Compu-Fix

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ Compu-Fix / Compu-Fix.iso / tutorial / dea3 / manual.txt < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1993-03-01 | 14.9 KB | 562 lines

DosEA 3 -- 10 Easy Commands by Chet Langin Langin Software 532 W. 3rd St. Centralia, IL 62801 CIS: 73770,615 _______ ____|__ | (tm) --| | |------------------- | ____|__ | Association of | | |_| Shareware |__| o | Professionals -----| | |--------------------- |___|___| MEMBER <<< Page 2 >>> DosEA 3 -- 10 Easy Commands Copyright (c), 1990, 1991 by Chet Langin, all rights reserved MS-DOS, GW-BASIC, and Microsoft are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. Compaq is a registered trademark of Compaq Computer Corporation. WordPerfect is a registered trademark of WordPerfect Corporation. Tandy is a registered trademark of Tandy Corporation. Users of "DosEA 3 -- 10 Easy Commands" must accept this disclaimer of warranty: "DosEA 3 -- 10 Easy Commands" is supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the use of it. <<< Page 3 >>> Table of Contents Welcome 4 What is DosEA? 4 Who is DosEA for? 5 What is DosEA 3? 6 Installation 7 Tutorial 12 Appendix A -- A list of files 12 Appendix B -- The COMMAND.COM Situation 12 Appendix C -- Troubleshooting 13 <<< Page 4 >>> *************** ** Welcome ** *************** Welcome to "DosEA 3 -- 10 Easy Commands." ********************** ** What is DosEA? ** ********************** The series name, "DosEA," is a play on words which means a dossier on DOS. But, what is it? Specifically, DosEA is a series of hypertext programs which explain DOS. The series, so far, consists of . . . DosEA 1 -- For Absolute Beginners DosEA 2 -- What is DOS? DosEA 3 -- 10 Easy Commands DosEA 4 -- Find That Command! More programs are under development. A key element in the presentation of the DosEA series is hypertext. Once you get the idea behind hypertext, you can read and comprehend material extremely fast. Hypertext lets you select just what you want to read. If you understand what you are reading, just keep at it. Otherwise, the hypertext leads you immediately to further explanations. Understanding hypertext is so crucial to the DosEA series, that the first program, "For Absolute Beginners," is all about how to use hypertext. Even though the DosEA series is about DOS, the first program isn't about DOS, at all. Rather, it's about using hypertext. The second program in the series, "What is DOS?", then uses hypertext to introduce DOS. This and the succeeding programs in the series also use hypertext to explain further details about DOS. <<< Page 5 >>> ************************* ** Who is DosEA for? ** ************************* DosEA is for people who want an easy way to learn about DOS. It is for people who need to use personal computers, but do not have the time to get a degree in Computer Science. This includes . . . > Business people who need to get business done. > Employees who need to get work done. > Students wanting to get ahead fast. > Home computer users trying to get up to speed. > User groups helping new members. Experienced computer users may find this program helpful in another way. When you are asked those endless streams of questions about . . . "how does this . . . " . . . or . . . "why is it that . . ." . . . just pass along this program. The recipient will be grateful and you will save yourself a lot of explanations. <<< Page 6 >>> ************************ ** What is DosEA 3? ** ************************ "DosEA 3 -- 10 Easy Commands" is an MS-DOS tutorial that demonstrates exactly how to enter 10 easy commands. First, the hypertext explains a command in some detail. Then, the computer demonstrates it. Next, the user tries it. The computer double checks the effort and, if a command is not entered correctly after three tries, the computer shows again how it is done. The commands are: CLS DATE DIR EXIT PROMPT TIME TYPE VER VERIFY VOL These commands were selected because they are internal and are present in every DOS version that is used commonly in the current marketplace. The commands are taught in a way which is non-destructive to the computer. DosEA double-checks each command before it is sent to DOS, so that nothing on a disk should be changed. <<< Page 7 >>> ******************** ** Installation ** ******************** What this program needs: > 512K of memory > Any monitor > MS-DOS 2.0 or higher No installation is required if you only want to read the hypertext. However, installation may (or may not) be required if you want to practice the commands. How do you know? To find out, start the program. Assuming that DosEA is located on a disk in the "A" drive: Enter: A: Enter: DOSEA3 Go to the Introduction and read about COMMAND.COM. Press <F2> when instructed to do so. The computer will advise you if further installation is required. If further installation is required . . . The installation instructions are listed as numbered paragraphs. You will not have to do all of them; just the ones that apply to your computer. Start with No. 1. 1. If you are an experienced computer user and want to take a shortcut, go to Paragraph 2. Otherwise, if you need specific instructions, go to Paragraph 3. 2. If you are an experienced computer user and want to know what is going on, rather than to follow specific instructions, this is the situation: During the execution of DosEA 3, the COMMAND.COM file needs to be located where it was when the computer was booted. 3. If you have a hard disk, go to Paragraph 4. Otherwise, go to Paragraph 5. Note: "Hard disk" refers to an internal disk drive which you cannot see without taking your computer apart. "Hard disk" does not refer to the 3.5-inch disk encased in hard plastic. <<< Page 8 >>> 4. DOS is not properly installed on your hard disk. If you want to properly install DOS, you have two choices: A) Consult the manual that came with your DOS. B) Contact a knowledgeable friend or the person who sold you the computer and ask him or her to help you install DOS properly. Tell this person that you need to be able to boot your computer with the "A" disk drive empty. If you do not want to mess with installing DOS correctly on your hard disk, right now, and want to set up DosEA on a floppy disk system, go to Paragraph 5. 5. Figure out what is your DOS disk. This disk is one which contains your DOS files. It may (or may not) be a disk you put in your "A" disk drive when you turn on your computer. You may have more than one DOS disk. If you do, when instructed below to use your DOS disk, try any one of them. If it does not work, try another one. Go to Paragraph 6. 6. If you have two floppy disk drives, go to Paragraph 7. Otherwise, if you have one floppy disk drive, go to Paragraph 11. 7. If both of your disk drives are the same size, go to Paragraph 10. Otherwise, if they are different sizes, go to Paragraph 8. 8. If the DosEA 3 disk fits the "A" disk drive, go to Paragraph 9. Otherwise, if it fits the "B" disk drive, go to Paragraph 10. <<< Page 9 >>> 9. Put the DOS disk in the "A" disk drive. Put a brand new disk in the "B" disk drive. Enter: A: Enter: A:FORMAT B: If you are asked for a volume label, Enter: DOSEA3 (If you are not asked for a volume label, do not enter DOSEA3.) When you are asked if you want to format another disk, Enter: n Take the DOS disk out of the "A" disk drive. Put the DosEA 3 disk in the "A" disk drive. Enter: COPY *.* B: Take the DosEA 3 disk out of the "A" disk drive. Take the new disk out of the "B" disk drive. With a soft pointed pen, label the new disk "DosEA 3." Go to Paragraph 10. 10. Turn off your computer. Put your DOS disk in the "A" disk drive. (If you have a special boot disk, put it into the "A" disk drive, instead.) Put the DosEA 3 disk in the "B" disk drive. Turn on your computer. Enter: B: Enter: DOSEA3 When you are finished with DosEA 3, exit the program. Turn off your computer. Repeat this procedure (Paragraph 10) each time you wish to run DosEA 3. (Stop here.) 11. If you are an experienced computer user looking for a shortcut, go to Paragraph 12. Otherwise, go to Paragraph 13. 12. A 360K disk will barely hold COMMAND.COM and the files necessary to run DosEA 3. Therefore, FORMAT /S will not work because there is not enough room on the disk. Also, COPY *.* will not work for the same reason. Go to Paragraph 13. <<< Page 10 >>> 13. Put the DOS disk in the disk drive. Enter: A: Enter: FORMAT A: When asked to do so, put a brand new disk into the disk drive. If you are asked for a volume label, Enter: DOSEA3 (If you are not asked for a volume label, do not enter DOSEA3.) When you are asked if you wish to format another disk, Enter: n With a soft pointed pen, label this new disk "DosEA 3 Working Disk." Put the DOS disk into the disk drive. Enter: COPY COMMAND.COM B: (Even though have only one disk drive, DOS will pretend that you two. This way, individual files can be copied from one disk to another. Keep this in mind: As you follow the directions on the video screen, the (old) DosEA 3 disk goes in the pretend "A" disk drive and the DosEA 3 Working Disk goes in the pretend "B" disk drive.) When asked to switch disks, put the DosEA 3 Working Disk into the disk drive and wait for the copying to be finished. <<< Page 11 >>> Put the (old) DosEA 3 disk into the disk drive. Enter: COPY DOSEA3.EXE B: When asked to switch disks, put the DosEA 3 Working Disk into the disk drive and wait for the copying to be finished. Put the (old) DosEA 3 disk into the disk drive. Enter: COPY DOSEA3.OVL B: When asked to switch disks, put the DosEA 3 Working Disk into the disk drive and wait for the copying to be finished. Put the (old) DosEA 3 disk into the disk drive. Enter: COPY EXAMPLE.TXT B: When asked to switch disks, put the DosEA 3 Working Disk into the disk drive and wait for the copying to be finished. Put the (old) DosEA 3 disk into the disk drive. Enter: COPY ORDERFRM.TXT B: When asked to switch disks, put the DosEA 3 Working Disk into the disk drive and wait for the copying to be finished. Go to Paragraph 14. 14. Turn off the computer. Put your DOS disk into the disk drive. (If you have a special "boot" disk, put it into the disk drive, instead.) Turn on your computer. Put the DosEA 3 Working Disk into the disk drive. Enter: DOSEA3 When you are finished with DosEA 3, exit the program. Turn off the computer. Repeat this procedure (Paragraph 14) each time you want to run DosEA 3. <<< Page 12 >>> **************** ** Tutorial ** **************** You should already know about hypertext before you use DosEA 3. If you need a tutorial, one is provided with DosEA 1, which you can get with the order form in the ORDERFRM.TXT file. ****************** ** Appendix A ** ****************** The files included with DosEA. DosEA3.EXE The program, itself. DosEA3.OVL An overlay. EXAMPLE.TXT An example file used in the TYPE exercises. MANUAL.TXT This file! PRINTMAN.BAT A batch file to print the manual. README.TXT A file with important information about DosEA. README.BAT A batch file which displays README.TXT. ORDERFRM.TXT The order form to register. REGISTER.BAT A batch file which prints the order form. VENDOR.DOC A text file with information for vendors. ****************** ** Appendix B ** ****************** The COMMAND.COM situation. DosEA allows you to use actual MS-DOS commands during the exercises. This means that the MS-DOS file COMMAND.COM must be readily available. If you are using a properly installed hard disk, this requirement is already met. By "properly installed" it is meant that you can start your computer with the "A" disk drive empty -- this indicates that COMMAND.COM is available on the hard disk. If you have a hard disk, but must put a DOS disk in the "A" drive when you start your computer, this means that your hard disk is not properly installed. You should contact the person you bought the computer from for help in getting the hard disk set up correctly. See "Installation," above, for more help on this matter. <<< Page 13 >>> ****************** ** Appendix C ** ****************** Troubleshooting. >>> You get a "Bad command or filename" message. You did not do an exercise properly. The program filters your commands before issuing them to MS-DOS. If an exercise says enter "DIR" and you enter "TYPE," even though "TYPE" is a legal command, you will get an error message. Since this program is written for beginners, this prevents anyone from mistakenly entering a damaging command. >>> You get a "file not found" message. The default disk drive and directory may not be correct. Assuming that the program is installed in the "A" disk drive: Enter: A: Enter: CD \ Otherwise, you did not get all of the program files. See Appendix A for a list of files. >>> You get a "window failed" message. Probably the defaults are not set correctly. The program must be able to access the DOSEA3.OVL file. See the explanation directly above on how to set the defaults. Otherwise, you may not have enough memory in your computer.