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- ╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
- ║ NOTE: The format of 4F.CFG was changed in Version 2S.0. ║
- ║ If you are upgrading from a previous version, delete your old ║
- ║ 4F.CFG file and configure the new version from scratch. ║
- ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
-
- CONTENTS: ... 1) A note to all users, new and old.
- ---------
- ... 2) A note for NEW users.
-
- ... 3) Compatibility.
-
-
- 1) TO ALL USERS:
- =================
-
- Have you tried a previous version? If so, read 4F-UPDAT.TXT.
-
- If you have difficulties be sure to check the section on compatibility
- below, and also press <Alt-F10> to check your configuration. If that
- doesn't help, call, fax or e-mail me for Tech Support.
-
- If you will be using 4FILES under OS/2 or MS-Windows, CTRL-ESC &
- ALT-ESC have their OS/2 or Windows rather than 4FILES functions; use
- plain ESC or SHIFT-ESC to quit 4FILES. The mouse will behave like a
- Windows mouse when 4FILES is in a window and like a 4FILES mouse when
- 4FILES is displayed full screen. Your mouse driver should be loaded
- before loading Windows. ALT-ENTER and ALT-HOME are used in Windows and
- OS/2 respectively to toggle between running 4FILES in a window of full
- screen.
-
-
- 2) TO NEW USERS OF 4FILES:
- ===========================
-
- Thanks for taking the time to give 4FILES a try! 4F.DOC has both
- general and detailed installation instructions; look for "Quick Start,"
- "MS-Windows," and "OS/2" in the table of contents. The file 4F-INSTL.TXT
- gives more detailed installation instructions.
-
- One of the first things you should do is use <Alt-F10> to call up the
- configuration menu. This is where you setup 4FILES so it can find your
- utilities and set colors and options. If a utility is in your PATH you
- need give only its filename AND extension (required), but a full pathspec
- results in better performance.
-
- 4FILES comes with the <Grey+> key setup to view files by calling
- 4F-TV.COM (supplied with 4FILES). You may wish to reconfigure 4FILES to
- other browse utilities such as Vern Buerg's LIST or the 4DOS LIST command
- (configure this as LIST.ALS). 4DOS LIST requires shelling to DOS, which
- is slow; Buerg's LIST is a better choice. The Help file will not be shown
- unless the browser "port" is correctly configured.
-
- Also, use <Alt-F10> to set the keyboard type you use if you have a
- laptop computer or an old PC keyboard.
-
- Directory navigation is one of 4FILES' strong suits, and to make the most
- of it, you should read the Navigation section in 4F.DOC. Play around a lot
- with the navigation keys. Other important keys are <TAB> to toggle between
- file management and file description modes, <F7> to toggle display of file
- attributes or file time, and for EGA/VGA Ctrl-<F7> to change the number of
- rows displayed. <Alt-Char>, where Char is any alphanumeric key, searches for
- files and subdirectories starting with the character.
-
- There are many other features and a great file note editor, all well
- integrated into the keyboard to put a lot of power at your finger-tips in
- an easy to learn and remember arrangement. Please lavish a little time on
- the manual (4F.DOC) and at least look at "Quick Start" therein for now. I
- have worked hard to incorporate a lot of features into 4FILES and to write
- a thorough manual. It would be a shame for you to miss the full benefits
- of that labor by trying to get-by by running the program by the seat of
- your pants (although it's easy enough that you can get pretty far that way).
-
-
- 3) COMPATIBILITY:
- ================= 4FILES is compatible with MSDOS 3.x and higher, DRDOS
- 5.x and higher, all versions of 4DOS and NDOS, OS/2, Windows & Desqview.
-
- COMPATIBILITY ISSUES:
- --------------------
- A) PC-Magazine's LOG.COM is poorly behaved, and whenever a utility is
- called from 4FILES, it causes an "incorrect configuration" message to be
- displayed, even though execution was good. Use the 4DOS LOG facility
- or another shareware LOG program instead.
-
- B) With NEWKEY.EXE, you should run NEWKEYSP.EXE and free-up <Ctrl-Esc>
- for use by other programs via one of the menus. Otherwise, this key
- will be non-functional in 4FILES.
-
- C) A number of freeware key-swap utilities (e.g. SWITCH5.COM) ignore
- or do not properly update keyboard BIOS data. If you have keyboard
- trouble, try unloading such programs, and if necessary look for a
- better replacement.