From news Mon Nov 15 22:52:11 1993 Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.4dos Path: uwm.edu!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!cyber2.cyberstore.ca!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!utcsri!cannon.ecf!willer From: willer@ecf.toronto.edu (WILLER STEVEN) Subject: 4DOS 5.0 feature list Message-ID: Summary: 4DOS 5.0 feature list (crossposted) Keywords: 4dos features announce Sender: news@ecf.toronto.edu (News Administrator) Organization: University of Toronto, Engineering Computing Facility Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1993 22:25:54 GMT Lines: 249 Wow! I just received my WordPerfect/Win 6.0 box this morning, Word 6 is coming out, Excel's out soon, Quattro recently came out, DOS 6.2 recently came out...this is just the time for upgrades! Anyway, here's the feature list that was also posted by JP (I think on FidoNet). Again, sorry if you already knew this. ------------------------------------------- JP Software is pleased to announce: * Version 5.0 of 4DOS, our award-winning command processor for DOS 2.0 through 6.2. * Version 2.0 of 4OS2, our enhanced command processor for OS/2 1.x and 2.x. * Version 2.0 of 4DOS/NT, our enhanced command processor for Windows NT 3.1. This message summarizes the new features in this major update. A complete list of changes for each product will be available for download when the product is released. See the previous message for upgrade information and details on planned release dates. This release includes: General Features and Enhancements --------------------------------- * Full support for MS-DOS 6.2 and OS/2 2.1. * File selection by date, time, and size for all file processing commands with our new date, time, and size ranges. Affects ATTRIB, COPY, DEL, DESCRIBE, DIR, FOR, LIST, MOVE, RD, REN, SELECT, AND TYPE. * Support for global alias and history lists in 4DOS, so that you can share aliases and / or the command history between multiple shells. * .BTM files can now be compressed with the new BATCOMP utility. 4DOS, 4OS2, and 4DOS/NT read and process compressed .BTM files just as if they were normal (uncompressed) files. This makes it easy for PC and network managers to distribute batch files whose contents cannot readily be altered by the end user. * The maximum file description length has been increased to 200 characters, and DIR description displays are word- wrapped to show the entire description. * Over a dozen new or enhanced .INI file directives, including the ability to prompt for each directive when processing the .INI file. * AUTOEXEC.BAT now supports batch arguments. * Fixes for all known bugs. Command Line Editing and History -------------------------------- * A new popup directory history window which shows recent directories you've used. * A new file name completion window. * The ability to set the colors for input you type at the prompt. * The ability to control whether a command recalled from the history is copied back to the end of the history list. * A new kind of keystroke alias which executes "silently" (is not displayed on the screen), and "immediately" (without pressing Enter). * A new "UNKNOWN_CMD" alias which can be executed if you enter an unknown command. Command Changes --------------- * The prompt options for COPY, DEL, GLOBAL, MOVE, and REN have a third option now: 'R' (Rest, or Remainder) turns off the Y/N/R prompt and performs the operation on the remainder of the matching files. * A new switch, /T(otal) for COPY, DEL, MOVE, and REN, disables the display of file names (like /Q) but still displays the totals. * DEL now displays the disk space freed in the summary line, and (under 4DOS) supports the /F(orce delete) option in OS/2 2.1 DOS sessions. * New DIR switches and switch changes, including: /C: You can now use /CP or /CHP to return the compression value as a percentage instead of a ratio under 4DOS. /H: Do not display "." and "..". /I: Display only those files whose descriptions match the specified text. /R: Disable long description wrapping. * DO, a new loop control command for batch files. You can use several methods to control the loop: DO n: Repeat the loop n times. DO FOREVER: Repeat the loop until you exit with LEAVE or GOTO. DO var = start TO end [BY n]: Repeat the loop until the variable passes the end value. DO WHILE condition: Repeat the loop while the condition is true (the condition can be any of those available in the IF and IFF commands). DO UNTIL condition: Repeat the loop until the condition becomes true. A loop terminates with an ENDDO. You can use ITERATE to return to the start of a loop, and LEAVE to exit a loop. * IF and IFF now support decimals in numeric tests. * INKEY has two new switches: /C: Clears the keyboard buffer before accepting input. /P: Does not echo your input (for passwords). * INPUT has four new switches: /C: Clears the keyboard buffer before accepting input. /E: Displays and allows you to edit an existing value. /L: Sets the maximum input length. /P: Displays asterisks for your input (for passwords). * KEYBD, a new command to toggle the state of the Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Shift Lock keys. * LIST has been completely rewritten and offers many new features. Line numbers are displayed, and you can go to a specific line; hexadecimal display, print, and search are now supported; there is a popup window which shows the current fully expanded filename, size, date, and time; and most operations are significantly faster. * LOG now supports a "history" log, which is independent from the regular command log. The history log saves the original commands entered into the history list, without the date and time information stored in the normal log file, and before alias and variable expansion. * MD has a new switch: /S builds all necessary intermediate directories. * MOVE now displays the space freed (if any), like DEL, and (under 4DOS) supports the /F(orce delete) option in OS/2 2.1 DOS sessions. * ON, a new error-handling command for batch files: ON BREAK command: Execute the command when ^C or ^Break is detected. ON ERROR command: Execute the command after a DOS or 4DOS error. * SELECT supports the new /I switch (see DIR). * SETDOS has 4 new options: /B: Sets your EGA or VGA board for blinking text or bright background colors. /D: Enables or disables description processing for COPY, DEL, MOVE, and REN. /X: Controls command parsing. You can enable or disable alias and variable expansion, multiple and conditional commands, redirection and pipes, command grouping, quoting, and the escape character. /Y: Enables or disables single-step operation in batch files. Use for batch file debugging. * START is a new command for 4DOS users running OS/2 2.1. It starts a DOS, Windows, or OS/2 application from an OS/2 DOS session. Internal Variables and Variable Functions ----------------------------------------- * Over 15 new internal variables, including: _APMAC AC status (4DOS only) _APMBATT Battery status (4DOS only) _APMLIFE Remaining battery life (4DOS only) _COUNTRY Country code _DAY Day of the month (1 - 31) _DOY Day of the year (1 - 366) _HOUR Hour (0 - 23) _MINUTE Minute (0 - 59) _MONTH Month of the year (1-12) _SECOND Second (0 - 59) _SYSERR Error code for the most recent operating system error _WINTITLE Title of the current session or window _YEAR Year (1980-2099) * Over 15 new variable functions, including: @CDROM CD-ROM drive detection @DEC Decremented value of a variable @FILEAGE Age of a file @FILECLOSE Close a file @FILEOPEN Open a file @FILEREAD Read a line from a file @FILES Count files which match a wildcard name @FILESEEK Seek to a new location in a file @FILEWRITE Write text to a file @FINDFIRST Find the first file which matches a wildcard name @FINDNEXT Find the next matching file @INC Incremented value of a variable @MASTER Return a value from the master environment (4DOS only) @RANDOM Return a random number @TRIM Return a string with whitespace removed --- * Channel 1(R) * 617-354-7077 * Cambridge MA * 85 lines * PostLink(tm) v1.11 CHANNEL1 (#15) : RelayNet(tm)