Phoenix CD 2.0/Phoenix_CD.cdr/24b/pk181a.zip/README.1ST

Text File | 1988-04-28 | 6KB | 126 lines

INSTALLATION:

POWERKIT installation is easy, just type "PK" at the DOS prompt, AFTER you have
loaded KEYB??.COM.  Installing the keystroke buffer (POWERKIT's keystroke buf-
fer can hold from 15 to 255 keystrokes) is a bit more difficult, but POWERKIT
will run just fine without it (and vice versa).  Its installation is described
later.

WHAT DOES POWERKIT DO?

Once POWERKIT is loaded, you will notice your keys repeating more rapidly, and
without run-on.  You can set the repeat rate to a value that is comfortable for
you.

Your screen will blank after a few minutes, if you haven't typed anything.

As mentioned above, you can set the typeahead buffer to more than the ridicu-
lous 15 keystrokes that the BIOS provides.  Also, you can open a WINDOW into
that buffer when you are typing "blind" (to see and correct your mistakes).

Your floppy disk drive motor can be shut down earlier.

If a program of yours happens to hang-up, Press KEYPAD 5, ESC to get back to
the DOS prompt.

Or press KEYPAD 5, E to exit a program temporarily.  Then type "exit" at the
DOS prompt to return to your program.

If you have a non-standard keyboard (Tandy 1000, for example), try the
KEYBOARD REDEFINE in a program that doesn't get along with your keyboard.

Use HOOK to let resident utilities pop up inside programs that won't let them.

Try KEYPAD 5, A, it lets you define a MACRO that you can have repeat as fast
or as slow (as slow as once every 4 mins. 15 secs.) as you like.  Or, it will
repeat one or more MACROS created by another program.

If you take a laptop on trips, KEYPAD 5, P lets you run Word Processors on it,
even when they insist that a printer be attached (I keep this ON all the time
because I'm always hitting Prc Sc or SHIFT Prt Sc when I don't want to).

There's lots more, but I'm running out of breath.  POWERKIT has more features,
packed into a smaller space, and costing less ($9.95), than anything else on
the market.  If you try it for awhile, you'll begin to LOVE it.  It'll increase
your productivity, and lower your tension level.  In short, POWERKIT is a
mini-masterpiece.

I wouldn't think of telling you what to do, but if I were you, I'd BUY it, it's
a WINNER (also, there are prompt answers for your questions waiting online for
you at [phone]).

KEYSTROKE BUFFER INSTALLATION:

To operate the typeahead buffer, the file KYBDBUFR.OBJ must be on your boot
disk, and the line:

 DEVICE=KYBDBUFR.OBJ (instructions to KYBDBUFR may go here)


must be in the CONFIG.SYS file on your boot disk.  Ideally, this line should be
near the TOP of your CONFIG.SYS file.  Your boot disk is the floppy disk you
place in disk drive "A" when you turn the machine on, unless you have a hard
disk drive, in which case your boot disk is the hard disk.  If you do not have
a file named CONFIG.SYS on your boot disk, transfer the CONFIG.SYS file that
comes with this package to your boot disk at the same time you transfer KYBD-
BUFR.OBJ.  To transfer these files, boot up, put the disk containing KYBDBUFR-
.OBJ and CONFIG.SYS in floppy disk drive "B", then type:

 COPY B:KYBDBUFR.OBJ <press ENTER>
 COPY B:CONFIG.SYS <press ENTER>

If your machine has only one floppy disk drive, and no hard disk drive, drive
"B" is also drive "A", and the above procedure will involve swapping your boot
disk with the KYBDBUFR.OBJ disk, and back again. Reboot your computer, KYBDBUFR
will let you know if it is loaded.

******************** ANNOUNCING PKjr AND POWERKIT Plus ********************

Two new poducts will be available to registered POWERKIT users (5/88).

PKjr is about half the size of POWERKIT, yet has almost ALL of the functions of
POWERKIT itself.  What's the catch?  You must set PKjr's parameters as it is
loaded, foregoing the convenience of setting them at any time you want.  How-
ever, KEYPAD 5, ESC, E, H, V, and L (but with no password), will still perform
their old functions.  Since PKjr is half the size, it will be half the price,
$4.95* to registered users.

POWERKIT Plus is a radical departure from the usual practice of stacking useful
little TSR (Terminate but Stay Resident) utilities, one on top of another, un-
til there is barely room left for your spreadsheet or word proc-essor.  Ways do
exist to load and unload these TSR's, but the present methods themselves use a
lot of memory.

In the POWERKIT Plus system, a tiny "kernel" acts as a controller, intercepting
"hot keys" (from the SlashBar "menuing" program, or from the keyboard) and
activating the corresponding module.  When active, THAT module's command keys
take precedence!  This prevents conflicts.  Another small program inserts and
deletes modules at your command, then plugs the holes left in memory.  There
will be a service module of useful utility routines that other modules can
access through an interrupt.  Additional memory is saved because a module has
no program segment prefix, nor environment segment.

If this sounds something like what Borland International's Sidekick Plus does,
you are right, Borland's idea was so good, I just couldn't resist it.  If you
have $200 to spare, buy Sidekick Plus, it's a fine program.

If you don't have $200, and you're a registered POWERKIT user, send me $2.95*
for the "kernel" and the insert/delete program.  The (simple) format the mod-
ules must follow will be in the public domain.  Literally hundreds of public
domain TSR's will be converted to module format (I may charge a nominal amount
for the translation), giving you a wide choice of notepads, appointment calen-
dars, pop-up calculators, phone dialers, printer controllers, time and date
stamps, cut and paste utilities, all to be loaded and unloaded at your discre-
tion.  If you have a favorite TSR you would like converted (it's best if you
have the source code), please leave me a message (and the file) in the POWERKIT
support area of CCIE's King's Bench BBS, Denver, CO, [phone], 8-N-1.

*NOTE: When sending in the registration amount, if you request additional
modules/programs (or just the latest version of POWERKIT), please send $2.50
extra to cover the cost of handling and shipping the diskette.  EUROPEAN users,
please send U.S. currency, it costs me TOO MUCH to exchange currency.