The 640 MEG Shareware Studio 2/The 640 Meg Shareware Studio CD-ROM Volume II (Data Express)(1993).ISO/educate/dsquiz22.zip/DOSQUIZ.DOC

Text File | 1992-09-03 | 16KB | 381 lines

                             DOS QUIZ DOCUMENTATION


1.  What is DOS Quiz?
2.  Running DOS Quiz
3.  DOS Quiz Questions
4.  Registration Info

                                WHAT IS DOS QUIZ?

     DOS Quiz is a quick and easy way to test anyone on their knowledge of both
basic and advanced DOS commands.  The Quiz is completely taken on a DOS
computer.  It takes the user through a series of 20 questions, asking the user
to perform tasks in DOS.  Out of the 20 questions, 13 are categorized as Basic,
and seven as Advanced.

     At the end of the Quiz, a score screen is displayed, which shows a listing
of all of the questions asked, what the main concept of the question was, and
whether the user answered the question correctly or not.  The numbers and
percentages of Total, Basic, and Advanced questions answered correctly is also
shown on the score screen.  The opportunity to save the scoresheet to disk or
paper is given at this point.

     DOS Quiz may be used to find out who in your office needs work on their DOS
knowledge, or as a screen for new employees.  Though not designed to be a DOS
tutor, as it does not cover options supported by many DOS commands and does not
address concepts in, say, directory tree structure or filenames, it can be used
to teach different ways of doing the same task.

                                RUNNING DOS QUIZ

     Running DOS Quiz is really quite simple - all you need to do is type
DOSQUIZ at the DOS prompt and away you go.  The program is completely self-
contained, so no outside files are needed.  The program is small, so it will run
on nearly any DOS machine.

     DOS Quiz works with either a color or monochrome monitor.  DOS Quiz will
try to use color first and will jump down to monochrome if color is not
available.  Monochrome monitors that emulate color monitors (such as b/w
VGA) will work fine in color mode.  The use of color in the program has been
kept to a minimum to allow usage on a wide range of computers.  If DOS Quiz
does not choose the monochrome mode and you wish to force it into monochrome
mode, or you do not care for DOS Quiz's color scheme, type "dosquiz /m" at the
DOS prompt. Note that on color systems, /m will only work if your video adapter
can emulate monocrome (for example, most CGA cards cannot).

     Note: As of Version 1.2, DOSQUIZ detects if you are using EGA 43-line mode
or VGA 50-line mode before starting up.  Though DOSQUIZ uses 25-line mode, the
line mode you started DOSQUIZ in will be reset when you leave.

     After typing in DOSQUIZ, an intro screen will appear.  After pressing any
key as requested, the user will be prompted for his or her name and Social
Security Number.  This is for score-sheet identification purposes.  The user is
asked to verify his or her entry.  An instruction screen will then appear.
After reading the instructions and pressing any key, the quiz begins.

     After finishing 20 questions, the score screen will appear.  Three
function keys are active here.  F1 will print a scoresheet out on a parallel
printer in port LPT1.  F2 will prompt you for a filename to save a score-
sheet to (with the user's input name as the default filename).  If the filename
given exists, you will be given a chance to change your choice.  F3 quits the
score screen and the user will be asked if the quiz is to be taken again.  This
is a Yes or No question.  If Yes, the screen will go back to the Name/SSN
screen.  If No, then DOS Quiz will return control to DOS.

     If you request that the scoresheet be printed out, DOS Quiz will poll your
printer to see if it is ready to print.  If it is not, an appropriate error
message will print out and you will be asked to try again.  Note that on many
systems, if the printer is properly attached but turned off, no error will be
detected.

     If a user does not know the answer to a question, he or she can either
guess or just press ENTER to skip answering.  DOS Quiz will mark the question as
being incorrectly answered and move on.

                               DOS QUIZ QUESTIONS

     The following is a listing of all questions asked in DOS Quiz, and their
correct responses.  Note that though the "correct" answers are all presented
here in uppercase, all variations of upper and lower case are valid, as in DOS.

1  Log onto a drive - Basic

The user is placed at an A> prompt.  The user is asked to log onto a hard drive
installed as drive C.  The only correct answer is:

   C:


2  Change the DOS Prompt - Advanced

The user is presented with a C> prompt and asked to make the DOS prompt a little
more informative - force the prompt to show the current path and the greater-
than sign.  The PROMPT command has many such useful abilities.  If you load
ANSI.SYS in your CONFIG.SYS file, then the possibilities are nearly endless.
See your DOS manual for more info.  The only correct answer is:

  PROMPT $P$G


3  Show a directory listing - Basic

The user is shown a C:\> prompt and asked to type in the command that will show
a listing of the files in the current directory.  The DIR command is one of
DOS's most used.  Knowing how to use it is an essential.  Knowing how to use
it well is a true sign of a good DOS user.  Valid answers are:

  DIR        DIR \      DIR *.*     DIR .       DIR .\
  DIR .\*.*  DIR \*.*   DIR *       DIR .\*     DIR \*

The user may also precede any of the directory options with C: (example, DIR
C:.\*.* is valid).


4  Clear the screen - Basic

The user is presented with the output from the DIR command above and asked to
clear the screen using a DOS command.  The only correct answer is:

  CLS


5  Show/Set the system date - Basic

The user is asked to type in the DOS command that shows you the current system
date.  Note that there is a similar TIME command in DOS.  The only correct
answer is:

  DATE

DOS Quiz will show the actual current system date, assuming it is correct.

6  Display the current DOS version - Advanced

The user is asked to type in the DOS command that will display the version of
DOS currently in use.  This command is useful if you are working on a machine
that you have never used before, or if you know you have DOS Version 3, but
do not know which subversion.  The only correct answer is

  VER


7  Create a subdirectory - Basic

The user will be asked to create a subdirectory called "QUIZ".  Mastering the
directory control commands (MD, RD, and CD) are essential in your quest for
DOS knowledge.  If you are not sure you understand how DOS's directory
structure works, review your DOS manual.  DOS Quiz accepts all valid forms of
this command:

  MD QUIZ    MD \QUIZ    MD .\QUIZ

and all the preceding commands with the MKDIR command substituting for MD.
You may omit the space between MD or MKDIR and \QUIZ or .\QUIZ.  The directory
specifications may be preceded with C: (for example, MD C:QUIZ is valid).


8  Change the current working directory - Basic

The user will be asked to change into the QUIZ directory just created.  All
valid forms of this command are accepted:

CD QUIZ   CD \QUIZ   CD .\QUIZ

and all of the preceding commands with CHDIR substituted for CD.  You may omit
the space between CD or CHDIR and \QUIZ or .\QUIZ.  The directory
specifications may be preceded with C: (for example, CD C:QUIZ is valid).


9  Copy a file from one directory to another - Basic

The user is asked to copy a file from one directory to the current directory.
A valid response is broken into up to three pieces.  The first piece must be

  COPY

The second piece can be

  \DOC\TEST.DOC   ..\DOC\TEST.DOC

The third piece is optional and can be

  .   TEST.DOC   \QUIZ\TEST.DOC   \TEST.DOC   ..\QUIZ\TEST.DOC

If no third piece is given, DOS assumes that you want to create a file of the
same name in the current directory.  It does so without prompting.  This is a
teriffic keystroke saver if all you are doing is making a copy of a file and
the old name is OK.  The second or third piece (or both) may be preceded by C:.

10  Rename a file - Basic

The user is asked to rename the file TEST.DOC in the current directory to
QUIZ.DOC.  This method cannot be used to change the location of the file,
jus the file's name in its directory.  The valid entries are:

  REN TEST.DOC QUIZ.DOC             REN .\TEST.DOC QUIZ.DOC
  REN \QUIZ\TEST.DOC QUIZ.DOC       REN ..\QUIZ\TEST.DOC QUIZ.DOC

The longer form of REN, "RENAME", is also accepted.  Note that the seccond file
name cannot have a pathname.  DOS uses the same path given for the first file
as the path for the second file, for the reason noted above.  The TEST.DOC
portion of the command may be preceded by C:.  The QUIZ.DOC portion, however,
cannot be.


11  Show the contents of a file onscreen - Basic

The user is asked to print out the contents of the file QUIZ.DOC to the screen.
The intent is to use the TYPE command in one of the following ways:

  TYPE QUIZ.DOC          TYPE .\QUIZ.DOC
  TYPE \QUIZ\QUIZ.DOC    TYPE ..\QUIZ\QUIZ.DOC

All of the above variations on the filename will also work with

  COPY filename CON

where filename is one of the filenames above (with or without path specifica-
tions).  This copies the contents of a file to the Console screen (your
monitor).  Note that CON can also be entered as CON:.  As with previous
questions, the filename may be preceded by C:.


12  Delete a file - Basic

The user is asked to delete the file QUIZ.DOC.  The valid answers are:

  DEL QUIZ.DOC    DEL .\QUIZ.DOC    DEL \QUIZ\QUIZ.DOC

The longer form of DEL, "ERASE", is also acceptable.  If the QUIZ.DOC portion
of the command preceded by C:, the response will be correct.


13  Make root directory current directory - Basic

The user is asked to change directories to the root (top) directory.  The valid
answers are:

  CD \   CD ..   CD C:\   CD C:..

The Longer form of CD, "CHDIR", is also acceptable.  You may omit the space
between CD or CHDIR and .. or \.  If C: is given, a space MUST separate the
CD or CHDIR and C:\ or C:...


14  Remove a directory - Basic

The user is asked to delete the QUIZ directory.  The user is told to assume that
the directory is empty.  If it were not (if there were any files or sub-
directories in the directory), or if your current working directory is the
directory you specify, then DOS will generate an error.  The valid responses
are:

  RD QUIZ    RD \QUIZ    RD .\QUIZ

The longer form of RD, "RMDIR", is also allowed.  You may omit the space
between RD or RMDIR and \QUIZ or .\QUIZ.  The QUIZ portion of the command may
be preceded by C:.


15  Format a diskette - Basic

The user is asked to assume that there is a diskette in drive A.  The user is
asked to type the command to format this diskette.  A diskette must be
formatted before it can be used to store data.  The FORMAT command sets the
structure of the diskette up so that DOS can read it and write to it.  The only
valid answer is:

  FORMAT A:


16  Check a diskette - Advanced

The user is asked to type the command that will check the diskette in drive A.
The CHKDSK command is a very useful one.  Unless you specifically tell it to
fix errors, all CHKDSK does is look at your hard drive or diskette.  So there
is no excuse for not knowing how to use all of CHKDSK's useful features!  The
only valid answer is:

  CHKDSK A:


17  Use F3 to repeat last command - Advanced

The user is asked to press one key that will recall the previous typed command.
The output from the "Check a diskette" question is shown on screen.  The only
valid response is to press F3.


18  Copy a like diskette - Advanced

The user is told to copy the diskette in drive A to that in drive B.  The user
is told to assume that the two drives are of the same type.  In DOS, you may
type just DISKCOPY and the computer will asks you which drive is the source
and which is the target.  For Quiz purposes, the user is asked to provide
the drivce names to the command.  The only valid response, then, is:

   DISKCOPY A: B:

19  Show the DOS environment - Advanced

The user is told to type the command that will show all currently set DOS
environment variables.  Common environment variables are COMSPEC, PATH, and
PROMPT.  In DOS 5.0, you may also see TEMP and DIRCMD.  This command will
show all defined variables and their values.  The only correct answer is:

  SET


20  Set a DOS environment variable - Advanced

The user is asked to set an environment variable.  The only valid response is:

  SET WP=C:\WP

Note that spaces on either side of the = are not permitted.  The space is
counted as a character, so typing  SET WP =C:\WP  would set a variable called
"WP " to C:WP.  "WP " is not the same as "WP".


                              DOS QUIZ REGISTRATION


                                  Registration

DOSQUIZ is shareware, and I retain all copyrights to the program.  If you use
and like DOSQUIZ, I request that you donate $15 to continue to use it.  If you
do, and also send a diskette (5¼ or 3½ Double or High density), I will include
any new version of DOSQUIZ, as well as any bonus utilities I have written at
that time.  Please enclose an extra $1 to cover postage, and be sure to enclose
your address. If you prefer that I just send you a diskette, please add $2 for
shipping costs and for diskette costs.

If you would like a customized version of DOSQUIZ, the cost is $100, including
one license fee.  Please see the file PRICE.LST for details.  Site licenses are
available at hige discounts.  See the file PRICE.LST for details.


                  REGISTRATION NOW EASIER FOR COMPUSERVE USERS

You may now register DOSQUIZ through CompuServe's Shareware Registration
Service.  To use the service, GO SWREG and register program #23.


               SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR USERS OF DOS5QUIZ AND/OR ADQ

DOS5Quiz is a DOSQuiz specially designed to test your DOS 5.0 knowledge.  ADQ
is the Advanced "power-user" test of DOS talents.  If you wish to become part
of the DOS Quiz family by registering any combination of the DOS Quiz programs,
you will be getting some great training/testing tools at a great price.  Any
two DOS Quiz programs may be registered for $20 (a savings of $10), all three
for $25 (a savings of $20).  The same diskette and postage charges outlined
above apply.  See the enclosed file PRICE.LST for and invoice and other
ordering info.  The latest versions of all DOS Quiz products can be downloaded
from the IBMAPP forum on CompuServe.


Steve Mount
RR 1 Box 320
Starksboro, VT  05487-9702

Contact me on CompuServe.....: 73720,3404

Contact me on America On-Line: Mountain

Call for ordering/support....: [phone]

I have fax capability at the above number for orders, but you must call me
to have my fax set up before faxing (it is a card and shares the line with
my answering machine).

THE DOSQUIZ PROGRAM AND THIS MANUAL ARE COPYRIGHTED DOCUMENTS.  THE OWNER OF
THE COPYRIGHT GIVES OTHERS PERMISSION TO DISTRIBUTE UNALTERED COPIES OF THE
PROGRAM AND DOCUMENTATION TO OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES.  THIS PROGRAM IS NOT IN
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.  IF YOU USE DOSQUIZ, PLEASE PAY THE REGISTRATION FEE.  IT
WILL ENSURE CONTINUED GROWTH OF THE PROGRAM FOR ALL USERS.

       DOSQUIZ AND DOCUMENTATION COPYRIGHT (C) 1991, 1992 BY STEVE MOUNT
                              ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.