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                       The Prompt Solution - Online Edition
                       JP Software's Electronic Newsletter
      
                             Issue #4 - June 21, 2001
      
      
       >>  New Releases of 4DOS, 4NT, and Take Command/32 are now
       >>  available!  To order go direct to our online store at
       >>  http://www.jpsoft.com/store/store.mv.  See below for
       >>  complete details, tech tips, new support plans, and more!
      
      
      [Sent to the address you gave us when you purchased a JP Software
      product.  For address changes and list removal see end of message.]
      
      *--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*
      
      In this Issue:
      
          * Major Upgrades to 4DOS, 4NT, and Take Command/32
      
              - New Releases Offer FTP Support - and Over 200 Other
                   Enhancements
              - Ordering the Upgrade
              - Electronic and Physical Shipment Schedule
              - Downloading the New Version
              - Automatic Upgrades
              - 4OS2, Take Command/16, and Take Command for OS/2
      
          * New Technical Support Plans Announced
      
              - Extended and Premium Support
              - Online Support Forum
      
          * Tech Tips:
      
              - Using the New FTP Features
              - File Processing with @file Lists
      
          * Customer Service and Miscellaneous
      
              - Contacting JP Software
              - Newsletter Address Correction, List Removal, and
                   Privacy Information
              - Copyrights, Trademarks, and Fine Print
      
      
      *--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*
      
       >>> Major Upgrades for 4DOS, 4NT, and Take Command/32 <<<
      
      ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      
      New Releases Offer FTP Support - and Over 200 Other Enhancements
      
      
      JP Software is pleased to announce the release of version 7.0 of 4DOS,
      version 4.0 of 4NT, and version 3.0 of Take Command/32!
      
      All products are fully compatible with the latest operating systems
      including Windows NT / 2000 and Windows 95 /98 / ME.  And all have
      been updated with a host of new features - here's just a small sample:
      
          FTP Support:
      
              The single biggest enhancement in these versions is FTP
              support (in 4NT and Take Command).  This support extends
              across many commands and functions (e.g. you can use most file
              oriented commands -- COPY, DEL, MOVE, REN, TYPE, etc.  -- on
              FTP servers).  It enables file management on FTP servers from
              the command line, and brings all of the capabilities of 4NT
              and Take Command/32's enhanced batch scripting language to
              automation of FTP transfers.  It's an important tool for web
              developers, and anyone maintaining a web or FTP server and
              needing to manage it using familiar commands, and/or automate
              their work.  See the first "Tech Tip" below for details on how
              to use these features.
      
          @file Lists:
      
              Another significant addition, "@file" lists, adds even more
              flexibility to file processing, allowing you to take a list of
              files generated by another command, or another application,
              and use it as input to any file processing command.  Use @file
              lists to find text in files and then process only those files
              containing the matching text, to change the order in which
              files are copied or moved, or use the same file lists for
              internal commands and external applications with similar
              features (e.g.  .ZIP file tools).  See the second "Tech Tip"
              below for more information.
      
          Usability Improvements:
      
              We've also added plenty of little things that help with
              usability - like server and sharename completion on the
              command line, variable name completion, a more robust way to
              handle standard text-mode applications in Take Command/32, and
              dozens more.  And there are over 100 enhancements to existing
              commands, giving you more command line power and flexibility
              than ever.
      
          Batch File Enhancements:
      
              For batch programmers, this release offers a wide range of
              additional enhancements, including over 40 new variables and
              functions that offer capabilities like manipulation of the
              Windows registry, access to Windows system data, new
              arithmetic calculations, additional date handling, and access
              to new Windows 2000 file attributes.
      
      The price for all this?  Just $34.95 for the first product, $19.95 for
      each additional product, or $54.95 for the JP CD Suite.  Plus if you
      currently have one or more individual products you can convert to the
      CD Suite with all products for just $69.95!
      
      Additional enhancements in this version include the following:
      
          * In addition to FTP support, COPY, MOVE, and REN also support
            file management on HTTP and HTTPS servers (in 4NT and Take
            Command/32).
      
          * The maximum batch file nesting depth has been increased from 10
            to 16 (4DOS) or 32 (4NT and TC32).
      
          * 4DOS now has mouse support for the popup windows (history list,
            directory history, @SELECT, etc.) and for the SELECT command.
      
          * New commands in 4NT and Take Command/32 include EVENTLOG, IFTP,
            KEYSTACK, PLAYAVI, PLAYSOUND, PRINT, QUERYBOX, SENDMAIL,
            SHORTCUT, TASKEND, TASKLIST, and WHICH.
      
          * New commands in 4DOS include LFNFOR and WHICH.
      
          * There are over 100 new features in 4DOS, 4NT, and Take
            Command/32 commands, including:
      
              - CDD can now update specific drives or directories in the
                extended directory search database, without deleting and
                recreating the entire database.
      
              - DEL (and RD /S) in 4NT and Take Command/32 now delete files
                to the recycle bin, and you can disable this behavior or
                change the default with switches and a .INI file directive.
      
              - DIR has support for Windows 2000 junction points, a way to
                disable default options, and new options for cleaner summary
                (/U) output.
      
              - GOSUB now supports passing parameters to subroutines.
      
              - LIST has new options to delete a file or to save pipe
                output.
      
              - TOUCH can now select files by attribute (including setting
                the date and time for directories under Windows NT/2000),
                and "transfer" file dates / times from one file to another.
      
              - UNALIAS and UNSET now support wildcard deletions.
      
          * There are almost 50 new internal variables and functions,
            including new date-related capabilities, registry access (in 4NT
            and Take Command/32), numeric min / max calculation, and many
            more.
      
          * 4NT and Take Command/32 now support the additional Windows 2000
            file attributes (encrypted, temporary, compressed, etc.).
      
          * Take Command's Caveman feature to capture output from character
            mode applications has a number of internal enhancements to
            improve support for all applications, and also offers a new
            "STDIO" option which provides significantly better support for
            applications which only generate sequential output.
      
      For additional details see the "What's New" section of the online help
      for each product.  A file with essentially the entire list of changes
      is also available -- check the ASCII files area of our web site at
      http://www.jpsoft.com/ for WHATSNEW.TXT.
      
      
      ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      
      Ordering the Upgrade
      
      All of the new products are available now for electronic delivery.
      Physical shipments are expected to begin approximately August 1, 2001.
      
      You can order your upgrade from JP Software via several methods:
      
          * Through our online store at
            http://www.jpsoft.com/store/store.mv.  This is the simplest and
            fastest method.  Orders are transmitted to our office (credit
            card numbers are encrypted) and are processed in the order
            received.
      
          * By calling our order line at 800-368-8777, accessible from the
            US and Canada, or by calling our main number, 781-646-3975.
            (Our normal office hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, eastern US
            time.)  Telephone coverage and response time may be affected by
            the upgrade workload; if you have difficulty reaching us, use
            the web site to place your order, or leave a voice mail and we
            will call you back.
      
          * Via fax to 781-646-0904, or email to sales@jpsoft.com.  Please
            include name and address, exact items desired, email and
            telephone contact information, and full credit card details with
            all orders.
      
          * By mail to P.O. Box 1470, E. Arlington, MA 02474.
      
      When ordering by mail or fax you may find it convenient to use our
      upgrade order form, available from the ASCII files area of our web
      site in the file UPGFORM.TXT (for upgrades) or ORDFORM.TXT (for new
      customers).
      
      Single-system upgrade pricing is as follows:
      
          4DOS 5.5* or above, 4NT 2.5* or above, or any version of Take
          Command:  just $34.95 for the first product and $19.95 for each
          additional product, plus shipping.
      
          JP CD Suite:  $54.95 plus shipping.
      
          Convert from individual products to the JP CD Suite with all
          products:  $69.95 plus shipping.
      
      For multi-system license upgrade pricing see
      http://www.jpsoft.com/mlprice.htm, or contact us for a quote.
      
      (* Individual product upgrades from earlier versions -- 4DOS 5.0 or
      below, or 4NT 2.0 or below -- are $10 additional for the first
      product.)
      
      ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      
      Electronic and Physical Shipment Schedule
      
      Initially these new versions will be available for electronic delivery
      only (electronic delivery consists of an email message with your
      serial number and code, and an attached program to install the serial
      number in the software).  This is due to production issues with
      printed manuals and physical media; we expect to be able to ship
      physical copies and manuals approximately August 1, 2001.
      
      If you place an order for electronic or "dual" (physical and
      electronic) delivery we will charge your credit card now, ship the
      electronic portion of your order now, and hold the physical portion
      (if any) until physical materials are available.  If you place an
      order for physical delivery only, it will be held until after the
      materials are available, and your credit card will not be charged
      until it is shipped.
      
      Orders will be processed and shipped in the order in which they are
      received.  Note that there may be noticeable delays in order
      processing due to the unusually high workload during the upgrade
      period.
      
      
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------
      
      Downloading the New Version
      
      The new versions are available from our web site at
      http://www.jpsoft.com/download.htm, or direct from our FTP site at
      ftp://ftp.jpsoft.com.
      
      On the FTP site look for these files:
      
          4DOS v7.0:  4dos/4dos700.exe
      
          4NT v4.0:  4nt/4nt400.exe
      
          Take Command/32 v3.0:  tcmd32/tc32300.exe
      
      
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------
      
      Automatic Upgrades
      
      
      If you purchased 4DOS, 4NT, or Take Command/32 (or a pack or CD which
      contained any of these products) on or after January 1, 2001 you will
      receive an upgrade automatically.
      
      Also if you purchased any special offer which included 4DOS 6.0 or
      above, 4NT 3.0 or above, or Take Command/32 2.0 or above and which
      also included the next version "free", you will also receive an
      upgrade automatically.
      
      Automatic upgrades will be sent by email, and will include new brand
      codes and a new brand program to be used with a downloaded trial copy
      of each product being upgraded.  You can not use your old brand codes
      and program with the new versions.
      
      Due to our upgrade workload, automatic upgrades may take up to one to
      two weeks to process after the product release.
      
      
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------
      
      4OS2, Take Command/16, and Take Command for OS/2
      
      
      4OS2, Take Command/16, and Take Command for OS/2 are not being upgraded
      due to the declining number of users for the corresponding operating
      systems (OS/2 and Windows 3.x), and the corresponding dramatic drop in
      demand for these products.
      
      However, these products are still supported and we will do our best to
      answer technical questions from OS/2 and Windows 3.x users.  We also
      plan to offer maintenance upgrades to 4OS2 and Take Command for OS/2
      later this summer to correct a few minor problems.
      
      
      *--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*
      
       >>> New Technical Support Plans Announced <<<
      
      ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      
      Extended and Premium Support
      
      
      We are pleased to announce that, beginning August 1, 2001 we will
      offer three product support plans.
      
      Our basic no-charge electronic support plan continues.  We are also
      offering two new paid subscription plans for current products; these
      include automatic delivery of upgrades, and a monthly technical
      newsletter.
      
      The plans are:
      
          * Standard Support is offered with all product purchases and is
            available at no additional charge.
      
          * Extended Support is a paid plan available on an annual basis,
            and includes Standard Support benefits plus private support via
            email or telephone, a monthly email newsletter, and delivery of
            all major upgrades.
      
          * Premium Support is a paid plan available on an annual basis, and
            includes most Extended Support benefits, plus a 4-hour response
            time to support incidents, and physical delivery of all
            upgrades.
      
      For single-system users Extended Support is just $29.95 per year for
      one product, or $39.95 for two or more -- plus get a $10 discount off
      these prices if you order Extended Support when you upgrade!
      
      For complete details, plan pricing for multi-system licenses and for
      Premium Support, more information on the benefits of each plan, and
      plan terms and conditions, see the support area of our web site at
      http://www.jpsoft.com/.
      
      Support plans may be ordered through any of the methods listed above
      for the upgrades themselves - through our online store, or by phone,
      email, fax, or mail.
      
      
      ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      
      Online Support Forum
      
      
      Our online Support Forum, accessible from the Support area of our web
      site, is our primary technical support venue, and it's where you'll
      receive the fastest answers.  It also allows you to benefit from the
      experience of other users, and lets them learn from you as well.
      Since it is a moderated list, it is free from "spam", unwarranted
      advertising, and other common annoyances.
      
      The support forum is accessible via a newsreader, a web interface, or
      as an email list.  There is no charge to join or participate.  To
      join, go to:
      
           http://jpsoft.media3.net/lyris.pl?join=jpsoft.support.
      
      Be sure to use your full real name when you join.  Choose the proper
      access method (in the "Status" field on the signup form).  To access
      the forum as a newsgroup (recommended) or via the web interface,
      choose "nomail".
      
      After joining via the web page you will receive a confirmation email
      from jpsoft.media3.net.  You must respond to this email to activate
      your membership.  Once membership is activated you will receive
      another email which welcomes you to the forum and explains our access
      rules and policies.
      
      For additional details on the support forum see
      http://www.jpsoft.com/forum.htm.
      
      
      *--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*
      
       >>> Tech Tips <<<
      
      ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      
      Using the New FTP Features
      
      
      4NT 4.0 and Take Command/32 3.0 include a range of features which
      allow you to manage files on FTP servers.  The primary FTP features
      are:
      
          * FTP support in file processing commands including COPY, DEL,
            DIR, FFIND, LIST, MOVE, MD, RD, REN, SELECT, and TYPE.
      
          * The new IFTP command, which lets you open an FTP site and leave
            it open for subsequent use by other commands.
      
          * FTP support in other file-related commands and features,
            including the CD command, filename completion, and file- and
            directory-oriented variables and variable functions.
      
      The simplest way to access a file on an FTP site is to use its name in
      a command, like this:
      
           copy "ftp://ftp.jpsoft.com/4dos/4dos700.exe" d:\jpsoft\
      
      This will perform an anonymous login to the FTP site, and copy the
      named file.  FTP file names must always be in quotes, and can include
      wildcards, for example:
      
           copy "ftp://ftp.jpsoft.com/4nt/*" d:\jpsoft\
      
      Note that we use forward slashes in the FTP URL passed to the command.
      This is the norm for FTP and is required in most cases; some servers
      may accept backslashes as well.
      
      Commands like those shown above will open and close the FTP server for
      every command.  If you plan to perform multiple commands on the same
      server it is much faster to open the connection to the server once,
      with IFTP, use it for multiple commands, then close it, for example:
      
           iftp "ftp://ftp.jpsoft.com/"
           copy "ftp:4dos/4dos700.exe" d:\jpsoft\
           copy "ftp:4nt/*" d:\jpsoft\
           iftp /c
      
      Note that once the site is opened with IFTP, the server name
      ("//ftp.jpsoft.com/") should be left out of the command as it is
      implied by the initial "ftp:".  Most FTP servers have a time limit on
      inactive connections, so if you open a connection with IFTP and then
      don't use it for a while, it may be closed by the server, and have to
      be reopened.
      
      You can also specify a user name and password in any command which
      uses a full FTP server name, for example:
      
           iftp "ftp://user:pass@ftp.something.com/"    or
           copy "ftp://user:pass@ftp.something.com/file1.txt" .\
      
      When you have opened a site with IFTP, you can change the current
      directory with CD.  The changes can be relative, or absolute (i.e.
      with a full path specified), for example:
      
           cd "ftp:data"
           cd "ftp:/main/data"
      
      Remember that the "root" directory for your FTP connection is not
      necessarily the root directory of the actual FTP server.  Instead, it
      is usually the "home" directory selected by the server's administrator
      for the user name (or anonymous login) you used to connect to the
      server.
      
      There are several small glitches you can run into when accessing FTP
      servers.  Many servers don't report properly to 4NT or Take Command/32
      whether a name you pass is actually a directory or a file.  For
      example, if you try this command to see the contents of the directory
      "/data":
      
           dir "ftp://jpsoft.com/data"
      
      what you are really asking for is a directory of all files in the
      directory, i.e.  "data/*".  If the server responds as if the name
      belonged to a file and not a directory, the results will be incorrect.
      You can usually work around this by explicitly specifying what you
      want, for example:
      
           dir "ftp://jpsoft.com/data/*"
      
      You may also find that when you send files to an FTP server
      (especially a Unix server) you want them to be copied with lower case
      names, but the names on your local system are in upper case.  You can
      address this with the FOR command and the %@LOWER variable function.
      For example, this command may create files on the server in upper
      case:
      
           copy *.html "ftp:/htdocs/"
      
      But this one will force the names to lower case:
      
           for %file in (*.html) copy %file "ftp:/htdocs/%@lower[%file]"
      
      You can also create an alias like the following to make this easier.
      This alias assumes an FTP connection was already opened with IFTP.
      Remember that this is an example only, you may need to adjust it to
      meet your needs and your server's behavior:
      
           alias fcopy `for %f in (%1) copy %f "ftp:%2/%@lower[%file]"`
           fcopy *.html /htdocs
      
      4NT and Take Command use standard FTP commands to retrieve information
      about files and directories and manipulate those files and directories
      on FTP servers, and rely on the server's compliance with Internet FTP
      standards.  If your server is not fully compliant, or does not operate
      in the manner that 4NT and Take Command expect, the results may not be
      what you intend.  For example, FTP servers are supposed to be case-
      insensitive; if the server you are connecting to is not, you may have
      to use the stored case of file and directory names when you use FTP
      commands.  We urge you to test each server you use with nondestructive
      commands like DIR before you try to copy or delete files, create or
      remove directories, etc.
      
      Before you can use the built-in FTP support or the IFTP command, you
      must establish the necessary connection to the Internet.  For example,
      if you use Windows Dial-Up Networking to connect to the Internet, you
      must start your dial up connection first.
      
      
      ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      
      File Processing with @file Lists
      
      
      All of our new releases have a feature in many file processing
      commands that used to be available just in the FOR command:  "@file"
      lists that let you specify the names of files to be processed in a
      text file.  You may be familiar with similar features in other
      applications, such as PKZIP.  We call these "@file lists" because the
      "@" sign is used in the command, preceding the list filename.
      
      An @file list is simply a standard ASCII file containing the names of
      the files to process, one per line.  This allows you to create a list
      of files for processing using output from DIR /B, DIR /F, or FFIND, a
      text editor, or any other method that produces a file in the proper
      format.  Paths may be included in the file; see below for details.
      
      @File lists are supported by the ATTRIB, COPY, DEL / ERASE, DESCRIBE,
      EXCEPT, LIST, MOVE , RD / RMDIR, REN / RENAME, TOUCH, and TYPE
      commands.
      
      To use an @file list, precede its name with an "@" sign in the
      command.  For example, to copy all of the files listed in MYLIST.TXT
      to D:\SAVE\:
      
           [c:\] copy @mylist.txt d:\save\
      
      If you use a drive and/or path specification the "@" sign can appear
      before the path or before the file name.  For example, these are
      equivalent:
      
           [c:\] copy @e:\lists\mylist.txt d:\save\
           [c:\] copy e:\lists\@mylist.txt d:\save\
      
      One of the most common uses for @file lists is to use FFIND's ability
      to search for text in files, then perform another command on all the
      files with matching text.  For example, this command finds all .TXT
      files which contain the word "mango".  The /S tells FFIND to search
      the current directory and all of its subdirectories, and /B makes the
      output a list of names only (without the actual lines which matched):
      
           ffind /b /s /t"mango" *.txt
      
      If you saved the output of this command in a file you could use it as
      input to another command, for example:
      
           ffind /b /s /t"mango" *.txt > manglist.txt
           copy @manglist.txt d:\save\
      
      Similarly, DIR output can be used to process a group of files with
      finer control than might otherwise be possible.  For example, this
      command will TYPE all of the matching files:
      
           type rec*.txt
      
      Output from this command will be in the order the files are stored in
      the directory.  To control the order, use DIR to generate a list in
      the desired order, then use an @file list to TYPE the files.  For
      example, to process the files in reverse date order:
      
           dir /b /o:-d rec*.txt > reclist.txt
           type @reclist.txt
      
      The entries in @file lists may contain no path, a relative path, or an
      absolute path, for example:
      
           file1
           mydir\file1
           d:\data\mydir\file1
      
      If a filename has no path the command processor will look for the file
      in the directory that is current when the operation takes place.
      Similarly, if a relative path is used it will be interpreted as
      relative to the directory that is current when the operation takes
      place.
      
      @file lists should not be used with the subdirectory switches in file
      processing commands (COPY /S, DEL /S, etc.).  To process files listed
      in a single @file list across multiple subdirectories use FOR's
      ability to read the list and handle each file name individually, for
      example:
      
           for %file in (@flist) copy /s %file d:\target\
      
      For additional information on @file lists see the corresponding
      section under File Selection in the online help.
      
      
      *--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*
      
      Contacting JP Software
      
      Use our web site at http://www.jpsoft.com/ as a simple, centralized
      contact point for all departments, and for online ordering and file
      downloads.
      
      We answer most sales and customer service inquiries and return most
      technical support calls within 24 hours (assuming we can reach you!).
      Orders are normally processed and shipped in 2 - 3 business days;
      however there may be significant order processing delays during peak
      periods after a new version is released.
      
           Address:
               JP Software Inc.
               P.O. Box 1470
               East Arlington, MA 02474
               USA
      
           Main number:  (781) 646-3975
           Fax: (781) 646-0904
           Order Line:  (800) 368-8777 (US / Canada, orders only)
      
           Online:
               Web site:  http://www.jpsoft.com/
               FTP site:  ftp.jpsoft.com
               Sales / Customer Service:  sales@jpsoft.com
      
           Technical Support:
               Standard (no-charge) support:  Available via our online
               support forum, accessible from the support area of our web
               site; see Support Forum article above for details.  Paid
               support options are also available; see our web site for
               details.
      
      Our normal office hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, eastern US time.
      
      
      ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      
      Newsletter Address Correction, List Removal, and Privacy Information
      
      
      We send this newsletter periodically to all registered JP Software
      customers using the email address you gave us when you placed an
      order.
      
      To correct your email address, or if you have any other questions
      about our mailing list not covered here, send email to
      sales@jpsoft.com.
      
      If you don't want to receive additional issues of this newsletter,
      just send a note to nlremove@jpsoft.com, and we will remove your name
      from our newsletter email list prior to sending out the next issue.
      
      We do not send this newsletter to anyone who has not given us their
      address voluntarily as part of a purchase or other customer
      transaction with JP Software.  We also will NOT give, sell, or
      otherwise distribute your email address to any other company without
      your permission.
      
      
      ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      
      Copyrights, Trademarks, and Fine Print
      
      
      Copyright (c) 2001, JP Software Inc. All Rights Reserved.  4DOS (r)
      and Take Command (r) are registered trademarks of JP Software Inc.
      4DOS (r), 4OS2, and 4NT are JP Software Inc.'s trademarks for its
      family of character-mode command processors.  "The Prompt Solution",
      JP Software, jpsoft.com, and all JP Software designs and logos are
      also trademarks of JP Software Inc. Other product and company names
      are trademarks of their respective owners.  Published June 2001 by JP
      Software Inc., P.O. Box 1470, E. Arlington, MA 02474, USA.
      
      

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