                   Running a Board Under DESQview
                   ------------------------------

                           TABLE OF CONTENTS
			   -----------------
          			   
	 _1_                 Introduction

	 _2_	          System Requirements

	 _3_          OK! I've installed DV and QEMM!

	 _4_	         My CookBook (Suggestions)

	 _5_	       AHH The Support! (DV Add-ons)

	 _6_	            Summing it all up


    (Do a search for @ for any new stuff since last Update)



                     _1_   INTRODUCTION
                         
     (if you have already read this text file on a past
     release just scan threw the *'s to see the stuff new
     since the first release, as this is just a maintenance
     text file on anything new about DV 2.6 / QEMM 7.01


     Running a BBS is a time consuming task that many people do
     because they enjoy it. Its a nice hobby that sometimes gets
     frustrating because it hogs your computer, and sometimes yer
     parents or your brother or sister have to something. (or maybe
     even you) and you have to alas...take the board down. (ugh)
     This Document will not educate you on all the fine points of
     DESQview, but will help you understand and give you pointers
     and tips on how to successfully run your board in DESQview, and
     be able to run other programs, such as other Nodes for your
     board, Word Perfect, and many other things. I will also offer
     a special optimize section on how to really bust open your
     memory!!!

                _2_     SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS  
                              
    -At least a 386 of some sort....i have tested it on a 386dx33 and
     a 386Dx40
    -i would say 2 megs of RAM. I have 8 now..but when i first started
     i had two. Just remember the more extra RAM you have, the more you
     can do to improve everything, Speed(with extra Caching/Ram Disk) and
     memory improvements, all of which open up MANY more options for you
    -Hard Drive Space is redundant.....DESQview and Qemm are very small for
     what they give you...
    -QEMM 386 and DESQview 386 Software.....These are Commercial products
     made by QuarterDeck Systems.  Current Versions are Qemm 7.03 and DV
     2.61
    -Dos 5 is what this has been tested on....many of my help stuff may
     or may not work properly with other versions of DOS. (shrug)
    -You don't need these, but many shareware programs are VERY helpful. I   
     will get to this later.....


               _3_  OK I'VE INSTALLED QEMM and DV!!!


     
        Ok.....your probably sitting there saying...what do i do now...
     The first thing i would do is MAKE sure that optimize loaded every
     thing high...(it sometimes can actually reduce your conventional
     memory!! for no reason!!)....next and this is really important...boot
     up the MFT program that comes with qemm and read the hints section
     and DO whatever it says..(cept run optimize) this has saved me A LOT
     of memory. If QEMM did not ask you...you should also try and find out
     if your system can run in QEMM Stealth mode, which also saved me
     conventional memory......ok.....after you've gone through all that..
     you load up DESQview....hey.....you have four megs...but DESQview
     has suddenly robbed you of conventional memory!!..you can now
     only load programs of a smaller nature...Not to fear...we get to this
     part later...first you should configure DESQview to run optimally under
     a bulletin board situation....run SETUP from the DOS prompt(outside
     of DV) and do the following......

     GOTO PERFORMANCE.....

     change the foreground and background ticks to 1/1..this seems to
     work the best for me.....

     set optimize communications to YES	(Doesn't seem to matter)

     I set my common memory and EMS to 20 and 5 respectively, This should
     be all you need to really do in setup....

     GOTO VIDEO OPTIONS

     The only one of any real validity here would be the display text
     and graphics at the same time feature, which should be disabled
     if you intend to run intensive graphics software, this will
     run DV in regular full screen text mode, and you will not be able
     to change line modes once inside DV. Disabling this option will
     for some free up some memory....


                  MY SAMPLES..............

     Here are my samples for my PIF files for DV...they are my board tasks
     that work really nicely.....
	   	                                
 Program Name............: Tomb of Horrors Node 1
 
 Keys to Use on Open Menu: TT                         Memory Size (in K): 500
 
  Program...: bbs.bat
  
 Parameters:
 
 Directory.: c:\dv
 
  Options:
   Writes text directly to screen.......: [N]
   Displays graphics information........: [N]
   Virtualize text/graphics (Y,N,T).....: [Y]
   Uses serial ports (Y,N,1,2)..........: [N]
                                                                                            Requires floppy diskette.............: [N]
                                                                                            
                      Change a Program Advanced Options
                      
 System Memory (in K).......:   0   Maximum Program Memory Size (in K)..: 640
 
 Script Buffer Size.......:     0   Maximum Expanded Memory Size (in K):    0
 
 Text Pages: 1  Graphics Pages: 0   Initial Mode:        Interrupts: 00 to FF
 
  Window Position:
  Maximum Height:  25       Starting Height:  25       Starting Row...:  25
  Maximum Width.:  80       Starting Width.:  80       Starting Column:  80
 
  Shared Program
  Path name..:
  Data......:
 
 Close on exit (Y,N,blank)......: [N]  Uses its own colors..............: [Y]
 Allow Close Window command.....: [Y]  Runs in background (Y,N,blank)...: [Y]
 Uses math co processor..........: [N]  Keyboard conflict (0-F)..........: [0]
 Share CPU when foreground......: [Y]  Share EGA when foreground/zoomed.: [Y]
 Can be swapped out (Y,N,blank).: [N]  Protection level (0-3)...........: [0]
                                                 

  Some Notes on Maximum Expanded Memory Size...setting this to 0 will
   make sure that the task takes as little EMS as possible, i only
   do this because i run my board and its swaps on a ram drive, if you
   have a smaller amount of memory, you may want to leave this field
   blank, and use your EMS...(for the swapping,overlays) This is fine
   but be warned many programs will grab a huge and ridiculous
   amount of this and limit your ability to open tasks!!
	   
   Also Note the Window position...in Rearrange from the DESQ key, you
   can change the video modes from 25 to a max of 60....i USE 50..and
   this window if loaded the way it is now 25,80,25,80,25,80 will
   load perfectly unto the bottom of your screen...thus leaving the top
   of the screen open for another task to work in!! (Great for watching
   people on your board while in another task) to make a window fit
   perfectly unto the top of the screen, just change the last 25,80 to
   0,0.
	
                        _4_   MY COOKBOOK
	   					     
      And now I come to one of the best things that ever happened to
      DESQview....ME!!!....when i found out what DESQview does and what
      it can do...i took it upon myself to find out how to make it work
      for my board and me to the very MAX.......i will now tell u some
      hints and stuff about what to do to optimize memory and DV performance
       
   -load programs HIGH if possible..this saves Conventional memory...
   -make use of a list of DV utils that are listed below.....
   -Don't listen to people that say DESQview sucks...they annoy me....
   -FOR SURE...use a software CACHE..the bigger the better...i use 2 megs
   -Your startup files(autoexec.bat and config.sys) are the keys to
    getting the most out of yer memory in DESQview...make sure that
   	you are NOT limiting your self by thoughtless errors/misconceptions
   	on what should and should not be in them....(ie...loading smartdrv
   	and fastopen...don't laugh..i did this)
   -if a program can be loaded IN a Desqview window(certain devices can
    be, as well as *.com) do so, as this will affect the DESQview
    task rather than the conventional memory outside of DV...(and thus
    adding more memory to yer DESQview windows!)
   -If you run inside DESQview specifically..and never call out or
    run your board without it...remove Ansi.sys from your system..
    its useless and redundant as DESQview needs its own ansi drivers(as
    explained later) and thus would just be a waste of memory.
   -if you can...use a ram disk..its so fast...for anything..just
    remember that if you put something that is constantly updated on it
    if you shut yer computer off its gone....(ideal for swapping and
    overlay files)
   -High Speed Modems...ahh..if you run External High Speed Modems...
    i strongly suggest that you get the NS16550A UART Chip installed
    on your serial card. It will stop those nasty serial and data
    CRC errors...
   -Exception Errors (#12 and #13) Believe it or not..this isn't QEMM
    making the error...it is REPORTING IT...try loading and unloading
    in different orders any of your device drivers that you  have
    loading high(actually  anything loading high!) and this most likely
    will stop this.  
   -Well...er...get more RAM..each time i add more RAM..i can do more
    with it and i get happier and happier...and so will you...
   -Make sure you load an ansi driver inside each DV window that you
    open...such as DVANSI or DNANSI(see Below)...or you won't be able
    to see ANSI at certain times... 
   -If you insist on running say Wing Commander 2..you will notice
    that it runs rather slow or jerky...You should have Major
    Caching on, as well as a jostling of the foreground and
    background ticks when playing something as demanding as this..
    (i will say that you MUST turn the DISPLAY graphics and text
    at the same time off) or yer gonna have problems. If you
    set your foreground to 9 and background to 2...WC2 flies..if you
    set it to about 5 and 5, it seems good nuff to play...(its up to
    you, but remember the lower the background goes the slower your
    board will run)
   -if you get a lot of crashes try excluding expanded memory from
    being mapped into yer video range...do this by adding the
    X=A000-C7FF after the RAM in yer Qemm line..						
   -The New QDPMI Driver seemingly might cause crashes on some
    systems...if you experience crashes you can try removing
    this by running QSETUP from the Qemm directory (only 7.01
    or higher)
  @ If you run a a board and use pkunzip in the background, try
    turning off DPMI when using this -) in the pkunzip line.
  @ Using I=0C00-0FFF I=0800-0FFF in the QEMM line will in increase
    your memory INSIDE of DESQview. It also may cause problems. Use them
    at your own discretion.
  @ Use a RAM DISK for stuff like a BBS.OVR file.  It makes a HUGE
    difference

     						
                     _5_   AHH...THE SUPPORT

    My System : 386/DX40 8 Megs of RAM 130 MegHD Dual-NS16550A Serial
    Card, 2 Nodes, Renegade,Front Door, 9600 Cardinal/FD 2400Supra/RG
     
    Below are a list of files and descriptions of programs that i use
    and highly recommend for DESQview.......Most of them are available
    for FREQ from my board at any of my address's.....
	    
       DOS-UP -- Since i got Qemm 7.01 and DV 2.6, i just ran
       optimize and used Dos-up rather than the shareware
       Program Dosmax, it seemingly gives more conventional memory
       at Dos, so why not??

	HYPERDISK(Disk Cache) --This Cache is much faster and superior
	than SmartDrv or FastOpen..(or NCache from what im told) it supports
	many features(staged Writes) and is DESQview aware. Here is the  
	sample that i use in my autoexec.bat
		
	c:\qemm\loadhi c:\hyper\hyperdkx OR C:2000 UI:+ S
		
	This loads it high, turns off the status thingy, puts 2 megs of
	ram into the cache(not everyone can afford to do this.) enables
	DESQview awareness and turns on Staged Writes, which are really
	good but a little dangerous if used incorrectly. Read the Dox
	for more info on HyperDisk....
	(also make not that using a large Disk Cache with the
	staged write feature set on, you may encounter CRC errors
	on transfers when the disk is being heavily accessed, by
	perhaps something like pkunzip.  This might have something
	to do with the QDMPI driver if its loaded, but i think it
	would be because of the large cache and the periodic
       	updates it does to the hard drive)

       	DVCPY200.ZIP  --Just a faster nicer, DESQview aware copying Program
       	It is faster and won't slow down (AS MUCH!!) the tasks of yours
       	when you do disk copying. (I'm sure you've seen what happens when
       	you try to do a disk copy in DESQview)
		
       	DNANSI.COM  --This file replaces DVANSI as it won't allow keyboard
       	redirects (ahh..if you don't know what they are...they can be used
       	against you) I recommend this to anyone as it really isn't much of
       	a bother to replace the old one with this
		
        RAM DRIVE.SYS --Ummm...DOS FILE...but just wanted to show users who
        would like to make use of a ram drive how its done...
	    
       	Here we go...
		
       	DEVICE=c:\qemm\loadhi.sys /r:1 c:\dos\ram drive.sys 1800 512 256 /a
       	
       	Thats it......and that is 1.8 meg ram drive loaded high into
       	extended memory!!!
		
       	BOXER500.ZIP --Great DV aware Text editor..Very Fast and lots
       	of options....(im using it now!! grin)
          *(Lets just say that this text editor is almost as complete
       	as Word Perfect!!  It has absolutely EVERYTHING you could
       	want in a text editor and it runs AMAZINGLY fast and is
       	designed for programmers, but its great for everyone!!

       	DVC18.ARJ --Desqview Commander..This my friends is probably the
       	most magnificent piece of software written for DESQview, it has
       	a slew of functions that can be used for almost anything....most
       	notable for me anyways and for others who are in Networks and
       	mail echoes, is a way to set this file to run as soon as your
       	mail comes in, and what it does would be to open another window
       	that you have configured to do your echomail processing, instead
       	of having your board exit!! Imagine your mail being processed
       	in the background while yer board goes back up!! neat eh??
       	i use DVC OPEN <keys to open Window as defined in DV for that
       	WIndow)
		
       		  (excerpt from front.bat
			  
      	:Mailin
      	cd\dv
      	DVC OPEN MP ,H (opens the window with the letters MP as the
      	ones configured on the first page in Change a Program) and
      	HIDES the program(if you don't want it hidden leave out the
      	,H..I hide it because then it won't disturb my foreground
      	task if im working in one) and then you have that new
      	opened window configured to run yer regular mail in stuff
      	and then put an EXIT at the end of the bat file..and it
      	will close down...(I suggest against putting the close on
        exit within DV as this could cause the window to close
        prematurely)
        This type of setup can also be used on stuff like online game
       	maintenance and message base packing following the same guidelines
		
       	AUTOBOOT.ZIP  --Great file that if your modems or tasks Crash...it
       	will reboot each Window rather than the whole computer like most
       	programs of the same Genre....Heres the way mine is called..
		
       	autoboot /alr 20 /dvt t2 /sit 75
		
       	This would set an alarm to start beeping at 20 seconds before
       	task restart restart task T222 and wait for 75 seconds before
       	restarting the task once it detects something is wrong..

                   AUTO-STARTING DV (With YOUR BBS!!)
						  
				    	  
      -  make sure all dv windows are closed..

        hit SHIFT then ALT while holding SHIFT down...

      -  use a rarely used key for the key to redefine..

      -  use !start for the file name.

      -  Load your board task....and whatever else you wants
      -  member it all gets saved..so if u make mistakes REDO IT.....

      -  hit SHIFT THEN ALT while holding SHIFT down....
 
      -  hit finish script...exit desqview.
      -  it will ask you to save the scripts..say
      -  yes...and bingo!! it should work..
      -  (if not keep doing this a couple of times
      -  and it will work...


		
                       _6_  SUMMING IT ALL UP
						  


      Whew..after reading all that..is it really worth it to run DV?? I think
     so...if you have 2 megs fine!! I ran a board with two megs and was
     very happy with the way DV ran it....i love it more now because I added
     RAM and now im happy with 8 because i can do more with it..(ie.ram drive
     and extra caching..not to mention the multitude of windows that i can
     open up now)......When i had 2 megs.i was limited..with 4 megs i could
     open the first window in DV with about 610k exe program size..(mind you
     with all the above utils and stuff..and STEALTH enabled) and the other
     programs after that would be about 590 or so...With 8 its slightly more
     but remember i added more expanded or extended...and thus it wouldn't
     add a great amount inside of DESQview other than for extra programs to
     run rather than the size of them to run......So i find that it runs
     pretty fast, especially with the Disk Cache and the sneaky way i have
     Renegade using the ram drive.....(copy *.dat *.ovr *.exe to the ram drive
     on bootup....and copy *.dat to hard disk after each caller...Just in
     case).....I really hope that you consider using DV...as it would let
     you work on your board and do homework and play games...(im not an
     avid game player, but DESQview will run, perhaps not ideally, some of
     the popular games with the board up) and of course..the biggie..letting
     someone else use the computer WITH your board up. Personally i like
     being able to configure my board and stuff with users online....Anyways
     its pretty late...i will add follow up files to this one....to add thing
     s i may have missed....but PLEASE get in contact with me if you have
     any questions about DV or anything i have said...(or even if you have
     e any suggestions!!!) 
	
   * RG Note: For users using Renegade, make a note that it seems like a
   MUCH better idea to swap to a EMS file rather than making nuff room
   on the ramdisk for the multiple 289k(approx) RG swap files. EMS is
   just as fast for this.
     
   * News on DV 2.6 and QEMM 7.01
   
	 Not much to say here, they added some GREAT features that make
     QEMM a lot more appealing to some users, such as Dos-up, the
     QDMPI driver,etc.  They added an online help section to DV,
     made it look a TINY bit prettier, and allowed it to work in a
     network (don't ask me bout that cuz i never use one).  I have
     also noticed that the new 2.6 seemingly handles graphics
     better than the last release did.  Oh well.  Lets hope they
     release an even nicer version soon!! thats it!!	
	
     Later !!!
	
	 Acererak  Master of the Tomb of Horrors
	
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