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- File:GET22NEW.DOC - New features in GET.EXE - Copyright 1991 Bob Stephan
-
- This file summarizes the new and improved features in the various
- releases of GET Version 2 through Release 2.2. If you have been using
- an older version of GET, you should read this file to find out what
- has been changed, and what has been added. Any items of interest
- mentioned here are fully described in GET.DOC.
-
- Release 2.2:
-
- Release 2.2 really does try to put the string for GET Z "string"
- in the true master environment, bypassing all copies of secondary
- command processors. It has been tested with DOS 3.3, DOS 4.01,
- DR DOS, and 4DOS, but it is a tricky business and there are no
- guarantees. GET Z is the only command that tries to use the
- master environment. All others, including GET ZE look for the
- environment of the command processor that is running the BATch file.
- However with GET Z you can easily copy a string from the local
- environment to the master environment. Use with caution and test
- thoroughly on your system.
-
- Release 2.2 also adds Escape to the list of recognized string
- characters for GET S, and it treats ASCII 255 as sort of an
- upper-case space character.
- GET Y will now take a drive argument, and returns 0 for a root
- directory with GET=\.
- GET 7E now returns a code for the type of CPU chip. The PC Model
- function has been reassigned to GET AE.
- GET.DOC has been considerably expanded, and it includes clearer
- LICENSING information. A smaller runtime version is available
- for a minimum registration fee.
-
- Release 2.1b:
-
- Release 2.1b included some additional documentation.
- There were no new features in either 2.1a or 2.1b.
-
- Release 2.1a:
-
- Release 2.1a gives better results when using the K, L, or Q
- commands on a hard disk with large partitions. Release 2.1 could
- report misleading information for such disks.
-
- ****************** New features in Version 2 **********************
-
- 1. The capacity of a disk. GET Q works just like GET K.
- Note that the extended command now divides the ERRORLEVEL by 100
- instead of 10 as it did in the previous version. And if you need
- a different divisor you can use the # notation.
- 2. Timeout. C, N, and S now have a timeout capability.
- 3. Directory existence. The F command for GET Filesize can now be used to
- determine whether a named directory exists.
- 4. SURROGATES: The surrogate for extended keys was changed to { because
- 4DOS treats the "back quote" (grave accent) as a special character
- in BATch files. GET now works with DR DOS and 4DOS. In previous
- versions of GET, the surrogate for extended keys had to be the first
- character in the argument if it was present. Now it can be any place
- in the argument.
- A new surrogate for extended keys on the enhanced keyboard (101
- keys) has been added.
- A surrogate for the space character ASCII 32 was added.
- A surrogate of ASCII 253 will suppress Control-C and Ctrl_Break.
- 5. The I command checks to see whether a key is in the buffer.
- 6. The L command gets the Volume Label of the specified
- disk. The LE command will compare the "string" argument with the
- label and set the ERRORLEVEL to indicate whether there is a match.
- 7. The length of a string for the S command can be specified, and a
- pattern can be given to limit the types of characters entered.
- 8. W will reboot the computer as if the 3-finger salute was pressed.
- WE will reboot as if the computer was turned off then on again.
- If any characters are present as an argument, instead of rebooting,
- GET will attempt to determine whether the preceding boot was warm
- or cold.
- 9. GET AE will return the ROM BIOS model byte.
- 10. VE will get/set the border color on a VGA or EGA monitor.
- 11. PE has a change to inactivate Print-Screen.
- 12. The new H command provides Date and Time information.
- 13. Z (Zap) accesses the real master environment.
- 14. The Moving Text option is back in Version 2.2.
- 15. The U command will stack keys in the keyboard bUffer. UE will
- adjust NumLock, CapsLock, and Scroll Lock.
-
- What new features would you like? Your comments, questions, and
- suggestions are always welcome. See GET.DOC for information on how
- to contact me. /Bob Stephan/
- May 27, 1991
-