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QLIB.TXT
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1993-01-21
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QLIB.TXT : Copyright 1993 QUART, Inc.
Users' Manual for QLIB.EXE - QCDRUN (TM) CD-ROM Database Editor
QCDRUN CD-ROM Library System for Microsoft Windows is a
database management utility and automatic CD-ROM launcher for the
Windows Multimedia and CD-ROM user with an extensive library of
CD-ROMs. QCDRUN gives you true click-and-load convenience.
QLIB.EXE creates and edits the master database files that
allow QCD and the other programs of the QCDRUN system to identify
and run CD-ROMs from catalogued information. QLIB can run as a
standalone Windows application, and will be called by QCD if it
cannot identify the CD-ROM currently in the drive.
All QCDRUN programs automatically locate the main Windows
working directory on your hard drive and search there for .PIF and
.INI files and major Windows operational files. Certain operating
options in QCDRUN rely on the availability of the Windows utilities
WINFILE (File Manager), WRITE (for on-screen filling out and printing
of the registration form), and NOTEPAD (to read documentation), in
your main Windows working directory. These functions will not operate
correctly if these utilities are absent or located elsewhere.
QLIB accepts data base information from direct keyboard
entry or from selection menus and saves this in two database files -
QCD.INI in your Windows directory, and CDLIST.INI in the QCDRUN
working directory. QLIB can shell at your request to QDOC to read
documentation and write registration forms.
QLIB : Initial Operation:
a. From Windows Program Manager menu - select File Run
b. Enter the Command Line h:\dir\qlib, where h is your working
hard drive; and dir is the working directory containing the QCDRUN
system. (Default path is c:\qcd.) If you have installed the QCDRUN
working directory into your DOS path, you need only enter QLIB at
the File Run command line.
c. Press ENTER (from the keyboard) or click OK (left mouse button)
QLIB : General Instructions and Operations
Please be aware:
At any prompt in QLIB - Clicking "Cancel" unconditionally
terminates the program.
To accept defaults (when shown in prompts) - press "ENTER"
or click "OK"
To change from defaults - enter from the keyboard, then
press "ENTER" or click "OK"
All mouse operations in QLIB use the (standard) left mouse
button.
Any timed Message or Display window (without an "OK" button)
can be closed, allowing the program to continue before the set time
(which is a maximum of 5 seconds), by placing the cursor in the window
and clicking the left mouse button.
Step by step:
PRELIMINARY TESTING:
a. QLIB opens with a copyright notice that clears in 5 seconds.
b. QLIB tests for installation in WIN.INI. If you try to simply
copy the QCDRUN distribution files to your hard drive and run QLIB
without completing the QINSTALL procedure, QCD and QLIB will not
find the appropriate entries in WIN.INI or the QCD.INI file, and
will be unable to operate. If the {QCD} section is not present in
WIN.INI, QLIB tells you to run QINSTALL and terminates.
FILE BACKUP and DOCUMENTATION VIEWER:
c. QLIB makes backup copies of existing CD-ROM library files
QCD.INI and CDLIST.INI in the QCDRUN working directory. QLIB then
shells out to QDOC to allow you to view or print program documentation
(click "Yes"). This also allows you to generate your Registration Form
on-screen. If you do not wish to view or print out documentation but
wish to continue in QLIB and edit a CD-ROM, click "No" and QLIB will
resume.
EDITING FUNCTIONS:
d. QLIB performs three basic database operations:
- install new CD-ROM;
- edit existing installation; and
- uninstall CD-ROM.
Successful installation of new CD-ROMs or editing of existing
installations requires that the CD-ROM in question be present in the
CD-ROM drive.
In setting up the database structure in QCD.INI, QLIB
recognizes four basic types of CD-ROM, each of which is handled
slightly differently:
1. CD-ROM runs from single executable file
(example - PC-SIG Library edition 11);
2. CD-ROM runs from several executable files
(example - CorelDraw version 3.0);
3. CD-ROM contains a mixture of executable
files and archived files that must be accessed
directly (example - HamCall); and
4. CD-ROM contains archived files only with
no executable files or shell (example - GIFs Galore).
In each case, the executable file may run from the CD-ROM
itself, may have been installed previously on your hard drive, or
may (rarely) require a floppy disk. Additionally, the executable
file may run appropriately after a command consisting of path:\filename
only, or may require specification or additional parameters. All
these possibilities are acceptable in QLIB.
INSTALLING A NEW CD-ROM:
e. Information on a new CD-ROM will normally be appended to
the end of QCD.INI, increasing the total number of CDs included in
the library by 1. However, if a CD-ROM has previously been deleted
from the library, its place in numerical sequence is held (the
[CDTitle] section of QCD.INI, and CDLIST.INI, both contain the
word "Deleted" at that number in sequence; see below for further
details or the CD-ROM deletion process). In that case, the next new
installation will take the place in numerical sequence of the deleted
CD-ROM and the index for the total number of CD-ROMs in the library
(NCD in the [main] section of QCD.INI) will not be incremented.
f. QLIB requires the CD-ROM to be installed in the CD-ROM
drive. It will ask for confirmation that the correct CD-ROM is in
place, and will prompt for a change and eject the current CD-ROM
(if drive design permits) if the CD-ROM for installation is not in
place. (In many systems, ejecting the CD-ROM may produce an "Unable
to Read Drive" System Error message that clears by clicking "Retry"
after the new CD-ROM is inserted.)
g. Many CD-ROMs (especially those that are DOS-based rather
than native Windows applications) require separate and unique setup
procedures to copy files from (usually) the CD-ROM or (rarely) a
floppy disk onto your hard drive to allow the CD-ROM to run. QLIB
asks if you need to run the CD-ROMs setup procedure. In all cases
where this is necessary, this should be completed before the QLIB
database is established. (You don't need to if you've completed
setting up the CD-ROM before running QLIB, if the CD-ROM is archival
only with no executable files, or if the CD-ROM executable files
explicitly require no specific setup.) A menu shell appears at this
point to allow you to run the CD-ROM's setup routines without
leaving QLIB. Answering the questions, you create the installation
directory for the CD-ROM; and select the setup path, program, and
additional parameters from the files on the CD-ROM. When this is
complete, QLIB will run the setup procedures to install the
CD-ROM to your hard drive before continuing with the QLIB database
functions. (Note that many CD-ROM's have unusual or unique setup
procedures. Some, especially those that shell from Windows to DOS,
may conflict unpredictably with QLIB or your Windows system. While
the CD-ROM setup procedure from within QLIB is convenient, it may
prove unstable. If time permits you are better off running the
CD-ROM setup procedures before entering QLIB; OR exiting QLIB
at this point, performing the setup, and returning to QLIB for
database management only.)
h. QLIB then prompts for entry of a working title for the
CD-ROM. This will be recorded in the CD-ROM library file QCD.INI
section [CDTitle] and in CDLIST.INI and be used as the name or
title by which the CD-ROM is normally referred to. A blank entry
is not acceptable.
i. QLIB then creates a shell of subdirectories and files
on the CD-ROM to allow you select a single file on the CD-ROM that
will be recorded in QCD.INI and used by QCD as a unique identifier
for the CD-ROM. You may select any file from any subdirectory - but
are best to select a subdirectory and file that are unlikely to be
found on another CD-ROM. Blank entries are not acceptable. Before
accepting the identifier file, QLIB scans QCD.INI to ensure that no
other CD-ROM is using a file of the same path and name as its
identifier. If a file of the same path and name IS found in QCD.INI,
QLIB generates an error message ("Identifier File is Not Unique")
and returns to the file shell menus to allow selection of another
identifier file.
j. QLIB then asks you to select from a menu to identify the
CD-ROM as one of the four basic types (see d. above). QLIB operation
from this point on varies slightly according to the CD-ROM type.
k. If the CD-ROM runs from a single executable file, QLIB asks
if the CD-ROM is a native Windows application. If not, it advises
you to select from existing Windows .PIF file or to create a new
Windows .PIF file for best application execution. If an existing
.PIF file is available, QLIB shows a menu shell to allow its selection.
If you wish to create a new .PIF file, QLIB shells to the Windows
.PIF editor to allow you to create it and automatically accepts
that new file name as the path and file name for the CD-ROM executable
file. If you do not use a .PIF file at this time, or if this is a
native Windows application, QLIB prompts you to enter the path and
file name for the file. This is a mandatory entry. You are then
prompted to enter any optional parameters that the CD-ROM executable
file will need to run correctly. These are stored in a separate
section of QCD.INI for each CD-ROM in the format:
[CDx] - where x=sequential CD number in QCD.INI
u=1 (CD-ROM type is single executable file);
a=identifier file path:\filename
x=executable file path:\filename
p=optional parameters
l. If the CD-ROM is an archive only without an operating shell
or other executable files, QLIB automatically creates an entry in
the format:
[CDx]
u=4
a=identifier file path:\filename
x=Search Archival Files
p=
m. If the CD-ROM contains multiple executable files, QLIB
requests the same information as in k. above, as well as a working
title for each executable file. This then creates two new sections
of QCD.INI in the format:
[CDx] - where x=sequential CD number in QCD.INI
u=2
a=identifier file path:\filename
[CDxmenu]
title1=executable file path:\filename optional parameters
title2=... etc. for all the individual executable files
If no optional parameter is specified, QLIB concatenates
an ampersand ("&") following the executable file path:\filename as
a place-holder.
n. If the CD-ROM mixes executable and archival files, QLIB
requests the same information as in m. above, and creates two new
sections in QCD.INI in the format:
[CDx]
u=3
a=identifier file path:\filename
[CDxmenu]
title1=executable file path:\filename optional parameters
title2=... etc. for all executable files
Search Archival Files=
o. At the completion of each successful installation, the index
NCD for total number of CDs installed in the [main] section of QCD.INI
is incremented by 1 - unless the new CD-ROM has been installed in
place of a prior deletion. A brief message window confirms successful
installation. QLIB then asks if you wish to install or edit another
CD-ROM. The program exits if you click "No". "Yes" returns you to
QDOC and to the full installation procedure from step c. above.
UNINSTALLING a CD-ROM:
p. QLIB does not require you to place the CD-ROM to be uninstalled
into the CD-ROM drive. Selecting the "Uninstall CD-ROM" option from
the main menu brings up a master menu (from CDLIST.INI) showing CD-ROM
index number and title for all CD-ROMs currently installed. Click
the mouse on the title of the CD-ROM you wish to be deleted from
QCD.INI and CDLIST.INI.
q. QLIB asks you to confirm your selection for deletion. If
you click "yes" to confirm, QLIB proceeds to:
- back-up QCD.INI and CDLIST.INI in the QCD working directory
as QCD.REM and CDLIST.REM for recovery in case of malfunction;
- delete the [CDx] and [CDxmenu] sections from QCD.INI (x is
the CD-ROM index number);
- delete the CD-ROM title from the [installed] section of
CDLIST.INI and the [CDTitle] section of QCD.INI, in each case
replacing the title after the index number with the place-holder
"Deleted";
- if not already present, creates a section [deleted] in
QCD.INI;
- increments the total number of deletions "nd=" in section
[deleted] of QCD.INI by 1;
- adds a new line to the [deleted] section cross-referencing
the CD-ROM index number (x) to the corresponding value of the deletion
index (nd), in the form "del(nd)=x"; and
- confirms successful deletion.
r. QLIB then asks if you wish to edit or install another CD-ROM.
Clicking "yes" returns you to the main operating menu of QLIB. Clicking
"no" concludes the program.
s. Installation of a new CD-ROM in place of one that has been
deleted reverses the order of operations in q, above. Specifically,
- new [CDx] and (if appropriate) [CDxmenu] sections are built
in QCD.INI;
- the new CD-ROM title is substituted for "Deleted" in [CDTitle]
in QCD.INI and in [installed] in CDLIST.INI;
- the index nd in the [deleted] section of QCD.INI decrements
by 1;
- the last line for del(nd)=x is removed from the [deleted]
section of QCD.INI; and
- the index value x is assigned to the new CD-ROM.
EDIT EXISTING INSTALLATION:
t. The basic menu structure for CD-ROM access is determined by
QLIB in the installation and removal routines already described.
QLIB allows all CD-ROM installation parameters to be edited or
modified separately. These include modification of the CD-ROM title
and identifier file; modification of the title or path\fileneame
for individual executable files; and addition of new executable
files or archival search capabilities or deletion of existing executable
files or search capabilities in current installations. The sequence
steps and messages presented to the user are as described in sections
f through o, above, for installation of a new CD-ROM. The CD-ROM
whose installation is to be edited must be in the CD-ROM drive for
QLIB to run. At each step, QLIB prompts the user for confirmation
before making any modifications.
COMPLETION and EXIT:
u. When you complete your editing or installation operations,
QLIB resumes control to ask if you wish to change CD-ROMs and load
another. Click "No" to exit QLIB.
If you click "Yes", QLIB shells to QDOC (see c. above) so
you may review documentation if you wish. It then prompts for
selection of a new editing or installation operation. If you
choose no new operation, QLIB terminates.
ENJOY YOUR CD-ROMs!