                           Night Owl Computing's
                          Command Line for Windows
                                Version 1.0
                     Copyright 1993. All rights reserved

Table of Contents

What is Command Line for Windows?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2

Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3

Invoking Command Line for Windows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3

Additional Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
     WKILL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
     WREBOOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
     WEXIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     WRESTART. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4

Command Line internal command listing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     @ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     @@. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     @nn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     ?:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     > . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     -program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     cd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     cls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     copy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     dat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     del . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     dir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     dirp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     edit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     erase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     exit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     md/mkdir. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     more. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     open. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     path. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     rd/rmdir. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     set editor to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     set pat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     tasklist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     type. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     ver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6

Special Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     F3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6

Foreground and Background processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6

Accessing Windows Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
     Editing Autoexec.bat, Config.sys, Win.ini, System.ini . . . . . . . .   7
     Editing Your Desktop Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7

Running DOS programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7

The Future of Command Line for Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8

PRODUCT REGISTRATION FORM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9

                                  .  .  .


What is Command Line for Windows?

     Quite simply, Command Line for Windows is the natural replacement
for the DOS command window so often used within a Windows session. 
This replacement accomplishes a couple of things that a DOS window
cannot perform and Windows does not necessarily consider standard.

     Command Line will allow the user to run/execute any DOS or
Windows application.  Traditionally, a DOS window will only execute a
DOS application. In order to start another DOS program, the user has
to go through the whole process of opening the Program Manager and
launch a new DOS window with either the RUN command (somewhat ironic)
or the DOS icon.  Command Line eliminates this awkward restriction by
executing each DOS program in a separate DOS window, similar to
running a Windows application by selecting the icon.  (The use of a
PIF file is highly recommended for any DOS application run from within
Windows.)  This means that once a DOS application is launched, the
user can immediately launch another through the Command Line window. 
There are some third party utilities that will allow a Windows program
to be called from the DOS window, but these have the annoying problem
of locking the DOS window until the Windows program stops executing. 
Command Line eliminates this problem because it is fully Windows
compatible and can run any Windows application separately as a window
or an icon.  These unique features gives Command Line a great
advantage over a standard DOS window on the Windows platform.

     Command Line is the evolution of the familiar DOS interface that
Windows has left behind.  Moving from DOS to Windows is a big jump for
some users, and learning the new interface and the mouse can be very
uncomfortable.  Command Line allows DOS users to comfortably
manipulate the Windows desktop in a fashion that is very familiar and
easily understood (i.e. intuitive), while still taking advantage of
the Windows graphics and cooperative multi-tasking because most of the
commands used in Command Line are similar to DOS's Command.com. 
Furthermore, as most users find out while working in Windows, there
are some functions that are best served by the mouse and some best
served by the keyboard.  This utility allows the users to choose which
means for manipulating the desktop they feel most comfortable using
without sacrificing the control they are accustomed to having.


Registration

     Night Owl Computing strongly urges you to register this product
in order for you to be using a legal version.  With your support we
will continue to improve this product, and produce more products so
that you may work better and faster.
     Registration cost are $19.95 for the first copy and $9.95 for
each additional copy registered.  You will find a registration form at
the end of this document.  Please make your checks payable to:

          Timothy J. Gallagher

and send them to:

          Night Owl Computing
          P.O. Box 6424
          Columbia, MD 21045

     We do not accept credit cards at this time; it helps to keep
costs down. (credit card transations add 3-5% to the cost of
software.)
     You will receive confirmation of your registration in the mail.


Invoking Command Line for Windows

     To invoke Command Line for Windows, copy it into the Windows
directory and use the RUN command from Program manager.  You may also
place an icon of Command Line for Windows in the Startup program group
to allow Command Line for Windows to start when you start Windows.


Additional Utilities

WKILL     This utility takes a window id as its only parameter and
          will ask if you wish to kill the window.  If you answer
          'Yes' then the window will be destroyed without effecting
          any other window.  Refer to 'TASKLIST' below to get the
          window id.  (WARNING: This utility will allow you to kill
          any application, including applications that allow Windows
          to operate.  Be careful.)

WREBOOT   This utility will reboot your computer.  It has its own icon
          that can be used within the Program Manager just by clicking
          on it.  It will ask for confirmation before proceeding.  If
          you answer YES, then all the currently open windows will be
          closed gracefully, Windows will shut down and the computer
          will reboot.

WEXIT     This utility will exit windows.  It has its own icon that
          can be used within the Program Manager just by clicking on
          it.  It will ask for confirmation before proceeding.  

WRESTART  This utility will shut down Windows and then restart it just
          as if you were starting Windows for the first time.  It has
          its own icon that can be used within the Program Manager
          just by clicking on it.  It will ask for confirmation before
          proceeding.


Command Line internal command listing


@         Executes the last command entered.

@@        Displays a history of the last 24 commands executed.

@nn       Executes the command within the history buffer associated
          with line number nn in the buffer.  The line number, nn,
          must be in the range of 1 to 24.  If no command is at that
          buffer location, nothing will happen.

?:        Displays all available drives and the source of the drives. 
          When connected to a network, it will display whether the
          drive is local or remote.  If the drive is remote, the
          redirected path name for the drive is displayed.

>         This is the redirection symbol found in most operating
          systems' command line facility and, at this time, it works
          only with the internal commands that display text to the
          Command Line window.

-program  Placing a minus, '-', before a call to an external routine
          will automatically minimized (iconify) the Command Line
          window after successfully invoking the external routine. 
          The external routine is maximized.

cd        Change the current directory.  Syntax:  cd <directory path>

cls       Clears the screen.

copy      Copies one file to another.  Wild card characters are
          allowed in both the source name or the destination name. 
          (Coping a file to a directory by just using the directory
          name will require an ending '\').  Syntax:  copy <source>
          <destination>  

date      Allows editing of the system time and date.  Same as
          invoking the Windows Control Panel by typing CONTROL
          DATE/TIME.  Syntax:  date

del       Deletes a file or a group of files based on wild card
          characters.

dir       Displays a listing of the files in a directory plus the
          file's size, last update date, last update time, attributes,
          and an editing program associated with the file.
          (Associations are set through File Manager ASSOCIATE
          option.)  The attributes are as follows:

                    D    Directory
                    A    Archive
                    H    Hidden
                    S    System
                    R    Read only

          Options for 'dir' are:
               /p   display a page at a time
               /b   display only the file name
               /w   display file names only and 4 wide across the
                    screen
                    
dirp      Same as dir /p.

edit      Edits a file using the current editor for the system.  The
          default editor is 'Notepad.exe'.  Refer to 'Set Editor To'
          for changing the default editor.  Syntax: edit <filename>

erase     See 'del'.

exit      Exits Command Line for Windows.

history   Same as '@@'.

md/mkdir  Make a new directory.  Syntax: md <dir. name> 
          or mkdir <dir. name>

more      Displays a screen full of text and then pauses to allow the
          user to view the data.  This function will optionally start
          at a specific line number (lines are 80 characters or less
          with a Carriage return) and/or display only a specific
          number of lines by using the /s and /c options,
          respectively.  For example, "more junk.txt /s27 /c12" will
          display the file "junk.txt" after skipping the first 27
          lines and then will only display 12 lines from the file. 
          Syntax: more <filename> [/s999] [/c999].  

open      Accesses a data file using the data file's associated
          editing program.  File associations can be set through the
          File Manager.  Syntax: open <filename>

path      Displays the current search path.

print     Prints a file using the associated editing application when
          appropriate.  Syntax: print <filename>

rd/rmdir  Remove a directory.  Syntax: rd <dir. name> 
          or rmdir <dir. name>

set       To set an environment variable.  Currently, all environment
          variables set within this window will effect only this
          window.  Syntax: set <include = c:\include>

set editor to  
          Allows the user to change the default editor to any text
          editor that can take a file name as a parameter.  There is
          no check for the ability of the new editor to take a command
          line option.  If the editor cannot take a file name as a
          parameter, the editor will start but the data file will not
          be loaded.  Syntax: set editor to <editor name>

set path  Sets the search path when an executable file is not found
          within the current directory.  Syntax: set path to <path>

tasklist  This command will list all the tasks currently running in
          Windows.  The listing will include the window id and a
          window class name (used internally by Windows).  These
          window task ids can be used with the utility WKILL.

time      Allows editing of the system time and date. Same as typing
          'CONTROL DATE/TIME'

type      Same as 'more'.

ver       Displays the Command Line for Windows version banner.



Special Key

F3        Displays the last command processed.


Foreground and Background processing

&         By placing an ampersand, '&', before the executable file
          name, you can cause the application to start up as an icon
          on the desktop.  The Command Line window remains maximized
          and the currently active window.


Accessing Windows Configuration

Editing Autoexec.bat, Config.sys, Win.ini, System.ini

     Windows comes with an editor for these files.  Command Line allow
you to access this editor by typing:
          sysedit <ENTER>

Editing Your Desktop Configuration

     Command Line also lets you may access the capabilities of the
Control Panel to edit your Windows desktop by typing:
 
          control <ENTER>

     To edit a specific part of the control use

     for Fonts:  control fonts <ENTER>
     for Color:  control color <ENTER>
     for Date and Time: control date/time <ENTER>
     for Mouse: control mouse <ENTER>
     for Desktop: control desktop <ENTER>
     for International: control international <ENTER>
     for Keyboard: control keyboard <ENTER>
     for Printers: control printers <ENTER>
     for Drivers: control drivers <ENTER>
     for Sound: control sound <ENTER>
     for 386 Enhanced: control 386 enhanced <ENTER>

Command Line allows you to access the current list tasks by typing:

     taskman <ENTER>

You can then select to switch to another application.

Command Line allows you to easily edit a PIF file by typing:

     pifedit <filename>

PIF files are important to running DOS applications correctly within
Windows.


Running DOS programs

     You may run a DOS program as you would normally run it from the
DOS command line.  It may be useful to edit the default PIF file so
that the program's window does not close immediately when the program
is done.  This can also allow the DOS program to run in a window
automatically for machines that can run 386 Enhance Mode Windows.

Running Windows programs

     You may run a Windows program just as easily as you can run a DOS
program from Command Line.  If the program is on the Windows search
path, then you will not need to type the full path when running the
Windows application.  Remember that most Windows applications accept
command line parameters.  You can use this capability to open a data
file when you run the application.

The Future of Command Line for Windows

     We feel that the success of Command Line is eminent, thus we will
continue to enhance it.  The second quarter off 1994 will mark the
first upgrade for Command Line for Windows and will include:

         An API library available for 3rd party programmers allowing
          easy access to the Command Line capabilities as standard
          input and output.

         Full redirection and filtering (piping) capability for DOS
          and Command Line compatible Windows applications.

         Command aliasing to allow users to rename the commands or
          produce other commands as a combination of commands.

         'History' will be manipulated with the arrow keys as well as
          the '@' command.

         A larger scrolling window will be available.

         Cut, Copy, and Paste will be implemented for the window.


Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Command Line for Windows 
                         PRODUCT REGISTRATION FORM 

Date:  Month ________  Day _____  Year ______

Your Name:  _________________________________ (required)

Company/Address:  _________________________________

                  _________________________________

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If you wish to receive the latest version on diskette please check the
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Price Calculation   Registration Fee:  $19.95 + $9.95 for each
additional registration.  Please list additional registrants below.

   Number of copies registering:  ___________
         Registration Fee Total:  ___________
 
Make payable by check in U.S. currency drawn on a U.S. bank. 

          Timothy J. Gallagher
          Night Owl Computing
          P.O. Box 6424
          Columbia, MD 21045
          U.S.A.

Additional registrants 








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