Welcome to Damar Enterprises UNIVERSAL INTERFACE.

Overview

What is SHAREWARE?

UI Instructions


zip
Most files found on any CD-ROM are "zipped."  This is a method of compressing all the associated files with a particular software program to make organization and transportation easier.  If the file you need has a .ZIP for an extension, use the PKUNZIP.EXE utility to decompress the single file into multiple, useable files.  PKZIP and PKUNZIP are registered trademarks of PKWare Inc.


copy
Copying a file off the CD:

Use this command to simply copy a file off your CD onto any valid storage media (these include Hard Drives, Floppy Drives, etc.)  You must have already selected a CD to browse, and then click ONCE on the file - from the list at the left.  Now click on the COPY command button in the upper right corner of the screen.  The UI will ask where on your hard drive, floppy, or other stoarge device you wish to copy the file.  The file will STILL be in ZIPPED format.


remove
Removing a CD from the UI:

To remove a disk you have already installed under the UI, simply click ONCE on the disk you wish to remove.  Then select DISK/REMOVE CD from the Main Menu and the disk will automatically be removed, including any FILES.BBS found on your hard drive.  You can now add a new CD in the available space if you'd like!


Adding a disk
Adding a new disk to the UI:

To add a new CD-ROM to the UI, first insert the disk into your CD-ROM player.  Click on the next available EMPTY slot on the Main Menu.  Then click on DISK/ADD NEW from the main menu.  A screen will appear asking you some basic information about the disk.  YOU MUST ALLOW THE UI TO FIND ALL THE FILES.BBS IN THE SAME DIRECTORY.  They will be numerically named from FILES.001 to FILES.??? based on the number of areas the CD has.  Some disks, like those from Damar Enterprises, provide a directory right on the disk with all the FILES.BBS.  If your's does not, the UI will expect to copy them onto your hard drive.  The benefit to having them installed on your hard drive is speed, the drawback is, of course, they will take up some room on your hard drive.


shell
Shelling to DOS:

Often it is necessary to get to a DOS prompt quickly and easily.  Well, the UI provides you a C:\ prompt just one click away!  By clicking on the DOS command button found in the upper right corner of the CD Screen, you can access the C:\ prompt without ever leaving the UI!  When you are finished with the DOS shell, simply type EXIT and you'll find yourself back at the CD screen of the UNIVERSAL INTERFACE.


view
Viewing an archive:

Not sure what a program does based on its description?  Don't install it on your hard drive first!  Use this option to get a listing of what files are in the archive and you can then READ the documentation without ever copying it onto your hard drive.


install
Installing a file:

You've found that incredible "walk-on-water" program that will GUARANTEE you'll never have to buy another piece of software again?  You probably want to install it to your hard drive.  Click on the file once, and then click the INSTALL command button.  The UI will ask where you want it installed and it will then decompress the file into that directory.  Now you can run the program and live happily ever after!


search
Searching for a file:

To quote that great philosophy Stimpy, "Oh JOY!"  You want to find a program that will format your hard drive upon boot-up but you have no idea what its called.  Care to walk through 600 megs of files, hoping to come across it?  Probably not.  That's why the UI offers a case-INSENSITIVE search engine.  Simply request "format" as the text to search for and let UI look for you.  A list of files with "format" in their description will be returned to help you slim down the choices.


instructions
Instructions:

You can use the UNIVERSAL INTERFACE to access many different CD-ROM's all from the same Graphical User Interface.  The following topics cover the functionality of the UI.

Add a disk

Remove a disk

Search for a file

DOS shell

View an archive

Copy a file

Install a file


What is SHAREWARE?

Shareware is a method of MARKETING software products.  Unless provided as FREEWARE, the shareware author retains title and copyright to the software.  Only after you, the end-user, "register" with the author are you allowed to legally continue to use their program.  "Registration" comes in many forms, some authors request you simly send your name to them, others would like a donation to a favorite charity, and most require a donation to THEM!  Bottom line is, they provide their program in a "try-before-you-buy" environment. You'll quickly find that most of the software available under the shareware concept is far less expensive than comparable COMMERCIAL software you would buy at a retail store.


OVERVIEW

Damar Enterprises has provided this interface to our customers to minimize the overall number of Graphical User Interfaces they must learn for each SHAREWARE disk they own.  Further, since some disks do not provide an interface at all, the UI provides ease of use for our competition's disks as well.

Use the UI to automatically add or delete various CD-ROM disks.  Use the IMPORT function to quickly add a disk.  There is even an "OTHER" option that provides for a manual installation for some of the more obscure disks on the market.

Please remember that,although this GUI is provided as part of your licensing fee paid for this Damar Enterprises CD-ROM, the shareware programs found on this disk must still be registered with the appropriate author.  Damar supports the shareware concept and encourages the registration of programs you find useful.