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1990-02-01
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The SWAP Utilities(TM)
SWAPDOS(TM)
Version 1.00 -- February 1, 1990
Program:
(c) Copyright 1988-1990 Nico Mak - All Rights Reserved
Distributed under License by Innovative Data Concepts
Documentation:
Copyright 1990, Innovative Data Concepts
All Rights Reserved
Innovative Data Concepts
1657 The Fairways
Suite 101
Jenkintown, PA 19046
1-215-884-3373
This document; other accompanying written and disk-based notes and
specifications; and all referenced and related program files accompanying
this document are copyrighted by Innovative Data Concepts.
Licensing and distribution requirements are described later in this
document. For ordering information, see the included ORDER.DOC file.
_______
____|__ | (TM)
--| | |-------------------
| ____|__ | Association of
| | |_| Shareware
|__| o | Professionals
-----| | |---------------------
|___|___| MEMBER
SWAPDOS is distributed as shareware -- this means that we encourage users,
subject to restrictions described in the License Agreement, to share copies
of this program with friends, associates and bulletin boards. You may not
share the registered version of SWAPDOS; however, you may request a free
shareware disk by completing the form in ORDER.DOC.
If you make copies of SWAPDOS, you must include all files in the original
distribution files, as well as the documentation archive. You are not
permitted to distribute SWAPDOS without this documentation.
Innovative Data Concepts is a member of the Association of Shareware
Professionals. The ASP has established stringent standards for its
members. ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for
you. If you are unable to resolve a problem with an ASP member (other than
technical support), ASP may be able to help. Please write to the ASP
Ombudsman at P.O. Box 5786, Bellevue, WA 98006.
Trademarks
SWAPSK, SWAPSP, SWAPTN, SWAPMT, SWAPMM, SWAPSH, SWAPDT, SWAPNG and The
SWAP Utilities are trademarks of Innovative Data Concepts.
SideKick and SideKick Plus are registered trademarks of Borland
International, Inc.
Tornado is a trademark of Micro Logic Corp.
Metro, Express and 1-2-3 are trademarks of Lotus Development
Corporation.
MemoryMate is a trademark of Broderbund Software.
TesSeRact is a trademark of the TesSeRact Development Team.
DESQview and QEMM-386 are trademarks of Quarterdeck Office Systems.
Software Carousel is a trademark of SoftLogic Solutions, Inc.
386Max is a trademark of Qualitas, Inc.
dBASE is a trademark of Ashton Tate, Inc.
WordPerfect is a trademark of WordPerfect Corporation.
Page 2 SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation
Table of Contents
Introductory Notes..............................................2
What is SWAPDOS?....................................................5
What Do I Use SWAPDOS For?......................................5
Installation........................................................7
Installing the Shareware Version................................7
Files in the archive........................................7
Installing the Registered Version...............................8
Files on the diskette.......................................8
Using IDCBRAND..................................................8
Quick Start.........................................................8
The SWAPDOS Command-Line............................................9
Detailed Explanation of Command-Line Options...................10
Using the DOS Environment to Set SWAPDOS Options...............11
Using SWAPDOS for a Single Application.............................12
dBASE III and dBASE IV.....................................12
MAKE utilities.............................................13
KEDIT from Mansfield Software Group........................13
1-2-3......................................................13
Microsoft Word.............................................13
WordPerfect Library........................................13
WordPerfect 5.1............................................13
TAPCIS.....................................................13
Simple Shells..................................................14
GrandView..................................................14
WordStar...................................................14
WordPerfect (before version 5.1)...........................14
WordPerfect Program Editor.................................14
Using SWAPDOS "Marks"..............................................14
Technical Information..............................................15
Where SWAPDOS writes the swap data.............................15
EMS and XMS (Expanded and Extended Memory).....................15
Compatibility with TSRs........................................16
Command Interpreters other than COMMAND.COM....................16
PCED.......................................................16
4DOS.......................................................17
FlexShell..................................................18
Loading SWAPDOS "Marks" in "High" DOS Memory...................18
Interrupt Vectors and the EGA pointer..........................18
Exit Codes and Error Messages......................................18
Exit Codes.....................................................18
Error Message Descriptions.....................................19
If Something Goes Wrong............................................22
Commonly Asked Questions...........................................22
Future releases................................................24
COPYRIGHT NOTICE AND LICENSE.......................................24
Warranty.......................................................24
Registration...................................................25
Bulletin Boards, Users Groups and Disk Vendors.................25
About Innovative Data Concepts.....................................26
The Rest of The SWAP Utilities.....................................26
Association of Shareware Professionals.............................27
Standards for the Association of Shareware Professionals.......27
PROGRAMMING................................................27
DOCUMENTATION..............................................27
SUPPORT....................................................27
GENERAL....................................................28
SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation Page 3
What is SWAPDOS?
SWAPDOS provides an application independent method for one PC/MS-DOS
application to run another, even if both would normally not fit in memory
at the same time. A typical use is to temporarily swap out dBASE to make
room for your text editor, or to swap out a text editor so that you can run
memory hungry compilers, linkers, or even debuggers without losing your
place in an editing session.
SWAPDOS works by copying conventional memory used by the currently running
application to expanded memory, extended memory, or to a disk file, thereby
freeing conventional memory used by the application. SWAPDOS then runs the
desired program before restoring the original environment.
Throughout this documentation, you will see references to two different
kinds of "swaps". The normal swap is when SWAPDOS is directly called by
either COMMAND.COM or another program. This method swaps out a single
program.
The more powerful type of swapping SWAPDOS uses is called the "long swap."
With this method, you can swap out multiple programs, resident programs,
etc., in one fell swoop. For example, if you like to have a ram-resident
dictionary available when using your word processor, but don't want the
dictionary when you use your database program. Using the SWAPDOS
"Mark/long swap" technology, you can remove both the word processor and the
dictionary before running your database -- AND THEN PUT THEM BACK WHEN YOU
RETURN!
The amount of extra memory gained by using SWAPDOS depends on the
application(s) being swapped out. In general, ALL of the memory used by
your program is available for use, minus about 3000 bytes.
SWAPDOS is compatible with most PC/MS-DOS programs. However, before
relying on it, you should test SWAPDOS with your own configuration in case
of conflicts with TSRs and other software.
SWAPDOS requires the use of DOS 3.0 or later.
What Do I Use SWAPDOS For?
That all depends. Different people use it for different reasons, and
different purposes. Rather than try to describe all the different
possibilities and permutations, IDC has elected to have our users describe
how they use the program.
I use it inside of PC-Matlab, because Matlab chews up MUCHO
memory, and then, if you want to print a graph, it shells out to
its external graphmaking utility. If you have too much stuff
defined, you can't print your graphs from inside Matlab! You
have to save the graphics "metafiles" and print from DOS. Using
SWAPDOS allows me to ALWAYS be able to print from inside Matlab.
-- Neil Judell,
President,
Technical Development Group, Inc.
Page 4 SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation
Because I load a TSR spell-checker before running TAPCIS, I
normally have only 140K available after shelling from TAPCIS.
SWAPDOS makes more than 580K of memory free when shelling from
TAP, allowing me to run Brief, Norton Commander, or MSGVU, from
within TAPCIS. I also use it to run Brief when shelling out of
QuickBasic.
John P. Wexler, MD, PhD
Asst Dean of Scientific Computing
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
SWAPDOS fills more than the obvious need to re-claim memory while
shelled from an application program. Standard DOS commands like
DISKCOPY and XCOPY operate more efficiently when SWAPDOS
temporarily frees even one TSR.
Robert J. Rucinski
Audiovisual Services
Detroit Public Schools
As a Compuserve Sysop, I respond to and archive messages in the
Cancer Forum. I use the program TAPCIS to "massage" long files
of messages. When I need a better editor than that provided with
TAPCIS, I can shell from TAPCIS, use SWAPDOS, and work
efficiently with long message files in the memory space thereby
released.
Gene R. Feaster, PhD
Medical Physicist (retired)
University of Kansas Medical Center
I run a very complex system with many TSRs loaded most of the
time. Still, occasionally, I run applications which require all
or most of DOS' 640K. SWAPDOS has enabled me to define command
synonyms (or batch files) that can unload all the TSRs, load the
memory intensive application such as Ventura Publisher, and then
reload my TSRs. I used to solve this by having numerous sets of
AUTOEXEC.BAT's and CONFIG.SYS', and rebooting the computer
constantly. Now I can get in and out of these applications
quickly, and have the TSRs reloaded IN THEIR PREVIOUS STATE!
Imagine running Ventura from a dBase shell! If SideKick Plus had
five files loaded that I was editing, they're all still there!
SWAPDOS is a concept whose time has come!
Robert K. Blaine
Owner
ECONO-SOFT
SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation Page 5
SWAPDOS is a great utility which uses much less memory than
similar commercial products. We use it in my law office to swap
out of Microsoft Word to run other programs. With SWAPDOS, my
secretary does not have to save her work, then quit Word, run the
next program, reload word, reload the document she was working
on, and then find her place within that document. Instead, with
SWAPDOS, executing just one command swaps Word and the document
she was working on to memory and just one command returns her to
Word in the document EXACTLY where she left off, with all
glossaries and other macros, etc., still loaded!! If you use one
or two main programs and wish to switch among them, or to switch
to other programs, and if you don't wish to use complicated
programs like Software Carousel or DesqView, then SWAPDOS is
essential. If you have just 640K with no expanded or extended
memory, then SWAPDOS is even more essential. Like all The SWAP
Utilities, SWAPDOS is a must have!!
Gary L. Britt
Attorney at Law
Houston, Texas
Installation
Installation of SWAPDOS is simple. Basically, create a directory, copy the
files, "Brand" the program with your name and serial number, and you're
ready to go!
Installing the Shareware Version
Normally, this documentation file and all the supporting files are
distributed as the file, "SWAPDS.COM", which is a self-extracting archive
file. To extract all the files, type:
SWAPDS [ENTER]
At the DOS prompt. That will create the program files. To print this
documentation, type:
copy SWAPDOS.DOC LPT1 [ENTER]
The documentation is formatted for 58 lines per page, with 75 characters
per line, to permit easy printing on the widest variety of dot-matrix and
laser printers.
Files in the archive
SWAPDOS.COM..............The SWAPDOS Program
SWAPDOS.DOC..............The Program's Documentation
IDCBRAND.COM.............The IDC 'Brand' Program
ORDER.DOC................Order Form and Site License Information
VENDOR.DOC...............Distribution Requirements for Shareware
Disk Vendors
READ.ME..................Late-breaking Information about SWAPDOS
Page 6 SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation
Installing the Registered Version
Using the DOS command DISKCOPY, make a working copy of the SWAPDOS
distribution diskette and keep the original in a safe place.
Use the DOS TYPE or PRINT command to view the contents of the READ.ME file
on the program diskette. This file contains any information on SWAPDOS
usage that has become available since this manual was printed.
Copy the files SWAPDOS.COM and IDCBRAND.COM from the distribution diskette
to any directory in your path. If you are not sure which directories are
in your path, you can use the DOS command PATH to get a list.
Files on the diskette
SWAPDOS.COM..............The SWAPDOS Program
SWAPDOS.DOC..............The Program's Documentation
IDCBRAND.COM.............The IDC 'Brand' Program
ORDER.DOC................Order Form and Site License Information
READ.ME..................Late-breaking Information about SWAPDOS
Using IDCBRAND
At the DOS prompt, from the directory that contains SWAPDOS.COM, type:
IDCBRAND SWAPDOS.COM [ENTER]
You will be asked to enter your name (registered versions will also be
asked for a serial number). ONCE THE PROGRAM IS BRANDED, IT MAY NOT BE RE-
INSTALLED without copying from the original master diskette! Make sure the
information is correct, and press [ENTER] to confirm.
Quick Start
Make sure that SWAPDOS.COM is in your path!
We recommend that you take the time to read the rest of the manual before
running SWAPDOS. However, if you are in a hurry to use SWAPDOS, first
check whether your application is listed in the examples in the section
titled "Using SWAPDOS for a Single Application." If it is listed, follow
the instructions in the example. Otherwise, if you are willing to take a
chance that an incompatibility between SWAPDOS and your application will
require that you reboot your computer, you can start using SWAPDOS to swap
out a single application by following these simple instructions:
1) Shell to DOS from your application.
2) Enter the following command at the DOS prompt to swap out your
application.
SWAPDOS [ENTER]
3) When you want to return to your application, use the EXIT command at
the DOS prompt to swap your application back into conventional memory.
SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation Page 7
4) Enter the EXIT command at the DOS prompt to return to your
application.
If you only want to run one program while your application is swapped out,
you can combine steps two and three by specifying the program name at the
end of the SWAPDOS command. For example, to run Lotus 1-2-3 while your
application is swapped out, use the command
SWAPDOS 123 [ENTER]
Many programs permit more than a simple "Shell to DOS" function. For
example, Microsoft Word has the "Library Run" command, that permits you to
run another program. You may run SWAPDOS directly from programs like
these, instead of going to a DOS shell first.
The SWAPDOS Command-Line
The SWAPDOS command can be entered at the DOS prompt, or it can be part of
the command string that your application sends to DOS to run another
program. The section titled "Using SWAPDOS for a Single Application" for
examples of using SWAPDOS.
The command syntax is
SWAPDOS [options] [command]
Where:
Options are one or more of the options listed below.
Command is the program you want to run while your application is
swapped out.
Options may be preceded by either a '-' or '/' as a switch character. Any
options that have an optional argument (such as the /M option) may use
either an equals "=" or a colon ":" as the separator.
Valid options are:
/H /? ? -- Display this help screen
/S=x -- Set Swapping Type (0=Auto, 1=Disk, 2=EMM, 3=XMS) SwapType =
0 is the default; if selected type fails (i.e.,no XMS is
available with /S=3), auto-check is done.
/D=path -- FULL PATHNAME to store swap files
/U -- Unique filename is used for swapping
/M=name -- Set a SWAPDOS "mark" in memory (name is optional)
/L=name -- Long swap to a SWAPDOS "mark" (name is optional)
/K=name -- Remove a SWAPDOS "mark" (name is optional)
/I=name -- Check to see if "mark" is in memory (name is optional)
/F -- Force swap even if application appears to have hooked
interrupt vectors
/Q -- Quiet - suppress information messages
/V -- Vector saving is suppressed
/Z -- Zero "stray" interrupt vectors
"/" and "-" are valid switch characters
"=" and ":" are valid separators
Page 8 SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation
If you do not specify a command, then SWAPDOS simply loads another copy of
the command processor specified by the COMSPEC variable, and leaves you at
the DOS prompt. Type EXIT at the DOS prompt to restore the programs you
have swapped out and exit SWAPDOS.
Most options (except those that take optional parameters) can be prefixed
by an "n" to disable an option that was previously set. For example, in
the command "SWAPDOS /U /NU" the /NU negates the effect of the /U. The "N"
prefix is useful for overriding options set in the SWAPOPT= environment
variable, described in the section titled "Using The DOS Environment To Set
SWAPDOS Options".
Detailed Explanation of Command-Line Options
/S=x -- The /S parameter determines the type of swapping to use. In the
default Autodetect mode, SWAPDOS will attempt to allocate expanded memory,
using EMS version level 3.2 or later. If EMS is not available, the utility
will attempt to use Extended Memory that is available, using Microsoft's
eXtended Memory Specification (XMS) (See note about XMS below). If neither
EMS or XMS is available, a disk file will be created, and SWAPDOS will use
disk (default, C:\) for swapping. The /S parameter can be used to override
the default mode, and force swapping to XMS, EMS or Disk. If the swapping
method specified with /S is not valid, then Auto mode is used.
/D=path -- The /D parameter tells SWAPDOS in what drive and directory to
store the swap file. The default is the root directory on drive C (C:\).
The pathname is limited to 30 characters, and must contain a valid drive
specification, and path. The trailing backslash is not necessary. If the
/D parameter is not the last option on the command-line, there must be a
space character following the pathname and before another slash option.
Note that this option does not force SWAPDOS to write to disk. Use the
/S=1 option to force SWAPDOS to use a disk swap file even if you have
available EMS or XMS memory. An example of this switch is: /D=C:\TEMP
/U -- This option causes SWAPDOS to use a "unique" filename for disk swap
files using the DOS function to create a temporary filename. Filenames
created with the /U option usually consist of all numeric digits. This
option is mainly useful when multiple machines on a network swap to the
same shared subdirectory, since the default filename is sufficiently
"unique" for single user (non-networked) machines, and makes it easy to
identify and erase unnecessary swap files if you reboot your machine while
swap is active. Note that this option does not force SWAPDOS to write to
disk. Use the /S=1 option to force SWAPDOS to use a disk swap file even if
you have available EMS or XMS memory.
/Q -- Specifies that most SWAPDOS informational messages are not displayed
(not available in shareware version).
/Z -- Zeros all "stray" interrupt vectors that point to free memory. This
can be useful to help determine whether the /F option is safe with a
particular application. This option is unnecessary if using the preferred
mark/long swap method.
The following options are used in conjunction with the SWAPDOS mark/long
swap method. Note that mark names are not case sensitive, just like DOS
commands (i.e., "TEST" and "test" are identical).
SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation Page 9
/M=name -- Sets a swap "mark". All programs loaded after SWAPDOS is run
with this option are swapped out when the /L option is used. A mark "name"
can be specified after the /M option, but is not required.
/L=name -- This is a "long swap", used in conjunction with a "mark". It
specifies that all TSRs and applications loaded since the last swap "mark"
(or after the last mark with the same mark "name") are to be swapped out.
A "mark name" can be specified after the /L option, but is not required.
/K=name -- Kills (removes from memory) a swap "mark" set with the /M option
and all memory owned by programs loaded after the "mark". A "mark name"
can be specified after the /K option, but is not required.
/I=name -- Determines whether the (optionally named) specified mark has
been found. Can be used in a batch file to determine whether you should
use a long swap or not. Returns with ERRORLEVEL set to ZERO (0) if the
specified mark is found, and 2 if not found.
NOTE! The following two options are provided (/V and /F), but should NOT
be used. Their functionality and features could crash your machine, and
Innovative Data Concepts will not provide ANY support if these two options
are used! If you need this functionality, use the SWAPDOS "mark" and "long
swap" method.
/V -- Suppresses the normal save and restore of all interrupt vectors
before and after swapping. This option saves 1K of memory, but should only
be used if you are sure that no programs which hook interrupt vectors are
used while your application is swapped out. WE STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST THE
USE OF THIS OPTION!
/F -- Forces SWAPDOS to continue even if an interrupt vector points to the
program that gets swapped out. This option is provided ONLY for backward
compatibility with previous versions of this program. WE STRONGLY ADVISE
AGAINST THE USE OF THIS OPTION!
Using the DOS Environment to Set SWAPDOS Options
Default SWAPDOS options can be specified using a DOS environment variable
called SWAPOPT. You can set the value of the SWAPOPT environment variable
by using the DOS SET command:
SET SWAPOPT=options [ENTER]
Options specified on the command line override options specified in the
environment variable. SWAPDOS looks for this environment variable and
processes any options that it contains before processing the options on the
SWAPDOS command line. The section titled "The SWAPDOS Command-Line" lists
all valid SWAPDOS options. The "n" prefix described in that section can be
used on the command line options to override any options set in the
environment variable.
The SWAPOPT environment variable is usually set from within your
AUTOEXEC.BAT. Your DOS manual contains more information on AUTOEXEC.BAT
files and the SET command.
Page 10 SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation
Please note that you cannot use the '=' as a separator in your SWAPOPT.
Instead, use the ':' character as a separator.
As an example, you can issue the command
SET SWAPOPT=/L /Q /S:1 /D:H:\[ENTER]
to make the /L, /Q, /S:1 and /D:H:\ options the defaults for any SWAPDOS
commands subsequently issued. If you subsequently issue the command
"SWAPDOS /S:0" then SWAPDOS will try to swap to EMS or XMS before swapping
to disk, because the command-line options override the environment
settings.
The most common use of SWAPOPT would be to use /Q, /L (so you ALWAYS have a
long swap), /D to set the swapping directory to a ramdisk, and /S to set
the swapping type. You SHOULD NOT use /M, /K or /H in the SWAPOPT
variable.
Using SWAPDOS for a Single Application
To run SWAPDOS to swap out a single application program to make room for
another, you can either
1) Use the shell-to-DOS feature of the program to get to the DOS prompt
and run SWAPDOS.COM, or
2) Imbed the SWAPDOS command in the command string that your application
sends to DOS to run another program.
The commands to perform this function vary from application to application.
If the examples below do not include your application, and if you don't
know the appropriate command for your application, check the application
manual's index and table of contents for "Shell to DOS", "Exit to DOS",
"System", and "Run".
Here are examples of how to swap out some popular programs:
dBASE III and dBASE IV
To run SWAPDOS to swap out dBASE and load your favorite editor, you could
enter the dBASE command
RUN SWAPDOS KEDIT filename [ENTER]
Alternately, you could add the following line to your CONFIG.DB file:
TEDIT = SWAPDOS.COM KEDIT.EXE
and subsequently enter the following dBASE command to edit a file:
MODIFY COMMAND filename [ENTER]
SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation Page 11
MAKE utilities
To swap out most MAKE utilities so that your compiler has more available
memory, use a makefile that looks like this
appl.obj: appl.c appl.h
swapdos cl -Zip $*.c
KEDIT from Mansfield Software Group
The KEDIT command "DOS SWAPDOS /Q" will swap out KEDIT and leave you at the
DOS prompt. To automatically swap out KEDIT by pressing a single key, add
the command "Define Alt-F4 dos SWAPDOS /Q" to your PROFILE.KEX
configuration file and exit the editor. When you subsequently run KEDIT
you can press Alt-F4 to automatically run SWAPDOS.
1-2-3
Use the 1-2-3 "System" command to shell to dos, and then type "SWAPDOS" to
recover the memory used by the program.
Microsoft Word
Select "Library Run", and enter "SWAPDOS [cmd]", to run another program.
WordPerfect Library
To recover the 40K or so used by the WordPerfect Library Shell, go into the
setup screen, and change the command to execute to call SWAPDOS instead of
the application directly.
WordPerfect 5.1
Press Ctrl-F1, followed by numeral 2, and type:
SWAPDOS [programname] [ENTER]
WordPerfect may take control of the EGA/VGA Control region, necessitating
the use of a SWAPDOS "mark".
TAPCIS
Same as WordPerfect 5.1, except use Shift-F1. TAPCIS may take control of
the EGA/VGA Control region or some interrupt vectors, necessitating the use
of a SWAPDOS "mark".
Page 12 SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation
Simple Shells
The following programs do not permit running a separate application;
however, they do permit the use of a DOS shell. Simply shell to DOS using
the appropriate commands, and then type:
SWAPDOS [ENTER]
to recover the memory used by the application.
GrandView
WordStar
WordPerfect (before version 5.1)
WordPerfect Program Editor
Using SWAPDOS "Marks"
The SWAPDOS /K, /L, and /M allow you to swap out multiple applications and
TSRs at one time. To use this facility, follow these steps:
1) Issue the command "SWAPDOS /M". This causes SWAPDOS to reserve about
1,200 bytes of your computers conventional memory for information needed to
swap out subsequently loaded programs. This is referred to as a swap
"mark".
2) Load one or more TSRs and/or application programs (for example, a
spelling checker and your word processor).
3) To swap out programs loaded in step 2, issue the command "SWAPDOS /L".
Note that the "mark" set in step 1 cannot be used again until you complete
step 4.
4) Once you are ready to restore the programs swapped out in step 3 issue
the EXIT [ENTER] command from the DOS prompt.
5) After leaving the applications or unloading the TSRs loaded in step 2
issue the command "SWAPDOS /K" to reclaim the memory used by the swap
"mark" set up during step 1.
As an example, if you use Turbo Lightning and WordPerfect, you could do the
following:
SWAPDOS /M=LIGHT [ENTER]-- Load SWAPDOS mark named "LIGHT"
LIGHT [ENTER] -- Load Lightning
WP [ENTER] -- Load WordPerfect
-- shell to DOS with Ctrl-F1
SWAPDOS /L=LIGHT [ENTER] -- Long SWAP to "LIGHT" mark
-- run whatever programs you like
EXIT [ENTER] -- recover memory
EXIT [ENTER] -- back to WP
-- quit from WP
SWAPDOS /K=LIGHT [ENTER] -- to remove SWAPDOS mark
and Lightning from RAM
If you loaded TSRs in step 2 that do not have an "unload" option, you can
usually reclaim any conventional memory they allocated with the "SWAPDOS
SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation Page 13
/K" command. However, if possible, it is always better to use the TSR's
"unload" facilities, rather than relying on the /K option, to ensure that
any application specific resources (e.g. temporary disk work files, EMS or
XMS memory, etc.) are restored.
PLEASE NOTE: If you run IDC's SWAP Utility TSR programs between SWAPDOS /M
and SWAPDOS /L, and then re-load them while the SWAP?? program is resident,
you will trash the original copy's swap files! For example, if you already
have SWAPSP loaded, and remove it with a long swap, you will overwrite the
SWAPSP temporary files if you re-load SWAPSP again before restoring!
If you only want to run one program while your TSRs and/or applications are
swapped out, you can combine steps three and four by specifying the program
name at the end of the SWAPDOS command. For example, to run Lotus 1-2-3
while the programs are swapped out, use the command
SWAPDOS /L 123
You can specify a "swap name" with the /M /L, and /K options. If you
specify a name when you set a mark with the /M option you can later
reference that mark by again specifying the name with the /L or /K options.
For example, if you issue the command "SWAPDOS /M=FirstMark", load a TSR or
application, and later set another mark, you can swap out all programs
loaded after the first mark with the command "SWAPDOS /L=FirstMark".
Restrictions for Mark Names
Note that swap names are NOT case sensitive (in other words "first" and
"FIRST" and "First" are all considered the same mark name) and are limited
to 12 characters. All characters following the separator and up to the
first space are considered part of the swap name. Only alphanumeric
characters may be used for mark names -- numbers and letters.
Technical Information
Where SWAPDOS writes the swap data
Normally SWAPDOS first will try to swap to expanded memory (EMS 3.2 or
later is required for expanded memory support). If there is no expanded
memory available it will try to swap to extended memory (XMS version 2.0 or
later is required for extended memory support). If there is no extended
memory available it will swap to disk, using the default filename
C:\SWAPxxxx.SWP (where xxxx is the process ID of the program that gets
swapped out). You can override the normal behavior with the /S, /U, and /D
options described previously.
EMS and XMS (Expanded and Extended Memory)
EMS is the Expanded Memory Specification, developed by Lotus, Intel,
Microsoft. In Intel 8086 and 80286 machines (e.g. IBM PC and IBM AT) EMS
support is normally provided by memory expansion boards such as the AST
Rampage. On Intel 80386 machines (e.g. IBM PS/2 model 60 to 80) EMS
support is implemented in software, either via memory managers such as
Page 14 SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation
386MAX from Qualitas or device drivers like XMAEM.SYS and XMA2EMS.SYS
provided with IBM's PC-DOS 4.00.
XMS is the eXtended Memory Specification, developed by Lotus, Intel,
Microsoft, and AST. XMS support is provided by the HIMEM.SYS driver
included with MS-DOS 4.00 (but not IBM's PC-DOS) and with Windows 286. If
you don't have HIMEM.SYS but have access to CompuServe, you can get a free
copy from in library 1 of the CompuServe MSSYS forum. The 386MAX memory
manager from Qualitas also supports XMS, as does QuarterDeck's QEMM 5.0
Compatibility with TSRs
SWAPDOS is compatible with most TSRs (Terminate and Stay Resident
programs). It will coexist with these programs and even swap them out
(thereby temporarily disabling them). However, if you load (initialize)
TSRs while an application is swapped out, you should unload the TSR before
returning to your application. For example, you can use the command "SK"
to load SideKick before starting your application, then run SWAPDOS, and
hot-key into SideKick while SWAPDOS is active, but you should not load
SideKick with the command "SWAPDOS SK".
Command Interpreters other than COMMAND.COM
SWAPDOS should be compatible with most command interpreters, as long as
they are compatible enough with COMMAND.COM. Two that are known to work
well are 4DOS and FlexShell.
Why replace COMMAND.COM? It is the confirmed opinion of IDC that
COMMAND.COM is a brain-damaged command-line interpreter. Batch files are
slow and have a kludgey language interface; command-line editing is next to
nil; and the internal commands lack flexibility.
For these and other reasons, we heartily recommend using either PCED, a
COMMAND.COM extension program, or the two replacement shells (4DOS and
FlexShell) mentioned above.
PCED stands for Professional Command EDitor. It is designed to help you
with editing command-lines, repetitive commands, and more. It provides
these basic features:
- A better command editor than the one that is part of DOS.
- A way to quickly recall and edit previously-issued commands for re-
entry.
- Command synonyms, which allow you to abbreviate often-used commands
to a few letters or symbols.
- The ability to "chain" a series of commands together without using
disk-wasting batch files.
- Automatic recall of arguments to previously-issued commands.
In addition, PCED provides an external interface that allows other programs
to make use of PCED features if they wish to. It is even possible, using
this interface, to simulate the addition of new internal commands to DOS.
For more information, contact The Cove Software Group, Post Office Box
1027, Columbia, MD 21044, or call 1-301-992-9371.
SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation Page 15
SWAPDOS has been specifically tested with 4DOS, the shareware COMMAND.COM
replacement which was a finalist for the 1989 PC Magazine Technical
Excellence Award.
4DOS replaces COMMAND.COM, the command interpreter that comes with all
versions of MS-DOS and PC-DOS. You'll find 4DOS provides many capabilities
that COMMAND.COM can't:
- A Vastly enhanced DIR command.
- Point-and-shoot file selection for any command.
- Command history and editing.
- Shorthand commands called "aliases".
- More than 40 "new" DOS commands.
With all this added functionality, 4DOS is completely compatible with
COMMAND.COM, and requires less than 4K of DOS memory while your
applications are running. For more information, contact J.P. Software at
P.O. Box 1470, E. Arlington, MA 02174; phone 1-617-646-3975, fax 617-646-
0904.
SWAPDOS will detect the presence of 4DOS in your system, and adjust itself
accordingly. 4DOS provides vastly increased power at the DOS command-line,
and may be of particular interest to SWAPDOS users.
Versions of 4DOS prior to 3.0 do not require the use of a "master" (memory-
resident) DOS environment, so SWAPDOS is unable to reduce its own
environment before going resident for a SWAPDOS "mark". In 4DOS version
3.0, the master environment is standard, and this problem should not occur.
If you are using a version of 4DOS prior to 3.0, use the following method
to reduce the space taken by the environment when SWAPDOS is loaded:
Put all the alias definitions and all the non-critical
environment assignments in the 4start.bat file. When you want to
load the SWAPDOS mark, use the following sequence of commands in
your batch file:
unalias *
REM set all non-critical environment strings to blank
SWAPDOS /M=name
REM call 4START or a similar batch file to reload the
aliases and environment strings
Note that you should not use the 4DOS SETLOCAL and ENDLOCAL
commands to modify the environment for SWAPDOS, because they will
leave a "hole" in memory below SWAPDOS. This will cause no harm,
but will eliminate the memory savings you wanted!
If you have any trouble using SWAPDOS with 4DOS, contact either IDC or J.P.
Software, publishers of 4DOS, at 1-617-646-3975. Both companies are
equipped to support your use of these products together.
Page 16 SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation
FlexShell from FlexWare is a shell for DOS that replaces COMMAND.COM. Some
of the benefits of using FlexShell are:
- It enhances almost all standard COMMAND.COM commands and adds many
new commands.
- It executes standard BAT files.
- It provides a command-line editor, a history stack with command-line
completion and aliases.
- It consumes little memory and can utilize EMS.
- Custom shells can be built using ShellGen, a companion utility,
which lets you choose the commands and features to be included.
- Command extensions can be written in C or assembler.
For more information, contact FlexWare, 937 JungFrau Ct., Milpitas, CA
95035, or Stan Mitchell 73227,1463 on Compuserve.
Loading SWAPDOS "Marks" in "High" DOS Memory
In a single word: DON'T!
The methods SWAPDOS use to swap out applications requires that it be
present in low memory, below the application to be swapped out. Do not
load SWAPDOS into high memory!
Interrupt Vectors and the EGA pointer
SWAPDOS will not swap out a program that has taken control of one or more
of the systems interrupt vectors, nor will it swap an application that
controls the EGA/VGA Save Pointer region. This is because removing
interrupt handling code would probably result in a crashed machine.
However, spurious interrupt vectors often point at memory used by the
application program you want to swap out.
If you want to swap out an application which has taken control of the
system interrupt vectors or uses the EGA/VGA Save Pointer region, use the
SWAPDOS "mark/long swap" method described above.
Exit Codes and Error Messages
Exit Codes
SWAPDOS exit codes (sometimes known as error levels or return codes) and
their meanings are:
0 - SWAPDOS completed successfully.
1 - An invalid option was specified.
2 - An error occurred before SWAPDOS temporarily freed up memory.
3 - An error occurred after SWAPDOS temporarily freed up memory.
This exit code indicates a serious condition that may require a
reboot (e.g. the user erased the disk swap file, so SWAPDOS cannot
restore the environment).
You can check the SWAPDOS error code from DOS batch files with the batch
file command IF ERRORLEVEL, as described in your DOS manual.
SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation Page 17
Error Message Descriptions
SWAPDOS error messages and error message descriptions follow:
Could not allocate extended memory
An error was returned by the XMS memory manager when SWAPDOS attempted to
allocate extended memory. This could happen if you specified the /S=3
option but there was not enough free extended memory.
Could not create swap file
DOS returned an error when SWAPDOS tried to create its swap file on disk.
This would happen if the path information specified by the /D option was
invalid. If you did not use the /D option and have a C: drive, perhaps
you are already using the maximum number of files allowed by your version
of DOS in the root directory, or perhaps the disk is full.
Could not find an application to swap out
SWAPDOS could not find an application program to swap out. This could
happen if you are running SWAPDOS from the DOS prompt but did not use the
"shell to DOS" feature of an application to get to the DOS prompt. Note
that if you want to swap out TSRs, you need to use the /L option, as
described in section the section titled "Using SWAPDOS Marks".
Could not find COMSPEC= in environment
SWAPDOS could not find the required COMSPEC= variable in your environment.
This could happen if some .BAT file you ran issued the DOS command "set
comspec=". Note that this environment variable is set automatically when
you boot DOS.
Could not find Master DOS Environment
This message indicates a serious incompatibility between SWAPDOS and your
command interpreter. Please contact IDC Technical Support immediately.
Could not find specified SWAPDOS "mark"
You specified the /K or /L options, but SWAPDOS could not find the SWAPDOS
"mark". This could happen if you forgot to run SWAPDOS with the /M option,
or if you have already swapped out all your swap "marks".
Could not find SWAP's PSP
There is a problem with the memory allocation chain. Notify IDC technical
support if you see this message.
Could not open swap file
DOS returned an error while SWAPDOS was trying to open a disk swap file.
This could happen if you (or some program you ran) erased the swap file.
Page 18 SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation
DOS version must be 3.0 or higher
SWAPDOS will not work with DOS versions under 3.0. Consider upgrading to
DOS version 3.3 or higher.
EMS Error nn function mm
The EMS memory manager returned error nn while processing function mm. Use
the /S=1 or /S=3 option to circumvent this problem. This most likely
happened if your EMS is not configured correctly. If you believe your EMS
is configured correctly (e.g. you have successfully used your EMS memory
with other programs) contact IDC technical support.
Error reading swap file
DOS returned an error while SWAPDOS was trying to read from a disk swap
file. This could happen if you (or some program you ran) erased the swap
file.
Error writing to swap file
DOS returned an error while SWAPDOS was trying to write to a disk swap
file. This could happen if the disk specified by the /D option (or the C
disk, if you didn't use the /D option) is full.
Fileid prefix specified after /D option is too long
The path information specified after the /D option is too long. The limit
is 52 characters.
Invalid character in mark name
Only alphanumeric characters (0 through 9, A through Z) are permitted in
mark names. Lower-case letters are converted to upper case before storage.
Invalid option
An invalid option was specified. Valid options are listed in the section
titled "Command Syntax".
Less than 16K to swap
SWAPDOS will not swap out programs smaller than 16K in size.
LSEEK on swap file failed
DOS returned an error while SWAPDOS tried to set the file pointer for a
disk swap file. This could happen if you (or some program you ran) erased
the swap file.
Mark name is too long
The specified mark name was too long. The limit is 12 characters.
SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation Page 19
Memory is too fragmented to swap
SWAPDOS could not find a required memory control block while looking
through the memory allocation chain. This could happen if you are running
other programs that manipulate the memory allocation chain while SWAPDOS is
running (i.e., multitasking software).
No XMS Driver
You have specified the /S=3 option, but an XMS driver is not installed in
your machine. Make sure that Microsoft's HIMEM.SYS (or an equivalent XMS
driver) is being loaded through your CONFIG.SYS.
Not enough memory
SWAPDOS was unable to reallocate its own memory. Most likely, the DOS
memory allocation chain has been corrupted. Contact IDC technical support
for assistance.
Over 200 Memory Control Blocks in system
This error will occur in the unlikely event that you have more than 200
memory control blocks in use. Contact IDC technical support if you
encounter this error message.
SWAPDOS "mark" in use - use the EXIT command to restore memory
The specified SWAPDOS "mark" has already been used to SWAP out an
application. Either you want to swap to a different mark, or you want to
EXIT and restore memory before swapping again.
XMS Error nn function mm
The XMS memory manager returned error nn while processing function mm. You
can use the /D option to bypass this problem. Please contact IDC technical
support if you encounter this error.
Your application appears to have hooked an interrupt vector
One or more system interrupt vectors point at memory used by the
application you are trying to swap out. You must use the Mark/Long Swap
method in order to swap out this application.
Your application appears to control the EGA/VGA Configuration Region
The application you are trying to swap out has taken control of the EGA/VGA
configuration pointers. You must use the Mark/Long Swap method in order to
swap out this application.
Your application does not have an environment
The application you are trying to swap out appears to have deallocated its
environment. SWAPDOS will not swap out applications that have deallocated
their environment.
Page 20 SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation
If Something Goes Wrong
If SWAPDOS cannot operate correctly it should issue an error message that
describes the problem. If you encounter an error message, please check the
section titled "Exit Codes and Error Messages". Most message descriptions
include a probable cause that may make it easy for you to quickly identify
the problem. If that doesn't help, or if you don't get an error message
from SWAPDOS, these steps will help identify the problem:
- Try to swap out a different application. SWAPDOS is known to be
compatible with dBASE III Plus, dBASE IV, 1-2-3, WordPerfect, KEDIT, and
the other programs which have examples in the preceding sections. If
SWAPDOS works with other applications on your system then it is possible
that SWAPDOS is incompatible with the application you are trying to swap.
- Try specifying a different command on the SWAPDOS command line. For
example, "SWAPDOS VER" (VER is an internal DOS command that displays the
DOS version number). If this works, it is possible that SWAPDOS is
incompatible with the program you are trying to run while your application
is swapped out.
- Use the /S=1 option to force SWAPDOS to write to disk. if this solves
the problem, then there might be a problem with your EMS software or
hardware.
- Rename your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS, reboot your computer, and try
to recreate the problem. If the problem does not occur during this test,
then there is probably a conflict between SWAPDOS and a TSR (Terminate and
Stay Resident program) loaded by your AUTOEXEC.BAT or a device driver
loaded in your CONFIG.SYS. To determine which one is causing the conflict
you can rebuild your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS one line at a time, and
reboot and rerun SWAPDOS after each change until the problem occurs. This
should pinpoint the conflicting program. Sometimes rearranging the order
in which TSRs are loaded can eliminate the conflict. Otherwise you may not
be able to use SWAPDOS while this program is loaded.
Direct telephone support is only guaranteed for registered users. Non-
registered users will be supported directly only as time permits.
The quickest and easiest way to get technical support, registered or not,
is to contact Chip Rabinowitz at Compuserve 70731,20, MCIMAIL 315-5415, or
FAX 1-215-886-4225. You may also write to Innovative Data Concepts at the
address above, or call 1-215-884-3373.
Commonly Asked Questions
What kind of applications can't SWAPDOS handle?
This version of SWAPDOS cannot swap out most networking software.
Communications programs which depend on continuous access to interrupt
vectors tend to lock up if you swap them out while they are communicating
with another system.
Multitasking programs like DesqView and Windows which do not use the Intel
80386 virtual machine features can rearrange DOS memory while SWAPDOS is
SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation Page 21
running (kind of like pulling the rug out under your feet), resulting in
the "Memory is too fragmented to swap" message. However, since these
programs provide their own facilities for overcoming memory constraints,
you generally would not use SWAPDOS with these products.
Programs which "hook" into DOS instead of modifying interrupt vectors. For
example, the FASTOPEN and APPEND commands cannot be swapped out, because
they modify undocumented areas of memory reserved for use by DOS.
What vectors does SWAPDOS hook?
SWAPDOS doesn't "hook" any interrupt vectors. SWAPDOS copies and restores
the system's interrupt vector table at critical points (e.g. before and
after swapping out an application) to avoid system crashes, but SWAPDOS
never takes control of any interrupt vectors.
Is SWAPDOS a TSR?
SWAPDOS only uses the "terminate and stay resident" feature of DOS when you
use the /M option. The only thing that stays resident is a program
"signature" and copy of the current system interrupt vectors. This is done
so that the vectors can be restored when you use the /L option.
Why doesn't SWAPDOS set the DOS exit code to the exit code returned by
the program I specified on the SWAPDOS command line?
SWAPDOS runs the program you specified via COMMAND.COM, the DOS command
processor. COMMAND.COM does not return the error level set by the
specified program, so SWAPDOS does not have access to the error level.
Instead SWAPDOS sets the error level to indicate the success of the
swapping operation, as described in section titled "Error Message
Descriptions".
Page 22 SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation
What features are planned for future releases?
While we haven't committed to any new features or release dates, here are a
few of the things we are considering:
- Support for swapping network software
- OBJ file for inclusion in other EXE files
- Ability to automatically unload TSRs loaded after a "mark"
- Optional data compression to reduce the time it takes to swap
- "Hotkey" to switch between swapped applications
- "High" DOS memory support
- Full-blown task-switching
COPYRIGHT NOTICE AND LICENSE
Innovative Data Concepts, the copyright owner for The SWAP Utilities,
hereby licenses you to: use the software; make as many copies of the
shareware version of this software and documentation as you wish; give
exact copies of the original shareware version to anyone; and distribute
the shareware version of the software and documentation in its unmodified
form via electronic means. There is no charge for any of the above.
This is not free software. This license allows you to use this software
without charge for a period of 30 days. Any use of The SWAP Utilities past
this 30-day period is in violation of federal copyright laws and will be
prosecuted.
No copy of the software may be distributed or given away without this
accompanying documentation; this notice must not be removed. ONLY COPIES
OF THE SHAREWARE VERSION MAY BE DISTRIBUTED IN ANY FORM. IDC will provide
disks with the shareware versions of ALL SWAP Utilities programs upon
written request.
Warranty
There is no warranty of any kind associated with this software, and the
copyright owner is not liable for damages of any kind. By using this
software, you agree to this. Every effort has been made by Innovative Data
Concepts to make this product bug-free. However, the nature of software
development is that it is impossible to guarantee bug-free software. If a
registered user reports a verifiable bug, the user will receive a free
upgrade to the next version of The SWAP Utilities.
SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation Page 23
COPYRIGHT NOTICE AND LICENSE (cont.)
Registration
Upon receipt of the appropriate registration fee, Innovative Data Concepts
will send the user a printed copy of this documentation, a disk containing
a version of SWAPDOS without the shareware registration screen, and a
registration number entitling the user to upgrades and telephone support.
Registered users will also be given a toll-free number that will permit
them to receive a free Compuserve Intro-Pak, along with a $15 usage credit.
Bulletin Boards, Users Groups and Disk Vendors
Bulletin Board Sysops and User Groups are encouraged to fill out the form
below, which will automatically place them on a mailing list to receive the
latest version of all IDC shareware products as they are released, as well
as upgrades to already existing programs. There is no fee for this
service.
Disk Vendors who wish to distribute The SWAP Utilities must satisfy one of
the following requirements:
1) The vendor must have been accepted as an associate member of the
Association of Shareware Professionals; or
2) The vendor must agree to abide by the standards for disk vendors, as
set forth by the Association of Shareware Professionals.
Disk vendors who do not meet these requirements are NOT PERMITTED TO
DISTRIBUTE THE SWAP UTILITIES UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!
For information on obtaining ASP-approved status, contact:
Vendor Membership Coordinator
Association of Shareware Professionals
P.O. Box 5786
Bellevue, WA 98006
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MAY THE SWAP UTILITIES BE DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT ALL
ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION FILES (INCLUDING THIS COMPLETE FILE), ALL
PROGRAMS, AND OTHER MATERIALS PROVIDED WITH THE OFFICIAL COPIES FROM
INNOVATIVE DATA CONCEPTS. ANY SUCH DISTRIBUTION OF THE SWAP UTILITIES OR
ITS RELATED FILES, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED FOR IN THIS LICENSE, SHALL BE
DETERMINED TO BE IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS AND WILL BE
PROSECUTED.
Page 24 SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation
About Innovative Data Concepts
Innovative Data Concepts is a consulting firm owned and operated by Chip
Rabinowitz, specializing in Ram-Resident programs, communications,
printing, video and more.
Rabinowitz is an Assistant Sysop on the Computer Language Magazine Forum on
CompuServe Information Service and also provides technical support for
Borland International as a member of "Team Borland" on their Compuserve
Forums, in the areas of Turbo C, Turbo Assembler, Turbo Debugger, and
SideKick Plus. He is also the leader of the TesSeRact Development Team, a
group pushing for Ram-Resident Programming Standards.
The technique used to swap these applications may be applied to other
resident programs as well, and Innovative Data Concepts is currently
investigating other possible SWAP?? programs. If you have any
suggestions/comments, please contact IDC.
A similar technique may also be directly incorporated into resident
programs; for more information, please contact IDC directly.
The Rest of The SWAP Utilities
The SWAP Utilities is a set of memory-saving utilities from Innovative Data
Concepts. There are currently eight SWAP?? programs available, which allow
you to run eight popular Ram-Resident programs in less than 7000 bytes of
memory (SWAPSP - 7400, SWAPMT 8200), far less than they require under
normal circumstances.
The following SWAP Utilities are currently available:
SWAPSK(TM) -- For SideKick
SWAPSP(TM) -- For SideKick Plus
SWAPTN(TM) -- For Tornado
SWAPMT(TM) -- For Metro
SWAPMM(TM) -- For MemoryMate
SWAPSH(TM) -- For PCTools Shell
SWAPDT(TM) -- For PCTools Desktop
SWAPNG(TM) -- For The Norton Guides
For more information about The SWAP Utilities, contact Innovative Data
Concepts, or see the accompanying ORDER.DOC file.
SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation Page 25
Association of Shareware Professionals
Innovative Data Concepts is a member of the Association of Shareware
Professionals (ASP), an organization formed in April 1987 to strengthen the
future of shareware (user-supported software) as an alternative to
commercial software. Its members, all of whom are programmers who
subscribe to a code of ethics, are committed to the concept of shareware as
a method of marketing.
ASP has established stringent standards for its members. ASP wants to make
sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to
resolve a problem with an ASP member (other than technical support), ASP
may be able to help. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at P.O. Box 5786,
Bellevue, WA 98006.
The primary goals of the ASP are:
To inform users about shareware programs and about shareware as a
method of distributing and marketing software;
To encourage broader distribution of shareware through user groups and
disk dealers who agree to identify and explain the nature of
shareware;
To assist members in marketing their software;
To provide a forum through which ASP members may communicate, share
ideas, and learn from each other; and
To foster a high degree of professionalism among shareware authors by
setting programming, marketing, and support standards for ASP
members to follow.
Standards for the Association of Shareware Professionals
PROGRAMMING STANDARDS:
The program meets the ASP's definition of "shareware" (i.e., it
is not a commercial demo with major feature disabled, nor a time-
limited program).
The program has been thoroughly tested by the author and should
not be harmful to other files or hardware if used properly.
DOCUMENTATION STANDARDS:
Sufficient documentation is provided to allow the average user to
try all the major functions of the program.
Any discussion of the shareware concept and of registration
requirements is done in a professional and positive manner.
SUPPORT STANDARDS:
The member will respond to people who send registration payments,
as promised in the program's documentation. At a minimum, the
member will acknowledge receipt of all payments.
Page 26 SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation
The member will establish a procedure for users to report, and
have acknowledged, matters such as bug reports, and will describe
such means in the documentation accompanying all versions of the
programs. The author will respond to written bug reports from
registered users when the user provides a self-addressed, stamped
envelope.
Known incompatibilities with other software or hardware and major
or unusual program limitations are noted in the documentation
that comes with the shareware (evaluation) program.
GENERAL:
Members will keep the ASP apprised of changes in mailing address;
which shareware programs they have published and are currently
supporting; the current version numbers; and of any changes in
the status of their programs.
If a user has a dispute with an ASP member-author, the user may
appeal to the ASP to mediate for arbitration of the dispute.
For more information about the Association of Shareware Professionals,
contact Paul Mayer, Membership Coordinator of the ASP, at Compuserve
70040,645, or write the ASP at P.O. Box 5786, Bellevue, WA 98006.
SWAPDOS 1.00 Documentation Page 27