From news Mon Nov 15 22:52:11 1993
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.4dos
Path: uwm.edu!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!cyber2.cyberstore.ca!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!utcsri!cannon.ecf!willer
From: willer@ecf.toronto.edu (WILLER  STEVEN)
Subject: 4DOS 5.0 feature list
Message-ID: <CGK0z7.6wJ@ecf.toronto.edu>
Summary: 4DOS 5.0 feature list (crossposted) 
Keywords: 4dos features announce 
Sender: news@ecf.toronto.edu (News Administrator)
Organization: University of Toronto, Engineering Computing Facility
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1993 22:25:54 GMT
Lines: 249

Wow! I just received my WordPerfect/Win 6.0 box this morning, Word 6 is
coming out, Excel's out soon, Quattro recently came out, DOS 6.2 recently
came out...this is just the time for upgrades!

Anyway, here's the feature list that was also posted by JP (I think on
FidoNet). Again, sorry if you already knew this.

-------------------------------------------

JP Software is pleased to announce:
 
     * Version 5.0 of 4DOS, our award-winning command processor
     for DOS 2.0 through 6.2.
 
     * Version 2.0 of 4OS2, our enhanced command processor for
     OS/2 1.x and 2.x.
 
     * Version 2.0 of 4DOS/NT, our enhanced command processor for
     Windows NT 3.1.
 
This message summarizes the new features in this major update.  A
complete list of changes for each product will be available for
download when the product is released.
 
See the previous message for upgrade information and details on
planned release dates.
 
 
This release includes:
 
 
General Features and Enhancements
---------------------------------
 
     * Full support for MS-DOS 6.2 and OS/2 2.1.
 
     * File selection by date, time, and size for all file
     processing commands with our new date, time, and size
     ranges.  Affects ATTRIB, COPY, DEL, DESCRIBE, DIR, FOR,
     LIST, MOVE, RD, REN, SELECT, AND TYPE.
 
     * Support for global alias and history lists in 4DOS, so
     that you can share aliases and / or the command history
     between multiple shells.
 
     * .BTM files can now be compressed with the new BATCOMP
     utility.  4DOS, 4OS2, and 4DOS/NT read and process
     compressed .BTM files just as if they were normal
     (uncompressed) files.  This makes it easy for PC and network
     managers to distribute batch files whose contents cannot
     readily be altered by the end user.
 
     * The maximum file description length has been increased to
     200 characters, and DIR description displays are word-
     wrapped to show the entire description.
 
     * Over a dozen new or enhanced .INI file directives,
     including the ability to prompt for each directive when
     processing the .INI file.
 
     * AUTOEXEC.BAT now supports batch arguments.
 
     * Fixes for all known bugs.
 
 
Command Line Editing and History
--------------------------------
 
     * A new popup directory history window which shows recent
     directories you've used.
 
     * A new file name completion window.
 
     * The ability to set the colors for input you type at the
     prompt.
 
     * The ability to control whether a command recalled from the
     history is copied back to the end of the history list.
 
     * A new kind of keystroke alias which executes "silently"
     (is not displayed on the screen), and "immediately" (without
     pressing Enter).
 
     * A new "UNKNOWN_CMD" alias which can be executed if you
     enter an unknown command.
 
 
Command Changes
---------------
 
     * The prompt options for COPY, DEL, GLOBAL, MOVE, and REN
     have a third option now:  'R' (Rest, or Remainder) turns off
     the Y/N/R prompt and performs the operation on the remainder
     of the matching files.
 
     * A new switch, /T(otal) for COPY, DEL, MOVE, and REN,
     disables the display of file names (like /Q) but still
     displays the totals.
 
     * DEL now displays the disk space freed in the summary line,
     and (under 4DOS) supports the /F(orce delete) option in OS/2
     2.1 DOS sessions.
 
     * New DIR switches and switch changes, including:
 
          /C:  You can now use /CP or /CHP to return the
          compression value as a percentage instead of a ratio
          under 4DOS.
 
          /H:  Do not display "." and "..".
 
          /I:  Display only those files whose descriptions match
          the specified text.
 
          /R:  Disable long description wrapping.
 
     * DO, a new loop control command for batch files.  You can
     use several methods to control the loop:
 
          DO n:  Repeat the loop n times.
 
          DO FOREVER:  Repeat the loop until you exit with LEAVE
          or GOTO.
 
          DO var = start TO end [BY n]:  Repeat the loop until
          the variable passes the end value.
 
          DO WHILE condition:  Repeat the loop while the
          condition is true (the condition can be any of those
          available in the IF and IFF commands).
 
          DO UNTIL condition:  Repeat the loop until the
          condition becomes true.
 
     A loop terminates with an ENDDO.  You can use ITERATE to
     return to the start of a loop, and LEAVE to exit a loop.
 
     * IF and IFF now support decimals in numeric tests.
 
     * INKEY has two new switches:
 
          /C:  Clears the keyboard buffer before accepting input.
          /P:  Does not echo your input (for passwords).
 
     * INPUT has four new switches:
 
          /C:  Clears the keyboard buffer before accepting input.
          /E:  Displays and allows you to edit an existing value.
          /L:  Sets the maximum input length.
          /P:  Displays asterisks for your input (for passwords).
 
     * KEYBD, a new command to toggle the state of the Caps Lock,
     Num Lock, and Shift Lock keys.
 
     * LIST has been completely rewritten and offers many new
     features.  Line numbers are displayed, and you can go to a
     specific line; hexadecimal display, print, and search are
     now supported; there is a popup window which shows the
     current fully expanded filename, size, date, and time; and
     most operations are significantly faster.
 
     * LOG now supports a "history" log, which is independent
     from the regular command log.  The history log saves the
     original commands entered into the history list, without the
     date and time information stored in the normal log file, and
     before alias and variable expansion.
 
     * MD has a new switch:  /S builds all necessary intermediate
     directories.
 
     * MOVE now displays the space freed (if any), like DEL, and
     (under 4DOS) supports the /F(orce delete) option in OS/2 2.1
     DOS sessions.
 
     * ON, a new error-handling command for batch files:
 
          ON BREAK command:  Execute the command when ^C or
          ^Break is detected.
 
          ON ERROR command:  Execute the command after a DOS or
          4DOS error.
 
     * SELECT supports the new /I switch (see DIR).
 
     * SETDOS has 4 new options:
 
          /B:  Sets your EGA or VGA board for blinking text or
               bright background colors.
          /D:  Enables or disables description processing for
               COPY, DEL, MOVE, and REN.
          /X:  Controls command parsing.  You can enable or
               disable alias and variable expansion, multiple and
               conditional commands, redirection and pipes,
               command grouping, quoting, and the escape
               character.
          /Y:  Enables or disables single-step operation in batch
               files.  Use for batch file debugging.
 
     * START is a new command for 4DOS users running OS/2 2.1.
     It starts a DOS, Windows, or OS/2 application from an OS/2
     DOS session.
 
 
 
Internal Variables and Variable Functions
-----------------------------------------
 
     * Over 15 new internal variables, including:
 
          _APMAC         AC status (4DOS only)
          _APMBATT       Battery status (4DOS only)
          _APMLIFE       Remaining battery life (4DOS only)
          _COUNTRY       Country code
          _DAY           Day of the month (1 - 31)
          _DOY           Day of the year (1 - 366)
          _HOUR          Hour (0 - 23)
          _MINUTE        Minute (0 - 59)
          _MONTH         Month of the year (1-12)
          _SECOND        Second (0 - 59)
          _SYSERR        Error code for the most recent operating
                         system error
          _WINTITLE      Title of the current session or window
          _YEAR          Year (1980-2099)
 
 
     * Over 15 new variable functions, including:
 
          @CDROM         CD-ROM drive detection
          @DEC           Decremented value of a variable
          @FILEAGE       Age of a file
          @FILECLOSE     Close a file
          @FILEOPEN      Open a file
          @FILEREAD      Read a line from a file
          @FILES         Count files which match a wildcard name
          @FILESEEK      Seek to a new location in a file
          @FILEWRITE     Write text to a file
          @FINDFIRST     Find the first file which matches a
                         wildcard name
          @FINDNEXT      Find the next matching file
          @INC           Incremented value of a variable
          @MASTER        Return a value from the master
                         environment (4DOS only)
          @RANDOM        Return a random number
          @TRIM          Return a string with whitespace removed
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