Category : Batch File Utilities - mostly for DOS
Archive   : GET26UPD.ZIP
Filename : GET-READ.ME

GET-READ.ME GET Version 2.6 Copyright 1993 Bob Stephan

READ.ME

GET.EXE is a general purpose DOS BATch file enhancer. It makes informa-
tion available to BATch files through the BATch 'IF' subcommand. The
information can come from user input or from the operating system, and
it is made available to the BATch file through the DOS ErrorLevel (Exit
Code) and variables in the DOS master Environment. GET also has capabil-
ities to set some system parameters and perform a few other specific ac-
tions, over 40 functions in all. Not only is GET wonderful for automat-
ing your personal system, it is excellent for client support and soft-
ware installation programs. If these terms are not familiar to you,
you will find them fully described and explained in the 80 page manual.
You will also be interested in the information in GET26NEW.DOC to help
focus on the new and improved features.

One BATch file that just about every PC user has some familiarity with
is AUTOEXEC.BAT. Have you ever felt the need to be more creative
in what your AUTOEXEC.BAT or other BATch files can be made to do?
That is the purpose of BATch enhancers, such as GET.EXE.

The BATch programming language is a simple language. The DOS manual
describes only 8 subcommands specific to BATch files. This makes it
very easy to program simple BATch files - much easier than, say,
spreadsheet macros or database programs. At the same time BATch does
not support many of the more interesting things we would like to be
able to do in BATch files. That is where GET comes in.

GET makes it possible to do many more interesting things in your BATch
files than is possible with plain DOS. GET has over 40 functions that
are useful in BATch files, so it can replace a multitude of small BATch
file utilities, thus saving disk space. Each BATch file will probably
use only a few features, but as you become familiar with the power of
GET you will find more and more uses for all the features.

The functions available in GET.EXE fall into three general categories:
The û mark indicates functions that are new or enhanced in Version 2.6.

1. Keyboard and Screen Input and Output
2. Disk and File Information
3. Memory and System Information

Some of the many things you can do with the Keyboard and Screen I/O are:

û Echo text to the screen in color or reverse video. Echo ANSI.SYS
or printer commands without a carriage return at the end.
Display a custom prompt, optionally in color or reverse video, and get
keyboard input. The prompt can even be displayed as a line of text
moving across the bottom line of the screen to attract attention.
û Obtain keyboard input for menu selection, yes/no answers, USER IDs and
passwords, just to mention a few, then take appropriate action
depending on what was entered. You can control the length, valid
characters, case, length of time to wait for input, and other
characteristics of what is to be entered.
û Manipulate character (string) information to extract substrings,
control the case, measure the length, provide input to other
programs, trim leading and/or trailing blanks, and/or write
the information to files.
û Clear the screen with full control of background and foreground color,
automatically adjusting for the number of lines of text on the
screen such as 43 for VGA or 50 for EGA.
û Arithmetic - add or subtract two numbers to make a loop counter,
create sequential file names, or simply convert a numerical
Environment variable into an ErrorLevel. Use ASCII characters
or hexadecimal numbers in arithmetic. In addition to the usual
four arithmetic functions, you can do modulo arithmetic or
compare two numbers.

Some of the many things you can do with the Disk and File functions are:

û Your BATch file can find out how large a file is, or how much space
is available on a disk. Decisions can be programmed based on this
information, for example, to do a COPY only if enough free space
is available, or to verify that a directory exists.
û Obtain the date and/or time a file was created or last modified.
û You can determine whether a formatted disk is available in a floppy
drive, and determine its size without getting the dreaded "Abort,
Retry, Ignore" critical error message.
Your BATch file can check the volume label of a disk and take
appropriate action based on which disk has been inserted in the
drive. You can check that the correct backup, installation, data,
or program disk has been inserted, for example.
You can determine which device drivers were loaded in a CONFIG.SYS file
and have your AUTOEXEC.BAT automatically make decisions about which
programs to run depending on the system configuration.
Your BATch file can obtain and store the current drive and directory
so it can return there after performing an action or running a
program in a different drive or directory.
You can extract the first line of a file and use it as a string,
or redirect information from other sources into the Environment
where it will be available for manipulation by your BATch file.

A few of the many things you can to with the Memory and System
functions are:

û Get date and time information to use to control when to run other
programs, to time stamp information in files, to display on the
screen or for many other purposes.
û Check the DOS version for programs that are sensitive to it.
û BATch files can find out how much memory is available, how much
Environment space is left, what video attributes and modes are in
use, whether a math coprocessor is available, and whether the CPU
is an 8086, 80286, or 80386 (among other things). Many BATch
programming decisions can be based on such information. Additional,
checks are whether ANSI.SYS has been loaded, or whether Microsoft
Windows, 4DOS, or DESQview is running.
û Your BATch file can check to see if a printer is available and ready
and determine whether to print or not automatically. It can even
turn off Print Screen to avoid accidental hang-ups if no printer
is currently on-line. Also check other hardware featrues
such as the ROM BIOS model and date.
û Execute another program under control of GET and place its Return
Code in the Environment for later use.
û You can even have your BATch file reboot your computer with either a
warm or cold boot, for example to change the configuration.

Over 80 pages of documentation not only describe these and other features
in detail, it also gives many examples and BATch programming hints.

LICENSING SUMMARY

GET is copyrighted software and is not in the public domain! GET is not
totally free for all users, and there are conditions imposed on its dis-
tribution. Please read this information and the section on Licensing
and Distribution to be sure you are not using GET illegally. The only
version of GET that is shareware is the one that displays the help screen
when the name GET is entered at the DOS prompt by itself. If you have
one that says it is licensed and you have not registered, you have a
pirated copy that is protected by law.

VENDORS, CORPORATE, and COMMERCIAL users see licensing terms in the
file ORDER.GET.

INDIVIDUALS, SHAREWARE AUTHORS, and SYSOPS. GET.EXE may be freely
copied and distributed provided that all files in the GET26.ZIP
package are included on the disk or in the compressed file with
GET.EXE. Contributions to support this development project will
be gratefully accepted. If you use GET and can't send money, at
least send thanks.

If you send $15 or more (plus Shipping & Handling) you will receive the
following benefits: (California residents please add 7.25% sales tax).

The latest version of GET with any new features, including the
full manual on disk.
A smaller runtime version to distribute with your BATch files.
A single user license with no royalties for non-commercial use of the
runtime version.
Eligibility to purchase a >80 page user manual giving examples and
detailed explanations.
Free support by BBS, mail, phone, CompuServe, or Prodigy (see below).
Notification of new releases and upgrades when available.

See additional purchase and licensing information in the order form
file ORDER.GET.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions please contact us at:
MOBY DISK: 1021 San Carlos Road, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Phone: (408) 646-1899/1373. PRODIGY:FNGC05A COMPUSERVE:72357,2276
BBS: The Cricket 408-373-3773 /s/ Bob Stephan December 22, 1993.