DR DOS Ver. 3.41 - DOS Extender
                         Copyright 1989 David Batterson

     Most PC owners still use single-user, single-tasking operating systems,
i.e., MS-DOS or PC-DOS.  Many 386 owners use multiuser operating systems like
PC-MOS and Concurrent DOS 386.
     But there's another DOS that maybe you've never heard of:  DR DOS.
Although the name DR DOS sounds like a PC repairman, the DR stands for Digital
Research, the company which developed GEM/3 Desktop.
     By the way, the name is pronounced "DEE ARE DOS" not "Doctor DOS."  DR
DOS is not merely an MS-DOS clone, but rather is a DOS extender.
     This means it does everything that PC- and MS-DOS (3.x and above) do, and
more.  The DOS commands are the same, so you can use DR DOS transparently.
However, to use the extended part, you'll need to learn the new commands, as
well as the new parameters for the usual commands (such as FORMAT).
     For instance, you type FORMAT A: /4/V to format a 360K disk in a 1.2 MB
drive, with volume label.  But DR DOS has added a new option: FORMAT /F:nn
(nn stands for disk capacity).  Example:  FORMAT B: /F:720.
     We'll get to more commands shortly, but first an overview.  DR DOS is
100% compatible with the DOS 4.0/4.1 method of setting up disk partitions; it
supports disk partitions up to 512 MB.
     There is on-screen help for each DR DOS utility, accessed with the /H
switch.  Typing SORT/H displays the help lines, telling you that SORT is an
ASCII sort filer, and has the following usage:
          SORT [ /R ]  [ /+number ]
          /R     reverse sort order
          /+n    start sorting with column n (default is column 1)
     DR DOS has a full screen text editor, unlike the shabby EDLIN program
found in PC-and MS-DOS (which nobody uses!)  The EDITOR allows you to create
ASCII text files, or easily edit existing ones, such as your AUTOEXEC.BAT and
CONFIG.SYS files.
     EDITOR also displays a help screen of the <Ctrl> key commands.  EDITOR
has a useful feature:  when editing an existing file, the file is never
overwritten.  Instead, EDITOR renames it with the .BAK extension.  You cannot
edit any .BAK files.
     DR DOS uses slightly less RAM than MS-DOS (72K vs. 75K).  However,
FASTOPEN and SHARE are loaded by default.  (NOTE:  The DR DOS kernel can be
stored in and executed from ROM.  Some OEMs are installing it that way.)
     Now more about some of the command differences.  ERAQ and DELQ (unlike
the MS-DOS DEL command) always query you before erasing a file.
     MODE lets you specify the display lines, e.g., MODE CON: LINES = 43.
Keyboard input speed and delay between keystrokes can be changed with MODE
CON: RATE = r DELAY = d.
     THe TREE /G command displays a graphical depiction of the specified
subdirectory structure.  XCOPY lets you specify a text file list of files you
wish to copy, such as: XCOPY @<DIRECTORY\FILENAME.TXT>.
     XDEL deletes subdirectory files, and removes empty directories.  XDIR has
multiple options to display directories/subdirectories in various forms.
     Do you want password protection for files and directories?--you've got it
with DR DOS.  There are three levels of password protection, selected by the
/R /W or /D switches.  Passwords are eight characters maximum.
     An optional DOS shell is the graphics environment--or GUI (Graphical User
Interface)--called GEM Desktop/3.  GEM (Graphical Environment Manager), for
those unfamiliar with it, is similar to Microsoft Windows, but not as slow and
buggy.  It's a progeny of the pioneer Xerox PARC environments, and is more
like using a Mac.
     DR DOS is fully compatible with LANs, including Novell Netware.  It also
supports code page switching, for foreign languages.
     Kaypro Computers now bundles DR DOS, instead of MS-DOS, with its PCs.
Andrew Kay called DR DOS "a better operating system....our engineers said it
was just too good not to license."
     At this time, DR DOS is sold only to OEMs and VARs; it is NOT available
to the end user as a retail software product.  However, I recommend that if
you'd like to buy DR DOS, let the company know your thoughts and MAYBE they
will distribute it eventually to software dealers.
     For more information, contact Digital Research Inc., Box DRI, Monterey,
CA  93942; 800-443-4200, 408-649-3896, FAX: 408-649-0750.  OEMs/VARs should
contact DRI at 4401 Great America Parkway, Suite 200, Santa Clara, CA 95054;
408-982-0700, FAX: 408-982-0715.
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     David Batterson reviews various microcomputer applications.  Contact him
via MCI Mail: DBATTERSON.