Word: files
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...principle behind batch files is fairly simple. Instead of typing in several commands from DOS, a user can instruct the computer to take its commands from a pre-arranged file. For example, when the Happy Hacker wants to use DBASE, he simply types in db at the A prompt. This instructs the computer to execute all of the commands in the file DB.BAT stored on disk. Upon looking at the Hacker's DB.BAT file, the IBM compatible then knows to do the following things. Load in Sidekick (a handy calculator/notepad utility), create a ramdisk, activate a print spooling utility, switch...
Setting up batch files requires typing all of the commands that the computer will execute into an ASCII file with the extension .bat. This can be done with an editor such as EDLIN (it comes with MS-DOS, see manual for instructions) or the SIDEKICK notepad...
When the computer is first turned on, or when it is reset, it will always look for a file called autoexec.bat. This is an ASCII file (constructed like any other batch file) which tells a computer what to do before leaving the user at the A prompt. For users without a hard disk, the autoexec.bat file can be used to start up specific applications. For example, the Happy Hacker has a wordprocessing disk that will always load a spelling checker program and then start the word processor anytime the computer is reset with the disk in drive...
Users with hard disks might have several useful utility programs, such as print spoolers or spelling checkers, automatically loaded every time they boot up. The Happy Hacker uses his hard disk's autoexec.bat file to perform several functions. After checking a calendar program to see if it's a friend's or relative's birthday, loading in a ramdisk and copying certain files to it, installing a utility which blanks the screen after five minutes of non-use, and finally printing a quote of the day (drawn from a very large database), the Happy Hacker finally has control...
...commander reads the directory and displays all of the files in the right hand corner of the screen. The user can use the arrow keys to move the cursor from one file to another. Upon selecting a file, the user then hits one of several function keys to perform a given function such as listing, running program, or printing out the file...