rkim@sdcc13.ucsd.edu (Suro) (06/19/91)
Very often, you come across hidden features in programs that come with DOS. Format.com seems to have a few, as well as the SHELL= statement in config.sys. My question is, why were these features, and other hidden features, left out? I just cannot understand why Microsoft and IBM would deliberately leave DOS users out n the dark by hiding some of these useful switches. And it took Microsoft 10 years to put the /help switch in every DOS command. Were they sleeping all this time? Why does it take *10* years to put simple /help switches? Why do they hide switches? You'd think, with an installed base of millions of users, and countless applications, they'd improve DOS more often. So then, just what purpose does it serve to hide switches? Security? Or is it that they think users are just dumb? Or was it one of those things programmers do to test or try out new stuff, but didn't document it? -- Robert W. Kim rkim@ucsd.edu University of California, San Diego. suro@ucsd.edu "I'd love to go out with you, but I have to count the bristles in my toothbrush."