To: 999 (all members)
From: K5B (David J.MacGraw.)
Subject: 512 and DOS+ continued.
The AUTOEXEC.BAT file provides the DOS
user with the means to automatically
set up their machine to run a program
or, more usually, configure the system
to a preferred state. The file must be
in the ROOT directory of the start-up
or hard disc and is executed once DOS+
has been installed.
My (Winchester) root directory contains
the following entries:-
6502 SYS SYSTEM/RO attributes set.
DOSPLUS SYS ditto.
COMMAND COM RO attribute set.
AUTOEXEC BAT see below.
DOS <DIR> DOS+ disc utilities.
SYSTEM <DIR> 512 system utilities.
EASYPC <DIR> PCB layouts etc.
PIC <DIR> MicroChip PIC assembler.
SIMPLE <DIR> NSC's "Simple Switcher".
SAGE <DIR> Accounts package.
DEMOS <DIR> Various demo packages.
BASIC <DIR> Various BASIC's etc.
GAMES <DIR> (Well, why not?)
As you can see, each application is in
a sub-directory (most with further sub-
directories) to the root, facilitating
backing-up to floppies using PKZIP etc.
My AUTOEXEC.BAT file looks like this:
Echo Off suppress some screen output.
Prompt $p$g set prompt eg: C:½SAGE>
Path M:½;C:½System;C:½DOS;C:½ set path
System½RamDisc 120 install ES RAMDISC
Copy Command.COM M: copy COMMAND.COM
Set ComSpec=M:½Command.COM set COMSPEC
Set PKnoFastChar=ON req'd by PK v2.04g
SuprStar A install ES '*' for ADFS
Oscli Dir $.DOS appoint ADFS directory
Oscli Lib $.Library ditto ADFS library
LoadKeys System½HotKeys.def set hotkeys
InterCom install ES Command Line Editor
Tell All Wake > nul enable ES modules
Cls Clear Screen
TIP: A ramdisc copy of COMMAND.COM and
it's appointment via COMSPEC as shown
speeds up COMMAND.COM reload when over-
written by applications or when called
by 'shelling-out'; more info next time.
I prefer to 'descend' to an application
directory and then execute an AUTO.BAT
file to install and run it. Utilities
such as Problem Solver, PCCE and mouse
drivers can then be selectively loaded
as required - again, more next time.
The 10 function keys as set by DOSPLUS
were never very useful for me. They can
be changed (with care!) using any Hex
file editor - I use FED (Disc 512-3-5).
The definitions are stored at 013324h
in DOSPLUS.SYS (15.07.87) as follows:
f1 @ 013324h - "HELP",cr,null
f2 @ 01332Ah - "SDIR ",null
f3 @ 013330h - "SHOW ",null
f4 @ 013336h - "SET ",null
f5 @ 01333Bh - "COPY ",null
f6 @ 013341h - "REN ",null
f7 @ 013346h - "DEL ",null
f8 @ 01334Bh - "TYPE ",null
f9 @ 013351h - "CD ½",null
f0 @ 013356h - "GEM",cr,null
The positions of the null bytes can not
be altered (there must be a look-up
table somewhere - any takers?) but with
thought and perhaps some renaming, the
keys can be more useful. My set is:
f1 "AUTO",cr,null runs an application
f2 "LIST",cr,null runs LIST (#512-3-5)
f3 "CD..",cr,null moves to Parent
f4 "SET",cr,null displays environment
f5 "TV/t",cr,null TreeView (#512-3-6)
f6 "REN ",null as yet unchanged
f7 "FED",cr,null runs FED (#512-3-5)
f8 "TYPE ",null as yet unchanged
f9 "DIR",cr,null displays directory
f0 "CLS",cr,null clears screen
REMEMBER - try your own set on a BACKUP
before altering your main system discs!
Next time, more on batch files and a
tweak or two for COMMAND.COM.
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