Euro Power Pack 1005

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Text File | 1991-10-19 | 20.1 KB | 365 lines

MACHII MENU ver 2.0 Featuring the F-4 PhantomII (C) Copyright HYPERWARE 1991 Developed by: TERRY C. HASTINGS HYPERWARE 13245 Skiomah Rd. Apple Valley, Ca. 92307 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS This program requires an IBM compatible computer and VGA adapter with 256 k of ram on the card as a minimum. A 286 or 386 computer is best, an 8088 is O.K., better if it runs 8 mhz. Slower CPUs will work, but since this program is graphics intensive, screen updates may be slower than desired. A disk caching program will greatly speed file loads. WHAT THIS PROGRAM DOES This program will allow you to easily run any DOS application you so desire with a minimum of effort. Hopefully it will be a little more visually stimulating than a black monitor screen. It will also provide some measure of security for your valued files and protection from un- wanted users getting easy access to your computer (done with optional easy installation from the provided minstall program - uses password). A screen saver may also be optionally installed if so desired. For those times when you are feeling exceptionally bored, a shoot'em up game is provided as part of this program. This menu will run an application and when done will immediately return to the menu awaiting your next application. Want a custom made menu PERSONALIZED just for you? MACHII provides it with the easy installation of your name to be displayed on the pilot's wings of the menu. This program WILL NOT provide multitasking. SET UP - MINSTALL.EXE Use MINSTALL to set this program up. MINSTALL will do everything from modifying your AUTOEXEC.BAT file with the proper path commands to making the necessary directories and copying all files to your hard disk. Do not be afraid to run MINSTALL, your original AUTOEXEC.BAT file will be saved as AUTOEXEC.OLD so you can easily restore your old configuration if so desired. The only step that may be required is a modification to the new AUTOEXEC.BAT file after minstall is run. This will only be required if your old AUTOEXEC.BAT file had a command to call a program or batch file as the last step in the file. If this is the case, this program or batch file will have to be removed so that "M2.BAT" is the last and only entry in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file that calls another batch file or program. MINSTALL can be run from any drive, it will always place the necessary files on C: drive and will look for the files it needs to transfer in the drive and directory MINSTALL is being run from. MINSTALL may be run as many times as desired. If MINSTALL detects the proper AUTOEXEC.BAT and other files, it will skip over those parts of the installation already completed. You may want to run minstall more than once in order to change the rate of fire of the SPOOK's gun. This can be done by entering a faster or slower number when prompted for your computers speed in MHZ. Each time minstall is run all options are rean- itialized, so if you are using a name on the name tag it will have to be reentered. NOTE: Sidekick is not compatible with this program. If sidekick is invoked before the menu program is called the results will be unpredictable. Other TSR programs may produce similar results. HOW TO USE THE PROGRAM Once MINSTALL is run, the AUTOEXEC.BAT file will automatically run this program provided the steps outlined above are followed. The first time this program is run, it will pause for a KEY PRESS while it builds the initial menu as blank pages. There will be no pause when the program is run after initial installation is complete. The checklist pages or (book) used to display your menu pages will be blank until you make entries into it. To make or change existing menu entries, press CONTROL "R". This will take you to the built in editor and start the process of building the necessary files to call your desired programs. This entire process is carried out by the program. the user will not be required to build any batch or other files. The MACHII.EXE program completely automates the process of building the necessary batch files needed to call your desired program from the menu. The user need only follow the prompts from CONTROL 'R' to complete this process, the program will take care of making all applicable files. NOTE: You must run MINSTALL to insure all directories and paths are properly set up or the program may not function properly. ****************************** DETAILS ************************************* M2.BAT is created and written to the root directory of your C: drive when minstall is run. This file is used to invoke the MACHII.EXE program. It is possible to change this file with any ASCII editor or even by using copy con from DOS if so desired. The menu.bat file consists of 4 lines @ECHO OFF ' echo to the screen is off when batch files are run C: ' change to C: drive CD\MACHII ' change directories to MACHII (MENU DIRECTORY) MACHII 1 M20 P02 S :MAJOR HASTINGS ' invoke the program with options The fourth line is the command line used to invoke the menu program. There are optional items that can be invoked from the command line when you run this program. These options should be included after a space (" ") from the command line if used. Possible options are listed below. Any combination or order is O.K., except the name has to appear last. sample command line - MACHII 1 M20 P02 S :MAJOR HASTINGS | | | | ---> #5. NAME FOR PILOTS WINGS | | | -------> #4. SCREEN SAVER ACTIVE | | ----------> #3. PROTECT PAGES 1 & 2 | ---------------> #2. NUMBER OF MENU PAGES -----------------> #1. DELAY FACTOR NOTE: Run MINSTALL to automatically write the M2.BAT file. MINSTALL will place all the command line switches (shown above) in this file. To change any parameter simply run MINSTALL again. If you do not have a mouse, I recommend placing minstall on one of your menu pages so it can be run from the menu program. If you have used the PROTECT MODE to keep unauthorized users out of DOS and limit access to selected programs, be sure you PLACE minstall ON ONE OF THE PROTECTED PAGES if its is to be used from the menu since the access code can be changed with MINSTALL. #1. DELAY FACTOR: This optional item is used to slow down the fire rate of the SUU/23 gun pod being used by the spook to shoot at the COMMY PINKO airplanes. A value will be placed here by minstall and will vary depending on the speed of your computer. A value of 0 to 8 can be used. This will increase the amount of time that elapses between bullets by that factor. You will have to experiment to see which works best for your particular computer. This value can be changed by running minstall and inserting a lager or smaller value for the computer speed in MHZ or by changing the command line as shown. It will normally not be necessary to change the value minstall inserts here. #2. MENU PAGES: The program will initially default to 10 menu pages. if you decide this is too much or too little, as few as 4 or up to 30 may be specified on the command line by "M (number of pages)". NOTE: each page contains 9 menu choices. The default number of choices with 10 pages is 90. The minimum number of pages allowed is 4 the maximum is 30. Use MINSTALL to do this for you. #3. PROTECT PAGES: If you select this OPTIONAL ITEM when installing the menu, you can restrict access to menu pages and thus programs on those pages to only people who have the 4 digit access code (this code is input during minstall). You can select the number of pages you want to PROTECT from 1 to the maximum number of pages you have allowed for the menu program. When the program is run a "p" will appear on the page bottom if that page is protected. When a program on a protected page is selected you will be required to put in the access code before the program will run. Four attempts are allowed before the program reverts back to normal operation. You may protect only access to DOS by selecting a CODE during program installation and not selecting any menu pages to protect. NOTE: To provide the least possibility of a user breaking out of the menu program to DOS, insure your CONFIG.SYS file does not have a BREAK ON statement in it. Additionally, to insure no one can use your computer except authorized users, configure your system so it CAN NOT be BOOTED from A: drive or other floppy. #4. SCREEN SAVER: May be selected during program installation. when the keyboard is inactive for 3 minutes, the screen will blank. The program will resume when a key is pressed. #5. NAME FOR PILOT'S WINGS. You may install a name to be printed on the PILOT'S WINGS when the program is run. The pilots name is input when minstall is run. ***************************** KEY BOARD CONTROLS **************************** The following keys are used to manipulate this program. ARROW KEYS: Use the up/down arrow keys to select the menu item of your choice. As these keys are used, the highlighted menu item will change. After the first or last item is highlighted on a menu page, the next page will automatically be selected. A low beep notifies you that new pages are being displayed. Use the left/right arrow keys to switch between menu pages. The menu pages are listed in a rotary so that after the last page is reached the first is again displayed. ENTER KEY: Highlight the menu item of your choice, then push enter to run that selection. Alternately, you can run any legal menu choice on the selected page by pushing the number key associated with that menu item. ESCAPE KEY: The escape key will exit to DOS and terminate the MACHII.EXE program. If you are changing menu items from the built in editor (see control "R") escape will stop your input and return the program to the next level above where it was. NOTE: From DOS type "M2" to run the MACHII menu program. "S" KEY: If you have a SOUND BLASTER game board installed in your computer, the MACHII program will play different sound effects during program execution. When the sound blaster is recognized by MACHII MENU, the SB ON icon will appear near the pilot's name tag to let you know the program is using the sound blaster. The sound effects may be toggled off by pushing the "S: key, or selecting this item with the mouse. CONTROL "R": This key combination will start the built in editor. This editor is intended to show you the highlighted menu item and allow you to change it as desired. When this editor is invoked, you will note that the highlighted item will indicate which batch file is used to invoke the applications program. It will always be a number followed by ".bat", this is the batch file the program will automatically build. This batch file will be written to the sub- directory "M2FILES" automatically by the MACHII.EXE program and will be used to call the applications program you stipulate. NOTE: You may change the menu selection (highlighted item) to edit or build by using the arrow keys; menu pages may also be changed while editing. After you have entered the menu item name, the program will then ask you to enter the name of the program you are intending to call when this menu selection is used. The program name can be any ".exe", ".com", or ".bat" file. If the program requires switches, be sure to include them here. The file name you enter must look exactly like the command line you would use to start the program from DOS. If you are using a version of DOS earlier than 2.x, machii sould function properly when calling *.COM or *.EXE programs. However, *.BAT programs you attempt to call will may not work properly. You can get the menu to call the *.bat file by editing the number.bat file that the menu program created to call this batch file (example 17.bat). You will have to edit out the first part of the fourth line "COMMAND /C". This will allow the user to call the batch file, but the machii menu will not reinvoke itself afterward. You will have to type "M2" from the command line to start the menu again. NOTE: you can use an "*" as the first character of the menu item line to make this a menu header and not a valid menu item. The program will not attempt to find or run any item that is preceded with an "*" or any item that is blank. This is handy to make an identifier for each page or category of files you would like to group together. Example: * COMPILERS or ** DRAW **, ETC. NUMBER KEYS: The number keys from 1 to 9 are hot to allow selec- tion of a particular menu item. Alternately you may highlight your desired selection with the arrow key as explained above then press enter to start your applications program. Only menu items from the selected menu page can be selected with number keys. **************************** MOUSE SUPPORT ********************************* Any microsoft compatible mouse should work with this program. GENERAL: When the mouse is installed and detected by the program, an F-4 gun sight will appear at the bottom of the screen. This sight may be positioned by moving the mouse. Pushing the left mouse key will produce the same result as pushing "ENTER". The right mouse button will escape from the menu to DOS when pushed. NOTE: if DOS is protected the pass word will have to be entered to get to DOS. Pushing the right mouse button at any time will take you to DOS or the PASS WORD if installed. SELECTING A MENU ITEM: Position the sight over the page and item you want to run, then press the LEFT MOUSE BUTTON. If this menu page is protected, the PASS WORD is required. SELECTING DIFFERENT MENU PAGES: Position the sight to the bottom of the checklist page. Place it in the same row as the page number then push the LEFT MOUSE button. Placing the sight on the bottom of the left checklist page and pushing the LEFT MOUSE button will cause the pages to decrease. Placing the sight on the bottom of the right checklist page and pushing the LEFT MOUSE button will cause the pages to increase. SELECT A MENU ITEM TO EDIT BUT NOT RUN: Start from the center of the checklist only, place the sight next to the item you want to edit and push the left mouse key. The item will then be highlighted. Control "R" (or select EDIT with the mouse) will start editor for this menu item. This will work for either page shown. Do not move the sight into the field that would be highlighted or the program will be executed if this menu item is not blank. SELECTING OPTIONAL ITEMS WITH THE MOUSE: ------------ | DOS | : Place the sight over the DOS box and push the ------------ the left mouse button. Alternately, push the right mouse button at any time to goto DOS. ------------ | install | : Place the sight over the install box and push the ------------ the left mouse button. This will run the "I.BAt" file found in the C:\MENU\MENUBATS directory to allow you to reinstall the menu with new options. ------------ | GAME | : Place the sight over the GAME box and push the ------------ the left mouse button. This will start the game portion of the menu program. (see MIIGAME.TXT) ------------ | MENU | : Place the sight over the MENU box and push the ------------ left mouse button. This will bring up the built in editor to allow you to build or modify your menu entries. See control "R" above. ------------ | SB ON | : Place the sight over the SB ON/OFF box and push the ------------ left mouse button. This will toggle the sound blaster sound effects from ON to OFF. NOTE: THIS WILL ONLY BE SEEN ON THE MENU IF YOU HAVE A SOUND BLASTER INSTALLED AND THERE IS SUFFECIENT MEMORY TO RUN THE SOUND FILES. ------------ | MOUSE | : Place the sight over the MOUSE box and push the ------------ left mouse button. This will bring up the mouse sensitivity controller and allow you to change the mouse sensitivity. Push the RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON when done adjusting the mouse. PROBLEMS 1. You may find a program that will take control of the environment and will not allow the calling batch file to continue once the program is terminated. If this happens, you will find yourself at the DOS prompt rather than back in the menu program. the best way to start the menu pro- gram again is to simply type 'M2' from DOS. NOTE: If you have a program that does this and you have protected DOS, be sure this program is included on a "PROTECTED" page of the menu. 2. If your original AUTOEXEC.BAT file contained a call to a program as the last step in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, you must delete this call and insure the last line of the new AUTOEXEC.BAT file is "M2" or "M2.BAT". This will call the M2.BAT file that minstall has written to the root directory of C: drive which in turn calls the MACHII.EXE program with the proper switches set. 3. HELP I AM LOCKED OUT AND I FORGOT MY PASS WORD. If this happens to you and there is absolutely no way you can regain access to the operating system, contact HYPRWARE at the address below and I will provide you with a means of gaining emergency access to DOS. OPTIONAL INSTALLATION It is possible to do just about everything necessary through the menu. The readme disk contains some files that you may want to copy to give you an idea of how I use this program. the file M.DAT contains my menu (data for 10 pages). You can copy this file to C:\MACHII to see what it looks like. NOTE: the items listed will not call an application program since no batch files (C:\MACHII\M2FILES) have been built by your program yet. REMEMBER, to do this you need to select control "R" and follow the prompts. I have provided four batch files that were built by the menu program for me to format disks. These files can be edited or looked at with any ASCII editor. These BAT files were built by the MACHII program and will work on DOS 5.0. IF YOU LIKE THIS PROGRAM AND INTENT TO USE IT PLEASE BECOME A REGISTERED USER BY SENDING $10.00 TO. SEE REGISTER.TXT. HYPERWARE 13245 Skiomah Rd. Apple Valley, Ca. 92307 YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED.