ZiPaper version 1.2 Copyright (c) 1990 by Daniel Thomas Page 1 ------------------------------------------------------- Warning ------- For people that don't like to read instructions (as well as everyone else), read this: 1) You really should read this entire file - at least up to the "Advanced Options" section. 2) If you have a .BMP file called WALPAPER.BMP, YOU SHOULD RENAME IT! IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS: --------------------- You can contact me on Compuserve at 72301,2164 and Prodigy at CWRF01A. Telephone support: You may call me. I would prefer to talk on your dime . If I don't answer when you call, and you want me to return it, I will return it collect unless you are a registered user. Even so, I may ask you to call me right back if it's a long conversation. After all, it's only a $10 program - if my phone bill exceeds the registration fee, well, you figure it out! In any case, please keep the calls to a minimum. Compuserve and Prodigy are the best ways to reach me, as I check in at least once a day (usually). (714) 524-5625. I am on Pacific Coast time, but I am around almost all the time (it's a home office). To Print this documentation: ---------------------------- "TYPE ZIPAPER.DOC >LPT1:" ZiPaper version 1.2 Copyright (c) 1990 by Daniel Thomas Page 2 ------------------------------------------------------- ########################################################################### Users of ZiPaper version 1.1: ########################################################################### Installing the new version: --------------------------- 1) Replace the ZIPAPER.EXE file for version 1.1 by the new ZIPAPER.EXE. 2) Rename the file ZIPAPER.DAT that is in the same directory as your wallpaper ZIP file, as in this example: Assume your .ZIP file is called MYPAPER.ZIP You would type at the DOS prompt: RENAME ZIPAPER.DAT MYPAPER.ZPA 3) Since the wallpaper file is now extracted into the \WINDOWS directory, make sure that ZiPaper is run from that directory. 4) You may need to change the WIN.INI file to look for the file WALPAPER.BMP in the Windows directory. The easiest way to do this is to run the new version of ZiPaper, then run Windows. Click on Control Panel, then Desktop. Click on the down-arrow next to the wallpaper file name, and select the file WALPAPER.BMP from the list. Click on OK and you're done! Registration: ------------- If you have already sent in your $10 to register version 1.0 or 1.1, you do not need to register version 1.2. If you haven't registered, please do (see below). ########################################################################### Users of ZiPaper version 1.0: ########################################################################### Installing the new version: --------------------------- Replace the ZIPAPER.EXE file for version 1.0 by the new ZIPAPER.EXE. Delete the file ZIPAPER.DAT that is in the same directory as your wallpaper ZIP file. If you don't delete this file, you WILL get unexpected results or errors. Registration: ------------- If you have already sent in your $10 to register version 1.0 or 1.1, you do not need to register version 1.2. If you haven't registered, please do (see below). ZiPaper version 1.2 Copyright (c) 1990 by Daniel Thomas Page 3 ------------------------------------------------------- ########################################################################### Introduction: ########################################################################### ZiPaper (that's "Zip Paper") is a program that chooses one of your .BMP files for use as Windows Wallpaper. There are several programs out that do that, though. ZiPaper is different - it lets you place all your .BMP Wallpaper files in a .ZIP file, reducing disk space dramatically. Features (arranged by version number): -------------------------------------- 1.0 Using PKZIP, you place your Windows .BMP wallpaper files into a ZIP file. ZiPaper reads the ZIP file, and extracts one at random. Because ZiPaper keeps track of each file it has extracted, you are guaranteed to get an even selection of files (some wallpaper selection programs have a nasty habit of selecting the same files over and over again). 1.1 You may specify "Tiled" or "Centered" for each wallpaper file in the ZIP file. You can temporarily "disable" individual wallpaper files, so that ZiPaper won't extract them. You can still keep them in the ZIP file, though. You can group your files into any of 4 groups, with Tile/Center and Enable/ Disable specified differently in each group. This allows you to group "after hours" wallpaper files separately from other files, group 16 color and 256 color files separately, etc. 1.2 You may specify a startup option, /F, that allows you to manually select which wallpaper file you want extracted (you select from a list). Have you ever wanted to show someone your Windows setup, and wanted a specific wallpaper? Now you can. A similar option, /F?, asks you if you want to manually select a wallpaper file or not. It waits for an answer for 3 seconds - if you don't answer Y then it randomly selects a wallpaper file for you. You can force ZiPaper to extract a specific wallpaper file by using the /F=filename.bmp option. You may now use multiple ZIP files, and keep them in the same directory (if you wish). The .DAT file that is created is now named similar to the ZIP file name. The Wallpaper file is now extracted into the Windows directory, to simplify the task of using multiple ZIP files on different drives or directories. ZiPaper version 1.2 Copyright (c) 1990 by Daniel Thomas Page 4 ------------------------------------------------------- ########################################################################### Installation: ########################################################################### Requirements for running ZiPaper -------------------------------- ZiPaper is a DOS program, and therefore does not require Windows. However, it is designed to select Windows .BMP files for use as Wallpaper, so if you don't have Windows, you don't need this program! You need PKUNZIP.EXE from PKWARE, Inc. 7545 N. Port Washington Rd. Glendale, WI 53217 (414) 352-3670 It is available on many BBSes as Shareware. You'll also need PKZIP.EXE to create the ZIP file. Quick Tour: ----------- You run ZiPaper each time BEFORE you start Windows. You tell ZiPaper the name of your ZIP file that contains .BMP files for use as wallpaper. It will extract a .BMP file randomly into the Windows directory, and change its name to WALPAPER.BMP. You make a one-time change to Windows, telling it to use the file WALPAPER.BMP as wallpaper. That's it! (Aside from the advanced options, which will be discussed later.) Installation/Running -------------------- Move all the .BMP files you want to use as wallpaper into a ZIP file. See PKZIP's instructions for this. Place the ZIP file in the Windows directory, or anywhere else you wish. Place the file ZIPAPER.EXE in any directory on your path (actually, if you specify the path when you run the program, you can place ZiPaper anywhere on your hard disk). Since ZiPaper should be run each time BEFORE you run Windows, I suggest you place the line that runs ZiPaper into your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, or a batch file that you use to run Windows. DO NOT run ZiPaper from the Load= or Run= line of your WIN.INI file. Doing so will produce unpredictable results. ZiPaper version 1.2 Copyright (c) 1990 by Daniel Thomas Page 5 ------------------------------------------------------- Here's the syntax for running ZiPaper (anything enclosed in brackets [] is optional): ZiPaper [d:\path\]walpaper.zip [[d:\path\]pkunzip.exe] [advanced options] "d:\path\walpaper.zip" is the drive, path, and file name of the ZIP file that contains your .BMP files. "d:\path\pkunzip.exe" (optional) is the drive, path, and file name of PKUNZIP.EXE. You don't need to specify this if PKUNZIP.EXE is located along your current path. "advanced options" will be explained later. Run Windows, click on Control Panel, Desktop. In the box titled "Wallpaper", click in the box that is labeled "File". Delete what is in there (if anything) and type in the name "WALPAPER.BMP". If you have *any* Wallpaper that you would like Centered, please read the section on Tiled/Centered Wallpaper, below. For now, click on "Tile". Click on OK and you're done. Tiled/Centered Wallpaper: ------------------------- If you have wallpaper files that don't fill the screen, you have 2 options. The first is to "tile" it. This causes Windows to duplicate the wallpaper file across your screen until the screen is full. The second option is to "center" it, which causes Windows to center the wallpaper on your screen. Neither of these options has any affect on wallpaper that fills the entire screen. If all your small wallpaper files are either "tiled" or "centered", then set the option in the Desktop section of Control Panel accordingly. If not, see the section on Advanced Options, which will explain how to select "tile" or "center" for each file. ZiPaper version 1.2 Copyright (c) 1990 by Daniel Thomas Page 6 ------------------------------------------------------- ########################################################################### Advanced Options: ########################################################################### NOTE: ZiPaper can function just fine without using these advanced options. They are available to enhance ZiPaper's operation, but you certainly don't have to use them. ZiPaper creates a data file for each ZIP file you use. The file is named the same as the ZIP file, except it has the extension ZPA. This file stores information about each wallpaper that is in the ZIP file. (Don't worry if you add or remove wallpaper files from the ZIP file - ZiPaper will adjust its file accordingly.) Setup Screen: ------------- If you wish, you may run ZiPaper with the /S option, and ZiPaper will bring up a setup screen that allows you to tell ZiPaper a few things about each wallpaper file. ZiPaper [d:\path\]walpaper.zip [[d:\path\]pkunzip.exe] /S Here are the things you can tell ZiPaper about each wallpaper: 1) Whether to Tile or Center it. You may also set it to "Default" (which is what they are all initialized to at the start). "Default" means that they will be Tiled or Centered, depending on what you specify the default as (at run time - explained below). 2) Whether to temporarily ignore (disable) it. Four Option Groups: ------------------- Here's where it gets a little tricky. You can specify the above options UP TO 4 TIMES for each wallpaper. Why would you want to do that? Here's a couple of scenarios (they're simple; you can devise more complex ones): 1) You run Windows in 640x480 mode and 800x600 mode. You have some wallpaper files that you want centered in 640x480, and tiled in 800x600. You set one set of options to specify "Centered", and another "Tiled". 2) You have some wallpaper files that are not appropriate during working hours, but you want to use them after-hours. You set one set of options to "Disable" certain wallpaper files, and you use this option during working hours. You set another other to "Enabled", and you use it after hours. Run ZiPaper with the /S option, and look at the screen. It is pretty self- explanatory, once you understand the "4 option groups". ZiPaper version 1.2 Copyright (c) 1990 by Daniel Thomas Page 7 ------------------------------------------------------- Using the screen: ----------------- Use the Tab key and the arrow keys to move around the screen. Page Up and Page Down allow you to scroll through all your files (if you have more than will fit on one screen). Change an option by typing the first letter. Press Escape when done. ZiPaper will ask you if you want to save the options you just changed. ########################################################################### Running with the Advanced Options: ########################################################################### ZiPaper [d:\path\]walpaper.zip [d:\path\pkunzip.exe] [/W [/T|/C]] [/1../4] /W This option means "Update the WIN.INI file", and is used when you want ZiPaper to look at the Tile/Center options you specified on the Setup Screen (see above). ZiPaper will change the Tile/Center option accordingly. ZiPaper saves the old version of WIN.INI as WININI.BAK. NOTE: the Windows directory must be the current directory in order for ZiPaper to find the WIN.INI file. /T or /C If you set up the Tile/Center option for a file to be "Default", this option tells ZiPaper what the "default" is (/T for Tiled, /C for Centered). If you don't specify either, ZiPaper will assume Tiled. /1../4 Specifying /1, /2, /3, or /4 tells ZiPaper which set of options to use (see Setup Screen, above). If you don't specify one of these, then /1 is assumed. Examples: --------- ZIPAPER D:\GRAPHICS\WALPAPER.ZIP /W This runs ZiPaper, extracts a wallpaper (based on the first set of options), and updates the WIN.INI file for Tile/Center. ZIPAPER D:\GRAPHICS\WALPAPER.ZIP /W /C /2 This runs ZiPaper, extracts a wallpaper (based on the second set of options). If the file's Tile/Center option is "Default", it will be centered. ZiPaper updates the WIN.INI file for Tile/Center. ZiPaper version 1.2 Copyright (c) 1990 by Daniel Thomas Page 8 ------------------------------------------------------- ########################################################################### Other Options ########################################################################### Sometimes, you want a particular wallpaper file. Perhaps you are going to show off your Windows setup, and you have a really eye-catching wallpaper. A new option (with 3 variations) has been added to facilitate this: ZiPaper [d:\path\]walpaper.zip [[d:\path\]pkunzip.exe] /F /F? /F=filename.bmp /F This option will run ZiPaper just like the /S option does (see above). It brings up the setup screen, and lets you chose which wallpaper file you want ZiPaper to extract. Just hilight the file you want, and press F10. /F? This option is just like the above /F option, except that it asks you if you want to select a file manually. You have 3 seconds in which to respond Y. If you type a Y, then the setup screen is brought up, and you can select a file. If you answer N, or the 3 seconds passes by, ZiPaper acts as though the /F option had never been specified: it extracts a wallpaper file randomly. If you find yourself using the /F option frequently, run ZiPaper with the /F? option ALL THE TIME. /F=filename.bmp This option allows you to force ZiPaper to extract the specified wallpaper file. You might use this option with a special batch file for those times that you know you will want this wallpaper file. ZiPaper version 1.2 Copyright (c) 1990 by Daniel Thomas Page 9 ------------------------------------------------------- ########################################################################### Life with ZiPaper: ########################################################################### Once you've done the installation steps, you need never bother with ZiPaper again (except to use the Advanced Options, or maybe to send in a shareware fee ). You may add and remove .BMP files from your ZIP file with no fear of upsetting ZiPaper. ZiPaper creates a file with the same name as your ZIP file, but with the extension .ZPA (in the directory that contains your ZIP file). This file keeps track of what .BMP files it has chosen, so that you get a more even distribution of Wallpaper choices. It also holds your advanced options setup. If you have any problems, you may delete this file. It will be re-created the next time ZiPaper is run. (Remember, though, that if you delete it, you will have to set up your Advanced Options again, if you use them.) How to Pay for/Register ZiPaper ------------------------------- If you find you like ZiPaper, please send $10 cash or check (US bank) to: Daniel Thomas 2301 North Huron Circle Placentia, CA 92670 I didn't make ZiPaper "nagware". It doesn't bug you with a pop-up screen asking for money. All the same, please remember that this program is the result of much hard work and time spent on Compuserve, and all registrations help. If you think $10 is too much for this program, then send less. Every little bit helps. You may reach me on Compuserve at: 72301,2164 or Prodigy at CWRF01A. Enjoy! Dan Thomas