Current Version

The most current version of VolControl is 0.69 Beta (Last update: 9/2/10).

Files Included in the Download

• VolControl.exe - The program executable
• ReadMe.txt - ReadMe File
• License.txt - License

Installation

VolControl no longer requires installation! Simply execute the VolControl.exe file to run it. Settings are kept in the volconsetts.dat file (only created if you change from the defaults.)

Using

Once running, VolControl will sit in the background (optionally displaying a system tray icon) waiting for the user to press the specified hotkey combinations or media keys. It then alters the system's sound volume accordingly. You may use VolControl to change the volume either through the keyboard or by clicking the VolControl tray icon and using the popup meter.

1. Settings VolControl offers a range of settings. Sensible defaults have been chosen which should satisfy most users. The available settings as of version 0.69 are as follows:
1. Raise/Lower Volume By x The number "x" is the percent by which the volume should be raised or lowered. The percentage is calculated as a fraction of the maximum possible volume and can be adjusted by as minute a fraction as 0.1% through the GUI. To set a smaller or more precise stepping (e.g. 0.001% or 11.65%) simply edit the volconsetts.dat file and change the "volumeStep=n" line (replacing "n" with any number larger than zero and smaller than 100.) Let me know if you think that more minute controls should be available through the GUI.
2. Show Tray Icon By default, VolControl will add its icon to the system tray. If you don't want it there, uncheck this box. If you previously hid the icon and want it back you can either delete the vonconsetts.dat file or edit the line which reads "showTray=0" to read "showTray=1". The tray icon is the only way to access the settings GUI and also offers a popup volume meter when clicked.
3. Show Meter Bar By default, when you use the keyboard to change the volume VolControl will show you a graphical meter displaying the current volume level. The meter bar will show for 1 second plus the number of milliseconds allotted for it's entry/exit animation (400 milliseconds by default.) Uncheck this box if you don't want to see the meter.
4. Assign Hotkeys / Use Media Keys This setting controls how you are able to invoke VolControl from the keyboard. Setting this to "Use Media Keys" will set the volume controls to the volume buttons on your keyboard (if you have them.) If you don't have volume buttons, then select "Assign Hotkeys" to assign a keyboard combination to the volume up, down, and mute functions. Keyboard combinations are composed of two keys: a "meta" key and an action key. The meta key can be either the Windows key, the shift key, the control key, or the alt key. The action key can be either the up, down, left, and right arrow keys, the page up or page down keys. No two actions can share the same action key.
5. Meter Bar Effects This section allows you to change the animation s for the meter bar's entry and exit as well as the color of the text overlay and the position of the meter on the screen. This section is not available if the "Show Meter Bar" option is not turned on.
1. The Animation Speed setting is in milliseconds (1/1000 of a second.) The default is 200ms or 1/5 of a second. The lower limit in the GUI is 50ms, or 1/20 of a second; the upper limit is 2500ms or 2 and a half seconds.
2. Using the Position tool To set the position of the meter bar, click the "Position" button. This will show the meter bar in its current location as well as the "Relocate Meter Bar" window. To move the meter, simply click anywhere on the meter bar and drag it to the desired position. Once you are satisfied with its position, click the "Done" button on the "Relocate Meter Bar" window. To cancel your changes, click Cancel.

To reset the default settings simply delete the volconsetts.dat file and restart the application.

Issues

• Windows Vista and Windows 7 users must set the Compatibility Setting for VolControl to Windows XP (still might not always work, though.)

Source Code

The source code for VolControl can be downloaded here. It is released under the Boredom Software Source Code License.