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READ.ME
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1992-11-21
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┌─────────────────────────────────┐
│ SimKey 1.1 │
│ │
│ Medan Software │
│ (c) 1992 Theo J.M. Schoenmakers │
└─────────────────────────────────┘
SimKey is a utility for use in DOS-batch files.
It automates actions after the start of programs that lack the
possibility of start-up macros. SimKey is not a TSR-program, i.e.
it will not occupy any memory after completion. It feeds the
keystrokes you entered on the command line to the keyboard buffer,
enabling you to get straight away to business.
You can make a hardcopy of this file in the following way. See to
it that your printer is connected to LPT1: (the parallel port of
your PC) and that it is on-line. Make sure that a fixed-pitch font
(about 10 CPI) is selected. Then type at the DOS-prompt:
COPY READ.ME PRN:
This should result in five pages being printed.
THE LEGAL PART
You may copy the program and distribute it without charge for
non-commercial, non-governmental use. You may not sell or
otherwise charge for SimKey. However, users' groups may charge a
small fee for media and postage. Please be certain that all files
are kept together: SIMKEY11.ARJ should contain SIMKEY.EXE, this
READ.ME file, KEYBUF.COM and KEYBUF.SCR.
This program is provided AS IS without any warranty, expressed or
implied, including but not limited to fitness for a particular
purpose. I, Theo Schoenmakers, am not responsible for anything
that may happen when you use SimKey, including hardware damage or
information loss.
Please remember that SimKey 1.1 is SHAREWARE!. If you continue
using it beyond a 30-day trial period you are expected to register
the program or discontinue using it. Registering will give you a
personalized version without the beg-notice and without the 4
second wait. It will also give you a clear conscience and the
great feeling that you have done the right thing. Please register
SimKey! Fill out the registration form below and send U.S.$10, or
the equivalent in your currency (outside Europe please add U.S.$4
for additional postage costs), for EACH machine (including network
workstations) it is executed upon, to:
Medan Software
Theo J.M. Schoenmakers, Jan van Speykstraat 52,
NL-6512 GZ Nijmegen, THE NETHERLANDS.
----------> THANK YOU! <----------
Below are several examples of how to use Simkey. A detailed list
of keyboard scan codes used in the last example can be obtained by
typing 'Simkey' at the DOS-prompt without any parameters, or
followed by '/?' or '/h'.
- Start a program ('app.exe') where you always begin with '/fr'.
@echo off
simkey /fr
app.exe
Here you literally enter the desired keystrokes.
- Start a program that requires you to enter your name ('John
Smith') and press <Enter>.
@echo off
simkey John@032Smith@013
app.exe
This example illustrates how to enter plain ASCII-codes. ASCII-
codes are preceded by a '@'. You have to use the ASCII-code 032
for a space, or DOS will assume that you entered several
parameters (SimKey will only look for the first one). Pressing
<Enter> is accomplished by putting its ASCII-code 013 in the
keyboard buffer.
- Start a program in which you invariably commence with the
keystrokes Alt-F, L, <Tab>, <Space>.
@echo off
simkey !033L@009@032
app.exe
This looks more complicated than it is. Using '!' indicates to
SimKey that a so-called keyboard scan code will follow. These
codes are listed by SimKey when you start SimKey without any
parameters. The combination '!033' simulates the Alt-F keystroke.
After L follow the ASCII-codes for <Tab> and <Space>.
This should get you up and running!
The use of KEYBUF.COM
Starting from version 1.1, a program called KEYBUF.COM is included
with SimKey. There was a demand for a keyboard buffer larger than
16 characters in conjunction with the use of SimKey. KEYBUF.COM
provides a 128-character keyboard buffer. It was written by Andre
Schaffers and published in the Dutch "Personal Computer Magazine"
of May 1992. Here's how to use it.
Try to run KEYBUF.COM as early as possible. This program tries to
reserve a 256-byte chunk of memory in the first 64 Kbytes of RAM.
If you have loaded some memory-resident programs, KEYBUF.COM will
find that there is no more memory available below 64 Kb. In that
case, it will not reserve any memory and end with a little beep.
Check if your version of DOS supports the use of the
INSTALL-command in CONFIG.SYS. If it does, add the line:
INSTALL=KEYBUF.COM
somewhere early in your CONFIG.SYS-file. If your DOS does not
support the use of INSTALL in CONFIG.SYS, try to run KEYBUF.COM as
early as possible in AUTOEXEC.BAT. If you hear a beep, your
keyboard buffer will NOT have been extended!
KEYBUF.COM works by relocating the BIOS-pointers to the keyboard
buffer. It tries to reserve 256 bytes of RAM. If it succeeds, it
changes the BIOS-pointers for buffer-start and buffer-end to point
to the 256-byte RAM-chunk. It also changes the head and tail
pointers in the BIOS to point to the start of the reserved 256
bytes. KEYBUF.COM then ends with only the 256 bytes of RAM
permanently reserved. The BIOS-pointers are each 2 bytes long and
denote the offset to segment 0040hex. Since two bytes can only
maximally address 64 Kb, the start and end of the new keyboard
buffer have to reside within the first 64 Kb of RAM.
If you have really understood what is going on, you will realize
that KEYBUF.COM is a program that definitely should NOT, I repeat
NOT (!!), be loaded high. It has to reside in the first 64 Kb of
RAM. Therefore, do not use LOADHIGH or any other type of memory
manager command to load KEYBUF.COM high.
KEYBUF.COM may interfere with specific programs that require the
keyboard buffer to be in the usual place. Not very many programs
are that picky, but be prepared to encounter such problems with
very hardware-specific applications such as e.g. certain network
drivers.
Version History
Version 1.0: Initial release
Version 1.1: Added KEYBUF.COM and KEYBUF.SCR (the debug script) to
enable the use of a 128-character keyboard buffer. SimKey 1.1 will
recognize a relocated and extended (maximally 128 characters)
keyboard buffer.
________________________________________________________________
| Send completed form to: |
| Medan Software |
| Theo Schoenmakers |
| Jan van Speykstraat 52 |
| NL-6512 GZ Nijmegen |
| THE NETHERLANDS |
|________________________________________________________________|
| R E G I S T R A T I O N F O R M |
| |
| SimKey 1.1 |
| |
| Name:________________