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1993-03-10
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INST Installation Software
Version 3.0
Elizabeth Copper
227 F Avenue
Coronado, CA 92118
Bulletin Board (619)-435-0036
Voice Message (619)-435-2687
WHAT INST DOES: This is a shareware program to enable shareware authors
and corporate/business/governmental to create a custom installation
front-end for nearly any software package. INST was written to create a
simple, menu-driven program to do this that would be less complicated
and less costly than other packages available.
INST allows you to create a custom installation for any software that:
+Displays a PCX logo (EGA/VGA only) and your company name.
+Checks the number of files in config.sys.
+Allows users to edit config and autoexec through a built-in editor.
+Checks video adapter, base memory and free disk space.
+Copies files to a default directory or user-selected directory.
+Supports multiple disk sets.
+Un-archives files in self-extracting archives.
+Supports upgrade installs (locates your program on the user's hard disk
and copies new files over old ones in the same subdirectory.)
+Displays five lines of text of your choice, your company name and the
name of the software being installed.
INST does these things by creating an installation configuration file with
your specifications. You simply copy this file, INST.EXE and your PCX log
(if any) to the distribution disk and instruct users to type INST to install
your software.
QUICK START: To run the setup, type INST SETUP. Type INST M SETUP to
bring up monochrome screens. Users type INST to install or INST M to
install in monochrome. NOTE: there are no slashes or dashes between
parameters!
STARTING INST is simple:
To set up your specifications, type INST (M) SETUP and you will see the
following screens. INST M SETUP brings up monochrome:
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Software Installation Setup │
│ GROWLER SOFTWARE (619)-435-2687 │
│ Enter number of disks in set: 1 │
│ Enter required base memory (in Kbytes): 512 │
│ Enter required number of file handles: 41 │
│ Enter required minimum DOS version (at least 3.30): 3.30 │
│ Enter device driver or other CONFIG.SYS statement: │
│ CONFIG.SYS statement: │
│ │
│ Enter environment variables for AUTOEXEC.BAT: │
│ Environment variable 1: │
│ Environment variable 2: │
│ Environment variable 3: │
│ Enter default drive for installation (C: through J: valid): C: │
│ Enter default directory for installation (no trailing backslash): \ │
│ Enter program name: │
│ Enter free disk space needed in Mbytes: 3 │
│ Enter the names of up to four self-extracting archives (no extension) for │
│ INST to extract: (1): (2): (3): (4): │
│ Delete the self-extracting archive(s) and INST.EXE after installation? Y │
│ Enter DOS command to start program (no extension): │
│ Enter company name: GROWLER SOFTWARE (619)-435-2687 │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Number of disks in set: INST handles multiple disk sets to be in one
subdirectory. User are prompted "insert disk two, three, etc." Volume
labels are NOT checked.
Base memory: INST checks installed base memory only, not free or EMS/XMS memory.
HINT: If you application needs 640K, use 630K to avoid install failures
under DESQVIEW and other multitaskers that report less than 640K base
memory per task/window.
File handles: The file handles check is through a BIOS call, not by
reading config.sys. This will more reliably report actual file handles.
Network handles are not checked.
DOS version: The DOS version check is through the standard call. YOU
MUST SPECIFY AT LEAST DOS 3.30 FOR INST TO FUNCTION PROPERLY!
CONFIG.SYS statement: Enter exactly as the user should type it into the
CONFIG.SYS file. If you make an entry here, the user will be given a
popup edit screen with config.sys and told to look for or add the line
you specify. If edit is exited with SAVE (CtrlW), the original
config.sys file will be saved as config.z$z. Be sure the line is
EXACTLY as it should be typed in, e.g.: DEVICE=ANSI.SYS.
AUTOEXEC.BAT environment variables/lines to add: Enter exactly as the
user should type into the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. If you make an entry here,
the user will be given a popup edit screen with autoexec.bat and told to
look for or add the lines you specify. If edit is exited with SAVE
(CtrlW), the original autoexec.bat file will be saved as autoexec.z$z. Be
sure the lines are EXACTLY as they should be typed in,
e.g.: SET TMP=C:\TMP, SET CLIPPER=//F45, etc.
Enter the default drive and directory for installation, required free space
in Mbytes (add the total bytes on your distribution disk to the total
unarchived size of your program). Unless you specify UPGRADE INSTALL
(see below), INST requires installation to a subdirectory that does not
already exist to prevent overwriting some other program or files. If
your default directory exists, INST will prompt the user to enter
another directory name. INST checks for invalid drives and directories.
Enter the names of up to four self-extracting archives (no extension).
You may choose to have the archive(s) and INST deleted from the
destination directory after installation. This is a good idea to
prevent users from trying multiple installs and wiping out their data.
Enter the DOS command to start the program, with no extension. Enter your
company name.
NOTE: Buffers are not checked because they are less consequential with
the use of disk caches and because many users load them in high memory.
The second screen below handles upgrade installs, video options and five
lines of text to display:
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Software Installation Setup │
│ GROWLER SOFTWARE (619)-435-2687 │
│ │
│ Do you want to permit upgrade installs? (Have INST detect your program │
│ and copy the files on the disk over the existing files.) Y/N: Y │
│ Enter the name of the program file to locate (with extension): JUNK.EXE │
│ Enter required minimum video display adapter (A-Any, E-EGA, V-VGA): A │
│ PCX logo (filename.PCX) to display (EGA/VGA only): │
│ Display logo for how many seconds (unless a key is pressed)? 7 │
│ Enter up to five lines of text to display on configuration screen: │
│ Line 1: │
│ Line 2: │
│ Line 3: │
│ Line 4: │
│ Line 5: │
│ Center or left-justify these lines (C/L)? C │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
UPGRADE INSTALLS: If you answer N to this question, INST will require
an install to a subdirectory that does not already exist. This is to
prevent users from copying your program into a subdirectory that already
contains something else.
If you want to permit upgrade installs, answer Y to this question. An
upgrade install is one in which you want the user to copy all the files
on the disk(s) over older versions of the same files in a particular
subdirectory. If you answer Y, you then need to enter the name of the
file to look for on the users hard disk to locate your program. This
can be any file associated with you program, and does not have to the
EXE file. When INST is run, the program will then search for that file
and if it finds it, ask the user if (s)he want to install to the
directory where it was found. If the user says "No", or if INST cannot
find the file, the normal INST install will proceed to a new directory.
USE THIS OPTION WITH CARE! If you tell INST to look for the file
JUNK.EXE and there are two JUNK.EXE files on the hard disk, INST will
select the first. If it is not your program, INST could wipe out some
other program, making your user very unhappy. Specify a filename that
is unlikely to belong to anything other than your program. It can be a
datafile, configuration file or anything. Remember INST will copy only
the files on the distribution disk over those on the hard disk, so it is
safe to specify a filename that is not one that will or should be copied
over. IF YOU USE THIS OPTION, TEST IT BEFORE DISTRIBUTING!
Enter the name of a PCX logo to display: Enter a filename with the .PCX
extension. INST supports the following PCX formats, with a maximum PCX
file size of 64Kbytes:
VGA - 320x200x256, video mode 13h
VGA - 640x480x16, video mode 12h
EGA/VGA - 640x350x16, video mode 10h
CGA, MDA and MGA are not supported. INST checks the display adapter and
skips display if VGA/EGA are not present.
Limitations and requirements:
THE MOST IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT is: Once you have completed your
selections, TEST YOUR INSTALLATION TO BE SURE IT DOES WHAT YOU THINK IT
SHOULD!
PLEASE EXPERIMENT WITH THE PROGRAM AND TEST YOUR INSTALLATIONS TO BE
SURE INST DOES WHAT YOU WANT AND WHAT YOU THINK YOU HAVE TOLD IT TO DO.
ANY PROGRAM THAT MAKES SUBDIRECTORIES, COPIES FILES AND ALLOWS EDITING
OF CONFIG.SYS AND AUTOEXEC.BAT DESERVES TO BE TREATED AS A POTENTIALLY
DANGEROUS TOOL IF USED IMPROPERLY OR WITH MISTAKEN PARAMETERS!
Installation is permitted to drives C: through J: only.
Installation is permitted only to new directories (except when upgrading).
INST handles only one self-extracting arhive file per disk or disk set.
Self-extracting archives must not contain any auto-run batch files. They
must simply extract the files and must be in self-extracting archive (.EXE)
format. PKZIP 1.10 and 2.04g, and LHA have been tested.
Why INST? INST was chosen to avoid conflicting with the name INSTALL.
INST was written in Clipper 5.01a, linked with FREELINK into a
non-overlay file and compressed with LZEXE to reduce its size. The size
of INST.EXE should not be a drawback for most programs, especially if
you distribute self-extracting archives on 720K-1.2M-1.4M floppies.
Your users will see a screen similar to the one below, and if the need
to edit config.sys or autoexec.bat, an editor screen will pop up
prompting them to add lines, check the files=nn line, etc.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Daily Calendar Version 5.0 Installation │
│ GROWLER SOFTWARE (619)-435-2687 │
│ │
│ Memory check: 640K required, 640K found. +Memory check OK. │
│ Files check: 41 required, 79 found. +Files number OK. │
│ DOS version check: 3.30 required, 3.31 found. +DOS version OK. │
│ Minimum video adapter check: ANY required, VGA found. +Video check OK. │
│ │
│ What is your boot drive? C: │
│ Drive on which to install program: C: │
│ Directory in which to install program: \DAY │
│ │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
REGISTRATION:
If you obtained this software from a shareware distribution service, you
have paid only for the cost of distribution. You have not registered it.
Basic, individual registration is $20. If this software is used in a
business/corporate/government setting, a site license is required, as
explained on the registration page that follows.
INST is shareware, it is not free or public domain. If you use it for more
than thirty days, you are expected to register it. Use beyond this period
without registration violates a variety of laws, but more importantly denies
the author minimal, just compensation for the software.
This program and associated documentation are the property of the author
and may not be sold without permission. The program may be freely
distributed, unaltered and as a unit, via electronic bulletin board
systems. Permission to distribute on diskette or in any other manner must
be obtained in writing.
WARRANTY:
The author does not guarantee this program to be free from defects and may
not be held responsible for loss caused by it. Your use of this program
constitutes your acceptance of these terms.
Users of INST must accept this disclaimer of warranty: INST 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 INST.
SUPPORT:
Support is provided for registered and non-registered users through the
Bulletin Board (619)-435-0036 and voice message (619)-435-2687.
Bulletin Board support is the best way to get help. Call the board and
leave a message. An answer will be posted within 36 hours.
March, 1993
REGISTRATION FORM:
INST Installation Software
Version 3.0
Elizabeth Copper
227 F Avenue
Coronado, CA 92118
Bulletin Board (619)-435-0036
Voice Message (619)-435-2687
TO REGISTER:
You are registering the copy you have, which is the fully functional
program. Your registration will be acknowledged and if there is a new
version, you will receive it.
Print this form, complete it and send it with $20 to the address above.
PLEASE MAKE THE CHECK PAYABLE TO ELIZABETH COPPER. Please use this form
or be sure to let us know you are registering Version 3.0.
Name_________________________________________________________________
Address______________________________________________________________
City______________________________________State_____Zip______________
Is 3½ disk size OK? ___YES ___No, send 5¼ disk.
Registered users also have special access to the Bulletin Board and reduced
prices on other Growler Software products.
Pricing:
Single user rate.................................................$ 20.00
This is the rate for an individual using this software in a non-corporate,
non-institutional setting. This is the rate for shareware authors who do
business as individuals. Individual shareware authors may distribute
INST with their applications with no royalties.
Site licenses are REQUIRED for all corporate, institutional, government,
education and business users. This software will save you far more in
time thanthe site license costs
Site license rate, one physical site, unlimited users............$125.00
This is the rate for a company using INST as an in-house installation
tool.
Site license rate, unlimited physical sites, unlimited users.....$250.00
This is the rate for multiple-site companies, software distributors and
software companies for unlimited use. (If you are a software
distributor or software company, royalty arrangements can be made.
Customization and other special services are also available.)
Government, education and public benefit non-profits, 10% off prices
above.