Auto-Installation v1.4 (c) Psion GmbH 1993 ---------------------- Author: G.Tappenden Address: Psion GmbH, Saalburgstr.157, D-61350 Bad Homburg Hotline: +49 6172 9654-28 Cix: mhoelscher Mailbox: +49 6172 37090 Internet: mhoelscher@uk.co.compulink.cix Fax: +49 6172 39192 Cserve: 71333,2070 BACKGROUND TO THE PROGRAM If you ever have to reset your Series3a, this causes one problem - you have to re-install all of your applications, groups, and lists. To overcome this auto-install allows you to setup your Desktop in a way which suits you, and following a soft reset you can re-install all of your applications in one go. INTRODUCTION TO VERSION 1.4 Version 1.2 of the Auto-Installer was the first version released. I originally wrote the program purely for my own use, since during the development of other programs it is sometimes necessary to reset the 3a. After uploading it to Cix, it found its way onto CompuServe, where it seems to have been quite successful. This inspired me to somewhat expand on the script language, so that the program could be used in a more flexible way. Finally, version 1.4 expanded the script language to cover most aspects of the Series3a that can be set from the System Screen. New features include: * Moving the cursor up and down * Starting applications * Setting number formats * Setting dialling defaults * Moving to the foreground and the background * Backing up * Disk copy * Setting alarms in Time INSTALLATION The program is saved as a .OPO file, so that it appears under the normal RunOpl icon. You should copy the file INSTALL.OPO into the \OPO\ directory on either an SSD or the internal disk. If you have already been using version 1.2 or 1.3, then simply replace your INSTALL.OPO file. Your scripts should run straight away (although no guarantee is given that this is so). THE SCRIPT FILE In order for Install to know how you like your Desktop, you need to write a script file, which will be used in the installation process. In Version 1.2 this file HAD to be called M:\SCRIPT.CFG. Since Version 1.3 you may have multiple script files, on any drive, although the default position remains the root directory, with the .CFG extension, to allow maximum compatibility with version 1.2. If the script is saved as SYS$INST.CFG, then this file will automatically be used, and the user will be not be asked for a filename. The following commands are available in the script language: * COMMANDS COMPATIBLE WITH VERSION 1.2 HOME This moves the cursor to the left-most application in the System Screen. END This moves the cursor to the right-most application in the System Screen. LEFT This moves the cursor one position left. RIGHT This moves the cursor one position right. IN filename.ext drive position Installs a filename from the given drive at the given position, eg. IN MONEY.APP A L installs money from drive A: in the position "Last". JN appname position Installs a standard application at the given position, eg. JN Word L installs Word in the position "Last". REMOVE Removes the application which is currently under the cursor. KEY key extra Assigns a key to the application currently unter the cursor, eg. KEY A C assigns the key Ctrl+Agenda. NB: To assign a Key to "World" use KEY WW x instead of KEY W x (which is used for "Word") ZOOM+ Increases the zoom factor. ZOOM- Decreases the zoom factor. STATUSWIN Toggles the status window. STATUSBAR Toggles the status bar at the bottom of the screen. Any line beginning ' is regarded as a comment. * COMMANDS AVAILABLE FROM VERSION 1.3 CONFIRM The confirmation is no longer a standard option. Using this command will prompt the user to confirm that they wish to proceed with processing the file. You may use this as much as you wish within the file. BEEP Produces a beep. BEEP time% pitch% Produces a beep using the same parameters as in OPL. In the English handbook this is explained on page 165. OPENGROUP If the cursor is on a group, this expands the group. CLOSEGROUP If the cursor is within a group, this closes the group. UPDATELISTS This forces the System Screen to update the file lists. PLAY filename ticks volume Plays a 3a sound file. The filename must be specified WITH the path, although the drive may be omitted. There are 32 ticks per second. Volume 0 is the loudest, volume 5 is the quietest. SOUND allsound alarm beeps keyclick Sets the five available options in the "Sound Options" dialog. NB: For German machines "L" will toggle between "Leise" and "Laut". LINK link baud extra This can be used to turn on the Remote Link, or to set the Baud Rate. NB: If you use this to turn the link on, then the 3-Link MUST be plugged in. DEFAULTDISK disk Sets the default disk for new files. AUTOOFF option time Sets the options for Auto-Switchoff. When entering the time you should omit the seperators. eg. AUTOOFF Y 000500 sets five munites. STATUSWIN clocktype disk link batterie capslock Sets the options for the Status Window. PREFERENCES listopt openopt font Sets the options in the "Preferences" dialog. ICOMMS pos Installs the comms program without the need for the 3-link to be plugged in. pos MUST BE SPECIFIED. ISCRIPT pos Installs the script program without the need for the 3-link to be plugged in. pos MUST BE SPECIFIED. * FILE COMMANDS These commands are useful when installing (or de-insatlling) an application from an SSD using a specific script file. FILECOPY source dest copies a file FILEDELETE filename deletes a file MAKEDIR name creates a sub-directory REMDIR name removes a sub-directory None of the above commands provide any confirmation of their actions. If you wish to provide this, you should use the CONFIRM command. Please note also that none of the commands return any error messages if they are note successful. * DISPLAY COMMANDS ECHO OFF stops the commands being listed. ECHO ON turns the option back on. ECHO text prints "text" to the screen. SHOWPIC filename displays a .pic file on the screen NB: The SHOWPIC command now shows the grey plane. * NEW COMMANDS FOR VERSION 1.4 UP moves the cursor up one row DOWN moves the cursor down one row SELECT starts the filename under the cursor EVAULATE format places trig Sets the format for 'Evaluate'. NUMBER decimal thousand separate Sets the format for numbers on the Series3a. CURRENCY symbol places position negative Sets the format for currency on the Series3a. USER line1 line2 line3 line4 Sets the lines in the 'Owner Information' dialog. Note: To enter a space in one of the parameters use a tilde (~). DIAL Dialout Country Length Delay Pause Sets the information in the 'Dialling defaults' dialog. SYSTEM brings the system screen to the foreground FOREGROUND brings the install screen to the foreground BACKUP sourcedisk destdirectory destdisk option Backs up the specified disk into the specified directory on the destination disk, with the option 'Modified only' or 'All'. PAUSE waits for a key to be pressed IN THE INSTALL WINDOW PAUSE length Pauses for length/20 seconds. If length is less than zero, then the pause can be broken with a keypress. VERSION shows the version of install SYSVER shows the system version screen Note: to clear this screen, use a SELECT PRESSKEY xxx This is an advanced function, see note below ALARM time day repeat text sound This command applies to the 'Time' application. During a reset, the alarms are also lost, even if they are set to occur on a repeating basis, so this command allows them to be set again. RUNNING THE PROGRAM AFTER A SOFT RESET After a soft reset, select "Install" under the RunOpl icon. You will be which file to process. The script file will then be processed and the applications installed as specified. INTERNATIONAL USE The Series3a comes in a variety of languages. I successfully tested Version 1.3 on both German and English machines. Version 1.4 has only been fully tested on a German machine, so I cannot say whether it will work properly on any others, however: Commands from 1.2 and 1.3 should be ok on English machines. Commands from 1.4 are in theory ok on English machines, but may still cause problems. French Version: I have added the necessary information for the program to run on French Series3a. However, I DO NOT HAVE A FRENCH SERIES3A. If anyone finds any problems, please let me know. Dutch Version: The English version appears to run happily on Dutch Series3a, except for the 'Evaluate' option. Please report any other problems. Other languages: Try running in English. If this does not work, please send me a short note, telling me which language you are using, and I will try to see if I can get the information to run in this language. CREDITS Thanks for all the comments, praise, etc. Credits for version 1.4: Bob Pockney, at the University of London Computer Centre, requested the option to start an application. I had already planned this, but thought I would mention it anyway. Thanks to David Wood in London, for giving the program a mention in Cix whenever any likely users turn up. TECHNICAL SUPPORT If anyone has any problems with Install 1.4, please get in touch. Please include the following details: The version of Install the you are running (eg. 1.4) The version of Series3a you are using (eg. 3.22F - Deutsch) Please also send me a copy of your script file which causes the problem. Without the file it is difficult to trace any problems. We also welcome any comments or suggestions you may have. Please send these to one of the addresses listed above. PROBLEMS WHICH CAN OCCUR There is one problem which seems to occur quite often. The Series3a reports 'Entry too long' or 'Eintrag zu lang'. This is NOT a problem with Install. This means that you have NOT saved the file as plain-text. All occurences of this that I have investigated have turned out to be down to the user saving the file in WRD format, with a CFG extension. So a few tips: * Edit the file with the program editor, not the word processor. * If you prefer, create a 'New List' for the word processor, and set the default type to 'Text Editor'. CONDITIONS OF USE All rights reserved. Psion accepts no responsibility for any damage caused by the direct or indirect use of this program. The software remains the property of Psion GmbH. No fee may be charged for this product, without the express permission of Psion GmbH. Also, this product may not be used to distribute any product for which a fee is charged without the express permission of Psion GmbH.