CONTENTS
WHAT DOES IT
DO?
Automatically runs a configured application if the Toppy is On
during the scheduled times.
Monitors your Toppy's connection to the PC and provides notification when
there's a problem.
When started the Toppy Monitor will monitor the
connection between your Windows PC to your *Topfield TF5x00 (or
later). When
the Toppy is On and connected the icon in the Windows tool tray will be green. When
Off or disconnected the icon in the Windows task tray will turn red.
In WGT634U mode, if the WGT634U is not pingable the icon will turn orange.
In USB mode, when restarting the USB connection the icon will turn yellow.
You can set it to automatically restart the USB connection if it drops
out. You can also set it to restart the USB connection just before it runs
the configured application. Restarting the USB is mainly for those with
USB extenders that tend to drop the connection occasionally.
* You can actually configure Toppy Monitor to monitor any Windows device
(see device.ini) in USB mode.
It can be configured to automatically run any Windows application when the
monitored device is first connected (or turned on) - with options for how
often, or when, to run the application. It also checks the scheduled run
time settings every 5 minutes and will run the configured application if
the Toppy is On and connected and the run settings are ok.
NOTE: Toppy Monitor will definitely detect when the
USB cable is disconnected or the Toppy is put into standby.
But it may not detect when the USB connection has dropped out if Windows
still indicates that the Toppy is connected*. In this case you can still
use Toppy Monitor to easily restart the USB connection.
* The next version will directly check if the Toppy is contactable
when in USB mode instead of relying on what Windows indicates.
FEATURES:
- Allows user to monitor any Windows device (comes preconfigured for Toppy
USB).
- Allows Icebox owners to monitor
if the Icebox is online and if the Toppy is turned On and connected.
- Allows NSLU2 owners to monitor
if the NSLU2 is online and if the Toppy is turned On and connected.
- Can run any application(s) when the monitored device first connects -
e.g. when the toppy boots up.
- Can run any application(s) when the scheduled times are ok, if the Toppy
is On.
- Menu option to disable/enable starting application on connection.
- Menu option to Auto Restart the USB if the connection drops out.
- Menu option to start the monitor with Windows.
USING IT:
If you right-click on the icon in the tool tray you'll see a pop-up menu
with choices for restarting the Topfield USB connection, setting whether
Toppy Monitor automatically starts when Windows starts, and closing
Toppy Monitor. From here you can also access the Settings menu
for configuring when, and when not, to run whichever application you
choose.
In USB mode, if you left-click on Toppy Monitor's icon in the Windows tool tray (next to the clock on the
task bar) Toppy Monitor will restart the Topfield USB connection.
If you want Toppy Monitor to automatically start when you log into
Windows right-click on Toppy Monitor's icon and check "Start with
Windows". If you've previously set "Start with Windows" you can disable it
by right-clicking on Toppy Monitor's icon and then unchecking "Start
with Windows".
If you want Toppy Monitor to automatically restart the USB connection if it drops out
right-click on Toppy Monitor's icon and check "Use Auto Restart".
You can launch the configured "Run Application" at anytime by double-clicking
the Toppy Monitor icon in the tool tray.
Notes:
- "Run Application" path/name can be just the file name if the
application is in the Windows Environment Variable Path.
- Any required switches can be included after the app name.
- Any value set to 0 is considered as always/unlimited etc.
- Auto Restart will make only one attempt to
restart the USB connection automatically whenever it disconnects, but will
try to reconnect in 2 different ways.
- Only one instance of the configured "Run on connect" application
will be run. If it is already running a
warning will popup. This warning will automatically close after 10 seconds - if the user
has not already closed it.
- A successful Auto Restart will not trigger a "Run on connect"
application to run.
RELEASE NOTES:
Version 4.4
- Now uses 90% less memory.
Version 4.3
- Changed to only allow one instance of Toppy Monitor Links to run.
- Changed error messages from "Copy error to clipboard?" to "Email error
to support?".
Version 4.2.2
- Bug fix.
Version 4.2.1
- Bug fix.
Version 4.2.1
- Bug fix for times to run scheduled application.
- Moved "Start with Windows" delay option from ini file to settings
dialog. (see v3.4 below)
Version 4.2
- Minor bug fixes.
- Removed "Use Auto Restart" menu option if not using USB mode.
- Removed "Restart USB" menu option if not using USB mode.
- Added "ToppyTools website" menu option.
Version 4.1
- Merged installation into ToppyTools Suite installer.
- Added ToppyTools Updater support.
- Added ability to double-click the tray icon to run the configured
application.
- Fixed a bug where it would remember the connection state from when it
last shutdown.
- Renamed WGT634U monitoring mode to Icebox.
Version 4.0
- Renamed Toppy Monitor.
- Added FTP monitoring.
- Added test button to test configured application and any
switches/parameters.
- Fixed tray icon not reappearing after a Windows Explorer crash.
Version 3.4.1
- Fixed a bug where users who hadn't run previous versions before received
an error when starting.
Version 3.4
- Added "Start with Windows" delay option - to allow time for WiFi LAN to
connect.
- Added option to save error message to clipboard for easier error
reporting.
- Minor bug fixed.
Version 3.3
- Fixed a few small bugs in WGT634U mode.
Version 3.2
- Fixed a bug if the user has installed tfbulk driver for more than one
USB port.
- Changed to read the registry to check if USB connected.
Version 3.1
- Fixed a few small bugs in WGT634U mode.
- Fixed a bug where it sometimes it wouldn't detect a change in connection
status.
- Now checks if WGT634U is online, before trying to check if toppy is on.
- Added orange icon to indicate WGT634U is not responding to pinging.
Version 3.0
- Added WGT634U monitoring mode.
Version 2.0
- Changed to run configured application if the scheduled run settings are
ok if the Toppy is On - previously it, deliberately, would only run the
application if the Toppy had been Off and then turns On.
Version 1.6
- Auto Restart menu option added.
- Now will not open/run configured "Run on connect application" if it's
already open/running.
- The "Settings" window's close button now only closes the settings
window.
Version 1.5.1
- Fixed minor bug where Toppy Monitor didn't detect a toppy reboot if
Toppy Monitor had
only just been started.
Version 1.5
- Shutdown bug fixed - finally!
- Uses 0% CPU resources while monitoring (it sits idle until Windows
messages that the (USB) device status has changed).
- Responds quicker to device status changes.
- "Restart" tries a restart, then if unsuccessful will disable and then
re-enable the device.
- Waits 30sec after connection before starting any configured application
(if device is still connected).
- Does not run application after a user initiated device restart.
- Waits 10sec after user logs into Windows before checking if device
connected.
- Replaced separate monitor and restart configuration files with a single
device.ini file (only change if you want to monitor a different device).
- Devcon Not Found warning no longer closes Toppy Monitor (devcon only needed for
restarting device).
Version 1.4
- Shutdown bug fixed - or so I thought.
- Restart now disables and then re-enables the USB device.
- Now waits for toppy to finish booting before starting any configured
application.
- Settings dialog now includes a browse button to select application to
run on connect.
- Settings dialog now includes a delete button to remove unwanted
"Application to Run" history.
- "Don't run if previously run less than x hours ago" now calculates on
minutes and hours for more accuracy.
- About window now displays build number and version number.
Version 1.3
- New "Run Application on Connect" settings menu.
- Added an installer.
Version 1.1 to 1.2
- Bug fixes.
Version 1.0
- First release.
Known
Bugs:
- None.
INSTALLATION:
To install just unzip the downloaded "ToppyTools-Suite.zip" archive and
run "Install ToppyTools Suite.exe".
NOTE: For monitoring in USB mode Toppy Monitor requires devcon.exe
from Microsoft.
If needed, download devcon from here:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/1/f/11f7dd10-272d-4cd2-896f-9ce67f3e0240/devcon.exe
Or from this page:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q311272
Then double-click on the downloaded devcon.exe to unzip the package. Then copy
the actual devcon.exe file from within the i386 folder into the same
folder as "Toppy Monitor.exe".
UNINSTALLING:
Run the uninstaller from either the link in the ToppyTools folder in "All
Programs" on the "Start Menu" or from the "ToppyTools" folder in the "Program Files"
directory (usually C:\Program Files"). You can also uninstall ToppyTools
Suite from Window's "Add and
Remove Programs" in the "Control Panel".
COMPATIBILITY:
Works with all Topfield 5xx0 and 6000 series PVR's and PVRt's -
See full list.
Toppy Monitor should work on any 32bit version of Windows, but has
only been tested on Windows XP. All Topfield PVRs with a USB port
are supported. A USB connection to the PC is not required if using a
suitable device like the NSLU2 or Icebox etc.
For monitoring in USB mode you must have the Topfield USB driver must be
installed:
TopfieldTools Applications and USB Driver Setup
LICENSING:
Shareware. See the included License.txt. By using
this software you are agreeing to the licensing terms outlined in the included License.txt.
Also see the license documents included with any bundled 3rd-party
utilities or applications.
