#Sector:  An area of disk storage used by DOS to store data and programs.  In
DOS Version 2, there are nine 512 byte sectors per track.

See also TRACK and CLUSTER.
#Serial Printer Interface:  An interface to a printer wherein the eight bits
representing a character are sent one at a time.  This is distinguished from a
Parallel Printer Interface, which sends all eight bits of a character at one
time.
#Single-Drive Operation:  Refers to using a computer that has only one diskette
drive with commands that work with two diskettes.  For example, the DISKCOPY
command, which copies the entire contents of one diskette to another, requires
two diskettes, the Source and the Target.  DOS can do this using a single drive
by alternately using it as the Source and Target.  DOS prompts you at the
appropriate time to switch diskettes.
#Source:  An original diskette or file. The terms Source and Target are often
used together.  Source indicates the starting point, while Target indicates the
destination.  For example, with the DISKCOPY command, which copies the entire
contents of one diskette to another, the original diskette is called the Source
and the diskette on which the original will be copied is called the Target.

See also TARGET.
#Subdirectory:  A directory that lies within another directory.  DOS allows you
to create directories in a hierarchical (tree) manner.  The highest level
directory is called the "root" directory.  The root directory is created by DOS
when a disk is formatted.  You may create directories within the root directory,
directories within those directories, and so on.

For example, you could create a directory called BUDGET within the root
directory.  BUDGET would be a subdirectory of the root directory.  You might
then create a directory called DATA within BUDGET.  DATA would be a subdirectory
of BUDGET.

See also DIRECTORY, DIRECTORY PATH.
#System Configuration:  DOS has system configuration settings which are assigned
default values when DOS is started.  Some default values may be overridden by
placing new settings in a special file, CONFIG.SYS.  When DOS is started, it
looks for a file named CONFIG.SYS, and if found, activates the settings
contained in the file.

See CONFIG in the ADVANCED menu for DOS configuration settings.
#System Date:  The date known to DOS.  When DOS is started, it prompts
you for the time and date.  DOS then keeps track of the current time and date
and makes them available to commands and application programs.

The DATE command shows the system date and lets you change it.
#System Environment:  A series of names and parameters stored in memory by DOS
and made available to commands and application programs.

The SET command places (and removes) the names and parameters in the command
processor's environment.
#System Prompt:  The characters displayed by DOS at the beginning of the command
line.  The default prompt is "d>", where "d" is the default drive letter.  You
may change the form of the system prompt with the PROMPT command.
#System Reset:  Restarting (rebooting) DOS.  This is done by holding down the
CTRL key, the ALT key and then pressing the DEL key.  This restarts DOS without
turning the computer's power off and on.
#System Time:  The time of day known to DOS.  When DOS is started, it prompts
you for the time and date.  DOS then keeps track of the current time and date
and makes them available to commands and application programs.

The TIME command shows the system time and lets you change it.
#Target:  The destination diskette or files.  Distinguished from the
original diskette or files, called the Source.  For example, in the DISKCOPY
command, which copies the entire contents of one diskette to another, the
original diskette is called the Source, and the diskette on which the original
will be copied is called the Target diskette.

See also SOURCE.
#Timeout:  An error condition raised by DOS when a device is not ready for use
within a certain period of time.  For example, if you try to print information,
but the printer is not turned on, DOS will abort the print request after a
certain amount of time has elapsed.  This is a timeout error with the printer.
#Track:  A circle on a disk where data is stored.  DOS Version 2 uses 40 tracks
(concentric circles) on each side of the diskette.  Each track is divided into
nine areas, called sectors.  Each sector contains of 512 bytes (characters) of
information.

See also CLUSTER and SECTOR.
#Virtual Disk  (See RAM Disk)
#Volume Label:  A character string assigned to a disk to provide identification.
The volume label has no significance to DOS.  Its purpose is to allow you to
identify your disks.  A volume label may have up to eleven characters.

The VOL command displays a volume label.  The LABEL command (DOS Version 3)
creates, changes and deletes a volume label.  In DOS Version 2, a label may
be created only when the disk is formatted (via the FORMAT command).
#Wildcard  (See Global Filename Characters)
