PowrClik    Frequently Asked Questions

For a long time we planned to create this page, arrange here some forum, give here wise answers for diferent wise questions. :-) But the practice shows that the better decision is to describe PowrClik shortly, tell about its history, mission and possible future prospects.

So, PowrClik. Primarily it was intended to provide quick access to computer power saving and shutdown functions.
Everybody knows advantages of standby mode if you need to leave your PC for a short while: less power consumption, less noise, etc. Or advantages of hibernation: after turning on the computer returns to the last state it was in before the shutdown. Your savings include reduced start time, time to resume operational environment, time for reminiscences like "what I did", "what I have to do", etc. Windows let you use these modes, but for one action you have to move mouse several times, open several windows and do click, click, click... Perhaps, somebody likes this, but we were tired.

PowrClik reduced this, practically, to one click. Plus several functions additionally: run screen saver, turn off monitor, lock, disconnect, logoff, reboot, shutdown PC, disable screen saver, prevent/force suspended modes, prevent/force exit Windows. But little by little PowrClik gained new functionality, and now it is very close to automation software.

At present PowrClik series consists of four utilities.

PowrRun serves to run any application with system credentials (Windows NT/XP/200x).
Even if you are logged on as administrator, your access to resources is limited. Use PowrRun and you can find hidden hives in the registry, hidden directories on the NTFS-volumes, etc., etc.

PowrSaver serves to extend control of monitor power consumption.
Windows 95 let any screen saver to turn monitor into low-power or power-off modes. In later Windows versions these possibilities were partially lost. PowrSaver is called to "reinstate the justice :-)".

PowrClik Lite is descendant of the very first PowrClik. It realizes the mentioned "one-click-idea" as well can work via the command line. Combining batch-files and Windows Task Scheduler you can achieve some automation.

PowrClik Pro is advanced version. At first, new function was added: "open/run file" (both with system credentials and without it). At second, the timer was added. It can, if necessary, wake up the computer from standby or hibernation mode (depending on hardware and software installed). At third, new execution modes were implemented: every function can be scheduled by timer, by event or via script.

Scheduling by timer is most simple: you set the time (absolute or relative within 24 hours) and set function. If it is suitable, push "Standby" or "Hibernate". At the time specified the computer will be awakened and do what you desired.

Scheduling by event is a bit more complicated.

Under Windows 98/ME there are five pre-defined events: window destroying, disconnection, low CPU or disk usage and low dial-up speed. Last three events are based on using of Windows internal performance counters. To set "alarm" you have to specify counter's upper bound and time interval. The event will happen if the corresponding performance value does not exceed specified boundary value during the specified period. You can watch program ending (window closing), computer idling, connection losing, download finish, etc.

The events can be combined. PowrClik can wait for occurance of first of the events, or for all events. If you simultaneously set the timer, it will watch time limit: e.g., "wait for that or that event but not longer than ...".

Under Windows NT/XP/200x the situation is almost the same. You can watch up to four events simultaneously. Select counter (choose from several thousands) and specify its threshold, condition (depending on which the threshold will be considered as maximum or as minimum) and time interval. Main complication (and advantage too) is to choose desired counter. In help-file you can find some examples: how to watch computer usage, how to trap printing finish, how to count network traffic, etc. Try and you will be rewarded!

And at last, scripting. We consider it as ability to control PowrClik via textual commands. You can write to textual file all your actions - button pushing, box checking, parameter entering - and execute it later at the moment desired. You can also use Windows scripts (VBScript, JScript, etc.). Of course, this is not full-featured task scheduler (absence of repeatable tasks like "every day", "every third week", etc.) but large step to automation.

Well, that is all for brief description. We hope you will like our work.
What is the next? Who knows? PowrClik still is in progress. New days, new ideas. Perhaps, we will add built-in scheduler, perhaps, something else. Write to us, order, propose. Any contribution will be appreciated.