
                         CD-Install by Joe Forster/STA

  This program helps you with installing programs from a CD-ROM.  If  you  put
the install disks into separate directories, there might be some programs that
will refuse to install themselves. In this case you have to copy all the disks
into a temporary directory on your hard disk, then  install  the  program  and
delete the temporary files. Alternatively, you can use this  program  and  you
will be able to install right from the CD-ROM.



  1. Usage

  The parameter syntax is the following:

  CDINST <drive> <datafile> [<parameters>]

  <drive>:
  This is the drive to be substituted and the program to  be  installed  from.
You can substitute an already existing drive, as well.

  <datafile>:
  You can enter the full name of the data file here.

  <parameters>:
  All other command line parameters are passed on to the  install  program  in
case it needs any.

 The data file should be a normal text file containing the name of the install
program in the first line and the  path  of  the  directories  containing  the
install disks each starting with the second line. Example:

  INSTALL.EXE
  C:\TEMP\DISK1
  C:\TEMP\DISK2
  C:\TEMP\DISK3

  This data file defines three disks in  C:\TEMP,  the  installer  program  is
C:\TEMP\DISK1\INSTALL.EXE.


  2. Hints

  When the program starts, it substitutes  the  given  drive  with  the  first
install directory and then runs the install program in the root  directory  of
the substituted drive. Upon exit, the substituted drive will be  back  to  its
original state.

  While the install program is running, you can press Scroll Lock  to  pop  up
the directory selection line in the upper  line  of  the  screen  (note  that,
because of this, the program doesn't work properly in  graphical  environments
and install programs). Press the cursor keys to select among  the  directories
or press Escape to go back to the directory you were in before. Release Scroll
Lock to leave the selection. The  contents  of  the  selected  directory  will
appear at once in the substituted drive.

  At this moment the program sometimes reads garbage  from  floppy  disks  and
locks up your machine if you substitute to a remote drive. I don't think  it's
a big problem but, please, tell me if you want me to fix it.



  3. Error messages

  - This program needs DOS 3.2 or later
    The program uses an undocumented feature that is only available in DOS 3.2
    or later. You cannot use it with older DOS versions.
  - Out of memory
    The install program couldn't be run because of a shortage in free memory.
  - Invalid drive specification
    You can't substitute  a  drive  that  is  not  available  because  of  the
    LASTDRIVE settings in your CONFIG.SYS file.
  - Data file not found
    The specified data file does not exist.
  - Cannot open data file
    The specified data file couldn't be opened for some reason.
  - Data file contains insufficient data
    The data file must contain at least two lines so that the install  program
    can be run.
  - Program not found
    The install program does not exist in the first install directory.



  COPYRIGHT AND LEGAL ISSUES:

  The source of this program is public domain and provided here "as  is"  -  I
don't feel like commenting it but if you have problems then feel free  to  ask
me. If you derive your own program from the source or put a part of the source
into your own program, please, give me a credit and send a copy to me.



  THE AUTHOR:

  If you're interested in some similarly useful utilities you can  contact  me
at sta@c64.org or visit my homepage at http://sta.c64.org.

  Joe Forster/STA
  30th November, 1999
