Fullscreen HTML5Med Res (??MB)HTML4

COMPUTER BITS BY JENNIFER BONNITCHA Configuring your computer using the keyboard enhancers This month, we continue our tour through the ANSI.SYS driver and look at ways to make typing easier using the keyboard enhancers. A couple of sample batch files are included for you to try. .In addition to changing screen colours and cursor location, ANSI.SYS, in conjunction with other DOS functions, ·enables you to customise the keyboard for your convenience. You can reprogram some of your keys to type commands or phrases. You could define any of the ASCII (standard) keys or the ex-tended keyboard keys (Fl-FlO , Home, End and so on) to edit the current line, or recall, edit and enter a previous command line. MS-DOS function keys MS-DOS has a special set of editing keys which enable you to type the same sequences of keys repeatedly, because the most recently typed command line is automatically placed in a special storage area called a template. When you use the template and the special editing keys , you can take advantage of the following features: • repeat a command instantly by pressing just two keys; • correct a mistake at the command line by editing rather than re-typing the entire line; • edit and execute a command line similar to the previous one with a minimum of effort. When you type a command and press the Enter key, MS-DOS automatically sends it to the command processor (COMMAND.COM) for execution. 74 SILICON CHIP At the same time, MS-DOS also sends a copy of this command to the template. You can then recall or modify the command by using the MS-DOS special editing keys. The standard DOS editing keys are: Fl - Copies the next character from the template (previous line) to the current command line. The right arrow key performs the same function. F2 - Copies all characters from the previous command line, up to but not including the character typed from the template, to the current command line. F3 • Copies all remaining characters from the template to the current command line. Del • Skips over (does not copy) a character from the template. F4 - Skips over (does not copy) the characters in the template up to the character specified. Esc - Cancels the current command line and leaves the template unchanged. F5 - Makes the new line the new template. F6 - Produces the end of file marker AZ (Ctrl Z) Backspace - Deletes the previous character from the command line. The left arrow key performs the same function. Other than the Backspace and En- ter keys, the F5 and F3 keys are probably the most widely used. If you reassign the six special function keys (covered a little later), you lose their editing functions. DIR TEST.BAT displays the directory information for TEST.BAT and the command is saved to the template. To repeat the command, press F3 and MS-DOS repeats the entire command on the screen. Press Enter to continue. F2 B displays the information from the previous template up to the specified character, B. Note that F2 does nothing until you type the character you want MS-DOS to copy up to. Type the asterisk (*) then press Enter. You can mix and match the Function key and Insert/Delete operations; eg: F2. Ins 5 F3 F2 5 Del F3 The first command copies the information from the previous template (F2) up to the specified character (.), activates Insert mode (Ins) , adds the number 5 to the template and continues the copy to the end of the line (F3). The second command once again copies up to (F2) a specified character (5), deletes the current character (Del) then continues the copy to the end of the line (F3). You can use the Function keys to go.ad advantage when cleaning up your directories. Before issuing a multiple DEL command, it is a good idea to see a directory listing of the files you want to delete. For example: DIR *.RPT DEL F3 The first command displays all the RPT files in the current directory while SERVICE IS THE DIFFERENCE MOUSE/ JOYSTICK 3 Button, MOUSE Microsoft or mouse system compatible 200dpi resolution BARGAIN PRICE $39.95 $35.00 3 Button JOYSTICK BRAND NAME 360K 5.25" AND 720K 3.5" DISK DRIVES 3 MONTHS WARRANTY e 1 FOR$69e2FOR$120e3FOR$165e4FOR$200 HURRY LIMITED STOCKS NEW PRODUCT METAL KEYBOARD DRAWER Standard Features: Fully VGA/EGA/CGA/MDA compatible LCD screen with CCFT backlit for up to 16 grey scales Supports auto map 256VGA colours to 32 grey shades 80C286 -16MHz with zero wait state 1Mb memory expandable to 8Mb Built-in 40Mb 3.5" disk drive 1.44Mb 3.5" floppy drive 5.25" external floppy drive port Built-in Nicad battery and. AC adapter included Half slot expansion slot Two serial and one parallel port 82 key full function keypad External VGA monitor port External keyboard port External numeric keypad port Weight 8.27kgs Dimensions: 305(W) x 355(0) x 87.5mm(H) Store your keyboard under your computer with this handy drawer. Features smooth slide rail with a spring lock. Is very sturdy , """~ and reliable. Fits At style keyboards. Also ,_ .. _"'............... has pen and pin holder trays built-in. _._..,,,1 ONLY$79.00 40Mb Voice Coil HOD with Controller /AT Bu Normally this untt would SELL for $750.00 NOW ONLY $525.00 SAVE30% MODEMS ONLY $3700.00 External drive 1.2Mb available for only $369.00 EXTERNAL FLOPPY DISK DRIVES 3.5 880K Macintosh series 5.25164KApple 11E 5.25164KApple 11Gs 3.5 720K Amstrad PC 1512/1640 3.5 1.44 Amstrad PC 2000 5.25 360K Amstrad PC 2000 5.25 1.2 Amstrad PC 2000 5.251.2 Amstrad Portable 3.5 720K Atari St 5.25 360K/720k 40/80 Atari ST 3.5 880K Amiga 500/1000/2000 5.25 360K Amiga 500/1000/2000 3.5720KIBM 3.51.44 IBM 5.25 360K IBM 5.251.2IBM 5.251.2 IBM PS11 5.25 360K Toshiba/portables 5.25 1.2 Toshiba/portables $349.00 $249.00 $269.00 $269.00 $329.00 $329.00 $329.00 $399.00 $269.00 $299.00 $199.00 $299.00 $299.00 $329.00 $299.00 $329,00 $449.00 $349.00 $399.00 ASK FORA COPY OF OUR FREE CATALOGUE BIT 124E External BIT 1234E External BIT 12341 Internal BIT Pocket Modem BIT V32/9600 Baud "WE KNOW MODEMS" MOTHERBOARDS 808812Mhz 8088 12Mhz 640K installed 8088 12Mhz 1Mb installed 808831Mhz 8088 31 Mhz 640K installed 8088 31 Mhz 1Mb installed 8028612Mhz 80386 25Mhz Cache 80386 33Mhz Cache 80486 25Mhz Cache WAS NOW $ 129.00 $ 250.00 $ 300.00 $ 225.00 $ 335.00 $ 385.00 $ 350.00 $1995.00 $2495.00 $ 109.00 $ 199.00 $ 235.00 $ 189.00 $ 279.00 $ 319.00 $ 299.00 $1495.00 $1795.00 $4395.00 SUPER SPECIAL 8028616Mhz NEAT CLOCK CARD INCLUDING SOFTWARE You will often see these cards advertised elsewhere for around $50.00. Don1 delay this time, when the stock is gone new stock will increase in price SAVE 50% NOW 25.00 $ 699.00 $ 449.00 INTERFACE CARDS WAS Serial I/O Card 4 port $199.00 Serial 1/0 Card 8 port $449.00 Games card 2 port $ 29.50 Parallel printer card $ 24.95 Serial 2 port XT $ 55.00 Serial 2 port AT $ 65.00 Serial/Par/GarnesXT/AT$125.00 2Serial /2Parallel $ 75.00 Multi 1/0 S/P/G/C/F xt/at $125.00 Proto Board w /decoder $149.00 Slot Extension Kit $199.00 NOW $179.00 $429.00 $ 25.00 $ 19.95 $ 35.00 $ 40.00 $ 62.50 $ 50.00 $ 99.00 $ 99.00 $149.00 We also stock a huge range of cables, adaptors, swithboxes and chips. Call today for very competitive pricing. DEALER ENQUIRIES WELCOME TRY PC MARKETPLACE SUPERFAST MAILORDER - Plii[ (j[eeson 's $ 399.00 $ 489.00 $ 469.00 $ 599.00 $2399.00 PERSONAL COMPUTER MARKETPLACE PHONE OR FAX TODAY! PtyLtd FREIGHT CHARGES PHONE (02) 418 6711 Include $10 with order for all normal items - heavy items, e.g. monitors add $15. FAX (02)4186713 14 day money back guarantee Mail Order Address: Order by phone (use credit card), by fax or by mail. P.O. Box 1100 Lane Cove Unless insurance is declined it will be charged at '1% of total purchase. This is for your protection. NSW2066 PRICES CURRENT FOR MONTH OF PUBLICATION OR WHILE STOCKS LAST. e SERVICE IS THE DIFFERENCE e VISA SERVICE IS THE DIFFERENCE • SERVICE IS THE DIFFERENCE • SERVICE IS THE DIFFERENCE Computer Bits - using keyboard enhancers for the second command you type the letters DEL then press F3 and Enter to complete the deletion. These special editing keys do give you more power and flexibility when you are typing but MS-DOS has control characters to help you control the output from a command or control the contents of the current command line. turn. If DOS sees Ctrl C as the only character in the keyboard buffer, it executes interrupt 23, otherwise Ctrl C is treated just like any other keyboard character. The simple explanation is that Ctrl C is position sensitive while Ctrl Break is not. Reassigning the keyboard Just as you can design screen attributes, you can reassign a key operaCtrl C - Aborts the current command. tion. Each of the 10 function keys may Ctrl Break (front face of the PAUSE or be used alone or in conjunction with SCROLL LOCK key) performs a similar the Ctrl, Alt and Shift keys . Table 1 shows the details. function. Ctrl S - Suspends output display on The ability to reassign key comthe screen. Press · Ctrl S again to . mands means that you can make almost any key combination type ·alresume. The PAUSE key on the 101 most any sequence of characters. If keyboard performs the same function; you frequently use a specific key sepress any key to resume. Ctrl C is recognised by DOS rou- quence, you can assign the string of tines, while Ctrl Break is recognised characters to a certain key. The actual by ROM BIOS keyboard routines. The business of reassigning the keys is an effect of the two may not always be easy process, similar to changing the screen colours. Once again the the same and one may work when the other doesn't. Whenever you press a ANSI.SYS device driver must be installed in the CONFIG.SYS file for the key, the keyboard handler from ROM BIOS generates a hardware interrupt reassignment to work. which is generally deferred until DOS Just as the screen attributes use a special symbol for the Esc key ($e) is ready. Certain keystrokes, such as Ctrl Alt Del and Ctrl Break are procand continue with the left bracket([), essed immediately. When Ctrl Break you can reassign the function keys is detected, the keyboard routine that using the ANSI command: signals interrupt 1Bh is invoked. ESC[#;# ... ;#p The keyboard routine does not do or anything special if Ctrl C is detected ESC[#;"string";p and the keystrokes are left in the keyYou can think of keyboard reassignboard buffer for DOS to process in Control character effect ment as a kind of DOS macro operation. If you frequently change to a particular directory, you could use ANSI.SYS to assign the command to a function key. The first ASCII code (the first#) defines which key or keystrokes (such as a CTRL key combination) are being reassigned. The remaining (#) or characters within the "string" are the replacement characters typed when that key or keystroke combination is pressed. You could use the keyboard reassignment capabilities to automatically type a command such as: ESC[0;68;"dir/p";13p or PROMPT $e[0;68;"dir/p";13p The above command assigns the DIR/P command to function key 10 (reassignment code 68) . ESC[ or $e[ tells DOS that an ANSI command is being entered while the O (zero) tells DOS that the key to be redefined is part of the extended keyboard. If the first code is O (zero) or 224, DOS assumes that an extended key or Enhanced Keyboard extended key will be used - this is the more usual goal rather than a standard key reassignment. The next number, 68, is the redefinition code for the Fl Okey while the string in quotes "dir/p" is the text of the command. Finally, code 13 is the ENTER key code - if you omit the code, you need to press the Enter key yourself to execute the command. The last character in a key redefinition is always lowercase "p", just as the last character in the screen redefinition is "m". TABLE 1 Function Redefinition Keycode Shift Function Redefinition Keycode Ctrl Function Redefinition Keycode Function Alt Redefinition Keycode F1 59 F1 84 F1 ·94 F1 104 F2 F2 85 F2 95 F2 105 F3 60 61 F3 F3 96 F3 106 F4 62 F4 86 $7 F4 97 F4 107 F5 63 F5 88 F5 98 F5 108 F6 64 F6 89 F6 99 F6 109 F7 65 F7 90 F7 100 F7 110 F8 66 F8 91 F8 101 F8 111 F9 67 92 F9 102 F9 112 F10 68 F9 F10 93 F10 103 F10 113 76 SILICON CHIP You can assign up to 128 characters to a single key. If you redefine several keys you can either create a batch file to automate the reassignment, or include the code in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Sometimes you may want to include an Enter, space or double quotation mark within the key reassignment. Since ANSI does not recognise these characters, within a string, you need to use the appropriate numeric code: Enter 13 Space 32 Double quote mark 34 Supposing you wanted to assign the message "This is a test" to the F10 key, you could use the following: ESC[0;68;34;"This";32;"is ";32 ;"a";32;"test";34 ;13p PRICE BREAKERS FROM SHERIDANS DATA MODEM 600/1200 Telecom Modem made by G.E.C . Features: Auto/Manual answer Auto answer only 1200 fixed control via V24 interface Control: A signal from the ring current detector is used to initiate a timing sequence in which the modem is connected to the line These are BRAND NEW. ONLY $59.95ea ARLEC CAR ALARM Features: Red warning light, 3 minute siren operation , exit & entry delay, auto ignition cutout and bonneVboot protection . Easy to install DONT'PA Y $119.00 You assign a key its original code value in order to reset it. A useful feature of the key redefinition process is that the reassignment requests are cumulative - you can issue any number and they accumulate. Each key retains its new definition while ever you are at the DOS prompt level. Note that some programs reset the function key definitions when loaded. If you reassign the keys and start WordPerfect, for example, the WordPerfect function keys work as normal. However, when you exit to DOS, your key reassignments will still function. You could even assign graphic characters to function keys such as: 12 Volt 15AH Sealed Lead Acid . Charge Rate: 14.5 - 15V <at> 3.75A or 13.5 -13.BV at any current for standby use ESC[0;68;"<Alt 201>"p HALF PRICE ONLY $$49.00 This command assigns the double-line , top left box corner to function key F10. Where <Alt 201> appears in the sequence, hold down the ALT key and type 201 on the numeric keypad then release the ALT key and type the remainder of the command. Custom menu system You could really jazz-up your standard computer by including a custom menu system using the screen control, keyboard reassignment and Prompt command capabilities. Here's something simple to try: PROMPT $e[H $e[1m Directory-Fi $e[8C Lotus-F2 $e[8C Word Processing-F3 $e[24;1H $e[25;1H PRESS REQUIRED KEY $e[0m $e[K Your screen should display three messages at the top of the screen and a message at the bottom of the screen. Include the prompt command in a batch file such as the one following , together with the appropriate key reassignments and away you go! <at>ECHO OFF CLS PROMPT $e0;59;"dir/p";13p PROMPT $e0;60;"cd\lotus";13p$e[0;60 ;"lotus";13p PROMPT $e0;61;"cd\wp51 ";13p$e[0 ;61; "wp ";13p Include the prompt from above at this point CLS While DOS is dominant, Windows is rapidly gaining wide acceptance. Therefore, for the next couple of months, we will take a look at Microsoft's Windows 3.0 fro m installation and customisation , through to tips and tricks to help you get the best from your computer. SC BRAND NEW ONLY $59.00ea BU205 SOLDERING IRON STANO 1500V 2.5A Replaces BU208 Your average iron stand but without your average high price. Till stocks last ONLY $8.S0ea. ONLY $1.50 YUASA RECHARGABLE BATTERY VIDEO SENDER UHF Channel 30. Sends signal up to 30 metresCould be used on Audio & TV. Normally $89.95 NOW $45.00 TRANSISTOR DATA BOOK Features all the latest Japanese & European transistors. Up-to-Date, no home should be without one .50% off Normal Price ONLY $14.95 CAPACITOR 25pf 30KV Gas VC 25 - 20 $199.00 FORCED AIR COOLED TRIODE '1,q These are a quality triode and valued at nearly double the asking price. Spee sheets are available. Their type number is r. 3J/170E. Rated at 4KW "- BARGAIN PRICED AT $999.00 , · Sheridan's are beginning to import a range of TV/Video spare parts. Please send your name & address for your copy of the catalogue. I ViB I_ SHERIDAN ELECTRONICS, 328 ELIZABETH ST, _ (Cnr Kippax St. opp. Central Station & Dental Hospital) SURRY HILLS, Nsw; 2010 TELEPHONE: (02) 281 7727 SHOP HOURS: MON - FRI SAT 9 00am - 5.30pm 9.30am - 12.00pm ] LIN E 1991 77