<b><font size="14">VisualTimer - Help</font></b>

<b>Contents</b>
- Overview
- Usage


<b>Overview</b>

VisualTimer is a simple count-down timer application with a visual read-out. The remaining time is shown as wedge that becomes smaller as time passes.


<b>Usage</b>

<i><b>Setting the Start Time</b></i>
Use the <i>Timer/Set...</i> menu to open the dialog to set the timer. Use the up-down arrows to adjust the start time in minutes (0 to 60) and seconds (0 to 59), or enter the start time using the keyboard. Press the <i>Set</i> button to set the timer to the selected start time. The dialog will close and the timer will be set to the selected time.
The start time can only be set when the timer is not currently running.


<i><b>Starting and stopping the Timer</b></i>
Use the <i>Timer/Start</i> menu to start the timer. While the timer is running, use the <i>Timer/Stop</i> menu to stop it. Alternatively, the <i>ENTER</i> key can also be used to start or stop the timer.

Once the count-down has ended, an alert will be displayed and system beeps will be played in 1 second intervals until the alert is dismissed by pressing using the <i>Timer/Dismiss</i> menu or pressing the <i>ENTER</i> key.


<i><b>The Status Icon</b></i>
The icon in the top left corner of the timer window reflects the current state of the timer. There are three possible states:
- <i>Stopped</i>: Indicated by a "Pause" symbol. The timer is not currently running. Clicking on the icon will resume only if there is time remaining on the timer or if the time has been set. Otherwise clicking on the icon will have no effect.
- <i>Running</i>: Indicated by a "Play" symbol. The timer is currently running. Clicking on the icon will Stop the timer.
- <i>Alert</i>: Indicated by an "Alert" symbol. The timer has expired. Clicking on the icon will dismiss the alert.


<i><b>Full Screen Mode</b></i>
At any time, use the <i>View/Toggle Fullscreen</i> menu to switch between windowed and fullscreen mode.
While the timer is running, any active screensaver will be suspended.


<i><b>Floating Window</b></i>
An optional global floating window showing the timer can be enabled via "Timer/Show Floating Window". The floating window can be resized by clicking the clock face in the lower right quadrant and dragging the mouse. Similarly, the floating window can be moved around the screen by clicking the clock face in any of the other three quadrants and dragging the mouse.
It is possible to hide the main timer window while the timer is running and the floating window is enabled. IF the main window is hidden when the timer runs out, it will be 


<i><b>Preferences</b></i>

<b>Colors</b>
Use the color buttons to assign new colors to the various elements of the VisualTimer clock face. The <i>Use Defaults</i> button returns the color settings to the default colors.

<b>Timer Options</b>

<i>Timer Setting at Startup</i>
The timer is set to the time specified here when the VisualTimer application starts.

<i>Enable Numeric Display</i>
If checked, the remaing time will be displayed in numeric form in addition to the visual representation.

<i>Scale Timer Duration to full Circle</i>
If checked, the timer duration will be scaled to the whole clock face. If unchecked, the clock face corresponds to 60 minutes.

<i>Chime</i>
Sets the sound to be played when the timer expires. By default, Visual timer offers "None", "System Beep", as well as the alert sounds that are installed on the user's system. "System Beep" selects the alert sound defined by the user's system settings.
Additional sounds (in WAV of AIFF format) can be installed by placing them in the following locations:
- macOS: \Library\Sounds\   and  \Users\USERNAME\Library\Sounds\
- Windows: C:/Windows/Media/

<i>Alert Text</i>
Allows for the customization of the text to be displayed when the timer expires. The size of the text will adjust in accordance to the number of characters. Note that only one line of text can be displayed.

<i>Show Clock Face in Dock Icon (Mac OSX only)</i>
If checked, the Dock Icon in Mac OSX is updated to reflect the current clock face. 

