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SDIR50.DOC
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1985-02-19
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----------------------------------------------------------------
SDIR -[SUPER-DIRECTORY] COMMAND, Version 5.0
----------------------------------------------------------------
An All-purpose Directory Utility and Command Shell for
the IBM Personal Computer
By W. Lawrence Hatt
Copyright (c) 1984 by W. Lawrence Hatt. All rights reserved.
SDIR VERSION 5.0 is currently distributed as User Supported
Software. With a few restrictions, this allows the
program, although copyrighted, to be freely copied and
distributed.
SDIR 5.0 is a major update of the program SDIR 4.0/4.1
previously distributed free. The update corrects existing
bugs and adds a major new feature: COMMAND MODE. This mode
allow ready access to usual file actions such as DEL, COPY,
LOOK (list to screen), change attributes and execute
programs. Since I find the directory a useful base of
normal operation, fast menu-like use of the directory as a
shell for these operations is very convenient.
This product must be copied and distributed as a complete
package. This includes both the SDIR 5.0 program
(SDIR50.COM) and this documentation file (SDIR50.DOC).
SDIR 5.0 is copyrighted and may not be distributed if
altered or modified in any way. Finally, no fee is to be
charged for copying or distributing the programs without my
written permission.
In short, SDIR 5.0 may be copied and distributed to anyone
who wishes it as long as it is a complete unmodified
package including the program and documentation and no fee
is charged. In turn, I am requesting a small contribution;
about $10.00 is suggested but please contribute whatever
you feel the program is worth. Your contributions will
help offset development costs and thus assure future
updates and products. Also, registered users of SDIR 5.0
will be placed on a mailing list for future modifications.
Even if you don't feel that the program merits a
contribution, please continue to copy and share this
program with others.
W. Lawrence Hatt
76 Melville Drive
Nepean, Ontario
Canada, K2J 2E1
REQUIRED CONFIGURATION
* IBM PC or close clone
* Color Graphic or IBM Mono screen adapter
* DOS 2.0 or 2.1
* 128k or more for COMMAND MODE
USING SDIR VERSION 5.0
SDIR [d:][path][filename[.ext]] [options]
[filespec] same as for DIR command
[options] /A - List hidden files.
/C - Single Column Commented Directory.
(see explanation below)
/X - Sort by extension.
/S - Sort by size.
/D - Sort by date/time.
/N - Do not sort, original order.
COMMAND [/] - To invoke command actions on selected
file after the directory is up: LOOK at any ASCII or
WORDSTAR file; Execute (GO) any COM, EXE or BAS file;
Set or Reset Archive or Read-only file attribute; Copy
to drive A:,B:,C:, or D:; Delete any file; Copy any
complete directory to the default directory on the
indicated drive.
DEFAULT - *.* sorted by name.ext.
NOTE - Non conflicting Options may be combined.
i.e. sdir/c/a/d is a valid option.
- It is suggested that SDIR50.COM be renamed D.COM and
remain on all system diskettes or the default path
directory of your hard disk.
/C THE COMMENTED DIRECTORY
The directory is listed in one column only; use PgUp/ PgDn
to page through any number of pages. A file SDIR.$$$ is
either created or opened and sorted with comments appearing
beside the appropriate file. This file is stored on the
default disk/directory no matter where the SDIR command
file resides. The real directory is not touched of course.
In fact, although each whole file line is stored, only the
last 40 characters are written to the screen. Thus,
progressive updates of the same file will keep the same
comments. The comments for deleted files will
automatically be deleted. Unfortunately, if you change the
filename the comments are lost for that file.
Primitive edit control is available to write new comments:
- normal upper and lower case characters
- RTN: jump to beginning of next line
- DEL and BKSP: distructive cursor left
- CURSOR: control keys work normally
- PgUp and PgDn: normal
SDIR50 is compatible with comment files from SDIR40,
SDIR401, SDIR41 AND SDIR411.
ESC: must use this key to return to DOS or return to normal
mode from the COMMAND mode.
[/] THE COMMAND MODE
Command Mode is available at any time after invoking the
SDIR program by keying "/" (like 123). When this is done a
double command line appears at the top of the screen and
individual commands are invoked by placing the cursor on
the desired action file. The desired action is invoked by
striking the highlighted key for the desired action.
Available actions include the following:
CHANGE ATTRIBUTE
R - change file to Read-Only, or if already
Read-only to Read-write
A - change the Archive bit
In either case the state of all attributes are displayed
for the file regardless of whether the /A mode was
initially selected.
GO
This is the program execute key. Selected file must be
.COM, .EXE, or .BAS. Your machine should have extra memory
since the SDIR program and buffers stay resident using up
about 64k of memory.
There are two other important requirements for full
function of this mode. A copy of COMMAND.COM and
BASICA.COM must be resident on the ROOT DIRECTORY of the
default drive. The COMMAND.COM version must be the same
as the one used at boot-up time or the system will
`hang'. For hard disk users you probably already keep
COMMAND.COM and BASICA.COM on the `\' directory of C:;
for floppy diskette use, I'm afraid you'll need compatible
COMMAND.COM on each diskette you are copying from---this
problem arises because the program must know exactly where
to find COMMAND.COM as we load a secondary copy to use in
the EXEC function call and the COPY command.
If you want to have some fun try repeated re-execution of
the SDIR program using GO.
DELETE
The selected file is deleted. Be careful, there's no going
back. An X is indicated on the right side of the file to
remind of action taken.
LOOK
This is a quick, screen-oriented, file lister. Paging
control is provided but no editing. Files are expected
to be ASCII but WordStar and other similar wordprocessing
files are handled by interpreting only the lower 7 bits of
the code and a few other extraneous WordStar characters are
removed. "Looking" at other files may produce "junk" on
the screen. The listing ends with the encounter of ASCII
254. The file size is limited to the balance of the 64 k
segment occupied by SDIR; this usually amounts to about 20k
character files.
COPY
Hitting the appropriate number copies the selected file to
the indicated drive. Appropriate error messages will
indicate any problems. Placing the cursor on a directory
entry copies the whole directory. As for the GO command
you must have a copy of COMMAND.COM on the ROOT DIRECTORY
of the default drive to use COPY. The version must be the
same as the version used to boot the system.
IMPORTANT NOTE: THE OBJECT FILES POINTED TO BY THE CURSOR
MUST BE ON THE DEFAULT DRIVE/DIRECTORY. AN ERROR NOTICE
WILL BE GIVEN FOR OTHER FILES. THIS MEANS,FOR INSTANCE,
THAT YOU CANNOT INVOKE COMMAND ACTIONS AFTER INVOKING "SDIR
A:" FROM THE DEFAULT B: DRIVE.
Direct comments or problems to Larry Hatt on PCANADA PC1269
This disk copy was originally provided by "The Public Library",
the software library of the Houston Area League of PC Users.
Programs are available from the Public Library at $2 per disk
on user-provided disks. To get a listing of the disks in the
Public Library, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to
Nelson Ford, P.O.Box 61565, Houston, TX 77208.