This and the /e switch are needed to get 4DOS (not DOS4) directories
formatted exactly as in MSDOS. I am looking into possible ways around this.
My solution to adding the switches was to put them just before the '>' that
directs the output rather than at the front where they interfere with
editing. I think that should get around most of the editing problems.
.. I will let you know what I find about working around the need for the /z /e
switches.
It appears that there may be problems with adding the switches even at the
end. When I launched SDS today, it died when I tried to open my records. It
works on either yours or mine in "no archive" mode. I am looking into this
and will have more after I see if your update has any effect, and after I
see about fixing the defaults on the DIR command.
..
Advantages of 4DOS
It offers a far richer set of commands, and a very powerful batch
(.bat) language. There are commands for loops, screen operations (you can
actually build entry forms and popups), and an improved IF statement.
It has command history, so that if I have run a command, I can
enter the start of it and press up arrow to cycle through all the recent
commands that I have used starting with the prefix I enter. I can also
choose from a popup window. I save the history so that it is the same
every time I open a command window.
It supports aliases so that it is possible to create new commands
that work like batch files. This is the feature I intend to investigate
concerning changing the defaults on the DIR command.
It has numerous functions for parsing file names, strings, system
information, etc.
..
As with many tools, the benefits matter only if you use them. I install 4DOS
everywhere I work just for the file completion and command history. I
haven't really gotten into the power of the batch language, but I have seen
it used to do quite impressive things.
Having you move to 4DOS won't help a lot at this stage. I am afraid that it
would just break your system, and that is *not* a good idea.
.. Thanks,