[comp.windows.misc] MS WINDOWS / Command window replacements ?

dan@rna.UUCP (Dan Ts'o) (09/17/88)

	As a relatively new user on MS Windows 386, I find that its not too
bad, but far from perfect. In particular I find the default MSDOS executive
window to be very lame and would like to find a decent replacement.
	I have tried a thing called CMDPOST from Wilson Windoware, a shareware
package that sits atop? or inside? the default MSDOS window and greatly
improves its useability. Mainly, it allows the user to define his own menus
that reside at the same level as the File View Special pulldown options. It
also does a better job of cleaning up a messy screen.
	The main deficiency I currently find with CMDPOST is that you cannot
design a menu entry that can make use of the filename select in the directory
display. Thus, although you can be saved from typing program names, you cannot
be saved from typing in filenames. What is needed is (at least) two degrees of
freedom accessible from the mouse: what program to run, and what file
(or files) to use as arguments.
	For example, the file PROG.C, I might want to edit it, compile it,
page through it, archive it, etc. Currently, Windows only allows you to bind
one operation to a filename based on its extension. (That itself is very
stupid, what about the file README, can't do anything with that... Gotta type
ALT F R more README, just to examine a text file (or use a decent browser))

	Anyways, are there better programs that are out there that can live
atop MS WINDOWS 386 ? I definitely like the feature of allowing any DOS
program (within reason) to be put in a window... Please email responses.
	Thanks.
				Cheers,
				Dan Ts'o		212-570-7671
				Dept. Neurobiology	dan@rna.rockefeller.edu
				Rockefeller Univ.	...cmcl2!rna!dan
				1230 York Ave.		rna!dan@nyu.arpa
				NY, NY 10021		tso@rockefeller.arpa
							tso@rockvax.bitnet
atop MS WINDOWS 386