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The Education Master 1994 (4th Edition)
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install.txt
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1994-01-22
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**************************************************************
InstallWare
Version 2.0
January 22, 1994
By Bob Dolan
**************************************************************
Thank you for trying InstallWare. This is a small, easy to use
application installation program. It costs nothing to use if you
are distributing shareware or freeware. I wrote this system to
distribute my own shareware because I couldn't find anything
that met my requirements. Those requirements were:
* Small: I didn't want to add too much extra baggage to
my distribution or upload packages.
* Cheap: I didn't mind paying a shareware type price but
all I found were commercial type prices.
* Simple: It had to be easy for me to configure and easy
for my customers to use.
* Attractive: It had to look good since it is the first
impression your customers get of your product. In this
case I used the CTL3D.DLL provided by Microsoft to give
a sculpted look to all of the windows in the program.
The biggest omission in this package as compared to other installers
is the lack of INI file modification. This was intentional since I
don't think that this is the job of an installation program. Apps
should maintain their own private INI files and not muck up WIN.INI.
Now I realize that there are some types of system oriented applications
that must modify WIN.INI in order for them to work, but they are not
in the same market as this installer is (that's my excuse anyway 8} ).
I also feel compelled to point out that this code is based on some
sample code that Microsoft made available in 1991. I have added a
lot of functionality and cleaned up the code and dialogs.
As far as how to use this package... The INSTALL.EXE application reads
a configuration file when it starts up. This file is called APPSETUP.INF
and must be present with INSTALL. The entire personality of InstallWare
is defined within this program. Rather than go into a long discussion
on how to do this, I have commented each section of this file with what
I feel are rather descriptive hints on how to change things to suit your
needs. Hey, I figured this out from the Microsoft stuff with no help
and you're probably smarter than me. However, if you are lost, then
contact me and I'll see if I can help.
To see what the system looks like, you can run INSTALL.EXE right from this
directory. You will see what a user of yours would see.
Remember to include to CTL3D.DLL file to your distribution floppy or
upload file. InstallWare will crash without it. I will be doing a version
that tries to dynamically load this file. This will allow the program
to continue if it is not found. When it is available, I will upload it.
My shareware is usually found on CIS, GEnie, and SDN.
The code seems robust and has worked with everything I've thrown at it.
Large apps with multiple disks should work. I'd be interested in hear-
ing about your experiences. However, see the disclaimer below.
If you are distributing Shareware with this system, then you are not
obligated to send me money. However, I won't refuse any donations if
you feel so inclined. I do require that you register with me and send me
a copy of what you are sending out with my program. No money, just a
disk. If you are using this in a commercial environment or distributing
commercial software (in other words, your customers pay before the try),
then you must register by sending $25 along with a copy of what you are
distributing (unless it is a private internal application). Make checks
payable to Bob Dolan and send them to:
Bob Dolan
P.O. Box 16514
Rochester, New York
14616-0514
716-865-8248
Good Luck! and have fun!
New Features In This Release
----------------------------
2.0 Added the capability to place icon executables in directories other
than the base directory.
Distribution
------------
If you distribute InstallWare to friends, associates, or to a computer bulletin board
system (BBS), you may only distribute the compressed file including the copyright
and disclaimer.
Disclaimer
----------
The Copyright Owner hereby disclaims all warranties relating to this software, whether
express or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The Copyright Owner will not be
liable for any special, incidental, consequential, indirect or similar damages due to
loss of data or any other reason, even if The Copyright owner or an agent of The
Copyright Owner has been advised of the possibility of such damages. In no event
shall The Copyright Owner's liability for any damages ever exceed the price paid for
the license to use the software, regardless of the form of the claim. The person using
the software bears all risk as to the quality and performance of the software.