Magnum One/Magnum One (Mid-American Digital) (Disc Manufacturing).iso/d10/create2.arc/HELP.DOC

Text File | 1990-12-09 | 12KB | 201 lines

                  IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THESE DISKS

   BEFORE YOU START: Make backup copies of your disks. (See the DISKCOPY
command in your DOS manual.) Put the original disks in a safe place, and
use the copies for all work. If you are upgrading from an older version
of a program, make backup copies of all your old data files before you
install the new version. Files with the extensions DBF, DBT, and MEM
contain essential data. Files with the NTX extension are index files.
Some programs also create special text files which you may want to back
up.

   ARCHIVE FILES: Sometimes there are too many files to fit on a single
floppy disk. These programs are compressed and stored in special archive
files with the extension ARC or ZIP. Before you can use the program, you
must extract the files from the archive. We have provided the extraction
utility.
   If you are using a 2-floppy system, look for a file named FLOPPY.BAT
or DOTWO.BAT. Start from the A> prompt, with the master disk in the A
drive. Be prepared with 2 or 3 empty, formatted diskettes. Enter the
appropriate command, depending on the file you found. For example, if
you have FLOPPY.BAT, type FLOPPY and press <ENTER>. Follow the instruc-
tions on screen, which will tell you when to insert your floppy disks
into the B drive.
   If you are using a hard disk, be sure you have created the subdirec-
tory where you want the program to be kept. Look for a program named
ARCE.COM or UNZIP.EXE or PKUNZIP.EXE. Starting from the correct subdi-
rectory, at the C> prompt, with the diskette in the A drive, enter the
appropriate command. For example, if your archive file has the ARC
extension, you should have the program ARCE.COM. Your command will look
something like this: A:ARCE A:FORTUNE. (Instead of "fortune" use the
actual name of the archive file.) The program will automatically un-com-
press the files and place them in the current subdirectory.
   In some cases, you may have "self-extracting" archive files. These do
not require a separate utility, but will un-compress themselves. They
look like ordinary program files with the EXE extension, but can be
identified by the @ symbol in the filename. To use a self-extracting
archive, first log onto the drive and directory where you want to place
the uncompressed files. For example, if you have a two-floppy system,
you might want to place your master disk containing the archive into the
A drive, and then log onto the B drive with an empty, formatted disk. If
you are using a hard disk, create the subdirectory for the new files,
and then log into the subdirectory, with the archive disk in the A
drive. If the archive name is WAURA@.EXE, you will type A:WAURA@ and
press <ENTER>. Self-extraction will occur automatically. (Note to floppy
disk users: There may be more than one self-extracting archive on a
single disk. You must use a separate, empty, formatted diskette for each
such archive.)

   DOCUMENTATION AND INSTRUCTIONS: Most of our instruction manuals are
in special program files which allow you to view the manual on screen or
print it. These files have the COM extension, and usually have "DOC"
somewhere in the filename. Simply enter the appropriate command. For
example, if you have the program BY THE NUMBERS, the instruction manual
is called NUMDOC.COM. To view the manual, type NUMDOC and press <ENTER>.
You can page through the document on screen, or print it by pressing
<ALT><H>. For a list of helpful commands, press <F1>.
   Files which have the DOC or TXT extension are ASCII format files
(also called DOS text files) which can be viewed or printed using DOS
commands. For example, if you have a typical setup, you can print a
document called CATALOG.DOC using this command: TYPE CATALOG.DOC > LPT1:
   To view this file on screen, you would enter: TYPE CATALOG.DOC | MORE
   You can also view and print this kind of file with most word proces-
sors, using the format for "ASCII", "DOS text" or "Non-document" files.

   PROGRAM FILES: Program files can be identified by the extension EXE
or COM after the file name. To run the program, simply type its name.
For example, you have a program named WORKBASE.EXE, type WORKBASE and
press <ENTER>.
   SOURCE CODE: Registered versions of a few programs come with source
code. You do not need the source code just to run the program; you can
delete it from the disk to make more room. Source code files have the
extensions PRG, BAS, and OBJ.
   DATA FILES: Some programs create data files, with the extensions DBF,
DBT, NTX and MEM. These are important and should be backed up regularly.
Some programs also create special text files which you may also want to
back up.

   HARD DISK OR FLOPPY: Your programs will run much faster on a hard
disk than they do on a floppy. Also, some programs build large data
files which may grow as you use the program and eventually fill a floppy
disk. We recommend using a hard disk. POETRY GENERATOR requires a hard
disk, and MAILLIST and WORKBASE are much easier to use on a hard disk.
Any program which uses data files (those with the DBF and DBT exten-
sions) is best when used on a hard disk.

   NEW VERSIONS: Sometimes a new version of a program will ask your per-
mission to update your data files. Do not answer "yes" unless you have
already made a backup copy of your data. Don't copy the backed-up data
back into the directory after the files have been updated.
   CREATIVITY PACKAGE:  Disk #1 contains the complete text of Thomas A.
Easton's book, "Think Thunder! And Unleash Your Creativity". To read it,
use the command READIT, or you can read each chapter separately by
typing the chapter name (see the disk for file name). Disk #2 contains
the program THUNDER THOUGHT, and disk #3 contains VERSIFIER.
   POETRY GENERATOR: The registered version is distributed on two disks,
containing different archive files. All the files from both disks are
needed for the program to run correctly.
   BONUS DISKS: We are not the authors of these programs. Please direct
shareware payments and technical questions about a program to the author
whose name appears in the documentation. If you have trouble reaching an
author, we will do what we can to help you. All programs have been
tested. Because hardware and software configurations vary, we cannot
guarantee satisfactory results. We do not warrant these programs in any
way. To report a problem, please write a letter describing the problem
in detail, including information about your system. We cannot debug
these programs over the phone.

   Thank you for your interest in our UNUSUAL SOFTWARE. We support our
registered users. If you have questions, comments, complaints or
compliments, please write to us. Have fun!

                                 BAD DISK?

   It seems that in hot weather we are more likely to get complaints
about "bad" or unreadable disks. Floppy disks are susceptible to heat,
moisture and magnetism. A disk that sits all day in a hot mailbox or
truck where temperatures exceed 100 degrees is likely to be damaged.
Disks which have been exposed to magnetism in their travels may contain
unreadable files.
   Before assuming that a disk is bad, try reading it on a different
computer, if possible. It may be that your drive heads are dirty or
slightly misaligned. Suspect this if you frequently get disk error mes-
sages with many different disks. An inexpensive head cleaning kit may
help solve your problem.
   Sometimes the round disk gets trapped inside its square casing and
generates an error message because it can't rotate freely. Remove the
disk from the drive and tap each of the four sides sharply on the sur-
face of your desk. This may loosen the disk. Try reading the disk again.
   Norton Utilities and Mace Utilities both have features that can some-
times revive unreadable disks. We have had good results with Norton. Any
serious computer user should have one of these utility packages.
   In any case, if we have sent you an unreadable disk, we will be happy
to exchange it for a fresh copy of the same program.

                               ERROR MESSAGES

   It may happen that when you run a program, you will get an error mes-
sage something like this: Open File Error DESC.NTX (4)
   The "4" is DOS's cryptic way of telling you that the program has
tried to open more files than DOS can handle at once. To solve this
problem, you need to check the CONFIG.SYS file in your root directory.
This file should contain the following lines:

   files=20
   buffers=20

   If the numbers are smaller then 20, or if these lines are missing
from the file, you will need to edit it. If you don't have a CONFIG.SYS
file, you will need to create one. (Note that some systems and networks
may require numbers larger then 20. Check your system user's manual.)
   CONFIG.SYS must be a pure ASCII file. You can edit or create this
file using Edlin or any pure ASCII text editor. Most word processors
allow you to save files in ASCII format. (This may be referred to as a
DOS Text File. WordStar may call it "non-document".) Remember, the file
must be in ASCII format and must be in the root directory on your C
drive. If you boot with a DOS diskette in the A drive, the CONFIG.SYS
file must be in the root directory of the disk you use to boot.
   When you have corrected the CONFIG.SYS file, reboot your system and
try running the program again.
   In case you are confused and can't create a CONFIG.SYS file for your-
self, we distribute a free program called DOCONFIG which will edit or
create your CONFIG.SYS file as needed. If you would like a copy of this
program, please send a double-sided, double-density, 5 1/4" diskette in
a sturdy, reusable mailer with three first-class stamps. If you don't
want to bother with the disk and mailer, send $5.00 instead. (Sorry,
DOCONFIG is not available on 3 1/4" disks.)

                               "0" ERROR

   On rare occasions, you may see an error message similar to this one:
Open File Error NUMBERS.NTX (0)
   The number 0 and the NTX extension in the file name indicate that the
problem is a corrupted or damaged index file. Most of our programs will
automatically recreate missing index files. So, simply delete the file
in question (make sure you delete only files with the NTX extension) and
try running the program again. Some programs also have a reindexing
choice on the menu which allows you to re-create the indexes whenever
you like.

                               OTHER ERRORS

   There are many possible reasons why a program might occasionally pro-
duce an error message. In most cases, errors are not serious, and they
usually have a simple solution. If you don't understand what the error
message means, or if you don't know how to solve the problem, we can
help you.
   Make an exact, complete copy of the error message (a print-screen is
best). As soon as the error happens, write down what you were doing (or
trying to do) at the time. Have you been able to do the same thing in
the past without getting an error? Have you seen a similar error before?
Make a note of any keys you may have pressed just before the error oc-
curred. Do you think you know what may have caused the error? Could it
be related to changes in your system, a new version of the program, or
something unusual you did? Send us the information, and we will let you
know what needs to be done to correct or avoid the error.

                          R.K. West Consulting
                              P.O. Box 8059
                     Mission Hills, CA 91346, U.S.A.