Date :  17/9/1992 Doc V1.4
Start for Dos V2.0

                    ++++++++++ Start V2.0 ++++++++++
             ++++++++++ By Dirk Vandenheuvel 1992 ++++++++++

1. What is Start
Start is a easy to use 'application launcher'. I wrote this program
because I hated to issue dos commands like dir *.exe, dir *.com etc.. to
find out which programs could be run. Start works much like the dos dir
command, but it gives a list of executable files in a pop-up window.
Pressing the corresponding key will launch that application. It is also
possible to give a file mask like "Start *.exe". Start will than display
only the exe files in it's window. If there are more than 20 programs in
the window, you can select a new page with the Pageup/Pagedown keys. If
you want to exit Start without starting an application you can use the
Space, Esc or End keys.
When you launch a com or exe file, Start will be erased from memory which
means that the started application will have the full memory all to
itself. However, when you run a bat file, Start will have to use
command.com to start the file resulting in a serious reduction of system
memory. So don't try to launch memory-intensive batch files (like a batch
file to start Ultima7 for example) with Start.
If you want to pass arguments to an application you can start it with
the ctrl key. Pressing Ctrl and the corresponding key will activate a
pop up window in which you can enter the arguments for the application.
Take note that the arguments have to be separated with a space.

Examples:    Start *       ; displays all programs in current directory
             Start c:\dos\ ; displays all programs in c:\dos\ directory
             Start *.com   ; display all com files in current directory

2. New in version V2.0
2.1 Color configuration
Some people complained that the colors used in V1.1 where a little
bit "dazzling". I also noticed that some colors where not visible on a
black and white monitor. That's why V2.0 comes with an option to change
the configuration colors of Start. When you start Start with the /cfg
option, Start will display a configuration menu where you'll be able to
change the colors. Take note that you're current directory has to be the
one on which the Start.exe file, that you wish to change, resides. So it
is possible to have different Start.exe files in different directories.
2.2 Mouse support
Well, everybody likes to use his little rodent. When Start detects a
mousedriver, it will automatically display some mouse buttons. Click on
the up/down arrows on the bottom of the screen to display the next page.
Alternatively you can also click on the Pageup | Pagedown words. Click
on the close button [þ] to exit Start. To launch an application click on
the line with the information about the application. If you start the
application with the right mouse button, a window will be displayed
where you can specify the arguments that will be passed to the
application. The configuration option (see 2.1 does not support mouse
input).

3. Freeware
Start is Freeware. This means you can copy it as much as you like as long as
you don't change anything to the original program.
The following files should be included in Start20.lzh (or other compression
format).
                - Start.exe         : main executable
                - Start.txt         : this text file

4. The programmer
If you like this program and would like to have the C source or you
would like to use this program (or a modified version) in your own
application. You can contact me at:

        Dirk Vandenheuvel
        Wildenhoge 20
        3020 Winksele
        Belgium.

        or

        Netmail to 2:292/600.21609@fidonet

        or (if you don't live on the other side of the galaxy)
        leave a message on Tornado BBS +32 (0)16/640466