STACK - Command Line Editor/Enhancer, Version 1.0  - by Shane Bergl
=================================================

WHAT IS IT ?
------------

STACK is a program designed to help you at the DOS prompt. It installs
in memory as a TSR program, allowing you to perform the following 
functions:

1. Edit commands you type on the command line.
2. Recall previous commands with the touch of a cursor key.
3. Select from a list of past commands from a window.
4. Enter commonly used commands with a single function key.
5. Assign your own commands to a function key.
6. Customize the function key commands and save them permanently.

Once you start using STACK, you'll wonder how you ever got along 
without it.

INSTALLING STACK
----------------

Install stack by simply copying STACK.COM to your DOS boot disk or to
your hard disk.  On a hard disk, copy the program to the root
directory, or to a directory included in the PATH statement in your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

To use the program, simply enter the command: STACK <Enter> at the DOS
prompt.  You can add this command to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file to 
automatically load STACK when you boot up.

COMPATIBILITY WITH OTHER UTILITIES
----------------------------------

STACK uses some DOS interrupts and can clash with other
memory-resident utilities, especially keyboard enhancers such as
SMARTKEY. If you load it before such utilities, there shouldn't be any
problem.


COPYRIGHT, ETC
--------------

While I claim ownership of the code, there are no restrictions on who
can use STACK or under what conditions. Go for it.


COMMANDS
--------

Note: STACK is only active at the DOS prompt.

Windows  - Some notes about how windows are controlled.
         . When the window is opened and the command stack is
           showing, the current command is highlighted.
         . STACK only opens a window if PGUP or PGDN is pressed.
           This saves having windows flashing around the screen
           when you know where the command you want is.
         . If a window is displayed (using PGUP or PGDN) and the
           other key is pressed (PGDN or PGUP respectively) then
           the window content is swapped.
         . Although up to 80 characters of commands are stored, to
           save space on the screen, only the first 32 characters
           of commands are displayed in the window.

Cursor Pad Keys

Up       - Select the preceding command and display it at the
           DOS prompt. If the window is open, select the correct
           command list to display and highlight the command.
           Press <Enter> to carry out the highlighted command.

Down     - Select the next command and display it at the DOS
           prompt. If the window is open, select the correct
           command list to display and highlight the command.

PGUP     - Open a window and display the command stack.

PGDN     - Open a window and display the commands for the
           function keys. Several useful commands are
           pre-programmed, but can be changed to suit
           your needs. To execute the command, press the
           appropriate function key.

HOME     - Move the cursor to the left of the command line.

END      - Move the cursor to the right of the command line.

DEL      - Delete the character at the cursor.

INS      - Toggle insert mode. Insert on is indicated by a block-
           shaped cursor

Backspace- Delete the character to the left of the cursor

ESC      - Clear the command line and close the window.

TAB      - Delete the currently highlighted command from the stack.

Fn       - Issue the command associated with that function key.

Shift-Fn   You can't issue the command associated with a function
           key using the highlight bar - you must press the
           function key. The function keys that can be programmed
           in this way are F1 to F10 and Shift-F1 to Shift-F5.

Ctrl-Fn  - Copy the current command to this function key. Ctrl-F1
           to Ctrl-F10 copy to the corresponding function key,
           Alt-F1 to Alt-F5 copy to Shift-F1 to Shift-F5
           respectively. If STACK is currently in insert mode (i.e.,
           you pressed INS and the block cursor is showing), then NO
           carriage return is added to the end. This means that when
           you use that function key you can add some more to the end
           before pressing Return/Enter. If insert mode is off, then
           a carriage return is added to the end and the command will
           be executed as soon as you press the function key.

Ctrl-END - Modify STACK.COM by writing the current (i.e. in-memory)
           definitions of the function keys to STACK.COM. The memory
           copy of STACK expects STACK.COM to be located in the
           current drive and directory. If it isn't, you'll get a
           cryptic error message on the command line (it isn't placed
           in the DOS buffer so just type over the error message).


MODIFICATIONS
-------------

For those who are programmers, the following information is provided
to help you modify the colours using DEBUG, PC Tools, etc. (Addresses
are offset from start of file - add 100h if using DEBUG).

Address
06Ch     - This byte controls the main window colours. The
           first 4 bits are the background colour, the next 4
           are the text colour

06Dh     - As above, but controls the colours for the highlight
           bar



CONTACTING THE AUTHOR
---------------------

If you discover bugs in STACK or would like to discuss some aspects of
it, I can be contacted at home on (062) 369 216 or by writing to PO
Box 78, Dickson, Australian Capital Territory, 2602