
              RoboJob V 2.35c (C) Benno Sauer 1996,97,98
              ------------------------------------------

Welcome to the world of automated jobs!

This file contains information you need to install RoboJob and
additional information not included in the product documentation.

This README file is divided into the following categories:
   -  Product Features
   -  How to install
   -  Revision History
   -  Before You Install RoboJob
       -Software Requirements
       -Hardware Requirements
   -  Getting Help
   -  Installing RoboJob
   -  Late-Breaking News
   -  Trademarks
   -  Copyright

Product Features
----------------
   - 32 Bit Multithreaded PM Job Scheduler and Program Launcher
   - Smart Program Type autodetection
   - All program types supported: PM, OS/2, Dos & MS Windows
   - Low CPU usage
   - Job Termination Watch includes return code
   - Jobs may be scheduled dayly, multiple runs dayly,
          depending on existence or nonexistence of files or
          other programs running
          weekdays, months, years in advance
          New: depending on count of RoboJob starts
   - Rexx exit before a Job starts
   - Rexx exit after a Job ends
   - User definable holidays including those depending on Easter
   - Missed Jobs may be run on startup
   - Cancel Option for running Jobs
   - Batch Interface provided for adding, deleting and launching of Jobs,
          works across a Lan too, even cancel is supported
   - ObjStart utility for starting customized sessions
   - ObjSel utility included to help with object ids
   - RBNotify message box utility
   - RBGraph utility for graphical logfile presentation
   - RBScan utility for automating of *other* PM programs
   - RBCatch utility for automating of OS/2 text mode programs
   - Fonts and Colors user defineable
   - Extensive Logging
   - Automatic maintenance for logfiles
   - Online Help
   - 30 day Evaluation Version not crippled, no "nag screens"
   - Support by author via Internet, CompuServe of Fido Mail

How to install
--------------
   - type rbinst and press Enter
   - if you want another path, simple modify the default path provided
   - click install button
   - if you are upgrading from version 2.0 there is no need to
     regenerate the folder

Revision History
----------------
   Version
   1.0  - first public release
   1.01 - fixed unreadable spinbuttons in property and holiday dialog
        - this has happened when FixPack 17 was installed
        - fixed installation to copy .hlp file
        - Compuserve SWREG now available ID 11819
   1.02 - fixed countdown when suspending jobs
   1.03 - religious holidays didn't allow to include Good Friday
   1.04 - improved documentation
   1.05 - ObjStart utility included
   1.06 - fixed installation object id handling
        - fixed evaluation time reset with newer version
   1.07 - Robocmd may now be started from a VDM session
   1.08 - changed scheduling thread
   1.09 - fixed pipe peek error on shutdown
   1.10 - abilty to terminate RoboJob from RoboCmd
        - Uploaded to Compuserve
   1.11 - Changed scheduling cycle. Intervals were not consistent.
        - documentation didn't mention the popup menu and toolbar
        - documentation note about NPSWPS and the popup menu
        - added /h commandline switch to hold all jobs on startup
        - added possibilty to load another queue on startup
   1.12 - sorting introduced
        - finally fixed memory allocation problem
   1.13 to 1.50
        - some cosmetic changes needed for Merlin beta
        - various fixes needed with introduction of new memory scheme
        - development of ObjSel utility
   1.51 - ObjSel now included in RoboJob for free (a $10 value)
        - The fixed border has gone, resize the program as you like
   1.52 - Ability to change viewed columns in RoboJob and ObjSel
        - RoboJob now has a File Dialog for easy selecting programs to run
   1.53 to 1.60
        - Added documentation in HTML format
        - Added support for Hold and Release in RoboCmd
        - ObjSel can now edit and generate Object ID's
        - ObjStart supports now parameter(s) for object starting
        - Fixed problems on fast machines with Job termination missed
        - Fixed support for checking multiple files or programs
        - Fixed cancel command
        - Fixed needless resorting on Job finish
        - Added SET OVERDUE_DELAY=seconds support on startup
   1.61 to 2.00
        - Added dependent Jobs
        - Added RBNotify utility
        - Added parameter substitution
        - Added launch option to ObjSel
        - A lot of bugs eliminated (see online help)
        - Registering via BMT Micro
   2.01 - Fixed problem when shutdown occurred while RoboJob was minimized
        - Added /min and /max commandline parameters
        - Added hints to the Criteria Dialog
        - Warp 4 and Startupdirectory problems fixed
   2.02 - RBinst installation problems fixed
        - When registering via email, the welcome message was still shown
   2.03 to 2.10
        - Upgraded development environment, so watch out for some obscure bugs
        - Warp 4 popup menu workaround
        - Added substitution parameters
        - Added drag & drop to aid with substitution parameters
        - Expanded RoboCmd interface to include extract Jobs to queues
        - More substitution parameters
        - Again bugs eliminated (see online help)
        - Added index to online help
        - Added Q&A section to online help
        - Documentation (hopefully) enhanced
        - Support for multiple Job runs across midnight added
        - Speed up for evaluation of delayed Jobs
        - Added Launch capability to ObjSel companion utility
        - Added Delete capability to ObjSel companion utility
        - Added Launch button to toolbar
        - Popup Menu now accepts keystrokes
        - Added Registration menu for key delivery by email
        - Fixed online help for objstart to correctly show "<PROGRobojob>"
        - Fixed RC evaluation for verbal returncodes
        - Limit of one action on Job Termination removed
        - Include 'Error' as Job Termination
   2.10 to 2.15
        - RoboCmd start from a Dos session returned sometimes error 123
        - Added Rexx exits at Job start and Job termination
        - Icon for unidentified Job was wrong
        - Improved Icon View: original program icons if available
        - Editing a Job and loading a queue at the same time could corrupt
          icon image
        - Added support for program icons
        - Included 'Skip' and 'NoLaunch' to trigger Job Termination
          dependent Jobs
        - Secure mode - no external commands permitted
        - Updated Object Selector for spying at other os2.ini files
          (great to view what's in the archived desktops!)
   2.15 to 2.21
        - Added Network license
        - Added lan and license command to RoboCmd processing
        - Display problems with Property Dialog at 640x480 fixed
        - Alignment in Registration Dialog fixed
        - Licensenumber expanded (was limited to 18 chars)
        - Rexx only needed if using the new Rexx Exits
        - List of distributors considerably expanded
        - WWW online ordering available now
        - BMT order applet included (requires TCP/IP installed)
        - various Object Selector visual enhancements
        - hopefully fixed "window not created" bug on Warp Server SMP
        - Added info when Rexx Exits are not available
        - Window Title shortened on customer request
        - Program shutdown made faster
   2.22 to 2.30
        - Save of queue and options on OS/2 shutdown (regression from 2.15)
        - Added exclusion times for dependent Jobs
        - Added example cmd file for deleting semaphore files in a Rexx exit
        - Added RoboGraph utility (including online monitoring)
        - Fixed "June" bug
        - Fixed "last weekday" bug
        - "Window not created" bug on Warp Server SMP finally gone...
        - Cursor on Container Splitline fixed
        - Added Jobs dependent on count of RoboJob starts since OS/2 start
        - Upgrade Install utility to generate .inf files from .hlp files
          on the fly
        - Fixed high memory usage
   2.31 - Added font size selection for windowed DOS, OS2 programs and
          program objects
        - Added QRoboCmd utility to ask if local RoboJob accepts RoboCmd
          commands
        - Modifications to RoboGraph to handle "ACCESS DENIED"
        - Fixed tab order of RBinst
        - Added more substitution parameters %HANDLE% %APPHAN()% %APPPID()%
        - Added RBScan utility
        - Added RBScan sample scripts
        - Added ScanMon as debugger for RBScan scripts
        - Updated "Frequently Asked Questions" section in the online help
        - Fixed countdown timer if no Jobs due within 24 hours
        - Fixed font and color save for the rescheduling indicator
   2.32 - Changed default install of ScanMon to use the -NoFocus switch
        - Increased string limits in RBScan and ScanMon from 4 to 8KB
        - Minor fix for RoboJob logging
   2.33 - Improved RoboCmd communication response time
        - Update of Scanmon and RBScan with improved communication
        - Added single stepping thru scripts in ScanMon
        - Added possibility to kill a running script in ScanMon
        - Added RBCatch utility for text mode OS/2 programs
        - Added "Position memory" for OS/2 and DOS windowed sessions
        - Updated "Frequently Asked Questions" section in the online help
   2.34 - Fixed logging problems
        - Fixed External Communications problem
        - Fixed RBGraph not able to access current log file
   2.35 - Added object specific icons for most Jobs started with objstart
        - Added @filename.ext to RBNotify
        - Added %PROGPARM% substitution parameter
        - Added PROGPARM return code to Rexx Script on Job start
        - Made RoboJob Year 2000 compliant
   2.35a - Maintainance version
        - Fixed some minor installation issues
   2.35b - Maintainance version
        - Fixed the "2424.09.09" problem
   2.35c - updated contact information
        - updated selfextractor to work with Aurora

Before You Install RoboJob V 2.35
---------------------------------
   Software Requirements
   ---------------------
   -  OS/2 Warp (any flavour including Warp Server) up to Warp 4
   -  Rexx must be installed when rexx exits are required
   -  To use the BMT ordering applet, TCP/IP must be installed

   Hardware Requirements
   ---------------------
   -  any machine capable of running Warp 3.0 or 4.0
   -  mouse recommended
   -  for using the optional parameter drag & drop a screen resolution
      of at least 800x600 is recommended

Getting Help
------------
   Documentation
   -  see RoboJob Help
   -  see ObjSel Help
   -  see RBGraph Help
   -  see ScanMon Help

   Defect Reporting
   -  submit a message to the address listed in order.doc
      100142.3133@compuserve.com
      sauer@compuserve.com
      sauer@ibm.net
      Fido: 2:310/24

Installing RoboJob
------------------
   -  type rbinst and hit enter
   -  it's always a good idea to recreate the RoboJob folder

Late-Breaking News
------------------
   -  if you are curious to see how many holidays there are in Austria,
      rename austria.exc to robojob.exc before starting RoboJob
   -  Don't use ObjSel to change existing Object ID's, only add new ones
   -  Rexx exits (especially on start) should execute as quickly as possible!

Trademarks
----------
   -  OS/2 Warp is a Trademark of IBM
   -  Windows is a Trademark of Microsoft Corporation
   -  all other Trademarks acknowledged

Copyright
---------
   -  The following programs are Copyright (C) Benno Sauer 1996, 1997
   -  RoboJob, RoboCmd, RBNotify, ObjStart, ObjSel, RBGraph, RBScan, ScanMon
      RBCatch
