Night Owl 9/Night Owl CD-ROM (NOPV9) (Night Owl Publisher) (1993).ISO/015a/patha.zip/PATHA.DOC

Text File | 1993-03-30 | 12KB | 202 lines

        PATHA   A better PATH utility for DOS computers.
                    Created by Henry G. Boucher.

     Patha is designed to be used in place of the DOS PATH command. It will
 make working with multiple directories much easier than ever before. Patha
 allows the user to modify the existing path without retyping the whole
 path or using batch files. The user can edit the current path, add one
 or more directories to the path, delete one or more directories from the
 path, or replace the whole path with one in a specified file. Patha will
 allow you to have paths up to 1024 characters. Patha is NOT case sensitive.
 Patha /? will provide help on using the command.

     FORMAT: Patha [text or /c] [/b /o /d /f /e /n /L]

     DEFINITIONS:
     [text]    name of the directory (or multiple directories each
               separated by ;).
       /c      use the Current working directory.
       /b      add to the Beginning of the path rather than the end.
       /o      Override checking of directories existence.
       /d      Delete directories from the current path.
       /f      get path from File [text] or \autoexec.bat.
       /e      allow for Editing of the path before changing.
       /n      create a New path with directories in [text].
       /L      allow maximum path length (up to 1024 characters).

     Patha [text]    will add directory [text] (if it exists) to the end
               of the path. No option is needed because adding is
               the default. Dos shorthand is accepted (i.e. \,..,.).

     Patha /c /b  will add the current working directory to the beginning
               of the current path.

     PATHA [text] /o will add [text] to the end of the current path without
               checking to see if [text] is really a directory. Useful if
                [text] is a floppy based directory and you do not want to
                spend time checking its existence.

     Patha [text] /d will remove the directory containing [text] from the
               current path. [text] must be unique to one directory
               in the path, but can be of any length.

     Patha [text] /f will open file [text], search for first occurrence of
               a path command, and set the current path to that
               value. If no [text] file is entered,  patha will try
               to use autoexec.bat from the root directory. This
               option works by searching the file for the first
               occurrence of "PATH " or "PATH=" at the beginning of
               any line. Lines containing "set Path" will be ignored.
               Used mainly to quickly reset the path to its initial value.

     Patha /e  will show the current path and allow editing. Editing
               allows use of ins, del, home, end, tabs, left and
               right arrow keys, and Ctrl end (del to end).
               Esc or Ctrl C will escape WITHOUT making any changes.
               The system will not allow more data once you reach the
               limit of your current environment space or 128 characters,
               whichever is less. If you reach this point you will hear
               a beep and no more characters will be accepted (combine with
               the /L option to allow up to 1024 characters - see below).
               Upon receiving an entry, the path will be changed without
               verifying what you typed (i.e. no further checking of
               each directories existence will be done).
               The edit option may be used with other options to allow
               you to confirm the new path before changing the old one.


     Patha /c /n  will create a new path with only the current working
               directory in the path.


     Patha /L /E will show the current path and allow editing as above.
               However, the maximum length of the path will be the amount
               of environmental memory available (up to 1024 characters).
               If the current path already exceeds 128 characters (the default
               maximum path length in DOS), the /L option is not needed.


 EXAMPLES:

     Patha c:\dos /b   add directory "c:\dos" to the beginning of the path.
     Patha dos         add directory "c:\dos" to the end of the path if
                      you are in directory c:\ and dos is a sub directory.
     Patha c:\misc /L  add c:\misc to the path even if the resulting path
                       would by greather than 128 characters.
     Patha \dos        add c:\dos to the path if the current volume is c.
     Patha c:\;c:\dos  add both "c:\" and "c:\dos" to the path.
     Patha A:\misc /o  add "a:\misc" to path without checking if it exists.
     Patha c:\dos /d   delete directory "c:\dos" from the path.
     Patha /c /e       add the current working directory to the path then
                      allow for editing before invoking the change.
     Patha %path1% /n  set the path to that in environment variable path1.
     PATHA /f          load the path found in the file autoexec.bat in the
                      root directory.
     Patha A:\autoexec.bat /f  change the path to that in the file
                      a:\autoexec.bat.

     IF YOUR PATH WERE "PATH=C:\;c:\windows;C:\Dos;"
     "Patha WIN /d" would result in "PATH=C:\;C:\Dos;"
     "PATHA dos;win /d" would result in "PATH=C:\;"
     "PATHA c:\wp" would result in "PATH=C:\;c:\windows;C:\Dos;c:\wp;"

 Versus Ver 1.1: Addition of the /n option to allow creating a totally new
           path. Support of tabs, back-tabs and Ctrl end in the editing
           mode ("Ctrl end" deletes to the end of the path).
           Support of %envvar% (environmental variables created with
           the DOS SET command) as in dos batch files.
           Addition of the /L option to allow paths to exceed the DOS default
           length of 128. Path can now be up to 1024 characters if there
           is enough memory available in the environment. The following
           items MUST BE NOTED when using the /L option:
                1). The Dos PATH command will not show the path properly
                    if the path is longer than 128 characters. Use PATHA
                    to see the current path.
               2.) If you create a path longer than 128 characters with
                    Patha, DO NOT USE PATH or "SET PATH" to create a new
                    path (including batch files). This is because the path
                    command will not clear the memory past the 128 byte
                    position. Therefore, if you have a path greater than 128
                    characters and you "path=c:\" (or anything), the memory
                    past the 128th character of the previous path will be
                    LOST until you reboot.
                3). The Dos SET command will not show the path properly
                    if the path is longer than 128 characters.
                4). An invalid path (i.e. directories which don't exist)
                    will cause many programs to HANG YOUR SYSTEM. This
                    is true with or without PATHA.
                5). Commands which are mistyped will cause dos to search
                    ALL directories in the path. On systems with slow hard
                    drives this delay will be noticeable.


%ENVVAR%: Environment variables can be used both in batch files (with the
        /f option) and from the command line. Variables can be SET in the
        environment by using the DOS SET command. This allows a short name
        to be used in place of a long string. Using environment variables
        with patha is similar to their use in batch files. You must place
        a % sign before and after the variable to indicate it is an
        environmental variable. Environment variables may be used in many
        ways. For example you could "SET Work=C:\work;C:\windows;" and
        "SET Play=C:\games;c:\misc;" and "SET Tools=c:\;c:\bin;". Then
        you could easily switch between paths by using "Patha %work% /n",
        "Patha %play% /n", Or combine them with "Patha %tools%;%work% /n".

 INSTALLATION: Copy PATHA.COM to a directory normally in your path.
               The DOS directory would be the best place.

 ENVIRONMENT: The default DOS environment size is only 160 bytes.
           This is the area where PATH and other environment strings
           are stored. If you are using the default size, you may
           occasionally get an error that the environment is too small
           for the path you are entering. You can increase the environment
           size by using the command:
               SHELL=C:\COMMAND.COM /E:xxxxx /P
           in your config.sys file. Where xxxxx = number of bytes for the
           environment (160-32768) in DOS versions 3.2 and above (versions
           3.0 and 3.1 require the number of bytes/16, versions below 3.0
           do not support the SHELL command). The /P option causes
           autoexec.bat to be run. If COMMAND.COM is not in C:\, replace
           C:\ in the above command with the directory it is in (i.e.
           C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM). See your Dos manual.
           To have up to 1024 characters in your path, you must have an
           environment size of 1024 + amount you want for environment
           variables. Note that this memory is from your base 640k memory
           and reduces it accordingly. Most users will not need paths longer
           than 512 bytes and other environment memory of 512, therefore 1024
           is a good size to allocate (i.e. /E:1024 above).

 WINDOWS:  When you start a dos shell from windows or other graphics programs,
           you begin with a copy of the root environment. Any changes you
           make to the environment (including the path) will only be temporary.
           When you "EXIT" the shell and return to windows, the environment
           will revert to what it was when windows was first activated. PATHA
           will only change the current environment.

 COMMENTS: Patha is a shareware utility. You may freely distribute it as you
           wish, provided you include this documentation file with it.
           HGB Enterprises takes no responsibility (expressed or implied)
           for this utility and in No Event shall be liable for any loss or
           damage as a result of its use. Any problems or suggestions on
           improving the utility should be sent to the address below.
           Comments are also appreciated.

 REGISTRATION: In keeping with the shareware concept, individuals that
            find this product useful are asked to become a registered
            user. This can be done by only sending $5.00 to:

                    HGB Enterprises
                    P. O. Box 150706
                    FT. Worth, Texas 76108

            To receive this latest release direct from the developer, send
            an additional $3.00 ($5.00 foreign) and specify 3.5 inch or
            5.25 inch disk size. A user manual will also be included.
            Registered users will receive notice of new releases.
            Invoice.doc is included for your convenience.
            Site licenses are available.
            If you cannot afford 5.00, any donations would be appreciated.

                  Copyright 1993, HGB Enterprises.
             All rights reserved. Version 2.2.    3/28/93