       
        
       
                           The Batch ENhancer (c) 1992 
                                 Version 3.00
                   BEN300.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 (38 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 complementing any menuing system (eg. Magik
            Menu).
       -    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 AFTER INSTALLING PACKAGE
     
       
       
       README         Readme file documentation
       BENDEMO.BAT    Demo batch file that shows the features of BEN
       BROWSE.BAT     Batch file that acts as a file browser
       INSTALL.BAT    Installation batch file for BEN
       BENDEMO.DA1    Data file for BENDEMO.BAT
       BENDEMO.DA2    Data file for BENDEMO.BAT
       BENDEMO.DA3    Data file for BENDEMO.BAT
       BENDEMO.DA4    Data file for BENDEMO.BAT
       BENDEMO.DA5    Data file for BENDEMO.BAT
       BENDEMO.DA6    Data file for BENDEMO.BAT
       FILE_ID.DIZ    Four-line description of the package
       BEN.EXE        Batch ENhancer (BEN) program
       BENEDIT.EXE    A batch file editor that allows the user to
                      access all the features of BEN easily.
       BEN.HLP        Help file for BEN.EXE
       BENEDIT.HLP    Help file for BENEDIT.EXE
       BEN.TXT        Documentation for BEN
       PRODUCTS.TXT   Text file that describes every product that
                      is produced by Simvis Soft.
       VENDOR.TXT     Text file that describes BEN's distribution
                      policy
       WHATSNEW.TXT   Text file that describes the new features
                      of BEN version 3.00

       For most users having either a hard drive and one or two  
       floppy drives, use the normal installation procedure by
       doing the following at the DOS prompt:
       
             INSTALL       <then press enter/return key>
       
       Once unpacked, run the demo program using the command:  

             BENDEMO       <then press return/enter key>

