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SS OO FF TT LL OO CC KK Version 1.4 RR EE FF EE RR EE NN CC EE MM AA NN UU AA LL Printed in the United States of America SoftLock 1.4 License 11.. LLIICCEENNSSEE All versions of SoftLock, including version 1.4, are freeware and can be passed around without expensed. ii SoftLock 1.4 Warranty 22.. WWAARRRRAANNTTYY The author makes no warranty of any kind, express or implied, including without limitation, any warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. The author shall not be liable for any damages, whether direct, indirect, special or consequential arising from a failure of this program to operate in the manner desired by the user. The author shall not be liable for any damage to data or property which may be caused directly or indirectly by use of the program. IN NO EVENT WILL the author BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS OR OTHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM, OR FOR ANY CLAIM BY ANY OTHER PARTY. SoftLock 1987 iii 44.. WWAARRNNIINNGG!!!!!!!! WARNING: If you are going to have your computer doing a task that does not require the keyboard be sure to ddiissaabbllee SoftLock unless you want it to pop-up still. If the keyboard is inactive long enough for SoftLock to pop-up the computer will be interrupted and whatever it was doing before SoftLock popped-up will be halted. IIff yyoouu aarree ddoowwnnllooaaddiinngg aa ffiillee oorr pprriinnttiinngg aa lloonngg ddooccuummeenntt pplleeaassee ddoo uuss bbootthh aa ffaavvoorr aanndd DDEEAACCTTIIVVAATTEE SSooffttLLoocckk ffiirrsstt.. I'd hate to see that file download aborted because SoftLock was not deactivated. DDEEAACCTTIIVVAATTEE SSOOFFTTLLOOCCKK BBEEFFOORREE DDOOIINNGG SSOOMMEETTHHIINNGG TTHHAATT WWIILLLL TTAAKKEE AA LLOONNGG TTIIMMEE -- SSUUCCHH AASS DDOOWWNNLLOOAADDIINNGG//UUPPLLOOAADDIINNGG AA FFIILLEE Enough with that, lets get to the goodies! SoftLock 1987 vii 55.. IInnttrroodduuccttiioonn SoftLock is a general purpose utility designed to keep your private data private. SoftLock automatically pops-up when the computer is inactive to keep nosy people from prying into your system. Operation of SoftLock is largely definable by you - you can set SoftLock up to work in the manner you prefer. Keep others from playing with your computer - use SoftLock. OOvveerrvviieeww ooff SSooffttLLoocckk SoftLock works in a manner similar to screen save programs. SoftLock pops-up when the keyboard is inactive (no keys are pressed) for a specified time period. The timed pop-up feature is well suited for office situations where you may often step away from your desk for a few minutes. When you are away SoftLock will automatically pop-up and lock the keyboard then wait for your password. The locked keyboard helps avoid those frequent attempts of others to 'see what you have'. While SoftLock is on the guard you'll have better control over the data security on your system. SoftLock is also flexible enough to allow you to configure the way it operates to suit your own tastes/preferences. The following pages will explain how to operate SoftLock in detail. SSyysstteemm RReeqquuiirreemmeennttss To operate SoftLock you need the following: 1.) IBM PC, XT, AT or Compatible. 2.) MSDOS 2.xx or higher. 66.. GGeettttiinngg SSttaarrtteedd To use SoftLock you should either copy the files to your hard disk or place a floppy disk containing the files in one of the drives. To load SoftLock type 'SL' at the DOS C> prompt. This can also be done from within a batch file. When loaded SoftLock will print a message to let you know the installation was successful. Normally this message would be: Installation Successful... September 13, 1987 Page 9 If there is a problem a different message is displayed. For instance, if SoftLock is already resident a message is displayed to let you know. The only other problem would be if SoftLock can't tell it is already resident a warning is issued to let you know it may be loading a second time. After you get the 'Installation Successful...' message your improved PC security has begun. 77.. FFeeaattuurreess ooff SSooffttLLoocckk In addition to automatically popping up after a certain period of inactivity (see Changing the Automatic Lock Timing on page 11 for details) you are able to 'SoftLock' your computer by pressing the pop-up hot key. At default this hot key is the LEFT SHIFT and the RIGHT SHIFT, but can be changed with the installation program that accompanies SoftLock. Here is an overview of the features SoftLock has that will are covered in this section: 1.) Automatic lock timing that can vary from 1 minute to 60 minutes. 2.) SoftLock can be activated/deactivated at any time. 3.) The box that SoftLock draws is optional. You have the choice of turning it on or off. 4.) The pop-up noise SoftLock makes is optional. 5.) The hot keys for both the 'Lock' and the activate/deactivate keys can be changed. 6.) The password is user definable (up to 20 characters long). 7.) The sound made as keys are typed is optional. 8.) The delay timing used to generate the pop-up noise can be changed (this helps turbo clones sound better). 9.) SoftLock can be completely 'uninstalled' from memory without rebooting. Before going into each feature you should be aware a command line parameter means the parameter is given on a line that begins with 'SL' and is followed by any of the parameters allowed by SoftLock. Since you are issuing the statement 'SL' SoftLock must either be on the current drive and directory or in the DOS PATH. Command line parameters are ignored if SoftLock is not already resident, and therefore should only be used after SoftLock is September 13, 1987 Page 10 already loaded. Consult your DOS manual regarding command line parameters if you are unsure of how to use them. Note that with SoftLock you don't have to use a '/', '-' or any other switch character. SoftLock only searches for the commands on the command line. With the parameter explanation out of the way here's a look at each of the features in detail. CChhaannggiinngg tthhee AAuuttoommaattiicc LLoocckk TTiimmiinngg As previously mentioned SoftLock automatically locks up your system if it is inactive for a specified amount of time. At default this time is 5 minutes. This means that SoftLock will lock up when the keyboard is inactive for 5 minutes. If you desire a different amount of time before SoftLock springs into action SoftLock provides 2 ways to change the timing: 1.) With the install program. Changes made this way will become the new defaults the next time SoftLock is loaded. 2.) By placing the minute value (1-60) on the command line after SL is already loaded. For instance, at the DOS prompt (assuming SoftLock is already resident) 'SL 9' to set the time to 9 minutes. If you enter values less than 1 minute or more than 60 SoftLock will convert the number into a number within the proper range. (The value will NOT be what you expect). I've found that a good time seems to be one that coincides with my screen save timing. Only you know the time that will work best for you. AAccttiivvaattiinngg//DDeeaaccttiivvaattiinngg SSooffttLLoocckk SoftLock provides two methods to activate and deactivate the 'Lock' without uninstalling. The methods are as follows: 1.) The first method is the activate/deactivate hot key. Using the hot key you can deactivate or activate SoftLock at ANY time. The default hot key is CONTROL + LEFT SHIFT, but this can be changed with the install program. Each time you press the hot key SoftLock will toggle from deactivated to activated mode and back. To let you know whether it was activated or deactivated SoftLock produces a beep each time the hot key is pressed. The low pitched beep means SoftLock is deactivated and the higher pitched beep means SoftLock is active. September 13, 1987 Page 11 2.) The second method is to use the command line 'd' or 'D' parameter. SoftLock will respond with a message stating it is deactivated to confirm your request (if SoftLock wasn't yet resident it will become resident and ignore the 'D' parameter). To activate SoftLock use the command line 'a' or 'A' parameter. SoftLock will respond with a message stating it is activated. This feature is useful when you are going to have your computer do a task that doesn't need keyboard input and takes longer than the amount of time specified for the automatic lock up. Examples of this are when downloading/uploading files, printing large files, sorting databases, and many other necessary operations (see the warning at the beginning of this document). SSooffttLLoocckk PPoopp--UUpp BBooxx SoftLock displays a box with the message 'SoftLock (C)1987' when the 'Lock' is active. This box is one of the ways SoftLock lets you know that your machine isn't locked up. The box confirms that the program is active and that your password needs to be entered to unlock the computer. At default SoftLock will display this box when the computer is 'SoftLocked'. Drawing of the box can be turned on or off with the command line parameters 'B' and 'b'. The uppercase 'B' turns on the box while the lowercase 'b' turns off drawing the box. Note that having the box drawing feature turned on doesn't mean the box will always be drawn. When the program pops-up SoftLock checks the video mode to see what type of adapter and mode is in effect. SoftLock will not draw the box unless you are in an 80 column text mode (type of monitor does not matter). To let you know the 'Lock' is in effect there are still sounds providing you have them turned on (see Pop-Up Noise on page 12 and Keystroke Noise on page 13 ). PPoopp--UUpp NNooiissee At default SoftLock makes a whistling sound when it pops-up to let you know the lock has gone into effect. This noise can be turned on or off with the command line parameters 'P' and 'p'. Once again the uppercase command ('P') turns the pop-up sound on, and the lowercase 'p' turns the sound off. HHoott KKeeyyss There are two hot keys available for SoftLock. The first was already discussed in the section titled 'Activating/Deactivating SoftLock'. The second hot key is the key that causes SoftLock to immediately pop-up and lock the system. September 13, 1987 Page 12 At default the pop-up hot key is the LEFT SHIFT and the RIGHT SHIFT, but this can be changed if you desire. This key is useful if you want to lock your system immediately. For instance, if you need to leave your computer you may want to use this key to lock the computer before you go. (The timed lock is useful if you forget or don't use the hot key to SoftLock the computer when you leave). Note the pop-up hot key will cause the program to immediately lock up. If the program was deactivated pressing the pop-up hot key will activate the program and then immediately lock it. PPaasssswwoorrdd The password for SoftLock can be user defined and up to 20 characters long. At default the password is '/fr', but I strongly suggest you change it before you load the program. See the section titled 'Using SLINSTAL' on page 14 for details on changing the password. KKeeyyssttrrookkee NNooiissee At default when the system is SoftLocked a sound is made each time a key is typed to let you know that SoftLock is active and waiting for you to type the password before continuing. This noise is especially useful when you are in graphics mode since the box will not be drawn on the screen. The sound lets you know your computer isn't locked up - its SoftLocked. This option can be turned on and off with the command line parameters 'K' and 'k'. The uppercase 'K' turns on the noise while the lowercase 'k' turns the noise off. WWaaiitt TTiimmiinngg ffoorr tthhee PPoopp--UUpp NNooiissee Since the delay factor used for the pop-up noise in SoftLock was written for a slow 4.77 mhz CPU it may sound inadequate on a faster machine. To account for this SoftLock has a changeable delay timing feature. The default timing factor is 90, but is installable from 1 to 32767. See the section titled 'Using SLINSTAL' on page 14 for details on changing this value (the larger the number is the slower the sound will go). UUnniinnssttaalllliinngg SSooffttLLoocckk SoftLock can be completely removed from memory by using the command line parameter 'u' or 'U'. Before uninstalling itself you will receive a warning stating that several problems could occur when uninstalling if other programs that are currently resident were loaded after SoftLock. After confirming the action SoftLock will uninstall itself freeing all memory it used. September 13, 1987 Page 13 88.. UUssiinngg tthhee CCoommmmaanndd LLiinnee PPaarraammeetteerrss If the use of command line parameters is confusing here is another explanation. First, before any of the command line parameters are used SoftLock must ALREADY be resident in memory. With SoftLock resident at the DOS prompt type 'SL xx xx xx' (don't type the quotes) and in place of the 'xx' place the command line parameter that you want to set. See the above explanations or Appendix A for the commands that are available. When you issue a statement to SoftLock containing command line parameters SoftLock will acknowledge them by displaying a message stating 'SoftLock parameters are updated.'. 99.. UUssiinngg SSLLIINNSSTTAALL You may be asking yourself if you need to issue a SL command with the parameters you want to set each time SoftLock is loaded. The answer is no. Besides allowing you to use parameters to change the way SoftLock works you are able to install the options to be the default values. The install program (SLINSTAL.COM) included with SoftLock will let you set the new default configuration (the values are used the next time SoftLock is loaded after using SLINSTAL. In addition to being able to assign the command line parameter defaults with SLINSTAL, you are able to change the password, hot keys, and the timing used for a delay in the pop-up noise. To use SLINSTAL type 'SLINSTAL' at the DOS prompt (SLINSTAL must be in the PATH to load). The SL.COM program should be in the current directory and drive when you invoke SLINSTAL. If SLINSTAL doesn't find SL.COM in the current directory the program will abort with an error message. Once SLINSTAL is loaded you will be at a menu were you can choose which options to change. The following options can be changed to be default values when SoftLock is first loaded: 1.) Hot Keys - This includes both the pop-up key and the activate/deactivate key. 2.) Turn Pop-Up sound on or off. 3.) Change delay for Pop-Up sound. 4.) Turn display of the Pop-Up box on or off. 5.) Turn beeping as keys are typed on or off. 6.) Change the password (highly suggested!). 7.) Change the automatic Lock timing. September 13, 1987 Page 14 To use the install program press the highlighted (the choices are also the only capital letters) letter to change the option. If the option you choose is one that is either on or off it is toggled each time you press the appropriate key. Choices that are not only on or off will respond as follows. CChhaannggiinngg tthhee HHoott KKeeyyss When you press 'H' to change the hot keys the program will go to a screen where you can compose the hot key you want for each of the allowed keys. The hot keys can only consist of the RIGHT SHIFT, LEFT SHIFT, CONTROL, ALT, CAPS LOCK, NUM LOCK, and the SCROLL LOCK key. To select/unselect each of the keys to use press the highlighted (again capitalized) letter. UUssiinngg TTooggggllee KKeeyyss ((CCaappss,, NNuumm LLoocckk,, aanndd SSccrroollll LLoocckk)) Before you use a toggle key as part of a hot key you need to be aware of several things. First, the program does not use the key based on whether it is on or off. The program only looks to see if it is held down. Second, pressing the key will cause the ROM BIOS to toggle the state of the key. This means that you will probably need to press the key again after using it as a hot key to restore the original state of the key. PPoopp--UUpp WWiinnddooww SSoouunndd TTiimmiinngg If you press 'T' to change this option SLINSTAL will prompt you to enter the new timing delay. The value you type should be between 1 and 32767. Be careful about giving to high of a number. If you use a delay of 32767 the beep will last a loooonnnnnnnnggggggg time. Even the faster machines now on the market will probably be too slow with a delay of 32767. You should be careful not to use a value that is too slow. CChhaannggiinngg tthhee PPaasssswwoorrdd If you press 'P' to change the password you are prompted to enter the old password. If you don't enter the password correctly the program will go back to the menu. You should note that the password can't be edited because the backspace can be part of the password. At default the password is '/fr' (don't type the quotes). You should also be aware of the shift state because SoftLock IS case sensitive therefore, '/FR' won't work. If you forget your password you won't be able to change it. You must type the password right the first time or start from scratch. After you enter the old password press return you are prompted to enter the new password, then you are prompted to re-enter the new password. September 13, 1987 Page 15 AAuuttoommaattiicc LLoocckk TTiimmiinngg When you press 'C' you will be prompted to enter the new number of minutes for the automatic Lock timing. The value you enter should be between 1 minute and 60 minutes. IInnssttaalllliinngg SSooffttLLoocckk iinn AAuuttooeexxeecc..BBaatt wwiitthh SSLLIINNSSTTAALL When you exit from SLINSTAL with the 'E' choice you are asked whether or not you want to install SL.COM in the autoexec.bat file. If you answer yes the program will display the contents of autoexec.bat and let you select the place to put the SL.COM statement. If the file is too large (over 400 lines) this feature is not available. If you are installing SoftLock for the first time this feature is handy. EExxiittiinngg ffrroomm SSLLIINNSSTTAALL When you are ready to leave SLINSTAL you will have two ways to exit. If you want to cancel the changes you made while in SLINSTAL press 'A' to choose the Abandon option. After pressing the 'A' key you are asked to verify the action. The verification will keep you from accidentally aborting the changes you made. If you want to save the answers just type 'E' to exit and save all changes you have made. In a matter of seconds the SL.COM file is updated with the new default settings. The next time SL.COM is loaded the values will already be set for you. September 13, 1987 Page 16 1100.. TTrroouubbllee SShhoooottiinngg SoftLock has been extensively tested to insure proper operation. However there will probably be some programs that will not work properly with SoftLock when they are loaded first. To correct the problem load SoftLock before the program that is causing the problems. To find the problem you might put REM statements in front of the statements that load other TSR programs. From there remove the REM statements one at a time to find the problem. So far only one program has been found to have trouble with SoftLock, but that program isn't widely available. However, since one program doesn't work properly when loaded first I assume there may also be other programs that behave the same way. I would be interested in hearing from you if you have troubles with any other resident programs. Changing the order the programs are loaded should solve any problems you have. If you have any doubts load SoftLock first, this will insure SoftLock works properly with other TSR programs. If you do have TSR programs that are loaded before SoftLock they CAN be executed while the system is SoftLocked. September 13, 1987 Page 17 AAPPPPEENNDDIIXX AA CCoommmmaanndd LLiinnee PPaarraammeetteerrss The command line parameters are as follows: Parameters Meaning ---------- ------- 0-60 -> Number of minutes of inactivity before 'SoftLocking' A, a -> Activate the program. B -> Turn on the display of the pop-up box. b -> Turn off the display of the pop-up box. D, d -> Deactivate the program. K -> Turn on the beep as keys are pressed. k -> Turn off the beep as keys are pressed. P -> Turn on the pop-up noise. p -> Turn off the pop-up noise. U, u -> Uninstall the program from memory. September 13, 1987 Page 18 AAPPPPEENNDDIIXX BB PPrrooggrraamm DDeeffaauullttss Before SoftLock is modified the following are the default parameter values: Parameters Default ---------- ------- Minutes before locking 5 Minutes Display of Pop-Up box Turned On Sound beep as keys are typed Turned On Make noise when SoftLock pops-up Turned On September 13, 1987 Page 19