WINDOWS related utils for DOS users.

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Note: If you're searching for Win9x LFN compatible programs, they are not separately listed on this page but are found throughout the site.


COMMAND LINE EMULATION

The programs listed below were designed to cater to the DOS command line user in a Win3x or Win9x environment. These programs allow launching of either DOS or Win apps from their respective command line interfaces.


1. SmilerShell- A GUI command line for Win3.1 and Win9x.

* * * * [added 1997 updated 02-11-01]

02-11-01: Smiler Shell Lite for Win3.1 has been replaced here with the fully functional SmilerShell versions for 3.1 and Win9x- now free.

The award winning SmilerShell is a GUI command line that uses little screen space. Win or DOS apps can be launched from SS's command line. DOS programs can be launched full screen or within DOS boxes. SmilerShell implements a searchable command history buffer, enhanced directory changing, TAB command completion (but not filename completion), command alias features, and 4DOS command compatibility. Commands can be saved between sessions and frequently used commands can be added to the *.ini file. Several features have been tuned to the Windows environment (e.g., use of file associations).

Supported Internal DOS Commands: CD, CHDIR, COPY, DATE, DEL, DIR, ERASE, FOR, MD, MKDIR, PATH, REN, RENAME, RD, RMDIR, TIME, TYPE, VOL. "Semi-supported" Internal DOS Commands: CHCP, SET, VER. Unsupported Internal DOS Commands: CLS, CTTY, EXIT, PROMPT, VERIFY and the batch file commands.

Supported Internal 4DOS/NDOS Commands: ?, ALIAS, BEEP, CDD, DESCRIBE, DIRS, ESET, FFIND, FREE, GLOBAL, HISTORY, LIST, LOADBTM, LOG, MEMORY, MOVE, POPD, PUSHD, REBOOT, SELECT, SETDOS, SWAPPING, TEE, TIMER, TRUENAME, UNALIAS, Y.

Author: Barry Smiler /Bardon Data Systems (1995, 1996).

02-11-01: BDS is now distributing, free of charge, Smiler Shell Win3.1 and Smiler Shell /95. NOTE: You'll need to enter registration numbers (available on the BDS download page) to remove nag screens and allow use after 30 days.


2. Imposter- DOS emulator for Win3.1

* * *

Imposter is an older Win3.1 app that mimics a DOS window. The customizable interface loads faster than a true DOS box, uses fewer resources, and will be most useful to those still running Win3x on a 286 class machine. Unfortunately, there is no scrollback buffer built into Imposter, but you can customize screen dimensions (lines and columns).

IMPOSTER supports to some degree the entire internal DOS command set, as well as most of the external commands defined in DOS 5.0. DOS commands are emulated- don't expect the syntax and/or output to match that of your DOS version. Additional commands specific to Imposter are also listed below.

ATTRIB/ATTR, BREAK, CDD, CHDIR/CD, CLS, COPY, DATE, DATECOPY, DEJUNK, DETAB, DIR, ENTAB, ERASE/DEL, DUMP, EXIT FIND, FF, FS, HELP, KEYSTUFF, LABEL, MAX, MEM, MIN, MKDIR/MD, MORE, MOVE/RED, NUKE, PATH, PROMPT, RENAME/REN, RENDIR, RMDIR/RD, SET, SORT, TIME, TOUCH, TREE, TS, TYPE, VER, VERIFY, VOL, WINDOW/WIN, XCOPY

Author: D. Burgan. (1992)

download imposter.zip (139K)


Zoomshell- GUI command shell for Win9x.

* * * * [added 11-07-99]

A relatively sophisticated GUI command shell which supports command line history, filename auto-completion, command aliases, and even scripting. Pre-built aliases for many unix commands, and grep capability. The command output window has a scrollback buffer, supports many internal DOS commands, and better- you can add commands to capture in ZSHELL's ouput window.

Zoomshell Home Page


MCL- GUI command line for Win9x.

unrated [added 03-17-01]

"This is great for fast typists, people who are used to UNIX, and generally anyone who doesn’t like the idiot-proof way Windows tends to do things."

Remarks: MCL is not tuned specifically to DOS users - but rather to command typists in general. MCL will execute external DOS commands in a DOS window but comes with no support for internal DOS commands (except CD). An external plugin for the DIR command exists.

Features:

Author: Mike Lin. (2000), Suggested by Stephan Frye.

Get files at MCL Home Page


EasyConsole- Simple Win9x GUI command line.

unrated [added 03-17-01]

EasyConsole opens a "slave" DOS console and allows you to feed it commands from an adjacent gui command line. Directory changing is accomplished using the Win9x directory browser. Up to 5 commands can be stored for re-use. The GUI component can be temporarily disabled, allowing you to issue commands in the DOS box itself. Notes: This simple tool is adequate for the casual DOS command user, but EasyConsole probably won't find a spot in the advanced user's DOS arsenal. In English, with French installation. Authors: Virginia Manso and Patrick Piccatte (2000).

Get files at EasyConsole Home Page.


OTHER . . .


PFE- Win text editor can capture DOS standard output to editing window.

* * * * * [added 3-4-98 updated 2-7-99]

PFE is one of the finest freeware Windows applications I've run across. It admirably serves a dual role as programmer's editor and general purpose text editor. PFE is especially attractive to DOS users because it can capture DOS standard output to an editing window (e.g., external/ internal DOS commands ). I often use PFE to capture help screen output for inclusion in program descriptions. Excellent help file included. Author: Alan Phillips, UK. (1999). Suggested by Bjorn Simonsen.

11-01-99: development has ended.


DOSBAR- Add system menu toolbar to DOS windows (WIN 3.1).

* * * *

DosBar adds a toolbar to any DOS window. The toolbar gives you easy access to the mark, copy, paste, font settings, full screen mode, and other DOS settings accessed from the system menu of a DOS window. Dosbar is configurable (buttons displayed, button order, size and placement of toolbar).

Available toolbar commands:

Mark, Copy, Paste, Enlarge Font, Reduce Font, Change Font, Full Screen, Maximize Window, Minimize window, Close Window, Scroll, Switch To, Dosbar Configuration.

Author: Andreas Furrer. (1995).

download dosbr143.zip (26K)


Sched and RUN- Run Win3.x app from DOS window (WIN 3.1).

* * *

Sched is a Windows 3.1 TSR that must be running prior to using Run at the command prompt. You simply type " Run mywinapp" and it will launch the Win program. You can also feed parameters to your Win apps and start them minimized. If Windows is not running, "win command [parameters]" will be executed. Note: Windows must be running in 386 enhanced mode.

Author: Frits Wiarda. (1992) Holland.

download run18.zip (23K)


WOAFON- Additional fonts for Windows DOS boxes (WIN 3.1).

* * *

From the docs..."Windows 3.1 introduced the ability to change the fonts for DOS boxes via a "Fonts..." item in the system menu. This gives you a variety of font sizes, namely 4x6, 5x12, 6x8, 7x12, 8x8, 8x12, 10x18, 12x16, 16x8 and 16x12. However, there is a significant gap between 8x12 (very small on 1024x768) and 10x18 (quite large, not usable if the DOS box has 43 or 50 lines). The fonts in WOAFON14.ZIP fit nicely into this gap: Their sizes are 9x10, 9x11, 9x16 (two fonts), 10x12 and 10x13." Author: Peter Karrer. Switzerland. (1993)

download woafon14.zip (23K) link updated 2-7-99


NewDOS Fonts- Additional fonts for Windows DOS boxes.

unrated [added 01-13-00]

NewDOS.FON contains four new OEM-fonts for the DOS-Box and Consoles. These are 8x13, 9x16, 10x19, 12x23. These four fonts are freeware for private use. They are available with Codepages 437, 850, 865 and 852. CP 850 contains the Euro currency symbol at position 213."

Author: Uwe Sieber, Germany (1999). Also see other freeware/ shareware at Uwe's web site (including DOSLIKE font, a substitute for the Window's FIXEDSYS font).

download newdos.zip (9.6K)


WCLIP- (DOS) Redirect text to Win3/9x clipboard from STDIN or from clipboard to STDOUT.

unrated [added 3-16-99 updated 01-21-01]

When working in a DOS box, many use the text mark and copy functions of the DOS box system menu to transfer a command's output to the Windows clipboard. One limitation of this approach is that only a single screen of text can be copied at a time. If command output exceeds 25-50 lines, transfers to the clipboard may require several "mark-copy" steps. WCLIP is a tiny program that offers a simple solution: any output which can be redirected or piped is transferred directly to the Win3x/95 clipboard., E.g.,

   dir| wclip 
   wclip < some.txt

Wclip can alternatively read the contents of the clipboard (text only), and direct it to STDOUT (e.g., screen or file), e.g.,

wclip read >> file.ext

Usage:

WCLIP [SEND]  - to clipboard from STDIN (default mode)
WCLIP RECEIVE - from clipboard to STDOUT

SEND options:
        /A  append (default: overwrite)
        /T  T-pipe to STDOUT

RECEIVE option:
        /C  append CR+LF at end, if missing

Extended ASCII characters converted, unless..
        /X  no conversion OEM/ISO

"The clipboard text that can be handled by WCLIP is limited to the amount of free conventional memory, about 500-600 Kb..."

01-21-01: v2.2 (01-01) available: /X option added.

Author: Horst Schaeffer, Germany (2001).

download wclip22.zip (3K)


ToClip- Manipulate the Win 3x or Win 9x clipboard from a DOS box.

unrated [added 08-29-00]

Modify description. Functionally similar to WCLIP. GPL freeware.

toclip 1.0 (9-Sept-1998)
Manipulate the windows clipboard from a DOS box.
Usage:
 toclip infile       -  Append infile to clipboard
 toclip -c infile    -  Copy infile to clipboard
 program | toclip    -  Append program output to clipboard
 program | toclip -c -  Copy program output to clipboard
 toclip -e           -  Erase clipboard
 toclip -p           -  Print clipboard to stdout
 toclip -p >outfile  -  Print clipboard to outfile
 toclip -p >>outfile -  Append clipboard to outfile
 toclip -p | program -  Pipe clipboard binary to program
 toclip -p outfile   -  Copy clipboard binary to outfile
 Change -p to -u to translate CRLF->LF (unix outfile)
Limitations: 60416 bytes of OEM text.

Author: Grant B. Gustafson (1998). Home Page.

download toclip10.zip (14K)


Drop to DOS- Adds "drop to dos" menu item to Win9x rght-click folder menus.

unrated [added 03-18-01]

With Drop to DOS, you can right click on any folder and choose the Drop to DOS option to take to you a command prompt within that folder. Works with Win9x / WinME / WinNT/2K. Author: Terabyte Unlimited. (2000) Home Page.

download DOSDROP.ZIP (10K)


WIN9X LFN SUPPORT UNDER "PLAIN" DOS.


LFN-Tools- DOS command suite displays Win9x long file names (LFN) under plain DOS (COPY, DIR, CD, DEL, REN, MD...).

Please see extended description.


LFNDOS-TSR provides Win9x Long Filename (LFN) API to DOS programs (under *plain* DOS).

Please see extended description.


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© 1994-2001. Rich Green