HyperShell Release 3.0[a] - January 1989 ---------------------------------------- HyperShell is a general purpose hypertext control system. Standard hypertext features provided include a text frame based presentation style with highlighted references permitting navigation to other frames in the same or another file, to popup notes which can have further references, and allowing backtracking through visited frames, and marking of frames and references for later perusal. The program also supports graphic screen displays with nested selection zones, based on the common BLOAD format screen files. Additional features offered include popup menus, paged displays of menus or text files, DOS management facilities, scripting language with programming capability, variables, macros, formfill input fields and numerous features such as program invocation permitting the use of HyperShell for menuing systems, help systems, computer aided instruction, simple databases, DOS directory managers and numerous other applications. Alternative hypertext structures are also supported, permitting adhoc creation of supporting text. The hypertext files and supporting files can be compressed and can be directly accessed in compressed form. HyperShell has been designed to be fast, small, and powerful, supporting files larger than available memory whilst occupying a fixed amount of memory itself (110k currently) so that it can be used for controlling other applications. It is designed to run on the widest range of equipment, and the components do not need any more than a minimal 256k single floppy mono system, although they will benefit from the use of colour, a mouse, and a hard disk. The system is very configurable, including colour schemes, key mappings, all text strings, control menu and presentation 'look and feel'. The supporting files are of textual content, permitting easy production and maintenance. The system provided on the distribution disk is the runtime control program, a small text editor, and introduction, demonstration, and reference hyperdocuments. No restrictions are built in. Components provided on registration include the full development system, including a set of cooperating authoring tools and full documentation on disk. The tools include a dedicated hyperfile structure editor, an extensive syntax and consistency checking program, a hyperfile printout utility, compression and expansion utilities and TSR screen capture and graphic preparation facilities. Documentation includes a guide to the operation of the components, a tutorial to authoring, a full dual purpose reference guide and a quick reference guide. This distribution disk contains the following files:- ----------------------------------------------------- HS EXE - HyperShell main control program HN EXE - Small text and notes file editor HOME HYP - Menu of demonstration hyperfiles HS HYP - HyperShell Introduction HSREF HYP - Authors reference manual MSDOS HYP - MSDOS HELP file HELP BAT - MSDOS help driver - type 'HELP COMP' then press END key a few times DATABASE HYP - Tiny database driver hyperfile DATABASE DAT - Tiny database data file * HIX - Various indexes for above .HYP files * PIC - Various compressed screen images INTRO DOC - Introduction to writing your own files NOTED DOC - Instructions for HN.EXE READ.ME - this file RUNNING HYPERSHELL ================== MAKE A COPY OF THE DISTRIBUTION DISK - WORK USING THE COPY The HyperShell runtime system can be run as it stands. The COMSPEC environment variable must point to a location where the COMMAND.COM program is held, and the PATH environment variable must be set up to include the drive/directory containing the programs, for the HOME hyperfile and the DOS EXIT to work, but are not essential to try out HS against a hyperfile directly. Adjust contrast on your monitor to show colours or intensity levels correctly, and type :- HS This will present a menu of options. To start with, select the Introduction option to display the HyperShell introductory hyperfile to get you started on how to use HyperShell. Hyperfiles wih an extension of .HYP can be run using the command HS filename The database requires extra space to write to when the entry or sort options are selected. If you are using a floppy system, copy HS.EXE, DATABASE.HYP and DATABASE.DAT to a fresh floppy before use. If you have a Microsoft compatible mouse, you can use the mouse driver directly, by including a -m flag on the command line:- HS -m filename This will allow you to use a mouse pointer with graphic displays. SHAREWARE DETAILS ================= HyperShell is a shareware product. This means the following. HyperShell is NOT FREE. It is a commercial product for which you must pay if you are to use it, and is subject to the copyright laws. You are encouraged to make copies of the HyperShell shareware distribution, as listed above, without any alterations to the files in it. This READ.ME file must not be altered and must accompany all copies. The system may be offered for download via Bulletin Boards, and may be offered for distribution by shareware distributors, provided unduly high rates are not charged for such distribution. Overseas distributors can arrange with me to handle registration, and/or support in return for a percentage of registration fees. You are permitted to make unlimited use of HyperShell with the hyperfiles supplied to you, without further registration, although a contribution would be welcome. You are permitted to evaluate the system for producing hyperfiles for a period not exceeding three (3) calendar months. If you produce your own hyperfiles for your own use, and find HyperShell of some use, you are required to pay for a HyperShell personal licence. A personal licence allows one person to use HyperShell for producing hyperfiles for his own use only. If you decide not to register after the evaluation period you must destroy all copies of any hyperfiles which you have used in that time. YOU MUST NOT GIVE COPIES OF ANY HYPERFILES YOU PRODUCE TO ANYONE, WITHOUT FIRST REGISTERING (apart from me, that is). If you produce hyperfiles for use by others, either for use with your own product or as a package in their own right, you are required to pay for a developers licence. A developers licence entitles you to distribute the basic HyperShell runtime package, consisting of the HyperShell reader program and optionally the printer program. You must also provide an acknowledgement indicating that HyperShell has been used and giving the name and address of Text Technology. Registration will bring you the complete HyperShell development system, and holders of a development licence can request an optional Turbo-C library with which they can configure and extend the HyperShell reader component. If you feel that your use of the system is only occasional, and is not sufficient to merit full registration, a donation of any amount will be welcome, and will entitle you to receive update notices, and possibly an update disk. If HyperShell is to be used by others within an acedemic or other non profit making establishment, and no charge is to be levied for the use of the system, a reduced rate is applicable, subject to negotiation. If such use is to be made in a commercial establishment, the full developers licence is applicable. The developers licence entitles one person to produce hyperfiles for any number of 'end' users to read using the HS reader program. Corporate licence rates are available if more than one person is to produce hyperfiles. An evaluation licence is available which entitles you to evaluate the full system for up to six months, provided this is done within the terms of the personal licence. TERMS OF USE ============ HyperShell is provided 'AS IS' without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event is any liability accepted for any damages incurred, either directly or indirectly, as a result of using HyperShell. REGISTRATION ============ The following scale of charges are applicable to version 3.0 only, and supersede the 2.5 scale with immediate effect. Personal licence - 25 pounds Developers licence - 60 pounds (no runtime per-copy royalties) Continuation Support (after first year) - 10 pounds per annum includes one update in that period Printed documentation - 15 pounds per copy (+ 2 pounds postage U.K. 5 pounds overseas) Six month evaluation licence - 10 pounds (+ 5 pounds if limited support required) Latest update - 10 pounds (this is included with registration) Upgrades of licences chargeable at difference in price only. Registration entitles you to the latest version of the full HyperShell development system including documentation ON DISK, one year of limited support, and the first update, but NOT printed documentation, which is extra. The support includes postal and off-peak telephone support for problems of use and for bug reports. If you do not want support or the first update, you may deduct 10 pounds from the registration fee. The evaluation licence entitles you to a copy of the full system for personal use only up to six months. Limited support is only supplied at additional cost in this case. Any copy of the full system supplied for evaluation or registration is NOT SHAREWARE, and you MUST NOT GIVE COPIES AWAY. Registration is a one off charge, and entitles you to use HyperShell under the terms of your licence for as long as you like. Additional support, for instance in the design and production of hyperfiles, is chargeable on a time and materials basis at mutually agreed rates. Custom modifications will be charged on a sliding scale from free for a generally useful feature up to full time and materials for a specialist modification. Printed documentation comes as looseleaf A4 for ring binding, or as a spiral bound book. When you order the printed documenation, please state in which form you would like it. The above figures apply to registration in the British Isles in pounds sterling. Sorry we can't handle credit cards, so cheques/postal orders only please (or hard cash if you prefer). Overseas customers please send an equivalent amount in local currency or a Eurocheque in pounds if possible. Please note that EXTRA IMPORT DUTY MAY BE PAYABLE BY YOU ON RECEIPT. However, registration and documentation may be provided by a local distributor at better rates, so check first. There are no guarantees with the supplied product, other than the replacement of defective media. Registration means acceptance of the product and any money paid will not normally be refundable. Bug reports and suggestions for improvements are welcomed from all users, including unregistered users evaluating the product. Important, previously unreported, bugs will be rewarded with cash or credit against registrations or other services. All bug reports and problems from registered users will be responded to. All problems should be posted to the provided address. Full details of problems should be included, along with any related hyperfile if this would be of assistance in solving a problem. Bug reports should indicate the full circumstances of the bug, including the machine type, monitor type, the version of HyperShell, the memory size, the version of MSDOS (or DRDOS), details of resident programs, and any other relevant information. The following address should be used for registration and support:- Nick Taylor 66 Kennedy Avenue Macclesfield Cheshire England SK10 3DE Cheques should be made payable to N.G.Taylor. Please state which version you have. Also it would be useful if you could give an indication of what type of application you are using HyperShell for. If you evaluate HyperShell and find it unsuitable for your requirements, please consider sending a copy of any evaluation report you produce. I hope you will find HyperShell of use. Please don't hesitate to send suggestions for improvements, bug reports etc. Good luck. Nick Taylor Text Technology