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Cheet Sheets 1996 October
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CHEET44.ZIP
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1OPTIP.TXT
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1995-10-07
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~Today's Top DOS Tip
A selection of quickies - By Simon Burrows
`This month I am going to concentrate on five quick tips which
`some of you will undoubtedly know, but which will certainly come
`in handy for a good many of you out there.
~`Tip 1 - Clearing the screen
~`─────────────────────────────
`By typing 'CLS' at an MS-DOS prompt you will completely clear the
`contents of the screen and be left with a fresh prompt. Whether
`used to just clear a messy screen so you can think straight
`again, or to get something off the screen you'd rather somebody
`didn't see, this can be very useful at times.
~`Tip 2 - Renaming things
~`─────────────────────────
`I'm sure that most of you will know that the MS-DOS command 'REN'
`is used to rename files. Problem is, this won't work for
`directories. If you want to rename these you have to use the
`'MOVE' command.
`
`Below is the syntax used to rename the file FILE01.TXT to
`FILE02.TXT, then that to rename a directory called CHEET44 to
`MAG44 :-
`
` File rename - REN FILE01.TXT FILE02.TXT
`
`Directory rename - MOVE CHEET44 MAG44
~`Tip 3 - Hiding things
~`───────────────────────
`One of the attributes a file can have is 'hidden'. This means
`that whenever you do a directory listing (or other listing in
`most circumstances) that file will not come up (not be shown).
`This is useful if you have personal files which, although not top
`secret (as hidden files can be easily got at if you know they're
`there) you'd rather not have others looking them. You use the
`'ATTRIB' command to change the attributes of files.
`
`Below is the syntax used to hide, and then disclose, a file named
`MINE!.TXT :-
` TO HIDE - ATTRIB +h MINE!.TXT
` TO DISCLOSE - ATTRIB -h MINE!.TXT
~`Tip 4 - Two commands in one
~`─────────────────────────────
`Once you get used to it, being able to execute two commands from
`the same DOS prompt, one after the other, can be a great time
`saver. To do it simply type both commands at the same DOS prompt
`with a pipe character ('|') in between. For example, to create
`(using the 'MD command), and then enter (using the 'CD' command),
`a directory called 'CHEET44', use the following syntax :-
`
`MD CHEET44|CD CHEET44
`
`WARNING: If the commands you wish to run together would normally
` write some text to the screen (like 'MEM'), you must
` run them separately because when you run two commands
` together, anything that would normally be written to
` screen after the first one is complete will be ignored.
~`Tip 5 - Changing the NUMLOCK key's status
~`───────────────────────────────────────────
`If you've read my article on AUTOEXEC.BAT, you'll know that the
`'NUMLOCK' command can be used to turn off NUMLOCK which, on most
`PC's, is set to on when your computer boots up. Its best to use
`this command in association with your AUTOEXEC.BAT so it's
`carried out automatically, otherwise you'll spend more time
`typing it in at the DOS prompt than it would take to press the
`button that does the same job on your keyboard.
`
`To have the NUMLOCK turned off automatically, add the following
`line to your AUTOEXEC.BAT :-
`
`NUMLOCK=OFF
` ═════════════
~`By Simon Burrows
` ═════════════
`─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
~` THIS DOCUMENT: COPYRIGHT (c) 1995 EUROWAVE LEISURE Ltd.
~` COURTESY OF SIMON BURROWS
`─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────