Launch v4.50 help text generated at 9:13:15 PM on Sunday, October 13, 1996. #1 1.00 General Information This section gives information that is relevant to the entire Launch system. 1.01 Using Help This is the help information window. From here, you can use the vertical arrow keys [Up] and [Down] to scroll the displayed information up and down. [Pg Up] and [Pg Dn] move the text up or down by a page, [Home] moves to the start of the text, and [End] moves to the end of the text. Mouse users can click on the [Up] and [Down] icons in the scroll bar, or drag the page icon (press and hold the mouse button while on the icon, and then move the mouse) in the scroll bar to display a different page. Pressing [I] or clicking on "Index" displays a help index. To select a new topic, use the same keys as above to highlight a new help topic and then press [Enter]. The required information will then be displayed. Press [Esc] to return to the help window without changing the help topic. When you have finished reading, press [Esc] to return to Launch in the position you left off. 1.02 Help Index Pressing [I] displays a help index. To select a new topic, use the same keys as above to highlight a new help topic and then press [Enter]. The required information will then be displayed. Press [Esc] to return to the help window without changing the help topic. When you have finished reading, press [Esc] to return to Launch in the position you left off. 1.03 Login:User ID Enter your User ID in the space provided. A User ID uniquely identifies each user when they log on, and is usually the user's initials or their first or last name. If you enter the wrong User ID, press [Ctrl+Backspace] to erase the old entry and enter a new one. If this is the first time you have used Launch after installing it, just press [Enter] for both the User ID and Password fields. The installation program configures Launch with a single Supervisor user with blank User ID and Password fields. 1.04 Login:Invalid Login Launch accepts input for both the User ID and Password fields before validating them. If the login is incorrect, Launch displays the message "Invalid login", without telling the user which field is incorrect. This helps to maintain the security of the system, since the number of possibilities for the combined User ID and Password fields is much greater than for the User ID field alone. 1.05 Login:Password Enter your user password in this field. If you have forgotten your password, talk to your system supervisor. Choose a password that you can remember! Good Passwords Bad Passwords FREX ^@!8/+( ZANTU 1%B]{& 1.06 Using Launch If an item has a highlighted letter (hot key), that key may be pressed to access that menu item directly (without moving to it and pressing [Enter]). [Enter] If the cursor is positioned over a MENU (a menu is indicated by an arrow to its right), this displays the next menu. If the cursor is positioned over an OPTION, this EXECUTES the option under the cursor [Esc] Returns you to the previous menu if there is one. If there is no previous menu, you are given the option to exit [Left] Same as [Esc], except does not allow you to exit [Right] Same as [Enter], except it does not allow an OPTION to be executed [Up] Moves up one menu item (jumping over any dividers, and if at the top of the menu, it wraps around to the last menu item) [Down] Moves down one menu item [Pg Up] Moves up six items [Pg Dn] Moves down six items [Home] Moves to the first menu item [End] Moves to the last menu item [F10] Displays the Command menu. The commands allow you to customise the look and operation of Launch. Depending on your privileges, certain commands may be hidden - this means that they are unavailable [F1] Displays context-sensitive help for the operation you are performing [Ctrl+F1] If it has been defined, this displays user-defined help for the item under the cursor [Ctrl+Home Returns the cursor to the first menu ] 1.07 Field Editing While editing, the following keys can be used : [Left] Moves the cursor left [Right] Moves the cursor right [Home] Moves to the start of the field [End] Moves to the end of the field [Ctrl+Left] Moves the cursor one word left [Ctrl+Right] Moves the cursor one word right [Delete] Removes the character under the cursor [Backspace] Removes the character to the left of the cursor [Insert] Toggles between insert/overwrite mode [Ctrl+Backspac Clears the entire field e] [Down] If this field has an associated history, this brings up the history list. 1.08 Moving Between Fields If there is more than one field to edit, the following keys may also be used: [Tab] Next field [Shift+Tab] Previous field [Alt+letter Moves directly to the field with ] letter highlighted 1.09 Editing with a Mouse Clicking anywhere on a field with the mouse moves the cursor to that field. Clicking in the text entry part of a text field moves the cursor underneath the mouse cursor. Some fields have buttons beside them when focussed, a single down arrow indicates a history list, and an up and down arrow beside a numeric field can be used to increase or decrease the value. The buttons can be clicked on with the mouse. 1.10 Entering Extended Characters If you wish to enter a character that is not accessible via the keyboard, first find its decimal equivalent from an ASCII chart. Then, while holding the [Alt] key down, type in the character's decimal equivalent on the NUMERIC KEYPAD, and then release [Alt]. 1.11 Using User-Defined Help This window displays user-defined help for the menu item currently under the cursor. You can use the vertical arrow keys [Up] and [Down] to scroll the displayed information up and down. [Pg Up] and [Pg Dn] move the text up or down by a page, [Home] moves to the start of the text, and [End] moves to the end of the text. Mouse users can click on the [Up] and [Down] icons in the scroll bar, or drag the page icon (press and hold the mouse button while on the icon, and then move the mouse) in the scroll bar to display a different page. If you have editing privileges or have supervisor authority, pressing [Alt+E] allows you to edit the help information. When you have finished reading, press [Esc] to return to Launch in the position you left off. 1.12 No User Help You have pressed [Ctrl+F1], and there is no user- defined help for the item under the cursor. If you have editing privileges, you can press [Enter] to create the help information. After you have done so, Launch will display the information for the item. Press [Esc] to not create user help. #2 2.00 Edit Edit allows you to change various attributes of menu items, such as their title and hot keys, password, authority level, short cut key, batch file or link path. Each item type has different attributes: Divider Title (no hot keys allowed) bars Options Title (with hot keys), short cut, password, authority level, batch file Menus Title (with hot keys), short cut, password, authority level, maximum height Links Title (with hot keys), short cut, password, authority level, maximum height, link number and path, automatic link To edit divider bars, you must choose Edit from the Command menu, as this method allows you to select the item to be edited. Otherwise, simply pressing [F9] while the cursor is highlighting the item to be edited is a much quicker method. 2.01 Selecting the Item to Edit You have chosen Edit from the Command menu rather than by pressing [F9] directly. When you do this, Launch allows you to choose the item you would like to edit, rather than editing the item underneath the cursor bar at the time [F9] was pressed. This facilitates the editing of divider bars, because normally the cursor bar cannot move onto a divider bar. All normal cursor bar movement keys can be used here, except [Esc], which cancels the editing process. When the cursor bar is positioned over the item you would like to edit, press [F9]. 2.02 Editing Batch Commands When editing an option, pressing [F9] (a second time: the first press being to invoke Edit) causes Launch to invoke the text editor. The editor allows you to modify the batch file associated with the option. The commands in the batch file cause the option to be executed. Once these instructions have been edited and saved by the text editor, and you have exited from the text editor, Launch will be re-displayed. If you made no changes to the batch file, the edit window will still be displayed, but if you did save the batch file from within the editor, all changes will be saved. 2.03 Title The title of a menu item appears in the menu window, and is used to provide the user with a description of that item. If you wish to exit without changing the title, press [Esc]. A title may specify a hot key (a unique key which can be pressed to access the item directly from within the same menu window) by placing a carat ^ in front of the character to be the hot key. eg. ^File Manager The letter "F" of the title would appear in a different colour, and the associated program can be accessed simply by pressing [F], in addition to moving the cursor bar over the item and pressing [Enter]. Multiple hot keys may be defined simply by using more than one carat eg ^1 ^File ^Manager has the hot keys "1","F" and "M". Note:The title of a divider bar is not allowed to have a hot key. If there is a carat ^ in a divider bar's title, it is displayed literally. 2.04 Short Cut A short cut is a special key combination that will access a menu item from anywhere within the menu structure. If you press the short cut of a option, execution of that option will occur. If you press the short cut of a menu, the cursor bar will be positioned in that menu. If an item has a short cut, this is indicated either by a small circle in the left margin of the menu, or the short cut is displayed on the right hand side of the menu window (Depending on the setting of "Show short cuts" in the Options window). The short cut is always shown on the status line when you move the cursor bar over that item. Pressing [Down] while editing this field brings up a list of available and used short cuts. You can only utilise the short cuts of the items you have the authority to access. Launch allows the following short cuts to be used : F3..F8 Ctrl+Home Ctrl+A..Ctrl+Z (except Ctrl+M), Ctrl+F2..Ctrl+F10 Alt+A..Alt+Z, Alt+0..Alt+9, Alt+-, Alt+=, Alt+F1..Alt+F10 Shift+F1..Shift+F10 2.05 Password This field specifies the item's password. In order to access this item (run, edit, move, copy, delete) the user must know (and provide) the password. The supervisor may choose to bypass entering the password by pressing [F9]. This enables them to delete items that they have forgotten the password of, and access items given a password by other people. 2.06 Authority This specifies the minimum authority level required before access to this item is granted. A user with an authority level less than that specified will not see the item ie it is totally removed from the menu window. An authority level of 99 (the highest) indicates supervisor status. You cannot give an item an authority level higher than your own. A new authority level can be entered directly or its value can be changed using [Up] and [Down]. Mouse users can click on the up and down buttons to increase or decrease the value. 2.07 Incorrect Authority Level You cannot give an item an authority level higher than your own, otherwise you would not be able to access it in the future. 2.08 Pause After Execution When enabled, this toggle field causes Launch to pause after running a program so that you can examine the program's output, and then press [Enter] to return to Launch. Change the setting by pressing [Space] to toggle, [Y] to enable or [N] to disable. 2.09 Reset Recovery When enabled, this toggle field causes Launch to take steps that will allow it to re-run this program if it does not finish because the computer loses power, is turned off or rebooted. This is very useful for BBS, fax machines or other systems that must remain running. The user is given 20 seconds to abort the program before it is re-run. Note that programs that have "Don't return to Launch" flagged will actually return to Launch if they are forced to recover from a reset. This is because the normal action the user wouuld take would be to return to Launch. Change the setting by pressing [Space] to toggle, [Y] to enable or [N] to disable. 2.10 Prompt for Log Message When enabled, this toggle field causes Launch to ask the user for extra information to be placed in the log file. This is very useful for identifying which project was being worked on for billing customers etc. This only occurs when logging is enabled. Change the setting by pressing [Space] to toggle, [Y] to enable or [N] to disable. 2.11 Don't return to Launch When enabled, this toggle field causes Launch to run the specified program and then exit, so Launch is not re-displayed when the program finishes. This is useful for "logout" style options where particular actions must be performed before Launch exits. If Launch is re- invoked after an option of this kind is run, it will re-display with the cursor in the same position as the user left. Change the setting by pressing [Space] to toggle, [Y] to enable or [N] to disable. 2.12 AutoBuild:Option AutoBuild allows you to create an option simply by telling Launch the name of the program to run. The highlight cursor is moved by pressing [Up], [Down], [Home], [End], [Pg Up] and [Pg Dn]. At the top of the list is the text "Select new drive", if you highlight this and press [Enter] the list changes to show a list of your system drives. You may enter an executable file name directly by pressing [Alt+N] to move the cursor to the Name field and then typing in the file name. Selecting a directory causes Launch to eliminate other directories at that level (eg all other first level directories), and shows subdirectories and files in the chosen directory. Example: Suppose that the AutoBuild Files Window is displaying what is shown below, and that the cursor is highlighting the directory D:\PHOTO. -- AutoBuild Files Window ---------------------- Select new drive D: +--BACKUP +--GAMES +--ICONS +--MHUNI2 +--PHOTO <- Selected +--TURBO6 +--VISIO +--ZIP ------------------------------------------------ Pressing [Enter] then eliminates all directories but D:\PHOTO and shows the contents of that directory only, as shown below. -- AutoBuild Files Window ---------------------- Select new drive D: +--PHOTO <- Selected +--IMAGES +--MAPS +--PALETTES +--PAPERS +--PHOTOLIB +--TEXTURES +--THUMNAIL +--TILES PHOTO.EXE SETUP2.EXE ZCAPTURE.EXE ------------------------------------------------ Selecting the appropriate executable file (a .COM, .EXE or .BAT file) completes the AutoBuild, and Launch assembles the commands necessary to execute that file. It will then save the option if there are no hot key conflicts. 2.13 AutoBuild:Overwrite Commands? Using AutoBuild will replace any commands that were previously associated with this option. Press [Enter] if you wish to replace these commands with those created by the AutoBuild command, or press [Esc] to keep the old commands and cancel AutoBuild. 2.14 Maximum Height This field specifies the maximum number of items that can be displayed in the menu's or link's window at any one time. A setting of zero corresponds to an automatic setting, where the window will grow to fit the number of items in it. If there are less items than specified, then this setting has no effect; the window will grow in size with each new item that is added. A setting greater than the number of lines on the screen will be ignored, although if the screen mode is changed (for example, to 80x43 lines), then the setting may come into effect. 2.15 Link Path This field specifies the directory in which the structure to be linked resides. For example, if you wished to link a structure in D:\LOTUS\DATA then you would place D:\LOTUS\DATA in the link path field. The AutoBuild facility may also be used to fill in this and the following field. The link path may also contain environment variables such as %USER%. 2.16 Link Number This field specifies which of the structures in the link path should be linked into the current structure. The link number can be any integer between 0 and 99, corresponding to structures M_STRUCT.D00 through M_STRUCT.D99. If this field is left blank, it is interpreted as a 0. The AutoBuild facility may also be used to fill in this and the previous field. 2.17 Automatic Link When enabled, this toggle field causes Launch to automatically read in the structure specified by this link. When disabled, the linked structure is only loaded on demand ie when the user accesses the link. The short cuts of a linked structure without automatic link enabled are inaccessible until that linked structure is loaded. Change the setting by pressing [Space] to toggle, [Y] to enable or [N] to disable. 2.18 AutoBuild:Link Similarly to AutoBuild:Option (above), Launch allows you to choose the drive and directory that contains the structure to be linked. Instead of showing executable files, Launch shows all files matching M_STRUCT.D*. Once selected, Launch will then save the Link if there are no hot key conflicts. #3 3.00 Insert Insert allows you to create a new item to put in the menu structure. 3.01 Positioning the New Item This tells Launch where you want the new item to be placed. A new item "-- New Item --" is shown, and it moves with the cursor as you press the cursor movement keys. When you have positioned the new item where you want it, press [Insert]. All cursor bar movement keys operate as normal - except [Esc], which exits without adding a new item. 3.02 Item Type Select the type of menu item to add : Divider the item will become a horizontal line (with optional title) that can be used to divide your menu windows up into related items. Option the item will be capable of executing any command(s) Menu the item will be able to contain other items within it Link the item will become a link to another structure. This has the effect of placing an entire structure from another directory into the current menu, making it look like a menu. To choose the item type, press [Up], [Down], [Home] and [End] to move the cursor next to the item type you want, then press [Enter]. Press [Esc] to exit without adding a new item. 3.03 Too many items Launch can hold up to 250 items in each menu, and this menu already has 250 items. Add the new item to a different menu, or divide the current menu into sub-menus with logical functional groupings. #4 4.00 Delete Delete allows you to remove any menu item. 4.01 Delete:Selecting the Item Use the cursor bar movement keys to highlight the item you wish to delete, and then press [Delete]. If you do not wish to delete anything, press [Esc]. Note:When you choose to delete a divider bar, Launch will not ask for confirmation - it will remove it immediately. 4.02 Delete:Confirmation Launch wishes you to confirm that you really wish to delete the item specified. If you don't want to delete the item, press [Esc]. Otherwise, confirm your choice by pressing [Enter] (Or click on the appropriate button). Note:Since Launch requires at least one item per menu, it will create a blank option if you try to delete the sole remaining item from a menu. #5 5.00 Move Item Use the cursor bar movement keys to move the menu item under the cursor bar to a new position. The left arrow key will take you to the previous menu (or click on the offset left arrow on the status line). To move into a menu, position the cursor bar ABOVE the menu's item in the menu window and press [Enter] or [Right]. You can also press the hot key of a menu. When the item is in the correct position, press [F2] to save the changes. Press [Esc] to cancel the operation, and return the item to its original position. Move can be used to change the position of entire menus (not just options), and it can also be used to move options or menus between structures. Note:Since Launch requires at least one item per menu, if you try to move the sole remaining item out of a menu, it will create a blank option within that menu. #6 6.00 Move Window Use the arrow keys to move the menu window to a new position. [Up] [Home] ^ [Pg Up] \ + / \+/ [Left] <---+---> [Right] /+\ / + \ [End] V [Pg Dn] [Down] When you have done this, press [F2] to save the menu window in its new position, or press [Esc] to return it to its previous position. If you are using a mouse, drag the window's title bar (the top line) to a new position. To do this, move the mouse pointer onto the top line of the window. Then, press AND hold down the mouse button, and move the mouse. This is referred to as dragging. When the window is in the desired position, release the mouse button. #7 7.00 Scheme The Scheme menu contains a list of screen elements whose attributes may be modified. The Elements section contains a list of all of the screen elements you can choose the attribute of. Some screen elements have a colour attribute, while others have a texture attribute. When you highlight an element, the Attribute region on the right hand side of the Scheme dialog will change to show you the current attribute of that element. To change the attribute, press [Tab] or [Alt+U] to move the focus to the Attribute region, and then use [Up], [Down], [Left] and [Right] to choose a new attribute. Launch's presentation will change dynamically to reflect any new attribute settings. This means that you can immediately see the result of your selection. Other commands available from the Scheme window: [F2] leaves the Scheme menu, saving the changes with your user information [Esc] leaves the Scheme menu without saving. The current scheme will be used on a temporary basis, and when you exit Launch, you will be asked if you wish to save the changes 7.01 Attribute Region This part of the Scheme dialog allows the element's attribute to be changed. Depending on the element chosen, this will be either a colour or a texture (character), and the Attribute region will display colours or textures accordingly, with the current selection shown. The current attribute's numeric value is displayed at the top right hand corner. [Left] alters the foreground colour [Right] independently of the background colour or, decreases or increases the texture value by one. [Up] [Down] alters the background colour independently of the foreground colour or, decreases or increases the texture value by 16. [C]ycle cycles the attribute. This has the same effect as pressing the right arrow key except that a two second delay is inserted between each colour change. Cycling ceases when you press [Space]. Cycle allows you to sit back and view every colour combination, stopping at the one you like best Once you have found the selection that you want, press [Enter] or click on "[Ret] to modify" on the status line. If you want to discard any changes you have made, press [Esc]. 7.02 Shadows The way that Launch displays shadows may be chosen from amongst five different methods: (a) None no shadows are displayed (b) Left,clear characters in the shadow region (below and left of windows) are "dimmed" (c) characters in the shadow Left,[texture] region are replaced by the "shadow" texture (d) Right,clear as for (b), except the shadow region is below and right of windows (e) as for (c), except shadow Right,[texture] region is below and right of windows 7.03 Load Scheme Load Scheme allows you to retrieve a complete definition of Launch's colours and textures. If you have not saved your current scheme, you will be prompted to do so before loading a new one. Once invoked, use the vertical arrow keys to select the Scheme you wish to load and then press [Enter] (or just press its number). As you move through the list, the presentation of Launch will change to show you what scheme you are loading. Press [Esc] to exit without loading a scheme. 7.04 Save Scheme Save Scheme allows you to save a complete definition of Launch's colours and textures. Once invoked, use the vertical arrow keys to select the Scheme you wish to save over and then press [Enter] (or just press its number). As you move through the list, Launch's presentation will change to show you what you are going to save over. Once you have pressed [Enter], you can give your scheme a name. Press [Enter] once you have done this to save the scheme. Press [Esc] at any stage to exit without saving a scheme. 7.05 EGA/VGA Palette This command allows you to alter the colours available in Launch. On a VGA (Video Graphics Array), this allows you to select 16 of 262,144 colours; on an EGA (Enhanced Graphics Adapter) you can select 16 of 64 colours. In addition, you may also select whether to use an extra 8 background colours, or to have blinking enabled. The screen border colour can also be set. At the left of the palette dialog is the Palette table, showing all possible colour combinations. One row of this table is selected at any one time, the colour being modified is shown by the background of the current row. Select which entry you would like to alter using [Up], [Down], [Home] and [End], and then move to the Red, Green or Blue colour sliders using [Alt+R], [Alt+G] or [Alt+B], or click on it with the mouse. Each colour component can be manipulated individually using [Left], [Right], [Home] and [End], or by using the mouse. [Alt+P] moves to the palette region [Alt+R] modifies the red component [Alt+G] modifies the green component [Alt+B] modifies the blue component [Alt+A] allows the user to toggle (using [Space]) between blinking and extra background colours [D] uses DOS's default value for that palette entry [R] restores the previous value for palette entry [Enter] returns to the scheme dialog [Esc] returns to the scheme dialog, discarding any changes Any changes to the palette are saved from within the Scheme dialog. The normal DOS palette is restored after leaving Launch. 7.06 Save Current Scheme? You have made changes to the current scheme, and Launch wishes to know if you want to save those changes before loading a new scheme. If you don't, the changes you have made will be lost (they won't be recorded with your user information). #8 8.00 About The About dialog provides information about your system and Launch. Licenced to Who owns this copy of Launch User ID The User ID of the person currently logged on User Name The User Name of the person currently logged on Current The path that DOS is currently Directory using Free Disk Space How much space remains on the active drive Current Where the currently displayed Structure menu window comes from. In a system with linked menu structures, this is sometimes of help Video mode If video is in VGA, EGA, MCGA or CGA mode. Network mode If network mode is on. Printer Status The current status of the printer, from DOS's point of view (so the displayed information may not be fully correct) Disconnected not connected to the computer Turned Off has not been switched on Online ready to print Offline not ready to print Paper Out requires paper Busy already printing Error error of some description Log file The file where log messages are being recorded, if any. This item is only shown if you are a supervisor, so normal users do not know if their usage is being tracked. #9 9.00 Preferences The Preferences command allows you to customise Launch's features. It is accessed by pressing [F10][P]. Select the feature that you wish to customise by pressing [Tab] or [Shift+Tab] or the feature's short cut, and then follow the instructions below. To return to the Command menu, press: [F2] Saves any changes [Esc] Discards any changes [Enter] Continues with any changes, the option to save them is given before the user exits Launch 9.01 Date format This controls the way in which the current date is displayed. [Tab] or [Shift+Tab] to the Date format field or press [Alt+D] to move to it directly. Change the date format by pressing [Up], [Down], [Home] and [End]. The date shown in the upper left corner of the screen will update automatically to reflect the new date format. 9.02 Time format This controls the way in which the current time is displayed. [Tab] or [Shift+Tab] to the Time format field or press [Alt+T] to move to it directly. Change the time format by pressing [Up], [Down], [Home] and [End]. The time shown in the upper right corner of the screen will update automatically to reflect the new time format. 9.03 Show day of week? This controls whether or not the day of the week is displayed by Launch. [Tab] or [Shift+Tab] to the Show day of Week field or press [Alt+W] to move to it directly. Change the setting by pressing [Space] to toggle, [Y] to enable or [N] to disable. The display in the upper left corner of the screen will update automatically to reflect the new setting. 9.04 Show user help dots This controls whether or not menu items with associated user help are shown with a dot on their left. This makes it very easy to find menu items that currently do not have any user help. [Tab] or [Shift+Tab] to the Show User Help Dots field or press [Alt+U] to move to it directly. Change the setting by pressing [Space] to toggle, [Y] to enable or [N] to disable. The display of menu windows in the background will update automatically to reflect the new setting. 9.05 Swap mouse buttons This controls the function of the mouse buttons. It allows the function normally associated with the buttons to be swapped. Normally the left mouse button is the same as [Enter] and the right mouse button is the same as [Esc]. This is useful if you are left-handed, or if you are used to having the buttons perform opposite functions. [Tab] or [Shift+Tab] to the Swap mouse buttons field or press [Alt+M] to move to it directly. Change the setting by pressing [Space] to toggle, [Y] to enable or [N] to disable. 9.06 Screen save (mins) This controls the amount of time that Launch will wait before activating the screen saver. The screen saver blacks out the screen to prevent the phosphor from "burning in" to a particular image which is displayed for an extended period of time. If no key has been pressed and no mouse movement has occurred within the specified time period (1 to 99 minutes), the screen save will be activated. Until a key is pressed or mouse movement occurs, a message is moved around the screen, indicating that a key should be pressed in order to re-activate the screen. [Tab] or [Shift+Tab] to the Show short cuts field or press [Alt+S] to move to it directly. Change the setting by typing in a new value or editing the one that is there, or by pressing [Up] and [Down] to increase or decrease the value. A value of 0 prevents screen-save from occurring. Note:Screen save only functions while in Launch, and is turned off during cycling. 9.07 Exit short cut The exit short cut is a quick way for you to leave Launch. It is very similar to a normal short cut that you might put on an option or a menu. When you press the exit short cut during normal menu operations (if present, it is displayed beside Exit in the Command menu), you will immediately exit Launch, bypassing the normal confirmation window. Of course, if you have changed your preferences, you will be asked to save them before exiting. [Tab] or [Shift+Tab] to the Exit short cut field or press [Alt+E] to move to it directly. To change the setting, simply press the desired key combination, or press [Down] to see a list of available and used short cuts. 9.08 Header line The header line contains information that you specify. It may be your company or division name, or just some information that you want on- screen. [Tab] or [Shift+Tab] to the Header line field or press [Alt+H] to move to it directly. Edit the text as you would any other text field. The header line on the top line of the screen changes as you type so you can see how it is going to look. #10 10.00 User Accounts User accounts allows you to change the access privileges of Launch's users. Only users with an authority level of 99 can access User Accounts. Before doing so, they must re-enter their login password. This is to prevent unauthorised access when a supervisor has left their machine unattended. The User Accounts window displays each user's ID, name and authority level. [Enter] Edits the user's information [Insert] Inserts a record for a new user. The new user's scheme, preferences and access privileges are copied from the user highlighted by the cursor when [Insert] was pressed [Delete] Deletes the user shown if it is not the current users (ie your own!) [Up] Moves up one user [Down] Moves down one user [Pg Up] Moves up one page [Pg Dn] Moves down one page [Home] Moves to the first user [End] Moves to the last user [F2] Returns to the Command menu 10.01 Password Before you access User Accounts you must re- enter your login password. This is to prevent unauthorised access when a supervisor has left their machine unattended. 10.02 Edit User:User ID This field determines the unique ID that this user will use to identify themselves when logging on. It is usually the user's initials or their first name. [Tab] or [Shift+Tab] to the User ID field or press [Alt+U] to move to it directly. Edit the text as you would any other text field. Note: This field must be unique. 10.03 Edit User:User Name This field fully identifies the user, giving their full name. [Tab] or [Shift+Tab] to the User Name field or press [Alt+N] to move to it directly. Edit the text as you would any other text field. 10.04 Edit User:Password This field specifies the user's password. Only those with the correct password can gain access to Launch. When the cursor is not on this field, it appears as a string of ampersands ("@") so that a casual glance will not reveal the password. [Tab] or [Shift+Tab] to the Password field or press [Alt+P] to move to it directly. Edit the text as you would any other text field. 10.05 Edit User:Authority This specifies the user's authority level. It controls which menu items are visible to them. If a user has an authority less than that of a menu item, that item will be removed from the menu window. An authority level of 99 (the highest) indicates supervisor status, and controls access to the User Accounts command. It also prevents users who are not supervisors from saving schemes to the Scheme file. [Tab] or [Shift+Tab] to the Authority field or press [Alt+A] to move to it directly. Change the setting by typing in a new value or editing the one that is there, or by pressing [Up] and [Down] to increase or decrease the value. 10.06 Edit User:Allow Exit to DOS When this field is unticked, the user will not be allowed to exit to DOS. Instead, they will be returned to the log-on screen where a user with higher access privileges can log-on and then exit to DOS, or someone else can log-on and start working. [Tab] or [Shift+Tab] to the Allow Exit to DOS field or press [Alt+D] to move to it directly. Change the setting by pressing [Space] to toggle, [Y] to enable or [N] to disable. 10.07 Edit User:Allow Editing When this field is unticked, the user will not be allowed to alter the menu; the menu commands add, edit, copy, delete, move and window will be inaccessible. [Tab] or [Shift+Tab] to the Allow Editing field or press [Alt+E] to move to it directly. Change the setting by pressing [Space] to toggle, [Y] to enable or [N] to disable. 10.08 Confirm:Delete User Confirm that you really do wish to delete this user. Press [Enter] to confirm deletion, or press [Esc] to cancel. 10.09 Cannot Delete Current User You are not allowed to delete the user record that you are logged in as. 10.10 No Supervisor Account Launch requires that there be at least one supervisor account. It may be that you have accidentally removed your own supervisor status. You must set up at least one user (usually yourself) as the supervisor. 10.11 Duplicate User ID No two users are allowed to have the same User ID. You must choose a unique ID for each user. 10.12 Invalid User Accounts Password The password you entered was incorrect. Before you access User Accounts you must re- enter your login password. This is to prevent unauthorised access when a supervisor has left their machine unattended. 10.13 User file truncated The last record in the user was invalid. It has been removed. 10.14 LOGIN_USER A special user LOGIN_USER is maintained by Launch to determine how the Login screen is displayed. The colours, textures, palette and preferences of this user are used to produce the login display. If this user name is not found before the Login screen is displayed, the scheme and preference settings of the last user in the user file are used. To modify the settings, login as the LOGIN_USER, modify the settings and then save them. If you do not wish anyone to alter the LOGIN_USER's settings (by logging in as the LOGIN_USER), give the LOGIN_USER a password that only you know. Launch ensures that the LOGIN_USER always has an authority of zero, and cannot edit or exit to DOS. #11 11.00 Shareware The user supported software concept (also known as "Shareware") is an attempt to provide quality software at a low cost. Both the user and the author benefit from this plan. The user will benefit by being able to "test drive" software thoroughly before purchasing it. The author benefits by being able to enter the commercial software market while avoiding the high cost of commercial distribution. This concept helps many independent authors and small companies that otherwise would be discouraged from developing and promoting their ideas. It can only work with your support. If you obtain a user supported program from a friend and are still using it after a few weeks, then it is obviously worth something to you, and a registration fee should be paid. The fee entitles the user to a printed manual, disks, product support and upgrade deals. This software is distributed under the user supported software concept. Though Launch is copyrighted, you are encouraged to copy and distribute this program to others. You are granted a 30-day limited licence to test drive Launch. If AFTER THIS PERIOD you continue to use the software (which indicates your satisfaction with the product) you are OBLIGATED to register yourself as a legitimate Launch user. If after 30 days, you do not wish to register, you MUST remove and destroy any copies of Launch in your possession. Why Register? I have spent an immeasurable amount of time developing Launch; it is only fair that if you opt to use it that I be paid for my efforts. This is a legal obligation of the user that cannot be avoided. Additionally, there are other reasons to register. All registered users of the Shareware version will automatically receive the latest commercial version of Launch which is not available in Shareware. Usually the Shareware versions of Launch are limited in their capabilities - the commercial version is not. Registered users are entitled to free product support and additional information and specials on other Crystal Software products and upgrades. 11.01 Order Form This screen is where you enter the details required to get a copy of Launch to you. You can get a hard copy of this information by printing to LPT1, or by printing it to a file and then using DOS or another program to print that file. 11.02 Prices Item Cost Single User Licence $35 Server Licence (any number of $200 users) Site Licence (any number of $450 servers) Company Licence (any number of $950 sites) Additional manuals $10 These prices are current as of Sunday, 13 October 1996. These prices are subject to change. Multiple user licence prices are negotiable. You can obtain the latest registered version of Launch over the Internet with your credit card, using Albert's Ambry, http://www.alberts.com. You obtain the electronic version immediately, and you will receive the package with manual and disks in less than two weeks. Bulk orders or network/server/site/company licences are only available directly from Crystal Software. Bulk orders are multiple single-user versions, each with a set of disks and user's guide. Licences come with both 3.5" and 5.25" disks and a user's guide. Additional user's guides are available for an extra charge. 11.03 Payment - Australia Australian customers can send a cheque, bank draft or postal money order (prepaid) to Simon Carter. Crystal Software now accepts Visa, MasterCard and Bank Card. Please include your card number, its expiry date, your signature and the current date. 11.04 Payment - Overseas Please add an additional $AUS 10 to cover postage, packing and custom charges. Crystal Software now accepts Visa, MasterCard and Bank Card. Please include your card number, its expiry date, your signature and the current date. The preferred method is a (prepaid) Postal Money order in Australian dollars (your post office will perform the conversion), payable to Simon Carter. A less attractive alternative is a bank draft; this is available from any bank, and usually costs between $5 and $10. An alternative to this is a cheque drawn on an Australian bank (cheques drawn on foreign banks take 6 weeks (!) to clear). Please remit all cheques/money orders to Simon Carter. 11.05 Print To: To determine where the order form is sent when printed, enter one of the following in the "Print to" field: LPT1 printer 1 LPT2 printer 2 COM1 serial port 1 COM2 serial port 2 COM3 serial port 3 COM4 serial port 4 filename.ext saves the order in the file filename.ext (usually ORDER.TXT). This can be used to email the order directly, or allow it to be faxed. Send your order (don't forget to fill out the "comments" section!) to the address below: Email: launch@ozemail.com.au Web: http://www.ozemail.com.au/~launch Mail: Simon Carter Crystal Software 2 / 9 Woodbine Court Wantirna Victoria 3152 AUSTRALIA Phone: +61-3 9809-0172 Fax: +61-3 9800-3078 Internet registration: http://www.alberts.com 11.10 Welcome to Launch! Launch is shareware and may be used free of charge for a limited trial period (30 days). If you find Launch useful and intend to continue using it, you must register it. Registration entitles you to: - the latest version of Launch (smaller and faster) - a first-rate, laser printed manual - extra features and additional programs - removal of reminder notices You will: - not be breaking the law - have a clear conscience - be supporting Australian software - ensure continued development of Launch #12 12.00 Command Menu The Command menu shows the facilities that are available for customising Launch to the user's preferences, modifying the menu structure, and changing security details. Some commands may not be visible if they have been disabled in User Accounts. Only users with an authority level of 99 can access User Accounts, and only users that are allowed to edit can see the commands Edit, Insert, Delete, Move, Copy, Move Window and First Menu Name. 12.01 About This command displays general information about Launch and your system. 12.02 Order form This command allows you to enter your details to order Launch, and send the order form to a printer or a file. 12.03 Change password This command allows the current user to change their login password. They must enter their current password first, then enter a new password and confirm it by repeating it exactly. 12.04 Preferences This command allows Launch to be customised to the user's preference, such as the date and time format, mouse configuration, screen save time- out, exit short cut, header line etc. 12.05 Scheme The Scheme command allows you to modify the colours and textures in which Launch is presented. It also allows the EGA/VGA Palette to be modified. 12.06 Edit Edit allows you to edit an existing option, divider, menu or link. Position the cursor bar over the item you wish to edit, and then invoke edit by pressing [F9]. Alternatively, by selecting edit from the Command menu, Launch allows you to select the item that you wish to edit. This enables you to edit the text of divider bars. 12.07 Insert Insert allows you to create new items: options, menus, dividers and links. It can be invoked by pressing [Insert] when the Command menu is not displayed. 12.08 Delete Delete allows you to remove any menu item. Delete can be invoked by pressing [Delete] when the Command menu is not shown. 12.09 Move current item This option allows you to move an item to anywhere else in the menu structure. Position the cursor bar over the item you wish to move, and then invoke Move through the Command menu. Move works equally well on options, menus or links, and can even move items across linked structures. 12.10 Copy current item Copy duplicates the item under the cursor bar. With it you can duplicate entire menus, links or just options. Invoke Copy after positioning the cursor bar over the item you wish to copy. 12.11 Move window This command allows you to reposition a menu window anywhere on the screen. Invoke Move Window when the window that you want to reposition is active. 12.12 First menu name This command allows you to change the name and short cut of the first menu that appears on the desktop. The authority level of the first menu cannot be modified from 0 otherwise some users would not be able to see any menu at all. 12.13 User accounts User Accounts allows you to add, delete and change user information. 12.14 Exit This command is used to leave Launch. If an exit short cut is defined (it is displayed beside Exit in the Command menu) it may also be pressed to leave Launch. #13 13.00 Warning/Error Dialogs #1 The following section contains more information for the various warning or error dialogs (windows) that Launch uses. 13.01 Save Settings? You have changed scheme or preference settings, and have not yet saved them. If you exit without saving, the changes you have made will be lost. 13.02 Confirm Exit Do you really wish to exit? [Y] Exit leave Launch [L] Log-in return to log-in screen [Esc] Cancel don't exit 13.03 Short Cut Reserved Launch reserves some keys for its own exclusive use. Please choose another short cut. 13.04 Short Cut Used A menu item has already been assigned the short cut that you have pressed. Duplicate short cuts are allowed but are not recommended. 13.05 Is Exit Short Cut The short cut that you have pressed has already been assigned as your exit short cut. You must choose another short cut key for this item. 13.06 Short cut used by hidden item A menu item that you do not have the authority to access has already been assigned the short cut that you have pressed. You must choose another short cut for the item. 13.07 Hot Key Used by Hidden Item The hot key that you have given this item has already been used by an item that you do not have the authority to access (a hidden item). You must choose another hot key for this item. 13.08 Hot Key Used The hot key that you have given this item has already been used by another item. You can use duplicate hot keys, but be aware that only the first item found with a matching hot key will be run. By pressing [C] or [Esc], you can return to editing and modify the hot key, or by pressing [F2], you can choose to use the duplicate hot key. 13.09 Create Structure ? You are attempting to link a structure that doesn't exist. If you wish, Launch can create the new structure from scratch for you, just press [Enter]. If you have entered the link path or link number incorrectly, press [Esc]. 13.10 Create User File ? The user file either does not exist, or is too small to contain one valid user record. A new one can be created if you press [Enter]. Pressing [Esc] will cause Launch to exit, because it cannot continue without user information. 13.11 Out of Environment Space Launch uses a small amount (typically 30 characters or bytes) of environment space to return the user to the correct menu after running an application. The available environment space can be increased by minimising the length of your path statement. Adding the following line to your CONFIG.SYS can increase the amount of environment space you have: shell=c:\dos\command.com /e:512 This ensures that 512 bytes is available for the environment. You can view the contents of the environment using the DOS "set" command. If you are using Windows 95, modify the properties of the shell you are using (eg MS- DOS, 4DOS, NDOS etc). Under the Memory tab, increase the Initial Environment setting. If it is set to Auto, change it to 512. 13.12 Couldn't Find Environment Launch uses a small amount (typically 30 characters or bytes) of environment space to return the user to the correct menu after running an application. Launch was unable to locate the environment in the standard manner. This only happens when LMENU.EXE is run directly (by Windows or Windows 95) without its necessary batch file LAUNCH.BAT. Launch requires the shell (COMMAND.COM, 4DOS.COM, NDOS etc) to be present to provide an environment. #14 14.00 Warning/Error Dialogs #2 The following section contains more information for the various warning or error dialogs (windows) that Launch uses. 14.01 Item Password Enter the password to access this item. If the password you type is incorrect, access will be denied. The supervisor may choose to bypass entering the password by pressing [F9]. This enables them to delete items that they have forgotten the password of, and access items given a password by other people. 14.02 Structure Already Linked The structure that you are trying to link has already been linked elsewhere, and another link would be redundant. 14.03 Error Creating Directory Launch was unable to create the specified directory. The drive you specified may not exist, there may not be a disk in it, or the disk may be full. 14.04 Unable to Locate User This error should only occur on a network. It occurs when the supervisor removes a user while that user is still using Launch - Launch cannot find the information in order to update it. 14.05 Undefined Option The option that you have tried to execute has not yet been edited to tell Launch how to execute it. Rectify this by editing the option in question. 14.06 Contains Higher Authorities The menu that you tried to delete/move/copy contains hidden items with an authority level greater than your own, and you are therefore refused permission to perform an action that affects those items. 14.07 Insufficient Free Memory There is not enough memory available to run the text editor. If you are not using Launch's editor BEDIT.EXE, try using it, since it is fairly small. Otherwise, try using a smaller editor, or free up some memory by unloading TSRs etc. 14.08 Unable to Rename File Launch was unable to rename the specified file. This could be because the file is marked read only, or because a file of the new name already exists (this can only happen if that file is read only also- it could not be deleted). 14.09 Unable to Delete File Launch was unable to delete the specified file. This is usually because the file is marked read only. 14.10 Incorrect Password Your attempt to access/edit/move/copy/delete this item has been denied because you do not know its correct password. 14.11 No Visible Items The menu/link that you are trying to access has no items in it that are visible to you. Under normal circumstances the menu item itself should not be visible to you either, however this is at the discretion of the supervisor. #15 15.00 Used Short Cuts This window shows a list of all the short cuts, and whether they have been used or not. An unused short cut has nothing printed on its right, otherwise it has the name of the item (the menu, option or link) that uses it. A duplicate short cut will have multiple items listed after it. Duplicate short cuts can be easily located by looking for a blank entry in the left hand column. The exit short cut, if specified, has the words EXIT SHORT CUT on its right. Items that you do not have the authority to see are listed as -- HIDDEN ITEM --. Use [Up], [Down], [Pg Up], [Pg Dn], [Home] and [End] to move through the list. You may select a short cut by pressing [Enter] while it is highlighted. Pressing [Esc] returns to the previous window. #16 16.00 Parsing Errors This section describes all possible errors that can occur when Launch is trying to interpret (parse) the batch commands associated with an option. 16.01 Expecting statement or ] Launch allows several special batch statements: Verify, RunProgram, EditField, CommandButtons, RadioButtons and CheckBoxes. The command section is not allowed to contain any statements but these, and the command section must be terminated by a right square bracket ]. 16.02 Remainder of batch file After reading the closing ] of the command section, Launch expects to read at least one more character 16.03 More option information Launch was expecting to find more option information. 16.04 EditField statement The EditField statement is used to prompt the user with a text field. The maximum length of the field can be defined, as can the initial value, a prompt to tell the user what the field is for, and a string identifying the history list associated with the field. The syntax of the EditField statement is as follows: 'EditField(' [ '[' ']' ] [ '="' '"' ] [ ',"' '"' [ ',"' '"' ] ] ')' The variable name is a placeholder for the value of the variable later in the batch file (even later in the command section). To use the variable's value, place the name of the variable in percent signs e.g. %variable_name% The variable name must start with a letter, and after the initial character can contain both letters, digits, underscores _ and ampersands @. The maximum length is a number between 1 and 255 that controls the maximum length of the string. No strings longer than this value can be entered, and longer strings taken from the history list will be truncated. The initial value is the value the string will take before the user has a chance to edit it, and is the default value if they choose not to edit it. The prompt tells the user the purpose and use of the field being edited. You can specify a short cut key by preceding a letter character of the prompt with a tilde ~. Pressing Alt+ will then take you directly to the edit field. The history list ID string associates a particular list of history strings with the field. The history list records previous values for the field, and allows them to be displayed, selected and deleted. If there are any history entries, an arrow will appear on the right hand side of the field. Launch's history lists are: Title ..etc Example: [EditField(view[127]="%current_dir%", "View which ~file:", "View files" ) ] more < %view% 16.05 CommandButtons statement The CommandButtons statement is used to provide a group of buttons for the user to choose from. Only one button can be selected, and doing so closes the window and proceeds to the next (if any). The leftermost button is always selected initially, so it should contain the default response. A prompt is used to tell the user what the buttons do, and each button can have an associated value string which is the value the variable takes when that button is selected. The syntax of the CommandButtons statement is as follows: 'CommandButtons(' ',"' '"' ',"'