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1992-04-15
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AHDM V3.00 Documentation
1990-1992 by Scott Meek
AHDM-III 1990-1992 by Scott Meek
Amiga Hard Disk Menu V3.00
Before you Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Copyright Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Disclaimer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
What you will need . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
How to install AHDM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Files needed by AHDM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Operation of AHDM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Startup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Use of the CONTROL gadgets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
ADD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
SCRIPT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
EDIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
DELETE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
CURRENT PAGE SORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
MOVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
SWAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
REPLACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
PAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
CONFIG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
PAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
OFFSET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Greenwich Mean Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
NOTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
ZONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
12/24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
TITLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
PATH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
ICON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
RMB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
12/24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
BACKDRP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
GMT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
SECURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Top Lvl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
NOTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Encrypt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Remaining Eight Gadgets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
ABOUT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
close window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
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AHDM-III 1990-1992 by Scott Meek
Amiga Hard Disk Menu V3.00
EXIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Enter Access Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
NOTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Shrink Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
custom window position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Debugging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Bug Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Where to send Bug Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
What to include . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Tutorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
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AHDM-III 1990-1992 by Scott Meek
Amiga Hard Disk Menu V3.00
Before you Begin
Copyright Notice:
AHDM V3.00a is copyrighted. However, you are free to distribute it in
an un-modified fashion so long as this notice and all files are
distributed together, and in an unchanged form. This release (V3.00a)
is a limited working version of the original program. A full working
version may be obtained be sending $20 U.S. to:
AHDM V3.00
c/o Scott Meek
P.O. Box 16
Trenton, MI 48183
Disclaimer:
Due to the nature of AHDM V3.00a, I cannot, in any way be held
liable for for direct, indirect, or incidental damages resulting from
from the use or mis-use of this program. Enough said.
Getting Started
What you will need:
1. AHDM - the program file
2. AHDM3.DATA - the DATA file
3. AHDM3.CONFIG - AHDMs Configuration file.
4. A Bootable Disk
(It is suggested that if this is your first experience with AHDM,
that you first install it to a Bootable Floppy. By doing this, you
can avoid any unpleasant encounters. Also, see the Tutorial Section)
How to install AHDM:
Installation is very simple, just copy AHDM to any directory on your
disk. If you desire a fresh menu setup (a blank menu with default
settings) you needn't copy the other files (I have provided them for
demonstration purposes only).
After the files are copied, edit your bootable disk's startup-sequence
by adding the following line:
RUN >NIL: (path)AHDM
The "RUN >NIL:" MUST be present in order to allow the initial CLI
window to close properly. Also, AHDM requires no additional Command-
Line parameters, and none should be included.
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AHDM-III 1990-1992 by Scott Meek
Amiga Hard Disk Menu V3.00
AHDM can be run from any directory, but it is suggested that prior to
running AHDM, a CD SYS: be executed in order to properly place
AHDM3.DATA.
Files needed by AHDM:
Your bootable disk should contain the following files:
C:RUN
C:EXECUTE
Any other DIRECT commands or SCRIPT files that you will want AHDM to
run during operation.
AHDM will create the following files:
AHDM3.DATA
AHDM3.CONFIG
Operation of AHDM
Startup:
When AHDM opens, you will be presented with three columns of gadgest,
from right to left, these gadgets are refered to as:
ACTION gadgets - where your Command/Script descriptions will appear.
CONTROL gadgets - used to control the operations of AHDM
PAGE gadgets - where the description of each page will appear.
Use of the CONTROL gadgets:
ADD - Click on this gadget to add an ACTION to the Current Page.
A window will be opened to edit the New Action.
Description - Enter the English description of the action to be
executed.
Command - Enter the AmigaDOS command or script file to be executed.
Access - enter the Security Access Code for this particular action.
(See Security section for more.)
SCRIPT - Select this gadget if this action is to take it's commands
from an AmigaDOS script file. (the script file must be located in
the directory defined in the CONFIG window. (see CONFIG section for
more on this.)
EDIT - clicking on this gadget will allow you to select an ACTION or
PAGE to edit. Click on a CONTROL gadget to cancel.
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AHDM-III 1990-1992 by Scott Meek
Amiga Hard Disk Menu V3.00
DELETE - Clicking on this gadget will allow you to select an ACTION
or PAGE to delete. Click on a CONTROL gadget to cancel.
SORT - Click on this gadget to SORT the AHDM DataBase. A number of
requesters will appear asking how you want the DataBase sorted.
FULL MENU SORT - Accept this requester to do a Full Sort of the
DataBase. Cancel to sort the Current page only.
CURRENT PAGE SORT - Accept this requester to Sort only the ACTIONs
on the Current Page. Cancel to abort the sort function.
Sorting takes a little time. When the Menu Clock begins to run
again, the sort is complete.
MOVE - Click on this action to move an ACTION or PAGE to another
location on the menu. You will then be asked to click on the
action or page to move, and to click on the location to move it to.
If you select a currently occupied location, you will also be asked
if you want to SWAP locations. Accepting will swap the two,
Cancelling will REPLACE the destination action or page. It is
possible to move actions between two pages.
PAGE - Click on this action to create a new PAGE on the menu. The
Edit window will appear, and you can then edit the data associated
with the new page.
Description - The description of what appears on this page. (I.E.
Utilities, Games, Productivity or anything else you can dream up.)
Access - The Security Access Code for this particular page.
(See Security Section for more.)
CONFIG - Click on this window to open the Configuration window.
PAGE - Defines the page to open AHDM to. (defaults to page 0)
By entering a number here from 0 to 15 AHDM will optionally open to
this page upon startup. Pages are numbered from top to bottom,
starting with page 0. (NOTE: If you open to a secured page [i.e. a
page with an ACCESS code] AHDM will not open until you enter the
proper access code for that page. So, you will have to remember
the code for the page. This cannot be by- passed!!)
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AHDM-III 1990-1992 by Scott Meek
Amiga Hard Disk Menu V3.00
OFFSET - This is the Offset from Greenwich Mean Time. There are a
number of ways that this can be utilized. By entering a number
from +23 to -23, you can set the offset from system time for AHDM's
clock display. If you use GMT as a system time, subtract the GMT
from the time in your time zone, and enter the number in this
display. If you use Normal Zone time and want to display GMT in
AHDM's clock, subtract your zone time from GMT and enter this
number in the display.
Example: you live in the Eastern United States, and use GMT as a
system time, but you want AHDM to display current local time. It's
5:00pm locally.
Subtract GMT (12:00 GMT) from EST/EDT (17:00) and enter the result
(+5) in the display.
(NOTE: This offset will not go into effect unless you select the
GMT gadget on the bottom of the CONFIG window.)
This function is (accidently) complex and flexible. During the
primary coding stages I noticed a few quirks about this function
that I decided to leave intact, due to the flexible nature that
they presented. They are not bugs in the programming, and should
not present a problem. I am sure that I have not found every quirk
associated with this offset, but if you should stumble upon other
ways in which to use it, please feel free to write me concerning
them.
ZONE - Enter the Local Time Zone Indentifier here. This will
display your time zone when the 12/24 hour gadget is selected.
(i.e. EST).
TITLE - Enter a 78 char String to appear above the Clock in the
main menu display.
PATH - Enter the full AmigaDOS path to all script files used by
AHDM. Pathname MUST end with a ':' or a '/'.
ICON - Selecting this gadget will cause AHDM to open in the
iconified state. It will appear as a simple clock/memory monitor
on the Workbench Screen. To resize the Menu Window, click once on
the clock/memory monitor and then press the RMB (Right Mouse
Button). Pressing the RMB again will iconify AHDM.
12/24 - Selecting this gadget will cause AHDM's clock display to
switch from standard 24 hour mode to 12 hour mode and replace the
Local Time Zone name with ap/pm.
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AHDM-III 1990-1992 by Scott Meek
Amiga Hard Disk Menu V3.00
BACKDRP - Not currently defined.
GMT - Selecting this gadget will cause AHDM to utilize the GMT
offset entered in the Offset field. When this gadget is not
selected, AHDM ignores the Offset.
SECURE - This gadget will open the AHDM Menu Security window. The
Information entered in this window will affect only the CONTROL
gadgets in the Main Display.
Top Lvl - This sets the security code for the CONTROL Gadgets. To
set the Security Code, enter any text into this field, and select
the COMMAND gadgets below to lock out. The 'SECURE' COMMAND gadget
(the one you pressed to get this window) is automatically locked
out when you enter an Access code into the 'Top Lvl' field.
NOTE:Remember the number that you enter into this field, as you
must enter it to get back into the Secure Window!!!
Encrypt - Enter any 4 char printable string into this field to
encode the AHDM3.DATA file in such a way as it cannot be examined
by an editor.
Remaining Eight Gadgets - Select one or more of these gadgets to
Secure. By selecting them, you will then be asked to enter the
'Top Lvl' Access code each time you select the corresponding
CONTROL gadget in the Main Window.
ABOUT - Presents a window stating version number of program, who the
program is registered to, and other info. Click on this info to
close window.
EXIT - Exits AHDM.
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AHDM-III 1990-1992 by Scott Meek
Amiga Hard Disk Menu V3.00
Security
AHDM provides a comprehensive security system to lock out
unauthorized use of your computer. It has a main password which
will lock out the modification of your menu, as well as multiple
passwords to lock out a single action or groups of actions. As a
result, it is imperitive that you remember your passwords, as they
cannot be retrieved from any other source.
Each password consists of a 7 char string. This string can be
numbers, letters or sybols, or a combination of the three.
Every time a function, action or page is selected which has a
password associated with it, you will be presented with an "Enter
Access Code" Requester. Type the access code for that particular
action, and you can continue. If the password is wrong, AHDM will
not respond to your demands.
If you choose to open AHDM to a Secured Page (See CONFIG above),
You will be prompted for the correct password before the Menu data
is displayed on the menu. This makes it possible to lock out your
Hard Drive to any un-authorized user. (NOTE: If your startup-
sequence still contains the 'LoadWB' command, this function will be
rendered useless. It is best to place the LoadWB in AHDM in this
instance.)
"Misc Features"
Explanations of all (?) those little goodies that AHDM does, but
are not associated with a gadget or menu item.
Shrink Window - To shrink AHDM's window to nothing more that one of
those annoying little clock/memory monitors that sits on top of the
WorkBench Screen, just activate AHDM's window, and press the Right
Mouse Button (RMB). You can re-define the default position of the
iconified window, and the main window, by following these steps:
1) Move the Main Menu Window to the position on the screen that you
would normally like it to appear. (Non-Interlace Users aren't given
a whole lot of area to choose form)
2) Press the RMB button to iconify AHDM.
3) Move the iconified window to the desired position.
4) Press the RMB again.
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AHDM-III 1990-1992 by Scott Meek
Amiga Hard Disk Menu V3.00
5) Select either the 'CONFIG' or 'SECURE' gadget and then select
'ACCEPT'. AHDM will now remember the custom window position, even
after re-boot.
Debugging
Previous releases of AHDM opened a 1 pixel by 1 pixel window in the
upper left-hand corner of the workbench screen. This window no
longer exisists. Managing this debugging window was more trouble
than it was worth, and apparently WorkBench 2.0 will not allow a
1x1 window on the screen.
As a result, debugging a Command is a little more involved, now.
To debug a Command, you can do one of three things:
1) Type the Command into a CLI window, (If it's a script file,
don't forget the path to the script files) and observe what
happens.
2) Change the 'RUN >NIL: AHDM' to 'RUN AHDM' in your startup-
sequence and re-boot. (This method will not allow the initial CLI
window to close, so you should change the startup-sequence back
when you are finished)
3) Open a new CLI and type 'AHDM'. This will run a second copy of
AHDM. Use this second copy only to find out what the problem is.
DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING IN THE SECOND COPY OF AHDM. If you do change
something, it may or may not go into effect, depending on what you
do in the first copy.
Bug Reports
Where to send Bug Reports:
AHDM-BUG REPORT
c/o Scott Meek
P.O. Box 16
Trenton, MI 48183
What to include:
When sending a bug report, make sure to write down all information
about your system that you can. Include type of hard drive, hard
drive controller, Processor used (68000, 68020, 68030, etc.), Math
CoProcessor, amount of CHIP and FAST RAM, KickStart, WorkBench, and
ARP versions, what you were doing when you found the bug, and the
first 8 digits of the GURU number (if applicable). To get the
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AHDM-III 1990-1992 by Scott Meek
Amiga Hard Disk Menu V3.00
Kickstart, WorkBench and ARP Versions of your system, enter
'VERSION' in the CLI.
Be as complete as possible with your information. The more info I
have about the problem, the faster I can fix it, and send you a
revision.
Tutorial
This is a short tutorial on the use of AHDM. While it is not a
complete guide to AHDM, it will get you started.
I have provided 10 sample actions and their script files (if any)
to aquaint you with AHDM and it use. I suggest you look these
over. (you can see the sample actions by flipping to page 2 on the
menu and using the CHANGE gadget to see what each action contains.
Click on 'OK' when finished with each selection.) For ease of
recognition, I have placed a '.bat' extension on each script file.
'TYPE' these out to read them.
While some commands can be executed directly from AHDM, like LoadWB
or any task that does not require user intervention, others need
the benefit of an open cli window. These tasks include formatting
a disk or copying disks. Executing a format directly from AHDM
will immediatly begin to format the disk in the drive without
waiting for you to change disks, press [RETURN] or click a continue
gadget. For this reason, PLEASE: EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN ADDING A
NEW FUNCTION TO THE MENU!! If in doubt use the script file.
Better safe than sorry!!!!
Example:
Here is an example that loads the workbench from the menu. It is
done first by direct command, then by script file.
Select 'ADD' and enter
Description: Load Amiga Workbench
Command: SYS:C/LOADWB or C:LOADWB or just LOADWB
It's as simple as that.
To format a disk from the menu, Select 'ADD' and enter
New Entry: Format Drive DF0:
Command: NewCLI FROM FormatDF0.bat
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AHDM-III 1990-1992 by Scott Meek
Amiga Hard Disk Menu V3.00
Now, create an ASCII file named FormatDF0.bat containing the
following lines.
FORMAT DRIVE DF0: NAME <name>
ENDCLI
Complete Volume/Pathnames can be used in the command field. This
will allow you to keep all of your script files in one directory.
Some programs I have started from AHDM did not function properly at
first. This was due to the fact that I launched them directly from
AHDM without going thru a script file. They were therefore run
from the incorrect directory and could not locate the files they
needed to function properly. This was remedied by using a script
file to CD to the correct directory before running them.
So far, I have not found a program that would not run from AHDM,
other than certain heavily protected games. So, if you can't run a
program from the menu, try a new approach. Experiment.
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