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NOTES ON MANAGER.COM 2.68 Matt Roberts 5 Cedar St., # 8 Montpelier, Vt 05602-3006 (802)223-2553 5-11-92 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── GENERAL OVERVIEW The idea of The Manager is to provide a program which can access the computer's capabilities in a menu-oriented, user-friendly environment. Where possible, I've tried to use plain English for both the options and the error messages. This is a life-long project, and I hope to add options which access such things as expanded memory, graphics capabilities, peripherals, and what- not. For right now, though, I'm just trying to get the silly thing so it can do everything COMMAND.COM can do, from a menu interface. BUGS This section is reserved for bugs in the program. One thing that's nagging me at the moment is in the File-listing utility; subdirectories aren't labelled as such. As a result, any file you see in the list could theoretically be either a user file or a directory. I've tried everything I could think of, to no avail. Looking at the document, I've reached to the conclusion that I'll be able to solve the problem when and if I learn how to access machine code from ASIC. Unfortunately, this isn't likely to happen for quite a while. Since I need to fix this to use other parts of the program more effectively, however, I'll be puzzling over it and I'll try to solve that problem as soon as I can. Another problem seems to be in the "Run Other Programs" routine. Please see that section for a full descriptions but, in short, some programs won't run properly with that feature. I'm going to try to fix it, but I'm not certain it's something I can do anything about. We'll find out soon enough, though. I'm currently trying to figure out a way to copy/move executable, overlay, and other files besides those that are purely text. Since I can't seem to figure out how to do that with ASIC, I'll be looking at other languages soon; if I can figure out how to do it with one of the languages I have, I'll make it a module I can call from ASIC. Until I get something worked out, you can only copy text files from The Manager. Because of the way I "organize" my work, some of the capabilities of this version may not yet be documented. I try to write them in so they're not too difficult to understand, so you should be able to use them even if they're not in here. If that's not so, give me a call and I'll help you through as best I can. Finally, not all the error-handling routines may have been written. As a result, you may be informed that the action has been carried out, even if it hasn't. If you ask The Manager to remove a directory, and that directory is not empty (for instance), The Manager will return an error to the program. If there's nothing to deal with that error, it will go on to the next step, which is to tell you that the directory has been removed, even though a directory can't be removed if it has anything in it. This will be corrected in the future, but for now you're temporarily on your own as to checking for correctly spelled pathnames, etc. You might want to try creating errors in 2 certain options that don't always work quite right, to see if the error routines have been plugged in yet. In general, the error routines are there and functioning; some options may not have had that part completed yet, though. I apologize for the hassle, and thank you for your patience. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS AND NOTES The Manager was written using ASIC 3.01 by David Visti. I find it excellent for most purposes, and recommend it highly. The author can be reached at P.O. Box 2952, Raleigh, NC 27602-2952. Registration is only $10.00, and I sent in mine before the guy comes to his senses and starts charging what it's worth. The computer used was an Amstrad PC1512 SD. This system has an 8086 processor, running at 8MHz (non-switchable). It has 640K RAM, and 2Mb EMS. The monitor/display card is a black and white composite monochrome/CGA. It has two 5.25", 360K floppy drives, and a 49Mb hard drive card. 1Mb of EMS has been used to create an EMS disk (same as a RAM disk, but uses EMS). The Amstrad PC1512 has been discontinued. You'll need approximately 195K of RAM to run The Manager. The file-listing utility (SEEFILES.COM) is in a separate file because it was the only way I could fix a bug. When it was part of the main program, shelling to DOS would result in the file-listing utility being somehow corrupted. I tried everything I could think of, and finally decided that maybe if it was called from DOS itself, the DOS shell wouldn't bother it. Worked out fine, though I don't know why (I make a lot of lucky guesses). Here's a rundown of the files (as of this writing), what they do, and how important they are: CRAPPYED.ASI- The ASIC source code for CRAPPYED.COM. Not necessary, but useful to programmers. CRAPPYED.COM- "CRAPPY text EDitor". Doesn't work right, so it isn't called from The Manager yet. Not necessary. INSTALL.CFG - Installs an automatic DOS parameter. Necessary because ASIC opens it first thing, even if nothing has been installed. It isn't necessary for anything to have been installed, just that the file exists. MANAGER.ASI- The ASIC source code for MANAGER.COM. Not necessary, but useful if you want to see how The Manager was put together. MANAGER.COM - The main program. Necessary because all the other files are controlled from this one. MANAGER.DOC- The documentation for The Manager. The file you're reading right now. MANAGR40.ASI- The ASIC source code for MANAGR40.COM. Not necessary, but useful to programmers. MANAGR40.COM - Runs in 40-column width; probably most helpful to the visually impaired. This is necessary if you want to run The Manager in large print, otherwise not. NUMLOCKF.BAS- The ApBASIC source code for NUMLOCKF.EXE. Not necessary, but useful to programmers. NUMLOCKF.EXE- Utility to turn the Num Lock key off. If you want to turn the Num Lock key off yourself when you're using the Crapulator (explained further 3 in this documentation), you won't need this. If you want it turned off automatically, you'll need it. NUMLOCKN.BAS- The ApBASIC source code for NUMLOCKN.EXE. Not necessary, but useful to programmers. NUMLOCKN.EXE- Utility to turn the Num Lock key on. If you want to turn the Num Lock key on yourself when you're using the Crapulator (explained further in this documentation), you won't need this. If you want it turned on automatically, you'll need it. PRINTERU.ASI- The ASIC source code for PRINTERU.COM. Not necessary, but may be of some interest to programmers. PRINTERU.COM- An unfinished PRINTER Utility. All it has right now is menus, which just go to other menus. It isn't called by The Manager, and is not necessary. SEEFILES.COM - The file finding option. UTIL1-40.ASI- The ASIC source code for UTIL1-40.COM. Not necessary, but useful to programmers. UTIL1-40.COM- Utilities called by MANAGR40.COM. Necessary if you want to use 40-column mode, otherwise not. UTIL1-80.ASI- The ASIC source code for UTIL1-80.COM. Not necessary, but useful to programmers. UTIL1-80.COM - Utilities called by MANAGER.COM. Necessary, since a lot of options are contained in this file. Anything in the above list that's not necessary can be deleted to make more room on your disk if you like. However, I'd appreciate it if you'd distribute all the files when you pass it around. If you want to send it ZIPped, I'd prefer that it be called MANAGR.ZIP or MANAG263.ZIP. Thanks. The Manager is primarily a mental exercise, although my ultimate goal is to offer a program that can do just about everything you can do from DOS. At the moment, there are serious limitations, but there are also a few options that are awfully handy to have, some of which aren't available from the DOS prompt (as far as I know), and some which do the job in a friendlier or (once in a great while) better way. So, there's some solid value here, in my opinion. If you agree, you're invited to send a $5.00 donation. If you disagree, you're still invited, although I suppose you won't be much inclined to accept (sigh). The Manager doesn't have a very comprehensive selection of features at present. Since ASIC 2.00 and above has the ability to access machine interrupts, more features can probably be developed, but I don't know how to write machine code. As a result, you may find this program a bit disappointing. However, it does have some uses, and certainly serves as a demonstration of how to program with ASIC, since the source code is included. For some reason, I've become addicted to file managers. I've already written one for Locomotive BASIC 2 version 1.16, and I'm currently working on one for GW-BASIC 3.22. I'll also be writing a file manager for ApBASIC 1.7 at some point in the near future, and possibly one using Powerbatch, a standard batch 4 file, and a compiled batch file. Maybe one of the reasons I like writing file managers is the amount I learn about the language, its capabilities and its limitations. Anyway, I may be offering others soon. If you're having trouble using any of the programs on the disk, and the documentation doesn't seem to help, you can call me between 9AM and 9PM EST, and I'll do what I can to help. I'm in and out during the day, so keep trying. In the program menu, you'll see selections that might look something like this: Alt-Fn- Selection. To get that selection, you'll hold down the Alt key and, while still holding the Alt key down, press the function key (or other key) indicated by Fn. So, if you see Alt-F1- Do Your Laundry. hold down the Alt key, and press the F1 key without letting go of Alt, and the computer will do your laundry. You may see another menu, from which you would choose from such options as bleach, fabric softener, and the like. Maybe my friends are right; maybe I should get that brain scan after all. USING THE PROGRAM You start by putting your disk in the drive and typing MANAGER at the DOS prompt. After a bit of foolishness, you get to the main options menu, which invites you to delete files, make a directory, rename files, read today's date and/or time, shell to DOS, blank your screen, quit, and a bunch of other neat stuff you can't possibly live without. You press the function key corresponding to your choice, or the Esc key to return to DOS, and you're on your way. Isn't this exciting? OK, so I'm easily amused. The bit of foolishness I mentioned is the opening screen, which blabbers a bit about me and begs for money. Very soon now, I'll be adding an option to bypass the screen and go directly to the options menu. The only reason I didn't include it when I was writing the other install options is because I forgot. I found out how annoying that silly thing is when I was testing the code; sometimes I'm just not in the mood. Versions 2.65 and above should give you the chance to avoid that particular bit of annoyance. LISTING DISK FILES Operation is fairly simple; you just type in the directory in which you want to view the files, giving the full DOS path. The concept of a path is fairly simple, and will be in your DOS manual. If you don't get it the first time, don't think you're a dummy; DOS manuals are written by Martians because the labor is cheap. Unfortunately, the little green guys haven't quite mastered the art of English yet, and tend to make simple explanations a bit complicated. If you just can't figure out what a path is, give me a call and I'll see what I can do to help. Please have your DOS manual ready, and have your telephone as near to the computer as possible, since it'll help if I can run you through some simple exercises which involve making directories and changing to them. I'd appreciate it, though, if you'd give the DOS manual a try first, and maybe your computer's technical support line second. Thanks. 5 Anyway, once you've typed in the path and directory, you'll be treated to a list of files. This list will include directories, but I haven't figured out a way to label them as such when they're printed on the screen. I'm working on it, though. At the end of the list, you'll be invited to list some more files; if you respond positively, you'll get to type in your path/directory again. Otherwise, you'll go back to the menu. One important note: if you want to view the root directory of a drive, don't type the backslash (\). For instance, to view the files in the root directory of drive A, you would type A: as your directory. The backslash will be supplied by The Manager. READING A FILE This feature allows you to read a file on your screen. It's very primitive, and is essentially an extension of the DOS command TYPE and the DOS command MORE. The text file scrolls past your screen. It'll stop at each screenful, and invite you to press a key to continue. You can also stop the scrolling by pressing the space bar. PRINTING A FILE This one is like the file-reading routine, except you're printing (surprise). You press the space bar to pause printing. There will still be data in the printer's buffer, and I don't know a way to flush that without losing the place in the file, so you'll have to take the system off-line if you need to stop in a hurry. If you're not in a rush, though, it'll stop printing when the data in its buffer is printed. Press any key to continue printing. When you press the space bar to pause, there will probably be a few seconds delay before it can process the keypress. That's because it processes the text file one line at a time, and it can't get to processing your keypress until it's finished with the line it's working on. It won't increase the amount printed, except by that one line. Don't press the space bar again, because The Manager will process both keypresses, in order, and will assume you want to continue printing. You can quit printing by pressing the Esc key. Again, it will probably take a second or two for The Manager to finish with the line it was working at the time, and get to your keypress. The amount printed will only be increased by that one line, and you'll be sent back to the menu shortly. If you press Esc twice, The Manager will process both Esc key presses, first sending you back to the menu, and then sending you back to DOS. COPYING TEXT FILES At this point, you can't copy any type of file except a text (ASCII) file. I'm working on an option to copy any type of file but, for now, only a text file will copy properly. Anything else won't work. You type in the path and filename of the file you want to copy, and then the path and filename for the destination. The copy procedure is slower than with DOS, but it doesn't take too long. The date and time of the copy is changed to match that of your system clock. MOVING TEXT FILES 6 Again, you can't move non-text files with this option. It's dangerous, because the original is deleted after the copy is made. Until you are certain a specific type of file will copy the way you want it to, please use test files and backups. Otherwise, you could lose important data. RENAMING FILES Have I mentioned that it's a good idea to make backups of all your files? Here's another good reason. Certain file extensions cannot be changed without rendering them useless for their original purposes. Files with an extension of .BAT, .COM, .EXE, and other files shouldn't be messed with, unless you know what you're doing. Also, some programs use overlay files, and will not run if they can't find what they're looking for. Others read and write files with specific extensions, and won't load them if they've been changed. On the other hand, you can do almost anything you want (assuming it's legal, moral, and physically possible) with a backup file. The original is safe and sound, and can replace the object of your experiments if things don't work out as planned. In fact, you might want some extra security by making a copy of the copy, and keeping each "version" in a different location. That way, whatever befalls one won't be as likely to befall the others. But I digress (constantly). You'll first tell The Manager the name of the file you want to change, including drive and path. When prompted, you type in the new name for the old file (if you write down both the old and new filenames at this point, you can change them back if needful). The Manager does the dirty deed, and offers more of the same kind of fun. You can't change a name across drives. For instance, you can't change A:\TEST.DOC to B:\TEST.DOC. Also, you'll need to use a full path for both the original file and its new name. As an example, if you want to change A:\TEST.DOC to A:\TEST2.DOC, you'll need to specify A:\TEST2.DOC as the new name. You can't leave out the drive specifier, and you need to specify any subdirectories A:\TEST.DOC might be in as well. DELETING FILES This is fairly simple, and rather dangerous. You're warned about the possibility of losing files, and the impossibility of restoring them, and then given the opportunity to quit. If you decline this invitation, you're asked which file you want obliterated. You'll input the file you want decimated, including the drive and path. You are then warned again (annoying, ain't I?), and once again given the opportunity to get out of harm's way. Pressing any key except Esc will destroy the irreplaceable data in your chosen file. You are next informed that the foregoing has occurred, and invited to make the same mistake with a different file. You really should make backups, you know. Note: There are public domain and commercial "undelete" utilities that I'm aware of. If you have one of these, or MS-DOS 5.0, you can probably undelete any file you've killed from The Manager. However, you'll need to use the undelete utility immediately; if The Manager (or any other program) writes to the section of the disk where your deleted file is, you won't be able to recover it. RUNNING OTHER PROGRAMS With this feature, you first type in the name of the program you want to run, 7 including the drive and path. For instance, if you want to run LIST.COM, which is on drive C: in the UTILITY directory, you would type C:\UTILITY\LIST.COM at the prompt. You'll then be prompted for a parameter, which in this case will be the name of a file you want to view. When finished, you'll be asked to press a key. This is so you can still see the last screen of whatever the program was doing. Once you press a key, the screen will clear, and you'll be offered the chance to run another program. If you accept, you'll get to do the same thing over again; otherwise, you'll be sent back to the main menu. Apparently, three of my command-line parameters (/l, /L, and /40) get sent along with the CALL command. I can't for the life of me figure out why but, as a result, programs like CHKDSK just won't run. I've got some ideas for an error routine that might fix that, but it might not either and it'll be a little while before I get to it. Until then, we'll all have to be frustrated. I send copies of this disk to Mr. Visti each time I upgrade my registration for ASIC, so when version 4.0 comes out he'll have an opportunity to find out about this. From the replies I've gotten, he does check the disk out for the purpose of finding potential bugs in the compiler or unclear areas in his documentation. So, if it's a problem with the compiler, it'll likely be fixed in the future. The "Run Other Programs" option has been put together with the "Shell to DOS" option. As a result, when you call the "Run Other Programs" routine, you'll see your COMMAND.COM (along with the path as set by DOS if any) on the line. If you just want to go to DOS temporarily, press Enter. If not, just type the name of the program (along with the drive and path, of course). The line that was there will disappear, and be replaced by what you're typing. WORKING WITH CONFIG.SYS This guy allows you to view, change, and add lines to your CONFIG.SYS file. Because you can specify any drive (from A: through E:) for your CONFIG.SYS, you can use test files to make sure you've got it the way you want it before you commit yourself. However, if you do decide to make a real file the first time out, your original CONFIG.SYS will be saved as CONFIG.BAK, so you can get it back by deleting the new CONFIG.SYS and renaming CONFIG.BAK to CONFIG.SYS again. That only works if you're making a brand-new file, though; if you're adding lines, they'll be appended directly to the file you specify, in the root directory and no backup will be made. As a result, you might want to consider using a test file to make sure everything runs OK before you commit your system. First, you'll be asked what drive your CONFIG.SYS is on. This is where, if you're not sure you want to mess with your real file, you can specify a different drive. Next, you'll see a small menu, which allows you to just view your CONFIG.SYS, add lines to the end of the file, create a whole new file, or return to the Main Options Menu. You'll press the key corresponding to your choice, and be sent to the appropriate option. If you elect to just view your file, it'll be displayed on the screen. You can look at it as long as you want. When you're ready to go back to the menu, press a key. If you want to add lines to the end of your CONFIG.SYS, the screen will clear 8 and you'll be asked to type the line you want to add. When you're done, or if you change your mind before typing anything, press Q and then press Enter. Upper or lower case makes no difference. Eventually, I'll be standardizing the CONFIG.SYS section so you can press Esc at any point in order to quit, but I haven't quite gotten to it yet. So, if it says to press Esc to quit, do that. It should be designed so you can press Esc at any point in the process to quit, but I can't guarantee that yet, since I haven't started working on it at this point. ANYway, once you've quit, you'll see your new CONFIG.SYS (unless you quit without adding lines, in which case you'll see your old CONFIG.SYS). You'll press a key to go back to the CONFIG.SYS menu. CREATING A NEW CONFIG.SYS FILE This part is a bit more complicated, so it's got its own section. The first thing that'll happen is that your CONFIG.SYS will be renamed CONFIG.BAK to save it, and you'll be notified that the foregoing has occurred. Next, you'll be asked how many files you want. If you don't know what that means, this is an excellent time to quit, since your original CONFIG.SYS will immediately be restored and you'll be returned to the CONFIG menu. Otherwise, type in the number of the files you want. Now you get to type in how many buffers you want. Type in a number; you can't quit at this particular point. You'll still be able to abort later on if you want, so don't worry too much about it. After you've typed in your buffers, you'll be asked if you want to include a device driver. You'll get to see a list of the drivers available, but only if they're in the root directory of the disk you specified. Later along, I plan to include an option that lets you specify where your drivers are, but I haven't gotten to it yet. If you don't want to include any drivers, type N (either upper or lower case, makes no difference) and Enter. Otherwise, type in the name of the device. If the device isn't in the root directory, you should include the full path. You'll be asked if you want to include more devices, and be sent back to the area where you type in the device name, until you type N in response to that question. When you're finished with that, you'll be asked if you want BREAK on or off. If you turn it on, it'll be easier to quit a utility or DOS function, because DOS will check to see if Ctrl-C has been pressed more often. It'll take a bit more memory, though, and slow things down a trifle. Nothing's free. Finally, you'll see your finished product and get a chance to redo the whole thing, give it up and restore your original CONFIG.SYS, or accept it. WORKING WITH AUTOEXEC.BAT This is essentially identical to the option for working with the CONFIG.SYS file, and is self-explanatory in my opinion. If you have a different opinion, let me know and I'll try to help if I can. If it looks like some portion of the option is unclear, I'll try to clarify in this section of the documentation. MAKING A DIRECTORY Again, fairly simple. This time, completely harmless. The only limitation is that each directory used takes up some disk space. It is theoretically possible to create so many directories you don't have room for any files. 9 You'll tell The Manager the directory you want created, including drive and path. You'll then be informed that the directory you wanted has been delivered, and be given the opportunity to make another. REMOVING A DIRECTORY This section isn't very good right now. To use it, you need to know whether or not the directory you want to remove contains subdirectories, and whether or not there are files in the directory or subdirectories. In my opinion, there's simply too much work involved from The Manager, but I'm working on improving things. For now, unless you enjoy a challenge, I recommend using DOS for this job. CHANGING THE DEFAULT DIRECTORY If you're not running The Manager from a hard drive, you shouldn't have any need for this option. If you use it, you'll run into another problem; the files The Manager looks for won't be in the directory you changed to, most likely. This means that, once you've changed the directory, you won't be able to use any options that aren't loaded into memory, which includes the Change Directory option. I'll be working on a routine to temporarily change the PATH to include the directory The Manager's files are on in the future. For now, if you get stuck you'll need to shell to DOS using the "Run Other Programs" option, and change the directory back to the one The Manager and its files are on; then EXIT and run the options you want. Sorry about that, but it should be fixed in a future version. CHECKING FOR A GRAPHICS CARD Does exactly what it says. Checks for a graphics card, and tells you one way or the other. I don't know if it will recognize MGA (A.K.A. Hercules), but I kind of doubt it. If I get a chance to test it, I'll let you know. BLANKING YOUR SCREEN If you press the key for this feature, your screen will go dark. This will help save your screen from burning "holes" (places where nothing can be printed) on your monitor. To return to the Options Menu, press any key. CHANGING TO 40-COLUMN MODE I designed this feature to make it possible for the visually impaired to use The Manager. I assume the larger text makes it easier to read, but I don't really know. If you're visually impaired, and have suggestions on how to make the screen writes more legible, I'd appreciate hearing from you. I'm pretty sure you need a graphics card to access this wider print mode. I'll check that out as soon as I can, but it may not be for a long time. There are certain options you can use from the 80-column mode that you can't use from 40-columns. For instance, since you need a graphics adapter (I think) in order to get 40-column width, I figured it was silly to offer the option that checks for a graphics adapter. The file-reading option won't work properly, since the file won't print properly on the screen. Vern Buerg's LIST.COM can deal with 40-column mode, because it reads the file into memory where you can use the arrow keys to scroll sideways. Unfortunately, I don't 10 have the skill to write a program that can do the same. It's a goal of mine to be able to do precisely that, but I think it'll be quite a while before I figure out how to do it. As soon as I do, though, I'll include it. Anyway, if you don't see an option in 40-column mode, it's probably because I couldn't figure out how to write it so it would run properly, or because it wouldn't make sense to offer it in the first place. I'm the only one who can do much about the former, but the latter is always open to discussion. I don't guarantee you'll convert me, but it won't do me any harm to listen to your opinions. So, opine to your heart's content, at the address on the first page. PARAMETERS Using parameters from the DOS prompt can save you time, bypassing the intro screens, taking you directly to the module where the work you want to do resides and, for simple jobs, doing that bit of work automatically. You can see a list from the menu, which looks remarkably similar to the one listed following. Here's the list of the parameters you can currently use. Typing MANAGER /? will let you view screens which contain this same information. The command for 40-column mode is MANAGER /40 ? Typing MANAGER /S will supposedly let you see a list of disk files. To list files with the wide text option, type MANAGER /40 S. Typing MANAGER /D lets you delete files. Make backups. The 40-column version is MANAGER /40 D. Typing MANAGER /M moves you to the directory-making module. In 40-columns, MANAGER /40 M. Typing MANAGER /N moves you to the module for renaming files. Make backups. 40-column users, type MANAGER /40 N. Typing MANAGER /G lets you view the time and/or date. MANAGER /40 G in 40- column mode. Typing MANAGER /B lets you blank your screen. MANAGER /40 B in 40-column width. Typing MANAGER /P lets you check for a graphics adapter. Typing MANAGER /V will let you use the file-reading feature. Typing MANAGER /L calls the file-printing routine. For 40-column users, the command is MANAGER /40 L. Typing MANAGER /40 will put you in 40-column mode, provided you have a graphics adapter, and give you the 40-column menu. In each case, either upper- or lower-case should be fine. If it isn't, I goofed, and I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know so I can ungoof. Thanks. THE CRAPULATOR (CRAPPY CALCULATOR) Boy, does this one need work. You can add or subtract two numbers at a time. Once you've done that, the memory is cleared and you get to start again. You 11 also get to turn NumLock on yourself, if you want to use the numeric keypad. I have some ideas for improving this option, which I'll get to relatively soon. GETTING THE DATE/TIME Here you get the option of choosing to get just the date, just the time, or both. First you choose to Get Time/Date from the Main Menu, and then choose which combination from another menu. As you may have noticed, I like menus. If the time and/or date on your computer haven't been set properly, you won't get an accurate reading. Assuming, however, that everything's the way it ought to be, you should get what you're looking for (or a reasonable facsimile thereof). SEE A LIST OF ASCII CODES This one may be useful for programmers; it lets you know the ASCII code for each symbol you can print on your screen. You can also choose one symbol to print, if you think you know the number and just want to check and make sure. Everything's in decimal, so Hex programmers will have to convert. INSTALLING A DOS PARAMETER This option lets you install a parameter to be used every time you run The Manager. For instance, if you usually run The Manager to get a list of disk files, you can specify that parameter in the INSTALL.CFG file, and you'll be automatically sent to that option whenever you run the program without any parameters. If you include a DOS parameter on the command line, these will have priority over the "installed" one. Most of the available parameters are included, and are selectable from a simple menu. VIEWING YOUR PATH If you choose this option, you'll just get to view your current DOS path. You can't change it yet, because I haven't figured out how to do that once The Manager has started running. I'm working on it, though. WRITE-PROTECTED DISKS If you try to delete files, make directories, or rename files on a disk that's write-protected, DOS will interrupt The Manager with a Write-Protect Error. You are given the usual opportunities to Abort, Retry, Ignore. If you wish, you can remove the write-protect tape or move the write-protect tab (depending on your type of disk), or put an unprotected disk in that drive, and try again. If you choose Abort, you'll be returned to DOS. As far as I know, I have no control over that. If I figure a way to get out of leaving the program in case of an Abort, I'll write it into The Manager. Please bear in mind, should you get that type of error, that a disk is usually write-protected (whether by you or someone else) for good reason. I would advise you to think twice about unprotecting the disk. Since there are no restrictions on reading from a protected disk, you might want to consider 12 making a copy of that disk, and doing what you want on the copy. That way you get to manipulate the files to your heart's content, without damaging the protected disk. ERROR ROUTINES There are a number of error routines in The Manager in case you should attempt to do something either the program or DOS can't do. I've designed these so that, should you start typing in a correction and then decide to quit, you can press Esc at any time. It was a little on the tricky side for me to code; I spent a long time testing, but I may not have caught all the bugs. As always, let me know if I missed anything. IN CONCLUSION ASIC is still being modified, and I expect more features to be available to such cement-headed programmers as myself. When this occurs, MANAGER.COM will undoubtedly flesh out a bit. You shouldn't think of this program as representative of ASIC's capabilities; I've written a number of utilities, for instance, which saved me the price of the registration many times over. In addition, I'm still a novice programmer, though I expect to graduate to beginner some time soon. More experienced programmers will find the facilities (BLOAD, PEEK, POKE, etc.) to really make your programs sit up and take notice. I don't know how to use any of the advanced commands, so don't judge the compiler by the programs I've written. Your comments, questions, and criticisms would be greatly appreciated, including correcting my grammar, spelling, etc. My goal is to write quality software, and I need your help to do it. Thanks. TESTS Version numbers exist for the purpose of testing this disk's utilities on other computers. Version 1.00 has been tested on the following: Amstrad PC1512 SD: This system has an 8086 CPU, a composite monochrome monitor, and CGA which can access 16 shades of gray (or color with a color monitor) with a resolution of up to 640 X 200. The system originally came with 512K RAM, which I've upgraded to 640K. I've also added a 2 Mb EMS card. It came with a single 5.25", 360K drive. A second internal drive of the same type was later added, and I've installed a 49Mb hard disk card. Operating system is MS-DOS 5.00. This line has been discontinued. The Manager had no problems running on the Amstrad. Packard Bell Pack-Mate: This system has an 80286 CPU and a color VGA monitor. There's 640K RAM, and 384K Extended Memory. Drives are one 40Mb internal hard disk, one 5.25", 1.2Mb drive, and one 3.5", 1.44 Mb drive. Operating system is MS-DOS 3.30. FILE-MAN 1.00 had no problems running on the Packard Bell. Version 2.XX has not been tested on any systems other than the Amstrad, where it showed no problems.