README.TXT: SMILERSHELL 2.0 QUICK START AND INSTALLATION
QUICK START / HINTS AND TRICKS
Windows makes many things easier, but it also makes some things harder.
Even in this era of the graphical interface, there are tasks that can be
done much more easily by typing in a command than by menus and pointing and
clicking and such. That's what SmilerShell is for.
SmilerShell is the ultimate Windows command line. It's just like shelling
out to DOS. You type a command and press Enter. It supports pipes,
redirection, and internal DOS commands (and runs Windows programs too). It
works just like the DOS command line. But SmilerShell is the best command
line you've ever seen, as if the plain-vanilla DOS prompt was enhanced by
lots of handy utilities. Here's how to get the most out of it.
INSTANT INSTALL: You can install SmilerShell automatically, using the
enclosed installer. To do this, simply run install.exe from Windows using
File Manager or the Run item on Program Manager's File menu, or in whatever
other convenient way you choose. Give it the directory to put SmilerShell's
files into, and the Program Manager group name for the SmilerShell icons
(defaults are suggested). It'll do the rest. The installer will make no
changes to your system setup. It just copies files to the directory you
specify, and adds icons to the Program Manager group you specify. If you
decide to uninstall, just delete the specified files and icons.
COMMAND HISTORY AND SEARCH: Every time you run a command, it is saved in
the command stack. To find a previous command of interest, type the first
letter or two of that command, then press the up or down arrow key. Up-
arrow searches back, down-arrow searches forward. It's a circular buffer,
the last command is connected to the first, so you can search in either
direction. Arrows on a blank line show all commands in order. A full
command history list is available from the File menu.
COMMAND LINE EDITOR: A retrieved previous command, or anything else you
type, can be edited to suit. Think of SmilerShell as a one-line word
processor. It supports insert mode, overtype mode, and clipboard
cut/paste.
ALIASES: When you press Enter, the first word of the command is compared to
the alias list. If it matches, the alias is substituted for that first
word. You can skip the alias testing by starting the command with an
equals sign. You can also hang aliases off the function keys F2 through
F12; hit the key and the command runs. Both kinds of aliases are set up in
the ini file. A full alias list is available on the File menu.
GET SMALL: SmilerShell has a very small window, but you can make it even
smaller. Use the Options menu to get rid of the menu and title bar. Or
type Alt+M to toggle the menu, Alt+L to toggle the title bar. Then mouse
SmilerShell as small as you like. It'll go smaller than an icon!
QUICK DIRECTORY CHANGE: Type DC and the first few letters of the directory
you want to be in. If it's unambiguous, boom, you're there, otherwise a
list box pops up with the first possible match highlighted. If you haven't
used DC yet, you'll be asked for permission to scan the drives listed in
DC's ini file parameter. If you scan more than one drive, DC can change
drive as well as directory to get you where you want to go.
SMILERSHELL NEVER FORGETS: In the ini file, set winwidth=PREV and
SmilerShell will start up next time in the same directory, same screen
position, and with the same settings, as when you shut it down this time.
CHANGE INI FILE SETTINGS ON THE FLY: Hit the Edit Ini File item on
SmilerShell's File menu. It'll fire up Notepad with your ini file (and
create one first if needed, filled with reasonable defaults). When you're
done editing and you close Notepad, SmilerShell will know. It'll read in
the new ini file and reset itself as indicated there.
DOS IN A WINDOW: Do you prefer to have DOS commands run fullscreen or in a
window? Toggle this on the fly with the DOS In Window menu item. Or to
run one command as if DOS In Window is set to the opposite of its current
value, start that command with a right-bracket (for example >dir).
INACTIVES STAY VISIBLE: After you run a DOS command, do you want the
command's inactive window to stick around, or immediately vanish? Toggle
this flag, called Inactives Stay Visible, from the Options menu. Or to run
one command as if Inactives Stay Visible is set to the opposite of its
current value, start that command with an asterisk (for example *dir).
REMOVE INACTIVES: Too many inactive windows cluttering your screen? Get
rid of 'em with this Edit menu item, or just type Alt+R from the keyboard.
CLOCK: Toggle the titlebar clock from the Options menu, or just type
Alt+C. Prefer 12-hour or 24-hour time? Use the timeformat ini file
parameter.
CURRENT DRIVE/DIRECTORY IN THE TITLE BAR: Toggle this from the Options
menu, or just type Alt+D.
SYSTEM RESOURCES: Toggle the System Resources display onto the menu bar
from the Options menu, or just type Alt+S, to see a real-time running
report of your available Windows memory and resources.
INSERT OR OVERTYPE MODE: Toggle this from the Options menu, or just type
Alt+O. In overtype mode a flag appears in the title bar.
TOPMOST WINDOW: Make SmilerShell a "topmost" window from the Options menu,
or just type Alt+T. That way, it's always visible and ready for use, even
when you're working in another window.
GET RID OF THE MENU: Hit Alt+M to make SmilerShell even smaller. Hit
Alt+M again to bring the menu back, or use the Show SmilerShell Menu item
on the System menu (the dash thing in the upper left corner).
SAVE YOUR STACK: You can save the current command stack to a file and
reload it automatically at startup, or at any other time. This gives you a
preloaded batch of commands you can search on. The startup loading is set
up in the ini file.
HANDY CONFIGURATIONS: Make SmilerShell "topmost," turn on the clock, turn
off the menu, mouse it as small as it goes (about as big as two icons) and
stick it in the corner. The clock shows, and it's always ready for action.
Or turn off the titlebar too, and mouse it even smaller. To move
it on the screen without the titlebar, click the right mouse button in the
edit area and hold it down while you move SmilerShell where you want it.
Or make SmilerShell "topmost" and maximize it. When maximized, it only
takes up the top line of your screen, not the whole display.
SHAREWARE: TRY BEFORE YOU BUY
Thank you for trying SmilerShell. You are welcome to test it for a week or
two. I hope you like it.
SmilerShell is marketed as shareware. As with all shareware, you are
encouraged to try it for a short time on your own system, to see if it
meets your needs. If you find it useful and you keep it on your system for
more than two weeks, you are obligated to send in the registration fee. If
you don't find it useful, simply delete it from your system.
To register SmilerShell, send $19.95 plus $3.50 for shipping to:
Barry Smiler
Bardon Data Systems
1023 Key Route Blvd.
Albany, CA 94706
Outside North America please add $6 for overseas shipping charges.
While testing SmilerShell, take a few minutes to try the demo of
SmilerShell Pro, which has some rather nifty features (described below) not
found in the regular SmilerShell. SmilerShell Pro is available for $29.95
plus $3.50 for shipping.
You can order SmilerShell or SmilerShell Pro through Bardon, or through our
toll-free telephone order-taking service (800) 242-4775 (weekdays 7 to 6
Central time), or on Compuserve, or through distributors worldwide.
Details and addresses are in the file REGISTER.TXT.
If ordering through Bardon, you can print and mail invoice.wri, the invoice
that came with this package. It's in Windows Write format. With a
MasterCard or Visa you can order by phone, at (510) 526-8470, in which case
you'll be given your registration number immediately so you can get rid of
those reminder screens right away. Or simply mail in your card number and
expiration date.
Registered users get a registration number that will turn off the reminder
screens, a printed manual, support, update notices, and a disk with the
most recent version.
Registered users also get these Extra Free Bonuses: Two more handy Bardon
utilities (WHATSNEW lists files not yet backed up, or directories
containing such files; PR/PRFILTER format output for printing, and add a
header with filename, size, create date, and print date), discount
certificate for JCSM shareware CD-ROMs at half price, discount on PsL
shareware-by-mail (up to 2/3 off!), discount on Shareware Magazine, free
Compuserve startup kit, other Windows shareware I think you'll like, and
whatever other goodies I can fit on the disk.
All these bonuses are also included with SmilerShell Pro.
SmilerShell is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware
Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle
works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem
with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to
help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an
ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products.
Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442-
9427 USA, FAX 616-788-2765 or send a Compuserve message via Compuserve mail
to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.
SMILERSHELL PRO
As mentioned above, SmilerShell Pro has some rather nifty features not
found in the regular SmilerShell. Take a few minutes to try the demo of
SmilerShell Pro.
Usually SmilerShell Pro is just a tiny button that hops unobtrusively into
the titlebar of whichever application is currently active. Press the button
to bring up the commandline window. Then later, hit the SmilerShell menubar's
"Hide!" item and the commandline window vanishes again. Have a non-standard
application with an unusual titlebar setup? Use the Button Exceptions menu
item to tell SmilerShell where in that window you'd prefer the button to go.
SmilerShell Pro's commandline does everything that the regular SmilerShell
does, and in addition has the ability to change the PATH that SmilerShell
searches, and can run multiple commands on one command line.
Want the tiniest of tiny windows? With SmilerShell Pro, if you toggle off
the menu, the resources report will appear in the command line. Don't
worry, nothing you type will be overwritten by the resources report!
Just type, your text will reappear exactly as you left it.
And it's fast. Because of special software technology, SmilerShell Pro
runs commands faster than SmilerShell Standard Edition.
Here's a good way to use SmilerShell Pro: mouse the window to the size you
prefer, and set up your favorite display options (clock? current directory?
resources?) Then "Hide!" the command line window. SmilerShell Pro is
always just a mouse-click away. The activation button hops into the
titlebar of whichever app you're currently using. Like regular
SmilerShell, SmilerShell Pro can remember its setup and screen location
from session to session, so you only have to configure it once.
WHY IS THIS A SHELL?
The word "shell" is sometimes used for a wrapper that surrounds another
application and hides it. SmilerShell is the opposite of that. It makes
all the power of the command line available from an environment in which
that power is not otherwise accessible. But since it makes things more
visible, rather than less visible, why is it called a shell?
It's a shell in another sense. Maybe you've seen programs that let you
"shell out" to DOS, for example WordPerfect's Ctrl+F1 command, Shell. When
you "shell out" it's like having a window into another environment, a
pathway to a different level of functionality. That's what SmilerShell is,
and that's why it's a shell.
INSTALLING SMILERSHELL
SmilerShell includes the following files:
smishell.exe the program
smishell.hlp the documentation, in Windows help file format
readme.txt overview and installation instructions
install.exe automated SmilerShell installer
sample.ini sample initialization file
sample.stk sample command stack file
file_id.diz 45 column x 10 line text description, for BBS uploads
vendor.doc gives distribution permission
invoice.wri registration invoice (direct to Bardon Data Systems)
register.txt register toll-free and through distributors worldwide
whatsnew.txt new features and revision history
demopro.exe demo of SmilerShell Pro
You can install SmilerShell automatically, using the enclosed auto-
installer. To do this, simply run install.exe from within Windows. You
can run it using File Manager, or the Run item on Program Manager's File
menu, or in whatever other convenient way you choose. Give it the
directory to put SmilerShell's files into, and the Program Manager group
name for the SmilerShell icons (appropriate defaults are suggested). It'll
do the rest.
If you prefer, you can install SmilerShell manually:
1) Copy the files to a convenient directory on your hard disk. (Actually,
only smishell.exe and smishell.hlp need to be in this directory. The
others are not required to run SmilerShell.)
2) Put the SmilerShell icon into a program group. To do this, bring up
File Manager and set it to the convenient directory you chose in the
previous step. Then drag-and-drop smishell.exe into your favorite
Program Manager group. The SmilerShell icon should appear there.
(How to drag-and-drop: While the mouse is pointing at the word
"smishell.exe" in File Manager, press and hold the left mouse button.
While continuing to hold the button down, move the mouse to point into
your favorite Program Manager group. Let go of the button. The
SmilerShell icon should appear in the group.)
Optionally, you can set up an initialization file. But if you start
SmilerShell without an initialization file, you'll be asked if you'd like
SmilerShell to create one and fill it with reasonable values, then
let you edit it in Notepad before proceeding. See the section The
Initialization File in the documentation.
Optionally, give a non-default location for the initialization file. See
the section The Initialization File in the documentation.
Optionally, you can create a command stack file, having a list of commands
that you want loaded into SmilerShell. See the section Command Stack Files
in the documentation.
NOTES FOR THOSE UPGRADING FROM PREVIOUS VERSIONS
Version 1.0 stored the DC info file smishell.dir and the default ini file
smishell.ini in your Windows directory. Starting with version 1.1, to
avoid cluttering the Windows directories of the world more than they
already are, by default these files are now stored in the same directory as
the SmilerShell program. After you install the new version, you can delete
smishell.ini and smishell.dir from your
Windows directory.
As before, the ini file can be wherever you like. Use the command line
switch /ini=<drive:\fullpath\filename> to put it where you want.
Starting with version 1.3, the DC info file can also be wherever you like.
Use the ini file parameter dirfile=<drive:\fullpath\filename> to do this.
Starting with version 1.4, command line switches other than /ini= have been
removed. Use the analogous ini file settings instead.
Starting with version 2.0, SmilerShell no longer permanently alters the
systemwide settings in your _default.pif file when toggling the menu items
DOS In Window and Inactives Stay Visible. Before installing, you may want
to use your older version to toggle the systemwide settings to the values
you prefer. Or you can do this with the Windows PIF editor.
Starting with version 2.0, SmilerShell always goes to the first copy if you
try to start a second copy. Therefore the ini file parameter singlecopy=
is no longer needed and has been removed.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Requires Microsoft Windows 3.1