Installing using PPWW32.EXE in Windows

The "PPWW32.EXE" download for windows is a self extracting version which means that no separate unarchiving tool is required. This contains the Regina interpreter, PPWIZARD, and documentation in HTML format.

Nothing prevents you hand installing PPWIZARD on Windows, however this download makes the installation much easier and sets up the Windows shell so you can work via Explorer if you wish. If you do hand install, then I assume my Windows install is doing something you don't like; let me know and I will probably do something about it.

Note that the install process does not delete any files in the install directory if it exists. If you wish, you could delete this first, however if you have installed files from other downloads into this directory do not do this! PPWIZARD has uninstall support. Simply uninstall it as you would any other application.

The install procedure is as follow:

1. If you downloaded the ZIP file then you will need to unzip the setup program with WinZip or one of the many similar tools and then run "SETUP.EXE" (a renamed PPWW32.EXE) to start the setup.

2. Start the install program (normally called "PPWW32.EXE").

3. If you already have a version of PPWIZARD installed then you will be prompted to uninstall it. In this case you will see a dialog similar to:
   

   The install will terminate if you choose not to uninstall the existing version.

4. You should now see a "licence" screen similar to:
   

5. You should now see an "options" screen similar to:
   

   The options are:

   • Rexx Association
     Required for simplified command line use in Windows NT, 2000 and XP.

   • Text Editor on All Explorer Objects
     This option creates a right click option for editing the object in a text editor. This allows you to quickly load a file without requiring its extension to be associated with the editor.

     This option sometimes causes problems. If you have any issues then please let me know and reinstall PPWIZARD while disabling this option. See "MS Office 2000 Shortcut Bar Glitch" for details of at least once occurance of an issue.

   • Command Prompt Here On Folder Objects
     Creates a right click option on folders which allows you to easily open a command prompt at that directory.

   • Want Icons on Desktop
     Exactly what it sounds like. PPWIZARD menu items are always created in the "START" menu. However note these are mainly documentation shortcuts since PPWIZARD itself is invoked from a command line, batch file or explorer (right click -> build).

   • Text Editor
     Allows you to choose the program to be used as the text editor. If not chosen then the default editor will be used however this doesn't always work and may result in notepad being used.

6. You should now see a dialog which allows you to choose the install directory, similar to:
   

   I recommend that you install into the default location of "C:\Program Files\PPWIZARD" (or "C:\PPW" for Windows 95, 98 and ME).

   The actual install will start after clicking the "Install" button of this dialog.

7. You should now see a "setup completed" screen similar to:
   

   Please read the text!

   PPWIZARD has created a sample HTML page which it displays as part of the setup (it is behind the install window so you will see it when the install completes).

8. You should now see a "install completed" screen similar to:
   

9. The install directory is added to the PATH and right click options appear in Explorer on "standard" extensions (see "PPW_95.RIT" or "PPW_NT.RIT", depending on which platform you are on, for details on these and other associations).

10. Reboot before using.

11. If you right click on ".IT", ".X" or ".PPW" file types the PPWIZARD build options should appear and work!

PPWIZARD can be uninstalled via the Windows Add-Remove applet.

Shell Integration - Explorer Right Click

This doco needs more work, however if you right click on ".IT", ".IH", ".X", ".XH" or ".PPW" files you will see edit and build options that PPWIZARD has installed.

An example of this follows:

If you find ".IT" files have been associated with WINAMP then please see the "WINAMP Associates with .IT files" section. If that solution is not suitable then you will need to use the "Send To" method.

Shell Integration - Explorer "Send To"

Windows 2000 and XP have "Send To" options to create HTML (this allows building of any extension and not just ".IT").

If anyone can send me a "Send To" shortcut which works for WIN95-ME and WINNT then I will add these also.

The working WIN2000/XP command line for the shortcut is:

C:\WINNT\system32\cmd.exe /C echo Building, please wait... & "C:\Program Files\PPWIZARD\REGINA.EXE" "C:\Program Files\PPWIZARD\PPWIZARD.REX" @_HTMNOR.PPW /1

email me  any feedback, additional information or corrections.
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PPWIZARD Manual

Saturday May 28 2022 at 2:55pm