Apologies for the shareware pause that comes up every time you execute XPATH. The screen displayed is there because XPATH.EXE gets distributed to other bulliten boards without the accompaning README.XP file that has the order form in it. Thus, the shareware screen provides a method for people to order the product. The screen does not appear in the registered version of the program. XPATH Version 3.7 ----------------- Have you ever tried to set your path longer than 127 characters? Without XPATH, or a similar product, it just can't be done. The reason is that you cannot type more than 128 characters at the prompt. Even if you create a BAT file where you can type more than 128 characters on a line, you cannot set your path past 127 characters because the command interpreter will not read past the 128th column of you BAT file. This problem is solved when you use XPATH. With XPATH, you create a file that contains 1 line for each directory you want in your path. You then simply execute XPATH, specifying the file that contains the directories you want in your path. For example, say you want your path to look like this: c:\;c:\dos;c:\util;c:\util\rexx20\pgms;c:\windows;c:\windows\excel You create an ASCII (text) file that looks like this: c:\ c:\dos c:\util c:\util\rexx20 c:\util\rexx20\pgms c:\windows c:\windows\excel Save the file giving any name you wish. Let's say you name it PATH.TXT. You would then create your path by executing the XPATH command as follows: XPATH PATH.TXT The above format assumes that PATH.TXT is in your current directory and XPATH.EXE is in your current path or current directory. If the file containing the directories you want in your path is not in your current directory when you execute XPATH, you can specify where the file is in the following way: XPATH C:\DATA\PATH.TXT That is how you would do it if your path file is called PATH.TXT and is in a sub-directory on C called DATA. -->Note: some versions of the shareware xpath is named XPATHSW. In this case the command is XPATHSW rather than XPATH; or if you wish, you may rename XPATHSW.EXE to XPATH.EXE. _____________________________________________________ XPATH is a registered trandemark of XWARE Development Page 1 copyright 1991 NEW FEATURES!!! --------------- But wait, there's more. We have just added 3 new features! You can now add and deleted from your path on the fly. Suppose you want to add the directory C:\WING to your path right away. Simply type: XPATH -A C:\WING That's all you have to do. Xpath will add the new directory to the end of your path. Suppose you want to delete the directory C:\WINDOWS out of your path. Simply type: XPATH -D C:\WINDOWS That's all you have to do. The rest of your path remains intact, but C:\WINDOWS is removed. The 3rd new feature added to xpath is the directory list feature. Simply type XPATH with no parameters, and all the directories in your path are listed on separate lines. You can use this feature to create a file that can later be used as input to xpath in your autoexec.bat file. For example: Type: XPATH -L >PATH.TXT You will get a file that has a list of directories in your path. This file will also contain the xpath logo (and shareware information if you have not yet registered), so you will have to edit the file to delete that stuff. Remember to also delete the byte total at the end of the file. Then save the file and use it as input to XPATH in your autoexec.bat file as described on the previous page. IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have not registered your copy yet, a pause comes up and you are required to press enter after the pause. When you use the above method to create an input file for Xpath, you will not see the "press enter to continue" message", but you still have to press enter. If you have an unregistered version, wait 3 seconds after typing XPATH >PATH.TXT and then press enter. Starting with version 3.7, the total bytes in your path are reported when you type XPATH with no parameters. I have found that some app- lications lock up when your path starts to get long. The application that I had a problem with was BRIEF (a text editor). When my path reached about 265 bytes, BRIEF would lock up when I tried to invoke it. -> Type XPATH -? for help and expamples. _____________________________________________________ XPATH is a registered trandemark of XWARE Development Page 2 copyright 1991 Possible problems ----------------- One of the main reasons you would want to use xpath is because you want a path longer than 127 characters. So, after using XPATH, if you type the PATH command to display your path, you may see that your path is longer than 127 characters. My path is 197 characters. When I run the setup program for the text-editor I use (BRIEF), it tries to insert d:\brief into my path. At the time it does this, it is a little confused because it sees my path is longer than 127 characters. It issues a warning message that says my path is too long, but no problems occur. Anytime you run an install program that puts a path command in your autoexec.bat file, you will have to take that path command out and put that path in your path file that you use when you execute XPATH. Some programs that read your path could have a problem with a path longer than 127 characters. Some programs may stop searching the path after the 127th character, or even blow up when they find that your path is larger than 127 characters. I've only encountered this problem with BRIEF and a path greater than 165. -->When your path gets unusually large, the whole thing may not display when you type the dos PATH command. However, the whole thing should display when you type SET to see all your environment variables. DOS 5.0 After you have set your path with XPATH, using the DOS path command to look at your path will not work. You will see only part of your path. The same is true when you look at your path by typing SET. To see your path, type XPATH with no parameters. Your path will list out -- each directory displaying on a new line. -> Remember, the longer your path gets, the greater the possibility some applications will have of locking up. ONCE YOU HAVE CREATED A PATH > 127 CHARACTERS, DO NOT USE DOS'S SET OR PATH COMMAND TO CHANGE IT. ONLY USE XPATH. IF YOU WISH TO QUIT USING XPATH, TAKE XPATH OUT OF YOUR AUTOEXEC.BAT AND REBOOT. Do not put equal signs (=) in your path input file. This will cause extrainious = signs in your path which will confuse XPATH. _____________________________________________________ XPATH is a registered trandemark of XWARE Development Page 3 copyright 1991 TECHNICAL SUPPORT ----------------- If you have questions, you can leave a mail message to the author, Todd Savoi at his BBS. (907) 349-1857 (N81 -- up to 9600 baud). Or leave compuserve mail to co-author (Tom Walker) 76424,1335 Registering XPATH ----------------- You have an evaluation copy of XPATH. Please register it by sending $15.00 to: XWARE Development 4719 Malibu Road Suite #1 Anchorage, Alaska 99517 phone: (907) 243-5052 By registering your copy of XPATH, you will be sent the latest version which will not have the pause in it. You will be entitled to free technical support, and you will get future versions of XPATH at a reduced cost. see last page for registration form. _____________________________________________________ XPATH is a registered trandemark of XWARE Development Page 4 copyright 1991 ENVIRONMENT SIZE PROBLEMS ------------------------- If you run out of environment space when using XPATH, this means you need to allocate more environment space. If you have this problem when opening a DOS window under windows, skip to the next section. If you have this problem when running XPATH from your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, then you need to increase your environment size by adding the following line to your config.sys file: shell = c:\command.com c:\ /p /e:640 The /e:640 in the above line tells DOS to allocate 640 bytes to your environmet. You may need to use a larger number if you have a lot of SETS in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, or if you have a lot of directories in your XPATH directory file. The above command assumes you are booting from a hard drive who's name is 'C'. ********* WARNING: ********* The shell command also tells DOS where your command.com file is located. If you specify a location where command.com does NOT exsist, your PC will not boot up off the hard drive. If this happens, you will have to boot from diskette and correct the problem in your config.sys file. DOS Compatability _________________ XPATH was written under DOS 3.30 and is compatable with DOS 3.1 and higher -- including 5.0. _____________________________________________________ XPATH is a registered trandemark of XWARE Development Page 5 copyright 1991 INCREASEING ENVIRONMENT SIZE FOR A WINDOWS'S DOS WINDOW: -------------------------------------------------------- To increase your environment size for a DOS window under Window's, you set up a PIF as follows: - Click on "Close window on exit" (turn it on). - Program Filename: COMMAND.COM - Optional Parameters: /E:640 /C C:\BAT\XPATHWIN.BAT The /E:640 allocates 640 bytes to your environment. You can increase or decrease this if you wish. The /C says the the following filename is a BAT file to be executed. You can use any filename you wish. The bat file you execute should execute XPATH as well as any other commands you wish to execute. Also, the last line in the bat file must execute command.com again. This will keep your dos window from immediatly returning to windows when the bat file is finished executing. An example of a bat file for a DOS window that executes xpath is: ECHO OFF ECHO Setting path... C: CD \UTILS XPATH C:\DATA\PATH.DAT COMMAND.COM /E:640 Why the /E:640 on the last line even though we already specified /E:640 in the PIF? Well, the /E:640 in the PIF gives 640 bytes of environment space for the bat file to use. The bat file uses it, but then the last thing the bat file does is to load a new command environment. When this occurs, the environment variables from the old command environment are copied to the new command environment. Thus, the new command evironment needs at least as much environment space as was specified in the PIF. If you have problems setting your path in a DOS window under Windows, you can set it before you enter windows, and all DOS windows will recognize it. _____________________________________________________ XPATH is a registered trandemark of XWARE Development Page 6 copyright 1991 Current License Agreement - xpath 3.7 ------------------------- You are entitled to use the evaluation copy of XPATH for evaluation purposes only. Use this registration form to purchase a copy of XPATH should you decide to continue to use it. Purchasing a copy of XPATH entitles you to use it on one machine. If XPATH is installed on a network, a license must be purchased for each workstation that access XPATH. Feel free to upload the shareware version of xpath to your favorite bulletin boards. +-----------------+ :REGISTRATION FORM: 3.7 +-----------------+ Company (if applicable): _______________________________________ Your name: __________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ No. of copies: _____ (enclose $15 per copy) Amount enclose: __________ Make checks payable to XWARE Development. Sent to: XWARE Development 4719 Malibu Road Suite #1 Anchorage, Alaska 99517 phone: (907) 243-5052 COMPUSERVE USER-ID: 76424,1335 _____________________________________________________ XPATH is a registered trandemark of XWARE Development Page 7 copyright 1991 XWARE Disclaimer XWARE specifically disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose with respect to defects in the software and documentation, and the program license granted herein in particular, and without limiting operation of the program license with respect to any particular application, use, or purpose. In no event shall XWARE be liable for any loss of profit or damage, including but not limited to special, incidental, or consequential damages. This statement shall be construed, interpreted, and governed by the laws of the State of Alaska. _____________________________________________________ XPATH is a registered trandemark of XWARE Development Page 7 copyright 1991