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BOOTMNG.DOC
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1990-01-15
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BOOT~MANAGER ST
written by
Robert Kilroy
copyright 1990 - Creative Computer Services
Desk accessories and auto-running programs are wonderful things.
They increase the usefulness of your computer and make it easier
to work with. The number of DA's and specialized auto-programs
available is very large and growing.
Bootmanager ST is a software utility that allows you to use these
programs in an efficient and intelligent way. Bootmanager will
provide a unique computing "environment", of your choosing, each
time you boot your system. An environment is a collection of
desk accessories and/or auto programs that are loaded in at the
time you boot your system. You create these environments ahead
of time using the Bootmanager configuration program. You may add
items to your environments at any time. Bootmanager allows default
settings so an un-interrupted boot can occur. Environments are
selected during boot-up by pressing a single F-Key. The program
works with floppy drives but is most useful to hard drive owners
who must change file names to activate/de-activate accessories,
and auto programs
* * N O T I C E * *
Bootmanager-ST is shareware. The author has spent considerable
time and effort to provide you with a product that can greatly
enhance your ST's potential and save you lots of time. In return
you are requested to send a donation of $20 to the author at the
address given below. When your donation is received Creative
Computer Services will send you another version of Bootmanager-ST
with enhanced features and the shareware plea removed. Creative
Computer Services believes that you, the Atari ST owner, deserve
support. We will continue to release new products for the ST and
improve our existing ones if there is a reasonable response to
our efforts.
Please send your shareware donation to: Robert Kilroy
140 Boston St.
Telephone support: (508) 774-6713 Middleton, MA
01949
or CIS id# 73607,3707
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Keep the Atari ST alive and well .... Support shareware authors
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
(1)
Bootmanager-ST contains the following files:
BOOTMNGR.PRG - the actual program. It will re-configure your
system during boot-up. (place this in your auto folder)
BOOTCNF.PRG - this program automates the creation of your
environments. You will need to run this program first or
Bootmanager-ST will not know what accessories and programs you
wish to assign to each F-Key.
BOOTMNGR.DOC - contains installation guide and instructions.
INSTALLING BOOTMANAGER-ST
Before running the configuration program a few steps must be
taken:
1) If you do not have an AUTO folder on your boot partition (or
boot floppy) create one. Consult your ST owners manual if you
are unsure about how to do this.
2) Move the file BOOTMNGR.PRG into the AUTO folder.
* * * * * * important for hard disk users * * * * * * * * * *
The order in which programs run is critical to Bootmanager-ST.
Bootmanager must run AFTER your hard disk boot software and
BEFORE any other programs in the AUTO folder. To change the
order of the AUTO folder you will have to remove any files from
it and replace them in the correct order. There is a utility
called AUTOSORT.PRG available that makes this task easy.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
3) Place all of the accessories and auto-running programs you
intend to use into the correct places. The correct place for
accessories is in the root directory of the boot partition on
your hard disk drive (or your boot floppy). Auto-running
programs need to be placed inside the AUTO folder of the boot
partition (or your boot floppy).
4) If you use a color monitor, create a desktop to your liking in
medium resolution and save it to disk. Change the name of this
file from DESKTOP.INF to MED.INF. Next, switch to low resolution
and create another desktop. This time change the name of the
file from DESKTOP.INF to LOW.INF. Remember to change the name
of the first DESKTOP.INF file before saving another desktop or
you will erase the first one.
(2)
5) If you use a monochrome monitor, follow step four but change
DESKTOP.INF to HIGH.INF.
6) If you use both monitors make all three desktop files before
you run the configuration program.
7) Be sure these files are in the root directory of the boot
partition (or floppy disk).
If these steps have been followed properly Bootmanager-ST is now
ready to be configured.
Using the Configuration Program
When you are ready to begin creating your environments double
click on BOOTCNF.PRG. You may want to read the "ideas for using
Bootmanager-ST" section before doing so.
BOOTCNF.PRG will create a folder called BOOTMNG inside your AUTO
folder. After using BOOTCNF.PRG for the first time, you can
place BOOTCNF.PRG and BOOTMNG.DOC into this folder. Then if you
want to change your configurations later, the program will be
easy to locate. This is simply a suggestion as BOOTCNF.PRG will
run from any drive.
The configuration program will ask you which is your boot drive.
Simply click the appropriate drive letter with your mouse.
*********************** IMPORTANT **************************
Next you will be asked if you have a file you wish to"protect".
This is important because whatever you choose will run in every
environment. ( Hard Drive users should input their hard boot
program name at this time ) All you have to do is type in the
name of the program ( with the correct extender i/e .PRG ).
On this same thought, you never have to select the BOOTMNG.PRG,
as it is automatically "protected" already.
***************************************************************
Next you will be asked to choose an F-Key or one of two default
buttons. The choice is again made with a mouse click. If you
have already created any environments, the F-Key or default
button it runs from will have italicized text. This reminds you
which F-Keys or defaults are available for new environments. If
you choose an existing environment you will have the option of
adding to it or totally re-creating it. If you wish to remove
something from an environment you will have to re-create it from
scratch. You will be asked to name your environment at this
time. The name can be up to 20 characters long. Next you will
be asked to choose a resolution ( just click on your choice )
Bootmanager will now present a file selector box. Click on an
accessory to select it, then click the OK button. Repeat this
procedure for any other accessories you wish to use in the
environment now being created. The accessories are listed on the
screen for your reference. Because of a limitation within the
ST's operating system, no more than six desk accessories can be
installed at a time. You are alerted if you reach the allowable
(3)
limit for each environment. Remember, you can load and use
different accessories under different environments. This is one
reason why Bootmanager-ST is so useful! When you are finished
choosing accessories (or have run out of accessory slots), Click
on the AUTO folder and choose programs using the same method as
with accessories.
A default setting MUST be defined for Bootmanager to work properly.
If you only use a color monitor, you can ignore the monochrome
default; likewise, a monochrome only user can ignore the color
default. The default setting will be used by Bootmanager if no
F-Key is pressed during a system start-up. Your default
environment should be one you use most often. Bootmanager-ST knows
what monitor is connected to the system, this way users with color
and monochrome monitors can have a "hands off" boot for each of
their monitors.
* * SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS * *
If you use a hard disk system that boots from the AUTO folder
and you did not enter it's name as the "protected" file.
you MUST be certain to choose this program for every environment
that you use (don't worry about unused environments). If you
fail to choose this program Bootmanager-ST will not let it run.
You will then have to re-boot with your hard disk boot program
on a floppy disk, manually install the hard drive, and change
the name of the boot program in the AUTO folder back to it's
original form (i.e. from FILENAME.PRX to FILENAME.PRG). A future
version of Bootmanager-ST will allow you to identify multiple
programs or accessories that will always run, under any environment.
If you have a system clock that is set from the AUTO folder you should
choose it each time as well.
That's All?
Once you have created your environments and default settings you
are ready to reap the rewards! Bootmanager-ST will now become
your unseen friend, totally re-configuring your ST while you try
to remember what it was like re-naming accessories and moving
things around. Once you have "tweaked" your environments to
perfection, Bootmanager will recall them for you at the touch of
a button. What a country!
When you turn on your ST, Bootmanager wakes up and displays a
title screen (there is also an audible alert). You now have
(4)
about 4 seconds to press an F-Key and call up an environment.
If you choose no F-Key Bootmanager will activate the default
environment for the connected monitor. You can also press HELP
if you need more time. The HELP key displays your environments
by name and will wait until you press a key to proceed. This is
handy if you don't remember your environments or haven't decided
what you want to do.
Ideas for using Bootmanager-ST
Before you actually create your own environments you should
consider ways to use Bootmanager-ST. A clear idea now can save
time "tweaking" later. Remember, all accessories and programs
have to be in the correct location to be handled by Bootmanager.
You might as well move them now while your thinking about it and
before running the configuration program.
Suggestions for use of Bootmanager-ST:
Group accessories with a related function. Why load a spell
checker if you're going to use DEGAS? Boot time is quicker and
you might save enough memory for an extra picture. Use sets of
accessories for MIDI, digitizing pictures, word processing,
desktop publishing, drawing, spreadsheets etc.
Keep one environment free of accessories. There are some programs
that roceedlike accessories. Save yourself the trouble of moving
or renaming the accessories when you want to use one of these
programs.
Use an F-Key to launch a game. Games that can run from the AUTO
folder can be chosen at start-up. Got a favorite ames you want
up and running fast? No need to change resolutions, open windows
or double click a program.
Keep conflicting accessories apart. Some accessories can't co-
exist with certain programs. I find, for example, that Turbo-ST
interferes with my MIDI sequencer (Creator). Therefore, I use
Turbo-ST on all but my MIDI environment.
Easy resolution change. With some hard disk systems, changing
resolution with the hard disk booted can be quite a chore.
Create a general purpose, low resolution environment.
(5)
Variable RAM disk installation. You can use several different
RAM disk programs, each configured to boot-up in different sizes
or to pre-load different files. Just be sure their names are
different so Bootmanager-ST can tell them apart.
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