CHOOSE OS/2 1.0 is a tool similar to Peter Norton's ASK.EXE. There are some important
differences between CHOOSE.EXE and ASK.EXE: (1), CHOOSE is available around the world
on many Bulleting Board Systems and, (2), CHOOSE is ShareWare. Aside from this, the two
programs function in basically the same way. Both were in fact written in C however, CHOOSE
was written both for DOS {using 8088 instructions} and OS/2 {using 80x86 instructions} there
are two seperate versions of the software just for that reason.
Using CHOOSE couldn't be simpler, just supply the prompt you wish displayed and a list of
keys you wish to be valid and you're all set. CHOOSE returns OS/2 errorlevels starting at 1,
which means that each entry you add to the key list increases the errorlevel value by a factor
of one. Say for example that you have five items you want to CHOOSE from in your command
file, your list might look like Q1234. Now remembering that each key in that list will return an
errorlevel 1 higher than that of its predecessor, the entry would decode as follows:
Q = 1, 1 = 2, 2 = 3, 3 = 4 and 4 = 5. By way of example if the following were used in your
command file or, even at the command-line itself, any keypress except Q would result in
a beep being sounded and the program continuing to wait for a valid keypress:
CHOOSE "Press Q or q to quit: " q
Case is not significant however, spacing is! if you enter a command like CHOOSE "TEST"q
then CHOOSE will think that you did not supply all the arguements and abort with the following message:
CHOOSE OS/2 1.0
(c)Copyright 1990, 91
Kingsoft Ltd.
Usage: CHOOSE prompt option
prompt = "string"
option = valid key(s)
eg, CHOOSE "Select: " Q123
If you execute CHOOSE with the proper number of arguements but place spaces between each
key you set as being valid, you must remember that this changes the errorlevel value that the
keypress will return. For example: CHOOSE "TEST" q 1 2 Results in q=1, 1=3 and 2 =5 obviously not, the results you were looking for. In any event, remember that the order decides
the errorlevel value as well as any spacing. The Prompt arguement MUST always be the first
entry and MUST be enclose in double quotes("). If you do not require a prompt message, simply enter two quotation marks followed by a single space and your keys list. As in:
CHOOSE "" q1234abcd. Please note: The placement of Q as the first entry is not necessary
it is merely the ordering I use myself.
CHOOSE OS/2 1.0 is, as stated above, a ShareWare product. If you use CHOOSE OS/2
and feel it has value, you are expected to send in a small donation to help the author continue
producing utilities such as this one. Said donations may be in any reasonable amount but MUST be in U.S. currency. If you would like more information on CHOOSE OS/2 or on any
other product produced by Kingsoft Ltd., please feel free to call our BBS at (209) 732-7192
This system is available 24 hours a day and supports callers up to 2400 baud. You may also
coorespond directly with the authors at:
Kingsoft Ltd.
c/o Robert L. King
800 W. Murray #D
Visalia, Ca. 93291
License Information:
You are granted a limited license to use CHOOSE OS/2 1.0 for an evaluation period of
not more than 30 days. After said period, you are required to register your copy with us or,
stop using the program. This license further permits you to distribute CHOOSE OS/2 1.0
to your friends and associates as much as you like, under the condition that the executable
is not tampered with in any way and, all the files listed in the file PACKING.LST are included.
Registration of this program entitles you to use CHOOSE OS/2 1.0 in perpetuity! It further grants you the right to use ALL future versions of CHOOSE OS/2 or CHOOSE DOS without
additional charge. Once you have registered a version of the program, you are registered
for all future versions in both DOS and OS/2 flavors. However, registration does not permit
you to use more than one copy of the program simultaneously. A registered copy should be
treated like a book. No two people can read the same copy of a book at the same time nor,
can two people use the same copy of a software program at the same time, hence, with
like a book, we mean, you may only use the number of copies you have registered. If you
register two copies, then you may use two copies at the same time. I know this sounds silly
under OS/2, but, I am not refering to more than one process using the software. I am refering
to two seperate machines using the software at the same time.
Waurranty Information:
Kingsoft Ltd. waurrants this product to be free of defects at the time of shipment. Any damages which might occur as a result of the use of this product are in no way the responsibility of Kingsoft Ltd. the distributor or packagers of this product. We assume no liability for this product. Further, we cannot waurrant this product for suitability of use or
purpose. We can and do guarranty, that this product performs as described when used
properly.
What to do if you have a problem:
If you do have a problem using the software, and tell me that your ard disk blew up or other such nonsense, you'll be wasting both your and my time. This software has been tested (Both DOS and OS/2 versions) under MS and PC DOS versions 3.0 through 5.0 and OS/2 versions 1.2 and 1.3 and found to perform flawlessly. If however you do experience problems, please send
us a detailed description of the problem. Include in this description, the make of hardware
used, version of the operating system, IOPL state and a list of processes which were active
when the error occured (OS/2 version).. If the problem occurs intermitantly, be sure to include
a description of the events leading to the failure. Basically, what was done three or four operations before the error occured. Sorry, but problem descriptions without details cannot
be given much attention as it would result in much wasted effort attempting to duplicate a basically unknown problem. Send your problem reports to the above listed address or, call our BBS and leave a message on the support section of the BBS..
