customizing dosubcd.igz fdubcd.img (v3.42)

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Thomas
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:56 pm

customizing dosubcd.igz fdubcd.img (v3.42)

#1 Post by Thomas » Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:55 am

Hello NG,

in the past I customized the path to the application
(default: dosapps) folder by editing UBCD.BAT in the bin folder
of the dosubcd.igz/fdubcd.img image of version 3.40.
Just to sepaerate some apps from the default apps and have
them in a diffrent folder.
And added the cusomized image as a new image, changing
the filename...

In the new dosubcd.igz/fdubcd.img image (version 3.42)
see viewtopic.php?t=1422
of UBCD 5.xx I can't find a batchfile wich does the same (setting
this "dosapps" directory) for the new fdubcd.img...

Does anybody know how to customize this path in the
new version 3.42 or is this hard-coded? If so - why?

Thomas

as702
Posts: 276
Joined: Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:14 am

#2 Post by as702 » Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:18 am

The FreeDOS image for UBCD 5b operates somewhat differently than from previous versions; nothing is "hard-coded" as you put it, but the coding is a little less transparent and more granular due to the complexity of tasks and post-processing required (a lot of which are dependent on the path of the dosapps location).

For future releases I may introduce a global variable to allow users to easily change the default location(s).

For now, if you wish to change the source path, you need to look in ubcd.bat and runapp.bat (found in /bin/utilz.cab). I can't offer you a more definitive solution.

Specifically, what is it you're trying to do?

Thomas
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:56 pm

#3 Post by Thomas » Wed Aug 13, 2008 1:05 pm

[quote="as702"]For future releases I may introduce a global variable to allow users to easily change the default location(s).[/quote]

This would be very helpful to customize a default fdubcd.img

[quote="as702"]For now, if you wish to change the source path, you need to look in ubcd.bat and runapp.bat (found in /bin/utilz.cab). I can't offer you a more definitive solution.[/quote]

Yes that was exactly what I'm looking for. But still have a
problem with v3.42 and ubcd 4.1.1 (see below)

[quote="as702"]Specifically, what is it you're trying to do?[/quote]

I just want to sepearate "my" apps from the dosapps directory of
ubcd which are included...

I created two additional subdirs. "usr_app" for 'my' dos apps
and "usr_img" for my customized boot images. This gives me more
overview of my selfmade images and customized apps and the
"default" tools and image dirs will be untouched.

To boot my apps in "usr_app"\newapp I needed to customize
a fdubcd.img. So I changed in "UTILZ.CAB\bin\runapp.bat" as
you described above in the line 21 from
L21: set _appsrc=%cddrv%\ubcd\dosapps\%_apparc%
to
L21: set _appsrc=%cddrv%\ubcd\usr_app\%_apparc%
and copied this customized fdubcd.img to my "usr_img" dir.
Finally I made the changes as described in the ubcd docs to
boot my apps or my images...
ex:

directory is:
%UBCD-Root%\usr_app\ntfs4dos

in custom.cfg I added
LABEL ntfs4dos
MENU LABEL DOS Tools with NTFS4DOS (usr dir)
KERNEL memdisk
APPEND initrd=/usr_img/fdubcd_usr.img ubcdcmd=ntfs4dos

Are you the maintainer/developer of these "fdxxxxx.igz/.img" images?
If so, I can only find the dosubcd.igz/fdubcd.img ver 3.42 but not
the other updated boot-images. Do you have a link to all of the
images?

And I still got an error with the new dosubcd.igz/fdubcd.img (3.42)
if I use this with UBCD 4.1.1. After booting the new "original" image
(nothing is customized) I get the following error:

---snip---
[...]
UNPACK: Extracting "A:\level3\AUTORUN3.CAB"
UBCD: Updating configuration in "Q:\etc\global.set"
UBCD: Error!!! version incompatible (upgrade to 4.1.1 or above)

Q:\>_
---snap---
Do you know what's the problem and how to fix it?
btw: It _is_ the version 4.1.1

Another final question ;-) : Where is the best place to change
the drive-letter for the ramdrive and where can I change the
first letter for the first dvd-/cd-rom drive?
Would be useful to know in which *.CAB\*.bat file you are setting
this params.

Thomas

as702
Posts: 276
Joined: Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:14 am

#4 Post by as702 » Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:02 pm

no particular order...
Are you the maintainer/developer of these "fdxxxxx.igz/.img" images?
For UBCD, yes.
If so, I can only find the dosubcd.igz/fdubcd.img ver 3.42 but not
the other updated boot-images. Do you have a link to all of the
images?
The original version(s) are readily available from Erwin Veerman's site (simply type NwDsk into google and you should find it). However, they are now somewhat outdated and not fully feature-ready as they exist today (see the change log for a detailed list of changes made).

I've contacted Erwin on a number of occasions but he seems to have gone dark so I decided to help Victor maintain a more modern build.
I just want to sepearate "my" apps from the dosapps directory of
ubcd which are included...
For the next release, I'll include a global environment setting in /etc/autoset.bat which you can use/edit to append an additional path(s) for custom dosapps.

e.g.

Code: Select all

:: Define custom folder for DOS applications (change as required)
set usrapp=\dosapps\usr
And I still got an error with the new dosubcd.igz/fdubcd.img (3.42)
if I use this with UBCD 4.1.1. After booting the new "original" image
(nothing is customized) I get the following error:

---snip---
[...]
UNPACK: Extracting "A:\level3\AUTORUN3.CAB"
UBCD: Updating configuration in "Q:\etc\global.set"
UBCD: Error!!! version incompatible (upgrade to 4.1.1 or above)
The latest release of R1.28 does work with 4.1.1. The reason you're receiving this error suggests your \menus\defaults.cfg file from your ISO has been altered. It should read:

Code: Select all

MENU TITLE Ultimate Boot CD V4.1.1                        http://www.ultimatebootcd.com
PROMPT 0
ALLOWOPTIONS 0
MENU MARGIN 0
MENU ROWS 20
MENU COLOR BORDER	37;44 #40000000 #00000000 std
MENU COLOR TITLE 1;33;44 #c00090f0 #00000000 std
MENU COLOR SCROLLBAR 37;44 #40000000 #00000000 std
The image automatically determines which version it is that you're using based off the information in this file. Check the contents and tell me what it says.
To boot my apps in "usr_app"\newapp I needed to customize
a fdubcd.img. So I changed in "UTILZ.CAB\bin\runapp.bat" as
you described above in the line 21 from
L21: set _appsrc=%cddrv%\ubcd\dosapps\%_apparc%
to
L21: set _appsrc=%cddrv%\ubcd\usr_app\%_apparc%
and copied this customized fdubcd.img to my "usr_img" dir.
If you're using 4.1.1, it won't matter (it's designed to work only with UBCD 5b). If you are using 5b, can you be a little more specific (what error messages are you recieving??).


Where is the best place to change the drive-letter for the ramdrive and where can I change the first letter for the first dvd-/cd-rom drive?
\etc\autoset.bat

Code: Select all

:: Ramdrive Letter (UpperCase!)
set ramltr=Q:
\etc\global.set

Code: Select all

CDROM_DRV=T
LABEL ntfs4dos
MENU LABEL DOS Tools with NTFS4DOS (usr dir)
KERNEL memdisk
APPEND initrd=/usr_img/fdubcd_usr.img ubcdcmd=ntfs4dos
Assuming the image boots, there's nothing wrong with you using a custom folder for your image provided your isolinux is configured correctly (which it appears to be).

Thomas
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:56 pm

#5 Post by Thomas » Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:13 am

Are you the maintainer/developer of these "fdxxxxx.igz/.img" images?
For UBCD, yes.
Fine. Thank you very much for your work.
I have some additional questions about cutomizing dosubcd.igz
Both dosubcd.igz/fdubcd.img v 3.40/3.42

First: How can I disable the upcoming Menu of UBCD 4.1.1 (5.x.x)
at the end of the boot process in _silent_ mode of the
dosubcd.igz/fdubcd.img (3.40/3.42) images? And how to set
a timeout and/or a default choose (launch/system/help/browse)?
I would prefer to have a complete _silent_ boot.

Second: How can I change the default behavior of the LFN Tools
to enable it by default at the boot process? In global.set is a
var LFN_INSTALL=1 but the default behavior is without (disbled)
LFN support.
I just want to sepearate "my" apps from the dosapps directory of
ubcd which are included...
For the next release, I'll include a global environment setting in /etc/autoset.bat which you can use/edit to append an additional path(s) for custom dosapps.
But it would be good to have the possibility to select the installed
apps. Usally I don't need all apps and it would be concise to have
only the preferred apps in the ubcd menu... Perhaps an additional
textfile where all the installed apps/dirs are listed...
MENU COLOR SCROLLBAR 37;44 #40000000 #00000000 std[/code]

The image automatically determines which version it is that you're using based off the information in this file. Check the contents and tell me what it says.
Strange. ;-)
That was the problem. I changed the text in the head. And tried to change
some colors... Now it works. But IMHO I think it's not good to determine
the version of ubcd in this way...

btw: I would like to customize the colors. Do you know an overview
of the possible colors? Is there a table or something similar?
For example I would prefer a bright white text in the menu and/or
borders...
If you're using 4.1.1, it won't matter (it's designed to work only with UBCD 5b). If you are using 5b, can you be a little more specific (what error messages are you recieving??).
Now it works fine for me. I changed additional the path in
%FDUBCD-ROOT%\level3\autoron.CAB\bin\ubcd.bat
\etc\global.set

Code: Select all

CDROM_DRV=T
OK, And what is the VAR in batch-files and autorun.bat of the first cdrom?
I tried %CD1% but it doesn't work for me. I found the var %UBCDDRV% (v3.40)
and additional %CDDRV% (v3.42). Are the var %UBCDDRV% available at boot
time (autoexec.bat)?

Thomas

as702
Posts: 276
Joined: Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:14 am

#6 Post by as702 » Fri Aug 15, 2008 6:03 am

Thomas wrote:How can I disable the upcoming Menu of UBCD 4.1.1 (5.x.x) at the end of the boot process in _silent_ mode of the
dosubcd.igz/fdubcd.img (3.40/3.42) images? And how to set
a timeout and/or a default choose (launch/system/help/browse)?
I would prefer to have a complete _silent_ boot.
I'll implement this feature in the next release; you should then be able to set the values in global.set (e.g. UBCD_TI etc)
Thomas wrote:Second: How can I change the default behavior of the LFN Tools to enable it by default at the boot process?
in global.set, add the following:

Code: Select all

LFN_INSTALL=0
But it would be good to have the possibility to select the installed
apps. Usally I don't need all apps and it would be concise to have
only the preferred apps in the ubcd menu... Perhaps an additional
textfile where all the installed apps/dirs are listed...
see this post:
viewtopic.php?t=1422&start=29

That was the problem. I changed the text in the head. And tried to change some colors... Now it works. But IMHO I think it's not good to determine the version of ubcd in this way...
I am aware of this. It will be taken care of in the next update.
btw: I would like to customize the colors. Do you know an overview of the possible colors? Is there a table or something similar?
For example I would prefer a bright white text in the menu and/or
borders...
see the file "wbat.ini" in bin/utils.cab. Fairly straight forward.
And what is the VAR in batch-files and autorun.bat of the first cdrom?
If you're using 4.1.1, %UBCDDRV% or %CDDRV%.
For v5b, %CDDRV% only

(-:

Thomas
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:56 pm

#7 Post by Thomas » Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:22 pm

Thomas wrote:I would prefer to have a complete _silent_ boot.
I'll implement this feature in the next release; you should then be able to set the values in global.set (e.g. UBCD_TI etc)
That sounds good.
Thomas wrote:Second: How can I change the default behavior of the LFN Tools to enable it by default at the boot process?
in global.set, add the following:

Code: Select all

LFN_INSTALL=0
Oh, it doesn't work for me and I think you missunderstood me?
I would like to _ENABLE_ the DOSLFN by default.
At the moment the DOSLFN TSR loads, but in a "disabled" state.
It enables the DOSLFN only if I start VC by the DOSUBCD Menu
which is called by UBCD.BAT
Thomas wrote:But it would be good to have the possibility to select the installed apps. [...]
Ok, I will have a look to that topic today.
Thomas wrote:That was the problem. I changed the text in the head. And tried to change some colors... Now it works. But IMHO I think it's not good to determine the version of ubcd in this way...
I am aware of this. It will be taken care of in the next update.
Thomas wrote:[...] For example I would prefer a bright white text in the menu and/or borders...
see the file "wbat.ini" in bin/utils.cab. Fairly straight forward.
I mean the colors of the UBCD 4.1.1 menu (default grey on blue) not
the PupUp Menu which is called by ubcd.bat. I think in cdshell are commands
like "set textColor=color[+white on blue]". Which means bright white on blue.
But I think it must be changed in the defaults.cfg file. For example:

Code: Select all

MENU COLOR BORDER 1;37;44 #40000000 #00000000 std
should set _bright_ white color, shouldn't it? For me it looks like...
But how do I set _bright_ white color to the text? Something like:

Code: Select all

MENU COLOR TEXT 1;37;44 #40000000 #00000000 std
doesn't work for me and I didn't find a tip how to set the TEXT color.
Thomas wrote:And what is the VAR in batch-files and autorun.bat of the first cdrom?
If you're using 4.1.1, %UBCDDRV% or %CDDRV%.
For v5b, %CDDRV% only
Are you sure?
For me it looks there is only the Var %UBCDDRV% available in both versions?
I would like to add a line like this:

Code: Select all

set path=%path%;%ubcddrv%\bin
at the end of to the autostart.bat to add the %cdrom%\bin path
where are some apps/tools of me located; list.com, fv.com, etc.
But it doesn't work - why? I got a path like:

Code: Select all

path=Q:\bin;Q:\;\bin
The CD-Rom drive letter isn't set. Why?
it should be:

Code: Select all

path=Q:\bin;Q:\;T:\bin
                ^
Thomas

Icecube
Posts: 1278
Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:52 pm
Contact:

#8 Post by Icecube » Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:26 pm

Thomas wrote:I mean the colors of the UBCD 4.1.1 menu (default grey on blue) not
the PupUp Menu which is called by ubcd.bat. I think in cdshell are commands
like "set textColor=color[+white on blue]". Which means bright white on blue.
But I think it must be changed in the defaults.cfg file. For example:

Code: Select all

MENU COLOR BORDER 1;37;44 #40000000 #00000000 std
should set _bright_ white color, shouldn't it? For me it looks like...
But how do I set _bright_ white color to the text? Something like:

Code: Select all

MENU COLOR TEXT 1;37;44 #40000000 #00000000 std
doesn't work for me and I didn't find a tip how to set the TEXT color.
You can find it in the /doc/menu.txt file of the syslinux archive or at http://syslinux.zytor.com/menu.php.

Thomas
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:56 pm

#9 Post by Thomas » Sat Aug 16, 2008 3:40 pm

as702 wrote:The latest release of R1.28 does work with 4.1.1. The reason you're receiving this error suggests your \menus\defaults.cfg file from your ISO has been altered. It should read:
[...]
The image automatically determines which version it is that you're using based off the information in this file. Check the contents and tell me what it says.
I worked something out and if somebody would like
to use bright-white color for the text try to add
the two lines under the configuration in "menus\defaults.cfg"
Beware of touching the title line!!!

Code: Select all

MENU TITLE Ultimate Boot CD V4.1.1                        http://www.ultimatebootcd.com
PROMPT 0
ALLOWOPTIONS 0
MENU MARGIN 0
MENU ROWS 20
MENU COLOR BORDER 37;44 #40000000 #00000000 std
MENU COLOR TITLE 1;33;44 #c00090f0 #00000000 std
MENU COLOR SCROLLBAR 37;44 #40000000 #00000000 std
MENU COLOR UNSEL 1;37;44 #40000000 #00000000 std
MENU COLOR SEL 7;37;44 #40000000 #00000000 std
If anybody knows how to enable a bright white color for
the selection. Any hint would be fine :-)
Icecube wrote:You can find it in the /doc/menu.txt file of the syslinux archive or at http://syslinux.zytor.com/menu.php.
Thank you - this was very helpful...

Thomas

Icecube
Posts: 1278
Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:52 pm
Contact:

#10 Post by Icecube » Sat Aug 16, 2008 10:30 pm

I think that you can change the tittle of the menu for ubcd. I am not completely sure (did not test it myself), but you can try it and test it in a virtual machine.

Code: Select all

MENU TITLE Ultimate Boot CD V4.1.1                        http://www.ultimatebootcd.com
MENU TITLE Add your own title here
PROMPT 0
ALLOWOPTIONS 0
MENU MARGIN 0
MENU ROWS 20
MENU COLOR BORDER 37;44 #40000000 #00000000 std
MENU COLOR TITLE 1;33;44 #c00090f0 #00000000 std
MENU COLOR SCROLLBAR 37;44 #40000000 #00000000 std
MENU COLOR UNSEL 1;37;44 #40000000 #00000000 std
MENU COLOR SEL 7;37;44 #40000000 #00000000 std

as702
Posts: 276
Joined: Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:14 am

#11 Post by as702 » Sun Aug 17, 2008 12:47 am

Icecube wrote:I think that you can change the tittle of the menu for
I wouldn't (NwDsk R1.28 relies on this information to determine the version number). For the next release this will be adjusted to rely on a separate INI file so you can then do to it as you please.

(-:
Oh, it doesn't work for me and I think you missunderstood me?
I would like to _ENABLE_ the DOSLFN by default.
At the moment the DOSLFN TSR loads, but in a "disabled" state.
It enables the DOSLFN only if I start VC by the DOSUBCD Menu
which is called by UBCD.BAT
ubcd.bat contains the line:
if "%LFN%"=="Y" lfn -d
Simply remove it if you wish (it was instated due to program compatibility).
Are you sure?
For me it looks there is only the Var %UBCDDRV% available in both versions?
For NwDsk R1.28, %CDDRV% is used only in UBCD5.
I would like to add a line like this:

Code: Select all

set path=%path%;%ubcddrv%\bin
at the end of to the autostart.bat to add the %cdrom%\bin path
Why? The path you're looking to declare doesn't exist.

Thomas
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:56 pm

#12 Post by Thomas » Sun Aug 17, 2008 7:55 pm

as702 wrote:
Thomas wrote:I would like to add a line like this:

Code: Select all

set path=%path%;%ubcddrv%\bin
at the end of to the autostart.bat to add the %cdrom%\bin path
Why? The path you're looking to declare doesn't exist.
I added a subdir %ROOT%\bin to the cd with a lot of tools, like
list, dd, zip, unzip, xfdisk 0.9.2, etc.

But when the image starts up and the autoexec.bat is starting
the vars %UBCDDRV% and/or %CDDRV% doesn't exist or empty...
So I introduced two new vars in all the AUTOEXEC.BATs of
my customized images...

Thomas

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