BEGINNERS TIPS
Document 1110
BEGINNERS TIPS
Initials:
BPT
10/31/91
GENERAL
Keywords:
BEGINNER
PATH
COMMANDS
BATCH
HELP
Description:
Q- I'm just beginning to explore computers & DOS and want to know
what I should look at first?
A- The most important concept to grasp is that of PATHS. The next
item is skill with commands such as TREE, XDIR, etc. And perhaps
the most fun is in the creation of BATCH files. Then the real
exploration can begin.
PATH:
The back of the "Users Guide" has an excellent index that
will help you find explanations of these primary path commands:
TREE
CHDIR
MDIR
CD \
CD ..
PATH
It's important to remember that going into a path is much like
driving a car up a cul-de-sac to find someones house with a map.
- You start out on a main boulevard that you know (c:\)
- take various turns onto side streets (cd \drdos)
- and finally find the name your searching for (c:\drdos\tree.exe)
- To get back home, you must backup and retrace your steps (cd ..)
or you may know of a shortcut (cd \)
COMMANDS:
The DR DOS command set is quite a long listing but the first ones
to get familiar with are:
TREE
DIR
REN
COPY
DEL
UNDEL
Some of them, like DEL are quite destructive so exercise caution.
There are quite often "switches" that will customize the command
that may suit your purpose better, these can be found by typing
the command and a /h after it, for instance:
TREE /H
Or you can browse through DOSBOOK, just type:
DOSBOOK
BATCH FILES:
You could say that the machine (PC) is bi-lingual,
there are two types of files it reads:
1. "Executables" that can only be read
by the machine it'self, (they just
look like gobblety gook to us).
2. "Text" files that do make some sense!
I say some sense because they often
contain instructions for our machine.
Most of these files are critical to the happy operation of
your PC and should not be changed, but it is certainly ok
to go and look at them.
Some of the files that are "Text" based are:
1. AUTOEXEC.BAT
2. CONFIG.SYS
3. *.INI
A safe way to look at them is to use the command "TYPE".
Refer to *** below.
Example:
TYPE AUTOEXEC.BAT /P
There are things listed in your DR DOS "Users Guide" that
will show you what can be done or ways to simplify loading
programs, all it takes is making a "Batch" file (text file)
or editing an existing file. Look in the back of the guide
under the words:
BATCH
CONFIGURATION
AUTOEXEC.BAT
CONFIG.SYS
PROMPT
There are examples given in the guide that will get you started
on your exploration of DOS and the PC. Best of success to you.
*** To do a DOS command like "TYPE", you must know how to get
to the command line first. If a machine has been setup by
a consultant or store, they sometimes put you in a menu
program which gives a list of choices, or straight into an
application like a data base. Often, these programs or
applications offer a way to get to the COMMAND LINE, or as
it's sometimes called, the DOS PROMPT. Typing EXIT will
usually return to you to normal, but if it doesn't rebooting
the machine will start everything all over again. There is
an important rule regarding rebooting, "NEVER REBOOT IF YOU
ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PROGRAM" you should always exit to
the DOS PROMPT or use the "QUIT" option that is usually
available from a programs option list.
Example:
Page 35 to 44 = Paths/Directories
Page 145 to 352 = Commands
Page 113 to 136 = Batch commands
Page 356 to 397 = Config.sys
Page 294 = Prompt
BEGINNERS TIPS
Initials:
BPT
10/31/91
GENERAL
Keywords:
BEGINNER
PATH
COMMANDS
BATCH
HELP
Description:
Q- I'm just beginning to explore computers & DOS and want to know
what I should look at first?
A- The most important concept to grasp is that of PATHS. The next
item is skill with commands such as TREE, XDIR, etc. And perhaps
the most fun is in the creation of BATCH files. Then the real
exploration can begin.
PATH:
The back of the "Users Guide" has an excellent index that
will help you find explanations of these primary path commands:
TREE
CHDIR
MDIR
CD \
CD ..
PATH
It's important to remember that going into a path is much like
driving a car up a cul-de-sac to find someones house with a map.
- You start out on a main boulevard that you know (c:\)
- take various turns onto side streets (cd \drdos)
- and finally find the name your searching for (c:\drdos\tree.exe)
- To get back home, you must backup and retrace your steps (cd ..)
or you may know of a shortcut (cd \)
COMMANDS:
The DR DOS command set is quite a long listing but the first ones
to get familiar with are:
TREE
DIR
REN
COPY
DEL
UNDEL
Some of them, like DEL are quite destructive so exercise caution.
There are quite often "switches" that will customize the command
that may suit your purpose better, these can be found by typing
the command and a /h after it, for instance:
TREE /H
Or you can browse through DOSBOOK, just type:
DOSBOOK
BATCH FILES:
You could say that the machine (PC) is bi-lingual,
there are two types of files it reads:
1. "Executables" that can only be read
by the machine it'self, (they just
look like gobblety gook to us).
2. "Text" files that do make some sense!
I say some sense because they often
contain instructions for our machine.
Most of these files are critical to the happy operation of
your PC and should not be changed, but it is certainly ok
to go and look at them.
Some of the files that are "Text" based are:
1. AUTOEXEC.BAT
2. CONFIG.SYS
3. *.INI
A safe way to look at them is to use the command "TYPE".
Refer to *** below.
Example:
TYPE AUTOEXEC.BAT /P
There are things listed in your DR DOS "Users Guide" that
will show you what can be done or ways to simplify loading
programs, all it takes is making a "Batch" file (text file)
or editing an existing file. Look in the back of the guide
under the words:
BATCH
CONFIGURATION
AUTOEXEC.BAT
CONFIG.SYS
PROMPT
There are examples given in the guide that will get you started
on your exploration of DOS and the PC. Best of success to you.
*** To do a DOS command like "TYPE", you must know how to get
to the command line first. If a machine has been setup by
a consultant or store, they sometimes put you in a menu
program which gives a list of choices, or straight into an
application like a data base. Often, these programs or
applications offer a way to get to the COMMAND LINE, or as
it's sometimes called, the DOS PROMPT. Typing EXIT will
usually return to you to normal, but if it doesn't rebooting
the machine will start everything all over again. There is
an important rule regarding rebooting, "NEVER REBOOT IF YOU
ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PROGRAM" you should always exit to
the DOS PROMPT or use the "QUIT" option that is usually
available from a programs option list.
Example:
Page 35 to 44 = Paths/Directories
Page 145 to 352 = Commands
Page 113 to 136 = Batch commands
Page 356 to 397 = Config.sys
Page 294 = Prompt
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