Crawly Crypt Collection 1/crawlyvol1.bin/crm_demo/cmddemo/cmddemo.txt

Text File | 1990-10-31 | 14KB | 401 lines

             COMMAND! Windowed Command Line Interpreter
                          demo version 1.2


Introduction:

   Thank you for downloading the COMMAND! demo version 1.2.  We hope that
you find it useful and easy to use.  The complete version is available
directly from us, or from your dealer.  The suggested list price is only
$19.95 US or $24.95 Canadian.  Of course, your dealer may sell it for less.


   COMMAND! is a full function Command Line Interpreter (CLI).  For the
inexperienced, a CLI is what is used in most MS-DOS and Unix environments
to enter commands to the operating system.  These commands can include
such things as the display of directory information, the renaming of files,
or execution of other programs.  COMMAND! differs from other CLIs in that
it works within a GEM window.  This gives you the ability to scroll back
and view the results of previous commands.  It can be run as either an
accessory or a program.  When run as an accessory, it is immediately
available within any program that supports the GEM menu bar.


Features:

   Running COMMAND! can be a life saver when used with many programs.  Ever
been trying to save some work within a word processor and found that your
target disk was full?  Did the word processor support such things as rename,
delete, or format?  If it didn't, did you have to scrap all the changes to
your work?  Well, no more with COMMAND!.  As long as the program that you
are using is GEM driven, then you can use COMMAND! to delete unwanted files,
rename important work, or format a new diskette.  Ever found yourself
searching for a filename to include in your programming source code?
Use COMMAND! to do a directory search, or even have it to pull up the file
selector for your search.


   A place where COMMAND! is really useful is in copying, deleting, or
renaming a large number of files.  If you wanted to copy 80 files from
drive C: to drive A: that all have the extension of .C, all you would have
to do is type COPY C:\*.C A:.  If you wanted to copy all of those files
with the desktop, you would probably have to select about 10 at a time.
This would take a series of eight actions with the desktop, each one looping
the appropriate files, dragging them to the destination, then scrolling
down to get the next group.


   When run as an accessory, COMMAND! allows you to execute other programs
as long as they do not use the GEM menu bar.  This can be very handy for
uncompressing archived files.  When run as a program, COMMAND! allows you
to execute ANY program.  You can even use COMMAND! as a replacement for the
GEM desktop.


   In addition to all the standard CLI features, COMMAND! allows you to have
a configuration file.  This file can be used to choose the opening location
of the COMMAND! window, as well as its min/max size.  You can even set the
PF keys to whatever you want.  Most of the PF keys already have a default
that you can use for scrolling up/down, and left/right pages, retrieving the
last command entered, or fulling the window.


But wait, there's more:

   For all you memory hogs out there, COMMAND! allows you to specify the
number of rows and columns that your window will store.  When the window
is closed, the memory is freed!  No need to worry about memory utilization,
even on a 520ST.  We have done our best to make the program as small and
as fast as possible, and we will continue to add features as long as we
can maintain this goal.


   COMMAND! does not format floppy disks itself.  While writing the program
we came upon DC Formatter from Double Click Software.  This is a shareware
program that does everything that we have ever wanted (and more) in a
format program.  Since COMMAND! can execute this program, you can now format
floppies from within any GEM program!


   As with any program that uses the VDI call v_gtext, COMMAND! can be sped
up by a screen accelerator.  We recommend Quick ST II by Branch Always
Software.  We are currently working on improving COMMAND! so that it runs
even faster than it does now.


System Requirements:

   COMMAND! will run on any ST, with either colour or monochrome monitors.
It has been tested on an STe running TOS 1.6.


Upgrades:

   As they become available, upgrades can be obtained by mailing in the
original disk plus $3.00.  Anouncements will be made on the major online
services.


Contents:

   Your COMMAND! archive contains three files: CMDDEMO.ACC, COMMAND.INF,
and this file CMDDEMO.TXT.


Installation:

   Copy CMDDEMO.ACC and optionally COMMAND.INF into the root directory
of your boot disk.  Reboot your machine.  Select COMMAND! Demo under the
desk accessory column of your menu.

   The file COMMAND.INF contains optional startup parameters.  Below is the
sample that comes with the demo.

line_space=1    number of scan lines between rows of text
max_width=75    maximum width of window
max_height=18   maximum height of window
max_rows=60     maximum # of rows in window's buffer
max_cols=120    maximum # of columns in window's buffer
x_coord=20      x coordinate of window upon opening
y_coord=5       y coordinate of window upon opening
init_width=40   initial width of window
init_height=12  initial height of window
min_width=30    smallest width that window may have
min_height=8    smallest height that window may have
pfkey05=dir     set PF key 5 to issue the directory command


Features supported in the demo version:

   drives  A: B: C: D: E: F: G: H: I: J: K: L: M: N: O: P: (if installed)

   CD      -- change directory
   CLS     -- clear screen
   DFREE   -- display disk free space
   DIR     -- directory
   FREE    -- display free memory
   FSEL    -- pull up file selector
   HELP    -- list of available commands
   KEYS    -- display PF key settings
   PRINT   -- direct output to printer
   QUIT    -- quit COMMAND!
   RD      -- remove directory
   RENAME  -- rename file(s)
   SCREEN  -- direct output to screen
   SVER    -- show TOS and GEM versions
   TIME    -- set system clock
   TYPE    -- dump contents of file
   UPDATE  -- update files time and date stamps
   VER     -- display version of COMMAND!

   execute .TOS or .TTP programs and (optionally) use redirection


Differences between the demo and retail versions of COMMAND!:

   The following additional commands are supported;

   ATTR    -- change files attributes (eg. read only, hidden)
   COPY    -- copy file(s)
   DATE    -- set system date
   DELETE  -- delete file(s)
   ERASE   -- erase file(s)
   MD      -- make subdirectories
   MOVE    -- move file(s)
   SET     -- set system variables
   VERIFY  -- turn floppy disk verify on or off

   Execute .PRG or .APP programs.

   Run batch files.

   The ability to run COMMAND! as a program.

   Includes a non-GEM version of COMMAND! (even smaller code size!)

   The "About COMMAND!" dialog box does not automatically come up when you
   select COMMAND! from the menu bar.  The pricing info is removed from the
   window, giving you one more line to display.


Usage:

   If you have used a command line interpreter before, you will find
COMMAND! to be quite familiar.  If you haven't, then not to worry, for
it is quite easy to learn.  Scrolling, sizing, moving, fulling, and
closing the window are the same as all other GEM programs.


   When you first open the COMMAND! window, you are greeted with the
version number information, followed by the command prompt.  You will
see the currently active disk drive and subdirectory followed by a
greater than sign, and an underscore.  The underscore is the cursor.  As
you type characters, they will appear within the window.  To change to
another disk drive, type its letter, followed by a colon, and press
return.  eg. B: (return).  Valid drive letters are A: through P: (only
if installed).  Pressing the backspace key, or the left arrow key can
be used to delete unwanted characters.  Pressing the F3 key repeats the
last command.  Pressing either the F1 key, or the right arrow, repeats
individual keystrokes.


CD -- change current directory.

       usage: CD [folder] (return)
              The system returns a new prompt show the new directory.
       note:  A leading backslash (\) means the root directory of the
              current drive.  Two dots (..) means the parent directory.


CLS -- clears the screen, clears the buffer, and draws the prompt.

       usage: CLS (return)


DIR -- display a directory's contents.

       usage: DIR [filespec] (return)
              Filespec is optional, default is all files, and may
              include the wilcards * and ?.

       eg. DIR *.PRG (return)
           DIR (return)


DFREE -- display amount of free space on a disk.

       usage: DFREE [drive] (return)
              Drive is optional, and defaults to the current drive.

       eg: DFREE (return)
           DFREE C (return)


FREE -- display the size of the largest block of free RAM.

       usage: FREE (return)
              System responds with largest RAM size.


FSEL -- call the GEM file selector.

       usage: FSEL (return)
              System responds with the selected path and file.


HELP -- lists the valid commands.

       usage: HELP (return) or
              ? (return)
              System responds with a list of commands.


KEYS -- lists the current PF keys.

       usage: KEYS (return)
              System responds with a list of keys.


PRINT -- routes output from COMMAND! to the printer.

       usage: PRINT (return)
              System sends a message to the printer.


QUIT -- quits COMMAND!, and frees its buffer space.

       usage: QUIT (return)
              Window closes, and if running as a program, ends.


RD -- removes a subdirectory from a disk.

       usage: RD[subdirectory] (return)
              System responds with success notification.
       note:  Subdirectories must be free of all files and other sub-
              directories in order for RD to work.

       eg: RD\AUTO


RENAME -- renames file(s) on a disk.

       usage: RENAME [filespec1] [filespec2] (return)
              Both filespecs are mandatory and may include the wilcards
              * and ?

       eg: RENAME README.DOC README.TXT (return)
           RENAME *.C *.B


SCREEN -- routes output from COMMAND! to the screen.

       usage: SCREEN (return)
              System sends a message to the screen


SVER -- reports the version of GEM and TOS.

       usage: SVER (return)
              System responds with version information.


TIME -- change the ST's internal time.

       usage: TIME (return)
              The system states the current time, and prompts you for
              the new time in the form hh:mm.  You must use the colon
              (:) to separate between hours and minutes.  If you do not
              want to change the time, then just press (return).


TYPE -- dumps contents of file to the current output device.

       usage: TYPE [filespec] (return)
              Filespec is mandatory.

       eg: TYPE README.DOC


UPDATE -- updates a files time and date stamps to the current values.

       usage: UPDATE [filespec] (return)
              Filespec is mandatory.

       eg: UPDATE README.DOC


VER -- displays the current version number of COMMAND!.

       usage: VER (return)
              System responds with version number.


program name -- runs a .TOS or .TTP program

       usage: [program name] [parameter list] [<infile] [>outfile] (return)
              System executes program.

       eg: ARCX.TTP FILE.ARC


Just a note about wildcards:

   The character (?) means any character, while the character (*) means
any characters after this point.  For example: TEST?A.PRG will match
with TEST1A.PRG, TEST2A.PRG, TESTAA.PRG.  However TEST*.PRG will math
with TESTABC.PRG, TEST.PRG, as well as all of the above.


Summary:

   So, for only $19.95 US, you get a fast, efficient utility, that can be
run either as an accessory or a program.  You also get a non-GEM version
of COMMAND! which uses even less memory.  Updates are only $3.00, and we
plan on adding more features in future releases.  Included on the disk
will be the latest version of Double Click's shareware DC Formatter, and
a demo version of Branch Always Software's Quick ST II.


   If you wish to order from us, send a cheque or money order for the
appropriate amount plus $2.00 postage and handling to:

      Intrinsic Software
      15 Gamble Avenue #208
      Toronto, Ontario
      M4K 2H3


                         ORDER YOURS TODAY!!!


   We can be contacted by mail at the above address, or by phone or
E-mail at:

      [phone]
      Compuserve 74007,1757
      GEnie D.LEWIS19




Disclaimer:

   Intrinsic Software has tested this product as thoroughly as possible,
and has found no problems with it.  Due to the nature of the product,
and its ability to delete or alter data files, we cannot be responsible
for any damages resulting from the use or misuse of this software.  It
remains the users responsibility to provide backup of important files.
Intrinsic Software makes no warranties, either expressed or implied,
with respect to fitness for any particular purpose.


Copyright:

   CMDDEMO.ACC, and CMDDEMO.TXT are Copyright (c) 1990 by Intrinsic
Software, and are a part of the COMMAND! demo.  All Rights Reserved.
It may be freely distributed as long as there is no charge for its distribution
other than a nominal fee for a disk and mailing charges, or for current
download rates.  It may not be modified or included as a part of another
program.