Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!snorkelwacker!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!abvax!iccgcc!browns
From: browns@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com (Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.programmer
Subject: Re: Changing option character from / to -
Message-ID: <1136.2700cd4d@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com>
Date: 26 Sep 90 20:46:20 GMT
References: <26fb50c3@ralf>
Lines: 28

In article <26fb50c3@ralf>, Ralf.Brown@B.GP.CS.CMU.EDU writes:
> In article <1990Sep21.190505.1542@Octopus.COM>, stever@Octopus.COM (Steve Resnick ) wrote:
> }In article <6867.26f929ec@vax1.tcd.ie> rwallace@vax1.tcd.ie writes:
> }>Does anyone know how to change the MS-DOS option character from / to something
> }>else? What I want to do is to change it from / to -, so you can type DIR -W
> }>
> }>The Turbo C++ manual says it's an INT 21h call, but doesn't say which one. I
> }>can't find it documented anywhere.
> }>
> }This is done through UNDOCUMENTED DOS Function 37H This works like this:
> }[...omitted...]
> 
> Turbo C 1.5/2.0 and Turbo C++ 1.0 have undocumented library functions
>       int getswitchar(void) ;
> and
>       void setswitchar(char c) ;
> which make the undocumented DOS call.  TC1.0 may have had them, but I can't
> recall.

However, many (most) programs won't recognize the change.  See FAQ in
(if memory serves) comp.sources.ibm.pc.  This is not due to any error
in int 21 func 37, or in the Turbo functions; rather to the faact that
many (most) programs don't read the switch char.

Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.      (216) 371-0043
 email: browns@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com
Disclaimer:   Your mileage may vary.  Close cover before striking.   Void
where taxed, regulated, licensed, or prohibited by law. I am not a crook.