CANIPROMPTS is (C) 1995 Andrew Malek of Excel Progs. This documentation is for CANIPROMPTS and the Prompt Packs. I. Introduction for Caniprompts II. Quickstart for Installing/Using Caniprompts. III. Index of current Caniprompts for Non-Registered Users IV. Technical Information FAQ V. Contacting Excel Progs VI. Warranty/Disclaimer/License. Please Read! I. Introduction for CaniPrompts A while back Excel Progs released a program called Animated Prompts. The program did what it said, giving DOS users a moving animation while they typed in the commands. While it developed a small cult following, the program was limited to monochrome animations, and only allowed one animation to be used per session... Until now. CANIPROMPTS takes the original Animated Prompts several steps further. The prompts are now in full color, using all of the ANSI graphics and features. Gone are the days of one animation per session; you can set up an entire directory of animations and CANIPROMPTS will go through the entire directory randomly, giving you a different prompt every time you enter a new command. Gone also are the days of a complex command line; simply run the SETUP program once and all you need to type to run CANIPROMPTS is the letter 'A' and the enter key. That's it. (BTW: Caniprompts stand for Colorized ANImated PROMPTS.) II. Quickstart for Installing/Using Caniprompts/Packs Unpack, copy,..etc the programs from your distribution archive/diskette to a sub-directory on your hard drive (if you have already installed CANIPROMPTS, make sure to unpack new versions/ new prompts in the same directory). If you are installing CANIPROMPTS: Run the file SETUP.EXE, which will tell Caniprompts what directory to find the animated prompts. Once that is done, place the A.EXE file wherever you wish - even place a pointer to it at the end of your AUTOEXEC.BAT file for loading every time you start the computer (and it even supports LOADHIGH start-up...see your DOS manual for more information on the LOADHIGH command). If you are installing new prompt: Simple run the file ADDPR.EXE, and CANIPROMPTS will take care of the rest. While running CANIPROMPTS these options are available: F1 - Print a character from the previous DOS command F2 - DIR macro F3 - Prints the entire previous DOS commands F4 - CLS macro F10 - HISTORY mode...one keypress from here will recall one of the previous twenty DOS commands while you are in CANIPROMPTS. Enjoy the included prompts! Be sure to read the cover letter for information on how to receive more when they are released. III. Index of current Caniprompts for Non-Registered Users (See File LISTING.TXT) IV. Technical Information FAQ PURPOSE : This FAQ is meant to answer technical and problem- oriented questions regarding the usage of Excel Prog's CANIPROMPTS program for DOS. DATE : 6/25/95 CONTENTS: 1) Q: How come CANIPROMPTS takes up so much memory, and is there something I can do about it? 2) Q: How come DOSKEY/DOS extender does not work? 3) Q: SET does not work/program that used to find data does not work? 4) Q: The program keeps coming up with [23m's and such...why? 5) Q: Ok, so I have the new prompts - how do I get CANIPROMPTS to recognize them? 1) Q: How come CANIPROMPTS takes up so much memory, and is there something I can do about it? A: CANIPROMPTS requires its huge chunk of room because it is not a TSR (terminate and stay-resident) but simply a SR (stay-resident) program. Among requiring room for the program, a buffer is created to store all of the graphic codes required to display the various stages of the animations. If you plan to use CANIPROMPTS often, you might wish to load it high by using the LH command in your autoexec.bat file. Refer to your DOS manual regarding the LH command. 2) Q: How come DOSKEY/DOS extender does not work? A: CANIPROMPTS shells over DOS extenders, so such programs will not work. We are working to remedy the problem by adding more features to CANIPROMPTS' dos interface yet keeping the memory down. 3) Q: SET does not work/program that used to find data does not work? A: CANIPROMPTS shells over DOS, so no environment changes will work correctly when CANIPROMPTS is active. Thus, in an autoexec.bat file, CANIPROMPTS should be the last line or after any commands which alter the DOS environment (commands such as SET PATH= or SET TEMP=). 4) Q: The program keeps coming up with [23m's and such...why? A: CANIPROMPTS requires the ANSI.SYS driver or compatible in order to display the prompts correctly. This driver is included with DOS; alternate versions are available on many fine bulletin boards/information services worldwide. 5) Q: Ok, so I have the new prompts - how do I get CANIPROMPTS to recognize them? A: CANIPROMPTS prompt-packs all include a file called ADDPR.EXE. To get CANIPROMPTS do add the new prompts, unpack all of prompt files to the same directory where CANIPROMPTS lies. From the DOS command-line, type ADDPR.EXE and press the enter key. CANIPROMPTS will then take over the work and install the prompts for usage. If you are currently in CANIPROMPTS mode when doing this install, you will need to exit CANIPROMPTS and re-run the program for the new prompts to be recognized. V. Contacting Excel Progs Andrew Malek of Excel Progs can be contacted by the following ways: 1) SASE at the Excel Progs address: Excel Progs c/o Andrew Malek 434 Gallaher View Rd. Apt. 60 Knoxville, TN 37919 2) E-Mail on The Other World BBS (Support BBS) as Andrew Malek. The Other World BBS: (615)/577-9342. 14.4k, multi-lines, multi-gigs, more. 3) Internet E-Mail: admalek@sacam.oren.ortn.edu admalek@usit.net Andrew.Malek@idibbs.com 4) Maillink: Andrew Malek@IDI 5) The Excel Progs Official Message Forum (/EXCEPROG) on MailLink. The MailLink forum address is: ML@EXCELPROG.IDI# 6) CompuServe E-Mail: 76023,1175 If you are on Internet, send e-mail via Internet. Likewise, if you are only on CompuServe, send mail that way. Mail crossed between these two systems may not be read. Thank you. VI. Warranty/Disclaimer/License. Please Read! EVERY EFFORT WAS MADE BY EXCEL PROGS/TOW DEVELOPMENT TO ENSURE THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT AND EVERY ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO MAKE THE PROGRAM AS ERROR-FREE AS POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, NEITHER EXCEL PROGS, TOW DEVELOPMENT, ITS EMPLOYEES, SUPERVISORS,..ETC, TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OUTPUT OF THIS PROGRAM. YOU, THE USER, TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE USAGE OF THIS SOFTWARE. Microsoft, Windows, are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. All trademarks are the property of their respective companies. Caniprompts (c) 1995 Excel Progs, All Right Reserved CANIPROMPTS henceforth refer to this package, either the CANIPROMPTS package or the CANIPROMPTS Prompt-Packs, and the respective documentation. You have the license to place CANIPROMPTS on bulletin board systems, information systems, shareware compilations, or on cd-rom compilations, provided that you distribute the ENTIRE version with file descriptions (FILE_ID.DIZ and DESC.SDI). Although it is not required, it is appreciated if you let me know that you are distributing CANIPROMPTS.