


                                   CHGENV.EXE
                            A DOS ENVIRONMENT EDITOR
                                       BY
                                 PETER A. HYMAN
                                 (609) 799-2638



     UPDATE VERSION: 8/90

     Version  2  of CHGENV contains a bug fix to the original  release,  im-
     proves the screen handling and display, and adds a command line  option
     which  causes  the environment to be sorted only.   The  executable  is
     called CHGENV2.EXE,  however all references in the documentation  refer
     to it as CHGENV.  You may wish to rename the file.

     DESCRIPTION:

     CHGENV (Change Environment) is a program designed to allow the user  to
     easily change settings in the Environment.   With CHGENV,  the user may
     add to, delete from or modify any of the SETtings currently in effect.
     CHGENV  is particularly useful when a long environment  variable  (e.g.
     PATH) requires modification.   The user need not retype the entire  SET
     command with CHGENV,  merely edit the setting.  New to version 2 is the
     ability to only sort the environment.

     USAGE:

     CHGENV has two modes of operation:

     SORT ONLY:  To only sort the current environment, type

     type CHGENV -s or -S [ENTER].

     A copyright and statistical messages will be displayed,  then the  mes-
     sage Environment Successfully Updated will be displayed and the program
     will end.  The environment will be sorted in alphabetical order and may
     be view with the DOS SET command.

     FULL SCREEN INTERACTIVE MODE:

     type CHGENV [ENTER].

     CHGENV displays a copyright message followed by the location in  memory
     of  the MASTER copy of the Environment,  its Maximum  allowable  length
     followed  by the current length of all the environment strings in  use. 
     The Maximum length may not be exceeded.

     Next,  CHGENV will display all currently SET environment  variables  in
     ALPHABETICAL order.   If more than 16 variables are set,  a scroll  bar
     will be displayed in the left margin.








                                    -- 1 --                          Aug 1990






                                   CHGENV.EXE
                            A DOS ENVIRONMENT EDITOR
                                       BY
                                 PETER A. HYMAN
                                 (609) 799-2638



     There are only three operations which CHGENV performs,  and three  keys
     used to perform them:

     INSERT KEY:    Add a New Environment Variable
     DELETE KEY:    Delete Currently Selected Environment Variable
     ALT-C KEY:     Change Currently Selected Environment Variable

     Pressing Control-Break,  Control-C or ESCAPE immediately ends the  pro-
     gram.  Pressing F10 ends the session prompting the user if he wishes to
     save the changes.  Even if no edits have been made, the environment has
     been sorted and the Save Changes prompt will always appear.

     A highlighter is always visible.   It indicates the  currently-selected
     Environment Variable.   To move the highlighter, the UP or DOWN Cursor,
     HOME or END or RETURN Keys may be used to move about the screen.

     ADDING A NEW ENVIRONMENT VARIABLE:

     All Environment Variables may be a maximum of 128 characters or the re-
     maining  available environment space,  whichever is less.   The  syntax
     must be:

     name=value

     where name is the name of the Environment Variable (e.g.  PROMPT),  the
     equal  sign  is mandatory with or without a space in between,  and  the
     value is the text or numeric value to be associated with the  Variable. 
     CHGENV will display a line near the bottom of the screen when INSERT is
     pressed and prompt Add: , followed by a highlighted area.  If the Envi-
     ronment  Variable is more than the screen width,  the  characters  will
     scroll  until done.   Any edit may be completed by pressing the  UP  or
     DOWN cursor,  HOME or END keys or RETURN.   If the Environment Variable
     to  be  added does not contain an equal sign,  or if its  length  would
     cause  the  total Environment Length to exceed its maximum,  and  error
     will be reported.

     If  the Environment Variable to be added is the same as one already  in
     the Environment,  it will replace the existing one (although the CHANGE
     option could also be used to edit the existing Environment Variable).

     Once editing is completed, the newly-added Environment Variable will be
     sorted into the display.









                                    -- 2 --                          Aug 1990






                                   CHGENV.EXE
                            A DOS ENVIRONMENT EDITOR
                                       BY
                                 PETER A. HYMAN
                                 (609) 799-2638



     DELETING AN ENVIRONMENT VARIABLE:

     The currently highlighted Environment Variable may be deleted by press-
     ing the DELETE Key.  When this is done, the variable to be deleted will
     flash and a prompt Delete This Environment String?  will be  displayed. 
     A 'Y' or 'N' in upper or lower case must be entered in response to this
     prompt.   If 'Y'  is entered, the Environment String is deleted and the
     list resorted and the Current Environment Length is recomputed.

     CHANGING AN EXISTING ENVIRONMENT VARIABLE:

     The screen handling has been overhauled for version 2,  making  editing
     an environment much easier.

     An environment variable may be selected by moving the highlighter up or
     down using the Cursor UP, DOWN, HOME or END keys.   The currently high-
     lighted  Environment Variable may be changed by pressing  ALT-C.   When
     this is done,  an edit box is displayed just to the right of the  equal
     sign and the cursor will be positioned at the beginning of the environ-
     ment variable data string.  To scroll the string, use the right or left
     cursor keys.  To delete characters, either the DELETE or BACKSPACE Keys
     may  be used.   Both INSERT and OVERTYPE modes are now supported.   If,
     during  an edit,  you wish to throw away the changes,  pressing  ESCAPE
     will  undo  the changes and return you to the  first  column  position. 
     Pressing  ESCAPE a second time will abort the edit.   Any edit  may  be
     completed  by pressing the UP or DOWN cursor,  HOME or END keys or  RE-
     TURN.  The Screen cursor will move up or down the screen accordingly.

     SAVING THE CHANGES:

     After all Environment Changes have been completed,  F10 may be  pressed
     to  save the changes.   Replying 'Y' to the Save Changes?  prompt  will
     cause the modified environment to be copied back into the Master  Envi-
     ronment Location.   This is the copy of the environment which is  given
     to  each process or subprocess.   Any TSRs already loaded have  already
     inherited  their  environments and cannot be affected by  this  change. 
     However,  all new commands,  programs or new invocations of  a  command
     processor will inherit the modified environment.













                                    -- 3 --                          Aug 1990






                                   CHGENV.EXE
                            A DOS ENVIRONMENT EDITOR
                                       BY
                                 PETER A. HYMAN
                                 (609) 799-2638



     DISCLAIMER:

     Every  effort has been made to test this program and assure its  integ-
     rity.   If it does not work on your system,  please let me know immedi-
     ately.

     This program is being placed in the public domain as shareware.  Please
     distribute  it freely to other BBSs or users.   You should include  the 
     files CHGENV2.EXE and CHGENV.TXT.    You may not charge a  fee  for the
     product or resell it in combination with any other product without per-
     mission.

     If you like CHGENV.EXE and find it helpful,  please register your  sup-
     port by remitting a $10 registration fee.   Include your name,  address
     and phone to:

     PETER A. HYMAN, INC.
     148 Tennyson Drive
     Plainsboro, NJ  08536

     Registered  users  will receive updates to the product for  the  coming
     year.





























                                    -- 4 --                          Aug 1990



