Installing CompuShow ==================== If you received CompuShow on a floppy disk, install it as described below and set the original floppy aside (don't run ANY SOFTWARE on an original "master disk"; install it on a hard disk or a "working copy floppy disk", first.) If you downloaded CompuShow using a modem, copy the downloaded file to a backup floppy before proceeding. After installing CompuShow, we recommend that you print all the documentation on your printer. You should either have PRINTDOC.BAT or README.EXE included with the CompuShow program. Either execute PRINTDOC to copy all the documentation to your printer or execute README, select each document in turn and press [F2] to print it. Installing on a floppy disk --------------------------- Install CompuShow on a floppy disk by copying the CompuShow files to a formatted disk. For example, "COPY A:*.* B:" will copy all files from a disk in drive A: to a disk in drive B:. Once you've started CompuShow, you can remove the program disk in order to mount other disks containing graphics (and press Alt-A or Alt-B to display the file directory of a new disk in drive A: or B:). Installing on a hard disk ------------------------- Install CompuShow on a hard disk by placing the files in a separate hard disk sub-directory. For example, to place CompuShow on hard disk drive C: C: MD CSHOW CD CSHOW COPY A:*.* In order to be able to execute CompuShow "from anywhere" (even when you're not logged to the CSHOW sub-directory on drive C:), you can do one of two things: 1) add "C:\CSHOW" to the "PATH" statement in AUTOEXEC.BAT 2) use a batch file (on the path) to execute CompuShow. We recommend the SECOND method, so create a batch file in a sub-directory that's already included in the path statement of AUTOEXEC.BAT. For example, at your DOS prompt, execute the PATH command without any parameters to find out what the current setting is: PATH <-- you type this PATH=C:\PROGRAMS;C:\BATS;C:\DOS <-- DOS responds (If the PATH command indicates that you don't have a PATH set, you really should check your DOS manual to read about the advantages of setting a path in AUTOEXEC.BAT). Select an appropriate sub-directory (such as C:\BATS) and create a batch file to execute CompuShow: [SETUP.DOC] Page 1 (DOS version 3 and above): C: CD \BATS COPY CON CSHOW.BAT C:\CSHOW\CSHOW %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9^Z (DOS below version 3): C: CD \BATS COPY CON CSHOW.BAT C: CD \CSHOW CSHOW %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9^Z (The ^Z above means hold down the CTRL key and type Z). The purpose of "%1" through "%9" is to allow you to pass command-line arguments to the program through the batch file. Execute "CSHOW" at your DOS prompt and the batch file is executed to load CompuShow no matter "where you are". Compressing CSHOW.EXE --------------------- The CompuShow program(s) have been compressed using PkLite. Do not attempt to compress them again using PkLite, LzExe or a similar utility. Configuring CompuShow ===================== Selecting a Video Driver ------------------------ CompuShow uses "video drivers" to support extended graphics modes on a wide variety of video hardware. The video drivers are included as separate disk files, named "videoP1.drv", "videoI4.drv", etc. +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | FOR A COMPLETE, UP-TO-DATE LISTING OF THE VIDEO DRIVERS, SEE DRIVERS.DOC | +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ The "+S" command-line switch tells the program to load a specific video driver, for example: >CShow +sP1 loads the "P1" video driver ("videoP1.drv"). With a video driver loaded, up to seven additional modes (S..Y) are available. Keep in mind that some of the video driver modes may not work on your adapter and monitor. For example, a (true, not simulated) 640x480x256-color display requires 512k of video RAM. Similarly, a 1024x768x256 display requires 1meg of video RAM. Some high resolution modes may be beyond the capabilities of your monitor, even though the video adapter supports them. If you press a key (S..Y) and the screen stays in text mode (perhaps changing colors), then that mode isn't supported on your adapter. If the same thing happens on ALL the video driver modes, then you either have the wrong video driver loaded, or your adapter just doesn't have any "Super-VGA" [SETUP.DOC] Page 2 capabilities. (VGA adapters that are built-in to a system board or bundled with a computer are often "low-end" [cheap] adapters without Super-VGA capabilities.) Once you've identified the correct video driver for your system, you can set it up to be loaded automatically whenever the program is started: >copy videoP1.drv video.drv >CShow With no "+S" switch specified, the program will load file "VIDEO.DRV". CompuShow doesn't consider video driver modes when selecting the best mode to display a graphic with the space bar, unless you tell it which video driver modes work on your adapter and monitor. For example, assume that modes S, T, U, V, W and X work on your VGA, but your monitor can't quite handle mode X. Also, mode U is a simulated 640x480x256, where mode V is the preferred (true) 640x480x256 mode. To tell CompuShow to use modes S, T, V, and W, create a text (ASCII) file with the characters "STVW". The name of the file corresponds to the video driver that you're using: VIDEO.DAT for VIDEO.DRV, or VIDEOP1.DAT for VIDEOP1.DRV (if you start the program using "CSHOW +SP1"). At your DOS prompt: COPY CON VIDEO.DAT STVW^Z (^Z means hold down the CTRL key and type Z.) "Cleaning up" Afterwards ------------------------ The CompuShow "package" includes the program, documentation files, video drivers, etc. When CompuShow starts, it checks to see that all its files are present and displays a "missing files" message for 15 seconds if any are missing. If you have a copy of the original disk or archive including all these files, you don't need to keep them on your "working floppy" or hard disk: - Install CompuShow to a "working copy floppy disk" or hard disk sub-directory, as described above. - Execute CSHOW. With all files present, it will create CSHOW.DAT - Execute CSHOWDEL to delete the documentation and video drivers (and CSHOWDEL.BAT, so a "batch file missing" message is normal.) Please remember that you MUST INCLUDE ALL FILES when you pass CompuShow on to a friend, or post it on a BBS. [SETUP.DOC] Page 3