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1989-01-07
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DOSTHINGS shareware
Copyright (c) Windmill Software 1988
DOSTHINGS is a package of routines that provide an enhancement to those
found with the standard MS-DOS or PC-DOS routines. They are independent of
hardware and they are not memory-resident - no interfering with other
programs. DOSTHINGS is not copy-protected and you are free to make as many
back-up copies as you like. If you have acquired this package from someone
else you are asked to send the sum of $25 U.S. or $30 Canadian to:
Malcolm Drury
11 Adele Crescent
Nepean, Ontario, K2J 2T7
Canada
Phone: (613) 825-1683
Instructions for using the routines follow. You are using one to read
this file if you typed VIEW README.DOC. README.DOC can be printed out or
edited using any word processing package that will accept ASCII files as
input.
Page 1
INSTALLATION
DOSTHINGS does not need any special installation. If you have a two-
floppy drive system, you can use a back-up copy in drive B and gain access
to the routines by typing: b:prog where prog is the name of the DOSTHINGS
routine. Or you can copy the files onto your boot diskette, if there is room
(see the DUPE routine instruction below). If you have a hard disk, DOSTHINGS
routines should be in the root directory, or in their own directory. If you
choose the latter approach, and copy the programs into a directory called
UTILS, for example, you should have in your boot-up AUTOEXEC.BAT file a
statement that says:
PATH,C:\;C:\UTILS
(If you don't have an autoexec.bat file, consult your DOS manual).
DOSTHINGS routines use the standard DOS drive, path and file name
approach (again, consult your DOS manual if you are not clear about path and
file names). Thus, in the following descriptions of routines, the following
apply: [d:] means drive; [path] means path; file.ext means file name
and its extension. Square brackets [] mean an item is optional.
Page 2
IMPORTANT NOTE
DOSTHINGS uses a method of specifying directories that is slightly
different from that used by DOS. Unless a file name (or a wild-card such as
*.*) is specified, directory names MUST be terminated with a final \.
e.g. ddir c:\dos\dosthings\ - equivalent to DOS dir c:\dosthings
Page 3
ASCI
Purpose: converts pseudo-ASCII files (e.g. WORDSTAR in document
mode) to ASCII. Produces file with same name as original, but with
extension .ASC
Notes: wild-card characters * and ? not allowed.
Usage: asci [d:][path]file.ext
Example: convert file "this.one" in directory "wordproc", sub-directory
"wordstar" on drive c asci c:\wordproc\wordstar\this.one
(Produces this.asc in same directory/sub-directory).
Page 4
CHAT
Purpose: change attribute of file or files
Notes: accepts "wild-card" characters * and ?
Usage: chat [d:][path]file.ext /x
where x is one of the following:
u - unprotect (i.e. make read-and-write)
r - protect (i.e. make read-only)
h - hide (hidden files are unavailable for
use in some DOS versions)
Examples:
to make file mine.fil hidden: chat mine.fil /h
to protect all files on drive b: chat b:*.* /r
to unprotect all .COM files on drive c, directory "one", sub-
directory "two" chat c:\one\two\*.com /u
Page 5
CLR
Purpose: clears the screen and sets display colour
Notes: this routine clears the screen no matter how many display
lines or columns there are (DOS cls routine assumes 80 columns and
25 lines). The default colour can be modified (see page 23)
Usage: clr
Page 6
CODE
Purpose: encodes or decodes files with user-supplied 6
character password
Notes: does not accept wild-card characters * or ?
in file name
Usage: code [d:][path]file.ext /x
where x is one of the following:
e - encode file
d - decode file
Examples: encode file mine.txt code mine.txt /e
decode file this.one on directory "mine" of
drive c code c:\mine\this.one /d
Page 7
DDIR
Purpose: gives a non-scrolling, double-column directory display. Protected
files are flagged with a "+", system files with a "s", and files
created today with a bright "*". Date is returned in the European
format: routines USDDIR and JPDDIR return the date in the American
and Japanese formats. Choose the one you want and rename it
DDIR.COM.
Notes: unlike the DOS DIR command, DDIR requires you to close the
path name with a \ if no file name specification is given. Failing
to do this will produce a list of all sub-directories on the
directory specified. Wild-card characters are allowed.
Usage: ddir [d:][path]file.ext
Examples: directory of current drive and directory ddir
list of .COM files on drive a ddir a:*.com
list of files of directory "one', drive c
ddir c:\one\ or ddir c:\one\*.*
Page 8
DECDST
Purpose: automatically decrements time by 1 hour. Use it in your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file during periods of standard time on machines
such as the IBM-AT that have a built-in clock/calendar set
during a period of standard time.
You will not have to re-set the time manually each time you
boot the computer.
Usage: decdst
See also: setdst
Page 9
DUPE
Purpose: copy files to floppy diskette in drive a or b
Notes: unlike DOS COPY command, DUPE checks that there is enough space on
the diskette - if not it prompts the user to insert another.
Options allow copying and deleting from source directory, copying
only those files created since midnight, not overwriting protected
files on target drive/directory, and copying "system" files.
Usage: dupe [d:][path]file.ext d:[path] [/x] [/y] ....
Switches: d - delete source file after copying
t - copy only those files created since midnight
s - include system files
r - do not overwrite protected files on target
(default is overwrite).
Note that more than one switch can be set.
Examples: Copy all files from current drive to floppy in drive a with
directory "first" dupe *.* a:\first\ (note final \)
Copy all new .COM files from directory "one", sub-directory
"two" on drive c to diskette in drive b and delete from c:
dupe c:\one\two\*.com b: /t /d
Page 10
GETPW
Purpose: returns current password setting in PASSWORD.COM
Usage: getpw
Page 11
MEM
Purpose: gives normal and extended RAM installed and RAM currently free,
and gives total bytes available and bytes free on specified drive.
Usage: mem [drive]
Notes: the programme is supplied in two versions - MEM86,COM for 80x86
based machines and MEM88.COM for 8088-based machines. Select the
one you want and rename it MEM.COM.
Page 12
PASSWORD
Purpose: provides password protection at boot time - useful for keeping
unauthorized users of machines with hard disks. PASSWORD.COM
should be placed early in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. N.B. It is not
fool-proof!
Notes: prompts the user to enter a 7 character password (any ASCII
character is permissible); beeps if wrong, and does not allow
further processing. The password is not displayed on-screen.
The default password can be modified with SETPW.
Usage: password
THE DEFAULT PASSWORD IS "letusgo". Note that upper and lower case characters
are not the same.
Page 13
PURGE
Purpose: deletes ALL files from specified directory, including those
that are protected or hidden. Optional switch allows removal
of directory level if there are no sub-directories in it.
Usage: purge [d:]directory[\subdirectory\] [/d]
- d is the optional switch for removing the directory
Note: USE WITH EXTREME CAUTION!
Page 14
QDIR
Purpose: lists all files on drive or directory in 5 columns.
Notes: optinal switches allow for various file specifications
Usage: qdir [d:][path][file.ext] [/x]
where x is the switch:
r - read-only files
h - hidden files
s - sub-directories
u - only unprotected files
Page 15
SETDST
Purpose: automatically increments time by 1 hour. Use it in your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file during periods of daylight savings time on
machines such as the IBM-AT that have a built-in clock/calendar
set during periods of standard time.
You will not have to re-set the time manually each time you
boot the computer.
Usage: setdst
See also: decdst
Page 16
SETPW
Purpose: customizes the PASSWORD.COM routine with user-defined, 6 character
password. Any ASCII character can be used.
Notes: PASSWORD.COM must be in unprotected mode.
Usage: setpw
See also getpw
Page 17
SKIM
Purpose: allows user to skim through all files on a directory. It displays
the first 2000 characters of each file, and gives you the
opportunity to delete the file. Non-ASCII files will produce odd
displays; WORDSTAR and other pseudo-ASCII files will be displayed
correctly.
Notes: wild-card characters * and ? are allowed.
Usage: skim [d:][path]file.ext
Examples: see all files on drive a: skim a:*.*
see all .ASC files in directory "wordproc" of drive c
skim c:\wordproc\*.asc
(EGA 43 line x 80 column compatible - set automatically)
Page 18
SPACE
Purpose: returns technical information on selected drive,
including minimum storage per file. Did you know that some
versions of DOS use 8192 bytes to store a 10 byte file on
a hard disk?
Usage: space [d:]
Example: information on default drive space
information on drive b space b
Page 19
SYST
Purpose: makes files "system" or unprotects system files.
Notes: not much use to the casual user. If you do not have a thorough
understanding of DOS, DO NOT USE THIS ROUTINE! The first two
files on your boot disk (floppy or hard) are essential files,
marked as system so that you cannot tamper with them. Delete them
from your hard disk at your peril! The main use for the routine is
to allow you to make a copy of these files for inspection via
DEBUG. Wild-card characters are not permitted.
Usage: syst [d:][path]file.ext /x
where x is u to unprotect a file, s to make it system.
Page 20
VIEW
Purpose: Displays text files on-screen, page by page.
Notes: Switches: /ws - Wordstar /w2 - Wordstar 2000
/p4 - Wordperfect Rel. 4.2 /p5 - Wordperfect Rel. 5.0
/a - ASCII (default unless modified by user)
(N.B. See page 29 for notes on modifying view)
Usage: view [d:][path]file.ext [switch]
Example: view c:\word\myfile.doc /p4
Keys: F1 - menu for miscellaneous functions
PgDn - next page
PgUp - previous page
Home - first page
End - last page
Up arrow - line up
Down arrow - line down
Esc - end job
Right arrow - show rightmost part of display
Left arrow - restore normal display
Del - delete the file
Page 21
NOTES FOR EXPERIENCED USERS
PASSWORD is not a fool-proof way of ensuring security - short of buying
expensive hardware "keys" there is really no way of keeping people off your
computer. However, if you include PASSWORD.COM as the first line in your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file, most people will be prevented from gaining access. This
is particularly useful if you have a hard disk containing files you don't
want to be seen, or fooled around with. By hitting Ctrl-C early in the boot
process, you can cause the AUTOEXEC.BAT file to be stopped; if early enough,
even PASSWORD.COM may be circumvented. There are other ways of aiding
security. If you are familiar with DEBUG, you can change the DIR command to
something else - say DRY - then make a copy of PASSWORD.COM to DIR.COM. As
DIR is probably the first command a tamperer will type he/she will then be
faced with the "enter password" message. This only works if the modified
version of COMMAND.COM is on the boot disk. If another is used, the
unmodified version of DEBUG will be used. You can help prevent this by
renaming the next most likely command - TREE - to, say, TRRE, and again
making a copy of PASSWORD.COM to TREE.COM. This version is independent of
the boot disk.
Page 22
CHANGING DEFAULT DISPLAY COLOURS
Some routines (see page 24) have a preset display colour. The colour can
be changed by using the DEBUG routine provided with DOS. Before attempting
to modify any routine, FIRST MAKE A BACKUP COPY AS INSURANCE.
To change a default colour, you change a byte at a particular location in
the routine's code. The general way of doing this is as follows (using
clr.com as an example). You should type the commands shown in BLOCK letters.
Ignore the comments preceded by a semi-colon.
ATTS ;routine to display available colours for your monitor
DEBUG CLR.COM ;load the debug routine
E XXX ZZ ;type in the new colour selection ZZ (2 digits, using an
;an initial 0 if required) at address XXX (see next page).
;Use the hexadecimal value given in parentheses in the ATTS
;display. For example, to set your display to show reverse
;video on a monochrome monitor, (black on white on a colour
;monitor), ZZ will be 70
w ;make change to clr.com permanent
q ;leave debug
Page 23
These are the routines for which the colour of display can be modified,
with the value to be typed in immediately following the E:
clr
E 105 ZZ ;i.e. XXX is 105
ddir
E 22a ZZ ;set display colour
E 22b ZZ ;set colour of highlight asterisk
mem
E 11F ZZ
skim
E 103 ZZ
qdir
E 32E YY ;set display colour
E 32F ZZ ;set colour of highlight asterisk
Page 24
NOTES ON USING VIEW.EXE AND ATTS.EXE
These routines are designed to display output quickly. If you have a
colour display card and monitor, you may see "snow" when the display changes.
This problem occurs with older cards such as the original IBM colour graphics
adaptor. If you experience this problem, and find it bothersome, you can
prevent it by typing: set mjdsno=on
The speed of display will be considerably reduced, but the "snow" will
disappear. To make this a permanent feature, you should add the line
set mjdsno=on
to your autoexec.bat file; the "snow removal" will then take effect
immediately when you boot your computer.
To change display colours of view see page 29.
Page 25
COLOURED MONOCHROME!
If you have an enhanced graphics adaptor with a multisync monitor such as
the NEC Multisync, you may be able to get full colour display with
monochrome quality text. To achieve this you must operate your system in
video mode 7 and also do the following:
First, remap the EGA default colour scheme. The routine egapal will do this
for you. Then type set mjdprg=on
To make this permanent, you should add the following lines to your
autoexec.bat file:
egapal
set mjdprg=on
The default colours in egapal can be modified using debug. First, run
the routine egaset and make a note of the colours you wish egapal to
produce for each of the sixteen possible choices. Then change the default
colours in egapal with debug. (Continued on next page)
Page 26
For each of the numbers 0 - 15 (0 - 0f hex) shown on the left when you
run egapal, you can substitute any colour between 0 and 64. For example, to
change colour 4 to 48, type 4 48 at the "Enter old and new ... " prompt.
The new colour associated with original colour 4 will be shown in the box.
Whwn you have obtained a colour system you like, MAKE A NOTE OF THE NEW
COLOUR SETTINGS, USING THE HEX VALUES in the rightmost column. Then change
egapal by the following method (ignoring comments following semicolons):
First, amke a backup copy of egapal.com
Then type the following:
DEBUG EGAPAL.COM
E 107 AA ; AA is the hex value for the new colour for colour 0
E 10D BB ; BB " " " " " " " " " " 1
E 113 CC ; CC is for colour 3
E 116 DD ; DD is for colour 4
E 11F EE ;etc.
E 125 FF
E 12B GG
E 131 HH
E 137 II ; continues on next page
Page 27
E 13D JJ
E 143 KK
E 149 LL
E 14F MM
E 155 NN
E 15B OO
E 161 PP ;last colour
W
Q
You will now need to type egapal for the new colour scheme to take
effect. Note that changing modes will destroy this remapping; if you do
change modes, you should run egapal again.
Page 28
CHANGING DISPLAY COLOURS OF VIEW.EXE
As this routine is in "exe" format it cannot be debugged directly. Hence
a routine called MODVIEW is available. The parameters that can be changed
are:
text display
instructions display
top/bottom border display
highlighted text display
number of lines/page for print-out
number of spaces by which tabs are expanded
default file style (ASCII, Wordstar etc.) - used if file called
with no command line switch.
To change VIEW, make sure you have a back-up of the original version, then
ensure that you have a copy of VIEW.EXE and MODVIEW.EXE in the same
directory or diskette. VIEW.EXE should not be marked "read-only". Then,
simply type MODVIEW and answer the questions.
N.B. The version of VIEW.EXE supplied has ASCII as the default display.
Page 29