jph@whuxle.UUCP (11/15/83)
#R:shell:-15100:whuxle:22700002:000:90 whuxle!jph Nov 14 09:00:00 1983 Please send me a copy of your utilities. Jim Holtman 35 Dogwood Trail Randolph, NJ 07869
nielsen@uiucdcs.UUCP (11/19/83)
#R:shell:-15100:uiucdcs:24700030:000:146 uiucdcs!nielsen Nov 18 13:53:00 1983 I am interested in obtaining your utilities. Paul Nielsen University of Illinois Dept. of Computer Science 1304 W. Springfield Urbana, Il. 61801
starr@shell.UUCP (Bob Starr) (11/23/83)
I have written a program called UTIL for the IBM PC. It only runs
under DOS 2.0 on a system with 128K (maybe 96) or better. It will
not run under lower DOS levels due to the fact that it uses interrupts
only available under DOS 2.0.
It is being distributed under the "user supported software" concept.
I wrote the program for 2 reasons:
1) I really needed something like it, and it wasn't available
2) I saw ads for so many useless utilities selling for outrageous
amounts of money, and figured the world was ready for a program
like this one, distributed in this fashion.
The program was written in C using the CiC86 compiler from Computer
Innovations. The .EXE file size is larger than I care for, but this
is due to the lack of DOS 2.0 path support in the CiC86 routines. It
will be corrected with the release of the new optimizing compiler
(soon, I hope). At any rate, it is smaller than many of the single
function Norton Utilities.
Rather than create many .COM or .EXE utility routines to do what needed
to be done, I wrote a single program wherein many different options were
available, and could be invoked either from the command line or from
a menu. This gets around the problem I found with writing utilities in
ANY high level language, wherein even a very simple program generates
a 6K .EXE file.
The most powerful feature of the program is the "SD" option (sorted
directory). It provides the user with a full screen list of the files
contained in a specified directory. The arrow keys allow you to place
a "cursor" over any file name in the list.
While viewing the directory listing, you can hit "A", "D" or "X" to
resort the directory alphabetically, by date, or by extension
(respectively). Alphabetic is the default sort order.
With the cursor over a particular file name, you can
a) delete the file
b) copy the file
c) run any program on the file *
d) invoke your favorite editor on the file *
e) invoke your favorite wordprocessor on the file *
f) print the file
g) browse the file
* These are specified in the environment area
30 directory entries are shown per screen, but the LEFT and RIGHT arrow
keys allow you to bring more onto the screen.
Subdirectories are flagged with a "\" in front of their names. Hitting
the <ENTER> key with the cursor over a subdiectory name puts you into
that subdirectory, viewing its contents.
Hitting a "." reverts you one level back in the directory hierarchy.
An "R" moves you to the root directory. A "V" allows you to view any
drive. An "I" allows you to immediately select a drive:path to view.
The "browse" option allows full screen display of a text file, where
paging is done directly from disk, using your PgUp and PgDn keys. There
is even a "browse" mode for Wordstar files, where the 8th-bit problem
is taken care of, and a Wordstar file is actually readable.
Another feature of the browse option is the ability to mark any two points
in the file and send the marked text to your printer.
Other options available in UTIL are:
a) Redefine keys on your keyboard... uses DOS 2.0 feature
b) Crude database ability... good for phone #'s and addresses
c) Switch between mono and color screen
d) Directly browse a file (without having to do an SD)
e) Send a top-of-form to your printer
f) Type directly to your printer
Options are being added to this program as they are suggested. What is
provided takes care of alot of the drudgery and grunt-work involved with
day-to-day PC dealings. The next MAJOR option I am going to add is a full
function scientific calculator. The code for this has been written and
tested, but I feel that this would cause the .EXE file for UTIL to become
too large, and will wait for the CiC86 optimizing compiler to add it.
If you feel that this program could be of use to you, please mail me (via
USENET, of course) your mailing address. I will mail you a FREE copy of
the program, with the documentation on the diskette. That is how confident
I am that you will like the program. All I ask is that PC owners within
the same company get together and elect one person to send the request. The
program IS NOT copy protected, so one user can make copies for everyone
else. This offer is extended ONLY to those on the net, not to the public.
I have a self-imposed limit of 100 diskettes I am willing to give out for
nothing. After that, it will be too expensive, and my wife and kids will
begin suffering.
Yours against rip-off software and copy protection,
RF Starr
*****************************DISCLAIMER************************************
The work done on UTIL was done at home, on my personal XT. This program has
no relationship whatsoever to Shell Oil Co. (my employer).
It was written purely for personal reasons, not at the sanction of my company.
It is being distributed on a personal basis, with all costs being picked up
by me. Shell Oil Co. has nothing to do with this software development or
offering.
***************************************************************************smb1@hogpd.UUCP (S.BAUMAN) (11/23/83)
Please sned me a copy of your utilities. Steve Bauman 30 Lafayette Court Middletown, NJ 07748
notes@pur-ee.UUCP (11/24/83)
#R:shell:-15100:isrnix:9500014:000:201 isrnix!tim Nov 23 11:34:00 1983 I am interested in your utility offer. Please send a copy. Tim Sevener Small Computer Support Group Indiana University Memorial 007 Bloomington, IN 47402 (812)-335-2893