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- A TURBOCHARGED SHORTCUT!
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- There is always a shortcut to any process if you apply a little
- thought and a bit of technology. As mentioned previously, you
- need to identify files on a disk containing text or
- instruction documentation and then view the contents of the
- file. A previous section showed you how to use the DOS TYPE
- and PRINT commands to print the contents of a suspected text
- file to either the screen or paper.
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- If DOS commands and structure are not interesting or you don't
- have the time to learn DOS, there exist programs called DOS
- SHELLS which essentially provide DOS access for routine things
- like moving and copying files AND QUICKLY VIEWING THE INTERNAL
- CONTENTS OF SUSPECTED TEXT FILES; these menu programs hide the
- DOS commands behind a series of "point and select" choices
- similar to the point and shoot menus you use on game programs
- and serious business software.
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- The typical DOS shell is a package which surrounds DOS (like a
- shell, hence the name) and allows you to perform the most common
- DOS functions by pressing only one or two keys or moving a
- highlighted arrow. Very appealing for beginners! This may be
- all the DOS control most people need . . .
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- Some practical and easy DOS shell packages include: Still River
- Shell, DOS2ools, PC Tools, Powermenu, Automenu, Dirmagic and
- Directory Freedom. DR.COM and its companion shell programs
- CO.COM and RN.COM are extremely simple shells suited for
- beginners which most computer clubs and shareware disk vendors
- carry. The author of this package uses the Directory Freedom
- shell which you may also wish to investigate.
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- If you are beginner and don't want to be troubled learning DOS,
- then a shell program is the easiest way to use the PC. And one
- of the easier ways to view text files.
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