
                          VDOS Online Help Screens
                 Copyright 1988 by Marathon Computer Press
  =======================================================================
                        Layout of Bottom Up Menu Bar

     The Programs (1-3) Pop Up Menu slots are to be first defined with the 
  VDOS 3 Pop-Up Menu under the Define Slot selection.
  
       The Remaining 3 VDOS Pop Up Menu selections contain the most 
  frequently used applications and several DOS Utilities.
  
                          Selecting a Pop-Up Menu

     The Pop-Up Menus are selected by clicking the left mouse button while 
  the arrow pointer is located either on top of or in the vicinity of the 
  Pop-Up Title.  Unlike the GEM(tm) Desktop, VDOS menus require that you 
  select the item by clicking upon it.  With GEM(tm) you get an inverse 
  video display for the item when the mouse passes over the top of the 
  item whether or not it has been selected.
  

    
                 The DOS Utilities And Associated Hot Keys
  
  Syntax = {Item} [Hot Keys] Followed by a brief description of the 
  utility or function.
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
            The Default Applications (Those Most Commonly Used)

  {EDIT (WP)} [Alt+E] This slot is provided for the assignment of your 
  editor or word processor.  Define with the Define Slot option.

  {DATABASE} [Alt+D] This slot is provided for the assignment of your 
  database management program.  Define with the Define Slot option.

  {TERMINAL} [Alt+T] This slot is provided for the assignment of your 
  telecommunications program.  Define with the Define Slot option.
   
  {FINANCIAL} [Alt+F] This slot is provided for the assignment of your 
  spreadsheet or financial accounting package.  Define with the Define 
  Slot option.
  
  {GRAPHICS} [Alt+G] This slot is provided for the assignment of your 
  graphics drawing program, (Medium or High Resolution).  Define with the 
  Define Slot option.  If Low Resolution is desired you will have to set 
  low resolution from the desktop and then run VDOSLOW.PRG (The Low 
  Resolution Autoloader).
  
  {COMPILER} [Alt+C] This slot is provided for the assignment of your 
  programming language compiler.  Define with the Define Slot option.
  
  {LINKER} [Alt+L] This slot is provided for the assignment of your 
  programming language object file linker, interpreter, or make utility.  
  Define with the Define Slot option.
  
  {SHELL (CL)} [Alt+S] This slot is provided for the assignment of you 
  Command Line Interpreter or Shell Program other than VDOS.  Define with 
  the Define Slot option.
  
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                           System Level Functions

  {MEMFREE} [Control+M] Gives you the amount of free system memory in 
  bytes.  This total is not the amount you will have when running an 
  application with VEXEC.  VEXEC only takes up about 10K of dynamic memory 
  and VDOS returns it's allocation to the free pool prior to calling 
  VEXEC.
    
  {DISKFREE} [Control+D] Will show you how much space remains on the 
  currently logged in disk drive.  All active drives from A-P are 
  supported.
  
  {MORE (VIEW)} [M] This UNIX compatible command will display an an ASCII 
  text file to the screen one page at a time.  It can be aborted by 
  pressing Control+C.  If you attempt to display a binary file, or a text 
  file that does not use a carriage return at the end of each text line, 
  you may get a hard error and have to recover.

  {PRINT} [Control+P] The Print function allows you to print out an ASCII 
  text file to the printer.  It will check first to see if the printer is 
  connected to the printer port.  If connected, it gives you the option to 
  have a file name header and page number printed.  If you own a printer 
  that only uses a single sheet at a time, refer to PIN / SHEET. 
  
  {PIN / SHEET} [p] This function allows you to select either continuous 
  or sheet feed for use with PRINT.  
  
  {CHECK PRINT} [C] This function checks to see if a printer is connected 
  to your system.

  {VDOS HELP} [Help Key] Displays this help feature.
  
  {FORMAT} [Control+F] Will display the VDOS Formatter.  Allows you to 
  format a diskette (either SS or DS in either Drive A or B).
  
  {DIR -X} [Control+X] This UNIX compatible function (compares to ls -al), 
  will give you a long listing of the files located in the currently 
  logged on disk drive and folder.  Control+C will abort the function.
  
  {DIR -W} [Control+W] This UNIX compatible function (compares to ls -x), 
  will give you a columnar display of files located in the currently 
  logged on disk drive and folder.  Control+C will abort the function.
  
  {MKDIR} [F1] This UNIX compatible command will prompt you for a valid 
  path to create a folder.  It gives you the Drive and root path.  Example  
  A:\  You must supply the rest of the path.  Errors are noted.
  
  {RMDIR} [F2] This UNIX compatible command will prompt you for a valid 
  path in which to delete an existing folder.  It is similar to the MKDIR 
  command except you are deleting instead of creating.  You may not be 
  located in the directory to be deleted, nor can you delete a folder that 
  has files in it.  Errors are noted.
  
  {DEL (KILL)} [Control+K] DEL gives you the ability to delete a file that 
  is located in the currently logged on disk drive.  You may not delete a 
  file that is RDONLY.  Global and File modes of operation are supported. 
  Errors are noted.

  {RENAME FILE} [R] RENAME allows you to rename a file located on the 
  currently logged on disk drive.  Errors are noted.
  
  {COPY} [Control+C] Copy allows for a very fast file copy of any file 
  contained on the designated source and target (drive & folder).  This 
  variant of the Copy command first checks to see that there is enough 
  room on the target drive prior to copying.  It will thus prevent out of 
  
  room error returns from GEMDOS.  Global and File modes of operation are 
  supported.

  {VERIFY} [Control+V] Will allow you to turn on the system verification 
  of disk read and write actions.  By turning off Verify you can speed up 
  copying of files, however you may be sacrificing file integrity.  In 
  most cases this is very safe.
  
  {CHDIR} [.] CHDIR is an MS DOS compatible command that allows you to 
  move from folder to folder on a given disk drive.  You must provide the 
  full path from the root directory for the currently logged on disk 
  drive.  Errors are noted.
  
  {DRIVE(SEL)} [Control + S] This option gives you a graphics based drive 
  selector that allows you to change to the root directory for any of the 
  available drives.  To select a drive, move the mouse pointer inside of 
  one of the drive buttons and click the left mouse button, or press the 
  keyboard key that corresponds to the drive.  To abort just press the 
  Right Mouse Button.

  {CHMOD} [F3] This UNIX compatible function allows you to either check or 
  change the current file permissions for any GEMDOS File.  Refer to 
  documentation for details.  Errors are noted.

  {WHERE} [?] This UNIX compatible function (compares to pwd), will 
  display graphically your current location in the file system.  If the 
  path is longer than 30 characters, you will see the drive, an arrow that 
  points to the drive (<==) and the tail of the path.
  
  {TOUCH FILE} [T] A UNIX compatible command, TOUCH allows you to update 
  the GEMDOS time assigned to a file.  This is most commonly used by 
  programmers when building large software projects with MAKE.  You may 
  not TOUCH a RDONLY file.  Errors are noted.

  {FIND} [F4] This function will search recursively the entire path that 
  you are currently logged on for file specifications that you assign.  
  Global characters "*" & "?" are supported.  An example would be "*.DOC" 
  or ??NEW??.DOC.  All files and paths that are found are echoed to the 
  screen.  See documentation for details.

  {RECOVER} [F5] This function will try to recover the VDOS environment 
  following a debilitating error, or when you wish to move the current 
  VDOS system to or from the current directory.  See documentation for 
  details.  If this function is not successful it is best to REBOOT the 
  system and start over.

  {CALENDAR} [@] Will display the current month in a GEM Window.  You may 
  move forwards or backwards in time for a display by using the provided 
  dialog box options and then clicking on UPDATE.

  {SCREEN SAVE} [Esc] This function allows you to blank the CRT screen to 
  prevent burn-in.  To abort the function either press a key or click on a 
  mouse button.

  {PRINTER CODE} [No Hot Key] Will allow you to pass special "escape" 
  codes to your printer that allow for special font's print size and more.  
  Please refer to the documentation for details.
  
  {GEM BAR} [Control+G] Allows for programs that utilize the GEM Desk.Acc 
  pipline for multi-tasking events.  This function is effective only while 
  displayed or as long as a GEM function is in the process of execution.  
  Pressing Control+G will deactivate the function if active. See the
  Documentation for full details
  
  {ACCESSORY} [Control+A] This GEM function allows you to utilize a 
  Desk.Acc while in VDOS.  Use the switch to either turn on or off the 
  function.
  
  {EXECUTE} [Control+E] Allows you to pick a .PRG, .TOS, or .TTP program 
  for execution via VEXEC.  This can be a program that has not been 
  defined with DEFINE SLOT.
  
  {TIMEBAR} [No Hot Key] Displays a small bar in the upper right had 
  corner of the screen with the current hour and minute.  Remains active 
  until turned off or upon exiting VDOS or execution of VEXEC.
  
  {DATE/TIME} [No Hot Key] Allows you to either view or set the system 
  date and time via a graphics oriented screen.  The ESC key aborts the 
  function.

  {FDATIME} [F] Provides a way to either retain old file date and time 
  stamps or force new ones during copy operations.

  
  {VDOS VER} [V] This MS DOS compatible command returns the current 
  release version of VDOS.

  {DEFINE SLOT} [+] You may define the default applications with this 
  utility.  To change the current application just enter the number of 
  choice.  Next you are prompted to provide the drive and path 
  graphically.  Once selected, you can either continue to define or abort 
  by entering 99.  On exit if changes have been made you are given the 
  chance to update VDOS.INF or just keep them for the current session.  If 
  you do not update, the changes are lost upon the first hard error, 
  exiting to the desktop, or upon execution of a program via VEXEC.

  {CLEAR SLOT} [-] The opposite of DEFINE SLOT, CLEAR SLOT allows you to 
  delete default applications from the execution queues.  Follow the same 
  procedures as for DEFINE SLOT.

  {REBOOT} [Control+R] Allows you to WARM BOOT your computer.  Depending 
  on your configuration, this may not remove some RAM Disks or VDISK.  
  Once selected there is no return.
  
  {DESKTOP} [Control+Q] Gives you the option to exit to the GEM Desktop.
  
  {No Menu Selection} [Clr Home] Will automatically return you to the VDOS 
  $HOME directory.  There is no abort.

  
                     VDOS Manual Ordering Instructions

     If you use VDOS and feel that it is a good software value for the 
  money, we ask that you send $25.00 plus $2.00 shipping and handling to 
  the below address.
  
                          Marathon Computer Press
                               P.O. Box 68503
                       Virginia Beach, Virginia 23455                                            

                  * Only Checks or Money Orders Accepted *

     In return for your VDOS registration fee you'll receive a beautifully 
  printed 100+ page manual in it's own binder.  Some of the features of 
  the printed manual are instructions for a myriad of installation 
  features of VDOS & VDOSLOW, The VDOS Concept, Defining and Clearing 
  Autoexecute Slots, Limitations, a dedicated page or more explaining each 
  of the DOS Utilities and their uses, Defining and loading a .VLO file, 
  Software Considerations, Future Plans, an informative Bibliography, a 
  multi-page Glossary, VDOS error codes, ASCII Codes, and Warranty 
  Information.  This is a most informative and fact filled manual that is 
  a MUST for any VDOS user.  Also your name will be placed on our VDOS 
  mailing list so you can be notified of any changes to the software or 
  manual.  If updates are made to either, you will be able to obtain them 
  at a reduced charge.
  
     By your registration of this softare package you will be helping us 
  to pay some of the developmental costs of a massive software project 
  that spanned nearly a year.  It will also give us incentive to continue 
  with the development of VDOS in the future.
  
                           Copyright Information                               

     The VDOS software system is considered Shareware.  Although we retain 
  the copyright to the material, this notification authorizes you to 
  freely distribute the software system to any BBS, or mailing list that 
  you desire PROVIDED that it is distributed in it's ENTIRETY.  This 
  notification must be intact along with all of the other portions of the 
  software system.  The VDOS software portion may also be offered as a 
  Public Domain diskette provided the cost is less than $7.50.  
     Additionally, if this software system is distributed by a Club, 
  Business, or Individual where a charge is assessed that entity must send 
  10% of the proceeds to Marathon Computer Press.  We will enforce this 
  provision.  Please support this provision if you intend to include VDOS 
  as part of your PD library.
  
     The printed VDOS manual is NOT Shareware.  If you send for the 
  printed manual, NO copies are authorized.  Full copyright protection is 
  afforded to the printed manual.  We think that the price we are offering 
  it for, that it is not only reasonable but fairly priced too.  We thank 
  you for not violating our Copyright for the VDOS Manual.

                             
                                      
  
                                                                 
  
