Category : Utilities for DOS and Windows Machines
Archive   : CONFIG31.ZIP
Filename : CONFIG.TXT

CONFIG.EXE
PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION
--------------------------
06/6/92 Version 3.1

1.0 Description:


CONFIG.EXE is a menu driven file manager that organizes
multiple versions of the DOS CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files.
The program allows creation of a menu of up to 25 different
configurations which consist of a menu entry, and its associated
path and files.
On startup, the program compares the present CONFIG.SYS
and AUTOEXEC.BAT files to those listed in the users menu and
indicates which of those configurations is presently installed (if
any). If the user wishes to change to different system
configuration, he can select it from the menu, install it and if
desired, reboot the PC from the program to make it effective.

2.0 System Requirements:

CONFIG.EXE is written in Borland C++ 2.0 and should run on
any AT or XT compatible with a EGA or VGA color monitor. Possible
compatibility problems could occur if direct video access doesn't
work on the target machine (program does not use BIOS for video). A
mouse is not currently needed or supported. The Reboot function
performs a far jump to the BIOS cold start address F000:FFF0 which
should restart most PC compatibles.

3.0 Getting Started:

When first run, the program will check for its data file,
CNFIG3.DAT which will normally not be present initially. The user is
offered the option of creating a new datafile. Have a list of the
files you will be using for your configurations along with the path
where each is located. It is helpful to name these in a consistent
way, such as CONFIG1.SYS, CONFIG2.SYS etc. Each file can be a
variation of your standard CONFIG.SYS optimized for different
programs, memory configurations, and driver combinations. Similarly,
AUTOEXEC.BAT file versions can be linked to each menu entry if
desired. The path given for that menu entry must contain both the
config.sys and autoexec.bat files.

Using the datafile editor you select the menu line you wish
to complete, and then enter (1) the menu description, (2) the path
where the file(s) are found (must end in a'\', for example c:\DOS\),
(3) the Config filename (such as CONFIG1.SYS), and (4), optionally,
the Autoexec filename. Once all four entries are complete, you are
returned to the menu being developed which will show your new entry.
Continue to add the other configurations you use to the menu in the
same manner. If an entry needs to be checked or edited, select it on
the menu and edit the four lines as necessary.
A total of 25 entries may be created.

Once you have finished constructing your menu of
configurations, press Escape. To create the datafile, answer Yes at
the prompt. The program will create the CNFIG.DAT file in the same
directory as CONFIG.EXE and return to the Main Menu which will now
show your configuration list.

4.0 Using The Program:

The Main Menu display screen will display the current
configuration found in your root directory if it matches one of the
files on your configuration list. This is always true if you use
CONFIG.EXE to install your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC files from the
menu you created. If you have altered the root directory files
file by other means, the program will indicate that it is
unrecognized.

A Window in the upper lefthand corner of the Menu screen
shows the available total program area, including the memory used
by CONFIG.EXE, which the memory available for the present
installed configuration at system boot. This is the same amount
reported by MEM or CHKDSK.

If a configuration is chosen from the Main Menu, the
activities menu will be displayed which allows you to View the
file(s) storing that configuration, Install them in your root
directory, Reboot your PC to make the installed files effective
and Return to the Main Menu.

Function keys that are active are listed in the window at
the screen bottom. From the Main Menu, F1 accesses ONLINE HELP in
most areas. F2 displays information about your system. F3 displays
the program version information and copyright notice. CONFIG.EXE is
freeware and the conditions of use are presented as well. F4 allows
viewing of the current CONFIG.SYS file in your root directory. F5
reboots the system (after a safety prompt). F6 access the datafile
editor. Use this if you wish to change the Main Menu and related path
and file information by modifying CNFIG3.DAT. F7 displays the current
AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

4.0 Final Note:

If you encounter problems, the built-in Help screens
accessed by pressing F1 explain most of the program operations.
Instructions are also displayed in the lowest window on the screen in
certain cases, as in the datafile editor. If you include files or
paths that do not exist in your menu, an error window will pop-up
every time the program tries to open or read that file. Check your
datafile entries using the editor (F6) to be sure they are correct if
this happens. The author has tested this program on his own 386
machine for several months without problems and has tested it on 2
different XT clones also without difficulty. While I hope there are
no bugs left, I cannot guarantee it. Please let me know via EMAIL on
compuserve of any major problems, comments, suggestions. Note that
previous versions of the program used a different datafile structure
and datafiles created with earlier versions will not work with this
one.

Howard Williams 75076,100