DOS UTILITIES

by

G. B. Slovinsky


The programs found in this archive may be freely copied and
distributed, providing you are not charging for them. The programs and
files in this archive may not be altered or changed in any way. The
author of these programs makes no claim as to their usefulness and
accepts no responsibility for incidental,consequential, or other
indirect damages, even if the author has been so advised of the
possibility of such damages. The sole responsibility as to the fitness
of these programs default to the user.




Upon using this software, if after a reasonable period of time you
find these Programs of use, you are expected to register you copy with
the author for a nominal fee of $20.00. in the form of Check or money
order.

Please make you checks or money orders made out to :

G. B. Slovinsky
And mail it to the following address.



G. B. Slovinsky
6940 Berwyn
Dearborn Hts. MI. 48127

And at the bottom of the envelope write the words Registration
Fee.


And thank you for supporting Share Ware.


























In this archived file DOSUTIL you will find the following files
and programs.


ANSISCSI.31
SUNDBSYD.EXE
KILL.EXE
MOVE.EXE
CMD.EXE
INFO.EXE

Your system must be configured to use these programs, first your
config.sys should be modified so that it includes these lines if it
doesn't already.

files=20
buffers=20
device=ansiscsi.31

Your autoexec.bat file will also need to include these lines in
thee following order.


share
sundbsyd


The program SUNDBSYD.EXE, ANSISCSI.31 and the DOS program
SHARE.EXE must be in your root directory. The other programs KILL.EXE,
MOVE.EXE, CMD.EXE AND INFO.EXE should be in your DOS directory. If you
don't have a DOS directory, then they should be located in your PATH
your path should also include your COMMAND.COM which should be in your
root directory. If your not sure what a PATH is, you will find the
information in your DOS users manual.



After these modifications have been made reboot your system. These
programs will work with MSDOS 3.1 or greater. They will not work
properly with earlier versions of DOS.


These programs were developed using DATABUS a language little
known in Michigan but very popular in the sunbelt states. They were
compiled with Sunbelt Computer Systems SUNDB86D demonstration compiler.
These programs require a Run time engine, SUNDBSYD.EXE to function and
MSDOS's share command to be loaded. If you wish to try your hand at
programing in DATABUS you can down load their demonstration compiler
from their bulletin in Tulsa. at 1(918)583-6219 they accept 1200 and
2400 baud (although I've never been able to logon at 2400). The
compiler will be found in area #15 called SUNDBDEM.EXE also you will be
able to down load their manual (slightly abridged).


MOVE.EXE


This program is designed to move files from one directory to
another. The following are examples of the move command.



move *.* c:\dos

move *.txt c:\

move abc*.* c:\dir1\dir2

move a:\item.dat c:\newdir



When using the move command the following must be understood. To
move files from a directory that you are currently in you will not need
to specify the path, but you do need to specify the path of where thee
files are to wind up. eg 'MOVE *.* c:\dira'.


When you want to move files from a directory that you are not in
you would enter 'MOVE c:\*.* c:\newdir'. The second parameter of the
move is required to have a valid path.


If you are in a directory called stuff on c: (C Drive) and wanted
to move all your .txt files from a directory called morestuf the
command syntax would be 'MOVE c:\morestuf\*.txt c:\stuff'.


Please note that both sides of the move parameter are used at all
times. This move command follows closely to the DOS COPY command and
the DEL command.























KILL.EXE



This program is designed to assist you in the house keeping of
your directorys. The KILL command can not be used to kill (delete
files) across directorys. eg If your in a directory called stuff and
you want to delete a group of files in a directory called junk you
can't use the command this way KILL c:\junk\*.txt.


The kill command functions about the way that DOS's DEL command
does. Except with a few twists using the KILL command will display each
file that fits the selection parameter and will prompt you as to
whether it is to be deleted or not a 'Y' entry will delete that file
any other
key stroke will leave it untouched.


If you know exactly witch files are to be deleted and do not want
to be prompted as to weather they are to be deleted or not, then append
this at the end of your kill command ;noprompt, this will cause the
files to be deleted with out you being asked first. You will still see
each file being displayed as they are deleted.


To delete files first you must be in the directory that they
reside in. The you would enter the command in one of the following
formats.


KILL *.* This will allow you to verify that you want
that file deleted.



KILL *.*;noprompt This will delete the whole directory or
disk (if your on A:) with out you needing
to confirm each delete.


KILL also supports normal DOS wild card usage, such as.



KILL 06-??-90.txt This will delete all files that have that
same format with verification prompting.


KILL 06-??-90.txt Same as above except that the deletion is
done automatically.



Basically KILL does function like DOS's DEL command, except you
must be in the directory that you need to delete files from.





INFO.EXE


This program is designed to allow you to add a 65 character
comment line to help identify/clarify programs or files in a directory.


The usage of this function is just enter keyin the word info and
in a matter of second (depending on how slow your system is) a file and
index will be created of all current files in that directory.


INFO can be used a cross directorys. General usage is

(in the same directory)

just enter INFO and a file and index called INFO.DTL and INFO.IDX will
be created in the directory.

To use info across directorys or drives you would use it this way.

INFO d:\


Upon activation of the program INFO you will briefly see a comment
appear on the screen. "Adjusting for new files", what is happening is
because files have a tendency to be moved around on occasion or new
files are added. The program will re-adjust the info file and index
adding new file names as needed, INFO does not remove file names and
comments automatically, you will have to delete them yourself from the
INFO function line.



INFO function line


After INFO has been activated a prompt will appear at the bottom
of the screen asking for which function you wish to perform. You have
the option of performing one of the following functions.


(D)ELETE This will delete a file name from the index

(E)DIT This will allow you to add comments about the
file

(C)HANGE path This will allow you to change to a different
directory (on the same drive)

(N)EXT screen Will display the next screen full of file
names if there are any

(Q)UIT This will exit you out of INFO and restore you
to your system prompt





Functions in detail


(D)ELETE

This function will remove from the index a file name that you have
selected with the selector arrow.

You chose this function by pressing 'D' at the prompt at the
bottom of the screen, an arrow will appear next to the first file name
in the list. If that is the one that you want to delete press the 'F1'
function key and it will be deleted. You move around the files by
pressing the down arrow (automatic wrap around when you hit the
bottom). Should you decide not to delete any file names press the
escape key, this will return you back to the main function prompt.

(E)DIT

This function allows you to add or change a files comment, press
the letter 'E' to activate editing. You will see a cursor light up at
the beginning of the first comment. You may add a comment if there is
none, you may type over a comment that exists and the new typed over
one will be there, or you may press the down arrow to advance to the
next comment field for the next file name. Press the escape key to
return yourself to the main function prompt when your done adjusting or
adding comments.

(C)HANGE path

This is a little tricky after entering 'C' as your selection you
will be prompted for a new path (directory). You should enter your
directory in the following ways.

To access a directory off the root directory enter:
\

eg. \dos\util\games

To access a directory directly attached to the current one enter:


or
\

eg.

dos
or
dos\util\games


(N)EXT screen

This will display the next screen full of file names if there are
any, if not you will stay where you are.

(Q)UIT

Self explanatory it exits thee program and updated the index.

CMD.EXE


Dos has a major flaw it's easy to restore the last command entered
by pressing the F3 key. But what if you want to restore a command you
entered about 10 commands back. CMD.EXE is designed a program
overlay.

It is activated by entering the word CMD from the conventional DOS
prompt, or it can be activated interactively by adding a program name
that you want to run or dos command. Such as CMD then
when that program ends you will be in the CMD overlay program.

CMD is designed to be a window from which you run your programs
from which gives the program the ability to retain around 98 previous
commands entered. And superior command editing capabilities.

After you have activated CMD you will see a slightly different
prompt at the bottom of the screen. Now all you need to do is use it,
just treat is as your normal dos prompt. But when you need to recall a
previous command press the 'F3' function key this will restore the last
command entered just like DOS does. If you want to see even more
previous commands press the down arrow till you see the command you
want to activate appears. If you decide not to use any of the commands
that you have already entered press the up arrow until you come to a
blank spot, or type over a current one, or press the space bar this
will restore you to the next one in sequence. The program is autowrap
so you wont run out of room for storing commands they will just overlay
the next one in sequence.

If when your scanning down in the previous command register and
you see one that is close to being the command you want (and you don't
want to type a new one) the press the 'F3' function key again this will
bring up the command line editor. Should you decide not to edit the
command press the 'F5' key this will exit you out of the edit mode. If
you need to see the help screen for the command line editor press the
page up key to remove the help screen press the page up key again.

When you are editing a command the following features are possible

UP arrow Shifts case to upper case

DOWN arrow Shifts case to lower case

RIGHT arrow Moves highlighted cursor one position to the
right

LEFT arrow Moves highlighted cursor one position to the
left

BKSPC key Deletes character immediately underneath
cursor

INS key Toggles you from overwriting the text or
inserting text. You will always default to
overwriting text every time you call up the
command editor



When you have finished editing the command just press return to
activate it, or Press the 'F5' key to abort the modification to the
command. Also at all times when you are scanning through saved commands
pressing the DEL key will delete that command from memory.

If you have a program to run such as sidekick (this usually
causes problems when it is unloaded) you can bring up another command
interpreter by pressing the 'F1' key, this will give you a normal DOS
prompt. You exit out of this by typing in the command EXIT. This will
unload the secondary command interpreter and return you to the CMD
program.

Brief synopsis of commands

F3 Restores the last command entered

UP arrow Moves you up in the saved commands directory

DOWN arrow Moves you down in the saved commands directory

DEL key Deletes that command from memory

RETURN key Runs that command/program

SPACE bar Exits you from scanning commands and puts you at the
next available command slot

F1 Loads another command interpreter and restores you
to the DOS operating system

EXIT Exits you out of the loaded command interpreter

F3 When pressing F3 the second time. This will put you
into edit mode, for editing commands

F5 Exits you out of edit mode

PGUP Pops up the help screen , pressing it again removes
it

UP arrow Shifts case to upper (Highlighted character only)

Down arrow Shifts cast to lower (Highlighted character only)

RIGHT arrow Moves cursor one character to the right

LEFT arrow Moves cursor one character to the left

BKSPC key Deletes character highlighted by cursor

INS key Toggles you from overwrite text to insert text and
vice versa

RETURN key Runs the changed command line