| Program Manager | |
|---|---|
 Program Manager inWindows for Workgroups 3.11 | |
| Developer(s) | Microsoft |
| Operating system | Windows 3.x,Windows NT 3.1,Windows NT 3.5,OS/2 |
| Predecessor | MS-DOS Executive |
| Successor | Windows Shell |
| Type | Shell |
Program Manager is theshell ofWindows 3.x andWindows NT 3.xoperating systems. This shell exposed a task-orientedgraphical user interface (GUI), consisting oficons (shortcuts for programs) arranged intoprogram groups. It replacedMS-DOS Executive, afile manager, as the default Windows shell.
OS/2 2.0 and later included the Program Manager as part of its Win-OS/2 compatibility layer.[1] Win-OS/2, including the Program Manager, are still included in later derivatives of OS/2 such asArcaOS.[2]
Program Manager descends fromDesktop Manager (also known asPresentation Manager), the shell forOS/2 1.2.[3] Unlike Desktop Manager, which presents its program groups in a simple list, and opens each group in a separate window, Program Manager opens program groups in child windows using the newmultiple document interface in Windows 3.x. The icons used to represent Program Manager itself, program groups, and DOS applications inWindows 3.0 are carried over from OS/2 1.2.Windows 3.1 uses updated versions of these icons.
When executables were dropped into Program Manager fromFile Manager, Program Manager automatically used the executable's default icon embedded as data inside the .EXE file. Additionally, the Windows Setup program, which populated Program Manager with the standard icons of a fresh install, could also be used to add new icons in bulk after installation. Using SETUP /P from thecommand line, a standard layout could be installed on many machines in an enterprise using a single SETUP.INF configuration file.[4]: 38
Beginning with Windows 3.1, Program Manager contained a StartUp group. Programs and files placed into that group would be loaded when Windows starts.
Holding down the shift key while selecting File then Exit Windows will save the current configuration of Program Manager to PROGMAN.INI, including the position of all program group icons, assuming that auto-arrange has been disabled. This allowed Microsoft testers to try many different configurations, but the feature remained in the shipped version.[4]: 33
In later versions ofMicrosoft Windows, starting withWindows 95 andWindows NT 4.0, Program Manager was replaced byWindows Shell. TheStart menu, theDesktop, and theTaskbar took over program organization and launching duties.
Program Manager was still included in later versions of Windows, and could be accessed by executingPROGMAN.EXE from the command line orRun dialog. It could be used as the default shell by specifying theShell value inWindows Registry at eitherHKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon (per machine) orHKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon (per user).
Microsoft replaced Program Manager inWindows XP Service Pack 2 with acompatibility stub that simply redirects to Windows Explorer. InWindows Vista and later,PROGMAN.EXE was permanently removed from the operating system.
