The World of Computer Software/The World of Computer Software.iso/pathm20.zip/PATHMAST.DOC

Text File | 1992-12-06 | 6KB | 211 lines

        ╓──────╖         ──╖
        ║      ║           ╟──╖
        ╟──────╜           ║  ╟──╖
        ║ ╓──╥ ──╥── ╖  ╓  ║  ║  ║ ╓──╥   ╓── ──╥── ╓── ╓──╖
        ║ ║  ║   ║   ╟──╢  ║  ║  ║ ║  ║   ║     ║   ╟── ╟─┬╜  2.0
        ║ ╙──╨   ╙   ╜  ╙  ╜  ╙  ╙ ╙──╨ ──╜     ╙   ╙── ║ │
                ────────────────────────────────────────╜ ╘═

               *-*  The Ultimate Path Utility *-*
                        David Smith, 1992








  WHAT IS PATH MASTER ?

        Changing your path is a pain.  Mainly because you must type
the ENTIRE thing in from scratch, or make 20 different batch files
that change your path that clutter up your hard drive.


    PATH MASTER solves this by allowing you to:

        1) Choose your path from a menu.

        2) Totally configure your menu, and change a path quickly
           and easily.

        3) Add or delete a directory from the path.

        4) Change your path on the command line.

        5) Use your mouse to control PATHMASTER





  HOW TO OPERATE PATH MASTER

        To begin, you must configure your favorite paths into the
        configuration file that will be stored in your root
        directory.

        Type: PM /E         {edit the configurations}

        You have 20 blanks that you may enter paths into.  To move around,
        press [ENTER] after typing a path, or use the arrow keys.
        Regular editing keys are valid in EDIT mode: HOME, END, INSERT,
        DELETE, PgUp, PgDn, etc.

        Examples of a valid paths:

        C:\DOS;C:\UTILS;C:\TURBO\BIN\INCLUDE
        C:\UTILS
        A:\DOS;C:\PCPLUS;C:\WP51
        D:\STACKER;C:\DOS

        (Notice that a valid path consists of NO SPACES, a semicolon
         between the directories, and does NOT include the "PATH="
         statement.)

        Fill it up with up to 20 configurations, then press [F10] to
        save and quit.

        If you are using a MOUSE, ensure your mouse driver is installed,
        and move your mouse up and down to choose from the menu or move
        around the configuration editor.  Press the LEFT button to select
        an item, or press the RIGHT button to escape PathMaster.







  USING THE MENU INTERFACE

        Once you're configured, just type: PM    to pull up the
        menu.  Use UP/DOWN arrows, PgUp, PgDn, Home, End to move
        around, then press [ENTER] to choose a new path.





  USING OTHER OPTIONS

        On the command line, if you want to remove a directory
        from your path, type: PM /D [dir]

        If you want to add a directory, type: PM /A [dir]

        For a listing of the current path, type: PM /C

        To create a totally new path, type: PM [path]






  WHAT IS A "PATH" ?

        A path is a list of directories that DOS uses to search
        for files that are not in the current directory.

        For example, if I am in the C:\DOS directory, and want to
        use PKZIP.EXE to compress a couple of files, then PKZIP.EXE
        would have to be in the current directory.

        BUT, if I have PKZIP.EXE in my C:\UTILS directory, then I
        can just type: PATH=C:\UTILS and dos will look in that
        directory in addition to the current one to find PKZIP.EXE.

    NOTE: Data files are not included in the search.  DOS only searches
          for executable files (with extension .EXE or .COM).  If that
          executable file needs a data file somewhere other than the
          current directory, it will NOT FIND IT, because DOS tricks
          the executable file into thinking it is in your current directory.


   So Why Not Just Include ALL My Directories In My Path ????

        Because DOS looks through all the directories in your path
      to find a file, it can eat up your hard disk and take forever
      to run a program.
        Including all your regular utilities into one MAIN directory
      reduces the time DOS takes to find files, and saves your hard
      disk from unnecessary use.



   Why Do I Need More Than One Path ???

        When I compile programs, I need my path to include my Turbo C++
      directory, and my Turbo Assembler directory, and also my Utilities
      dir.
        So when programming, I use:

                PATH=C:\TURBO\BIN;C:\UTILS;C:\DOS;C:\TASM

        When I use Turbo Pascal, I need the Toolbox directory, the Turbo
      Pascal directory, and of course my utils:

                PATH=C:\UTILS;C:\DOS;C:\TP\TOOLBOX;C:\TP

        But when downloading a file from the local BBS, I need my Procomm
      Plus directory, my B: drive (my SCAN program is there), and my
      downloading directory.

                PATH=C:\DOS;C:\;B:\;D:\PCPLUS;C:\DOWNLOAD

        Do you see the conflict ?   Without Path Master, I was using
      12 batch files to do all the work.








  EXAMPLES


        PM /E

  Edits the current configuration file.

        PM /A C:\DOCS

  Adds c:\docs directory to the current path.

        PM /D C:\UTILS

  Deletes c:\utils directory from the current path.

        PM C:\DOS;A:\TP\TOOLBOX

  Creates a new path that consists of c:\dos and a:\tp\toolbox
  directories.

        PM /?

  Shows the help screen.

        PM /C

  Displays current path on the screen.






  A GREAT DEAL !

        See the included CATALOG.COM to order Dave's Disk full of
        Utilities.  For only $15.00, it's a definite bargain !