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  To:      999 (all members)             
  From:    K5B (David J.MacGraw.)        
  Subject: 512 and DOS+ (Part 4)         
                                         
  Copying COMMAND.COM to a ramdisc (M:)  
  and amending the COMSPEC environment   
  and PATH variables accordingly greatly 
  speeds re-loading when necessary and   
  ends Unable to load COMMAND.COM errors.
  The COMMAND/C <program name> construct 
  for those programs requiring a second  
  COMMAND.COM becomes almost transparent.
  Similarly, the COMMAND <2nd.batch file>
  substitute for DOS3.3's CALL 'sub-batch
  routine' command is equally effective. 
                                         
  Many DOS programs permit 'shelling-out'
  whereby the current application is left
  in abeyance and control returned to the
  user usually by re-loading COMMAND.COM.
  Again, using a ramdisc copy makes this 
  process virtually immediate. Return to 
  the original program is normally done  
  by entering the EXIT command.          
                                         
  TIP: Try Ctrl/C or Ctrl/Break instead  
  of typing EXIT. Many programs (eg. LIST
  v7.6b, QEdit v2.1, FED v1.51) respond  
  correctly to this. NB: DOS's Ctrl/Break
  means Ctrl and the numeric keypad Break
  key (ie. the 'hash' symbol below '*'), 
  NOT the Beeb's hard break combination! 
                                         
  One minor annoyance when 'shelling-out'
  is the over-writing of the Type EXIT to
  return to ----- line by DR's copyright 
  message. One solution is to edit the   
  string to include a CR+LF at the start.
  Using a hex file editor ON A COPY FIRST
  amend the bytes at offset 0654E onwards
  from "DOS Plus" to 0D,0A,"DRDOS+".     
                                         
  Another tweak to COMMAND.COM (06.01.87)
  which may be of use is to change the   
  byte at offset 0168F from 07C to 07F.  
  This permits the '|' character to be   
  used in, for example, batch files. One 
  need for this is to prepare the Beeb's 
  soft keys for use when using STAR or   
  ES's OSCLI/SuprStar commands to include
  control characters.                    
                                         
  The ramdisc is also useful for keeping 
  oft' used utilities. One which I use a 
  lot is Colour.EXE. This presets my CGA 
  palette correctly for doing PCB layouts
  etc. and needs to be called four times 
  before and after running the program, a
  long-winded task even with a hard disc!
  A 're-entrant' batch file (called AUTO 
  so I can just press f1 - see Pt.3) does
  all the preparation needed, as follows:
                                         
  echo off suppresses some screen output 
  cls clears the screen                  
  if %1 == RAM goto INM re-entrant call? 
  if exist m:auto.bat goto RAM 1st call? 
  mouse install 512 mouse driver         
  ps3 install Problem Solver             
  MemoPad 5 install ES MemoPad           
  PadLoad load specific pad data         
  copy \system\colour.exe m: copy utility
  copy auto.bat m: copy self             
  :RAM                                   
  m:auto RAM repeat from ramdisc         
  :INM                                   
  m:                                     
  thin change font                       
  colour 0 6 change colour palette       
  colour 1 4                             
  colour 5 1                             
  colour 6 4                             
  c: return to PCB directory             
  EasyPC run PCB program session         
  cls                                    
  m: return to ramdisc                   
  colour 6 1 restore colour palette      
  colour 5 6                             
  colour 1 7                             
  colour 0 0                             
  normal restore font                    
  c: return to PCB directory             
                                         
  Having installed the required programs 
  the file recalls itself from ramdisc to
  execute the 4 colour changes needed;   
  after the session it then restores the 
  palette, again at lightening speed!    
                                         
  Next time, ES's 'essential' collection 
  of utilities and their hotkeys.        
                                         
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