Medical Power Pack/Medical Power Pack.iso/readme.1st

Text File | 1995-02-10 | 19.3 KB | 421 lines

        DiscPassage for DOS


        Version 1.42  March 1, 1993


        Contents

        1. Before You Call Technical Support
        2. Printing or Viewing This Document
        3. About DiscPassage
        4. System Requirements
        5. Installing DiscPassage
        6. Starting DiscPassage
        7. Using DiscPassage
        8. Problem-Solving
        9. How to Reach Technical Support


        1 - Before You Call Technical Support

        CMC maintains a Technical Support staff to help our customers
        with problems which occur, and to answer questions and listen to
        comments about our products.

        DiscPassage is licensed for use by various CD-ROM producers.
        If your CD-ROM is the product of a company other than CMC,
        please call that company first for technical support.

        Before calling for Technical Support, please be sure to read
        this document.  Many of the most common problems can be solved
        using the information provided here.  If you do need technical
        help, please make a note of the version of DiscPassage and the
        title of the CD-ROM(s) which you are using.  Also please note
        any details about your system which might be relevant to the
        problem.  For example, if the problem is that graphics will not
        display properly, the manufacturer and model of your video
        controller card would be helpful.  Your DOS version number,
        available memory, microprocessor type and whether you are using
        third party memory management, file compression or operating
        system software (for example QEMM, Stacker or DR DOS) all may
        be relevant to problems which occur.

        1.1 - System Problems

        If the problem you are experiencing is caused by a component of
        your system that is not a CMC product, we recommend that you
        call the manufacturer or vendor of that product for Technical
        Support.  CD-ROM Drive installation or malfunction, installation
        of DiscPassage under various menuing or windowing interfaces, and
        CD-ROM network implementation are some examples.


        2 - Printing or Viewing This Document

        If you wish to print this document to the default printer,
        enter the command "printme" while in the DiscPass directory.
        If you would like to view the document on your monitor, enter
        the command "readme".


        3 - About DiscPassage

        DiscPassage is a program which provides a menu-driven user
        interface for accessing the information on your CD-ROM.
        DiscPassage provides various means of accessing CD-ROM data,
        including a hierarchical "Contents" menu and "Search" and
        "Browse" facilities.  In addition, DiscPassage offers facilities
        for displaying graphic images, printing text and images, playing
        sounds (if the CD-ROM has audio content) and copying text to
        user-named files.

        DiscPassage will run properly only if there is a DiscPassage
        CD-ROM in the CD drive.  DiscPassage CD-ROMs have the word
        "DiscPassage" or the word "CMC" printed on the CD-ROM or the
        CD-ROM jewel box.

        Once DiscPassage has been installed on your hard drive, use
        the same installation to access all your DiscPassage CD-ROMs.


        4 - System Requirements

        IBM PC or compatible with MS-DOS version 3.1 or later.

        CD-ROM drive with appropriate drivers.

        Microsoft CD-ROM extensions version 2.0 or later.

        500K available conventional memory.

        1 Megabyte free space available on hard drive.

        VGA video card and monitor.  Super VGA card with VESA driver
        recommended.

        For CD-ROMs which contain audio content, headphones or amplified
        external speakers which connect to the CD-ROM audio jack or
        external speaker outputs.

        The "files" command in the CONFIG.SYS file should be set to
        at least 20 ("files=20").


        5 - Installing DiscPassage

        Log onto the CD-ROM drive (or the floppy drive, if installing
        from a floppy disk) by entering the command "D:"  (If "D" is not
        the letter of your CD-ROM or floppy drive, use the appropriate
        letter.)  Enter the command "setup".  The setup program will
        prompt you through the installation procedure.  Setup creates
        a directory on your hard drive which contains the DiscPassage
        files.  No changes are made to your system files (like
        AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS).


        6 - Starting DiscPassage

        Once DiscPassage has been installed, any DiscPassage CD-ROM
        can be accessed by placing the disc into the drive and entering
        the command "DP" at the DOS "C:" prompt.  (If you have more than
        one hard drive in your system, substitute the appropriate letter
        for "C".)


        7 - Using DiscPassage

        After the "DP" command has been entered, a license agreement
        will be displayed.  Press enter to accept the agreement.  A
        title page illustration will then be displayed, followed by
        the DiscPassage main menu.

        7.1 - Using Help

        The best way to learn about DiscPassage is to use it in
        conjunction with the help feature.  "Help" is availabe from
        any location in the program, beginning with the opening license
        agreement screen.  To display context-related Help, press the
        "F1" key.  A window on the screen will provide information related
        to the DiscPassage function currently in use.  "Help" provides
        much valuable information which can help you learn to use the
        features found in DiscPassage more effectively.  The "Search"
        feature in particular is extensively documented.

        7.2 - Using The Main Menu

        DiscPassage displays a menu bar at the top of your screen.
        The menu includes the selections "Search", "Browse",
        "Contents", "Database", "Printer" and "Change/Exit".  "Search"
        helps you search the database for specific words, authors,
        subjects and titles, to identify related documents.  "Browse"
        helps you review lists of words, authors, subjects, or titles,
        then select corresponding documents.  "Contents" lists the table
        of contents contained in the database, and allows you to select
        a document.  "Database" identifies information available on the
        CD and helps you select a database.  "Printer" lets you specify
        a printer type for printing graphic images, and specify a default
        printer port.  "Change/Exit" lets you change to another
        DiscPassage CD-ROM disc or drive letter, or exit DiscPassage.
        Use the right/left arrow keys to highlight different selections.
        Press "enter" to select the highlighted title.

        7.3 - Using The Function Keys

        While using DiscPassage, the descriptions of any applicable
        function keys are displayed at the bottom of the screen.
        Here is a summary of the function keys used in DiscPassage:

        F1 provides on-line Help.  A Help screen which is relevant to
        the current context is displayed.

        F2 clears the search template so the user can start a new search
        process.

        F3 displays the next text article from a search list, when the
        user is viewing an article from that list.

        F4 toggles the graphics display between VGA and high
        resolution monochrome when the graphics mode is standard VGA.
        F4 also can be used to jump directly from the opening license
        agreement to the main DiscPassage menu, bypassing the title
        page graphic.

        F7 prints the currently displayed text file or graphic image.
        Before printing images, select "Print" from the main
        DiscPassage menu to specify "Epson" or "HP Laser Jet".  Your
        printer must be compatible with one of these two standard
        printer types in order to print images under DiscPassage.

        When printing a graphic, there will be no message on-screen
        while the printing is taking place.  When the printing is
        successfully completed, three quick beeps (low - high - low)
        will sound.  If a problem is detected, two beeps (high - low)
        are sounded.

        F8 copies the currently displayed text file to a user-named
        file.

        F9 displays a menu of tables, images or audio selections
        related to the current selection.

        F10 displays the titles found during a search, or highlights
        the search term in the text.

        7.4 - Using the Special Function Keys

        "Enter" selects the currently highlighted menu choice.

        "Escape" exits the current menu, document, image, or audio
        selection and returns to the previous menu or document.

        "Home" goes to the beginning of the document or top of the menu.

        "Page up" scrolls up one page in the document or one menu screen.

        "Page down" scrolls down one page in the document or one menu
        screen.


        8 - Problem-Solving

        If you experience problems while installing or running
        DiscPassage, the information which follows may be helpful.
        You will also find useful information in your CD-ROM drive
        manual, the DOS manual or your computer system manual.

        8.1 - CD-ROM Drive Problems

        If you are unable to log onto the CD-ROM drive, just as you
        would a floppy drive (by typing "D:<enter>", for example),
        the CD-ROM drive is not working properly.  Some possible reasons
        are (1) the CD-ROM installation process was not successfully
        completed, (2) the system was not rebooted following the
        CD-ROM installation, (3) the CD-ROM drive was not turned on prior
        to booting the system, (4) the cables have been disconnected
        or damaged or (5) files on your system have been lost or
        changed.  If there is a problem with the CD-ROM Drive, check
        for these possibilities and, if necessary, contact the CD-ROM
        Drive manufacturer for Technical Support.

        8.2 - MSCDEX

        MSCDEX.EXE (Microsoft CD-ROM Extensions) is an extension to
        DOS which allows the system to recognize the CD-ROM drive as
        another disk drive, assigning a drive letter to the CD-ROM.
        MSCDEX.EXE is included in the software supplied with the CD-ROM
        drive, and is added to the system by running the CD-ROM drive
        installation program.  If you suspect that MSCDEX has not been
        properly installed, run the CD-ROM drive install program or
        contact the CD-ROM drive manufacturer.

        8.3 - Memory Requirements

        DiscPassage requires 500K RAM free to run properly.  Use the
        command "chkdsk" to check the amount of memory which is free.
        The last line in the display shows the amount of free memory
        in your system.  If your system does not have enough free memory,
        consult the DOS manual for help in optimizing your system's
        memory handling and increasing conventional memory.


        8.4 - Command Line Options

        Under some cirmumstances it is helpful to enter some extra
        information when typing "DP" to start DiscPassage.  DiscPassage
        provides two command line options which can be used to specify
        (1) the CD-ROM drive letter or (2) a video card type other than
        the one which is auto-detected.

        8.5 - Specifying the CD-ROM Drive

        DiscPassage will normally select the first available CD-ROM
        drive letter.  If there are multiple CD-ROM drives in the
        system, use the "-d<drive letter>" option to specify the
        drive to be accessed.  For example, a multiple CD-ROM player
        might have six drives, with the letters D through I assigned
        to them.  If the DiscPassage CD-ROM to be accessed is in the
        second drive, then the command to start DiscPassage would be
        "dp -de".

        8.6 - Specifying the Video Card Type

        DiscPassage will try to detect the type of video card in the
        system and supply the appropriate video driver for displaying
        graphic images.  Use the "-v<video card type>" option to
        override the card which is detected and substitute one from
        the list below.  For example, if the graphics are not
        displaying properly, and the user knew that a Trident video
        card was installed in the system, the command "dp -vtrident"
        would start DiscPassage, overriding the autodetected card,
        and supply instead a video driver for the Trident card.

        The video card types which can be used as command line options
        are listed below:

          vesa
          tseng           (STB, Orchid, Genoa)
          tseng4          (Orchid)
          paradise        (Western Digital, AST)
          video7          (Video 7, Headland, VRAM, Fastwrite)
          trident
          everex
          ati             (ViewPerfect, ViewSonic)
          chipstech       (Chips and Technologies, Cardinal)
          aheada
          aheadb
          genoa
          zymos
          oak
          tecmar
          stdvga          (standard vga, 360 x 480 x 256 color)
          mode12          (monochrome)
          mode13          (standard vga, 320 x 200 x 256 color)
          textonly        (no graphic display - may help with EGA)

        8.7 - Adding Command Line Options To DP.BAT

        If it is necessary to use a certain command line option each
        time DiscPassage is run, use the DOS EDIT utility to insert
        the option into the DP.BAT file.  Go to the root directory (or
        whatever directory the file DP.BAT is in.  Enter the command "edit
        dp.bat".  Move the cursor to the line in the file which starts
        with "dpsg.exe".  Move the cursor to the first "%" and insert
        the exact command line option (such as "-vtrident ").  The line
        will now read, for example, "dpsg.exe -vtrident %1 %2 %3".  Save
        the file.  Test the change by running DiscPassage.

        8.8 - Graphics Display - VGATEST

        If graphics images do not display properly, there are two test
        programs in the DiscPass directory which may help.  To run
        VGATEST, enter the command "vgatest" while in the DiscPass
        directory.  VGATEST displays a message which tells which video
        card type is detected.  If a DiscPassage CD-ROM is in the CD-ROM
        drive, pressing "enter" will display a graphic from that disc.
        Use the video card command line option (see explanation above) to
        try out different video graphics drivers.  (The -v option can be
        used with both the "dp" and the "vgatest" commands.)

        8.9 - Graphics Display - VESATEST

        If none of the video drivers in DiscPassage work correctly with
        your video card, you may want to use a VESA video driver.
        VESA is a standard which has been created for interfacing with
        super VGA video cards.  A Super VGA card may have a VESA driver
        built into the ROM (read only memory) of the video card.  Older
        cards may require a TSR (terminate and stay resident - a program
        which, once executed, resides in your computer's memory) driver
        to be loaded in order to provide VESA support.  This TSR may be
        found on the distribution disks from the video card manufacturer,
        or may be obtained directly from the video card vendor or
        manufacturer.

        To determine if a VESA driver is currently available in your
        system, run VESATEST from the DiscPassage directory.  This
        program will tell you if VESA video extensions are loaded,
        whether or not DiscPassage will use VESA for image display, and
        if not, why DiscPassage will not use VESA.  DiscPassage requires
        that VESA mode 101H is supported in order to display 640 by 480
        by 256 colors.

        8.10 - Audio

        Some DiscPassage CD-ROM titles contain audio information.
        The audio from these discs will come through the CD-ROM
        drive's audio outputs.  If your system is equipped with a
        sound card, the DiscPassage CD-ROM audio will not be heard
        through the sound card unless the CD-ROM's audio outputs are
        connected to inputs to the sound card.  Consult the sound
        card vendor for information regarding hardware which may
        be available to make the connection.

        8.11 - Program Crash

        If DiscPassage fails to start properly, exits to DOS
        prematurely or "freezes" your system at some point, there are a
        number of possible causes to look for.

        The first item to check is free memory (see MEMORY
        REQUIREMENTS above).

        Another possible cause of problems is the interaction between
        DiscPassage and your graphics card. Try running DP with the
        "-vtextonly" option (see COMMAND LINE OPTIONS above).  If the
        crash no longer occurs, experiment further with the various
        video card options.

        A third area to check is conflicts between DiscPassage and
        other software already loaded in memory (device drivers or
        TSR programs).  One way to test for such conflicts is to insert
        the word "rem" before each line of the Config.Sys and
        Autoexec.Bat files which installs drivers and TSRs which are
        not needed to run the CD-ROM unit.  The "rem" negates the
        line so that when the system is booted, that line has no effect.
        If DiscPassage then runs properly, the "remmed out" lines can
        be brought back in one at a time, until the conflicting line is
        identified.  Sometimes changing the order that these lines
        appear in the files can eliminate a conflict.

        A common conflict which causes DiscPassage to crash is between
        some mouse drivers and the VESA video driver.  If you press
        enter to continue from the license agreement and the system
        goes immeditately back to DOS, displaying the CD-ROM drive, or
        if after the first graphic is displayed the system freezes and
        an error message "memory allocation error..." is displayed,
        there probably is a mouse driver/vesa driver conflict.  Test for
        this by "remming" out the MOUSE.COM line in the autoexec.bat
        file.  After rebooting the system, run DiscPassage.  If
        DiscPassage runs properly, the conflict has been identified.  The
        solution is to obtain an updated driver from the manufacturer of
        the mouse, or a different mouse driver.


        9 - How To Reach Technical Support

        Due to the low cost of this disc, Creative Multimedia is unable to
        provide free technical support.  The phone number for Creative
        Multimedia Technical Support is 1-900-438-8324.