Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!wuarchive!uunet!convex!harper
From: harper@convex.com (David Harper)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
Subject: Re: switchar anyone?
Message-ID: <105625@convex.convex.com>
Date: 30 Aug 90 17:30:12 GMT
References: <3388@ecs.soton.ac.uk>
Sender: news@convex.com
Distribution: comp
Organization: Convex Computer Corporation; Richardson, TX
Lines: 27

In article <3388@ecs.soton.ac.uk> mrd@ecs.soton.ac.uk (Mark Dobie) writes:
>OK, so I discovered switchar and I have set it to '-' to make my PC
>look more like UNIX. This is PC-DOS 3.3.
>
>I have found a few problems and have a few questions.
>
>Is switchar still supported in the latest MSDOS/PCDOS?
>
>Although I can use '-' for options and '/' for pathnames, this
>doesn't work all the time.

Unfortunately, there are a bunch of programs out there which have checks for
'\' and '/' hard coded into them.  Setting the switchar won't work with these
programs.  A far better way is a TSR which interperts the command line before
it is passed to the application (or command.com).  This TSR would automatically
translate '/' to '\' and '-' to '/' so that the application would see what it
was expecting.  Fortunately, such a TSR exists; it is called ANARKEY (by 
Stephen Calwas) and can be found on most BBSs, as well as, many internet
archive sites such as simtel.  In addition, this program gives a host of other
nice features such as command line editing, history functions, command/file
name completion, etc.  It is worth every penny of the shareware registration
costs.


Dave Harper    -     Convex Computer Corp.            E-mail address:
3000 Waterview Pky.  Richardson, TX 75081             harper@convex.COM
(214) 497-4525 (W)   (214) 727-4206 (H)