The DOS Primer and DOS utilities

This is embedded within the documentation for the [A]SC (text file) [D]ata [B]atcher (the next system), but I've gone to a lot of trouble to make it easy for those of you who are only interested in learning more about how the DOS prompt can help you create simple (or even complex) applications with very little trouble.

ADB: the [A]SC (text file) [D]ata [B]atcher

This product is a unique substitute for all batch operations that you can do with a full-fledged DMBS.  While there's no "GUI interface," programmers and non-programmers alike will appreciate the fact that ADB (in tandem with GNU Awk) can simplify the sorting, matching, duplicate removal, set difference, and join operations that account for thousands of lines of code in most "real world" batch application systems.  ADB does it all with only five simple statments in its "language."

ADB can also be used as a subprocess for interactive systems, especially processes that collect data from the Web.

ADB comes with a large suite of freeware utilities that can make DOS batch programming vastly more flexible, convenient, and cost-effective than writing massive compiled executables which cost tens of thousands of dollars to debug and maintain.

Don't know or understand Awk, or the DOS command line?  ADB's doc. contains extensive tutorials and examples, and I've included some of my personal favorite shareware utilities in one of the distribution zips.  C source code is included.

OSQL

The OSQL batch interface lets you extract data from ODBC compatible DBMSs in "commas-n'-quotes" format (or fixed-length format) via batch processes.

It also lets you dump all the base table layouts (i.e. excluding views) in a database to a plain text file--with just one DOS command.  Or, you can dump out a single table's layout with just one DOS command.

And there's a special interface that allows you to dump out all the data in all tables in a DB into plain ASC text ("commas-n'-quotes" format) with just one command.  If you use WinZip to compress this data, it can also be very useful for "partial restores," i.e. cases in which you just need to get a few records back, but you don't want to restore the entire DB (e.g., because it's on a production server).  You can also dump a single table's data out in "commas-n'-quotes" with just one command.

WebBoard users: If you're a virtual board manager, or anyone else who doesn't have server access, this system can make it a lot easier to get data from your sysadmin, since s/he can give it to you with a minimum of effort.  If you can program in a standard programming language, you may also benefit from an executable that converts commas-n'-quotes format to fixed-length format.

WebBoard users: the system comes with a text file that lists all WebBoard base table layouts (there are no views in WebBoard).

This system requires no special external software like Enterprise Manager to run: it relies only upon OSQL.Exe, which is standard with MS's ODBC interface.

OSQL also includes special support for ADB (listed immediately above).  C source code is included.

JSM: the JavaScript "MakeFile" System

Although this is mainly intended for WebBoard users who want to modify the source code for my WebBoard freeware, it's also a very valuable tool for Web Application Developers who wish to maximize the power of client-side JavaScript.  This system shows you how to use the "make" discipline in conjunction with "file inclusion" and "JavaScript Code Compression" in order to develop complex, portable, and efficient suites of web pages.  Even server-side applications will benefit, so long as they rely on JavaScript.  C source code is included.

FAQHack

FAQHack is designed for those of us who dread "automated" HTML generating interfaces, but who get tired of typing and/or copying the same code over and over again.  FAQHack has the two basic features that most of us who know HTML wish for, when writing documentation or producing multiple, integrated, HTML files: (1) special support for structured documents (including FAQs), and (2) simple macro preprocessing.  Addicted to "Homesite," but can't stand the lack of control?  Try FAQHack.

Regrettably (and ironically!), this documentation is in plain text, so the link above is to the zip file.  One of these days I'll find the time to convert it.  C source code is included.

PageIt

PageIt is a freeware product that helps you generate old-fashioned "plain text" documentation, i.e. the sort of documentation that can be printed by "copying to a printer."  PageIt has a number of advanced capabilities for determining when to "break" a page, and it supports automatic internal references.  For usage instructions, just unzip it, and run the executable from the DOS prompt with no arguments.  If you want to generate HTML-format documentation, see FAQHack (above).  C source code is included.

SoAr, the [So]lo File [Ar]chiver

SoAr, the [So]lo File [Ar]chiver, is a backup/file transfer product that I wrote before Windows 95 was released: for that reason, its usefulness is quite limited.  The basic idea is that files are most secure when each is backed up or stored in it's own "private" archive file.  Despite the lack of "long" file name support, I feel that the ideas behind this system are good ones, and developers who are willing to limit themselves to DOS file names for the "mission critical files" within a system may find it quite useful.  Those of you who are familiar with the last DOS version of PkZip (2.04g) will understand the capabilities instinctively.  Not all of PkZip's options are supported, but SoAr has a much more advanced "list file" syntax (for example, you can make remarks in list files), and certain special features, such as the ability to "wipe" files.  The documentation is in plain text.  SoAr requires an underlying archiver, but a $16 shareware product called "Hyper" is included (Hyper is free to noncommercial users).  SoAr supports PkZip 2.04g's password protection feature.  The documentation is in plain text, and C source code is included.

WebBoard Freeware

My WebBoard freeware, for users of Akiva's excellent message board software.

Hiring and Contacting me

Information about my experience, rates, client references, etc.