NazCron - Version 1.02 ---------------------- See below for V1.02 improvements. Copyright (c) 1989 by Don Nafis & Nazlo Associates Ltd. All rights reserved. NazCron provides timed command processing similar to the Unix Cron command. As with Cron, NazCron reads events from an ASCII text file and, when the indicated time is reached, executes the program whose name and parameters you have supplied. Unlike Cron, NazCron allows for extensive manipulation of the events and most of the program functions through ARexx. You may add, delete and display events using the ARexx language and you can use ARexx to control file and event processing. You do NOT, however, need ARexx to run NazCron. Without ARexx, NazCron is still a full featured Cron program. NazCron reads and processes the same event file format as AmiCron but detaches itself from the CLI, executes more efficiently and uses less memory. Distribution files: Read-Me This file. NazCron.doc Full documentation in printable form. To print, just execute the following from the CLI: copy NazCron.doc to prt: You may read this file on your screen with the CLI TYPE command, the ADOS 1.3 MORE command or any other text reader, but since the file contains embedded printer control characters, it may be difficult to read. If this bothers you, you can remove the control characters with a text editor prior to viewing on your screen. You should find it easier, though, to work from a printed copy. NazCron The NazCron program. For best results, copy this to your C: directory, or make sure that it is available in a path accessible to ARexx. NazCron.info Icon for NazCron. NazCron can be started from the Workbench. To do so, you must copy this file and the program file (NazCron) to the same directory, one which is a Workbench drawer. Open the drawer and double click on the NazCron icon and NazCron will swing into action. NCStart.rexx Sample ARexx script. This script suggests a method of starting NazCron so that NazCron uses the least amount of your Amiga's resources. NC.rexx Sample ARexx script. A general purpose script that enables you to send commands to NazCron directly from the CLI. NCAdd.rexx Sample ARexx script. Adds events to the NazCron event list from a CRONTAB formatted file. NCShow.rexx Sample ARexx script. Complete display of all active NazCron named events. Remind.rexx Useful talking reminder script. Uses the speak.handler. Remind.doc Notes on the use of the remind.rexx script both with and without the use of NazCron. CRONTAB Sample Crontab file. There is one event in this file: * * * * * date >ram:date This CRONTAB will help you verify that your NazCron installation was successful. Copy this file to your S: directory and start NazCron. Each minute, the file "date" in ram: will be updated with the date and time stamp at which NazCron launched the event. NazCron may be copied and freely distributed for personal use. NazCron is shareware, user-supported software. If you like NazCron and continue to use it after a trial period, please send the $10 shareware fee to the address listed below and become a registered user. You will receive the registered version of NazCron without the shareware reminder window. As a registered user, you will be assured of timely information on upgrades, you will be given membership in the support section of our BBS, Viva! Amiga!, and you will feel good about contributing to the development of new utility programs for the Amiga. By supporting all shareware authors, you will be in the driver's seat when it comes to deciding where future Amiga programs will be going; you will have a loud voice when we programmers are trying to hear what Amiga owners want in programs of the future. Send your check for $10.00 to register your copy of NazCron and receive the latest version without the reminder window to: Don Nafis Nazlo Associates Ltd. P.O. Box 1515 Laurel Springs, NJ 08021 Please make your check payable to "Nazlo Associates Ltd." Commercial vendors may distribute NazCron with their products as long as they distribute all files provided here with the exception of the registered version, and make it clear that NazCron is shareware. Before distributing NazCron with your package, you must send for written permission. This way I can make sure that you will be distributing the latest version. If you find this program lacking in any way and thus choose not to register, I would like to hear your suggestions or complaints. Please contact me at one of the following and give me a piece of your mind: Nazlo Associates Ltd. P.O. Box 1515 Laurel Springs, NJ 08021 (609) 228-8088 Voice (609) 227-8278 BBS - Viva! Amiga! 3/12/24 - 8/N/1 - 24 hours 130 Megabytes Online Compuserve 70656, 133 Thank you. Don Nafis NazCron Version 1.02 improvements: ---------------------------------- - Bug fix: Sporadic GURUs during interval timing shutdown. V1.0 was incorrectly terminating interval timing leaving itself open to a memory stomp in a highly active system, i.e., one with a lot of task swapping or one running programs doing a lot of AllocMem() and FreeMem() calls. - New: Status window. Execute NazCron a second time and it will display an execution status window. This is both a positive indication that NazCron is running and a method of determining NazCron's internal state without the use of ARexx. The window shows the name of the current crontab file, whether event processing is ACTIVE or SUSPENDED and whether the crontab file is LOCKED or UNLOCKED. This feature may be used from the CLI or from WorkBench. Note: the status window will stay on the WorkBench screen until you click the left mouse button anywhere within the window or press any key on the keyboard. - Shareware reminder. This is the little window that is displayed by the unregistered version whenever NazCron loads a CRONTAB file. It displays a registration plea for 5 seconds then requests a mouse click. Click anywhere in the window and the window goes away leaving NazCron to do its thing. A similar window is displayed every hour while NazCron is active, but this window does not require intervention. I know it's a pain to have to put up with, but in the four months that NazCron has been available, I have received ZERO registrations. Previous versions of NazCron probably did too good a job of being unobtrusive. Send the $10 registration fee and I'll send you a copy without this blankity-blank window. PLEASE NOTE: the unregistered version of NazCron is not crippled in any way. All features are active and available. Only the registered version is lacking since it doesn't have this shareware reminder feature. - Remind.rexx script. This ARexx script is documented in its own doc file. It turns NazCron into a handy reminder program, making use of the Amiga's windowing, multi-tasking and speech capabilities. Note that Remind.rexx does not need to use NazCron to be useful. You can execute it from other ARexx or ADOS scripts to keep you apprised of script progress or termination. - Remind.doc, Remind.rexx instructions. - Changes: The V1.0 SHOW_STATUS ARexx command returned a null string if there was no active CRONTAB file. V1.02 returns the string "<>" in that case. This was done to give the user positive feedback about the state of CRONTAB processing. This change also prepares for the concatenation of additional position dependent, "white space" delineated, status information in future versions. - Additional coding efficiencies in event searching decrease event execution startup time. You probably won't notice the difference unless, like us, you are running some cpu hog like BBS-PC! - The ARexx script NC.rexx now has expanded usage showing all of the NazCron ARexx commands. Type "rx nc" without any other arguments and you will get a list of all of the commands. - NazCron.doc has been updated to reflect changes and additions to NazCron with Version 1.02. A new section has been added named "Technical notes and suggestions". - Also: Recompiled "C" portion under Lattice 5.04, re-assembled the assembler portion with the 5.04 version of the assembler.