Your Choice 1/your choice.zip/your choice/SNDTOOLS/DMPCC162/DMPCC162.DOC

Text File | 1994-02-27 | 19KB | 403 lines

                                                                     Page 1
                    DMP Control Center v1.62 Documentation
                    ──────────────────────────────────────


╔══════════╗
║ CONTENTS ║
╚══════════╝

         I.       Introduction
         II.      Disclaimer
         III.     Command-line Options
         IV.    In-program Keys
         V.     Configuration File
         VI.    Further Explanation Of Archive Support
         VII.   Other Notes
         VIII.  Bugs
         IX.    Where To Reach Me
         X.     Revisions


╔══════════════╗
║ INTRODUCTION ║
╚══════════════╝

        I made this program because I love the Dual Module Player (DMP)
written by Otto Chrons and the Protected Module Player (PMP) written by Otto
Chrons and Jussi Lahdenniemi.  They are the best .MOD players in existence.
They also play .669, .S3M, .AMF, .STM, .NST, and .MTM files, as well as some
other music formats.  They support practically every sound card and have
incredible sound quality.  The only main differences between the two are
that PMP uses XMS while DMP uses EMS, and DMP is updated more frequently,
so it has more features.  Anyway, these programs are lacking in only one
item:  there is no shell where you can select files.  I have seen a couple
of other DMP-shell programs, and I wanted to improve on them, so I made my
own.  This document will usually abbreviate the name DMP Control Center as
DMPCC.  All the little symbols you see in this file that look like a circle
on top of a cross are just there to tell your printer to do a form-feed.


╔════════════╗
║ DISCLAIMER ║
╚════════════╝

    I accept no responsibility for anything that happens to any person
or thing in any manner due to the use of this program.  Use at your own risk.


╔══════════════════════╗
║ COMMAND-LINE OPTIONS ║
╚══════════════════════╝

■  Syntax:  dmpcc </?> <directory to begin in>

■  No options are necessary.  Don't type the < and the >.

■  /? gives a very small help screen.  No more info than you see right here.

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╔═════════════════╗
║ IN-PROGRAM KEYS ║
╚═════════════════╝

■  H = Help.
■  P or ENTER = Play current file.
■  D = Delete current file or remove highlighted subdirectory if it is empty.
■  R = Rename current file or directory.
■  C = Copy current file.
■  M = Move current file.
■  L = Log onto new drive.
■  F = Change filespec mask.
■  S = Choose new sorting criteria (name, extension, size, date, none).
■  T = Toggle the time and date display at the top of the screen on and off.
       If you are multitasking, then it is wise to toggle this off so that
       the CPU is not hogged down by the constant time-checking.  This can
       be preset in the configuration file as well.
■  I = Invoke current file.  DMPCC will execute the file which the highlight
       bar is currently on.  You will be prompted to enter any parameters
       which you desire.
■  O = DOS shell.  Type 'exit' from the DOS prompt to return to DMPCC.
■  ENTER = Change directory (if highlight bar is on a directory).
■  TAB = Toggle between INTERNAL and EXTERNAL decompression.
■  SPACE = Tag or untag current file and advance highlight bar.
■  ALT-T = Tag or untag all files.
■  ALT-D = Delete all tagged files.
■  ALT-C = Copy all tagged files.
■  ALT-M = Move all tagged files.
■  ALT-P = Play all tagged files normally (sends a listfile to the player).
■  CONTROL-P = Play all tagged files in 1 x 1 mode.
               »  I put this option in because occasionally, DMP and PMP will
               »  have problems if there are a lot of files in memory.  1 x 1
               »  mode will load the player program separately for each
               »  tagged file, so that there is never more than one file in
               »  memory.
■  ALT-X or ESCAPE = Quit DMPCC.
■  FUNCTION KEYS F1 - F10 = Choose 1 of the 10 possible configurations you
                            have stored in the DMPCC.CFG configuration file.


╔════════════════════╗
║ CONFIGURATION FILE ║
╚════════════════════╝

■  Capitalization never matters.
■  In the case of conflicting lines, the last line in question will be used.
■  The configuration file must be named DMPCC.CFG, and it must exist in the
   same directory as the dmpcc.exe file.
■  It must contain at least one player configuration line.
   'Player configuration' refers to a line which contains the full pathname
   of an executable file followed by any necessary parameters.
■  DMPCC will use the first 10 player configuration lines in the configuration
   file.
■  Lines which begin with a 'remark' indicator( ';' or '{' or SPACE) will be
   ignored.  Examples in this section are not placed at the beginning of the
   line so that they are easier to read, but in the actual configuration file
   there must be no 'white space' at the beginning of a line if you want that
   line to be read.
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■  Examples of possible player configuration lines:

        c:\pas16\dmp\dmp.exe -c4 -i5 -d5 -s44100
                c:\pas16\pmp\pmp.exe -c4 -i5 -d5
                dmp.bat
                pmp.bat

■  All of the rest of the options which are described in this section,
   'Configuration File,' are optional.

■  DMPCC's default filemask is *.*.  You can change it with the parameter
   DEFAULT_FILE_MASK=.  Examples:

                 default_file_mask=*.mod
             default_file_mask=song.*
                 default_file_mask=*.*

■  DMPCC will start up in the directory the user is currently in, by default.
   You can either override this with the command-line or in the configuration
   file.  Example:

        default_directory=c:\pas16\mod

■  If you want to be able to play any type of archived files, and your player
   program cannot handle decompression of archived files, then you must tell
   tell DMPCC where your archive programs are located.  Throughout this
   document, EXTERNAL DECOMPRESSION means that the external program which
   DMPCC is calling, such as DMP, will be handling all archive decompression.
   INTERNAL DECOMPRESSION means that DMPCC will handle all of the archive
   decompression itself.  If you want to use internal decompression, then you
   must tell DMPCC, in the configuration file, the locations of your archive
   program(s).   For each archive program you want to use, you must include
   a line in the configuration file which gives the full pathname of the
   executable archive program.  You only have to include lines for those
   archive programs which you will be using. Only PKZIP, ARJ, and LHA are
   supported.  Examples:

        zip=c:\util\pkzip\pkunzip.exe
        arj=c:\util\arj\arj.exe
        lha=c:\util\lha\lha.exe

   DMPCC will decompress the archived files into a temporary directory.  By
   default, this directory will be created on the drive on which DMPCC is
   executed from.  You can choose an alternate drive, such as a RAM drive
   (I highly recommend using a RAM drive for this).  Example:

        temp=d:

   To specify how DMPCC will manage the decompression of archive files
   when it first starts, add one of the following lines:

        internal_decompression=true
        internal_decompression=false

   'True' specifies INTERNAL DECOMPRESSION.  'False' specifies EXTERNAL
   DECOMPRESSION.  You can change this value with the TAB key while in DMPCC.

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■  By default, DMPCC will display the time and date near the top of the
   screen.  If you are multitasking then this will hog CPU time, so it should
   be turned off with the line:

           clockon=false

   You can toggle this option while in DMPCC by typing 'T'.

■  You might want a certain program to be executed every time a player
   program is finished, such as a program which speeds your keyboard back up.
   Example:

        post_program=program.exe parameters

   Of course, replace the 'program.exe' and 'parameters' with the necessary
   correct values.

■  By default, DMPCC will sort files by extension.  You can specify in the
   configuration file an alternate sort criteria.  The options are:  NAME,
   EXTENSION, SIZE, DATE, and NONE.  If 'NONE' is chosen, DMPCC will spend
   less time reading in a directory's files.  Examples:

        sort=name
        sort=extension
        sort=size
        sort=date
        sort=none

■ If you want to be able to edit files while in DMPCC, you must add a line
  to the configuration file with the pathname of your editor program.
  Example:

          editor=c:\util\editor.exe

■ If you want to be able to view files while in DMPCC, you must add a line
  to the configuration file with the pathname of your viewer program.
  Example:

          viewer=c:\util\viewer.exe


╔════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ FURTHER EXPLANATION OF ARCHIVE SUPPORT ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════╝

■  INTERNAL DECOMPRESSION means that DMPCC will handle all decompression of
   archived files.  EXTERNAL DECOMPRESSION means that the external, or
   'player', program which DMPCC is calling, such as DMP, will handle all
   of the decompression of archived files.  By default, DMPCC will use
   internal decompression.  You can specify this in the configuration file,
   and you may toggle it while in DMPCC by hitting the TAB key.
■  Only files which have been compressed with PKZIP, ARJ, or LHA will be
   uncompressed if internal decompression is on.
■  With internal decompression, all of the files in an archive file which
   match the pre-extension part of the archive filename will be played.  This
   means that if you try to play the file SONG.ZIP, then all of the files
   inside SONG.ZIP which match the mask SONG.* will be played.

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■  With internal decompression, DMPCC will make a temporary directory to
   uncompress files into.  This directory may be specified in the configur-
   ation file.  If it is not preset in the configuration file, then the
   temporary directory will be created on the drive of the startup directory.
   If there is insufficient room on the drive of the temporary directory,
   then only the files which were able to be extracted will be played.  After
   they are played, the extracted files will be deleted and the temporary
   directory will be removed.
■  You must include the location of any archive programs you wish to use in
   the configuration file.
■  Because most module players, such as PMP at the time of this writing,
   cannot decompress archived files on their own, DMPCC will NOT play
   archived files with the ALT-P mode unless EXTERNAL DECOMPRESSION is on.
   This is because when you hit ALT-P, a listfile is sent to the player
   program and if the listfile contains archived files, the player will
   probably crash if it does not have archive capabilities.  CONTROL-P and
   'P' will still work all the time.  If you hit ALT-P and any of the tagged
   files have extensions which DMPCC recognizes as belonging to archived
   files, then no files will be played and an error message will appear.  If
   external decompression is on, then no checking will be made for archived
   files, and you can use ALT-P to play archived files


╔═════════════╗
║ OTHER NOTES ║
╚═════════════╝

You do not have to be in the directory of dmpcc.exe to run the program, as
long as it is in your path. The maximum number of files that DMPCC can read
in one directory is 1400.  This is due to memory limitations.  Any files
beyond this limit will be ignored.  Dmpcc.exe is already compressed with
PKLITE, so do not try to compress it with any other run-time compression
programs, since that would destroy the overlay file.  This program is free.


╔══════╗
║ BUGS ║
╚══════╝

I am not aware any bugs in DMP Control Center.  If you find any, no matter
how small, I would really appreciate it if you left me a message at my
Internet email address (below).


╔═══════════════════╗
║ WHERE TO REACH ME ║
╚═══════════════════╝

PLEASE report ANY bugs, problems, suggestions, compliments, etc... to my
Internet email address:  [e-mail]

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╔═══════════╗
║ REVISIONS ║
╚═══════════╝

v1.62 02-26-94 : ■ You can now have a specific program (like a keyboard-speed
                   increaser) run after each file is played.  See the above
                   section, 'Configuration File.'  (Called the post_program.)
                 ■ New Internet address:  [e-mail]
                 ■ Fixed the bug where the error box was not cleared if an
                   attempt was made to move a single file to an invalid
                   directory.
                 ■ Removed the command-line option '/NE', which forced DMPCC
                   to not use EMS memory.  It was a waste of code.
                 ■ You can choose the sorting criteria by typing 'S', or by
                   specifying this in the configuration file.
                 ■ You can rename subdirectories now.
                 ■ GREATLY sped up the routine for reading and sorting files.
                 ■ Neatened up this .DOC file.
                 ■ When you change to the parent directory, the highlight bar
                   will be placed on the previous directory.
                 ■ Fixed the problem of not being able to recognize a
                   directory which had the attributes of hidden or system.
                 ■ .BAT files now work to execute a player program or the
                   post_program or archive programs.
                 ■ The file which the highlight bar is currently on can be
                   invoked (executed) by typing 'I'.
                 ■ Fixed a bug which occurred when attempting to write to a
                   read-only drive, such as a floppy which was read-only.
                 ■ By adding the line 'editor=<editor pathname>' to the
                   configuration file, you may now edit the current file by
                   typing 'E'.
                 ■ By adding the line 'viewer=<viewer pathname>' to the
                   configuration file, you may now edit the current file by
                   typing 'V'.
                 ■ Number of player configurations allowed increased to 10.
                 ■ Made all the dialog boxes and error boxes more attractive.
                 ■ Individual files can now be moved or copied with different
                   destination filenames.
                 ■ You can shell to DOS by typing 'O'.

v1.61 01-29-94 : ■ Fixed a scrolling problem.
                 ■ Added a display for the number of files and bytes tagged.
                 ■ Clock/date display added.  (Can be toggled by hitting 'T'
                   or by specifying it in the configuration file.)
                 ■ Version format changed from x.x to x.xx.
                 ■ You can now hit ESCAPE as well as ALT-X to quit.
                 ■ Added detection of disk-write errors which could occur on
                   write-only devices such as CD-ROM drives.

v1.6  01-11-94 : ■ Fixed a bug with moving multiple read-only files when the
           files were overwriting other read-only files.
         ■ Reduced the size of the DMPCC.EXE file by almost 10k.
         ■ Optimized the code, allowing the maximum number of files
           which can be read in each directory back up to 1400.

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v1.5  12-07-93 : ■ Now the user can choose whether DMP Control Center should
                   handle file decompression, or whether the player program,
                   such as DMP, should handle the decompression.  If you are
                   using a player program which can not handle archived files
                   then you will want DMP Control Center to handle the
                   decompression.  This is called INTERNAL DECOMPRESSION, as
                   opposed to EXTERNAL DECOMPRESSION, which means that the
                   player, or 'external', program is going to handle all the
                   decompression of archived files.  If you choose external
                   decompression, you can use ALT-P to play multiple archived
                   files, as opposed to only being able to use CTRL-P with
                   internal decompression.

v1.4  12-04-93 : ■ MANY improvements.  Read on...
                 ■ Interface redesigned, MUCH faster.
                 ■ More bugs with scrolling files were fixed.
         ■ A bug was fixed in which if you tried to remove an empty
           directory which was the current directory on it's drive,
           the directory was not being removed.
         ■ A bug was fixed in which if the default directory
           specified in the command-line or configuration file had
           more than 12 characters, only the first 12 would be read.
         ■ Added archive support, so you can play PKZIP'd or ARJ'd
           files even if your player program can't handle them.
           There is only support for PKZIP, ARJ, and LHA, but why use
           anything else?  If you want me to add support for another
           archive type just leave me mail at my Internet address.
         ■ The overlay file (dmpcc.ovr) is no longer included as a
           separate file.  It is now stored in the .EXE file, and
           extracted at run-time, then deleted.
         ■ The ENTER key can now be used just like P to play a
           single file.
         ■ Reduced the number of files which can be read in one
           directory to 1200, down from 1400.  This is due to memory
           being reduced by some other features, and in a future
           version I will raise the limit back up.

v1.3  10-07-93 : ■ Fixed a small bug with the scroll routine.
                 ■ Fixed a very obscure bug in the procedure which reads the
                   command-line parameters, which would occur if 2 or more
                   '\' characters were placed together.
                 ■ Sped up the screen-write routines.

v1.2  09-22-93 : ■ Increased maximum file limit from 450 to 1400.
                 ■ Added the semicolon (;) as a 'remark' indicator in the
                   configuration file, in addition to the previously allowed
                   '{' or a blank space.
                 ■ Fixed a bug with trying to copy or move a file to a drive
                   that had insufficient space.

v1.1  09-20-93 : ■ Fixed a bug in the move and copy procedures, where any
           attempt to move or copy a file to the same directory would
           cause the file to be reduced to 0 bytes.

v1.0  09-14-93 : ■ First public release.