When one installs software, changes or other wise maintains a pc he 
creates or deletes directories and files, and makes changes to sytem 
(control) files such as autoexec.bat in dos, or win.ini in windows. 
PCIv.96 lets you run install programs or go to dos and install and or alter 
systems manually and record the changes done to the system 
automatically.  These changes are then recorded  in the software's 
inventory record. These records can be exported and used by others ,
including myself, so send me your software installation signatures (i.e the
exported record) and I'll put'em in the upcoming PCI expert system.

To begin the installation process fill in a new software record from the 
SOFTWARE INVENTORY screen  (main menu | software inventory | 
detailed  software inventory) and click on ADD RECORD  to create it in 
the data base, then click on the INSTALL button.
The SOFTWARE INSTALLATION screen then appears. It has two 
sections: the installation section and the watch profile section. The watch 
profile section tells the program where any changes to the system need to 
be monitored. The defaults are: monitor any added or deleted directories 
in the detected drives. Added or deleted files in dos and windows control 
directories. Added or deleted lines in any control files (e.g. config.sys). 
Added or deleted sections in windows control (ini) files. These defaults 
are scanned for every time this screen appears. Installers may edit the 
defaults to make their own, save them (click on SAVE PROFILE),  or 
load custom profiles (click on LOAD PROFILE). 
Once satisfied with the installation watch profile the user may then click 
on install. The file dialog box appears, from which the installation 
procedure may be selected. Installation procedure may be manual, i.e. 
DOS.BAT is provided. 
Selecting it will spawn a child dos box. The user may then do any normal 
manual dos operations at the end of which typing EXIT will return the 
control to PCI.
 Before evoking the install procedure, PCI will take a "before picture" of 
the system as defined by the watch profile. After the installation is 
satisfactorily completed the user may click on the ANALYZE button. 
That will take an "after picture" of the system and will compare the before 
and after pictures. The difference is stored in the DELTACTR.TXT 
fileand placed in the SPECIFICATION field of the software inventory 
record. If the deltactr.txt file is larger than the field size the rest is left in 
the text file and the a note is inserted in the field informing you of this. In 
such a case, the text file must be renamed by the user to something 
unique and noted appropriately in the field.  It is also recommended that 
the user manually enter the name(s) of the main  executable(s) of the 
software under the heading {MAIN EXECS}. This, together with the rest 
of the install watch profile will produce the SOFTWARE 
INSTALLATION SIGNATURE.
 
When a software inventory record has a signature it can be exported. The 
export text file can have a variety of uses including it's use for 
maintenance and trouble shooting,  use by any one else who has already 
installed the software(without PCI), integration into the future expert 
system that would have many hardware and software signature and auto 
update modules.