SmartPad is a software development tool that you can use to extend the functionality of existing applications. With SmartPad, you can create a floating or embedded button bar that can be attached to an existing Windows or DOS application You can then program these buttons to

1. send keystrokes to the application,
2. activate a menu command,
3. run a SmartPad macro,
4. launch another application,
5. setup and run a DDE conversation between applications, or
6. run a SmartScript routine written in the SmartPad scripting language.

In a performance enhancement situation, you could use a SmartPad button bar to

1. simplify access to a frequently used menu option,
2. launch a hypertext applications, like Windows Help or QuickCards, to provide some level of context sensitive help to an existing application, or
3. open a template in a word processor or spreadsheet program.

The SmartPad development program is very flexible and relatively easy to use once you understand its unique layout. You can create button bars with graphical buttons, text only buttons or a combination of both. The program includes a icon editor and image capture program for helping you to create your own button icons. You can also create tabs or pop-up menus.

Programming a button action can be relatively easy. With SmartPad's Actions panel (see the screen shot), you can select a variety of types of actions. SmartPad will even display some helpful information about creating an action. SmartPad has a scripting language that you can use to create the more complex and demanding actions. Once you develop a set of button bars, you can install them on other computers using the SmartPad runtime program.