Workbench Design/WB Collection.iso/workbench werkzeuge/reset tools/slowreset/slowresete.guide

Amigaguide Document | 1996-04-07 | 18KB | 357 lines

@database "SlowReset - English Guide File"
@master SlowResetE.guide
@$VER: SlowResetE.guide 1.54 (19.12.95)
@author "Matthias Intemann"
@(c) "(C) Marco Krause & Matthias Intemann 1995. All rights reserved."
@node "Main" "SlowReset - Guidefile"
                       @{b}SlowReset V1.54
                       Public Release 3@{ub}
                Copyright 1995 by Marco Krause
                     All rights reserved
                  - SlowReset is MailWare -
 @{b}@{u}Contents@{ub}@{uu}
 @{"    Introduction
" link "Introduction" 0}    Some words about SlowReset
 @{"     Copyright     " link "Copyright" 0}    Important information
 @{"System
Requirements" link "System Requirements" 0}    What you need
 @{"   Installation
" link "Installation" 0}    How to install SlowReset
 @{"  Getting
Started
" link "Getting Started" 0}    Tooltypes and parameter
 @{"    Limitations    " link "Limitations" 0}    What it does not do
 @{"      Credits
" link "Credits" 0}    Thanx go to...
 @{"      Contact
" link "Contact" 0}    How to contact the author
 @{"      Updates
" link "Updates" 0}    How to get the newest version of SlowReset
 @{"      History
   " link "History" 0}    The history of SlowReset
@endnode
@node "Introduction" "Introduction"
@{b}*** Why should I use this nice peace of work. ***@{ub}
This program is for all those, who could not resist pressing the well known
three  keys  too  early and then could not find some of their partitions or
files, because the system was not yet ready with writing. :)
People who do not have LED`s connected to every hd (for what reason  ever),
will  find  some  use  in  SlowReset. They do not have to wait some seconds
before reset any longer, while not seeing, whether some  drives  are  still
working or not.
That`s where SlowReset starts it`s work. A resethandler is installed, which
does following things in case of a reset:
1. An ARexx-script is being executed. Due to security-reasons this is  only
   possible  if the reset is being initiated by hotkey or the RESET-Option.
   This script should mainly be used to deactivate external programs.  This
   might  be  useful  when  using  cacheprograms,  especially those with an
   activated SaveCache. The example-script, shiped with this program, quits
   PowerCache.  This  feature might also be usefull to quit message-systems
   like UMS, as it has some cache aswell.
2. Other resethandler are beeing signaled, if the reset was  not  initiated
   by pressing Ctrl-LAmiga-RAmiga. SlowReset waits for them to finish work.
3. When DOS is still writing, SlowReset acts as follows:
   Hotkey-reset:
     If the write-access  is  not  being  completed  within  5  seconds,  a
     requester  will  appear.  The  User can now decide, wether he wants to
     wait a bit longer or he wants to stop  all  disk-access  and  continue
     with the reset-procedure.
   Reset via RESET-option:
     If this feature is being used,  SlowReset  waits  for  DOS  to  finish
     writing. No requester apears.
   Ctrl-LAmiga-RAmiga reset:
     In this case SlowReset will also wait 5 seconds. But there will be  no
     requester;  all  write-access  will  be  stopped and the reset will be
     done.
   As soon as a reset has been initiated, SlowReset watches  all  necessary
   file-access.  When  drives have to be stopped, SlowReset holds back some
   disk-operating functions and waits for open files to be closed.
   To make this possible, some system-functions have to  be  patched.  Some
   anti-virus systems may rumor here. This can be ignored.
4. If datatypes.library is installed (OS3), a soundfile is being played  in
   the  background.  If  several soundfiles are handed in, SlowReset choses
   one randomly. (option)
5. The screen can be faded to white. (option)
6. ...and can be faded to black. (option)
7. If a soundfile is played, wait for it to finish!
8. Removing all reset resistant programs. (Optional)
9. Reset
@{b}@{i}@{fg highlight}!!! Important !!!@{ui}@{fg text}
There is a protection in the system, so that a reset can only be held  back
for  about  10  seconds.  If  there  still  is  an active resethandler, the
keyboard-processor starts the reset-sequence anyway. This limitation is NOT
valid for a reset by hotkey, respectivly by RESET-option.
For this reason it is adviced to reset your Amiga by hotkey.  This  is  the
only  way,  SlowReset  can wait for all disk-activities to finish with full
reliability.
In spite of all protection-features of SlowReset,you should NOT reset  your
Amiga  too early on purpose!!! SlowReset can avoid the worst in many cases,
but it is not quaranteed that it allways is capeable of protecting your hd,
floppy or what ever.
@{ub}
@endnode
@node "Copyright" "Copyright"
@{b}*** Copyright-Information ***@{ub}
SlowReset is MailWare. This means that when using this program  frequently,
you  should  send  a  message  to  the author. This can be done via e-mail,
letter or postcard. The address can be found under @{"Contact" link Contact}.
The copyright is owned by the author only. SlowReset may  be  freely  given
for private usage,if there is not taken more than a copy fee. This fee must
not be more than 4 DM or $3 US when on a floppy-disk.
When SlowReset is being sold on a medium, this has to consist of  at  least
60%  FD-software. The taking up in BBS-fileareas and the spreading over non
commercial nets is allowed.
The  SlowReset-package  has  to  remain  unmodified.  This  goes  for   the
arrangement  as  for  the  files themself. You may neither add files to the
archive nor remove files from it.
A commercial use or spreading of SlowReset is forbidden  and  only  allowed
with written permission of the author.
The author reserves the right to forbid spreading to everybody in  case  of
braking the copyright-rules.
The author can not give any guarantees on the function  of  SlowReset.  The
user  uses  SlowReset at own risk. The author can not be fined for any kind
of damge, which might me caused due to the usage of SlowReset.
Kuhlenkamp, December 19th, 1995
Marco Krause (Author of SlowReset)
@endnode
@node "System Requirements" "System Requirements"
@{b}*** System Requirements **@{ub}*
SlowReset needs Kickstart 2.04 or higher. It also needs an  Amiga  with  an
@{b}external@{ub} Keyboard. Well, an A1200 should also work.
@endnode
@node "Installation" "Installation"
@{b}*** How to install SlowReset ***@{ub}
Installing SlowReset is quite easy. Just drag the SlowReset-icon  into  the
WBStartup-drawer.
If you do not want SlowReset to be called each  time  Your  system  starts,
just  put  the  program where you want and start it depending on Your needs
(whenever you want to!).
Once started, SlowReset acts like every other Commodity.  This  means  that
you may control it via 'Exchange' (Sys:Tools/Commodities/Exchange)!
@endnode
@node "Getting Started" "Getting Started"
@{b}*** Getting Started! ***@{ub}
SlowReset can be started from shell or from the WB. When starting from  the
Workbench, there are the following Tooltypes available:
@{b}DONOTWAIT@{ub}
   This Tooltype is only of importance, if you start SlowReset  during  the
   boot-up  in  the  WBStartup-drawer.  It  tells  the  WB  not to wait for
   SlowReset to finish.
@{b}CX_PRIORITY=<n>@{ub}
   This is where you can set the commodity-priority of SlowReset. The valid
   range  is  from  -128  to  127. This preset comes to use, e.g., when two
   commodities wait for the same hotkey, the one with the  higher  priority
   gets the message from the handler first.
   Default: 0
@{b}RESET=<yes|no>@{ub}
   By using 'RESET', a protected reset can  be  initiated.  This  reset  is
   similar  to  the  hotlkey-reset  (incl. executing the ARexx-script). But
   there will be no requester, if DOS has  not  finished  writing  after  5
   seconds.  SlowReset  will wait for Dos to finish it`s activity. This can
   come handy, when there is no user on the console.
   Default: no
@{b}RESETKEY=<hotkey>@{ub}
   SlowReset can do a reset after the user has pressed a hotkey, which  can
   be  freely  defined. A good choice would be, e.g., 'lalt ralt esc'. When
   the hotkey has been  pressed,  SlowReset  signals  all  other  installed
   reset handlers  (like  MicroDot) and  waits for  them to finish. This is
   only possible if those handlers are being installed AFTER SlowReset  has
   been  activated.
   @{fg highlight}
   There is another important reason  for  starting  other  handlers  after
   running SlowReset: As SlowReset stops all drives and other handler might
   try to save some data  before  resetting  the  computer,  all  handlers,
   except  SlowReset's  one,  should  be  executed,  before SlowReset stops
   drive-access.
   @{fg text}
   Default: none
@{b}RESETSCRIPT=<arexx script>@{ub}
   Here you can name the ARexx-Script to  be  called  when  resetting  your
   Amiga  via  hotkey.  For  needs of security, this can only be done, when
   doing a hotkey-reset.
   Default: none
@{b}HARDRESET=<ALLWAYS/NEVER/RESETKEY>@{ub}
   To assure  that  there  are  no  resident  programs  active  during  the
   reboting, SlowReset offers the possibiltiy to remove such programs. When
   the option 'ALWAYS' is selected, those programs are always  removed,  no
   matter  wether  the  reset  was initiated by hotkey or ctrl-amiga-amiga.
   'RESETKEY' stands for removing such programs only when the  hotkey-reset
   has been done.If the option 'NEVER' is used or HARDRESET is not defined,
   resident programs are ignored ans remain active.
   Default: NEVER
@{b}FADEWHITE=<yes|no>@{ub}
   The upper screen will be faded to white before reset.
   Default: no
@{b}FADEBLACK=<yes|no>@{ub}
   The upper screen will fade to black before reset.FADEWHITE and FADEBLACK
   can be combined.
   Default: no
@{b}DELAY=<n>@{ub}
   OS 2.04: n is the delay measured in 1/50 seconds after a color-change.
   Default: 1
   OS 3.0 or newer: delay gives you the posibility of slowing fading  down:
   if  you  already  use  'COLORJUMP=1'  and you still think, fading is too
   fast, just add some delay to it!
   Default: 0
@{b}COLORJUMP=<n>@{ub}
   This tooltype will be ignored under OS2. It needs OS3. n  describes  the
   RGB-value   added   or   subtracted  to  the  current  color-value  each
   color-change.
   E.g.:
   COLORJUMP=2
   Startvalues:  R=0x00   G=0xaa   B=0xfc
   1. pass:      R=0x02   G=0xac   B=0xfe
   2. pass:      R=0x04   G=0xae   B=0xff
   3. pass:      R=0x06   G=0xb0   B=0xff
   The greater COLORJUMP, the faster and rougher the screen  fades.  Owners
   of  a graphics enhancer may realize the rough fading. Compared with AGA,
   graphics enhancers often only use 6 bits for color-values while AGA uses
   8  bits.  This  means that under AGA, there are 256 possible values, but
   when using a graphics enhancer, there mostly are only 64. This  roughens
   fading, but is not necessarily the case with all graphics enhancers.
   Default: If COLOJUMP is not defined, SlowReset tries to figure out the
            best value by refering to the bits per color-value.
@{b}SOUNDFILE=<file>@{ub}
   SlowReset uses the datatypes.library to play a  sample.  This  is  being
   done  at the same time the screen fades. It is possible to evoke several
   sondfiles devided by '|'. SlowReset choses one  of  them  randomly  when
   resetting.  As  this feature uses datatypes.library, it can only be used
   with OS 3.0 or greater.
@{b}NOCRASHDETECT=<yes|no>@{ub}
   A problem of all resethandler is the 'hanger', which can happen when the
   System has hung-up for some reason. Usually you press Ctrl-LAmiga-RAmiga
   and at first, nothing happens. In this case, mostly all the resethandler
   are  being  signaled,  but  can not work properly, cause of the instable
   system. In some of these occurrences SlowReset  recognizes  the  problem
   and  can  initiate  a  reset.  This  feature  can be disabled using this
   option.
   Default: no
You can use the keyword itself instead of  writing  '<keyword>=yes'.  E.g.:
'FADE' and 'FADE=yes' mean totally the same, when used as Tooltype. Putting
the keyword in brackets means the same  as  <keyword>=NO  (e.g.:  'FADE=NO'
means the same '(FADE)' does.)
When  being  started  via  Shell,  the  keywords  are  just  alike,  accept
'DONOTWAIT', which would not be of any use. The usage of SlowReset is:
SlowReset CX_PRIORITY/K/N,RESET/S,RESETKEY/K,RESETSCRIPT/K,HARDRESET/K,
          FADEWHITE/S,FADEBLACK/S,DELAY/K/N,COLORJUMP/K/N,SOUNDFILE/K,
          NOCRASHDETECT/S
For further information on the keywords reference to your  Amiga-DOS-Manual
for reading more about the switches.
@endnode
@node "Limitations" "Limitations"
@{b}*** Limitations ***@{ub}
- HAM-, EHB- and 24bit-screens are not faded.
- A reset done by a PC-keyboard can NOT be held back. If you  dare  to  use
  this  kind  of  keyboard,  then use the @{"RESETKEY-option" link "Getting Started"}.
- You can be more certain that write-acces can be finished on HDs  then  on
  floppy disks, as floppy disks are much slower.
- Driveaccess which does not use DOS can NOT be detected  and  can  not  be
  held back.
@endnode
@node "Credits" "Credits"
@{b}*** I wanna thank... ***@{ub}
SAS Institute      for a great compiler and a never on the Amiga-market
                   seen support.
Dietmar Eilert     for the best editor ever! (GoldED)
Andreas Linnemann  for NewMode, some help and for beeing my cap to the
                   Cinemaxx :)
Matthias Intemann  (that`s me, the translator!)
Frank Mattern      for doing such terrific work on the icons
                   (ARexx-icon created by Roman Patzner)
Stefan Raudonis    for running the Cosmos-BBS in Langwedel
Oliver Oster       the guys who've got the guts to betatest this great
Matthias Intemann  program! ;)
Andreas Linnemann
Marcel Eckhoff
Joerg Toegel
Telekom            for having the almost cheapest tele-charges ever -- NOT!
and to all those, who wrote me some stuff.
And last but not least: a big 'Hello World!' to all Cosmos-BBS user! ;)
@endnode
@node "Contact" "Contact"
@{b}*** How to contact the author ***@{ub}
Mails, bugreports, flames, improvements and stuff are welcome. Please send
them to:
Snail-Mail:
  Marco Krause
 Kuhlenkamp 11
 27330 Asendorf
   (GERMANY)
E-Mail:
 [e-mail]
@endnode
@node "Updates" "Updates"
@{b}*** Where do I get updates? ***@{ub}
New versions of SlowReset can  be  obtained  in  the  Cosmos-BBS  for  free
download.   Just  log  in,  using  username='Gast'  and  look  for:  "Amiga
Binaer/FreeDownload-Area/Sonstiges/".
By the way: this great BBS uses AmBoS!!!
Cosmos-BBS, Langwedel:
   19200 bps ZyXEL
                         > +49/(0)4232/94040
   19200 bps ZyXEL
   64000 bps X.75/V.110
                         > +49/(0)4232/94041
   64000 bps X.75/V.110
@endnode
@node "History" "History"
@{b}*** What did I use? What came out when? ***@{ub}
SlowReset was made with the following programs on an A4000/40:
SAS/C V6.56
GoldED V3
HWGRCS V5.6
@{b}*** History ***@{ub}
V1.1 - V1.26        internal betas
V1.27   (20.06.95)  first public release
V1.45   (18.09.95)  - some bugfixes and optimisations
                    - SlowReset can be left even when other
                      programs altered the patched functions
                    - A reset can now be initiated via hotkey.
                      External resethandler are also being
                      informed. SlowReset waits for them to
                      finish.
                    - Using 'HARDRESET', resident programs can
                      be removed.
                    - SlowReset realizes if the upper screen is
                      being put back or is being closed.
                    - FADE and WHITESCREEN are replaced by
                      FADEBLACK and FADEWHITE.
                    - Execution of a ARexx-script when doing a
                      hotkey-reset.
                    - The flush-packet is nor being sent to all
                      drives in an appropiat way.
                    - If COLORJUMP is not set, a fitting value is
                      being figured out.
                    - SlowReset acts a lot more intelligent after
                      a reset. For further information read @{"Introduction" link Introduction}
                    - The whole thing is a lot more reliable.
                    - New icons. (great work, Frank! ;)
                    - fixed Enforcer-hit in the device-scanner
V1.54   (19.12.95)  - As the sound-datatype tells the programm, when the
                      sample has been finished with sinve v40, there was an
                      error under v39. Therefor, no soundfile could be
                      played. This is no problem any longer.
                    - If there are not enough free audio-channels for the
                      sample to be played, the sound-datatype waits for them
                      to be freed, without SlowReset being able to have any
                      influence on this. This ment, that SlowReset could not
                      continue. SlowReset now test the audio-channels to be
                      free, before calling the datatype and does not play
                      the sample, if there is no free channel.
                    - With the keyword (@{"'RESET'" link "Getting Started"}), a protected reset can be
                      initiated. This kind of reset is similar to the one
                      you do when pressing the hotkey, but there will be no
                      requester, if writing has not been finished after
                      five seconds. It just waits for writing to be done.
                    - You can now envoke more than one soundfile (option
                      'SOUNDFILE'). One of them is randomly chosen. They
                      must be seperated by '|'.
                    - In some cases, SlowReset recognizes a 'hanger' of
                      other handlers and does a reset before they have
                      finished (because they are not expected to finish
                      at all).
                    - Difficulties with some open shell-windows (Csh) are
                      gotten rid of.
                    - nothing-happens-bug fixed
@endnode