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1991-10-17
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Apologies for the shareware pause that comes up every time you
execute XPATH. The screen displayed is there because XPATH.EXE gets
distributed to other bulliten boards without the accompaning
README.XP file that has the order form in it. Thus, the shareware
screen provides a method for people to order the product. The screen
does not appear in the registered version of the program.
XPATH Version 3.7
-----------------
Have you ever tried to set your path longer than 127 characters?
Without XPATH, or a similar product, it just can't be done. The
reason is that you cannot type more than 128 characters at the
prompt. Even if you create a BAT file where you can type more than
128 characters on a line, you cannot set your path past 127
characters because the command interpreter will not read past the
128th column of you BAT file.
This problem is solved when you use XPATH. With XPATH, you create
a file that contains 1 line for each directory you want in your
path. You then simply execute XPATH, specifying the file that
contains the directories you want in your path.
For example, say you want your path to look like this:
c:\;c:\dos;c:\util;c:\util\rexx20\pgms;c:\windows;c:\windows\excel
You create an ASCII (text) file that looks like this:
c:\
c:\dos
c:\util
c:\util\rexx20
c:\util\rexx20\pgms
c:\windows
c:\windows\excel
Save the file giving any name you wish. Let's say you name it
PATH.TXT. You would then create your path by executing the XPATH
command as follows:
XPATH PATH.TXT
The above format assumes that PATH.TXT is in your current directory
and XPATH.EXE is in your current path or current directory.
If the file containing the directories you want in your path is not
in your current directory when you execute XPATH, you can specify
where the file is in the following way:
XPATH C:\DATA\PATH.TXT
That is how you would do it if your path file is called PATH.TXT
and is in a sub-directory on C called DATA.
-->Note: some versions of the shareware xpath is named XPATHSW. In this
case the command is XPATHSW rather than XPATH; or if you wish, you
may rename XPATHSW.EXE to XPATH.EXE.
_____________________________________________________
XPATH is a registered trandemark of XWARE Development
Page 1 copyright 1991
Extra Features
--------------
But wait, there's more. We have just added 3 new features!
You can now add and deleted from your path on the fly. Suppose you
want to add the directory C:\WING to your path right away. Simply
type:
XPATH -A C:\WING
That's all you have to do. Xpath will add the new directory to the
end of your current path. It does not modify your path data file
though, so the next time you reboot, the added path will not be there.
Suppose you want to delete the directory C:\WINDOWS out of your path.
Simply type:
XPATH -D C:\WINDOWS
That's all you have to do. The rest of your path remains intact, but
C:\WINDOWS is removed.
The 3rd new feature added to xpath is the directory list feature.
Simply type XPATH with no parameters, and all the directories in your
path are listed on separate lines. You can use this feature to
create a file that can later be used as input to xpath in your
autoexec.bat file. For example:
Type:
XPATH -L >PATH.TXT
You will get a file that has a list of directories in your path.
This file will also contain the xpath logo (and shareware information
if you have not yet registered), so you will have to edit the file to
delete that stuff. Remember to also delete the byte total at the end
of the file. Then save the file and use it as input to XPATH in your
autoexec.bat file as described on the previous page.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have not registered your copy yet, a pause
comes up and you are required to press enter after the pause.
When you use the above method to create an input file for Xpath, you
will not see the "press enter to continue" message", but you still
have to press enter. If you have an unregistered version, wait 3
seconds after typing XPATH >PATH.TXT and then press enter.
Starting with version 3.5, the total bytes in your path are reported
when you type XPATH with no parameters. I have found that some app-
lications lock up when your path starts to get long. The application
that I had a problem with was BRIEF (a text editor). When my path
reached about 265 bytes, BRIEF would lock up when I tried to invoke it.
-> Type XPATH -? for help and expamples.
_____________________________________________________
XPATH is a registered trandemark of XWARE Development
Page 2 copyright 1991
Possible problems
-----------------
One of the main reasons you would want to use xpath is because you
want a path longer than 127 characters. So, after using XPATH, if
you type the PATH command to display your path, you may see that your
path is longer than 127 characters. My path is 197 characters. When
I run the setup program for the text-editor I use (BRIEF), it tries
to insert d:\brief into my path. At the time it does this, it is a
little confused because it sees my path is longer than 127
characters. It issues a warning message that says my path is too
long, but no problems occur.
Anytime you run an install program that puts a path command in your
autoexec.bat file, you will have to take that path command out and
put that path in your path file that you use when you execute XPATH.
Some programs that read your path could have a problem with a path
longer than 127 characters. Some programs may stop searching the
path after the 127th character, or even blow up when they find that
your path is larger than 127 characters. I've only encountered this
problem with BRIEF and a path greater than 165.
-->When your path gets unusually large, the whole thing may not display
when you type the dos PATH or SET command. The reason for this is that
DOS doesn't expect your path to ever be longer than 127 bytes, so it gets
confused when it's longer, and it prints just part of the path. Sometimes
it will print the whole thing even when it's greater than 127 bytes, but to
be sure you're seeing your whole path, type XPATH with no parameters when you
want to see your path.
DOS 5.0
After you have set your path with XPATH, using the DOS path command to
look at your path will not work. You will see only part of your path.
The same is true when you look at your path by typing SET. To see your
path, type XPATH with no parameters. Your path will list out -- each
directory displaying on a new line.
-> Remember, the longer your path gets, the greater the possibility
some applications will have of locking up.
ONCE YOU HAVE CREATED A PATH > 127 CHARACTERS, DO NOT USE DOS'S
SET OR PATH COMMAND TO CHANGE IT. ONLY USE XPATH. IF YOU WISH
TO QUIT USING XPATH, TAKE XPATH OUT OF YOUR AUTOEXEC.BAT AND REBOOT.
Do not put equal signs (=) in your path input file. This will cause
extrainious = signs in your path which will confuse XPATH.
_____________________________________________________
XPATH is a registered trandemark of XWARE Development
Page 3 copyright 1991
ENVIRONMENT SIZE PROBLEMS
-------------------------
NEW PATH TOO LARGE TO FIT IN CURRENT ENVIRONMENT. PATH UNCHANGED.
If you run out of environment space when using
XPATH, this means you need to allocate more
environment space. If you have this problem when opening a
DOS window under windows, skip to the next section. If you
have this problem when running XPATH from your AUTOEXEC.BAT
file, then you need to increase your environment size by
adding the following line to your config.sys file:
shell = c:\command.com c:\ /p /e:640
The /e:640 in the above line tells DOS to allocate 640
bytes to your environmet. You may need to use a larger
number if you have a lot of SETS in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file,
or if you have a lot of directories in your XPATH directory
file. The above command assumes you are booting from a
hard drive who's name is 'C'.
*********
WARNING:
*********
The shell command also tells DOS where your command.com
file is located. If you specify a location where
command.com does NOT exsist, your PC will not boot up off
the hard drive. If this happens, you will have to boot
from diskette and correct the problem in your config.sys
file.
If you know you have a lot of envronment space, but you still get
the "path won't fit" message, then it may be becuase you are in
a DOS shell. Type EXIT to make sure you are not in a DOS shell.
If you are, then typing EXIT will cause you to go back to the
application you "shelled" out of.
DOS Compatability
-----------------
XPATH was written under DOS 3.30 and is compatable with
DOS 3.1 and higher -- including 5.0.
_____________________________________________________
XPATH is a registered trandemark of XWARE Development
Page 4 copyright 1991
INCREASEING ENVIRONMENT SIZE FOR A WINDOWS'S DOS WINDOW:
--------------------------------------------------------
To increase your environment size for a DOS window under
Window's, you set up a PIF as follows:
- Click on "Close window on exit" (turn it on).
- Program Filename: COMMAND.COM
- Optional Parameters: /E:640 /C C:\BAT\XPATHWIN.BAT
The /E:640 allocates 640 bytes to your environment. You
can increase or decrease this if you wish. The /C says the
the following filename is a BAT file to be executed. You
can use any filename you wish. The bat file you execute
should execute XPATH as well as any other commands you wish
to execute. Also, the last line in the bat file must
execute command.com again. This will keep your dos window
from immediatly returning to windows when the bat file is
finished executing. An example of a bat file for a DOS
window that executes xpath is:
ECHO OFF
ECHO Setting path...
C:
CD \UTILS
XPATH C:\DATA\PATH.DAT
COMMAND.COM /E:640
Why the /E:640 on the last line even though we already
specified /E:640 in the PIF? Well, the /E:640 in the PIF
gives 640 bytes of environment space for the bat file to
use. The bat file uses it, but then the last thing the
bat file does is to load a new command environment. When
this occurs, the environment variables from the old command
environment are copied to the new command environment.
Thus, the new command evironment needs at least as much
environment space as was specified in the PIF.
If you have problems setting your path in a DOS window
under Windows, you can set it before you enter windows, and
all DOS windows will recognize it.
_____________________________________________________
XPATH is a registered trandemark of XWARE Development
Page 5 copyright 1991
Registering XPATH
-----------------
You have an evaluation copy of XPATH. Please register it by sending
$15.00 to:
XWARE Development
7351 Woburn Cir. Suite #1
Anchorage, Alaska 99502
phone: (907) 248-1211
By registering your copy of XPATH, you will be sent the latest
version which will not have the pause in it. You will be entitled
to free technical support, and you will get future versions of XPATH
at a reduced cost.
The next version of Xpath will include automatic update of your path
file when you add or delete from your path on the fly.
see last page for registration form.
_____________________________________________________
XPATH is a registered trandemark of XWARE Development
Page 6 copyright 1991
Current License Agreement - xpath 3.7
-------------------------
You are entitled to use the evaluation copy of XPATH for evaluation
purposes only. Use this registration form to purchase a copy of
XPATH should you decide to continue to use it. Purchasing a copy of
XPATH entitles you to use it on one machine. If XPATH is installed on
a network, a license must be purchased for each workstation that access
XPATH.
Feel free to upload the shareware version of xpath to your favorite
bulletin boards.
+-----------------+
:REGISTRATION FORM: 3.7
+-----------------+
Company (if applicable): _______________________________________
Your name: __________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
No. of copies: _____ (enclose $15 per copy)
Amount enclose: __________
Make checks payable to XWARE Development.
Send to: XWARE Development
4719 Malibu Road Suite #1
Anchorage, Alaska 99517
phone: (907) 243-5052
COMPUSERVE USER-ID: 76424,1335
_____________________________________________________
XPATH is a registered trandemark of XWARE Development
Page 7 copyright 1991
XWARE Disclaimer
XWARE specifically disclaims all warranties, expressed or
implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose with respect
to defects in the software and documentation, and the program
license granted herein in particular, and without limiting
operation of the program license with respect to any particular
application, use, or purpose. In no event shall XWARE be liable
for any loss of profit or damage, including but not limited to
special, incidental, or consequential damages. This statement shall
be construed, interpreted, and governed by the laws of the State of
Alaska.
_____________________________________________________
XPATH is a registered trandemark of XWARE Development
Page 8 copyright 1991