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README.1ST
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1993-01-04
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SEZ_YOU!
Tired of Those nagging support calls about "open error (4)"? Sick of
batch file madness to get multiple clipper-compiled applications to
coexist on the same machine? Do you know where your "SET CLIPPER="
string is? Bothered by illegal copies of your applications that you
can't track? Is that what's troubling you, Bunkie?
SEZ_YOU! lets YOU show your clipper-compiled application who's the
boss... Says who? SAYS YOU!
SEZ_YOU! is a developer's utility for Clipper Summer '87, that permits
displaying and/or resetting of the internal "default" values for the
environmental variables in a Clipper-compiled .exe file. SEZ_YOU! can
also display or alter the name of the environmental string to which
the application will respond. Additionally, SEZ_YOU! can "brand" a
scrambled copy of your custom identification string deep within the
.exe file. A set of user-defined-functions are provided that return
the contents of the environmental variables, the environmental string
name, and the unscrambled identification string.
SEZ_YOU! is command-line driven, using a syntax very similar to the
normal SET CLIPPER= string. It may be run from a batch file, the DOS
prompt, or a MAKE utility for convenience.
ABOUT THE SEZ_YOU DEMO...
The demonstration-size version distributed in this package as been
partially defunctionalized. However, enough functionality has been
preserved to permit you to play with SEZ_YOU! on the enclosed demo
program, or on a clipper-compiled program of your own - there is no
file size limitation. Although the full version will permit alteration
of all of the environmental values, the trial size package will only
alter the R and X parameters. This will allow you to demonstrate the
program's effectiveness, since you can see the results by setting the
values to intentionally generate inadequate memory errors. Remember
to issue a "SET CLIPPER=" command first, to clear the environment of
any previous strings, as these will over-ride the internal values.
The trial size version will allow you to brand the target .exe file
with an encrypted identification code, but will use the string
"DEMO_01" regardless of the value you pass on the command line,
following the "I" parameter.
The clipper-compiled demo program also demonstrates the use of the
companion functions to return information about the environmental
values and string name, together with the identity code.
-2-
PROVING THAT IT WORKS...
Unfortunately, it is not easy to demonstrate the power, versatility,
and ease of use of SEZ_YOU!. But if you will take the time to try the
experiments suggested here, you'll see just why SEZ_YOU! is an
exciting, useful, and totally unique product. Just remember that it's
much easier to USE than it is to DESCRIBE! (If you understand the
syntax of the SET CLIPPER= string, you already know most of the rules
for using SEZ_YOU!)
1. Begin by linking the demonstration files with the clipper
libraries to build the demo program:
TLINK SDEMO GETDEMO,,,CLIPPER EXTEND
PLINK86 FI SDEMO, GETDEMO LIB CLIPPER, EXTEND
2. Display the command line syntax for SEZ_YOU! by entering the DOS
command:
SYDEMO
3. Now use SEZ_YOU! to examine the status of the freshly-linked .exe
file:
SYDEMO SDEMO.EXE
The screen display will show that all of the values are at their
default settings, that there is no identification code in use,
and that the program will respond to an environmental string
named "CLIPPER". Since no additional parameters were passed, no
alterations were made to the target file.
4. Try the identification-code branding. The trial-size SEZ_YOU! will
always use the code "DEMO_01" regardless of the value you pass,
although the full version will accept any alpha-numeric string
of up to seven characters. Enter the command:
SYDEMO SDEMO.EXE IXXX
Note that the command line arguments are NOT case sensitive, and
may be issued in any sequence. A target file may be altered
repeatedly, merely overwriting previous entries.
View the embedded code with the command:
SYDEMO SDEMO.EXE
Notice that the identification code is now reported as DEMO_01.
Just for fun, try to find and alter that code using DEBUG, NU,
or PCTools. Bet you can't - the code is encrypted before
branding!
-3-
5. Demonstrate altering the internal default for the X parameter next.
Determine the value of X (excluded memory) that will cause a
clipper-compiled program to fail to run, using different X
values in a SET CLIPPER=Xxxx statement. Then insert that value
into the test file with the command:
SYDEMO TESTFILE.EXE Xxxx
Note that SEZ_YOU! reports X both before and after alteration.
Now, clear the previous environmental string and then attempt to
run the test program:
SET CLIPPER= (clear the environment)
TESTFILE
Notice that the program behaves exactly as it did with the
environmental string. You can also verify that the environmental
string will over-ride the internal value by re-issuing the SET
CLIPPER command and then executing the altered program
successfully:
SET CLIPPER=x0 (eXclude no memory, will over-ride X)
TESTFILE
6. Demonstration of the R-parameter is a little more tricky and
depends upon your available memory and the size of the
clipper-compiled and target programs involved. Experiment with
different values for R in a SET CLIPPER string, and then repeat
the trials using SEZ_YOU! to insert similar values into the
clipper-compiled program. Again, you will find that the behavior
mimics the environmental-string controlled behavior, and that
the environmental string will over-ride the internal value.
In order to demonstrate this more easily, the demo program SDEMO
has been set up to hog most of the available memory, and
then to attempt to RUN SYDEMO. This will succeed or fail
based on the R value (either internal or environmental-string).
SEZ_YOU! requires about 33K to run, and so, setting R to a lower
number will cause a failed RUN, and a higher number will usually
succeed (although memory fragmentation may make this somewhat
unpredictable). Again, convince yourself that the internally
altered value behaves similarly to a SET CLIPPER=Rxxx trial.
SET CLIPPER=R20
SDEMO (will fail to RUN SYDEMO)
SET CLIPPER=R40
SDEMO (will usually RUN SYDEMO)
-4-
SET CLIPPER= (be sure to clear the environment)
SYDEMO SDEMO R20
SDEMO (will also fail to RUN SYDEMO)
SYDEMO SDEMO R40
SDEMO (will also usually RUN SYDEMO)
SYDEMO SDEMO R20
SET CLIPPER=R40
SDEMO (will run because SET CLIPPER=R40
over-rides the internal value)
This also points out the need for the ability to change the name
of the environmental string to which our clipper-compiled
program will respond. Other applications may place a SET CLIPPER
string in the environment, and its values would, of course
over-ride the internally-set values if our program were looking
for the string named "CLIPPER". By changing the name, our
application is protected from such interference, but we can
still alter its behavior either by re-running SEZ_YOU!, or by
using a string of the correct name. This capability is not
available in the trial-size SEZ_YOU!, but fully supported in the
full version.
7. Companion functions are provided to allow the program to determine
it's own environmental variable settings and string name. These
may be of use in an error-reporting routine, to help to capture
the state of the machine. The trial-size package only reports
the state of the R and X values, however. Additionally, a
function is provided to return the decrypted identification
code. Displaying this code prominently on screens and reports
may help to discourage unauthorized copying of your application.
These functions are quite small, and are written in assembly
language.
-5-
OBTAINING SEZ_YOU!
The introductory price for SEZ_YOU! is $49.00, plus $5.00 for shipping
and handling; please call for express mail, 3-1/2" disk availability,
or any other information. It is backed with a 30-day guarantee of your
money-back if it doesn't perform as advertised.
SEZ_YOU! is being distributed by:
PROGRAMMING SOLUTIONS
5320 South 900 East, Suite 100
Salt Lake City, Utah 84117
(voice) 801/262-4141
(Compuserve 73320,3117)
Support will be provided by mail, telephone, or Email on CompuServe.
LEGAL STUFF
You are encouraged to copy this demonstration program freely. It may
be uploaded to other boards, although Email support may not be
available other than on CompuServe.
This demonstration package is not to be sold, nor is it placed in the
public domain. All of the related files must be included in the
archive, and no files may be altered:
README.1ST - this file
SYDEMO.EXE - trial-size version of SEZ_YOU!
SDEMO.OBJ - Clipper-compiled demo program
GETDEMO.OBJ - related functions for the demo program
FLYER.TXT - SEZ_YOU! promotional flyer
SEZ_YOU! (c) Copyright 1989 SoundView Data Systems, All rights reserved
Clipper (tm) Nantucket