Note: Borland Pascal bug fixes and some other progs have moved to the System Utilities page.

Also see the Unix >> DOS page.

InkUtils — Valuable collection of DOS / Win9x-ready utilities.

* * * * *

[updated 1999-02-21]

The Inkutils...range from a mouse driven, 4DOS / NDOS aware full-screen description editor (with unique file-import and 4DOS / NDOS auto-config features) to an interactive point and click SmartDrive (or compatible) disk cache controller. There's also a popup TSR calculator that can be loaded in less than 1.7K. A friendly menu style user guide with full documentation for each Inkutil is also included. Windows 9x long file names and UNC pathnames are supported throughout the Inkutils.

The Inkutils run on any PC with DOS 3.30 (or later) or a Windows 95/98 DOS box and 256K of available DOS memory. Approximately 370K of free disk space is required for installation.

To see longer descriptions of four programs, click their links below.

Description Editor (DEDIT)		4DOS/NDOS/TakeCommand file description editor with many features.
Cache Control (CC)		Control panel for the SmartDrive (or compatible) disk cache.
Evaluate Expression (EE)		Flexible calculator, can be used on the command line or desktop, or as a TSR.
Delete Directory (DD)		Removes directories after showing statistics.
Critical Error (CE)		Replaces "Retry, Ignore, Fail or Abort" message with more information.
Text Mode (TM)		Select 25/28/43/50 lines or any VESA mode.
List Executables (LE)		Displays only the executables in a directory. 4DOS support.
Make & Change Directory (MCD)		Combines MD and CD in one command, or creates multiple dirs.
Fast Mouse (FM)		Reduces the time taken for a program to reset the mouse.
Divide by Zero (DZ)		Intercepts "Divide overflow" errors, allows continuing the program, rather than automatically terminating it.
Inkutils Present (IP)		Shows which Inkutil TSRs are resident in memory.
INKUTILS		The Inkutils User Guide.

Author: Mark Incley / Inkland, UK (1999).

1999-02-15: v1.53. Formerly shareware, now freeware.

Download ink153.exe (255K).

Get more info at the Inkutils page.

DOSPROGS — Diverse collection of DOS-only utilities.

* * * *

[updated 2001-01-07]

ANSISCRN		Saves or restores screen. Needs ANSI.SYS.
ANSICHAR		Table of ANSI characters 0-255.
GETCH		Accepts keyboard input, shows the hex value(s) returned by the C function getch(), for each key or key combination.
DOSKBD		Table of getch() inputs from keys.
ANSPROMP.BAT		Sample DOS prompt in ANSI colors, showing time, date, current directory. Needs ANSI.SYS.
MONPROMP.BAT		Same as ANSPROMP.BAT, but for monochrome screen. Needs ANSI.SYS.
VIDADJ		Text file that can be used to align a monitor.
CED 1.6		Text editor. Up to 16383 lines of up to 2047 characters each. Up to 132 columns (if supported by video hardware). Wrap options. Copies to & pastes from Windows clipboard. Saves & resores screen. And more.
CVCASE		Compares case of variable names in C/C++ code. Many display options.
DC 1.6		Single command, drive / directory changer. Toggles between last 2 dirs. Display sdirectory menu, asks for choice of dirs to switch to.
DD 1.6		Directory lister. 3 or 5 columns. Displays select/sort options. Up to 100 user-defined colors. Needs ANSI.SYS.
FILEMOD 1.3		Command line file copier/modifier. Inserts, removes or replaces characters in copy.
VMODE 1.4		Display or change video mode and screen rows.
WPPREP 1.5		Reformat ASCII text to word processor-ready file.

Author: Les Leist (1997-2000).

2000-12-29: v1.6.

Download dosprogs.zip (130K).

RUTILS4 — A mixed group of programs, some from Unix.

[added 2004-10-29]

While each of these programs has its own clear & thorough doc file, this collection is not for beginners: Some facility with DOS is required, and an acquaintance with Unix is helpful. All progs except ASET (click it to see a description on the Batch Utils page) have a similar user interface.

ASET		Enhanced SET command
BANNER		Display strings in huge letters (Unix)
CAL		Display a calendar (Unix)
CAT		Append several outputs to stdout (Unix)
CHMOD		Change the attributes of files (Unix)
CUT		Remove selected fields from each line of a file (Unix)
DCALC		Date Calculations
DCAT		Disk Cataloger
DETAB		Change tabs to spaces in several files (Unix: expand)
ENTAB		Change spaces to tabs in several files (Unix: unexpand)
FILE		File type guesser (Unix)
FMT		ASCII text formatter (Unix)
GENOUT		Generate program fragments for textual output
HD		Display hex dumps of several files
HEAD		Show the first lines of a file (Unix)
L		Display information about files and directories
LOCASE		Change chars in several files from upper to lower case
MCOL		Arrange text in multiple columns
NCONV		Number conversion utility
NODUP		Remove successive equal lines from files
STRINGS		Find printable strings in an object file or binary (Unix)
TAIL		Show the last lines of a file (Unix)
TEE		Duplicate textual output to a file (Unix)
UPCASE		Change chars in several files from lower to upper case
WC		Count words, lines, and chars of several text files (Unix)

Author: Richard Breuer, Germany (1993).

Download rutils40.zip (712K).

Get source (PAS) and other programs at Rickis Download Page

OzWoz Utilities — Collection of 35 assorted utils.

Unrated

[added 2005-04-04]

An interesting no-frills collection – each utility does a small job well. "The OzWoz Utilities are applications used by System Administrators to manage and support legacy IT equipment...developed for use on MS-DOS(R) systems between 1983 and 1992 using Borland Turbo Pascal." No program docs – but type a command with no parameters to get a help screen (click on STUFFKEY for a sample).

3812PRN		IBM 3812 Pageprinter driver.
ALARM		Alarm clock: TSR pop-up.
CHANGE		Change text: In one file or in multiple files matching a specification.
CHECKTD		Time date check: Current time and/or date, set errorlevel.
CLEARKEY		Keyboard buffer clearer: Clear "n" keystrokes from the keyboard buffer.
CURSOR		Cursor: Set shape and style.
ERRORLVL		Errorlevel setter: Sets return code or batch file errorlevel.
EXERCISE		File system exerciser: Exercise a local or network file system and show performance.
FF		Fast file finder: Finds file/s matching a filespec in current directory and any subdirectories. If a file is found, user may change to its directory.
GETOID		Get Object ID: Returns the Novell Netware object ID for user, groups, etc.
LOCK		Simple Application Lock: Locks applications in a network environment.
LS		List files: Lists all files matching "filespec," pausing after each screen. Many options.
MAIL		A simple mail facility for Novell Netware, with delayed or immediate send.
MAKEMENU		Make menu: Self-maintaining menu utility with no executing memory overhead.
NETTALK		Network Talk: User talk/chat utility for Novell Netware.
PLAY		Play music: Plays notes from a file or the command line.
RESET		Resets the computer by calling the ROM bootstrap routine jump instructionat address 0FFFF0.
SATTRIB		Super Attrib: Modify file & directory attributes including hidden & system.
SAVEDIR		Save Directory: Saves current drive & directory to a batch file, which restores them, then (optionally) deletes itself.
SAVEPATH		Save current path to a batch file, which restores it, then deletes itself.
SAVESCR		Save/Restore Text Screen: Saves contents of a text screen and cursor position, or restores them, to/from a file.
SCOPY		Super Copy: File copy move, update, concatenate, break up across diskettes & more.
SCRTYPE		Screen Type: Determines screen type in use, sets return code matching CGA, MCGA, HERC, VGA, EGA, MONO, etc.
SD		Select Directory: Replaces DOS CD (CHDIR) command, allows selection with a miniature browser. Goes well with MAKEMENU utility.
SDEL		Super Delete: Erases files & directories, including hidden, protected, etc. Can be paused, with options to continue or abort.
SETVPINF		Set VP.INF: Modify Ventura Publisher's VP.INF file.
SHOWTD		Show System Time and Date: Output can be redirected, many options.
SLEEP		Sleep for specified period. Can set for keyboard to interrupt.
STUDY		Study helper: Asks questions randomly, gives answers and scores, based on user's list of questions and answers.
STUFFKEY		Stuff Keys: Allows key sequences to be "stuffed" into the keyboard buffer, for automatic command entry. No overhead or TSR used.
STYPE		Super Type: A TYPE replacement, displays file contents with many convert, filter, skip, options.
TESTFILE		Test accessibility of a file under many modes. Good network tool.
TPBEAUT		Turbo Pascal Listing Beautifier: Prepare Turbo Pascal 5.5 code for output to a printer.
TYPEBACK		Type File Backwards: Type a text file to stdout or to file, line by line backwards. Good for listing logs.
TYPEDW4		Types the DisplayWrite 4 EBCDIC file specified.

Author: Australian IT Register [formerly OzWoz Consulting Services], Australia (2004).

2004-09-23: Rel. 6.

All files: Download '2-OzWoz Utilities.zip' (446K).

Get individual files (EXEs, not zipped) from the Utilities download page.

OzWoz Utilities info page

BLRUT (Bud L. Rasmussen's Utilities) — Mixed group of .EXE utils.
BLRMU (Bud L. Rasmussen's Mini Utilities) — Mixed group of .COM utils.

* * * *

[added 2005-12-08]

BLRUT consists of 28 general purpose utils, with a plain text help file and ASM source code for each one, plus a menu/shell program, a color configuration file, and an overall doc file in both plain text and compiled EXE format. BLRMU consists of 41 COM files, with a plain text doc file and ASM source code for each one.

Nobody really needs all of these utils, but the two download packages are small, so worth getting even if you need just a few things.

BLRUT
BD		Backup Directory
BHD		Backup Hard Disk
BLF		Backup Large File
CACF		Copy And Convert File
CF		Copy File
DBPB		Display BIOS Parameter Block
DCM		Directory Copy / Move
DDBT		Display Disk Base Table
DKV		Display Key Value
DPT		Display Partition Table
DSE		Disk Sector Edit
EADF		Erase All Diskette Files
EBU		Execute BLR Utilities (menu/shell)
FCM		File Copy / Move
FFD		Format Floppy Diskette
FRE		File Record Edit
LPAF		List / Print Any File
LPD		List / Print Directory
LPS		List / Print Sector
LPTF		List / Print Text File
LTF		List Text File
PSF		Print Spooled File
QDL		Quick Directory List
RLF		Restore Large File
RSD		Rename Sub Directory
SD		Space Display
SLTF		Split Large Text Files
TFC		Two File Compare
VLCC		Volume Label Change, Compare

BLRMU
Miscellaneous
BCR		Batch Carriage Return
BEEP7		Beep 7 times
BEEPN		Beep n times
BUK		Beep Until Keypress
CCC		Color Change Command
CLR		Clear the screen to color at x=0, y=0
CRSR		Cursor control
CRST		Cursor Reset
DAFEM		Display Available, Free, Extended Memory
DFM		Display Free Memory
DIV		Display Interrupt Vectors
DIVOP		Display Interrupt Vectors On Printer
FD		Find Directory
FF		Form Feed
GO		Go to drive + directory
JD		Jump Directory
LFD		Label Floppy Disk
PBM		Put Batch Message
PRT		Print multiple copies of text files
TO		Change TO drive + directory
TONL		Turn Off Num Lock
TRAD		Typematic Rate And Delay
Play tunes
BIRDCALL		Bird's Call (intro to Parker's Mood)
ITAINT		It Aint Necessarily So
KCBLUZ		KC Blues
NEWBLUZ		New Blues
OLDBLUZ		Old Blues
RITES		Intro to Rite of Spring
Clear screen to FG/BG
BLUWHT		white on blue
BLUYLO		yellow on blue
BRNWHT		white on brown
BRNYLO		yellow on brown
CYNWHT		white on cyan
CYNYLO		yellow on cyan
GRNWHT		white on green
GRNYLO		yellow on green
MAGWHT		white on magenta
MAGYLO		yellow on magenta
REDWHT		white on red
REDYLO		yellow on red
WHTBLK		black on white

Author: Bud L. Rasmussen (1996).

1996-09-11: BLRUT v55, and BLRMU v22.

LINK/LN — Link executable files to file names in other directories.

* * * * *

[added 1998-10-03, updated 2005-04-10]

reviewed by Howard Schwartz (10-2-98)

In Unix, the "ln" program lets you link a real file in directory A, to a filename in directory B. Within directory B, the filename "points to" the real file and reacts (to commands) exactly like it was the real file. LINK/LN allows you to link executable files (i.e., exe and com files) to file names in other directories, within DOS (using a tool like bat2exec, you can also create links for bat files). Why would you want to do this? Doing so lets you execute programs from any directory, without the problems related to DOS's PATH variable. To execute programs in any directory, DOS has you set the PATH variable to all directories containing executable programs. However:

• DOS's COMMAND.COM allows only 128 characters for the "set path" command. For this reason there are lots of programs, and DOS tricks, for extending this command to include more directories.
• DOS looks in each of the directories in the PATH variable, one at a time, to find programs to execute. This takes extra time and, in the long run, results in extra wear and tear on your disk.
• The longer the PATH command, the more DOS environment space (and thus, RAM) is permanently used up, whenever you do anything in DOS.

1. Faster execution of programs and less wear on your disk.
2. Saving environment space and ram, since the PATH variable need contain only one directory.
3. Saving disk space: LINK/LN stores a filename, not a real file, in a directory. This requires about 12 bytes instead of the minimum 2 Kbytes or so (1 cluster) required for a file of any size.
4. For convenience or clarity, you may wish a file to show up in different directories, with different names. You can link a file to file names in one or many directories, using any file names you want.

• There are two types of program that LINK/LN can not successfully handle. These programs use "helper" files which the programs read during startup or execution.
  1. Some programs require that all helper files be in directories listed in the PATH variable. To use LINK/LN with this type of program, either put the helper files in the (one) directory that contains all your links, or, create a directory specifically for helper files and make sure it is listed in the PATH variable.
  2. Some (rare) programs (e.g., schedule, qmodem) will not work unless you run them from the actual directory that they reside in. Again, you can deal with this by placing these programs and their helper files in the (one) directory you use for all your links.
• Finally, the TSR, LINK.COM, does not work well with TSR virus programs like virstop.exe that constantly monitor RAM for viruses. These programs contend for the same "exec" interrupt as link.com. Usually, LINK.COM will work normally if you make sure it is loaded in memory, BEFORE the virus program is loaded. You may also find that the companion program, LN.EXE does not work properly unless you temporarily remove TSR virus programs from memory. LN.EXE manages creation and deletion of links by, for example, allowing you to create links for all the exe and com files in a directory, with one command.

v1.1. Free only for private use.

Author: Oliver Fromme, Germany (1994).

Download linkln11.zip (25K). Note that Simtel.Net carries linkln10.zip, but it contains a bad bug.

More in these pages from Oliver Fromme.

Tee — Send program's output to both screen and file.

unrated

[added 1999-08-22]

If you want to see the output of a command onscreen, but at the same time wish to save it to disk (with options to append to or overwrite an existing file), tee is the program to do it. Tee is based on a Unix tool of the same name.

Syntax: <command> | tee <filename>

Author: Brian Friesen / Freezerware (2002).

2002-10-19: v3.2 for DOS16 and Win32 console.

More in these pages from Brian Friesen.

Cache Control (CC) — Mouse compatible control center for MS-DOS SmartDrive.

* * * * *

[added 1998-03-05, updated 1999-02-21]

A slick and friendly full screen interface for the SmartDrive cache program: "...allows cache settings to be changed by intuitive point-and-clicking rather than using the less friendly command line options." Change settings for individual drives by clicking on drive buttons and selecting read/write caching options. Current settings are displayed under drive buttons. Good built-in help. EXE size: 14.4K.

F1		Displays brief descriptions of the function keys.
F2		Flushes the disk cache and makes sure that any write-behind (or write-cached) data is written to the disk.
F3		Resets the disk cache – any write-behind data is flushed, and the disk cache buffers are cleared.
F4		Use this to change whether the cache is flushed when the command prompt appears.
F5		After confirmation, disables disk caching for all drives except A: and B:
F6		After confirmation, sets read-caching for all drives except A: and B:
F7		After confirmation, sets write-caching for all drives except A: and B:
F8		After confirmation, sets read-write caching for all drives except A: and B:
F9		After confirmation, restores the cache settings for all drives as they were when CC was started.
F10		QUIT

Author: Mark Incley / Inkland, UK (1999).

1999-02-15: v1.53. Part of the InkUtils collection. Formerly shareware, now freeware.

Download ink153.exe (255K).

Get more info at the Inkutils page.

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