Windows to trace all messages, regardless of what is selected in the Window Tree pane or the Class List pane.

Choosing Windows|All Windows when the  Message Trace pane is hidden causes the pane to become visible.


Messages|Trace Off

Choose Messages|Trace Off to turn off message tracing. The Message Trace pane remains visible.

Tracing resumes when you choose Messages|Selected Classes, Messages|Selected Windows, or Messages|All Windows.

You can also use Stop! to turn off message tracing.


Messages|Clear

Choose Messages|Clear to clear all messages in the Message Trace pane.


Messages|Options
Messages|Options...

Messages|Options brings up the Message Trace Options dialog box.


Message Trace Options dialog box overview
Message Trace Options dialog box

The Messages Trace Options dialog box is where you choose the types of messages you want to trace.

Messages to Trace check boxes

The Messages to Trace check boxes choose the types of messages to trace.

Interpret and Hex Values check boxes

The Interpret and Hex Values check boxes determine the message display format.

Log File check box

The Log File check box logs traced messages.


Messages to Trace check boxes

The Messages to Trace check boxes choose the types of messages to trace.

All Messages check box

The All Messages check box traces all messages.

Mouse check box

The Mouse check box traces mouse messages.

Window check box

The Window check box traces window messages.

Input check box

The Input check box traces input messages.

System check box

The System check box traces system messages.

Initialization check box

The Initialization check box traces initialization messages.

Clipboard check box

The Clipboard check box traces clipboard messages.

DDE check box

The DDE check box traces DDE messages.

Non-client check box

The Non-client check boxes traces non-client messages.

Controls check box

The Controls check box traces control messages.

Other check box

The Other check box traces all other types of messages.


All Messages check box

Turn on the All Messages check box to trace all ten subgroups of messages. Turn this check box off to select any or all of the message subgroups.

The All Messages check box is on by default.


Mouse check box

Turn on the Mouse check box to trace mouse messages.

Here are the mouse messages that WinSight traces

WM_HSCROLL

WM_LBUTTONDBLCLK

WM_LBUTTONDOWN

WM_LBUTTONUP

WM_MBUTTONDBLCLK

WM_MBUTTONDOWN

WM_MBUTTONUP

WM_MOUSEACTIVATE

WM_MOUSEMOVE

WM_RBUTTONDBLCLK

WM_RBUTTONDOWN

WM_RBUTTONUP

WM_SETCURSOR

WM_VSCROLL


Window check box

Turn on the Window check box to trace window messages.

Here are the window messages that WinSight traces (those messages in lower case are undocumented Windows messages)

WM_ACTIVATE

WM_ACTIVATEAPP

WM_CANCELMODE

WM_CHILDACTIVATE

WM_CLOSE

WM_CREATE

WM_CTLCOLOR

WM_DESTROY

WM_ENABLE

WM_ENDSESSION

WM_ERASEBKGND

WM_GETDLGCODE

WM_GETMINMAXINFO

WM_GETTEXT

WM_GETTEXTLENGTH

WM_ICONERASEBKGND

WM_KILLFOCUS

WM_MOVE

WM_PAINT

wm_painticon

WM_QUERYDRAGICON

WM_QUERYENDSESSION

WM_QUERYNEWPALETTE

WM_QUERYOPEN

WM_QUIT

WM_SETFOCUS

WM_SETFONT

WM_SETREDRAW

WM_SETTEXT

WM_SHOWWINDOW

WM_SIZE

WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED

WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGING


Input check box

Turn on the Input check box to trace input messages.

Here are the input messages that WinSight traces (those messages in lower case are undocumented Windows messages)

WM_CHAR

WM_CHARTOITEM

WM_COMMAND

WM_DEADCHAR

WM_KEYDOWN

WM_KEYUP

WM_KEYLAST

WM_MENUSELECT

WM_MENUCHAR

WM_PARENTNOTIFY

WM_SYSCHAR

WM_SYSKEYDOWN

WM_SYSKEYUP

WM_SYSDEADCHAR

WM_TIMER

WM_VKEYTOITEM

sm_yomichar

Notification Control Messages

BN_CLICKED

BN_DOUBLECLICKED

BN_CLOSEUP

BN_DBLCLK

BN_DROPDOWN

BN_EDITCHANGE

CBN_CLOSEUP

CBN_DBLCLK

CBN_DROPDOWN

CBN_EDITCHANGE

CBN_EDITUPDATE

CBN_ERRSPACE

CBN_KILLFOCUS

CBN_SELCHANGE

CBN_SELENDCANCEL

CBN_SELENDOK

CBN_SETFOCUS

EN_CHANGE

EN_ERRSPACE

EN_HSCROLL

EN_KILLFOCUS

EN_MAXTEXT

EN_SETFOCUS

EN_UPDATE

EN_VSCROLL

LBN_DBLCLK

LBN_ERRSPACE

LBN_KILLFOCUS

LBN_SELCANCEL

LBN_SELCHANGE

LBN_SETFOCUS


System check box

Turn on the System check boxes to trace system messages.

Here are the system messages that WinSight traces

WM_COMPACTING

WM_DEVMODECHANGE

WM_ENTERIDLE

WM_FONTCHANGE

WM_NULL

WM_PALETTECHANGED

WM_PALETTEISCHANGING

WM_POWER

WM_QUEUESYNC

WM_SPOOLERSTATUS

WM_SYSCOLORCHANGE

WM_SYSCOMMAND

WM_TIMECHANGE

WM_WININICHANGE


Initialization check box

Turn on the Initialization check box to trace initialization messages.

Here are the initialization messages that WinSight traces:

WM_INITDIALOG

WM_INITMENU

WM_INITMENUPOPUP


Clipboard check box

Turn on the Clipboard check box to trace initialization messages.

Here are the clipboard messages that WinSight traces

WM_ASKCBFORMATNAME

WM_CHANGECBCHAIN

WM_CLEAR

WM_COPY

WM_CUT

WM_DESTROYCLIPBOARD

WM_DRAWCLIPBOARD

WM_HSCROLLCLIPBOARD

WM_PAINTCLIPBOARD

WM_PASTE

WM_RENDERALLFORMATS

WM_RENDERFORMAT

WM_SIZECLIPBOARD

WM_UNDO

WM_VSCROLLCLIPBOARD


DDE check box

Turn on the DDE check box to trace dynamic data exchange messages.

Here are the DDE messages that WinSight traces

WM_DDE_ACK

WM_DDE_ADVISE

WM_DDE_DATA

WM_DDE_EXECUTE

WM_DDE_INITIATE

WM_DDE_POKE

WM_DDE_REQUEST

WM_DDE_TERMINATE

WM_DDE_UNADVISE


Non-client check box

Turn on the Non-client check box to trace non-client messages.

Here are the non-client messages that WinSight traces

WM_NCACTIVE

WM_NCCALCSIZE

WM_NCCREATE

WM_NCDESTROY

WM_NCHITTEST

WM_NCLBUTTONDBLCLK

WM_NCLBUTTONDOWN

WM_NCLBUTTONUP

WM_NCMBUTTONDBLCLK

WM_NCMBUTTONDOWN

WM_NCMBUTTONUP

WM_NCMOUSEMOVE

WM_NCPAINT

WM_NCRBUTTONDBLCLK

WM_NCRBUTTONDOWN

WM_NCRBUTTONUP


Controls check box

Turn on the Controls check box to trace control messages.

WinSight traces these control messages (those messages in lower case are undocumented Windows messages)

BM_GETCHECK

BM_GETSTATE

BM_SETCHECK

BM_SETSTATE

BM_SETSTYLE

CB_ADDSTRING

CB_DELETESTRING

CB_DIR

CB_FINDSTRING

CB_FINDSTRINGEXACT

CB_GETCOUNT

CB_GETCURSEL

CB_GETDROPPEDCONTROLRECT

CB_GETDROPPEDSTATE

CB_GETEDITSEL

CB_GETEXTENDEDUI

CB_GETITEMDATA

CB_GETITEMHEIGHT

CB_GETLBTEXT

CB_GETLBTEXTLEN

CB_INSERTSTRING

CB_LIMITTEXT

CB_RESETCONTENT

CB_SELECTSTRING

CB_SETCURSEL

CB_SETEDITSEL

CB_SETEXTENDEDUI

CB_SETITEMDATA

CB_SETITEMHEIGHT

CB_SHOWDROPDOWN

DM_GETDEFID

DM_SETDEFID

EM_CANUNDO

EM_EMPTYUNDOBUFFER

EM_FMTLINES

EM_GETFIRSTVISIBLELINE

EM_GETHANDLE

EM_GETLINE

EM_GETLINECOUNT

EM_GETMODIFY

EM_GETPASSWORDCHAR

EM_GETRECT

EM_GETSEL

EM_GETWORDBREAKPROC

EM_LIMITTEXT

EM_LINEFROMCHAR

EM_LINEINDEX

EM_LINELENGTH

EM_LINESCROLL

EM_REPLACESEL

EM_SETHANDLE

EM_SETMODIFY

EM_SETPASSWORDCHAR

EM_SETREADONLY

EM_SETRECT

EM_SETSEL

EM_SETRECTNP

EM_SETTABSTOPS

EM_SETWORDBREAK

EM_SETWORDBREAKPROC

EM_UNDO

LB_ADDSTRING

LB_DELETESTRING

LB_DIR

LB_FINDSTRING

LB_FINDSTRINGEXACT

LB_GETCARETINDEX

LB_GETCOUNT

LB_GETCURSEL

LB_GETHORIZONTALEXTENT

LB_GETITEMDATA

LB_GETITEMHEIGHT

LB_GETITEMRECT

LB_GETSEL

LB_GETSELCOUNT

LB_GETSELITEMS

LB_GETTEXT

LB_GETTEXTLEN

LB_GETTOPINDEX

LB_INSERTSTRING

LB_RESETCONTENT

LB_SELECTSTRING

LB_SELITEMRANGE

LB_SETCARETINDEX

LB_SETCOLUMNWIDTH

LB_SETCURSEL

LB_SETHORIZONTALEXTENT

LB_SETITEMDATA

LB_SETITEMHEIGHT

LB_SETSEL

LB_SETTABSTOPS

LB_SETTOPINDEX

STM_GETICON

STM_SETICON


Other check box

Turn on the Other check box to trace other types of messages.

Here are the other messages that WinSight traces (those messages in lower case are undocumented Windows messages)

wm_alttabactive

wm_begindrag

WM_COMMNOTIFY

WM_COMPAREITEM

wm_convertrequest

wm_convertresult

WM_DELETEITEM

wm_dragloop

wm_dragmove

wm_dragselect

WM_DRAWITEM

WM_DROPFILES

wm_dropobject

wm_entermenuloop

wm_entersizemove

wm_exitmenuloop

wm_exitsizemove

wm_filesyschange

WM_GETFONT

wm_gethotkey

wm_isactiveicon

wm_lbtrackpoint

WM_MDIACTIVATE

WM_MDICASCADE

WM_MDICREATE

WM_MDIDESTROY

WM_MDIGETACTIVE

WM_MDIICONARRANGE

WM_MDIMAXIMIZE

WM_MDINEXT

WM_MDIRESTORE

WM_MDISETMENU

WM_MDITILE

WM_MEASUREITEM

WM_NEXTDLGCTL

wm_nextmenu

wm_querydropobject

wm_queryparkicon

wm_setvisible

wm_sethotkey

wm_sizewait

wm_syncpaint

wm_synctask

WM_SYSTEMERROR

wm_systimer

wm_testing


Interpret and Hex Values check boxes

The Interpret and Hex Values check boxes determine the format of the Message Trace pane display.

Turn the Interpret Values check box on to interpret message parameters and return values in a readable format.

Turn the Hex Values check box on to display message parameters as Hex Values of wParam and lParam, and also return Values as Hex.


Log File check box

Turn on the Log File check box to log trace messages to a file. Enter a file name in the input box below the check box. If the file already exists, messages are appended to the end of the file.

To stop logging messages to the file, turn off the Log File check box.


Message Groups

Messages tracked by WinSight are listed under the following group headings. Click on a group to see the corresponding list of messages tracked by WinSight.

Mouse

Window

Input

System

Initialization

Clipboard

DDE

Non-Client

Control

Other


Stop! and Start!
Stop! and Start! command

The Stop! command turns off all real-time updating in WinSight. Normally, all panes are kept current as classes are registered, windows are created and destroyed, and messages are received.

This command is a toggle. When you choose Stop! to suspend activity, the command Start! is displayed. Choose Start! to resume activity.

Using Stop! gives you a chance to study a particular situation. It also removes the overhead of having WinSight update itself constantly.

You can also use Messages|Trace Off to turn off message tracing.


Help menu

The Help menu provides access to online Help, which comes up in a special Help window. One-line menu hints also appear on the status line at the bottom of the screen whenever you select a menu command.

These are the Help menu commands

Index

Finding Windows

Tracing Messages

Menu Commands

Keyboard

Mouse

Using Help

About WinSight


Help|Index
Help|Index (F1)

The WinSight online Help comes with a contents screen that summarizes the organization and contents of the Help system.

To get into the Help system from the index, choose one of the highlighted words or pictures on the contents: click it or Tab to it and then press Enter.

If you don't know how to use a Help system under Windows, choose the Help|Using Help menu command.


Help|Finding Windows

The Help|Finding Windows command brings up help on locating windows.


Help|Tracing Messages

The Help|Tracing Messages command brings up help on tracing messages.


Help|Commands
Help|Menu Commands

Help|Menu Commands brings up help on WinSight menus.


Help|Keyboard

The Help|Keyboard command brings up help on the keyboard.


Help|Mouse

The Help|Keyboard command brings up help on the mouse.


Help|Using Help

The Help|Using Help command displays information on how to use the WinSight Help system (or any other Help system under Windows).


Help|About

When you choose this menu command, a dialog box appears, showing copyright and version information.

Click OK or Enter to close the box.


Control menu

The WinSight Control menu box is on the far left of the title bar. Click it once or press Alt+Spacebar to display the menu.

The commands that appear on this menu affect the WinSight desktop.

The WinSight Control menu commands are

Restore

Move

Size

Minimize

Maximize

Close

Switch to


Control|Restore

When you choose the Restore command, the WinSight desktop window returns to its previous size.

This command is available only if the WinSight desktop window is maximized or minimized.


Control|Move

The Move command moves the WinSight desktop window with your keyboard.

Use your arrow cursor keys to move it and press Enter when you are done.

You cannot use this command if the WinSight desktop is maximized.

You can also move the window by dragging its title bar to the desired position.


Control|Size

With your keyboard, you can change the size of the WinSight desktop window with the Size command.

Use your arrow cursor keys to move the window borders. Press Enter when you are satisfied with the window size.

Size is available only if the WinSight desktop is not maximized.


Control|Minimize

Selecting the Minimize command turns the WinSight desktop into the WinSight icon.

You can choose this command only if the WinSight desktop window has not been minimized already.


Control|Maximize

If you choose the Maximize command, the WinSight desktop zooms to fill your entire screen.

You can choose this command only if the WinSight desktop window has not been maximized already.


Control|Close

The Close command closes the WinSight desktop and unloads WinSight from memory.

You can also click the close box in the upper left corner to close the window.


Control|Switch To

The Switch To command displays the Task List dialog box where you can switch from one application to another and rearrange application windows.


Task List dialog box overview
Task List dialog box

You use the Task List dialog box to switch to another application and rearrange application windows.

Task List list box

All open applications are listed in this box.


Task List list box overview
Task List list box

The Task List list box lists all open applications.

If the application you want is in the list box, double-click on it to choose it.

From the keyboard:

 -	Press the Up or Down arrow keys to reach the application you want.

 -	Press Enter to choose it.

 -	Then switch to the application and rearrange windows with Action Buttons.


Action Buttons

Action buttons are used to switch to another application and rearrange application windows.

-	With the mouse, click the action button you want.

-	If you're using the keyboard, press Tab to go to the action button, then press Enter.

Switch To

The Switch To button switches to another application in the list box.

End Task

The End Task button closes the selected application in the list box.

Cascade

The Cascade button arranges the application windows in an overlap style.

Tile

The Tile button arranges the application windows in a tile fashion (side-by-side).

Arrange Icons

The Arrange Icons button evenly spaces the icons across the bottom of the desktop.