 STRATA MAIN INSTALLATION MENU 

     In order to run this software you must have one of the editions of
Strata's PC animation software: StudioPro or SV3D.  These  will be referred to
simply as Strata.

- Quick Installation -
  If you are installing Strata for the first time, use the "Quick
Installation" option.

  After installing Strata, you will be prompted to re-boot the computer.  This
will put into effect the options that you have selected during installation.
You can then run Strata by typing SPRO (for the StudioPro edition) or SV3D
(for the SV3D edition) from the subdirectory on which it was installed.

- Custom Installation -
  If you want to change any part of the installation later, such as adding
more texture maps, select "Custom Installation".  This will enable you to make
changes in Strata without having to go through the complete installation
procedure.

- Help -
  The Help Option is context sensitive.  That means that the Help option
appears on several menus.  When Help is selected, the file HELP.TXT is loaded
and set to the position in the file that explains the options on that
particular menu.  Use the Up and Down arrow keys to scroll up and down one
line at a time and use the PgUp and PgDn keys to scroll a page at a time.  The
Esc key returns you to the menu from which you chose Help.

- Diagnose -
  This option checks the computer for various hardware and software functions
used by Strata to verify that it is properly set up to run the software.  If
problems are found, comments and suggestions will be listed to help you
correct the situation.  There is a more extensive diagnostic program that
comes with Strata called TESTVESA.EXE.  However, it is unlikely that you
will need to use this program.

- Optimize -
  OPTIMIZE.TXT is a plain text file that explains various techniques for
enhancing the performance of Strata.  The file that can be viewed with this
option.

- Readme -
  README.TXT is a plain text file that contains information that was too late
to be included in the manual.  The file that can be viewed with this option.
You can also print the file with the PRINT command from DOS.

 SUBDIRECTORIES

- Subdirectory where Strata resides -
  This is the subdirectory where Strata will be installed.  It should be
capable of holding at least 8Mb.

- Archive subdirectory -
  Files that you create are stored here.  Texture maps and other files
supplied with Strata are also stored here during installation.  There are
two texture map libraries each requiring approximately 18 Mbytes.  It is
recommended that you load just the first library.  The other library can be
loaded later with the Custom Installation option, or as needed while using
Strata.  The other data files (table shaders, reflectance maps, wireframe
files and demo files) require less than 5Mb.

- Work subdirectory -
  This subdirectory contains temporary files.  If you have at least 12Mb of
extended memory, you can use some of it to set up a RAM disk to enhance the
speed of the system.  See "Optimize" below for details.

- Drive A or B -
  This is the diskette drive from which you are installing Strata.

  When the subdirectories are as you want them, press the <Enter> key to
continue installation.

 CUSTOM INSTALLATION MENU 

- Name the subdirectories used by Strata -
  When Strata is installed, files are copied to three subdirectories,  one for
executable files, one for data files (the Archive subdirectory) and one for
temporary files (the Work subdirectory).  This option lets you assign the path
and names for these subdirectories.

- CONFIG.SYS -
   The installation program will NOT make any changes in your CONFIG.SYS file
unless you request it to do so.  If you intend to make the changes yourself,
see below for some recommendations and a sample.

  If you allow Install to change your CONFIG.SYS, it will first backup the
current one and then make the following conservative changes.
  1. Set the SHELL command to increase the environment (if necessary) to at
  least 512 bytes.
  2. Increases FILES to at least 30.
  3. Increases BUFFERS to at least 10.
  4. Adds HIMEM.SYS if no extended memory is found.
  5. Adds ANSI.SYS if necessary.
  6. Adds DOS=HIGH if necessary.

  Multiple startup files (new to MS-DOS 6) cannot be altered.  You can change
a single CONFIG.SYS file with this option before incorporating it into the
multiple CONFIG.SYS file.  The same procedure is recommend in the MS-DOS 6
manual for optimizing startup files with MEMMAKER.

  After changing the CONFIG.SYS file, a report is printed on the screen.
The messages include:
    MESSAGE                      COMMENT
    Can't find SHELL command     Copy COMMAND.COM to C:\
    Error setting HIMEM          HIMEM.SYS or QEMM386 should be installed
    Can't find ANSI.SYS          Copy ANSI.SYS TO C:\ OR C:\DOS
    Can't find RAMDRIVE.SYS      See Help on Optimize

  Here are recommendations for making a CONFIG.SYS file yourself that supports
Strata.

  SHELL=COMMAND.COM /E:512/P    (Required, but 512 is approximate)
  FILES=30                      (Required, but 30 is approximate)
  BUFFERS=10                    (Required, 20 if not using a cache)
  {Memory manager}              (Required; HIMEM.SYS is recommended)
  {RAM (virtual) disk}          (Strongly recommended)
  {Cache program}               (Strongly recommended here or in AUTOEXEC.BAT)
  ANSI.SYS                      (Required)
  DOS=HIGH                      (Recommended)

  Below is an example of a CONFIG.SYS file that uses a RAM disk.
The Optimize option explains how to use a RAM disk with Strata.

  SHELL=COMMAND.COM /E:512/P
  FILES=30
  BUFFERS=10
  DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS /NUMHANDLES=64
  DEVICE=C:\DOS\RAMDRIVE.SYS 7168 512 /e
  DEVICE=C:\DOS\ANSI.SYS
  DOS=HIGH

    See the instructions that came with your memory cache to see if it must be
called from the AUTOEXEC.BAT rather than the CONFIG.SYS.

- AUTOEXEC.BAT -
  The installation program will NOT make any changes in your AUTOEXEC.BAT
file unless you request it to do so.  If you intend to make the changes
yourself, see below for some recommendations and a sample.

  If you allow Install to change your AUTOEXEC.BAT, it will first backup the
current one and then add one of the following lines
  SET DISPLAYCFG=VGA
  SET DISPLAYCFG=SVGA
  SET DISPLAYCFG=SVGA24
depending on the capability of your graphics card.

  Multiple startup files (new to MS-DOS 6) cannot be altered.  You can change
a single AUTOEXEC.BAT file with this option before incorporating it into the
multiple AUTOEXEC.BAT file.  The same procedure is recommend in the MS-DOS 6
manual for optimizing startup files with MEMMAKER.

  After changing the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, a report is printed on the screen.
The messages include:
    MESSAGE                      COMMENT
    SMARTDRV.EXE not loaded      See Help on Optimize
    VESA driver not loaded       If your graphics card has a software
                                 driver, it must be run before Strata is run
                                 (see below).

  Here are recommendations for making an AUTOEXEC.BAT file yourself that works
with Strata.

  @ECHO OFF                        (Optional)
  PROMPT $P$G                      (Recommended prompt for subdirectories)
  {Cache program}                  (Strongly recommended)
  SET DISPLAYCFG={SVGA or VGA or SVGA24}     (Required, see below)
  {SVGA or VGA device driver}      (If required)
  {Mouse driver}                   (Required)

  The environmental variable DISPLAYCFG must be in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, and
be set equal to SVGA or SVGA24.  The exact command to put in the AUTOEXEC.BAT
file is determined as follows.  If the graphics card supports the VESA
standard, but not 24-bit graphics, use SET DISPLAYCFG=SVGA and make sure to
run the VESA driver that came with the card.  If the graphics card fully supports 16.8 million colors (that means the
112H VESA mode which is 640x480 resolution with 16.8 million colors), then use
SET DISPLAYCFG=SVGA24.  Some VESA compliant cards have the VESA drivers built
into the card.  Don't load a VESA driver that is meant for another card.  You
can also run the Diagnose option to see what the best mode is for running
Strata with your current card.  To get an accurate reading, if your card
requires a driver, be sure that it is running.

  Below is an example of an AUTOEXEC.BAT file that requires the Orchid card
driver: ORCHDVSA.COM.

  @ECHO OFF
  PROMPT $P$G
  SET DISPLAYCFG=SVGA
  ORCHDVSA
  C:\MOUSE1\MOUSE

- Virtual memory swapdisk -
  When Strata is rendering an image, it uses extended memory.  Virtual memory
allows the renderer to continue even if it runs out of extended memory by
using a hard disk as temporary memory.  This temporary memory is called a
swapdisk and is actually a file.  The default size of the file is 5Mb, but the
range is 3Mb - 8Mb and there is only a slight decrease in efficiency at 3Mb.
This option allows you to set the size of the swapdisk before the the
installer creates it.

  The default path/filename for the swap disk is C:\XMSWAP.TMP.  If the
virtual memory manager needs even more memory than is contained in XMSWAP.TMP,
it temporarily increases it.  Although this slows the system down slightly,
the actual size limit of the virtual memory is that of the free space on the
hard disk.  You can move the swap to another subdirectory by setting an
environmental variable SWAP=<path/filename>.  For example to set up a swapdisk
named XMSWAP.TMP on D:\TEMP, first put SET SWAP=D:\TEMP\XMSWAP.TMP in your
AUTOEXEC.BAT then move XMSWAP.TMP from C:\ to D:\TEMP.

- Install Strata executables -
  The executable files that make up Strata are unpacked onto the subdirectory
that you selected.  If this subdirectory already exists, you will receive a
prompt asking if it is OK to erase any old files.  If you respond with a NO
then the Strata executables will NOT be installed.  This prevents mixing old
files with new ones.

- Unpack data and demo files -
  There are two texture map libraries each requiring approximately 18 Mb of
disk space.  The other data files (table shaders, reflectance maps, wireframe
files and demo files) require less than 5Mb.  The demo file allows you to view
samples of rendered images and an animated sequence using the "Picture Show"
option.  If this subdirectory already exists, you will have the option of
preserving any files that already exist on the subdirectory or overwriting
them.

- Set up work subdirectory -
  To speed up the rendering process, all of the executables are run from a
separate subdirectory called the work subdirectory.  It is intended that the
work subdirectory be on a RAM disk, although Strata will run fine without
one. To simplify installation, the default work subdirectory is set to be
C:\WK. If you have 12Mb or more of extended memory and can set aside 8Mb for
a RAM disk, your system will run faster while rendering a sequence.  See
Optimize for instructions on how to setup the work subdirectory on a RAM
disk.

