///////////////////////////////////////
// DCOPY 1.0 //
// The Intelligent Disk Copier //
// //
// Blue North Software //
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What is DCOPY?
--------------

DCOPY is a program for copying diskettes. It is a replacement for the
DOS DISKCOPY command, and was written to overcome some of DISKCOPY's
more annoying features. DCOPY was designed for people with what has
come to be a typical system -- only one drive of a particular media
size. In these situations, particularly with larger disk capacities
like 1.44 Mb, DISKCOPY involves a very frustrating series of diskette
swaps. DCOPY overcomes this limitation, and allows you to copy a
diskette with only one swap. DCOPY also gives you the option of making
multiple copies of a diskette with only one read.

Here is a summary of DCOPY's features:

- Copy diskettes -- any size to 1.44 Mb -- with one swap
- Make multiple copies with only one read
- Error checking to ensure correct copies
- Progress bars and elapsed timers

How does DCOPY work?
--------------------

DCOPY works by creating a "swap area" to hold the data that is being
copied. This swap area is created from a combination of memory and hard
disk space. ALL memory in your system is used to create the swap area
-- the hard disk is used only as a last resort. DCOPY first uses all
available conventional memory (memory below the 640K boundary), then it
looks for extended memory (both memory above 1 Mb and memory made
available by HIMEM.SYS). DCOPY also uses expanded memory made available
by a LIM compatibl e driver, version 3.2 or later. Finally, DCOPY will
use hard disk space and create a temporary swap file.

If the above is confusing and overly technical, don't worry. DCOPY
knows what it's doing, and it was designed to use your computer's
resources in the most efficient manner available to it. This does mean
that you will require a hard disk to use DCOPY if you do not have
sufficient memory available.

How do I install DCOPY?
-----------------------

DCOPY is very easy to install, since there is only one file to worry
about -- DCOPY.EXE. Simply copy this file into any directory on your
computer's path.

If you do not know what a DOS path is, now is the time to learn. The
DOS path is a statement describing the places DOS will search if it
cannot find a particular program in the current directory. When you
type a command at the DOS prompt, a complex series of events take
place. DOS first checks to see if the command is a DOS internal
command, such as DIR, COPY, DEL, etc. If not, DOS checks the current
directory to see if the command is an external command -- a program
file ending in .COM, .EXE, or .BAT. If DOS cannot find such a program
in the current directory, it begins searching through each directory in
the PATH statement until it finds the command, or reaches the end of
the path. If DOS reaches the end of the path without finding the
command, it returns the famous "Bad command or file name" message.

An example should serve to clarify all of this. If you wish DOS to
search the root directory, DOS directory, and UTIL directory (you do
have a UTIL directory, don't you?), you wish issue the following PATH
command:

PATH=C:/;C:/DOS;C:/UTIL;

Note that each part of the path is seperated from the others by a
semicolon (;).

It is accepted practice (and a good idea) to place this path command in
your AUTOEXEC.BAT file so that it will be invoked whenever you start up
your computer.

How do I run DCOPY?
-------------------

Now that you have installed DCOPY, it is very easy to run it. Simply
type DCOPY followed by the letter of the drive containing the diskette
you wish to copy. For example, if you wish to copy a diskette in drive
A:, type the following:

DCOPY A:

The DCOPY screen will appear and you will be asked to insert the SOURCE
diskette (the diskette you wish to copy) in the drive you specified and
press any key. Insert your source diskette and press any key (the space
bar is a good one). DCOPY will analyze the disk and present some
statisitics about its size in the left panel of the DCOPY screen. In
the upper right panel of the screen a progress bar will show DCOPY's
progress as it reads the source diskette. After about ten seconds,
DCOPY will present an estimated time to completion of the read
operation. An elapsed timer shows how much time has passed.

Once the diskette has been completely read, DCOPY will ask you to insert
the TARGET diskette (the diskette you wish to copy to) and press any
key. Do so, and DCOPY will begin reporting its progress in writing the
diskette.

Now is a good time to mention that DCOPY will NOT format a diskette.
You must have a diskette formatted in the correct density for your copy.
DCOPY WILL, however, completley overwrite the contents of the target
diskette, so make sure you insert the correct diskette.

Once DCOPY has finished writing the target diskette, it will ask if you
wish to make another copy of the SAME diskette. If so, you need only
insert another target diskette as, unlike DISKCOPY, DCOPY need not
re-read the source diskette. If you do not wish to make another copy of
the same diskette, DCOPY will ask if you wish to make a copy of a
different diskette. If so, the above steps will be repeated. If not,
DCOPY will exit to DOS.

If you simply wish to make a single copy of a single diskette, you can
start DCOPY with a command line option to avoid the questions at the
completion of the copy operation. The option is "/1", and to invoke you
would type:

DCOPY A: /1

You may, of course, substitute the A: for any appropriate drive letter.

Is DCOPY free?
--------------

No. DCOPY is not free. It is not public domain. It is copywrited by
Blue North Software, and is being distributed under a marketing concept
called shareware.

What is Shareware?
------------------

Shareware is a unique marketing concept whereby you get to try software
out before you pay for it. Many shareware software packages exist,
duplicating most of the commercialy available packages in functionality
and quality. Shareware is often much less expensive, because shareware
authors don't have the overhead that commercial software concerns have.

Basically, once you have acquired a shareware package, you try it out
and see if you like it. If you do, you send a requested registration
fee to the authors. This fee usually entitles you to certain additional
considerations, which vary from author to author. If you do not wish to
continue using the software, you do not need to register it. You
should, however, stop using it if you do not register it. Regardless,
the software should be passed along to as many friends as possible,
because this distribu tion is what makes shareware work.

How do I register DCOPY?
------------------------


We're glad you asked. You can register DCOPY by sending a cheque or
money order for $20 to:

Blue North Software
13112 66th Ave.
Edmonton, AB CANADA
T6H 1Y8

The file REGISTER.TXT contains a form to assist you in the registration
process. To print it out, simply issue the following command at the DOS
prompt:

COPY REGISTER.TXT PRN:

What are the registration benefits?
-----------------------------------

Registered owners of DCOPY are entitled to unlimited technical support,
which is available through any of the following channels:

Compuserve:71570,1171
USENET: [email protected]
Voice:(403) 489-9958
Mail:the above address


Due to circumstances beyond our control, voice support is only available
between the hours of 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM MST, Monday to Friday, but
registered owners can leave a message on our nice answering machine, and
we'll get back to them between those hours. Sorry, but we are unable to
return calls to non-registered users, unless you specifiy that we may
call collect.

On registration, you will be placed on our mailing list to receive, at
no cost, the next version of DCOPY. We plan on adding formatting to
DCOPY, as well as a faster diskette copying mode. We also plan on
adding support for copying between different media (1.44 Mb to 1.2 Mb,
for example). You will also receive a list of all of our products, and
notification as new products become available. Finally, registered
owners will be offered discounts on upcoming Blue North Software
products.

Who are these Blue North Software guys?
---------------------------------------

Blue North Software is a small consortium of software developers that
specialize in software products that are easy to use and genuinely
useful. One of us wants to buy a house; the other wants to go to
University. We write our code in Turbo Pascal and assembler, under the
sunniest and bluest skies in Canada (shameless Alberta Tourism plug!).
We have other products available, and we're constantly working on more.
All of our products, including the latest version of DCOPY, can be found
on Dave McCrady's fine Waffle board at (403) 454-6093. We have our own
directory, called BNS, and logging on as GUEST will enable you to
download any of our products. Check it out!

Blue North Software products are also available in the IBM Hardware
Forum on Compuserve (GO IBMHW). Search for BNS to find them all!

Don't these files usually have some kind of disclaimer?
-------------------------------------------------------

You bet. And here's ours:

Blue North Software is not responsible for anything. Nothing. Zilch.
If you are a registered owner, our warranty extends only to the physical
media we distribute our products on. Unfortunately, you use our
products at your risk, not ours.

Having said all that, we would like to point out that we have tested
DCOPY to the best of our ability. Tests were conducted with physically
and electronically damaged diskettes, in a variety of situations. We
don't like to make blanket statements eliminating any responsibility we
might have, but this is a crazy world where the number one corporate
sport seems to be the law suit, and we'd love to avoid all of that.
Finally, we will say that if you find a bug in DCOPY, report it. We'll
fix it and send you a free update.

The last word...
----------------

When all is said and done, we'd like to thank you for trying our
products. We're sure that you'll have as much fun using them as we did
in writing them. Remember to look for our other fine products on the
BBS nearest you (what? You say they're not there? UPLOAD THEM!).
Finally, if you decide you don't want to register our products, at the
very least pass them along to your friends. Remember, Shareware works
because YOU make it work.