The Graham Utilities for OS/2 - Version 2

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About the Utilities

OS/2

All of "The Graham Utilities for OS/2" are OS/2 protected mode applications; they will NOT run in the DOS Compatibility box. All are capable of being run in either an OS/2 Windowed session (known as a VIO window) or an OS/2 Full Screen session, with one exception. The exception is DIAG which can only be run in a Full Screen session. Some of the applications, such as HEXEDIT, which use a popup window will automatically size themselves to use the full dimensions of the current screen mode. The screen mode is set using the MODE command. The most information which you can display on a standard VGA screen is 80 columns by 60 rows, which can be set by the command: 

MODE CO80,60
Some display adaptors support 132 column modes. The maximum number of rows for 132 column modes is 44. This can be set by the command: 
MODE CO132,44
Version two of The Graham Utilities for OS/2 supports all versions of OS/2. There are 16 bit applications that are capable of running under IBM or Microsoft OS/2 1.2, OS/2 1.3 and IBM OS/2 2.x, 3.x (OS/2 Warp), 4.x (Merlin) and Microsoft Windows NT. There are also 32 bit applications that will only run under IBM OS/2 2.x, 3.x and 4.x. Also included in this release is a version of the applications which will run under OS/2 Warp for the Power PC.

Note : Some of the 16 bit programs will not successfully run under Microsoft Windows NT. These programs are ones which perform direct disk accesses, and the BE REBOOT command. None of these programs will run correctly due to the security provided by Microsoft Windows NT.

Switches

All of the utilities in "The Graham Utilities for OS/2" follow the same convention for parsing command line switches. A switch is a command which is placed on the command line of a program to change its functionality. All of the utilities use a switch character (a "-" or "/") followed by a single letter. For example: 

DI -p
changes the functionality of DI from its default mode of displaying information about logical disk partitions to displaying information about the physical disk(s) attached to your system.

If a program supports multiple switches, the Switches may be concatenated together. They do not have to be individually specified. For example: 

LD /g /h
is identical to: 
LD /gh
There is one exception to the concatenation rule: when an argument for the switch has to be given. The argument must be specified by itself or be the last specified. An example of this is NullFile; some of the Switches for NullFile require a numeric argument. The help display lists the switch in the format: 
-v<n>   wipe Value; default of 0.
The angled brackets ("" and "") are not actually typed: they indicate that a number should be entered. This is an example of how it could be entered at the command prompt: 
NULLFILE -v85 -ns
Note that there is no space between the "-v" and "85". 
NULLFILE -v85ns
This is illegal, the -n and -s switches will be ignored. It could be specified as: 
NULLFILE -v85 -ns
or 
NULLFILE -nsv85
Neither the order nor the case of the switches are important, so the following are all identical: 
GREP -F -I -N -C main *.c
GREP -FINC main *.c
GREP -finc main *.c
GREP /finc main *.c
GREP -fn main *.c /ic

HELP

All of the utilities have their own on-line help. This will display a brief summary of all of the available switches and the arguments required for each program.

The format of the help is as follows:

Switches

Are listed in between curly braces - '{' and '}'. With the exception of numeric arguments they can be entered as displayed.

Options

Are listed in between square brackets - '[' and ']'. They are key words and must be entered exactly as shown. Case is not important.

Parameters

Are listed in between angled brackets - '' and ''. They indicate that a parameter must be entered, but you supply the parameter. Typically a file specification is an example of a parameter. Parameters are optional. If they are not given, the program will continue with default values.

To see the quick help simply enter the program name followed by a "-?" or "/?" switch. For example: 

HEXDUMP -?
In the event that the help switch is issued in conjunction with any other switches, the program will display its help and then terminate with an exit code of 1.

If any unrecognised switches are issued then the program will report it as such, display the help, and terminate with an exit code of 1.

If the program runs successfully, it will return an error code of 0, unless otherwise specified.

A more comprehensive form of on line help is also provided in the GI (Graham Integrator) program. GI will display a list of all programs, their options, command line arguments, a brief program description, and sometimes, an example of usage.

The most comprehensive form of help is offered in the on-line manual GRAHAM20.INF. You may use the standard OS/2 command, VIEW to examine the manual. 

VIEW GRAHAM20
This will enable you to view the on-line manual.

GI also enables you to view the on-line manual. Highlight the program for which you wish to view the detailed help and press the F2 key. You will be presented with the chapter on the requested program.

Dialog Boxes

Some of the programs use popup windows and dialog boxes to display information and to prompt you for action. When a dialog box appears, you may generally use the following keys:

Enter

Select the currently highlighted item and continue.

Tab

Move from one field to another.

Shift Tab

Reverse the move from one field to another.

Arrow Keys

Move in the direction indicated. At times only the left and right arrows will be functional.

Escape

Exit the program or dialog box. No action taken.

Highlighted Letters

Press the letter to action that item.

In some dialog boxes, such as the Select Drive dialog box, just pressing the letter is all that is required of you.