Category "IS-DOS - for beginners" No 2
Eliseev VA
"IS-DOS - the first acquaintance"
(Journal version)
(C) PENCRAFT 1995
(C) ISKRASOFT 1995
Continued from - to No 1.
System Utilities.
In the previous chapter, we examined the control keys file
panels. Now that you've mastered it, you can safely move to the
next rather broad topic - system utilities listed at the top of
the screen and caused by the numeric keys. Total
these utilities, ten, we consider in detail
each of them.
1 - HELP
Key 1 is the utility help.com,
located in the directory SHELL \ (up to 05.95 -
UTIL \). This tool allows you to display the
display a text file as a hint to the file
by the pointer.
To do this requires that the directory in which you are
interested in file a subdirectory HELP \, which contains text
files of descriptions, hints to the files in that directory.
Description files have the extension hlp. Also, the name
File-tips must match the name of the file, for example, if you
there is a file in the directory copy.com A: UTIL \, a
help-file to it should be called copy.hlp and be in the
directory A: UTIL \ HELP \.
The basic set of IS-DOS typically include help-files to all
major commands and files. If you have a floppy disk is not
turned out to be an appropriate description, press the 1 key
will cause a certificate to work with the file wrapper IS-DOS.
This file called shelhelp.hlp and is in
subdirectory HELP \ root directory.
Missing help-file, as well as descriptions of your own
files, you can collect yourself in a text editor and put in a
subdirectory HELP \ order directory where the file is described.
2 - USER
Key 2 run utility menu.com,
located in the directory SHELL \ (up to
05.95 - UTIL \). This tool allows you to work with so-called
"Avatar" - User menu. Avatar can be used to call frequently
used programs, start your team files, software packages and
etc.
Appearance of the main menu, USER-base kit IS-DOS is shown
in the picture:
USER MENU
The disk
RESIDENTS
WORKING WITH TR-DOS
WORKING WITH MS-DOS
Directory Tree
Hide files
See the file
EXIT TO SHELL
Menu.com utility displays a window with a list of commands,
comments, text information, etc. Moving the cursor along the
lines of the window you can select the desired program and run
it by pressing ENTER. Exit the menu is possible by pressing the
SS + A, or through specially provided string.
User menu can be nested, ie
is, each row of the main menu may contain a command to call
another menu. It is so organized system User menu
found in the base IS-DOS.
Menu configuration utility menu.com
reads from a text file menu.txt (in
Version of 10.06.95 - menu.mnu). At the moment
pressing 2, it searches for
this file first in the current directory and
then, in his absence, in the directory
SHELL \. Thus, in each directory
drive, you can create your own menu, but the main menu will be
something that is in directory SHELL \.
As mentioned above, the system
IS-DOS comes with a ready-User menu to display the most
important system utilities, however, the main purpose utility
menu.com - use your own menyushek. For this You need to create
your own text file menu.txt, describing it
configuration menu. To learn how to do this, read the
corresponding chapter of this brochure.
3 - VIEW
Key 3 allows you to view on
display file contents. Naturally,
for viewing text files you need a program that displays them in
a symbolic form, for the screen - a graphic, and for code
blocks - in the form 16-hexadecimal dump.
For this, the system provides a special text file
extview.txt, describing the response of the system by pressing
a button 3. Do not you think it's something to remind you of?
For example extent.txt. This approach allows you to easily
upgrade the system and expand its capacity, as a file
extview.txt You can also edit in its sole discretion.
More likely to be viewed
text files. To do this, call
tv.com utility located in the directory
SHELL \. Incidentally, this is for its services described above
help.com command to display the file-tips. To view on-screen
file called utility exescr.com from the same directory, and for
code blocks preferably 16-hex Monitor demon.com the directory
SERVICE \.
Example of a standard file extview.txt
shown in Table. 2
Table 2. Example file extview.txt
Content
extview.txt Reaction to the 3 key
scr: Q: SHELL \ exescr / w viewing screen
File
txt: Q: SHELL \ tv viewing text
mnu: Q: SHELL \ tv viewing text
bat: Q: SHELL \ tv viewing text
wetQ: SHELL \ tv viewing text
hlp: Q: SHELL \ tv viewing text
as: Q: SHELL \ tv viewing text
cod: Q: SERVICE \ demon 16-hex
Image
obj: Q: SERVICE \ demon 16-hex
Image
com: Q: SERVICE \ demon 16-hex
Image
Description File Viewers
will be published in one of the following
articles in our categories.
4 - EDIT
Pressing buttons 4 launches the built-in IS-DOS text
editor. This is a fairly large and complex program with truly
enormous opportunities for creating and editing text files.
Description of a text editor, you can devote a separate
booklet, which will be done in the near future. And while I can
give some elementary explanations
that will help you perform the most urgent tasks, such as:
writing your own batch files, editing files extent.txt,
extkey.txt, extview.txt, creating User menu, etc.
So, pressing the buttons 4 is a text editor. In this edited
the file on which the cursor was at the time of the call.
Naturally, the edit with it, you can just text files. List of
file extensions that are considered text contained in a text
file ed_ext.txt. The content of this file, you can add and edit
at their discretion, however, remember that the first two bytes
of the first row should be reserved for the system and
they better not touch it, and the next three must contain "wet"
- the default extension for the working file editor. Others
extensions are described in rows, starting with the second one
in line. Recommended basic extension for text files are listed
in Table. 3
Table 3. Extension of text files.
Assign a file extension
txt text file (total)
hlp help-file
doc document
bat batch file
as assembly code
bak backup copy of the text
mnu text USER-menu
If when you press the keys 4 the cursor is on the file name
extension as described in the file ed_ext.txt, then the You
will see the input menu of the editor (see figure).
EDIT
EDIT treecat txt
CREATE NEW FILE
bak N
CANCEL
The first line means a transition to edit the file on which
stood the cursor (the file name appears in the string after the
word EDIT). Second row - not to touch the current file and
create a new (By selecting this option, you will be offered
enter the name of the newly created file and its
extension). The third row - pointer
mode the backup file being edited.
This option allows you to keep intact the original file
before editing, so you can at need to go back to him. If the
This line set the "Y", then the original
file will be saved in a file so the same
name but with extension bak. Now, if the results seem editing
Disappointing to you, you can erase the edited file, and
replacing a backup extension bak
that was before, to restore
status quo. The fourth menu bar
in general everything is simple - it's refusal to edit and
output in the shell, ie, the same that SS + A.
If pressing 4 Advanced file under the cursor will not be
identified editor, the menu will be only two
row: CREATE NEW FILE and CANCEL. However,
it's not all. Input Menu Editor
has its own tuner options, hotkey SS + SP, but
description of it until we put it off until better
times.
Thus, selecting the input menu EDIT, you
to start editing the file. Editor-in system, IS-DOS has a
really great opportunities, description of which can take quite
a lot of space. Therefore, in this brochure only the most
basic, a complete description editor, as mentioned above you
can be found in one of our next
publications.
To start you need to know only
some control keys:
CS +1 - Profiles Rus / Lat
CS +2 - Profiles Uppercase / Lowercase
CS +3 - Profiles Insert / Replacement
CS +4 - cursor to beginning of line
CS +5 - character to the left
CS +6 - on the line down
CS +7 - to line up
CS +8 - a symbol to the right
CS +9 - to end of line
CS +0 - delete character left of cursor
SS + W - delete the character to the right of the cursor
SS + E - insert a space at the current position
SS + Q - up one screen
SS + A - down screen
Also available:
CS + ENTER - tabs
SS + ENTER - exit the menu block operations
SS + SPACE - out of a menu of commands
CS + SS - way out in macro
Finally, talk about the editor -
some much-needed instruction from
command mode, which is activated by SS + SPACE:
9 - Text mode / pseudographics
D - delete line
U - to restore the deleted row
E - Exit the editor
From the menu, exit the editor may
three options: DRY EXIT - complete end editing and saving all
changes to a file, WET EXIT - exit from the establishment of a
working file with a wet, that stores all the basic parameters,
such as: position the cursor modes Fields marked with blocks,
etc., and LEAVE - Out with the rejection of the latest changes.
Option LEAVE abuse is not recommended, as result of its work
depends on many external factors (the degree of occupancy of
the cache memory, for example) and often difficult to predict.
...
...
5 - COPY
5 key in the shell IS-DOS is
program up - usually a program from a directory filecopy.com
SHELL \ (up to 05.95 - UTIL \). The appearance of this program
is shown in the picture:
COPY
flush com extprint txt
4 DESTINATION 4
A: UTIL
In very general terms, it copies
all tagged files in the current panel
directory, open to the alternative panel. In this case, if both
panels open one device (eg "A" at work with one drive and two
floppy disks), the program itself asks what of the disks must
be inserted in the drive. In the absence of selected files are
copied the file on which the cursor is positioned.
If you suddenly discover that you forgot
before calling filecopy.com open to
Alternative panel destination directory,
- No problem, the program allows to adjust the path to copy
files to special window.
When copying in the left window displays readable in the
current file and the right - the last recorded file.
Filecopy.com program has a number of useful features, which
you can learn from her description, and Now let me just note
that This program is quite "smart" - if
For example, you try to copy
file on disk that already have a file with
that name, the program asked you
whether we should do it.
6 - RENAME
Key 6 is a program to rename files (usually rename.com),
which allows you to change the name of the file or directory,
which currently stands cursor.
Program rename.com addition, you can edit, and other
information contained in the descriptor file or directory, for
example - the date of creation, the availability of write
protection, etc.
Include revision of the information keys SS + SPACE. When
you press this key in place an alternative panel displays a
large window in which lists all available options.
Appearance of the editing window of the
parameters, otherwise known as attributes
file is shown below:
Save
Dec Ovr
Name: UTIL
Cat Contiguous
Visible
Unprotect
Address: 3
Lenght: 1536
Fil_pos: 34
Cat_pos: 34
Byte_21: 45
Word_22: 44
Word_24: 0
Checksum: 0
Word_28: 0
Date: 1-Sep-95
Exit
For more information on the work of
rename.com program and the appointment of the file attributes
can be obtained by consulting the description of the program,
and give us your on the waiting list following a system utility
where you'll also use quite often:
7 - crDIR
As you may have guessed, crDIR
- It is nothing like creating a catalog.
Indeed, in order to create
directory you just press the button
7 and enter the name in the popup window created directory (see
the figure). Catalogue, that you create will be a subdirectory
of the directory where you were when you press the keys 7.
Create
Directory:
WORK
Once the procedure is to create the directory
included in the core IS-DOS, but now for
these goals is the resident program
mkdir.res, and which is called key
7. Naturally, if you are in the process
work removed the program from memory (for
save space in RAM, for instance), cause there will be nothing,
and the system will generate an error: Error 37 - the lack of
resident program. In this case, return
mkdir.res to the place team Q: RES \ set
Q: RES \ mkdir.res or use a similar program from a directory
mkdir.com SHELL \.
8 - DELETE
Key 8 - delete the files. Files
removed by the utility delete.com.
As filecopy.com, it works with the selected file, in the
absence of a mark - removes the current file.
The first line of the menu - the most important.
If you accidentally pressed the 8 - courage to choose it and
your files will remain intact. A similar effect can be achieved
by pressing SS + A. In the last line of the window after the
word is derived Select the number of files to be deleted, and
in the lower window - the name of the former. If you finally
decided to destroy all the selected files - use the option
Delete, as if still in doubt - use the Ask Delete, and the
program before deleting each file will display additional query
"Delete Y / N" and delete it Only in the case of your positive
answer to this question.
Files protected from writing a program does not remove
delete.com (then, they are protected), and displays a message
"Protected file ". Catalogs can also be destroyed,
but under the condition that they contain no
file. Otherwise, you risk getting a message "Catalog not empty".
And in conclusion to remind you that the program
delete.com, as it should, does not erase the disk file, but
simply marks it as deleted. Therefore, most files can be
restored after the removal, such as utility qu.com, but only if
provided that the disk after deleting files has never been
recorded.
Appearance of delete.com
pictured:
Quit
Ask delete
Delete
Select: 7
9 - MENU
Key 9, as well as key 7 causes
resident program (in this case -
gmen.res), which should be installed in the system. If you have
received instead "Error 37" - Set the TSR team Q: RES \ set Q:
RES \ gmen.res, or use the com'ovskim analog.
Gmen program is designed for operational use devices in the
system IS-DOS.
In total, the system IS-DOS, you can use up to 6 logical
devices of may be disk drives, virtual
RAM-disk, hard disk, etc. In this case all
they are, regardless of the hardware implementation,
perceived by the system equally, and the neutralization of the
physical differences between them remain on the conscience of
the drivers. Some of the device you are using but you can give
special powers. A total of IS-DOS, there are three special
devices: SYSTEM - system, QUICK - fast and CURRENT - current.
When specifying paths to files on the command line, they are
denoted by the letters S, Q, and T. Thus, we achieve a certain
flexibility in specifying file paths.
Let me explain with an example. Assume that you have
two drives, and your buddy - three
(Believe me, it happens). If he would write a batch file like
this:
A: UTIL \ copy B: SHELL \ *. com C: SHELL
then you do not fit in any case -
because you do not drive C. If your
A friend will appoint a drive as fast,
B - as a system, and C - as the current one, then
can write the above command as follows:
Q: UTIL \ copy S: SHELL \ *. com T: SHELL
that will allow you to use and this batch file, you just have
to be designate one drive as fast and
system simultaneously, and the second drive - like the current
one.
In addition, these three devices have
special mission: When you run any file unless you specify a
path system looking for his first on a quick drive, and if it
is not, then on the system. This allows, for example, to copy
the most frequently requested files on a RAM-disk, wherein, as
is well known, high-speed access, declaring it a "fast" and all
seldom-used tool to keep on
diskette drive, declaring "the system".
This is especially true for the Spectrum 128
Electronic drive only 80K. Many
program in IS-DOS, themselves loaded with fast or system disk
working files created by the current that
allows in particular to keep working
files separately from programs on other disks.
So, by pressing 9 you can
declare the system, quick, or the current
any of your existing devices with one device could easily
combine two or all three, that's as You will.
Exterior utility gmen shown on
Figure:
System B
Quick A
Current A
Exit
Finally, the last one:
0 - MASK
Key 0 causes the utility mask.com,
with a mandate to monitor the
The output format in the file panels (see illustration).
Panel state:
*.*
LENGHT
Pattern
With this tool, you can specify
mask for any of the file panels that
lets you display only files that match a certain pattern, except
addition, it allows you to select the information
displayed in the file panel
the right of the filename extension. By
default length of the file is always displayed in the blocks, I
remind that the block size in IS-DOS is 256 bytes. If you press
ENTER on the line, LENGTH, the situation will change and in the
right pane will display the so-called. file attributes - the
symbol "p" If the file is write-protected and the symbol "c"
If the file is continuous. In the menu at the same time on
place the inscription appears LENGTH
STATUS. Pressing ENTER will restore output mode file length in
blocks.
In the top menu bar, you can set
sample-mask, according to which the shell will display the
contents of directories. The mask is specified as the file name
and extension, and can be used Sc. implicit names. For this
purpose there are special notations:
* - Any number of characters in the name and / or expansion
? - Any single character in a name and / or expansion
In this case, any possible combination,
For example:
*.* - Show all files (default)
*. Com - to show all the com-files
a *. txt - all text files with names which
ryh begin with "A"
?? Ed *. a? M - show the files names to
toryh second and third symbols
ly "ed", but rather to increase per
vy - "a", and the third - "m"
copy.com - show only a file named
copy and extension com
copy *.* - show all files whose names
ryh begin with a copy
Experiment yourself with
this option and you will understand everything.
The bottom line of the menu lets you select
operation with the mask with respect to the directories. There
are two options: skip all subdirectories, regardless of masks
and mask assigned only to files (mode Patern + CAT), or show
only subdirectories that match the mask with all the files that
are suitable for the same mask (Pattern), which allows you to
organize Search and display the mask subdirectories.
However, it should be recalled that the names of
subdirectories are composed of capital letters, and
names of files - usually lowercase, so in Pattern mode with a
mask for the subdirectory you would probably see some Only
directories with no files. So, or search the directory or file
search - one of two things.
So now we are with you briefly familiarized with the basic
system utilities, whose names are handed down in the upper row
of the main screen of the file shell IS-DOS. However, this does
not mean that service capabilities of the system is limited to
those ten teams. Number of system utilities and external teams
IS-DOS is extremely large, and many of They are very important
for the user.
Unfortunately, the scope of this article do not
allow us to consider them all, however,
subsequent articles in our magazine, we
will definitely return to this issue and
detailed look at the major command,
which give the IS-DOS environment, that comfort and
convenience, for which you have it love so much.
To be continued ...
In the next issue of our magazine
will be discussed on the main control keys shell IS-DOS.
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