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1992-02-21
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9KB
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227 lines
************************************************** MultiRun 1.2
Stephen Posey
Yggdrasil Software
1128 Pauline St.
New Orleans, LA 70117
WHAT IS MULTIRUN?:
MultiRun is a simple Windows utility that allows you to make
program associations based on file extensions.
WHY MULTIRUN?:
I decided I wanted something like this when I got the Norton
Desktop for Windows. NDW allows you to specify a default editor to
run whenever the Edit command is selected from a menu or
the ButtonBar.
This was wonderful, but I wanted to be able to run the appropriate
editor for the kind of file that I'd selected. Windows, of course,
allows you to specify File Associations for pretty much any
extensions you want (.COM, .EXE, .BAT, and .PIF being notable
exceptions), but I still wanted to assign the editing function to a
button or a menu selection; I felt that it would be more natural when
I selected (for instance) a PIF file, if "Edit" would then run PifEdit.
I've noticed that many other replacement shells for Windows include
the capability to assign a default editor as a command. MultiRun
should work with any of these as well. Neither the Program Manager
nor the File Manager that come with Windows have this feature as far
as I know--too bad for anyone not using a replacement shell.
The first time I uploaded MultiRun to CompuServe I discovered that
someone else had beaten me to the punch and had already uploaded a similar
utility called MultiEDIT. I downloaded it to see how it compared with
my product.
The first thing I noted was that it had been uploaded as freeware,
so the price was certainly unbeatable. I then tried it out and discovered
that while the .EXE file is much smaller, there is little perceptable
difference in how fast the two utilities operate. I then tried to get
MultiEDIT to let me know when I'd goofed with its settings, it gave no
messages of any kind if I tried to edit an extension I hadn't yet
specified, nor did it let me know if it couldn't find the specified
application. MultiRUN (my product) is designed to be helpful in letting
you know what might have gone wrong with its operation.
Another thing is that MultiEDIT stores its settings in WIN.INI rather than
having its own INI file as MultiRUN does. Considering that every addtional
line in WIN.INI adds to Windows' load time, and how simple it is to use a
Private INI file, I find it hard to understand why even such a simple
application as MultiEDIT wouldn't have its own INI file.
Anyway, the gist of this is that I think MultiRUN is a better application
overall in terms of functionality and user friendliness (it's also got a
niftier icon), but it can't beat MulitEDIT's price.
HOW DO I USE MULTIRUN?
1.) Copy the MULTIRUN files to your Windows directory.
2.) Call up whatever function allows you to assign the "default editor"
in your shell program.
(In the Norton Desktop that is CONFIGURE/EDITOR...),
3.) Replace whatever is the command line there now with:
[drive:]\[Windows path]\MULTIRUN.EXE
4.) Edit the MULTIRUN.INI file to reflect the associations you want;
they should all look something like:
[EXT]=[drive:]\[program path]\[program name]
for example:
INI=c:\windows\notepad.exe
(note that the case of the letters is irrelevant)
The ones in the included sample file should give you a starting place!
Note: you may have MultiRun expressly refuse to edit certain types of
files by specifying NULL as the program to run. This can be useful
as an added safeguard against accidentally corrupting program files
etc., like if a naive person uses your computer and tries to edit
an EXE file.
5.) Use the editing function of your shell normally. It should now
run the editor you specified by file extension and load the
selected file into it.
MULTIRUN ERROR MESSAGES:
MultiRun is designed to capture pretty much any errors that are
likely to occur as part of its normal operation. These descriptions
will tell you what the likely problem is if you get such a message.
-- No parameter secified
You didn't select a file to send to MultiRun.
-- Multiple parameters not supported
You selected more than one file to pass to MultiRun, MultiRun
will only process the first file selected.
-- No association exists for extension <EXTENSION>
You haven't included the extension as one of your
associations in MULTIRUN.INI, or possibly MultiRun couldn't
locate MULTIRUN.INI, is it in your Windows directory? (This
is very likely the problem if NONE of your associations seem
to work!) MultiRun will then ask whether you want to edit its INI
file using whatever editor you've specified for INI files (the
default provided in the supplied INI file is NOTEPAD.EXE).
-- Unable to run <APPNAME>
MultiRun had some trouble running the program you associated.
Most likely because there is some error in the path you
specified in MULTIRUN.INI or maybe you got the .EXE filename
wrong. This message could also arise if there was
insufficient memory under Windows to run a large program, or
something was wrong with the .EXE file you specified (e.g. it
hadn't been properly uncompressed from the source disk). MultiRun
will then ask whether you want to edit its INI file using whatever
editor you've specified for INI files (the default provided in the
supplied INI file is NOTEPAD.EXE).
-- <EXTENSION> type files not editable
Your MULTIRUN.INI file specifies <EXTENSION>=NULL, which makes
MultiRun refuse to edit such files.
WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW?:
I am putting MultiRun on the market as shareware, that means that you
can try it out for free for a reasonable amount of time to see if
it's useful for you. If you decide you want to use it you are
expected to send the author (ME!!) a $15.00 registration fee (see the
registration form below).
Much of the shareware on the market these days seems to be
"CrippleWare" or "NuisanceWare", where either some features of the
program are disabled or the program includes "Nuisance" features
(reminder screens, time limits, inability to save files, etc.) to
"encourage" you to register the program. I personally find these
practices somewhat at odds with the shareware "honor system"
philosophy. As such, I have included no such features with MultiRun,
you've got the whole shebang as she now exists; I'm relying on you to
be ethical about this and register the program if you're using it.
I have some plans to upgrade MultiRun's functions in the future (a
good response to the program now will greatly influence how soon this
occurs), I'm offering the next upgrade free to anyone who registers
MultiRun 1.0.
I'd appreciate any feedback you might have on MultiRun, especially if
you spot any bugs or have any serious compatibility problems. I'm
also open to suggestions regarding how I might improve MultiRun, my
plans as they stand include:
-- A pop-up editbox that appears when you try to edit a file
with an undefined extension which would then update the
MULTIRUN.INI file; rather than simply loading an editor.
-- A command line option to specify the section in the
MULTIRUN.INI file to search, which would allow you to make
alternate associations for different functions (e.g. using
MultiRun to run different file viewers as well as editors).
-- A "default" selection that would run if no other program was
specified, though I haven't figured out how to reconcile that
feature with the edit box above. I guess MultiRun could ask
whether to just go ahead and edit the file with the default
editor or to modify MULTIRUN.INI.
MultiRun release history
version 1.0 -- initial release: uploaded to CompuServe in Feb. 1992
version 1.2 -- added support for NULL (=uneditable) files
added support for editing MULTIRUN.INI directly from Multirun
................MULTIRUN REGISTRATION FORM......................
Name: ________________________________________________
Street address: ______________________________________
City: __________________State: ______ Zip: ___________
Where did you get MultiRun?___________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
How do you like MultiRun? ____________________________
______________________________________________________
Any suggestions on how to improve MultiRun? __________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Send $15.00 US to:
Yggdrasil Software
1128 Pauline St.
New Orleans, LA 70117
USA
*****Thank you! *****Thank you! *****Thank you! *****Thank you! *****