EZinst v1.2 Introduction ============ EZinst is an installation program for Microsoft Windows. It was designed for programmers, consultants, and other computer users in need of a simple, inexpensive, customizable, Windows installation program. Installation ============ Installing EZinst from the distribution .ZIP file is extremely easy (After it has been unzipped). 1. Start Microsoft Windows. 2. From the File sub-menu menu in Program Manager, choose Run... 3. Specify the location of the unzipped files and type install.exe. Ex: c:\apl\comm\install.exe 4. The installation program will prompt you to enter the destination drive/directory. Ex: c:\ezinst 5. The installation program will prompt you to enter the source drive/directory. Ex: c:\apl\comm 6. The installation program will finish the installation automatically. File list ========= This is a complete file list. 1. INSTALL.EXE - the main installation program. 2. INSTALL.HLP - the on-line help file. 3. INSTALL.INI - the installation file and example. 4. COMPRESS.EXE - Microsoft's compression file. 5. README.TXT - this file. 6. CATALOG.TXT - a list of Burnham Park Software, Inc's shareware titles. 7. ORDER.FRM - the form for registering EZinst. 8. FILE_ID.DIZ - the description file. 9. VENDINFO.DIZ - the verdor information file. Using EZinst ============ The EZinst program (INSTALL.EXE) is small (about 60k) and easy to use. Simply copy it to the distribution disk along with the INSTALL.INI file (described in the following section) and the distribution files. It will then be ready to install. All the person installing the program has to do is run Microsoft Windows and use the File-Run... menu command (Example: a:install.exe). The rest is self explanatory. The INSTALL.INI file ==================== The INSTALL.INI file is easy to use, but must be syntactically correct. Line #1 The version number of the .INI file. The @@VER@@=#.# macro defines the EZinst compatible version number. Line #2 The title displayed in large letters in the installation program window. Line #3 The two background colors. The first will start at the top of the window and blend into the second color at the bottom. The colors may be followed by the @@ITA@@ and/or @@UND@@ macros to enable the title to be italicized and/or underlined. Line #4 The default source drive/directory. This can be the current directory. Line #5 The default destination drive/directory. If it already exists, the EZinst will prompt if it is still to be used. Line #6 The number of files to install. Make sure this number corresponds to the number of lines following it (except lines with @@DISK@@). Line #7-#? The files to install. They may be compressed using Microsoft's compress.exe. The macro @@DISK@@ will cause EZinst to wait for the next installation disk to be inserted and will be ignored in the file count. The macro @@DIR@@ and others may be used (see the Macros section). Line #8 The program group. If it doesn't already exist, it will be created. Line #9 The number of program items to be created in the program group. Make sure this number corresponds to the number of lines following it. Line #10-#? The program items to install. The first part of an entry is the program to be run followed by command-line parameters. The second part of an entry is the title, and is separated by a comma. The macro @@DIR@@ and others may be used (see the Macros section). Line #11 The number of entries into the WIN.INI (or other .INI) file. Make sure this number corresponds to the number of lines following it. Line #12-#? The WIN.INI entries. The first part of the entry is the section, followed by a comma and the entry, followed by a comma and the string, optionally followed by a comma and the .INI file (WIN.INI is the default). The macro @@DIR@@ and others may be used (see the Macros section). Line #13 The number of programs to run. Make sure this number corresponds to the number of lines following it. Line #14-#? The programs to run. The format is: command line, optionally followed by one of two display macros. The @@MAX@@ macro displays the program maximized, and the @@MIN@@ macro displays the program minimized (the default is normal). The macro @@DIR@@ and others may also be used (see the Macros section). Example ======= @@VER@@=1.2 ; Version number 1.2 Gengame Installation ; Title to display while installing BLUE YELLOW @@ITA@@ ; Background colors (blue to yellow) a: ; Default source drive/directory c:\gengame ; Default destination drive/directory 3 ; Number of files to install gengame.ex_ ; Name of files (may be compressed or gengame.hl_ ; un-compressed). Must be the name @@DISK@@ ; in the source drive/directory) readme.tx_ ; @@DISK@@ will prompt for new disk Games ; Program (manager) group 2 ; Number of program items @@DIR@@\gengame.exe, Generic Game ; Program item(s) (program itself) winhelp @@DIR@@\gengame.hlp, Help ; (a help file) 2 ; Number of INI entries Gengame, dir, @@DIR@@ ; INI entries (to WIN.INI) Gengame, high, 1000, gengame.ini ; (to GENGAME.INI) 1 ; Number of programs to execute @@WIN@@\notepad @@DIR@@\readme.txt ; Program(s) to execute Macros ====== @@DIR@@ Will be substituted by the destination directory @@SUB@@ Will be substituted by the subdirectory of the destination directory following the macro. If it does not exist, it will be created (only in the file list). @@SYS@@ Will be subsituted by the Windows system directory. @@WIN@@ Will be subsituted by the Windows directory. Note: these macros may only be used in the file, program items, INI emtry, and ececution lists. Compression =========== The compression program (compress.exe) is used to reduce the size of distributed programs. The syntax is: compress [-r] file.ext [filenew.ext]. If the -r switch is used, the second filename is not needed, as compress will automatically alter the first filename by changing the last character to an '_'. Example: compress -r install.exe; will create install.ex_ (compressed). Changes from version 1.1 ======================== Version 1.2 may easily be considered a major upgrade. There are a quite a number of changes/enhancements from v1.1, and v1.1 .INI files are still supported. Enhancements include: many more macros, the ability to add WIN and other INI file entries, copying to and creation of sub-directories of the destination directory, running other programs, and enhanced error messages. Registration ============ EZinst is a shareware program that has a two week evaluation period after which a payment of $22 is required. As shareware, EZinst was distributed freely in order to allow people to "test drive" it. The try- before-you-buy concept allows users to find out which programs are useful before purchasing them. If a shareware program is useful or entertaining, please support it through registration. The registration fee for EZinst is only $22 and entitles you to the newest version of the program, a utility (MAKEINI) to help create INSTALL.INI files, a printed manual, customer support (through the mail or on Compuserve, AOL, Delphi, GEnie, or the Internet), the source code, an unlimited distribution license, and information (and discounts) on other offerings from Burnham Park Software, Inc. (Note: the old registration fee was $12. Any orders received before 11/1/94 will be accepted at the old fee of $12.) To register, send your name, address, and a check or money order to: Burnham Park Software, Inc. P.O. Box #814 Chicago, IL 60690-0814 Phone: (312) 922-6313 BBS: (312) 922-2839 Compuserve: 71532,3271 AOL: J null B Delphi: MARBRO GEnie: XRG36978 Internet: snlmhb@hawk.depaul.edu EZinst is supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the use of EZinst. ASP Ombusman statement ====================== Burnham Park Software, Inc. is a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442-9427 USA, FAX 616-788-2765 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.