RESEARCH MACHINES Nimbus Network 3 User manual

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INIMBUS
NETV/ORK 3
USERS GUIDE
ItN
RESEARCH MACHINES

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NETWORK3
USERS GUIDE
PN24968

RM Nimbus
Network 3 Users Guide
PN 24968
CopyrightO 1989 Research Machines Limited.
All rights reserved. Although customers may make copies of this manual for their
own use, you, as a customer, may make no other form of copy of any part of it
without our written permission.
MS-DOS, Word, Windows and Multiplan are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation.
Because our policy is to improve our products and services continually, we may
make changes without notice. We have tried to keep the information in this
manual completely accurate, but we cannot be held responsible for the
consequences of any errors or omissions.
Printed by The Hazell Press, Wembley.
RM TechnicalSupport: Tel. Oxford [phone].
Research Machines Limited, Mill Street, Oxford OX2 OBW.
Tel: Oxford [phone].

Contents
Contents
About This Manual
Topics Covered
Reader
How to Use the Manual
Related Publications
Chapter 1
Disks, Drives, Files and Directories
Disks
Drives and Drivenames
Files and Filenames
Choosing a f ilename
Wildcards
Directories
Pathnames
Using Floppy Disks
Formatting f loppy disks
Saving work onto floppy disks
Changing the default drive
Backing up your files
Write protecting your disks
RAM Disk
Using a Station as a Standalone Computer
Chapter 2
Using Windows
Simple Windows
Starting Windows
Using a mouse
How to run an application from Windows
How to make selections
With a mouse
With the keyboard
Using dialogue boxes
Full screen applications
Moving between one window and another
Arranging the screen
Closing an application
Managing your files with Windows
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Network 3 Users Guide
More about Windows
Ending a Windows session
With a mouse
With the keyboard
Windows for Specialised Users
Configuring stations
Configuring Windows
Display options for X Series, PC-286 and PC-386 stations
Special display options
RM 19" Monochrome display option
lncreasing the level of performance for 256 Colour Driver and
RM 19" Monochrome display options
Running standard applications from Windows
X Series, PC-286 and PC-386 stations
PC-186 stations
PIF files
Additional notes
The Format command
Terminate and Stay Resident programs
Fonts and printers
Running out of memory
For more information
Chapter 3
Using the MS-DOS Operating System
Running a Program from MS-DOS 27
Mode 28
MS-DOS Commands 28
Printing Files on the Network 30
MS-DOS Commands which need Special Care on the Network 3Cl
Transferring Files Between Network Stations 31
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About This Manual
About This Manual
This manualtells you how to use a station on an RM Network 3.
Topics Covered
This manual covers three main topics:
o the filing system
. using Windows 2.1 on your station
o using MS-DOS on your station
It also covers all possible types of stations as follows:
o RM Nimbus PC-186
o RM Nimbus PC-2B6
o RM Nimbus PC-386
o RM Nimbus X Series
Reader
This manual is intended for network users who have access to either
Windows 2.1 or MS-DOS. You should have already read the Network 3
Beginners Guide which contains in{ormation about logging onto the
network, and the RM menus.
Network managers will also find this manual useful when advising
network users.
How to Use the Manual
Read the manual sequentially f rom cover to cover. After your f irst
reading, you will probably need to refer to sections occasionally as your
work requires.

Network 3 Users Guide
Related Publications
You may find the following publications usefulwhen reading this manual:
o Network 3 Beginners Guide
o Network 3 Managers Handbook
o Microsoft Windows User Guide
o Microsoft MS-DOS 4 Reference Guide for X Series, PC-286 and
PC-386 stations
o Microsoft MS-DOS 3.1 Reference Guide for PC-186 stations
You may also find the various computer handbooks and guides useful.

Disks, Drives, Files and Directories
Chapter 1
Disks, Drives, Files and Directories
This chapter is in two parts. First, it explains terms such as file and
directory. Then it describes how to use floppy disks on your station.
If you are already an experienced computer user you can skip much of
this chapter, but do take note of the drivenames used on the network.
Disks
Disks are used to store programs and data which are encoded on the
magnetic surface of the disk.
Winchester disks (also known as hard or fixed disks) hold very large
amounts of information. The network server has a winchester dlsk
inside it or attached to it; this stores the programs used on the network,
and can store your work.
Floppy disks (or diskettes) also store programs or work, but each one
holds much less information than a winchester disk. A f loppy disk is
inserted into a floppy disk drive when it is needed. Stations can have no
lloppy disk drive, or one or more.
Drives and Drivenames
A drivename usually refers to a particular f loppy disk drive (and
sometimes to the disk in it) or to a part of the server's winchester disk.
On a network, drive N is your personal area of the server's winchester
disk. The MS-DOS prompt N:b or the highlighted N drive symbol in
Windows indicate that you are logged onto this drive - so any work you
do is stored there unless you give other instructions. Drives K, L, and M
can also be made available by your network manager for your personal
f iles.

Network 3 Users Guide
There are other areas of the server's winchester disk (drives P and Q
and possibly drives R and S)which hold programs and other
information. These are the public drives. You do not need to know very
much about these, as the network is set up so that you automatically
have access to programs you need.
Never log onto the public drives to run programs, or try to save work on them.
lf your station has its own "local" disk drives, they have their own
drivenames. The first (or only) floppy disk drive on a station has the
drivename A. lf you have a localwinchester disk, it has the drivename C.
Part of your station's internal memory can be set up as though it were a
disk drive, with its own drivename. Ask your network manager about this.
ln MS-DOS, you log onto a different drive by typing its letter followed by
a colon, and then press <ENTER> - for example:
A: <ENTER>
ln Windows, you click on the drive symbol or press <CTRb with the
new drive letter - for example, <CTRUA>.
The drive you log onto becomes the default drive - the one used for
storing and loading work unless you provide alternative instructions.
Files and Filenames
The work done and the programs used on the network are stored in
'Yiles" on disk.
Applications create files for your work when you enter commands, such
as SAVE. You must provide a filename so that the file can be found
easily.
Choosing a filename
A filename consists of a main part and an extension. For example, the
filename LETTER.DOC has the main part LETTER and the extension
.DOC.

Oisks, Drives, Fi[es and Directories
The main part of a filename consists of up to eight characters - you can
use letters and numbers and some punctuation marks. lt is helpiul if the
name indicates what information the file contains. For example,
ANN_MEMO or FEBFIGS or CLASS4.
It doesn't matter if you type the name in lower case letters or in capitals,
as lower case characters are automatically converted to capitals. li must
not include spaces.
Filenames cannot be AUX, PBN, COMA, COMB, LPT1, LPT2, LpT3, CON, NUL,
clocK$, coMl or coM2 as MS-Dos reserves these lor its own use. This rure
applies whalever the exlension, For example, you cannol use AUX.TXT.
The extension is usually chosen for you by applications, and consists of
up to three letters which follow a f ull stop. lt describes the type of f ile so
that you or the computer can recognize it and treat it in an appropriate
way; for example, files with names ending .EXE, .COM or .BAT contain
programs which the computer can "run" or "execute". (Note that in
directory listings, the extensions are shown in a separate column
without fullstops.)
Wildcards
Wildcards are the characters * or ? in a filename or extension. ?
represents any single character within a name, and ' represents any
number of characters - usually the whole main part or extension of a
filename.
-.* represents all the files in a directory: it is useful for copying files, but be careful
with it when you are deleting lhem!
Directories
Files on disks are stored in groups known as directories.
Each disk containing files has at least one directory, called the root
directory - its symbol is \. The root directory may contain subdirectories,
and these can contain furlher suMirectories, and so on. Below is a
diagram of one simple directory structure.

Network 3 Users Guide
MEMOS
ACCTS
CLASSl
CLAS52
Note that the terms "directory" and 'subdirectory" are often used
interchangeably.
The current directory of the current disk is the one you are logged onto -
the one your station normally stores work on, and the one it looks for
files on first.
You may share drive N: with other network users. ln this case you have
your own suMirectory into which you are automatically logged.
Pathnames
When using subdirectories, you use a pathname to give the address of
the subdirectory which contains the file you want. For example, the
address of the CUBE.BAS file may be:
A : \ SUBD IR1 \PROGRAMS \CUBE . BAS
This means that the file is in the PROGRAMS subdireclory of the
SUBS\RIsshd\sec\s+1s(\\lesss\$\dsec\ss1s(\hed\sk\srds\s+4.
Ask your network manager if you need more details.
Using Floppy Disks
lf your statiort has its own floppy disk drive(s) built in, your work can be
stored on floppy disks. You can also load programs from floppy disks.
Handle floppy disks with care. Always keep them in their paper or plastic
@vers and in boxes when they are not in use. Do not store them near
metallic objects or electrical equipment which may generate a magnetic
field (for example, your station monitor).
Always label disks so that you can see what files they contain.
ANN
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STEVE
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Disks, Drives, Files and Directories
lnsert a floppy disk into a floppy disk drive like this:
Make sure the label faces upwards. lnsert a 3.5" disk with the metal
slide edge first.
The disk drives on your station are known as "local" drives. You need to
know the drivename of each local disk drive so that you can send files
to it and load files from it.
Your f irst local f loppy disk drive is given the drive letter A. The names for
your other local drives are shown on the screen which appears before
the sign-on screen when you switch on or reset your station.
Formatting floppy disks
New floppy disks need to be prepared before they can store files. This is
known as "formatting" the disk. Old disks can be formatted, but be
careful as formatting removes any information which is currently stored
on a disk.
To format a disk:
lnseft a blank, high-density disk in drive A. Then:
o lf you are working from Windows, use the "Format Data Disk"
command from the Special menu.
o lf you are working from MS-DOS, type:
FORMAT A:<ENTER>
Then press <ENTER> again to confirm the disk is in place.

Network 3 Users Guide
lf the disk you want to format is a low-density disk, the command is:
FORMAT A: /4
lnformation about the formatting process appears on the screen as
formatting takes place.
Saving work onto floppy disks
It is a good idea to save your work files directly onto floppy disks since
then the space on the server's winchester disk does not become full too
quickly. Do this by logging on to drive A (or the letter for the drive holding
the disk you want to use).
o ln the Windows MS-DOS Executive, select A by clicking on the
symbol or pressing <CTRUA>.
o ln MS-DOS, before starting an application, type:
A: <ENTER>
o ln an application, type A: before the name of the file to be saved.
(Also, type A: before the name of a file saved on drive A which you
want to load.)
Always keep at least two copies of important liles. See "Backing up your liles" below.
Changing the default drive
The drive which your station normally uses to store files (the "default"
drive) is drive N. To change this to drive A, type:
SETDD A: <ENTER>
This ensures that you always return to drive A after running an
application, and that files are stored on A unless you give a different
instruction. You can return the default to drive N by typing:
SETDD N: <ENTER>
or alternatively by resetting your station by typing <CTRUALT/DEL>
(though you will need to log on again).

Disks, Drives, Files and Directories
Backing up your files
lf possible, make backup copies of all your important files on f loppy
disks in case the originalfiles are lost or damaged.
lf you need to format a new floppy disk see the instructions above.
To copy a file from drive N to a disk in drive A, make sure you are
logged onto drive N, put a formatted disk into drive A, and then carry out
the following instructions.
ln the Windows MS-DOS Executive:
o Highlight the filename by clicking on it or using the direction (arrow)
keys.
o Select the Copy command from the File menu. A "dialogue box" like
this appears:
Check that the filename you want is in the "Copy" box; if it is not, type
in the correct name.
Move the cursor to the "To" box by clicking in it or using the Tab key,
and type A:
Click on OK or press <ENTER>.
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Network 3 Users Guide
ln MS-DOS:
Type COPY followed by the filename of the file you want to copy and
then the drive you want to copy it to. For example:
COPY FISH.PTC A:<ENTER>
To copy a file from one disk to another, if you have two floppy disk
drives, insert the disk with the file into drive A and the formatted disk you
want to copy to into drive B, log onto drive A and then give the
instruction (for example) :
COPY FISH.PIC B:
Copying a file from one disk to another if you have only one floppy disk
drive is exactly the same except that you need to swap disks when you
are asked to do so. The drive will be both A and B.
Write protecting your disks
You can prevent liles on a f loppy disk from being changed or deleted by
write protecting the disk.
To do this:
o lf you have 5.25" disks, cover the notch on the edge of the disk with a
special sticker.
r lf you have 3.5" disks, move the plastic slide in one corner of the
back of the disk to revealthe hole underneath.
RAM DisK
Some of your station's internal memory can be set up as if it were a disk
drive. This is called a silicon disk or a RAM disk. lt is given its own drive
name. Ask your manager for details.
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Disks, Drives, Files and Directories
I
Using a Station as a Standalone Computer
To use your Nimbus as a standalone computer, you can start it up from
an MS-DOS system disk. First, your Nimbus must be set to look for the
operating system on your disk drive rather than the network.
lf you intend using your Nimbus for a long period of time in standalone
mode and are going to start it up many times during that period, then it
is worth running XCONFIG and changing "Boot device" to First floppy.
However, if you just want to start it up once in standalone mode you can
disconnect the network cable from the back of your computer. lnsert the
system disk in the drive and on stafi up your Nimbus attempts to find an
operating system on the network but evetually it loads it from the disk
drive.
Note: Disconnect the whole of the T-piece from the connector on the
computer but keep the network cable intact.
ln either of the above cases, put the system disk in the drive and switch
on your Nimbus or restart it with <CTRUALT/DEb.
Refer to the handbook supplied with your station for f ull instructions on
using a standalone Nimbus.
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Using Windows
Chapler 2
Using Windows
Windows 2.1 is a set of programs which is designed to make
complicated work easy. lt takes some time to learn to use Windows, but
once you are used to the basic techniques, many complex tasks can be
performed quickly and easily.
This guide can give you only a brief introduction to Windows. To find out more about
it, ask your network manager for help - or just experiment!
This chapter is divided into two main sections:
o Simple Windows. This is an introduction to using Windows on your
station. ln most cases, this section contains all you need to know.
o Windows for specialised users. This contains more advanced
information for users who want to customise their copy of Windows,
or who want to run non-Windows applications from Windows.
Simple Windows
With Windows, several different applications can be displayed at the
same time. Each application is either displayed in its own "window" or
represented as an "i@n" on the screen. You can move between tasks
as required.
fll! Ealt SG.rct
{.
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Network 3 Users Guide
An icon is a symbolwhich tells you that an application is loaded but not
displayed on the screen at present.
Starting Windows
ln some cases Windows will be loaded automatically when you log in, or
when you select an option from a menu. lf you have access to MS-DOS,
you can start Windows from the MS-DOS prompt by typing:
WIN<ENTER>
To start the 256 colour version of Windows (not available for PC-186
and certain X Series stations), type:
WIN25 6<ENTER>
Using a mouse
lf a mouse is attached to your station and set up for use, it can be used
to select options from Windows and from many applications. Some
applications also allow you to "draw" with a mouse.
To use the mouse, place the palm of your hand over it, with the cable
coming out away from you. Your index finger should be poised over the
left hand button (note that the right-hand button has no effect in
Windows). When you move the mouse over a flat surface, a pointer on
the screen moves.
lf you run off the edge of your flat surface, pick up the mouse and put it
down where there is more room. The pointer does not move when you
pick up the mouse.
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Using Windows
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Pressing a mouse button sends an instruction to the program;for
example, in windows you can "click'the left button to select a menu
when the pointer is pointing to the menu name.
To click, quickly press and release the left button.
To double-clict, press and release lhe button twice in quick succession. you may
have to experimenl lo do this at the right speed.
To d[ag, press the button and hold it down; move the mouse until the pointer is in
position; release the button.
To shitt-click, hold down one of the shift keys on the keyboard while you press and
release lhe mouse button.
How to run an application from Windows
Your network manager can arrange for you to run most applications
from windows. However, some applications need to be run directly from
MS-Dos;to use these, close windows and use the instructions in
chapter 3. You can find more details in the Windows for specialised user
section in this chapter.
To run a program from windows, first select the File menu from the
MS-Dos Executive. Then select the command "Run", and finally enter
the name of the application in a dialogue box. Details are given 'below.
Note to experienced Windows users: when you are working on a nelwork station,
never run a program by double-clicking on it unless lhe program is on drive N or on
a local disk at your station.
This is the MS-DOS Executive:
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Network 3 Users Guide
How to make selections
With a mouse
!f you have not used a mouse before, see'Using a Mouse" earlier in
this chapter. Using Windows is especially easy with a mouse.
To select an item on the screen, move the pointer to it and then click the
active button (usually the one on the left).
To select the File menu, point to the word 'File'on the menu bar and
click the button. The commands in the File menu are displayed. To
select the command 'Run", point to it and click the button. Now see
"Using dialogue boxes' below.
With the keyboard
lf you do not have a mouse, selections are made by pressing a
combination or a sequence of keys.
To select a menu, hold down the Alt key, then press the letter underlined
in the menu name. For example, press <ALT> and then <F> to see the
File menu.
'lb select a command from a menu displayed on the screen, press the
underlined letter in the command. Press <R> to select Run.
A dialogue box appears on the screen ready for you to enter information.
Using dialogue boxes
Dialogue boxes provide the information Windows needs before it can
carry out a command. You may need to type a name or other details, or
to select one or more options by clicking on an option or moving to it
with <TAB> or a direction key and then pressing the spacebar.
To confirm the information in a dialogue box, click on OK or press
<ENTER>. Cancel a dialogue box by clicking on Cancelor pressing
<ESC>.
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