Document 1110
BEGINNERS TIPS

BPT

Description:

Q-	I'm just beginning to explore computers & DOS and want to
know what I should look at first?

A-	The most important concept to grasp is that of PATHS. The
next item is skill with commands such as TREE, XDIR, etc. And
perhaps the most fun is in the creation of BATCH files. Then the
real exploration can begin.


PATH:

The back of the "Users Guide" has an excellent index that will
help you find explanations of these primary path commands:

	TREE
	CHDIR
	MDIR
	CD \
	CD ..
	PATH

It's important to remember that going into a path is much like
driving a car up a cul-de-sac to find someone's house with a map.

	- You start out on a main boulevard that you know (c:\) 
	- take various turns onto side streets (cd \drdos) 
	- and finally find the name your searching for
          (c:\drdos\tree.exe)
        - To get back home, you must backup and retrace your steps
          (cd..) or you may know of a shortcut (cd \)

COMMANDS:

The DR DOS command set is quite a long listing but the first
ones to get familiar with are:

	TREE
	DIR
	REN
	COPY
	DEL
	UNDEL

Some of them, like DEL are quite destructive so exercise
caution. There are quite often "switches" that will customize
the command that may suit your purpose better, these can be
found by typing the command and a /h after it, for instance:

	TREE /H

Or you can browse through DOSBOOK, just type:

	DOSBOOK

BATCH FILES:

You could say that the machine (PC) is bi-lingual, there are two
types of files it reads:

1.	"Executables" that can only be read by the machine , (they
just look like gobblety gook to us).

2.	"Text" files that do make some sense! I say some sense
because they often contain instructions for our machine.

Most of these files are critical to the happy operation of your
PC and should not be changed, but it is certainly ok to go and
look at them.

Some of the files that are "Text" based are:

1.	AUTOEXEC.BAT
2.	CONFIG.SYS
3.	*.INI

A safe way to look at them is to use the command "TYPE". Refer
to *** below.

Example:
TYPE AUTOEXEC.BAT /P

There are things listed in your DR DOS "Users Guide" that will
show you what can be done or ways to simplify loading programs,
all it takes is making a "Batch" file (text file) or editing an
existing file.  Look in the back of the guide under the words:

BATCH
CONFIGURATION
AUTOEXEC.BAT
CONFIG.SYS
PROMPT

There are examples given in the guide that will get you started
on your exploration of DOS and the PC.  Best of success to you.

***To do a DOS command like "TYPE", you must know how to get to
the command line first. If a machine has been setup by a
consultant or store, they sometimes put you in a menu program
which gives a list of choices, or straight into an application
like a data base.  Often, these programs or applications offer a
way to get to the COMMAND LINE, or as it's sometimes called, the
DOS PROMPT.  Typing EXIT will usually return to you to normal,
but if it doesn't rebooting the machine will start everything
all over again.  There is an important rule regarding rebooting,
"NEVER REBOOT IF YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PROGRAM" you should
always exit to the DOS PROMPT or use the "QUIT" option that is
usually available from a programs option list.


Example:

Page  35 to  44  Paths/Directories
Page 145 to 352  Commands
Page 113 to 136  Batch commands
Page 356 to 397  Config.sys
Page 294  Prompt
