home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Cream of the Crop 1
/
Cream of the Crop 1.iso
/
UTILITY
/
X_PATH.ARJ
/
XPATH.DOC
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1992-01-01
|
14KB
|
397 lines
Glossbrenner's DOS 5
-- The Programs that DOS Forgot! --
XPATH Version 3.9
-----------------
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 your 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.
XPATH.DOC Page 1
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 applications 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 examples.
XPATH.DOC Page 2
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 extraneous = signs in your path which will
confuse XPATH.
XPATH.DOC Page 3
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 environment. 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 exist, 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 environment space, but you
still get the "path won't fit" message, then it may be
because 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 Compatibility
-----------------
XPATH was written under DOS 3.30 and is compatible with DOS
3.1 and higher -- including 5.0.
XPATH.DOC Page 4
INCREASING 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
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 immediately 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 environment 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.DOC Page 5
Registering XPATH
---------------
You have an evaluation copy of XPATH. Please register it by sending
$15.00 to:
XWARE Development
7351 Woburn Circle, 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.
[Please see the see last page for the XPATH registration form.]
XPATH.DOC Page 6
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
+-----------------+
Name: __________________________________________________________
Company (if applicable): _______________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________
City: ______________________________State:_____ Zip:____________
No. of copies: _____ (enclose $15 per copy)
Amount enclosed: __________
Make checks payable to XWARE Development.
Send to:
XWARE Development
7351 Woburn Circle, Suite #1
Anchorage, Alaska 99502
Phone: (907) 243-1211
CompuServe User-ID: 76424,1335
XPATH.DOC Page 7
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.DOC Page 8
-- End XPATH.DOC --