DOS Tips

The following are introductory definitions and procedures for using the 
operating system of your computer which is called DOS.  You are in DOS 
whenever you exit Q&A and are at the A: or B: or C:\> prompt.  NOTE: Your 
computer will only display the prompts like this when you use the DOS prompt 
command which is explained under AUTOEXEC.BAT below.   Otherwise, you will 
only see A> or B> or C> as the prompt.

DEFINITIONS:


    /                             forward slash
    \                             back slash
    A:\>                          The prompt for drive A
    B:\>                          The prompt for drive B
    C:\>                          The prompt for drive C (this is your
                                  hard disk)
    C:\QA>                        This is the QA directory on your C
                                  drive
    C:\QA\DATA>                   This is the QA directory with a DATA sub
                                  directory.
    CUSTOMER.DTF                  This is a file named CUSTOMER with the DTF
                                  ext.  (Filenames can only have an 8 
                                  character name and a 3 character extension.  
                                  This is a DOS limitation.)


DIRECTORY  LISTING:

To list your directories, type:

    CD                            This brings you back to the root or main 
                                  directory.
    DIR  *. *                     This gives you a listing similar to this:
                                  DOS <dir>
                                  LOTUS <dir>
                                  QA <dir>

In this example it lists three directories from the root: DOS, LOTUS, and QA.


MAKE DIRECTORY:

To create a subdirectory off your root directory, type:

    MD\QA                         This will make a directory named QA from the
                                  root.









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                                   DOS Tips


CHANGE DIRECTORY:

To move from one directory to another, type:

    CD                            Change directory back to the root directory.
    CD\QA                         Change directory from the root to the QA
                                  directory.
    CD\QA\DATA                    Change directory from the root to the DATA
                                  subdirectory located under the QA directory.



DELETE A FILE*:

    DEL CUSTOMER.DTF              This deletes only the file named
                                  customer.dtf

    DEL CUSTOMER.*                This deletes all files named customer with
                                  any extension.  The following four files
                                  will be deleted if you have such files:

                                  CUSTOMER.DTF
                                  CUSTOMER.IDX
                                  CUSTOMER.DOC
                                  CUSTOMER       (no extension)


RENAME A FILE*:

    REN CUSTOMER.DOC  CLIENTS.DOC This renames the file customer.doc to
                                  clients.doc.

    REN MAILLIST.*  SALELIST.*    This renames all files named Maillist with
                                  any extension to Salelist with the same
                                  extension.  For example:

              MAILLIST.DTF will now be SALELIST.DTF
              MAILLIST.IDX will now be SALELIST.IDX




COPY A FILE(S)*:

    COPY A:CUSTOMER.*  C:\QA           This will copy the customer file(s)
                                       with any ext. from the A drive to the
                                       QA directory on the C drive.

    COPY C:\QA\CUSTOMER.*  A:          This will copy the customer file(s)
                                       with any extension from the QA
                                       directory on the C drive to the A:
                                       drive.

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                                   DOS Tips


    COPY A:*.*  C:\QA                  This will copy all files regardless of
                                       their names or extensions from the A:
                                       drive to the QA directory on the C:
                                       drive.

    COPY C:\QA\CUSTOMER.* C:\QA\DATA   This will copy your customer.dtf and
                                       customer.idx files from the QA 
                                       directory to the DATA directory under 
                                       QA.



    * NOTE *       These procedures can also be done directly in the Q&A
                   product.  From the Main Menu choose U-Utilities, D-Dos File
                   Facilities, then choose the appropriate DOS function.
                   Press F1 for help.



CONFIG.SYS:


This file sets your computer system to the proper configuration to operate 
various software packages.  Q&A 3.0 has provided a utility to check the 
config.sys file on your system.  In the subdirectory with the software files 
type QAFILES at the C:> prompt. This utility will check the config.sys file 
and do one of three things:


    1)  The config.sys file does not exist and will be created
    2)  The config.sys file exists but needs the statement  added files=20.
    3)  The config.sys file is correct and will be left alone.


Now you must reboot your machine so that this config file can be read by your
system.



AUTOEXEC.BAT:

This file contains DOS commands that are read by your system when it is 
booted.  *NOTE*  First check to see if you already have an Autoexec.bat file.  
Type:

         CD\ <enter>
         TYPE AUTOEXEC.BAT <enter>






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                                   DOS Tips

If FILE NOT FOUND appears then create one.  If other information exists in the 
Autoexec.bat file then create a new one and include your previous information.  

The following Autoexec.bat file will display your directories as the top of 
this document indicates.

         COPY CON:AUTOEXEC.BAT <enter>
         PROMPT $P$G <enter>
         Press the F6 key <enter>

Your screen should say 1 file(s) copied.



QA.BAT:

This file will change directory from the root to the QA directory.  Type:

         CD\                                <enter>
         COPY CON:QA.BAT                    <enter>
         CD\QA                              <enter>
         QA                                 Press the F6 key    <enter>

Your screen should say 1 file(s) copied.






























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