Windows 3.x Accessories

Windows 3.x accessories include a bundle of useful programs. They can help the user use the computer in many ways. As the name "accessories" shows, they are small programs that are not critical to the system but can be used when you need them.

Many useful accessories can be found:

• Notepad --- the simplest and smallest plain text editor. It's functions are so simple that almost everyone knows how to use it, though programming a text editor is not as easy as using it. Use it to read, create or edit *.txt files. You can also use it to open HTML, batch, C/C++, Java and other plain text files, though it isn't good at editing them.
• Write --- a program that lets you create simple formatted texts. Text can be formatted using specific fonts, sizes and styles. Paragraphs can be formatted with left, right and center alignments, indentation and margins. It's in someway similar to Microsoft Word.
• Paint Brush --- a simple drawing program that lets you create and edit images. It supports Windows bitmap files (*.bmp).
• Calculator --- it's very like an real calculator. It operates in two modes: standard and scientific. You can switch it between the two modes using the "View" menu. It's a useful program in many ways.
• Recorder --- a macro recorder that captures and playbacks your key strokes and mouse movements. You can use it to record a fixed sequence of keyboard and mouse events and save them as a "macro", in order to do all those things in the future by just running the macro.
• Calendar --- a simple time scheduler. Although you can find almost all its functionality in Microsoft Outlook, it is so cute a program.
• Clock --- a clock that reports current time and date. In Windows 3.x it is useful.
• Media Player --- plays wave sound (*.wav), MIDI music (*.mid), audio CDs (compact disc - digital audio) and video clips (*.avi).
• CD Player --- plays audio CDs.
• Sound Recorder --- records sound from the sound card input, edits them and saves them in the wave sound format (*.wav). Useful when you often record sounds.

The Main program group also contains useful tools:

• Program Manager: the interface that organizes program groups to simplify the way you start programs. Program groups is a good invention. Using program groups, programs can be organized logically (in the form of program items), not physically (in the form of files).
• File Manager: explores your disk resources. Use it to simplify the way you manage your files. In order to raise its functionality, you can use registry editor (regedit.exe) to manage file types in order to open specific kinds of documents by double clicking them in File Manager.
• Windows Setup Program: sets up and configures Windows 3.x components. You can use it to create program groups for applications on the disk. With the "/p" switch (setup.exe /p), Windows Setup Program can restore default program groups.
• PIF Editor: creates and edits program information files (PIF) for MS-DOS based applications. Use PIFs to configure MS-DOS programs running under Windows.

Return to Overview Of Windows 3.x