                                      1

                         Welcome to A1 DOS Utilities
                              (first edition))
         _____________________________________________________________

                          from Eric Rodda-Software

                           A product of Australia
         _____________________________________________________________

        This selection of utilities were written specifically for
        the enhancement of DOS batch files and menus.

        The functions included which improve the display and control of
        batch files, have long been missing from normal DOS programs.

        SHAREWARE AND REGISTRATION
        __________________________

        The programs in this package are supplied as Shareware, which
        means that you can use them for a trial period of 60 days,
        after which, if you are still using them, you should pay the
        author a Registration fee. This will assist the author to be
        able to continue to write new programs for you to use.
        Please give these programs to anyone else who would like them.
        Ensure all files are distributed in a package.


        Registration costs are:-
                                $10.00 each program or
                                $40.00 for the whole package.
        (A disk of the latest version will be supplied in either case -
        packing and postage included)

        Site licenses for business and schools where multiple PC's are
        involved may be negotiated.

        If a disk of the shareware version is required the cost is $5.00
        (Australian), which includes post and package.

        All of the above prices are in Australian dollars. If a cheque
        is supplied please ensure that it is payable at an Australian
        Bank. No personal cheques from outside Australia please, due to
        high transfer costs. Use an International Money Order or a Bank
        Draft.

        Please state disk size required:- 3.5" or 5.25".

        Please address all requests for Registration and disks to:-

                Eric Rodda-Software
                34 Abbeville Terrace
                Marion  5043
                South Australia


                                      2

                                  WARRANTY
                                  --------


               This software and accompanying written materials
               (Including  Instructions  for use)  are provided
               "AS IS"  without  warranty of any kind.  Further
               Eric Rodda-Software does not warrant,  guarantee
               or make any  representations  regarding  the use
               or the results of use,  of the  software  and/or
               written  materials,  in  terms  of  correctness,
               accuracy, reliability, or otherwise.  The entire                
               risk as to the  results  and  performance of the
               software is assumed by you.  Eric Rodda-Software
               shall not be held responsible for  any direct or
               indirect, consequential  or  incidental  damages
               (including damages for loss of  business profits
               business  interruption, or  business information
               and the like)arising out of the use or inability
               to use such products even if Eric Rodda-Software
               has  been  advised of the  possibility  of  such
               damages.


        INSTALLATION
        ------------

        The DEMO program on the disk will enable you to install the
        programs onto the hard drive.
        It will attempt to create a directory named A1 and then copy
        all the files required into that directory.
        If for some reason this process fails, just copy all the files
        to the drive:\directory of your choice.


        FAST LANE
        ---------
                 ...To start now, exit this text file (crtl+C) and
        type DEMO to INSTALL and then experience the utilities for
        yourself. Read this file later.....

        The following pages give an overall operation and assistance
        in using the A1 DOS Utilities.


                                      3
        PROGRAM OVERVIEW
        ________________

        All of the programs have been written in Assembly Language for
        speed of operation and minimum size.
        The package contains 18 individual programs which are descibed
        below. (Plus some other files from vendors, possibly)
        Note:- All .COM programs have HELP screens available with the /?
               switch after the program name. eg. HL /?

        Program list:-

                A1.COM
                BLANK.COM
                BLANKS.COM
                BOX.COM
                CLEAR.COM
                DELAY.COM
                HL.COM
                KEYSPEED.COM
                MODE3.COM
                MODE7.COM
                MOUSETST.COM
                MPAUSE.COM
                PICKESC.COM
                PLAY.COM
                TIMEMARK.COM
                WAITFOR.COM
                WIPELEFT.COM
                WIPERITE.COM
                A1MANUAL.EXE
                and DEMO.BAT
                and this file A1.TXT

        A1.COM
        ------

        A1 includes the following features.

          *  Put text anywhere on the screen
          *    in any color
          *    in horizontal or vertical mode.
          *  Move the cursor to a specific character on a particular row.
          *    or a relative row.
          *  Delay the batch file process.
          *  Make a sound in the PC speaker.
          *  Wait for a particular key to be pressed.
          *  Clear the keyboard buffer.
          *  Clear the screen to a particular color.
          *  Hide the cursor.
          *  "Stuff" a keystroke into the keyboard buffer.
          *  Reset the video mode.
          *  Set errorlevel to match various units.
          *  Initiate a video screen saver.

        Most of the above facilities can be combined on one command line
        to allow multiple functions.

                                      4



        BLANK.COM and BLANKS.COM
        ------------------------

        These programs give a special screen clear in a spiral effect
        with a following display of a flashing diamond (bottom right)
        or a scrolling message respectively.
        The program then waits for a keystroke before continuing.

        BOX.COM
        -------

        This is a comprehensive box drawing program which will provide
        any or all of the following:-

          *  Clear the screen to a particular color.
          *  Place a box on the screen with
          *    any size
          *    any where on the screen
          *    any color border
          *    any color window
          *    a single line, double line border or no border


        CLEAR.COM
        ---------

        The ability to clear the screen in various ways is shown
        in this program.

          *  Spiral out pattern.
          *  Sprial in pattern.
          *  Wipe from left to right.
          *  Wipe from right to left.
          *  Remove blocks in a "random" pattern.
          *  Leave screen in a particular colour after the effect.


        DELAY.COM
        ---------

        Delay the batch process for up to 99 seconds and by using
        various keys cause the process to delay further or exit
        with errorlevel set to match the keystroke.
        A message can be displayed as defined by the user or have
        a default message shown.

                                      5



        HL.COM
        ------

        This is a very simple method of supply a menu display
        using a batch file format. HL stands for Highlight.
        HL.COM supplies an errorlevel output relative to the
        position of the highlighted menu item selected.
        The mouse can control the highlight bars and the mouse buttons
        can emulate keystokes.
        The program can be used in two different modes:-

          *  Supply a text screen display anyway you can then
             impress the highlight bars over the selections on that
             display. The highlight bars can be anywhere on the
             screen and of any length.

          *  Full screen menu mode is activated by supplying the menu
             options on the command line inside double quotes


        KEYSPEED.COM
        ------------

        This function is available in the later DOS versions, but
        it has never looked like this full screen version. This makes
        it easy to adjust your keyboard response speed and repeat
        delay.
        A command line option is also available to do the process
        "on the fly" in a batch file.


        MODE3.COM and MODE7.COM
        -----------------------

        Reset the video mode to the standard text mode for a color (3)
        or mono (7) screen.


        MOUSETST.COM
        ------------

        A full screen program to show mouse features and ability.
        For a Microsoft mouse the version number, type and IRQ
        used, are all displayed. The X, Y coordinates and button
        actions are also tracked.

                                      6



        MPAUSE.COM
        ----------

        Ever wished you could click the mouse when asked to -
        "Press any key to continue ..." -  well now you can.
        This program senses if the mouse is loaded and changes the
        displayed message accordingly. You can also put your own
        message on the screen to replace the default.


        PICKESC.COM
        -----------

        Another menu program with exit errorlevel being set by the
        selection of a character from a string on the command line.
        PICK from string or ESC to exit.


        PLAY.COM
        --------

        Liven up your batch files with a musical tune. There are four
        different modes for this program.
          *  User defined musical notes (mutiple notes per command line)
          *  Preset sounds
          *  Preset melodies
          *  Keyboard interactive mode (full screen, non batch)


        TIMEMARK.COM
        ------------

          *  Generate a date and/or time display of any type required.
          *  Redirect display to file or printer if required.
          *  Exit with errorlevel to cause subsequent action
             depending on time of day, part of day or on any unit
             of the date.


        WAITFOR.COM
        -----------

        Halt operation of a batch file process until a particular
        time of day. The program allows the user to exclude particular
        days if required.


        WIPELEFT AND WIPERITE
        ---------------------

        Simple stand alone clear screen programs with a wipe to the left
        or right respectively.

                                      7



        DEMO.BAT
        --------

        This batch file contains a section allowing the user to
        INSTALL the A1 DOS Utilities on to a hard drive in a
        directory named A1 made for you by the DEMO.BAT program.
        Alteratively you can choose not to use DEMO.BAT to install
        the utilities. Just copy all the files to a directory of
        your choice. Ensure that all of the files are copied,
        otherwise DEMO.BAT will not function correctly.

        Three comprehensive demos are available for the programs:-

                A1.COM
                BOX.COM
                HL.COM

        Access to all of the HELP screens from all of the utilities,
        is available from the menus in this batch file.

        Other products of Eric Rodda-Software are also described
        in this file.

        If DEMO.BAT is examined you will be able to see how many of
        utilities are used to do the various functions.

                                      8



        A1MANUAL.EXE
        ____________

        This electronic manual was prepaired by Mr David Stewart of
        Quirindi Concepts, PO Box 259, Quirindi 2343, NSW, Australia.
        David has done a great deal of work in presenting the material
        in an understanding and interactive way.

        The electronic A1MANUAL can be accessed though the DEMO.BAT
        program or directly from the DOS prompt by typing:-  A1MANUAL

        The registered version of this package will contain a much
        enhanced version of this manual giving many tips and hints.

                                      9



        NOTES on ERRORLEVEL CHECKING
        ____________________________

        Many programs are designed to exit leaving an "exit code" or
        an "errorlevel" in a register in the CPU. Batch files can then
        check for this with "if errorlevel ....".
        The errorlevel is always a number between 0 and 255.
        The checking is always done from the largest to the smallest.
        eg.
           PROGRAM
            if errorlevel 3 goto THREE
            if errorlevel 2 goto TWO
            if errorlevel 1 goto ONE
            if errorlevel 0 goto ZERO
           :THREE
           ...do something
           ...
           :TWO
           ...do something else
           ...
           :ONE
           ...do another thing
           ...
           :ZERO
           ...do some other thing
           ...

        In this example PROGRAM is the program which is designed
        to exit with various errorlevels. The words THREE, TWO,
        ONE and ZERO are labels which must be proceeded with a
        colon as shown.

        If a particular errorlevel is to be checked it can be done
        like this:-

            if errorlevel 12 if not errorlevel 13 goto LABEL
             ....
             :LABEL

        Many of the A1 DOS Utilities are designed to exit with
        errorlevels. In fact A1.COM can force an errorlevel of any
        value from 0 to 255 for the purpose of testing batch file
        processing.


                                      10




        FINALE
        ______

        I hope you find these utilities helpful and enjoyable to use.

        If you have any suggestions or need assistance with any of the
        A1 DOS Utilities please do not hesitate to write to me at the
        address indicated in the Registration section of this text file.

        It is possible for me to make special versions of any of the
        utilities at a very moderate cost.

        Once a user has registered the A1 DOS utilities, that user has
        the rights to use them in any of their own programs which they
        may want to distribute.

        To print this file simply ensure the printer is ON and the paper
        is aligned, then enter the following at the DOS prompt:-

                             TYPE A1.TXT >PRN.

        (Page breaks have been inserted and all pages contain 60 lines or
        less.)

        Thankyou for trying the A1 DOS Utilities (first edition) and
        keep watching for the next edition.


                                Eric Rodda

