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OS/2 Shareware BBS: 8 Other
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PMSTART.DOC
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1994-12-11
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///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// PMStart 1.01 - OS/2 PM Based Session Starter
//
// Copyright (c) 1993-1994 John Morris All Rights Reserved
//
WHAT IS PMSTART
---------------
PMStart will start any program that OS/2 2.x will allow. I developed PMStart
to start DOS (and other) programs on my BBS. Having tried several programs
which used DosStartSession, I ended up unhappy with the stability of my
system. I believe this instability is not a result of these programs in
particular, but the DOS programs seemed to be currupting OS/2 in some way.
I wrote this PM app to start up child sessions from the OS/2 command
line, using WinStartApp in an attempt to more closely emulate the OS/2 shell.
Whether this is a waste or not is something that will be decided over time.
Remember this is PMStart 1.01 I'll be fixing any bugs, and adding features
to it in the near future.
PMSTART IS SHAREWARE
--------------------
PMStart is copyrighted software. However, you are encouraged to copy and
share it with others according to the following requirements:
The standard version of PMStart may be freely copied and shared
with others, so long as no charge is made for the software, and it
is unmodified and copied in its entirety, including all program
documentation and all support files. It may be distributed via
modem, provided that all files are transmitted (archived) together.
Notice that ShareWare is copyrighted software. It is not "Public Domain"
software, nor is it "free" software. If you continue to use this program
beyond a reasonable "trial period", not to exceed 21 days, you must pay for it
by registering.
Registration for PMStart is $5 US Dollars.
If you use PMStart for commercial purposes you must register!
See REGISTER.DOC for more information.
PMSTART WARRANTY
----------------
Warranty? Are you kidding!?
PMStart is provided AS IS without any warranty, expressed or implied.
I shall not be liable for any damages, whether direct, indirect,
special, or consequential arising from a failure of this program or
accompanying files to operate in a manner desired by the user.
I shall not be liable for any damage to data or property which may by
caused directly or indirectly by use of this program.
In no event will I 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.
Enough of the legalities. Onward and upward.
PMSTART COMMAND LINE SWITCHES
-----------------------------
Syntax:
PMSTART [switches] [pgm] [pgm switches]
Switches:
/B - Start child session in background
/C - Close session when completed (used when loading command shell
like CMD.EXE or COMMAND.COM)
/D - Start a DOS session
/DS xxx - Use information found in the file 'xxx' for DOS settings
/F - Start child session in foreground
/FS - Start a full screen session
/H - Hide the PMStart 'window'
/K - Keep command processor after child is finished (used when
loading command shell like CMD.EXE or COMMAND.COM)
/MAX - Start child maximized
/MIN - Start child minimized
/N - Start child without loading command processor (like CMD.EXE
and COMMAND.COM)
/NDx - Set a unique identity for this instance of PMStart. This should
be a number. For example: /ND1 or /ND3 This is used
only when creating PMStart's "window" (and I use the term
"window" loosely)
/PM - Start a PM type program
/POS=x,y,x1,y1
- Set window position (x,y) and size (x1,y1) x,y,x1,y1 must
all be included, otherwise PMStart will fail. (I'll fix this
later)
/WIN - Start child in a windowed session
/WAIT - Wait for child to end before ending PMStart
To tell PMStart to run a specific program always put the name of the program
(and its command line parameters) last on the PMStart command line.
Without any command line parameters, PMStart will start an OS/2
windowed session. Therefore the default is to load an OS/2
program in a window. If you wish to use a DOS program you need
to set the /D switch, and optionally use the /DS xxx to tell PMStart
the DOS settings for the program you wish to run. Also, when running
a DOS session the default session type switches from windowed to full
screen mode.
For Example: to run DOS COMMAND.COM in a window, use:
PMStart /D /WIN
To start COMMAND.COM again, but you wish to use the DOS settings
in the file 'Settings.Dat', use:
PMStart /D /WIN /DS Settings.Dat
To run the DOS program FLAKEY.EXE with the command line of '/D /WE'
in a windowed session, use:
PMStart /D /WIN FLAKEY.EXE /D /WE
DOS SETTINGS FILE
-----------------
You can use the '/DS filename' command line parameter to tell PMStart
which settings to set for the DOS program you are about to start.
The DOS settings file is compatible with the settings file used in
HSWITCH by Henk Kelder. In that case each line would begin with
'SET ' followed by the DOS setting. PMStart does NOT require a line
to start with 'SET '.
The settings file is a simple text file.
Example:
DOS_RMSIZE=200;
DOS_DEVICE=C:\OS2\MDOS\ANSI.SYS,C:\OS2\MDOS\VX00.SYS;
DOS_AUTOEXEC=C:\DOS\AUTOEXE1.BAT;
EMS_MEMORY_LIMIT=368;
XMS_MEMORY_LIMIT=0;
As you can see, each line is a DOS setting found in the DOS settings
dialog in OS/2. Each line ends with a semi-colon. This is to allow
you to be able to embed some spaces at the end of a setting. The
semi-colons are required. The settings DOS_DEVICE, and DOS_VERSION,
may take multiple parameters. These parameters should be separated by
a comma. If you need to put commas and/or semi-colons in the parameter
itself, you must proceed it with a caret '^'.
SET DOS_RMSIZE=512;
SET DOS_DEVICE=C:\OS2\MDOS\ANSI.SYS,C:\OS2\MDOS\VX00.SYS,D:\DRIVERS\TESTDRVR.BIN;
SET DOS_VERSION=NETX.EXE^,5^,00^,255,MSD.EXE^,5^,0^,255;
* This is a comment
SET DOS_AUTOEXEC=C:\DOS\AUTOEXE1.BAT;
SET EMS_MEMORY_LIMIT=384;
SET HW_ROM_TO_RAM=1;
In this example, I load three device drivers. The DOS memory size is
512K, with 384K of EMS memory available. Once COMMAND.COM is loaded,
the batch file C:\DOS\AUTOEXE1.BAT is executed. The DOS_VERSION line
is parsed to remove the caret '^' symbols.
Some DOS settings are only switches. You specify the switch by using the
numbers 1 (YES), and 0 (NO). Example:
INT_DURING_IO=1
This turns INT_DURING_IO on.
Some DOS settings take numbers:
DOS_RMSIZE=640
This sets the DOS memory size to 640K
Other DOS settings take keywords:
DPMI_DOS_API=ENABLED
If you use the VIDEO_MODE_RESTRICTION setting, you must pad the setting
to have 15 characters! Examples:
SET VIDEO_MODE_RESTRICTION=CGA ;
SET VIDEO_MODE_RESTRICTION=NONE ;
SET VIDEO_MODE_RESTRICTION=MONO ;
I'm not sure why these need to be padded to 15 characters. Maybe someone
can clue me in.
You can put comments in the settings file. Comments can go after the last
semi-colon on the line, or start a line with a star '*'
SETTING SWITCHES VIA THE OS/2 ENVIRONMENT
-----------------------------------------
You can set your most frequently used PMStart switches by setting the
PMS_SWITCHES environment variable. You would set them in this manner:
SET PMS_SWITCHES=/DOS /WIN /MIN
PMStart will use these in conjunction with the regular command line
parameters, or in place of them. PMS_SWITCHES are parsed after the
regular command line switches, so they will take precedence.
You can also set the title of the child window using the environment
variable PMS_TITLE. An example:
SET PMS_TITLE=My DOS Window
UNDOCUMENTED SWITCHES
---------------------
There are some undocumented switches in PMStart. All concern the starting
of windows apps. I somehow lost the ability to start seamless windows apps
on my 8514 once I installed my toolkits (and re-installing WinOS2 didn't
fix the problem) So I can't check the functionality of these switches.
Contact me for info on these switches.
HOW TO REACH ME
---------------
I will support this program to the best of my ability. There are several
different ways of contacting me.
Mail:
John Morris
1718 Woodhaven Ln.
Sparks, NV 89434
E-mail:
DoctorX@Sierra.Net
Compuserve:
71562,3235
Netmail:
RBBS-Net 8:919/1 or 2 -OR- Fidonet 1:213/760 or 761
BBS:
The Abandoned Land
(702) 359-1138
(702) 359-0629
Voice:
(702) 359-1303 best times are 6pm to 10pm Pacific Time