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YAWPI.TXT
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1995-09-27
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YAWPI: Yet Another Windows Program Installer
============================================
Version 1.1
===========
Version 1.1
1. Introduction
_______________
YAWPI is a simple yet powerful and elegant Windows installation program.
It features user selection of destination directory, full screen main window
with color gradient (similar to MS-Setup) and display of meter bar
(progress bar) for each program disk as well as numeric percentage progress
per file or archive.
YAWPI can copy files and uncompress archives (as well as nested archives)
into subdirectories or the Windows directory. The decompression code is
integrated in INSTALL.EXE. That means that you can compress your application
very tightly without paying royalties for compression software.
The source directory can be on the hard drive or on floppy drive. Multiple
floppy diskettes are supported, as well as multiple .zip files distributed
through BBS's and the Internet.
The installation parameters are set by defining variables in a simple syntax
similar to .INI files (i.e. Variable=Value). No scripts and no fancy script
editors and generators - simply edit a few short text files - that's all
there is to it!! If you start from the supplied samples you can have a
complete package in half an hour.
2. Registration
_______________
YAWPI is a shareware product. It means that you must register before
using this software to distribute your application.
The unregistered version has all the functionally of the registered version
so you can prepare your configuration files and test the installation
process before registering. However, the unregistered version displays
the message "YAWPI - Unregistered Version" on the caption bar.
With QUICK registration you simply receive a registration password that
matches your name. As soon as you enter your name and password to the
'Register' dialog of the Seal editor, you can set the title of the
caption bar to whatever you choose.
Your password will work with future versions of YAWPI, so you can upgrade
by simply downloading the latest version. Read the instructions at the
end of this file on where to get the latest version.
With FULL registration you will receive the full source code (C and C++)
of YAWPI and AR, so you will be free to further fine tune it according
to your needs.
Edit the file "register.frm" (or click on the "Register" icon), fill in
the details and send it with your payment by E-mail, fax of S-mail.
3. Windows 95
_____________
This version of YAWPI was compiled for Windows 3.1. It works well under
Windows 95 but does not support long file names or long directory names
(folders, that is...).
INSTALL.EXE may be renamed to SETUP.EXE (or ANYTHING.EXE).
4. Compressed Archives
______________________
YAWPI supports archives compressed by the AR freeware utility. AR is not
compatible with PKZIP but achieves almost the same compression rate.
This is *far* better than using Microsoft COMPRESS on individual files.
AR is freeware and is available with C source. The DOS based AR.EXE
is included in this package.
If your application uses a large number of small files you can save upto 15%
of the space by using nested archives. The extra saving comes from the fact
that compression algorithms work better on large files. You first combine
your small files into one large *uncompressed* archive, then compress
that file into a container archive. Here is how you do it with AR:
AR s myprog.ar files*.*
AR a myprog.arr myprog.ar
"myprog.arr" is smaller than "myprog.ar" created by:
AR a myprog.ar files*.*
If you mark "myprog.arr" as a nested archive, YAWPI will perform
the following steps during installation:
1. Extract "myprog.ar" from "myprog.arr".
2. Extract "files*.*" from "myprog.ar".
3. Delete "myprog.ar".
Notes:
1. AR always saves and restores the file paths in the archive. This
is equivalent to "pkzip -P" and "pkunzip -d".
2. To create a nested archive with pkzip use the following steps:
pkzip -e0 myprog.zip files*.*
pkzip myprog1.zip myprog.zip
5. INSTALL.CFG
______________
This file must be located on the first floppy disk (or in a subdirectory of
the hard drive) together with "install.exe" (or "setup.exe").
It controls the look and contents of the main installation window.
The following sections describe the variables that you can define in order
to customize YAWPI for your application.
5.1 ProgramName
Defines the name of the program being installed.
Example: ProgramName=Magic Graphics
5.2 DefaultPath
Defines the default destination path for installing the program.
Example: DefaultPath=C:\MGRAPHIC
5.3 Title1
A centered title line at the top of the main window.
Example: Title1=Magic Graphics
5.4 Title1Size
Size of Title1 in points. This number is converted to pixels depending on
the screen resolution. Use 50 points for large letters, 20 points for small
letters, or any number in between.
Example: Title1Size=25
5.5 Title1Color
Color of Title1 in RGB.
Example: Title1Color=30 187 0
5.6 Title2, Title2Size, Title2Color
Same as Title1. This is a second title line.
5.7 TitleShadeColor
Color of shade for Title1 and Title2 in RGB.
Example: TitleShadeColor=0 0 0
5.8 TopColor, BottomColor
Define the background color at the top and bottom of the main window.
You can get a solid background by setting TopColor and BottomColor to the
same value. If TopColor is different than Bottom Color you get
a color gradient.
Example:
TopColor=0 76 38
BottomColor=51 204 102
5.9 NumGradientSteps
Defines the number of color gradient steps. This number should not exceed 200.
Example: NumGradientSteps=32
5.10 DirExistsWarn
If defined to "Y" (by default), YAWPI will warn the user if the destination
directory already exists. To suppress this warning, define this variable
to "N".
Example: DirExistsWarn=N
5.11 DirNotFoundWarn
If defined to "Y", YAWPI will warn the user if the destination directory
is *not* found. This is useful for installation of upgrade versions or
separate components of a larger software package.
The default option is DirNotFoundWarn=N
5.12 Caption
Sets the caption of the main window.
Example: Caption=Magic Graphics Installation
Note: This variable works only in the REGISTERED VERSION of YAWPI.
5.13 Username
Registered user name, or developer of the application. This variable is
entered automatically by the Seal editor.
5.14 Seal
This variable is entered automatically by the Seal editor. It is an
encrypted checksum of all the INSTALL.CFG variables described above.
The purpose of the Seal variable is to prevent your users from pirating
your registered version of YAWPI. If anyone modifies INSTALL.CFG without
Sealing it again, YAWPI will display the "Unregistered Version" message
on the caption bar.
6. Disk Sections
________________
Following all the variables described above are the disk sections.
Each floppy disk has a section with a title of the form [Disk1] [Disk2] etc.
The section title must be on a separate line.
Within each disk section you list the files or archives on the disk.
6.1 Plain (uncompressed) Files
Define each uncompressed file to be copied to the destination directory
with the syntax:
<file>==<destination>
If <destination> contains the term "$d", it is substituted by the destination
path.
If <destination> contains the term "$w", it is substituted by the user's
Windows directory.
Example: PICTURE.DAT==$d\DATA
Will copy the file PICTURE.DAT to C:\MGRAPHIC\DATA. If the user had changed
the default C:\MGRAPHIC to D:\MG, the file will be copied to D:\MG\DATA.
Example: MYPROG.INI==$w
Will copy the file MYPROG.INI to Windows directory (usually C:\WINDOWS).
6.2 Compressed Archives
Define each compressed archive with the syntax:
<archive>=<destination>
Example: MYPROG.AR=$d\BIN
Will extract the contents of MYPROG.AR to C:\MGRAPHIC\BIN.
6.3 Nested Archives
Define each nested archive with the syntax:
<archive>=@<destination>
Example: MYPROG.ARR=@$d
Will first extract MYPROG.AR from MYPROG.ARR. Then extract the contents of
MYPROG.AR into the destination directory. Finally, MYPROG.AR is deleted.
Important Note: The container archive must contain a single archive with
the same base name as the nested archive, and same extension truncated
to two letters.
Examples:
MYPROG.ARR contains MYPROG.AR
YR_PROG.XYZ contains YR_PROG.XY
Read section 2 of this document again to see how to create nested archives.
7. THISDISK
___________
If you distribute your application on multiple floppy disks, you must
place a THISDISK file on each floppy. YAWPI uses THISDISK files to verify
that the correct floppy disk is in the drive.
7.1 DiskNumber
Defines the disk number, starting with 1.
Example: DiskNumber=1
7.2 NextDiskNumber
Defines the next distribution disk for your application. On the last disk,
do not define this variable (or define it to 0).
Example: NextDiskNumber=2
Notes: If your application fits on a single floppy or when installing from
the hard drive (drive C: or higher), THISDISK files are ignored. If your
application consists of multiple .ZIP files, the user should unzip them into
one subdirectory. All the [Disk*] sections are then merged into one "disk"
at installation time, so the user will not be prompted for the next disk.
8. WIN.INI, SYSTEM.INI
______________________
If you need to add or modify a section in WIN.INI or SYSTEM.INI in the user's
Windows directory, simply place these files with your modifications on the
distribution diskette. You can use "$d" and "$w" within your WIN.INI.
These symbols are substituted before being added to Windows WIN.INI.
Sample WIN.INI:
[windows]
ScreenSaveActive=1
[Magic Screen Saver]
MagicDir=$d
Settings=0 0 3 5
Important Note : Do not list WIN.INI and SYSTEM.INI files in INSTALL.CFG
[Disk*] sections or else they will *replace* the files in Windows directory.
9. GROUPS.CFG
_____________
This file defines the program group and icons to be added to the user's
desktop.
9.1 Group
Defines the name of the program group where the icons will be added.
Example: Group=Magic Applications Group
9.2 Item1, Item2 ...
Defines the icons in the selected group.
Example: Item1=$d\myprog.exe,Magic Grahpics,$d\myprog.exe,1
Example: Item2=$w\notepad.exe $d\register.frm,Register
Example: Item3=$d\dosapp.exe,Dos Magic,$d\dosapp.ico
Each definition line consists of up to 4 parameters separated by commas.
The first parameter defines the command line for starting the program.
The second parameter defines the title under the icon.
The third (optional) parameter defines the file that contains the icon.
The fourth (optional) parameter defines the icon number within the file.
10. Seal Editor
_______________
The Seal editor is a standard text editor with one additional feature -
it seals INSTALL.CFG files.
If you are a registered user of YAWPI you should enter your name and
registration password to the Seal editor. From the 'File' menu select
'Register' and enter the information to the Register dialog.
After you have finished preparing the INSTALL.CFG file, start the Seal
editor and open INSTALL.CFG of your application. From the 'File'
menu select 'Save and Seal'. It will save any editing changes you have
made to the file and add your name and a special "seal" to INSTALL.CFG.
The seal enables the 'Caption' variable so YAWPI will display your
selected caption instead of "Unregistered Version" message.
The seal is unique to each INSTALL.CFG. It is generated as an encrypted
checksum of all the variables in in the file, not including [Disk*]
sections. Therefore you have to seal INSTALL.CFG every time you modify
the title or color of the main screen. There is no need to seal again
when you add or remove files for installation.
This feature guarantees that your users cannot pirate the registered version
of YAWPI and use it to install another application.
Note: do not distribute SEAL.EXE with your application.
11. Comparison with Previous Versions
_____________________________________
If you have upgraded from version 1.00 or 1.01 read this section.
11.1 Password
Do not put your registration password in INSTALL.CFG. Instead, use the
Seal editor as explained in section 10. The password you received
is still valid.
11.2 THISDISK
For backwards compatibility, files and archives can be listed in THISDISK
instead of INSTALL.CFG. If you choose this way, do not put any [Disk*]
sections in INSTALL.CFG.
The only case in which you have to list your files and archives in
INSTALL.CFG is when you distribute your application in multiple .ZIP files
which the user unzips into one subdirectory. The individual THISDISK files
then overwrite each other and if they contain file/archive information,
some of it is lost.
12. The Lastest Version
______________________
Check the following locations:
1. CompuServe: GO ASPFORUM, library 5 (PC Authors).
2. By ftp: ftp.magic.ca /rtls/misc
3. WWW: http://www.execpc.com/~rtls