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bbbhelp.doc
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1988-02-28
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9KB
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168 lines
HELP FOR NEW USERS & PROBLEMS YOU MIGHT HAVE
Public domain software is actually very easy to use if you are familiar
with a few basic "DOS" commands. Those commands are "COPY", "DISKCOPY",
"DIR", "TYPE", & a few others. None of the disks are "bootable", which
means that you cannot place the disk in your floppy and turn on the computer.
The first thing to do with the disks is to make a backup copy with the
following command:
A>DISKCOPY A: B: <enter>
In the event that you get some sort of error message when using
"DISKCOPY", you will then have to use the "COPY" command to make a
backup of your original disk. You would do this by placing a
FORMATTED disk in the "B" drive and entering the following command
at the "A>" prompt:
A>COPY *.* B: <enter> - (will copy all files from A to B)
Now put the original disk away and use the working copy. The next thing
to do is see what files are on the disk. You would do this by placing
the disk in the "A" drive and enter the following command:
A>DIR <enter> - will display the filenames
Now you will see many different filenames. A filename consists of two
parts; the filename & the extension. The filename will be on the left
(up to 8 characters long) & the extension will be just to the right
(up to 3 characters long). You will be looking for certain extension
names; which will tell you something about that type of file.
EXE - a program file
COM - a command file
BAT - a file with "DOS" commands that may call a program file
BAS - a "BASIC" program. Needs GWBASIC or BASICA to run the file
ARC - a archived file - needs to be unarchived, contains many files
DQC - a compressed file - needs to be uncompressed to be readable.
DOC - A DOCUMENTATION FILE - instructions about the program - READ THIS
TXT - A DOCUMENTATION FILE - instructions about the program - READ THIS
You may also see files like READ.ME or README.1ST or just README. These
are all documentation files that will tell you about the program or how
the work the program.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ DOCUMENTATION FILES FIRST
BEFORE TRYING TO RUN THE PROGRAM !!!
===============================================================================
To view a documentation file on your screen, use the "TYPE" command.
With your program disk in the "A" drive enter the following command
from the "A" drive:
A>TYPE filename.ext (enter) - where filename would be README.DOC
or whatever the filename is that you
wish to display.
This will display the documentation to the screen. To stop the text
from scrolling by, press "CTRL S" (the CTRL key and "S" key at the same
time), any other key to resume scrolling. To obtain a hard copy of the
documentation simply replace the "TYPE" command with the "DOS" command
"PRINT". When using the "PRINT" command, your "DOS" disk must be in the
"A" drive & your program disk must be in the "B" drive. Turn your printer
on and enter the following command:
A>PRINT B:filename.ext <enter> - where filename would be README.DOC or
whatever file you wish to print.
===============================================================================
An "EXE", "COM", or "BAT" file extension means that when you simply
enter the filename, the computer will do something. For instance,
if the filename were "POKER.EXE", you would simply enter the following
at the "A" prompt:
A>POKER <enter> - the poker program would now be "running" and
you would be playing it. This also holds true
for "COM" files. A "BAT" file may call a program
or it may just display a documentation file. "BAT"
files can do many different things.
===============================================================================
Another type of file (a little tricky to run) is a "BASIC" file.
These types have the "BAS" extension. Any file with this extension
must be run with the "BASIC" interpreter. That simply means that you
must have a copy of "GWBASIC.EXE" if you have a clone, or "BASICA.COM"
if you have an "IBM". These 2 files (GWBASIC & the "BAS" file) must
reside together or be able to find each other. If your copy of
"GWBASIC" was on the floppy in the "A" drive and your "BAS" file was
on the "B" drive you would enter the following command from the
"B" prompt if the filename was "POKER.BAS"
B>A:GWBASIC POKER <enter> - You must put the "A:" in so your
computer knows where to find your
your "BASIC" program.
An easier way to do this is to simply copy "GWBASIC.EXE" to the
disk that contains the "BAS" files. When both files are together &
this disk was in the "A" drive you would enter the following command:
A>GWBASIC POKER <enter> - the poker program would now be "running"
& you would be playing the game.
===============================================================================
Another important file is one with an "ARC" extension. This means
that it contains many smaller files within it. This is a type of
file that is sent over a phone line when using a modem. All that is
required to use the files contained inside is to extract them with
a special program. The program most commonly used is called
"PKXARC.EXE". To extract files from a file called "TEST.ARC", you
would use the following command at the "A" prompt:
A>PKXARC TEST B: <enter> - this would extract all the files and
place them on a disk that was in the
"B" drive. You must have a formatted
blank disk in the "B" drive before
issuing this command. When all files
have been extracted you will see some
of the filenames mentioned above.
If you have a hard drive you could copy the "ARC" files & the
program "PKXARC.EXE" to your hard drive & enter the following command:
C>PKXARC TEST <enter> - this will extract all the files from an
archived state. Then will see some of the
different filenames mentioned above.
===============================================================================
The other type of file extension to be concerned about is the "DQC"
extension, which is only a squished "DOC" file. The program to unsquish
this type of file is usually called "UNSQZ.COM". To unsquish this file
you would type the following command:
A>UNSQZ filename.ext <enter> - where filename.ext would be the
actual filename & extension.
i.e. To unsquish a file called "TEST.DQC", type the following command:
A>UNSQZ TEST.DQC <enter> - will create a file called "TEST.DOC". It is
now a readable file.
===============================================================================
Hopefully this file will help enable you to understand & use your disks.
If all this still sounds like "GREEK", then we strongly suggest that you
purchase the following disks:
#25 - BEGINNERS - a tutorial on using public domain software
#99 - PC TUTOR-DOS - an excellent program teaching about your
computer & how to use "DOS" commands
#112 - DOS HELP - on-line help screens for "DOS" command
BEST BITS & BYTES, P O BOX 8245, VAN NUYS, CA 91409 (818) 781-9975