          INSTALL.HLP                                    LAST MOD 95/09/25

          This document includes helpful information on the setup and
          installation of Niagara Learning System (N.L.S.) software. For
          day-to-day operational help and details of program features,
          please refer to the user manuals such as GRMANUAL.TXT, LEARN.TXT,
          and PIMS.TXT. 
          
          N.L.S. software requires setting three environment variables in
          AUTOEXEC.BAT. 
          
          NLS_PROG should be set to point at the directory containing the
          NLS program executables (eg. SET NLS_PROG=C:\GRADES).  For
          multi-user environments, this would normally be a sharable, read
          only, subdirectory on the common network drive.  If not set, then
          the default drive is searched followed by searching the
          directories listed after "path" in autoexec.bat. 

          NLS_DATA should be set to point at the data directory where
          GRADESPACK user files are to be stored (eg. SET NLS_DATA=C:\GRDATA).  
          If not set, then the current default drive is used. 

          NLS should be set to point at the directory containing the
          NLS.CFG file (eg. SET NLS=C:\TOOLS).  Again, for multi-user
          environments, this could be a sharable, read only, subdirectory
          on the common network drive.  If not set, then only the default
          drive is searched. 

          N.L.S. software can be modified for various color palettes
          through the use of a special color configuration file called
          NLS.CFG.  The first line of the NLS.CFG file contains number
          codes for the foreground color followed by the background color
          (eg 14,1 for yellow on blue).  The number codes are the same
          found in all Basic programs (i.e. 0=black, 1=blue, 2=green,
          3=cyan, 4=red, 5=magenta, 6=dk yellow [brown], 7=gray).  For
          foreground colors only, 8 can be added to each number to make a
          lighter shade such as 14 for yellow and 15 for white. 
          The second line of the file, if it is there, must have 16 two
          digit numbers, corresponding to the 16 colors in the basic color
          pallette.  Each digit of the two digit number follows the
          standard 0-7 scheme as outlined above. The first digit sets the
          color and the second digit sets the tone or intensity.  As an
          example the color 60 is brown but the color 67 is yellow (a
          bright brown).  Similarly 70 is a gray but 77 is a bright white.
          If this pallette setting line is used, the first line settings
          become position references in the pallette (counting from
          position 0 through position 15). The color of the highlight bar
          in all programs is set by the color code at position 6.  By
          default, it is yellow (67) but it can be adjusted to taste. It is
          also possible to experiment with the color pallette to
          understanding settings by using the N.L.S. software C.BAT and
          SPECTRUM (a TSR program). After installing SPECTRUM, press <Ctrl)
          and tilde <~> at the same time to view the pallette settings and
          choices.  The up/down arrows move numbers by 10, the Page Up/Down
          by 1, and left/right arrows alter position. 

          SRR003.DAT is an ASCII text file required by N.L.S. GRADESPACK
          for interfacing a school's registration system.  It has the
          following format: 
          First, a section line containing 7 zeros, the section name (1-8
          characters), section number (2 characters), the number of students 
          in that section, the term (eg. 95F), and the teacher's name. 
          Second, lines for each student that contain student identifier 
          (1 to 11 characters), first name, last name, and program name. 
          After all student lines for one class have been entered, another
          section line (starting with 7 zeros) and student lines may follow. 
          NOTE: A directory can contain a maximum of 25 class sections.
                All fields must be delimited by at least one space.
                All classes must be presorted by last name, then first. 
                Compound names must have hyphen or underscore rather than
                  a space. Examples: Mary Margaret should be Mary-Margaret
                  or Mary_Margaret.   W. Forbes Smythe should be 
                  W. Forbes-Smythe or W. Forbes_Smythe. 
          If students are not assigned to a program or this field is not
          required/set by the registrar, a dummy indicator IS required
          (such as * or 'NONE' ). 

          SRR003.DAT sample file:
          0000000 ENGL100 05 02 95F JRUSSELL
          9876543 BILL BLACK MATH & SCIENCE
          1234567 SALLY O'NEILL NURSING
          0000000 ENGL110 55 03
          UNKNOWN FRED FLINTSTONE MINING TECHNOLOGY
          SECRET  BARNEY RUBBLE NONE
          LONGIDENTY ALICE BLUE_GOWN FASHION ARTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

          NIAGARA LEARNING SYSTEMS is a colloquium of academic
          professionals with a mandate to provide software solutions to
          classroom and administrative problems.  Currently, these programs
          are available:

          GRADESPACK -- a gradeskeeping program with 20 years of user input
          as to features needed and wanted.  (MS-DOS or VAX/VMS)

          LEARN -- a Computer Assisted Instruction (C.A.I.) program to
          guide modular learning curriculum.  (MS-DOS or VAX/VMS)

          P.I.M.S. -- a Personal Information Manager to keep track of
          records that must be sorted/printed/added and a mailing label
          generator. A menu driven replacement for dBase and Q&A.
          (MS-DOS or VAX/VMS)

          TESTBANK -- a standardized test generator on VAX - one program
          fits all publishers testbanks and can amalgamate banks, randomize
          versions of tests, and give online review/selection of test items.

          Lab Grading System -- a visual entry/flexible report generator
          for courses that require subject competency evaluations. 
          Particularly useful in the Health Science field.  (MS-DOS)

          Please contact T. Mason by e-mail at "TMASON@lundy.niagarac.on.ca"
          or J. Russell at "JRUSSELL@lundy.niagarac.on.ca" for more
          information on any of the above exciting applications.
