| Directory
Navigation Tools for DOS (command line editors, directory changers, directory listers, program execution aids) Ratings: [* fair] to [* * * * * excellent] |
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DosEd.
Most people hate the command line of DOS because they have to type in long commands with paths and switches. And if you make a mistake, you may be forced to backspace and type the whole thing in again. Savvy users of DOS have been using DOS's own DOSKEY program to alleviate this tedium. Previous commands are saved in memory and can be recalled using the arrow keys. DosKey works well and has a few more features than DosEd (e.g., command macros). One thing it can't do, however, is complete file names. What is file-name completion? If you type in the first couple characters of a filename, and then press DosEd's hotkey (TAB), it will type the rest of the filename in for you. If your files are named similarly, it can provide you with a list of alternatives and you type until you reach the unique character and press TAB again. It also completes path names. There are utilities available that perform the individual tasks of DosEd- but running several TSR programs concurrently can lead to hotkey conflicts, etc.
CmdEdit- Presently being evaluated as a replacement for DosEd.
Advantages
over DosEd:
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Disadvantages:
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download
cmded2j1.zip (CmdEdit)
download
dosed520.zip (DosEd)
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No one should be without this utility- or one of its several look-alikes. ACD lets you change to ANY directory with one short command. ACD can change to hidden directories as well- one reason I prefer it. It is highly configurable. Used in conjunction with DosEd or CmdEdit, you will have complete control over that nasty command line.
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There are many DIR replacements floating around the universe. What makes this directory viewer special? Actually something quite simple. Output is paged to the screen and you can scroll up or down to view a directory listing. Combined with many display options (which can be saved to a config file, no less) this app falls a bit short only because it won't allow file sorting by different criteria.
* * * * reviewed 7-4-97
This is a DIR clone (uses same switches as DIR) with some additional capabilities. Like some other DIR clones, WDIR can color-code file types. In addition, archive contents (zip, arj, rar, lzh.) can be displayed, as can image resolutions and subformats (jpg, bmp, tga, gif, pcx). A nice batch tool for quickly obtaining this type of information. Switch combinations can be saved to a configuration file or set as a variable in autoexec.bat.
The following changes have been made to v1.26 (released July 1st 1997):
* /P now works with /W.
* Faster display with /P and many files. The screen is cleared is the
number of files remaining will fill the screen again.
* /S works with directories that are hidden.
* The name of the filesystem is shown after the drive letter, however not
with /DIR specified.
* Still after v1.25, some JPEG images didn't have the correct width and
height. This should now be corrected.
* 12:00-12.59am previously became 0:00-0:59. Fixed.
* .lha files display just like .lzh with /LZH.
* The path is now searched for the configuration file if no path is given
and it isn't found in the current directory.
* /LWN is no longer used with /LFN, it's used separetely. Specifying
'/LWN' has the same effect as '/LFN /LWN' previously had.
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This is a bare-bones directory lister which also lists properties of GIF, JPEG/JFIF, PCX, PING and Windows BMP image files. Will also display 4DOS descriptions of images. Progressive JPEG format not read correctly.
* * * * reviewed 6-30-97
PICK is one of those subtly useful utilities that's difficult to explain in a sentence. Think of it as a "file open" dialog for command line programs that lack them. Or think of it as a batch file analog. For example, suppose you have a directory of text files (*.txt) that you'd like to view in a certain sequence- but your text file viewer requires that you load each file separately on the command line because it lacks its own directory lister. Typing the commands repeatedly is a bit tedious. This is where PICK can help. You supply PICK the program name (e.g., MYVIEWER) and the extension of the files you want to view (e.g., *.TXT) as parameters. PICK then pops up a list of all the files with the matching extension, and allows you to highlight a file to pass to the viewing program. When you're finished viewing the first file (i.e., exit the viewer), the PICK list reappears, and you can select another file to view. There are many potential uses for this program.
* * * reviewed 6-13-97
Recommended directory utiltites included in the DOSUT package:
Notes: 1) Not all programs will launch using EXEC. 2) The EXEC control file is generated for one drive only. Workaround: Since the control file is a text file you can generate separate control files for each drive, and then join them into a master control file.
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(c)1997 Richard L. Green