EZinst v1.3 Introduction ============ EZinst is an installation program for Microsoft Windows. It was designed for programmers, consultants, and other computer users in need of a simple, inexpensive, customizable Windows installation program. EZinst v1.3 has been tested with Windows 95. Installation ============ Installing EZinst is extremely easy. STEP #1. Start Microsoft Windows. STEP #2. From the File sub-menu menu in Program Manager, choose Run... STEP #3. Specify the location of the EZinst files and type "install". Ex: a:install Ex: c:\apl\comm\install STEP #4. The installation program will prompt you to enter the destination drive/directory. Ex: c:\ezinst STEP #5. The installation program will finish the installation automatically. File list ========= This is a complete file list. 1. INSTALL.EXE - the main installation program. 2. INSTALL.INI - the installation file and example. 3. INSTALL.HLP - the on-line help file. 4. COMPRESS.EXE - Microsoft's compression utility. 5. README.TXT - this file. 6. CATALOG.TXT - a list of Burnham Park Software, Inc's shareware titles. 7. ORDER.FRM - the form for registering EZinst. 8. FILE_ID.DIZ - the description file. 9. VENDINFO.DIZ - the verdor information file. Using EZinst ============ The EZinst program (INSTALL.EXE) is small (about 70k) and easy to use. Simply copy it to the distribution disk along with the INSTALL.INI file (described in the following section) and the distribution files. It will then be ready to install. All the person installing the program has to do is run Microsoft Windows and use the File-Run... menu command (Example: a:install.exe). The rest is self explanatory. The INSTALL.INI file ==================== The INSTALL.INI file is easy to use, but must be syntactically correct. Section #1 The version number of the .INI file. The @@VER@@=#.# macro defines the EZinst compatible version number. (Note: if this line is missing, version 1.1 will be assumed.) This line may also contain several other macros: @@OLD@@ which will force EZinst to automatically overwrite older files, @@NEW@@ which will force EZinst to automatically overwrite newer files, and @@SIZE@@=x which will check if the destination disk has at leasy x bytes remaining. Section #2 The title, background colors, font style, and background bitmap. The first line is the title text which will be displayed in the title bar and in large letters in the background. The second line contains the two background colors. The first will start at the top of the window and blend into the second color at the bottom. The colors may be followed by the following macros: @@ITA@@ which will cause the title to be italicized, @@UND@@ which will cause the title to be underlined, @@LRG@@ which will cause the title to be displayed in large letters, @@SML@@ which will cause the title to be displayed in small letters, @@BMP@@=filename.bmp which will cause the bitmap to be displayed in the center of the background, @@LFT@@ which will cause the bitmap to be displayed on the left, @@RGT@@ which will cause the bitmap to be displayed on the right, @@TOP@@ which will cause the bitmap to be displayed at the top, @@BOT@@ which will cause the bitmap to be displayed at the bottom, @@2X@@ which will cause the bitmap to be displayed at twice the normal size, and @@4X@@ which will cause the bitmap to be displayed at four times the normal size. (Note: the bitmap file must reside on the first installation disk.) Section #3 The default source and destination directories. The first line is the default source drive/directory. The @@CUR@@ macro will force the current working directory to be used and will suppress the "Install from" dialog-box. The second line is the default destination drive/directory. If it already exists, EZinst will prompt if it is to be used anyway. The @@OVR@@=dir macro will hard wire the supplied directory. Section #4 The message to be displayed while the files are being installed. The message can be anything from a registration reminder to hints about the program. Section #5 The files to be installed. The first line is the number of files to install (not counting any @@DISK@@ lines). Subsequent lines are the files to install. They may be compressed using Microsoft's compress.exe. The macro @@DISK@@ will cause EZinst to wait for the next installation disk to be inserted and will be ignored in the file count. The macro @@DIR@@ and others may be used (see the Macros section). Section #6 The program group and program items to be installed. The first line is the program group. If it doesn't already exist, it will be created. The second line is the number of program items to be created in the program group. Make sure this number corresponds to the number of lines following it. Subsequent lines are the program items to be installed. The first part of an entry is the program to be run followed by any command-line parameters. The second part of an entry is the title, and is separated by a comma. The third part of an entry (optional) is the separate icon file, and is separated by a comma. The macro @@DIR@@ and others may be used (see the Macros section). Section #7 The entries in the WIN.INI (or other .INI files) to be installed. The first line is the number of entries to be installed. Make sure this number corresponds to the number of lines following it. The subsequent lines are the WIN.INI (or other) entries. The first part of each entry is the section, followed by a comma and the entry, followed by a comma and the string, optionally followed by a comma and the .INI file (WIN.INI is the default). The macro @@DIR@@ and others may be used (see the Macros section). Section #8 The additional programs to be executed (such as PKZIP or Notepad). The first line is the number of executions. Make sure this number corresponds to the number of lines following it. Subsequent lines are the programs to be run. The format is: command line, optionally followed by one of two display macros. The @@MAX@@ macro displays the program maximized and the @@MIN@@ macro displays the program minimized (the default is normal). The macro @@DIR@@ and others may also be used (see the Macros section). Example ======= @@VER@@=1.3 ; Version number 1.2 Gengame Installation ; Title to display while installing BLUE YELLOW @@ITA@@ @@BMP@@=gengame.bmp ; Background colors (blue to yellow) @@CUR@@ ; Default source drive/directory c:\gengame ; Default destination drive/directory Remember to register! ; Message 3 ; Number of files to install gengame.ex_ ; Name of files (may be compressed or gengame.hl_ ; un-compressed). Must be the name @@DISK@@ ; in the source drive/directory) readme.tx_ ; @@DISK@@ will prompt for new disk Games ; Program (manager) group 2 ; Number of program items @@DIR@@\gengame.exe, Generic Game ; Program item(s) (program itself) winhelp @@DIR@@\gengame.hlp, Help ; (a help file) 2 ; Number of INI entries Gengame, dir, @@DIR@@ ; INI entries (to WIN.INI) Gengame, high, 1000, gengame.ini ; (to GENGAME.INI) 1 ; Number of programs to execute @@WIN@@\notepad @@DIR@@\readme.txt ; Program(s) to execute Macros ====== @@DIR@@ This macro will be substituted by the destination directory. @@ROOT@@ This macro will substituted by the root directory of the destination drive. @@SRC@@ This macro will substituted by the source directory (and subdirectories). @@SUB@@ This macro will substituted by the subdirectory of the destination directory following the macro. If it does not exist, it will be created (only in the file list). @@SYS@@ This macro will be subsituted by the Windows system directory. @@WIN@@ This macro will be subsituted by the Windows directory. Note: these macros may only be used in the file, program items, INI emtry, and ececution lists. Compression =========== The compression program (compress.exe) is used to reduce the size of distributed programs. The syntax is: compress [-r] file.ext [filenew.ext]. If the -r switch is used, the second filename is not needed, as compress will automatically alter the first filename by changing the last character to an '_'. Example: compress -r install.exe; will create install.ex_ (compressed). Changes from version 1.2 ======================== Version 1.3 is a major upgrade. There are a quite a number of changes/enhancements from v1.2, but v1.2 .INI files are still supported. Enhancements include: many more macros, the ability to display bitmaps on the background, a message section, and much more. (Note: the current working directory for executions has been changed to the destination directory.) Registration ============ EZinst is a shareware program that has a 30 day evaluation period after which a payment of $22 is required. As shareware, EZinst was distributed freely in order to allow people to "test drive" it. The try- before-you-buy concept allows users to find out which programs are useful before purchasing them. If a shareware program is useful or entertaining, please support it through registration. The registration fee for EZinst is only $22 and entitles you to the newest version of the program, a utility (MAKEINI) to help create INSTALL.INI files, a printed manual, customer support (through the mail or on Compuserve, AOL, or the Internet), the source code, an unlimited distribution license, and information (and discounts) on other offerings from Burnham Park Software, Inc. To register, send your name, address, and a check or money order to: Burnham Park Software, Inc. P.O. Box #814 Chicago, IL 60690-0814 Phone: (312) 922-6313 BBS: (312) 922-2839 Compuserve: 71532,3271 AOL: Burnsoft Internet: burnsoft@aol.com WWW: http://execpc.com/~burnsoft CompuServe's SWREG #3782 EZinst is supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the use of EZinst. ASP Ombusman statement ====================== Burnham Park Software, Inc. 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 Road, Muskegon, MI 49442-9427 USA, FAX 616-788-2765 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.