             DOS Start! v1.9b
             Build  7.08.2002

   Graphical DOS menuing/filing program
           2002  Daniel L. Nice
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This program is Shareware, if you find it useful, please send me $5.

My address: Daniel L. Nice, 718 Tower Rd, Sellersville, PA 18960 U.S.A.

E-mail: Dnice@icdc.com
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Please e-mail me about any bugs you find! This helps me make DOS Start the
best it can be.

DISCLAIMER
I am NOT responsible for any problems with your system resulting from the 
use of this program, nor am I responsible for any lost data, time, etc.

To install DOSstart, run DS-SETUP.BAT.
If you do not want DOSstart to be installed to C:\DOSSTART use this syntax:
 DS-SETUP {alternate_directory}

To install DOSstart without DS-SETUP.BAT do the following:
 Make a directory for DOSstart (i.e. MD C:\DOSSTART).
 Copy all files in this archive to it.
 Add the directory to your path, otherwise, change to the DOSstart directory.

If you are upgrading over a previous install, make sure you do not overwrite
 GRAPHICS.INI or DOSTART.INI.  It is recommended that you back these files
 up on a regular basis.

This version of DOS Start! was compiled on July 8, 2002.

Type DOSSTART to start DOSstart at the DOS prompt.

REQUIREMENTS:
        -An 80286 CPU is required, 486DX/33 is recommended.
        -You need at least 300k of free conventional memory; you will need
                around 550k if you run DosStart aware programs.
        -DosStart takes up approximately 550k of disk space, but while running
                it will use up to another more space for disk-swapping; how
                much more depends on how much data it must manage, but allow
                at least 2meg.
        -A VGA screen is required; color is recommended.
        -A mouse is required although many actions have keyboard equivilents
        -DosStart uses *extensive* disk-swapping to keep memory usage low,
                so a 512k or more disk-cache is highly recommended.  Also,
                write-caching (aka "Lazy Write") is also highly recommended.
        -512k of Expanded memory will speed up DosStart
                EMM386 or QEMM will use Extended memory to emulate Expanded
                memory. To see if Expanded memory is available, type MEM
                at the DOS prompt.

!WARNING! DosStart goes s-l-o-w without a disk-cache with write
                caching enabled!  

DosStart is a GUI for DOS. With it, you can launch programs and manage files.

DosStart is simple enough for a novice, but also very powerful and flexible
  for power users.

If you can't figure something out, you can ALWAYS press F1 for
  context-sensitive help. New users should click 'Help' when they
  first run DOS Start for a brief overview of the program.

*New Users* DosStart uses BOTH mouse buttons. To alter something, RIGHT 
        click it. To select something, LEFT click it.

When writing DosStart, every effort was made to make it not just EASY to
  use, but also EFFICIENT to use, which few GUI designers consider.

DosStart uses the Win9x "Start" button approach for launching programs. On
  this menu you can add your programs and organize them into groups. You can
  also add File Manager shortcuts, which allow you to access a specific area
  on your hardrive quickly (i.e. your wordprocessor's documents directory).

Shortcuts to frequently used programs and files can be placed on the desktop.

DosStart also contains a graphical File Manager. This utility not only allows 
  you to do routine file copy/move/delete/rename operations, but it also 
  serves as a powerful interface to your system. When properly set up with 
  associations, File Manager can replace the DOS command-line in most cases
  with a consistent graphical alternative.

File Manager associations are powerful! 
  -Each program can have an indefinate number of extensions associated with it.
  
  -You can give "target" and "source" arguments (as well as a "file" argument) 
  anywhere on the command-line to start the program. This allows the user to 
  specify a "target directory" in the "Target" window for unzipping a ZIP 
  file, for example.

  -The same extension can be associated with more than one program. Clicking
  both mouse buttons on a file brings up a menu of all programs for the file.

DOS menu items are powerful, too!
  -Each item can have up to 3 commands. Anything that works from the DOS
  command-line is legal. 

  -Each item can have up to 4 replacable parameters for the user to enter
  before the item is executed. These have user-defined prompts.

  -Each item has an optional unique password to restrict access to that item.

DosStart uses NO MEMORY while your applications are running! Therefore, it is
  better than many shells that hog your precious conventional memory. Anything
  that runs under DOS will run under DosStart.

DosStart is built to be 100% customizable. You can change the color of nearly
  any object by RIGHT-clicking it. The "Options" window allows even more
  customization. DosStart allows you to save and load color/icon schemes.
  The icons used for folders/drives/etc are all user-customizable, and the
  user my select ANY executable program for use as a screen-saver (one is
  provided with DosStart).

DosStart can now handle multiple fonts.  The font can be changed for an
  object just like the color--by RIGHT-clicking.

DosStart uses a special format for its fonts, .DSF.
  
For multi-user machines, DosStart has customizable Security Options. With it,
  you can restrict access the the File Manager, color settings, running of
  programs, and exiting DosStart.  Also, each application on the DOS menu
  can have an individual password. For security purposes, DOS Start will attempt to recover from the most severe errors, rather than exit to DOS.


After DOS Start! is installed, click 'Help' (or press F1) for a brief overview.

If you have any questions, comments, problems, or suggestions
please contact Daniel L. Nice:

Email: Dnice@icdc.com
WWW:   http://www.icdc.com/~dnice
AIM:   danielnice

DosStart was written in Microsoft BASIC PDS 7.1.
