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Text File | 1992-06-05 | 21KB | 565 lines

ACCTOOL V1.2 Documentation (c)1991 Critical Mass Concepts Author : 16BitBlues Contents 1. CopyUp Message 2 2. Introduction 3 3. Summary of available operations 4 4. Using Acctool 5 5. Disclaimer 10 6. Services 11 7. Registration Form (a) 12 8. Registration Form (b - optional) 13 9. Contact Address 14 CopyUp Rather than having a Copyright or Copyleft (i.e. FSF) message Critical Mass Concepts1 has the CopyUp message (similar to a cock-up, but less organized) : This software may be copied without charge on a person- person basis, as long as all the following files are supplied : ACCTOOL.ACC - Accessory (normal way to use it) ACCTOOL.PRG - Program version, should you need it ACCTOOL.RSC - Resource file ACCHI.RSC - Resource file for Hi-Res ACCTOOL.DOC - This file (1st word format) ACCTOOL.TXT - This file (ASCII text format) READ.ME - A file with any last minute changes this means that all Public Domain libraries should contact Critical Mass Concepts at the address supplied. No charge may be made for this software, only for the service of distribution (with the agreement of Critical Mass Concepts). The copyright of this software is the property of Critical Mass Concepts. Introduction ACCTOOL is an accesory based toolkit, it is designed to allow you to do operations within other applications which are normally not supplied by the application itself. For example, finding the time whilst writing a document. Formatting a disk while in Degas Elite, searching for a file inside Tempus. This version of ACCTOOL does not come with the cutdown versions MICROTOOL (file operations only) or VIRUSTOOL (virus killing accessory), these are available if you register and donate some money (see Services). Summary of operations available 1. Disk Copy Non specialist disk copier with format and verify options. 2. Disk Formatter Simple formatter with variable formats, choice of bootsector information and verify options. 3. Virus Killer Detects and kills bootsector viruses with the option of automatically killing in the background. 4. Palette Alter the colour palette 5. File operations Move, copy, delete, rename, new folder, delete folder, change attributes print files. 6. Time functions Display and set the time. 7. File search Search for file(s) and dump hierarchy to printer. 8. Free Space On disk or in memory. 9. Configure Printer Does just that. Using ACCTOOL Installation Place the files ACCTOOL.ACC, ACCHI.RSC (only needed if you use High Resolution) and ACCTOOL.RSC in the main directory of the disk from which you boot up (as you would do for any accessory). Usage Click on the toolkit option in the Desk Accessory menu, this will bring up the main menu. Current Disk At the bottom of the menu (above our address) is the Current Disk selector. By clicking on one of the drive letters you will set the drive for future operations to work on, for example, Disk Space shows how much free space is on that drive. Critical Mass Concepts Address Clicking on this option (it's the writing at the bottom of the menu) will display the current version of ACCTOOL, and a brief copyright message. Set printer configuration Clicking on this option brings up a menu, listed below are the meanings of the options : Dot Matrix / Daisy Wheel : This decides which type of printer you are using, if it is daisy wheel the ST won't be able to do screen dumps for example Monochrome / Colour : We would assume that this is used by the ST to decide whether to try a monochrome or colour screen dump, not having a colour printer we wouldn't know. Atari / Epson : This is needed to decide what control codes are sent to the printer (all Epson compatibles, should be set to Epson). Draft / Quality : Draft means that the printer will print as normal, whereas Quality tells the printer to printout in Near Letter Quality Mode (only use this if your printer supports it). Printer / RS232 Port : Printer port means that the printer is connected to the parallel printer port at the back of the ST (labelled with a little picture of a printer on the casing). RS232 means that the printer should be connected to the serial port (labelled with a little modem icon on the casing). Continuous / Sheet Feed : This tells the ST whether you have continuous stationary or whether it is fed one sheet at a time. To use simply click on the options which apply to your printer (pressing the righthand side turns off the left and vice- versa), then press Cancel if you've changed your mind or OK if you haven't. Disk Space This displays how much room is left on the current disk drive, clicking on the option will display the value in bytes. Rename file Select the file with the file selector, as you would normally do the select OK to go ahead or Cancel to abort. A second menu will pop up and ask you for the new filename, enter it and then press OK to use it or Cancel to forget about the whole idea. Move File Use the file selector to select the original file and then you will be prompted with another file selector to choose it's destination (the destination can be on another disk drive). Be warned ! Copying THEN deleting the original is FAR safer. Copy File This is identical to Move File (above) except the original is not deleted. Delete File Clicking on delete file will give you a file selector, choose the file to be deleted then press OK to go ahead or Cancel to abort. Remove Dir This is used to delete folders, selecting it will give you a file selector. Choose the directory to be deleted by clicking on it in the file selector (the program actually just takes the pathname at the top of the selector and deletes that folder). Use this with caution. Free Memory This when selected displays how much free memory is left in the computer. Set Time Displays the current time and lets you change it by editing the values (pressing ESC deletes the current setting, and the arrow keys move you between date and time). Show Time When selected this displays the current time. Dir Dump This lists all the files in the current drive to the printer. If you have a hardrive, beware, as the listing might be horrendously long. Print File Asks you to select a file with the file selector and will then print it out. Disk Copy A word of caution, the copier is set up to work by checking both disks are the same .... unless you know what you are doing leave it like this. It is also set up with verify on, this is quite useful. You can also choose which is the source and which is the destination drive. For those of you who will use them, the other options allow you to select where the formatter/copier gets it's info from. It can either check the SOURCE or DESTINATION boot sector, or both. If both is chosen they must be the same (obviously). If neither is what you want you can enter your own configuration. Disk Space Simply displays the free space on the current drive. Set Palette Allows you to reset the ST's colour palette, just click on the colour you wish to change, then click on the appropriate Red - Green - Blue levels. If you change your mind just click on RESET PALETTE. Virus Check This allows you to check for a bootsector virus on drive A or B. It is then up to you if wish to kill what is thought to be a virus. PLEASE NOTE : if a boot sector says 'cleared by ACCTOOL' it is clean as for as I can work out, some bootsectors should be executable so be careful not to remove ones on ORIGINAL disks which might be needed by the software. There is also the Autokill option, by clicking on it you can toggle Autokill on or off. Autokill checks every few minutes to see if you have changed the disk in drive A or B, if you have it checks and kills any potential viruses, the warning about ORIGINAL disks applies again obviously. Change Mode Allows you to select a file, whose attributes are to be changed, with the file selector. You are then prompted with it's current attributes and you can then set them at will, OK sets them CANCEL ignores them. The attributes and they're meanings are as follows : READ ONLY : This means that the file cannot be written to, in other words you cannot update it. This is a much under used part of TOS. It means if you really wish to keep a file then you can't accidentally overwrite it. "Hidden" : This is moderately useful if you wish to hide files from other people, for example Acctool could have it's resource file hidden. It can also clean up directories by hiding "system files". When a file is hidden it is given a special attribute which means that normal file searches will not find it (i.e. Destop, File Selector). System File : As far as I know and as far as the literature I have read says this is the same as the above. It is advisable to use the above attribute however. Volume label : Don't use this if you know what's good for you ! This will set a file to be a volume (disk) label name. It will also set it's size to ZERO !!! Format Disk Select the appropriate parameters for the copy and then choose either Format A or Format B depending on which drive you wish to use. Please note that there are no initial values for the format parameters. Please use the default buttons, unless you know what you are doing. There is an automatic verify built in. The defaults are given below and other useable values in brackets : Tracks : 80 (0-80,81,82,83 - stick to 0-80 though) Sectors : 9 (9,10 - 11 is dodgy, don't use it) Sides : 2 (1,2 - well what else ?) Interleave: 1 (1-10 use 1) File Search File search looks through an entire disk (the current one) for a file (select the wildcard or enter your own then select it). When it finds it it can either print it out or display it on the screen. If you print it out the screen you will be using the acctool output window (currently only 35 characters wide so it can work in low res) in future versions this will be replaced by a GEM window. If you press RETURN (or click on CR) then it will scroll down by one line, if you click on FF it will go down a page. To finish using the window click on the close button (the maltese crosss thing). When it has finished it will display the message >>>>>>>>>> PAUSED <<<<<<<<<< , to finish using it at this point click on the close button. New Folder Creates a new folder, use the file sector to choose where to put it and what to call it (it uses the pathname at the top and adds the filename you have selected/entered to it). Disclaimer This software is FREE ... so don't moan about the disclaimer. This software is still beta-test, i.e. it is still being tested by people. We have yet to find any noticeable bugs (the only "bugs" in it that have been found are more features than bugs :-). Though great care has been taken to make sure the program does as we (and you) would expect it to do we cannot take any responsibility for any loss/damage of your data. Because it is a beta-test version we strongly advise you to register (only costs #5.00) this means we will inform you of any later versions. Version 2.0 is already in the pipeline as well as several small utilities and a major application. We cannot be held responsible for : System resets, bad quality disks, bugs (wot bugs?), bad colour scheme, lack of taste, the invasion of Kuwait, Saddam Hussein, the Cuban missile crisis, Kylie Minogue, the assisnation of John F. Kennedy, platform shoes, Bros, Top of the Pops, most of Radio 1, earthquakes, the price of chocolate milk shakes (bloody ridiculous if you ask me), music played in Grandways supermarkets, Typhoid, the A-Bomb, falling madly in love with an ashtray, wild parties or lack of, Sex, Drugs, & Rock 'n' Roll ... .. whose complaining ... not me, exploitation of the masses, the Northern Ireland problem, poverty, the price of living, a ridiculous social security system, poor education, John Major, TOS & GEM, Acts of God, The Catcher in the Rye, John Lennon's death, all earthly evil, bad sportsmanship, lack of talent, snooker, bad jokes, horrendous spelling, York University students, the lack of an expansion port, Amiga, MS-DOS ..... PLEASE NOTE : Critical Mass Concepts is the tradename of Neil Ellis & Oscar Katt. Services Critical Mass Concepts is an up-and-coming software team, so any help (monetarily or otherwise) will be gratefully received. We will happily upgrade your version of Acctool on the following basis: Registration & Donation If you donate £5.00 (or more !!) to ourselves (a cheque payable to Neil Ellis please) we will inform you of any new items of software, notify you of any major upgrades, give priority for any changes you request. Registration (No Donation) If you register with Critical Mass Concepts without a donation (what are you that poor?) you will be informed of any new software released and of any pretty major upgrades. Request If a stamp, piece of paper, ink, and an envelope is that expensive then contact us only when you have a problem or would like a customised version (it'll cost you) or to suggest an alteration. Registration To register with Critical Mass Concepts please send a letter with the following information (or print this file out and send the filled in portion) : Name : (Mr/Mrs/Ms) _________________________________________ Address : __________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ______________________________________ POSTCODE : __________ Daytime Telephone Number : (_________) ____________________ Where did you get our software : _________________________ ____________________________________________________________ What CMC software did you obtain : ________________________ Your computer make (i.e. ST520FM): _________________________ Memory : ______(K) Hard Drive : YES / NO Tos Version : V_______ Second drive : YES / NO Monochrome monitor : YES / NO Favourite piece of ST software : ___________________________ Most Used piece of ST software : ___________________________ Please list any items of software which you would like but cannot afford : ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ALL OF THE FOLLOWING IS OPTIONAL BUT PLEASE SEND THESE DETAILS OR ANY PARTS OF THEM TO HELP US DECIDE WHAT TO WRITE FOR YOU NEXT. What do you use your computer for (Tick or give a value between 1 - 10 which represents the importance you would attribute to each use) Application Value or Tick Word Processing ______ Games playing ______ Programming ______ Educational ______ Art / Design ______ Data Storage (e.g. Database) ______ Other ___________________ ______ How old are you : (12-16), (16-18), (18-21), (21-30), (30+) What is your job (specify if possible or tick as many as apply) : __________________ Software Related / Hardware Related / Education / Student Post Graduate / Commercial / Self Employed / Retired Would you be willing to test out future products (we would pay for everything, and chuck in the finished version on a free disk) : YES / NO Do you wish to here of future products : YES / NO Do you wish to here of major upgrades : YES / NO Have you made a donation (GUILT !) : YES / NO Did you find our software useful (1-10 or YES/NO) : ________ What was it's major problems : _____________________________ ____________________________________________________________ How would you like to see it improved : ____________________ ____________________________________________________________ Any ideas for future products : ____________________________ ____________________________________________________________ CCCCC RRRR I TTTTTTT I CCCCC AAAA L C R R I T I C A A L C R R I T I C A A L C RRRR I T I C AAAAAA L C R R I T I C A A L CCCCC R R I T I CCCCC A A LLLLLL M M AAAAA SSSSSS SSSSSS MM MM A A S S M M M M A A S S M M M AAAAAAA SSSSS SSSSS M M A A S S M M A A S S M M A A SSSSSS SSSSSS " ANY MORE WOULD BE TOO MUCH " CONTACT ADDRESS : EMAIL CONTACT : CRITICAL MASS CONCEPTS NEIL ELLIS 44 HAREWOOD AVE SOCS117@UK.AC.YORK.VAXA BRIDLINGTON (Janet address now E.YORKS. available through Cix ) YO16 5QD.