///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// // // Welcome to StepUp'98 // for Microsoft(r) Windows(r) 95/98 and Windows NT(r) 4.x ! // // Version 4.08a Last updated: August 7, 1998 // // Copyright (c) 1996-98, WinAbility.Com. // All rights reserved. // // http://www.winability.com "The Way Software Should Be!" (tm) // ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// This file contains introductory information regarding StepUp'98. TABLE OF CONTENTS -------------------------------------------------------------- 0. A note about WinAbility.Com and ChaoSoft. 1. About StepUp'98 2. System requirements 3. Installing and uninstalling StepUp'98 4. This is "Try Before You Buy" software! 5. Obtaining updates to the software 6. Getting customer support --------------------------------------------------------------- 0. A note about WinAbility.Com and ChaoSoft. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We (former ChaoSoft) have changed our business name to WinAbility.Com. We regret any inconvenience or confusion this may cause. 1. About StepUp'98 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ StepUp'98 is a set of powerful utilities designed to extend the Windows user interface. Once installed, this program makes available a wide variety of additional commands that are available via the menus and Taskbar, enabling you to work quickly and easily. StepUp'98 was rated "five stars" (out of five) by ZDNet Software Library. StepUp'98 was also selected as a Pick of the Week at the WinUser forum on CompuServe. The previous version, StepUp'96, was featured in Windows Magazine, Superior Shareware section. Features of StepUp'98 include: o StepUp Menu, accessible from the context menu and/or taskbar, containing a set of commands to process files or folders, open new browsing windows, run files, access items on the Internet, etc. o Folder Navigator, accessible from the context menu and/or taskbar, allowing you to quickly go to the folder you recently visited. o Menu Designer, which you can use to add new commands to StepUp Menu, modify its existing commands to make them better suit your needs, move menu items between submenus, etc. o File Handler, offering you an alternative way to manage your files and folders. It makes you able, for example, rename a large group of files by a mask in a single step; split a large file across multiple diskettes; change the time stamp of a group of files, make a list of files to further print it out, etc. o Taskbar Icons, offering you quick access to the items on the Desktop when it's covered by many windows; the Fast Exit commands; quick control of the AutoRun CD-ROM feature, and more. o StepUp Control Panel, which you can use to control various settings of StepUp'98 and Windows, such as the thickness of the window borders, the boot options for Windows 95, history and uninstaller lists, etc. o Context-sensitive Help provides a complete user's guide for StepUp'98. Also included an automatic Setup utility, allowing you to painlessly install and uninstall StepUp'98. o StepUp'98 may be used both on a single machine and on a network. Each user can configure and use StepUp'98 independently on the others. Also included a policy template file for StepUp'98, which may be used by system administrators to restrict most of its features. Try it - You won't believe how you were able to work without StepUp'98. "The way software should be!"(tm) NOTE: Registered users of any previous version of StepUp'98 (starting with StepUp'96 ver.4.01) may upgrade to the current version FREE of any upgrade charges. Please use the same registration code to convert an evaluation version of StepUp'98 into the registered one. ____________________________________________________________________ 2. System requirements ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ StepUp'98 is designed for the operating systems Windows 95, 98 and Windows NT (version 4.0 or higher). 1 MB (one megabyte) of free space on your hard disk is required to install StepUp'98. There are no special requirements or recommendations except the obvious one: the better processor and more RAM your computer has the better StepUp'98 will perform. NOTE: throughout StepUp'98 documentation, "Windows" is used to refer to Windows 95/98 and Windows NT 4.0. In those few instances where the operation of StepUp'98 under these operating systems differ, an explicit operating system name is used. StepUp'98 CANNOT be installed and used under the following operating systems: - Windows 3.1/3.11, even if Win32s is installed - Windows for Workgroups 3.11, even if Win32s is installed. - Windows NT all versions prior to 4.0. _____________________________________________________________________ 2. Installing and uninstalling StepUp'98 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ StepUp'98 comes with a Setup utility, which allows you to both install and uninstall StepUp'98. NOTE: it is NOT sufficient to simply copy StepUp'98 files onto your hard disk to install it. You MUST run Setup.exe to configure your system and enable all components of StepUp'98. To install StepUp'98: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ a) If you have obtained StepUp'98 as a compressed file, uncompress the file into a temporary folder on a hard disk, or on a floppy diskette. b) Open the folder containing the uncompressed set of StepUp'98 files and double-click on "Setup" (or "Setup.exe"). NOTE: if a previous version of StepUp'98 already exists on the disk, Setup may prompt you to restart Windows before the new version may be installed over the existing one. c) The installation program will prompt you to enter your name and a Registration Code. If you have purchased a license for continued use of StepUp'98 and received your Registration Code, you may enter it at that time, and the evaluation version of StepUp'98 will be converted into the registered one. Otherwise, you may skip entering the registration code and StepUp'98 will operate in the evaluation mode. NOTE: when entering the registration information, please make sure you enter your name in exactly the same way as it is spelled on your Registration Acknowledgment, otherwise the registration code will not be accepted. If your name is not shown on the Registration Acknowledgment, you should spell your name in the same way as you have spelled it when placing the order (that is, if you have ordered with a credit card, enter your name as it appears on the card, etc.) d) The Setup utility will also suggest you the folder in which to install StepUp'98. You may accept the suggestion or choose other location for StepUp'98 files. e) Setup utility will copy the files into the specified folder. NOTE: Except for the files copied into the destination folder and, optionally, for the shortcuts added to the Start Menu and/or to the Desktop folder, Setup does not install or modify any other files on your computer. f) After the installation has been complete, you may delete files from the temporary folder, from which you were installing StepUp'98. NOTE: If you had a previous version of StepUp'98 already installed on the computer, you may wish to review the updated menu file (installed as "Copy of StepUp.mnu"), and include its updated commands into the active menu file(s) you were using before. The easiest way to do this is by opening both the "old" and "new" menu files with Menu Designer, and then using its Copy and Paste commands to transfer the desired commands between the files. If you used System Policies provided by a previous version of StepUp'98, you may also need to update the active template file with the information contained in the updated StepUp.ADM file. To uninstall StepUp'98 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NOTE: it is NOT sufficient to simply delete the files of StepUp'98 to completely uninstall it. Please follow the procedure described below to uninstall StepUp'98 and clean up your system configuration: a) Open Control Panel and then open the "Add/Remove programs" item. b) In the list of products which can be uninstalled find the line "StepUp'98" and double-click it. c) After the uninstalling procedure is complete, you may need to go to the folder where StepUp'98 files were installed and delete the remaining files. If you are running Windows NT, you may need to logoff and then log back on before Windows permits you to delete these files. ____________________________________________________________________ 4. This is TRY BEFORE YOU BUY software ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is NOT freeware or public domain software. This is software which you can "try before you buy". You may install the program in your system and use it for an evaluation period of up to 14 days. After that time, you are required to purchase a license for continued use of the software or else stop using it. You may freely copy and distribute evaluation copies of StepUp'98 provided that all conditions specified in the distribution license are satisfied (please see the distribution license in the VENDINFO.DIZ file.) What's the difference between Evaluation and Licensed versions? There is NO functional difference between the evaluation and licensed versions of this software (except for the registration reminders, displayed by the evaluation version after the evaluation period has ended). Actually, it's the same program: you may convert an evaluation copy into a registered copy by entering your name and a valid registration code. Similarly, a registered copy of the program may be unregistered by deleting the registration code or by just copying the program to another computer. Evaluation copies of our products are 100% fully functional. We make them this way so you can have a real look at them to decide whether or not they fit your needs. Please understand that if you fail to register, and continue to use StepUp'98 beyond the evaluation period without paying for it, don't expect the program to maintain its original functionality: some features may become disabled. If you need more time to decide whether you want to keep the program, we'll give you an opportunity to extend the evaluation period. However, we cannot afford to let you use the program without compensation. In addition, it is unfair to our customers who do register to use the program. We appreciate your understanding of this policy. What do you get when you purchase a license for StepUp'98 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. A unique Registration Code, allowing you to remove the registration reminders and put your name, or the name of your organization, on the "About StepUp'98" screen. 2. The privilege to upgrade to all future versions of StepUp'98 FREE of charge. 3. FREE 90-day customer support. The following items are not available when you order via the registration web page (but in this case you are not charged for shipping, either): 4. Disk with the latest version of StepUp'98 and information about other our products. 5. FREE Compuserve membership with a $15.00 usage credit. This is more than enough online time to have your technical support questions answered, and still have some fun! How to purchase a license for use of StepUp'98 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ StepUp'98 is licensed on the 'per-user', not a 'per-computer' basis. This means that you may purchase a single individual license and use StepUp'98 on more than one computer (for example, a desktop system and a notebook), provided that you are the only user of those computers and there is no possibility to use the Registered Copy of StepUp'98 by anybody else. On the other hand, if more than one person uses a computer, every such user must purchase an individual license for continued use of the software, or a site license for the total number of users accessing the computer must be obtained. Please refer to ORDER.TXT file for detailed instructions and order forms. You may order StepUp'98 online, with a credit card, through a secure web page. You may also order with a check or money order. Major credit cards accepted. You may also register via CompuServe. Purchase orders from companies accepted. Please refer to ORDER.TXT for more information. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 157-F Love Ave., Greenwood, IN 46142 USA, FAX 317-888-2195, or send email to omb@asp-shareware.org. ____________________________________________________________________ 5. Obtaining updates to the software ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The latest evaluation versions of all our products can be downloaded from our web site: http://www.winability.com An evaluation version may be converted into the licensed version by entering a valid registration code. If for some reason you cannot access our site, please try the following alternative sites (some of them may not carry the latest versions of our products): http://www.pik.com (Pik A Program, Inc.) http://www.a-direct.com (Author-Direct Service) http://www.simtel.net/simtel.net (Simtel.Net) http://www.winsite.com (WinSite Archive) http://www.zdnet.com (Ziff-Devis Interactive) CompuServe: GO PIKAPROG, or WINSHARE, or WINUTIL, or WINUSER ___________________________________________________________________ 6. Getting customer support ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Before requesting customer support, *PLEASE* check out the on-line Help for StepUp'98. In particular, be sure to look through the following sections: "Answers to Frequently Asked Questions" "Known problems and limitations" If you cannot find the information you need in the documentation, then choose the support option that's right for you: a) For TECHNICAL questions -- about program features, bug reports, suggestions on improving the program, etc. -- please contact the author of StepUp'98, Andrei Belogortseff, directly via e-mail at: Internet: support@winability.com In your message, please include information about versions of Windows and StepUp'98 you are using and a detailed description of the problem. A reproducible sequence of steps leading to the problem would be of most help. Please do not send any files to this address unless you have been instructed to do so. b) For NON-TECHNICAL questions -- about the status of your order, sales terms, pricing and discount information, etc. -- please contact the authorized dealer at: Pik A Program, Inc. Telephone (212) 598-4939 13 Saint Marks Place Fax (212) 228-5879 New York, NY 10003 CompuServe: GO PIKAPROG USA Internet: mailto:sales@pik.com http://www.pik.com ____________________________________________________________________ WinAbility.Com and its logo, WinAbility, ChaoSoft, and "The Way Software Should Be" are trademarks of WinAbility.Com. Pik A Program is a trademark of Pik A Program, Inc. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other product names may be registered or unregistered trademarks/tradenames of their respective owners.