URLchopper(TM)   v1.0
Copyright (c) 2000 Avral Technologies Limited.
All rights reserved.

Contents of this README file: 

- Overview
- Conditions of use and distribution 
- Main features and benefits
- System requirements
- How to install and un-install
- How to launch the program
- Registration benefits
- Pricing and how to purchase a license
- Copyright and trademark information
- Product support
- How to contact the authors
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Where to find additional product documentation

*** OVERVIEW *** 

URLchopper is an add-on to Internet Explorer 5.0 and above. It allows
to go very quickly up one level of the current URL, eg from

      www.domain.com/products/widget/ 
to 
      www.domain.com/products/ 

or directly to the top level of a long URL, eg from

      www.domain.com/products/widget/features.html 
to 
      www.domain.com

These features allow users to save time by automating routine
operations, save money by reducing the Internet connection fees, and
protect physical health by reducing the stress on eyes, fingers and
wrists. 

See MAIN FEATURES AND BENEFITS below for additional details.

*** CONDITIONS OF USE AND DISTRIBUTION *** 

This program is released as shareware ("try before you buy" software).
You may use and evaluate this program free of charge for 30 (thirty)
days after the date of the first installation on your computer. 

If you decide to use it after the expiration of this evaluation period,
you must purchase a license. If you decide not to use it after the
expiration of this evaluation period, you must un-install it from your
computer.

You may distribute the product freely to others so that they can try it
too. NOTE: When you decide to do so, distribute only the installation
set URLCH.EXE, and do not distribute individual files that may reside
on your computer after installing the URLchopper(TM) software.

*** MAIN FEATURES AND BENEFITS *** 

Going to the top of a URL
-------------------------

This feature allows you to go to the highest level of the URL currently
displayed in the address bar of the browser. 

It is available through the TOP button added by URLchopper to the
Internet Explorer toolbar. You can use this button as a universal HOME
button that works for all web sites and always stays in the same place!

For example, if the current address is 

      http://www.avral.com/uc/uc-benefits.html 

then clicking the TOP button will get the browser to load the page with
the address 

      http://www.avral.com 

This means that you save time by not having to (1) select the
"/uc/uc-benefits.html" part of the URL with your mouse, (2) press DEL
and (3) press ENTER. 

Going up a URL
--------------

This is like going to the top of a URL, but you only go one level up.
For example, if the current address is 

      http://www.avral.com/uc/uc-benefits.html 

then clicking the UP button on the Internet Explorer toolbar will get
the browser to load the page with the address 

      http://www.avral.com/uc/ 

Open top in new window
----------------------

This feature allows you to click on any link on a web page and load the
highest level of the URL used in this link. It is like the TOP button,
but it works everywhere on the page, not just in the address bar. 

For example, if you are browsing search results and see a long link to a
web site, you may want to go directly to the home page of this site. To
do so, just right-click on the link and select the menu option "Open top
in new window". The browser will identify the top level address in this
link and load this top level page in a new window, quickly and
error-free.

Because the new page is loaded in a separate browser window, you can
browse the web from this page as you like and then close it and return
to search results. This not only saves time but also ensures that your
search results are not lost if the link takes you to a site which
disables the BACK button. 

Open top in this window
-----------------------

This is similar to "Open top in new window" but it loads the home page
of a link into the current window. You would use it in situations when
you do not want to keep the original window open. It gives you the same
benefits as the previously described features. 


*** SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS *** 

- Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT or Windows 2000
  operating system.

- Microsoft Internet Explorer v.5.0 or above.


*** HOW TO INSTALL AND UN-INSTALL *** 

To install the software, run the installation program URLCH.EXE and
follow the instructions.

To un-install the software, click on the START button in Microsoft
Windows and select Programs/Avral URLchopper/Uninstall. Alternatively,
you can un-install URLchopper by using the Add/Remove Programs applet in
the Windows Control Panel. 

*** HOW TO LAUNCH THE PROGRAM *** 

The program is available for use when you start Internet Explorer and
you do not need to launch the program explicitly. The functionality of
the program can be accessed through the TOP and UP buttons added by
URLchopper to the Internet Explorer toolbar, and also through two
options added by URLchopper to the right-click menu of Internet
Explorer.

If you do not see the UP and TOP buttons in the Internet Explorer
toolbar, open the file HOWTO.HTM and follow the link called "Making the
URLchopper buttons visible". You can find this file in the URLchopper
installation directory, typically c:\Program Files\URLchopper. See also
the Installation section of Frequently Asked Question below in this
README file.


*** REGISTRATION BENEFITS *** 

- You will receive free product upgrades for one year. 
- You will receive free support for unlimited time. 
- Your registration code will remove occasional shareware reminders.
- You will be entitled to 25% discounts on our future products. 
- Your name will be entered into a monthly draw to win US $100. 
- You will feel good about supporting a small innovative company. 


*** PRICING AND HOW TO PURCHASE A LICENSE *** 

The fee is US$ 9.95 for a single-user license. The following payment
methods are available:

- Order on-line securely
- Fax or mail credit card details
- Send a check
- Order by phone
- Send a purchase order

For additional details see the file ORDER.TXT. You can find this file
and forms for fax/check payment in the same directory (folder) where you
installed the URLchopper(TM) software (typically, 
c:\Program Files\URLchopper).

Also visit our web site at http://avral.com/uc/uc-register.com.

*** COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK INFORMATION *** 

All title and copyrights in and to the Software including but not
limited to any images and text incorporated into the software are owned
by Avral and its suppliers. The software is protected by copyright laws
and international copyright treaty provisions.

Avral, Avral Technologies, Avral logo and tagline, URLchopper are
trademarks of Avral Technologies Limited.

Microsoft, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Internet Explorer,
Windows 2000 and/or other Microsoft products are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

All other brand names and/or the names of actual companies and products
or services may be the trademarks or service marks of their respective
owners.

*** PRODUCT SUPPORT ***

For registered users we provide free email support for an unlimited
time. For unregistered users we provide free email support for the
duration of the evaluation period. (Note: this only applies to the users
who have sent us a blank email after the installation of URLchopper as
suggested by the installation program). 

We recommend to start by viewing the latest version of the Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQ) at http://avral.com/uc/uc-faq.com.

If your question is not answered in the FAQ, send an email to
support@avral.com and include the following information:

- Your registration name and registration code (this only applies to
registered users; you can find your registration name and registration
code in the email receipt sent to you as part of the registration
process). 

- The version number of your URLchopper installation (you can find it at
the top of this file README.TXT).

- Operating systems details including Service Pack number if applicable,
eg Windows NT 4.0 SP5 (to find out, start Windows Explorer, go to
Help/About and copy the full version details into your email). 

- The version of Internet Explorer you are using (to find out, start the
browser, go to Help/About and copy the full version details into your
email). 

- Your question (if you think you have a problem please include a
detailed description and steps needed to repeat the problem). 


*** HOW TO CONTACT THE AUTHORS *** 

For support, please see the above section of this README file. For other
questions please use one of the following email addresses:

- Web site enquiries: webmaster@avral.com 
- Sales enquiries:    sales@avral.com 
- Product ideas:      ideas@avral.com
- General enquiries:  info@avral.com 

Fax: +1-520-833-8051 

Street address: 
10 Marlene Street, Casebrook, Christchurch 8005, New Zealand 

We endeavour to answer all urgent inquiries within one working day and
non-urgent inquiries within two working days. 

*** FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) *** 

Product
-------

Q. What are the system requirements for URLchopper? 
A. Operating system: Windows 9x / NT / 2000. Browser: Internet
Explorer 5.0 and above. 

Q. Does it work with browsers other than Internet Explorer 5.0+, for
example Netscape? 
A. No, this version only supports Internet Explorer 5.0 and above.

Q. What will happen if I upgrade to the new version of Internet
Explorer? 
A. We expect that URLchopper will work without any problems. You will
need to reinstall URLchopper and re-enter your registration information
(this is a matter of minutes). 

Q. What will happen if I upgrade to the new version of the operating
system? 
A. You will need to reinstall URLchopper and re-enter your registration
information. 

Q. Does URLchopper communicate "behind the scenes" with your or any
other web sites? 
A. No!

Installation
------------

Q. I can not find the file I downloaded... 
A. Click on the Start button of the Windows taskbar and select
"Find/Files or Folders". Type URLCH.EXE in the "Named" field of
the search form and make sure that the "Include Subfolders" box is
checked. Clicking the "Find Now" button will start the search. When the
URLCH.EXE is found, you can run it by double-clicking it in the
Search results box. 

Q. Why do I get the "Error encountered during performing the operation"
or "Cannot create URLchopper.dll" message? 
A. Typically this is caused by a system failure to "release" a file.
Re-start your computer and run the URLchopper installation program again
(note: do not run Internet Explorer when you are installing URLchopper).

Q. I do not see URLchopper TOP and UP buttons in the Internet Explorer
toolbar after the installation. What do I need to do? 
A. You need to right-click on the Internet Explorer toolbar and select
"Customize". In the "Available toolbar buttons" you will see two buttons
added by URLchopper: "Top" and "Up". Use the "Add button" on the
"Customize Toolbar" form to add these two buttons to the list of visible
buttons.

Q. How can I un-install the program? 
A. To un-install the software, click on the START button in Microsoft
Windows and select Programs/Avral URLchopper/Uninstall. Alternatively,
you can un-install URLchopper by using the Add/Remove Programs applet in
the Windows Control Panel. Note that you need to exit Internet Explorer
before un-installing URLchopper. 

Registration and licensing 
--------------------------

Q. Why do I need to register URLchopper? 
A. Because it will give you a number of benefits: you will receive free
product upgrades for one year, you will receive free support for
unlimited time, your registration code will remove occasional shareware
reminders, you will be entitled to 25% discounts on our future products,
your name will be entered into a monthly draw to win US $100, and you
will feel good about supporting a small innovative company. 

Q. How secure is the payment process? 
A. Payments are collected for us by our business partner Register Now -
a well-known company specialising in secure online credit card payments.
For security and privacy purposes, Register Now use a secure Internet
connection to their own secure servers. This is an established method of
payment on the Internet. 

Q. I need to re-install URLchopper and do not remember my registration
code. Can you let me know what it was? 
A. You need to send an email to support@avral.com and let us know your
name, address, your "name on card" for the credit card you used to buy
the license, and your email address that you entered in the URLchopper
payment form. This information will allow us to establish your other
registration details and we will then send the registration code to you.

Q. Is the information I am to type in during the registration process
case-sensitive?
A. Yes. You need to enter the registration name and registration code
exactly as you receive them from Avral or our business partners.

Q. Can I install my single software license on both my desktop PC and my
laptop computer? 
A. Yes. A single URLchopper license can be installed on both a PC and a
laptop as long as both machines are licensed to the same user. 

Q. I want to buy more than one license, do you provide volume
discounts? 
A. Yes, send an email to sales@avral.com and let us know how many
licenses you wish to purchase. We also support site licensing. 

Q. May I transfer the license to somebody else? 
A. Yes, provided you let us know full contact details of this other
organization or individual. You may not let this other organization or
individual know the registration code(s) and registration name(s)
received from us. We will issue new registration code(s) and
registration name(s) to them at no extra charge. You must also
un-install URLchopper from the computer(s) where you had previously
installed it. 

Q. What is your upgrade policy? 
A. Upgrades to URLchopper are free for one year following the
registration (purchase) date. After that, upgrade licenses can be
obtained at a 25% discount (new users will need to pay the full price of
the product's new version). Note that the 25% discount will apply to all
other Avral products too. 

Q. Do you have a money-back period and what is your returns policy? 
A. We expect that you will thoroughly evaluate usefulness and
functionality of URLchopper before making a purchase. This "try before
you buy" approach is the ultimate guarantee that the software will
perform to your satisfaction. Therefore, we are not under an obligation
to refund the registration fee but we do it at our discretion.

General
-------

Q. How is my privacy protected? 
A. We and our suppliers are using the latest technologies and processes
intended to protect your privacy and security of the information you
share with us. Please see our privacy statement at
http://avral.com/privacy.html for full details.

Q. May I distribute URLchopper software to my friends? 
A. Yes. You may freely distribute it provided you distribute a complete
and unaltered copy of the installation set. 

Q. What information about URLchopper software do I need to keep in my
records and why?
A. You need to make a note of your registration name and registration
code. This is important for you to get free support and upgrades. The
registration name and registration code will be shown on the transaction
receipt and/or email message that you will receive after registering
your copy of URLchopper. We also recommend you to save the installation
package of URLchopper, because it will simplify a re-installation of the
program. 

Q. How does your product support work?
A. For registered users we provide free email support for an unlimited
time and free upgrades for 1 year. For unregistered users we provide
free email support for the duration of the evaluation period (this
applies to users who have sent us a blank email after the installation
of URLchopper as suggested by the installation program).


*** WHERE TO FIND ADDITIONAL PRODUCT DOCUMENTATION ***

Please visit the URLchopper home page on our web site at
http://avral.com/uc/index.html

