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PROGRAMMING WITH VARIABLES

The Programmable Function Keys allow you to execute programs and DOS commands on files. This may be accomplished by using variables. The variable {F}, means filename. This tells the computer to perform a command on whatever filename is next to the pointer.

Suppose that you want to program the Ctrl F4 key to execute the WORDSTAR Word Processor (filename WS). Position the pointer next to any of your WORDSTAR data files (your letters, reports, etc.) and then, when you press the Ctrl F4 key, the computer executes the word processor and opens the file next to the pointer. Your DOS command for the Ctrl F4 key would read: WS {F}

The following are valid variables for DM. Variables used in the command line must be put in brackets {}.

          {F} = FileName             {P} = Path
          {T} = Type in Text         {D} = Drive
          {N} = Name no Ext          {E} = Ext no Name
          {S} = Allow Program to Change Subdirectory
          {A} = Press Any Key to Return to DM

  Command       Help Text      Explanation/Use

  TREE {A}      List Tree     Executes the Tree program, which
                              displays all the directories and
                              subdirectories on the disk in a
                              "tree" structure.  Pauses before
                              returning to DM.

  CHKDSK {A}    Chkdsk        Tells how much space is used up on
                              the disk, and how much  memory is
                              free.  Pauses before returning to DM.

  BASIC {F}     Basic         Executes the Basic program and
                              loads the data file next to the
                              pointer.

  WS {F}        WORDSTAR      Executes the WORDSTAR word
                              processor, and loads the data
                              file next to the pointer.

        ================================
        |  Esc to Exit  Command Line: 2
        |
        |  Alt F1 ......Format
        |  FORMAT A:
        |  Alt F2 ......Dir A:
        |  DIR A:/P
        |  Alt F3 ......List Tree
        |  TREE {A}
        |  Alt F4 ......Chkdsk
        |  CHKDSK {A}
        |  Alt F5 ......Basic
        |  BASIC {F}
        |  Alt F6 ......WORDSTAR
        |  WS {F}

If you are going to be using software in one directory and files in another, you will need to specify the drive and path in your DOS commands. They were omitted from the examples given above for the sake of simplicity. The above commands with pathnames might read:

             C:\UTIL\TREE {A}
             C:\UTIL\CHKDSK A: {A}
             C:\BASIC {F}
             C:\WS {F}

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