Introduction - Tandy 1200 HD User Manual

2.1 INTRODUCTION
The operation of your computer may be very simple, or it may be
rather sophisticated and complex
-
it all depends on the task and
the applications program. However, a vast majority of applications
programs are straightforward and easy to use. There is no need for
you to learn computer programming, but you will need to be able to
use the DOS commands that tell the computer how to manage your
files. (Files are the programs and data stored on disks.)
DOS stands for Disk Operating System. It is simply a set of programs
(recorded on a magnetic disk) that enable you to manage your com-
puter files and control the various components of your computer
system.
With DOS programs, you will be able to create files, name them,
store them
. . .
then retrieve them back from storage and manipulate
or alter them. But what does that mean? Let's look at an example.
With a certain applications program, you might create an address list
of friends or clients with whom you wish to keep in touch. You might
then let your computer do the tedious task of putting the list in
alphabetical order. You would then label this alphabetized list with
a name such as "FRIENDS" or "CLIENTS" and then store the list
on a diskette. A list of this sort is called a "data file."
Two weeks later (or a year, for that matter), you could retrieve this
list (data file) from the diskette. You could add some new names to
the list and remove a few others
.
. .
then store the updated list back
on the diskette.
The purpose of DOS is to make it easy for you to manage and use
the files that you save on diskette or fixed disk.
In this chapter, you will learn how to issue commands that control
the operation of DOS. First, however, you will learn a little bit about
the way your computer operates. After you have done that, you will
be formally introduced to the keyboard, and then you will learn a
few simple rules and guidelines for labeling your files.
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