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PC-MIX.DOC
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1989-04-30
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PC-MIX USER'S MANUAL
<ABREVIATED VERSION>
Proware P.O Box 551314
Dallas, Texas. 75355
1-800-842-3787
Version 1.1 $89.95
Easy to Use:
With PC-MIX we went to great lengths to bury the complexity of the
system deep in the software. We don't burden you with all kinds of
complex set-up and control. We made Multitasking easy to use. In fact,
it is so easy to use you almost don't even need to read the User's
manual!
It's Simple to Learn:
We put a lot of effort into making PC-MIX simple to learn. We don't
overwhelm you with a lot of complex command sequences and useless
information. With PC-MIX you'll be up to speed in no time at all!
It's Quick to Set-Up:
PC-MIX is quick and easy to set up. In addition to our clear and
concise User's Manual, you'll get a specially designed configuration
editor. The Editor gives you all the configuration parameters on just
one screen along with a graphical display of your computers memory.
It won't take you any time at all to be up and running with a
customized multitasking system.
PC-MIX is Small:
Have you ever loaded a utility into your computer and found, to your
dismay, that it consumed half of your memory? Somebody must have
thought it was the only thing you wanted to run. PC-MIX will not hog
your computer's memory like other Multitasking programs. PC-MIX uses
only 30K Bytes. That's Small!
PC-MIX Features:
True Pre-Emptive Scheduling; PC-MIX allows your program to share your
computer. PC-MIX switches back and forth between your programs many
times a second. It's automatic. You won't know it's Happening.
Three Programs Running Concurrently; PC-MIX allows you to have three
application programs, such as spreadsheets, data bases, and word
processors, running concurrently.
Fast and Efficient Program Execution; PC-MIX does not swap your
programs out to disk. They always remain in memory. This makes your
programs run fast and efficiently.
Rapid Switching Between Programs; It only takes Two Key strokes to
switch from one task to another.
Full-Screen Program Displays; PC-MIX allows your programs to use the
entire screen just like they are designed to. Each program has it's
own dedicated screen.
System Status Display; PC-MIX gives you a composite view of your
computer system with the system status display. Information is concise
and well organized. You can quickly see the status of all your programs.
Configurable Memory Partitions; Your computer's memory is divided
into three partitions; one for each task. You can easily customize
the size of each partition to suit your needs.
Selectable Task Priorities; Task priorities determine the execution
sequence of your programs. PC-MIX gives you the flexibility to set
each task's priority to one of three levels.
Operation Beyond 640K; With EEMS memory, PC-MIX can dramatically
increase the size of your task's memory partitions. With some
computers you can have 640K bytes of memory for each task.
Dedicated Graphics Screen; Scheduling graphics programs can be a
terrible burden on a multitasking system. Huge Video buffers must
be continously swapped in and out of video ram. The performance of
the system drops dramatically. PC-MIX has solved this problem by
dedicating the computer to the Graphics programs. All other programs
are put on hold until the graphics program is finished. You won't
have to work with a slugish computer. It will be as fast as it
normally is.
System Requirements:
* IBM PC, XT, AT or 100% Compatible
* CGA, EGA, or VGA Video Adapter
* At Least 256K Memory
* MS-DOS 2.0 or Higher, PC-DOS 2.0 or Higher
Programs Included on this disk:
* MIX .EXE - System Control Program
* CFG .EXE - Configuration Editor Program
* MIX .CFG - Sample Configuration File
* RUN .BAT - Video Display Control Batch File
* VON .COM - Video Control Enable Program
* VOF .COM - Video Control Disable Program
* READ .ME - Additional Information on Ver 1.1
* PC-MIX.DOC - Abreviated Documentation (This File)
Getting Started:
NOTE: This file is merely a supplement to the User's Manual. It's
ONLY Purpose is to Describe (Very Briefly) the Commands used
to utilize the Various Functions of PC-MIX.
Starting the Configurator Editor;
At the Dos Prompt Type; CFG <filename>
If no filename is given, then the Editor will load the Default
configuration file called MIX.CFG
The Default CFG file has been configured for Three equal tasks.
Each with COMMAND.COM Operating. This is a good starting point
for you to experiment with.
Moving aroun inside the Config Editor is Simple. Use the Cursor
UP/DOWN to select the three tasks and the two system control
sections. Once inside a particular section, using the cursor
LEFT/RIGHT to select the parameter you want to change.
When the parameter is selected, the Command line will display
the contents of the parameter. To change the contents, simply
type in what you want and press <enter>. Your changes will be
moved up to the main screen.
Editor Fields Discribed;
Task Group:
Task Memory - The Amount of Memory you want to dedicate to this
Task. Entering a 'V' will alot the Remainder of
Memory available. (V=Variable)
System Memory - This is Not Changable. This indicates the amount of
memory the system 'Thinks' it has for that task.
Priority - A 1, 2, or 3 can be entered here with 1 being the
highest priority.
Initial Task - This is the task that will start automatically when
PC-MIX is started. Normal Dos Conventions are used
including Drive and Pathnames.
Directory - This is the Directory that you want your task to start
in. This normally would be set to the drive and path
where the program is located, but certain applications
require a different Directory. (Data files etc)
System Group:
Foreground - This tells PC-MIX which task will have control of the
screen and keyboard when PC-MIX is first started.
1 - 3 = Task 1 - Task 3, 4 = PC-MIX Control screen.
Graphics - Yes or No. This tells PC-MIX whether you want to allow
Graphics programs to run. Remember that if a Graphics
program is allowed to run, the other two tasks will
Freeze thier operation until your graphics program ends.
Hot Key - The Hot Key that PC-MIX uses as a screen switch is
set up as the Scroll Lock Key (70). If this conflics
with another program's Hot Key then you can change
the Hot Key by entering the Scan Code for any key on
the Keyboard.
Control Group:
Quit - Used to exit the configuration Editor. If you have not
Saved your changes, the program will ask you first if
you want to save changes.
Save - Allows you to Save any changes you have Made
File - Allows you to change the Filename for that particular
setup. You do not have to use the CFG extension (or any
extension)
The Remainder of the Display is merely a Graphical representation of
the memory utilized by that setup.
Final Note on using the Editor;
The Configuration Editor May NOT be executed while PC-MIX is
currently running. Any attempt to do so will produce an error message.
Starting PC-MIX:
To Start PC-MIX Type; MIX <filename> <Enter>
If no Configuration filename is given then the default (MIX.CFG) will
be executed.
Functional Keys while PC-MIX is running;
Scroll Lock - Used to return to the PC-MIX Control Screen from any
Task. (Please Note that when running a Graphics pro-
gram, The Scroll Lock Key will be Disabled until you
have terminated the Graphics program). This key can
be changed to any other key ONLY when running the
PC-MIX Configuration Editor as described above.
The Following Keys are Functional only while the PC-MIX Control screen
is being displayed;
F1 - Used to enter Task # 1. Task must be running!
F2 - Used to enter Task # 2. Task must be running!
F3 - Used to enter Task # 3. Task must be running!
F4 - Used to cycle the Priority of the task currently
selected with the selection bar. Pressing F4 will
Decrease the priority by 1. If a priority level is
set at 3, then pressing F4 will cycle to level 1.
F5 - Arms or Diasarms the Alarm for the Task that is
currently selected with the selection bar. When
the Alarm is 'Armed', it will Beep when that task
enters the 'Waiting' state indicating that input
is required for that task to continue.
F6 - Places the task that is currently selected with the
selection bar on 'Hold' Which suspends that task
from 'Stealing' CPU Clock cycles. Used for speeding
up another task momentarily.
F7 - Releases the task that was put on 'Hold' with F6.
F8 - Stop the task that is currently selected with the
selection bar. Caution should be used when stopping
a task with this method. If Interupts have been
'Hooked' by the task that you are stopping, then
stopping with the F8 key may have unpredictable
results. Stopping a task should normally be done
from within that task itself. This will prevent
any problems that would otherwise be caused.
Note: Stopping or Ending a Task from within that
task will automatically return you to the PC-MIX
control screen.
As an Example of when NOT to use the F8 Key to Stop a task, we
will use the default CFG file and start PC-MIX be typing MIX
and pressing <Enter>. This will set up three tasks, each about
180K, each running Command Com. As the PC-MIX Control screen
appears and after the three tasks have Loaded, Run and are
in the Waiting State, the selector bar will be positioned on
Task # 1. Press F8 to stop the task (It will ask for confirmation
prior to actually stoping the task) press 'y' and <Enter>.
Now try running (F9) Command Com again in that task. The program
will promptly inform you that 'Insufficient Memory' exists to
load the program. This is because the first Command Com never
released its hold on the Memory Vectors that it 'Grabbed' when
it was first run. The Correct way to stop this task would have
been to use the F1 key to enter the task and then type 'Exit'
at the Dos prompt. Stopping a program (Even Command Com) in this
fasion will insure that all Hooked vectors will be released in a
normal manner. Then the F9 (Explained below) can be used to load
and run another program in that task.
F9 - Used to 'Run' a program for that selected task. Normal
Dos conventions are used. (Drive and Pathnames etc)
If no Extention is given then PC-MIX will first append
a .COM then a .EXE to the filename. If no Pathname is
specified then PC-MIX will look first in the current
directory then follow the Path as setup in your Auto-
exec.Bat file.
Please Note that a Batch file (.BAT) cannot be executed
from the PC-MIX control screen. A Batch File can ONLY
be executed by the Command.Com Interpreter. To execute
a batch file from the Control screen, you must first
load the Command.Com Program with the /C switch.
Command /C <batch filename> <Enter>
This can also be used in the Configurator Editor when
setting up your system.
F10 - Quit and exit PC-MIX. The program will ask for con-
firmation to exit the program. Here again, Caution
should be used. If for example, you have a task run-
ning that has files open on your disk, these files
will Remain Open when you exit PC-MIX!!!
Again, the proper way to exit PC-MIX would be to
enter your tasks that are running and exit from those
tasks individually first. This way, you can be assured
that the system will be exited in a normal fasion.
The VON and VOF programs are described in the READ.ME File included
on this disk.