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PC-SIG Diskette Library (Disk #254)
[PCjs Machine "ibm5170"]
Waiting for machine "ibm5170" to load....
Information about “PC-DOS HELP”
Lost in the wilds of DOS again? Here's real direction for you -- an
on-line help function for DOS commands in versions 2.0, 2.1 and PCjr.
This is especially informative for the beginner.
How do you get there from here? Just type HELP, followed by the DOS
command you are unsure of, and PC-DOS HELP shows you its proper usage
and leads you back into the light.
FILES254.TXT
Disk No 254
Program Title: PC-DOS HELP version 2.00
PC-SIG version 1.3
This program gives you an on-line help for DOS commands. Just type
HELP, followed by the DOS command you are unsure about, and PC-DOS HELP
will show you its proper usage. PC-DOS HELP includes information on DOS
2.1, 2.0 and the PC jr.
Usage: DOS Education.
Special Requirements: None.
How to Start: Type GO (press enter).
Suggested Registration: $15.00
File Descriptions
HELP EXE The HELP function program.
HCONFIG EXE HELP function configuration program.
HELP DOC Documentation for HELP.EXE (10K).
HELPREG DOC Registration form for HELP.
MAKEBKUP BAT Makes a backup of this disk.
CNV2_00 BAT Convert HELP for DOS 2.0.
CNVPCJR BAT Convert HELP for the PC jr.
CLEANUP BAT Cleans out the programs not needed after help is run.
PRIMARY <DIR>Primary help files.
SECNDRY <DIR>Secondary help files.
HELP2_00 <DIR>DOS 2.0 help files.
HELPPCJR <DIR>PC jrhelp files.
PC-SIG
1030D E Duane Avenue
Sunnyvale CA 94086
(408) 730-9291
(c) Copyright 1987,88 PC-SIG, Inc.
GO.TXT
╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ <<<< Disk No 254 PC-DOS HELP >>>> ║
╠═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ ║
║ To print the documentation on this disk, type: ║
║ ║
║ COPY HELP.DOC PRN (press enter) ║
║ ║
║ To run the program, type: ║
║ ║
║ HELP (press enter) ║
║ ║
╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
HELP.DOC
PC-DOS 2.00 & 2.10 HELP Function
--------------------------------
Copyright (C) 1984 by: Chris Bailey
P.O. Box 332
Peterborough, Ontario
Canada, K9J 6Z3
Distribution Notice
The HELP function is made available as a User-Supported "public
domain" package consisting of the program, help and document
files listed below. You are encouraged to give copies to your
friends for evaluation, however only complete "distribution
copies" should be made using the batch file MAKEBKUP.BAT provided
on the diskette. Please do not distribute altered copies. The
package MUST NOT be sold by retailers. If after a short
evaluation period you find this HELP function is of value to you,
please register your copy with me using the HELPREG.DOC file on
this diskette and include a recommended contribution of $15. (If
you obtained this diskette directly from me, the $10 charged is
used to cover the cost of materials, postage and handling) This
$15 contribution helps me continue software development and
provide you with new and interesting software products at
reasonable prices. You will also be informed of updates and new
software packages as they become available if you register.
Additional copies of this package are available on request for
$25 ($10 for handling & $15 contribution).
Businesses, schools and other facilities that wish to make many
copies of this package or put the package on a network may obtain
site licence privileges by paying a fee based on the following
calculation:
$15 - for the first copy of the package;
plus $5 - for each additional copy made, or each computer
or terminal accessing the package via a network
(up to a maximum total of $200).
or $200 - to obtain unlimited copying and network access
privileges at the site.
To continue developing software that is affordable I require a
certain monetary return on this product. This package is better
than most computer aids available today, and has been distributed
through the public domain to keep the marketing, packaging and
distribution costs down. These benefits have been passed on to
you the user by allowing you to "try before you buy" and
utimately asking for a modest $15 contribution (what other
software can you get for $15 ?). In the true spirit of
User-Supported software, you the user must support the product in
a monetary manner if you use it (otherwise it's called software
piracy). The alternative is to not pay and discourage software
authors from using the public domain as a distribution method.
This will only help drive up the cost of software in general.
This package is distributed on an "as is" basis without warranty.
Every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of the text
and examples included in the help files, however the package is
intended as a supplement to your copy of the DOS manual, not a
replacement. If contradictions arise between the DOS manual and
the HELP files, the DOS manual must prevail.
HELP Function Files on this Diskette
The following files and directories should be present on your
copy of the distribution diskette:
HELP.EXE - The HELP Function program.
HCONFIG.EXE - HELP Function configuration program.
HELP.DOC - This file.
HELPREG.DOC - HELP Function registration form.
MAKEBKUP.BAT - Make a backup of this disk.
CNV2_00.BAT - Convert the HELP files for DOS version 2.00.
CNVPCJR.BAT - Convert the HELP files for use with PCjr.
CLEANUP.BAT - Delete extra files to free up disk space after
the HELP Function is configured for your system.
\PRIMARY - All primary help files (50 files).
\SECNDRY - All secondary help files (58 files).
\HELP2_00\PRIMARY - DOS 2.00 primary help file changes (2 files).
\SECNDRY - DOS 2.00 secondary help file changes (7 files).
\HELPPCJR\PRIMARY - PCjr primary help file changes (9 files).
\SECNDRY - PCjr secondary help file changes (12 files).
Computer Required to Use HELP
To successfully use the HELP function, you will require the
following computer system:
IBM Personal Computer, PCjr, or a compatible machine
One or more diskette drives
80 column color/graphics or monochrome display
PC-DOS 2.00 or 2.10
HELP Function Capabilities
The HELP function provides an on-screen help capability that
should helpful for anyone using PC-DOS 2.00 or 2.10. As
distributed this package contains two levels of help for all DOS
commands, an abbreviated version and a detailed explanation
including examples. In addition, many topics not normally
discussed are explained at length in the secondary help files.
Solutions to common computer problems and clarifications of some
DOS concepts are also addressed.
To invoke the HELP function, enter the command "HELP" followed by
the Enter key. This will show you the topics available at the
primary help level. To view the help file, enter the command
"HELP" followed by a space followed by the topic of interest
followed by the Enter key. The secondary help level is accessed
in a similar manner by entering "HELP /S" to see the topics
available, and "HELP topic/S" to view the secondary help file on
this topic (note there is no space between the topic and the
"/S" in the command).
Backing Up Your Distribution Diskette
Before using or altering this HELP function distribution diskette
a backup copy should be made. You may do this using your
favorite method or by invoking the batch file MAKEBKUP.BAT
included on the distribution diskette. If your computer has only
one disk drive, the files DISKCOPY and DISKCOMP must be copied
from your DOS diskette to this diskette before running the batch
file. Place a write protect tab over the notch on the side of
your diskette before backing up. Invoke the batch file by
entering the command "MAKEBKUP p: s: d:" followed by the Enter
key. In the command you should replace "p:" with the drive
containing the DOS programs DISKCOPY and DISKCOMP in the default
directory, "s:" with the diskette drive containing the
distribution diskette, and "d:" with the destination disk drive
to write the copy. The destination diskette must be formatted
before starting this batch file.
Examples:
* To backup using a single drive system, the command would be
entered as "MAKEBKUP A: A: A:". DOS will prompt for the source
and destination diskettes at the appropriate times and may
require the insertion of a system diskette a couple of times.
* To backup in a dual drive system, the command is entered as
"MAKEBKUP A: B: B:" to do a single drive copy in drive B: while
leaving the DOS diskette in drive A:
Configuring the HELP Function for Your Computer
There are several things that must be done to prepare the HELP
function for your computer. As supplied, the HELP function
describes the commands for PC-DOS version 2.10. If you are using
DOS 2.00, submit the batch file CNV2_00.BAT to convert the help
files to explain DOS 2.00 (make sure you have a backup copy of
the HELP distribution diskette before doing this). To submit the
file, put your diskette copy in the default diskette drive and
enter the command "CNV2_00" followed by the Enter key.
If you are using a PCjr, you will be running DOS 2.10. The keys
on the PCjr keyboard are different, so there is a batch file
CNVPCJR.BAT to convert the help files to reference those keys.
Submit the batch file by putting your distribution diskette in
the default diskette drive and entering the command "CNVPCJR"
followed by the Enter key. If you only have one disk drive, that
drive is the default. Make sure you have a backup copy of the
HELP distribution diskette before doing this.
You must decide which disk is to contain the help function. It
might be easiest to keep your HELP distribution diskette as a
dedicated help diskette. Another alternative is to copy the file
HELP.EXE to your DOS system diskette and leave the help files on
the distribution diskette in drive B:. For those of you with a
fixed disk, you might be able to put all the primary and
secondary help files on your fixed disk. The choice is up to
you, however you should perform the next step before actually
copying any files to other disks (aside from your backup).
A program named HCONFIG.EXE is supplied on the distribution
diskette to allow you to configure the HELP function for your
system. This allows you to specify the directories, disk drives
and filename extensions that HELP.EXE should use when responding
to primary and secondary help requests. To run the program,
enter "HCONFIG" followed by the Enter key. Both HELP.EXE and
HCONFIG.EXE must be in the default diskette drive and directory.
When HELP.EXE is configured, copy the help files and HELP.EXE to
the directories you have decided upon and try obtaining some
help. If help is not displayed as expected, you have probably
done something wrong while using HCONFIG, so rerun that program
and check for errors. After fixing the specifications, copy
HELP.EXE to your selected disk again and retest it.
If you have decided to use this copy of your distribution
diskette as a dedicated HELP diskette, you can free up some space
by running the batch file CLEANUP.BAT. This will delete all the
help files you will not need after configuring for your system.
You should only run this after converting to DOS 2.00 or PCjr (if
desired). The file is submitted by entering "CLEANUP" followed
by the Enter key.
Adding New Help Topics
If you view the subdirectories \PRIMARY and \SECNDRY on the
distribution diskette with the DIR command, you will see that
each topic available for help is a file with the same name and
the extension ".HLP". This makes it easy for you to add new help
topics to the diskette. One of the best uses I have found is to
keep track of programs I have written. Once a program is written
and tested, a short help file of the same name is created so that
in six month's time I can figure out what that program is
supposed to do. Each help file should be entered as an ASCII
file (non-document mode for those of you with Wordstar) so it
will display correctly on the screen, and must be under 64 Kbytes
in length. In addition, the help filenames should not contain
the characters =+[];: or " .
Give a copy of HELP to your friends, and encourage them to make a
$15 contribution as well (that's the whole idea behind
User-Supported software; it's supported by the users)! PLEASE
make all copies from your original distribution diskette. I
really don't want to get many different versions of the help
files circulating. If you have new examples for the DOS help
files or disagree with my interpretations please let me know so
the problems can be corrected in future releases. There is one
exception though; a special file named ADDENDUM.HLP in the
secondary help files where you are invited to make additions that
might aid others in their understanding and interpretation of
PC-DOS.
IBM PC, XT, PCjr & PC-DOS are registered trademarks of International
Business Machines.
HELPREG.DOC
HELP Function Registration Form Source diskette: HV1_0240
Please send to: Chris Bailey
P.O. Box 332
Peterborough, Ontario
Canada, K9J 6Z3
If you have found the HELP function to be worth-while, please
send a contribution of $15 (for individuals) to the address
above. This helps defray the cost of development and makes it
possible to write new high quality, low cost software products
for you. Registering your copy guarantees that you will be
informed of updates to this HELP function, and receive
announcements about my newest products as soon as they are
available. Additional copies of this HELP function are available
on request for $25 ($10 for handling & $15 contribution).
Businesses and institutions may obtain site licences by sending
a fee calculated as shown in the HELP.DOC file.
Please fill in the following information:
Name _______________________________________________________
Company _______________________________________________________
Address __________________________________ Apt/Unit __________
City ________________ Prov/State _________ Code/Zip _______
If possible, could you please answer the following questions?
This information helps me determine what software products are
likely to be of interest to you, and how to distribute them.
Type of Computer (Brand name & model) _____________
Number of floppy disk drives: 1 2 ____
Fixed disk: No / Yes Capacity in Megabytes: 5 10 ___
RAM space in Kbytes ________
Display Adaptor: Color/Graphics Monochrome
Adaptor Brand (c/g only): IBM Quadcolor Unknown Other_______
Printer Brand ________________ Model _____________
Printer Communication Protocol: Parallel Serial
Paper used: Fan fold Single sheet Roll
Which version of PC-DOS do you use ? __.___
What software packages do you use ? ___________________________
___________________________
Where did your copy of this diskette come from ?
Friend [ ] Original from CB [ ] User Group_______________
Other (please specify)_________________
Please use the space below to report any problems or make any
suggestions about the HELP function. Are there any utilities you
would like to see written to help make your PC more useful or
easier to use ?
Directory of PC-SIG Library Disk #0254
Volume in drive A has no label
Directory of A:\
CLEANUP BAT 1134 9-05-84 1:00p
CNV2_00 BAT 609 9-05-84 1:00p
CNVPCJR BAT 640 9-05-84 1:00p
FILES254 TXT 1106 10-27-88 4:30p
GO BAT 30 10-17-88 3:46p
GO TXT 1002 10-20-88 4:36p
HCONFIG EXE 4724 9-05-84 1:00p
HELP DOC 11560 9-05-84 1:00p
HELP EXE 4772 10-17-88 2:58p
HELPREG DOC 2629 7-15-85 8:21p
MAKEBKUP BAT 2042 9-05-84 1:00p
HELP2_00 <DIR>
HELPPCJR <DIR>
PRIMARY <DIR>
SECNDRY <DIR>
15 file(s) 30248 bytes
Directory of A:\HELP2_00
. <DIR>
.. <DIR>
PRIMARY <DIR>
SECNDRY <DIR>
4 file(s) 0 bytes
Directory of A:\HELP2_00\PRIMARY
. <DIR>
.. <DIR>
FDISK HLP 293 9-05-84 1:03p
SET HLP 369 9-05-84 1:03p
4 file(s) 662 bytes
Directory of A:\HELP2_00\SECNDRY
. <DIR>
.. <DIR>
BATCH HLP 4100 9-05-84 1:03p
CHKDSK HLP 2530 9-05-84 1:03p
DATE HLP 1483 9-05-84 1:03p
EXE2BIN HLP 852 9-05-84 1:03p
FDISK HLP 570 9-05-84 1:03p
SET HLP 415 9-05-84 1:03p
TIME HLP 1521 9-05-84 1:03p
9 file(s) 11471 bytes
Directory of A:\HELPPCJR
. <DIR>
.. <DIR>
PRIMARY <DIR>
SECNDRY <DIR>
4 file(s) 0 bytes
Directory of A:\HELPPCJR\PRIMARY
. <DIR>
.. <DIR>
BREAK HLP 136 9-05-84 1:03p
DEVICES HLP 1242 9-05-84 1:03p
GRAPHICS HLP 633 9-05-84 1:03p
HELP HLP 1274 9-05-84 1:03p
JRKEYS HLP 1318 9-05-84 1:03p
KEYS HLP 2136 9-05-84 1:03p
MODE HLP 2012 9-05-84 1:03p
PRINT HLP 1127 9-05-84 1:03p
REDIRECT HLP 1454 9-05-84 1:03p
11 file(s) 11332 bytes
Directory of A:\HELPPCJR\SECNDRY
. <DIR>
.. <DIR>
BACKUP HLP 2387 9-05-84 1:03p
BADDISK HLP 5260 9-05-84 1:03p
BREAK HLP 958 9-05-84 1:03p
CHKDSK HLP 2529 9-05-84 1:03p
DEVICES HLP 1242 9-05-84 1:03p
GRAPHICS HLP 1158 9-05-84 1:03p
HELP HLP 1863 9-05-84 1:03p
JRKEYS HLP 1172 9-05-84 1:03p
KEYS HLP 4341 9-05-84 1:03p
MODE HLP 3979 9-05-84 1:03p
PRINT HLP 2509 9-05-84 1:03p
REDIRECT HLP 2570 9-05-84 1:03p
14 file(s) 29968 bytes
Directory of A:\PRIMARY
. <DIR>
.. <DIR>
ASSIGN HLP 175 9-05-84 1:00p
BACKUP HLP 481 9-05-84 1:00p
BREAK HLP 129 9-05-84 1:00p
CD HLP 90 9-05-84 1:00p
CHDIR HLP 93 9-05-84 1:00p
CHKDSK HLP 273 9-05-84 1:00p
CLS HLP 37 9-05-84 1:00p
COMP HLP 261 9-05-84 1:00p
COPY HLP 1381 9-05-84 1:00p
CTTY HLP 248 9-05-84 1:00p
DATE HLP 328 9-05-84 1:00p
DEL HLP 294 9-05-84 1:00p
DEVICES HLP 1096 9-05-84 1:00p
DIR HLP 332 9-05-84 1:00p
DISKCOMP HLP 531 9-05-84 1:00p
DISKCOPY HLP 458 9-05-84 1:00p
ERASE HLP 302 9-05-84 1:00p
EXE2BIN HLP 181 9-05-84 1:00p
FDISK HLP 293 9-05-84 1:00p
FIND HLP 804 9-05-84 1:00p
FORMAT HLP 1078 9-05-84 1:00p
GLOBALS HLP 746 9-05-84 1:00p
GRAPHICS HLP 629 9-05-84 1:00p
HELP HLP 1201 9-05-84 1:00p
KEYS HLP 1986 9-05-84 1:00p
MD HLP 78 9-05-84 1:00p
MKDIR HLP 84 9-05-84 1:00p
MODE HLP 1996 9-05-84 1:00p
MORE HLP 294 9-05-84 1:01p
PATH HLP 576 9-05-84 1:01p
PIPING HLP 840 9-05-84 1:01p
PRINT HLP 1001 9-05-84 1:01p
PROMPT HLP 767 9-05-84 1:01p
RD HLP 323 9-05-84 1:01p
RECOVER HLP 386 9-05-84 1:01p
REDIRECT HLP 1456 9-05-84 1:01p
REN HLP 321 9-05-84 1:01p
RENAME HLP 327 9-05-84 1:01p
RESTORE HLP 438 9-05-84 1:01p
RMDIR HLP 329 9-05-84 1:01p
SET HLP 377 9-05-84 1:01p
SORT HLP 465 9-05-84 1:01p
SYNTAX HLP 2334 9-05-84 1:01p
SYS HLP 427 9-05-84 1:01p
TIME HLP 492 9-05-84 1:01p
TREE HLP 177 9-05-84 1:01p
TYPE HLP 164 9-05-84 1:01p
VER HLP 89 9-05-84 1:01p
VERIFY HLP 486 9-05-84 1:01p
VOL HLP 87 9-05-84 1:01p
52 file(s) 27741 bytes
Directory of A:\SECNDRY
. <DIR>
.. <DIR>
ADDENDUM HLP 1821 9-05-84 1:01p
ASSIGN HLP 1062 9-05-84 1:01p
BACKUP HLP 2381 9-05-84 1:01p
BACKUPS HLP 5629 9-05-84 1:01p
BADDISK HLP 5254 9-05-84 1:01p
BATCH HLP 4100 9-05-84 1:01p
BREAK HLP 956 9-05-84 1:01p
CD HLP 208 9-05-84 1:01p
CHDIR HLP 2447 9-05-84 1:01p
CHKDSK HLP 2531 9-05-84 1:01p
CLS HLP 322 9-05-84 1:01p
COMP HLP 2508 9-05-84 1:01p
COPY HLP 6288 9-05-84 1:01p
CTTY HLP 1184 9-05-84 1:01p
DATE HLP 1483 9-05-84 1:01p
DEL HLP 212 9-05-84 1:01p
DEVICES HLP 1096 9-05-84 1:01p
DIR HLP 2333 9-05-84 1:01p
DISKCOMP HLP 2283 9-05-84 1:02p
DISKCOPY HLP 1766 9-05-84 1:02p
DISKS HLP 4214 9-05-84 1:02p
ERASE HLP 1289 9-05-84 1:02p
EXE2BIN HLP 851 9-05-84 1:02p
FDISK HLP 570 9-05-84 1:02p
FIND HLP 2290 9-05-84 1:02p
FORMAT HLP 2982 9-05-84 1:02p
FRAGMENT HLP 3774 9-05-84 1:02p
GLOBALS HLP 1630 9-05-84 1:02p
GRAPHICS HLP 1146 9-05-84 1:02p
HELP HLP 1788 9-05-84 1:02p
KEYS HLP 4245 9-05-84 1:02p
MAINT HLP 1374 9-05-84 1:02p
MD HLP 201 9-05-84 1:02p
MKDIR HLP 1527 9-05-84 1:02p
MODE HLP 4149 9-05-84 1:02p
MORE HLP 975 9-05-84 1:02p
PATH HLP 1419 9-05-84 1:02p
PIPING HLP 1282 9-05-84 1:02p
POWER HLP 1500 9-05-84 1:02p
PRINT HLP 2419 9-05-84 1:02p
PROMPT HLP 1473 9-05-84 1:02p
RD HLP 181 9-05-84 1:02p
RECOVER HLP 2459 9-05-84 1:02p
REDIRECT HLP 2574 9-05-84 1:02p
REN HLP 182 9-05-84 1:02p
RENAME HLP 1160 9-05-84 1:02p
RESTORE HLP 2117 9-05-84 1:02p
RMDIR HLP 1006 9-05-84 1:02p
SET HLP 423 9-05-84 1:02p
SORT HLP 1842 9-05-84 1:02p
SYNTAX HLP 2334 9-05-84 1:02p
SYS HLP 732 9-05-84 1:02p
TIME HLP 1521 9-05-84 1:02p
TREE HLP 926 9-05-84 1:02p
TYPE HLP 1125 9-05-84 1:02p
VER HLP 307 9-05-84 1:03p
VERIFY HLP 824 9-05-84 1:03p
VOL HLP 297 9-05-84 1:03p
60 file(s) 106972 bytes
Total files listed:
173 file(s) 218394 bytes
2048 bytes free