ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί Ί Ί Visual Control Center 2.6 Ί Ί SHAREWARE VERSION Ί Ί Ί Ί by Ί Ί Ί Ί Veeder South IV Ί Ί Ί Ί Ί Ί Ί Ί D O C U M E N T A T I O N Ί Ί Ί Ί Ί Ί Ί Ί Ί Ί (c) Copyright 1996 by Veeder South IV Ί Ί Ί Ί All Rights Reserved Ί Ί Ί Ί Ί Ί Ί Ί Ί Ί Ί ΜΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΉ Ί Table of Contents Ί ΜΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΉ Ί Ί Ί 1. About Visual Control Center Ί Ί 2. What's New in Version 2.6 Ί Ί 3. Required Hardware Ί Ί 4. Features Ί Ί 5. Registering VCC Ί Ί 6. VCC Keys and Capabilities Ί Ί 7. Setup and Configuration Ί Ί 8. Tips on VCC Usage Ί Ί 9. Things to Avoid Ί Ί 10. How the Batch File Works Ί Ί 11. Running VCC Under Windows Ί Ί 12. Future Updates Ί Ί 13. Bugs Ί Ί 14. Legal Information Ί Ί Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί (1) About VCC 2.6 Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ Visual Control Center is a shell program that runs under DOS 5.0 and above. It allows for easier file management, navigation and running your DOS software. Both mouse and keyboard are fully supported in a graphics environment. It requires ZERO memory when running your software. Simple to use, fast, and intelligent features remove you from any annoyances of DOS. Most routines were made in assembly and the code is optimized to take advantage of an FPU (math coprocessor). Visual Control Center was originally programmed for my own purposes. Dealing with directories and files in large numbers can be a daunting task at times. Finding files, weeding out select files from a large number of files, changing file attributes, compressing and decompressing ZIP'ed or ARJ'ed files, and many other tasks can be very tedious sometimes. Of course there's always Microsoft's Windows but even that can be difficult to work with. That is why I created VCC--to make everything much faster and simpler, to give me total control over all my files, to have a platform to run everything else from, and finally to be able to use my mouse. There are a million nice little DOS utilities out there to do everything you could possibly imagine with your computer. But there are few programs that tie everything together and allow you to run everything else at the click of the mouse or the push of a button. So I developed VCC. Being a programmer and knowing the limitations of DOS, I incorporated new features into the program as the needs arose, making sure to keep it quick and simple. I gave copies to my friends to use and eventually, I got to thinking that this utility would be helpful to anybody using DOS, so I released it as shareware. I hope you find this the most useful of your DOS utilities. I appreciate any suggestions or comments for future versions! -Veeder South IV vsouth@primenet.com ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί (2) What's New in Version 2.6 Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ The following features have been added/changed/improved from version 2.0 (June 1996 release): - 500% faster directory reads - File filter (CTRL-F) - Global file find (over entire drive) - Special case file handling - Internal setup (CTRL-S) / VCCSETUP.EXE scrapped - No more INI file - File sorting by extension - Runs better under Windows 3.1 - Disk volume label set - [.] button added to go directly to root dir - Enhanced drive boxes - Non extension handling (for files without a "." something) - Up to 150% faster file listing (in some cases) - Better Copy/Move function - Archiving Menu Added - Directory info enhanced (from "xx file(s)" to "xx directories, xx files") - Shows last DOS text screen (ALT-S) - Faster loading - Various mouse problems fixed - Misc. appearance improvements - Misc. bug fixes The following features have been added/changed/improved from version 2.5 (August 1996 release): - 140% faster directory printing - Changes file color if cursor color = file color (so you can see it) - Several "Files Setup" bugs fixed - "Display Hidden" option now saves correctly - bug fixed - Undefined extension file color bug fixed - Text input bug fixed. - Several errors in this document were fixed ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί (3) Required Hardware Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ You will need the following in order to run VCC: * 386 PC or better * Color monitor (EGA 16 colors or better) * About 215k of free conventional memory * MS-DOS 5.0 or higher / Windows 95 DOS 7.0 * A two button rodent (mouse) is highly recommended! ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί (4) Features Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ * Uses mouse or keyboard * Displays date and time * Displays memory usage (Lower/XMS/EMS) * Displays free space on current drive (in MB or KB) * Displays full directory info * Shows all files/directories in specified colors. * Horizontal or vertical file listing * File sorting by extension * Runs user-specified program when file is clicked on. * DOS command window * DOS Shell * Displays last DOS text screen * Easy setup without extra config files * File filter * Built-in DOS functions + keys -COPY (ALT-C) -DELETE (DEL key) -DELTREE (DEL key) -RMDIR (DEL key) -MOVE (ALT-M) -RENAME (ALT-R) -FIND (ALT-F) -MKDIR (INS key) -CD (TAB key, ENTER) -A:/B:/etc (< A:\ >..ENTER) -ATTRIB (ALT-A) * Mouse Quick Menu on right side of screen * User definable function key macros (F1...F12) * Built-in unarchiving (you need to have Arj/Pkunzip/etc) * Archive menu helps create archives * Page down/page up through large numbers of files * TAB/Right-Mouse changes to root directory (CD ..) * HOME key/LFT+RT Mouse Click --> help screen * ALT-I Introduction to using VCC * END key runs screen saver or blanker * 12/24 hour time format * Change the date and time * Change disk volume label * User definable DOS screen saver * Mouse use on most functions * Left-handed mouse setting ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί (5) Registering VCC Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ If you find this program useful and plan on keeping it, please consider registering it. Registration costs only $15 US dollars plus $2 shipping and handling (if applicable). When you register you will receive: * The latest version of VCC on 3.5/5.25 disk or emailed directly to you as an attached file or UUEncoded. * No annoying messages and complete functionality * A better manual (on-line) Register VCC and get these enhancements: -Select multiple files with the mouse -Operations on multiple files (copy/move/delete/attrib/etc). -A drag-and-drop file bin to hold files for later operations. -Alphabetic file sorting. ...And many other improvements and possible bug fixes. Why register? Besides the above benefits, you will help support future versions of VCC with new features that users suggest. By registering VCC, you help support quality shareware programs and keep down the price of commercial software. Why pay $50,$100, even $300 for commercial software when you can buy quality shareware for a fraction of the price? I know how short your funds can be (hey, I'm a college student!), and that's why I'm asking only $15. To register, type 'order' from the DOS prompt to print out the ORDER.FRM. Fill it out and send it with a check or money order for $15 US + $2 S/H to: Veeder South IV 4240 Lost Hills Rd #504 Agoura Hills, CA 91301 Make checks payable to Veeder South IV. You should receive the latest version of VCC in the mail in about a week or in a few days if sent to an email address. ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί (6) VCC Keys and Capabilities Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ Q: What do I use VCC for? A: VCC has three main functions: 1) It works as a DOS navigating utility As a navigation utility, VCC allows you to change directories and drives, showing you all your files in different colors. You can access all your drives and CD-ROMs just as you could in DOS, only quicker and more intelligently. 2) It functions as a file/directory manager VCC can manage all your files (like N..... Commander). You can copy files, move files, rename them, change their attributes (hidden, read-only, etc), make new directories, and delete them. It also will view, test, compress and uncompress ZIP/ARJ/LZH/etc files for you. 3) It runs all your other software VCC can run all your software with the click or press of a button. When you click on specified files, VCC will know what to do with them. If you tell VCC to run ABC program with your XYZ files, VCC will do it and without using up any of your memory! For example, VCC will know to load your MOD player when you click on a MOD file. You can set up function key macros (F1 through F12) to instantly do whatever you want. VCC can do everything you want to do in DOS and more with simplicity and speed. The keyboard/mouse commands: ENTER or LEFT MOUSE BUTTON (for right-handed users): The main action key. Using the arrow keys and pressing the ENTER key is the same as using the mouse and clicking the button. You need not ever double click the mouse in VCC. Also, the action will not occur until the mouse button is released, not clicked. The Quick Menu: Put the mouse pointer to the extreme right of the screen and a small "Quick Menu" will pop up, giving you options to click on with the mouse. This menu cannot be accessed with the keyboard as there are keyboard equivalents of all the Quick Menu options. DOS commands: Just start typing something and the DOS command window will pop up. Running programs from the command window does not take up any more memory. VCC will pause after executing the DOS command if there is something to see on the screen. Keyboard DOS commands (also displayed when the HOME key is pressed): -COPY (ALT-C) -DELETE (DEL key) -DELTREE (DEL key) -RMDIR (DEL key) -MOVE (ALT-M) -RENAME (ALT-R) -FIND (ALT-F) -MKDIR (INS key) -CD (TAB key, ENTER/CLICK) -A:/B:/etc (ENTER/CLICK on drive box) -ATTRIB (ALT-A) DEL: This deletes the current file or directory. VCC will ask for verification (if turned on) for files and always for directories. INS: This will create a new directory. Enter a name and press return. An improper directory name will just be ignored. TAB: This takes you back a directory (like typing CD..). F1 - F12: Set up these macros with VCCSETUP. You can make them run things or do multiple things with batch files. SHIFT-Fkey: This will run the Fkey macro with the current file as a parameter. ALT-A: Attribute change menu. Change a file's attribute such as Read-only, Hidden, System and Archive. The file will dissapear when you return to the directory after changing the attribute to system or hidden and you do not have "Display Hidden" or "Display System" turned on. ALT-C: Copy file. This lets you copy the current file or directory. Enter the destination of the file/directory. If the destination does not exist, VCC will ask you if you want to copy it to a new file or to a new directory (VCC will create it for you). Copying directories does not copy its subdirectories recursively. If the file or directory already exists, VCC will ask if you want to overwrite it. ALT-D: DOS shell. Type EXIT to return to VCC. ALT-F: Find File. Type in any normal DOS wildcard combo (like v*.exe) and select the drive to search on. Searches will be limited to the current directory if "Global search" is not selected. The first 100 matches will be displayed. You will have a choice of looking at the next match or have VCC show you where the match is. Shift-TAB toggles global search on/off. TAB shuffles through the drives to search on. ALT-I: Introduction to using VCC. ALT-M: Move file. This lets you move the current file or directory. Has the same properties as the copy function. ALT-R: Rename file. This lets you rename the current file or directory. ALT-S: Show DOS text screen. Useful if the last program you ran printed something on the screen but VCC loaded before you could see it. ALT-T: This will test the integrity of a ZIP,ARJ,LHA,LZH,AIN, or RAR archive. ALT-U: Use alternate program with current file. Type in a program or command and parameters (if any) to use with the current file. ALT-V: This will view files with your specified editor or take a look inside ZIP,ARJ,LHA,LZH,AIN, and RAR archives. ALT-Z: Archiving Menu. Create an archive using ZIP,ARJ,LHArk,LZH,AIN, or RAR formats. Select the format, type in a name and any special parameters to give the archive program, and click "create". PAGE-UP/ PAGE-DN: If there are more files than will fit on one screen, press PAGE DOWN or CLICK on the bottom gray line. To go back to previous pages, press PAGE UP or CLICK on the top gray area (it will turn blue when you place the mouse/cursor over it). END: This will run the specified screen saver or blanker when pressed. You can also activate the screen saver by either clicking on the screen saver option in the Quick Menu or by placing the mouse at the bottom left corner. The screen saver will stop when a key or mouse button is pressed. HOME: VCC built in help (shows all these keys). CTRL-ENTER: This will allow you to give command-line parameters to BAT, COM, and EXE files when you run them. CTRL-D: This allows you to change the date. CTRL-E: Turns extension file sorting on or off. CTRL-L: This toggles the listing style between vertical and horizontal. CTRL-R: This restarts and initializes VCC. CTRL-S: VCC setup. From here you can choose the general, specific, or files setup (see VCC Setup and Configuration). CTRL-T: This allows you to change the time. CTRL-V: This allows you to set the volume label on the current disk drive. ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί (7) VCC Setup and Configuration Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ The setup and configuration of VCC is now handled within the program. CTRL-S or "Setup" from the Quick Menu will bring up a screen with three buttons dividing the different areas of setup. These three setup screens can be accessed directly from the quick menu by clicking on "General", "Specific", or "Files" under the "Setup:" option. This screen will configure the general features and colors. To toggle a feature on or off, click the check box (or press TAB) next to the feature. To change a text field, simply click on it and begin typing (ex: File Viewer to Use). To change the colors, merely click (or press TAB) on the color and it will cycle through all the available colors. If you leave the "Screen saver to use" field blank then the default screen blanker will be used. This screen will configure the drive boxes displayed at the top of the screen, your archiving files and parameters, and the function key macros. As before, to change a field, just click on it so that it becomes highlighted and begin typing. This screen will instruct VCC on which of your programs to use with which files. For example, this is where you can set VCC to run your graphics viewer when you click on GIFs, JPGs, etc. This is also where you tell VCC what colors you want to use with what extensions. You can tell VCC to display all EXEs in green, INI files in red, and so on. If you want VCC to run files in a special manner, such as pausing after the program quits or silent screen mode (runs your program without leaving VCC), you may choose those options. Also, any special files that you want VCC to handle differently may be setup here. As before, just click on text fields and colors to change them. TAB cycles through colors, ENTER or click twice on an extension to change the program to use. To change the execution options, use the mouse or TAB/SHIFT-TAB. **Important** : The order of the extensions (top-down,left-to-right) will dictate the order VCC displays files when extension sorting is turned on. To delete an extension, press ALT-D. To change it's position, press SHIFT-TAB and use the arrow keys to move it. Keep in mind that you may not have duplicate extensions (VCC will not allow you to leave the screen until you fix this). The arrow keys may be used in all setup screens. To quit any setup screen, just press ESC or click the alternate mouse button (usually the right). The configuration will be saved automatically when you return to the normal VCC environment. These setup pages were made to be extremely straight-forward. You will enjoy using VCC *MUCH* more after you have set it up to run things how you want them done. ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί (8) Tips on VCC Usage Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ I have found that VCC can be configured to do some really cool things if you set it up correctly. I have collected a bunch of cool command-line programs that work perfectly with VCC. This basically makes VCC like an all-in-one graphics viewer, music player, text editor, compiler, and more! Utilities that allow you to give them a specified file as a command-line parameter, then they will work perfectly with VCC. The following utilities have been found to work great by beta-testers: File Name Function/Utility Author ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ EDIT.COM* DOS Edit Text editor Microsoft Q.EXE* Q-Edit Text editor Semware DISPLAY.EXE Display Graphics viewer Jih-Shin Ho QPV.EXE Quick Picture Viewer /386 Graphics viewer Oliver Fromme CSHOW.EXE CompuShow Graphics viewer C.S. Systems PLAY.EXE Play Midi player Keven Weiner GSPLAY.EXE GSPlay Midi player Mark Fontana PLAYFILE.EXE PlayFile (comes with PAS) PAS WAV/VOC player Media Vision DMP.EXE Dual Mod Player MOD/S3M/etc player Otto Chrons IPLAY.EXE Inertia Player MOD/S3M/etc player Sound Solutns. RMP.EXE Reniassance Music Player MOD/S3M/etc player Reniassance PB.EXE* Power Basic Basic compiler Robert Zale TCC.EXE* Turbo C++ Compiler C++ Compiler Borland Int. +These programs are copyrighted by their respective authors (some have been abbreviated). Most are shareware programs except for *stared ones which are commercial software. Many BBSs and FTP sites have a DOS UTILITY directory filled with these types of helpful utilities. One example scenario where VCC comes in really handy when set up properly is this: You download a ZIP file full of GIFs (pictures) from an FTP site and now your ready to take a look at what you got. You click on the ZIP file, enter a directory to unzip it all to, and press enter. VCC takes care of the unzipping and now you have them in say, your C:\PICTURES\ directory ready to go. You click on the "\.." button and then the PICTURES directory to look at the GIFs. You can now click on a GIF file, have your graphics viewer load it up on the screen, and marvel at your latest Cindy Crawford picture. Then you can click on other GIF files, view them, and decide if you want to keep them. A quick press of the DEL key and the one's you didn't like are gone. VCC just acted like it was your favorite graphics viewer plus it gives you the ease and simplicity to manage your files quick and hassle-free. This is just the beginning of what you can do with VCC. After you customize it to your liking, I guarantee that your productivity will go up while frustration will go down. Experiment with different options and maximize the potential! ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί (9) Things to Avoid Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ You should avoid running some programs in conjunction with VCC. Loading TSRs from within VCC *can* in rare cases cause your computer to freeze (These problems are generally the fault of the lousy TSR programmers). Also, running some programs with the silent screen mode may cause 'garbage' to be displayed on the screen. If the program does not explicitly change the screen mode or try to clear the screen, it will work under silent screen mode (such as if you had a command line VOC player that you wanted to play Voice files with). If the screen becomes screwed up for some reason, the CTRL-R command or "refresh" from the Quick Menu will reset VCC and refresh the display. Also, as previously mentioned, DO NOT keep more than ONE copy of VCC.EXE in a PATH directory. Also, some users have reported difficulty with disk doubling programs like Stacker, DoubleSpace, etc. My reccommendation to these users: get rid of it! Hard drives are very cheap these days and it is just not worth all the potential trouble that can come from compressing your hard drive. ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί (10) How the Batch File Works Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ The batch files (" .BAT" and "VCC-2.BAT") are files created by VCC that you usually will not see. These files enable VCC to run your programs without taking up any memory, as if you typed the name of the program yourself. When you click on a file to do something with it, VCC creates " .BAT" and "VCC-2.BAT" and actually quits itself. But just before it quits, VCC pushes the name of the batch file into the keyboard type-ahead buffer, to simulate you actually typing it. Then the batch file takes over and your program is run. When finished, the batch file executes VCC once again and you are returned to where you started. So basically, VCC is NOT running in the background or using any memory while you run other programs. The batch files are VCC-maintained files, so deleting them is not wise. VCC will get rid of " .BAT" after you return to the VCC environment. It is a good idea to place VCC in a PATH directory (where you can type "VCC" from anywhere). That way, the batch files are also created in that PATH directory. When the type-ahead buffer is stuffed with " .BAT", it will work no matter what drive or directory you are in. Without the batch files, VCC would have to run your programs directly under a shell, and memory would be used up by VCC, leaving less for your programs. Also, if you do not place VCC in a PATH directory, it will use up about 4k of memory when running your programs. One last note, it would be unwise to name anything " .BAT" or "VCC-2.BAT" in the same directory as VCC because it will be deleted or over-written! (Why would you anyway?) And yes, the " .BAT" file uses that elusive character 255 that looks like a space but isn't. ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί (11) Running VCC Under Windows Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ VCC *will* run under Windows 3.1 as a DOS application. As of this version, VCC will run your DOS software while being run from Windows 3.1. But beware, Windows will get quirky if you attempt to run certain programs or games if they access sound or other hardware that Windows has control over. Also, taking out a floppy disk while VCC is reading it will cause Windows to say "System integrity has been violated" and terminate VCC. This is not really a serious error but you could loose data if you are also running other windows applications at the time. Recommendation: Do run any other windows applications while running VCC and avoid the above actions. Running VCC from the DOS prompt will also have these same tendencies. Running VCC under Windows 95 may or may not work any better than under Windows 3.1. I recommend shutting down to DOS before running VCC. I have experienced no problems running VCC under DOS 7.0 (the one that comes with Windows 95). Keep in mind that VCC is intended for DOS and not to be run under another shell. If you have Windows 3.1 or 95, VCC can still be a valuable utility for managing your directories and files, especially when you want to have more control over things than Windows may provide. I may program VCC to handle Windows 95 long file names in the near future. ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί (12) Future Updates Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ I am constantly working to improve VCC. I realize that Windows 95 is slowly taking over the world and the potential for greater numbers of VCC users is diminishing... But I still think VCC has a good niche in the DOS world. I may implement a 256 color VESA version to offer more colors and also a split screen version so you can look at two directories or drives at the same time and drag files between them. I would really appreciate any comments or suggestions no matter how small. Drop me a line at my email address and it is likely I will reply. Veeder South IV vsouth@primenet.com ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί (13) Bugs (Ack!) Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ If you find any bugs in VCC, please send me an email (vsouth@primenet.com) with a description of the bug, your system hardware, and the operating system you use. If I can duplicate the bug you found, I will promptly fix it. If it is serious enough, I will send you a new version with the bug fixed at my discretion (if you have registered VCC). If you have not registered VCC, please consider registering it...otherwise, look for a new shareware version with the bug fix. ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί (14) Legal Information Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ VISUAL CONTROL CENTER (VCC) IS COPYRIGHT 1996 BY VEEDER SOUTH IV ALL RIGHTS RESERVED THIS SOFTWARE IS SHAREWARE AND MAY BE DISTRIBUTED FREELY AS LONG AS ITS CONTENTS ARE NOT ALTERED IN ANY WAY, AND ALL THE ORIGINAL FILES ARE INCLUDED (VCC.EXE,READ.COM, README.BAT, ORDER.BAT, VCC.DOC, REGISTER.ME, ORDER.FRM, FILE_ID.DIZ). REGISTERED VERSIONS MAY *NOT* BE DISTRIBUTED OR COPIED EXCEPT FOR BACKUP PURPOSES. IT IS A CRIME TO PIRATE SOFTWARE. YOU MAY NOT SELL VISUAL CONTROL CENTER. YOU MAY NOT CHARGE A FEE FOR VISUAL CONTROL CENTER. IF YOU WANT TO PUT VCC ON A SHAREWARE CD-ROM, YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION BUT PLEASE CONTACT ME! THE AUTHOR (Veeder South IV) PROVIDES NO GUARANTEE WITH THIS SOFTWARE AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGE OCCURRING FROM THE USE, MISUSE, AND/OR ABUSE OF THIS SOFTWARE. USE THIS SOFTWARE AT YOUR OWN RISK. BY RUNNING THIS SOFTWARE, YOU AGREE TO THE ABOVE DISCLAIMER AND WILL NOT HOLD THE AUTHOR RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCIDENTAL OR INCURRED. 10-1-96ΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝEnd-of-filEΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ02:06:00