It's too late and I'm too sleepy to write HTML right now, so it looks like
all you get for the moment is this README file. Don't worry, this isn't a
difficult process.

What you have here is a lovingly handcrafted batch file that allows Inform 7
(and some other apps, with some simple tweaking) portably or semi-portably,
off a flash-drive, for instance.

THE IDEA:

Portable apps are a pretty common beast-- they allow you to run programs off
your flash disk without leaving traces on guest computers, by assuring that
all data reads and writes are done on the flash disk, not on the host computer.
Running the "SemiPortableInform.bat /inplace" option will run Inform 7 portably,
as most other such apps run.

However, this can be rather slow in compiling or writing files, and it also
increases the number of times the flash drive is written to, shortening its life.
Solution? Run Inform 7 "Semi-portably"!

In "Semi-portable" mode, all the program and user files are copied to a temporary
folder on the user's desktop (this location can also be tweaked to be the
Windows temporary directory). Then, the program is run "portably" from there.
This allows the speed gain achieved by running the program off an actual hard
disk as opposed to an external or flash drive. Then, when the session concludes,
any files that have changed are copied back (synchronized), and the files on
the host hard drive are erased. It's as if you were never there.

PREPARE IT:

1.) Prepare the portable app folder (on your flash drive):

    You should have the PortableInform7.bat batch file and two sub-folders:
    Program and PortableUser. Within PortableUser, create a folder called
    My Documents.

2.) Install Inform 7 normally onto your computer (not necessary, of course,
    if you have it installed already)

3.) Copy I7's program files from your Inform 7 folder to the Program folder
    under your portable folder. (They should be bare within the "Program" folder,
    NOT within an "Inform 7" subfolder).

4.) Copy the files from the Inform folder in your own My Documents folder to
    the My Documents folder you created under PortableUser.

USE IT:

- Run SemiPortableInform.bat to start I7 in Semi-portable mode off the flash
  drive.

- Use the "/inplace" option to run I7 completely portably (without
  copying files to the hard disk first). This is best accomplished by
  making a new batch file with the line:

SemiPortableInform /inplace

  and calling it something witty like "PortableInform.bat".


THE DEAL:

This, of course, is presented without any sort of warranty or guarantees
whatsoever. However, I also don't care if you share it around, modify it,
mangle it, or redistribute it to your own uses. Just don't blame me when the
typo I overlooked accidentally causes your hard drive to blast into orbit or
some such.

NOT WORKIN'?

1.) If you've got a LiveJournal account, reply to anything at http://fleb.livejournal.com/

2.) A Vox account?
http://fleb.vox.com/

3.) Instant message (please, tell me who you are-- I get enough automated IM spam)
AIM: oOFLEBOo
ICQ: 3422976
Y! : x_fleb_x
MSN: msn.sh@ll.bow-down-to.us
Jabber: fleb@jabber.org

4.) Email? I try and keep on it, but it might be a couple days.
voterudy (at) voterudy (dot) org

5.) Social Networking Sites? I rarely check 'em, but you can dream.
    Look up Rudy Fleminger.