#########################################################
#							#
#			Wrapper 1.1			#
#							#
#########################################################

Purpose of this program:
------------------------
Execute console-based applications without showing the console itself.


Target OS:
----------
Windows 9x/ME/NT/2000/XP.


License:
--------
Free, gratis, gratuit for all purposes.


Usage:
------
I will describe the usage in case of Scriptbasic/Visio programs. Normally, a Scriptbasic program is executed with the following command line:

scriba -n test.sb

The disadvantage of this is that the 'scriba' binary is console based. If you start a Scriptbasic application from the Windows Explorer it will always open a console, and after that it will open the window(s) of the Visio application.

When you use the wrapper this problem is solved. These are the steps:

1) Download the 'run.exe' and 'run.ini' from the Visio site (http://www.turtle.dds.nl).
2) Put these files in the same directory as the .SB file you want to run.
3) You can rename the 'run.exe' to the name of the BASIC program. So, if your BASIC program is called 'TEST.SB', rename the 'run.exe' file to 'TEST.EXE'.
4) If you start 'TEST.EXE' it will automatically search for an .INI file with the same name. In this case, it will search for a file called 'TEST.INI'.
5) In the 'TEST.INI' file, put the command line you normally use to start the program, e.g. 'scriba -n test.sb'.

Now, if you double-click the 'TEST.EXE' file from the Windows Explorer, the program is executed without a console window.


FAQ:
----
Question: Can I use your wrapper also to run non-Visio programs?
Answer: Yes, you can. Of course you will see no output from the BASIC program since the console is gone. In case of the portforwarder (PORTFW.BAS) for example, this is not a problem.

Question: Can I use your wrapper also to run other types of console-based programs?
Answer: Yes, you can. Of course you will see no output since the console is gone.

Question: How do I stop a console-based program started with your wrapper?
Answer: In case of Scriptbasic/Visio programs, you can create an EXIT button in your application. In case of 100% console-based programs, pop-up the taskmanager with <ctrl><alt><delete>, select 'Processes', select your program and click 'End Process'.

Question: Can I use an other icon in the wrapper than the standard Scriptbasic icon?
Answer: Yes, but then you need to recompile the wrapper yourself. Download the sourcefiles of the wrapper from the Visio site (http://www.turtle.dds.nl) and download the free Commandline Tools from Borland (http://www.borland.com). Replace the 'RUN.ICO' file with your icon. If your icon has the same name, recompile. Otherwise also edit 'RUN.C', 'RUN.RC' and 'Makefile' to use the correct filename.


Created:
--------
Created by Peter van Eerten using the free Borland C Builder 5.5.
November 25, 2002.

      ___
 ,,  // \\
(_,\/ \_/ \
  \ \_/_\_/>
  /_/  /_/
