AboutIf you like me prefer a command line interface on your computer when doing certain tasks then this is the application for you. MDOS has all the features you would expect of a CLI but it also has more, it has full support of Plug in files (.PLG) which you can write yourself with only the programs that came with your psion.
Installation Using PsiZip Just extract all the files to the root directory of C with the restore folders option marked. PsiZip will automatically create all the directories you need. Using Psiwin Unzip the ZIP file using whatever ZIP tool you normally use (PKUnzip, WinZip etc) and copy all PLG files on to the psion in the folder C:\system\apps\mdos\plugins and everything else into C:\system\apps\mdos.
Plug insFor those of you that don't know, a plug in is a program file that sits seperate of another program but is loaded into this other program and adds some form of feature or update. (I'm sorry if that lost you but I'm not exactly good a giving clear definitions of things.)Creating a plug inAll you need to do to create a plug in is this.1. Choose a name for your plug in.2. Create a program file with that name and name the first procedure iXXX where XXX is the name of the program file you have just created. In this procedure place anything that the plug in needs to do when MDOS is started and also put a PRINT command giving the name and version of the plug in. e.g. Print "Toolkit V1.0". This text is displayed at start up, that way the user is aware that your plug in has loaded correctly.3. Write in the commands you want. To call your command from in MDOS you will type in the procedures name. E.g. to run a command called DOLIST you would need a PROC DOLIST: When writing commands you may need to access certain external values like parameters passed with the command. These values are: PARM1$ The parameter passed with the command. PATH$ The current path that MDOS is pointed at.4. Translate this file and change the opo extension to PLG and then move this file into the plugins directory in the MDOS directory.
Disclaimer.I, Mike McCarthy accept no responsibility for any damage or loss of data or any other problem which arises as a result of the use of this software. By using this software you agree to accept full responsibility for any problems which may arise.
Shell commands.Incase you didn't notice when you installed (asuming that you have already) there is a file called MDOS.shell. This file contains all the built in commands that MDOS comes with. Whenever an upgrade for MDOS is released it will contain a new version of this Shell file and a text file telling of what changes it contains. Here is a list of the current shell commands.CLS Clears the screenVER Returns what version of MDOS shell you are runningMEM Displays current free system memoryCD XX Changes to the directory XXCD.. Changes to the parent directoryCD\ Changes to the root directoryDIR [P] Displays a directory listing [pauses every page of text]EXIT Exits MDOSPATH Displays the current pathCOPY Opens the file copying dialogMD XX Creates a folder called XXRD XX Removes the folder XXDELETE X Deletes the file XDEL X Deletes the file XX: Switches to drive X
Time and Date plug inTIME Displays the current timeDATE Displays the current date
Toolkit 1 plug inTASKLIST Displays the system task list (Like pressing Ctrl+System)TYPE XX Displays the text file XX (Press a key to pause the scrolling)VIEWPIC X Displays the mbm picture file X
Library checker plug inLIBCHECK Displays what library files of mine you have and what version they are.
