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- README FILE FOR WCL
- ------------------
-
- The Windows/Win-OS/2 Command Line Processor (WCL) is a program that
- presents a fully featured DOS-like command line interface for Microsoft's
- Windows 3.1 and IBM's Win-OS/2. For Windows users, it is the best way
- of avoiding the dreaded "MSDOS PROMPT", while still having the benefit
- of a command prompt, and all the benefits of the Windows environment.
- For OS/2 users, it is one of the easiest ways of starting "seamless"
- Windows sessions, and in all cases, it is always a *far* better option
- than using Program Manager's "File, Run" menu, or opening the "MSDOS
- PROMPT"
-
- WCL basically simulates the DOS "C:\> prompt", but from within Windows
- or Win-OS/2. The WCL main Window is a small, unobtrusive window which
- defaults to the top left corner of the screen. It occupies very litte
- screen space, meaning that most of the rest of the screen is visible.
-
- You can then run Windows and DOS programs by typing their names and
- pressing <ENTER>, just as you would do at the DOS command line.
- If you are running OS/2 version 2.1, then you can also run OS/2
- programs from within WCL. OS/2 users should please NOTE that WCL
- will only run DOS and OS/2 programs under OS/2 as well as the Program
- Manager will run them, since WCL uses the same API calls to run programs
- as the Program Manager. Some OS/2 programs will not run at all, if run
- from a Win-OS/2 session, and some DOS programs behave quite strangely
- if run from Win-OS/2.
-
- WCL is a neat, fast, and effective way for multi-tasking under Windows,
- and Win-OS/2, and can replace the Program Manager as your Windows or
- Win-OS/2 Shell. It also supports most of the internal DOS commands
- (e.g., COPY, DIR, CD, MD, DEL, REN, ATTRIB, DATE, TIME, SET, etc.)
- through built-in technology.
-
- This file only contains instructions as to how to setup WCL. Full
- documentation is contained in the on-line help, which is available
- if you type "HELP" at the WCL command prompt.
-
- Please read WCL.INI, and the on-line help, especially the
- section titled "LEGAL STUFF" ** BEFORE ** attempting to use WCL.
-
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------
- WHY SHOULD YOU USE WCL? PLEASE SEE THE FILE "WHY.TXT"
- ------------------------------------------------------
-
-
-
- Files
- -----
- The WCL package contains the following files;
-
- Essential Files
- ---------------
- 1. WCL.EXE (WCL main executable)
- 2. WCLDLL.EXE (library needed by WCL.EXE)
- 3. BIGWCL.EXE (the "big" windowed version of WCL)
- 4. BWCC.DLL (library file needed by all the executables)
- 5. WCL.INI (initialization file for WCL. Please read it!)
- 6. WCL.HLP (WCL help file)
- 7. WCL.SUM (an alphabetical list of internal commands)
- 8. KEYS.WCL (file for assigning commands to function keys)
- 9. REGISTER.TXT (form for REGISTRATION requests)
- 10. ORDER.FRM (fill-in form for ordering a registered copy)
-
- Non-Essential Files
- -------------------
- 11. README.TXT (this file)
- 12. HISTORY.TXT (file that shows changes between WCL versions)
- 13. WHY.TXT (explanation of WHY you need WCL)
- 14. INSTALL.EXE (WCL (optional) installation program)
- 15. WINSTALL.INF (information file for the installation program)
- 16. WINSTALL.HLP (ON-LINE HELP file for the installation program)
-
- Bonus Programs supplied with REGISTERED VERSION ONLY
- ----------------------------------------------------
- 17. EXITWIN.EXE (exits Windows without fuss or question)
- 18. RUNWIN.EXE (shuts down and restarts Windows without fuss)
- 19. WINGREP.EXE (Windows version of the GREP utility)
-
-
-
- Note: BIGWCL.EXE is a full alternative to the combination of WCL.EXE
- and WCLDLL.EXE. If you prefer to use the small window of WCL.EXE,
- then you can safely delete BIGWCL.EXE and save some disk space.
- If, on the other hand, you prefer the big window of BIGWCL.EXE,
- then you can safely delete both WCL.EXE and WCLDLL.EXE.
-
- **************
- * Note also: *
- **************
- The initialization file WCL.INI contains a lot of settings which
- will determine the attributes of the main windows of both WCL.EXE
- and BIGWCL.EXE. I have designed the program to be highly
- customizable by these settings.
-
- It is important that you read this file, as it contains a lot of
- information/comments on particular settings. Feel free to
- experiment with the settings. You can call up this file into the
- Windows NOTEPAD by typing "CHG2" at the WCL prompt.
-
-
- It is also important to read HISTORY.TXT to see full details of
- the new features that have been implemented. This is essential
- even if you are a new user, since the information in the file
- can also serve as a feature summary.
-
-
- Setting up WCL
- --------------
- There are two methods of installing WCL;
-
- 1. You may install WCL by simply copying the "essential files"
- listed above onto your hard disk, preferably into a separate
- directory. If you use this method, then you need to create
- Program Manager items for WCL.EXE and BIGWCL.EXE.
-
- You may need to add the WCL directory to the "path" statement
- in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, or alternatively, to move BWCC.DLL
- into a directory that is in the "path" statement.
-
- 2. You may run the optional installation program (INSTALL.EXE).
- What this installation program does is;
- [a] install the "essential files" into a directory specified
- by you
- [b] optionally that directory to the "path" statement in your
- AUTOEXEC.BAT file. This may be needed to allow Windows
- to locate the library file BWCC.DLL
- [c] optionally create a Program Manager group for WCL and
- Program Manager items for WCL.EXE and BIGWCL.EXE
-
- To run the installation program, take the following steps;
- 1. Select "File, Run" from within Program Manager, and type
- "A:INSTALL" (if your installation diskette is in floppy drive
- "A:" If you are installing from another drive/directory, then
- substitute it for the "A:")
-
- 2. When the installation program loads, click on the check
- box titled "Click here to create Program Manager Item",
- if you want the installation program to create a Program
- Manager Group/Item for WCL. If you want to do this manually,
- then you can leave the check box unselected.
-
- 3. To start the installation, click on the button labelled
- "Start Install". When you do this, you will be presented
- with a dialog box which indicates the directory that you
- are installing FROM (source directory), and the default
- target directory (i.e., the directory that you want to install
- the program to). You can edit the TARGET directory if you do
- not like the default.
-
- 4. When satisfied with the source and target directories,
- click on the button labelled "Install Now". If you want
- to go back to the beginning, click on the button labelled
- "Abort".
-
-
- When the installation is finished, the install program will
- volunteer to add the new program path to the "PATH" statement
- in your AUTOEXEC.BAT. You will be invited to confirm or skip
- this process.
-
-
- If you want WCL to load each time you start Windows, you can put
- "WCL.EXE" on the "run=" or "load=" lines in your WIN.INI file,
- or put it in your STARTUP group.
-
-
- ------------
- REGISTRATION
- ------------
- This program is published under the SHAREWARE principle. This means that
- users are entitled to use it for an evaluation period of 30 days. If you
- wish to continue using it after this evaluation period, you are requested
- to please REGISTER your copy.
-
-
- Please look in REGISTER.TXT or in the on-line help for details of my
- world wide REGISTRATION SITES (you will probably find one that is local
- to you). PLEASE PRINT OUT ORDER.FRM, or the REGISTRATION FORM in the
- on-line help.
-
-
- REGISTRATION FEE:
-
- รบ18.00 (U.K. STERLING)
- $26.00 (U.S.)
- $30.00 (Canadian): British Columbia residents should add 7% Sales Tax
- $40.00 (Australian)
- Kr170.00 (Danish)
-
-
- Registration provides the following benefits:
-
- 1. A copy of the most recent update of the program,
- licensed to you, and without all the registration messages.
- 2. Support for the program
- 3. A clear conscience
- 4. The satisfaction of being an honest person
- 5. Complimentary copies of some of my Windows utilities, namely;
-
- [a] EXITWIN.EXE (click on the icon of this program, and you
- quit Windows - no fuss, no warnings, no
- questions)
- [b] RUNWIN.EXE (click on the icon of this program, and Windows
- is shut down and restarted again - useful for
- those occasions when you need to reboot Windows,
- e.g. you have just installed a new device driver,
- or something has corruped Windows, and you want
- to restart it).
- [c] WINGREP.EXE (a Windows version of the popular GREP utility
- - to search for string patterns in ASCII files).
-
-
- Please note that there is no printed manual.
-
- Please send payment to:
-
- Dr. A. Olowofoyeku
- 268 Horwood,
- Newcastle,
- Staffs ST5 5BG
- ENGLAND.
-
- Internet:
- laa12@keele.ac.uk
- chief@mep.com
-
- OR
- to your local REGISTRATION SITE
-
-