Fritz: All Fritz/All Fritz.zip/All Fritz/FILES/UTILENUS/ALT1241.LZH/READ.ME

Text File | 1989-05-30 | 19KB | 474 lines

                           Instinct Software
                 11311 N. Central Expressway, Suite 300
                         Dallas, Texas  75243

                  Orders Only! Phone Line [phone]

                  Bulletin Board Phone Line [phone]
                  1200/2400 Baud, 8 data, 1 stop, no parity


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▒ Introduction ▒
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    The purpose of ALT is to provide a useful, new framework for
    computing with your IBM PC, PCAT or compatible.  It is a
    multi-faceted tool containing functions and capabilities that
    can literally make the difference between getting the job done
    effectively on the computer and abandoning the computer and
    going back to "doing it by hand".  While none of the tools ALT
    provides are unique in nature,  it is our opinion that most of
    them are superior in their operation and breadth of
    capabilities.  ALT is best classified as a memory-resident
    (i.e.,  always available) integration of four major,  popular
    utilities under a common user interface:

    * Context switching and management for running several tasks
    simultaneously with user definable menus

    * Desk Accessory programs that imitate and surpass
    their real-life counterparts

    * A DOS shell providing powerful file and directory
    management capabilities

    * Macros and Data Transfer (Cut and Paste)


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▒ Installing ALT ▒
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    To install ALT from the floppy to a hard disk drive:

    Type:   A:
    Press:  Enter
    Type:   Install
    Type:   (drive letter of your harddisk and colon, i.e. C: )
    Press:  Enter

    The install program will then install ALT onto the designated
    hard disk.

    For those who have obtained the ALT shareware program without
    the install program, perform the following steps to install ALT:

    1.  Create an  \ALT subdirectory on your harddisk.

        Type:  (drive letter of your hardisk and colon, i.e.  C: )
        Press: Enter
        Type:  md \alt
        Press: Enter
        Type:  cd \alt
        Press: Enter

    2. Copy all files from floppy (assuming drive A:) to newly created
       subdirectory.

       Type:  copy a:\*.*  \alt
       Press: Enter

    3. The Alt shareware program is distributed in an archived (or
       crunched) form.  The ARKE.COM program is used to unarchive (or
       uncrunch) the files required by Alt.

       Type:  Arke Alt
       Press: Enter

    The installation of ALT is complete.  Please note the following
    for successful operation of Alt.

    1.  Make sure you have the following lines in the \CONFIG.SYS
        file on your boot disk (usually your hard disk).

        FILES=25
        BUFFERS=25

    2.  Have the \ALT subdirectory included in your path, i.e.

        PATH=\ALT


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▒ Running ALT ▒
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    To run ALT, first go to the ALT directory:

    Type:     cd \ALT
    Press:    Enter
    Type:     alt
    Press:    Enter

    The ALT banner will appear on the screen.  Press any key to
    continue.  If ALT is being run for the first time, a screen for
    configuring the swap drive will be presented.  The swap
    drive is the disk drive used by ALT for temporarily storing
    programs run in other partitions while they are not being
    used.  It is this capability that allows ALT to give more
    than one program, the entire memory resources of your
    computer.  Thus, it is very important that you spend a few
    minutes setting up the swap drive configuration screen
    correctly.  The swap drive configuration screen appears
    similar to the following:

    The Swap Drive configuration screen contains two columns: a
    swap drive column in which you fill in drive letters for the
    disk drives available to ALT for memory swapping and a
    column specifying the corresponding maximum amount of memory
    ALT is allowed to use temporarily on the disk.  Note that
    ALT's use of your disk space is temporary.  It will be freed
    upon exiting ALT.  You must enter at least one disk drive
    letter for ALT to operate.  We suggest using a RAM disk as
    the swap drive if you have one.  This will make swapping
    much faster.  Another good alternative is to use expanded
    memory.  To use expanded memory, enter 'X' as the first swap
    drive letter.  Then enter the maximum amount of disk space
    in kilobytes you can afford in the corresponding column to
    the right.  Allow for about 600K per partition you plan to
    use plus about 130K for each accessory you use.  You may
    leave this column blank if ALT is allowed to use all of the
    disk space available (you must enter a number, however, when
    using the expanded memory 'X' option).  You can specify as
    many as five different swap drives as available to ALT.  It
    is recommended that you specify your hard drive as the last
    swap drive if you are using a RAM disk or expanded memory.
    This will give ALT some memory to use temporarily in case it
    runs out of space on the RAM disk or expanded memory.  Leave
    the Maximum Swap Size column blank for the last drive
    specified in order to avoid the "Out of Swap Space Error".

    For example suppose you have one hard disk C: and no RAM
    disk or expanded memory.  Then the following simple
    configuration will suffice:

               Swap Drive        Maximum Swap Drive
                   C                                 K

    As another example, suppose you have a RAM disk D: with 3
    Megabytes and a hard disk C:.  Then a recommended swap drive
    configuration might be:

               Swap Drive        Maximum Swap Drive
                   D                    1500        K
                   C

    The above sets up drive D: as the principal swap drive of
    which ALT is only allowed to temporarily use 1500K or 1.5
    Megabyte.  Drive C: is specified as the secondary swap
    drive.

    As a final example, suppose you have an expanded memory card
    with 4 Megabyte.  Then you might configure ALT in the
    followinig manner:

               Swap Drive        Maximum Swap Drive
                   X                   2000
                   C

    This makes the expanded memory card the principal swap drive
    with enough memory to swap about three running programs and
    some accessories before running out of "disk" space on the
    expanded memory card.  If ALT needed more than 2000K it
    would then use drive C:

    After configuring the swap drive, you will not see this
    screen again.  You can, however, change these settings
    by using the setup program and selecting (D)rives.

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▒ The ALT Accessories ▒
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    ALT provides a number of familiar desk accessory tools such as
    calculators,  an appointment book,  editors,  file services and
    more.  To bring up the ALT main menu and select an accessory:

    Tap:      Alt ( i.e. the key marked Alt on your keyboard. Do
                    not hold down the Alt key.  YOU MUST TAP IT
                    SHARPLY. )
    Select:   the desired accessory

    To get back to your running task or program, tap the Alt key
    again and select the task from the upper menu by pressing the
    appropriate number (i.e.  1).

    To get quickly to the last accessory you were in from another
    program,  tap the Alt key twice.  This is referred to as double
    tapping.  Likewise,  double tapping while in an ALT accessory
    returns you to the program you were in before entering the
    accessory.  Another way of accessing the last accessory visited
    is to tap Alt and then press 0.  (Think of the last accessory
    visited as being in partition 0).

    All accessories incorporate a user-interface similar to Lotus
    123.  At the bottom of each accessory appears a menu.  (For some
    accessories you must first press F10 to retrieve the menu line).
    Items from the menu are selected either by using the arrow keys
    to position the highlighted bar over a menu selection and then
    pressing return, or by pressing the first letter of the menu
    selection.  As the highlighted bar is moved with the arrow keys,
    an explanatory message appears beneath the menu line to remind
    you of the use or function of the selection.


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▒ The Concepts of User Partitions and Program Switching ▒
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    Like many programs for the IBM PC family,  ALT resides in memory
    so that it is instantly accessible.  However,  ALT operates
    differently from most memory-resident software.  ALT divides the
    memory in your computer into one or more partitions.  This gives
    you the capability to run several programs simultaneously and
    allows you to switch at will between them.  The partitions are
    numbered 1 through 9.  When ALT is loaded it puts you back at
    the DOS prompt in partition 1.  To switch to a new partition,
    tap the Alt key and then press the number of the partition
    desired.  For example,  to go to partition 2,  tap the Alt key
    and then press 2.

    What does all of this mean to you?  Well,  for instance you can
    simultaneously run Lotus 123 in partition 1 say,  and WordStar
    in partition 2.  Furthermore,  you can switch between the two
    programs at will.  With ALT you are no longer constrained to
    doing just one thing at a time!!!

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▒ Partition Configuration ▒
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    If the partition you are switching to has never been visited
    before,  then a partition configuration screen will be
    displayed.  The first field configures the size of the
    partition.  Enter the smallest size in kilobytes as needed to
    allow your application program to run in the partition.  If you
    do not know the amount of memory needed,  try giving the
    partition a large amount of memory,  say 512K.  However,  the
    larger the size you enter,  the more ALT must swap memory out to
    disk.  Typing a larger number than the total amount of memory
    available will give all available memory to the partition.  When
    in doubt,  experiment!  If the program you will be running in
    the new partition is a graphics based program then answer Yes to
    the second field (see below if EGA).  If the program you are using
    is a communications program,  answer No to the third field.  This
    prevents ALT from swapping the program to disk during critical data
    transfer operations.  Finally, press F10 to initiate the switch to
    the new partition or ESC to abort the operation.

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▒ EGA ▒
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    ALT can be used with programs running in graphics mode on an
    EGA monitor, but there are some restrictions that do not
    apply to the lower resolution CGA monitor:
         o Only one program running in EGA graphics mode can
           be run at a time.
         o Programs running under EGA graphics mode must be
           run in partition 1.
         o ALT will automatically detect the EGA, but you
           must configure partition 1 for running graphics
           if you plan to use EGA graphics mode.
    It should be noted that the above restrictions do not apply
    when running programs in EGA text mode only.  Furthermore,
    as many EGA text mode programs as desired can be run
    simultaneously with a graphics mode program running in
    partition 1.

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▒ Help ▒
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    Help is available at all times inside ALT by pressing F1.  In the
    abridged shareware version however,  we are unable to provide
    the help file because of its size.  However, pressing F1 does
    provide information about functions missing in the shareware
    version and how to order the complete version of ALT.

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▒ Recording Macros and the CUT/PASTE Facility ▒
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    The ALT main menu gives you access to the CUT/PASTE facilities
    and the macro record feature.  To record a macro:

    Tap:      Alt
    Select:   Other
    Select:   Record
    Press:    the key you wish to associate with a macro, i.e. Ctrl-F1
    Type:     a short descriptive title for the macro
    Press:    ENTER
    Type:     the keystrokes you wish to record
    Tap:      Alt - to retrieve the macro Quit menu
    Select:   Quit - to terminate recording

    Thereafter,  the keystrokes you typed will be "played back" each
    time the recorded key is pressed.

    To incorporate the Alt accessories into your keyboard macros, tap
    the Alt key while in the macro Quit menu.  This will bring up the
    familiar Alt Main Menu, which you can then continue on normally in
    your keyboard macro record.

    To cut some text for pasting back later:

    Tap:      Alt
    Select:   Kut

    Then use the arrow keys to position the cursor at one of the
    corners of the text you wish to cut.  "Anchor" the selected
    corner by pressing the period "." or the "+" key.  Use the arrow
    keys to select the opposite corner of the text to be cut.
    Finally,  press ENTER to complete the operation.  Hint: When
    moving around the screen during a cut operation,  use Ctl-Right
    and Ctrl-Left to move quickly forward and backwards one word
    respectively.  To paste back the cut text:

    Position the cursor in your application program where you wish
    to paste the text.
    Tap:      Alt
    Select:   Paste

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▒ Instant Macros ▒
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    Several keys are available for recording macros without entering
    the ALT main menu.  The available keys are Alt-F1 through
    Alt-F10.  For example,  to associate a macro with the Alt-F2
    key:

    Press:    Alt-Shift-F2 (hold down both the Alt, Shift)
    Type:     Quick example
    Tap:      Alt - this action terminates recording.

    Notice that while you were typing "Quick example",  a short
    click could be heard.  This is to remind you that you are
    recording keystrokes.  To play back the macro associated with
    Alt-F2:

    Press:    Alt-F2

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▒ Configuring ALT ▒
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    ALT is easily configured by using the setup.exe program included
    on the ALT distribution disk.  With the setup program you can
    configure such things as the size of the first partition, the
    type of monitor you are using, the drives used to swap programs
    in an out of memory, whether you have a mouse, etc.  To use the
    setup program, go to the ALT directory:

    Type:     setup
    Press:    Enter

    The setup program is used in the same fashion as an ALT
    accessory.  Select a menu item to configure a particular
    function.  For instance to configure mouse operation, select
    "System" and then "Mouse".

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▒ Quitting ALT ▒
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    Occasionally you may want to remove ALT from memory entirely.
    For example,  you may want to free up the memory it is using to
    run a large program.  To do so:

    Tap:      Alt
    Select:   Other
    Select:   Quit
    Press:    Y

    CAUTION: When you quit ALT in this manner all running programs
    will be terminated and any unsaved data will be lost forever.
    Make sure all data is saved and all programs in the partitions
    are exited before using this option.  If you have recorded any
    macros that you wish to keep,  these must also be saved before
    quitting.

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▒ The Full Version of ALT ▒
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    Alt is available in two versions, the Shareware and the Full
    version.  The Shareware version is limited in many of its
    capabilities because of the disk space required to distribute the
    program.  The Shareware version will fit on one disk and can be
    copied and distributed freely among interested persons.  The
    Shareware version is not freeware, however.  If you continue to
    use it, you must register.  When you register, you will receive
    the Full version.

    You can register and receive the Full version of ALT by either
    using the handy on-line order form available from within ALT:

    Tap:      Alt
    Select:   Info

    or through the Instinct bulletin board or by calling the number
    given below.  The cost of registering is only $39.95.  With the
    Full version, you get the following extra benefits:

       *  Ability to run nine programs (or tasks) instead of just two.
          Switch freely between all nine programs which each having
          access to all available RAM.

       *  A 160 page printed manual containing complete documentation
          on all of Alt's power.

       *  All three calculators.  A Reverse Polish Calculator (RPN)
          with 3 modes (business, statistical, and computer-based),
          an adding tape calculator, and an algebraic scientific
          calculator.

       *  Full context sensitive help.  Press F1 at any time while in
          Alt, and a detailed help will be provided on the accessory
          that you are visiting.

       *  Increased memory area for keyboard macros. Macro key area can
          be increased from .5K to 10K to handle an almost unlimited
          number of macros.

       *  Rolodex capacity is increased from 20 names to an amount only
          limited by the size of your hard disk.

       *  Added functions to the Disk Filer.

       *  Product support over the Instinct Bulletin Board System with
          extra privileges.

       *  A user configuration menu program that will allow each user
          of Alt to configure his own interface to Alt.  For example,
          you can move Alt's accessories and functions that you use most
          to the top of the Alt Main Menu.  This allows you to access your
          favorite accessories even quicker.

     * * * Plus !!!!  A Disk Services program.  Why buy Norton
          Utilities when you can undelete files, unfragment your disks
          (optimize), directly edit sectors, sort directories, perform
          disk diagnostic tests, and much, much more with Instinct
          Software Disk Services.  This is free with each Full version
          of Alt.

     All of this for only $39.95 !!!  Orders can be made either through
     the Instinct Order Line (214)-739-5543 or through the Instinct
     Bulletin Board System (214)-368-2709 (1200/2400 Baud, 8 data bit,
     1 stop bit, no parity).  Texas Residents add 8% Sales Tax.

     Include Shipping & handling charges ->
          48 State Contiguous US                           $3.00
          Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Canada,                  $6.00
          Europe                                           $8.00
          Other                                           $10.00



 P.S.    See the file TUTORIAL for a hands on approach to learn the
         power of ALT.