Ver. 2.0
9 NOV 1987
				NEWBATCH.DOC
				============


     This program allows the creation of SUBMIT-like batch COMmand programs,
and is a modest revision of a public domain program, called MAKBATCH, (c) 1985
by Castle Oaks Computer Services.  I really liked that program and used it a
lot, but I never cared for the mode of text entry it used (it allowed no line
editing whatever), and it had several minor bugs that needed fixing.  I
finally took the time to learn enough Assembly language in order to revise it
more to my liking, and this is the result.

     Essentially, NEWBATCH replaces the need for SUBMIT.COM and its dependent
SUB batch processing files.  It creates short COM programs which contain the
command lines of your choosing, and also contain the instructions necessary to
load these commands into a temporary file ($$$.SUB).  These SUB files are
passed to CP/M, which then carries out the commands one by one.  Of course,
all this complicated action is done in the background.	The user of NEWBATCH
is presented with a very simple interface.

     For illustration purposes, let us say that we want to create a SUBMIT-
type batch program to automate our WordStar sessions.  We have decided to name
this program WSTART.COM.

     First, we activate NEWBATCH by calling up its name, including the name of
the batch program to be created, like this:

		    NEWBATCH WSTART.COM

     This tells NEWBATCH that you wish to create a batch command program,
called WSTART.COM.  Let us say that we want WSTART.COM to contain the
following commands relating to WordStar:

		    QK L WSTAR.KEY
		    B:
		    A:WS
		    ERA *.BAK
		    A:
		    QK R
		    <CR>       <=== this carriage return ends input

     Instead of creating a SUBMIT text file containing these lines , we would
enter them exactly as above once we're in NEWBATCH.  A carriage return ends
each line, with a final carriage return to end input and write the new batch
program, (in this case WSTART.COM) to disk.

     What the commands will accomplish is to load a program called QK
(QwikKey), which puts some WordStar key macro definitions in a safe place in
high memory, then moves to the 'B' drive.  From the 'B' drive WordStar is
loaded, and since 'B' is now the default drive, its directory is displayed.

     Upon exiting from WordStar the last three commands are brought into
action.  First, all the BAK files on 'B' are erased.  Then there is a return
to drive 'A' and the final command, which removes the key macro definitions
from high memory.

     While you are entering your command lines, you have all of the CP/M line
editing functions available to you, such as destructive backspace and ^X.
This is the single biggest improvement over MAKBATCH.  Of course, once you end
a line with a carriage return, you cannot go back and edit it.	In this case,
just exit NEWBATCH (with carriage returns) and start over again.

     That's all there is to it.  When you type WSTART, all of the above
commands will be activated in sequence, without the need for SUBMIT or SUB
files.

     Version 2 of NEWBATCH is identical to the original version of NEWBATCH,
except that I have added a new utility to use with NEWBATCH files.  At some
future time you may want to revise your batch programs to add or eliminate
some of the commands.  Of course, all you have to do is create a new batch
program, right?  But just what are the CURRENT batch commands in the batch
file?  It is very easy to forget just what commands you put in the batch
program six months ago, unless you write it down somewhere.

    That is where NBSEE.COM comes in.  All you have to do to peek into a batch
program, like WSTART.COM, for example, is to type 'NBSEE WSTART.COM'.  What
you will see on the screen, provided that WSTART is on the disk you select, is
a listing of the current commands contained in WSTART.COM.  Armed with this
information, you should have no trouble creating a new batch program, which
keeps the desired features of the original, but incorporates new elements.
Now you won't have to re-invent the wheel, when you just want to put on some
new wheel covers.

     I often use NEWBATCH to create COM startup programs for use with MBASIC
to save a few keystrokes, such as:

	  NEWBATCH DESK.COM

     DESK.COM contains the following command:

	  MBASIC DESKMASTR

     With this procedure I never have to type MBASIC again!


     To my mind some of the biggest gains in ease of computer use are attained
through batch processing and keyboard macro programs.  NEWBATCH really helps
me get more out of my computer.  I hope that it may be of help to you, too.

Nov 9, 1987	Ernest Helliwell    San Francisco, CA
		With thanks to Castle Oaks Computer Services