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Q U I K - I N S T A L L v2.1 Copyright 1992,93,94 Michael L. Wester. All rights reserved. QUIK-INSTALL v2.1 Copyright 1992,93,94 Michael L. Wester All rights reserved. Michael L. Wester Route #6 Box 34 Fuquay-Varina, N.C. 27526 (919)-552-0767 QUIK-INSTALL is an easy to use, easy to set up installation program. It is designed to install applications from floppy disks to hard disk. Combines the most commonly required features but remains very small and very easy to use. FEATURES * QUIK-INSTALL can be utilized using it's default configurations to create a "ready made" install program. You have the option of taking advantage of it's many features or using it in it's simplest form. You can create a fully functional, customized INSTALL.EXE program in less than 5 minutes! * Completely menu driven interface that creates the 6.5k distributable INSTALL.EXE. No script files, programming or batch files. * The interface used to create the INSTALL.EXE has full mouse support and context sensitive help. * QUIK-INSTALL will optionally run a start-up batch file to perform any necessary duties before installation begins. This batch file is passed installation directory information. If you choose this batch file can perform the entire installation. * The INSTALL.EXE module can be called from a batch file (Including it's own start-up batch file.) as a separate utility to set screen colors or prompt for input. Input response is returned as batch file ERRORLEVELS. * Supports multiple disk programs. It can prompt for an unlimited number of disks. * Automatically creates the sub-directory then copies the files for the program it is installing. * Optionally tests for available disk space to make sure the user has enough space to install. If space is not available it aborts with a warning message informing the user of how much space is necessary for installation. * Installs programs using a straight file copy or will install from executable archives. * The entire program is around 7.5k in size and stores all setup information internally. (The executable is created and modified by the QUIK-INSTALL interface.) It has no configuration files yet can be modified at any time. After it has been configured it's size can be reduced to 6.5k by using a compression program such as LZEXE or PKLITE. The LZEXE program is included and integrated into the QUIK-INSTALL interface. * Has the option to exit in the directory the program has been copied to allowing the user to start up immediately. * Displays a customized example prompt and a line of text after installation completes. * QUIK-INSTALL can optionally "stuff" the keyboard buffer with the command users should enter to start your application. Has the option to execute the command stuffed in the buffer allowing you to start your program automatically or display a banner, greeting, warning or anything else. * Color attributes can be set to make the installation program more like your own application. * Registered users can receive a copy of the program with their copyright message hard-coded into the QUIK-INSTALL program. The Association of Shareware Professionals _______ ____|__ | (R) --| | |------------------- | ____|__ | Association of | | |_| Shareware |__| o | Professionals -----| | |--------------------- |___|___| MEMBER Michael L. Wester is a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). The ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442-9427 USA, FAX 616-788-2765 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536. SHAREWARE The QUIK-INSTALL program is being marketed using the shareware method. This means you are encouraged to share copies of the unregistered version for evaluation purposes. If you wish to use QUIK-INSTALL as an installation program for your applications you must register with the author. Please read the futher explanation of shareware and the copyright notice near the end of this document. SHAREWARE CATEGORY - Utilities, Programming, Disk or FIle utilities VENDOR DESCRIPTION LONG: QUIK-INSTALL v2.1 - An easy to setup and use application installation program. Installs applications from floppy disks or CD-ROMs to hard disks. Supports multiple disk installations, copies files or installs from EXE archives, checks available disk space, creates subdirectories, auto executes application after installation, configurable colors, prompt and message, stores setup internally (No configuration or script files), only 7k in size. Completely menu driven, full mouse support, full context sensitive help & more!. Runs on any PC compatible computer. <ASP> SHORT: QUIK-INSTALL v2.1 - Application installation program. Many features. <ASP> USING QUIK-INSTALL The basic concept... The QUIK-INSTALL interface allows you to configure then create an INSTALL.EXE that has all configuration information hard-coded into the EXE. Because the menu driven interface keeps a setup file for each INSTALL.EXE you can recreate the INSTALL program anytime just by reloading the setup and regenerating the EXE. After the INSTALL.EXE is created you can distribute it with your application royalty free. To use the program you start it by typing QUIK then press ENTER. At this point the main menu will appear. You can create an INSTALL.EXE without doing any setup. In it's simplest form the default settings will do a straight file copy, no message, 1 disk, will not exit in the installed directory, will not check for enough disk space to install to, will not stuff the keyboard buffer and will not execute a startup batch file. You may rename the INSTALL.EXE to anything you like after it has been created. QUIK-INSTALL limitations (And some tips & tricks) The QUIK-INSTALL program has been designed for ease of use (both for developers and users) and small size, it is not intended to be a do-all, mega feature, application installation application. What QUIK-INSTALL can do is provide a fool-proof installation for about 95% of the DOS based programs in the shareware and commercial market. What it can't do is... * Edit CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT. * Query a user's computer to determine setup needs and configurations. While QUIK-INSTALL can't perform these tasks itself it does provide the capibility using a little creative batch file programming. (Note: Batch files are not necessary for most installations.) For example: To add your program's install directory to the path you can add the following line to the START-UP batch file that is executed before the installation occurs. ECHO>>C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT PATH=%%PATH%%;%1%2 This will add the drive and directory the user installs your program to, to the PATH statement in their AUTOEXEC.BAT. (This same method is used by Artisoft when installing their Lantastic network product. Looks strange but works well.) To add a FILE and BUFFERS statement to the user's CONFIG.SYS you can add the following lines to the START-UP batch file that is executed before the installation begins. ECHO>>C:\CONFIG.SYS FILES=20 ECHO>>C:\CONFIG.SYS BUFFERS=20 These two problems are the most common installation tasks that are not built into the QUIK-INSTALL program. While this batch file solution isn't perfect it is quite adequate and somewhat elegant. Don't forget that if you wish to you can use the INSTALL program to prompt the user for confirmation before you execute these commands. If you need information about a user's system you can always query the user using a batch file to prompt for specific questions such as: ECHO Video type? Press letter (V)GA - (E)GA - (C)GA to select. INSTALL k The k parameter causes the INSTALL.EXE to wait then sets the ERRORLEVEL to the ASCII code for the key pressed. You can test for ERRORLEVELS using the IF statement. (See the START.BAT and the documentation on "Prompting for User Input" for examples.) CONFIGURING QUIK-INSTALL (setup) To create an INSTALL.EXE you must first define a setup filename. This setup file will store all the configuration information for a single INSTALL.EXE. You can reload a previous setup file to reconfigure the save it under a new name. After you have loaded or entered a setup filename the hi-lite bar will move to the next option. Following are a list of options and their purpose. Any options that are necessary will have a default setting otherwis they can be left blank. Option 1. Install completion message: At this prompt you may enter a message that will be displayed at the end of the installation. Most likely this would be a message on how to start or configure your program. It could be a greeting or warning. It can be anything you like up to 72 characters. Option 2. Enter default prompt: When the program runs it prompts the user to press ENTER to accept the default drive and subdirectory name to install to. You should use an example that will be suitable for your program. Example: If your program is named QUIKWORK your might want the user to install the program to a directory named QUIKWORK. In this case enter C:\QUIKWORK. What you enter will be converted to uppercase. Option 3. Number of disks: Here you should enter the number of disks you would like QUIK- INSTALL to prompt for and copy. This number is limited only by the length of the EXE archive's filename. If you are not installing from an EXE archive this number is unlimited. The reason: QUIK-INSTALL concatenates the the number 1 to the number of disks to install to the end of the EXE archive's filename. If your program installs from more than 9 disks your EXE archive's file name must not be more than 6 characters long. If your program installs from more than 99 disks the EXE archive's name must not be longer than 5 characters. See option 7 for more details. (It is unlikely you will encounter this problem.) Option 4. Exit in install directory? <Y/N> After the installation is completed you will most likely want your user to start your program. If this is the case you should answer YES to this question. Answering YES will cause the user to be in the installed directory after installation has completed. It is not case sensitive. Option 5. Stuff keyboard buffer with: If you like QUIK-INSTALL will stuff the keyboard buffer with a command of your choice. This allows the user to start the program without doing a directory to find the right file. This could be a batch file to type a README or it could start your program. You may leave this option blank. If you enter a command for this option the following option appears. Option 6. Execute Buffer? <Y/N> This option appears only if you use option 5. If you stuff a command into the keyboard buffer after installation it can be very useful to have it execute immediately. You might wish your user to read a text file or start a configuration program. If you stuff the buffer with a batch file you can have the install program do a number of things. You must select whether to execute or not. The default is to execute. Option 7. Executable archive: This option has some important features. First, when QUIK- INSTALL is run it will copy files or try to run an executable archive. If you enter a filename at this prompt the program will try to run an executable archive by the name you enter. If your program is being installed from a single disk this is all you need to do. If you are using executable archives and installing an application that requires more than 1 disk there are some special considerations. In order to keep the QUIK-INSTALL program at it's minimum size I opted not to store individual filenames for multiple disk archive installations. Instead I use a simple system that requires you to name your executable archives using a number as the last letter of the filename. Example: If your program uses three disks to install and your program's name is MYWORK you would have to name your three executable archives MYWORK1.EXE, MYWORK2.EXE and MYWORK3.EXE. When the QUIK-INSTALL program asks you for an archive name you would enter MYWORK. This method allows me to concatenate a number to the MYWORK filename based on the number of disks you are installing. It also allows an unlimited number of disks and requires no extra space inside the QUIK-INSTALL program. (Note: Make sure your file name does not exceed 7 characters (6 characters if you install 10 or more disks) so the disk number can be concatenated.) The QUIK-INSTALL program will work with any executable archive. It is not dependant on the command syntax of any of the known EXE archive compressors. Option 8. Disk space needed: To have the program test for available disk space before installing, enter the amount of space your program requires in bytes. If the user tries to install your application to a drive that does not have enough space QUIK-INSTALL will abort the installation. It will also display a message explaining that your application requires the amount of space you enter here. Like all options you may leave this blank to have the program skip disk space checking. Option 9. Background color & Hi-lite color: You can set the color attributes for the background color and background text and you can set a separate color attribute for the boxed in text. Colors are set by using the arrow keys or mouse to select the different colors then pressing the ENTER key to set the color. After you have selected a color by pressing ENTER you have the option to accept or change the color code. If you already know the color code you wish to use you can enter it directly by pressing ENTER on the color select screen. Colors are determined by using the following color codes to set the screens background and foreground colors. The INSTALL.EXE module has the ability to be called with a command line parameter to set colors from within batch files using color codes. (See the SPECIAL FEATURES section for more information.) To select a color you must first choose the background color code then add the foreground color code to it. For example: The color code for a blue background ranges from 16 to 31. To create a blue back-ground with white text you would add 15 (The foreground code for white) to 16 (The background code for blue) making a color code of 31. If you wanted a blue background with yellow text you would add 16 (The color code for blue.) and 14 (The color code for yellow.) for a total of 30. BACKGROUND COLOR with FOREGROUND... FOREGROUND COLOR... CODE COLOR ATTRIBUTE CODE COLOR ---- ----- --------- ---- ----- 0 ---------- Black ------ Normal 0 ---------- Black 16 ---------- Blue ------- Normal 1 ---------- Blue 32 ---------- Green ------ Normal 2 ---------- Green 48 ---------- Cyan ------- Normal 3 ---------- Cyan 64 ---------- Red -------- Normal 4 ---------- Red 80 ---------- Magenta ---- Normal 5 ---------- Magenta 96 ---------- Brown ------ Normal 6 ---------- Brown 112 ---------- Light Grey - Normal 7 ---------- Light Grey 128 ---------- Black ------ Flashing 8 ---------- Dark Grey 144 ---------- Blue ------- Flashing 9 ---------- Light Blue 160 ---------- Green ------ Flashing 10 ---------- Light Green 176 ---------- Cyan ------- Flashing 11 ---------- Light Cyan 192 ---------- Red -------- Flashing 12 ---------- Light Red 208 ---------- Magenta ---- Flashing 13 ---------- Light Magenta 224 ---------- Brown ------ Flashing 14 ---------- Yellow 240 ---------- Light Grey - Flashing 15 ---------- White The best way to determine which colors will be affected by your color changes is to change a few and look at the effects. The program colors default to 31 (White on blue) for the background and 7 (White on black) for the hi-lite color. Option 5. Batch file to execute: If you enter a file name at this prompt QUIK-INSTALL will attempt to execute it before beginning the installation. This is the FIRST thing QUIK-INSTALL does after getting all the necessary installation information. QUIK-INSTALL passes three installation variables to whatever file is being executed. Using a batch file this will allow you to perform a variety of installation tasks. The variables passed to a batch file are: %1 - The drive letter the user is installing to in this form: C:. %2 - The sub-directory the program is being installed to in this form: \DIRNAME. (1%2% will be the drive and path the program is being installed to. %3 - The source drive letter of the program files being installed in this form A:. %4 - The source path or subdirectory where the files being installed are residing in this form: \DIRNAME. (%3%4 will be the drive and path where the files being installed will be residing.) Note: This variable will be returned null if installing from the "root" directory of a drive. This feature allows you to display any banners or messages or even create custom "startup" batch files. Since QUIK-INSTALL copies all files you could use this to clean up any unneeded files such as already unpacked archives. SPECIAL FEATURES (Install Module Command Line Options) The INSTALL.EXE module has two features that allow it to perform special functions when called from a batch file. These features can be very useful when used from within the start-up batch file. Setting screen colors from within batch files. To set the screen colors from within a batch file you simple run the INSTALL.EXE program with a color code as a command line parameter. Example: INSTALL 31. Running the INSTALL.EXE program in this manner would clear the screen using a blue background with white letters. The INSTALL program would then end and your batch file would continue. (See the section on setting screen colors for instruction on determining color codes.) Prompting for user input from within batch files. The INSTALL.EXE program will pause for user input when executed with the k parameter. Example: INSTALL k. (This feature is case sensitive. Takes more code to make it not.) When INSTALL.EXE is run using this parameter it simple waits until a key is pressed then sets the ERRORLEVEL to the ASCII key code for the key pressed. The INSTALL program then ends and your batch file continues. You can use this feature to ECHO a prompt to the screen, wait for a key press, then check the ERRORLEVEL and decide what to do next. Following are a list of ASCII key codes. INSTALL.EXE returns the ASCII number as an ERRORLEVEL when run with the k parameter. A = 65 K = 75 U = 85 d = 100 n = 110 x = 120 B = 66 L = 76 V = 86 e = 101 o = 111 y = 121 C = 67 M = 77 W = 87 f = 102 p = 112 z = 122 D = 68 N = 78 X = 88 g = 103 q = 113 E = 69 O = 79 Y = 89 h = 104 r = 114 F = 70 P = 80 Z = 90 i = 105 s = 115 G = 71 Q = 81 j = 106 t = 116 H = 72 R = 82 a = 97 k = 107 u = 117 I = 73 S = 83 b = 98 l = 108 v = 118 J = 74 T = 84 c = 99 m = 109 w = 119 0 = 48 ! = 33 + = 43 ? = 63 } = 125 1 = 49 " = 34 , = 44 @ = 64 ~ = 126 2 = 50 # = 35 - = 45 [ = 91 Spacebar = 32 3 = 51 $ = 36 . = 46 \ = 92 4 = 52 % = 37 / = 47 ] = 93 5 = 53 & = 38 : = 58 ^ = 94 6 = 54 ' = 39 ; = 59 _ = 95 7 = 55 ( = 40 < = 60 ` = 96 8 = 56 ) = 41 = = 61 { = 123 9 = 57 * = 42 > = 62 | = 124 QUIK-INSTALL NOTES & CONSIDERATIONS QUIK-INSTALL returns ERRORLEVEL's based on how the program ends. Following is a list of QUIK-INSTALL's exit errorlevels: Installation successful - Errorlevel = 0 User entered bad path - Errorlevel = 1 User canceled installation - Errorlevel = 2 All of the QUIK-INSTALL features are optional. You can leave any or all at their defaults. You can abort the INSTALL.EXE program at any time by pressing the CTRL-C or CTRL-BREAK key combination. QUIK-INSTALL does minimal error checking for user input. It tries to make sure a valid drive and directory name is entered. The data entry field within QUIK-INSTALL that allows user input uses the built in DOS command processor's line editor. This was done to reduce program size and still have a full function line editing ability. If you use a utility like the DOS 5's DOSKEY program or the shareware CED program all of their features will be functional within the QUIK-INSTALL INSTALL.EXE program. SHAREWARE Shareware is software marketed on a "Try before you buy" basis. The price per disk that Shareware distributors charge is a distribution fee and not the price of the software. Shareware authors have agreed to allow vendors to recover expenses for copying, packaging, and maintaining a shareware library. This allows you to obtain software programs at incredibly low prices to try, then pay the registration price for them only if they suit your needs. The idea is that after a reasonable trial period, if you find the programs to be of use, you are expected to send the author the registration fee. Registration entitles you to various rights and benefits. These range from the legal (and moral) right to continue using the software. In addition many shareware authors offer printed documentation and/or higher levels of service and support. Unlike Public Domain software, which is free to everyone with no fees asked for or expected, shareware programs exist because the authors expect and deserve the registration support from people who use their programs. So that's Shareware. If you like it, support it ! REGISTRATION The shareware message will be removed on any registered version of QUIK-INSTALL. Registered users of QUIK-INSTALL will receive a printed copy of the manual (Laser printed booklet.) and no less than three months of free technical support. There are no royalties for distribution of the INSTALL.EXE program. Single program license agreement Registration for a single program entitles you to distribute the INSTALL.EXE program with as many copies of a single application as you produce. You may not use QUIK-INSTALL with any program other than the one listed on the registration form. The TITLE line (The second line displayed by the INSTALL.EXE program.) will be hard-coded with a message specific to the program QUIK-INSTALL is licensed for and cannot be changed. There are no royalties for distribution. You must register a copy of QUIK-INSTALL for each program you intend to distribute it with or purchase an Author or Custom license. This license entitles you to use the QUIK-INSTALL program on one computer by one person at the time. Example: QUIK-INSTALL v2.1 Copyright 1994 Michael L. Wester Install program for YOURPROGRAM v2.5 Price: Royalty-free, unlimited copies - $15.00 Authors license agreement With an Author's license you may distribute as many copies of the INSTALL.EXE program with as many different programs as you have produced as long as every program is produced under the same copyright. With the Authors license the QUIK-INSTALL copyright must remain intact. To use a different install program name and your copyright you must purchase a Custom license registration. This license entitles you to use the QUIK-INSTALL program on one computer by one person at the time. Example: QUIK-INSTALL v2.1 Copyright 1994 Michael L. Wester Customize this line with anything for individual programs. Price: Royalty-free, unlimited copies, unlimited programs - $45.00 Custom license agreement With a Custom license registration you may distribute as many copies of the INSTALL.EXE program with as many different programs as you have produced as long as every program is produced under the same copyright. The top line of the INSTALL.EXE program will be hard- coded with your company's copyright and if you choose, a custom name for the install program. You may use the name QUIK-INSTALL if you wish. (The top line of the INSTALL.EXE program can be hard-coded with anything you like.) This license entitles you to use the QUIK- INSTALL program on one computer by one person at the time. Example: FAST-N-EASY INSTALL Copyright 1994 YOURCOMPANY INC. Customize this line with anything for individual programs. Price: Royalty-free, unlimited copies, unlimited programs, your copyright hard-coded into the INSTALL.EXE - $65.00 Shareware disk vendor license notes Registration for Shareware disk vendors entitles you to distribute the QUIK-INSTALL program on every disk you sell as an easy installation program for your customers. Shareware disk vendors must purchase an Author's or Custom license registration. This license entitles you to use the QUIK-INSTALL program on one computer by one person at the time. Corporate site license notes Corporations must purchase a Corporate site license agreement if the QUIK-INSTALL program is to be used on more than one computer by more than one employee at the time. Call 919-552-0767 for volume pricing. Being a registered user of the QUIK-INSTALL program does not mean you own QUIK-INSTALL. Registered users are licensed to use and distribute the INSTALL.EXE with specific applications or with applications produced or distributed under their company or author name. You may not sell the INSTALL.EXE as an individual product. It must accompany the application it will be installing. The QUIK- INSTALL configuration program may not be used on more than one computer by one person at the time. DISCLAIMER Under no circumstances shall Michael L. Wester be liable for any damages, including lost profits, savings, or any other incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of or inability to use this program even if Michael L. Wester has been notified of the possibility of such damages, or for any claims by any other party. COPYRIGHT NOTICE QUIK-INSTALL is copyrighted 1993/94 by Michael L. Wester. All rights reserved. The QUIK-INSTALL program may not be sold under any circumstances. Registered users are licensed to use QUIK-INSTALL to create INSTALL.EXE to distribute with programs and applications they produce or distribute. Registered users of QUIK-INSTALL may not sell or distribute the registered version. Unregistered versions of the QUIK-INSTALL program may distributed for evaluation purposes only. The QUIK-INSTALL program may not be distributed on CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory) without express written permission from Michael L. Wester. The QUIK-INSTALL configuration program incorporates the use of the really cool, public domain LZEXE v0.91 program (·-release) Copyright 1989 Fabrice BELLARD. The use of this program futher reduces the size of the INSTALL.EXE by about 1.5k. If you choose you can use any EXE compressor by renaming it LZEXE and placing a copy of it in the \QUIK directory. REGISTRATION - QUIK-INSTALL v2.1 Copyright 1994 Michael L. Wester Michael L. Wester (919)-552-0767 Route #6 Box 34 Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 Name_______________________________________________ Address____________________________________________ City/State__________________________ZIP____________ Phone #____________________________________________ ********************************************************************* Registration for Single Program: $15.00 Enter text that is to be hard-coded into the second line of the INSTALL.EXE program. (Usually "Install program for YOURPROGRAM v1.0") _____________________________________________________________________ Registration for a Author or Vendor license: $45.00 This version has the shareware message removed and retains Copyrighted by Michael L. Wester and the QUIK-INSTALL name. Registration for a Custom license: $65.00 Enter the text (Your copyright notice and/or a custom name for INSTALL.EXE.) to hard-code into the first line of the INSTALL.EXE. _____________________________________________________________________ ********************************************************************* Please sign and date your order form: ********************************************************************* Date:_________________ Signature:____________________________________ (Single) program license ..................................... $15.00 (Author) or vendors's license ................................ $45.00 (Custom) license ............................................. $65.00 Price of license(s) ...................................... $_________ 6% N.C. tax .............................................. $_________ Mailing and handling cost ..................................... Free TOTAL .................................................... $_________ [ ] Check enclosed [ ] Money order enclosed [ ] VISA/MC [ ] C.O.D Foreign user, please send Check or Money order in U.S. dollars only. Call 919-552-0767 for credit card and C.O.D phone orders or mail to the address at the top of the order form. You may also register by credit card and receive your registered copy of QUIK-INSTALL via modem within 24 hours (Sometimes within minutes - Your reciept and manual will be mailed). Call the preceding number to register.