4OS2 v. 3.0 README.TXT -- July 30, 1997 JP Software Inc. P.O. Box 1470 E. Arlington, MA 02174, USA (617) 646-3975 ** fax (617) 646-0904 ** Email sales@jpsoft.com Web http://www.jpsoft.com/ [** NOTE: Our area code (617) changes to (781) as of 1 Sep 97] Greetings, and thanks for trying 4OS2! This file contains a variety of information you should read before using 4OS2, including: Installation and "Branding" Instructions New Version Overview Revision Information Files Included with this Version Technical Support Legal Notices Other information is available in other files: For ... See ... ----------------------------------- ------------ Product and upgrade information PRODUCTS.TXT New customer order form ORDFORM.TXT Current customer upgrade order form UPGFORM.TXT Introduction and Installation Guide 4OS2.TXT (introductory documentation) Complete list of new features Online help Trial version license (not included LICENSE.TXT with purchased copies) INSTALLATION AND "BRANDING" INSTRUCTIONS ---------------------------------------- This section explains how to install a downloaded copy of 4OS2. [If you have a copy on diskette or CD, or a copy purchased electronically, we assume you have already completed the installation -- otherwise this file would not be visible! If you need to reinstall your purchased copy of 4OS2, just restart the INSTALL program.] There are just three steps you need to take to install a downloaded copy of 4OS2: >> Extract all the files to a new directory (do not use a directory you're using for other products, or for a previous version of 4OS2). >> Start 4OS2. It will "install itself". >> If you are upgrading a previously purchased copy, "brand" 4OS2 with your name and serial number. Additional details on these steps are below. For branding and manual installation instructions see the sections with those headings below. You can view any of the documentation files on-line, or copy them to your printer. The Introduction and Installation Guide in 4OS2.TXT has page breaks, headers and footers; all other documentation files are unpaginated ASCII text. "Self-Installation" To begin the installation process, simply run the program file, 4OS2.EXE, from a prompt or from your desktop. This will automatically start the self-installation file _4INST.BTM, which will finish installing 4OS2 on your system. _4INST will prompt you for permission before each installation step, and no system files will be modified without asking you first. When the installation is finished, _4INST renames itself to _4INST.BTX, so that it will not be run again. (If installation terminates abnormally, _4INST may not be renamed, and will then run again the next time you start the program.) Manual Installation For complete manual installation instructions, see the Introduction and Installation Guide in the file 4OS2.TXT. The detailed instructions for 4OS2 are in Chapter 6. If you choose to perform a manual installation you should rename the automated installation file, _4INST.BTM (we recommend renaming it to _4INST.BTX, which is what the file itself does when it's finished). If you don't, it will start automatically the first time you run 4OS2. Branding If you are upgrading from a previously purchased copy you may need to run the "branding" program to install your name and serial number in 4OS2 (trial version users can skip this section). Your previous version's brand program may be the older version named BRAND.EXE, or the newer version named BROS2.EXE. In either case, in order to perform the branding you will need the brand program, and the registered name, serial number, and validation code which came with your purchased copy of 4OS2. (If you have lost your branding information it is replaceable, but a small charge is required as recreating the codes is a multi-step process. To request replacement codes contact JP Software at sales@jpsoft.com, or at one of the addresses listed at the start of this file.) The older BRAND.EXE program modifies the 4OS2.EXE file, and can only be used while 4OS2 is not running. To use it: (1) Exit from all copies of 4OS2. (2) Start a command prompt session. (3) Change to the directory where 4OS2.EXE is installed, and verify that both 4OS2.EXE and BRAND.EXE are in that directory. (4) Locate the branding information which came with your copy of 4OS2 (information from other products won't work!). (5) Enter the command BRAND and follow the instructions on the screen. The newer BROS2.EXE program does not have the same restrictions, and can be run using this simpler procedure: (1) Start 4OS2. (2) Change to the directory where 4OS2.EXE is installed, and verify that both 4OS2.EXE and BROS2.EXE are in that directory. (3) Locate the branding information which came with your copy of 4OS2. (4) Enter the command BROS2 and follow the instructions on the screen. If you attempt to brand your downloaded copy and receive the message "brand installation error 4" or "contact JP Software or your dealer for an upgrade", then you are not eligible to download and brand a trial version of this release -- instead, you must purchase the upgrade. See UPGFORM.TXT for an order form. Once you have ordered an upgrade you can continue to use the trial version until your upgrade arrives. If you receive any other error, you have probably mistyped your name, serial number, or validation code, or are attempting to use the brand program or codes from one product with another product, which will not work. NEW VERSION OVERVIEW -------------------- Since the last major release we've added 150 new features to 4OS2! Here are a very small number of major highlights; for complete details, see the online help: >> Extended Directory Searches allow you to change to a directory anywhere on your system by entering only part of its name. See Directory Navigation in the help for complete details. >> 4OS2 is significantly smaller and faster than previous versions. >> New commands include: OPTION: Offers complete configuration adjustment in all products, either through interactive dialogs or on the command line. SWITCH: Provides for "case" statements in batch files. TOUCH: Adjusts file dates and times. TREE: Displays the directory tree, with or without file names, in a variety of formats. >> New file exclusion ranges provide a convenient way to exclude files from any internal command -- faster and more flexible than using EXCEPT. >> The new batch file debugger can execute each line step by step, process or trace into additional batch files, and display variables, aliases, and expanded commands at each step. See the online help for 150+ additional new command line tools, switches, variables, functions and other enhancements! REVISION INFORMATION -------------------- This revision B fixes the following minor problems in revision A: >> The /J switch for the DIR command disabled most other extension- based features (e.g. sort by extension, colorization). SELECT had the same problem, and additionally did not return names correctly when /J was used. >> Attempting to use a negative loop counter in the DO command, such as "DO -1", could cause the current session to terminate abruptly. >> The trial version self-install batch file failed when DecimalChar was not a period ["."]. >> The installation software was not converting HistWinXXXX lines in the .INI file to PopupWinXXXX. >> The DIR and HISTORY commands were not coming up in the help screen with HELP DIR or HELP HISTORY. FILES INCLUDED -------------- The following files are included with 4OS2 3.0: 4OS2.EXE 4OS2 program file 4OS2.INF 4OS2 help text 4OS2H.MSG 4OS2 quick-help text (for "/?" help) 4OS2.TXT ASCII copy of the 4DOS, 4OS2, and 4NT Introduction and Installation Guide 4OS2.ICO 4OS2 icon _4INST.BTM *Self-installation batch file BATCOMP.EXE Batch file compression utility BR4OS2.EXE #Brand program for registered users to install name and product serial number EXAMPLES.BTM Sample batch file demonstrating the use of variable functions and internal variables FILE_ID.DIZ *Description file for BBS and other uploads INTERNAT.TXT Shipping rates and dealer list for international customers JPOS2DLL.DLL 4OS2 and Take Command for OS/2 support DLL JPOS2INS.CMD Installation helper script KEYSTACK.EXE Program used by the KEYSTACK command LICENSE.TXT *License agreement OPTION2.EXE Program used by the OPTION command ORDFORM.TXT New customer order form PRODUCTS.TXT Product and ordering information README.TXT This file SHRALIAS.EXE Utility program for retention of global alias and history lists UPGFORM.TXT Upgrade order form VENDOR.TXT *Information for shareware vendors * Included with downloaded trial copies only. # Included with purchased copies only. TECHNICAL SUPPORT ----------------- Complete details on technical support are in the Introduction and Installation Guide, in the file 4OS2.TXT. Often the quickest way to reach us for support is electronically. Current options are listed below; any additional options offered or changes made in the future will be listed on our web site at http://www.jpsoft.com/. In brief, your support options are: >> JP Software's CompuServe area, section 10 of the PC Vendor B forum (GO PCVENB). For support leave a message in this area addressed to user ID 75300,1215. >> Email to support@jpsoft.com. >> Telephone support on a one business day callback basis (though often we are able to return calls much more quickly than that). From the US and Canada, the quickest method to reach our support staff by phone is to leave a message on our support voice message line at *617-646-0798. Messages are checked regularly throughout the day. Do not use this line for sales, customer service, or shipping questions, and please call our main number at *617-646-3975 if you find yourself playing "telephone tag" with the support staff. >> Fax support at *617-646-0904 (however, you will almost always receive a faster response to email than to faxed support questions). * The area code (first three digits of our number) changes to >> 781 << beginning on September 1, 1997. When possible, we also read messages posted on the Usenet comp.os.msdos.4dos newsgroup, and in the 4DOS conference on the FidoNet BBS network. These areas offer valuable information and discussions with other users, but are not managed by JP Software, and are not official support channels. To download JP Software files, including upgdates and trial versions, visit: >> Our web site at http://www.jpsoft.com/ >> Our CompuServe forum (GO PCVENB or GO JPSOFT, library 10 / JP Software) >> Channel 1 BBS, Cambridge, MA, 617-349-1300 for 28.8K, 617- 354-3137 for 33.6 K. Join the "free files" conference (J FREE or J 5 at the main menu) for JP Software file downloads. We recommend that you use our web site for Internet downloads. However, if you prefer (or if you do not have web access) you can connect directly to our ftp site at ftp.std.com, directory /vendors/jpsoft. Product subdirectories are located below this; for example 4DOS files are in /vendors/jpsoft/4dos. LEGAL STUFF ----------- Copyright 1997, JP Software Inc., All Rights Reserved. Published by JP Software Inc., P.O. Box 1470, E. Arlington, MA 02174, U.S.A., phone 617-646-3975, fax 617-646-0904 [our area code 617 changes to 781 effective 1 Sep 97]. Take Command and 4DOS are registered trademarks of JP Software Inc. 4DOS, 4OS2, and 4NT are JP Software Inc.'s trademarks for its family of character-mode command processors. JP Software, jpsoft.com, and all JP Software designs and logos are also trademarks of JP Software Inc. Other product and company names are trademarks of their respective owners. All prices and terms subject to change without notice.