
                        FIXTIME Version 2.0
     
     (C) COPYRIGHT 1986, 1992, 1993 by Michael Coulter.  All rights reserved.
	 Shareware fee: $10

Fixtime is a utility which you can run to adjust your computer's clock
for the expected error since the last time the clock was adjusted.

This README file has the following sections:

1. Quick Installation and Use Instructions
2. Installation Variations 
3. How Fixtime Works
4. Documentation of Commands
   4.1 Fixtime
   4.2 Showtime
   4.3 Today
5. Files in this Distribution
6. Registration and Disclaimer


1. Quick Installation and Use Instructions

   These instructions presume that your boot disk is "c:".

   First, set the clock on your computer as accurately as possible.  

   Extract the fixtime files and copy them to "c:\".

   Create the fixtime.inf data file by executing:
   
	   cd c:\
	   fixtime -i

   Edit your c:\autoexec.bat file and add the following line early in the
   file:
   
	   fixtime -f c:\fixtime.inf

   Wait a few days until you notice that your computer's clock has become 
   inaccurate.  You might execute "showtime" to display the time and beep 
   as each second changes.  If your computer has gained 7 seconds, move 
   the clock back by executing:

   	   cd c:\
	   fixtime -7

   If your computer has lost 7 seconds, move the clock forwards by 
   executing:

   	   cd c:\
	   fixtime 7

   Now, the next time fixtime is executed it will adjust the computer's
   clock according to the clock drift which has been observed on this
   computer.  When you notice that the computer's clock is inaccurate,
   adjust it with fixtime and a more accurate adjustment factor will
   automatically be computed.  Always execute "cd c:\" before executing
   fixtime so that the fixtime.inf file will be in the current directory.

   In the spring, when daylight savings time is instituted, move your
   clock forward by executing:

   	   cd c:\
	   fixtime +h

   In the fall, when standard time is instituted, move your clock back
   by executing:

   	   cd c:\
	   fixtime -h

   Send in your $10 registration fee (see instructions below).

2. Installation Variations 

   The fixtime files don't need to be located at "c:\".  The executable
   files may be placed in any directory which appears in your PATH string.
   The README file can be placed wherever you like to keep documentation.

   The fixtime.inf file can be placed anywhere.  It is easiest to use
   fixtime by making the directory which contains fixtime.inf the current
   directory before executing fixtime.exe.  You can be in a different
   directory and use the -f option to specify the location of the
   fixtime.inf file.  For example, if you install the fixtime.inf file
   in c:\misc\fixtime.inf, the line in your autoexec.bat file would be:

   	   fixtime -f c:\misc\fixtime.inf
   
3. How Fixtime Works

   IBM PC AT's and later have a real-time clock which is used to set the
   DOS time when the system is booted.  Thereafter the two times are
   independent.  The DOS clock is frequently much less accurate than
   the real-time clock.  The DOS clock might lose 5 minutes a day while the
   real-time clock might lose 4 minutes a month.

   Typically the real-time clock in a computer loses or gains a consistent
   amount of time.  FIXTIME is a utility which compensates for this "clock
   drift" by periodically adjusting the clock based on the past history
   of clock drift on a particular computer.  Typically FIXTIME is executed
   when the computer is started by running it in the \AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

   The information file which FIXTIME maintains is in an ASCII file, 
   fixtime.inf, which has five lines.  They are:
    
       1) The adjustment factor.
       2) Any fractional seconds not adjusted at the time of the last
	  adjustment.
       3) The total of all adjustments since the start of operation.
       4) The date and time when the clock was last adjusted.
       5) The date and time when fixtime first started operation.

   Note that FIXTIME only adjusts the clock by a whole number of seconds.
   It rounds to the nearest second and keeps track of the fractional
   second difference in line #2.

   When fixtime -r is executed, the times in lines #4 and #5 are set to
   now and the numbers in lines #2 and #3 are set to zero, but the adjustment
   factor in line #1 is left unchanged.

4. Documentation of Commands
   
   4.1 Fixtime
       
       The FIXTIME utility may be used to perform one of five functions:

	4.1.1 Install (-i) the information file where FIXTIME records the 
	      clock drift factor for this computer and where it records the 
	      last time the clock was adjusted.  By default, the file name
	      will be FIXTIME.INF in the current directory.  

		  Syntax: 	fixtime [ -f inf_file ] [ -i ]
		  Examples:	fixtime -i
			        fixtime -f c:\misc\fixtime.inf -i
       
	      Before creating the information file, you should set the
	      time on your computer as accurately as possible.  FIXTIME will
	      start measuring the clock drift on your system from the time
	      you create the file.
    
	4.1.2 Adjust the computer's real-time clock by a specified number of 
	      seconds (positive or negative).

		  Syntax:      fixtime [ -f inf_file ] seconds 
		  Examples:    fixtime 3
			       fixtime -2 
			       fixtime -f fixtime.inf 25

	      The first example moves the clock forward by three seconds. The
	      second example moves the clock back by two seconds.  The third
	      example moves the clock forward by 25 seconds. As the clock on
	      your computer loses or gains time, add or subtract seconds to the
	      clock to correct it.  FIXTIME keeps a total of the seconds which
	      have been added or subtracted from the clock.  It uses this total
	      together with the time when the total started out at zero to
	      calculate the adjustment factor to compensate for the clock
	      drift.
       
	      After adjusting the real-time clock, FIXTIME sets the DOS clock 
	      to the same time.
    
	4.1.3 Adjust the clock for clock drift since the last time the clock
	      was adjusted.
    
		  Syntax:	fixtime [ -f inf_file ]
		  Examples:	fixtime
			        fixtime -f c:\misc\fixtime.inf

	      This command is typically invoked in \AUTOEXEC.BAT to adjust the
	      clock when the system is booted.  If FIXTIME.EXE is in a directory
	      in your PATH string and the information file is c:\fixtime.inf,
	      here is the line you would put in your c:\autoexec.bat file:
       
			        fixtime -f c:\fixtime.inf

	4.1.4 Move the clock forwards (+h) or backwards (-h) by one full hour,
	      but don't count this in the number of seconds by which the clock
	      has been adjusted.  This is typically used when daylight savings
	      time changes.

		  Syntax:	fixtime [ -f inf_file ] +h
		      or:	fixtime [ -f inf_file ] -h
		  Examples:	fixtime -h
			        fixtime -f c:\misc\fixtime.inf +h
     
	4.1.5 Reset (-r) the installation time of FIXTIME to the
	      current time and reset the total number of seconds to
	      zero, but keep the current adjustment factor.  This
	      establishes a new base from which to measure your
	      computer's clock drift. This function is typically used
	      when you have manually set your clock after some program
	      has improperly set it or when you replace the clock's
	      battery.

		   Syntax:	fixtime [ -f inf_file ] -r
		   Examples:	fixtime -r
			        fixtime -f c:\misc\fixtime.inf -r

   4.2 Showtime

       SHOWTIME.EXE displays the real-time clock date and time and beeps
       every time the second changes.  It doesn't take any arguments. It
       is useful to run so that you can look at your watch and see how
       far off the computer is when it beeps.

   4.3 Today

       TODAY.EXE sets the DOS time from the real-time clock time and
       then displays the date and time.  It doesn't take any arguments.

5. Files in this Distribution

	FIXTIME  EXE     16720 04-15-93   9:31p
	README            9594 04-15-93   9:31p
	SHOWTIME EXE     12240 04-15-93   9:31p
	TODAY    EXE     12640 04-15-93   9:31p
			
6. Registration and Disclaimer

   These programs are provided as-is.  Michael Coulter makes no express or 
   implied warranty of any kind with respect to these programs.  Michael Coulter
   shall not be liable for any direct indirect, special, incidental or 
   consequential damages (whether based on contract, tort or any other 
   legal theory) arising in any way from use of these programs.

   Everyone is granted permission to copy and redistribute the set of files
   described above provided:
	   
	   1. No changes are made to any of the files in the distribution and
	      all of the files are provided in any copy.
	   
	   2. No charge is made for this software.  This clause shall not 
	      be construed as constraining other software distributed on 
	      the same medium as this software, nor is a distribution fee 
	      considered a charge.

   This software may be used without charge for a 30-day trial period
   or any time after January 1, 1999.   If you want to use the software
   beyond the trial period and before 1999, send a license fee of $10 U.S. to:

		   Michael Coulter
		   73 La Vonne Dr.
		   Campbell, CA  95008
		   U.S.A.

   You can also register fixtime 2.0 on CompuServe by typing "go swreg".
   Select  "2" (Register Shareware), then "1" (by registration ID), then
   type "2208", the registration ID for fixtime.  I prefer a check in 
   the mail because CompuServe charges 15% to transfer the money, but
   some users have difficulty paying in US dollars.
