Take Command/16 v2.01 README.TXT -- February 2, 1998 JP Software Inc. P.O. Box 1470 E. Arlington, MA 02174, USA (781) 646-3975 fax (781) 646-0904 Email sales@jpsoft.com Web http://www.jpsoft.com/ Greetings, and thanks for trying Take Command/16! This file contains a variety of information you should read before using Take Command/16, including: Installation and "Branding" Instructions New Version Overview Revision Information Files Included with this Version Technical Support Legal Notices Other information is available in other files: For ... See ... ----------------------------------- ------------ Product and upgrade information PRODUCTS.TXT New customer order form ORDFORM.TXT Current customer upgrade order form UPGFORM.TXT Introduction and Installation Guide TCMD.TXT (introductory documentation) Complete list of new features Online help Trial version license (not included LICENSE.TXT with purchased copies) INSTALLATION AND "BRANDING" INSTRUCTIONS ---------------------------------------- This section explains how to install a downloaded copy of Take Command/16. [If you have a copy on diskette or CD, or a copy purchased electronically, we assume you have already completed the installation -- otherwise this file would not be visible! If you need to reinstall your purchased copy of Take Command/16, just restart the INSTALL program.] There are just three steps you need to take to install a downloaded copy of Take Command/16: >> Extract all the files to a new directory (do not use a directory you're using for other products, or for a previous version of Take Command/16). >> Start Take Command/16. It will "install itself". >> If you are upgrading a previously purchased copy, "brand" Take Command/16 with your name and serial number if necessary. Additional details on these steps are below. For branding and manual installation instructions see the sections with those headings below. Take Command is distributed with a Microsoft library called CTL3DV2.DLL, which is also used by many other applications. This library MUST be stored in your \WINDOWS directory, and removed from the Take Command directory, before you start Take Command. In most cases you will already have a copy of CTL3DV2 in your \WINDOWS directory. If so, check the date and time of that file vs. the version which came with Take Command. If you do not have a copy of CTL3DV2, or the copy which came with Take Command is newer than the copy already on your system, copy the Take Command CTL3DV2.DLL file to \WINDOWS. Then, whether or not you copied the file, delete it from the Take Command directory (Windows will not load Take Command properly with multiple copies of this file on the system). You can view any of the documentation files on-line, or copy them to your printer. The Introduction and Installation Guide in TCMD.TXT has page breaks, headers and footers; all other documentation files are unpaginated ASCII text. "Self-Installation" To begin the installation process, simply run the program file, TCMD.EXE, from your desktop. This will automatically start the self-installation file _TCINST.BTM, which will finish installing Take Command/16 on your system. _TCINST will prompt you for permission before each installation step, and no system files will be modified without asking you first. When the installation is finished, _TCINST renames itself to _TCINST.BTX, so that it will not be run again. (If installation terminates abnormally, _TCINST may not be renamed, and will then run again the next time you start the program.) Manual Installation For complete manual installation instructions, see the Introduction and Installation Guide in the file TCMD.TXT. The detailed instructions for Take Command/16 are in Chapter 5. If you choose to perform a manual installation you should rename the automated installation file, _TCINST.BTM (we recommend renaming it to _TCINST.BTX, which is what the file itself does when it's finished). If you don't, it will start automatically the first time you run Take Command/16. Branding If you are upgrading from a previously purchased copy you may need to run the "branding" program to install your name and serial number in Take Command/16 (trial version users can skip this section). Your previous version's brand program may be the older version named BRAND.EXE, or the newer version named BRTC16.EXE. If you are installing this version as a maintenance release from version 2.00, and you branded version 2.00 with the newer BRTC16.EXE brand program, then in most cases you can skip the remainder of this section because your name and serial number will be transferred automatically to your new copy of Take Command/16. If you are unsure of how the previous version was branded, or if you find that the name and serial number are not transferred for any reason, follow the instructions below to brand your new version. You will also need the instructions below if you previously used a "file brand" following special instructions from our technical support department. In order to perform the branding you will need the brand program, and the registered name, serial number, and validation code which came with your purchased copy of Take Command/16. (If you have lost your branding information it is replaceable, but a small charge is required as recreating the codes is a multi-step process. To request replacement codes contact JP Software at sales@jpsoft.com, or at one of the addresses listed at the start of this file.) The older BRAND.EXE program modifies the TCMD.EXE file, and can only be used while Take Command/16 is not running. To use it: (1) Exit from all copies of Take Command/16. (2) Start a command prompt session (use another JP Software product, or the operating system's built-in command processor). (3) Change to the directory where TCMD.EXE is installed, and verify that both TCMD.EXE and BRAND.EXE are in that directory. (4) Locate the branding information which came with your copy of Take Command/16 (information from other products won't work!). (5) Enter the command BRAND and follow the instructions on the screen. The newer BRTC16.EXE program does not have the same restrictions, and can be run using this simpler procedure: (1) Start Take Command/16. (2) Change to the directory where TCMD.EXE is installed, and verify that both TCMD.EXE and BRTC16.EXE are in that directory. (3) Locate the branding information which came with your copy of Take Command/16. (4) Enter the command BRTC16 and follow the instructions on the screen. If you attempt to brand your downloaded copy and receive the message "brand installation error 4" or "contact JP Software or your dealer for an upgrade", then you are not eligible to download and brand a trial version of this release -- instead, you must purchase the upgrade. See UPGFORM.TXT for an order form. Once you have ordered an upgrade you can continue to use the trial version until your upgrade arrives. If you receive any other error, you have probably mistyped your name, serial number, or validation code, or are attempting to use the brand program or codes from one product with another product, which will not work. NEW VERSION OVERVIEW -------------------- Since the last major release we've added 150 new features to Take Command/16! Here are a very small number of major highlights; for complete details, see the online help: >> Extended Directory Searches allow you to change to a directory anywhere on your system by entering only part of its name. See Directory Navigation in the help for complete details. >> New commands include: OPTION: Offers complete configuration adjustment in all products, either through interactive dialogs or on the command line. SWITCH: Provides for "case" statements in batch files. TOUCH: Adjusts file dates and times. TREE: Displays the directory tree, with or without file names, in a variety of formats. >> New file exclusion ranges provide a convenient way to exclude files from any internal command -- faster and more flexible than using EXCEPT. >> The new batch file debugger can execute each line step by step, process or trace into additional batch files, and display variables, aliases, and expanded commands at each step. See the online help for 150+ additional new command line tools, switches, variables, functions and other enhancements! REVISION INFORMATION -------------------- This update fixes a range of minor problems in version 2.00. For complete details on all bug fixes and compatibility enhancements see the "What's New" topic in the online help. FILES INCLUDED -------------- The following files are included with Take Command/16 2.01: TCMD.EXE Take Command program file TCMD.HLP Take Command help file TCMD.INI Skeleton Take Command initialization file TC16DLL.DLL DLL used to support the KEYSTACK command TCMD.TXT ASCII copy of the Take Command Introduction and Installation Guide _TCINST.BTM *Self-installation batch file BATCOMP.EXE Batch file compression utility BRTC16.EXE #Brand program for registered users to install name and product serial number CAVEMAN.386 "Caveman" virtual device to support DOS programs inside the Take Command/16 window CTL3DV2.DLL Windows 3D controls DLL for use with Take Command/16 EXAMPLES.BTM Sample batch file demonstrating the use of variable functions and internal variables FILE_ID.DIZ *Description file for BBS and other uploads INTERNAT.TXT Shipping rates and dealer list for international customers LICENSE.TXT *License agreement ORDFORM.TXT New customer order form PRODUCTS.TXT Product and ordering information README.TXT This file UPGFORM.TXT Upgrade order form VENDOR.TXT *Information for shareware vendors * Included with downloaded trial copies only. # Included with purchased copies only. TECHNICAL SUPPORT ----------------- Complete details on technical support are in the Introduction and Installation Guide, in the file TCMD.TXT. Often the quickest way to reach us for support is electronically. Current options are listed below; any additional options offered or changes made in the future will be listed on our web site at http://www.jpsoft.com/. In brief, your support options are: >> JP Software's CompuServe area, section 10 of the PC Vendor B forum (GO PCVENB). For support leave a message in this area addressed to user ID 75300,1215. >> Internet email to support@jpsoft.com. >> Telephone support on a one business day callback basis (though often we are able to return calls much more quickly than that). From the US and Canada, the quickest method to reach our support staff by phone is to leave a message on our support voice message line at 781-646-0798. Messages are checked regularly throughout the day. Do not use this line for sales, customer service, or shipping questions, and please call our main number at 781-646-3975 if you find yourself playing "telephone tag" with the support staff. >> Fax support at 781-646-0904 (however, you will almost always receive a faster response to email than to faxed support questions). When possible, we also read messages posted on the Usenet comp.os.msdos.4dos newsgroup, and in the 4DOS conference on the FidoNet BBS network. These areas offer valuable information and discussions with other users, but are not managed by JP Software, and are not official support channels. To download JP Software files, including upgdates and trial versions, visit: >> Our web site at http://www.jpsoft.com/ >> Our CompuServe forum (GO PCVENB or GO JPSOFT, library 10 / JP Software) >> Channel 1 BBS, Cambridge, MA, 617-349-1300 for 28.8K, 617- 354-3137 for 33.6 K. Join the "free files" conference (J FREE or J 5 at the main menu) for JP Software file downloads. We recommend that you use our web site for Internet downloads. However, if you prefer (or if you do not have web access) you can connect directly to our ftp site at ftp.std.com, directory /vendors/jpsoft. Product subdirectories are located below this; for example 4DOS files are in /vendors/jpsoft/4dos. LEGAL STUFF ----------- Copyright 1998, JP Software Inc., All Rights Reserved. Published by JP Software Inc., P.O. Box 1470, E. Arlington, MA 02174, U.S.A., phone 781-646-3975, fax 781-646-0904. Take Command and 4DOS are registered trademarks of JP Software Inc. 4DOS, 4OS2, and 4NT are JP Software Inc.'s trademarks for its family of character-mode command processors. JP Software, jpsoft.com, and all JP Software designs and logos are also trademarks of JP Software Inc. Other product and company names are trademarks of their respective owners. All prices and terms subject to change without notice.