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Text File | 1993-03-27 | 13.7 KB | 280 lines

March 27, 1993 STart-it!!! Version 3.01 The Boot-Manager by Christian Ernst (c)1993 SCHAUZMOLL OK, so this is version 3.01 of STart-it!!! I can be reached on the ST-Synchronicity BBS at 1-510-235-1235 (handle: T-DRUM), on the STUG of Winipeg BBS at 1-204-772-7349 (user #132) and also on my own OasiSTe BBS at 1-418-623-3729. Please leave any comments you have... I'v never had the chance to try the program on a TT and would be glad to know if it will work... I think it should be working since all Atari computers boot in low resolution. One thing I'm almost certain is that the program will not work on a TT with big screen monitor... Maybe I'll have the chance to look into that some time. STart-it lets you use windows, dropdown menus, buttons and the file selector to make life as easy as if you were on the GEM desktop. In fact I promise you will not need to use your keyboard once in STart-it!!! Well, I've lied, because you'll need to type in the name of your preset and also if you want to rename a file... STart-it!!! was made with the ZeST interface of David Becker (many thanks to him for a great interface), but ZeST does not work in medium resolution so I had to modify it heavily to work in colors. That was a big task, and the modified GFA source code of the ZeST interface is available to everyone interested!!! ***** IF YOU HAVE VERSION 1.0, 1.5, 1.55, 2.0 OR 2.50 OF START-IT YOU WILL HAVE TO TRASH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE AND REPLACE YOUR START_IT FOLDER WITH THE ONE INCLUDED IN THIS ARCHIVE. START-IT HAD BEEN MODIFIED, SOME FUNCTIONS HAVE BEEN ADDED. DO NOT TRY TO RUN THIS VERSION WITH THE OLDER FILES BECAUSE THE PROGRAM WILL NOT WORK. These files are included in the archive: - README30.TXT info on this version. - START_IT.DOC the file you are reading now!!! - START_IT.PRG The program itself!!! - START_IT(folder) in this folder you will find: - DESKINFO(folder) where you put your desktop files. - GDOS_SYS(folder) where you put your ASSIGN.SYS file for GDOS - FILES_1 (folder) where you put your files1 type files. - FILES_2 (folder) where you put your files2 type files. - PICTURES(folder) where you can put some pictures. - SAMPLES (folder) where you can put some samples. - SCRAP (folder) used for reordering auto programs. - DISPLAY.DSP file for displaying pictures in sequential order. - START_IT.DAT this file is for uncompressing DEGAS pictures. - START_IT.EXE this file is for playing the AVR samples. - START_IT.HLP this file is for on-line help. - START_IT.MEM this file is the memo file. - START_IT.PRF this is the preference file. - START_IT.PRS this is the preset file. - START_IT.PTH this file serves as a locator. - MEMOEDIT.PRG this program create a memo. MEMOEDIT(folder) - MEMOEDIT.PRG this program can edit and save a memo that STart-it! can display. - MEMOEDIT.DOC doc for the STart-it! Memo Editor. - OTHERS(folder) other programs that could be useful: - SWTCH_HZ(folder): - SWTCH_HZ.PRG a program to switch the screen display between 50HZ and 60Hz. - SWTCH_HZ.DOC a text on when to use this program. - STARTGEM(folder): - STARTGEM.PRG for autorunning a GEM program from your auto folder. A MUST if you don't have TOS 1.4 or up, and you want to use the autorun feature of STart-it!!! - STARTGEM.DOC about startgem. - HEADSTRT(folder): - HEADST10.PRG for autorunning a GEM program. - HEADSTRT.DOC documentation for Head Start - FOLDER_X(folder): - FOLDR100.PRG to extend the number of folders in your system. - FOLDER_X.DOC about foldr100 program. - POOL_FIX(folder): - POOLFIX3.PRG fixes a bug in TOS 1.4 - POOLFIX3.DOC about poolfix program. What can I do with STart-it!!!: - STart-it can deal with up to 200 auto programs and 200 accessories. I guess it's plenty enough. Anyone who has more than 100 programs in his auto folder should be punished for it!!! (Same thing applies for having that many accessories). Anyway, it means that STart-it has almost no limitation to the number of files it can display, and since these files are in a pseudo-GEM window, you can scroll the list all the way through. - You can reorder programs in your AUTO folder. STart-it will only rename the files to move them, so no files will never be copied. The SCRAP folder must be present in the START_IT folder or you might run into big problems... - You can display a picture on boot up. The formats supported are: PI1, PI2, PI3, PC1, PC2, PC3 and NEO. You can choose to display the picture for any amount of time. - You can play a sample in AVR format. This sample must not be bigger than 50k. A sample bigger than 50K will not be played. - You can setup 49 different presets. The first 20 of these have an f-key assigned to them so you can quickly select a setup to install the programs and accessories you need. Each STart-it preset can contain 50 auto folder programs, 20 accessories, 1 DESKTOP.INF file, 1 ASSIGN.SYS file, 1 file1 type, 1 file2 type, 1 files3 type, 1 files4 type and 1 autorun program. In addition, STart-it can deal with up to 4 presets bank for a total of 196 presets available. - STart-it will enable you to select an autorun program. If you have TOS 1.4 and up, STart-it will put that selected program in the DESKTOP.INF or NEWDESK.INF file automatically. If your TOS is 1.2 or 1.0 STart-it will write a file called STARTGEM.INF on the root directory of your boot disk, so with STARTGEM.PRG in your auto folder the selected program will be automatically run after you boot-up. The same thing applies if you use HEAD START. - Keyboard shortcuts are available for accessing the important functions such as the configuration screen, the setting of time and date, etc... - STart-it does not use a 'construction set' since it is included in the program. You don't need to setup anything to run STart-it. Just copy the provided folders and files to the auto folder of your boot disk and you are ready to go!!! - STart-it can show you the preset screen, the memo screen and it can be set to force the time & date input. These functions can be set independently and they will be available each time you boot up. - Finally, you don't need to read a README.DOC before you use STart-it, because on-line help is available describing every function that has been put at your disposal!!! HOW DO I INSTALL START_IT!!: - Just copy the START_IT folder to the auto folder of your boot disk. ALL the files it contains MUST be present in the auto folder of your boot disk for STart-it to work. Then copy the START_IT.PRG to your auto folder. STart-it MUST be the FIRST program in your auto folder. The ONLY program that can be run before STart-it is your hard disk booter program if you use that kind of thing!!! - BE SURE TO MAKE START_IT.PRG WRITE PROTECTED. If STart-it is not write protected it will disable itself and will not run the next time you boot-up!!! Clear enough... - Copy a couple of DESKTOP.INF files to the DESKINFO folder. Be sure to rename these files to something like: HIGH_RES.INF for a DESKTOP.INF file for high resolution, or LOW_RES.INF for a DESKTOP.INF for low resolution. STart-it can deal with up to 150 desktop info files, but I do not recommend putting more than 112 files in a folder. The files can have any name you want as long as they have the extension INX. I recommend that you use this instead of INF except for only one of the files. This way there will be only one activated desk file in the corresponding window. - Copy some ASSIGN.SYS file to the GDOS_SYS folder. Use the same procedure as the deskinfo files for naming these. You can have up to 150 assign.sys files but I do not recommend using more than 112. - STart-it offers you the possibility to manipulate 4 other file types (FILES1, 2, 3 and 4). For example, I use FILES1 for a RamDisk accessory that needs a RAM_SIZE.INF file to know which size the RamDisk will be. So I've created a couple of files that I have named: 100K.INX, 200K.INX, 300K.INX, etc. That way when I select the RamDisk accessory I can easily select the size I want. You don't need to rename these files with a special extension, you can only change the last letter of the extension to X if you want. STart-it can manipulate up to 150 other file types but I don't recommend putting more than 112. You will have to select the path where you want these files to be written. STart-it gives you the ability to select that path with a file selector. As an example lets assume that you want to use a RamDisk accessory that needs a file called RAM_SIZE.INF in the root directory of your boot disk. If there is already such a file present on your boot disk you just have to click on the button "C. FILE 1" in the CONFIGURE menu and select that file in the file selector. After that you will need to save your configuration by using the SAVE function in the STart-it CONFIGURATION screen. If you don't have the RAM_SIZE.INF file on your boot disk you will have to type in the name in the SELECTION box in the file selector, then press the OK button and save your configuration. Well, I hope you understand it... I can't explain that better... I'll summarize it... 1- Copy every possible file you need to use in the FILES_1 folder. 2- Run STart-it and select the "C. FILE1" button in the CONFIGURE menu and select the target file where you want the FILES1 type to be written or type in the name under wich you want these files to be written. 3- Use the SAVE function in the CONFIGURE STart-it SCREEN or the SAVE function in the CONFIGURE menu to save your preference. Well, that's about it. I hope you'll enjoy the program. I tried to include every function possible but if you have a good idea I would consider including it in the next version. If you have any questions about STart-it!!! you can write to me. My address is: Christian Ernst 5550 Guy Charlesbourg PQ Canada G1H 4L5 You can get a registered copy with your name on it. Just send me $10, a SASE envelope and a blank disk. You will receive the latest version of STart-it!!! and a manual explaining every function. I will also send you the next available version if you include another blank disk. STart-it!!! is shareware, so if you like the program you know what to do. You can give it to your friends or upload it to your favorite BBS as long as all the files are included and none of them are modified in ANY way. Although I've made every effort possible, and I've used this program without any problems, I must tell you that: ******************************************************************* * You use this program at your own risk. I may not be held * * responsible for ANY damage it could make to your data * * or your system. It is offered as is and no warranty of * * any kind is provided with it. * ******************************************************************* I hope you are not afraid because I'm not!!! The ONLY thing you have to worry about is the famous Atari 40 folders bug!!! If you have an older TOS version like me (I have TOS 1.2) you should use the FOLDERxx.PRG and set it at 200 (at least). I use a ICD adSCSI host adaptor board and I've put the extra folders to 2000. Of course it takes more memory, but you are sure that you will not mess up your HD. Anyone who has a hard disk and a old TOS version SHOULD use that kind of option. If you don't do this and you fool around a lot with the STart-it file selector, you WILL GET INTO BIG TROUBLE!!! If you are lucky, the computer will simply bomb. If you are not lucky the system will delete the contents of every file that STart-it manipulates. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH START-IT, IT'S A PROBLEM WITH THE OLDER ATARI TOS VERSION!!!!!! It's my opinion that Atari makes the best computer you can buy. They are easy to use, have a pleasant interface, are fast and do not break easily. I don't let minor problems like the 40 folder bug get in the way of things, as you can get rid of them very simply... Be seeing you!!! Christian Ernst also known as T-DRUM * The original ZeST interface concept is from David Becker. * STARTGEM is a program made by ??? (a shareware!!!). * HEAD START is a shareware by Charles F. Johnson & John Eidsvoog. * adSCSI is a trademark of ICD incorporated. * Atari, well everyone knows about that!!! * GEM is from Digital Research.