Monster Media 1996 #15/Monster Media Number 15 (Monster Media)(July 1996).ISO/prog_gen/kinstw27.zip/README.TXT

Text File | 1996-06-05 | 14KB | 255 lines

                     K-INSTALL for DOS and Windows 2.7

             Copyright (c) 1994-96 by Rob McDonell, ARK ANGLES
                            All Rights Reserved


                           IMPORTANT INFORMATION



WHAT YOU GET

  K-INSTALL is written by a software developer for software developers,
  both amateur and professional.  I know the value of a risk free, hassle
  free product.  K-INSTALL offers many benefits to all users.

  Unregistered users get limited support during the trial period, but
  are not licenced to use or distribute INSTALL.EXE or SETUP.EXE with
  their own software.  The unregistered version may only be distributed
  as a package in its own right, including all files listed in VENDINFO.DIZ.

  Registered users get support for 12 months, and are licenced to use and
  distribute INSTALL.EXE and/or SETUP.EXE royalty free with any of their
  own software.  They also receive the latest version of the package and a
  printed, fully indexed manual.

  Customised versions of K-INSTALL are also available such that your
  options can be hard coded into the program rather than specified in
  the separate settings file.  This not only makes the program even
  more secure, but also smaller.  You just need to send me a copy of
  your settings file the way you like it, and I will promptly return
  to you a new EXE file with those settings embedded.

  Registered users will get prompt resolution of problems, and free
  upgrades if they encounter bugs.

  See REGISTER.TXT for full details of licensing options and pricing.

  Electronic communication is probably the easiest for all feedback, bug
  reports or other support.  See my CompuServe and Internet addresses below.
  In most circumstances I will respond within 24-48 hours.


UPGRADING FROM OTHER VERSIONS

  In general, settings files from older versions can be used unchanged in
  newer releases, although they may not take advantage of all enhancements.
  For consistency, and to enable new functions, some syntactical changes
  have been made to a few keywords in various releases.

  Settings files vary only slightly between the DOS and Windows versions of
  K-INSTALL, and simply cater for differences in the operating environment.
  Specifically, this relates to the appearance of K-INSTALL (the WINDOW,
  COLS, PICTURE, ICON and PATTERN keywords) and how the installed program
  is run (the GROUP, ITEM and RESTART keywords).  See the full documentation
  for more details.

  Settings file functions in K-INSTALL Professional are a superset of those
  in the Standard edition, therefore settings files from the Standard edition
  can be used unchanged in the Professional edition.


DISK 2 PROBLEMS

  A couple of K-Install for Windows users have reported occasional disk read
  errors on the second disk in a multi disk set when running on Windows 3.1.
  The cause of this is unknown.  If this happens please contact ARK ANGLES
  with details.


PROGRAM HISTORY

  2.70  05.06.96.  Cancel option from additional dialogs during install.
                   Enhancements to size/position defaults and options for
                   main window and DOS box. Case insensitive PATH checking,
                   and 'SET PATH=' format now catered for. Dictionary in
                   manual reorganised. DOS version only: new options for
                   PICTURE and INSTPIC keywords, default graphic removed.

  2.60  12.02.96.  Further improvements to file opening modes for read-only
                   volumes. Windows version only: Enhanced support for PIF
                   files, and inclusion of a generic COMMAND.PIF, especially
                   to facilitate archive unpacking in a minimised window.
                   Main window centred on desktop.

                   Professional edition only: INSTMSG and INSTPIC changed to
                   work after corresponding INSTALL as per documentation.
                   Improvements to conditional logic use with INPUT keyword.

  2.50  18.01.96.  Alterations to file opening modes to be more compatible
                   with Netware. Fixed uncompressed file names in log file.
                   Windows version only: modified unarchiving procedure to
                   overcome Windows 95 not closing DOS program windows.

                   Professional edition only: enhanced INSTALL keyword to
                   handle multiple source directories such as on CD-ROMs.

  2.40  22.12.95.  New ~MAINDSK and ~MAINDIR variables. Fixes to INI file
                   handling, especially device statements in SYSTEM.INI.
                   Additional ASK and INPUT variables to prompt the user at
                   different times during installation.

  2.30  04.12.95.  FSPLIT Utility to split large files. Tilde variables can
                   be used in defaults for ASK and DIR keywords. ASKDISK
                   keyword to select type of "insert next disk" dialog box.
                   Windows version only: Uninstall deletes Program Manager
                   group if empty. Non-standard BMPs handled more reliably.

  2.20  14.11.95.  New ~CURR variable containing current default directory.
                   Improved status bar updating after archive unpacking.
                   Fixed incomplete deletion of INI files in uninstall.
                   More reliable DIR keyword for opt value '1'.

                   Professional edition only: New ELSE keyword. Utility to
                   set disk serial numbers (for use with DISKID keyword).
                   Fixed OPTIONS and UPGRADE keywords for chk value '3'.

  2.10  30.09.95.  Fixed Cancel button not working properly when entering
                   variables. Minor code and documentation improvements.
                   Windows version only: corrected Help button focus.

                   Professional edition only: Enhanced OPTIONS and UPGRADE
                   keywords to control directory checking.

  2.00  09.09.95.  Uninstall undoes changes to autoexec.bat, config.sys and
                   INI files. CPU and COPR keywords for hardware checking.
                   FUNCTION keyword to automatically start any functions.
                   HELP keyword to provide installation help. Modified
                   INPUT keyword to specify variable number, default value,
                   and more powerful format specification. Multiple PATH
                   and SHELL keywords allowed. REBOOT keyword to control
                   rebooting of DOS. Multiple RFILE keywords allowed to
                   create several files, and new append format to add to an
                   existing text file. Use of original name from compressed
                   file if available. Improved handling of blank parameters.
                   DOS version only: WINDOW keyword to control screen size.
                   WINVER keyword for compatibility with Windows version.
                   Windows version only: Program Manager icons not added
                   again on re-install, and uninstall removes installed
                   icons. RESTART keyword to control restarting of Windows.

                   New Professional edition only: ASK and IF/ENDIF keywords
                   for conditional processing of most functions. INSTMSG
                   and INSTPIC keywords to change message line and bitmaps
                   displayed during install. STRING and BUTTON keywords to
                   customise predefined text and provide full multi-language
                   support. OPTIONS keyword to enable separate installation
                   of optional components. UPGRADE keyword to check for an
                   existing installation. DISKID keyword for basic copy
                   protection. Settings file scrambler.

  1.90  15.08.95.  Support for archives with subdirectories. DOS internal
                   commands may be used in FIRST, LAST and INSTALL keywords.
                   New replace method '5' for INSTALL keyword to append to
                   existing files. Installation log file appended to rather
                   than overwritten if it already exists. DOS version only:
                   added length parm to PICTURE keyword which can now be
                   anywhere in the settings file. Changed button shadow
                   colour if menu background is black. Windows version only:
                   fixed spurious error message when updating WIN.INI.

  1.80  31.07.95.  New binary format registration data file for writing
                   strings without leading length byte or terminating null.
                   ISECT default value 'NoSection' no longer provided.
                   Windows version only: Reduction in size of SETUP.EXE.
                   Enhanced bitmap file error checking and screen refreshing.
                   Fixed occasional GPF error when running external programs.

  1.70  28.05.95.  Improved error handling when updating Program Manager.
                   Minor enhancements and documentation changes.

  1.60  11.05.95.  New ~GROUP variable. Enhancements to RUN keyword and
                   reboot/restart functions. New options on INPUT and
                   DIR keywords for longer explanatory questions. Beeps
                   with error messages only. Registration data file backed
                   up before overwriting in text format. Running percent
                   during install. Some minor problems fixed. DOS version
                   only: BIG and WIN keywords replaced by RUN option, and
                   new GROUP keyword to update Windows Program Manager.
                   Windows version only: new WINDOW keyword to set window
                   size and style, new WINVER keyword and variable for
                   checking Windows version, and Uninstall now deletes
                   SETUP.EXE correctly.

  1.50  25.04.95.  Basic settings file generator. Maximum of allowable
                   MKDIR, DEL, INSTALL, AUTO, CONF, REG, INI, ITEM and
                   REMOVE keywords limited only by available memory. New
                   options for INSTALL keyword to display file desciptions
                   and run external programs. New option for PATH keyword
                   to add multiple directories. New EXE keyword to add
                   parameters for self-unpacking archives. Additional
                   predefined variables, and all variables now available
                   with FIRST, LAST, INSTALL, RUN and CATALOG keywords.
                   Duplicate "device=" statements handled in SYSTEM.INI.
                   User confirmation not required if installing to root
                   directory. Faster file copying to and from diskettes.
                   Other minor enhancements. DOS version only: new IFILE,
                   ISECT and INI keywords to allow updating of INI files.

  1.40  04.04.95.  New ~INST variable to perform functions on the install
                   disk itself. User confirmation sought during install if
                   chosen directory already exists, and during uninstall
                   before deleting files from Windows or Windows System
                   directories. Fixed problems with AUTO keywords wiping
                   out a final shell command in AUTOEXEC.BAT. Windows
                   version only: PICTURE keyword no longer causes hang if
                   bitmap does not exist.

  1.30  13.03.95.  New REMOVE keyword to delete application-generated files
                   during uninstall. New ARCHIVE keyword to define an
                   additional unarchiving program. Windows version only:
                   PICTURE keyword can now read BMP files from disk, has
                   more flexible positioning, additional styles, and bitmap
                   stretching.

  1.20  10.03.95.  New DOSVER keyword to check DOS version number. Changed
                   INST keyword to INSTALL and MKD to MKDIR. New BUFFERS
                   keyword to check and update BUFFERS value in CONFIG.SYS.
                   Windows version only: New PATTERN and ICON keywords and
                   enhanced PICTURE keyword for greater customisation of
                   K-INSTALL screen.

  1.10  23.02.95.  First general release.

  1:0x  Early 95.  Various limited release versions for testing.


FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

  Thanks to feedback from users all over the world, I believe the various
  versions of K-INSTALL are amongst the most sophisticated and versatile
  install programs available.  You can help to make K-INSTALL even more
  powerful by sending me your requirements and wishes.

  A native Windows 95/NT version will definitely be released in 1996, an
  OS/2 version may also be released if there is sufficient interest, and new
  features will continue to be added to all existing versions.  Take the time
  now to vote for the features you would most like to see included.

  Beta testers are always required for new versions.  All you need is a
  CompuServe Id, and to be a registered user of any version of K-INSTALL.
  Send me a note if you would like to participate.


Regards,

Rob McDonell
Proprietor, ARK ANGLES

Postal:      P O Box 190, Hazelbrook NSW 2779, AUSTRALIA
Phone:       [phone] or Intl+61-47-588100
Fax:         [phone] or Intl+61-47-588638
Internet:    [e-mail]
CompuServe:  100237,141