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PC-SIG Diskette Library (Disk #558)
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Information about “PC-PROMPT”
PC-PROMPT is a unique, memory-resident DOS help program that
automatically provides information for DOS commands as you type them.
The F10 function key can display additional help whenever needed. Help
screens can also be invoked for EDLIN, DEBUG, BASIC and Borland's Turbo
Pascal editor.
Since PC-PROMPT is memory-resident, it stays loaded in memory until you
reboot the PC. It automatically activates at the DOS prompt, and
deactivates whenever you execute any DOS command, batch file, or
program. Because of this, it is compatible with most software, even
with programs which do direct screen memory operations without using
DOS. It is even compatible with various other memory-resident programs
such as RAM drive emulators, printer spoolers, and Borland's SideKick.
FILE0558.TXT
Disk No: 558
Disk Title: PC-Prompt
PC-SIG Version: S3.1
Program Title: PC-Prompt
Author Version: 3.0
Author Registration: 10.00
Special Requirements: None.
PC-PROMPT is a unique, memory-resident DOS help program that
automatically provides information for DOS commands as you type them.
The F10 function key can display additional help whenever needed. Help
screens can also be invoked for EDLIN, DEBUG, BASIC and Borland's Turbo
Pascal editor.
Since PC-PROMPT is memory-resident, it stays loaded in memory until you
reboot the PC. It automatically activates at the DOS prompt, and
deactivates whenever you execute any DOS command, batch file, or
program. Because of this, it is compatible with most software, even
with programs which do direct screen memory operations without using
DOS. It is even compatible with various other memory-resident programs
such as RAM drive emulators, printer spoolers, and even Borland's
SideKick.
PC-SIG
1030D East Duane Avenue
Sunnyvale Ca. 94086
(408) 730-9291
(c) Copyright 1989 PC-SIG, Inc.
GO.TXT
╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ <<<< PC-SIG Disk #558 PC-PROMPT >>>> ║
╠═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ To print User's Guide for PC-Prompt, type: ║
║ COPY HELP.DOC PRN (press Enter) ║
║ ║
║ For further instructions, type: TYPE README.TXT (press Enter) ║
║ ║
║ To read author's notes, type: TYPE NOTES558.TXT (press Enter ║
╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
(c) Copyright 1990, PC-SIG Inc.
HELP.DOC
PC-prompt USER'S GUIDE
Lake Medici Software
17 Medici Court
Baltimore, MD 21234
Copyright (c) 1985,1986 Anthony J. Spuria
All rights reserved
CONTENTS PAGE
Introduction ..........................................1
Installation ..........................................2
Starting PC-prompt ....................................3
Using PC-prompt .......................................4
Stopping PC-prompt ....................................5
PROMPT Command Considerations .........................6
In Case of Trouble ....................................7
Appendix A -- Using an AUTOEXEC.BAT file ..............8
Appendix B -- A Sneak Preview ........................10
Appendix C -- PC-prompt Licensing Terms...............11
Appendix D -- Customized Prompts and Help Screens.....12
Appendix E -- Benefits of Registering PC-prompt.......13
Introduction
PC-prompt is a unique memory-resident help utility for
the IBM PC, XT, AT, and compatibles. It looks for DOS
commands as you type them and automatically displays
their syntax definitions in inverse video on the last
line of your monitor screen.
Pressing the F10 function key instantly displays a
help window for the command being entered. This
window overlays whatever information was on the first
23 lines of the screen. The command being typed still
shows on line 24, and the proper format for the
command is still displayed on the last line.
You can leave the help window on the screen as you
finish typing the command, or you can press the F10
key again to return to your previous display. Leaving
the help screen activated lets you finish entering the
command while you can still see examples of its use
and descriptions of its parameters and options. In
either case, the command syntax remains on the last
line as a reference. If the help window is still
active when you press the Enter key, it will
automatically be replaced by your original screen
before the command is executed.
Pressing the F10 key while at the DOS command level
calls up a help window which lists most of the
commonly used DOS commands. You can toggle back and
forth at will between this window and your previous
display by pressing the F10 key.
Since PC-prompt is memory-resident, it stays loaded in
memory until you reboot the PC. It automatically
activates when DOS reaches the command level, and
deactivates whenever you execute any DOS command,
Batch file, or program. Because of this, it is
compatible with most software, even with programs
which do direct screen memory operations without using
DOS. It is even compatible with various other
memory-resident programs such as RAM Drive emulators,
printer spoolers, and even Borland's SideKick.
If you can't wait to see PC-prompt in action, jump
ahead to Appendix B -- A SNEAK PREVIEW. However,
be sure to come back and read the rest of this
User's Guide as soon as you have sampled PC-prompt
in action.
1
PC-prompt INSTALLATION
PC-prompt has two modes of operation. The Full-Help
mode operates as described in the introduction. The
current version of PC-prompt requires about 33K
bytes of memory for this mode. If this leaves you
without enough memory for some particular application,
you can still get the pop-up command syntax
descriptions by selecting the Prompts-Only mode of
operation. This mode uses less than 14K bytes of
memory.
The Full-Help mode requires the files:
HELP.EXE
HELPF.CMP
HELPPOPF.CMP
HELPCMDF.NCP
HELPTABF.NCP
The Prompts-Only mode requires the files:
HELP.EXE
HELPP.CMP
HELPPOPP.CMP
HELPCMDP.NCP
HELPTABP.NCP
For convenience you can copy all files required for
the mode(s) you intend to use onto your boot disk. You only
need these files to start PC-prompt after you boot
your computer, so it is not actually necessary to keep
them on your system disk. However, this allows you to
automatically invoke PC-prompt with an AUTOEXEC.BAT
command file. See Appendix A for further information
about using an AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
2
STARTING PC-prompt
All of the required HELP files must be in the default drive
(and subdirectory) when you start PC-prompt. The default
drive can be set by entering its drive letter followed by a
colon and then pressing the Enter key. For example, if the
files are on drive A, issue the command:
A:
and press Enter. If the files are in a subdirectory, use
the CD command to change to this directory. For
example, if the files are in a subdirectory named "HELP"
just below the root level on drive A, issue the command:
CD \HELP
and press Enter.
After you have set the default drive (and subdirectory),
issue the command:
HELP
and press Enter.
The PC-prompt disk can be removed after the program has
initialized itself; it is not needed again unless you
reboot.
When you start PC-prompt, it lets you select either the
"Full-Help" or "Prompts-Only" operating mode. As an
option, you can make this selection when you start
PC-prompt by appending an F (for Full-Help) or P (for
Prompts-Only) on the command line as follows:
HELP F
or
HELP P
By doing this you avoid having PC-prompt explain your
options and request your selection. This makes it possible
to start PC-prompt automatically each time you boot your
PC. To do this, simply put the HELP F or HELP P command in
your AUTOEXEC.BAT command file. See Appendix A for
information about using an AUTOEXEC.BAT command file.
3
USING PC-prompt
PC-prompt uses the last line of the display as a
prompt line. When it first recognizes the standard
DOS command prompt (for example, A> ), it explains
that you can get a list of DOS commands by pressing
the F10 function key. Try it. Press F10 again to
restore your old screen. You can toggle back and
forth between the current PC-prompt help screen and
your normal screen whenever DOS is waiting for you
to enter a command.
Once PC-prompt has been started, it continually
monitors keyboard input and screen output made using
the standard DOS console device handler CON. When it
recognizes a DOS command, it automatically prompts on
the bottom line of the screen with the general format
for that command. This may be all you need, but if
you have selected the Full-Help mode and you want more
help just press the F10 function key. A pop-up help
window for the command will appear giving examples of
its use and describing any parameters or options it
may have. You can continue typing the command while
the help screen is still being displayed, or you can
press the F10 key again to restore your old screen
before you continue. If you leave the help window on
the screen, PC-prompt will automatically restore your
previous screen when you press Enter.
Although PC-prompt is mainly an aid for using DOS at
the command level, it also provides help while you are
using BASIC, DEBUG, EDLIN or Borland's Turbo Pascal
editor. Within these programs you can toggle back and
forth between the help screen and your normal screen
by pressing Shift-Alt-F10 (press and hold Shift and
Alt keys, then press F10). This three-key "hot key"
combination is used to prevent accidentally interfering
with programs which use the function keys alone or with
the control, shift or alt key.
4
When PC-prompt is activated within one of these
programs, Shift-Alt-F10 can be used to restore your
normal display screen. Since BASIC and the Turbo
Pascal editor sidestep the standard DOS keyboard and
screen routines, you should restore you screen before
typing any command within these pregrams. When using
DEBUG or EDLIN, however, you can use the automatic
screen restoration that takes place when you press
Enter.
Note also that help for Turbo Pascal applies only
within the editor portion of this program. DO NOT
press Shift-Alt-F10 within other portions of this
program or you will exit back to DOS without saving
your work.
STOPPING PC-prompt
PC-prompt can be temporarily disabled by changing
the DOS command prompt as described below under
"Prompt Command Considerations". In order to recover
the memory it uses, however, you must reboot by
pressing Ctrl-Alt-Del. If you started PC-prompt with
an AUTOEXEC.BAT file, you can either:
1. Modify AUTOEXEC.BAT to remove the HELP F or HELP P
command.
or
2. Rename AUTOEXEC.BAT to another name so that it
will not be executed when you reboot.
You MUST do something of this sort before you reboot
or PC-prompt will just be automatically restarted.
5
PROMPT COMMAND CONSIDERATIONS
PC-prompt monitors all DOS operating system output to
the screen and looks for the normal A> ( or B> or C> )
command prompt. If you have changed this standard
prompt with the
PROMPT [prompt-text]
command, either manually or in an AUTOEXEC.BAT file, it
won't find this and won't do its automatic command
prompting. You can correct this situation by reissuing
the PROMPT command without any prompt-text parameter.
You can use this PROMPT command with and without the
prompt-text if you ever want to temporarily disable and
enable PC-prompt. If you want to modify the command
prompt and still keep PC-prompt active, you must follow
one simple rule:
The last characters in the prompt-text MUST be
$_$n$g
These are special meta-characters used by the PROMPT
command which function as follows:
$_ returns the cursor to the start of the next line
$n is replaced by the default drive letter
$g is replaced by the ">" symbol
These meta-characters must be entered exactly as
shown, in lower case with no spaces between them.
A commonly used prompt command which shows your
current default drive and subdirectory is:
PROMPT $p
This command temporarily disables PC-prompt. You can
reenable it either by issuing the PROMPT command with
no prompt-text, or by entering the command:
PROMPT $p$_$n$g
This command displays your default drive and
subdirectory on one line, followed by the normal DOS
prompt on the next line.
6
IN CASE OF TROUBLE
If PC-prompt ever stops working, issue the command:
PROMPT
with no parameters. This will restore the standard
DOS command prompt if it has been changed. See the
section "PROMPT COMMAND CONSIDERATIONS" for more
details about using the PROMPT command in conjunction
with PC-prompt.
If you have restored the normal DOS command prompt but PC-prompt
is still not working, it may be necessary to change the
order in which you install memory resident software in
your system. For example, RAM disk emulators often
must be loaded before any other resident software.
Other programs like BORLAND's SIDEKICK, for example,
want to be the last resident programs loaded. Try
starting memory resident programs in another order to
see what works best in your particular situation. In
some cases you may have to choose between PC-prompt and
some other program if the two are not compatible.
7
APPENDIX A -- USING an AUTOEXEC.BAT FILE
In its simplest form, a batch file is just a text file
with DOS commands on each line. When the batch file
is invoked, these commands are executed one by one.
AUTOEXEC.BAT is a special batch command file that is
invoked automatically whenever you boot your PC. If
you don't have such a file, you can create one using
EDLIN or any other text editor that produces pure
ASCII text files.
Another way to create an AUTOEXEC.BAT file is to issue
the command:
COPY CON: AUTOEXEC.BAT
and press Enter. Each line you now type will be
copied into a new file called AUTOEXEC.BAT. You can
use the cursor keys, Ins key, Del key, etc. to
correct any typing errors before you press the Enter
key. When you do press the Enter key, the command
line you have typed will be added to the file. When
you have finished entering all desired DOS command
lines into this file, end the file creation operation
by pressing the F6 function key and then pressing
Enter.
Alternatively, you can use a batch file named
AUTOHELP.BAT which is on your PC-prompt Working Disk.
If you have a two drive system, you can copy the
AUTOHELP.BAT file onto your boot disk by putting the
PC-prompt Working Disk in drive B and your boot disk
in drive A and issuing the command:
COPY B:AUTOHELP.BAT A:AUTOEXEC.BAT
For a one drive system, you can put the PC-prompt
Working Disk in drive A and issue the command:
COPY A:AUTOHELP.BAT B:AUTOEXEC.BAT
When told to insert the diskette for drive B, remove
the PC-prompt Working Disk, insert your boot disk back
into the single drive, and press the space bar.
8
If you already have an AUTOEXEC.BAT command file,
you can use EDLIN to add either the command:
HELP F
or
HELP P
to it. If you omit the F or P you can key in
this selection each time you boot.
Remember that the required HELP files must all be in
the default drive (and subdirectory) when PC-prompt is
started. If necessary, insert commands into the
AUTOEXEC.BAT file to assure that these defaults are set
correctly as described in the section "Starting
PC-prompt".
9
APPENDIX B -- A SNEAK PREVIEW
This appendix explains how to get a sneak preview of
PC-prompt in action even before reading the rest of
this User's Guide. If you feel uncomfortable with the
level of explanation given here, then you should
probably go back and read the details given above. If
you do feel comfortable, however, then jump right in
and get started.
If you have an AUTOEXEC.BAT file, temporarily rename
it to AUTOEXEC.TMP. Next, reboot
your PC (Ctrl-Alt-Del). Then put your PC-prompt
diskette into a drive and set that drive as the
default. Now issue the command:
HELP
and read the selection information. Just press Enter
to select the Full-Help mode of operation.
When the help prompt appears on the bottom of your
monitor screen, press the F10 function key. This
displays a window listing DOS commands and explaining
briefly the pop-up command formats. Press F10 a few
times and watch the screen toggle between the help
window and your previous display. Type a command like
DIR, but before pressing Enter, press the F10 key.
Note that PC-prompt has recognized the command and
displays the appropriate help window for it. Note
also that the general command syntax definition
appears in inverse video on the last line of your
screen.
After you have finished sampling how PC-prompt works,
rename AUTOEXEC.TMP back to AUTOEXEC.BAT. Be sure to
read the rest of this User's Guide to get the maximum
benefit out of PC-prompt.
10
APPENDIX C -- PC-prompt LICENSING TERMS
PC-prompt is NOT public domain software, it is a COPYRIGHTED
PROGRAM distributed by Lake Medici Software. You are hereby
granted a limited license to use PC-prompt, and to copy it and
further distribute it, under the following conditions:
1) No fee may be charged for such copying and distribution.
2) PC-prompt may ONLY be distributed in its original state,
without any modifications or changes to the program itself
or to any of its data files.
3) Use by commercial or governmental organizations must be limited
to a reasonable time (e.g. about a month) for evaluation
purposes only, after which time a $20 per copy (per machine)
price must be paid to
LAKE MEDICI SOFTWARE
17 Medici Court
Baltimore, MD 21234
(Print the file HELP.INV if your organization requires an
invoice to make this payment.)
4) The per-copy (per machine) price for commercial and governmental
organizations at one site reduces with volume as follows:
Copy Number Per-Copy Price
1 - 5 $20
6 - 10 $15
11 - 25 $10
26 - 100 $7
101 - infinite $5
5) Backup copies may be made as required for safe operational
practice, but not to circumvent payments.
6) We would greatly appreciate a small contribution of $10
from personal (non-business) users to help support future
development.
11
APPENDIX D -- CUSTOMIZED PROMPTS and HELP SCREENS
If you become a Registered User by sending $10 for personal use
or $20 for business use, you will receive the latest version of
PC-prompt, along with the source for the online prompts and help
screens. You will also receive a utility program together with
instructions for modifying the standard prompts and help screens
or creating your own customized online prompts and help screens.
12
APPENDIX E -- BENEFITS of REGISTERING PC-prompt
User supported software (sometimes called freeware or shareware)
attempts to provide useful programs to the PC community at low
cost by reducing the dependence on conventional marketing channels.
Several software developers have proven that the concept works, to
the mutual benefit of the independent program authors and the
PC community itself.
The user benefits by the availability of low cost software which
he can evaluate on his own system before making the decision to
purchase it. The author benefits by being able to enter the
software market without extensive monetary risks. The user
community determines which products succeed based on their true
utility, rather than on their marketing achievements.
Some of the benefits of registering as a PC-prompt user are:
1. You will receive the most recent version of PC-prompt.
2. You will receive the source for the standard version of
command prompts and help screens. This source is ONLY
distributed to registered users and NOT through any
User Supported Software channels.
3. You will receive a utility program and instructions for
creating your own customized prompts and help screens.
This utility program is copyrighted and is NOT available
as User Supported Software.
4. You will be helping to reduce future software costs for
yourself and other PC owners.
PC-prompt represents many, many months of work designing,
coding, testing and documenting. Several distinct versions of
the program were Beta tested before the first public release of
the software. The financial rewards for this effort pale in
comparison to the amount of labor involved. Nevertheless,
knowing that a fairly large group of PC users have found the
program beneficial enough to become registered users gives us a
sense of pride and accomplishment.
Here's hoping you will find PC-prompt useful too. Enjoy!
13
NOTES558.TXT
Program name: PC Prompt
Author name: Anthony J. Spuria
Address: Lake Medici Software
17 Medici Court
Baltimore, Md 21234
Suggested Donation: $ 20.00
Program Description: PC-prompt is a memory resident program that
provides the format for DOS commands in an on-line
mode. It would be of interest to most users and
programmers especially those just beginning to
use DOS commands.
The Function 10 key is used to toggle back and
forth from the help screen. There are also Help
screens for BASICA, Borland's Turbo Pascal, Debug
and EDLIN.
The program needs 32 K to run in the full help mode
while the Prompt only mode needs only 14 K to run.
README.TXT
PC-prompt is a unique, memory resident DOS extension that automatically
provides syntax prompting for DOS commands as you type. The F10 function
key can be used to display additional help whenever needed. Help screens
can also be invoked for EDLIN, DEBUG, BASIC(A) and Borland's Turbo Pascal
editor from within these programs.
AUTOHELP BAT Batch file for automatically installing PC-prompt
HELP DOC User's Guide for PC-prompt
HELP EXE PC-prompt...Memory resident, automatic DOS Help
HELP INV Printable invoice for business users
HELPCMDF NCP Full Help mode command file
HELPCMD3 NCP Full Help mode command file for DOS 3.2
HELPCMDP NCP Prompts-Only mode command file
HELPDOS3 BAT Renames NCP and CMP files for DOS 3.2 HELP
HELPF CMP Full Help mode compressed Help file
HELP3 CMP Full Help mode compressed Help file for DOS 3.2
HELPP CMP Prompts-Only mode compressed Help file
HELPPOPF CMP Full mode Popup DOS command prompts
HELPPOP3 CMP Full mode Popup DOS command prompts for DOS 3.2
HELPPOPP CMP Prompts-Only Popup DOS command prompts
HELPTABF NCP Full mode decompression table
HELPTABP NCP Prompts-Only mode decompression table
README TXT This file description text
Registered users will receive the source for the command prompts and
help screens together with a utility program and instructions for
creating their own online customized prompts and help screens. Read
the file HELP.DOC for more detailed information about using PC-prompt
and about the benefits of becoming a registered user.
NOTE: If you are using DOS versions 3.0 or above, set the default
drive to the one containing this diskette and execute the batch
file
HELPDOS3.BAT
before installing the HELP files. This batch file will rename
files as follows:
HELPCMDF.NCP will become HELPCMD2.NCP
HELPF.CMP will become HELPF2.CMP
HELPPOPF.CMP will become HELPPOP2.CMP
then
HELPCMD3.NCP will become HELPCMDF.NCP
HELPF3.CMP will become HELPF.CMP
HELPPOP3.CMP will become HELPPOPF.CMP
This will replace the full HELP files for DOS 2.1 with those
for DOS 3.2 which has several new and modified commands.
Directory of PC-SIG Library Disk #0558
Volume in drive A has no label
Directory of A:\
HELPF CMP 18959 9-18-86 9:36p
HELPPOPP CMP 1122 4-04-86 2:28a
HELPPOPF CMP 965 9-18-86 9:33p
HELPP CMP 844 4-04-86 2:28a
HELPCMDF NCP 334 9-18-86 9:33p
HELPTABP NCP 272 10-15-85 10:45p
HELPCMDP NCP 334 4-04-86 2:28a
HELPTABF NCP 1238 9-17-86 7:44p
HELP EXE 15872 2-04-87 10:14p
README TXT 2352 3-09-87 9:24p
HELP DOC 25004 2-04-87 8:31p
HELPDOS3 BAT 194 3-09-87 9:33p
AUTOHELP BAT 51 9-29-85 10:22p
HELP INV 2382 9-23-86 6:17p
GO BAT 40 1-01-80 6:00a
GO TXT 804 1-01-80 6:34a
NOTES558 TXT 985 5-26-87 7:42p
HELPCMD3 NCP 412 2-04-87 9:22p
HELPF3 CMP 30005 2-04-87 9:26p
HELPPOP3 CMP 1446 2-04-87 9:22p
FILE0558 TXT 2147 8-29-90 3:02p
21 file(s) 105762 bytes
49664 bytes free