New Star Software Collection/NSS_Collection.iso/3-069 qemm 603/1.ima/DVMAN/CH4.DEV

Text File | 1991-10-08 | 21.6 KB | 683 lines

Chapter 4

DOS Services

 DESQview's DOS Services gives you access to all the features of
DOS while you're using DESQview.

The most commonly used DOS commands ~dash~ Copy, Erase, Format
diskette, Rename, Type, and so forth ~dash~ can be performed
using DESQview menus.  You don't have to remember the format of
the command ~dash~ just fill in the information indicated in the
DESQview menu.  For the less-used DOS commands, DESQview doesn't
provide a menu but does permit you to enter the command in the
standard DOS format.

The DESQview Directory command has two major features not
available in DOS:

~Item~ You can sort the directory to two levels by any of eight
sort criteria.

~Item~ Once you have a directory of sorted file names on the
screen, you can mark (select) one or more of these names and then
perform one of the seven main DOS commands on the files you
marked.

For example, you could sort your "current work" directory on the
hard disk by Newest Time (meaning that the most recently created
document would be listed first), mark all the files you created
today, and then select the Copy (or Backup) command to save all
these files to diskette.

When you start up DOS Services, the DOS services window appears
in the left half of your screen and the DOS Services menu appears
in the upper right-hand corner.  When you select a DOS command,
that command is performed in the DOS Services window.

 If, after starting a DOS command, you switch away to another
window, the command will continue to operate in background while
you do other work.

The DOS Services menu has no Quit command. To quit DOS Services,
close its window from the DESQview menu.

~Heading~ Displaying a Directory and Marking Files

 DOS Services' Directory command lets you manage your files.

 With this command you can sort the files in the chosen directory
and then, if you wish, mark a file (or group of files) and
perform one of the seven main DOS commands on the files you
marked.

 For example, if you wanted to erase all the files you created
more than a month ago, you would display a directory of those
files sorted by date, mark the ones created more than 30 days
ago, and select the Erase command. (Consider how difficult this
task is in DOS.)

 The following steps describe how to display a sorted directory,
mark some files you want to copy, and then perform the Copy
command on these files. The same steps apply to using all seven
main DOS Services commands.

~Subhead~ 1. Display the Directory menu, then type the name of
the directory you want to list.

 When you open DOS Services, the directory window is empty,
except for the prompt, "DESQ :" To display a directory, type D or
click on Directory in the DOS  Services menu. Then:

~Step~ Enter a path name in the Path field.

 The first time you use the Directory command, the Path field is
filled in with the path from which you started up DESQview,
usually:

 C:\DV or A:\

 Thereafter, DESQview remembers the last path you specified and
fills it in for you.

 A path name consists of two parts:

 The drive letter, which specifies the drive to use.

 The path name, which specifies the DOS subdirectory to use.

 You may also supply a file name, or group of files to list.  (To
specify a group of files, use the DOS global characters, ? and
*). However, the file specification is not remembered with the
drive and directory.

~Subhead~ 2. If you want to change the primary sort key, select
Primary Sort Key.

~Step~ Using the keyboard, press up arrow and type P.

 The Primary Sort Key menu appears.

~Step~ Select the primary sort criteria you want.

 The Directory menu reappears with the sort criteria you selected
listed (highlighted) under the Primary Sort Key entry.

 The list of files you select is sorted to two levels. First, it
is sorted by the primary sort key.  Then, within each group of
files with the same primary sort key, a second sort is performed,
using the secondary sort key.

 The default primary sort key is initially set to File Extension.
Thereafter, DESQview remembers the last sort key you specified
and fills it in for you.

~Subhead~ 3. If you want to change the secondary sort key, select
Secondary Sort Key.

~Step~ Using the keyboard, press up arrow and type S.

 The Secondary Sort Key menu appears.

~Step~ Select the secondary sort criteria you want.

 The Directory menu reappears with the secondary sort criteria
you selected.

 The default secondary sort key is initially set to File Name.
Thereafter, DESQview remembers the last sort key you specified
and fills it in for you.

~Subhead~ 4. Select DISPLAY Directory.

 The DOS Services window is cleared. Then, after a moment, the
sorted list of files appears and the DOS Services menu reappears
with three additional commands; Mark By Name, Only Show Marked
and Unmark by Name.  See page 80 for a description of these
commands.

 The cursor appears in the DOS Services window so you can mark
file names.  If the entire list isn't visible, you can scroll it
by moving the cursor below the last line or by using the PgUp or
PgDn keys.

 The following commands are also available.

 Home/End move the cursor to the top/bottom of the window.

 Ctrl-Home/Ctrl-End move the cursor to the beginning/end of the
list.

 You can also move the cursor, mark file names, and scroll, using
the mouse. To scroll, click on the  PgUp, PgDn, arrows, Home and
End option boxes at the top of the DOS Services window.

~Subhead~ 5. Mark the file names you want.

 To mark a file name using the keyboard:

~Step~ Use the up and down arrow keys to move the cursor to the
file name you want to mark.

~Step~ Press the space bar. ~dagger~

 Or, using the mouse:

~Step~ Click on the file name you want to mark.

 Repeat this process until all the file names you want are
marked. (Marked names are preceded by ~symbol~ and  highlighted.)
To unmark a file,  press the spacebar again.

 If you mark a directory name ~dash~ <DIR>  ~dash~ the Directory
menu reappears with the directory name you selected filled into
the Path field. Complete this menu in the normal manner.

 ~dagger~   You may optionally use the gray  + key (at the far
right side of the keyboard) in place of the space bar to mark and
unmark files.

~Subhead~ 6. Select the command you want to perform on the marked
files.

 Select one of the seven  commands shown on the DOS Services
menu: Append, Backup, Copy, Erase, Print, Rename, or Type.

 See page 80 for a description of how to use the Mark by Name,
Only Show Marked, and Unmark by Name commands.

 The following sequence of actions occurs:

~Item~ All unmarked file names are cleared from the DOS Services
window.

~Item~ The menu for the command you selected appears with the
name of the first file filled into its From (or File) field. The
name is highlighted to indicate that you can't change it.

~Subhead~ 7.  Supply any additional information needed to
complete the command and then select START.

 If the command has a To field, enter the appropriate file name
in this field.

~Step~ If you want to turn on any of the command options, select
those options.

~Step~ Select START.

 The DOS Services window is cleared and DESQview performs the
command you selected on the first marked file. Then it performs
the command on each remaining marked file in turn.

 The DOS commands that correspond to the actions being performed
appear in the DOS Services window as each marked file is
processed.

 If you mark multiple files, pressing Ctrl-Break aborts further
processing after completing the operation in progress ~dash~
except for Type, which is aborted immediately.

 If you switch away from the DOS Services window, the processing
of files continues in background.

~Heading~ How to Perform a DOS Services Command

 All the DOS Services commands are performed in a similar manner.

 The instructions on this page show how to perform the Copy
command.  Follow these general instructions for all the other DOS
Services commands.

 If a directory is displayed in the DOS Services window at the
time you select a command, and you have marked one or more file
names in the directory, the command operates on the names you
marked.

 Each marked name is automatically filled into the From (or File)
field in turn.  You must still complete the other fields as
described in step 1. (See the preceding two pages for more
information on using directories.)

~Subhead~ 1. Type the file name or other information requested in
the fill-in field (or in each field if there are several).

 Most commands require you to enter one or two file names.  Some
require you to enter a drive  or path. Some require both.

 When a file name is required, you may usually specify either a
single file or a group of files.  To specify a group of files,
use the DOS global characters (? and *) in the file name
according to standard DOS conventions.

 If the command has several fill-in fields, press Tab to move
between fields.

~Subhead~ 2. If you want to turn on any of the command options,
select those options.

 Most commands have one or more options.  When the menu first
appears, each of the options is turned off.

 To select an option using the keyboard:

~Step~ Press the up arrow key, then type the letter corresponding
to the option.

 To select an option using the mouse:

~Step~ Click on the desired option.

 When an option is turned on, it is preceded by ~symbol~ and
highlighted.

~Subhead~ 3. Select START to perform the command.

 The list of files, if any, in the DOS Services window is removed
and the DOS command corresponding to the command you selected
shows in the window.

 DOS then performs the command in the normal manner.  If DOS
requires a response from you ~dash~ as, for example, it does when
you format a diskette ~dash~ DOS's message appears in the DOS
Services window. You respond to it in the normal manner.

 When the command being performed is completed, the DOS Services
menu reappears.

~Heading~ The DOS Services Menu

 The DOS Services menu is the master list of DOS commands
supported by DESQview. The most often-used commands are listed on
this menu. Less often-used commands are listed on the More menu.
You can enter your own DOS commands  using the Other command
(listed on the More menu). To navigate to the Other command
quickly, press * twice.

 The three commands shown shaded on the above menu ~dash~ Mark by
Name, Only Show Marked, and Unmark by Name ~dash~ are used to
mark and unmark names in a directory. These commands only appear
when you've listed a directory in the DOS Services window by
using the Directory command.

~Subhead~ Directory

 You use the Directory command to display a list of files in the
DOS Services window.  You can list all the files in the DOS
directory, or only those that match the criteria you specify
here.

 You can sort the directory at two levels and by any one of eight
sort criteria at each level.  For example, you could sort by day
and then alphabetically within each day.

 Once you have used the Directory command to display a directory
in the DOS Services window, you can mark one or more files and
then perform any of the commands listed on the main DOS Services
menu on the files you marked.

 See pages 72-73 for more complete information on how to use the
Directory command.

~Subhead~ Append

 You use the Append command to append two or more files together:

~Step~ Type in the From field the name of the files to be
appended to the To file.

~Step~ Press Tab and type in the To field the name of the file to
which you want the From files appended.

~Step~ Select any options you want turned on.

~Step~ Select START.

 The To file cannot contain the DOS global characters (? and *).

~Subhead~ Backup

 You use the Backup command to back up files from your hard disk
to floppy diskettes:

~Step~ Type in the From File field the name of the files to be
backed up.

~Step~ If you're not using Drive A, press Tab and type the letter
of the drive you are using in the To Drive field.

~Step~ If you wish to back up only those files created on or
after a certain date, press Tab and enter that date in the Since
field.  (Leave the date 01-01-80 to back up all files.)

~Step~ Select any options you want turned on.

~Step~ Select START.

 Note: The DOS backup program must be in your DOS path. Also, see
Appendix E for an important warning.

~Subhead~ Copy

 You use the Copy command to make a copy of one or more files:

~Step~ Type in the From field the name of the file(s) to be
copied.

~Step~ Press Tab and type in the To field the name you wish to
give to the copy of the file(s).

~Step~ Select any options you want turned on.

~Step~ Select START.

~Subhead~ Erase

 You use the Erase command to delete one or more files from a
floppy diskette or from your hard disk:

~Step~ Type in the File field the name of the file(s) to be
deleted.

~Step~ Select START.

~Subhead~ Print

 You use the Print command to manage the DOS print queue of files
being printed in background.

 To add a file (or files) to the print queue, or to delete files
from the print queue:

~Step~ Type in the File field the name of the file(s) to be added
to the queue or deleted.

~Step~ Select ADD or REMOVE.

 To display the current contents of the queue:

~Step~ Select DISPLAY.

 To halt printing and discard the queue:

~Step~ Select HALT.

 See Appendix E for more information about using print spoolers
in DESQview.

~Subhead~ Rename

 You use the Rename command to change the names of one or more
files:

~Step~ Type in the From field the name of the file(s) to be
renamed.

~Step~ Press Tab and type in the To field the new name you wish
to use for the file(s).

~Step~ Select START.

~Subhead~ Type

 You use the Type command to display the contents of one or more
files in the DOS Services window.

~Step~ Type in the File field the name of the file(s) to be
typed.

~Step~ Select START.

 To suspend typing, so you can read the contents of the file:

~Step~ Press the Ctrl-NumLock ~dagger~ key.

 (You can also use the Pause key., but, remember, this will lock
your system until you press another key.)

 Then, to continue typing, press any key.

 To cancel the Type command, when you don't want to see any more
of the text:

~Step~ Press the Ctrl-Break key.

~Subhead~ Mark by Name Only Show Marked Unmark by Name

 You can  use these commands to mark and unmark file names that
you've displayed in the DOS Services window using the Directory
command.

 You can:

~Item~ Mark a group of file names.

~Item~ Show only the marked file names and hide the rest.

~Item~ Unmark a group of file names.

 You can also manually change the individual order of the files
~dash~ after they are displayed in the window. You do this by
using the Ins key to move a file name to another position in the
directory listing:

~Step~ Mark a file name using the space bar or the mouse.

~Step~ Position the cursor on the line above which you want the
name you just marked to be moved.

~Step~ Press the Ins key.

  See page 80 for more information on Mark by Name, Only Show
Marked and Unmark by Name. You can also mark names using the
keyboard or the mouse (see page 73).

 These three commands only appear on the DOS Services menu after
you have displayed a directory in the DOS Services window using
the Directory command.

~Subhead~  More

 You use the More command to display a menu of additional, less-
used DOS commands for which DESQview provides built-in support.

 The entries on the More menu are divided into three groups:

~Item~ The first group lets you change the default directory for
the DOS Services window or create or delete a directory.

~Item~  The second group lets you copy or format a diskette or
restore files you backed up (using the Backup command).

~Item~ The Other command lets you enter your own DOS command.

 See the next two pages for additonal information.

~Heading~ More DOS Services

 In addition to the commands listed on the main DOS Services
menu, DESQview supports six other, less-used DOS commands, plus
Other.

 You use Other to perform the remaining DOS commands.  You can
also use Other to perform any of the commands built into DOS
Services if you wish to use one of these commands in an extended
way.

~Subhead~ Change Directory

 You use the Change Directory command to change the default drive
or directory used by commands performed in the DOS Services
window.

 When the DOS Services window is first opened, the default is set
to the path from which you started up DESQview, usually:

          C:\DV or A:\

 To change the default drive:

~Step~ Type in the Path field the new default drive letter
followed by a colon ~dash~ for example, A:

 Or, to change the default directory:

~Step~ Type in the Path field the new default directory name
~dash~ for example, \1-2-3.

~Step~ Select CHANGE.

~Subhead~ Make Directory

 You use the Make Directory command to create a new directory
entry on the current default drive:

~Step~ Type in the Path field the name of the new directory you
want to create ~dash~ for example, \dBASE.

~Step~ Select MAKE.

~Subhead~ Remove Directory

 You use the Remove Directory command to delete an existing empty
directory entry from the current drive:

~Step~ Type in the Path field the name of the directory you want
to delete ~dash~ for example, \WordStar.

~Step~ Select REMOVE.

 This command will give an error and not remove the directory
under the following circumstances:

 If there are any files in the directory being removed.

 If the directory to be removed is  the current default
directory.

~Subhead~ Copy Diskette

 You use the Copy Diskette command to make a copy of a diskette
(Diskcopy). This will copy the contents of one diskette to
another, including directories, if any. This will only work with
diskettes of the same size and density.

 If you're not copying from drive A to drive B:

~Step~ Type in the From Drive field the letter of the drive
containing the diskette to be copied.

~Step~ Press Tab and type in the To Drive field the letter of the
destination drive  (they can be the same drive- you'll be
prompted to swap disks if so.)

~Step~ Select the Copy Only Single Side option if you want it
turned on.

~Step~ Select START.

 Follow the instructions displayed in the DOS Services window.

~Subhead~ Format Diskette

 You use the Format Diskette command to format a new diskette
before you use it on your system:

~Step~ If you're not using drive A, type the letter of the drive
you are using in the Use Drive field.

~Step~ Select any options you want turned on.  (See your DOS
Manual for a more complete explanation of these options.)

~Step~ Select START.

 Follow the instructions displayed in the DOS Services window.

~Subhead~ Restore Backup

 You use the Restore Backup command to restore files saved using
the Backup command:

~Step~ If you're not using drive A, type the letter of the drive
you are using in the From Drive field.

~Step~ Press Tab and type in the To File field the name of the
files to be restored.

~Step~ Select the option, Include All Subdirectories,  if you
want it turned on.

~Step~ Select START.

 Follow the instructions displayed in the DOS Services window.

 Note: The DOS Restore program must be in your DOS path. Also,
see Appendix E for an important warning.

~Subhead~ Other

 You use the Other command to perform those DOS commands not
built into DOS Services.

 You can also use Other to perform any legal DOS command, you
wish. For example, to copy a binary file, you would use the Copy
command with the /B option.

~Step~ Type in the DOS field the DOS command to be performed (up
to 112 characters long).

~Step~ Select PERFORM.

 The command you enter is performed in the DOS Services window.

 After you first use the OTHER command, the DOS field will
remember the last DOS command you performed and fill it in for
you.

 There are no restrictions on what you may enter in the DOS
field.  However, any program you invoke must fit in the memory
space allotted to DOS Services, after subtracting the space for
the DOS Services program itself.

~Heading~ Marking and Unmarking File Names

 In addition to marking and unmarking file names by using the up
arrow key, the down arrow key and the space bar (see page 73),
you can use the Mark by Name, Only Show Marked, and Unmark by
Name commands.


 ~Subhead~ Mark by Name

 You use the Mark by Name command to mark a file or group of
files explicitly by name:

~Step~ Type in the Name(s) field the file name(s) to be marked.

 To specify a group of names, use the DOS global characters (?
and *) in the file name according to standard DOS conventions.
(Enter  *.* to mark all files .)

~Subhead~ Only Show Marked

 You use the Only Show Marked command to hide all unmarked files
from the list of files, leaving in the DOS Services window a list
consisting of only the marked files. The hidden files are still
on your disk, they are just removed from view.

 To show all files again:

~Step~ select the Directory command

~Step~ select Display Directtory.

~Subhead~ Unmark by Name

 You use the Unmark by Name command to unmark a file or group of
files explicitly by name:

~Step~ Type in the Name(s) field the file name(s) to be unmarked.

To specify a group of names, use the DOS global characters (? and
*) in the file name according to standard DOS conventions.