
                            WinXs Version 2.1a
                      Copyright (C) 1997 Mick Meaden
                         Software Online Limited
                           All Rights Reserved

       INTRODUCTION

       WinXs for Windows  is  a  shareware  program  that  provides
       UNIX-like  tool functionality under Windows 3.1, Windows for
       Workgroups, Windows 95 and Windows NT.  To  run  WinXs,  you
       will  need  a  486-based PC (or later), at least 4mb of main
       memory and 2.0 mb of disk space to install the  16-bit  ver-
       sion,  or 8mb of main memory and approximately 3.5mb of disk
       space to install the 32-bit version.

       WinXs comes in 16-bit and 32-bit versions.  The 16-bit  ver-
       sion will run on Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups or Win-
       dows 95; the 32-bit version will only run on Windows 95  and
       Windows  NT.   The  two versions are functionally identical,
       albeit that for integration with Explorer, or to take advan-
       tage of long filenames and pre-emptive scheduling on Windows
       95/NT, you will need to run the 32-bit version.

       CONTENTS

       WinXs for Windows is a suite of programs that  brings  Unix-
       style tool functionality to the Windows platform.  This ver-
       sion of the program runs on Windows 3.1, Windows  for  Work-
       groups,  Windows  95 or Windows NT, and consists of a series
       of 40 popular file and text  utility  commands  and  utility
       applets.   Access  and  implement them using the menu bar in
       the Windows File Manager, or the  Explorer  and  Taskbar  in
       Windows  95/NT.   The  distribution  includes cat, cmp, col,
       compress,  cp,  csplit,  df,  diff,  dircmp,  dos2unix,  du,
       expand,  file,  find,  fmt,  fold,  grep, hd, head, ls, man,
       more, mv, nl,  od,  pax,  pg,  pr,  rm,  sed,  sort,  split,
       strings,  tail,  tee, touch, tr, uncompress, unix2dos, uuen-
       code,  uudecode,  wc,  whence  and  others.   See  the  file
       "winxs.txt" for more information.

       INSTALLING WINXS (32-bit Version)

       To install WinXs on your system, do the following:

         1.  If you have WinZip on your system, open the  ZIP  file
             containing  the WinXs distribution (e.g., WINXS32.ZIP)
             and select Install on the Actions menu.   WinZip  will
             extract  the  distribution files to a temporary direc-
             tory, run the SETUP program and then tidy up.

         2.  If you do not have WinZip on your  system,  unzip  the
             WinXs  distribution file (e.g., WINXS32.ZIP) to a tem-
             porary directory and  then  run  SETUP.EXE  from  File
             Manager  or Explorer.  When SETUP has finished, delete
             the temporary directory and its contents.

         3.  Run the WinXs Shell  by  double-clicking  the  desktop
             icon created by the SETUP program.  Further configura-
             tion options are made available by selecting the  Con-
             figure option on the File menu.

       This version of the product uses InstallShield to  copy  the
       WinXs  files  to  your  local  hard disk.  It also creates a
       desktop icon that provides access to the WinXs Shell.

       Note that File | Configure can be re-run  at  any  stage  to
       change  the  installation  options.   Whenever this is done,
       however, you must exit and restart the  WinXs  shell  before
       installation changes can take effect.

       ADDING THE WINXS SHELL TO FILE CONTEXT MENUS

       Use the File | Configure option to add the  WinXs  tools  to
       folder  context  menus  in  Explorer.  On Windows 95 you can
       also make the Shell available on file context menus by doing
       the following:

         1.  From Explorer, locate and select  the  SendTo  folder,
             which is normally located in your Windows directory.

         2.  Select File on the Explorer menu bar, then select  New
             and Shortcut in the resulting drop down menus.

         3.  Select Browse in the Create Shortcut dialog and locate
             the file winxssh.exe in your WinXs folder.

         4.  Select Next and give a name to your  shortcut  in  the
             "Select  a  Title for the Program" dialog (e.g., WinXs
             Shell).

         5.  Select Finish.

       To use the new shortcut, select a  file  in  the  right-hand
       Explorer  pane,  then  select  Sendto.   Your  shortcut will
       appear  on  the  SendTo  drop  down  menu.   Selecting  this
       shortcut  will result in the appearance of a new window con-
       taining  the  WinXs   Shell,   with   any   selected   files
       highlighted.

       CONFIGURING THE COMMAND LINE TOOLS

       Two types of tool are delivered with WinXs:

         i.  Windows based tools.  These  are  available  from  the
             WinXs shell and File Manager.

        ii.  Command line tools.  These are  used  at  the  command
             prompt.

       The WinXs command line tools are made  available  by  adding
       the  appropriate  WinXs directory to your environment search
       path.  This can be done by adding or modifying a call to the
       PATH  command  in the autoexec.bat file (autoexec.nt file on
       Windows NT systems) as follows:

            PATH c:\winxs\bin;c:\windows;c:\windows\command

       This identifies three  directories  that  will  be  searched
       automatically when entering a command at the command prompt,
       namely:

         1.  c:\winxs\bin
         2.  c:\windows
         3.  c:\windows\command

       The exact nature of this command will vary  from  system  to
       system, so you should check your current setting before mak-
       ing any changes.

       Note that "winxs" in the above example is the  name  of  the
       directory where you installed WinXs.  The command line tools
       are located in the "bin" subdirectory below this directory.

       All WinXs commands line tools support an  option  -h,  which
       causes  the tool to display a brief synopsis and usage line.
       For more detailed information use the "man"  command,  which
       displays  a  reference  manual page for the named command or
       commands (e.g., man man).  Use "man -k -" to display a  com-
       plete list of manual reference pages.

       UPGRADING A PREVIOUS VERSION OF WINXS

       Because this release updates the WinXs DLL, it is  important
       to ensure that File Manager IS NOT running when you upgrade.
       Install the software  as  indicated  above.   Your  existing
       installation   settings  will  be  inherited  automatically,
       although note that the Version 2.1a Setup  program  must  be
       run  to make all the new facilities included in this release
       effective.  To do this simply select File |  Configure  from
       within  the WinXs Shell and click OK in the resulting dialog
       box.

       UNINSTALLATION (32-bit Version)

       To uninstall WinXs from your system do the following:

         1.  From Explorer, locate your WinXs  installation  folder
             and double-click the file setup.exe.  Select Uninstall
             in the resulting dialog box.

         2.  From Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs.

         3.  In the list of installed software,  select  WinXs  and
             then click Add/Remove.

       REGISTRATION

       WinXs is a shareware program.  It can be used for  a  period
       of  up  to  30  days  free of charge, after which it must be
       removed from your system or a license  fee  of  $30  dollars
       U.S. must be paid.  Benefits of registration include:

          + Free product upgrades.

          + A key code which unlocks the following additional func-
            tionality:

               - Options can be saved  from  more.   This  includes
                 font  selections, tab settings, editor preference,
                 and window position.  The last  of  these,  window
                 position, also affects the hd utility.

               - Utilities that accept multiple input file names or
                 patterns  work  correctly without displaying a nag
                 screen, including cat,  col,  compress,  dos2unix,
                 expand,  fmt,  fold, grep, grex, gzip, gunzip, nl,
                 pax, sed, strings, tail, tr, uncompress, unix2dos,
                 wc and winxssh.

               - The AddOns Organizer can be used to add, remove or
                 edit  items  on the AddOns menu in the WinXs Shell
                 (32-bit version only).

          + A copy of the WinXs User Reference Manual will be  sent
            by  email.   This  document is distributed in Microsoft
            Word format and is the definitive guide  to  using  the
            various WinXs utilities.

       WinXs can be registered in a number of ways, as follows:

       By email or fax.
             Run the WinXs shell and select Register  on  the  Help
             menu.   This  will display a form that you should fill
             in and then  email,  fax  or  post  to  the  indicated
             address.   Visa,  Master  Card,  American  Express and
             First Virtual payments are accepted by  the  registra-
             tion program.

       By Compuserve.
             GO SWREG.  The registration ID for WinXs is 7400.

       Direct ordering.
             Direct ordering can be made by using the order form in
             file REGISTER.TXT.

       Your registration number and a copy of the WinXs User Refer-
       ence Manual will be emailed to you immediately on receipt of
       registration (if possible), or will be sent to you by return
       of post.

       As a registered user of WinXs, you will  be  notified  about
       future  product  updates  as  soon  as  they  become  avail-
       able. You can download these free of any additional software
       charges.

       REPORTING PROBLEMS

       If you have any problems with WinXs,  or  if  you  have  any
       queries  or  comments,  please  send  email to the following
       address:

            100345.2641@compuserve.com

       If you do not have  access  to  email,  then  write  to  the
       address  given in the file REGISTER.TXT.  All support issues
       and queries will be dealt with as quickly as possible.
