		      Release Notes for VB Launch (R) 

				Version 1.00

 		     (C) Copyright James Miller, 1995

This document contains release notes for VB Launch. Information in this 
document is more current than that in the online Help.

     ********************************************************************
     Read Part 3 - Software Installation Information - before installing.
     ********************************************************************

Trademarks

Microsoft, Access, Visual Basic and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation.

========
Contents
========

Part    Description
----    -----------
 1      About VB Launch

 2      About Chastity

 3      Software Installation Information

 4      Running VB Launch

 5      James Miller

 6      Contacting VideoFax and Ordering Product


Part 1 : About VB Launch
========================

VB Launch is used to run and compile Visual Basic Projects.

It also has many other useful features, designed to make life easy for the
Visual Basic Programmer.

* VB Launch allows the project to be examined before it is loaded by Visual Basic.
  This avoids that infuriating wait, while a large project is loaded, only to be 
  found it is the wrong one!

* Every time VB Launch runs or compiles a Visual Basic Project, it makes an entry
  in a simple log file. These can have extra comments as required, so that later 
  you can remember when you fixed that bug!

* VB Launch can take a Visual Basic Project and compile it to a new .exe file in
  a batch mode, either from DOS or Windows. In DOS, you can actually setup a batch
  file, that will compile any number of .exe files, say overnight or during lunch.

* VB Launch can be used to control editing of the Visual Basic project file.

* VB Launch manages a note file for each of your Visual Basic projects. This 
  means that all of those silly notes can be found. The editing of the note file
  is through the Windows notepad program.

* VB Launch can be used to edit a readme file, that is to be distributed with 
  your program. This file was managed in this way.

* VB Launch can copy a Visual Basic Project to a new directory or floppy disc.
  The Project can be compressed if required.

* VB Launch can print and search a Visual Basic Project in many ways, so that
  your Visual Basic Project is fully documented.

* VB Launch can convert your Visual Basic Project from Text to Binary and vice-
  versa.

* VB Launch can execute your created .exe file directly.

VB Launch can also create the files needed to run the Chastity Software Protection
and Installation System 


Part 2 : About Chastity
=======================

Chastity is a software protection philosophy, that can be applied to 
both programs and data files on all operating systems and computers. 

Chastity is available now for Microsoft Windows. As needs develop, 
versions will be released for other operating systems.

Chastity was conceived, developed and written by James Miller, 
initially so that he could distribute copies of a unique database 
analyser called Daisy on a demonstration basis. Each new copy would 
work for 30 Days and then refuse access.

Chastity has been designed so that no hidden or spurious files are 
placed on the users computer or LAN. No Microsoft DOS/Windows rules 
are broken.

Chastity includes :-

* A configuration program, that builds all the special files.

* A setup program that augments and replaces the standard setup 
  program supplied with Microsoft Visual Basic. 

* Full source code of the Visual Basic, any DLLs and the code you 
  must put in your programs.


Versions of Chastity
--------------------

Two versions of Chastity are available.

The Standard Version of the software can be used to install up to 
3 products and a 1000 sets of distribution discs. This means 
perhaps 300 copies of one product, 300 of another and 400 of a
third.

The Full Version comes with lots of extra goodies and has limits 
of twenty products and 10,000 sets of discs.

If you want to break these limits, tell us and we will quote you
for your needs. In many cases there will be no extra charge.

You only have a demonstration version of Chastity, which cannot be
used to distribute software.


What Can Chastity Do?
---------------------

Some of the applications of Chastity will now be listed.


* Management of Product Files

  Chastity manages all the files you need to create a Visual Basic product.

  * It brings the creation of the distribution discs to the very heart of writing a 
    product, especially as if it can be called from VB Launch, where the Visual Basic 
    Super Project is used to create the Chastity Install File.

  * When a new file is to be added to the product, Chastity is used to add this file 
    to the Chastity Install File at the appropriate point. Chastity automatically 
    recalculates all sizes needed and adjusts dialogs as required.

  * As every file needed is listed in the Chastity Install File, Chastity can easily 
    check whether any of the product files have been changed.

  * Chastity makes the creation of distribution discs, a secure and safe process, as it 
    knows all the files you need for your product.

  * Chastity also is a powerful tool during the development phase of a program. For 
    instance, where perhaps only a few files of many have been changed, then working 
    copies of distribution discs need only be updated, rather than recreated.


* Fast Development of Distribution Discs

  Traditionally, this is an add-on at the end of the development process. Chastity and 
  VB Launch used together make the distribution disc creation, an integral part of the 
  development process.

  This makes for faster, simpler and hence much safer creation of the distribution discs. 


* Updating of Development Distribution Discs

  We've all done it. 

  Made twenty initial sets for beta-testing of our wonderful new product and then found 
  that there is a small bug in a couple of files. So you have to make them all again!

  Chastity can be very selective, when it creates a distribution disc.

  * This enables only those files that have been changed to be copied, so the time to 
    recreate is vastly reduced. And the safety is increased.

  * This also allows distribution discs to be copied automatically, and then the latest 
    files can be copied on delivery. 


* Limited Life Demonstration Discs

  Chastity enables a demonstration disc to be made, which once installed 
  through the Setup program will run for how many days you decide. Any 
  attempts to circumvent the locking, result in the user being barred 
  from access.


* Secure Configuration Files

  Chastity enables a secure configuration control file for your program to be stored on 
  disc. Any changes to this file will be detected by the software.

  Daisy, a database analysis program, also written by James Miller, makes extensive use 
  of a secure configuration file, to restrict the features in demo versions and to control 
  access to special features for each version of the software. This means that all versions 
  of Daisy are in affect the same, which saves greatly on software maintenance.


* Secure Data Files

  Similar techniques can be used to protect important data files in any computer system. 


* Stopping Software Theft from Hard Discs and LANs

  Chastity helps prevent software being stolen from hard discs and LANs.

  Programs installed using Chastity can be copied to floppy discs for archiving and 
  security. These can be copied back at any time, but if they are copied to another 
  computer, they will not work.

  No Windows/DOS rules are broken.


* Locking of CD-ROM's

  Chastity can ensure that programs must be run from the CD-ROM on which they reside.


* Registration of Software

  Chastity can print a registration document with all of the customers details, which 
  can then be mailed or FAXed.


* Active Control of the Number of Users

  The Full Version of Chastity also contains code for controlling the maximum number 
  of users of a program. 

  Linked to a secure configuration file and incorporated into your program, this 
  provides a way of ensuring that the maximum number of users is never exceeded.


* Disc Label Printing

  The Full Version of Chastity can print disc labels with serial numbers.


* Vanilla Program

  The Full Version of Chastity also contains a 'Vanilla' program, which effectively 
  renames and disables all of the .vbx's and .dll's on your computer, so that you can 
  test your installation procedure.


* Product Support

  The Full Version of Chastity also contains a series of support programs, that you 
  can distribute with your software, to make support more formal and easier, for both 
  you and your customers.


* Uninstall Program

  The Full Version of Chastity contains an Uninstall or Remove Program, that will 
  remove your software from the user's computer.



Part 3 : Software Installation Information
==========================================

To be reading this, you must have worked out, that you need to unzip the 
file vblaun80.zip. Place all the files in a suitable directory.

VB Launch is installed by running the program SETUP.EXE, which you will
unzipped from vblaun80.zip.

Note that VB Launch assumes you have a copy of Microsoft Visual Basic 3.0 on
your computer. As it needs the files VB.EXE and VBRUN300.DLL, it cannot be 
installed and run successfully without those programs.

SETUP.EXE is a Windows application; that is, it is run from Windows rather
than from the MS-DOS prompt.  SETUP.EXE will only run in Windows Standard or
Enhanced mode.  It will not run in Real mode.  You can determine how Windows
is configured on your computer by choosing About from the Help menu in the
Program Manager.

VB Launch needs Windows 3.1 and the computer must be at least a 386 with 4 Mbytes
of RAM.  

To install VB Launch, use Program Manager or File Manager to start SETUP.EXE 
as you would any other Windows-based application.  For example, if you are 
installing from C:\VBLAUNCH

  - From the Program Manager File menu, choose Run.

  - In the Run dialog box, type C:\VBLAUNCH\SETUP and choose OK.

  Or

  - From the File Manager, double-click on the SETUP.EXE file icon
  on directory C:\VBLAUNCH\.

Most of the files are compressed and must be expanded before they can be used.  
For VB Launch to work properly, you must install the files using SETUP.EXE.  
You cannot simply copy the files to your hard disc.

During setup, VB Launch installs files such as CMDIALOG.VBX into your Windows 
system directory.  These are the same files as in Microsoft Visual Basic.

The full version of VB Launch needs about 500 KBytes of Hard disc space to 
be installed.


Part 4 : Running VB Launch
==========================

VB Launch is run just like any other Windows application.  Just double-click 
on the VB Launch icon in the Main group in the main Windows screen.


Part 5 : James Miller
=====================

James Miller has been programming for thirty years. 

In 1976, he was a founder partner in the company that developed 
Artemis, the world-leading mini/micro-based Project Management 
System, which was sold to Lockheed of the United States in 1985.

Other products developed by James Miller, include :-

* Daisy is an Interactive Graphical Database Analysis program for all 
  databases, that at its lowest level is a simple addition to a   
  specialist system and at the other is a multi-database, multi-user, 
  multi-chart, LAN-compliant, LAN-wide system for a whole 
  organisation.

* Lucy is a calendar-based date calculator, for doing date/time 
  calculations either stand-alone or in any database. It can also be 
  run as a DLL from any other program, with the calendars setup from 
  the calculator. 


Part 6 : Contacting VideoFax and Ordering Product
=================================================

Two Versions of VB Launch are available in addition to this simple demonstration
copy.

The Standard Version, which has many more features, such as searching and printing
Projects and Files. This comes with a version of Chastity, that allows the user 
to distribute up to 1000 sets of distribution discs of up to three products.

This costs 99 pounds sterling or 149 US dollars.

The Full Version, which comes with the Full Version of Chastity, which allows
distribution of up to 10000 distribution discs of up to  twenty products.

This costs 199 pounds sterling or 299 US dollars.

If you want to distribute more. Please call!

Contact James Miller and VideoFax at 

  VideoFax Ltd.
  East Green Farm
  Great Bradley
  Newmarket
  Suffolk CB8 9LU
  United Kingdom

  Tel: +44-1440-783789
  Fax: +44-1440-783791

  EMail: Daisy@CityScape.co.uk
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