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Text File | 1999-01-01 | 15.0 KB | 381 lines

D o s G o n e Key Features Provides a very friendly interface between the computer operator and the operating system by using menus to execute DOS commands and run applications programs. Easy to install and use. On-Line Help. Supports full color operation. Not copy protected. Mouse Smart. Any mouse which emulates the cursor arrow keys and has an <enter> button will work with DosGone. Easily supports up to 99 different users. Password protection for each user. Unique or common menus can be assigned to each user. Each menu can have up to 96 different selections, each with the ability to execute multiple DOS commands. System Log feature provides a detailed audit trail of system usage, including user, date, time, and description of task. The System Log is optional for each user. Log may be directly accessed by other programs such as 1-2-3, dBASE, etc., for analysis and reports. System Supervisor feature permits 'Supervisor' to assign menus, set user passwords, system log options, screen colors, etc.. System Overview DosGone is a 'Command Shell' system which effectively isolates the computer operator from the complexities of the operating system by providing an easy to use menu system. When properly installed, DosGone is self starting and is used throughout the session. To execute a DOS command, or to run an application program, the operator need only point to a selection from the menu, using the cursor keys, or a mouse. Complex tasks such as master and daily backup routines, become very simple, even for inexperienced operators. New operator training time is greatly reduced and, costly mistakes are avoided. An optional System Log provides a detailed audit trail of computer usage, helping you better manage your system as well as provide documentation for IRS purposes, if necessary. D o s G o n e Installation Installation of DosGone is very simple and handled entirely by the program. All DosGone files will be installed in a subdirectory named \DosGone, with the exception of two files; AUTOEXEC.BAT and MENU.BAT, which will be installed in the root directory. If you already have an AUTOEXEC.BAT and/or a MENU.BAT, they will be renamed AUTOEXEC.OLD and MENU.OLD respectively. Your existing AUTOEXEC.BAT will be modified by the install program. After installation, if you modify AUTOEXEC.BAT, be sure it has a path to the root directory ( ie path c:\ ). Also, the last command should be MENU, in order for DosGone to start automatically. To run the install program: 1. Make a backup copy of the DosGone diskette. Put the original away and use the backup copy. 2. Insert the DosGone program diskette in drive A: and make it the default drive by typing: A: <enter> 3. Start the install program by typing: INSTALL <drive>: <enter> If you see an error message during installation, it will explain the error. Just run install again, using the proper syntax. 4. When the installation is complete, DosGone will start automatically. Starting DosGone DosGone will start automatically when you turn-on your computer if the command MENU is the last item in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. If you've exited DosGone to the operating system, and want to restart it, just type MENU. When DosGone starts it will ask for a User Number and then a password. If you sign on as user number 99, (System Supervisor) it will also ask for a menu name. NOTE: Initially, DosGone comes set-up only for user number 99, which is the number for the 'System Supervisor', no assigned password, and one pre-defined menu named MAINMENU. Therefore, the first time you use the program (and until you set up other users), just enter 99 for the User Number, press <enter> at the password prompt and, press <enter> again when asked for menu name. Passwords, and menu assignments are made thru the System Supervisor routine. Passwords, if assigned, must be entered exactly as assigned including upper/lower case. Once you've 'logged on', DosGone will display the first page of your assigned menu. D o s G o n e Menu Commands CURSOR MOVEMENT: Move cursor around menu with arrow keys or mouse. OTHER PAGES: To see other pages of the current menu, move the cursor to highlight PgUp or PgDn and press <enter>. Note that the pages will roll from the last to the first and vice versa. That is, if you're on page 3 and do a PgDn, the screen will roll back to page 1. Likewise if you're on page 1 and do a PgUp, the screen will roll to page 3. EXECUTE: To execute a menu selection, just highlight that selection with the cursor and press <enter>. The EXECUTE command will then be highlighted. Press <enter> again to begin execution. SELECT: If you press <enter> while in the menu area and then want to return to the menu, just highlight SELECT and press <enter>. VIEW: Allows you to look at the actual command sequence associated with a menu item. Just highlight the menu item with the cursor, press <enter>, highlight VIEW and press <enter> again. SIGN OFF: Always sign-off when you're thru with a session. It removes you as an active user and prepares the system for another user or shut down. Just press <enter> while in the menu area, highlight sign-off, and press <enter> again. You can safely turn off the computer when the system asks for User Number. The only time it isn't necessary to Sign-Off is when you have first Exited DosGone to the operating system. CHANGE ITEM: Use to create or change the description and command sequence associated with a menu item. Any valid DOS command can be entered. Multiple commands must be separated by two pound signs (##). For example, to copy all the files from drive A: to drive B:, give a directory listing of drive B:, and then pause before returning to the menu, the commands would be entered as: copy a:*.* b:##dir b:##pause To run 1-2-3 from a directory named LOTUS, the command might be: cd\lotus##123 NOTE: You must be authorized thru the System Supervisor routine before DosGone will permit you to change any menu item. There is one command which is special to DosGone, the command to exit DosGone to the operating system. The command is EXITDOS, and it must be entered as a menu item, all upper-case. D o s G o n e Different Menus DosGone supports an unlimited number of menus. Each menu contains three pages and, each page has 32 different selections. Menus are assigned to each user thru the System Supervisor routine. The System Supervisor selects his or her current menu at sign-on. The menu which comes with DosGone is named MAINMENU, and contains a number of pre-defined commands. Some may not work with your system, depending on where your various programs are loaded, your established path, etc.. You may need to change them to work with your system. You may create as many different menus as you need. Menus are created one of three different ways: If you want to create a menu which varies only a small amount from an existing menu, it would be best to make a copy of the existing menu with the DOS copy command, and then make whatever changes are necessary, using DosGone's CHANGE command. Make sure all your menu files created this way have a file extension of .DAT. (ie MAINMENU.DAT, MENU2.DAT, BILL.DAT, etc.) The second method creates a blank menu, with no pre-defined commands. To create a menu with this method, first, sign-on as System Supervisor (#99). When DosGone asks for menu name, type the name of the menu you want to create. DosGone will then tell you that the menu file doesn't exist and ask if you want to create it. Answer Y, and it will be created. NOTE: When entering the menu name, do not type the extension (.DAT), DosGone will take care of that for you. The third method, like the second, creates a blank menu. It is accomplished simply by assigning the menu name to any user, thru the System Supervisor routine. DosGone will tell you that the Menu doesn't exist and, ask if you want to create it. Answer Y, and it will be. Once created, menus may be assigned to any users thru the System Supervisor routine. One menu may be assigned to any number of users. Batch Processing Because of the way DOS handles batch files, you may experience some difficulty if you try to run a batch file from DosGone. The problem will be in returning to DosGone after the batch file runs -- It just won't happen! Fortunately, the problem is easily corrected. Just add the command MENU as the last line of any batch file you will be running from DosGone. D o s G o n e System Supervisor The System Supervisor routine allows the 'System Supervisor' to determine a number of things about how DosGone is implemented on your system. 1. Establish passwords for each user, including the System Supervisor. Note: Passwords are optional. If you don't want to use them on your system, just leave the password blank for all users. 2. Set whether or not a user has the authority to change his or her own menu. 3. Specify whether DosGone should maintain a system log for any user. 4. Assign a specific menu to each user. 5. Select the foreground, background, and border colors for DosGone. To access the System Supervisor, run the program SYSUPER from DOS or, from DosGone's menu. (It's pre-defined on MAINMENU that comes with DosGone) The password required for entry is the same password which is set up for the System Supervisor (#99) in DosGone. System Log DosGone has the ability to keep a detailed audit trail of system usage for any or all users. The log consists of one file named DOSGONE.LOG, which may be directly accessed by 1-2-3, dBASE, and others for analysis and reporting. If implemented, the log will record the user number, date, time, and task description. Over a period of time, the log may become quite large. For this reason, we suggest that it be erased periodically, after it has been printed or imported into another program for analysis, or whatever. After its been erased, another one will be started automatically by DosGone. D o s G o n e Problems PROBLEM: DosGone does not start automatically when the computer is turned on. SOLUTION: Make sure the last command in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file is MENU. PROBLEM: The system will not return to DosGone after executing a DOS command or running an application program. SOLUTION: Make sure there is a path command in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file with a path to the root directory ( ie path=c:\ ). PROBLEM: Menu commands do not execute properly. SOLUTION: Check the syntax of your commands. If you have multiple commands in a menu item, they must be separated by two pound signs (##). You may need to change the current directory as part of the command. PROBLEM: DosGone will not accept a user's password. SOLUTION: Use the System Supervisor routine to verify the user's password. Remember, the password must be entered precisely, inluding upper/lower case. PROBLEM: Can't exit from DosGone to the operating system. SOLUTION: Enter the command EXITDOS, using all upper-case letters as one of your menu items. Then, to exit, highlight that menu item, press <enter> and, then press <enter> again, to execute. D o s G o n e Licensing and Registration DosGone is not a public domain program and never has been. You are hereby granted a nonexclusive license to use this software on your computer system, provided it is used in an unmodified format, and also providing that you assume any and all risk associated with its use. You are encouraged to make copies of this software and distribute them to others in unmodified format, and without cost. You may not charge any fee for copies distributed by you unless it is a small fee to cover the cost of the media, shipping, and handling, in which case, the fee shall not exceed $6.00. using or distributing copies of this software which are known to be modified is strictly prohibited. This software may be registered in your name. We have developed this quality software for your use and, we have chosen a method of distribution which insures that it is available to anyone that wants to use it, at the least possible cost. Although we have invested many hundreds of hours in developing this program for your use, we ask only the following: If you find this program useful, we ask that you become a registered user and pay the very small registration fee of $25.00. There are a number of benefits to becoming a registered user... 1. It's the right thing to do. You'll know that you got an excellent product for a very fair price. 2. We'll send you the very latest version, customized with your serial number and your name. 3. We will provide telephone, or mail support for any questions or problems with DosGone. 4. We'll notify you of future updates and enhancements to DosGone, so you can always have the latest version. 5. We'll send you a coupon which you can redeem for one FREE program from Data Base Consulting. 6. We'll send you information about our giant directory of low-cost software. 7. We will pay you a $10.00 commission, when someone registers a copy with your serial number and name. Register your copy today to start earning commissions. DosGone REGISTRATION -- $25.00 Please register my copy of DosGone, making me elgible to receive the extra benefits of registration, as explained in the program. The SN of my copy is:_____________ Registered to__________________________ Register my copy in the name of:__________________________________________ Name______________________________________________________________________ Address___________________________________________________________________ City__________________________State______Zip________Phone_________________ Check___ Visa___ MasterCard___ Number__________________________________ Expiration Date_________ Signature_______________________________________ Data Base Consulting, P.O. Box 41, Rupert, ID 83350, 208/436-0211 You may register by phone if you prefer. Idaho residents add sales tax.