xStarter Features

xStarter utility will automate those boring routine tasks and repetitive operations that consume so much of your keyboard time. xStarter is a comprehensive solution to a wide variety of tasks ranging from data security issues to significant event reminders.

What tasks can xStarter be used for?

It can be used to perform a huge variety of tasks. Click here to see some examples.
Once you start working with xStarter, you will be surprised how much unnecessary work you were doing before! All xStarter tasks are sequences of simple operations, each one performing a simple function. Here are the available operations, grouped by function:

Working with files and folders group
	Copy and move files and folders; Delete files and folders; Create folders; Synchronize folders; Search files; Create ZIP archives; Create backup files (These are ZIP archives with the current date embedded in the file names); Remove backup files, based on creation date.
Working with software and system services group
	Launch programs; End programs; Determine the number of running programs with a specified name; Start NT services; Stop NT services.
Working with the keyboard and mouse group
	Pass key strokes and stroke combinations on to applications/programs; Record a succession of key strokes and mouse operations (macros); Execute a previously saved succession of key strokes and mouse operations (Windows Macros).
Working with Windows devices
	Turn off, restart, or switch the computer to standby mode; Log off the current user; Eject and close the CD-ROM; Optimize (clear) memory; Establish a RAS connection (analog modems, GPRS phones channels for VPN connections, etc. can be used as RAS devices).
Working with the Internet
	Download files via HTTP protocol; Download and upload files via FTP protocol; Send messages and files via e-mail; Check and delete e-mails; Open a web page with the default browser; Check the connection to a host/computer (PING).
Working with messages
	Display messages on the screen; Send messages to other computers on the network; Send messages via ICQ.
Working with windows
	Close window; Set focus to a window; Maximize / Minimize / Restore a window; Hide / Show a window; Minimize all windows; Screenshots.
Working with text group
	Write text to a text file (for example, a log file); Compare two text files; Search in a text block or a text file; Locate and extract a specific text block from a message.
Working with network group
	Connect to network drives and/or folders; Disconnect from network drives and/or folders.
Working with xStarter tasks
	Activate an xStarter task; Deactivate an xStarter task; Launch an xStarter task.

To set up a task you simply specify a succession of operations with the necessary parameters. After that, you should set the time or event trigger to specify when they are to be performed. The program will then perform the tasks at your specified times, or when the trigger event occurs, without any additional activity from you.

In the case of complicated sets of operations that would normally require a number of keystrokes and mouse input from you, it is possible to record macros. Macros can contain recorded sequences of mouse movements and keystrokes which are "played back" when the macro is executed.

Tasks launching

The xStarter integrated scheduler can perform tasks:

• At a specified time and on a certain day;
• Regularly, at specified intervals;
• Once, after a specified time period;
• A scheduler with advanced options to handle complex timing needs;
• A full Windows replacement for the Linux CRON feature.

Tasks can be triggered by the following events:

• A key stroke or combination of keys («hot» keys);
• When a specified window is created, activated or closed;
• By a file change notification from certain folders;
• When idle time (no mouse movements or keystrokes) exceeds the time you specify;
• When xStarter is launched. (This can be done automatically at Windows startup);
• If a NT Event log entry is made;
• Serial port receive a string.

Using statements, it is possible to generate further triggers such as:

• Email trigger;
• Log file trigger;
• Webpage trigger;
• And many others.