Category : Network Files
Archive   : ENCOM.ZIP
Filename : README.DOC

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°Û Û
±°Û ENCOMPASS VERSION 2.5 Û
±°Û The Single or Multi User Menu System Û
±°Û Copyright 1989, Multiuser Microsystems Û
±°Û All Rights Reserved Û
±°Û CompuServe ID 73077,1011 Û
±°Û Û
±°Û Û
±°Û MULTIUSER MICROSYSTEMS Û
±°Û 4838 Walden Glen Drive Û
±°Û Memphis, TN 38128 Û
±°Û (901) 385-2372 Û
±°Û Û
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Table of Contents



Introduction .................................................... 1
About ENCOMPASS ................................................. 2
ENCOMPASS Setup ................................................. 3
General Usage ................................................... 4
General Usage (cont) ............................................ 5
Screen blanking & mouse support ................................. 6
How ENCOMPASS Works ............................................. 7
Future Enhancements ............................................. 7








INTRODUCTION Page 1



ENCOMPASS is the copyrighted property of Multiuser Microsystems.
You are granted a limited license to use ENCOMPASS, and to copy
and distribute it, provided that the following conditions are met:

1) No fee may be charged for such copying and distribution.

2) ENCOMPASS may ONLY be distributed in its original, unmodified state.


You are granted a 10-day trial period in which you may use ENCOMPASS.
If you continue to use ENCOMPASS after this period, you must pay
the license registration fee of $35. Once we receive a check, we
will issue you a registration number at which point you will be
eligible for future updates, assistance, and a clear conscience.
The registration fee should be sent to:

Multiuser Microsystems
4838 Walden Glen Drive
Memphis, TN 38128

Site licenses, commercial distribution licenses, and customized
versions are available. Call or write for more information.



Limited Warranty

This program is transferred "as is" without warranty of any kind,
either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to implied
warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.

Multiuser Microsystems licenses this program for your use. You
must assume responsibility for installation of the program, and
that the program performs to your expectations.




ABOUT ENCOMPASS Page 2



ENCOMPASS was designed to provide a user-friendly menu "front-end"
to stand alone PCs AND multi user environments such as PC-MOS/386,
MULTILINK, or any NETBIOS compatible network. While many other menu
systems are available, we took the users approach in providing such
key features as:
1) "Lotus" style menu bar selection.
2) Fast and easy selection setup.
3) Submenus for logical grouping.
4) Editable, ASCII menu files.
5) Transparent support of multi user environments.
6) Non-memory resident to preserve valuable memory.
7) Encrypted password protection for selections.
8) Capability to prompt for parameters at execution.
NEW-> 9) Screen blanking via a 'clear screen' for safety.
NEW-> 10) Mouse support. (Microsoft, Logitech compatible)

We hope you will enjoy ENCOMPASS as much as all of our other satisfied
users. Remember as a registered user you will be eligible for the
enhancements as available and any necessary phone support. Your
requests for new features will be appreciated and considered.

A word about user supported software:

The user supported software concept (usually referred to as shareware)
is an attempt to provide software at low cost. The cost of offering a
new product by conventional means is staggering, and hence dissuades
many independent authors and small companies from developing and
promoting their ideas. User supported software is an attempt to
develop a new marketing channel, where products can be introduced at
low cost.

If user supported software works, then everyone will benefit. The
user will benefit by receiving quality products at low cost, and by
being able to "test drive" software thoroughly before purchasing it.
The author benefits by being able to enter the commercial software
arena without first needing large sources of venture capital.

But it can only work with your support. We're not just talking about
ENCOMPASS here, but about all user supported software. If you find
that you are still using a program after 10 days, then it is
obviously it worth something to you, and you should send in your
registration fee.




ENCOMPASS Setup Page 3



1) Create a subdirectory on your hard disk named 'ENCOMPAS'.
Ex: C:\>md \encompas

2) Copy all ENCOMPAS files to the ENCOMPAS subdir.
Ex: C:\>copy a:encompas.exe \encompas
C:\>copy a:readme.doc \encompas
C:\>copy a:printdoc.bat \encompas
C:\>copy a:viewdoc.bat \encompas

3) A startup batch file must be created for each user. This batch
file should be placed in a directory IN YOUR PATH. (Ex. \ or \BAT).
DO NOT put the ENCOMPAS subdirectory in your path as this could
cause menu files to be placed in your current directory, instead
of the ENCOMPAS subdirectory.
NOTE: In order for the MULTI USER environment to work correctly,
each workstation must be given a UNIQUE name of 7 CHARACTERS
OR LESS and the environment must be IBM Netbios compatible.
This is usually done by adding a NETNAME command to the
"autoexec" for each user.

Use the following format depending on the environment.
MULTI-USER Example: Using 'CONSOLE' for the base user name and
'REMOTE' for a terminal name setup on the 'C' drive..

Environment: STANDALONE |---------- PC-MOS/386 ---------|
PC | |
Network Name: | CONSOLE <---> TERM1 |
|
Batch file name ------> MENU.BAT CONSOLE.BAT <-|-> TERM1.BAT
|
Batch file contents --> echo off batecho off | batecho off
c: c: | c:
cd \encompas cd \encompas | cd \encompas
-----------------> encompas encompas | encompas
| _menu _console <-|-> _term1
| |
| |
| (These MUST match!)---|
|
|
-- (Use 'encompas /BW' for composite monitors or terminals.)



4) Put the name of the startup batch file as the LAST LINE in
the autoexec.bat and the particular "autoexec" for each user.
Ex: echo off \ .batecho off \
prompt $p$g \ Single PC .dot off \ PC-MOS/386
... / --------- prompt $p$g / ----------
menu / console /


General Usage Page 4



Reboot your computer and ENCOMPASS should come up for each user.
If the user exits from ENCOMPASS, it is restarted by typing
the name of the startup batch file.
For a stand alone PC, simply type 'MENU'. In a multi user
environment, type the name of your terminal. Simply hilight the
desired selection and press Enter or press the item letter!
NOTE: To help end users, it is a good idea to put the name
in the user's prompt. This not only identifies the
terminal at all times but shows the user the name
they have to type to return the menu. Ex: [CONSOLE] C:\>

MENU SETUP:
Press ALT-S to enter menu setup where the following options
are available.
NOTE: The first time ENCOMPASS is run there will be no selections
and you will automatically be in 'ADD' mode.

ADDING MENU SELECTIONS:
1) Add Selection Before or After Line x? (B/A):
Answer 'B' or 'A' to arrange as you wish.

2) Is this a Main menu selection or a Submenu? (M/S):
Answer 'M' or 'S' as to whether you are creating a selection
on the main menu or a submenu.
NOTE: If you create a submenu, only the submenu name will
be requested. To enter the submenu selections,
exit from menu setup, hilight the submenu name and
press enter, then press ALT-S to add the selections
for the submenu.

3) Selection Name:
Enter the name as you want it to appear on the menu.

4) Drive & Directory:
Basically, tell where the selection exists.
Ex. Lotus might be C:\LOTUS

5) Optional Password for this Selection:
Enter a password to protect this selection. These

6) Command # x:
Enter up to 10 commands to perform the selection.
You DO NOT need to 'CD' to the directory as this is
automatically done via the 'Drive & Directory' entry.
NOTE: If any of the commands are BATCH FILES, you need
to do one of two things.
1) Enter the CONTENTS of the batch file. OR...
2) Use a batch file 'call' such as
COMMAND /C or CALL .
If you do NOT do this you will not return to the
menu after you exit the particular selection.

SPECIAL FEATURE!!!
Add [P] to the end of a command line and ENCOMPASS will
prompt you for any additional parameters at execution.
This is useful to issue a generic command a specific drive
or directory! Ex. If Command #1 is 'DIR [P]' then you
would be asked for a parameter at which time you could
enter "C:" or "D:" or "C: /p" etc.


General Usage (cont) Page 5



EDITING MENU SELECTIONS:
1) Cursor through the selections until the desired
selection appears.

2) Press 'E' from the setup menu and cursor through the entry
fields making any necessary changes.


DELETING MENU SELECTIONS:
1) Cursor through the selections until the desired
selection appears.

2) Press 'D' from the setup menu.

3) If you really want to delete this selection (or submenu),
answer 'Y'.

SETTING THE MENU TITLE:
1) Press 'T' from the setup menu.

2) Enter anything you want for the menu title.

SETTING ENCOMPASS SYSTEM PASSWORDS:
1) Press 'ALT-P' from the setup menu. (This option is NOT shown)

2) Enter a password to protect access to ENCOMPASS's setup.

3) Enter a password to restrict 'Exit to Operating System'
from the main menu.

NOTE: Once these passwords are set, you had better remember them
or YOU will lose access to these areas.


Screen Blanking and Mouse Support Page 6



SCREEN BLANKING:
ENCOMPASS provides a screen blanking feature to keep the
menu from "burning" into the screen. This is accomplished
by saving the video memory, clearing the screen, and then
restoring the video memory (screen). This method assures
that nothing tricky is done with hardware and thus no
possibility of card or monitor damage.

Screen blanking defaults to 1 minute but can be altered by
passing the number of minutes desired as a parameter.
For example, in your startup batch file (menu.bat, etc.):
encompas <# minutes>. ('encompas 2' for two minutes)

If, after the specified time, a key has not been pressed,
the screen will clear. To resume operation, simply press
any key and the screen will restore.


MOUSE SUPPORT:
Mouse support can be enabled by installing the appropriate
mouse driver (mouse.sys or mouse.com) before loading
ENCOMPASS. Once in ENCOMPASS, a cursor will appear.
Place the cursor on any part of the desired selection
and click. That's all there is to it!


How ENCOMPASS Works... Page 7



ENCOMPASS uses the information in the .MNU (or .Sxx submenu)
files to "build a batch file on the fly". This batch file
is either _MENU.BAT or _.BAT (in multi user).

Format of the .MNU main menu file (MENU.MNU or .MNU)
-------------------------------------------------------------
TITLE (up to 40 characters)
SELECTION~PATH~COMMAND1~...COMMAND12 (for a normal selection)
SELECTION~+submenu+ (for a submenu selection)
...

Submenu Files: (MENU.Sxx or .Sxx where xx = selection #)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SELECTION~PATH~COMMAND1~...COMMAND12 (for a normal selection)
...

A NOTE ABOUT PASSWORD FILES:
* System passwords are encrypted and kept in a hidden file
called ENCOMPASS.PWD.

* Selection passwords are enrypted and kept in a hidden file
with one of the following filenames (depending on area):
MENU.PWD or .pwd - for main menu.
MENU.Pxx or .Pxx - for submenus.



Future Enhancements


Future enhancements of ENCOMPASS are in progress!
Some enhancements to be included are:
1) File Utilities
2) Chat between two different users.
Remember to register to be notified as updates are available!