DOS is a tool that allows you the simplest means to organize your files and
directories. Once you learn how to use DOS, you can use more computers than
if you learned how to use anything else.

No matter what computer and "environment" you use there are a few things
that you must understand:

    A)  A file is a collection of data with a name attached to it.
        A file could be:

            o  A program such as a game
            o  A document like a resume
            o  A database - perhaps a mailing list
            o  A digitized photograph
            o  lots of things!

    B)  A disk (or "disk drive") is a device that stores files.  Usually,
        people have at least one hard disk and at least one floppy disk.

        A hard disk:

            o  holds thousands of files
            o  is really fast
            o  is usually used constantly while the computer is running
            o  is bolted to the inside of the computer

        A floppy disk:

            o  holds dozens of files
            o  is pretty slow
            o  is used about once a week for moving files to and from the
               hard disk
            o  can easily be inserted and removed from the computer (many
               disks can be used in the "floppy disk drive" of the computer)

    C)  A directory is something for organizing your files.  If you have
        a thousand files on a disk, it can be tough to find the one you are
        looking for.  If you are looking for a game that you have for
        playing poker, you might look in a directory GAMES where you may
        see that there is a sub-directory (a directory within a directory)
        called CARDS - now you have just a few files to browse to find your
        poker game.

All files, disk drives and directories have names.  In DOS, a disk drive is
usally called "A:", "B:", "C:", etc.  If you have just one floppy disk, it
is probably called "A:".  A hard disk is almost always "C:".

A file name in DOS may be 8 characters long and may have an extention three
characters long.  The extension is separated from the rest of the file name
with a period.  For example:

    POKER.COM   AUTOEXEC.BAT   CONFIG.SYS   BCOM.EXE   BCOM.DOC   READ.ME

The file name extension often reflects what type of file it is:

    o  files ending in ".COM", ".EXE" or ".BAT" are action files.  If you
       type the name of the file without the extension, something will
       happen - usually a program is run (executed).  With the file
       "POKER.COM" type  POKER  and press return - your computer will play
       poker with you.

    o  files ending in ".TXT" or ".DOC" usually contain text information
       that can be viewed from your favorite text editor or word processor.

    o  files ending in ".DAT", ".BIN" or ".TMP" usually contain information
       for a program - maybe a database.

Directories have names that resemble file names.  Most people don't use
extensions in their directory names.  The "root directory" has no name,
really.

A "path" is a kind of address for a file.  The path for the file
"POKER.COM" might be "C:\GAMES\CARDS".  If this is so, the "complete file
name" would be "C:\GAMES\CARDS\POKER.COM" - this tells us that on disk "C:"
there is a subdirectory "GAMES" which has a subdirectory "CARDS" which is
where "POKER.COM" is found.  If your "current disk" is "C:", your "path and
file name" could be "\GAMES\CARDS\POKER.COM".  Further, if your "current
directory" happens to be "\GAMES" then your "path and file name" could be
"CARDS\POKER.COM".

The "DOS prompt" usually shows the current drive and directory path
followed by ">".  From your root directory, it looks like "C:\>".  From
your GAMES directory, it looks like "C:\GAMES>".  To give DOS commands, you
type the command at the DOS prompt and press your enter key.

DOS comes with hundreds of commands that most people will never use.  You
can do almost anything you need to do by knowing just seven commands:

ͻ
 DIR      
ͼ  report what files are in the current directory

    Type        What happens

    DIR         a list of the files and directories in the current directory
                is shown

    DIR A:      a list of the files and directories on disk A: is shown

    DIR \GAMES  a list of the files and directories in the GAMES directory
                is shown

    DIR *.COM   a list of all the files with the extension ".COM" is shown


ͻ
 CD       
ͼ  change directory

    Type        What happens

    CD \GAMES   your "current directory" is now the GAMES directory

    CD CARDS    if your current directory was the \GAMES directory, then
                your current directory is now \GAMES\CARDS


ͻ
 MD       
ͼ  make directory

    Type        What happens

    MD \MODEM   make a directory in the root directory called "MODEM"

    MD MODEM    make a directory in the current directory called "MODEM"

ͻ
 RD       
ͼ  remove directory

    Type        What happens

    RD \MODEM   remove the directory "MODEM" from the root directory


ͻ
 COPY     
ͼ  copy one or more files

    Type                  What happens

    COPY POKER.COM P.COM  a file called "P.COM" will be created that is an
                          exact copy of "POKER.COM"

    COPY A:*.*            All of the files from disk A: will be copied into
                          the current directory.  Note here the use of
                          "*.*" (called "star dot star") - this means all
                          files.

    COPY *.* A:           All of the files in the current directory are
                          copied to disk A:


ͻ
 DEL      
ͼ  delete one or more files

    Type                  What happens

    DEL POKER.COM         the file "POKER.COM" is deleted


ͻ
 FORMAT   
ͼ  format a floppy disk for use with DOS

    Type        What happens

    FORMAT A:   the disk in disk drive A: will be formatted.  Sometimes
                when you buy new disks, they need to be formatted before
                you can use them.  Be careful:  If your disk already has
                stuff on it, it could be permanantly destroyed!


Ŀ
 Note that some versions of DOS will provide you with some on-line help. 
 To access this help, type the command you want more information on      
 followed by "/?".  For the FORMAT command, you may type                 
                                                                         
          FORMAT /?                                                      
                                                                         
 You can also type  HELP  at any DOS prompt to get a list of all of the  
 commands available to you.                                              

copyright (c) 1994 by Paul Wheaton, Banana Programming, Missoula, MT
This document may be freely copied.  The text of this document and other
Banana Programming products can be found on The Montana Banana BBS
(406-543-8234)
