       
        
       
                           The Batch ENhancer (c) 1993 
                                 Version 3.10
                   BEN310.ZIP is suggested BBS name for this file 
                       Shareware software from Simvis Soft
                              Author, Simon Lee,
                  Phone: (416) 882-2514   Fax: (416) 882-2527
             Mailing address: 7905 Bayview Ave., Unit 1019, Thornhill,
                           Ontario, Canada L3T 7N3
       
        
       
       Installation: You may either copy every file to your hard drive
       or you may use menu driven installation by typing the command
       INSTALL.
       
                             DETAILED DESCRIPTION 

       BEN stands for the Batch ENhancer:
          
       *BATCH*
       Batch is a very simple yet powerful language DOS uses. Batch
       files always end with the extension .BAT. For example, the
       AUTOEXEC.BAT in the root directory of your boot disk is a batch
       file. Although batch file is very flexible, it has some unwelcome
       weaknesses. For example, it cannot get input from the user or
       even do simple color-changing.
          
       *ENHANCER*
       BEN is developed to compensate for Batch language's weaknesses.
       BEN IMPROVE many aspects of the current batch file functions, and
       it also introduce many new ones. With BEN, you can produce very
       USEFUL batch files that can even compete with compiled
       programming codes. Yet, BEN is so SIMPLE to use that even a
       beginner can produce ATTRACTIVE batch files in no time at all.
       Once you start using BEN, you will be able to incorporate colors,
       sounds, menus, pop-up boxes, directory controls, and a host of
       other SPECTACULAR and UNIQUE features into any batch file that
       you ever write.

       Advantages of BEN over other batch file enhancement programs:
       -    LARGE number of POWERFUL functions (42 in total) all
            contained into one EXE file.
       -    All of these functions are very EASY to use.
       -    Comes with BENEdit, a text editor that is tailored for BEN.
            With BENEdit, you can edit all your batch files and access
            all the features of BEN QUICKLY and EASILY.
       -    Optimized for SPEED.
       -    Perfect for use as menuing systems.
       -    Can be used for programming any batch utilities (eg.
            INSTALL.BAT).
       -    Compatible with DOS and Windows.
       -    Compatible with the network environment. You can now use BEN
            to program all the network batch files!

       Program runs on ALL systems with and does NOT require color or 
       special graphics. ANSI.SYS suggested. Hard drive suggested.
       Floppy use also possible.

       This is NOT free software. This is NOT public domain software.
       This is shareware: you are expected to pay a registration fee to 
       the author of this program if you find it useful. See registration 
       details within the main package.

       
       
                      FILES AVAILABLE IN THE PACKAGE
     
       
       
       README         Readme file documentation
       BROWSE.BAT     Batch file that acts as a file browser
       INSTALL.BAT    Installation batch file for BEN
       FILE_ID.DIZ    Four-line description of the package
       !BENDEMO.EXE   Archived version of the BENDEMO files. When run,  
                      these files are created:
                      - BENDEMO.BAT - Demo batch file that shows the
                                      features of BEN
                      - BENDEMO.DA1 - Data file for BENDEMO
                      - BENDEMO.DA2 - Data file for BENDEMO
                      - BENDEMO.DA3 - Data file for BENDEMO
                      - BENDEMO.DA4 - Data file for BENDEMO
                      - BENDEMO.DA5 - Data file for BENDEMO
                      - BENDEMO.MNU - Menu data file for BENDEMO
       !BENTXT.EXE    Archived version of BEN's documentation. When run,
                      the file BEN.TXT is created.
       BEN.EXE        Batch ENhancer (BEN) program
       BENEDIT.EXE    A batch file editor that allows the user to
                      access all the features of BEN easily
       MDESIGN.EXE    Menu designer for BEN
       BEN.HLP        Help file for BEN.EXE
       BENEDIT.HLP    Help file for BENEDIT.EXE
       VENDOR.TXT     Text file that describes BEN's distribution
                      policy
       WHATSNEW.TXT   Text file that describes the new features
                      of BEN version 3.10


       To install the program, do the following at the DOS prompt:
       
             INSTALL        <then press enter/return key>
       
       Unpack the demo files by using the command:  

             !BENDEMO       <then press return/enter key>

       When this is done, run the demo batch file by using the command:
             
             BENDEMO        <then press return/enter key>


