K-INSTALL for DOS and Windows 2.0 Copyright (c) 1994-95 by Rob McDonell, ARK ANGLES All Rights Reserved IMPORTANT INFORMATION WHAT YOU GET K-INSTALL is written by a software developer for software developers, both amateur and professional. I know the value of a risk free, hassle free product. K-INSTALL offers many benefits to all users. Unregistered users get limited support during the trial period, but are not licensed to use or distribute INSTALL.EXE or SETUP.EXE with their own software. The unregistered version may only be distributed as a package in its own right, including all files listed in VENDOR.TXT. Registered users get support for 12 months, and are licensed to use and distribute INSTALL.EXE and/or SETUP.EXE royalty free with any of their own software. They also receive the latest version of the package and a printed, fully indexed manual. Customised versions of K-INSTALL are also available such that your options can be hard coded into the program rather than specified in the separate settings file. This not only makes the program even more secure, but also smaller. You just need to send me a copy of your settings file the way you like it, and I will promptly return to you a new EXE file with those settings embedded. Registered users will get prompt resolution of problems, and free upgrades if they encounter bugs. And there are the standard benefits of the ARK ANGLES Triple Guarantee of 1) Quality through standards and testing, 2) Suitability through try-before-you-buy, and 3) Money Back if not completely satisfied. See REGISTER.TXT for full details of licensing options and pricing. UPGRADING FROM OTHER VERSIONS There are some minor changes in this version of K-INSTALL over earlier versions, especially with the INPUT keyword. See "Documentation Changes" below for an overview, and the full documentation for more details. Settings files vary only slightly between the DOS and Windows versions of K-INSTALL, and simply cater for differences in the operating environment. Specifically, this relates to the appearance of K-INSTALL (the WINDOW, COLS, PICTURE, ICON and PATTERN keywords) and how the installed program is run (the GROUP and ITEM keywords). See the full documentation for more details. Settings file functions in K-INSTALL Professional are a superset of those in the Standard edition, therefore settings files from the Standard edition can be used unchanged in the Professional edition. DOCUMENTATION CHANGES Full documentation for this product is in the files KINSTALL.TXT and/or KINSTALL.WRI. These files are completely up to date with all the latest features in this version of K-INSTALL. Due to printing delays however, the hardcopy manual sent to registered users may not have all the most recent features included. Please note the following updates: ARJ keyword: default is "e -y -a". COPR keyword: new keyword. CPU keyword: new keyword. HELP keyword: new keyword. INPUT keyword: new parameter inserted at the beginning to specify the variable number, rather than relying on the sequence in the settings file. The data parameter has been split into two, the first for default value and the second for format using literal characters, wildcards, relational operators and AND/OR. Settings files that use the INPUT keyword MUST be updated to reflect the above changes or they will not work correctly. INSTALL keyword: new option "5" for repl parameter to append to files. ISECT keyword: default is blank. PICTURE keyword (DOS only): additional height parameter to define number of lines in the picture up to a maximum of 10. Only that number of following lines in the settings file are read into the picture, therefore this keyword no longer has to be the last keyword in the settings file. REBOOT keyword: new keyword. RESTART keyword (Windows only): new keyword. RFILE keyword: new fmt "A" to append to text files, and "B" to write binary strings with no leading length byte or trailing null. Multiple registration data files may be created and/or modified. WINDOW keyword (DOS only): new keyword similar to Windows version. WINVER keyword (DOS only): new keyword compatible with Windows version. ZIP keyword: default is "-d -o -Jhrs". PROGRAM HISTORY 2.00 09.09.95. Uninstall undoes changes to autoexec.bat, config.sys and INI files. CPU and COPR keywords for hardware checking. FUNCTION keyword to automatically start any functions. HELP keyword to provide installation help. Modified INPUT keyword to specify variable number, default value, and more powerful format specification. Multiple PATH and SHELL keywords allowed. REBOOT keyword to control rebooting of DOS. Multiple RFILE keywords allowed to create several files, and new append format to add to an existing text file. Use of original name from compressed file if available. Improved handling of blank parameters. DOS version only: WINDOW keyword to control screen size. WINVER keyword for compatibility with Windows version. Windows version only: Program Manager icons not added again on re-install, and uninstall removes installed icons. RESTART keyword to control restarting of Windows. New Professional version only: ASK and IF/ENDIF keywords for conditional processing of most functions. INSTMSG and INSTPIC keywords to change message line and bitmaps displayed during install. STRING and BUTTON keywords to customise predefined text and provide full multi-language support. OPTIONS keyword to enable separate installation of optional components. UPGRADE keyword to check for an existing installation. DISKID keyword for basic copy protection. Settings file scrambler. 1.90 15.08.95. Support for archives with subdirectories. DOS internal commands may be used in FIRST, LAST and INSTALL keywords. New replace method '5' for INSTALL keyword to append to existing files. Installation log file appended to rather than overwritten if it already exists. DOS version only: added length parm to PICTURE keyword which can now be anywhere in the settings file. Changed button shadow colour if menu background is black. Windows version only: fixed spurious error message when updating WIN.INI. 1.80 31.07.95. New binary format registration data file for writing strings without leading length byte or terminating null. ISECT default value 'NoSection' no longer provided. Windows version only: Reduction in size of SETUP.EXE. Enhanced bitmap file error checking and screen refreshing. Fixed occasional GPF error when running external programs. 1.70 28.05.95. Improved error handling when updating Program Manager. Minor enhancements and documentation changes. 1.60 11.05.95. New ~GROUP variable. Enhancements to RUN keyword and reboot/restart functions. New options on INPUT and DIR keywords for longer explanatory questions. Beeps with error messages only. Registration data file backed up before overwriting in text format. Running percent during install. Some minor problems fixed. DOS version only: BIG and WIN keywords replaced by RUN option, and new GROUP keyword to update Windows Program Manager. Windows version only: new WINDOW keyword to set window size and style, new WINVER keyword and variable for checking Windows version, and Uninstall now deletes SETUP.EXE correctly. 1.50 25.04.95. Basic settings file generator. Maximum of allowable MKDIR, DEL, INSTALL, AUTO, CONF, REG, INI, ITEM and REMOVE keywords limited only by available memory. New options for INSTALL keyword to display file desciptions and run external programs. New option for PATH keyword to add multiple directories. New EXE keyword to add parameters for self-unpacking archives. Additional predefined variables, and all variables now available with FIRST, LAST, INSTALL, RUN and CATALOG keywords. Duplicate "device=" statements handled in SYSTEM.INI. User confirmation not required if installing to root directory. Faster file copying to and from diskettes. Other minor enhancements. DOS version only: new IFILE, ISECT and INI keywords to allow updating of INI files. 1.40 04.04.95. New ~INST variable to perform functions on the install disk itself. User confirmation sought during install if chosen directory already exists, and during uninstall before deleting files from Windows or Windows System directories. Fixed problems with AUTO keywords wiping out a final shell command in AUTOEXEC.BAT. Windows version only: PICTURE keyword no longer causes hang if bitmap does not exist. 1.30 13.03.95. New REMOVE keyword to delete application-generated files during uninstall. New ARCHIVE keyword to define an additional unarchiving program. Windows version only: PICTURE keyword can now read BMP files from disk, has more flexible positioning, additional styles, and bitmap stretching. 1.20 10.03.95. New DOSVER keyword to check DOS version number. Changed INST keyword to INSTALL and MKD to MKDIR. New BUFFERS keyword to check and update BUFFERS value in CONFIG.SYS. Windows version only: New PATTERN and ICON keywords and enhanced PICTURE keyword for greater customisation of K-INSTALL screen. 1.10 23.02.95. First general release. 1:0x Early 95. Various limited release versions for testing. FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS I am working to make both the DOS and Windows versions of K-INSTALL the most sophisticated and versatile installation programs available. Your feedback and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Electronic communication is probably the easiest for all feedback, bug reports or other support - see CompuServe and Internet addresses below. In most circumstances I will respond within 24-48 hours. The are still many features currently under consideration or underway for future versions of K-INSTALL, including a native Windows 95 version. A Professional edition has now also been released, including features like: * complete customisation of all messages, even for other languages * basic copy protection facilities * ability to scramble the settings file to prevent tampering * check for pre-existing installation for upgrades * allow optional components to be installed separately at a later time * text and graphics slide show capabilities during installation Please contact me with your feedback and requirements. Upgrade pricing will be very competitive. Regards, Rob McDonell Proprietor, ARK ANGLES Postal: P O Box 190, Hazelbrook NSW 2779, AUSTRALIA Phone: (047)588100 or Intl+61-47-588100 Fax: (047)588638 or Intl+61-47-588638 Internet: 100237.141@compuserve.com CompuServe: 100237,141