Installing DOSSBOSS v3.0 ========================== *********************************************************** * This file contains VERY IMPORTANT information on * * upgrading previous versions of DOSSBOSS * *********************************************************** 1. General Installation Information =================================== The 19 files included with DOSSBOSS include: DB_MAIN.DB_ DB_PAGES.DB_ DB_TOOLS.DB_ DB_JOBS!.DB_ BOSSKEY.DB_ BOSSYSNO.DB_ DOSSBOSS.DB_ REGISTER.DB_ MUSTREAD.DB_ DB_ACTS.DB_ BOSSKEY.DB_ ALLDIRS.DB_ BOSSVIEW.DB_ INSTALL.EXE INSTALL.TXT WELCOME.DB_ DBOSSTLS.DB_ UPGRADE.DB_ FEATURES.DB_ If DOSSBOSS is distributed to others, ALL the above files must be included in their original form and with their original names (and no other files can be added). DOSSBOSS must be installed in a subdirectory. It may not be installed in the root directory of a drive. Although DOSSBOSS will create the subdirectory if it does not yet exist, the path leading up to the where you want the subdirectory must already exist. For example, if you want to install DOSSBOSS into the directory C:\PROGRAMS\DOSSBOSS, then the directory C:\PROGRAMS should already exist. It is also recommended to install DOSSBOSS on your most frequently used & accessed drive. Why? Generally, when you switch drives in DOSSBOSS, the directory window will simply show you the root and its first level directories of the drive you switch to. However, for the drive in which you install DOSSBOSS itself (say the C: drive), the state of the directory tree is saved between switching on & off of that drive. Therefore whenever you return to the drive on which DOSSBOSS was installed, the directory tree will appear just as it was when you last accessed that drive. Now to install DOSSBOSS, simply switch to the drive and directory containing all the original DOSSBOSS files and run the install program by entering the following at the DOS prompt: INSTALL The install program will prompt you for all necessary information (such as the drive & directory path where you want to install DOSSBOSS). It will also check if old DOSSBOSS files already exist there. If old files exist you will be prompted for each file whether you want to replace it. This allows you to replace individual files at a later date if for some reason one or more of them becomes unusable. Old stack files (DB_STACK.DAT) and to-do-list files (DB_TODO.DAT) will not be replaced. If you need to replace them you should first erase the old ones. When installation is complete, the following files should exist in the directory in which you installed DOSSBOSS: FEATURES.TXT Text file explaining the Features of DOSSBOSS BOSS.BAT Used to run DOSSBOSS BOSSX.BAT Used by BOSS.BAT DB_MAIN.EXE Called by BOSS.BAT DB_PAGES.DAT File containing page information. DB_TOOLS.DAT File containing tool information. DB_INIT1.DAT Initialization file. DB_JOBS!.DAT File containing job scheduling information. DB_STACK.DAT File for Command Stack data. DB_TODO.DAT File containing to-do-list information. DOSSBOSS.DOC This manual. REGISTER.FRM Form to use for registering DOSSBOSS. MUSTREAD.ME! A 'Must Read' file to get started. DB_ACTS.TXT Used by one of the tools supplied with DOSSBOSS. BOSSKEY.COM Utility for passing keystrokes to programs. ALLDIRS.EXE Utility for traversing a directory tree. BOSSYSNO.EXE Useful Batch file utility for getting user input. DBOSSI.ICO Windows Icon BOSSVIEW.EXE File Viewing utility. INSTALL.TXT Text file containing installation information. WELCOME.TXT Text file displayed the first time DOSSBOSS is run. UPGRADE.TXT Text file containing important information for users upgrading from previous versions of DOSSBOSS. Also includes a list of changes in the latest version. DBOSSTLS.SYS Used by DOSSBOSS to update tool files from previous versions and make them compatible with v3.0! These installed versions of DOSSBOSS files may not be distributed to others (only the original DOSSBOSS files can be distributed; as stated earlier in this section!). Once you have installed or upgraded DOSSBOSS, you may run the program by entering the following command from the directory where you installed the program: BOSS This will run the BOSS.BAT file. DO NOT CHANGE THE NAME OF THIS FILE!! Before running DOSSBOSS, it is recommended to set (or add) the FILES command in your CONFIG.SYS file to at least 15 files (e.g. FILES=15 ). Before running DOSSBOSS (or immediately upon entering DOSSBOSS for the first time), it may be helpful to read the file MUSTREAD.ME! It provides some basic information for finding your way around the DOSSBOSS windows and command menus! In addition, if you want to know what changes have occurred since your earlier version, check out the end of the DOSSBOSS manual. NOTE: Once DOSSBOSS is installed in a directory, you can not simply move it to another directory by copying the files. The install program creates the BOSS.BAT and BOSSX.BAT files and writes the name of the installation directory in those files. Therefore the easiest way to move DOSSBOSS to another directory is to do another FULL installation into the new directory (where you want to move DOSSBOSS to). Then copy all the *.DAT files from the old directory to the new directory (over-writing the ones that were just installed there). 2. IF YOU ARE UPGRADING... ========================== If you are upgrading from an earlier version, you have 2 choices: 1. simply upgrade your version of DOSSBOSS in the directory where you previously installed DOSSBOSS. 2. install version 3.0 in a new directory to check it out first before updating your previous version. The latter option (#2) is highly recommended if you are a registered user of a previous version. This is because when you update to a new version of DOSSBOSS you become an unregistered user again until you re-register (at the reduced upgrade price) and get a new registration id number (your old one won't work anymore)! Therefore if you simply go and update your previous version before getting your new registration id number, you will again be subjected to all the limitations that the unregistered version of DOSSBOSS places on you (such as: DOSSBOSS will not read in more than 14 of your pages, only 3 of your jobs and 3 to-do list items!). In addition, because you are once again unregistered you will again be subject to the information screen popping up occassionally. Therefore it is best to install this new version in a totally separate directory (select the FULL installation, not the upgrade installation). Then try it out and if you like what you see, register the new version by filling in the form in the REGISTER.FRM file and mailing it in. Then keep using your old version until you receive your new registration id number in the mail. At that time you can upgrade by installing DOSSBOSS into the same directory where your previous version is located. This is done by selecting the upgrade installation. By selecting the upgrade installation, only the main DOSSBOSS program file (DB_MAIN.EXE), the document files (DOSSBOSS.DOC, REGISTER.FRM and MUSTREAD.ME!) and new batch and intialization files (BOSS.BAT, BOSSX.BAT and DB_INIT1.DAT) will be updated. If you want to replace any of the other files, you must select the FULL installation. Then you will be asked separately for each file whether or not you want to replace (if existing copies of the files are found). Just be careful not to accidentally replace your tool, page and job data files (DB_TOOLS.DAT, DB_PAGES.DAT and DB_JOBS.DAT)! NOTE: IF YOU ARE DOING AN UPGRADE INSTALLATION, THE INSTALL PROGRAM MUST BE RUN FROM DOS. IF YOU ARE IN DOSSBOSS, EXIT DOSSBOSS (SIMPLY SHELLING TO DOS IS NOT SUFFICIENT) BEFORE RUNNING THE INSTALL PROGRAM! If you are upgrading you should also read some additional important notes contained in the UPGRADE.TXT file.