Subversion Repositories SvarDOS

You made the first important step in understanding SvarDOS. You found

You made the first important step in understanding SvarDOS. You found the

the Quick instruction manual for SvarDOS!

Quick instruction manual for SvarDOS!

Many of the reported commands also work in Windows and - with

Many of the reported commands also work in Windows and - with restrictions -

restrictions - in Linux and Mac OS so that this manual also helps you

in Linux and Mac OS so that this manual also helps you to understand the

to understand the basics of all these OSes.

basics of all these OSes.

(folder) where you actually are. Depending on which option you have

(folder) where you actually are. Depending on which option you have chosen

chosen you see it without sort order, page wise, in lines or you see

you see it without sort order, page wise, in lines or you see the help to

the help to this command which offers much more options. You can do this

this command which offers much more options. You can do this in each folder

in each folder where you are. The help should be available via:

where you are. The help should be available via:

for each executable ("*.exe") file so that it is not necessary to open

for each executable ("*.exe") file so that it is not necessary to open the

the manual for each command. This was step 01.

manual for each command.

The kernel is, what it's name says: the kernel. Without it, the

The kernel is, what it's name says: the kernel. Without it, the OS will not

OS will not boot. You will hear about "autoexec.bat" and "config.sys"

boot. You will hear about "autoexec.bat" and "config.sys" later.

later.

commands that can be executed by simply typing the command's name.

commands that can be executed by simply typing the command's name. As they

As they are inside command.com you will not find external .exe files and

are inside command.com you will not find external .exe files and it is

it is recommended to know the names of the important ones by heart.

recommended to know the names of the important ones by heart.

As most of these commands also exist in Windows it is not a wasted time

As most of these commands also exist in Windows it is not a wasted time to

to know the most important ones of them.

know the most important ones of them.

Windows command line (yes, it still exists!) also uses them and Linux

Windows command line (yes, it still exists!) also uses them and Linux also

also uses commands with other names that do in about the same job.

uses commands with other names that do in about the same job.

and you will see that a new "dir"ectory (folder) "TESTDIR" has been

and you will see that a new "dir"ectory (folder) "TESTDIR" has been created.

created. You will see that a directory shows a sharp click

You will see that a directory shows a sharp click

Files show an extension with max 3 characters and - depending on the

Files show an extension with max 3 characters and - depending on the option

option you have chosen at "dir" - the size and the creation date of the

you have chosen at "dir" - the size and the creation date of the file. You

file. You created your first folder!!!

created your first folder!!!

  ".." means "there exist directories closer to C:\". Means: with

  ".." means "there exist directories closer to C:\".

Within a folder you can create another folder, e.g. "SUBDIR1" by

Within a folder you can create another folder, e.g. "SUBDIR1" by typing:

  "md SUBDIR1" when you are inside "C:\TESTDIR". With the

  "md SUBDIR1" when you are inside "C:\TESTDIR".

  "cd .." you get out. If you want to move back to "C:\" directly you

  "cd .." you get out. If you want to move back to "C:\" directly you can

can enter:

enter:

This works with all existing directories and you can crossjump to

This works with all existing directories and you can crossjump to other fol-

other folders (e.g.: cd C:\SVARDOS\DOC").

ders (e.g.: cd C:\SVARDOS\DOC").

You see that it is simple to move through the hard disk with a few

You see that it is simple to move through the hard disk with a few commands!

commands! This was step 03.

This was step 03.

remembers what it was good for. Please keep in mind that SvarDOS like

remembers what it was good for. Please keep in mind that SvarDOS like all

all other DOSes only supports 8.3 which means that the maximum length

other DOSes only supports 8.3 which means that the maximum length is 8 cha-

is 8 characters for the file name and 3 characters for ending, e.g.

racters for the file name and 3 characters for ending, e.g. "filename.txt".

  "filename.txt". The ending says something what the file is good for.

The ending says something what the file is good for.

  "filename.doc" in the same folder. They can also be used in another

  "filename.doc" in the same folder. They can also be used in another folder.

folder.

Folders must not be longer than 8 characters. As the folder names are

Folders must not be longer than 8 characters. As the folder names are non-

nonsense we want to delete the EMPTY folders again. Very simple: You go

sense we want to delete the EMPTY folders again. Very simple: You go to the

to the subfolder that is most far away from:

subfolder that is most far away from:

In case that there were files inside one of the folders you have to

In case that there were files inside one of the folders you have to delete or

delete or move them first. Depending on if you want to delete ALL files

move them first. Depending on if you want to delete ALL files

  "*.txt" for ALL text files or "blah*.*"

  "*.txt" for ALL text files or "blah*.*" for all files starting with "blah".

for all files starting with "blah". For deleting directories you have

For deleting directories you have to move out of the EMPTY folder first,

you are sitting on. So "del" is used for deleting one or more files and

otherwise you would cut the tree you are sitting on. So "del" is used for

"rd" for removing EMPTY directories.

deleting one or more files and "rd" for removing EMPTY directories.

You want to keep the folders "TESTDIR" and "SUBDIR1" because important

You want to keep the folders "TESTDIR" and "SUBDIR1" because important files

files are inside but don't like the folder name? No problem, rename the

are inside but don't like the folder name? No problem, rename the folders so

folders so that you can keep them in mind.

that you can keep them in mind.

As you have deleted these folders at the end of step 04, you can now

As you have deleted these folders at the end of step 04, you can now check if

check if you kept in mind how you created them. Eeehhmmm? You got it?

you kept in mind how you created them. Eeehhmmm? You got it? If yes, goto:

  "ren TESTDIR URGENT" then go to "C:\URGENT" (I am sure you now know

  "ren TESTDIR URGENT" then go to "C:\URGENT" (I am sure you now know the

the command) and enter:

  command) and enter:

  "ren SUBDIR1 CONTRACT". Now you should have the folders

  "ren SUBDIR1 CONTRACT". Now you should have the folders:

SVED works very simple but a little different than modern editors

SVED works very simple but a little different than modern editors like e.g.

like e.g. Windows Notepad. Simply type: "sved", the UI opens, type the

Windows Notepad. Simply type: "sved", the UI opens, type the "ESC" button -

"ESC" button - and you get a choice "Open file", "Save", "Save as..."

and you get a choice "Open file", "Save", "Save as..." Close file", "Change

Close file", "Change EOL" (=end of line in DOS or Linux style) and "Quit".

EOL" (=end of line in DOS or Linux style) and "Quit".

everyone. Are we everyone? NO! We test "ECHO"! What will it do? I am sure

Are we everyone? NO! We test "ECHO"! What will it do? I am sure you already

you already heard what happens if you enter:

heard what happens if you enter:

You created your first simple text file, guess, where you can find it?

You created your first simple text file, guess, where you can find it? And

And how to open it with the "sved" command? Of course, very simple. In

how to open it with the "sved" command? Of course, very simple. In Windows

Windows you can open it by searching the file in a folder and double-

you can open it by searching the file in a folder and doubleclicking on the

clicking on the filename. The corresponding program opens automatically.

filename. The corresponding program opens automatically. In SvarDOS you do

In SvarDOS you do nothing else, but vice-versa:

nothing else, but vice-versa:

Means: You say: use program "sved" and open the file "world.txt" in this

Means: You say: use program "sved" and open the file "world.txt" in this or

or that folder.

that folder.

Instead of copying you can move files from one position to another one

Instead of copying you can MOVE files from one position to another one with

with the EXTERNAL (not in command.com) command:

the EXTERNAL (not in command.com) command:

You survived chapter one of the Newbies help? And you are still

You survived chapter one of the Newbies help? And you are still interested in

interested in SvarDOS? Great!

SvarDOS? Great!

To fix this and a lot of other things SvarDOS uses two files that

To fix this and a lot of other things SvarDOS uses two files that are at

are at "C:\". They are named:

  "C:\". They are named:

The files are written in standard text format so that it is very simple

The files are written in standard text format so that it is very simple to

to modify them to your needs by using the (guess which command?):

modify them to your needs by using the (guess which command?):

"config.sys" is the first file and loaded by the kernel.

  "config.sys" is the first file and loaded by the kernel.

abilities of SvarDOS. For example you can install "himemx" and "emm386"

abilities of SvarDOS. For example you can install "himemx" and "emm386" (not

(not in SvarDOS!) which allow to use more than 640 KiB RAM, load the

in SvarDOS!) which allow to use more than 640 KiB RAM, load the basic CD-ROM

basic CD-ROM driver, modify screen size (restricted), country settings,

driver, modify screen size (restricted), country settings, create a menu

create a menu where you can choose if you want to start with these or

where you can choose if you want to start with these or those drivers depen-

those drivers depending on your current needs. One important thing you

ding on your current needs. One important thing you should do in config.sys

should do in config.sys is to load "command.com" and its ENVIRONMENT

is to load "command.com" and its ENVIRONMENT to be permanent which has a lot

to be permanent which has a lot of benefits. But that's going to far

of benefits. More about this in step 08.

here.

When "config.sys" is loaded the next important file, "command.com" will

When "config.sys" is loaded the next important file, "command.com" will be

be loaded (depending on the settings you made in config.sys, e.g.:

loaded (depending on the settings you made in config.sys, e.g.:

You can use others shells instead of command.com, but this one is

You can use others shells instead of command.com, but this one is delivered

delivered with SvarCOM.

with SvarCOM.

  "/E" you can define the size of the ENVIRONMENT which is very

  "/E" you can define the size of the ENVIRONMENT which is very helpful as

helpful as already mentioned on the top of this text.

already mentioned on the top of this text.

  "set" that is built in command.com you can create variables that fill

  "set" that is built in command.com you can create variables that fill up

up the mentioned ENVIRONMENT, for example with:

the mentioned ENVIRONMENT, for example with:

  "set TEMP=C:\TEMP" (folder for temporary files)

  "set TEMP=C:\TEMP" (folder for temporary files,%TEMP% now means: C:\TEMP)

  "set NLSPATH =C:\%DOSDIR%\NLS" (uses "DOSDIR" -> C:\SVARDOS\NLS)

  "set NLSPATH =%DOSDIR%\NLS" (%NLSPATH now means: C:\SVARDOS\NLS)

To load them automatically, you can write the commands above into

To load them automatically to ENVIRONMENT, you can write the commands above

autoexec.bat.

into autoexec.bat.

them as long as it is running. You can add other variables later, but

them as long as it is running. You can add other variables later, but please

please do not use a name that already exists. The command:

do not use a name that already exists. The command:

  "set variable=" deletes a variable.

  "set variable=" deletes a variable, this is dangerous, see above!

Example:

as a batch file, not in command line!):

There are more things that can be used by autoexec.bat, but this leads

There are more things that can be used by autoexec.bat, but this leads too

too far for a basic introduction.

far for a basic introduction.

I hope I was able to help you with this basic information. Of course,

I hope I was able to help you with this basic information. Of course, I could

I could tell you much more, but this is only a first step into SvarDOS.

tell you much more, but this is only a first step into SvarDOS.