Msg: 1693 *Conference*

02-25-92 22:32:00

From: RICHARD HANSON

To : JON LUKER

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #1689 (TS-DOS HELP)

Okay, got your questions this evening and will give them a shot.  Sorry to hear
about the loss of your DOS computer.  Go look at the portable PC's by Sharp.
Say hi to Bill for me when you talk to him.  It's been too long since Bill and
I talked.  We always had a good time together.
 
TS-DOS - a brief summary...
 
Since you have the URII you do not need to keep FLOPPY.CO in your machine. Kill
it, but make a copy of it to a diskette someplace.  FLOPPY.CO has one good
thing going for it.  It has image backup capabilities, i.e., you can make
duplicate disks with it, including boot disks, like your original TS-DOS disk
(hint, hint).  Also, if you rename FLOPPY.CO to DOS100.CO, you can call it in
via the TS-DOS option on your URII just like you do when you use TS-DOS (aka
DOS100.CO)... that's a little trick for you.
 
TS-DOS does give you tha ability to append data to files on disk, true, and the
ability to create a database file on disk, but IN NO WAY will it allow you to
create and edit a disk-based document file.  You must work within the 32K limit
of the RAM of your Model 100.  You mentioned something about 21K.  You either
have a 24K Model 100 or you've got other files in your laptop.  A 32K Model
100/102 reads 29xxx bytes when totally empty.  However, it is NOT A GOOD IDEA
to edit files that approach the upper limits of RAM.  In such cases, you risk
the loss of at, or those, file(s) via a cold start, which may or may not be
recoverable.  Bottom line: Break your work into much smaller files and keep
them backed off onto your TPDD when not in use.  Practice safe computing...
back up your files.
 
The function keys of TS-DOS are obvious.  Rather than naming them off, which
ones do you want to know about?  Also, if you want a backup manual, send $10.
 
Hope this helps... -Rick-