Talisman Desktop 3.0  (build 3006)
Desktop manager and shell replacement for Windows 95/98/ME/NT4/2000/XP/2003/Vista
(C) Lighttek Software 1997-2008
http://www.lighttek.com
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Contents
============================
   Description
   Features
   New in version 3.0
   Installing the program
   Updating the program
   Installing as default shell
   Uninstalling the program
   Starting
   Protection
   Paying
   Distribution terms
   Disclaimer of warranty





Description
============================

Using "Talisman", you can build any interface for your computer.
"Talisman" hides the standard desktop of Windows.
You create and add almost any type of object to the Talisman desktop, and attach 
any type of internal Talisman commands or run any application. Objects 
(which can be either visible or invisible) can be programmed to react to 
mouse clicks or mouse movements. You can also add background pictures 
to the desktop and add sounds to different events. All settings and pictures 
are stored in a theme file. You can even make more than one theme and use 
objects with links to go from one theme to another. 
You can use Talisman as your default shell instead the Windows Explorer.
Talisman has its own startup ,system tray, taskbar and startmenu procedures.




Features:
============================

· Creating multilevel user defined desktops 
· Use of any number of pictures of any type or dimension, instead of standard icons. 
· Place, free-moving and imposing of objects in the Talisman workspace. 
· All objects can run external programs or internal shell commands by one click of the mouse. 
· Any number of forms (screens) in one theme. Any screen object can be set to switch from one form to another. 
· You can create a set of independent themes, and store them on any disk in the local computer or on a local area network.
· You can easily switch between different themes through your own objects or through the Talisman menu. 
· The Built-in Object Editor allows the creation, modification and removal of any element in a theme. 
· Large number of basic elements (forms, pictures, buttons of different types,text blocks, HTML, Flash objects, clocks, calendars and other) 
· Customizable system tray, taskbar and clock. 
· Sound support for all events. 
· Applications menu, Task menu, Theme menu, Foldermenu, Run, Find, Desktop, ControlPanel, Network, Dialup, Documents and other internal commands.
· Script language.
· Messages engine for communication with other programs. 
· Plugins.
· Keyboard control. 
· Protection and limited access functions.


New in Talisman Desktop 3.0
==========================

- Updated Button object. Added alpha-blended PNG support for all phases of a button; vertical text labels.

- New button file format - TBTN instead the old BTN3 format. TBTN stores 3 alpha-blended PNG pictures and all button settings in one file.

- Updated Calendar object. Added support of alpha-blended PNG backgrounds; new "Horizontal Line" and "Vertical Line" styles of calendar; vertical text labels.

- Updated AClock object. Added support of alpha-blended PNG arrows; separated centers for each arrow; top picture (alpha-blended PNG).

- New "Add/Edit Item" dialog for List object.

- New "Theme Manager 3.0", including: Theme Manager, Theme Installer, Theme Builder, Shape Builder, Object Collector.

- New options for desktop wallpapers: Fit by Width (Arange to Top/Center/Bottom) and Fit by Height (Arrange to Left/Center/Right). These options help to set standard (4:3) wallpapers to wide screens without distortions.

- New "Button Click delay" option in Program Settings window of Object Editor to set up any delay in msec. This option was added to avoid unexpected double clicks or long pressings on touchscreen displays.

- New "Preview Panel Color" option in Program Settings window of Object Editor to change background color of preview windows in Object Editor. 

- New "tobject <form>.<button>.redraw", "tobject <form>.<button>.picture=<filename>", "tobject <form>.<button>.icon=<filename>", "tobject <form>.<button>.text=<your text>" commands for fast redrawing of Button objects.

- New screenwidth.tscr and screenheight.tscr script commands.

- Added "Copy Form" command in Ctrl+Right click menu. Now you can copy forms from one theme to another.

- Added new command "updateregistry". This command rewrite all standard Talisman registry settings including default Hotkeys and file associations.

- Added new installation option for corporate clients. Using new settings file (runonce.txt) placed in Talisman folder it is possible to copy Talisman and automatically register it on any new computer without slow setup procedure. (See detailed information in the Talisman Help file: Registration and Installation>Corporate Installation).

- Added new function "getvalue" for "setvalue" and "tobject" commands. This function allows to copy any value from one object to other. 
For example, set the same icon as on Buton1 to Button2:
setvalue desktop0.button2.icon=getvalue desktop0.button1.icon
or
tobject desktop0.button2.icon=getvalue desktop0.button1.icon

- Added new command "tobject <form>.<button>.command=browsefile [type:<filetype>]" to change a Button command string from "Browse file" dialog.
Where <filetype> may be any file extension or * to browse all files.
For example to setup the command (EXE file) for Button1. Create a Button2 with command: 
tobject desktop0.button1.command=browsefile [type:exe]
See "Media Center" theme as example (Press Ctrl+Alt+Z to show Form2).

- Updated Drawpic command. Added rotation angle parameter for PNG pictures.

- Fixed bug in List object "show Winamp playlist" option.

- Fixed bug in Callendar object "Next/Previous year" command.

- Other changes and bug fixes.





Installing the program:
============================

- If you work in shell mode of Talisman - switch your shell in standard Windows shell Explorer.exe.
- If you need to save your previously installed default Talisman themes ("Default", "WindowsXP" and etc) - copy these themes in other folders.
- Install the newest version of Talisman. 
- If you want Talisman to execute at startup, place a Talisman shortcut in your 
Startup Directory (c:\windows\start menu\programs\startup).
- Read an information about Shell mode of Talisman if you plan to use the Talisman as shell.


Fast installation to many computers for corporate users
=====================================
Please read instructions in Talisman Help file: Registration and Installation>Corporate Installation



Updating the program:
============================

- If you work in shell mode of Talisman - switch your shell in standard Windows shell Explorer.exe.
- If you need to save your previously installed default Talisman themes ("Default", "Alpine" and etc) - copy these themes in other folders.
- Install the newest version of Talisman over your previously installed version. 


Installing as default shell
===========================

At first please read the" What to do if the system will not startup with Talisman as the shell?" before installing Talisman as your default shell!

To start Talisman as default shell:
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Select "Shell Switcher" in MainMenu>Settings  to switch between shells (Talisman and Explorer). Press "Switch shell..." button and press Ok. Computer will be restarted with selected shell.

Notes for multiuser configuration of Windows2000/XP/Vista:  
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To have possibility to use different shells for different users you have to login as Administrator (or user with Administrator rights) and switch shells with Shell Switcher  at least once. Talisman will make all necessary changes in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE key of your register. These initial changes are available only from Administrator (or user with Administrator rights) account. 
After that you can use Shell Switcher to switch shells from any user account.




Uninstalling the program:
============================

If you want to uninstall Talisman, use the Control Panel's "Add/Remove Programs." 

Exit from Talisman before uninstall!

Please do not uninstall Talisman in the shell mode of Talisman. Switch your shell to explorer.exe (useTalisman Shell Switcher ) and only then uninstall Talisman from the standard Windows shell.




Starting:
============================

Start Talisman.exe from Windows environment (by double click in Explorer for example).



PAYING
============================

We accept the following types of payment: Credit card, Fax, Phone, Mail, Cash. On payment approval we'll send you the registration key which will remove all limitations of unregistered version.  To purchase the program point your browser to the following URL and follow instructions onscreen: 

https://secure.element5.com/register.html?productid=133413
or
https://www.regnow.com/softsell/nph-softsell.cgi?item=1333-4

The fee for registered version of Talisman 3.xx is: $25.00


 
Distribution terms:
============================

Talisman may be distributed freely in its original unmodified and
unregistered form. The distribution must include all files in the
original distribution. 

Distributors may not charge any money for it, while
they may charge money for the medium (online-time, CD-ROM, etc.).

If you like to bundle Talisman with other programs, goods, services, 
etc. you are selling in a registered form please feel free to contact 
us at: http://www.lighttek.com/support.htm to figure out the conditions.




Disclaimer of warranty:
============================

This software is sold "as is" and without warranties whether expressed or
implied. Because of the various software and hardware environments into
which this program may be put, no warranty of fitness for a particular
purpose is offered.