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DOSSOS.TXT
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1990-05-18
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8KB
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180 lines
|A╔═════════════════╗══════════════════════════════════════════╔═════════════════╗
|A║ |6Feature Program|A ║═══════════════ ^1DOS S.O.S. |A═══════════════║ |6Feature Program|A ║
|A╚═════════════════╝══════════════════════════════════════════╚═════════════════╝
^Cby
^CMartin Richardson
^C----- Introduction -----
DOS S.O.S. is a quick reference for the most frequently used DOS
commands. This program contains summaries of selected commands. DOS S.O.S.
is not a replacement for the DOS Command Reference Manual. For more
information on the commands, consult your Command Reference Manual included
with your version of DOS.
^C----- DOS S.O.S. in a Nutshell -----
DOS S.O.S. has a menu of the DOS commands. Scroll through the menu with
the <ARROW KEYS>. When a command is highlighted, a brief description of
the command and its parameters are shown in the Text Window. Some
command descriptions do not fit in one window. These larger files are denoted
by a small arrow in the lower lefthand corner of the screen. To view the
entire file, press the <INSERT> and <DELETE KEYS>.
At the bottom of the screen is the Command Window which contains
specific commands. Enter the parameters beside the command any time it is
highlighted. Then press <ENTER> to execute the command along with any
parameters you have entered.
In order for the program to work, the current working directory must
contain all of the DOS commands. The directory containing the DOS commands
must be included in your PATH (more about the PATH in the next section) or you
must specify the /S switch on the Command Line. The DOS commands must be on
the current disk.
Also, the command processor, COMMAND.COM, must be located in the root
directory of the current drive for the internal commands to work. These
conditions must be met in order for DOS S.O.S. to execute any DOS command.
The program can still be used as a reference even if these conditions aren't
met; however, you will not be able to execute the commands.
^C----- The PATH Statement -----
There are some programs you may wish to run from any directory on your
disk, not just from the directory that contains the programs. For example,
it would be nice to use CHKDSK from any sub-directory, not just from your DOS
directory. If DOS is in the PATH, you can execute CHKDSK while working in any
sub-directory.
A typical PATH statement, usually contained in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file (the
file that runs every time you turn on your computer), might look like this:
^CPATH C:\;C:\DOS;C:\NORTON;C:\UTILS;
DOS S.O.S. looks for each of the DOS commands along the PATH when they
are executed. If you wish to use DOS S.O.S., but do not understand the PATH
statement, invoke the program with the /S switch on the Command Line:
^CC>DOSSOS /S
This procedure will force DOS S.O.S. to search the entire disk for the
needed files and run them.
^C----- The Most Frequently Used Parameters -----
Some parameters are used more than others. If there are "standard
parameters" for a particular command, pressing <F3> displays a pop-up
window with a list of these parameters. At the bottom of the window, a brief
description of the parameter's function is displayed when highlighted.
Highlight the parameter you want and press the <ENTER>. The parameter
will appear alongside the command at the bottom of the main screen. Place any
extra parameters next to the cursor. Press <ENTER> to execute the command.
^C----- Using DOS S.O.S. with a Mouse -----
DOS S.O.S. detects the presence of a mouse.
A. Normal Operation:
1. Move the mouse up and down to move the highlight over the
Command List.
2. Press the <LEFT BUTTON> to move between the Command Window and
the Text Window. The active window is always highlighted with a double
line box. If the Text Window is active, you can view the text by moving
the mouse. When the Command Window is active, you can view the
highlighted commands by moving the mouse.
3. Press the <RIGHT BUTTON> for help screens. Press any button to
Exit the program.
4. Press both buttons at the same time to execute the current
command; press the <MIDDLE BUTTON> with a three-button mouse.
B. The Most Frequently Used Parameter Window:
1. To select a line of parameters, move the mouse up and down and
the highlighted bar will move up and down. A description of the
highlighted line of parameters appears at the bottom of the screen.
2. The <LEFT BUTTON> performs the same function as the <ESC> key.
The window will close, and the previous parameters are restored to the
Command Line.
3. The <RIGHT BUTTON> does nothing.
4. Press both buttons at the same time (the <MIDDLE BUTTON> with a
three button mouse) to add the highlighted parameters to the command at
the bottom of the screen.
^C----- COMMAND LINE PARAMETERS -----
When you start DOS S.O.S., you can place several optional parameters
after the command. The optional parameters are:
/A - DOS S.O.S. searches all directories on the current drive for the
commands if it can't find them on the PATH.
/S - DOS S.O.S. starts with sound on. This command turns the sound off.
/N - If you do not want to use a mouse, this command deactivates the
mouse mode.
/V - This command takes DOS S.O.S. out of Version Specific Mode. Older
versions of DOS do not have the same commands as newer versions;
therefore, the list of commands may differ depending on the version of
DOS in use. When /V is specified, commands for all versions of DOS are
displayed.
/H - This command or /? will display the list of Command Line
parameters mentioned above and bring you back to the DOS prompt. For
example: DOS SOS /S /V will start DOS S.O.S. with the sound off and
only the commands for the current DOS version will be displayed.
^C----- DOS S.O.S. COMMANDS -----
A. Keyboard Commands:
Up Arrow Key: Moves the highlight up
Down Arrow Key: Moves the highlight down
PgUp Key: Moves the highlight up one screen
PgDn Key: Moves the highlight down one screen
Home Key: Moves the highlight to the top of the screen
End Key: Moves the highlight to the bottom of the screen
Ctrl-Home Key: Moves the highlight to the beginning of the list
Ctrl-End Key: Moves the highlight to the end of the list
Delete Key: Moves the text up one line
Insert Key: Moves the text down one line
ENTER: Executes the highlighted file.
ESC: Exits DOS S.O.S.
F1: Help screens
F2: Toggles sound On/Off
F3: Menu: most frequently used parameters
B. Mouse commands:
No Button: Move the mouse up and down to move the highlight
up and down one record at a time.
Left Button: Move from the Command Window to the Text Window and
scroll text with the mouse that is bigger than the window.
Right Button: Brings up help screens.
Both Buttons: Executes the current command.
If alpha-numeric keys are pressed, they will appear beside the
current command in the Command Window as parameters. If the highlight
is moved, all parameters that have been entered will be erased.
^C----- End of Instructions -----
^CTo run this program outside ^1Big Blue Disk^0, type: ^1DOSSOS^0
Disk files this program uses:
^FDOSSOS.EXE