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1989-01-05
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TO - RETURN
Version 1.2
Directory Changing Utility for the IBM
Personal Computer and Other Compatibles
---------
User's Manual
(c) 1989 PC Soft-Tech
Table of Contents
Introduction/Overview.......................................1
How TO.COM and RET.COM Work.................................2
How to Use TO.COM ..........................................3
How to Use RET.COM .........................................4
Sample - The TO.TRE File....................................5
Options and Performance Tips................................6
System Requirements.........................................7
Disclaimer..................................................8
Registration................................................9
PAGE 1
-- Introduction/Overview --
TO - RETURN is a utility to help the user move around the
various directories and drives of their PC in a fast,
efficient manner. It eliminates the need for typing long path
names with the DOS Change Directory (CD) command. TO.COM and
RET.COM may also be used in batch (.bat) files such as
autoexec.bat or menu systems.
Unlike many similar utilities, TO - RETURN is NOT sensitive to
one drive only. As many as five drives can be accessed at any
time with TO - RETURN. Even the order in which to process the
drives can be specified with TO - RETURN.
TO - RETURN has the added capability of being able to go back
to the last drive/directory the user was working in by simply
typing "RET". And not only once, but three times to the last
three drives/directories to be made current with the TO
command.
TO - RETURN has a simple description of how to use the program
included on-line simply by typing "TO".
TO - RETURN is available as share-ware from many public
bulletin board systems. The user may register his/her copy by
sending $10.00 to:
PC Soft-Tech
P.O. Box 742
Mequon, WI 53092
Registration of TO - RETURN gives to user the following
additional benefits:
o Support by phone, mail, or PC Soft-Tech's private
bulletin board.
o Notice of significant upgrades or bug fixes. You
will be notified by mail for any such updates. There
will be no charge for updates as long as you send us
a diskette and return postage. You may also receive
a free update through the PC Soft-Tech Bulletin
Board.
PAGE 2
-- How TO.COM and RET.COM Work --
TO.COM and RET.COM are written in Assembler language and are
therefore extremely fast in operation. When TO.COM is started
for the first time (or in subsequent updating), a file TO.TRE
is created in the root directory. This file contains three
pieces of information used by TO.COM and RET.COM. On the
first line of the file is information regarding the drives to
be processed by TO.COM and RET.COM. The next three lines of
the file contain the last three drive/directories moved to
with the TO or RET command. The rest of the file contains a
snapshot of the users directory tree.
When the TO command is issued, followed by a string (full or
partial path name - see page 3) representing the
drive/directory to move to, the TO.TRE file is searched for
the for the drive/directory and automatically issues the DOS
command to move to that directory. The TO.TRE file is then
updated to record the directory moved to. If multiple
directories contain the identical string, TO.COM will move the
user to the first directory it finds containing the requested
string.
When the RET command is issued, the TO.TRE file is searched
for the last directory moved from that is stored in the file
and issues the DOS command to move to that directory. The
TO.TRE file is then updated and rearranged so that subsequent
issuing of a RET command will continue to move the user
through the last three directories used in the same continuing
order until another TO command is issued.
A number of error messages have been included in the
programs to notify the user of any problems the program is
having with executing the commands as typed by the user.
These error messages include, NO MATCHING DIRECTORY FOUND,
DRIVE LETTER ENTERED DOES NOT EXIST ON THIS SYSTEM, TO.TRE HAS
BEEN CORRUPTED, INVALID DIRECTORY TREE - RESCANING, etc.
PAGE 3
-- How to Use TO.COM --
TO.COM should be placed on the users hard disk in a utility
directory or some other directory which is contained in a path
statement installed in the root directory's autoexec.bat file.
Otherwise the TO command will only work if the user is in the
directory containing the TO.COM file.
To use TO.COM for the first time, simply type:
TO /(Drives)
Where (Drives) are a list of drives to be processed by the TO
command. Up to five drives may be processed (C,D,E,F,G...)
in user defined order. As and example, if the user wishes
the TO command to include three hard drives, he/she would
type:
TO /CDE (or TO /DCE to process drive D: first)
This command creates the TO.TRE file used by the program to
move the user from directory to directory. If the user wishes
to update the TO.TRE for added or deleted directories or
drives, he/she issues the same command used to create the file
initially.
Once the TO.TRE file has been created, the user can move to
any directory on their system by typing:
TO (Path)
Where (Path) can be any full or partial path name. As an
example; to move to the directory C:\UTILITY\BATCH\SPECIAL,
the user could type any of the following:
to special
to ut\spe
to ty\tch\ial
to bat\spec
If a user attempts to move to a recently added or nonexistent
directory (not in TO.TRE file), an error message "NO MATCHING
DIRECTORY FOUND" will be given. Many other error messages are
included as part of the TO.COM program to tell the user if an
invalid drive was specified, or the TO.TRE file has become
corrupted, etc, to aid the user in running the program.
SPECIAL NOTE: The user must be aware that if he/she wishes to
move to the root directory c: (or a:, d: etc), the user must
type the ":" as typing just "to c" will cause the program to
search for the first directory containing a "c". As an
alternative to typing c:, the user may type "to \" to move to
the root directory of the current drive.
PAGE 4
-- How to Use RET.COM --
As with TO.COM, RET.COM should be placed on the users hard
disk in a utility directory or some other directory which is
contained in a path statement installed in the root
directory's autoexec.bat file. Otherwise the RET command will
only work if the user is in the directory containing the
RET.COM file.
Unlike TO.COM, RET.COM has no special requirement for first
time running. However, TO.COM must have be run to set up the
TO.TRE file before RET will work. To return to a directory
that a user moved from, he/she simply issues the RET command.
RET.COM uses lines 2 through 4 of the TO.TRE file to review
the last three directories the user moved to with the TO
command. When the RET command is issued, the program will
execute and move to the latest directory moved from. This is
on line 2 of the TO.TRE file. After the move is complete, the
program will update the TO.TRE file moving the directories on
lines 3 and 4 to lines 2 and 3 respectfully. It then moves
the directory that was on line 2 to line 4. In this manner
the user may return to the last three directories in the same
order over and over (roll through).
If TO.COM has not been run to set up the TO.TRE file and the
RET command is issued, an error message "NOWHERE TO RETURN TO"
will be displayed.
PAGE 5
-- Sample - The TO.TRE File --
Following is a sample of the TO.TRE File as created for a
system with two hard drives.
DRIVES PROCESSED: CD
C:\SYMPHONY\FILES
C:\UTILITY\ARCHIVE
C:\COMM
C:\
C:\ACCNTING
C:\AST3270
C:\AST4-02
C:\CM
C:\CM\CERTIF
C:\CM\CMDIR1
C:\COMM
C:\DBASE
C:\SYMPHONY
C:\SYMPHONY\FILES
C:\UTILITY
C:\UTILITY\ARCHIVE
C:\UTILITY\MACE
C:\UTILITY\SPF
D:\
D:\MASTER
PAGE 6
-- Options and Performance Tips
In order to make TO and RETURN run as fast as possible,
you should put TO.COM and RET.COM in a ram disk and set
the PATH statement to point to the ram disk first. The
total amount of ram disk space required is about 7K.
Refer to your DOS manual for information on creating
a ram disk and the PATH statements. For those of you
that have and expanded/extended memory board, the
manufacturer of the board has probably supplied their
own version of the ram disk software and drivers.
By default, TO and RET create and use a tree file
called TO.TRE that is created in the root directory
of drive C. If you wish to put this file in another
directory and/or drive, set an environment variable
called TO-RET to the full path name of the file you
wish to use.
For example, if you want to put the tree file on
drive D in sub-directory UTILITY\FILES and call the
file TO-RET.FLE, put the following command in your
autoexec.bat:
SET TO-RET=D:\UTILITY\FILES\TO-RET.FLE
All further uses of TO and RET will then look for the
file on drive D, in subdirectory UTILITY\FILES with a
file name of TO-RET.FLE.
PAGE 7
-- SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS --
TO - RETURN has been successfully run using DOS 2.0 through
DOS 3.3 and has been run on the following machines (not all
versions of DOS on all machines):
o IBM PC
o IBM XT
o IBM XT/286
o IBM AT
o IBM PS/2 Model 50, 60 and 80
o Compac Deskpro
o Leading Edge Model D
o Panasonic Business Partner
PAGE 8
-- DISCLAIMER --
The following disclaimer should be viewed as a legal
obligation on PC SOFT-TECH's part to protect itself. We by no
means imply that TO - RETURN is flawed in any way. We have
every intention to make modifications and enhancements to
ensure that TO - RETURN is the best possible product. If you
are having problems with TO - RETURN or suspect that it may be
flawed in any way, notify PC SOFT-TECH and we will make the
necessary changes as soon as possible, and distribute it
accordingly.
TO - RETURN is distributed as is, with no guarantee that it
will work correctly in all situations. In no event will the
Author be liable for any damages, including lost profits, lost
savings or other incidental or consequential damages arising
out of the use of or inability to use this program, even if
the Author has been advised of the possibility of such
damages, or for any claim by any other party.
TO - RETURN distribution package, consisting of the program
and documentation file are copyright (c) 1988 PC SOFT-TECH.
The author reserves the exclusive right to distribute this
product, or any part thereof, for profit.
Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES may modified versions or disassembled
versions be distributed, either for profit or in the public
domain.
User's groups, clubs, libraries and clearing houses are
authorized to distribute TO - RETURN pursuant to the
following conditions:
1. No charge is made for the software or documentation.
A nominal distribution fee may be charged, provided
that it is no more that $5 total.
2. The program and documentation are distributed together
and are not modified in ANY way.
PAGE 9
-- REGISTRATION --
Once you become a registered user of TO - RETURN, you will
receive you will receive the following benefits:
o Support by phone, mail, or through our private bulletin
board system. Support will only be provided to
registered users.
o Notice of significant upgrades and bug fixes. You will
be notified by mail for any such updates. There will be
no charge for updates as long as you send us a diskette
and return postage. You can also receive a free update
through our private bulletin board.
Each copy of TO - RETURN is registered for use on one computer
only and a registered copy is required for each additional
computer. The price per registered copy of TO - RETURN is
$10.
The registered version of TO - RETURN can be used in
commercial, educational, and governmental institutions.
The free version of TO - RETURN is expressly prohibited for
use in commercial, educational, and governmental institutions
except for the purpose of evaluation.
PAGE 10
-- REGISTRATION FORM --
Please add me to the list of registered users, to be eligible
for support and update notices. Enclosed is my check or money
order for $10.
Computer Model: ________________________________________________
Company Name: ________________________________________________
Your Name: ________________________________________________
Title: ________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________
City, State, Zip: ____________________________________________
Any initial comments about TO - RETURN? ________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Where did you hear about TO - RETURN? __________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Send registration form and check or money order to:
PC SOFT-TECH
P.O. Box 742
Mequon, Wi. 53092
(414) 241-9119