Notes on DOS

Amiga DOS Notes
Directory defined!
C: holds all DOS commands plus

S: holds scripts eg. startup-sequence.

L: holds device handlers.

T: holds temporary files directory, normally in RAM:
ENV: holds environmental varables, normally in RAM:
LIBS: holds Libraries
DEVS: holds device drivers.
FONTS: holds fonts
CLIPS: holds clips and is assigned to RAM:Clipboards.
ENVARC: holds default environmental varibles.
Other directories

STORAGE holds files that are not in use.
EXPANTION holds programmes to drive expantion hardware.
SYSTEM hold support programmes.
TOOLS holds useful tools and Commodities which help control I/O devices.
UTILITIES holds useful programmes for file interrogation.
WBSTARTUP holds pragrammes that run when Workbench is started.

Information about syntax of a DOS command or programme

The simplest way is to use the pull down menu = 'Workbench' and high light 'Execute Command...'
This will bring up a Enter command and Arguments box, if you type in the command then a space followed by a ? you wil get a syntax listing if the programmer has provided one. eg.
DISKCOPY ?
Output Window = FROM/A.TO/A,NAME/K,NOVERIFY/S,MULTI/S:
What does this mean !
The words, eg FROM are known as Keywords.
The /A is one of the arguments.
and they are separated by a comma.
Arguments template
/A = Required = Must be included for command to work.
Optional arguments
NONE = Argument = Position for optional argument.
/F = Final = Final argument on the command line.
/K = Keyword = Positional preceding keyword must be entered with Parameter.
/M = Multiple = Mulitiple arguments can be used.
/N = Numeric = Argument must be numeric (number).
/S = Switch = Optional arguments on if posistional preceding keyword is used.
/T = Toggled action for resident code.

EXAMPLES
DISKCOPY DF0: DF0:
DISKCOPY DF0: TO DF0: NAME=Pictures (note 'Pictures' is a parameter eg name of disk)
DISKCOPY DF0: TO DF0: MULTI
DISKCOPY DF0: TO DF0: NOVERIFY