Category : Batch File Utilities - mostly for DOS
Archive   : PAUS13.ZIP
Filename : PAUS.DOC

Paus.Com

Version 1.3
April 29th, 1991
Copyright 1989 and 1991 by Jeffrey S. Morley
All rights are reserved



Paus.Com is a full-featured timed PAUSE/ASK program that offers the following:

* Prompt with any text you desire
* Position the text prompt anywhere on the screen
* Use any foreground and background color combination,
including high-intensity background colors.
* Timed execution, with automatic fall through after specified
number of seconds.
* ERRORLEVL returned to DOS based on keys pressed by user (or lack
thereof...)
* Silent execution, or clock ticks as timer counts down.


SYNTAX:

PAUS [/Rxx] [/Cxx] [/Fxx] [/B:xx] [/Nx] [/Dxx] [/Tmessage] [/K]

Where:
R = Row Position of 1 TO 25
C = Column Position of 1 TO 80
F = Foreground Color of 0 TO 15
B = Background Color of 0 TO 15
N = Clock Ticks 0=off OR 1=on
D = Duration of 1 TO 9999 Seconds
T = Your text message
K = Clear the keyboard buffer before running

All the parameters are optional, PAUS by itself will timeout in 30 seconds.

PAUSE /? or PAUSE /HELP will call up a help screen.

SAMPLE:

C:>PAUS /R12 /C22 /F4 /B15 /N1 /D10 /THit any key...

This sample will place the text "Hit any key..." on row 12 starting at
column 22. The prompt will be in red with a bright white background.
Paus.Com will count down for 10 seconds before exiting.

Hitting any key will exit Paus before the end of DURation, exiting with a
DOS errorlevel based on the key pressed.

Key pressed = Y(y) ERRORLEVEL = 89
Key pressed = N(n) ERRORLEVEL = 78
Any other key ERRORLEVEL = 1
No key pressed ERRORLEVEL = 0


SCREEN COLORS:

The colors for the numbers 0 to 15 are:

0 BLACK
1 BLUE
2 GREEN
3 CYAN
4 RED
5 MAGENTA
6 BROWN
7 WHITE (GREY)
8 HIGH BLACK
9 HIGH BLUE
10 HIGH GREEN
11 HIGH CYAN
12 HIGH RED
13 HIGH MAGENTA
14 HIGH BROWN (YELLOW)
15 HIGH WHITE

If you use a high intensity BACKGROUND color, it will set all text currently
on the screen to use high intensity backgrounds in place of blinking text.
When it returns to normal blinking mode at the end of the program, things
that had high intensity backgrounds will begin to blink. for this reason,
Paus.Com will always clear the screen before and after execution if high
intensity backgrounds are used. Otherwise, the screen will not be cleared.


BATCH FILE CONSIDERATIONS:

Please don't forget that DOS examines the ERRORLEVL in what may seem to
be reverse order. In other words if you have an ERRORLEVL of 89, and you
test with "IF ERRORLEVEL 1", the result will be TRUE. DOS considers an
ERRORLEVEL set if the current ERRORLEVEL is equal to OR GREATER THAN the
tested level. With this in mind, be sure to test in order of largest to
smallest.


SAMPLE BATCH FILE: (see TEST.BAT in ZIP'ive)

@ECHO OFF
PAUS /N1 /D10 /TIs Jeffrey Morley a swell guy?
IF ERRORLEVEL 89 GOTO GotYes
IF ERRORLEVEL 78 GOTO GotNo
IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO GotOtherKey

ECHO.
ECHO The ERRORLEVEL is 0, Need more time to find "Y"?
GOTO END

:GotYes
ECHO.
ECHO You answered yes! A fine judge of character...
GOTO END

:GotNo
ECHO.
ECHO You answered no? Well same to ya...
GOTO END

:GotOtherKey
ECHO.
ECHO Not really sure eh... "Y" is right between "T" and "U"!

:END


PROGRAM INFO:

Paus.Com is copyrighted by Jeffrey S. Morley, and all rights are reserved.
It is being distributed as FREEWARE, which means that you may use and
distribute the program without renumeration to the author. It is asked
that you distribute the program and all documentation in its original
condition.

Paus.Com was written in MicroSoft QuickBasic version 4.5, with help from
Hammerly Computing Services' PROBAS 4.0 library of QuickBasic routines.

*******************************************************************************
Version 1.3 April 29, 1991
*******************************************************************************
Added the command line switch /K to clear the keyboard buffer before running
the program. Previously, this was the default. As of this version, if you
are in a batch file you can begin whacking keys before PAUS.COM even runs,
and as long as some other program doesn't clear the keyboard in the
meantime, PAUS.COM will recognize and act upon your keystrokes. If you want
to be sure the user reads the prompt before answering, or to eliminate
problems with accidental keystrokes, use the /K switch to clear the keyboard
before execution.

*******************************************************************************
Version 1.2 March 9, 1991
*******************************************************************************
Version 1.2 is a re-write to improve the command line structure. The
older method of DUR:1 as opposed to /D1 was not very standard. Microsoft
wants us all to use / for the parameter switch character, and /? as a call
to help. I'm on board Bill!

The program will also now pad a space in front and in back of the text it
displays, making it look better when you have a background color set.

Please note! You will need to change any existing batch files which use
the older command line structure.