Category : Utilities for DOS and Windows Machines
Archive   : PCPF.ZIP
Filename : PCPF.DOC

PC/PF USERS GUIDE
VERSION 1.20
11/11/86
PC/PF Users guide Page 1


General Information


PC/PF is Public Domain program that acts as a session manager for the PC
user. The author designed this system because he felt that the PC is much
easier to confront if you are greeted with a nice friendly panel than with a
DOS prompt. When the program is started, the user is given a terminal display
of various options. Several default functions are incorporated in this system
-- mass copy,delete,etc -- but it is not a text editor or lister. Those
functions, Edit and Browse, are only called from the session manager and you
must make sure that the programs used by Options 1 and 2 do indeed exist!
I've been able to run this program on DOS 2.xx and 3.00 successfully. But
if you do encounter bugs or problems, please drop me a line via:
1. IBM Connection BBS : (804) 481-1824
2. CompuServe # : 75236,711
3. Home Address : Jerry Kevorkian
P.O Box 6510
Portsmouth, Va. 23703

If you enjoy this program and like to encourage the author to upgrade the
product, and write new ones, please feel free to send a small donation to the
above address(say $12). This will insure you of being informed of any upgrades
to PC/PF at no additional charge. Even if you don't want to send $$, please
send your comments.
PC/PF Users guide Page 2
Screen Summary

Main Menu
The main menu is the corner stone to the whole system and just plain
interesting to look at. The time is constantly updated in the upper right
hand corner even though the date is only updated by pressing a key on the
keyboard (after all, how often does the day change in a 24 hour period
anyway?). From the main menu, an option is chosen by just pressing the
appropriate key (you don't have to press enter). All of the options and
their respective choices are described below.



0. Option 0
This option allows the user to change the titles and programs executed
by options 1,2,4,5, and 7. Just select the option you want to change (or
F3) and you will be prompted for the following information:
A. Program Title -- This is the title that will appear on the
on the main menu.
B. Program Name -- This is the DOS name and location of the
of the program you want to execute. Be
sure to include Drive letter too. You
must specify the fullname of the utility
you want called but not the directory!
(Example -- C:LIST.COM
even if program is in
C:\UTIL\LIST.COM )
C. Prompt? -- If you want to be prompted for parameters
to be passed to the utility when it is
called, then reply Y. Otherwise, reply N.
Changing the Title and Prompt portions for BROWSE and EDIT is moot since
they are system defined. After you've changed the system screen and calls
into a format you are happy with, be sure to save the settings with Choice
S. The next time you start PC/PF, use the file name you created in Choice
S as a parameter on the invocation of PCPF. If you created a file named
PCPARM.PCF then invoke PCPF by typing:
PCPF PCPARM.PCF
at the DOS prompt.


0.1 Option 0 Choice 1
This will list the program in use for the BROWSE function called from
the main menu. The default program is C:LIST.COM. My defaults point to
the C-drive because I'm assuming you move the utilities you want to use up
to a RAM drive addressable as C:. The file you select to BROWSE is passed
to this specified utility as a parameter.


0.2 Option 0 Choice 2
This will list the program in use for the EDIT function called from the
main menu. The default program is C:ED.EXE. My defaults point to the
C-drive because I'm assuming you move the utilities you want to use up to a
RAM drive addressable as C:. The file you select to EDIT is passed to this
specified utility as a parameter.
PC/PF Users guide Page 3


0.3 Option 0 Choice 3
This will list the program and title that appear as the Option 4 on the
main menu. The default is CROSSTALK which runs program called A:XTALK.EXE.
This is a utility that is fairly popular with many people and may fill your
need. If you don't want this utility on your menu then follow this simple
procedure to change it:
If you want to run a program called WORDSTAR which executes the command
WS (meaning A:WS.COM) from the DOS prompt, then fill in the screen as:
Title ==> WORDSTAR
Program Name ==> A:WS.COM
Prompt? ==> N
and then press the F2 key. The main menu will show that option 4 is
Run WORDSTAR!


0.4 Option 0 Choice 4
This will list the program and title that appear as the Option 5 on the
main menu. The default, LOTUS 1-2-3, runs program called A:123.EXE. If
you don't want this utility on your menu then follow the procedure outlined
in 0.3 to change it.


0.5 Option 0 Choice 5
This will list the program and title that appear as the Option 7 on the
main menu. The default is MULTIMATE which runs program called A:WP.EXE.
If you don't want this utility on your menu then follow the procedure
outlined in 0.3 to change it.


0.S Option 0 Choice S
This will give you a chance to save the settings you changed with
choices 0.1 through 0.5 along with the screen color you may or may not have
selected from the main menu. Its a good idea to save the settings to a
file on the same disk with PCPF.COM since it is used by PCPF as a parameter
upon starting the system. If you chose a name of PCPARM.PCF then reloading
the settings would be done by typing :
PCPF PCPARM.PCF [/SLOW]
at the DOS prompt (i.e. 'A>').



1. Option 1
This option allows the user to BROWSE a file of their choice. The
program named at the top of the menu is executed and is passed the file the
user specifies as a parameter. You can choose a file from any drive you
have on your system. The file name and type (File.Typ) can be entered on
the first panel or a drive can be given (by Drive ==>) and a * for file
name (pressing enter after the *) for a directory listing of the designated
drive. Moving the cursor around and pressing enter on the directory
listing will choose the correct file for you. At any point, pressing the
F3 key will back you up a panel. You can BROWSE a file on another
directory by entering the directory information as part of the filename
(Example -- File Name ==> \UTIL\TEST.DOC ).
PC/PF Users guide Page 4


2. Option 2
This option allows the user to EDIT a file of their choice. The
program named at the top of the menu is executed and is passed the file the
user specifies as a parameter. You can choose a file from any drive you
have on your system. The file name and type (File.Typ) can be entered on
the first panel or a drive can be given (by Drive ==>) and a * for file
name (pressing enter after the *) for a directory listing of the designated
drive. Moving the cursor around and pressing enter on the directory
listing will choose the correct file for you. At any point, pressing the
F3 key will back you up a panel. You can EDIT a file on another directory
by entering the directory information as part of the filename (Example --
File Name ==> \UTIL\test.doc ).



3. Option 3
This selection will display a menu of utilities available under PC/PF
that will run by themselves (i.e. you do not need to link to any other
programs like C:ED.EXE to run). As always, the key F3 will take you back
to the main menu.


3.1 Option 3 Choice 1
This utility will simply change your default disk drive (as displayed
on the main menu) to the drive you request. After making your change,
press the F3 key to return to the previous menu.


3.2 Option 3 Choice 2
This utility will allow the user to print a file of their choosing.
After selecting the file to print, you will be prompted for the following:
1. Page Breaks/Headers? [Y/N]
If you reply Y, then PC/PF will print a header at the top of
each page. The page length is determined by selection 2.
2. Number of lines per page : default = 064
If you specified Y on selection 1, then this will determine
how many lines will be printed per page.
3. Print Mode N)ormal or C)ompressed: default = N
If you want to print in compressed form, change the default to
C.
When you've setup the criteria that you're satisfied with, press the F2
key to start the printer. Make sure you're printer is on and ready first!


3.3 Option 3 Choice 3
This selection will allow the user to rename a file to a new name.
After selecting the file to rename, you will be given a panel to specify
the new name you have chosen. If you change your mind and want to quit,
just press the F3 key.
PC/PF Users guide Page 5


3.4 Option 3 Choice 4
This selection will give the user an opportunity to copy a single or
multitude of files to a new drive or directory. If you select a single
file and don't use the '*' (directory option) then you will go straight to
the destination panel. If you do select the '*' option, then mark all the
files you want to copy by moving the cursor around and pressing enter on
all the files you want. Press the F2 key when done (or F3 to abort) and
you will then be taken to the destination panel.
At the destination panel, select the location where you want the
file(s) to be copied. The choice can be a drive (Example -- A:) or it can
be a drive and directory (Example -- C:\util\). Once you've pressed enter,
a DOS batch file will be run to copy the requested files. You will then
be return control of the terminal. At any point, until the DOS batch file
is begun, pressing F3 will abort the process.


3.4 Option 3 Choice 5
This selection will allow the user to selectively delete files from
any attached disk drive. If you select a single file by name, then that
file will be deleted when you press the F2 key. Choosing the '*'
(directory option) will give the user a chance to select as many files as
desired by moving the cursor around and pressing enter on all entries to be
deleted. After marking all the files, pressing the F2 key will begin the
deletes. If you make a mistake or change your mind, press the F3 key to
abort the whole process.



4. Option 4
This option will start the program as defined by Option 0 Choice 3.
The default program is CROSSTALK and it is run by calling for the file on
drive-A called XTALK.EXE to execute. The default also requests that the
user be given an opportunity to pass a parameter to CROSSTALK when it is
started. If you don't want to supply a parameter, then just press enter
on the next panel. The file A:XTALK.EXE must exist on your drive-A or you
will be stopped before you start. When you exit (i.e. end) CROSSTALK, you
will be returned back to the PC/PF main menu.



5. Option 5
This option will start the program as defined by Option 0 Choice 4.
The default program is LOTUS 1-2-3 and it is run by calling for the file on
drive-A called 123.EXE to execute. The default also says that no
parameters are necessary so the program will start executing as soon as you
press the 5 key. The file A:123.EXE must exist on your drive-A or you will
be stopped before you start. When you exit (i.e. quit) LOTUS 1-2-3, you
will be returned back to the PC/PF main menu.
PC/PF Users guide Page 6


6. Option 6
This option gives the user a chance to enter DOS commands as if they
were back at the DOS prompt. You can enter any command you wish --
TIME,DATE, TYPE,...run a batch file or another program. The DOS command
processor is reloaded just before the command begins so make sure you have
your DOS disk on the same drive it was before you entered into PC/PF.
Recommended course is to transfer DOS to your RAM drive by:
Assume DOS is in drive-A and RAM drive is Drive-C
1. COPY A:COMMAND.COM C: (press enter)
2. A:COMMAND C: (press enter)
and you are done. This procedure will greater increase the speed at
which Option 6 executes!



7. Option 7
This option will start the program as defined by Option 0 Choice 5.
The default program is MULTIMATE and it is run by calling for the file on
drive-A called WP.EXE to execute. The default also says no parameters are
necessary so the program will start executing as soon as you press the 7
key. The file A:WP.EXE must exist on your drive-A or you will be stopped
before you start. When you exit (i.e. end) MULTIMATE, you will be returned
back to the PC/PF main menu.



C Option C
This option will toggle the screen color ON/OFF. The default is OFF!
You can change it as many times as you wish during a session. The color,
or lack or it, will stay with you if you save a parameter file by using
Option 0 Choice S.



H Option H
This option will display a 1 screen summary of key movements and
function key definitions. An expanded help would take up too much memory,
so please forgive the briefness of this screen.



S Option S
This option will reload the DOS command processor but keep PC/PF
resident. Basically, you are returned to DOS and can run all the DOS
commands you want. When you're finished with DOS and want to return to
PC/PF, just type EXIT and press enter. Be wary of running any programs
that create permanently resident features (like DOS's GRAPHICS.COM) while
in Shell mode, since this will tie up memory below the memory line drawn by
PC/PF when it started. If you need to run a program like DOS's
GRAPHICS.COM program, exit from PC/PF before running it (don't use the
Shell option).



X Option X
This option returns the PC back over to DOS and PC/PF is removed from
memory.
PC/PF Users guide Page 7


MISC Features and Hints

1. Key movement
A. Arrow keys move as direction shown on keys
B. BackSpace key is destructive
C. HOME and END keys take respective place on the current line
D. TAB keys work in both directions

2. Function Keys
A. F1 & F6 -- Will erase to end of current line.
B. F2 -- Generally an acknowledgment that input is correct.
C. F3 -- Abort current operation and return to previous Menu.

3. Suggestions on installation (or making it run faster)
A. Setup a RAM disk and transfer DOS (as described in Option 6 above),
the BROWSE program, and the EDIT program to it.
B. A good BROWSE program is LIST.COM
by : Vernon D. Buery
C. A good EDIT program is ED.EXE (known as PC-WRITE)
by : Bob Wallace

4. There is a typeahead buffer, so you don't have to wait for the screen to
finish showing itself to press on the keyboard.

Changes from Version 1.10

1. By default the screen display is now being written to terminal memory.
This enhancement drastically increases the speed required to switch between
screens. The method of using standard I/O output procedures is still
available to you if you start PCPF with either the 1st or 2nd parameter
being /SLOW. This may be required on some computers that are not
completely 100% IBM compatible.


2. Several I/O bugs were fixed that had to do with searching for non-existent
files.

3. The directory you are currently on is now part of the display.

4. A change in memory management routines now saves about 60K in free storage
available to programs that run under PCPF (Like Option 1,2,4,5,7 and
commands entered in option 6).