Shareware Supreme Volume 6 #1/swsii.zip/swsii/355/TSI180.ZIP/TSI.DOC

Text File | 1993-08-15 | 14KB | 288 lines

 ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄    ┌─────────────────────────────────────╖
     █                    │┌────────────────────────────────────╨╖
     █  █▀▀▀▀█ ▀▀▀█▀▀▀    ││┌────────────────────────────────────╨╖
     █  █         █       ╘╡│┌────────────────────────────────────╨╖
     █  █▄▄▄▄▄    █        ╘╡│ The Sound Interface v1.80           ║
     █       █    █         ╘╡ Copyright (C) 1993 By Roger Yarrow  ║
     █  █▄▄▄▄█ ▄▄▄█▄▄▄       ╘═════════════════════════════════════╝

──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
█ Introduction █
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
Nowadays, sound cards are a big thing.  After getting a sound card, I quickly
began to accumulate VOC, MOD, CMF, WAV, and other such sound files at a rapid
rate.  As a result, I created TSI.  TSI provides you with a fast, easy, and
friendly menu with which to play these files.  In addition, TSI allows these
files to be stored in ZIP, ARJ, or LZH files which saves a lot of disk space.
All you need is a standard color monitor to use this program.  TSI has the
following features...

* EMS/Disk swap for maximum memory when playing
* Tagging for multiple play
* Random play
* Mouse support
* Up to 10 different configurations at the stroke of a key
* Out of this world versatility - configurable for almost anything
  (Even FLI or GL files!)
* Support of the ZIP, ARJ, or LZH compression format (save lots of space!)
* Supports up to about 3000 files in each directory!

...and a couple other things which I've probably forgotten to mention.

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
█ Installation █
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
First of all, let me tell you that I'm not the best at writing documentation
so I'll try to keep it short and sweet.  We will proceed together throughout
this file under the assumption that you wish to set up TSI to play ROL files
with a program called ROL-PLAY.EXE in DOS.  To begin, TSI should come with the
following files...

* TSI.EXE     --  The actual program
* TSI.DOC     --  The file you are reading right now
* FILE_ID.DIZ --  Description file

Make sure you have in your AUTOEXEC.BAT a line resembling:

  SET COMSPEC = C:\COMMAND.COM

TSI reads the "COMSPEC" environment for use when executing external players.

Now, if the file TSI.CFG is present, you should delete it, or else TSI will
most likely keep kicking you out saying it couldn't find any files.  After
deleting TSI.CFG, run "TSI".  A warning message will appear telling you TSI
couldn't find a configuration file.  A window will pop up and it asks you to
answer the following questions...

( Just a note: When answering these and other questions, you may use the arrow
keys, home, end, insert, and delete to ease editing your input.  In addition
Control-End will delete from the cursor to the end of the input string.  The
editing window will scroll as you type should your input be long. )

[1] File Directory
The first question asks you for the complete drive and path the files you wish
TSI to play.  In our case, we might enter "C:\SOUND\ROL\" which is the
fictitious location of our ROL files.  TSI will scan that directory for all
files with the ".ROL" extension (or whatever extension you specify later on).
In addition, the program will also scan for any file with the ".ZIP", ".ARJ",
or ".LZH" extension.  Thus, if you wish, you may keep all of your files
compressed in one of those formats.  If you have files stored in a ZIP, ARJ,
or LZH compressed file, it must follow these rules:

* There may be only one (1) file within each ZIP, ARJ, or LZH file
* The file within that archive must have the same name as the file
  For example:  BLUE.ROL must be in BLUE.ZIP, BLUE.ARJ, or BLUE.LZH, depending
  upon which compression method is used;  DING.WAV must be in DING.ZIP,
  DING.ARJ, or DING.LZH
* NOTE:  The program will scan for ANY file with the ZIP, ARJ, or LZH
  extension, so make sure that only the correct file in their regular or
  compressed format are stored in that directory
* ANOTHER NOTE: You must have PKUNZIP.EXE, ARJ.EXE, or LHA.EXE if you wish to
  use those compression programs.  TSI does NOT have any routines built into
  it.  TSI executes these programs to decompress archived files.
* ONE MORE NOTE: TSI's memory usage has been limited so that the sound playing
  programs you run will have enough memory.  As a result, TSI will only scan
  for up to about 250 files in the specified directory.  If you have more than
  250 or so files, you could make several directories containg A-M and N-Z
  files or something like that.  REMEMBER!...TSI has 10 configurations and
  switching between these directories is not a problem at all!

[2] Utility directory
The second question asks us for the complete drive and path where PKUNZIP.EXE,
ARJ.EXE, and LHA.EXE are located.  For example, they might be located in "C:\"
or "D:\UTILS" and so on.  It is not necessary to have any of these files.  It
is only required if you wish to store your files in any one of the available
compressed formats.

[3] Sound Player
The third question asks for the full drive and name of the program used to
play the sound files.  We'll assume that our imaginary program to play ROL
files is "C:\SOUND\ROL-PLAY.EXE" -- and enter it as so.  Enter whatever
program you intend to use.

[4] Player Parameters
This question allows us to enter any specifics that PLAYWAV might require.
For example, it might need our sound card's IRQ number, so we might enter
something like "/I:7".  If you don't wish to pass any parameters to the
player, just leave it blank.

(TSI would execute "C:\SOUND\ROL-PLAY.EXE XXXXXXXX.ROL /I:7")

[5] Work Directory
The work directory is the directory where any compressed files are
decompressed to.  A RAMDrive is the ideal location since it speeds up
operation.  Let's assume we don't have a RAMDrive, so we'll have the files
decompress to "D:\TEMP".  After a file is decompressed and played, TSI will
delete it for you.  MAKE SURE THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ENOUGH ROOM FOR
DECOMPRESSED FILES!  If there isn't enough room, your player will give you an
error that it couldn't find the specified file to play.

[6] Sound Extension
This is the extension of the sound file type that your player will use.  In
our case, we would enter "ROL"

[7] Quiet Mode
This last question is very important.  If the program you use to play your
sound files has ANY output you wish to see or its output cannot be suppressed
by a " > NUL" command, make sure Quiet Mode says "YES".  If the program's
output can be suppressed by a " > NUL" command, you could leave it as "NO".
Once in TSI, if you play a file and then TSI returns with different colors,
changing Quiet Mode to "YES" will remedy this problem.

In addition, if Quiet Mode is set to "YES" then TSI will swap to EMS memory
if it is present or else TSI will swap to disk.  This results in _maximum_
memory for your external players (especially MOD players).  If a disk swap
file is made, it will be created in the same directory as TSI and deleted
after use.  If for some reason, you do not wish TSI to use the EMS or disk
swap, just hold down either the CONTROL, ALT, or SHIFT key when you start up
TSI and see the title screen.  Two quick beeps from your internal speaker
will confirm that the swapping feature is off.

Hopefully, the above descriptions were easy enough to understand.  Below are
just a couple more possible configurations for TSI that you could answer with:

[1] C:\SB\VOCS\                    [1] D:\WOW\MODULES\
[2] C:\UTILS\                      [2] C:\DOS\
[3] C:\SB\VPLAY.EXE                [3] D:\WOW\WOW.EXE
[4]                                [4] /I:7 /H:220
[5] D:\TEMP\                       [5] E:\
[6] VOC                            [6] MOD
[7] NO                             [7] YES

[1] C:\GRAPHICS\FLI                [1] D:\SB\TRAK\
[2] C:\ZIP\                        [2] C:\PUBLIC\
[3] C:\GRAPHICS\QUICKFLI.EXE       [3] D:\SB\TRAK\TRAK.EXE
[4]                                [4]
[5] C:\WORK\                       [5] E:\
[6] FLI                            [6] MOD
[7] YES                            [7] YES

The above are just a few of the possibilities of TSI -- just use a little
imagination.  The configuration we first entered will be copied for all of
TSI's ten possible configurations.  Once inside TSI, you can edit the other
configurations at will.  For example, I have TSI set up to be able to play MOD
(with 4 different players), VOC, CMF, FLI, and GL files all at the touch of a
key!  I even have TSI set up to work with Blaster Master (By Gary Maddox -
great program) to make editing VOCs a little easier.

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
█ How To Use █
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
Once setup, the program itself is quite easy to use.  By moving the mouse
around, you will have control over the pointer.  If the pointer is on a file
and the left button is pressed, the highlighter will jump to that file.  If
the highlighter is already on that file and you click with the left button (or
hit ENTER), the program will decompress the file, if necessary, and play that
file using the specifications you entered.  If you press the right button or
SPACEBAR, the program will tag that song, and you will see it change to a
different color to show it is tagged.  To untag a song, simply press the right
button (or SPACEBAR) again on a tagged song, and it will be removed from the
tagged list.  In addition, you may also use the arrow keys, page up, page
down, home and end to maneuver throughout the files.  Also, holding down
CONTROL and clicking the left mouse button is the same as a page up.  CONTROL
and the right mouse button is a page down. (Don't worry if you don't have a
mouse - it doesn't matter)

At the bottom of the screen, there is a menu showing the a few more features
of TSI.  Here is a _quick_ explanation of them:

[F1] Play tagged
By hitting [F1], TSI will play all of the files that are tagged.  When in this
mode, there is a way to abort and return back to the program.  After a file
has finished playing, a little gray "help" window will pop up.  Hold down
either mouse button, CONTROL, or ALT until you hear a tone from your speaker.
After hearing the tone, release the mouse button (or CONTROL/ALT), and you
will be brought back TSI.  This procedure is the same for Random Play.

[F2] Random play
This plays files randomly (from your current configuration) until you abort.

[F3] Change directory
This allows you to change the current directory that has been scanned.  The
change is not saved to the configuration file.

[F4] Delete file
This will delete the highlighted file in case you decide you don't like it.
Answer [Y] or [N] to the confirmation and it will be deleted.  If a file is
read-only, TSI will not delete it.

[+],[-]
These two keys will tag and untag all the files.

[Alt-H] Extended
The Extended key opens up a window showing a couple more things you can do
within TSI.  First of all, it shows you the Titles (SEE BELOW) of the ten
configurations you have set up for TSI.  It also tells you ALT-S is to change
the current setup, and ALT-T to change the title of the current setup.

[Alt-T] Title
This allows you to title each configuration so it is easier to distinguish
them when looking at the Extended window.  Any changes made in the title of a
configuration are saved automatically.

[Alt-S] Settings
This brings up a window similar to the one you first encountered when setting
up TSI.  Changing these answers affects the current configuration and all
changes are saved automatically.

[Alt-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0]
Hitting ALT and any key from 1 to 0 (top numeric row of keyboard) will switch
you through the different configurations of TSI.  Use Alt-S and Alt-T to
change these to fit your needs.

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
█ The Future █
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
Well, if people actually like TSI, I will go forth and drastically improve
aspects of TSI that could use a little work.  For example, I would fix the 250
file limit.  A swap to disk or XMS/EMS would be available so that almost all
your memory could go to your player program.  Some internal ZIP, ARJ, LZH
routines _might_ be included.  But before those, an attempt to include
internal VOC, CMF and maybe MOD routines would be made.

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
█ Shareware █
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
This software is Shareware. You can copy this software, and give it to anyone
as long as all files are included in an unaltered state.  There is a
registration fee of $5.00 (US dollars) that is required if you use this
product for more than 30 days.  In addition, registration will remove the
registration messages and delays that you see.  Upon registering, you will
receive instructions that will place information in TSI.CFG that registers TSI
in YOUR name.  This "code" will be valid for all future releases of TSI.

Send $5.00 (US dollars - no change!) with your legal name and home address to:

 Roger Yarrow
 6513 Farmingdale Court
 Derwood, MD  20855

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
█ Copyright █
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
The files TSI.EXE and TSI.DOC are copyrighted by the author. This copyright
allows you to:  use the software, copy this program for anyone as long as all
files are included, and to distribute this program with all of its files for
no charge.

There is no warranty of any kind on this program, and the copyright owner,
Roger Yarrow, is not responsible or liable for damages of any kind caused by
direct or indirect use of this program.  The copyright owner is not
responsible or liable for any loss or corruption of files caused by this
program.  By using this software, you agree to the above.

If you have any questions concerning distribution (such as ShareWare vendors)
or this warranty, feel free to contact me at the address above.

THIS PROGRAM IS SUPPLIED "AS IS".  NO WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND ARE MADE ON IT.

The EMS/Diskswap routines came from the EXECWSWP (v1.6) package by TurboPower
Software.

                 ╔══════════════════════════════════╗
                 ║Copyright (C) 1993 by Roger Yarrow║
                 ╚══════════════════════════════════╝