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                   MINIMUM DOS COMMANDS FOR USING SHAREWARE
       
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       Before we move forward, a brief refresher course in several
       basic DOS operations without which a shareware disk is useless.

                                DOS SYNTAX

       A DOS command must always use the same syntax illustrated
       below:

       COMMAND <blank space> WHAT? <space> WHERE? <press return/enter>

       Example: COPY PCLEARN.TXT B:  <press return/enter key>
       Example: TYPE PCLEARN.DOC     <press return/enter key>

       In the second example DOS assume the WHERE is the screen.
       In the first example DOS needs to be told that a copy
       of a file is to be sent to the B: floppy drive.

       NOTE! Generally DOS commands, drive letters and filenames
       and be typed in upper or lower case or both, since DOS
       is not fussy in that respect. It is ok to use capital letters, 
       small letters or any combination.

                                THE DIR COMMAND
       
       An essential command which displays the names of the files 
       on a disk.

       Example: A>DIR <press return/enter>   
       
       Lists files on the diskette your are in THE DEFAULT DRIVE, in 
       this case is A:

       Example: A>DIR B:

       Lists files in the B: drive. We have omitted the <press enter/
       return> since you already know this is necessary after a DOS
       command.

       Example: A>DIR /P

       List files in current default drive but pause after each 
       screenful of information.

       Example: A>DIR B: /P

       Same as above, but list the files on B: drive with a pause.

       Example: A>DIR /W  

       List current default drive but display in wide screen mode
       for numerous files.

       NOTE! With any DOS operation which rapidly fills and overflows
       the screen with data, try pressing CTRL-S (control or ctrl key
       plus the S key together at same time) to pause the screen.
       Any key touched resumes the scrolling display and CTRL-S
       repeated pauses again. Very handy!

       NOTE! Switching drives is easy. If you see this:    A>
       and you want to change the default drive to this:   B>
       then simply do this:       A>B:   <press return/enter>
       Switching default drives is an essential skill!

                              THE FORMAT COMMAND

       This prepares a blank disk to receive new information. You must
       format disks out of the package from the store before you can 
       use them. Formatting tests a disk and installs magnetic tracks
       where information will later reside.

       Examples:

       C>FORMAT A:           format floppy in A:
       A>FORMAT B:           format floppy in B:
       C>FORMAT B:/S         see below for explanation . . .

       The last example formats the disk in B: drive and also adds the
       special system files so that the disk can be self starting
       or self booting. Not essential with most disk you will work 
       with. You MUST have the special file FORMAT.COM on your disk or 
       hard drive to able to do this operation since FORMAT.COM normally
       resides EXTERNALLY on a floppy or in a special area of your hard 
       drive.

                        THE COPY AND DISKCOPY COMMANDS

       Moves, copies and even renames files as they pass from one
       disk to another.

       Examples:

       A>COPY *.* B:    Copies ALL files (indicated by *.*) to the
                        B: floppy drive.

       A>DISKCOPY A: B: 

       This is a variation of the copy command. The above example will
       copy the ENTIRE contents of the diskette in the A: drive to the
       B: drive. DISKCOPY.COM is an external file and must be available
       to be used! The COPY command is an internal command (always 
       resides in your computer's RAM memory and is thus ALWAYS 
       AVAILABLE - unlike DISKCOPY.COM)
       
       A>DISKCOPY A: A:

       This is a variation of the diskcopy command. The above example will
       copy the ENTIRE contents of the diskette in the A: drive to the
       A: drive for those using ONLY a single floppy drive system and
       perhaps not having a B: or C: drive. In essence, this variation
       copies the SOURCE diskette into memory, allows you to remove the
       SOURCE diskette, insert a blank formatted TARGET diskette and 
       transfer the files to that new floppy. Useful for those having only 
       a single floppy drive.

       C>COPY A:*.* B:

       Copies all files from A: to B: while still in the C: default
       directory.

       C>COPY A:HAPPY.DOC B:

       Copies only the file HAPPY.DOC to B:

       NOTE! DISKCOPY is an external command and must be on the disk
       or in the default directory to work. COPY is an internal command
       and is always available at the DOS command line. We mentioned 
       this before, but it is worth repeating . . . 

                                 TYPE COMMAND 

       Lets you view the internal contents of a file on the screen.
       If the file is in ASCII or english text (same thing) you will be 
       able to read it. If the file is not ASCII then you will see
       symbols which are gibberish. Only text or ASCII files are
       readable for the most part.

       Examples:

       C>TYPE MANUAL.DOC 

       Type the contents of the file MANUAL.DOC to the screen. Remember
       to use CTRL-S to pause, any key to resume scrolling and
       CTRL-S to pause again.

       A>TYPE B:MANUAL.DOC

       Type the file MANUAL.DOC which is located on the B: drive to the 
       screen.

                                 PRINT COMMAND

       There are actually two ways to print text or documentation files 
       on your printer.
       
       Examples:

       C>PRINT EXAMPLE.DOC

       Prints on your printer the contents of the file EXAMPLE.DOC.
       Note that PRINT command is an external file and must be present
       in the default drive to be used!

       C>TYPE EXAMPLE.DOC>PRN

       This is a useful alternative method of accomplishing the same 
       result by using the TYPE command which is an internal command, 
       always available and redirecting the output to a printer. The small
       > symbol is found as a shifted period mark on most keyboards
       and in other locations on your keyboard. Be sure to find and try 
       the > symbol. 

       NOTE! To stop printing use the CTRL-C key combination to stop the 
       printing and completely abort. CTRL-C works to abort just about 
       ANY DOS operation safely.


