Introduction

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To run Impulse, locate & click the icon on your desktop or Impulse can be found on your Start Menu under: All Programs, then Impulse, and click on Impulse.

When you start Impulse, you will see a small (splash) screen as it loads into memory.

The first thing you see when Impulse runs is the "Explore" tab, which displays new and popular software from various companies.

Main Menu

In the upper, left corner is the Impulse Orb menu (for more information, refer to the Preferences section), and across the top is a tabbed menu bar, with easy access to the different areas of Impulse, including:

• Explore - online store with software in various categories that allow you to purchase & download a digital version immediately! Some software can be purchased as boxed retail versions as well as digital.
• Community - includes a sub-tab (bottom of screen) with My Impulse. News, Games, Achievements, Rankings, Friends list, Chat (i.e. Internet Relay Chat (IRC)), Forums, Community (i.e. blogging) and Drivers (i.e. download supported video drivers).
• My tabs - software categorized by group: My Software (i.e. non-gaming software), and My Games (Entertainment). If you are new to Impulse, you will see "My Games, then "My Software". If you had an account with Impulse, you will see "My Software", then "My Games". Clicking the icon allows you to create and manage tabs.
• Help - includes: registration information, Impulse history. error log, diagnose network, FAQ, Help (i.e. this manual), and About screen.

On the "Explore" & "Community" tabs, below the menu bar is a web browser with familiar Back , Forward , Home icons, Address bar, Search bar and Search icon. Search allows you to browse the Impulse website from within Impulse. On the "Explore" tab, below on the far right are links to: Browse (products), Checkout (buy selected products), and Cart (check your shopping cart).

The following table explains these features in more detail:

Quick Reference

Action	What it does
	Impulse Orb - open a menu with various options, including: Preferences (sub-menu), Change log-in, Check for (software) updates, Register a product, Restore archive, Exit Impulse, and Clear registration cache. Plus additional options to: Show pre-release versions (i.e. alpha/beta software), Show freeware & demos, and Show hidden applications. The Preferences menu includes options for: General settings, Folders, Connections and Archive & Install. (Please refer to the Preferences section.)
	(If you download & installed the optional (free) Impulse Dock you will see this option.) Minimize to Dock - clicking this will minimize Impulse to a Dock on the bottom of your monitor.
	Help - includes: registration information, Impulse history. error log, diagnose network, FAQ, Help (i.e. this manual), and About screen. (Please refer to the Help section for more information.)
	(Seen only on the "Explore" and "Community" tabs.) Click to move back to the previous page.
	(Seen only on the "Explore" and "Community" tabs.) Click to move forward to the next page.
	(Seen only on the "Explore" and "Community" tabs.) Click to return to the home page for the current tab.
	(Seen only on the "Explore" and "Community" tabs.) Click on "Search", type in a keyword(s) & click icon (or press the <Enter> key) to search Impulse.

When Impulse is busy (i.e. checking with the Impulse server, logging in, checking for updates, ...) you may see a circular animation in the upper, right corner.

Navigation

The "Explore" and "Community" tabs use a familiar web browser, allowing you to move back & forward by clicking the arrows. The "Updates", "My Software", and "My Games" tabs all work the same way, so it is easy to use. The "Updates" tab is only visible when there are updates available to download and install.

Impulse Account

Impulse requires you to have a (free) account that will be associated with your registration information and how Impulse knows who you are. Impulse will automatically log you in, check for software updates for installed software purchased through Impulse, display your registration information (i.e. serial numbers) log into your Friends list and more.

If you are new to Impulse, you can get an Impulse account free by clicking the Impulse orb, selecting "Change log-in..." and "Create new account".

Impulse Anywhere

Impulse Anywhere allows you to access the software you purchased through Impulse via a web browser. The purpose of this is to allow those with computers either not connected to the internet or who cannot handle large downloads to install software from Impulse. This is how it works:

1. Create an Impulse account (or use an existing account) and purchase software through the Impulse store. This may include using Impulse on a computer connected to the internet, or through the web-based Impulse Store (http://www.impulsedriven.com).
2. Using a computer connected to the internet, login to Impulse Anywhere (anywhere.impulsedriven.com) using your Impulse account.
3. Select the software you purchased and want to install on the other computer. Download the file, as well as Impulse itself.
4. Store the files on a USB flash drive or other device to transport to the other computer.
5. Then install Impulse and the software using the downloaded installer and any associated data file(s).

Requirements:

The computer you are installing this offline software to must have:

• Impulse installed on it. (A link to download it will be provided by Impulse Anywhere.)
• Microsoft .NET Framework v2.0 is required. (A link to download it will be provided by Impulse Anywhere.)
• Some form of internet access may be required to unlock/activate your product.

Also please be aware of any system requirements for both Impulse and the software product you are purchasing, that the computer meets or exceeds those requirements.

Impulse Dock

The Impulse Dock is a free (optional) program that allows easy access to the common areas (i.e. Community, Store, running Impulse, software folders) of Impulse on a dock. A dock is like a menu bar that is located at the bottom of your monitor. By default, it will autohide, meaning when you move the cursor off of it, the dock will disappear off the bottom of the screen. Only a small portion of it will be visible and when you move the cursor over it, and the dock will slide back out - reappearing.

After minimizing Impulse to the dock, you then can quickly access programs and other features within impulse. The dock can be configured to meet your needs, including adding shortcuts to other programs on your computer, not just software purchased through Impulse. Even shortcuts to websites can be added to the dock. (For more information about the Impulse Dock, please refer to Appendix B: Impulse Dock.)

Activation vs. Registration

When you purchase software through Impulse, the product may require you to Activate it with a serial number and email address.