CD-ROM Runner - General Information

The CD-ROM Runner has been designed to automatically identify the CD-ROM(s) 
loaded and allow the user to run the application(s) which have been previously
entered into the CD-ROM Library. Custom passwords, titles, descriptions, 
sound/music files and icon/graphics may be entered for each application. If a 
sound or music file has been entered for an application (in standard Windows 
"Wave" format with a ".WAV" file extension), then it will be played with the 
Run button is clicked. This is especially useful to give voice help or 
instructions before an application is run. See the Media Runner section for
recording of custom Wave files. You may also enter a new CD-ROM application
into CD-Runner directly from the CD-ROM Runner faceplate by selecting the
"INSTALL" option. If the CD-ROM application has already been setup onto your
computer but not entered into CD-Runner, simply bypass the application setup
and enter the requested information into CD-Runner (application path, title
and description).

If you are using a computer with a single CD-ROM drive, then the primary CD-ROM 
drive entered in the CD-Runner Setup section must correspond to that drive. If 
you have more than one CD-ROM drives in your computer, then select the fastest
drive to be the primary drive. For example, if you have three CD-ROM drives, E,
F and H, and drive F is a 12-speed (or 12x) CD-ROM drive, then be sure to select 
this drive as your primary CD-ROM drive. The remaining drives should be 
designated as multi-disk drives 2 and 3. In this way, the primary drive which 
is always scanned first will be read fastest by CD-Runner. If you are using a 
multi-disk CD-ROM changer, then since all of the drives will be the same speed
you are free to choose the drive assignments which are most convenient. The 
advantage of using multiple CD-ROM drives is that your favorite CD-ROMs can be
left loaded into the drives for quick access; instead of having to swap disks 
in and out, you may load your favorite multimedia encyclopedia, clip art
collection and screen savers all at once and use CD-Runner to search all 3 at 
one time to run a desired application.

CD-Runner also includes a sophisticated search engine for use with both the 
CD-ROM and RD Runners. This allows applications to be located on any disk in 
any drive and allow you to run them quickly and easily. In addition, the search
engine can even find applications in which you have originally entered on one 
drive but have since moved to another drive. Unlike the Removable Disk Runner,
the CD-ROM Runner uses a combination of volume labels and files to identify 
different CD-ROMs; since the files on a CD-ROM cannot be changed in any way, 
this is a better way to ensure that each CD-ROM is properly identified (and 
ensures that CD-ROMs which may have the same volume labels are not accidently 
mistaken for one another). In this way, the CD-ROM is always properly 
identified and run. In addition, if the "Auto-Run" feature has been enabled in
the CD-Runner Setup section, then immediately after a newly loaded CD-ROM is 
identified it will be run (as long as no passowrd is entered for it). 

A variety attractive screen backgrounds (bitmapped or BMP file format) and 
custom fonts and/or colors may be selected to customize the look of CD-Runner.
Use the CD-Runner-Setup section to set these and other options. Note that the 
same backgrounds, colors and fonts are used for both the CD-ROM and RD 
Runners.