JP Software Take Command for Windows -- Shareware README Version 1.02 -- April 17, 1996 Copyright 1988 - 1996, JP Software Inc., All Rights Reserved. Published by JP Software Inc., P.O. Box 1470, E. Arlington, MA 02174 USA, (617) 646-3975. 4DOS is a registered trademark and 4OS2, Take Command, and Take Command/32 are trademarks of JP Software Inc. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Greetings, and thanks for trying Take Command! This file contains a variety of information you should read before using Take Command, including: * About this Version * Important usage notes * Introduction to Take Command * Technical support * Take Command for 4DOS users * Bulletin board support * Take Command files * Shareware and ASP policies * Installation instructions If you have tried a shareware copy of Take Command and want to place an order, see the product and ordering information in the file ORDERINF.DOC, or call us at (800) 368-8777 (USA only, orders only please!) or (617) 646-3975. An order form is included separately in the file ORDER.FRM. JP Software also offers a complete 32-bit version of Take Command for Windows NT users; 4DOS, 4OS2, and 4DOS for Windows NT -- our award-winning character mode command processors for DOS, OS/2, and Windows NT; and many other complementary products. For complete installation instructions, see page 5. The license agreement which governs your use of Take Command is included separately in the file LICENSE.DOC. Please read it before ordering. The text is written in plain English, and clearly explains your rights and responsibilities as a user of Take Command. For more information on the shareware system under which you obtained Take Command see page 9, 10. This file, like all our ASCII documentation files, is formatted at 58 lines per page, and contains form feeds and page footers. It can be viewed with a file viewer such as the Take Command LIST command, or printed on most PC printers using the command: copy readme.doc prn Printing it with a program that formats the pages is not likely to work due to the formatting included in the file. TCMD 1.02 [04-17-96] README.DOC page 1 (04/96-1.02) TCMD 1.02 [04-17-96] README.DOC page 2 About this version Version 1.02 is a maintenance release of Take Command/16. It contains minor changes and bug fixes. For a complete list of changes, see UPDAT102.DOC. This release coincides with similar maintenance releases of our other command processors: 4DOS 5.52, 4OS2 2.52, 4DOS/NT 2.52, and Take Command/32 1.02. Introduction to Take Command This section and the next are excerpted from the Take Command Introduction and Installation Guide (in the file TCMD.DOC). See that file for additional details on how Take Command works and how to install and use it (brief installation instructions are also included on page 5 of this file). [A note about our product name: JP Software also offers a 32-bit version of Take Command for Windows NT and Windows 95, and may produce versions for other platforms in the future. Except where we specifically say otherwise, in all Take Command/16 documentation the terms "Take Command" and "Take Command/16" are used interchangeably to refer to the 16-bit version of Take Command for Microsoft Windows 3.1 and above] We developed Take Command to bring the power and convenience of our popular 4DOS and 4OS2 programs to Windows users. Whether you are a computer novice or an experienced user, Take Command will help you get the most out of your Windows system. You're probably already familiar with graphical applications running under Windows, and with the command line, but you may not be used to seeing them combined in one product. We designed Take Command to give you the best of both worlds. You'll probably find it most useful when you need to perform tasks like managing your hard disk, scripting a series of steps with an alias or batch file, or starting applications under Windows. There are graphical utilities that perform some of these tasks, but often you may find it more convenient or productive to perform them from the command line. Take Command itself uses fewer resources than starting a DOS session to run 4DOS or COMMAND.COM for these tasks, and unlike a DOS session, it looks and feels like the other Windows programs you use. Take Command also offers a host of features that couldn't exist at all in a DOS command-line utility. For example you can pop up simple dialogs from a batch file, pass keystrokes to Windows applications, use a Windows-based dialog to find files or text on any of your disks, or configure Take Command with dialogs instead of editing an .INI file. TCMD 1.02 [04-17-96] README.DOC page 3 If you want full command-line control of Windows you can also use Take Command as your Windows shell, replacing Program Manager. When you use Take Command this way you can turn Windows into a completely command-based environment, and eliminate the use of graphical tools to start applications and manage files. This approach isn't for everyone, but if it's the way you like to work you'll find that Take Command is up to the task. Take Command for 4DOS Users If you're an experienced user of 4DOS, JP Software's replacement command processor for DOS, you'll find plenty of familiar features in Take Command. You'll also find a lot that s new and different. Because the underlying command processing in Take Command is based on 4DOS, you'll find the features of 4DOS are readily accessible. All the commands and switches you've used in 4DOS work the same way and have the same meaning in Take Command; the only exceptions are those that don't make sense in the Windows environment. Other 4DOS features are included as well -- Take Command supports command line editing, command and directory histories, aliases, .BTM files, and virtually all the other 4DOS features you already know. New in Take Command are Windows-related features, including: * A built-in scrollback buffer that lets you look back through the output from past commands. * A standard Windows menu bar for access to many commonly-used Take Command features. * A status bar showing memory and resource usage. * A customizable tool bar that gives you quick access to commands and applications. * Windows dialogs, accessible from the Configuration and Utilities menus, for editing environment variables, aliases, file descriptions, and startup parameters (the TCMD.INI file). * Direct access to Program Manager groups through the Applications menu. * High-speed, dialog-based file and text search. * Commands like ACTIVATE, MSGBOX, and QUERYBOX that allow you to use Windows features and control Windows applications from your batch files. * A new technology, called "Caveman," which you can use to run many DOS utilities in the Take Command window. TCMD 1.02 [04-17-96] README.DOC page 4 For more details on all of these features, see the Take Command for 4DOS Users topic in the online help. Files Included with Take Command 1.02 The following files are included with this version of Take Command: TCMD.EXE Take Command program file TCMD.DOC ASCII copy of the Take Command Introduction and Installation Guide TCMD.HLP Take Command help file TCMD.INI Skeleton Take Command initialization file TC16DLL.DLL DLL used to support the KEYSTACK command TCMDOS2.ICO Take Command icon for use under OS/2 2.x and above BATCOMP.EXE DOS-based batch file compression utility for use with Take Command CAVEMAN.386 "Caveman" virtual device to support DOS programs inside the Take Command window CTL3DV2.DLL Windows 3D controls DLL for use with Take Command LICENSE.DOC The Take Command shareware license agreement ORDER.FRM JP Software shareware and upgrade order forms ORDERINF.DOC Ordering and product information README.DOC This file SUPPORT.BBS Information on Channel 1, the independent BBS used for Take Command support SYSOP.DOC Take Command information for BBS sysops UPDAT102.DOC Information on changes in Take Command 1.02 VENDOR.DOC Take Command information for shareware disk vendors Installation Instructions (These instructions do not cover diskette installation, because when Take Command is installed from diskette this file is not visible until after installation is complete.) (1) To install Take Command on your system, first create a new directory for Take Command 1.02 (do not install it in the same directory as an earlier version of Take Command or any other JP Software product). The directory can be on any hard disk drive, and you can use any valid directory name. (2) Decompress your downloaded Take Command files into this directory. You can print any Take Command documentation file by copying it to the printer with the COPY command. TCMD 1.02 [04-17-96] README.DOC page 5 (3) Install CTL3DV2.DLL as follows. [CTL3DV2 is a Microsoft library which gives a 3-dimensional appearance to some elements of the Windows display, for programs that use it.] (a) Check the date and time on the copy of CTL3DV2.DLL that came with Take Command. Then check your \WINDOWS directory for the same file. (b) If the version that came with Take Command is newer than the version in \WINDOWS, or if the file does not exist at all in \WINDOWS, then copy the newer version from the Take Command directory to the \WINDOWS directory. (c) DELETE the CTL3DV2.DLL file from the Take Command directory. This ensures that you do not have multiple copies of CTL3DV2 on your system. CTL3DV2 only works properly if there is a single copy in the \WINDOWS directory; if you have more than one copy you will receive an error when Take Command starts. (4) From the Windows Program Manager, create a new object as follows (use the appropriate procedure for your desktop shell if you are not running Program Manager): * Open or select the "Main" group, or the group in which you want to install Take Command. * Select the Program Manager "File" menu, then select "New." * Select "Program item" and click on "OK". * Enter "Take Command," or any other title you desire, in the Description field. * Enter the full path and name for TCMD.EXE in the Command Line field (for example, "C:\TCMD102\TCMD.EXE"). * Enter the directory in which you want the Take Command window to start (if any) in the Working Directory field. * Click on "OK" to accept the entry. This creates a basic desktop object which starts Take Command. For more details on configuration and tuning, see Chapter 2 of the Introduction and Installation Guide. (5) Select the new object and press Enter, or double-click on it, to start Take Command. You'll see a Windows screen with some startup messages, and a C:\> or similar prompt. You can now use Take Command for all your command processing tasks. Press F1 any time for complete online help. TCMD 1.02 [04-17-96] README.DOC page 6 See the following section for important additional notes, including instructions on installing Caveman to run DOS programs right inside your Take Command window. Additional Important Installation and Usage Notes If you see unusual characters in the prompt when Take Command starts, it's probably because you have special ANSI characters in your DOS prompt, and Take Command inherits this information in the environment when it starts. Take Command does not support ANSI characters in the prompt. To correct the problem, use Notepad or another editor to create a file called TCSTART.BTM in the Take Command directory. Add the following line to this file: prompt $p$g You can add other commands to this file if you want them run when Take Command starts. See Chapter 3 of the Introduction and Installation Guide for more details on TCSTART. If you want to run DOS programs inside your Take Command window (as opposed to in a separate window), you must install the "Caveman" virtual device which comes with Take Command. To do so use SysEdit, Notepad, or any other editor to edit the SYSTEM.INI file in your \WINDOWS directory. Find the section which begins with a line reading [386Enh]. Add the following line somewhere within that section: device=d:\path\caveman.386 where "d:\path" is the drive and directory where you stored Take Command, for example: [386Enh] .... device=c:\tcmd102\caveman.386 Restart Windows so that your changes to SYSTEM.INI will take effect. The TCMD.INI file which comes with Take Command does not enable Caveman as the default method for running DOS applications. You can enable it easily with the checkbox labeled "Run DOS apps in Caveman VM," in the VM Setup dialog on the Options menu. However before you enable Caveman you should read the "Take Command and DOS Applications" topic in Chapter 3 of the Introduction and Installation Guide (see TCMD.DOC), or in the online help, so that you understand how DOS programs are started in Take Command. If you are running Symantec's Norton Anti-Virus product you must "inoculate" CAVEMAN.386 manually before you install it in SYSTEM.INI TCMD 1.02 [04-17-96] README.DOC page 7 as described above. If you do not, you will receive NAV errors when Take Command attempts to start Caveman. To do so, install Take Command but do not include CAVEMAN.386 in your SYSTEM.INI file. Use NAV to inoculate Take Command. Then exit Take Command, exit Windows, and go back to the DOS prompt. Use NAV for DOS to re-scan and inoculate the system. Then modify SYSTEM.INI as described above, and restart Windows and Take Command. After you've used Take Command for a while you may decide you'd like to use it as your Windows shell (rather than Program Manager or another shell). To do so, see the topic "Take Command and Windows Shells" in the online help. Upgrading from Take Command Version 1.0 or 1.01 to Version 1.02 Be sure to go over the changes in version 1.02, in the file UPDAT102.DOC, before you start using it. To upgrade from Take Command version 1.01 to version 1.02, make the following changes: * Follow steps (1) through (3) of the Installation Instructions above. Be sure to use a new directory for the new version. * Copy your Take Command startup or exit files (TCMD32.INI, TCSTART / TCEXIT if you use them) from your old directory to the new one. Also be sure to copy any other files you saved in the Take Command directory. * Be sure that any desktop objects or shortcuts are modified to reflect the new directory where TCMD32.EXE is stored. * If you own Take Command version 1.0 or 1.01 you can "brand" your copy of version 1.02 and convert it to a registered copy. To do so, be sure the new version of Take Command 2.52is not running (because you cannot brand a running program under Windows NT or Windows 95). Copy the BRAND program from version 1.0 or 1.01 into the same directory as the version 1.02 files, and run it (from a 4DOS or "MS-DOS Prompt" session) with the command BRAND. Follow the on-screen instructions to install your name and serial number into Take Command. The information needed to brand your copy is on the small blue or yellow "Brand ID Card" which came with your copy of 4OS2. If you cannot find this card with your branding codes, you can order a replacement from JP Software for $5. TCMD 1.02 [04-17-96] README.DOC page 8 Technical Support We support Take Command in the JP Software CompuServe area, section 10 of the PC Vendor B forum (GO PCVENB). If you are not currently a CompuServe subscriber, consider a special offer CompuServe has made to Take Command users: call 1-800-848-8199 (outside the US and Canada call 614-457-0802) and ask for operator 178 to receive a free CompuServe introductory membership, including user ID, password, and a $15 connect time credit. For technical support on the Internet send mail to support@jpsoft.com. Support is also available by phone (617-646-3975), fax (617-646- 0904), and mail (JP Software, PO Box 1470, E. Arlington, MA 02174). Telephone support hours and availability may vary depending on our current staffing pattern and workload; there may not always be a support representative available when you call, in which case we will take a message and call you back. We return calls as soon as possible, and our normal policy is to return all calls within at most 24 hours (weekends and holidays excluded). Bulletin Board Support for Take Command Take Command product support is always available on our support BBS, Channel 1 in Boston. Channel 1 is an independent BBS (not operated by JP Software) which has generously offered to provide a home for Take Command BBS support. Phone 617-354-3230 to access Channel 1 at 2400 - 14,400 baud (no parity, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit). Use 617- 349-1300 for 28,800 baud v.34. If you have access to a local bulletin board which is a member of any of the major BBS networks (RIME / PC Relay, ILink, SmartNet, or FidoNet), you can discuss Take Command with other users, and obtain limited support from JP Software, by leaving messages in the network's "4DOS" conference (the same conference used for JP Software's character-mode command processors). Downloading Take Command Files You can download Take Command upgrades and other files from CompuServe or the Channel 1 BBS (see above), or from our Internet ftp site. To download files from CompuServe, go to the PC Vendor B forum (GO JPSOFT or GO PCVENB) and look for the files you want in Library 10. On Channel 1, join conference 5 and then download the files you need (as long as you join conference 5 before downloading you will be able to download Take Command files even if they appear to be too large for your remaining time on the system). On the Internet, download the files you need via ftp from ftp.std.com, directory /vendors/jpsoft (for general JP Software files) or directory TCMD 1.02 [04-17-96] README.DOC page 9 /vendors/jpsoft/tcmd (for Take Command-specific files). You can also download the files from our web site at http://www.jpsoft.com/. Shareware Copies of Take Command If you obtained Take Command from a shareware disk vendor, an on-line computer service or bulletin board, a friend or colleague, or another similar source, you have an unregistered (trial) copy. As the copyright holder for this software, JP Software allows and encourages you to use this trial copy without charge for a limited period of time, under the terms of our license agreement (see LICENSE.DOC). After this time is up, you must purchase (register and pay for) the product to continue using it. This method of distribution is known as shareware. It allows you to determine whether the product meets your needs before you pay for it. Payment of the shareware registration fee for Take Command entitles you to a complete copy of the product with typeset-quality printed and bound manuals; the ability to download an upgrade to the first major release of the product after your initial purchase; continued technical support via electronic mail or telephone; and a subscription to "The Prompt Solution", JP Software's customer newsletter. Association of Shareware Professionals The authors and publisher of Take Command are members of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP), an organization formed to strengthen the future of shareware. 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. The ASP sets standards for its members and their shareware products which provide that programs produced by ASP members must be fully documented, non-crippled, and offered with at least a minimum level of support. It also sets standards for shareware disk vendors and provides information to the public about shareware. ASP Ombudsman Statement JP Software is 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 545 Grover TCMD 1.02 [04-17-96] README.DOC page 10 Road, Muskegon, MI 49442-9427 USA, FAX 616-788-2765 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536. TCMD 1.02 [04-17-96] README.DOC page 11