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1996-09-19
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K-INSTALL for DOS and Windows 2.8
Copyright (c) 1994-96 by Rob McDonell, ARK ANGLES
All Rights Reserved
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
WHAT YOU GET
K-INSTALL is written by a software developer for software developers,
both amateur and professional. I know the value of a risk free, hassle
free product. K-INSTALL offers many benefits to all users.
Unregistered users get limited support during the trial period, but
are not licenced to use or distribute INSTALL.EXE or SETUP.EXE with
their own software. The unregistered version may only be distributed
as a whole package, including all files listed in VENDINFO.DIZ.
Registered users get support for 12 months, and are licenced to use and
distribute INSTALL.EXE and/or SETUP.EXE royalty free with any of their
own software. They also receive the latest version of the package and
a printed, fully indexed manual.
Customised versions of K-INSTALL are also available such that your
options can be hard coded into the program rather than specified in
the separate settings file. This not only makes the program even
more secure, but also smaller. You just need to send me a copy of
your settings file the way you like it, and I will promptly return
to you a new EXE file with those settings embedded.
Registered users will get prompt resolution of problems, and free
upgrades if they encounter bugs.
See REGISTER.TXT for full details of licensing options and pricing.
Electronic communication is probably the easiest for all feedback, bug
reports or other support. See my CompuServe and Internet addresses
below. In most circumstances I will respond within 24-48 hours.
UPGRADING FROM OTHER VERSIONS
In general, settings files from older versions can be used unchanged in
newer releases, although they may not take advantage of all enhancements.
For consistency, and to enable new functions, some syntactical changes
have been made to a few keywords in various releases.
Settings files vary only slightly between the DOS and Windows versions of
K-INSTALL, and simply cater for differences in the operating environment.
Specifically, this relates to the appearance of K-INSTALL (the WINDOW,
COLS, PICTURE, ICON and PATTERN keywords) and how the installed program
is run (the GROUP, ITEM and RESTART keywords). See the full documentation
for more details.
Settings file functions in K-INSTALL Professional are a superset of those
in the Standard edition, therefore settings files from the Standard edition
can be used unchanged in the Professional edition.
PROGRAM HISTORY
2.80 19.09.96. Hidden and System files able to be installed normally.
ReadOnly attribute reset when copying files (especially
for CDs), but unchanged when extracting from archives.
Extended ASKDISK keyword. Windows version only: multiple
GROUP keywords allowed, improved ProgMan updating, and
fixed Windows error looking for third disk.
2.70 05.06.96. Cancel option from additional dialogs during install.
Enhancements to size/position defaults and options for
main window and DOS box. Case insensitive PATH checking,
and 'SET PATH=' format now catered for. Dictionary in
manual reorganised. DOS version only: new options for
PICTURE and INSTPIC keywords, default graphic removed.
2.60 12.02.96. Further improvements to file opening modes for read-only
volumes. Windows version only: Enhanced support for PIF
files, and inclusion of a generic COMMAND.PIF, especially
to facilitate archive unpacking in a minimised window.
Main window centred on desktop.
Professional edition only: INSTMSG and INSTPIC changed to
work after corresponding INSTALL as per documentation.
Improvements to conditional logic use with INPUT keyword.
2.50 18.01.96. Alterations to file opening modes to be more compatible
with Netware. Fixed uncompressed file names in log file.
Windows version only: modified unarchiving procedure to
overcome Windows 95 not closing DOS program windows.
Professional edition only: enhanced INSTALL keyword to
handle multiple source directories such as on CD-ROMs.
2.40 22.12.95. New ~MAINDSK and ~MAINDIR variables. Fixes to INI file
handling, especially device statements in SYSTEM.INI.
Additional ASK and INPUT variables to prompt the user at
different times during installation.
2.30 04.12.95. FSPLIT Utility to split large files. Tilde variables can
be used in defaults for ASK and DIR keywords. ASKDISK
keyword to select type of "insert next disk" dialog box.
Windows version only: Uninstall deletes Program Manager
group if empty. Non-standard BMPs handled more reliably.
2.20 14.11.95. New ~CURR variable containing current default directory.
Improved status bar updating after archive unpacking.
Fixed incomplete deletion of INI files in uninstall.
More reliable DIR keyword for opt value '1'.
Professional edition only: New ELSE keyword. Utility to
set disk serial numbers (for use with DISKID keyword).
Fixed OPTIONS and UPGRADE keywords for chk value '3'.
2.10 30.09.95. Fixed Cancel button not working properly when entering
variables. Minor code and documentation improvements.
Windows version only: corrected Help button focus.
Professional edition only: Enhanced OPTIONS and UPGRADE
keywords to control directory checking.
2.00 09.09.95. Uninstall undoes changes to autoexec.bat, config.sys and
INI files. CPU and COPR keywords for hardware checking.
FUNCTION keyword to automatically start any functions.
HELP keyword to provide installation help. Modified
INPUT keyword to specify variable number, default value,
and more powerful format specification. Multiple PATH
and SHELL keywords allowed. REBOOT keyword to control
rebooting of DOS. Multiple RFILE keywords allowed to
create several files, and new append format to add to an
existing text file. Use of original name from compressed
file if available. Improved handling of blank parameters.
DOS version only: WINDOW keyword to control screen size.
WINVER keyword for compatibility with Windows version.
Windows version only: Program Manager icons not added
again on re-install, and uninstall removes installed
icons. RESTART keyword to control restarting of Windows.
New Professional edition only: ASK and IF/ENDIF keywords
for conditional processing of most functions. INSTMSG
and INSTPIC keywords to change message line and bitmaps
displayed during install. STRING and BUTTON keywords to
customise predefined text and provide full multi-language
support. OPTIONS keyword to enable separate installation
of optional components. UPGRADE keyword to check for an
existing installation. DISKID keyword for basic copy
protection. Settings file scrambler.
1.90 15.08.95. Support for archives with subdirectories. DOS internal
commands may be used in FIRST, LAST and INSTALL keywords.
New replace method '5' for INSTALL keyword to append to
existing files. Installation log file appended to rather
than overwritten if it already exists. DOS version only:
added length parm to PICTURE keyword which can now be
anywhere in the settings file. Changed button shadow
colour if menu background is black. Windows version only:
fixed spurious error message when updating WIN.INI.
1.80 31.07.95. New binary format registration data file for writing
strings without leading length byte or terminating null.
ISECT default value 'NoSection' no longer provided.
Windows version only: Reduction in size of SETUP.EXE.
Enhanced bitmap file error checking and screen refreshing.
Fixed occasional GPF error when running external programs.
1.70 28.05.95. Improved error handling when updating Program Manager.
Minor enhancements and documentation changes.
1.60 11.05.95. New ~GROUP variable. Enhancements to RUN keyword and
reboot/restart functions. New options on INPUT and
DIR keywords for longer explanatory questions. Beeps
with error messages only. Registration data file backed
up before overwriting in text format. Running percent
during install. Some minor problems fixed. DOS version
only: BIG and WIN keywords replaced by RUN option, and
new GROUP keyword to update Windows Program Manager.
Windows version only: new WINDOW keyword to set window
size and style, new WINVER keyword and variable for
checking Windows version, and Uninstall now deletes
SETUP.EXE correctly.
1.50 25.04.95. Basic settings file generator. Maximum of allowable
MKDIR, DEL, INSTALL, AUTO, CONF, REG, INI, ITEM and
REMOVE keywords limited only by available memory. New
options for INSTALL keyword to display file desciptions
and run external programs. New option for PATH keyword
to add multiple directories. New EXE keyword to add
parameters for self-unpacking archives. Additional
predefined variables, and all variables now available
with FIRST, LAST, INSTALL, RUN and CATALOG keywords.
Duplicate "device=" statements handled in SYSTEM.INI.
User confirmation not required if installing to root
directory. Faster file copying to and from diskettes.
Other minor enhancements. DOS version only: new IFILE,
ISECT and INI keywords to allow updating of INI files.
1.40 04.04.95. New ~INST variable to perform functions on the install
disk itself. User confirmation sought during install if
chosen directory already exists, and during uninstall
before deleting files from Windows or Windows System
directories. Fixed problems with AUTO keywords wiping
out a final shell command in AUTOEXEC.BAT. Windows
version only: PICTURE keyword no longer causes hang if
bitmap does not exist.
1.30 13.03.95. New REMOVE keyword to delete application-generated files
during uninstall. New ARCHIVE keyword to define an
additional unarchiving program. Windows version only:
PICTURE keyword can now read BMP files from disk, has
more flexible positioning, additional styles, and bitmap
stretching.
1.20 10.03.95. New DOSVER keyword to check DOS version number. Changed
INST keyword to INSTALL and MKD to MKDIR. New BUFFERS
keyword to check and update BUFFERS value in CONFIG.SYS.
Windows version only: New PATTERN and ICON keywords and
enhanced PICTURE keyword for greater customisation of
K-INSTALL screen.
1.10 23.02.95. First general release.
1:0x Early 95. Various limited release versions for testing.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
Thanks to feedback from users all over the world, I believe the various
versions of K-INSTALL are amongst the most sophisticated and versatile
install programs available. You can help to make K-INSTALL even more
powerful by sending me your requirements and wishes.
A native Windows 95/NT version will be released in 1996, an OS/2 version
may also be released if there is sufficient interest, and new features
will continue to be added to all existing versions. Take the time now to
vote for the features you would most like to see included.
Beta testers are always required for new versions. All you need is a
CompuServe Id, and to be a registered user of any version of K-INSTALL.
Send me a note if you would like to participate.
Regards,
Rob McDonell
Proprietor, ARK ANGLES
Postal: P O Box 190, Hazelbrook NSW 2779, AUSTRALIA
Phone: (047)588100 or Intl+61-47-588100
Fax: (047)588638 or Intl+61-47-588638
CompuServe: 100237,141
Internet: 100237.141@compuserve.com
Web: www.pnc.com.au/~arkangle