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- A U T O C O N
- Version 2.0
- February 11, 1991
-
- by
- Larry Weaver
-
-
- Copyright (c) 1989-91 Larry Weaver
-
- P.O. Box 2639
- Weaverville CA 96093-2639
- (916) 623-5045 / (916) 623-5009
-
- BBS : (916) 623-4455
-
-
-
-
- _______
- ____|__ | (tm)
- --| | |-------------------
- | ____|__ | Association of
- | | |_| Shareware
- |__| o | Professionals
- -----| | |---------------------
- |___|___| MEMBER
-
-
- AUTOCON
-
- Introduction
-
- Definitions:
-
- In order to describe AutoCon, I need to establish a couple of
- definitions. When I use the word "reconfigure", I mean the
- process of updating the AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files on the
- boot drive, followed by an optional reboot of the system.
-
- When I use the word "configuration", I am referring to an
- AUTOEXEC/CONFIG combination held in a record of AutoCon's
- database. You will use AutoCon to set up these combinations, and
- give each of them a familiar name.
-
- The ^ symbol denotes the Control key, so ^F3 means hitting the
- Control and the F3 key at the same time. Alt denotes the Alt key
- (tricky, huh?), so that AltR means hitting the Alt and the R key
- at the same time.
-
-
- Description:
-
- AutoCon is essentially a database manager for your AUTOEXEC.BAT
- and CONFIG.SYS files. It enables you to keep up to fifty
- different configurations, and to change easily between those
- configurations.
-
- The first time you run AutoCon, it will create a file named
- AUTOCON.DAT. That file will contain five configuration records.
- Each record will contain a copy of the AUTOEXEC.BAT and
- CONFIG.SYS files from the C: drive. The records are initially
- named AUTOCON01 - AUTOCON05. When you set up a configuration for
- a specific purpose, you can change the name to reflect that
- purpose (something like Win3 for a Microsoft Windows
- configuration, and SDOS for a simple DOS configuration). You can
- add more records by hitting the F3 key.
-
- AutoCon incorporates a full-screen editor to make it easy to
- change the AUTOEXEC/CONFIG records. The editor uses Turbo
- IDE/Sidekick/WS-compatible keystrokes. If you are not familiar
- with these, there is an on-line help file which details all the
- keystrokes. If you desire, you can change the editor keystrokes.
- The F6 key will pop up a key editor for this purpose.
-
- After you have established your records and names, you can
- reconfigure your system by entering the name of the new
- configuration on the command line. Typing "AutoCon Win3" would
- cause AutoCon to copy the AUTOEXEC and CONFIG fields of the
- record named Win3 into the boot drive as AUTOEXEC.BAT and
- CONFIG.SYS and optionally reboot the system.
-
- In the interactive mode, you can page through the records and
- reconfigure (using the current on-screen configuration) with a
- couple of keystrokes.
-
- The AutoCon package also includes a device driver which will
- allow you to select different configurations during the boot
- process. Using this method is optional, and you can switch
- between the two methods with a couple of key strokes.
-
- If you don't like the built-in editor, you can configure AutoCon
- to use a different one. The <Ctrl/F6> key combination will pop
- up a window asking for the name of the editor you wish to run.
- Since the configurations will eventually be used as AUTOEXEC.BAT
- and CONFIG.SYS files, the editor must be able to produce pure
- ASCII files. The <Shift/F6> key combination will cause AutoCon
- to switch back to the internal editor.
-
-
- Why AutoCon for Configuration Control:
-
- Three programs were initially responsible for the creation of
- AutoCon: the program I use to draw schematics, my scanner
- program, and the program I use to compile PAL equations. Each of
- those programs requires that various device drivers be loaded,
- and that almost 600k of memory be available after booting. When
- the computer is configured to run one of the three, neither of
- the other two will run; this is in addition to the fact that, if
- the computer is configured the way I like to work with it, _none_
- of the three will run. After driving myself crazy with various
- batch files, I decided to write a program to make it easy to
- change configurations.
-
- The above scenario is responsible for the default of five records
- in AutoCon. I had a regular configuration, the three special
- configurations, and one for experimentation. After I had worked
- with AutoCon for a few days, I told a few of my friends about the
- program and they wanted to try it. After some very positive
- feedback, I decided to try the program out in the Shareware
- community.
-
- An unexpected bonus of using AutoCon became evident when I
- started getting programs with automatic installation programs --
- you know, the ones that like to mess around with your AUTOEXEC
- and CONFIG files. Since the configurations are stored in a
- database, a change to the AUTOEXEC and CONFIG files doesn't
- necessarily cause a problem.
-
- I'll use Windows to demonstrate. When I got Windows, and saw
- what it was going to do to my system configuration, I used my
- "Simple" configuration to reconfigure my system. This
- configuration has only the basic stuff in it (path, prompt,
- files, and buffers). I then let Windows install itself. After
- the installation was finished, I called up AutoCon and created a
- new configuration containing the changes Windows had made. After
- playing with Windows for a while, I went back to my favorite DOS
- configuration in a matter of moments. Now, whenever I want to
- run Windows, I just type "AutoCon Win3" on the command line --
- and it's up and running!
-
-
- INSTALLING AUTOCON
-
- New Installation:
-
- To do a new installation of AutoCon, you need to copy four files
- (AUTOCON.EXE, AUTOCON.HLP, MENU.CTL, and MENUNUM.COM) to your
- hard disk. It doesn't really matter which subdirectory you copy
- them into, as long as it's included in the PATH statement. If
- you like to have files relating to booting up (such as device
- drivers) in your root directory, then MENU.CTL and MENUNUM.COM
- should be placed there, otherwise all four files may be placed in
- the same subdirectory. When AutoCon is started, it will first
- look in the current subdirectory for its Help and data files. If
- they are not there, then AutoCon (if you are using DOS 3.3+) will
- search the subdirectory it was started from. If they are not
- _there_, then AutoCon will search the PATH. As long as the Help
- and data files are in the PATH (or in the subdirectory AutoCon
- was started from - DOS 3.3+), AutoCon can be installed in any
- subdirectory.
-
- After you have copied the file, change to the subdirectory
- AUTOCON.EXE was copied to, and type "AutoCon" <Enter>. You will
- now be in the interactive mode, pointing to the name of the first
- configuration. This first configuration is a special one to
- AutoCon. Several of the default parameters are stored in this
- configuration. When you make changes to the first record, you
- will be asked whether you want to copy those changes across all
- the records.
-
- IMPORTANT: If you are currently using a disk cache program that
- buffers disk writes (PC-KWIK and PCTOOLS are two that I know of),
- you need to set up AutoCon to flush the cache before it reboots.
- Hit the F4 key, select "Yes", then enter the command (include the
- path if necessary) that causes your cache program to flush its
- buffers. In the case of PC-KWIK, it is the PC-KWIK program name
- followed by /F. AutoCon will execute this program before
- reconfiguring.
-
- AutoCon is now installed, and ready to use.
-
-
- Update:
-
- The new capabilities of AutoCon require a change to the
- AUTOCON.DAT file, so if you are updating to V2.0 of AutoCon you
- have a little more to do: you need to copy the same four files
- mentioned above to the subdirectory where the older version of
- AutoCon (which will be overwritten) is installed. There is
- another new file in the AutoCon package called ACONVERT.EXE. You
- need to change to the subdirectory where AUTOCON.DAT resides,
- then run the ACONVERT program. This program will rename
- AUTOCON.DAT to AUTOCON.SAV, then convert the file structure to
- work under AutoCon V2.0. After you run ACONVERT.EXE, you no
- longer need the ACONVERT.EXE file, so it can be deleted.
-
- The editor has a few new capabilities which will not be available
- until you change the editor keys. Call up AutoCon, then hit the
- F6 key. If you have never changed the keys, hit <Alt/R>, and
- answer "Yes" to restoring the default keystrokes. If you have
- changed the keystrokes, page down to the bottom of the key list;
- you will see that there are some new keys that need to be
- defined.
-
- MENU.CTL & MENUNUM.COM
-
- The addition of these two files to the AutoCon package changes
- its capabilities so much that I decided to skip versions 1.5 -
- 1.9 and go directly to version 2.0. MENU.CTL is a device driver
- which modifies the way a CONFIG.SYS file is processed by DOS. It
- allows AutoCon to set up a menu selection system which can be
- activated during the boot process. There are both advantages and
- disadvantages to this capability; the major advantage is that you
- can pick the configuration you want to use during the boot
- process.
-
- The major disadvantage is that your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT
- files become quite nonstandard. If you want four choices to be
- available to you during the boot, then all four configurations
- must be embedded in the AUTOEXEC and CONFIG files. Programs like
- Optimize (QEMM utility) will get very confused trying to work
- with these files; most automatic installation programs will not
- be able to work with them, either.
-
- I've designed AutoCon to be able to switch between the boot menu
- mode and the normal mode with just a couple of keystrokes; this
- should provide the best of both worlds. When a program like
- Optimize (or perhaps the Windows installation program) needs to
- work with your AUTOEXEC and CONFIG files, change to the single
- configuration mode. After the program is finished, call up
- AutoCon, save the results in one of your configurations, and go
- back to the menu mode.
-
-
- MENU.CTL:
- AutoCon handles all the nitty-gritty details of interfacing to
- MENU.CTL. The only thing you have to do is make sure that
- MENU.CTL and MENUNUM.COM are in a subdirectory included in the
- PATH statement. To set up MENU.CTL, start AutoCon in the
- interactive mode (just type "AUTOCON" <Enter>), then hit the
- <Alt/M> key combination; this will pop up a configuration menu.
- Select the configurations you want in the boot-up menu by moving
- the highlite bar over the ones you want, and hit the Enter key.
- The selected configurations will have a check mark in the first
- column. When you've finished selecting configurations, hit the
- Escape key. AutoCon will then ask how many seconds you want to
- delay (see the following note). Enter a number from 0 to 9.
-
- You will now be back in the main interactive screen. Hit the F2
- key to reconfigure the system using MENU.CTL(the current record
- will be made the boot default record -- if it was not one of the
- selected records, it will be added to the default list). The next
- time you boot, MENU.CTL will take control of the CONFIG.SYS file.
- If you hit a key in the default time, you will be able to choose
- from the configurations you selected.
-
- To go back to a single configuration, start AutoCon in the
- interactive mode, and hit the <Alt/S> key combination. Hit the
- F2 key, and reconfigure with the configuration currently on the
- screen.
-
- You will always be able to tell which mode AutoCon is in by
- looking at the bottom line on the screen in the interactive mode.
- If it says MENU.CTL you are in (boot) Menu mode, and if it says
- SINGLE you are in Single Mode.
-
- Time:
- When you select Menu mode, you will be asked to select how many
- seconds to wait during the boot process; you may enter from 0
- (the default) to 9. If you select 0, when you see the line that
- starts with MENU.CTL V1.0 you will have about a second to hit a
- key. If you do hit a key in this time, the menu selection will
- be placed on the screen.
-
- If you select any number except 0, you will get the following
- message on the screen during the boot process:
-
- Press any key if you wish to modify the
- CONFIG.SYS configuration.
- Press Esc for quick bypass of MENU.CTL
-
- In either case, if no key is hit in the default time, the default
- configuration will be selected and the boot process will
- continue. If a key is hit, the menu choices will be placed on
- the screen and you will be able to choose the one you want with
- the arrow keys. The one the arrow is pointing to when the Enter
- key is hit will be the one used for the configuration process.
-
-
- XMAEM.SYS:
- I don't have DOS 4.0, so I don't really have experience with this
- device driver. From reading PC Magazine, I know that DOS
- processes this device driver out of sequence in the CONFIG.SYS
- file. As a consequence, MENU.CTL will not be able to control it.
- If you use this device driver, you must follow this rule: only
- one of the configurations in your menu selection may have the
- DEVICE=XMAEM.SYS line in it. If this leads to too much of a
- problem, let me know and I'll work something else out.
-
-
- CONFIG:
- When you switch to the Menu mode, AutoCon will do all of the work
- for you. It will take your selected configurations (up to 8) and
- create the AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files that will allow you
- to choose during the boot process. If you look at the CONFIG.SYS
- file that has been set up for a boot menu, you will see all the
- selected CONFIG fields embedded in the files with DEVICE=MENU.CTL
- at the beginning of the file. When MENU.CTL is processed by DOS,
- it will take over and allow you to choose the configuration you
- want. After you choose, MENU.CTL will leave the chosen
- configuration intact and disable the rest.
-
- If you are using DOS 4.0+, MENU.CTL disables by changing the
- CONFIG.SYS commands to remarks. If you are using DOS 3.3 or
- below, it will disable the commands by turning them into
- BREAK=OFF commands. As a consequence, if you are using a DOS
- below 4.0, you will need to make a couple of changes to your
- CONFIG commands. In order to have the room to convert the
- LASTDRIVE, FILES, and BUFFERS commands, you will need to make the
- lines longer.
-
- I do this by adding an * at the end of the line, as follows:
- LASTDRIVE=M: * BUFFERS=10 * FILES=50 *
-
- If you don't do this, these commands will be disabled by making
- them unrecognized. This doesn't cause a problem: you will just
- see a lot of "Unrecognized command in CONFIG.SYS" lines coming
- out during the boot process.
-
- Note: AutoCon will also change "Unrecognized" commands to
- BREAK=OFF commands if there is room. This will allow you to
- freely place REM statements in your CONFIG.SYS file (as long as
- you use MENU mode).
-
- If you want BREAK=ON, you will have to add it to your AUTOEXEC
- fields.
-
- AUTOEXEC:
- The AUTOEXEC.BAT file will also contain all the selected
- configurations AUTOEXEC fields. At the beginning of the file
- will be MENUNUM.COM. This program will interrogate MENU.CTL and
- find which configuration was chosen. MENUNUM will set ERRORLEVEL
- to match the chosen menu, and an "If" statement will cause the
- associated AUTOEXEC to be chosen.
-
- UNRECOGNIZED COMMANDS - DOS 3.3:
- DOS 3.3 CONFIG.SYS files have a potential problem (this will
- probably occur in all versions of DOS, but I only have 3.3 to
- work with). If you enter the following two lines in your
- CONFIG.SYS file
-
- REM
- DEVICE=ANSI.SYS
-
- ANSI.SYS will not get loaded. Both lines will be turned into an
- "Unrecognized command". This is just something that DOS does,
- and there is nothing an outside program can do about it.
-
- Do not end a CONFIG field with an Unrecognized command. If you
- do, the following command will also be Unrecognized, and will
- definately mess up the processing of the CONFIG.SYS file.
-
- CAUTION: When you start playing around with the Menu mode, be very
- careful when updating or creating a configuration. If you read
- in an AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS file which has been set up for
- MENU mode, it will contain a lot of commands which will cause
- problems if you use it in a reconfiguration. It would be much
- better to copy one of the other configurations and not update
- from the AUTOEXEC and CONFIG files.
-
- If you have managed to read and save such a configurations, you
- will need to edit and remove the extra statements inserted by
- AutoCon. It it is not obvious to you by looking at the AUTOEXEC
- and CONFIG fields which statements these are, then do not attempt
- to edit the field, simply copy one of the other configurations.
-
- Magazine Article:
- Just as a side note, during the development of MENU.CTL I created
- a simpler device driver and decided it would make a good subject
- for a magazine article (similar to PC Magazine's CONFIG.CTL
- device driver). I wrote it up, and it was published in the Sept.
- 1991 issue of Tech Specialist.
-
-
-
- NAVIGATING AUTOCON
-
-
- Okay, now you have AutoCon installed; how do you use it? Starting
- with version 2.0, the interactive front screen of AutoCon can be
- navigated with a pull-down menu. If you need to do something and
- can't remember the keystroke combination to get there, use the
- menu to find it. On the right of each menu entry is the shortcut
- key combination to perform the same operation. I am going to
- define the navigation keys in the form of the pull-down menu.
-
- DataBase Maintainence (Records <Alt/R>)
-
- Previous/Next, browse records:
- PgUp/PgDn allows you to page through the records one at a time.
-
- pIck Record:
- F10 pops up a pick-list of all the configurations, and allows
- you to choose one and make it current.
-
- Create Record:
- F3 creates a new record, and copies the control structure from
- record 1 and the data from the current AUTOEXEC and CONFIG
- files.
-
- Delete Record:
- ^F3 deletes the current configuration record. Note that you
- cannot delete record number 1, nor can you delete below the
- default 5 records.
-
- Read Files:
- F7 will cause the current record to be updated with the
- contents of the AUTOEXEC and CONFIG files.
-
- Read file into AUTOEXEC (rd Auto ^F8):
- ^F8 will pop up a window asking for a file name to read into
- the AUTOEXEC field. In you enter wildcards, a list of file
- names will be popped up to choose from. The AUTOEXEC field of
- the current record will be replaced by the contents of the
- chosen file.
-
- Read file into CONFIG (rd confiG ^F9):
- ^F9 will pop up a window asking for a file name to read into
- the CONFIG field. In you enter wildcards, a list of file names
- will be popped up to choose from. The CONFIG field of the
- current record will be replaced by the contents of the chosen
- file.
-
- Configure and continue:
- ^K^D will cause all current changes to be saved. In other
- words, it will rewrite the AUTOCON.DAT file, the AUTOEXEC.BAT
- file, and the CONFIG.SYS file.
-
- Change BAT drive:
- F8 will pop up a window to allow you to change the file the
- AUTOEXEC field of a configuration is written too. The default
- name is C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT.
-
- Change SYS drive:
- F8 will pop up a window to allow you to change the file the
- CONFIG field of a configuration is written to. The default
- name is C:\CONFIG.SYS.
-
- cOmpare:
- <Alt/=> will compare the current configuration with the
- contents of the current AUTOEXEC and CONFIG files. It should
- be noted that, if you are using the MENU.CTL device driver
- option, this comparison will probably not be applicable.
-
- boot Type:
- F5 will pop up a window to allow you to change the boot type
- associated with a configuration. The choices are Warm, Cold,
- None, and External.
-
- Flush:
- F4 will pop up a window that will allow you to associate a
- cache Flush command with the current configuration record. This
- is necessary when the cache used in the configuration does a
- write cache operation (PC-KWIK and PCTOOLS both default to this
- configuration).
-
- cLone:
- <Alt/C> will allow you to clone (or copy) the contents/control
- of one of the other configurations to the current
- configuration. It will pop up a pick list of all of the
- existing configurations, and allow you to pick the one to copy
- from.
-
- If you are using the AutoCon environment variable, you will
- need to edit the AUTOEXEC file, and make sure the correct name
- is used.
-
- Update:
- ^K^S will save all current record changes to the AUTOCON.DAT
- database file. Note that it will not update the AUTOEXEC and
- CONFIG Files. You must use ^K^D for that.
-
- rEstore:
- ^K^R will abandon all changes you have made (since the last
- AUTOCON.DAT save) and reload the database records from the
- AUTOCON.DAT file.
-
-
- Boot Operation (Boot <Alt/B>):
-
- Single:
- <Alt/S> configures AUTOCON to use only the current record for
- reconfiguration purposes.
-
- Menu:
- <Alt/M> configures AutoCon to use MENU.CTL in conjunction with
- MENUNUM.COM to set up a selection menu to be used during the
- boot process. A pick list of the current configurations will
- be popped up, and you will be able to choose up to eight
- default configurations to be included. After you have chosen
- the eight, you will be asked how many seconds to delay during
- the boot process. If a number other than 0 is entered, a
- message will be placed on the screen during the boot process,
- and MENU.CTL will wait that many seconds for a key to be hit.
-
-
-
- Editor options (Editor <Alt/E>):
-
- Internal:
- <Shift/F6> configures the current configuration to use the
- internal editor.
-
- External:
- ^F6 configures the current configuration to use an external
- editor. A window will pop up asking for the editor's name. You
- may include a path in the name, but you must include the
- extension (e.g., WORD.EXE or C:\WORD\WORD.EXE). The next time
- you edit the AUTOEXEC or CONFIG field for this record, if the
- external editor can be found it will be used. If it can't be
- found, AutoCon will switch back to the internal editor.
-
- After the external editor has been installed, it will be used
- to edit the AUTOEXEC and CONFIG fields from the main screen.
- When you move the cursor to the AUTOEXEC or CONFIG field and
- press enter, AutoCon will copy the current record to the
- current subdirectory as XYZXYZZ.XYZ (the current subdirectory
- must contain at least 4k of disk space). AutoCon then shells
- to DOS with the editor name and filename on the command line
- (e.g., WS.EXE XYZXYZZ.XYZ). When you exit your editor, AutoCon
- should restart. It will copy the XYZXYZZ.XYZ file into the
- AUTOEXEC field of the current record and delete the XYZXYZZ.XYZ
- file from the subdirectory.
-
-
- CAUTION!! Just to make sure there is no problem with your
- editor, create a new record and work with it first, before
- taking the chance of harming one of your current records. You
- may want to make a copy of your AUTOCON.DAT file and store it
- in a safe place until you've verified the operation of the new
- release. In fact, you should always keep a backup copy of
- AUTOEXEC.DAT.
-
-
- Install Keys:
- F6 will pop up a window that will allow you to change the
- keystrokes used in the internal editor. F6 may also be used
- while in the internal editor to see exactly which key performs
- which function.
-
- Save Keys:
- This function is really added for future action (though it is
- fully functional in this release). When I get my BBS working,
- I will ask people who have changed AutoCon's keystrokes (to
- match another editor) to save the keystrokes and send them to
- me, as trade for a free upgrade. These keystroke files will
- then allow you to change the AutoCon editor keystrokes to match
- the editor you're used to, with almost no effort.
-
- Get Keys:
- This function will allow you to change AutoCon's editor
- keystrokes quickly by reading in a keystroke file.
-
-
- coLors <Alt/L>:
-
- Frame:
- <Alt/F1> pops up a color pick window which allows you to change
- the color of the frames drawn around the windows on the main
- interactive screen.
-
- Frame Text:
- <Alt/F2> pops up a color pick window which allows you to change
- the color of the text in the windows on the main screen.
-
- Background:
- <Alt/F3> pops up a color pick window which allows you to change
- the color of the text and/or background of the main screen.
-
- Field:
- <Alt/F4> pops up a color pick window which allows you to change
- the color of the fields that get updated on the screen, the
- configuration name, the date and time, the record number, and
- the select boxes.
-
- Prompt:
- <Alt/F5> pops up a color pick window which allows you to change
- the color of the current select box. This is the color of the
- main screen select item that the cursor is positioned to.
-
- Edit Text:
- <Alt/F6> pops up a color pick window which allows you to change
- the color of the text used in the editor.
-
- Marked Text:
- <Alt/F7> pops up a color pick window which allows you to change
- the color of the text used to show marked blocks in the editor.
-
- Ctrl Text:
- <Alt/F8> pops up a color pick window which allows you to change
- the color used to show control characters (value < 20 hex) in
- the edit text.
-
- Menu Frame:
- This menu item allows you to change the color of the frame
- around the pulldown menus. Note that there is no hotkey.
-
- Menu Text:
- This menu item allows you to change the color of menu items in
- the pulldown menus. Note that there is no hotkey.
-
- Menu Select:
- This menu item allows you to change the color of the currently
- selected item in the pulldown menus. Note that there is no
- hotkey.
-
- Menu Hi-lite:
- This menu item allows you to change the color of the Hi-lited
- select character in the pulldown menus. Note that there is no
- hotkey.
-
- Default:
- <Alt/F10> pops up a color pick window which allows you to
- change all configurable colors back to the defaults. If your
- screen goes black, hit <Alt/F10> followed by the Y key, and you
- may be able to see the screen again.
-
-
- Quit <Alt/Q>:
-
- Configure:
- F2 reconfigures the system. It will save any record changes in
- the database file, and create new AUTOEXEC and CONFIG files. It
- will then perform the requested reboot.
-
- Reboot:
- This menu item will cause any record changes to be saved in the
- database file, and force the default reboot action. Note that
- there is no hotkey.
-
- Exit:
- This menu item will save any record changes in the database
- file and exit without any reboot action -- a rough equivalent
- to hitting the ESC key.
-
- Abandon/Exit:
- ^K^Q will cause any current record changes to be abandoned, and
- AutoCon will exit without any reboot action.
-
-
- Keys not in the Menu:
-
- <Alt/V>:
- This key combination will show you the DOS screen as it was
- when AutoCon was activated.
-
-
-
-
- COMMAND LINE OPTIONS
-
- Environment:
- For AutoCon to work correctly with the command-line commands, it
- will need to know which configuration was used for the last boot-
- up. There is only one sure way for AutoCon to get this
- information: if you are using the Menu mode, MENU.CTL will be
- able to tell AutoCon which configuration was chosen.
-
- If you are using the Single mode, to make sure that AutoCon knows
- which configuration was used to boot, you need to add a line to
- your AUTOEXEC fields. The line is as follows:
-
- SET AUTOCON=<Configuration Name>
-
- in which "configuration name" is the name that shows up on the
- front screen in the interactive mode. To make it very easy, a
- new key- stroke command was added to the editor. The default key
- is <Alt/E>. Place your cursor at the position in the AUTOEXEC
- field where your other SET commands are located, and press the
- <Alt/E> combination. AutoCon will insert the proper line in the
- file.
-
-
- Reconfigure:
- To reconfigure from the command line, type
-
- AUTOCON <update name> <enter>
- [e.g., AUTOCON WIN3 <enter>]
-
- on the command line. As long as AUTOCON.EXE and AUTOCON.DAT are
- in the path, the configuration will be updated, and your system
- will be rebooted (depending on the current boot choice).
-
- Alternatively (if you don't want to type the update name), if you
- type AUTOCON / <enter>
-
- AutoCon will pop up a pick list of your configurations, and you
- can use the arrow keys to pick a reboot configuration.
-
- If the update name is the same as the last boot name (see note
- above), you will be asked if you really want to do the update.
-
-
- Configuration Inquiry:
- Typing AUTOCON /? will cause AutoCon to display the name it
- thinks is the current configuration.
-
- This will be most accurate if Menu mode is active. It should
- also be quite accurate if each AUTOEXEC field has the correct
- "SET AUTOCON=" command in it.
-
- If neither of the above applies, it will tell you which command
- was last used to configure the AUTOEXEC and CONFIG files, which
- may not be the configuration that was used for the last boot.
-
-
- Specific Update:
- Typing AUTOCON /<update name> <enter>
- [e.g., AUTOCON /WIN3 <enter>]
-
- will cause the named configuration to be updated from the current
- C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT and C:\CONFIG.SYS files (or your selected BAT and
- SYS filenames). If MENU.CTL is in use, you will be asked if this
- is really what you want to do.
-
- Generic Update:
- For those of you who like to live dangerously (all of us from
- time to time?), typing "AUTOCON /*" will update the current
- configuration (the last one used to reconfigure) from the current
- C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT and C:\CONFIG.SYS files (or your selected
- filenames). This command will be ignored if the system was
- booted with MENU.CTL.
-
- Equal Check:
- Typing "AUTOCON /=" will report on whether or not the current
- configuration record is equal to the current record in the
- database.
-
- Batch File Errorlevel Check:
- Typing "AUTOCON/@<configuration name>" will set the Errorlevel to
- 1 if "<configuration name>" was the one used to boot the system.
- This function will set the errorlevel only: there will be nothing
- shown on the screen. For full accuracy, see the Environment note
- above.
-
-
-
- NOTES AND HINTS
-
-
-
- Editor Keys:
-
- I will be enhancing the editor in the next release, so I'm not
- going to expend a lot of energy on the Editor Help function in
- this one. To find which key does what when you are in the
- editor, hit F6 and you will see each action the editor is
- capable of and the key assigned to that action. You may also
- change the default keys while in this mode. The next release
- will add pulldown menus and a much better Help section to the
- editor.
-
- If you are unable to call up the Edit Key function while in the
- editor, go back to the main screen, hit F6 to pop up the key
- editor, hit END, and you will see a function called Install
- Editor Keys. Assign the default F6 key to this function -- or
- any other key you like. If you assign another key, the F6 key
- will still call up the editor from the main screen, and the
- assigned key will work inside the editor.
-
-
- Boot Notes:
-
- Versions of AutoCon before 2.0 allowed one boot choice for all
- configurations. From this version on, you will be able to
- select a boot choice for each configuration.
-
- AutoCon is initially configured with a warm (or soft) reboot.
- Some machines have a problem with the warm boot (usually those
- with a large hard disk, and a large hard-disk partition
- manager) and need a cold boot instead. If you have a reboot
- problem, hit F5 and change to a cold boot. This change will be
- saved in the AUTOCON.DAT file, and AutoCon will perform a cold
- boot (you'll see the memory being checked) in the future.
-
- Some hardware is so strange (or the software has put the CPU
- into such a strange state -- Windows 3 386Enhanced mode) that
- even a software cold boot doesn't suffice. If this is the
- case, then hit F5 and change to no boot. This last will
- require hitting <Ctrl/Alt/Del> after AutoCon is finished.
-
- A couple of add-in processor cards (plugging a 286 expansion
- card into an XT) come with their own reboot program, and some
- people have developed their own reboot utilities to handle
- special hardware and/or software needs. For these people,
- there is another choice for rebooting. They will need to hit
- F5 and change to an External Boot. You will need to enter the
- program name that performs your reboot.
-
-
- BAT and SYS Files:
-
- AutoCon is initially configured to copy the AUTOEXEC and CONFIG
- fields to the C drive. For various reasons, some people do
- their real boot from a drive other than C. The F8 key will
- allow you to change the designated drive (and file name) the
- AUTOEXEC field is copied too. The F9 key performs the same
- function for the CONFIG field. The new destination files will
- be saved to the AUTOCON.DAT file, and used in all future
- configurations until you change them again.
-
- LCD Users:
-
- If you have a computer with an LCD screen, set your mode to
- BW80 (this is mode 2 for you technical people) before starting
- AutoCon; that should make the screen show up better. If you
- prefer, you can start in color mode, and edit the colors to
- something you find suitable.
-
- Screen Information:
-
- When you are in the data-entry mode, you have some information
- on the screen. The top line has the current date and time, as
- well as the name and version of the program. The second line
- has the information on the current record, specifically the
- record number, and the date and time it was last changed. The
- middle of the screen has an area for notes, so that you can
- keep track of what this particular record is used for. The
- bottom two lines contain help information for the current mode.
-
- The %<number> on the bottom line of the note frame and of the
- edit frame indicates the how full the field is. An empty note
- field is 0% full. As you add note characters, the percentage
- will increase. (I've had some people ask.)
-
- The bottom line has some status information about the current
- defaults. The first word on the line will be MENU.CTL or
- SINGLE. This indicates whether you are using the device driver
- to select a configuration during the boot, or whether only a
- single configuration is available.
-
- The second word is either Internal or External; that indicates
- whether the internal or the external editor is to be used for
- this configuration. The next term is either Flush or No Flush;
- that indicates whether or not a Cache Flush command will be
- performed for this configuration. The Next word tells what
- type of boot will be performed for this configuration; the word
- will be either Warm, Cold, None, or External. There may or may
- not be a last word. If this record will be one of the default
- records used with MENU.CTL, then "Selected" will be written on
- the screen.
-
-
- Old Configurations:
- If you want to use some configurations you have already
- defined, and you are using the internal editor, you may read
- them in directly. While in the AUTOEXEC or CONFIG edit mode,
- if you hit F5 it will erase the contents of this field, but it
- checks with you first. If you then hit <Ctrl/K> <Enter>, you
- will be given a chance to enter a file name to read into the
- field. If you use wildcard notation, AutoCon will pop up a
- file list for you to choose from. The selected file name will
- then be read into the current field. Do one of the standard
- exit commands (<Alt/X>, <Ctrl/K><X>) and the field now contains
- the file.
-
- Do this for each of your current configurations, and you will
- now have the convenience of AutoCon with all your standard
- configurations.
-
- Alternately -- especially for those of you using an External
- editor -- you may read in a file from the main screen. The ^F8
- key combination will allow you to specify a file name to copy
- into the current AUTOEXEC field, and ^F9 performs the same
- function for the CONFIG field.
-
-
- LZEXE:
- A new program from France has shown up on the scene; it is
- called LZEXE. If you use it on AUTOCON.EXE, it will reduce the
- size about fifty percent. I am distributing the AUTOCON.EXE
- file in the LZEXE format. If you have an XT compatible
- machine, then AutoCon may run too slow for you in this format.
- If this is the case, you can use the program UNLZEXE to restore
- it to its uncompressed format. Both LZEXE and UNLZEXE are
- included as a bonus on the registered disk.
-
-
- PKLITE:
- Phil Katz has also written a program which will reduce the size
- of program files. It is also completely compatible with AutoCon.
-
- DIET:
- There is also a Japanese file compressor called DIET. AutoCon
- has also been tested and found compatible with DIET.
-
-
- LIMITATIONS
-
-
- What are the limitations? Well, first I'll tell you about the
- ones I know of, then you tell me about the ones that you find. If
- you do find bugs, please let me know immediately. I believe I
- have eradicated all of them, but only time will tell. Below I
- have listed my name on two systems (CompuServe and GEnie). By
- March 1, 1991 or sooner, I will have a support BBS in operation;
- the phone number is (916) 623-4455. I definitely want this
- program to be bulletproof.
-
- Each copy of the AUTOEXEC field is limited to 4k, each copy of
- the CONFIG field is limited to 2k, and the Notes are limited to
- 400 characters. I don't come anywhere close to those numbers,
- but you may. If those sizes are too small for you, I can easily
- change them. If no one complains, I will assume they are large
- enough.
-
- I have already made several changes due to user feedback (for
- instance, the original release didn't reboot, and could only
- handle five configurations), and I will consider any you suggest.
-
-
-
- FUTURE
-
- I think that AutoCon is maturing as a program, and that its
- direction is becoming clear. It has changed so much from the
- original release that I doubt anyone running version 1.0 would
- recognize it as the same program.
-
- Where is AutoCon going in the future? Well, I have several ideas
- in mind for enhancements. You will also have a hand in the
- future directions. I have discovered that I can't anticipate all
- of your needs. You will have to tell me what changes and
- enhancements you would most like to see.
-
- The biggest set of enhancements I have in mind will concern the
- editor. I had a lot of ideas for this release which did not pan
- out; you can check the Changes file for the reasons why. I will
- add a pulldown menu system to the editor, and give it
- split-screen capability.
-
- I hope to reduce the size as well. Now that AutoCon is approaching
- its final form, I can start to optimize a lot of the code in it.
-
-
- LICENSE
-
-
-
- This version of AutoCon is NOT public-domain nor free software,
- but is being distributed as shareware.
-
- AUTOCON is copyright (c) 1989-91 by Larry Weaver.
-
- Non-registered users of this software are granted a limited
- license to make an evaluation copy for trial use on a private,
- noncommercial basis, for the express purpose of determining
- whether AutoCon is suitable for their needs. At the end of this
- trial period, you should either register your copy or discontinue
- using AutoCon.
-
- What does all this really mean? If you use this program, then
- you should pay for your copy. That way I'll be able to provide
- you support and updates, and stay in business.
-
- An AutoCon registration entitles you to use the program on any
- and all computers available to you.
-
- All users are granted a limited license to copy AutoCon only for
- the trial use of others and subject to the above limitations.
- This license does NOT include distribution or copying of this
- software package
-
- (a.) in connection with any other product or service,
- (b.) for general use within a company or institution, or
- (c.) for distribution in modified form, i.e., the file containing
- this license information MUST be included, along with the
- full AutoCon documentation.
-
- Operators of electronic bulletin board systems (Sysops) are
- encouraged to post AutoCon for downloading by their users, as
- long as the above conditions are met.
-
- If you are the distributor of a public-domain or user-supported
- software library, you may be eligible to distribute copies of
- AutoCon. You must meet all the above conditions and acquire
- written permission from Larry Weaver before doing so, however.
- Please telephone or write for details.
-
-
- ASP Requirement
-
- The program author, Larry Weaver, is an active member of the
- Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). The 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 that member directly, ASP may be able to help. The
- ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an
- ASP member, but he does not provide technical support for
- members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at
- 545 Grover Road, Muskegon MI 49442, or send a CompuServe message
- via EASYPLEX to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.
-
-
- DISCLAIMER
-
- Larry Weaver hereby disclaims all warranties relating to this
- product, whether express or implied, including without limitation
- any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a
- particular purpose. Larry Weaver cannot and will not be liable
- for any special, incidental, consequential, indirect, or similar
- damages due to loss of data or any other reason, even if Larry
- Weaver or an authorized Larry Weaver agent has been advised of
- the possibility of such damages. In no event shall the liability
- for any damages ever exceed the price paid for the license to use
- this software, regardless of the form and/or extent of the claim.
- The user of this program bears all risk as to the quality and
- performance of the software. Use of this program acknowledges
- this disclaimer of warranty.
-
-
-
- ORDERING INFORMATION
-
- An AutoCon registration licenses you to use the product on a
- regular basis. Users need register only one version of AutoCon;
- registration includes licensed use of all upgrades. Registered
- users can always get the current version of the program at a
- nominal fee ($8.00 as of this writing) by calling or writing
- Larry Weaver. Individual registrations for AutoCon cost only
- $15.
-
- CORPORATE SITE LICENSES AND QUANTITY PURCHASES
-
- All corporate, business, government, or other commercial users of
- AutoCon must be registered. A site license is available for a
- one-time charge of $120.00 for the first one hundred (or fewer)
- users/machines fewer) and $100 for each additional one hundred
- (or fewer) users/machines.
-
- Note: with a site license (if you also purchase the upgrade),
- only one copy of the program will be sent. You will be
- responsible for distributing additional copies.
-
- ALL PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
-
-
- Please use the enclosed order form when placing an order, or print
- out the file REGISTER.PRN.
-
- Even if you don't register, how about some feedback?
-
- You can reach me as
- 72460,3072 on CompuServe, or as
- L.WEAVER1 on GEnie,
- (916) 623-4455 -- Support BBS (after March 1, 1991).
-
- ------------------- REGISTRATION ----------------------
-
- Please support AutoCon!
- Thank you for your support.
-
- Remit To: Larry Weaver
- P.O. Box 2639
- Weaverville CA 96093-2639
-
- ---------------------------
-
- You must check one registration option, and one disk option!
-
- ---------------------------
-
- _
- |_| AutoCon Standard registration ($15.00 -- no disk sent) $______
- _
- |_| AutoCon Site License and Registration (no disk sent)
- $120.00 for the first 100 (or fewer) users or machines
- 100.00 for each additional 100 (or fewer) users or machines $______
-
- ---------------------------
- _
- |_| AutoCon Upgrade to the newest version ($8.00; $10.00 foreign) $______
- Registered users only
- _
- |_| Subscription plan for REGISTERED users ($21.00; $26.00 foreign) $______
- (Receive the next three updates of AutoCon, as they
- become available. This fee is in addition to the
- $15.00 or $120.00 registration.)
-
- ---------------------------
- _
- |_| Printed Manual ($8.00) $______
- If you desire, I will print out the AUTOCON.DOC file and
- send it to you. You can achieve the same results by printing
- it out yourself, but several people seem to want this.
-
- ---------------------------
-
- "Foreign" means outside the USA and Canada; the extra charge covers postage.
- _ _
- Payment by: |_| Check or |_| Money Order enclosed.
-
- TOTAL in USA Funds. Foreign checks OK; use the current exchange rate $______
- _ _
- Disk Type: |_| 5 1/4" (normally sent); |_| 3 1/2" required
-
- Name ___________________________________________________________________
-
- Address ___________________________________________________________________
-
- ___________________________________________________________________
-
- ___________________________________________________________________
-
-
- Day Phone: _________________________ Eve: ______________________
-
- Compuserve ID: _____________________
-
- _
- Invoice Required |_| P. O. Number: ______________________
-
- ------------------------ User comments -------------------------
- I acquired AutoCon V2.0 from
- [ ] - Friend [ ] - Software product
- [ ] - Computer Club [ ] - Computer Store
- [ ] - Data Base Service [ ] - Support BBS
- [ ] - Electronic BBS - Please give phone no. _____________
- [ ] - Other (please specify) ___________________________
-
- I would also appreciate any input you would care to provide
- concerning AutoCon. If you have any ideas or comments which would
- make AutoCon a better program, please let me know.
-
- I value your comments!
-
- Comments and/or suggestions:
- ________________________________________________________________
-
- ________________________________________________________________
-
- ________________________________________________________________
-
- ________________________________________________________________
-
- ________________________________________________________________
-
- ________________________________________________________________
-
- ________________________________________________________________
-
- ________________________________________________________________
-
- ________________________________________________________________
-
- ________________________________________________________________
-
- ________________________________________________________________
-
- ________________________________________________________________
-
- ________________________________________________________________
-
-
-
-
-