                              the~first byte
                          Shareware version 1.0s 

                                                         the~Installation


The installation disk contains the~first byte system and example files.


                                    Down Loading from INTERNET/CompuServe


After downloading from INTERNET or CompuServe, the self extracting file
should be expanded:

                 the~fb.exe       Self extracting file

It is recommended that you create a new directory, say, C:\DOWNLOAD and
copy the down loaded file to this directory. Then type the following at the
DOS prompt:

                 c:\download\the~fb

The following files will then be created:

                 the_100.zip
                 install.exe
                 pkunzip.exe
                 setup.dat
                 readme.txt

Type 'c:\download\Install' to load software.

                                                   Installation from Disk


To install the system place the disk in the disk drive and type the
following:

         C:\> a:\install          If disk drive is a:
                         
The installation program will prompt you to read the README.TXT file. This
file contains information relevant to the installed version, and not
necessarily covered in the manual.

The installation program will install the system in directory:  C:\THE  by
default. If you want to install the program in another directory then
respond when prompted.

To assist in good housekeeping of your hard disk, it is recommended that
the installation directory is a new or empty directory.

The installation program will clean out any existing files and
subdirectories in the requested installation directory prior to loading the
software, please pause to read confirmation messages when they occur.
 
The installation program will proceed after validating the requested
installation directory.

                                         Installation Directory Structure


On completion of a successful installation the following directory
structure will be installed on your hard disk (assuming the default
directory was used).

         C:\THE\FORMS             Form and template files (System and User)
         C:\THE\VER.100           Executable program files (System and User)
         C:\THE\UNITS             Units database and form units files
         C:\THE\HELP              Help files (System and User)
         C:\THE\DBASE             User Database Files
         C:\THE\SOURCE            Example user source code
         C:\THE\MANUAL            Manual

                                                                Path Name


To run the~first byte from any directory you must amend the AUTOEXEC.BAT
file. This file is located in the root directory C:\  (assuming the C:\
drive is the boot disk on your computer).  

Assuming you installed the software in the default directory, add the
following directory path: C:\THE\VER.100 into the PATH command. 

The PATH command should include the installation directory as shown:

PATH  C:\; C:\DOS; C:\WINDOWS; C:\THE\VER.100

The DOS editor may be used to edit the AUTOEXEC.BAT file; type the
following command at the DOS  prompt:

C:\> edit c:\autoexec.bat

                                                              SET Command


The~first byte searches the DOS environment to locate the address of the
SETUP.DAT file. Before running the~first byte you must use the DOS SET
command to initialise the DOS environment. This is most conveniently done
by adding the following SET command to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. The following
command tells the~first byte to search the C:\THE directory for the
setup.dat file.

         SET THE = c:\the                 

The directory name specified after the equality sign should be the same as
the installation path you selected during installation.


                                                          Config.sys File


For correct cursor operation you must have the device driver ANSI.SYS
installed.  Check that the following line is in the config.sys file -
located in the root directory.

         device=c:\dos\ansi.sys

The above assumes that the file ansi.sys is located in the C:\DOS
directory.

                                                    Hardware Requirements


The minimum hardware requirements are:

         IBM compatible 286AT
         DOS operating system
         640KB memory with a minimum of 250kB available

the~first byte requires 210kByte and the setup facility requires 240kbyte,
therefore to run the setup facility from within the~first byte you will
need at least 450kByte of memory available.  If you do not have sufficient
memory to run the setup facility from within the~first byte then run the
setup facility independently by typing the following at the DOS prompt:

         the_setup

User programs run on top of the~first byte and therefore the size of a user
executable program must not exceed the available memory minus 210kByte.

Example:
                 655,360 KB       conventional memory
                 110,000 KB       DOS, Mouse and TSR programs
                 545,360 KB       Memory available

                 210,000 KB       the~first byte
                 345,000 KB       Maximum user program executable size

                                                  Creating A Windows Icon


If you are running Windows then you may want to create an application icon
for the~first byte.  Follow the procedure below to create an icon.

Activate the Window you want to add the icon, example the Applications
window.

Select the New command from the Windows File pull down menu.  Select the
Program Item option and click OK,

Complete the following (it is assumed that installation followed the
default settings):

         Description:             the~first byte
         Command Line:            C:\THE\VER.100\the.exe
         Working Directory:       C:\THE\RUN

Click on the Change Icon button and select an icon design. Click the OK
button when complete.    

                                                        Shareware Version


The shareware version has some limitations. Only three user programs can
be linked into the~first byte.  A full version (up to 20 user programs) is
available upon registration.

                                                                   Manual


A 'short' manual is provided with this shareware version. The manuals are
provided in WordPerfect and text file format. Refer to the manuals
subdirectory. Full manuals in Word for Windows and WordPerfect are
available upon registration of software.
         
                                                    Comments & Criticism!


Any comments, suggestions and even cheques! are most welcome.
Please address all correspondence to:

         the~ pty ltd
         PO Box 465
         Market Street
         Melbourne,  Vic 8007
         Australia
         E-mail          100252.765@compuserve.com
