ID:ED How to edit your DOS files.
A Quarterdeck Technical Note
by Bob Perry

     Our Technical Support Team has determined that a modification
of your computer's "boot-up" files is necessary to correct a
conflict your system has been experiencing. The two "boot-up" files
used by DOS are the System Configuration File, CONFIG.SYS, and the
System Startup Batch File, AUTOEXEC.BAT.  After the following
preliminary questions have been answered, you should be able to
modify these two files following the prescription of our
technician.

Q.What are the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files?

     Both the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files are ASCII text
files that DOS processes when your system is turned on or
restarted.  They are found in the root directory of your boot
drive. (For most DOS machines with a hard disk, C:\ is the drive 
designation of the boot drive).  CONFIG.SYS allows you to 
configure certain aspects of DOS, such as installing device 
drivers for memory management.  AUTOEXEC.BAT is an optional batch 
file (although almost everyone uses it) containing a series of 
DOS commands, which may include the installation of TSR 
(Terminate and Stay Resident) utilities, or configuration and 
enhancement features.

Q.What programs are used to modify the CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT?

     There are three ways to modify a text file like your
CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files.  
     1-Use your word processor.
     2-Use simple DOS commands.
     3-Use the EDLIN program in DOS.

     Although it is probably much easier to use your own favorite
word processor, like WordPerfect or DESQview Notepad, to edit your
system configuration files, simple DOS commands like COPY, TYPE,
and REN can be used.  Also, DOS contains a "line editor" known as
EDLIN which can be used to create and edit more elaborate text
files.  EDLIN is a bit more cumbersome to use than most word
processing programs. Hence, it may be faster to learn how your own
word processor edits a DOS text file (also known as an ASCII file,
or Nondocument mode) than to use EDLIN. 

Q.How can simple DOS commands help modify my files?

     Another way to edit your CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT file is to
use simple DOS commands. In this example we will assume it is
necessary to make a change to your CONFIG.SYS file. First, you
should determine the location of the file. It is usually found in
the root directory of your hard disk.  To be certain it is  present
in the root, change directories to the root and type: 

C:\>DIR CONFIG.SYS (and hit Enter) 
You should see a message displayed indicating the size, the date,
and the time your CONFIG.SYS file was created. like this:

C:\>DIR CONFIG.SYS

     Volume in drive C is (your label)
     Directory of  C:\

    CONFIG   SYS      114  12-03-90  11:18a        1 File(s)  
                    5746688 bytes free

C:\>

Next, just to be on the safe side, you should make a backup copy of
your CONFIG.SYS file. This is so that if you need to recall any of
it's contents it will still be available to you.  To do this, use
the DOS REName command:

C:\>REN CONFIG.SYS CONFIG.OLD.  

This will rename your CONFIG.SYS file to CONFIG.OLD.  To view the
contents of your old file, enter: 

C:\>TYPE CONFIG.OLD

All the lines in the file will be displayed on the screen.

To create a new CONFIG.SYS file with the changes prescribed by our
Technical Support specialist, use the DOS COPY CON command, as in
this example: 

C:\>COPY CON CONFIG.SYS 

The cursor will move to the next line indicating that it is ready 
for you to create the first line of text in the new CONFIG.SYS 
file.  Following the advice of the support specialist, various 
items can be created on this and successive lines.  Accurately 
type the information for each line and hit Enter.  When all the 
proper lines have been typed, hit Enter once more to move the 
cursor to the line below your new file. Note that the backspace 
key can be used to correct a typing mistake, but you cannot go 
back to a line once you've pressed Enter.  At his point type ^Z, 
or your function-6 key (F6) and then Enter.  You should see: 

^Z
"1 File(s) copied" 

This confirms your file has been saved to disk.  You should use 
the DOS TYPE command to be sure:

C:\>TYPE CONFIG.SYS

Q.How is EDLIN used?
     Another way to edit your files is to use EDLIN. The EDLIN 
program is used from the command line, or DOS prompt.  The proper 
syntax is: EDLIN [drive:][path]filename. Note that the drive and 
path are optional. The filename parameter specifies which text 
file you want to edit, if the file does not already exist EDLIN 
will create it. You reference text by its line number, which 
EDLIN displays for convenience.  Each line can be a maximum of 
253 characters, and you may have from 1 to 65,534 lines in a 
file. Once the file is created or loaded, EDLIN displays its 
asterisk prompt (*) and you can begin to enter commands.

     EDLIN commands are single characters which may be either upper
or lower case, and are preceded by one or more line numbers.  The
EDLIN commands you will use to modify your CONFIG.SYS or
AUTOEXEC.BAT files are:

     COMMAND:       MEANING:
     --------       --------
     linenumber     selects a line of text for editing
     D              deletes one or more lines
     E              end; saves the file to disk and exits EDLIN
     I              inserts new lines
     L              lists or displays one or more lines     
     Q              quit; ends session without saving file  
     F3             copies all characters of the old line to the 
                    new line 

     For example, if you must edit your CONFIG.SYS file you should
first make a backup using the DOS REN command:

C:\>REN CONFIG.SYS CONFIG.OLD

Now you can begin to use EDLIN to create a new CONFIG.SYS:

     C:\>EDLIN CONFIG.SYS

Edlin will then display:      C:\>EDLIN CONFIG.SYS
                              End of input file
                              *

At EDLIN's asterisk prompt, you should list the contents of your
CONFIG.SYS file so that the line numbers (followed by colons, ":")
are displayed.  Use the "L" command, as follows:

C:\>EDLIN CONFIG.SYS
     End of input file
     *L
        1: DEVICE=C:\QEMM\QEMM386.SYS RAM
        2: device=c:\qemm\loadhi.sys c:\mouse\ktmouse.sys /1
        3: files=20
        4: buffers=1
        5: stacks=0,0
     *

To edit a line you must type the linenumber and hit Enter at the
asterisk prompt. Let's say your technician has recommended that you
add the exclusion parameter, X=F000-F7FF, to your QEMM line.  You
only need to type "1" and press Enter to edit line 1.  Simply type
in the new line at the asterisk below the original text.  When a 
simple parameter has been recommended by your technician's 
prescription, EDLIN's F3 key is a very convenient way to display 
the entire contents of the original line.  F3 is also a good way 
to prevent typographical errors.  Then, all you need to do is 
backspace to the correct spot and type in your recommended 
parameter:

C:\>EDLIN CONFIG.SYS
End of input file
*L
        1:*DEVICE=C:\QEMM\QEMM386.SYS RAM
        2: device=c:\qemm\loadhi.sys c:\mouse\ktmouse.sys /1
        3: files=20
        4: buffers=1
        5: stacks=0,0
*1
        1:*DEVICE=C:\QEMM\QEMM386.SYS RAM
     1: (pressing F3 at this point displays the entire line 
               above for your convenience)
        1:*DEVICE=C:\QEMM\QEMM.SYS X=F000-F7FF RAM
*

Finally you must type "E" to save your new file to disk and exit
EDLIN.  Here is how this looks on the screen:

C:\>EDLIN CONFIG.SYS
End of input file
*L
        1:*DEVICE=C:\QEMM\QEMM386.SYS RAM
        2: device=c:\qemm\loadhi.sys c:\mouse\ktmouse.sys /1
        3: files=20
        4: buffers=1
        5: stacks=0,0
*1
        1:*DEVICE=C:\QEMM\QEMM386.SYS RAM
        1:*DEVICE=C:\QEMM\QEMM.SYS X=F000-F7FF RAM
*E

C:\>
Use the DOS TYPE command to view the changes you have made:

C:\>TYPE CONFIG.SYS 

Q.What have we accomplished?

     Three different methods for editing your system's "boot-up"
files have been described. You should take your choice of the 
method that makes it easiest for you to follow the advice given 
by our technician.  For more detailed information on the subject of
editing DOS text files, consult:

     a)  the company that sold you your copy of DOS
     b)  your Word Processor's documentation regarding ASCII 
          or DOS text files
     c)  your DOS User Manual's section on the EDLIN utility, 
          (which is often Chapter 8 or 10)
     d)  The MS DOS Encyclopedia, by Microsoft Press, page 829   
     e)  DOS Power Tools, by PC Magazine, page 233
     f)  The New DOS 4.0, by Christopher, Feigenbaum, Saliga, 
          John Wiley & Sons, page 75
     g)  MS-DOS Bible, the Waite Group, H.W. Sams & Co, page 95.
     h)  DOS The Complete Reference, K. Jamsa, Osborne/McGraw-
          Hill, pages 403-452.

     When you edit your CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT files don't 
forget that you must reboot your computer to have the changes you 
made take effect.  While it is not the responsibility of
Quarterdeck to serve as your DOS tutor, consultant, or to support
DOS's commands (since DOS is not a Quarterdeck product),  this
technical bulletin is provided with the best interest of trying to
get you started with useful DOS features.  Since you have now
learned about your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files and how they
are modified, we are sure you are on your way to becoming more
proficient in the use of your computer.

          Copyright (C) 1991 by Quarterdeck Office Systems
               * * *   E N D   O F   F I L E    * * *