=========================================== DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING 4FILES =========================================== Use these detailed instructions if you are a beginner on IBM-compatible computers. If you are more experienced, see Quick Start on page 3 of 4F.DOC. The following assumes you do not have a text editor, and it should take but a few minutes. If there is anything you don't understand, call Hand-Crafted Software at 907-747-8996, or write or Email to one of the addresses in 4F.DOC. If you do have a text editor (not a word processor), you can simplify some of these steps. "< >" means a keyboard key. 1) The PATH is an internal list of specified drives and subdirectories where DOS will look for a program you are trying to execute, if it cannot be found on the current drive and directory. To see if you have a PATH set up, type PATH on the DOS command line. If the message given is "No PATH", go to step 3. If a list of directories in your PATH is displayed, either write down the name of one where you would like to install 4FILES and go to step 4, or go to step 3 to add a directory for 4FILES to the path. 2. Change to your "boot" drive and directory by typing C: (or A: if you booted from a floppy) and typing . Then type CD \ to get to the "root" directory. Type DIR and look to see if you have the file AUTOEXEC.BAT. If so, go to step 3. We will create an AUTOEXEC.BAT file now. It will be called every time you boot your computer, setting your PATH and making a nicer DOS prompt. Type: COPY CON AUTOEXEC.BAT . Then, substituting a drive letter for "d", type: PATH=d:\UTILPROMPT=$P$G. "UTIL" is a suggest directory name for utilities, but any other name may be substituted. Type MD d:\UTIL to create the directory if it does not exist. Go to step 4. 3. Add a PATH statement to the end of your existing AUTOEXEC.BAT file by typing: COPY AUTOEXEC.BAT + CON AUTOEXEC.BAT. PATH=d:\UTIL where "d" is the letter of your boot drive and is a two key combination. "UTIL" is a suggested directory name for utilities, but any other name may be substituted. Type MD d:\UTIL to create the directory if it does not exist. 4. 4FILES works best if you designate a temporary directory for it to use as an out of the way workspace, and some features will not work without one. Type SET, and look for a "TEMP=" string on the display, and if there is one go to step 5. Otherwise, type: COPY AUTOEXEC.BAT + CON AUTOEXEC.BAT. SET TEMP=d:\ This appends the second line to AUTOEXEC.BAT. Substitute any drive letter for "d." The "\" is required, but you may specify an exisiting directory name after it, if desired. Any drive and directory can be used, but a RAM disk is ideal for this purpose. 5. Put the 4FILES disk in drive A:, change to drive A:, and type: COPY A:*.* d:\UTIL to copy all 4FILES files to the directory. (Substitute a different directory for \UTIL as necessary, such as one you wrote down in step 1.). This assumes that you have already unpacked the 4FILE???.ZIP file. If not, and assuming that PKUNZIP is in your path, type: COPY 4FILE???.ZIP d:\UTIL PKUNZIP d:\UTIL\4FILE???.ZIP 6. 4FILES is now installed. Since 4FILES is in your PATH now, typing 4F will start it up no matter what drive or directory you are currently in. 7. Type: CD \, then start 4FILES by typing 4F. Next hit the key and "U". The bar will be on the line for the key (the "grey-plus" key). It is set to 4F-TV.COM (if you don't have an edited 4F.CFG file specifying somthing else), a public domain file-viewing program. We'll add a pathspec so 4FILES will find and execute it as fast as possible, without having to search your PATH. Type d:\UTIL\4F-TV.COM, then and P. A file name extension must be given, otherwise the utility won't be exec- uted. Use an .ALS extension for any DOS or 4DOS internal commands or 4DOS aliases. Move the bar to the UTIL directory and then press . You are now in that directory (if this fails, try ). Move down to the 4F-READ.ME file and hit to browse it. When done, hit and type (or modify) the file note. Then hit to return to the parent directory. Move the bar elsewhere in that list and hit 3 times. You're back to the previous directory. Quit with or . More in the manual. See the Windows section for further Windows setups. 8. You now have 4FILES set up and operating under DOS. If you would to do further installation for operation under OS/2, Windows, or DESQview, see the appropriate sections in the file 4F.DOC.