2002 Daniel L. Nice
DosStart is a graphical DOS environment for launching
programs and managing files.
It is designed to be highly customizable and flexible to
user's preferences and needs.
It does not occupy memory while your programs are running.
In other words, there is no DOS program not compatible with
DosStart.
System Requirements
Overview of program features
Screen shots
Animated demonstation of DosStart
(GIF format, 387k)
New with version 1.9: Desktop Icons
Download DOSSTART.ZIP
(383k)
View revisions since version 1.8f
, initial build.
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please e-mail me! dnice@icdc.com
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System Requirements
- An 80286 CPU is required, 486DX/33 is recommended.
- You need 300k of free conventional memory; you will
need around 550k if you run DosStart aware programs.
- DosStart takes up approximately 550k of disk space,
but while running it will use up to another 550k of space for disk-swapping.
- A VGA screen is required; color is recommended.
- A mouse is recommended; it is required for File Manager
actions
- DosStart uses *extensive* disk-swapping to keep memory
usage low, so a 512k or more disk-cache is highly recommended. Also,
write-caching is also highly recommended.
- 512k of Expanded memory will speed up DosStart EMM386
or QEMM will use Extended memory to emulate Expanded memory. To see if Expanded
memory is available, type MEM at the DOS prompt.
!WARNING! DosStart goes
s-l-o-w without a disk-cache with write caching enabled!
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Program Overview
DosStart is a GUI for DOS. With it, you can launch programs
and manage files.
DosStart is simple enough for a novice, but also very
powerful and flexible for power users.
DosStart has a context sensative help
system
that can be accessed by pressing F1 on most screens.
When writing DosStart, every effort was made to make it
not just EASY to use, but also EFFICIENT to use, which few GUI designers
consider. DosStart uses the Win95 "Start" button approach for launching programs.
On this menu you can add your programs and organize them into groups.
DosStart uses the Win9x "Start" button approach for launching
programs. On this menu you can add your programs and organize them
into groups. You can also add File Manager shortcuts, which allow you
to access a specific area on your hardrive quickly (i.e. your wordprocessor's
documents directory).
DosStart also contains a graphical File Manager. This
utility not only allows you to do routine file copy, move, delete,
and rename operations, but it also serves as a powerful interface to your
system. When properly set up with associations, File Manager can replace
the DOS command-line in most cases with a consistent, graphical alternative.
Frequently used programs and files can have shortcuts
placed on the desktop for convenience.
File Manager features at a glance:
- Routine file copy, move, delete, and rename
- Search function: scan your computer for a file mask
(screenshot
)
- Automatic file encyption/decryption
- Integration with DOS menu and desktop for easy shortcut
and association creation
- File/Program associations (
screenshot
)
- Each program can have an indefinite number of extensions
associated with it.
- You can give "target" and "source" arguments (as
well as a "file" argument) anywhere on the command-line to start the program.
This allows the user to specify a "target directory" in the "Target" window
for unzipping a ZIP file, for example.
- The same extension can be associated with more than
one program: holding the LEFT mouse button down on a file will list all programs
that can open the file.
DOS menu items are powerful, too!
- Each item can have up to 3 commands. Anything that
works from the DOS command-line is legal.
- Each item can have up to 4 replaceable parameters for
the user to enter before the item is executed. These have user-defined prompts.
- Each item has an optional unique password to restrict
access to that item.
DosStart uses NO MEMORY while your applications are running!
Therefore, it is better than many shells that hog your precious conventional
memory. Anything that runs under DOS will run under DosStart.
DosStart is built to be 100% customizable:
- You can change the color of nearly any object by RIGHT-clicking
it.
- You can change the font of any object by RIGHT-clicking
it.
- The "Options" window allows even more customization.
- DosStart allows you to save and load color/font/icon
schemes. (screenshot
)
- The icons used for folders/drives/etc are all user-customizable
- The user my select ANY executable program for use as
a screen-saver (one is provided with DosStart).
For multi-user machines, DosStart has customizable Security
Options. With it, you can restrict access the the File Manager, color/font
settings, running of programs, and exiting DosStart. Also, each application
on the DOS menu can have an individual password, as well as the QuickStart
buttons. For security purposes, DOS Start will attempt to recover from the
most severe errors, rather than exit to DOS.
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Screen Shots
(from version 1.9b)
Dos Start desktop with "Start" menu open:
Dos Start File Manager:
"File Find" feature of File Manager
"Add/Edit Association" window in File Manager
"Edit Icon" for an association item
"Help" window displaying the "Contents"
Dos Start color/icon scheme editor
