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1994-01-15
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479 lines
CD-AUDIO PLAYER VERSION 1.10
Copyright (c) 1994,1995 by Country Closet Software All Rights Reserved
INTRODUCTION: WHY CD-AUDIO PLAYER?
With the increasing popularity of CD-ROM drives in home and
business computers, many computers have a CD-ROM drive either
installed in them when sold, or have one installed after the sale.
The CD-ROM drive opens many new possibilities to the user. You
can access volummes of data, enjoy real-time audio/video
presentations, entertain and educate with the new interactive discs,
and more.
Yet another possibility arises when you aren't using your
computer's CD-ROM drive for programs. You can use your CD-ROM drive
to play audio (music) CD discs - even while running other programs on
your computer!
For a while now, users of the Microsoft Windows(tm) operating
system have known this possibility, because they could open a window
with an audio player program while running other programs.
However, users of DOS have not been so fortunate - until now!
Some CD-ROM players ship with DOS software to play audio CD
discs, but this software is often added to the other software that
comes with the drive as an afterthought. It's usually cryptic,
difficult to use, (and worse) written ONLY for the CD-ROM drive you
just purchased. If you rely on it and upgrade to a different drive
later, the software will probably not work with your new drive!
CD-Audio Player from Country Closet Software will allow you to
insert an audio (music) disc into your CD-ROM player, start playing
it, then continue to use your computer to run other, non CD-ROM based
software while the disc you've selected continues to play!
Alternatively, CD-Audio Player can remain on your screen and
present you with a control panel similar to that found on your home CD
player, allowing you to interactively play audio CDs.
CD-Audio Player was written specifically to be compatible with as
many CD-ROM drives as possible. If you later upgrade, CD-Audio Player
will continue to work with your new hardware. The only requirement
that CD-Audio Player has is that your drive must use the MSCDEX.EXE
program version 2.10 or greater.
Please refer to APPENDIX A (Troubleshooting) for details on how
to determine what MSCDEX version you have and how to upgrade if
necessary.
INSTALLING CD-AUDIO PLAYER:
If you downloaded CD-Audio Player from a BBS, the Internet, or
another online service it probably came in a compressed (ZIP) format,
and you've already successfully extracted the files.
On a CD-ROM or floppy diskette, it may come either compressed or
uncompressed. The fact that you're reading this document indicates
that you have the files in a ready-to-use format.
Simply copy the CD-Audio Player program (CD-AUDIO.EXE) to your
hard drive. I recommend putting it in a directory that's listed in
your PATH statement (like your DOS directory) so that you can start up
the CD-Audio Player easily and quickly.
RUNNING CD-AUDIO PLAYER:
To start the program, change to the directory you installed it in
(if you didn't follow my advice to put it in a directory in your PATH
statement) and type:
cd-player
and press the Enter key. One of two things will then happen:
(1) If you have an audio CD disc inserted in your drive, CD-Audio
Player will begin playing the music on the disc; or
(2) If there is no disc in the drive or the disc there is not an
audio CD disc, CD-Audio Player will beep and print a message on
the screen asking you to insert an audio disc. CD-Audio Player
will then wait five (5) seconds, then attempt to start playing
music again.
WHEN YOU DON'T WANT THE CD-AUDIO PLAYER TO REMAIN ON-SCREEN:
Once you hear music coming from your speakers or headphones
(whichever you have connected to your system), you can then either use
your mouse to click on the 'EXIT' button or press the 'E' key to exit
the CD-Audio program.
Exiting the program will NOT stop the music - it will continue to
play in the background as you continue to use your computer until the
end of the audio disc is reached.
That's all well and fine if you want to listen to the entire
audio disc, but what if there's one song on the disc that you don't
want to listen to? Easy enough to fix! Just re-start the CD-Audio
Player program.
Notice that it takes a moment to update itself as to where you're
at on the disc, then displays the current song number and location.
Either use your mouse to click the 'Next' button or press the 'N' key.
CD-Audio Player then skips to the next track and resumes playing the
disc. You may then click the 'Exit' key with your mouse or press the
'E' key to exit the program, and the music will continue to play.
Want to hear the last song again? No problem! Re-start the CD-
Audio Player program, then either click the 'Last' button or press the
'L' key. When the song starts playing, click 'Exit' or press the 'E'
key to exit, and your music continues to play.
Need to pause the music so you can answer the phone? Easy! Re-
start the CD-Audio Player Program and use your mouse to click on the
'Pause' button or press the 'P' key, and the music will remain paused
until you click another mouse button or press any key. Then either
click the 'Exit' button with your mouse or press the 'E' key.
You may find it more convenient to keep the CD-Audio Player on
the screen, especially if you're one of those people who loves to play
with the buttons, skipping and re-playing songs. If so, read on
because the next section of the manual will satisfy your wants and
needs.
WHEN YOU WANT THE CD-AUDIO PLAYER TO REMAIN ON THE SCREEN:
To interactively play CD audio discs, start the CD Audio Player
program as discussed earlier. The following display will appear on
your screen:
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ CD-Audio Player Version 1.10 │
│ │
│ Copyright 1994,1995 by Country Closet Software All Rights Reserved │
│ UNREGISTERED EVALUATION COPY │
│ │
│ │
│ Song Disc │
│ Playing Track 1 of 10 Played 0:01 Played 0:01 │
│ Length 1:17 Length 42:14 │
│ │
│ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ │
│ │ PAUSE │ │Next Track│ │Last Track│ │ EXIT │ │
│ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ │
│ │
│ F1-Help E-Exit N-Next Track L-Last Track P-Pause/Resume │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
At this point, music will begin to play on your system, and you
may use the control buttons or the keyboard as you would on your home
CD player. If a mouse is installed on your system, a mouse cursor (a
block-shaped character) will appear next to the 'PAUSE' button and you
may use the mouse to click the control buttons.
'PAUSE' or 'P' will pause the music playing, and prompt you to
press any key to continue. At this point, pressing a keyboard
key or clicking a mouse button will resume playing music.
'Next Track' or 'N' will immediately move to the next available
music track on the disc and begin playing there. If you are on
the last track of the disc it will be ignored.
'Last Track' or 'L' will immediately move to the previous music
track and begin playing there. If you are on the first track
of the disc it will be ignored.
'EXIT' or 'E' will exit the program leaving music playing in
the background.
A convenience 'Shell to DOS' command is also supported. Simply
press the 'D' key at any time to temporarily exit the CD-Audio player
and use another DOS program.
Since CD-Audio Player takes little memory to operate, you can
often run all your programs from this DOS shell. However, very large
programs or those that require all available memory to operate
properly may not run using this function.
The primary reason I included the 'Shell to DOS' command is so
that you may use the utility that came with your sound card or
multimedia package to adjust listening volume if necessary. But don't
let yourself be limited to this single use - it should come in very
handy! When you want to return to the CD-Audio Player, type the word
'exit' (without the quote marks) and press ENTER.
Also supported is a help key. Pressing F1 will bring up a help
screen, which will disappear when you press any other key.
Pressing F2 or clicking your right mouse button will bring up a
reminder screen about shareware and the need to register CD-Audio
Player if you intend to continue using it. Pressing any key will make
this screen disappear.
ABOUT SHAREWARE, CD-AUDIO PLAYER, AND WHY YOU SHOULD REGISTER:
CD-Audio Player from Country Closet Software is not FREE
software. It is being marketed as shareware, also known as 'Try
Before You Buy' or 'User-Supported' software.
Shareware is not a kind of software, rather it is a marketing
method. By putting a program like CD-Audio Player into the shareware
market and making it easily available to users to evaluate, you get
the chance to try it before spending your hard-earned cash.
You are allowed to evaluate (try) CD-Audio Player for a period of
thirty (30) days. By then you should have a good idea whether or not
you intend to continue using it. If you've found it useful during
that period, or intend to continue using it beyond the thirty (30) day
evaluation period, then registration (payment) to Country Closet
Software is required for continued use.
The CD-Audio Player program is offered fully functional, so that
you can try every function available before paying for it. You should
NOT assume that this means that you don't have to pay for it - that's
why the "UNREGISTERED EVALUATION COPY" message appears when it's run.
To register your copy of CD-Audio Player, print and fill in the
registration form (CD-AUDIO.REG) and send it along a check or money
order in the amount of US$20, plus the applicable shipping and
handling fee:
US$5 for orders from the United States, Canada and Mexico
US$10 for orders elsewhere in the world
Send your form and check or money order (PLEASE, NO CASH!) to:
Country Closet Software
777 S. Roth Street
Norfolk #4
Reed City MI 49677
Your registered copy of the software, on 3-1/2" diskette (unless
specified otherwise!) will be shipped within two weeks of receipt of
your registration payment. The registered copy will be branded with
YOUR NAME, or the NAME OF YOUR CHOICE, to uniquely identify it as
yours. (Please note that this copy of the software, branded with your
name, should NOT be shared freely with others. It belongs to YOU!)
You will also be eligible to purchase the 'Professional' versions
of CD-Audio Player for DOS and Windows at a 50% discount when they
become available on April 1st, 1995. These products will both include
a graphical interface and the ability to store information about each
audio disc you own - including 'play lists' so you will listen only to
the songs that YOU want to hear on each disc.
In addition, Country Closet Software offers special discounts and
promotional offers from time to time, and your registration payment
will qualify you for these special offers.
LEGAL STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION:
THIS SOFTWARE AND MANUAL ARE PROVIDED FOR EVALUATION ONLY, ON AN "AS
IS" BASIS. COUNTRY CLOSET SOFTWARE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES RELATING
TO THIS SOFTWARE, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NEITHER COUNTRY CLOSET SOFTWARE NOR ANYONE ELSE
WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CREATION, PRODUCTION, OR DELIVERY OF THIS
SOFTWARE SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR
INCIDENTAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE SUCH
SOFTWARE, EVEN IF COUNTRY CLOSET SOFTWARE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR CLAIMS. THE PERSON USING THE SOFTWARE
BEARS ALL RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE.
This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Michigan
and shall inure to the benefit of Country Closet Software and any
successors, administrators, heirs and assigns. Any action or
proceeding brought by either party against the other arising out of
or related to this agreement shall be brought only in a STATE or
FEDERAL COURT of competent jurisdiction located in Kent County, MI.
The parties hereby consent to in personam jurisdiction of said courts.
TRIAL USE LICENSE
CD-Audio Player is NOT a public domain program. It is copyrighted by
Country Closet Software. This software and accompanying documentation
are protected by United States copyright law and also by international
treaty provisions.
Country Closet Software grants you a limited license to use this
software for evaluation purposes for a period not to exceed thirty
days. If you continue using this software after the thirty-day
evaluation period, you MUST make a registration payment to Country
Closet Software.
You may not use, copy, rent, lease, sell, modify, decompile,
disassemble, otherwise reverse engineer, or transfer the licensed
program except as provided in this agreement. Any such unauthorized
use shall result in immediate and automatic termination of this
license.
All rights not expressly granted here are reserved to Country Closet
Software.
LIMITED DISTRIBUTION LICENSE
The following may distribute CD-Audio Player, completely unaltered,
without further permission: End-users who provide single copies to
others for their home trial; and ASP BBS, Vendor and User Group
Members in good standing; for other cases or to distribute in modified
form, you must consult the attached data record, which is hereby
incorporated by reference. Any distribution satisfying all the
distribution requirements expressed in that data record is hereby
authorized.
Permission to distribute the CD-Audio Player package is not
transferable, assignable, saleable, or franchisable. Each vendor
wishing to distribute the package must independently satisfy the terms
of this limited distribution license.
U.S. Government Information: Use, duplication, or disclosure by the
U.S. Government of the computer software and documentation in this
package shall be subject to the restricted rights applicable to
commercial computer software as set forth in subdivision (b)(3)(ii) of
the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause at
252.227-7013 (DFARS 52.227-7013). The Contractor/manufacturer is
Country Closet Software, 777 S. Roth St, Norfolk #4, Reed City MI
49677-9801 USA.
Country Closet Software may revoke any permissions granted here, by
notifying you in writing. All rights not expressly granted here are
reserved to Country Closet Software.
APPENDIX A - TROUBLESHOOTING CD-AUDIO PLAYER
Please refer to the list of PROBLEMS listed below before trying to
call for support. This list will probably solve every common problem
that can occur when using CD-Audio Player.
If all else fails, then you may contact Country Closet Software for
technical support. BE FOREWARNED - I work full-time as a paramedic on
a small, rural EMS service. I may be unable to return faxes or phone
calls for several days at a time, but do generally return electronic
mail messages within 24 hours. You MUST provide the following
information:
Computer brand, CPU brand and clock speed
CD-ROM drive manufacturer's name and model number
Version number for the drivers that came with your drive, ESPECIALLY
the VERSION NUMBER of the MSCDEX.EXE driver
EXACT MESSAGE(S) that appear on your screen, or the behavior that
leads you to believe that the software is not functioning correctly
CONTACTING COUNTRY CLOSET SOFTWARE FOR SUPPORT:
ELECTRONIC MAIL - I PREFER that you use Email to contact me, and give
the highest priority to EMAIL requests for support:
Internet: rgharper@mail.msen.com
CompuServe: Rich Harper [76670,110]
FAX - If you don't have access to CompuServe or the Internet, you may
send a fax to +616-832-3328 to request support.
U.S. MAIL - If all else fails, send a letter to:
COUNTRY CLOSET SOFTWARE
ATTN: CUSTOMER SUPPORT
777 S. ROTH STREET, NORFOLK #4
REED CITY MI 49677 USA
Please either provide a fax or Email address to reply to in your
letter if at all possible.
Country Closet Software reserves the right to limit service provided
to non-registered users. We must give first preference to those who
have supported us. Voice calls for support will NOT be accepted from
unregistered users, and we apologize in advance for this limitation.
COMMON PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS WHEN USING CD-AUDIO PLAYER:
PROBLEM - MESSAGE APPEARS SAYING NO CD-ROM DRIVES INSTALLED OR
MSCDEX NOT INSTALLED
This means that either you don't have a CD-ROM drive installed in
your system, or that a program other than MSCDEX is providing access
to the drive. If you do indeed have a CD-ROM drive installed, check
with the drive manufacturer for the availability of upgraded driver
software to try to fix this problem.
PROBLEM - MESSAGE APPEARS SAYING MSCDEX VERSION LESS THAN 2.10
IS INSTALLED, UPGRADE NEEDED.
This means that your CD-ROM drive is properly installed but that
the version of MSCDEX is too old to support audio (music) CD disc
functions. Contact your drive manufacturer for an updated version of
MSCDEX.EXE if you're running DOS 5.x or 6.x - if you have DOS 4.x
installed on your system, you need to contact Microsoft Inc. for the
'patched' version of MSCDEX 2.10 that will operate with DOS 4.x and
allow audio functions.
You should also check your DOS directory on your hard drive, as
DOS versions above 5.0 ship with the proper MSCDEX.EXE device driver
in that directory. Try using that version of MSCDEX instead of the
one that came with your CD-ROM drive.
PROBLEM - COMPUTER BEEPS, ASKS FOR AN AUDIO DISC
This means that the disc currently in the CD-ROM drive is not an
audio (music) disc. Remove the disc in the drive and replace it with
an audio disc. The beeping and message should disappear within five
seconds.
If a known good audio (music) disc is inserted and this message
appears, then your CD-ROM drive may not support playing audio (music)
data. Contact the drive manufacturer for details on how to correct
the problem. Sometimes a software update for your drive will correct
this error.
PROBLEM - NO MUSIC IS HEARD AT ALL
Look at the CD-Audio Player screen. If the Song Played and Disc
Played aren't counting up - that is, they are remaining at 00:00 then
you need to check the following:
(1) Is there an audio (music) disc inserted in the drive?
(2) Is the drive door closed?
(3) Does your CD-ROM drive support audio (music) discs?
If the Song Played and Disc Played counters are counting up (each
second, the display increases by one second) then you need to check
the following:
(1) Is the volume on your CD-ROM drive turned up?
(2) If your CD-ROM drive is connected to a sound card:
(a) Is the connection tight?
(b) Is the sound card volume turned up?
PROBLEM - MUSIC PLAYS ERRATICALLY OR STARTS AND STOPS DURING PLAY
This generally indicates a problem with either the CD-ROM drive
hardware or software that came with the drive. You need to contact
the drive manufacturer for assistance in solving this problem.
Another possible cause of this problem may be that another
program running under a multitasking system (such as DesqView or
Microsoft Windows) may be attempting to access the CD-ROM drive while
the CD-Audio Player program is using it.
PROBLEM - OTHER PROGRAMS DISPLAY THE MESSAGE:
'CDR101 - Drive Not Ready'
Actually, this is not really a problem. This means that another
program is trying to use the CD-ROM drive, but CD-Audio Player has
taken control.
If you need to use the program that gives you the 'CDR101' error
message, then eject the audio disc, insert the disc that the other
program needs and press the 'R' key so that the other program will try
to re-read the disc.
<< END OF DOCUMENTATION FILE - CD-PLAYER.DOC >>