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1989-06-18
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SDL.COM - TUTORIAL - Copyright (c) 1987,1988,1989 Bob Stephan
You will be able to browse through the TUTORIAL information at your
own pace. Just use the keys on the cursor pad to turn the pages as
you read. Note the reminder at the top of the screen, and remember
that you can exit at any time by pressing Esc.
I hope you will take a few minutes to complete this TUTORIAL which
includes some explanation and then the DEMO. This will help you to
understand and make full use of SDL.
In addition to this general documentation, be sure to read the new
features file. Either select it from the README menu, or just read
the file named MASDIR43.NEW.
(Now press the PgDn key to turn the page).
SDL TUTOR file for SDL.COM, Sorted Directory and Disk Label Printer
Version 4.3, May 1989, Copyright (c) 1987,1988,1989 Bob Stephan
MASDIR (pronounced 'master') is an acronym for MASter DIRectory
System. SDL is the main program. To use SDL simply copy SDL.COM to
the disk and/or directory where you keep your other DOS command files
or utilities. Then just use SDL in the same way you use DIR.
This is a brief explanation of the features of SDL.COM. After you
become familiar with these basics, please run the demo and read any
additional information provided to learn how to get the most out of
SDL.
WHAT IS SDL AND WHAT CAN IT DO?
SDL is a Sorted Directory Listing program that is used in place of the
DOS DIR command. You can invoke it from the DOS prompt just like
DIR, and it accepts the same file specifications (filespecs) that DIR
does including paths and wild cards.
But there the similarity ends. SDL has these features and more:
<> Sorts the listing alphabetically by name, or optionally by
extension, date, size, or (like DIR) not at all.
<> Presents the listing in 2, 4 or 6 columns of file names in easy to
read format. This permits you to see up to 126 file names on the
screen to get a good overall view of the contents of the disk or
directory. SDL automatically calculates the number of columns to
use, or you can specify the format you want.
<> Pauses after each screen until you are ready to continue. At the
pause you can make new option selections, page backward or
forward, exit, or continue.
<> The options are selectable at the DOS prompt by adding them to
the SDL command (like you can add /P or /W to the DIR command).
<> Many options can also be selected from a menu that is presented at
the bottom of the screen at the end of the listing. This permits
you to change your mind as often as you like, and adjust the
listing to obtain just the right information from it without
having to return to DOS and enter a new command.
<> Other useful options are available that will be explained further
in this TUTORIAL and in the DEMO to follow.
<> A setup program lets you select your own defaults for the various
options by entering single keystroke answers to a few questions.
You can make SDL work the way you want it to.
<> On screen help by entering SDL /? at the DOS prompt.
<> Unique to SDL are some excellent printing capabilities! With a
single keystroke you can print the directory you see on the screen
in your choice of five print modes:
1. Regular printing in whatever mode your printer is set for with
no changes to your printer setting.
2. A "sleeve insert", which is printed on your regular printer
paper in a format that can be trimmed to a convenient size to
slip into the diskette sleeve for future reference.
3. A disk label which can be printed on the special labels that
are included with the SDL system kit. This uses compressed
print and 8 lines per inch to fit the filenames into a small
space.
4. Another style of disk label printing which uses "tiny" printing
to fit even more names onto a label. Tiny print makes use of
the compressed and superscript modes that are available on
Epson compatible printers.
5. Print-to-file to save a file copy of the directory listing.
<> Very useful when using the print options is the ability to enter
up to 3 lines of titles for your sleeve inserts or labels. Two of
these lines can be customized with the setup program, and any or
all of the 3 can be specialized for any individual listing.
HOW TO USE SDL
To use SDL simply copy SDL.COM to the disk and/or directory in which
your other DOS commands and utilities are kept. Then use SDL in the
same way you use DIR.
Be sure to back up your SDL diskette by copying everything to another
diskette. You will probably want to customize SDL with the setup
program, so make a working disk or directory by copying just the
SDL*.* files from the MASDIR disk to a working disk or directory.
You can use the program INSTALL to help you do this. Just enter
INSTALL at the DOS prompt, or select it from the MASDIR menu.
There is a full DEMOnstration available on this disk. You will be
given a chance to run the DEMO at the end of the SDL TUTOR program.
To run it later by itself just enter DEMO.
SDL is used very much like DIR. It takes the same path and file
specifications, but it presents a much more readable listing. By
using 2, 4, or 6 columns of file names instead of one, it lists many
more files on one screen. If the screen becomes full, it
automatically pauses. You can immediately shift to a different
number of columns to see more files on the screen, exit if you have
seen enough, or continue with the listing.
SDL can be used in menu mode. Enter SDL with your filespec just like
DIR, then make your selections from the menu at the bottom of the
screen.
SDL also has many options that can be entered on the command line in
the usual fashion using / as a "switch" or option indicator. The
command line is the line on which you enter your DOS commands at the
DOS prompt. At first, SDL /? will be useful to bring up a help
screen. The /? option displays a reminder of the syntax and options.
To see these help screens just enter SDL /? at the DOS prompt. You
will be given a chance to see this screen during the DEMO.
Although there are quite a few options to provide the capabilities
requested by users, you will find them to be quite intuitive and easy
to use. After a few minutes of experimentation you will find a few
of them that you like to use. This experimentation can be taken care
of in the DEMO program to follow.
As soon as you find the options that you like, you can customize your
copy of SDL with the SDLSETUP program. We have tried to configure
SDL the way we believe most users would like it, but you might want
to change it for your own use. If you would like one or more of the
defaults to work differently, run SDLSETUP. Then it will only be
necessary to use options occasionally when you want something
different. The SDL /? help screen is always available as a reminder
at those times. The MENU program will give you an opportunity to
read the SDLSETUP documentation, but SDLSETUP is easy to use,
requiring only simple answers.
The printing capabilities of SDL are most useful and remarkably easy
to use. For example, to print a label for the diskette in drive A,
just enter SDL A: /L. Nothing could be simpler. The /L is an option
mnemonic for Label, and SDL will calculate how many file names it can
fit on a label and select the print mode to do it. Of course, if you
want more control, and less automation, SDL will always let you make
your own specifications. You can print labels in either of two print
styles, labels and sleeve inserts, in a variety of sort orders and
columns of file names, or you can print with your own normal printer
setting. The 3-line title option (/E) provides a means to include
printed explanatory information about the contents and use of the
files on the disk.
You now have enough information to experiment with SDL. To display a
directory at the DOS prompt (A>, etc.), enter SDL just as you would
the DIR command. This is called the "command line". On the command
line you may include one or more of the useful options, such as /X to
sort the files alphabetically by their eXtensions, or /S by their
Size. The default is to sort alphabetically by Name. (The DEMO will
show you more.)
Example: SDL B: /S /4
will display the files on the B: drive in 4 columns sorted by size.
The reminder line at the top of the display gives a terse list of the
options available to use on the command line, with the key letters
shown in CAPS. It looks like this:
/OPTS:? More PRInt Cls titlE Hdr Fre Lbl All rK Vol Byt Wid 2 4 6 N X S D - dOs
Use the key letters in CAPS, or '?', or one of the numbers 2, 4, or 6,
each preceded by the 'switch' character '/' as shown in the example.
Start out with the different column numbers (/2 /4 or /6) and
different sort orders (/N for name, /X for extension, /S for size, /D
for Date, or /O for no sort at all to view the files in the same
mixed up order that DIR would show them). The letter options can be
entered in either upper or lower case. They are shown in upper case
merely to highlight them as key characters. After you see how easy
it is, you can learn about the other options, or just try them to see
what happens.
A few experiments will quickly give you the hang of it. The DEMO that
follows will guide you through a few examples, then you can try it
out on your own when you finish the DEMO.
Try all of the options, but note that you must have a printer on line
to use the /P or /L options. /P will display a print options menu
from which you can select F(ile), L(abel), I(nsert), R(egular), or
T(iny). For I, T and L the printer must be Epson/IBM compatible.
(Contact me if you want to use SDL with some other printer.) The R
option will print with any printer - just set the print mode that you
want then use SDL.
Important! On multi-screen displays, at the bottom of each screen or
directory you will be presented with a prompt containing some of the
same options you saw in the reminder line at the top. This is
intermediate menu. If you select one of the options shown using the
letter in CAPS or the number, that action to be taken immediately.
If you press any key (including ENTER) that is NOT shown in the
prompt, SDL will continue normally. When it has completed the
display of the directory you can EXIT by pressing Esc, End, space, or
Enter(Return). To eliminate the pausing and the menus you can use
the /M (for More) switch on the command line.
Just remember, if you want to display the directory AGAIN, press only
one of the keys shown in CAPS or numbers. If you want to exit or
continue, press Esc, Space, End, or Enter. For example, if you want
to change COL's, simply press the 2, 4, or 6 key.
By permitting you to adjust the display of the directory without
exiting to DOS, SDL is much more useful than many other programs.
Along with the label and sleeve insert printing capabilities, it
should prove to be an invaluable addition to your software library.
Don't forget to use SDLSETUP to set it up YOUR way!
Just a note about reading documentation on the disk. You are reading
this file using a public domain program named SDL_SHOW. If you want
to use it to view the setup documentation, enter SDL_SHOW
SDLSETUP.DOC or type README to bring up the menu.
Use the cursor pad keys to browse, and remember that you can exit at
any time by pressing Esc.
Finally, there are some additional programs on this disk. These are
provided at no extra charge. They are not to be sold commercially
and are not part of the SDL package. They are provided simply as a
free service. You might find some of them useful. Most are public
domain programs and are provided on an "as is" basis. Each file is
accompanied by a .DOC file explaining briefly its purpose and use.
Any "shareware" programs will explain the concept of shareware and
request a fee for continued use. Use SDL to display the names of all
of the DOC files by entering the command
SDL *.DOC
then take a few minutes to read them. They are short enough to use
TYPE, but you can use SDL_SHOW to display them, or any other file
display program such as Verm Buerg's LIST.
* ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! I M P O R T A N T ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! *
* MASDIR43.ARC is a complete copy of the user-supported version *
* of SDL.COM and associated files. It contains all the files *
* "arc"ed into one compressed file. Popular "arc"ing programs *
* such as PKUNPAK or ARCE can restore the files in MASDIR43.ARC *
* to a workable system. DO NOT MIX THE FILES FROM MASDIR43.ARC *
* WITH ANY OF THE OTHER FILES ON THE DISK!! You may, however, *
* give copies of MASDIR43.ARC to your friends, donate a copy to *
* your user group software library, and upload copies to *
* electronic bulletin board systems. Remember, protect your *
* investment in SDL by keeping the entire system separate *
* from the files in MASDIR43.ARC. Although they have similar *
* capabilities, they are incompatible with each other. *
* ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! I M P O R T A N T ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! *
Thank you for taking these few minutes to become acquainted with a few
of the features of SDL. It may be slightly confusing at first, most
powerful programs are, but your patience will be well rewarded.
After a few more minutes in the DEMO, you will have a much clearer
picture about what SDL can do for you. Trying to explain it
makes it sound much more complicated than it really is.
Don't be hesitant to try out SDL on your own. After you see the
usefulness of the many features, you will want to run SDLSETUP to
customize SDL to your own tastes. Please let us know if you have any
problems, questions, or suggestions.
That concludes the TUTOR information. We have prepared a
demonstration program to show you how to use some of the features of
SDL. This would be a good time to take a look at the demo.
In addition to this general documentation, be sure to read the new
features file. Either select it from the README menu, or just read
the file named MASDIR43.NEW.
Now, if you want to exit, remember to press Esc.