The authors are grateful to all, that supported in creation of Navigator, assisted by councils and ideas, as well as all them, who did not interfere.
Main menu
- From this menu it is possible to call different
additional functions, and to view information about
Navigator's version.
File - Menu with operations on files.
Disk - Here you find different utilities to work with
disks and restoration of files.
Utilities - Menu to call main Navigator windows.
Panel - Menu with file panels options.
Options - Installation of colors,
user menu definition, start on extension, external
viewers and editors.
Manager - Special commands for file manager.
Window - Working with windows.
Menu
About... - Information about the current version of DN: the name of the program, the version-number, date of creation of current version, information about current user (who registered this version). M
Refresh
display - Redraw all windows in Navigator, if screen was messed up. c
Screen
rest - "Rest" of screen. Blank the screen, if image on it does not change for a long time. n
tools
on/off - Switch on or off additional utilities (List and Trash ), used in combination with mouse. 3
Clear
desktop - Closes all windows on the screen. @
screen - Show user screen ( i.e. working screen of DOS ). =
Output
window - Same as User
screen but in separate window.
EGA/VGA
lines - Switch video mode to 43/50 lines on screen (This function is available only on EGA/VGA and compatible adapters). K
Custom
video
1/2 - Switch to custom
video
mode, set in Configuration +
Game - Play rest game (Tetris or Pentix).
Menu File
From this menu you can access the available operations you can perform on files and directories. 1
View - View a file. Submenu indicates its type:
As
is - According to extension
As
Text - View as text
As
Hex - View in hexadecimal format
As
DataBase - View as database
As
Spreadsheet - View as a spreadsheet
Edit - Edit the file using the external or internal editor.
Find - Search for a file. D
file - Create and edit a new file in the internal editor. ;
Alternate
edit - Edit the file using the external editor. C
Alternate
view - View the file using the external viewing window. -
Copy... - Copy current or selected file(s). ,
Print... - Print a file in the Background. b
Split/Combine
file - Split file to multiple volumes or combine several volumes back to one file. I
Rename/Move - Rename/Move the file/directory to another disk/directory. *
directory - Create a new directory. !
Delete - Delete file/directory.
Exit - Exit from Navigator.
Menu Disk
This menu offers you various functions for working with disks. i
Format
disk - Format a diskette in the background (Available only if you are working in Dos Navigator). *
Volume
label - Set volume label of disk. 3
Reanimator - Restore (undelete) an erased file. [
editor - Editing data on disk directly. ==> (WARNING!! Improper using the diskeditor 4
can seriously damage your data!) <==
Directory
Tree - Show directory tree in a window
Menu Utilities
Memory
Information - Information about programs, system drivers and buffers in memory. Also shows hooked interrupt vectors. S
System
Information - Information about the machine, on which Navigator is running
Calculator - Use calculator. M
ASCII
Table - Show ASCII table, emulate key-press if character is choossen.
Phone
Book - Telephone book ,
spreadsheet - Create a new spreadsheet 1
spreadsheet - Open an existing spreadsheet "
Terminal - Call terminal window. .
Undial - Cancel dialing of telephone number. J
Disconnect - Modem goes on hook and cancels dialing of telephone number. k
Menu - Show user menu, if there is no local menu present in the current directory, show global menu. K
History
List - Show History window: list of previously used DOS commands.
Menu Panel
file - Create a list of the marked filenames. 0
Compare
directories - Compare two directories. F
attributes - Set or reset attributes of highlighted file(s) 6
Count
directory
length - Calculate size of directory c
Setup
columns - Select what you want to be shown in a file-panel (size, date, time, description). %
Setup
panel - Select panel options. #
by - Choose file Sort order. '
Select
group - Mark a group of files. 5
Unselect
group - Remove marks for a group of files. .
Invert
selection - Invert current selection. 4
Change
drive - Change the drive for current panel. *
Change
directory - Change the directory. (
Re-read - Re-read directory from disk.
Menu Options
Defaults - Select the Navigator startup settings. Contains the submenu:
Configuration - Configuration of DOS Navigator options.
Communications - Settings for using a modem.
File
Panel - Select default file-panel options.
Editor/Viewer - Configure the internal viewer and
editor.
Current
archive - Installation of default archiever.
Highlight
groups - Define up to 5 different groups of files.
Every group will be shown in it's own color.
Extension
edit - editing of file for completion which-or actions on extensions of files. 5
Global
definition - Edit the global user menu. 1
Local
definition - Edit a local user menu. 2
Viewers - Edit file with Viewers and extensions. 2
Editors - Edit file with Editors and extensions. 0
desktop - Write DN configuration to file. 1
desktop - Read DN configuration from file. &
Colors
- Set-up window colors. 8
palette - Write current DN color palette to file. 1
palette - Read DN color palette from file.
Navigator windows
Working
multiwindow
File
Manager
Viewing
binary
files
Text
editor
Disk
editor
Directory
tree
SpreadSheet
Calculator
Terminal
Files
reanimator
Telephone
book
File Manager
The File Manager is the main Navigator window for working with files. With its help the majority of the file-operations can be performed in Navigator. The File Manager window is created by choosing Manager|New from the menubar. After this, Navigator asks you the drive-letter, with which you want to work, and after you have choosen one, you will see the window with two file panels. You can set file-panel options by selecting them from the Manager menu. 3
The various items of the File-Manager window are:
- File
panel - Main panel of the File-Manager
- Directory
- Information
panel
- Quick
panel
- Temp
It looks like this:
E:\
ARC
EXE
[+] BBS
BBS
FOXPRO2
[+] TP
BP
HELP
[+] BP
BPRTL
LEX
LEX
COM
NC
[+] ARC
dnhlp.txt 14,83
files
77,43
No files selected
The right panel
The left panel
Panels divider, that can be "dragged" to the left and right
by using a mouse. This way, you can change the size of the
panels. You can also use the keys Alt -
and Alt -
See also
"File
Manager
Commands"
File Manager Commands
These commands are accessible from the Manager menu. They can be used to configure the Manager window to the users needs. "
New - Opens a new Manager window
Directory
tree - If there is no active directory
tree, it pops up in the inactive panel, and in case of its presence - the tree is removed from the window. P
Info - The same applies to the Info screen. It shows some info about the disk. V
Quick
view - The same for the Quick View panel. It lets you view a highlighted file. ,
panels - Swap location of the panels. 8
Show/hide
panel - Shows/Hides left Manager panel. :
Show/hide
right
panel - Shows/Hides right Manager panel.
Change
drive
left - Change disk of left panel without activating it. If the panel was not visible, it becomes visible after choosing a disk. 4
Change
drive
right - The same for the right panel.
Work with windows
Navigator is a multiwindow environment, therefore many users may have some difficulties in working with Navigator. The other users can simply ignore multiwindow property of Navigator, thus losing the set of convenient opportunities and time. Besides the fact that this multi-window system is easy ans pleasant, all windows have the same 'appearance' ("Types
windows", so you can learn to work with Navigator quickly. You can switch between windows with a mouse or throug the command Window|Next The window is closed by the command Window|Close. With help of Window|Zoom it is possible to maximize the window to the whole screen, as well as to return it in previous size. D
A list of currently opened windows, is available with Window|List.
The size and location of a window can be changed with help of a mouse, or through the command Window|Size/Move. And, if this command is chosen, moving the window is possible with the arrows
, while changing of its size can be done with the same arrows, together with <Shift>. q
The user can rearrange the windows on the screen by chosing "cascade" (Window|Cascade) or "tile" (Window|Tile).
Types of windows
Click here with mouse to close the window
Click here to zoom the window to fit
the whole screen
Name of window
If you click and drag on top of the
framework, you can change the position
of the window
Edit - A:\DN\DNHLP.TXT 1
Scrolling
35:12 [172]
Dragging this corner will change
the size of the window
Working with files
Navigator offers the following possible operations for working with files and directories: z
- copying/moving
- Merge
files
- Split
large
files
multiple
volumes
- Erasing
files
directories
- View the contents a file:
- Archives
- Databases
- Binary
- Text
- Edit
- Create a file or directory
- Search
files using wildcards and contents
- Copy files to the
temporary
- Copy files to an archive panel
Erasing of files
Navigator allows you to delete the files and directories, which are not empty. This is possible with the command File|Delete. If you have enabled direct disk access in the configuration, erasing, is considerably faster!. On network disks, however, it is not supported. ]
When trying to erase a directory that's no empty Navigator gives out tho following message:
Confirm
Directory C:\QQP
Is not empty.
Do you wish delete it?
Cancel
If you simply "automatically" press ENTER, nothing will take place.
In case you are erasing several not empty directories and You are sure, that want to erase them, you can press "All", and the confirmation will not be repeated.
Split file to multiple volumes
Navigator can split very large files to several parts a-la DOS Backup. The main difference between backup and DN-split is that DN does not erase the contents of the disk, but it only uses free diskspace. To split or Combine a file choose the command File|Split/Combine.
After splitting a file, DN has created some files with extensions ".d??", where ?? represents the number of the disk. When combining these files, Navigator distinguishes created files-fragments on extensions and internal format. k
WARNING: Files, splitted on multiple volumes with Navigator can
only be restored by Navigator!
See also "Split
dialogue"
"Splitting
process"
Splitting process
Splitting and Combining files with Navigator looks like this:
Split File
C:\DN.PRG
To
A:\DN\DN.d01
Read:
Write:
If this button is depressed, the process
is interrupted.
When splitting files, and the disk is full, Navigator shows the message: 5
Confirm
Insert disk number 02
Cancel
If you have inserted a disk, on which a part of file to be splitted is already present, you see the message:
Query
File already exists:
DN.D02
Overwrite it?
Cancel
If you choose the button "Yes", this part will be overwritten, and the current part of the file will be written to this disk.
Split-file dialogue
The Split/Combine dialogue has the form:
Split file
Split file dn.prg to
Cancel
here the name of the file or directory appears,
where the result of the work should go.
If you press this button, you can choose the
destination from a Tree.
Copying/moving of files
Navigator allows to copy both files as directories with its contents. This can be done with the command File|Copy, when you are in one of the file-panels in the file manager, or file-search panel, or the temporary disk.
Moving of files and directories is done by the command File|Rename/Move. It is executed within the limits of one disk, as from disk on disk. ;
When copying, Navigator can use available EMS/XMS memory.
See also "Copying
dialogue"
Copying dialogue
The copy-dialogue will look like this:
Copy
Copy file dnhlp.txt to
( ) Overwrite all existing files
( ) Append to all existing files
) Ask for overwrite
( ) Skip all existing files
( ) Refresh old files
[ ] Check free disk space
[ ] Verify disk writes
Cancel
Line with filemask, to which the given file(s)
will be copied. Wildcards are allowed.
The possible options for copying:
"Overwrite all existing files" - overwrite
allready existing files without requests,
speeds up the copying process, as does not
check the existence of a created file.
"Append to all existing files" - adding the
contents of a copied file to an already
existing file without request. If a group
of files is copied, it is necessary to take
care about that, so the files are in the
right order.
"Ask for overwrite" - Navigator will ask you
if you want to overwrite an already existing
file with the file to be copied.
(on by default)
If you enable this option, Navigator will
check the available free space, before
writing the file to disk.
Append files
Mergeing files is realised by copying two or more files to one file. This can be done by choosing the
opy command, and when the copy dialogue appears, you enable the option "Append to all existing files", or, when Navigator asks you if it should overwrite an existing file, you choose the button "Append". (This question will be repeated every time an existing file will be overwritten, if a group of files is copied.)
See also "Copying
files"
Text editor
Navigator's internal text-editor is intended for already existing files, and for creating new text-files. The commands used by the internal editor, are a little different from Word Star's commands. The main difference consists in working with blocks of text- it is like the editors from Microsoft Corporation(R), where it is executed through the Clipboard.
In Navigator, more than one editor window can be opened at a time. You can use as many windows as you want, as long as they all fit in your computer's memory. To exchange data between them, the same Clipboard used. 7
See also "Editor
commands"
"Editor
window"
Editor window
The editor window looks like this:
Edit - E:\TP\DNHLP\A
Search
Paragraph
Options
operation
with blocks
installation
and
of editor
paragraphs
options
search operations
Text block operations
File operations
12:2 [174]
Block Type: Horizontal
or Vertical
Decimal ASCII code of the,
symbol which the cursor is on
Number of current column
Number of current line
See also:"Types
windows"
Editor commands
Work
blocks
Moving
text
Inserting
deleting
Other
additional
commands
Working with blocks
To mark a block of text, you can use the standard cursor keys, together with the <Shift> key. With the mouse you can select text by moving the mouse cursor while pressing the left mouse-button.
Action Key
Mark the beginning of a block
Ctrl+K B
Mark the end of a block
Ctrl+K K
Copy the block to Clipboard
Ctrl+Ins
Move the block to Clipboard
Shift+Del
Insert the copied block
Shift+Ins
Delete the block
Ctrl+Del
Read the block from file
Ctrl+K R
Write the block to a file
Ctrl+K W
Move the block left to right
Ctrl+K I
Move the block to the left
Ctrl+K U
Switch block-type (Vert./Hor.)
Ctrl+B V
Align the block on end
Ctrl+B J
Align the block on right end
Ctrl+B R
Align the block on left end
Ctrl+B L
Center the block
Ctrl+B C
Moving on text
What move? Key
One character to the left
Ctrl + S or
One character to right
Ctrl + D or
One word to the left
Ctrl + A or Ctrl +
One word to the right
Ctrl + F or Ctrl +
One line upwards
Ctrl + E or
One line downwards
Ctrl + X or
Scroll upwards
Ctrl + W
Scroll downwards
Ctrl +
One page upwards
Ctrl + R or PgUp
One page downwards
Ctrl + C or PgDn
Insertion and deleting
Toggle Insert/Overwrite
Mode
Ctrl+V or Ins
Delete the current line
Ctrl+Y
Delete from the cursor-
position to end of line
Ctrl+Q Y
Delete character at the
left
Ctrl+H or Backspace
Delete character at the
right
Ctrl+G or Del
Delete word after cursor
Ctrl+T
Delete word before cursor
Ctrl+Backspace
Editor commands
A small, but in the authors opinion pleasant feature to work with, is something in the internal editor: If you press the right mousebutton, a line with numbers appears, that moves together with the mousecursor within the borders of the window. 3
Another feature of the editor is multilevel undo. g
Call menu
Save text being editted
Ctrl+K S or F2
Read a file from disk
Close the editor Window
Alt+F3
Insert a TAB
Ctrl+I or Tab
Undo
Alt+Backspace
Place a postion marker in
the text
Ctrl+K n (n=0..9)
Return to a marker
Ctrl+Q n (n=0..9)
Insert any symbol in the text
ASCII Table
Ctrl+P
Insert Current Date
Ctrl+Q D
Insert Current Time
Ctrl+Q T
Uppercase Current Word
Ctrl+[
Lowercase Current Word
Ctrl+]
Captialize Current Word
Ctrl+\
Search for a string
Ctrl+Q F
Search and replace
Ctrl+Q A
Repeat the last search
Ctrl+L
Cancel operation
Working with disks
Navigator performs the following operations with disks: n
- Format
diskette
- Install
volume
label
- Restore
erased
- Editing
direct
access
All these operations (except for formatting) are available ONLY if the option "Direct
access" in the configuration dialogue is enabled!
File panel
File panel - The main panel of the file manager. It gives the user the opportunity to work with files and directories, and to perform operations on groups of files and/or directories. The user can change the parameters for each panel, after calling the command Panel|Setup Panel, with ALT-S. >
To mark (or un-mark) files for group operations use the Insert-key, or, for marking files using a mask, the command Panel|Select Group (for removing a mark - Panel|Unselect Group) is used. If you want, that the marked files become not marked and the unmarked become marked, choose the command Panel|Invert Selection. 5
Note: marking of directories must be done manually. b
With the help of Panel|Make list file it is possible to create a list of currently marked files. t
See also "Types
panel"
"Installation
panel
parameters"
"File
panel
keys"
File panel Hot keys
Selection
Toggle file selection .................... Ins
Select/unselect a group of files with Ctrl+Gray Plus
highlight type same as current file type...(Minus for unselect)
Select/unselect a group of files with Ctrl+Shift+Gray Plus
extention same as current file extention..(Minus for unselect)
Copy selected file names to Clipboard ..... Ctrl-Ins
The file panel of the file manager appears on your screen like this: m
E:\TP\DNHLP
..
a
dn hlp
files,
which
can
appear
this
a
1,059
23-05-93
21:48
dn hlp
27,724
23-05-93
21:22
dnhlp hlp
21,870
22-05-93
14:15
dn old
7,507
22-05-93
13:09
.. < UP - DIR > 7-04-93 13:50
No files selected
Total:8 files with 88,508 bytes
16,748,544 free bytes on drive E:
The amount of free space on disk
Information about all files on panel
(their used space and common length)
The same information about marked files
The information about the currently
highlighted file
Info Divider
All the elements which are part of the file panel can be included or excluded by switching on or of the apropriate toggle in the menu-option Options|Defaults|File Panel.
Installation of file panel parameters
by - Type of sorting. The files can be sorted by name, extension, size, creation date (time) or just left unsorted. The last means, that the files will be shown in the same order, as they are showed by the DOS command "DIR". (Provided you did not use the /O switch!) .
Show - What should be visible on the screen? t
Directory length - Show the total count of all files in a
subdirectory, including all underlying directories.
Info divider - Show a divider (a line) between the list of files and
the information part. You can also select a different color to divide
the files from the information part.
Current file - Show the information about the currently selected file.
Selected files - Show the information about the selected files.
Totals - Show the information about all files, which are visible
on the file panel.
Free space - Show the amount of available free space on the current
disk. This way you will not need the information screen (Ctrl-L).
Auto change directory - Automatically change subdirectories when
"walking" through a directory tree.
Standard drag-and-drop - Interface with mouse.
Put executable first - Show the executable files
(BAT, COM, EXE, BTM) at the beginning of the filelist,
independent from the selected sorting order.
Put archives first - Show the archived files
(ZIP, ARJ, ZOO, etc.) at the beginning of the filelist,
independent from the selected sorting order.
Files high
ght - "Illumination" of files of various
types by different colors. It is possible to define
five groups of user files.
File
mask - Filter for filenames. Every single filesmask,
is separated from the next one with a semi-colon (";").
The files that will fit on one of these masks are shown in the
file panel. All others are invisible.
User menu
Navigator allows the user to create a menu for calling external programs and DOS-commands. It is stored in the file DN.MNU. When you call the command Utilities|User menu, Navigator checks for this file in the current directory, and, if it finds the file, it starts a menu from the directory, which has the Navigator files.
Creation and editing global (i.e. accessible from any directory) user menu is done with help of the command Options|Global menu definition. The local menu for each directory can be editted, by choosing Options|Local menu definition.
When the user chooses any menu command, then, if it was not the header of the following menu level, Navigator creates a temporary .BAT file with two parameters: First the name of the file on which the cursor was on, and second the name of a file-list of files marked in this panel.
Hints:
If User menu not found in current directory, DN will
find out User menu in upper directories.
It is possible to switch between Local/Global User Menu
while User Menu is executed.
It is possible to start edit User Menu after call to it.
See also "Format
file"
Format of the user menu file
The user menu in Navigator has a very simple structure. Each item of this menu begins with the symbol '>', after which the level of this item in hierarchy of menu follows.
Followed by a blank and the name of this item. In the name, it is possible to enclose a character in '~', after pressing which, it is possible to cause this user command without using the arrows. The following lines contain the list of commands.
Here, "%1" is the name of a file-list of files marked in active file panel (use "%2" to get file-list from passive file panel). The next menu item begins with the symbol '>'.
Other
macroses
are:
! - Name of file in active file panel
$ - Name of file in passive file panel
.! - Extention of file in active File Panel
.$ - Extention of file in passive File Panel
!\ - Directory of file in active File Panel
$\ - Directory of file in passive File Panel
!/ - Directory of file in active File Panel (without backslash)
$/ - Directory of file in passive File Panel (without backslash)
!: - Drive of file in active File Panel
$: - Drive of file in passive File Panel
Hints:
Empty line after Menu Item header means Menu
separator in Menu box.
It is possible to set title of input box by string
which have '<' at start, and to set default text in
input box - use '<=' for it.
For creating the next menu level it is necessary to increase the number of the level of this item with 1 in comparison with the previous and all menu elements of this level. )
Here is an example of a user menu-file: X
>1 Microsoft ~W~indows
echo We go in Microsoft Windows now...
Win
>1 ~A~idstest
>2 ~T~est all files in all disks
Aidstest * / f / g / s / q
>2 Test ~a~ll disks
Aidstest * / f
>2 Test ~c~urrent directory
Aidstest. / f
>1 Pack files by Pk~Z~ip
< Input name of archiver
<=dnpack
pkzip -ex %3 @%1
Start of files on extensions
When the user is in the file panel, it would be handy if DN would start a certain program depending on the extension of the current file. DN makes it possible! And not only it is possible to start one command, but a complete list of commands! Or to call a menu for choosing se
ral options. This can be done with the Extension file. This file has describes how to work with particular filetypes, determined by the extension. To start a certain command, you just move the cursor to the file you want, and press one of the following combinations: $
Enter, Shift-Enter or Alt-Enter.
When you press the last combination, the menu will appear.
To describe the commands for each extension, you choose the Options|Extension file edit menu option. The format of an entry in this file is like this:
??? <the opening symbol>...
DOS command or
menu
description (for Alt-Enter)
... <the closing symbol>
Here ??? is a particular extension, opening and closing symbols should correspond to one of the following combinations: \
Enter - '/' and '/',
Shift-Enter - '(' and ')' and
Alt-Enter - '[' and ']'
If you want to use the filename in your command, insert a '!', name with extension - '!.!', directory of file - '!\'. To indicate the symbol '!', use '!!'. '
A fragment of the file of extensions: %
Asm{ @echo off
echo $[1;36;40m
[1;36;44m
Echo
echo
Assembling and linking COM file ...
echo
echo $[1;37;40m
tasm!
tlink /t/x !.obj
echo $[1;36;40m}
asm( @echo off
echo $[1;36;40m
[1;36;44m
echo
echo
Assembling and linking EXE file...
echo
echo $[1;37;40m
tasm!
tlink /x !.obj
echo $[1;36;40m)
asm[
>1 ~A~ssemble only
tasm!
>1 Assemble & link ~C~OM file
tasm !
tlink /t/x !.obj
>1 Assemble & link E~X~E file
tasm !
tlink /x !.obj
General information about interface
When Navigator was run, on screen is possible to observe following image, which represents the working environment of Navigator:
This
-main
Navigator
menu,
said,
which-for
action
necessary
caused
command
String1|String2,
often
whole
String1
means
submenu
local
windows
String2
submenu.
command
caused
depression
combination
keys,
which
mentioned
opposite
String2.
Utilities
Panel
Options
Manager
Window
22:29:19
E:\TP\DNHLP
C:\DN>arj f dn
..
ARJ 2.30 Copyright (c) 1990-
dn hlp
E:\TP\DNHLP\m
dn txt
2.6 Start DN
manual dn
manual txt
For start DN you have only
are located its working fi
Whereas DN is a shell prog
program of such type
C:\DN
1
manual.dn 31,019 18-05-93 14:26
2
No files selected
E:\TP
3
4
5
between
command
E:\TP
6
refers
7
working
table
(Desktop).
working
table
Navigator
windows
E:\TP\DNHLP>snip:0}
Snipper 1.0 ( c ) 1987 Ziff Communications co.
E:\TP\DNHLP >dir <
command
B Sort
C Drive
S Setup
L List
V Temp
R Re-read
Y Memory Info
X Quit
Navigator
status.
showed
accessible
at
present
command
those
keys.
status
line
contain
commands
reacts
depression
<Shift>,
<Ctrl>,
<Alt>.
The DN windows is the working areas of program, in which it removes the necessary information, and, in majority of cases, permits clearly to process. Under presentation is understood the convenient format of representation of current information, as well as operative change of contents of windows in case of changes of information as a result of completion of commands, given by user.
All sets (enough large) of DN windows is possible to separate on two large groups: the working and dialogue windows. The main distinction between them consists that working windows the some can be openly, and at work with DN the transition from one working window in other is possible, while the dialogue window in any moment of time can be on screen only one, and, while it will not be closed by theme or other ways, work with other windows is impossible. <
The dialogue windows are intended first of all for installation of this or that parameters DN, parameters and start of separate tasks, entering in DN structures, such, as the formatting of flexible disks or restoration of erased files, as well as at task, for example, required line at editing or viewing of files.
By examples working (not dialogue!) windows the windows of file manager, WINDOW of viewing of files can serve in the first place.
See also:"Types
windows"
Directory tree
The panel (or window) of directory tree permits to user proceed in (or to indicate for copying) any directories. For moving on tree the cursor arrows are used, and [ENTER] - confirms chosen directory. =
The panel (or window) of directory tree appears as follows:
Current
Directory Tree
C:\
[+] DOS
Directory
enclosed
subdirectories
[+] TOOLS (is
opened
blank)
[+] !GAMES
[-] DN
Opened
DOWNLOAD subdirectory
VIEWERS
WORK
Directory
without
enclosed
ROMANA.3 subdirectories
C:\DN\DOWNLOAD
14 files with 153,432 bytes
Current
directory Information
To open all directories - gray
To close all directories - gray
See also:"Types
windows"
Reanimation of erased files
Reanimator allows you to restore erased files or directories. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to restore an erased file, since the information on disk can be overwritten with other data. The reanimator window appears as follows:
NB: reanimator works only when Chance
recover
Direct
access is turned on to
original
state
When
restoring,
possible
files
average
50/50
first
letter
information
impossible
Reanimator
Name
Size Attr Date Time Cluster Prognosis
?age dat
89,352 -a-- 8-10-93 9:05 19,640 average
?fds bat 187,792 -a-- 8-10-93 9:07 19,684 poor
?om-book arj 1,328,816 -a-- 8-10-93 9:43 16,540 average
?ook arj 1,333,339 -a-- 8-10-93 9:32 15,869 poor
?pnet exe 61,334 -a-- 12-09-93 17:06 16,385 good
Drive...
View...
Reanimate
Cancel
Help
Change
Restore
contents
Cancel
action
See also:"Types
windows"
Formatting of disks
DOS Navigator allows the formatting of any diskette in background mode, on any ( including non-standard ) format. The window of formatting appears as follows:
Disk
volume
label
Arrangement
sectors
Format
diskette
) Drive A Volume label Interleave
( ) Drive B 1
) Full format Size Tracks Sec/Trk
( ) Quick format 360
76
08
400
77
09
[ ] System disk 720
78
10
[X] Detect drive 800
79
11
[ ] Unconditional 1200
80
15
Ok
Cancel
System
Volume
label
Cancel
option
Check
formatted
diskette
quick
format
Begin
format
process
total
format
these
options
Once formatting has started, it is possible to switch to an other window to perform other work while in the background, formatting of the disk will take place.
See also:"Types
windows" $
Volume Label
DOS Navigator allows you to edit the volume label of a disk. The window for changing the volume label is easy to use: T
] Set Volume Label
Label
Write
label
MS-DOS_5
Cancel
Cancel
action
Desired
volume
label
NB: Editing a volume label is only possible if the option Direct
access is turned on!
Disk Editor
With the Disk Editor you can edit the structure of a disk directly. NB: The disk editor is only active if the option Direct
access is turned on!
!!! WARNING !!!
If you don't know anything about the structure of a disk, you should
be VERY carefull with the disk editor!
With the disk editor you can severely damage your data, or even make
a complete disk in-accessable!
You can work with the following logical disk structures (in menuArea): o
File- Files
Directory- Directory
Drive- Changedisk
Cluster- Clusters
Sector- Sectors
In menu View it is possible to choose the desired displayform and editform: u
As
Hex- hexadecimal dump
As
Dir- directories
As
Text- text format
As
FAT- file allocation table
It is possible to perform the following editing operations (in menu Edit): 7
Undo
- undo last operation(s)
Copy
- copy
Paste
- replace with contents of clipboard
Copy
- copy to
Fill
- fill are with specific string
Search
- search for a specific string
Continue
search
- continue searching
Configuration DOS Navigator
The DOS Navigator configuration window permits to set up on user wants. It contains the following items:
Autosave
desktop - Autosave current configuration of panels. At inclusion of computer the panel will have the kind at its switching-off. ]
Internal
editor - If installed - to use at F4 internal editor and at Alt-F4 - external one. 9
Internal
viewer - the same for viewer on F3 and Alt-F3.
Direct
access - to approach disk through Int13. Faster, is possible the
restoration
files etc.,but can be the conflicts with Net-, RAM, SUBST etc. disks. M
menu - Automatic occurrence User
Menu at start DOS Navigator. H
Reverse
mouse
buttons - shift right/left button of mouse by locations. 5
Store
directory
trees - to save the
directory
tree. :
Timer - Availability of watch in right corner of screen. >
confirmation - Confirmation of exit from DOS Navigator. /
history - not to store the history list. U
<Alt-Tab>
window
switching - Switching between windows on Alt-Tab, o
erwise on F9. D
Disable
blink - to switch off the blinking attribute of text. A
hidden
files - to show the files with attributes "hidden".
"Fast"
command
execute - not to load second copy of COMMAND.COM for completion of programs. Faster, but is present the conflicts if DOS Navigator was run from BAT-file and for it start of some files is present yet. K
Screen
rest - Interval unusing of keyboard for "switching-off" of screen. 5
Screen
saver - Method of "switching-off" of screen. .
Video
1/2 - Number of regim for menu
dir - Directory for saving of current significances.
Communication
The window of configuration of modem permits to indicate the parameters of modem used in systems, as well as parameters and communication options. It contains the following fields: :
Port - Consecutive port to which is connected the modem. 7
Baud - Maximal speed of transmission of given modems. F
Escape
code - Code of transfer in command regime (usually {+++~~:0})
Onhook - Hook (ATH0
|). G
Return
on-line - Return in regime of transmission/reception (~ATO1|). '
Offhook - to raise receptor (~ATH1|). "
Delay - Pause of set on seconds. ,
Force
answer - To force the answer (ATA|). /
prefix - Prefix of set of number (ATDP). ,
suffix - Suffix of set of number (|). ?
string - Line of initialization (as requested of modem). !
Down - to be disconnect (ATH|). <
Reset - Initialization of parameters to on-default (ATZ|). -
Redial - Pase of re-set of number (30 sec). -
Download
path - way for reception of files. 9
In fields of configuration are used following symbols: ,
~ - Pause 2 sec.
| - Transfer of line.
Work with archives
In environment of DOS Navigator the work with archives happens nearly as with usual directories. The "entrance" in archive is proceeded on key F3. Then on screen the panel with name of disk will:
ARC:archive_name
And total structure of archive as at usual directory. With files and directories of archive is possible to be made operations that and with usual files in usual panel - F3 - viewing, F5 - copying, F8 - erasing. The exit from archive is proceeded as well as exit from subdirectory - depression on "..".
When copying/moving from usual panel to indicate as disk the type of archive and its name, allocated files will be archived, for example: 4
Copy 10 selected files to:
ARJ:archive
Are possible descriptors:ARC, ARJ, BSA, BS2, CHZ, HA, HAP, HYP, HPK, LHA, LIM, RAR, SQZ, TAR, UC2, ZIP, ZOO)
SpreadSheet
In each field of spreadsheet is possible to be recorded the numerical significance, text, or formula. The kind of field is determined automatically on contents: r
Ariphmetic sign - The numerical field begins on
"=" - Formula
Other - The text
The function evaluation is possible:SUM, MUL, IF, sin, cos, tg, ctg, arctg, sqr, sqrt, ln, lg, sign. .
The possible operations are defined in menu:
Menu File
New - Create a new table
Open - Open an existing table
Save - Save the current table
Save as - Save current table under another name
Save text - Export to text file
Exit - Exit from the spreadsheet editor
Menu Edit
Undo - Undo of operations
Cut - To move the block in Clipboard
Copy - To copy the block in Clipboard
Paste - To copy the block from Clipboard
Clear - To exclude the block
Menu Search
Find - Find field on significance
Replace - Find and replace
Search again - To continue the search/replacement
Go to cell number - proceed on mentioned f
Go to last error - proceed on field with error
Menu Table
Cell format - Change format of a field
Column width - Change width of column
Insert row - Insert a row
Insert column - Insert a column
Delete row - Remove a row
Delete column - Remove a column
Calculator
Navigator's Calculator is a powerful tool for businessmans and prorammers. You can type any ariphmetical expression "as is" and get results while you are typing it in the result pane. $
Calculator window looks like this:
Calculator
Expression
123+234+0x2EF+0324+01010b+sin(1e-1)
Copy as
) DEC
1108.0998334
( ) HEX
The
result 454
>( ) BIN
pane 10001010100
( ) OCT
2124
( ) EXP
1.1080998334E+03
Evaluate
Close
It is possible to copy into Navigator's text Clipbopard
result of evaluation in Decimal, Hexadecimal, Binary,
Octal and Exponential format. Use "Copy" key to do it.
Also you can use Ctrl-Ins key to put selected fragment in Clipboard and Shift-Ins to get string in Clipboard to place it in the Expression box. V
Use Evaluate button (or Enter key) to put result (in Decimal) in the Expression box.
For hexadecimals, octals, and binaries you can use all possible combinations which existing in different programming languages e.g. 0x23AF=$23AF=23AFh, 01234=1234o, 0b100101=100101b |
Also you can input formulas with functions listed below: IF, sin, cos, tg, ctg, arctg, sqr, sqrt, ln, lg, sign, rad, grad.
Temp and Find Drive
What is the Temp Drive? It is possible to be thought the nonexistent disk on which is possible to copy information from different directories, from different disks - but information is not copied physically, and it is only marked on Temp Drive. After that with these files is possible any operation (F3, F4, F5, F6, F8).
Find Drive is like Temp Drive but it places the files found on Find File (Alt-F7). While the search of files happens, with already found and placed in Find Drive it is already possible to work, and this list is filled up in accordance with finding of files.
Terminal
The terminal supports emulation of the ANSI and AVATAR standards. g
Supported file transfer protocols are: XModem, YModem, ZModem, Kermit - They work in background mode. (
The terminal works in background mode. J
The use is
possible
using
telephone
and auto re-dial (from it). 0
The following operations on keys are possible:
F2 - The record in file
F3 - The definition LOG-file
Alt-V - Toggle local echo on or off
Alt-R - Receive a file
Alt-S - Send a file
Configuration see Communication
Installation of achiever
The window of installations of achiever contains the following fields:
Packer - total name with extention of file of achiever
Unpacker - total name with extension of file of unpacker
Extract - parameters of unpacker
Move - archieving with moving of files
Delete - erasing of files from archives
Extract
pathnames - unpacking with pathnames
List
char - symbol of list of files
Extract
path - unpacking method
Swap
execute - to give all memory
Test - parameters of testing of archive
Password - parameters for definitions of password
Telephone book
The telephone book window contains the sorted out list of users and their telephone numbers. The bottom part shows the comments on each user. 7
The following operations (with buttons) are possible:
Ok - Exit from the telephone book
Dial - Dial the number (cancellation of dial with Alt-U)
Append - Add a record to the book
Edit - Edit the current record
Delete - Erase the current record
Configuration of the modem can be done in menu Options|Defaults|Communication.
Internal text-viewer
The Internal text-viewer of DOS Navigator allows you to look through and to edit text and other files. The following operations (with keys) are possible:
F2 - (Un)
Wrap - Wrap line to length of window.
F4 - Hex/ASCII - ASCII or hexadecimal format.
In HEX mode editing of the file is possible.
F7 - Search - Search for words or sequences of hexadecimal codes.
To continue the search press Shift-F7.
See also:"Types
windows"
Highlight groups
The definition of 5 user groups of files is proceeded on extensions divided by point with point. For each the is possible the definition of colours. The following breakdown on groups is offered: _
The files on which is practical not paid attention or which are usual erased (black colour):
BAK;$$$;SWP
The working files of programs, texts, documentation, i.e. the most frequently edited files (pleasant for eye by green colour): "
TXT;DOC;BAS;FOR;C;CPP;ASM;INC
Graphic, musical files (blue colour): (
PIC;GIF;PCX;TIF;IMG;STM;CDM;MOD;SND
The files with which directly work very little, which should not attract attention (pleasant for eye dark-green colour):
PRJ;OBJ;LST;DBF;WKS;123
The files of which should attract the attention of user, which should be processed at once (very appreciable, but not irritant magenta colour):
!!!;1ST;ME;CUT
Print Manager
What is it background seal? The background seal is very convenient when You want simultaneously to print some files and to engage in by other business (editing of file, copying, viewing etc. operation in DN). K
Window of background seal possible the following operations (on buttons):
Delete - delete of file from current list
Close - leave from regime of background seal
Pause - pause of seal of current file. If the printer is not ready for
operation, automatically the seal is suspended.
Window of history
This window contains the history of input commands in current session, that permits considerably to reduce the time of enter of similar commands. u
With help of cursor arrows choose the necessary command and press Enter. The chosen command occurs in command line. e
The depression of Esc key closes the window of history without change of contents of command line. 7
This window has the following functions (on buttons):
Run - The start of command, chosen by cursor
Drop - simply the occurrence of command in command line, that is
possible to be added the parameters
Kill - Kills all command history
Cancel - closing of history window
Viewing and editing
files on extentions
When the user is in file panel, at his occasionally the need in viewing/editing of any external viewer or editor arises. In Navigator the opportunity of viewing/editing of particular file is realized. Is realized through file of extensions (for viewer - dn.vwr, for editor - dn.edt). This file has described work with particular file type, determined on DOS extension. For viewing/editing of file is necessary to be moved the cursor on file panel to n
e of this file and for viewing to press F3 and for editing - Alt-F4 (if is installed in Options|Defaults|Configuration... Internal editor). W
For description of viewing of files it is necessary to cause command Options|Viewers. W
For description of editing of files it is necessary to cause command Options|Editors. ,
The format of record in this file is such:
???:command_name
Here ??? - particular extension ;
Command_name - name of program for viewing or editing
Find File
This command searches the current or specified directory for files not only by name, but by contents, date, size and attibutes. Type the file
filter you wish to locate in the File mask text box.
To find files by Text to find type a partial word or short phrase (or any fragment of text) in the Containing box that you know to be contained in the required file.
The result of file search is a list which is displayed like as disk directory in file panel and you can do with files from this list all operations accessible in File and Panel.
Find File
File mask
Text to find
Options Destination
[ ] Case sensitive (
) Entire disk
[X] Recursive search ( ) Current directory
[ ] Advanced
search ( ) All drives
Advanced...
Cancel
if turned off, Navigator will ignore case of searching text
if this check box is turned on (default)
will search in all subdirectories existing
on destination.
Search files on current disk only
Search files in current directory
Search files on all accesible disks from C: to Z:
Advanced Search
This dialog lets you be extra selective about which files are included in a FileFind search. It is especially important when searching for text since you want to open, read, and search as few large files as possible. It also makes it possible to round up all files a certain age, size, or with a certain file attribute.
The criteria selected are used the next time you start a search. The Find File main dialogue shows "Advanced Search is ON" to remind you that you are filtering the files. 8
Date is after: Input a file date and (optionally) time
formatted as: mm-dd-yy [hh:mm] [AM | PM]]. For instance:
5-10-90 or 15-1-89 7:0 am. Only files which have been
modified after that date and time will be included in the
search.
Date is before: Only files which were last modified before the 6
input date and time will be included in the search.
Size is greater than / less than: Input a range of sizes. You K
may use K or M at the end; for instance, 2000 is about the
same as 2K.
The checkboxes let you include only files with a specific combination of file attributes. For instance, check the Archive bit is set control if the file you want has been created/modified since you last backed up.
DOS Wildcards
and Filters
DOS file names have two parts: the name (which can be up to 8 characters) and the extension
which can be up to 3 characters) with a period in between. For example, "filename.ext".
* Match any characters for the rest of the name or
extension. "a*" will match "a", "ab", and "abc", as
well as many others. '*' applies just to one part of
the file name, so "a*" will not match "ab.c". Use
"a*.*" to find all files that start with 'a' and have
any extension. (Note: "*a" will match any name, and
not just names with an `a' at the end as you might
expect.)
DOS Navigator allows not only single file masks, but containers of masks too. These containers are called "Filters". Filter is a file mask sequence in that every mask is separated by ";" char. '
E.g. : *.exe;*.com;*.bat;*.btm;*.cmd 5
*.asm;*.c;*.cpp;*.inc;*.pas are Filters
Customized
Video modes
DOS Navigator supports not only standard text modes. It is possible to use Super EGA, VGA and VESA BIOS extensions. If you want to use it, put in System configuration dialogue "Video mode 1" and "Video mode 2" codes of desired video modes. This codes must be described in technical documentation of your Video system.
Some of codes is known to me:
29 (132x25),30 (132x60) - for Realtek VGAs
84,85,86 - Trident VGAs
80,81,82 - OAK Technology VGAs
and most of Super EGA/VGAs.
If your video system is VESA compatible, you can use universal VESA mode codes (note that VESA XGA and VESA SVGA has different mode codes). These codes is greater than 256. For VESA SVGA codes are 267, 268, for example.
Note: Most of mouse drivers doesn't support extended
video modes. Therefore you must switch off
"Standard cursor" option in Mouse setup dialogue
if you get any ugly effects when moving mouse cursor
in non-standard video modes.
Hint: For VGA adaptors mode nomber 256 means mode 80x33.
Customizing your system
System setup
Navigator Startup
Interface setup
Screen Savers
Mouse setup
Communications
setup
File
Panel
defaults
Panel columns defaults
Editor/viewer defaults
Highlight
groups
Printer setup
Country support
OS/2 Support
NB: OS/2 is a registered trademark of IBM Corp.
DOS Navigator can start OS/2 applications when it works under OS/2 version 2.10 or later. To get this possibility you should:
1) Set OS2COMSPEC environment variable to full name
of OS/2 command interpreter
(e.g. put Set OS2COMSPEC = C:\OS2\CMD.EXE
in DOS session autoexec)
2) Set "OS/2 support" option in Startup dialog box.
3) Restart Navigator.
There are three ways to run OS/2 applications:
From DOS command line:
Put before command string one of chars listed below:
">" - run foreground Full Screen OS/2 session
"<" - run background Full Screen OS/2 session
"]" - run foreground Windowed OS/2 session
"[" - run background Windowed OS/2 session
Switch to OS/2 command prompt mode by Alt-/
Run executable files from file panel:
highlight required file and press
- Alt-Shift-Enter to run it foreground
- Alt-Ctrl-Enter to run background.
NB: in OS/2 command prompt mode all programs
include DOS applications starts in another
sessions. Be sure that parameters for DOS
sessions are acceptable for your applications.
Hints:
if Files Highlight and OS/2 support options
are enabled OS/2 batch files (*.CMD) are shown
as executable files. You can start it as usual
.EXE files by pressing Enter. If you'll press
Shift-Enter, batch will be started in background.
4DOS/Files.BBS support
Yes, DOS Navigator supports it!
It is possible by setting up Panel|Setup Columns - just set "Descriptions" checkbox on. Not only view descriptions is possible, but copying, moving and editting too! d
Copy/move file with its descriptions is possible only when descriptions are present in file panel.
If you want to edit file description (by Alt-INS key), but file with descriptions doesn't exists, Navigator will create file with first file name given in "Files with descriptions" line of File Panel Defaults dialog box.
(.txt)