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╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ ║ ║ Visual Control Center 2.0 ║ ║ SHAREWARE VERSION ║ ║ ║ ║ by ║ ║ ║ ║ Veeder South IV ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ D O C U M E N T A T I O N ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ (c) Copyright 1996 by Veeder South IV ║ ║ ║ ║ All Rights Reserved ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╠═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ ║ Table of Contents ║ ╠═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ ║ ║ ║ 1. About VCC 2.0 ║ ║ 2. Required Hardware ║ ║ 3. Features ║ ║ 4. Registering VCC ║ ║ 5. VCC Keys and Capabilities ║ ║ 6. The Configuration File (VCC.INI) ║ ║ 7. Tips on VCC Usage ║ ║ 8. Things to Avoid ║ ║ 9. How the Batch File Works ║ ║ 10. Running VCC Under Windows ║ ║ 11. Future Updates ║ ║ 12. Bugs ║ ║ 13. Legal information ║ ║ ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ ╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ (1) About VCC 2.0 ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Visual Control Center was originally programmed for my own purposes. Dealing with directories and files in large numbers can be a daunting task at times. Finding files, weeding out select files from a large number of files, changing file attributes, compressing and decompressing ZIP'ed or ARJ'ed files, and many other tasks can be very tedious sometimes. Of course there's always Microsoft's Windows but even that can be difficult to work with. That is why I created VCC--to make everything much faster and simpler, to give me total control over all my files, to have a platform to run everything else from, and finally to be able to use my mouse. There are a million nice little DOS utilities out there to do everything you could possibly imagine with your computer. But there are few programs that tie everything together and allow you to run everything else at the click of the mouse or the push of a button. So I developed VCC. Being a programmer and knowing the limitations of DOS, I incorporated new features into the program as the needs arose, making sure to keep it quick and simple. I gave copies to my friends to use and eventually, I got to thinking that this utility would be helpful to anybody using DOS, so I released it as shareware. I hope you find this the most useful of your DOS utilities. I appreciate any suggestions or comments for future versions! -Veeder South IV vsouth@primenet.com ╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ (2) Required Hardware ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ You will need the following in order to run VCC: * 386 PC or better * Color monitor (EGA 16 colors or better) * About 115k of free conventional memory * MS-DOS 5.0 or higher / Windows 95 DOS * A two button rodent (mouse) is highly recommended! ╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ (3) Features ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ * Uses mouse or keyboard * Displays date and time * Displays memory usage (Lower/XMS/EMS) * Displays free space on current drive (in MB or KB) * Displays full directory info * Shows all files/directories in specified colors. * Horizontal or vertical file listing * Runs user-specified program when file is clicked on. * DOS command window * Built-in DOS functions + keys -COPY (ALT-C) -DELETE (DEL key) -DELTREE (DEL key) -RMDIR (DEL key) -MOVE (ALT-M) -RENAME (ALT-R) -FIND (ALT-F) -MKDIR (INS key) -CD (TAB key, ENTER) -A:/B:/etc (ENTER) -ATTRIB (ALT-A) * Mouse Quick Menu on right side of screen * User definable function key macros (F1...F12) * Built-in ZIP/ARJ unarchiving (you need to have Arj and Pkunzip) * Page down/page up through large numbers of files * TAB/Right-Mouse changes to root directory (CD ..) * HOME key/LFT+RT Mouse Click --> help screen * END key runs screen saver or blanker * Configuration file for personalization * Easy to use setup program * 12/24 hour time format * Change the date and time * Screen blanker or user definable screen saver * Mouse use on most functions * Left-handed mouse setting ╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ (4) Registering VCC ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ If you find this program useful and plan on keeping it, please consider registering it. Registration costs only $10 US dollars plus $2 shipping and handling (if applicable). When you register you will receive: * The latest version of VCC on 3.5/5.25 disk or emailed directly to you as an attached file or UUEncoded. * No annoying messages and complete functionality * A better manual (on-line) Register VCC and get these enhancements: -Operations on multiple files (copy/move/delete/attrib/etc). -A drag-and-drop file bin to hold files for later operations. -User defined file sorting. -Global file find (over the whole disk drive). -Built-in Pkzip/Arj compressing (select files and press ALT-Z) -Special cases (special functions on specific files you choose) -Built in setup with no need for an INI file ...And many other improvements and possible bug fixes. Why register? Besides the above benefits, you will help support future versions of VCC with new features that users suggest. By registering VCC, you help support quality shareware programs and keep down the price of commercial software. Why pay $50,$100, even $300 for commercial software when you can buy quality shareware for a fraction of the price? I know how short your funds can be (hey, I'm a college student!), and that's why I'm asking only $10. To register, type 'order' to print out the ORDER.FRM, fill it out, and send it with a check or money order for $10 US + $2 S/H to: South Enterprises c/o Veeder South IV 4240 Lost Hills Rd #504 Agoura Hills, CA 91301 Make checks payable to Veeder South IV. You should receive the latest version of VCC in the mail in about a week or in a few days if sent to an email address. ╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ (5) VCC Keys and capabilities ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Q: What do I use VCC for? A: VCC has three main functions: 1) It works as a DOS navigating utility As a navigation utility, VCC allows you to change directories and drives, showing you all your files in different colors. You can access all your drives and CD-ROMs just as you could in DOS, only quicker and more intelligently. 2) It functions as a file/directory manager VCC can manage all your files (like Norton Commander). You can copy files, move files, rename them, change their attributes (hidden, read-only, etc), make new directories, and delete them. It also will view, test, and uncompress ZIP and ARJ files for you. 3) It runs all your other software VCC can run all your software with the click or press of a button. When you click on specified files, VCC will know what to do with them. If you tell VCC to run ABC program with your XYZ files, VCC will do it and without using up any of your memory! For example, VCC will know to load your MOD player when you click on a MOD file. You can set up function key macros (F1 through F12) to instantly do whatever you want. VCC can do everything you want to do in DOS and more with simplicity and speed. The keyboard/mouse commands: ENTER or LEFT MOUSE BUTTON (for right-handed users): The main action key. Using the arrow keys and pressing the ENTER key is the same as using the mouse and clicking the button. You need not ever double click the mouse in VCC. Also, the action will not occur until the mouse button is released, not clicked. The Quick Menu: Put the mouse pointer to the extreme right of the screen and a small "Quick Menu" will pop up, giving you options to click on with the mouse. This menu cannot be accessed with the keyboard as there are keyboard equivalents of all the Quick Menu options. DOS commands: Just start typing something and the DOS command window will pop up. Running programs from the command window does not take up any more memory. VCC will pause after executing the DOS command if there is something to see on the screen. Keyboard DOS commands (also displayed when the HOME key is pressed): -COPY (ALT-C) -DELETE (DEL key) -DELTREE (DEL key) -RMDIR (DEL key) -MOVE (ALT-M) -RENAME (ALT-R) -FIND (ALT-F) -MKDIR (INS key) -CD (TAB key, ENTER/CLICK) -A:/B:/etc (ENTER/CLICK on drive box) -ATTRIB (ALT-A) F1 - F12: Set up these macros with VCCSETUP. You can make them run things or do multiple things with batch files. SHIFT-Fkey: This will run the Fkey macro with the current file as a parameter. ALT-F: Type in the name of a file or the beginning of a file. Do not place a *.* or the like in your query. Find will only look for files that begin with your query in the current directory (registered version is different). ALT-U: Type in a program or command to use current file with. ALT-T: This will test the integrity of a ZIP or ARJ file. ALT-V: This will view files with your specified editor or take a look inside ZIP and ARJ files. If there are more files than will fit on one screen, press PAGE DOWN or CLICK on the bottom gray line. To go back to previous pages, press PAGE UP or CLICK on the top gray area (it will turn blue when you place the mouse/cursor over it). END key: This will run the specified screen saver or blanker when pressed. You can also activate the screen saver by either clicking on the screen saver option in the Quick Menu or by placing the mouse at the bottom left corner. The screen saver will stop when a key or mouse button is pressed. CTRL-ENTER: This will allow you to give command-line parameters to BAT, COM, and EXE files. CTRL-R: This resets VCC. CTRL-E: This will run VCCSETUP or edit the INI file. CTRL-D: This allows you to change the date. CTRL-T: This allows you to change the time. CTRL-L: This toggles the listing style between vertical and horizontal. Keep in mind that to change the listing style permanently, you must change the FILE_LISTING in the INI file. ╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ (6) The Configuration File (VCC.INI) ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ VCC requires that you have the VCC.INI file in the directory where you keep VCC.EXE. This should be in a PATH directory, perhaps C:\DOS. If VCC is not placed in a PATH directory, it will take up a small amount of memory when running your programs. If VCC cannot find the INI file, it will attempt to run VCCSETUP to create one. Also, do NOT put multiple copies of VCC.EXE in other PATH directories because this will also cause problems with the batch file. Before you run VCC, you need to personalize it by setting up the INI file. Just type VCCSETUP from the DOS prompt or if you are running VCC for the first time, it will do this for you. Then, just go through the menu options and follow the simple instructions. If you want to edit the INI file by yourself without VCCSETUP, just use a text editor (such as DOS's EDIT.COM) and change the values yourself. This is fairly straightforward and you can probably figure it out from the names. Be careful not to mess up the INI file because VCC may not work correctly or give you the message "VCC Error ##" and quit. It is a good idea to make a backup of this file. Here are the specifics of the INI file: ** Do NOT place any additional commas in the INI file! ** When a color is needed, these numbers represent the colors: (if you program, you will probably recognize these) 1 Dark Blue 5 Purple 9 Blue 13 Pink 2 Green 6 Orange 10 Bright Green 14 Yellow 3 Aqua 7 Light Gray 11 Bright Blue 15 White 4 Red 8 Dark Gray 12 Bright Red Description of each setting in VCC.INI ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DRIVES: This section tells VCC what disk drives, hard drives, CD-ROMs, etc that your computer has. There can be up to seven drives defined, from left to right on the top of the VCC screen. DRIVE_1 corresponds to the left-most drive button while DRIVE_7 is the right-most. DRIVE_1,X X: Drive letter for the first drive button. DRIVE_2,X X: ...Second button. ... ... DRIVE_7,X X: Last button. ENVIRONMENT SETTINGS: This part tells VCC how to look and act. FILE_LISTING,V/H V/H: List files and directories in either a vertical or horizontal format. CURSOR_COLOR,## ##: Color for the cursor that highlights a file DEFAULT_FILE_COLOR,## ##: Default color for unknown files you have not specified (see FILEINFO part). DIRECTORY_COLOR,## ##: Color to assign to directories and subdirectories DATE_COLOR,## ##: Color for the date in upper left corner. TIME_COLOR,## ##: Color for the time in upper right corner. FILE_INFO_COLOR,## ##: Color for the current file's info. DIR_INFO_COLOR,## ##: Color for the current directory info. CURRENT_DIR_COLOR,## ##: Color for the current directory up top. 24_HOUR_TIME_FORMAT,Y/N Y/N: Self explanatory. FILE_VIEW_PROGRAM,XXX XXX: The path and name of the program you want as your default file viewing program (such as DOS's EDIT or Qedit, etc). This program will be used with unknown files and when you press ALT-V on non-ZIP/ARJ files. SCREEN_SAVER,XXX XXX: Path and name of your DOS screen saver to use with VCC if you choose to have one. SCREEN_SAVER_ENABLE,Y/N Y/N: Self explanatory. Actually a screen blanker if you do not specify your own. SCREEN_SAVER_TIME,## ##: Number of seconds of inactivity before screen saver turns on (if enabled). DISPLAY_HIDDEN,Y/N Y/N: Do you want VCC to display hidden files? (DOS does not by default) DISPLAY_SYSTEM,Y/N Y/N: Do you want VCC to display system files? (MSDOS.SYS, IO.SYS, COMMAND.COM, etc) CONFIRM_DELETE,Y/N Y/N: Do you want VCC to confirm file deletions? LEFTY_MOUSE,Y/N Y/N: Put a yes if you are a left-handed mouse user. ZIP,xxxx xxxx: Path, name, and parameters of your ARJ,xxxx PKUNZIP.EXE and ARJ.EXE files. (example: c:\dos\pkunzip -d -o -q) Do NOT put any of the ZIP/ARJ commands like x,v,t, etc, just command line switches you want used EVERY time. MACROS: This section is for the user defined Function Key Macros (F1 - F12)... F1,PATH&PROGRAM,DESCRIPTION PATH&PROGRAM is the program you want VCC to F2,PATH&PROGRAM,DESCRIPTION run when you press that function key. ... DESCRIPTION is for yourself to remind you F12,PATH&PROGRAM,DESCRIPTION of what the program actually is (HOME key in VCC displays your function key macros) You may enter batch files, command line parameters, etc. for PATH&PROGRAM. FILEINFO: This section is for defining the file colors that correspond to the file extensions (such as EXE or GIF), and the program to use with that extension(s). EXTENSION,COLOR,PATH&PROGRAM EXTENSION,COLOR,PATH&PROGRAM etc... EXTENSION is the file extension such as EXE,GIF,BAT,etc. You may want multiple extensions to all have the same color and use the same program (such as if you wanted all of your GIF's and JPG's to be blue in color and loaded by your favorite graphics viewer like CSHOW or QPV). For multiple extensions, place a ; (semicolon) between then. Example: GIF;JPG;TIF,9,C:\PICTURES\VIEWER.EXE COLOR is the color you want VCC to display all files under that extension (If you want all of your TXT files to be RED for instance). See above for available colors. PATH&PROGRAM can be either the full path and name of a program (like C:\DOS\EDIT), a special command character: > < | = ? or a combination of both. The special characters have the following meaning: > (by it self) - For EXE,COM,BAT only: It will be executed. < (by it self) - This file will be left alone. Don't touch! | (by it self) - for EXE,COM,BAT only: Execute and then pause. These are used directly in front of the PATH&PROGRAM: | A pause will occur after program execution. ? Run with silent screen mode (VCC batch file not used). = Run without changing to text-mode display first. Example: WAV,10,?C:\SOUND\PLAYER This would show WAV files (sounds) in bright green and would run the PLAYER program from within VCC, without changing the screen (only works with some programs that use text-only screen modes). ╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ (7) Tips on VCC Usage ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ I have found that VCC can be configured to do some really cool things if you set it up correctly. I have collected a bunch of cool command-line utilities that work perfectly with VCC. This basically makes VCC like an all-in-one graphics viewer, music player, text editor, compiler, and more! If you can find utilities that allow you to give them a specified file as a command-line parameter, then they will work perfectly with VCC. The following utilities have been found to work great by beta-testers: File Name Function/Utility Author ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ EDIT.COM* DOS Edit Text editor Microsoft Q.EXE* Q-Edit Text editor Semware DISPLAY.EXE Display Graphics viewer Jih-Shin Ho QPV.EXE Quick Picture Viewer /386 Graphics viewer Oliver Fromme CSHOW.EXE CompuShow Graphics viewer C.S. Systems PLAY.EXE Play Midi player Keven Weiner PLAYFILE.EXE PlayFile (comes with PAS) PAS WAV/VOC player Media Vision DMP.EXE Dual Mod Player MOD/S3M/etc player Otto Chrons IPLAY.EXE Inertia Player MOD/S3M/etc player Sound Solutns. RMP.EXE Reniassance Music Player MOD/S3M/etc player Reniassance PB.EXE* Power Basic Basic compiler Robert Zale TCC.EXE* Turbo C++ Compiler C++ Compiler Borland Int. +These programs are copyrighted by their respective authors (some have been abbreviated). Most are shareware programs except for *stared ones which are commercial software. Many BBSs and FTP sites have a DOS UTILITY directory filled with these types of helpful utilities. One example scenario where VCC comes in really handy when set up properly is this: You download a ZIP file full of GIFs (pictures) from an FTP site and now your ready to take a look at what you got. You click on the ZIP file, enter a directory to unzip it all to, and press enter. VCC takes care of the unzipping and now you have them in say, your C:\PICTURES\ directory ready to go. You click on the "\.." button and then the PICTURES directory to look at the GIFs. You can now click on a GIF file, have your graphics viewer load it up on the screen, and marvel at your latest Cindy Crawford picture. Then you can click on other GIF files, view them, and decide if you want to keep them. A quick press of the DEL key and the one's you didn't like are gone. VCC just acted like it was your favorite graphics viewer plus it gives you the ease and simplicity to manage your files quick and hassle-free. This is just the beginning of what you can do with VCC. After you customize it to your liking, I guarantee that your productivity will go up while frustration will go down. Experiment with different options and maximize the potential! ╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ (8) Things to Avoid ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ You should avoid running some programs in conjunction with VCC. Loading TSRs from within VCC *can* in some situations cause your computer to freeze. Many TSRs expect to be in a text screen mode when activated and VCC runs under a graphics mode. These problems are the fault of the lousy TSR programmers but usually are not a problem. Also, running some programs with the silent screen mode may cause 'garbage' to be displayed on the screen. If the program does not explicitly change the screen mode or try to clear the screen, it will work under silent screen mode (such as if you had a command line VOC player that you wanted to play Voice files with). If the screen becomes screwed up for some reason, the CTRL-R command will reset VCC and refresh the display. Also, as previously mentioned, DO NOT keep more than ONE copy of VCC.EXE in a PATH directory. ╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ (9) How the Batch File Works ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ The batch files (VCCRUN.BAT and VCC-2.BAT) are files created by VCC that you usually will not see. These files enable VCC to run your programs without taking up any memory, as if you typed the name of the program yourself. When you click on a file to do something with it, VCC creates VCCRUN.BAT and VCC-2.BAT and actually quits itself. But just before it quits, VCC pushes the name "vccrun" into the keyboard type-ahead buffer, to simulate you actually typing it. Then the batch file takes over and your program is run. When finished, the batch file executes VCC once again and you are returned to where you started. The batch files are VCC-maintained files, so deleting them is not wise. VCC will get rid of VCCRUN.BAT after you return to the VCC environment. It is a good idea to place VCC in a PATH directory (where you can type "VCC" from anywhere). That way, the batch files are also created in that PATH directory. When the type-ahead buffer is stuffed with "vccrun", it will work no matter what drive or directory you are in. Without the batch files, VCC would have to run your programs directly under a shell, and memory would be used up by VCC, leaving less for your programs. Also, if you do not place VCC in a PATH directory, it will use up about 4k more memory when running your programs. One last note, it would be unwise to name anything "VCCRUN.BAT" or "VCC-2.BAT" in the same directory as VCC because it will be deleted or over-written! (Why would you anyway?) ╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ (10) Running VCC Under Windows ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Running VCC under Windows 3.1 is NOT recommended. Besides running really slow, VCC will not run your programs while under windows. However, it will work fine if you first click on the DOS Prompt icon and then run VCC. Running VCC under Windows 95 may or may not work any better than under Windows 3.1. I recommend booting up to DOS before running VCC. Keep in mind that VCC is intended for DOS and not to be run under another shell. If you have Windows 3.1 or 95, VCC can still be a valuable utility for managing your directories and files, especially when you want to have more control over things than Windows may provide. ╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ (11) Future Updates ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ I am constantly working to improve VCC. I realize that Windows is slowly taking over the world and the potential for greater numbers of users is diminishing... But I still think VCC has a good niche in the DOS world. I may implement a 256 color VESA version to offer more colors. I am also considering making a TSR version of VCC but this will probably be put off until version 4 or 5 unless many users request it. I would really appreciate ANY comments or suggestions no matter how small. Drop me a line at my email address and it is likely I will reply. Veeder South IV vsouth@primenet.com ╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ (12) Bugs ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ If you find any bugs in VCC, please send me an email (vsouth@primenet.com) with a description of the bug, your system hardware, and the operating system you use. If I can duplicate the bug you found, I will promptly fix it. If it is serious enough, I will send you a new version with the bug fixed at my discretion (if you have registered VCC). If you have not registered VCC, please consider registering it...otherwise, look for a new shareware version with the bug fix. ╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ (13) Legal Information ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ VISUAL CONTROL CENTER (VCC) IS COPYRIGHT 1996 BY VEEDER SOUTH IV ALL RIGHTS RESERVED SOUTH ENTERPRISES IS TRADEMARK OF VEEDER SOUTH IV THIS SOFTWARE IS SHAREWARE AND MAY BE DISTRIBUTED FREELY AS LONG AS ITS CONTENTS ARE NOT ALTERED IN ANY WAY, AND ALL THE ORIGINAL FILES ARE INCLUDED. REGISTERED VERSIONS MAY *NOT* BE DISTRIBUTED OR COPIED EXCEPT FOR BACKUP PURPOSES. IT IS A CRIME TO PIRATE SOFTWARE. YOU MAY NOT SELL VISUAL CONTROL CENTER. YOU MAY NOT CHARGE A FEE FOR VISUAL CONTROL CENTER. IF YOU WANT TO PUT VCC ON A SHAREWARE CD-ROM, PLEASE CONTACT ME! THE AUTHOR (Veeder South IV) PROVIDES NO GUARANTEE WITH THIS SOFTWARE AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGE OCCURRING FROM THE USE, MISUSE, AND/OR ABUSE OF THIS SOFTWARE. USE THIS SOFTWARE AT YOUR OWN RISK. BY RUNNING THIS SOFTWARE, YOU AGREE TO THE ABOVE DISCLAIMER AND WILL NOT HOLD THE AUTHOR RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCIDENTAL OR INCURRED. 7-1-96════════════════════════════End-of-filE══════════════════════════02:00:00