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Text File | 1995-05-02 | 14.3 KB | 320 lines

BOOT~MANAGER ST written by Robert Kilroy copyright 1990 - Creative Computer Services Desk accessories and auto-running programs are wonderful things. They increase the usefulness of your computer and make it easier to work with. The number of DA's and specialized auto-programs available for the ST is large and growing. Bootmanager ST is a software utility that allows you to use these programs in an efficient and intelligent way. Bootmanager will provide a unique computing "environment", of your choosing, each time you boot your system. An environment is a collection of desk accessories and/or auto programs that are loaded in at the time you boot your system. You create these environments ahead of time using the Bootmanager configuration program. You may add items to your environments at any time. Bootmanager allows default settings so an un-interrupted boot can occur. Environments are selected during boot-up by pressing a single F-Key. The program works with floppy drives but is most useful to hard drive owners who must change file names to activate/de-activate accessories, and auto programs * * N O T I C E * * Bootmanager-ST is shareware. The author has spent considerable time and effort to provide you with a product that can greatly enhance your ST's potential and save you lots of time. In return you are requested to send a donation of $20 to the author at the address given below. When your donation is received Creative Computer Services will send you another version of Bootmanager-ST with enhanced features and the shareware plea removed. Creative Computer Services believes that you, the Atari ST owner, deserve support. We will continue to release new products for the ST and improve our existing ones if there is a reasonable response to our efforts. Please send your shareware donation to: Robert Kilroy 140 Boston St. Telephone support: (508) 774-6713 Middleton, MA 01949 or CIS id# 73607,3707 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Keep the Atari ST alive and well .... Support shareware authors ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Bootmanager-ST contains the following files: BOOTMNGR.PRG - the actual program. It will re-configure your system during boot-up. (place this in your auto folder) BOOTCNF.PRG - this program automates the creation of your environments. You will need to run this program first or Bootmanager-ST will not know what accessories and programs you wish to assign to each F-Key. BOOTMNGR.TXT - contains installation guide and instructions. ** INSTALLING BOOTMANAGER-ST ** Before running the configuration program a few steps must be taken: 1) If you do not have an AUTO folder on your boot partition (or boot floppy) create one. Consult your ST owners manual if you are unsure about how to do this. 2) Move the file BOOTMNGR.PRG into the AUTO folder. * * * * * * important for hard disk users * * * * * * * * * * The order in which programs run is critical to Bootmanager-ST. Bootmanager must run AFTER your hard disk boot software and BEFORE any other programs in the AUTO folder. To change the order of the AUTO folder you will have to remove any files from it and replace them in the correct order. There is a utility called AUTOSORT.PRG available that makes this task easy. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 3) Place all of the accessories and auto-running programs you intend to use into the correct places. The correct place for accessories is in the root directory of the boot partition on your hard disk drive (or your boot floppy). Auto-running programs need to be placed inside the AUTO folder of the boot partition (or your boot floppy). 4) If you use a color monitor, create a desktop to your liking in medium resolution and save it to disk. Change the name of this file from DESKTOP.INF to MED.INF. Next, switch to low resolution and create another desktop. This time change the name of the file from DESKTOP.INF to LOW.INF. Remember to change the name of the first DESKTOP.INF file before saving another desktop or you will erase the first one. 5) If you use a monochrome monitor, follow step four but change DESKTOP.INF to HIGH.INF. 6) If you use both monitors make all three desktop files before you run the configuration program. 7) Be sure these files are in the root directory of the boot partition (or floppy disk). If these steps have been followed properly Bootmanager-ST is now ready to be configured. * * * Using the Configuration Program * * * When you are ready to begin creating your environments double click on BOOTCNF.PRG. You may want to read the "ideas for using Bootmanager-ST" section before doing so. BOOTCNF.PRG will create a folder called BOOTMNG inside your AUTO folder. After using BOOTCNF.PRG for the first time, you can place BOOTCNF.PRG and BOOTMNG.DOC into this folder. Then if you want to change your configurations later, the program will be easy to locate. This is simply a suggestion as BOOTCNF.PRG will run from any drive. The configuration program will ask you which is your boot drive. Simply click the appropriate drive letter with your mouse. *********************** IMPORTANT ************************** Next you will be asked if you have a file you wish to "protect". Whatever you choose will be installed automatically in every environment. Hard drive users should input their boot program name at this time. You have to enter the name of the program including the correct extender (i.e. FILENAME.PRG). In this version of BOOTMANAGER-ST the "protect" feature is only active for the first use of the configuration program. If you wish to change what is "protected", you will need to delete the folder named BOOTMNG (from within the AUTO folder) and install your environments from scratch. The protect feature already includes BOOTMNG.PRG. You never need to select BOOTMNG.PRG for any environment. *************************************************************** Next you will be asked to choose an F-Key or one of two default buttons. The choice is again made with a mouse click. If you have already created any environments, the F-Key or default button it runs from will have italicized text. This reminds you which F-Keys or defaults are available for new environments. If you choose an existing environment you will have the option of adding to it or totally re-creating it. If you wish to remove something from an environment you will have to re-create it from scratch. You will be asked to name your environment at this time. The name can be up to 20 characters long. Next you will be asked to choose a resolution ( just click on your choice ) Bootmanager will now present a file selector box. Click on an accessory to select it, then click the OK button. Repeat this procedure for any other accessories you wish to use in the environment now being created. The accessories are listed on the screen for your reference. Because of a limitation within the ST's operating system, no more than six desk accessories can be installed at a time. You are alerted if you reach the allowable limit for each environment. Remember, you can load and use different accessories under different environments. This is one reason why Bootmanager-ST is so useful! When you are finished choosing accessories (or have run out of accessory slots), Click on the AUTO folder and choose programs using the same method as with accessories. A default setting MUST be defined for Bootmanager to work properly. If you only use a color monitor, you can ignore the monochrome default; likewise, a monochrome only user can ignore the color default. The default setting will be used by Bootmanager if no F-Key is pressed during a system start-up. Your default environment should be one you use most often. Bootmanager-ST knows what monitor is connected to the system, this way users with color and monochrome monitors can have a "hands off" boot for each of their monitors. * * SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS * * If you use a hard disk system that boots from the AUTO folder and you did not enter it's name as a "protected" file, you MUST choose this program for every environment (don't worry about un-used environments). If you fail to choose this program Bootmanager-ST will not let it run. You will then have to re-boot with your hard disk boot program on a floppy disk, manually install the hard drive, and change the name of the boot program in the AUTO folder back to it's original form (i.e. from FILENAME.PRX to FILENAME.PRG). This is definitely no fun and the main reason the "protect" feature was implemented. A future version of Bootmanager-ST will allow you to identify multiple programs and/or accessories that always run, under any environment. If you have a system clock that is set from the AUTO folder you should choose it each time as well. * * * That's All? * * * Once you have created your environments and default settings you are ready to reap the rewards! Bootmanager-ST will now become your unseen friend, totally re-configuring your ST while you try to remember what it was like re-naming accessories and moving things around. Once you have "tweaked" your environments to perfection, Bootmanager will recall them for you at the touch of a button. What a country! When you turn on your ST, Bootmanager wakes up and displays a title screen (there is also an audible alert). You now have about 4 seconds to press an F-Key and call up an environment. If you choose no F-Key Bootmanager will activate the default environment for the connected monitor. You can also press HELP if you need more time. The HELP key displays your environments by name and will wait until you press a key to proceed. This is handy if you don't remember your environments or haven't decided what you want to do. > > > Ideas for using Bootmanager-ST < < < Before you actually create your own environments you should consider ways to use Bootmanager-ST. A clear idea now can save time "tweaking" later. Remember, all accessories and programs have to be in the correct location to be handled by Bootmanager. You might as well move them now while your thinking about it and before running the configuration program. Suggestions for use of Bootmanager-ST: >> Group accessories with a related function. Why load a spell checker if you're going to use DEGAS? Boot time is quicker and you might save enough memory for an extra picture. Use sets of accessories for MIDI, digitizing pictures, word processing, desktop publishing, drawing, spreadsheets etc. >> Keep one environment free of accessories. There are some programs that don't like accessories. Save yourself the trouble of moving or renaming the accessories when you want to use one of these programs. You will also have maximum memory available. >> Use an F-Key to launch a game. Games that can run from the AUTO folder can be chosen at start-up. Got a favorite game you want up and running fast? No need to change resolutions, open directories, or double click the program. You should see what BOOTMANAGER-ST does for FIENDISH FREDDY! >> Keep conflicting accessories apart. Some accessories can't co-exist with certain programs. I find, for example, that Turbo-ST interferes with my MIDI sequencer (Creator). Therefore, I use Turbo-ST on all but my MIDI environment. >> Easy resolution change. With some hard disk systems, changing resolution with the hard disk booted can be quite a chore. Create a general purpose, low resolution environment. >> Variable RAM disk installation. You can use several different RAM disk programs, each configured to boot-up in different sizes or to pre-load different files. Just be sure their names are different so Bootmanager-ST can tell them apart. >> Flexible "one floppy" booting. Put all the accessories you use on one floppy and use Bootmanager to call up just the ones you want. >> Different TOS versions. I have switchable ROMs with two TOS versions ( 1.0 and 1.4 ). For use with TOS 1.0 I keep an environment that autoruns a "40 folder bug" fixer and PINHED. >> Start enjoying all those accessories that you liked but didn't have the memory to use regularly. As you become comfortable with Bootmanager-ST, you might find other ways it can make your computing life a little easier. * * Future Plans for Bootmanager-ST * * There are several features planned for Bootmanager that will be provided to shareware doners: A feature to allow multiple "protected" status for programs With this feature, every environment will automatically use the specified files. Provision for users of Neodesk. This would include the ability to load a different background picture into each environment. Also, in each environment you could have different program icons placed on the desktop for quick loading. A program called MOUSKAMANIA allows installation of custom mouse pointers. Bootmanager-ST will have the ability to install a different mouse pointer in each environment. * * * DISCLAIMER * * * We at Creative Computer Services hope you find this program useful. We have made all attempts to create a bug free and reliable product. However, we accept no responsibility for any loss of data or other consequence from the use of Bootmanager-ST. You are free to distribute this product to others provided it is not altered in any way and it includes the two programs and this doc file. ~ All rights to this program remain with the author. ~ ```` About Creative Computer Services ```` Creative Computer Services was founded by users of the Atari ST. We believe the ST is an excellent machine, worthy of support. Our goal is to offer a variety of products that enhance the utility, performance and enjoyment of this computer.