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OS/2 Shareware BBS: 11 Util
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cmdbt10.zip
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CMDBOOT.DOC
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1996-04-15
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5KB
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121 lines
Here's yet ANOTHER utility in an endless stream of simple-but-highly-useful
programs by me.
WHAT IS THIS THING, ANYWAYS?
----------------------------
I call this one CMD boot. It does this:
[c:\nifties]cmdboot.exe
CMD boot v1.0
Copyright (c) Lighting and Sound Technologies, 1996
Written by Ryan C. Gordon.
Will run c:\os2\cmd.exe if key is pressed within 5 seconds...
5...4...3...2...1...
Get the point? It allows you to run an executable, provided you hit a key
within X seconds.
Ok, so where is THIS one gonna come in handy? Easy. Stick this at the end of
your config.sys:
CALL=x:\path\cmdboot.exe
(where "x:\path\" is where you stuck cmdboot.exe...)
And everytime you boot OS/2, it'll give you the option to stop, after loading
all your drivers, but just before the Workplace Shell loads, and drop to a
command prompt. This is a good precaution against things such as programs that
screw up something crucial to the WPS (such as a new video driver that doesn't
work). With this, if the need arises, smack a key before the seconds count
hits zero, and you can go to a command prompt and fix things. If the need
hasn't arisen, in a mattter of seconds, the bootup process will continue as
normal.
This is also handy for manipulating DLLs and other files that the Workplace
Shell locks when loaded. CMD boot will put you at a cmd prompt before these
files are locked, so you may replace them, or remove them.
CMD boot has other handy uses, for example, you may want to run an Antivirus
program at bootup time, but you don't want to waste ALL THAT TIME whenever you
hit CTRL-ALT-DEL (After all, if you just checked for viruses, and reboot
without doing anything that could infect your system, then why check again?)
Now you need only run that program when you feel like it.
CMD boot is also handy in batch files. As always, be creative.
HOW TO INSTALL:
---------------
0.5) Make sure the EMX runtime is installed. The binaries and installation
instructions for this package can be found at
ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/unix/emx09b/emxrt.zip
Once you install this, continue on to #1...
1) Unzip CMD boot's archive. You've probably already done this if you are
reading this text file.
2) Copy cmdboot.exe somewhere. (Preferably, but necessarily, into your path.)
3) To have it optionally drop you to a CMD.EXE prompt at bootup time, add this
line to the very end of your CONFIG.SYS:
CALL=x:\path\cmdboot.exe
(where "x:\path\" is where you've hidden cmdboot.exe.)
4) Email Ryan at warped42@ix.netcom.com and tell him you like this program.
COMMAND LINE OPTIONS:
---------------------
USAGE : cmdboot.exe [timetowait] [progtorun.exe] [arguments...]
[timetowait] is optional # of seconds to wait before running.
Defaults to 5. You must specify this option if you want to
specify...
[progtorun.exe] Optional executable to run. Defaults to c:\os2\cmd.exe
you must specify this option if you want to specify...
[arguments...] variable number of arguments to pass to [progtorun.exe]
LIMITATIONS:
------------
Ok, no program is perfect, and here's what this program can NOT do:
1) If you boot to CMD.EXE without the workplace shell loaded, you cannot run
DOS apps, WinOS/2 apps, or presentation manager apps. Just OS/2 text-based
(VIO) programs. Full screen or windowed is fine. They both work full screen
in this context.
2) You can't start PM, DOS, or WinOS/2 apps directly from CMD boot. However,
you can start "cmd.exe /c mypmProg.exe" from CMD boot. This'll run them.
That is, if you aren't falling into the parameters of limitation #1.
Er...that's all, I think.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE MATTER:
-----------------------------
The source code is included. This one is incredibly simple. I couldn't find
ANY docs on the Kbd* APIs, but I think I've found a good way to see if a key
has been pressed (best I could do with nothing more than os2emx.h for
documentation. :) )...let me know if you have a better way.
Feel free to use the source code anyway you like. I'd appreciate an email if
you get use of this program or source code in any way...mainly to feed my over-
inflated programmer's ego. :) (mailto:warped42@ix.netcom.com)
Oh, and obviously, this program is freeware. Go forth and multiply the OS/2
populations though petitioning software/hardware designers to support OS/2 if
you feel you owe me anything. :) Enjoy.
--Ryan C. Gordon
Lighting and Sound Technologies, 1996.