Adding or Replacing a Signature File APPLICATION NOTE #222 This application note describes a program that lets you add or replace a Signature file after installation. The program, called REPLACE.PGM, is included with Signature (Versions 1.01 and later) and is also included with replacement disks. INTRODUCTION XYQUEST regularly develops new printer drivers for use with Signature. It is also always working to improve Signature by enhancing performance or eliminating bugs in the product's components. That means you may want to install a printer file that wasn't available when you initially installed Signature, or you may want to install a new version of one of the components, like a filter, menu file, or the main program. REPLACE.PGM enables you to add a new Signature file or replace an existing one quickly and easily. It is not designed to enable you to install features that you omitted during initial installation (such as the tutorial or help). To add a new feature, use the Reinstall option of the Signature installation procedure (see Note #6). REPLACE.PGM uses a hard-coded list of files on the disk(s) from which you are installing, and then proceeds according to the operating mode you have selected. The three available operating modes are described below. OPERATING MODES REPLACE.PGM gives you the option of working in three different modes: automatic, prompted, and selected. Automatic Mode In Automatic mode, Signature determines which of the updated files on the new disks you need and automatically delivers them. It only delivers updated versions of files you already have on your system. For instance, if the Help file has been updated on the master disks but you did not install the Help file previously, Signature will not deliver the updated Help file to your system. Also, it will not deliver any printer files that you did not previously install. Prompted Mode In Prompted mode, Signature determines which of the updated files on the new disks you need, but it asks you to confirm that you want each of them. This gives you a chance to bypass one or more files if you realize that you have made a significant change in them. For instance, you might have customized the Help file but forgotten to make a backup copy before starting REPLACE.PGM. You can bypass it for now, and then run REPLACE.PGM later to update just the Help file. For each file that REPLACE.PGM determines should be updated, you can choose to update it (Y), bypass it (N), or stop (S) the process. If you stop the process by pressing S, the file you are currently being asked about will not be updated, but any file you have already asked to have updated will be updated. This is a way of cutting the program short but not losing the work you have already done. Selective Mode In Selective mode, Signature displays a list of all files on the new disks. You can select as many (up to 50) or as few of them to install as you want. Selective mode is useful if you want to install a printer file you have not used before, or get an updated copy of one you might have renamed. You should also use Selective mode if you have customized your files. Automatic and Prompted modes compare the dates of the replacement files with the dates of the files on your hard disk, and install the replacement files if they have a more recent date. If you have modified the files on the hard disk, then their dates may be more recent than those of the replacement files. To select files, use the cursor keys to position the cursor on the filename and press the space bar. Once selected, an asterisk appears next to the filename. (If you change your mind, position the cursor on the filename and press space bar again. The asterisk is removed.) When you have highlighted all the files you want, press F9°. Hint: Type the first letter of the file name to move quickly to that section of the list. RUNNING REPLACE.PGM To run REPLACE.PGM: 1. Start Signature. At the DOS prompt: Type: sig° 2. Make sure that at least two windows are available. 3. Insert Disk #1 from the new set of disks into a floppy disk drive. 4. Run REPLACE.PGM. For example, if Disk #1 is in drive A: Type: F5°run a:replace.pgm° Result: The program asks for the drive letter of the source disk. 5. Type the drive letter on the command line and press °. For example: Type: F5°a° Result: The program asks what mode of operation you want. 6. Choose the operating mode you want. (Refer to ``Operating Modes'' for more information about the three choices.) A Automatic mode. We recommend this mode if you are replacing an existing file. P Prompted mode. Use this mode if you have customized your Signature files. S Selective mode. Use this mode if you are adding a new printer or keyboard file (see Note #3). Result: REPLACE.PGM starts processing files, depending on the option you selected. 7. Follow the directions on the screen. 8. When the program is done, quit Signature. If you have replaced or added any files except SIG.EXE, you can restart Signature now. If you have added SIG.EXE, proceed to step 9. 9. To complete installation of a new version of SIG.EXE, type the following command at the DOS prompt: Type: newsig d: where d: is the drive that contains the source disk for the new version. Result: NEWSIG renames the current SIG.EXE to OLDSIG.EXE and then delivers the new version and a small companion file from the disk in the source drive. (If you are using 360K disks, you will have to swap disks when asked.) STOPPING REPLACE.PGM If you need to stop REPLACE.PGM before it is finished, press Esc° the next time the program is waiting for a response from you. You should only use this option up to the point that REPLACE.PGM starts copying files. (One indication that file copying has started is that you have been asked to swap disks; another indication is increased disk activity.) BACKUP COPIES Since printer files and keyboard files are frequently customized, REPLACE.PGM can retain the existing files for you. Then you can transfer your customized material (if any) into the newer versions of these files. If you select Automatic mode, backup copies are made automatically. In either Prompted or Selective mode, you are asked if you want to make the backup copy for each .PRN or .KBD file. You can choose yes or no for each. REPLACE.PGM creates a new directory, called \SIG1D\ARCHIVE, where it stores the backup copies. (If any older versions of the files are already there, they will be overwritten.) If this subdirectory cannot be created or used, Signature will be unable to archive the existing files. When this happens, a message appears asking if it's OK to overwrite the file. If you answer Yes, the existing file is overwritten. If you answer No, the existing file will be untouched but the new file will not be delivered. You will have to rerun REPLACE.PGM after you have made it possible for the subdirectory to be used. (Most likely, this will involve renaming a file called ARCHIVE in Signature's directory.) Note #1 Mouse Disabled. You cannot use the mouse while running REPLACE.PGM. Note #2 SIG.EXE. REPLACE.PGM looks for the program file named SIG.EXE. If you have renamed it, REPLACE.PGM will not run. Note #3 New Files. If you choose to install files associated with any Signature options that you did not initially install (for instance, the tutorial or the Help file), you must make the appropriate changes to Signature's startup files (STARTUP.INT and SETTINGS.DFL) manually. If you choose to install a previously uninstalled printer file, you will probably want to add it to the Pick Printer table in SETTINGS.DFL. You can use the menus to do this by choosing File, Printer Setup, Select Printer File, Add. Note #4 Hewlett-Packard LaserJet II and III Printers. The HP LaserJet II and III Series printers (and compatibles) have a companion binary (.BIN) file. If you add or update a printer file associated with one of these printers, the appropriate .BIN file will also be archived and a new one delivered. Note #5 Temporary Files. To function, REPLACE.PGM must make temporary files in Signature's main directory. They are: 000, REPLACE2.PGM, and REPLACE.LST. If you already have files with these names in this directory, they will be overwritten. Note #6 Installing Options. REPLACE.PGM is designed primarily to enable you to receive updated files and to install the occasional new file. If you want to install options you chose to bypass when initially installing Signature, please use the installation procedure on Master Disk #1. This procedure is started from the DOS prompt by placing Master Disk #1 in the active floppy drive and typing: install d: where d: is the drive on which you previously installed Signature. Follow the on-screen menus until you reach one titled ``Type of installation.'' Choose Reinstall and then indicate the option(s) you want. The options are: Interactive tutorial On-line Help system Text conversion filters Graphic filters Sample graphic files Dictionaries