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 ========================           MAKENAME            =======================
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           MakeName is Copyright (C) 1992, 1998 by Pinnacle Software


         
              Voice line:  +1-514-345-9578
                Internet:  psoftinfo@aol.com
          World Wide Web:  users.aol.com/psoftinfo
             Head Office:  CP386, Mount Royal, QC, Canada H3P 3C6



        Original concept:  James Ludwick
       Design and coding:  Timothy Campbell
           Documentation:  Natasha Mirage
            Distribution:  Kevin Beck
        Support services:  Lily Wilson, Zeno Krome



 ==============================================================================
 OVERVIEW
 ==============================================================================


 MakeName writes a batch file (named SETNAME.BAT) that uses the DOS SET command
 to set a DOS environment variable to  an 8-character string  which  represents
 the current date and time.  This can then be CALLed by a batch file that needs
 such a string for some purpose (usually as part of a file name).



 ==============================================================================
 WHY YOU NEED MAKENAME -- AN EXAMPLE
 ==============================================================================


 Sometimes you want to  create a batch file that you will run  once in a while,
 which will create  a data file,  but since each file it creates is essentially
 another version of the same data, you want to keep it in the same directory as
 earlier copies.

 The usual way is to code the batch file is like this:


 BATCH FILE "NEWDATA.BAT"                    EXPLANATION
 ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
 @ECHO OFF                                   Turn off command echoing
 MAKEDATA                                    Run a program to make the file
 RENAME DATA %1                              Rename the data file


 You would then call up this batch file as in this example:

 NEWDATA FILE0001.DAT

 In other words, you are using the variable %1 to represent a unique file name.

 The problem with  this approach  is that you have to keep track of the various
 files in the directory.   It would be nice to have a program that would create
 a unique file name based on the date and time.

 That's precisely what MAKENAME does!



 ==============================================================================
 INSTALLATION
 ==============================================================================


 The MakeName program (MAKENAME.EXE) should be placed in your system PATH.  For
 an explanation of the PATH command, consult your operating system manual.



 ==============================================================================
 FILES
 ==============================================================================


 The MakeName package comprises the following files:

 ROOTNAME EXT  FILE PURPOSE   DESCRIPTION
 -------- ---  -------------  -------------------------------------------------
 READ     ME   Documentation  Directs your attention to MAKENAME.TXT
 MAKENAME TXT  Documentation  How to use the MakeName utility (this file)
 VENDINFO DIZ  Documentation  Terms for sharing this software with other people
 FILE_ID  DIZ  Documentation  (File used by some BBS's) Brief description
 DESC     SDI  Documentation  (File used by some BBS's) Brief description
 MAKENAME EXE  Program        The MakeName utility
 EXAMPLE1 BAT  Batch file     Sample usage of MakeName
 EXAMPLE2 BAT  Batch file     Sample usage of MakeName
 ORDER    TXT  Form/Envelope  The order form, to register the MakeName utility
 


 ==============================================================================
 THE FORMAT OF THE VARIABLE
 ==============================================================================
 

 The MAKENAME program writes  a short batch file  (named SETNAME.BAT) that uses
 the DOS SET command to set a variable according to the date and time.  You can
 then use this in your batch file, after CALLing it.

 The variable is eight characters long.  It uses this format:

 Format:    YMDHHMMS
 Examples:  7230405K  (Created 1997/02/03, a little after 04:05)
            0NP1631P  (Created 2000/11/23 [Nov. 23 2000] just after 4:31 PM)

 Key:       Y ------- Year     The last digit (0 to 9); example: 1993 is 3
            M ------- Month    The month number (1 to 9) or OND (Oct, Nov, Dec)
            D ------- Day      The day of the month (1 to 9, A to W)
            HH ------ Hour     Hour of the day (24-hour clock: i.e. 6 PM is 18)
            MM ------ Minute   Minute of the hour
            S ------- Second   Second (0 to 9, A to V)

 The  Second  value changes every  two seconds,  rather than every second.  The
 letters used for  Day  and  Second  never  include  I or O,  as these could be
 confused with the digits 1 or 0.

 For additional examples, you can run the sample batch file EXAMPLE1.BAT, which
 generates a series of variables.   This batch file is described in the section
 entitled "Sample Batch Files".



 ==============================================================================
 USING THE MAKENAME COMMAND
 ==============================================================================
 

 COMMAND FORMAT
 ==============
 
 The format of the MAKENAME command is:

 MAKENAME varname [time?]

 The "varname" parameter is required (not optional).   The "time?" parameter is
 optional.  If both parameters are omitted,  the program displays a screen that
 summarizes how it is used.

 The parameters are as follows:

 varname   This is the name of the  DOS enviroment variable  to be  SET  by the
           batch file SETNAME.BAT.

 time?     (Optional)   Set this parameter to N if you don't want the time part
           of the variable set.  In such case,  the variable will be only three
           characters long and represent the year, month and day only.



 DUPLICATION
 ===========

 Two names created two seconds or less apart will be the same.
 Two names created precisely ten years apart will be the same.



 EXAMPLES
 ========

 Here are some examples of the MakeName command:

 MAKENAME MYVAR

 This would write a batch file named SETNAME.BAT,  which would SET the variable
 named  MYVAR  to a string representing  the date and time.   After CALLing the
 SETNAME batch file, the variable %MYVAR% could be used in other batch files.

 MAKENAME MYFILE N

 This would write a batch file named SETNAME.BAT,  which would SET the variable
 named MYFILE to a string representing the date only. After CALLing the SETNAME
 batch file, the variable %MYFILE% could be used in other batch files.



 ERRORLEVELS
 ===========

 The  success or failure  of the MakeName command  can be tested within a batch
 file by using IF ERRORLEVEL, as follows:

 ERRORLEVEL   MEANING
 ----------   -------
      0       MakeName worked successfully
    255       An error occured



 ==============================================================================
 SAMPLE BATCH FILES
 ==============================================================================


 This section contains two sample batch files.  Copies of these batch files are
 included in the MAKENAME package, as EXAMPLE1.BAT and EXAMPLE2.BAT.

 Here is a sample batch file that demonstrates the use of MAKENAME:

          
 BATCH FILE "EXAMPLE1.BAT"                   EXPLANATION
 ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
 @ECHO OFF                                   Turn off command echoing
 :AGAIN                                      Batch file label
 MAKENAME XYZ                                Make the SETNAME.BAT file
 CALL SETNAME.BAT                            Call it up
 ECHO Variable XYZ is set to %XYZ%           Demonstrate
 ECHO Press Ctrl-C to quit                   Tell user how to escape loop
 PAUSE                                       Wait for a key
 GOTO AGAIN                                  Loop back


 Here is a sample batch file that backs up your current directory to diskette.


 BATCH FILE "EXAMPLE2.BAT"                   EXPLANATION
 ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
 @ECHO OFF                                   Turn off command echoing
 MAKENAME MYVAR                              Make the SETNAME.BAT file
 CALL SETNAME.BAT                            Call it up
 PKZIP -a %MYVAR%.ZIP *.*                    Save everything in a ZIP file (*)
 COPY %MYVAR%.ZIP A:                         Copy the ZIP file to the diskette
 DEL %MYVAR%.ZIP                             Erase ZIP file
 DIR A:                                      Show what's on A:


 (*) PKZIP is an excellent  file compression  program  created  by  PKWare Inc.
     (PKWARE, Inc. 7545 N. Port Washington Rd,. Glendale, Wisconsin 53217 USA.)
     An alternative is the freeware program LHA.



 ==============================================================================
 LICENSING
 ==============================================================================

 This product is available in several forms.  For billing and pricing
 information, view or print the text file ORDER.TXT.

 TRIAL COPY:  If you have a "test-drive" evaluation copy, you will see a
 "Registration Reminder Screen" when you start up the program.  You are
 entitled to evaluate this program at no cost for 3 months.  If you continue to
 use it after that, you must register your copy and purchase a license, as
 described below.

 SINGLE-USER LICENSE:  When you register an evaluation copy of this product,
 you will receive the latest version, plus an unlocking code that will let you
 register any new evaluation versions that we release for a period of two years
 (six years for deluxe registration).

 SITE/MULTI-COPY LICENSES:  If you plan to run 15 or more copies of this
 program (on a network or on separate computers), you can obtain quantity
 pricing.  For details, view or print the text file ORDER.TXT.

 LAN LICENSE:  Local Area Network users must purchase a license for each user
 (see "Single-User License" and "Site/Multi-Copy Licenses"), although they can
 reduce this amount if they have run-control software which sets an upper limit
 on the number of concurrent users for a given program.

 WAN LICENSE:  Wide Area Networks are treated like LANs, but you may find it
 more economical to purchase a Distribution License (see below).

 DISTRIBUTION LICENSE:  The distribution license allows you to use an unlimited
 number of copies.  You may include it in your application or commercial
 package as a utility.  The only restriction is that you may not distribute
 this document (i.e. the user manual) or its essential content. With this
 safeguard, we avoid placing ourselves in competition with you; the program
 must be used to support an application or product rather than being its main
 feature.

 SOURCE CODE LICENSE:  If you purchase the Turbo Pascal source code, you must
 also purchase a license for each machine that will run the modified program.
 Those portions of the source code written by Pinnacle Software remain
 copyrighted by Pinnacle, and may not be divulged to another party. As an
 alternative to purchasing the source code, you can also contract for us to
 make custom modifications to the program.

 RETAIL LICENSE:  You can sell complete, registered copies of this product,
 complete with documentation, in return for royalties.  The terms depend on
 volume and advance payments. Contact us for details.


