This menu offers you options to open, save or close a definition file.
File
Select this menu option to create a new definition file. The file will be given the temporary name 'UNTITLED.DAT'.
See also: File
Open
File
Select this menu option to open an existing definition file.
See also: File
File
Select this menu option to save a definition to disk. If you were modifying a definition file, this option will save the definition file under its current name, overwriting a previous version. If you were working on a new file, you will be prompted for a filename.
See also: File
File
Save As
Select this menu option to save a new definition to disk, or to save a modified definition to another filename.
See also: File
Save
File
Close
Select this menu option to close the definition file that you are working on. If the definition file has been modified, you will be asked if you want to save it. Choose Yes to save it, No to close without saving (loosing your work) or Cancel to return to the program without closing the file.
File
DOS Shell
Select this menu option to exit to DOS momentarily. Most of the memory occupied by SuperInstall will be made available so you can run large programs.
File
Exit (Alt-X)
Select this menu option to exit SuperInstall. Careful! Make sure that you save your file first, or all your work will be lost!
See also: File
Shell
Configuration
This menu provides options where you can provide general information on your program, specify its directory and system requirements.
Configuration
Select this menu option to provide general information about your program. %
See also: Configuration
Directories U
Configuration
Requirements
Configuration
modifications
Configuration
Directories
Select this menu option to provide information about the directories required by your program.
See also: Configuration
Main U
Configuration
Requirements
Configuration
modifications
Configuration
Requirements
Select this menu option to provide the system requirements of your program.
See also: Configuration
Main T
Configuration
Directories
Configuration
modifications
Configuration
Boot file modifications
Select this menu option if your program requires modifications to the user's CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files.
See also: Configuration
Main I
Configuration
Directories
Configuration
Requirements
Distribution
This menu allows you to select the files you will distribute, provide disk format info and finally create the distribution sets.
Distribution
File selection
Select this menu option to indicate which files your program consists of. These files will be included in the distribution set.
See also: Distribution
configuration )
Distribution
creation
Distribution
Disk set configuration
Select this menu option to indicate for which diskette formats you wish to create distribution sets. '
See also: Distribution
selection )
Distribution
creation
Distribution
Disk set creation
Select this menu option to create the distribution set(s) for the disk format(s) you have selected. '
See also: Distribution
selection .
Distribution
configuration
Options
This menu allows you to setup various options for this application.
Options
Colors
This menu allows you to change the colors used by this application.
Options
Colors
Customize
Select this menu option to customize the colors used by SuperInstall. '
See also: Options
Colors
palette &
Options
Colors
palette
Options
Colors
Load palette
Select this menu option to choose one of the color palettes you already defined or one of those provided with SuperInstall. $
See also: Options
Colors
Customize &
Options
Colors
palette
Options
Colors
Save palette
Select this menu option to save a color definition. $
See also: Options
Colors
Customize &
Options
Colors
palette
Help
This menu gives you access to the help functions and the About box.
SuperInstall
SuperInstall offers context-sensitive
online help for most program features.
Press F1 to access the help system.
See also: Menus
options
Program
hotkeys
Help
Index
Select this menu option for an index of all general help topics.
Help
About
Select this menu option for the program's copyright notice and user registration status.
Index
File
New
Open
Save
Save
Close
DOS
Shell
Exit
Configuration
Main
Directories
Requirements
Boot
modifications
Distribution
File
selection
Disk
configuration
Disk
creation
Options
Colors
Customize
Load
palette
Save
palette
Help
Help
Index
About
Keymap
Press F1 for context-sensitive online help. :
Press F5 to toggle between full-screen and window views. v
Press CTRL-F5 and then the arrow keys to move the help window around (hold SHIFT to resize). Press ENTER when done.
Some help screens have related topics. Press ENTER to see help for the highlighted topic, and TAB or SHIFT-TAB to highlight another topic. M
Press ESC or ALT-F3 to close the help window and return to the application.
Main
Enter the name of your program in the field Application name. The installation program will display this information when it is run. 3
Enter the author's name in the field Author name. 6
Enter your company's name in the field Company name.
You may select the name you wish the installation program to display: the author's name, the company's name or both. Use the checkboxes to indicate your preference. I
If you want the installation program to display a "README" file, you must provide its filename in the field README file. The file can be shown Before or After the installation. Use the checkboxes to indicate your preference. If both Before and After are checked by mistake, the file will be shown once, before the installation.
If you want to run another program automatically when the installation is complete, enter its filename. This option is particularly useful when you wish to run a conversion program or if the installation of your software requires actions than cannot be handled by SuperInstall. Normally, you will want to ask the user first about running this program, by marking the appropriate checkbox (Prompt). Enter the question you want to ask the user in the field Ask.
See also: Directories 9
Requirements
Boot
modifications
Directories
Enter the directory where your program will normally be installed on the user's computer in the field Default directory.
If your program also requires subdirectories below the main directory, to separate documentation files from data files, for instance, select the button Subdirectories.
See also: Main 9
Requirements
Boot
modifications
Requirements
If your program requires a specific microprocessor class, use the CPU radio button control to select the appropriate type. The default is 8088, which means the program has no specific CPU requirement.
If your program requires a specific graphics card, use the Video radio button control to select the appropriate type. The default is No graphics for programs that run in text mode (most DOS programs).
If your program has special requirements like a math coprocessor, a mouse or a joystick, use the Various checkbox control to indicate these requirements. Check these items if your program absolutely requires those equipments, as opposed to merely supports them. t
You may indicate your program's memory requirements in the Base (RAM), EMS and XMS fields, expressed in Kilobytes. t
If your program requires a minimum DOS version, you should specify it in the DOS version field, as a whole number. O
If you check the box Abort if not satisfied, then the user will be informed if his computer does not meet one or more of the system requirements of your program (they will be listed), and the installation will abort. If you do not check the box Abort if not satisfied, then the user will be prompted before the installation proceeds.
See also: Main 8
Directories
Boot
modifications
Boot file modifications
Enter the number of buffers required in the field Buffers and the number of file handles required in the field Files. The default value is '0', which means no special requirement. `
If your program requires an environment variable to be set, enter it in the field Environment.
If you want to add the directory where the program is installed to the PATH statement, use the appropriate checkbox control to indicate your desire.
Normally, the user will be prompted before those changes are made to his/her configuration. It is often considered rude to make changes to the configuration files without the user's authorization.
See also: Main -
Directories
Requirements
Disk set configuration
Use the checkbox controls to indicate which formats will be supported.
SuperInstall will create copies of the master disks on your hard disk. Enter the name of the subdirectory where you want to create those copies in the field Create in directory. If this directory does not exist, it will be created. s
Warning: If there are any files in this directory, outdated distribution sets for instance, they will be deleted.
Color Customization
The Group list box control on the left displays all groups of user interface elements for which you can customize the colors. The Item list box control presents the individual items part of that group. Select the item you want to change.
Now select the foreground and background colors you want for that item. As soon as you make a color selection, you will see it reflected in the sample text window.
Choose OK to make the new colors active. You will probably want to preserve the new color selections for future work sessions. Select the menu option Options
Colors
palette to save the color definitions.
Loading a color palette
Select the Preview button to see what the highlighted color palette looks like. Select the OK button to make the color palette active, or the Cancel button to exit without changing the color palette. The active palette is saved in the file SINSTALL.PAL and is read automatically when the program is run. If the file SINSTALL.PAL does not exist, default colors will be used instead.
Saving a color palette
You are prompted for a filename. You may enter any valid DOS filename, preferably with the '.PAL' extension. The Files window offers a list of existing color palettes so you can enter a unique name.
Opening a file
In the Name field, enter the name of the file you want to open. You may enter a fully qualified filename (i.e. 'C:\SINSTALL\MYSOFT.DAT') or simply 'MYSOFT.DAT' if the file is in the current directory. To get a list of files matching a file specification, enter the file specification in the Name field and press Enter. L
You can also select a file from the list. Press Tab to move to the Files window, use the arrow keys to highlight the file you want to open and press Enter. To change the current directory or navigate the subdirectories on your disk, press Enter on the '..\' file specification and select the subdirectory you want to make current.
Saving a file As
You are prompted for a filename. The default filename is 'UNTITLED.DAT', you will want to enter a more descriptive name. You may enter any valid DOS filename, preferably with the '.DAT' extension. The Files window offers a list of existing definition files so you can enter a unique name.
Adding or editing subdirectories
Enter the directory name in the field Subdirectory name. It is important for the subdirectory name not to be fully qualified, as the user may override the default main program directory.
In some very rare cases, you may find it necessary to create directories outside the default main directory. In that case you would provide a fully qualified directory name. We strongly recommend that you use this feature judiciously.
Browsing subdirectories
Select New to add a subdirectory. After you have added a subdirectory, it will be included in the list. You may edit entries from that list by selecting the button Edit or erase entries by selecting the button Delete.
Adding or editing file specifications
You may enter filenames individually, or use wildcards like ? and/or * to include multiple files matching a single file specification.
Normally you will leave Destination as '\' because you want to place these files in the main directory where the program is being installed, on the user's computer. Or enter the subdirectory name where you want the files installed instead.
You may enter a description for this file specification, in the field Description. Currently this is for reference only, although future versions of SuperInstall may use this information. L
Use the radio button control to indicate how you want the files being installed to be processed. You can choose to Always overwrite files already on the system, Prompt the user before you do so, or skip installation of files already on the system by selecting Never. The default is to always overwrite files already on the system.
If a file absolutely needs to be on the first disk, use the checkbox First disk to indicate that fact. ReadMe files are an example of such files that have to be on disk one. Those files will not be compressed, so they should be small files and there should be very few of them.
Browsing file specifications
Select the New button to enter a file specification. After you have added a file specification, it will be included in the list. You may edit entries from that list by selecting the button Edit or erase entries by selecting the button Delete.
Printing a registration form
Use the radio button control to select the port to which your printer is connected, and choose the OK button to print the order form.
How to register SuperInstall
SuperInstall is distributed as shareware, or try-before-you buy software. If you want to use SuperInstall beyond the evaluation period, you must register the program with the author (buy the registered version). W
To make it easier for you, we provide many avenues of registration. You may register: X
1) On the phone with your credit card
2) Electronically on Compuserve
3) By mail
Press the appropriate button for complete details.
How to register SuperInstall
SuperInstall is distributed as shareware, or try-before-you buy software. If you want to use SuperInstall beyond the evaluation period, you must register the program with the author (buy the registered version).
To make it easier for you, we provide many avenues of registration. This information box tells you about one way, try the other buttons for other means of registration.
(.txt)