GETTING STARTED


DISKETTE FILES

Your MSLP-PC diskette should include the following files:


README.BAT 
README.TXT 
QSTART.TXT 
GUIDE.TXT 
MSLP.EXE 
MSMSG.EXE 
MSEDIT.EXE 
MSLPRUN.EXE 
MSOUTPUT.EXE 
SAMPLE.IN 
MSLP.DRV 


INSTALLATION

MSLP-PC, Version 2.60, requires minimum 256 K RAM and 2 floppy 
diskette drives or a hard disk on IBM compatibles. If you have 
more than 256K real memory (as opposed to expanded or extended 
memory), MSLP-PC, Version 2.60 will handle linear programming 
models ranging in size up to 200 rows by 400 columns. 

In the following instructions you will be asked to type commands 
at a PC keyboard. These commands are shown between quotes, e.g. 
"format b:". Do not type the quotation marks themselves.

MSLP-PC is not copy-protected, and may therefore be copied to hard 
disk and subsequently used without inserting the original diskette 
in drive A. It is also wise to make a backup copy immediately, and 
to store it in a safe place.

Hard Disk:

The following assumes your hard disk is drive C, and you have at 
least one floppy diskette drive A. If you are installing MSLP-PC 
on another hard disk, say D, substitute D for C in the following 
instructions.

Boot DOS (version 2.00 or later) from hard disk C or from floppy 
diskette drive A.

Make sure the default drive is your hard disk C (if necessary, 
type "c:" and hit return). 

Create a subdirectory MSLP, into which all MSLP files will be 
copied (type "md \mslp" and hit return).

Make the MSLP subdirectory the default directory (type "cd \mslp" 
and hit return).

Copy the file MSLP260.ZIP to the directory C:\MSLP. Use PKUNZIP.EXE 
to extract the MSLP program files (type <path>PKUNZIP MSLP260.ZIP, 
where <path> is the directory containing PKUNZIP.EXE).

MSLP-PC can be executed from the MSLP directory by typing "MSLP" 
and hitting the return key.

Floppy Diskette: 
(you will need two new double sided double density diskettes)

Boot DOS (version 2.00 or later) in drive A.

Prepare a data diskette:

In addition to your MSLP-PC program diskette, you will need a 
formatted data diskette. If you do not have one prepared, place a 
new double sided double density diskette in drive B and type 
"format b:" and hit the return or enter key.

When formatting is complete, remove the diskette from drive B and 
label it as your data diskette.

Make a working MSLP-PC program diskette:

With your DOS diskette still in drive A, insert another blank 
diskette in drive B, again type "format b:" and hit the return or 
enter key.

When formatting is complete, copy the MSLP260.ZIP file to the 
diskette in drive B and use PKUNZIP.EXE to extract the MSLP 
program files (type <path>PKUNZIP B:\MSLP260.ZIP, where <path> is the 
path to PKUNZIP.EXE, e.g. A:\ if PKUNIP.EXE is on drive A).

When all the files have been extracted to the diskette in drive B, 
label that diskette as your working MSLP-PC program diskette. 

To run, place your working MSLP-PC diskette in drive A and the 
formatted data diskette in drive B. Type "MSLP" and hit the return 
key to initiate MSLP-PC.

Customizing MSLP-PC:

If you have a color monitor, or if you wish to speed up the screen 
output, you should execute the CONFIGURE option from the main 
menu, then choose the MONITOR option on the next menu. You can 
then select COLOR or MONOCHROME operation from the subsequent 
menu, and BIOS or DIRECT screen writes from the next menu. As 
shipped, MSLP-PC uses BIOS screen writes to ensure trouble-free 
operation on all "compatibles." BIOS screen writes are slow, 
however, so you should experiment with the DIRECT screen writes 
which will work on all 100% compatibles and most others.
