User's Manual for InstallX(c) March 1992

S H A R E W A R E VERSION !!!











InstallX and manual copyright (C) 1992 by Ray Gregoire.
All rights reserved.

InstallX(c) version 1.2 release
The Ultimate Installation System

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OVERVIEW

InstallX(c) is a seamless installation package that gives users
an enjoyable first experience using your software. InstallX(c)
is also a complete software distribution system equally easy for
you the developer. InstallX(c) comes with two programs:
SETUP.EXE allows you to designate which files to copy, where to
copy them, and how to configure what the end user will see.
After filling in the information, a master set of disks is
generated. You customize the look and feel of the install
process without writing a single line of code! INSTALL.EXE is a
separate program that you ship with your product. INSTALL.EXE
installs your software exactly as you configured it, and
optionally allows the user to choose a drive of their choice.
Both programs work together in an intuitive, visually pleasing
manner.

Unlike other installation systems that are script driven,
InstallX(c) is menu driven. The intent of this decision was to
make installation disk generation as simple as possible. Of
course a script offers a virtual infinitude of installation
permutations. A script must be carefully coded, however,
demanding careful preparation and has higher failure ratio.
InstallX(c) has done all this preparation for you. The slightly
increased rigidity is barely evident with the rich palette of
features and elegant simplicity.

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InstallX(c) FEATURES
* INDICATES USER DEFINED SWITCH

GENERAL FEATURES

SEPARATE SETUP / INSTALL PROGRAMS ROBUST C/S ONLINE HELP
CHARACTER BASED
WINDOWS 3.0/3.1 COMPATIBLE
DOS 3.0-5.0, DR DOS 6.0 COMPATIBLE
LOW MEMORY OVERHEAD
FAULT TOLERANT OPERATION
EXTENSIVE ERROR CONTROL
* AUTO REBOOT AFTER INSTALL
* CONFIG.SYS MODIFICATIONS
* AUTOEXEC.BAT MODIFICATIONS
* PROGRAM RUN AFTER INSTALLATION

SETUP.EXE FEATURES

UNLIMITED NUMBER OF FILES & DISKS
POINT AND SHOOT FILE SELECTION
COLOR PALETTE CUSTOMIZATION
UNLIMITED DESTINATION DIRECTORIES ANY SUBDIRECTORY STRUCTURE
AUTO SENSING OF AVAILABLE MEDIA
ANIMATED INSTALLATION PREVIEW
REDEFINEABLE INSTALL.EXE UI
AUTOMATED INSTALL GENERATION

INSTALL.EXE FEATURES

AUTO SENSING OF AVAILABLE MEDIA
REDEFINEABLE INSTALL DESTINATION
GRAPHICAL COMPLETION BAR
INSTALL.EXE LESS THAN 130K.
CRC ERROR CHECKING
3D SCULPTED UI
BATCH FILE FOR FUTURE ACCESS
VIRUS DETECTION
UPGRADE OR OVERWRITE FILES
* README FILE DISPLAY/PRINTOUT
* FILE COMPRESSION
* TEXTUAL STATUS INDICATORS

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INSTALLATION:

Copy the contents of ix120.zip into a subdirectory. Unzip the program.
type setup to begin.


IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY PROBLEMS AT THIS POINT, PLEASE CONTACT
GREGOIRE DEVELOPMENT, LEAVING A MESSAGE WITH A BRIEF DESCRIPTION
OF THE PROBLEM. WE WILL MAKE EVERY ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THE
SITUATION
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OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW:

SETUP must be run first! It will create several data files that
allow InstallX(c) to function. Just type SETUP at the DOS
prompt. If you just typed install, then setup.exe will be run
automatically. Understand that setup.exe is YOUR program. It
only creates several data files. Setup.exe is not distributed
with your product! Install.exe on the other hand IS distributed
with your product!!!

When you first invoke the program you will see the main setup
menu. It makes no difference which menu choice you choose first.
Use the up/down arrow keys to select a menu choice and hit
return on it to invoke it.

"Create/modify file list" allows you to enter the files that you
want to install. The files MUST be on an available drive.
"Color customization", allows you to customize the color palette
that will be displayed to the end user. "Setup defaults" allows
further configuration controlling text file display, auto
reboot, auto program invocation and definable screen
information. "Setup environment modifications" allows you to
specify specific config.sys and autoexec.bat modifications to be
performed. "Create subdirectory structure" presents you with a
definable list of subdirectories to generate during the
installation process. It is recommended that this menu choice be
the first information that you tell InstallX(c). Finally,
"Create install disk" compiles all the data you have provided
and generates a sequential set of disks, copying your software,
and all the InstallX(c) program files onto the disks that you
distribute.

CREATE/MODIFY FILE LIST

This menu choice allows you to search through the contents of
your system and flag the files that will be included in the
InstallX(c) installation. The first time that you select this
menu choice, you will be presented with a list of your current
drive contents . If you have not already chosen "Create
subdirectory structure" you will automatically be transferred to
that area of the program see "Create subdirectory structure"
below.

Using the up/down arrow keys, PGUP/PGDN and CTRL-PGUP/CTRL-PGDN
you can move through the current files. To enter a subdirectory,
hit return on it. To move back a directory, hit return on the
"..". To change to a different drive, hit F2, then use the
up/down arrow keys to scroll through the alphabet.

Once you have arrived at a directory location containing a file
that you want to include in the installation package, hit return
on it. If you make a mistake, hit ESC.

After hitting return, you will be presented with a dialogue
asking you for additional information about that file . Choose
a destination directory for the file by hitting return on a
subdirectory. This is the location where InstallX(c) will copy
that file when the end user runs the install program. You may
enter additional subdirectories (see "Create subdirectory
structure") by hitting the INS key. You may also enter a line of
text to be displayed while this file is being copied. Finally,
choose overwrite or upgrade. If you choose overwrite, the file
will be copied directly over a file that may have the same name.
Upgrade will not copy the file if it senses an existing file
with the same name and extension.

Upon hitting return on the last field, the file information is
saved and you will be presented with your file installation
list. At this point, to delete the file record, simply hit the
delete key. To enter a second record, hit the INS key. To modify
a record, hit return over it.

COLOR CUSTOMIZATION

This menu choice allows you to redefine the default colors that
Install.exe will use while in operation. Simply hit return over
a functional area that you want to change. You will be provided
with a color selection box. Hit return on the color that you
want. Any changes that you make will appear in the example
InstallX(c) screen to the right. To view an animated preview of
what your installation will look like, based on your input, hit
F3 at any time.

SETUP DEFAULTS

This dialogue box contains information critical to the
installation process. Lines one and two are simply lines of text
that are displayed on the screen at all times. Appropriate
information in line 1 may be the name of your program, and line
2 might be your company name. Select yes for compression if
space is an issue. In the field containing EXECUTABLE NAME, you
should type in the exact name of the program that should be run
upon installation completion. Command line parameters should be
included if they are required. Do NOT type drive or path
information since these are end user contingent. EXECUTABLE
LOCATION presents you with the list of directories that you
generated. Choose the directory that will contain the
executable. If you enter an executable name, the information is
incorporated into a batch file called go.bat. This batch file is
placed in the root directory of the boot drive. The RUN
AUTOMATICALLY field if yes, will run your software with the
information that you provided, after InstallX(c) has finished.
If you choose no, InstallX(c) will not run your software.The
warm boot option is a good idea if config.sys and autoexec.bat
will be changed but your software must be started by the user
manually. If you choose YES for the readme file, you will be
asked to point to it on your system. This file will be displayed
in a text viewer upon InstallX(c) completion. If you choose NO,
you will not be prompted for a file at all.

SETUP ENVIRONMENT MODIFICATIONS

This menu choice allows you to designate exactly what changes to
make to the config.sys and autoexec.bat files. You can append a
total of three lines to both of these files. Simply type in the
DOS information as you want it to appear in the appropriate file
and hit return. You now have two options: TOP and BOTTOM. The
first option, TOP will insert that line of code at the very top
of the file. The second option, BOTTOM, will append that line of
code to the bottom of the file.

One important point to mention is that even you explicitly
enumerate these modifications, the end user can override these
potential changes before they are made to the system files.

CREATE SUBDIRECTORY STRUCTURE

InstallX(c) will generate any number of directories on a single
drive when Install.exe is run.Hit the INS key to create a
directory directly off the root directory. Type in a name,
obeying DOS conventions without the "\" indicators. F2 will
create subdirectories directly below the selected directory that
the highlighted cursor bar is positioned over. Experiment with
this functionality and you will get the hang of it. To delete a
directory, due to a mistake, hit the delete key when the
highlighted cursor bar is positioned over it. All subdirectories
containing the common root directory will be deleted as well.

CREATE INSTALL DISK

Once you are satisfied with the information that you have
entered in all the menu choices, you are ready to generate the
disks that you will distribute. Hit return on "Create install
disk" to begin this process. InstallX(c) will automatically
calculate file size information for you and display it on the
screen. Once this information and all the other data that you
entered has been compiled, the menu will become active.
InstallX(c) will, by default, choose drive A as the drive where
all the files will be copied to. You can choose any drive,
however, by choosing "Change media drive". Use the up/down arrow
keys to select a different drive, then hit return. If the drive
is not available, drive A will become the default drive once
more.

Once you are satisfied with the drive selection you can begin
the installation disk generation by choosing "MAKE INSTALL
DISK". Immediately upon choosing this option, you will be
prompted to install a formatted disk. Once this disk is filled
to capacity, you will be prompted to insert additional disks.
Be sure to label these disks as they are created.

When all files have been transferred, InstallX(c) will indicate
that it has completed the disk set generation. Disk #1 will
always be the one that the end user places in the drive first
and types "install". All the logic is automated once install is
typed. Subdirectories will be created when required, and files
copied to the exact locations that you specified. It is goo
protocol to test a real installation prior to duplicating this
master set.

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TECHNICAL SUPPORT:

Please report any bugs. They will be resolved!!!
I can be reached at:

Ray Gregoire at Channel 1BBS (617) 354-8873

or

Ray Gregoire
55 Phillips st. (617) 227-2059
Apt #8
Boston, Massachusetts 02114
USA

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LICENSE INFORMATION

InstallX(c) Program Installation System
Current Version: 1.2

Briefly, if you like this software, then use it and expect to see it become
the ultimate install program by version 2.0. Tell your associates how good it
is. Marvel at its simplicity of use. If you send in $79 plus the attached form
I will send you the flagship version which has no file limitations, and
complete documentation. You will also be able to receive the InstallX(c) 2.0
upgrade for $20 (available late second quarter 1992).

Once payment has been received you are entitled to copy and use the program
in any way you want.

I don't agree with Stallman, but I do think software is too $$$. Help support
a fellow developer and keep moonlighting strong!

Since the shareware version can only install three files, you may want
the full fledged version RIGHT NOW.

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ORDER FORM

InstallX(c) Program Installation System
Current Version: 1.2

* Diskette with programs and documentation files ...... $79. ______
(Unlimited individual use)

* Commercial site license for the use of InstallX(c)
(Includes one diskette with programs & documentation files.)
2 to 9 computers ..... at $70 each # computers ___x 60 ______
10 to 24 computers ..... at $60 each # computers ___x 50 ______
25 to 49 computers ..... at $50 each # computers ___x 40 ______
50 to 99 computers ..... at $40 each # computers ___x 30 ______
100 or more computers .. $2000 one time fee ______

Diskette format (choose one) Low 5.25" disk ____ 3.5" disk ____
High 5.25" disk ____ 3.5" disk ____

Extra program disk & documentation
available at $10.00 each.___ x 10 ______

Please add $3.50 for shipping and handling. $5.00 / 3.50
(Please add $5.00 for overseas orders.)

Libertarian? ___ (y) ___ (n) 5% sales tax. ______

Total enclosed ______


Terms:Check or Money Order drawn on a U.S.A. bank
in U.S. funds.Purchase orders (net 20) accepted for software
from larger corporations. All licenses are prepaid only. All
orders outside of the continental United States must be prepaid.

* Includes a $20 upgrade to version 2.0 of the software, late
second quarter 1992.


TO: FROM:

Ray Gregoire Name: __________________________________
55 Phillips st.
Boston, Ma 02114 (Company): __________________________________

617-227-2059 Voice (Title): __________________________________

Today's
date: ___________City, State: __________________________________
Zip Code

Phone Number: _________________________


From what BBS did you receive InstallX(c)? _____________________________

Data number _____________________________

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