Additional information for users of the new Polarbar version's zip file install on Windows

[Graham Norris]

For those who would prefer a console-less startup of Polarbar, there is an additional executable file in the zip.

Polarbar.exe is analogous to java.exe: it uses a console (aka MS-DOS or command line) window.

Polarbarw.exe is analogous to javaw.exe: there's no console window.

Both operate almost the same, but the console version produces messages in the console window (shocking, I know) whereas the other version produces pop-up error messages. The console version produces informational messages the other version does not, and is therefore the one to use if you run into any problems.

Both support various variations of --help, /? etc. which will show you some additional options you probably won't need.

It is not necessary to use either --Install or --Showicons to use Polarbar. New users may want to try Polarbar before using --Install.

For continued use of Polarbar, use of the --Install option is recommended; --Showicons is included in with this option. (Any previous mail handler will remain registered after using Polarbar's --Install, it just won't be the default any more.)

You can use the standard Windows file and protocol association dialogs to change your default mail handler at any time after you have used --Install if you want to set a different mail program as the default.

Note that --Uninstall will remove Polarbar as a mail handler, and remove its shortcut from the start menu, but cannot restore any previous mail handler as the default.

Finally, you don't have to use Polarbar.exe or Polarbarw.exe at all: you can just use java.exe or javaw.exe with appropriate command line options set, but unless you know what you are doing, use the supplied launcher.