China DOS Union

### 1. What exactly is 4DOS?
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4DOS is published by JP Software Inc. The version commonly found on BBS stations is the 4DOS SW version. Additionally, JP Software Inc. also publishes a commercial version, but there doesn't seem to be any agents or distributors in China. However, basically, the SW version only has a usage period (a warning message about the usage period will appear during execution. As for whether it can really no longer be used after expiration? I don't know, because I use the 'cracked version'.... B-b). In terms of functionality, there is no difference from the commercial version. Currently, the latest version of 4DOS is version 4.02b (learned from the 4DOS message area of the FIDO network, but the version currently circulating on domestic BBS stations seems to only be version 4.02. If any player has version 4.02b, please upload it to the station to treat all players).

Basically, the function of 4DOS is like MS-DOS's command.com, which is commonly known as a 'shell program' or 'command interpreter'. However, compared with command.com, 4DOS is far superior (this is a fact, and I believe every player who has used 4DOS will agree). Even though MS-DOS has been upgraded to DOS 6.0, there are still many functions that are far behind 4DOS. The specific strengths of 4DOS will be introduced in detail later, so I won't go into details here.


### 2. Then how is the compatibility of 4DOS with MS-DOS or other programs?
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Well, 4DOS is not designed to be used in conjunction with MS-DOS's command.com, but to 'completely replace' command.com. Note that it's 'completely replace'! This means that when you have 4DOS, you can consider which disk to put command.com on, because you will hardly want to use it anymore!

OK, since it's 'completely replace', there's no need to doubt the compatibility with other programs. If there is a compatibility problem between a program and 4DOS, then 99.99999...% of the time there will also be a compatibility problem with DOS. Based on my experience of using it for the past few months, I have really never encountered any program that has a compatibility problem with 4DOS (I really like to try some strange things, and some programs clearly 'pick machines', so the system often has compatibility problems. But after various attempts, the final problem is never with 4DOS, so its compatibility should be reliable).


### 3. Since 4DOS is so powerful, must it be complicated and difficult to learn?
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Well, to fully exert the unique functions of 4DOS, you do need to learn many usage skills. But for a beginner or a player who just wants to see what functions 4DOS has, using 4DOS is exactly the same as using MS-DOS. You don't need to learn any new skills to use 4DOS. In other words, as long as you can use MS-DOS, you can use 4DOS!

But, as a computer player, you naturally won't be satisfied with this. Moreover, only by understanding some skills of 4DOS can you see what's better than command.com. And you can slowly discover its skills and strengths in the process of using 4DOS. So, you will always find its advantages when using 4DOS. Finally, in the process of using, discovering, and learning, you find that you can't live without 4DOS. If you are asked to use MS-DOS's command.com again, you will say: 'Let me die!'


### 4. Then will 4DOS take up a lot of memory?
--------------------------------
'Take up memory'? Are you kidding me? 'Taking up little memory' is one of the unique functions of 4DOS. But the prerequisite is to first learn how to set it up. This skill will be mentioned later, so I won't say more. But here, I will still compare it with MS-DOS in terms of 'taking up memory' to let you know how 'powerful' 4DOS is.

This is the situation of MS-DOS taking up memory:

Name Total = Conventional + Upper Memory
-------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
MSDOS 15565 (15K) 15565 (15K) 0 (0K)
HIMEM 2912 (3K) 2912 (3K) 0 (0K)
EMM386 3120 (3K) 3120 (3K) 0 (0K)
COMMAND 2976 (3K) 2976 (3K) 0 (0K)
^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^

This is the situation of 4DOS taking up memory:

Name Total = Conventional + Upper Memory
-------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
MSDOS 15549 (15K) 15549 (15K) 0 (0K)
QEMM386 800 (1K) 800 (1K) 0 (0K)
4DOS 4048 (4K) 320 (0K) 3728 (4K)
^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^

Did you see? 4DOS only takes up 320 bytes of main memory, while command.com takes up 3K! Taking up little main memory but having very powerful functions----this is 4DOS! Well, it's really 'cheap and good'. Actually, 4DOS can be made to take up at least 256 bytes of main memory, but I think 320 bytes is already very remarkable.

How about it? After reading the above introduction, do you have a preliminary understanding of 4DOS? And do you feel very excited? 'Action speaks louder than words'! Hurry up and find a set to try, and I believe 4DOS will definitely 'be so good that it makes you refreshed'.

This time, only the basic introduction of 4DOS is given. Next time, the basic usage of 4DOS will be introduced.
Players who have experience in use or have questions are welcome to join the discussion.



Subj: 4DOS (2) --- How to use 4DOS?

Hello, Everybody :

This time, some of the most basic usages of 4DOS are introduced for you:

### 1. Where can I find 4DOS?
----------------------------
You can look for it on various BBS stations. It should be found. Take 4DOS V4.02 SW version as an example:

File Name Size Description
------------ ------ ---------------------
4DOS402D.ZIP 262145 4DOS V4.02 instruction file
4DOS402P.ZIP 310863 4DOS V4.02 executable file
4DOS402U.ZIP 175545 4DOS V4.02 Patch file, for V4.0, V4.01

And, you only need to have 4DOS402P.ZIP among them, but it's better to also grab the instruction file back, because 4dos.doc (which is the user manual of 4DOS) in it is very detailed. Any questions can be answered from the file. But you have to develop the patience to read English like me, otherwise a 1 Mega English file will make your eyes 'pop out'.


### 2. I found these files, but how to install?
-----------------------------------------
Well, first create a subdirectory (such as C:\4DOS), then use PKUNZIP to extract the above files to the directory, and it's installed. Because it's a shareware version, that's how the installation is completed.


### 3. Then? How to execute? Execute 4DOS.COM in C:\4DOS>?
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Well, you'd better not do this. Because doing this is equivalent to creating a 'second layer of shell' (I won't go into detail about the concept of shell here). The only purpose of doing this is that you want to first see what functions 4DOS has. But I think you are as smart as you, so you should be able to skip this step directly and set it as the Primary shell!

OK, first find your config.sys, and add the following line at the last line with a word processing program:

SHELL=C:\4DOS\4DOS.COM C:\4DOS @C:\4DOS\4DOS.INI /P
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^
① ② ③ ④

PS: If you use DOS 6.0's multi-config function, this line should be added at the last line in the block you want to add.)

Explanation: ① Tell the system to find 4dos.com in the C:\4DOS> directory as its shell program. Here, C:\4DOS> is the directory where your 4dos.com is located. If you copy 4dos.com to the root directory, it can be changed to SHELL=C:\4DOS.COM....
② Tell the system that C:\4DOS> is the subdirectory where 4DOS is stored. 4DOS uses this PATH to store the COMSPEC environment variable, so this parameter should not be omitted.
③ Tell 4DOS to find 4dos.ini in C:\4DOS> as the 'initial configuration file' (initial file). The initial configuration data of 4DOS is stored in this file. Almost all functions of 4DOS can be configured here. Then, when 4DOS is executed, it can make the configuration work according to these data. However, how to configure 4dos.ini is already an intermediate and advanced usage, which won't be said here. But if you execute 4DOS for the first time, there will be no 4dos.ini file, so you can omit this parameter.
④ Tell the system that 4DOS.COM is used as the primary shell, so this parameter cannot be omitted.

OK, after modifying config.sys, save it and restart the computer. Will there be the following message on the screen:

4DOS 4.02 DOS 6.0
Copyright 1988-1993 Rex Conn & JP Software Inc. All Rights Reserved

C:\>

PS: The above message is the message displayed by the cracked version. If the version you use is not registered, some warning messages about the usage period will also appear.

Congratulations! 4DOS is ready to work for you!


### 4. That's it? How so simple! What should I do next?
------------------------------------------
Hey, Man, Take it easy! First press F1 to see what instructions/functions 4DOS provides. Oh, right, F1 is the ON-LINE HELP hotkey built into 4DOS. Basically, it's very similar to DOS 6.0's ON-LINE HELP, but the functions are stronger and it's more convenient to use (isn't this nonsense? Otherwise, how can it 'completely replace'?). Did you find that the commands you are used to using in MS-DOS can also be used in 4DOS? Not only that, 4DOS also provides many functions that MS-DOS doesn't have, and you need to discover these functions slowly.


So far, only the basic usage methods of 4DOS have been introduced, and the unique functions it provides haven't been mentioned. But don't worry, they will be introduced later.

OK, next time, some of the most basic setting methods in 4dos.ini will be introduced for you, which include the settings of several unique functions. Of course, you will be surprised to find that it's actually so simple to use these functions!

See you next time!


Subj: 4DOS (3) --- Hmm, not bad!

Hello, everybody :

This time, some methods for setting 4dos.ini are introduced for you:

### 1. You lied to me! Why doesn't F1 work when I press it?
----------------------------------
Oh, I am very very sorry! I forgot to explain that you need to first copy 4dos.hlp to the root directory. But actually, as long as you know how to set 4dos.ini, you don't need to do this.

At first, you need to use a word processing program to edit a file, named 4dos.ini. This file is best placed in the root directory or the subdirectory where 4DOS is located. Remember to set the shell command in config.sys well.

OK, you only need to add the following in 4dos.ini:

HelpPath=C:\4DOS ; Set 4DOS to find 4dos.hlp in the C:\4DOS> directory

That's it, then save it and restart the computer. Press F1 and see how it goes? This time it didn't 'fail' again!


### 2. How to make 4DOS take up less memory?
----------------------------------
Well, if you don't use the unique functions of 4DOS, then when you enter the system, it will take up 4k of memory. But 4DOS provides the function of loading part of it high to UMB, which can reduce the part that occupies main memory to 256 bytes.

In fact, using this function is also very simple. Just add the following in 4dos.ini:

UmbEnv=Yes ; Set 4DOS to load its environment variables high to UMB
UmbLoad=Yes ; Set 4DOS to load its resident part high to UMB

Just restart the computer after these two lines. That's all!

Oh, right, I almost forgot again. 4DOS is divided into two parts when executing, one part is called the resident portion (Resident Portion), and the other part is called the transient portion (Transient Portion); the resident portion takes up about 3k of main memory, but if the above function is used, it can be reduced to 256 bytes; the transient portion is about 88k. 4DOS converts this part to EMS or XMS or even to the disk drive. However, you need to add a line in 4dos.ini:

Swapping=XMS,EMS,C:\ ; Set 4DOS to first try to convert the transient portion to
; XMS, if there is no XMS, then try EMS, if there is none, then convert to the disk drive C:\

The parameters such as XMS, EMS, C:\ are best set according to your system.


### 3. I'm really not used to the display method of 4DOS when dir. Can you teach it to display in uppercase?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's very easy! Just add the following in 4dos.ini:

UpperCase=Yes ; Set 4DOS to display in uppercase

That's it!

### 4. It is heard that 4DOS supports colorful dir display. How to do it?
---------------------------------------------
Actually, the younger brother thinks this is nothing. Because although it supports it, the function is not strong. It is best to match with an ANSI driver. However, because the younger brother feels that the ANSI driver and Chinese can't be well matched, so he rarely uses it. But since you want to know, the younger brother will introduce it. Just add the following in 4dos.ini:

BrightBG=Yes ;Set 4DOS to display the background in bright color. If set to No, it will display in blinking.
;ColorDir=ext1 ext2...:colora;ext3 ext4...:colorb...

Example: ColorDir=txt doc me:BRIght Yellow on black;arj zip sqz ddi:BRIght Green on balck means that files with extensions .txt .doc .me are displayed with 'black background and high-brightness yellow foreground' when dir; files with extensions .arj .zip .sqz .ddi are displayed with 'black background and high-brightness cyan foreground'.

These two lines are okay. How about it? Can you still understand? If you really can't understand, then you'd better go and have a look at 4dos.doc by yourself. It is introduced in detail there.


There are still many settings for 4dos.ini. But some are not commonly used, and some need some technical information to be set. So the introduction to its settings ends here. There are a few commands that will be mentioned later, and they will be supplemented then!

Next time, I will introduce a few more useful functions of 4DOS to you. They are very simple, but with these few functions, it can outperform MS-DOS's command.com!

ok, See you next time!


Subj: 4DOS (4) --- Wow! It's really useful!

Hello, everybody:

This time, let's talk about a few useful functions of 4DOS!

1. Why doesn't 4DOS have something like MS-DOS's doskey.com? I've been used to it very much!
----------------------------------------------------------------
doskey.com? That doskey.com that was only provided after MS-DOS 5.0, which takes up memory, is not easy to use, is stupid, and makes people hate it when using it! Please spare me! You compare 4DOS with doskey.com, which is simply slandering 4DOS!

ok, 4DOS not only provides similar functions, but what's better is that this function is built into 4DOS. You don't have to execute doskey.com like MS-DOS, and it takes up more memory. As long as you are under 4DOS, you can use this function at any time just like using doskey.com. It seems that I still can't see how strong 4DOS is. ok, let's take one example:

Example: If you have entered dozens of commands under DOS, and now you want to repeat one of them, how should you do it?

Solution: ① If you use doskey.com, you have to press F7 to see the number of the command you are looking for, remember the number and then press F9 to enter the number. But F7 can only display 23 commands you have used on the screen at a time. If you have used dozens, then you have to press several more keys to find the command you want.

② If you use 4DOS, it's very simple. You just need to press PGUP/PGDN, and 4DOS will display a window on the screen, in which are the commands you have used. You can conveniently select the command you want with the arrow keys.

Also, if you remember the first few words of the command you want, for example, dir....., you can first type dir and then press PGUP/PGDN. 4DOS will first filter and then list the commands starting with dir in the window, which can greatly reduce the number of commands displayed and increase efficiency.

That's not good enough! Do you also think that you find some commands are very short, such as dir, cd\.... It takes more time to find these commands than to enter them directly in DOS. So, these very short commands really don't need to be recorded in history. 4DOS provides a function. You just need to add the following in 4dos.ini:

HistMin=4 ;Limit that commands must have more than 4 characters to be recorded. This number can be set according to your own needs.

Then 4DOS will only record commands with more than 4 characters in the future, and those very short commands will no longer appear in history.

4DOS also provides many functions/usages in this regard. If you are interested, you can refer to 4dos.doc by yourself.


2. Why do you always speak vaguely? Can you say it more clearly?
----------------------------------------------
Brother, you're killing me! 4DOS uses a 1 mega bytes document as the user manual. No matter how you say it, it can't be clearer than the manual. So the younger brother also repeatedly emphasizes that only some basic usages are put forward. If you want to know some other or more advanced usages, you still have to trouble you to 'raise your noble eyes' to take a look at 4dos.doc. Actually, you don't have to read all of it like the younger brother. You can first look at the index in it, find the part you want to know, and then find it according to this.

To be honest, the English in 4dos.doc is not difficult. Reading more of it will also improve your English level.


ok, this time it ends here. Next time, I will introduce some more useful functions to you.

See you next time!

Subj: 4DOS (5) --- Oh my god! It's super cool!

Hello, everybody:

This time, let's talk about a few useful functions provided by 4DOS:

1. What is alias? It is heard that it's very useful. What special functions does it have?
---------------------------------------------------
Speaking of alias, this is another very useful function provided by 4DOS. As long as you can use it, you will definitely find it very useful. Let's ask you a few questions:

① Do you often enter dir/p, mem/c|more..... under DOS?
② Do you often execute some programs, such as c:\arj\arj.exe, c:\pkzip\pkunzip.exe, c:\he\he.exe?
③ Do you often execute some programs that need to enter parameters, such as c:\xpress\xpreadp /chin /e3=93, c:\et3\etctl/c:st,,3?
④ Do you often have to execute 'some' programs 'at one time' to do something, such as to execute Yitian Chinese --- c:\et3\et16v-16 @c:\et3, c:\et3\etinmd, c:\et3\prdrv.

All these frequent input tasks can be greatly simplified through the alias function provided by 4DOS, and your work efficiency can also be increased.

First, let's explain the simple usage of alias:

⑴ You just need to enter alias dir=*dir/p under DOS. Then the dir you enter next will be executed the same as dir/p.
⑵ You just need to enter alias memo=mem/c|more under DOS. Then the memo you enter under DOS will be executed the same as entering mem/c|more.
⑶ You just need to enter alias sxr=c:\xpress\xpreadp /chin /e3=93 under DOS. Then the sxr you enter under DOS can enter YinKuai and the parameters are set.

In other words, as long as you think the commands you often enter want to simplify them, you can use alias:

ALIAS simplified alias = command to be simplified
^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^

There is one thing to pay special attention to. If the 'simplified alias' is the same command as the 'command to be simplified', then you must add an asterisk (*) in front of the 'command to be simplified', as in ⑴.

Then let's explain the advanced usage of alias:

⑴ You just need to enter alias et3=cd\et3^mgp^et16v @c:\et3^etinmd^prdrv^cd\ under DOS. Then just enter et3 under DOS to execute MGP first and then enter Yitian Chinese.
⑵ You just need to enter alias quit=cd\et3^etctl/c:iq^mgp^cd\ under DOS. Then just enter quit under DOS to exit Yitian Chinese and then exit MGP.

In other words, as long as you think the batch commands you often enter want to simplify them, you can use alias:

ALIAS simplified alias = command to be simplified^command^command^......

The ^ symbol in it is the 'command separator character' of 4DOS. Through this symbol, you can assign many commands to one alias.


2. Are you 'tiger' me? You have to type it again every time you restart. What's useful about it?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
ok, you can use a word processing program to create a document. The file name is not restricted. Then write the above usages into this file. After saving, edit your autoexec.bat and add a line:

ALIAS /R the file name of the document you just created (should include the path)

Then you don't have to type it again after booting. The following is the example used by the younger brother for your reference:

File name: alias.new

DIR *DIR /2PV
MEMO MEM/C|MORE

PCP CD\PCPLUS^PCPLUS
HE C:\HE\HE.EXE
SXR CD\XPRESS^XPREADP /CHIN /E3=93

ARJ C:\ARC\ARJ\ARJ
PKUNZIP C:\ARC\PKZIP\PKUNZIP
SQZ C:\ARC\SQZ\SQZ
LHA C:\ARC\LHA\LHA
SHEZ CD\ARC^*SHEZ^CD -

ET3 CDD C:\ET3^ET16V-16 @C:\ET3^ETINMD^ETCTL/C:ST,,3^PRDRV^CDD -
QUIT CDD C:\ET3^ETCTL/C:IQ^ET4000^CDD -
ETH CDD C:\ET3^MGP^ET16V @C:\ET3^ETINMD^ETCTL/C:ST,,3^PRDRV^CDD -
QUITH CDD C:\ET3^ETCTL/C:IQ^MGP^ET4000^CDD -

PS: Some programs or commands are not explained more here. If you want to know, write again.


3. Why is it so troublesome? Can't you just set it with PATH or a batch file?
---------------------------------------------------
Well, batch files are very useful, that's true. But you have to create a batch for each task. Then you can see a large number of batch files, which is a waste of disk space and inefficient! Also, where should you put these batches? All in the root directory? That's so ugly!

What? PATH? Oh, No! Setting PATH is the most unwise practice! The younger brother has seen someone set PATH in his config.sys and actually set nearly 200 characters! But the younger brother carefully analyzed his settings and found that it's really too stupid!

How to say it? The younger brother found that he actually set a PATH for each executable file. For example:

path=c:\;c:\dos;c:\tools;c:\arc\arj;c:\arc\pkzip;c:\arc\sqz;c:\he....

Among them, a long string is set just for arj.exe, pkunzip.exe, he.exe. You should know that DOS will look for the executable file in the current directory if it doesn't know the command you entered. If it can't find it, it will look for it one directory by one directory according to the information in PATH. So the more directories are set, the lower the execution efficiency of the system will be. So for this kind of one executable file, using alias is the most appropriate.

It's an old thing, but it's really useful!