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1992-08-14
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Multi-Config ver. 1.05
Copyright (c) 1991 by Olympic Systems. All Rights Reserved.
=== User's Guide ===
---------------------- WHAT IS MULTI-CONFIG? ----------------------
Normally, when DOS loads the CONFIG.SYS file during the boot process,
all lines in the file are unconditionally loaded. Until now, if you
wanted to customize your system for different hardware, software, or
memory-management combinations, you had to juggle or swap several
CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files. Multi-Config is a program which
takes control of the boot process and allows you to customize your
system from a "configuration" menu choice at boot-time, all with a
single CONFIG.SYS file. Multi-Config allows CONFIG.SYS lines to be
conditionally loaded based upon your boot-time choice. If desired,
Multi-Config can use a default configuration if you do not choose one.
Your configuration choice can be passed to AUTOEXEC.BAT so portions
of the batch file also may be conditionally loaded or ignored.
Multi-Config is not a TSR. It occupies NO memory after it has
performed its functions, nor does it alter any files. Multi-Config
consists of 3 files: MCFG.SYS, MCFG.EXE, and MCFG.DOC (this file).
Multi-Config requires MS-DOS 3.0 or higher. For a complete
description of Multi-Config features and applications, refer to the
USAGE and APPLICATIONS sections later in this User's Guide.
----------------------- LICENSING AGREEMENT -----------------------
This program is not public domain. Multi-Config was written by Olympic
Systems which retains the copyright. Multi-Config is being distributed
through shareware marketing. If you use Multi-Config, you MUST
register a license for its use on a per-computer basis and remit the
appropriate license fee as follows:
1 computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$15
Each group of 10 computers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100
Each group of 100 computers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500
Each group of 1000 computers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1000
Make checks (drawn on U.S. bank in U.S. dollars) payable to Olympic
Systems. Corporate Purchase Orders are accepted. The last 2 pages of
this User's Guide may be printed and used as a Registration Form and
Mailer for registering your use-license of Multi-Config. If you do
not use the Registration Form and Mailer, mail the fee and the
information requested on the Registration Form to:
Olympic Systems
4231 King Cotton Ln.
Missouri City, TX 77459
You are encouraged to freely distribute unmodified copies of Multi-
Config in accordance with recognized Users Group guidelines (e.g.,
Assoc. of Shareware Professionals) for the distribution of shareware.
------------------------- USAGE: MCFG.SYS -------------------------
MCFG.SYS allows lines in the CONFIG.SYS file to be loaded or ignored
based upon your configuration menu choice at boot-time. MCFG.SYS is
a transient device driver which is loaded by CONFIG.SYS and removes
itself immediately after performing its functions. MCFG.SYS is loaded
by a line in CONFIG.SYS like the following:
DEVICE = [path]MCFG.SYS
where [path] is an optional path name (required if MCFG.SYS is not in
the root directory of the boot drive). Unlike traditional device
drivers, MCFG.SYS has 2 special rules which MUST be observed:
- MCFG.SYS must be loaded on the FIRST line of CONFIG.SYS
- MCFG.SYS must be reloaded on the LAST line of CONFIG.SYS
If MCFG.SYS is not loaded twice as the first and last lines of
CONFIG.SYS, MCFG.SYS will not work.
Once loaded, MCFG.SYS scans CONFIG.SYS for Configuration Names which
you have added to lines in your CONFIG.SYS file. MCFG.SYS will then
present a list of all of the Configuration Names and wait for your
selection. Those lines having a Configuration Name which matches
your selection will be loaded; those lines having different
Configuration Names will be ignored. For example, the line
device = <MY_SETUP>mouse.sys
contains the Configuration Name MY_SETUP. MOUSE.SYS will only be
loaded if you choose the MY_SETUP configuration at boot-time.
Configuration Names may be placed on ANY line in CONFIG.SYS other
than the FIRST or LAST lines which load MCFG.SYS. Lines without
Configuration Names will always be loaded. Configuration Names are
delimited by '<' and '>' characters (eg: <name>). MCFG.SYS is case
insensitive (Configuration Names are converted to upper case).
There are certain rules which must be observed when creating
Configuration Names:
- they must be the first text after the '=' on any line
- they must start with the '<' character and end with the '>'
character
- they must be 30 characters or less (excluding '<' and '>')
- they CANNOT contain any white space characters (space, tab, etc.)
- white space between the '=' and the Configuration Name is allowed
(like normal CONFIG.SYS lines) but white space between the
Configuration Name and the remainder of line is NOT allowed
- a maximum of 46 unique Configuration Names are allowed
Multiple Configuration Names may be placed on any line. For example:
device = <MY_SETUP><BOB>ansi.sys
will load the ANSI.SYS driver if either the MY_SETUP or the BOB
configuration is selected. Note that there can be no space between
multiple Configuration Names.
There is one predefined Configuration Name of "<?>" which can be used
to force a boot-time prompt whether to load a particular line. This
may be useful for lines which don't belong in a permanent configuration
or which require user intervention. The prompt will display the
original line contents (excluding the "<?>") and ask if this line is to
be loaded. If "<?>" is used on a line with multiple Configuration Names,
your response can be used to override preceding Configuration Names.
As a reminder of this overriding characteristic, the Configuration
Names preceding the "<?>" are not displayed in the prompt.
MCFG.SYS has the following optional command line arguments:
DEFAULT=CONFIG_NAME
This argument instructs MCFG.SYS to automatically select
CONFIG_NAME after a delay (waiting for your choice) has
expired. There can be no spaces between "DEFAULT=" and the
Configuration Name. If this argument is not specified,
MCFG.SYS will wait indefinitely for your choice.
DELAY=4
If DEFAULT has been specified, this argument sets the delay
(in seconds) before the DEFAULT configuration is selected; if
DEFAULT is specified with no DELAY, DELAY is 5. DELAY must be
a single digit from 0 to 9 (where 0 causes immediate loading
of the DEFAULT configuration). There can be no spaces between
"DELAY=" and the digit. If any key is pressed during the
delay, automatic loading of the default configuration is
canceled and MCFG.SYS will wait indefinitely for your choice.
PASS
This argument tells MCFG.SYS to pass the configuration choice
to MCFG.EXE program so that AUTOEXEC.BAT can use the choice
for conditional loading of batch file lines. DO NOT use this
option unless MCFG.EXE is the first line in AUTOEXEC.BAT (see
below).
Command line arguments are only needed on the first MCFG.SYS line
(arguments on the last MCFG.SYS line are ignored). Command line
arguments are case insensitive.
------------------------- USAGE: MCFG.EXE -------------------------
MCFG.EXE is a program which, if used, must be run as the first command
in AUTOEXEC.BAT to receive the configuration choice from MCFG.SYS. If
PASS was specified on the MCFG.SYS command line, MCFG.EXE will receive
the choice and create an environment variable ("MCFG=CONFIG_NAME")
which can be used in batch language "GOTO" or "IF" statements. MCFG.EXE
must be the FIRST line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file and cannot have its
output redirected to the NUL device.
If MCFG.EXE reports that no configuration information was passed from
MCFG.SYS, either (1) MCFG.SYS was not successfully loaded in the
CONFIG.SYS file, (2) no Configuration Names were specified in the
CONFIG.SYS file, (3) the PASS argument was not specified on the
MCFG.SYS command line, or (4) MCFG.EXE was run previously and has
retrieved the information.
--------------------------- APPLICATIONS --------------------------
MCFG.SYS and MCFG.EXE are useful for setting up and optimizing your
system for unique configurations. Multi-Config eliminates the need for
the cumbersome "multiple CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT" approach which
was required to work around the restrictive way MS-DOS handles the
CONFIG.SYS file. A typical (but brief) CONFIG.SYS file might contain:
device = c:\mcfg.sys DEFAULT=network DELAY=4 PASS
device = <network>c:\lan\netdrive.sys
device = mouse.sys
device = <standard><network>ansi.sys
device = <windows>c:\windows\smartdrv.sys
device = <standard><network>ramdrive.sys
break = on
device = c:\mcfg.sys
Note that the first and last lines load the MCFG.SYS driver. At boot-
time, MCFG.SYS will present a list of configuration choices which
contains (1) NETWORK, (2) STANDARD, and (3) WINDOWS configurations.
The DEFAULT and DELAY arguments specify that the NETWORK configuration
should be used if the user does not press a key within 4 seconds. The
PASS argument tells MCFG.SYS to pass the final configuration choice to
MCFG.EXE which will run in AUTOEXEC.BAT. This CONFIG.SYS example will
cause the following:
- netdrive.sys will be loaded only if the NETWORK configuration is
selected
- ansi.sys and ramdrive.sys will be loaded if either the STANDARD
or NETWORK configurations are selected
- smartdrv.sys will be loaded only if the WINDOWS configuration
is selected
- all other lines will be loaded or performed regardless of the
configuration selection
Additionally, when "test-loading" new drivers or TSRs, you can reserve
a Configuration Name (such as SAFE_BOOT) which will load a "safe"
configuration. This will eliminate the need to boot from floppy disk
if a new device driver locks up your system while booting.
To continue the preceding example, a typical AUTOEXEC.BAT file might
contain:
c:\mcfg
goto %MCFG%
:NETWORK
c:\lan\netstart
path=c:\util;c\lan;
goto END
:WINDOWS
path=c:\util;c:\windows;
goto END
:STANDARD
path=c:\util;
goto END
:END
if %MCFG%==NET netshell
if %MCFG%==WINDOWS win
Note that the first line ran the MCFG.EXE program and put the
configuration choice into the MCFG environment variable. The MCFG
environment variable then can be used in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file through
batch language substitution for "%MCFG%".
This example uses a "GOTO" to execute the section of AUTOEXEC.BAT
which is specific to the selected configuration. "IF" is also used to
conditionally run single commands.
The MCFG environment variable which is set by MCFG.EXE may be used by
later programs if those programs need to know which configuration you
selected at boot-time. Conversely, you may clear the MCFG environment
variable by using the DOS command "set MCFG=".
---------------------------- DISCLAIMER ---------------------------
Due to the nature of shareware software distribution and electronic
media transfer, this product is distributed AS IS. In no event shall
the authors be liable for any loss of profit or any other damage
resulting from its use. Olympic Systems makes no warranty of any kind,
expressed or implied, including without limitation, any warranties of
merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose.
---------------------- FEATURES NEW TO v1.05 ----------------------
- Multi-Config now allows up to 46 unique Configuration Names.
Previously, only 20 Configuration Names were permitted.
- Multi-Config now allows multiple Configuration Names on each line
in CONFIG.SYS. A line with multiple Configuration Names will be
loaded if any of its Names is selected from the choice menu.
- The prompt displayed when Multi-Config encounters the "<?>"
Configuration Name has been expanded to show the entire CONFIG.SYS
line.
==== MULTI-CONFIG v1.05 REGISTRATION FORM AND MAILER ====
Remit To: Olympic Systems
4231 King Cotton Ln.
Missouri City, TX 77459
Qty Total
_______ 1-computer registration @ $15 $_______
_______ 10-computer registration @ $100 $_______
_______ 100-computer registration @ $500 $_______
_______ 1000-computer registration @ $1000 $_______
Registration Total ------> $_______
Payment by: [ ]check (U.S. bank) [ ]purchase order #_____________________
Name: _____________________________________________________________________
Company: __________________________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
==== MAILER INSTRUCTIONS ====
Fold at the page break below with the printing facing out. Then fold
letter style at the "fold here" lines, exposing the mailing address and
hiding your Registration Form. Place check in the mailer, then tape
sides and top to seal the mailer.
_________________________________ Place
_________________________________ Stamp
_________________________________ Here
Olympic Systems
4231 King Cotton Ln.
Missouri City, TX 77459
------------------------------- (2) fold here -------------------------------
------------------------------- (1) fold here -------------------------------