home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
The Latest & Greatest Top 201 Games
/
The Latest and Greatest Top 201 Games (Maple Media)(1994).iso
/
elf
/
readme.doc
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1992-01-25
|
20KB
|
384 lines
ELFTREE (TM)
(C) Copyright 1988-1992 By Alan J. Avery
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Elvish Consulting
1408 Noble Avenue
Springfield, Illinois 62704
(217)-698-8600 (8 a.m. to 9 p.m. CDT only, please)
DISCLAIMER
Users of ELFTREE must accept this disclaimer of warranty:
"ELFTREE is supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties,
expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties
of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes
no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result
from the use of ELFTREE."
Thank You!
Many people have told us that ELFTREE is vastly more powerful than
any commercial product sold as a `DOS shell'. We've been praised
for making ELFTREE simple to use (it hasn't been easy!), fast (it's
written in Borland's Turbo C and Turbo Assembler), and intuitive.
We thank all of you who have used ELFTREE and have helped, with your
ideas, to make it such a wonderful product. No programmer has the
skill to think of all the wonderful ideas blended together in this
version of ELFTREE. Thank you all!
Why Shareware?
This is a shareware version of ELFTREE. It is distributed as
shareware for the following reasons:
1. You get to use it for 30 days, to see how you like it. We are
sure you will love it.
2. When you ask for features to be included, they are usually
added to the next release - often within a week! This means
that you don't have to wait six months to a year for the next
upgrade, a problem with most commercial software. Also, you
get to participate in the ongoing evolution of ELFTREE.
3. Advertising is expensive. For example, a full page ad in one
issue of one computing magazine can cost $25,000. By telling
10 of your friends about this great product, and giving them
a shareware copy of it, you can keep its cost extremely low.
If you upload the latest version to BBS's you know, you'll be
doing an even greater service.
-- Page 2 --
Tell Me More About Shareware
Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before
buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you
are expected to register. Individual programs differ on details --
some request registration while others require it, some specify a
maximum trial period. With registration, you get anything from the
simple right to continue using the software to an updated program
with printed manual.
Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and
the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific
exceptions as stated below. Shareware authors are accomplished
programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are of
comparable quality. The main difference is in the method of
distribution. The author specifically grants the right to copy and
distribute the software, either to all and sundry or to a specific
group. For example, some authors require written permission before
a commercial disk vendor may copy their Shareware.
Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You
should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook, whether
it's commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting
your needs easier, because you can try before you buy. And because
the overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware has the ultimate
money-back guarantee -- if you don't use the product, you don't pay
for it!
AGREEMENT
ELFTREE is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware
Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware
principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-
related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly,
ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a
dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical
support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at
545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 or send a CompuServe message via
CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536."
All users of ELFTREE must register and pay for their copies of ELFTREE
within 30 days of first use or their license is withdrawn. For site
licensing, please refer to the file SITELICE.DOC elsewhere in this
package. If this file is missing, please contact Elvish Consulting at
(217) 698-8600 for a free replacement.
Anyone distributing ELFTREE for any kind of remuneration must first
contact Elvish Consulting at the address below for authorization. This
authorization will be automatically granted to distributors recognized
by the (ASP) as adhering to its guidelines for shareware distributors,
and such distributors may begin offering ELFTREE immediately (However
Elvish Consulting must still be advised so that the distributor can be
kept up-to-date with the latest version of ELFTREE.).
You are encouraged to pass a copy of ELFTREE along to your friends for
evaluation. Please encourage them to register their copy if they find
that they can use it. All registered users will receive a copy of the
latest version of ELFTREE, a toll-free number for tech support, a
printed manual, and updates for a nominal fee.
-- Page 3 --
Does Shareware Mean Crippled?
This version has all the functions of the version you'll get when you
register, but there is an opening message screen, and a delay before
you can start using the product. Also, this version does not have
any additional progams you can get when you register for the full
version: editor, external viewers, etc. Read on for information on
how to get these valuable enhancements.
You are free to use ELFTREE for 30 days, to test it and to determine
if it is useful to you. If you are still using it after 30 days, you
must register with us. The file ORDER.DOC, included with this package,
has an order form. Just fill out the form, print it, and mail it to
us along with your check or money order.
When you register with us, you get the latest version of ELFTREE,
with all reported bugs fixed, with any new or enhanced features
that may have been incorporated, a professionally printed manual,
a toll-free number for tech support, notices of updates as they
become available, and one FREE update. In addition, you can get the
ELFTREE editor, any viewer(s) we've developed, and a flat-file
database sort program. This is a great value for you! More
importantly, you make us want to keep improving ELFTREE so that
it can do even more for you!
Cheap Upgrades!
Once you license ELFTREE, you can upgrade to the latest registered
version at a nominal cost. Through December 31, 1992, this fee is
$5, a very reasonable cost for you.
ELFTREE System Requirements
ELFTREE requires you to have a screen so that you can see what it
shows you, a keyboard to give it commands, and some memory to hold
information. You determine how much memory it needs (minimum is
about 150K free) by customizing it, whether by command-line switches
(see end of this document) or with the [F4] key once it first comes
up for you. It can take advantage of EGA or VGA displays, it works
with the largest hard disks (even under DOS 3.31 and above), it works
on all DOS-compatible networks, etc. In other words, it has modest
requirements, and it should run on any hardware you've got. ELFTREE
will operate much faster on a particular machine with disk caching
enabled than with disk caching turned off. ELFTREE understands FAT
and other system tables under DOS, but it only reads this information.
It NEVER writes it.
Environment Variables
ELFTREE recognizes the following optional environment variables:
ELFTREEPATH - For DOS 2.X, specifies where ELFTREE files are stored.
ETFIND - Specifies where to store menus, tree maps, etc.
ETMAP - Specifies where to store tree maps for removable
drives (such as Bernoulli cartridges, optical
media and floppy disks).
ETCONFIG - Specifies the configuration file to use.
ETDRIVES - Specifies a default selection of drives to search
when using the FIND command.
-- Page 4 --
Introduction
ELFTREE is designed to simplify your goal of getting the most out of
your computer. The heart of the program is a powerful, intuitive
and marvelously integrated file, directory and application manager.
With it, you can install software in record time, move files from
one place to another (even across a network!) with ease, and locate
files fast on even the largest hard disk, regardless of whether you
use DOS 2.X, 3.X or 4.X, or 4DOS! You won't believe how easy it is
to run a program from within ELFTREE, or to customize it to suit your
tastes. You will see in all of ELFTREE's features that great care
was taken to marry great power with extreme convenience. The result
is a delightful product that can help you be more effective in how
you use your computer.
What Makes ELFTREE Special? What Makes ELFTREE Special?
1. Flexible Capacity - You tell ELFTREE how many directories and
files you want to handle. For example, you can work with up
to 16,384 files from 1000 directories across 26 disks with
ELFTREE's Find feature!
2. Extraordinary Editing - ELFTREE's editor can handle as many files
as will fit into memory, or it will let you use your own editor.
Our editor takes about 30K of disk space, yet has storable
keyboard macros, speedy search & replace, column and block
operations, and easy customizability!
3. Breathtaking Views - Viewing a file in ELFTREE is a treat.
Besides a raft of customizable settings (which can be
programmed by file extension), it has block operations that
allow you to fix damaged files while viewing them, a
translator for IBM EBCDIC files, and the ability to search
forward or backward for text.
4. Also Noteworthy - Attach short notes to files in any directory.
You'll always know the contents of your files by glancing at
your notes. If you use 4DOS, ELFTREE will read/write 4DOS
note files directly if you start it up with the /4 command-line
switch to activate this feature.
5. Menu Magic - Powerful menuing features are built into ELFTREE.
Define up to 13 main menus, each of which can nest submenus up
to 10 levels deep with 20 selections apiece. Program your
menus (!) with symbols to insert keys ahead of a program,
repeat commands, create internal keyboard macros, prompt a
user for a reply before executing a command, etc.
6. Convenience - you customize many ELFTREE settings from within;
there's no separate configuration program. You can run a
program by highlighting it and tapping [ENTER]. ELFTREE can
be trained to associate file extensions with programs, and
will automatically launch the corresponding program when you
tap [ENTER] on a file with such an extension. ELFTREE can
also speed up or slow down your keyboard.
-- Page 5 --
7. Video Joy - For EGA or VGA displays, ELFTREE can switch you into
28/43/50 line modes with the touch of a key [Ctrl-V]. Also,
ELFTREE recognizes non-standard modes and accommodates them.
8. Brains - When you choose an option, ELFTREE anticipates your
next need, where possible. For example, when you:
a. Rename a directory, the tree is adjusted automatically.
b. Attempt to use an unformatted floppy disk, ELFTREE will
let you format it immediately (even if you are in the
middle of copying files).
c. Create a directory in the middle of specifying where
to copy or move files, ELFTREE will highlight the
new directory for you.
d. Select a menu option that has a submenu, ELFTREE will
highlight the most likely submenu option for you.
e. Rename an item with spaces in the name, the spaces are
conveniently removed for you.
9. Trim - When ELFTREE runs a program, it reserves less than 3K for
itself, leaving plenty of room to run memory-hungry programs.
You can also make ELFTREE use 0K, which may be needed to load
TSR's, change environment variables, etc.
10. Power - Copy, move, protect, edit, print, rename,locate and hide
files quickly and easily. Rename, protect, hide, locate, copy,
move, graft, create and delete directories just as easily.
Sort the file display 3,584 ways; rearrange them still further
for such necessities as printing several files so that they'll
be properly collated. Tag files 8 ways for group operations.
ELFTREE remembers your last 15 commands, and gives you a
convenient way to retrieve them. Change file dates and times.
Create groups of files for special operations.
-- Page 6 --
INSTALLATION
To install it, just copy the files into whatever hard disk
directory you want to start it from. To start it up, just
type: ET and tap [ENTER].
These are the files that should have been included in the ELFTREE
package. If any are missing, please call us at (217) 698-8600 to
correct it.
ET.EXE - starts up the program
ETT.BAT - used when ELFTREE runs a program in 0K RAM.
ELFTREE.CHL - part of the program
AUTOEXEC.DOC - examples of SET ELFTREEPATH, PATH commands
README.DOC - this file
ORDER.DOC - Invoice for ordering ELFTREE
SAMPLE.ETU - Sample menu file
SITELICE.DOC - Site license agreement
ELFTREE.HLP - Help file (Think of it as on-disk manual)
DOS 2.X CONSIDERATIONS
If you have DOS 2.X, you need to give the following command
before you can successfully bring up ELFTREE:
SET ELFTREEPATH=C:\TREE (use the directory ET is installed in)
It is recommended that you put this command in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
ORDERING
If you like ELFTREE, order it! When you order, you get the most
recent version of the software, an editor that can handle multiple
files at once, a dBase viewer, a toll-free support number, a
professionally printed wire-spiral-bound, manual and notices of
updates to ELFTREE (your first update is FREE). If you prefer,
you can order ELFTREE without the editor and viewers.
See the file ORDER.DOC for an invoice.
We hope you enjoy using all of ELFTREE's features.
Elvish Consulting
1408 Noble Avenue
Springfield, IL 62704
(217) 698-8600
-- Page 7 --
ELFTREE Command-Line Switches
__________________________________________________________________________
In addition to the customize menu, you can configure ELFTREE with
certain command-line switches that you type after the ET that gets
ELFTREE up and running. Here are the switches that may be used,
and what they represent:
/#=<char>- If you prefer not to use '#' as the symbol that
identifies a macro symbol (for example, you may
have files that have '#' in their names), use
this to select another symbol. For example, to
make '+' the symbol, use /#=+
/4 - Use 4DOS-style note files (file name DESCRIPT.ION).
/5 - Use ET-style note files (file name ELFTREE.NTE).
/C - if you have a composite monitor.
/D=#### - Set maximum number of directories to handle. Each
one uses 16 bytes.
(max is 3,999; default is 200)
/F=#### - This sets the maximum number of files to handle.
Each one use 22 bytes.
(min is 50, max is 16384; default is 1500)
/G=#### - Set maximum number of directories to handle with the
Find feature. Each one uses 64 bytes.
(max is 999; default is 50)
/H=# - If # is 1, this activates high-speed disk scanning
routines for normal, non-networked drives.
(default is 1, or ON; /H=0 turns it off)
Note: A separate logical variable is maintained
for high-speed scanning in the OS/2
Compatibility Box. This switch affects
only that variable's setting.
/K=#### - If # is at least 10, this refers to the number
of internal macro keys to allow.
(max is 5000; default is 100)
/L=Z - Last drive accessible to user.
(default is Z; C-Z is allowed)
/N=#### - Set maximum number of notes to handle. Each one
uses 64 bytes; the space is shared with /G=####.
(max is 999; default is 50)
/R=### - ASCII code of `retag' character to use (1-255).
(default is 9, which looks like a hollow circle)
/T=### - ASCII code of `tag' character to use (1-255).
(default is 4, which looks like a solid diamond)
/U=#### - if #### is at least 500, this sets the maximum
allowable length of a menu command line.
(max is 10,000; default is 500)
/Y=# - If you do not have an enhanced keyboard, but you
want ELFTREE to think that you do (this will let
you use [Ctrl-Del] and other nonstandard keys),
use 1 for #. Use 0 for # if you do not want
ELFTREE to use any of the enhanced keyboard
facilities, even if you have such a keyboard.
(default is 1 if an enhanced keyboard is detected,
and 0 if not; /Y=1 activates enhanced support)
Here is an example of how to set up ELFTREE to use 2,000 files,
300 directories and 500 notes per directory:
ET /F=2000 /D=300 /N=500