==========================================================================================
=                       STX Install Launcher v1.50 - Documentation                       =
=                                        By                                              =
=                            Klaus Timmermann 9th July 1996                              =
==========================================================================================


CONTENTS
========
  1. What's STX Install Launcher.
  2. Disclaimer.
  3. Commandline parameters.
  4. Starting automaticly.
  5. Description of LAUNCHER.INI
  6. Contact the author.
  7. What's new in version 1.50
  8. Planned features.




1. What's STX Install Launcher
==============================
  STX Install Launcher is a small but very usefull program for creating a central install
  menu for software collections on CD-ROMs, floppy-disks, ZIP-disks, networks etc.
  Imagine that you are making a CD-ROM with all your favorite shareware and freeware
  programs but you find it a bit annoying and confusing to manually have to navigate
  through the CD-ROM to find the desired installation program every time you want to
  install something. Well this is where STX Install Launcher comes in: now you can define
  a central menu which contains a list of all your favorite programs and starting the
  installation program is now only click away. You can even make the menu (STX Install
  Launcher) start automaticly when inserting the CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive (only in
  Windows 95). 
  Setting up STX Install Launcher is easy, just keep reading this file and try the
  included examples located in the DEMO1, DEMO2, DEMO3 subdirectories.

  STX Install Launcher runs on Windows v3.x, Windows 95, Windows NT and WinOS/2.
  STX Install Launcher is programmed in Borland Pascal v7.0 and is very compact in
  size (only 56 KB), the program also does not require any runtime DLLs to run.
  Just start LAUNCHER.EXE on any Windows platform and the program runs.

  STX Install Launcher is freeware this means it's completely free to use and distribute
  in the unmodified form. You are even allowed to distribute STX Install Launcher on
  CD-ROMs without the unnessasary files, when using STX Install Launcher as the menu on
  the CD-ROM. Only the files LAUNCHER.EXE and LAUNCHER.INI are nessesary.
  However if you are distributing STX Install Launcher as an archive (zip-file) and not
  actually using the program on the distributed media, you must include all files in this
  archive unmodified.
  If you have any questions regarding these terms please contact me at the address
  specified in this file.




2. Disclaimer
=============
  STX Install Launcher is provided "as is" and without any express or implied warranties
  with regard to merchantibility or fitness for purpose. The author disclaims all
  responsibility for losses whether tangible or intangible resulting from the use of
  STX Install Launcher. The user of STX Install Launcher furthermore agrees to hold
  harmless the author from all claims for damages.
  Use of STX Install Launcher constitutes acceptance of these terms.




3. Commandline parameters
=========================
  STX Install Launcher supports the following commandline parameters :

  /O	: Supress Ctl3D look. Use this parameter if you are having trouble starting
          STX Install Launcher with the default 3D look. The parameter overrides the
          UseCtl3D setting in LAUNCHER.INI and uses plain Windows 3.x look.
          Example : LAUNCHER.EXE /O

  /S	: Supress splash screen. Use this option if you want to start STX Install Launcher
	  without the splash screen. 	  
          Example : LAUNCHER.EXE /S

  /I=xx	: INI-file override. Where xx if a valid filename without driveletter and path.
	  Use this option if you want STX Install Launcher to use another INI-file than
	  LAUNCHER.INI. The specified file must exist at the same location as the EXE-file.
	  This feature is usefull for creating a special INI-file for AUTORUN.INF only.
	  Examples : LAUNCHER.EXE /I=MYSETUP.INI
		     LAUNCHER.EXE /I=MENU.CFG




4. Starting automaticly
=======================
  When using STX Install Launcher on removable media, such as CD-ROMs, it's possible to
  make STX Install Launcher start automaticly when inserting the CD-ROM (or other media)
  in machines with Windows 95 (or NT 4.0) installed.
  Just place the included AUTORUN.INF file in the root (ex. e:\) of the CD-ROM and STX
  Install Launcher will run automaticly when the CD-ROM is inserted.
  Please note that the AUTORUN.INF file might need to be edited if the STX Install
  Launcher files (LAUNCHER.EXE and LAUNCHER.INI) are not placed in the root of the
  CD-ROM. Use notepad for this purpose.




5. Description of LAUNCHER.INI
==============================
  The LAUNCHER.INI file is the definition file for STX Install Launcher. In this file
  you can define how STX Install Launcher acts, looks and launches installation programs.
  LAUNCHER.INI must be edited with notepad (included with Windows) or a similar ANSI
  text editor.
  To see examples of LAUNCHER.INI please try the demoes located in the DEMOx sub-
  directories and read the comments in the LAUNCHER.INI files provided with these demoes.
  These examples shows how to make a small software collection with STX Install Launcher,
  or you can just use these examples as templates for your own software collections.

  The LAUNCHER.INI file is dynamicly named, meaning renaming LAUNCHER.EXE to
  START.EXE will cause STX Install Launcher to use START.INI automaticly.
  STX Install Launcher can always be forced to use another INI-file with the /I=
  commandline parameter. See chapter 3 for further information.

  Most entries in the LAUNCHER.INI file are fairly logical and easy to understand. 
  The LAUNCHER.INI file must allways contain one [Options] section which defines how
  STX Install Launcher acts and looks, and optionally one or more [EntryX] (where X is a
  number between 1 and 5000) which defines how each installation program will be launched.
  You can also define a info-text (plain ANSI) file and installation notes for each entry.

  Below is a explanation of all sections and entries in the file and how they are used.
 
  Entries in the [Option] section (only one) :

  Caption=My Title	: Text to display in header (caption) of main window.
			  If none is specified "STX Install Launcher" will be used. 			
			  This entry is optional but recommended.	

  MainWindowWidth=100	: The main window width in % (percent) of the normal width.
			  100 is normal width, 200 is double width, 50 is half width, etc.	
			  Value range : 50 - 300 (default is 100).
			  This entry is optional.	

  MainWindowHeight=100	: The main window height in % (percent) of the normal window height.
			  100 is normal height, 200 is double height, 50 is half height, etc.
			  Note: Making the main window higher doesn't make the menulist
			  higher, but instead creates a space between the window caption
			  (title) and the top of the menulist. This is usefull for 
			  displaying logoes, pictures etc. See DEMO3 for an example.
			  Value range : 50 - 300 (default is 100).
			  This entry is optional.	

  MainWindowFont=1	: The type of the font used for the mainwindow and buttons.
			  1 = Small font (default).
			  2 = Medium font.
			  3 = Large font.
			  4 = Huge font.
			  This entry is optional.	

  UseCtl3D=1		: Specifies wether to use 3D look or not.
                          0 = Use plain windows 3.x look (default).
                          1 = Use 3D look as Windows 95.
			  This entry is optional.	

  SortList=0		: Specifies if the entries in the menulist will be sorted.
                          0 = Do not sort entries (default).
                          1 = Sort entries included separators.
			  This entry is optional.	

  AskBeforeInstall=0	: Prompt (ask) user before launching a installation program.
                          0 = Do not prompt user (default).
                          1 = Prompt user before launching installation program.
			  This entry is optional.	

  ShowInfoButton=1	: The "Info"-button can be disabled and hidden with this option.
                          0 = Do not show "Info"-button.
                          1 = Show "Info"-button (default).
			  This entry is optional.	

  CloseOnInstall=1	: Close STX Install Launcher automaticly after succesfully
			  launching an installation program.	
                          0 = Do not close STX Install Launcher.  
                          1 = Close STX Install Launcher (default).
			  This entry is optional.	

  MultiInstance=0	: Specifies wether STX Install Launcher can be started more than
			  once at a time.
			  0 = Don't allow multiple instances to be started (default).
			  1 = Allow multiple instances to be started.
			  This entry is optional.	

  SplashBMP=		: Specify BMP filename for splash screen here (optional).
			  The file must be in 16 color BMP (RGB encoded) format.
			  Default is none.
			  This entry is optional.	

  SplashWAV=		: Optional WAV-file (sound) to be played when the splash screen
			  is displayed. Try DEMO3 for an example.
			  Default is none.
			  This entry is optional.	

  SplashTimeout=0	: Specifies the splash screen timeout in seconds (0-300).
			  If 0 is specified the splash screen will not close automaticly.
 			  Default is 5 sec.
			  This entry is optional.	

  LBTextColor=		: Color to use for the text in the menulist when not selected.
			  The color must be defined as RRRGGGBBB.
			  Default is Windows colors as defined in Control Panel.
			  This entry is optional.	

  LBBackColor=		: Color to use for the background in the menulist when not selected.
			  The color must be defined as RRRGGGBBB.
			  Default is Windows colors as defined in Control Panel.
			  This entry is optional.	

  LBSelTextColor=	: Color to use for the text in the menulist when selected.
			  The color must be defined as RRRGGGBBB.
			  Default is Windows colors as defined in Control Panel.
			  This entry is optional.	

  LBSelBackColor=	: Color to use for the background in the menulist when selected.
			  The color must be defined as RRRGGGBBB.
			  Default is Windows colors as defined in Control Panel.
			  This entry is optional.	

  LBLineFormat=		: Definition of how to display each entry in the menulist.
			  Declared as "Field,WidthPct,Align,Color" where 
			   Field    : The name of the field to show in the colum.
				      $NAME$, $DESCRIPTION$, $LOCATION$, $TEXT1$, 
				      $TEXT2$ and $TEXT3$ can be used. 	
			   WidthPct : Percentage of total line width.  
			   Align    : Alignment of the text : L(eft), C(enter) or R(ight).
			   Color    : The color of the text specified as RRRGGGBBB.
				      Leave this blank to use the default color.
			  Each colums must be separated with a ";"
			  Examples : $NAME$,50,L,;$DESCRIPTION$,50,L,180180180
				     $NAME$,50,L,000255000;$TEXT1$,25,R,;$TEXT1$,25,R,
				     $NAME$,100,C,255000000
			  Default is $NAME$,100,L,
			  This entry is optional.	

  BackBMP=		: BMP-file to display as background in the main window.
			  The file must be in 16 color BMP (RGB encoded) format.
			  Default is none.
			  This entry is optional.	

  BackColor=		: The color of the background in the main window.
			  The color must be defined as RRRGGGBBB.
			  Default is Windows colors as defined in Control Panel or
			  lightgray (192192192) when using 3D look (Ctl3D entry).
			  This entry is optional.	

  NumEntries=1		: Sets the number of entries in the menulist.
			  A [EntryX] (ex. [Entry1]) section must exist in the INI-file for
			  each number. Missing sections will be interperted as separators. 
			  This entry is required.

  AutoSelect=		: Entry (lineno.) to select in the menulist at start.
			  Default is 0 (none).
			  This entry is optional.	




  Entries in the [EntryX] sections (one or more) :

  Name=			: Name of the program or entry.
			  This is the text that appears in the menulist. 
			  This entry is optional but recommended.

  Description=		: A description of the program or entry.
			  This entry is optional.

  Location=		: The location of the program. For informational purposes only.
			  This entry is optional.

  Text1=		: Additional text for use in LBLineFormat only.
			  Usefull for making special colums in the menulist.
			  This entry is optional.	

  Text2=		: Additional text for use in LBLineFormat only.
			  Usefull for making special colums in the menulist.
			  This entry is optional.	

  Text3=		: Additional text for use in LBLineFormat only.
			  Usefull for making special colums in the menulist.
			  This entry is optional.	

  InfoTxt=		: Filename of the info-text which will be shown in the info dialog.
			  The file must be in standard ANSI text format and max. 10KB long.
			  It's recomended that notepad is used to edit this file.
			  This entry is optional.

  InstallApp=		: Filename of the installation program which will be launched when
			  the user clicks the "Install"-button.
			  This entry is optional.

  InstallTxt=		: Filename of the install-notes text which will be shown when the
			  user clicks the "Install"-button. The install-notes will be
			  shown even if an installer was specified in the InstallApp entry.
			  The file must be in standard ANSI text format and max. 10KB long.
			  It's recomended that notepad is used to edit this file.
			  This entry is optional.

  InstallButText=	: The text to be used in the "Install"-button when the entry is
			  selected in the menulist. Default is "Install".
			  This entry is optional.

  ClipboardText=	: Text that will be copied to the clipboard when the user clicks
			  the "Install"-button. Usefull for serialno. etc.
			  This entry is optional.

  ClipboardNotifyText=	: Text to be displayed on the screen as a user notification when
			  the text specified in the ClipboardText entry has been placed on
			  the clipboard. Usefull for telling the user what to do for using
			  a serialno. that has been placed on the clipboard.
			  This entry is optional even when a text is specified in the
			  ClipboardText entry.

  LBLineFormat=		: Local menulist lineformat overriding the one in the [Options]
			  section.
			  This entry is optional.

  Separator=		: Definition of a line-separator.
			  Declared as "Thickness,Color" where 
			   Thickness : $NAME$, $DESCRIPTION$,$LOCATION$,$TEXT1$,$TEXT2$,$TEXT3$ 	
			   Color    : The color of the text specified as RRRGGGBBB.
				      Leave this blank to use the default color.
			  Examples : Separator=1
				     Separator=1,255255255
				     Separator=3,000000255
			  This entry is optional.	


  
  A entry (EntryX) is interpeted as a blank separator if both InstallApp and InstallTxt
  lines are left blank. A separator will be shown in the menulist but the "Install" and
  "Info"-buttons are disabled when this entry is selected. This means that separators can
  be defined as any text or simply blank as long as the InstallApp and InstallTxt are left
  blank. You can also define line separators with the "Separator" keyword.
  See the examples in the DEMOx directories for further information.

  It's possible (and mostly nessesary) to use tokens in LAUNCHER.INI to define relative
  directories. Currently only two tokens are available :
    $CURRENTPATH$  : Will be replaced with the current path.
    $CURRENTDRIVE$ : Will be replaced with drive letter from the current path.  

  The tokens above can be used in the following entries :
    Caption, SplashBMP, Name, Description, Text1, Text2, Text3, Location, InfoTxt,
    InstallApp, InstallTxt.

  Examples :
    "InstallApp=$CURRENTPATH$\prog1\install.exe"
    will be interperted as 
    "InstallApp=e:\myprogs\prog1\install.exe"
    (when "e:\myprogs\" is the location of LAUNCHER.EXE and LAUNCHER.INI)

    "SplashBMP=$CURRENTDRIVE$\craplogo.bmp"
    will be interperted as 
    "SplashBMP=e:\craplogo.bmp"
    (when "e:\myprogs\" is the location of LAUNCHER.EXE and LAUNCHER.INI)

  Note that STX Install Launcher automaticly detects where it's located and reads 
  LAUNCHER.INI from here and uses this location for the $CURRENTDRIVE$ and $CURRENTPATH$
  tokens. STX Install Launcher do not use the current directory defined by the
  operating system (DOS/Windows).




6. Contact the author
=====================
  You are welcome to contact me (the author) with questions, comments, suggestions,
  bug-reports and even donations ;-) at the following address :

    Klaus Timmermann
    Finlandsvej 4c st.tv.
    7100 Vejle
    Denmark
    E-mail : mr-bean@cybernet.dk
    Homepage : http://www.cybernet.dk/users/mr-bean

    if I change internet-provider and the homepage or e-mail address are invalid, just
    try to search for me at http://www.jubii.dk or http://joes.jubii.dk !!




7. What's new in version 1.50
=============================
  - Custom window width and height. 
  - Owner-draw menulist (listbox) : colors, alignment, colums, line-separators, etc.
  - Three optional texts (Text1, Text2, Text3) for use in menulist (LBLineFormat) only.
  - Line-separators in any thickness and color.
  - Optional check for multiple instances (MultiInstance entry).
  - Custom color and/or bitmap as dialog-background.
  - Custom text and background color for menulist.
  - Show InstallTxt even when an installer is specified.
  - AutoSelect entry.
  - INI-file now dynamicly named after EXE-filename. GO.EXE <==> GO.INI
  - Override INI-filename with /I=MYSETUP.INI parameter.  
  - Suppress splash screen with /S parameter.
  - Play WAV-file when showing splash screen.  
  - Custom "Install"-button text for each entry (InstallButText)... "Run", "Go" etc.
  - Two new demoes... now three in total: Plain, Medium and Fancy.
  - Clipboard support and optional user notification dialog.
  - MainWindowSize entry changed to MainWindowFont.
  - AUTORUN.INF corrected.




8. Planned features
===================
  The following is a list of ideas which MIGHT be implemented in future version(s)
  of STX Install Launcher. You are welcome to contact me if you have other ideas.

  Features that might appear in future version(s) :
  - Custom menulist double-click action : Install, Info, custom or none.
  - Icons/bitmaps in menulist (small and large).
  - Tell STX Install Launcher not to run automaticly when inserting CD-ROM while
    using Windows 95 (autorun.inf).
  - Custom prompt-text when using AskBeforeInstall option.
  - 256+ color BMP-file support for splash screen and backgrounds.
  - LAUNCHER.INI-file editor. Eliminates the need to edit LAUNCHER.INI manually.
  - $WINDOWSPATH$ and $WINDOWSSYSTEMPATH$ tokens.
  - Optimizations for greater speed.
  - Background BMP for menulist.
  - ShowInfoBut overrideable pr. entry.
  - InfoButText customizable pr. entry and/or global.  
  - InstallButText customizable pr. entry and/or global.  
  - Better instance detection.
  - Support for transparent color in BMP-files.
  - Context-menu (right mouse-button) support.
  - Bookmarks in menulist.
