How to use the Web browser under DOS _dos/bat

DOS is a very powerful operating system, so its function is also more comprehensive. In recent years, with the development of network, network software is very important. Therefore, the DOS in recent years also appeared a lot of corresponding software, of which the most important is the Web browser. These DOS Web browsers can be divided into graphic browser and text browser two main categories. Arachne is one of the most powerful in the former, and most famous. The latter has lynx,minuet, and so on, the following describes their use.

The latest version of Arachne is 1.70, which can be downloaded in "DOS software." It has many network functions, in addition to the usual ftp,http functions, but also support POP3/SMTP send and receive mail, install a variety of plug-ins and other functions. It can also be used as an offline browser, like a graphical file manager that can be used to run programs (including looking at pictures, listening to music, etc.) and file operations. It supports a variety of Internet access methods, such as dial-up Internet, network card Internet access (including CABLE,ADSL, etc.) it is supported. However, to achieve access to the Internet, not as long as the hardware is available, in addition to the hardware modem, to implement the use of other devices on the Internet must install its driver, otherwise can not be used. For a specific method, see the "DOS Networking Approach" in "DOS use".

The following is the introduction of the Arachne settings and use methods. Download its size of less than 1M installer after ARCHN170.EXE, you can run directly in DOS. When you enter the path you want to install, it is automatically decompressed without manual action. After the decompression, it will be prompted to select the video card you use, the general choice of VGA or VESA can be. Once it starts running, it appears with the Setup wizard, such as the computer type, which automatically chooses, just press Next (next). Soon after the internet to set up the menu (file://setup.htm), which has three options, the left of that item (PPP Wizard) is a modem dial-up Internet access, the middle of that (Packet Wizard) is the network card to achieve CABLE,ADSL and so on the Internet, The one on the right (Manual Setup) uses manual settings. In general, you can choose the left or the middle item according to your Internet situation. Arachne settings are simple, you can follow its Setup wizard, and you can always turn back. For example, after the modem is detected, it prompts you to enter the phone number, username and password to dial, and then to the Dial screen, select "Dial" to dial automatically. And after the detection of the network card can choose "Bootp/dhcp" or set up TCP/IP protocol, if you think it has been set up, you can directly select the former, it will automatically initialize BOOTP/DHCP, generally as long as the hardware is well connected will not be a problem. Of course, you can also manually set up the TCP/IP protocol, sometimes to achieve better results.

Arachne has a lot of features, certainly not just the network settings. You can also set its screen display effect, install Plug-ins to complete more features, and so on. Aren't there many icons above the screen? For example, "Desktop" is the meaning of the desktop, where there are many features, such as browsing your computer, using applications, and setting personal options. You can set Arachne display colors, various effects, home pages, and much more in the options. There are many icons at the top of the screen, such as viewing history and email. Arachne also has a Full-screen help feature that you can press F1 at any time to get very detailed help. In addition to the F1 key, there are many other function keys, such as F3 key in the Address bar to enter the URL, F4 edit the document, F5 key can be selected in a variety of display interface, F6 key to view the source code of the page, the F7 key is to find the function, F9 key redraw screen, F10 key back to the desktop, ESC key to interrupt page entry or exit arachne,ctrl+ the left arrow header is back to the previous page, CTRL + Right key is forward to the next page, * Key switch full screen (like IE in the F11 key), others see F1 help in the "Function key list." In addition to the function key, there are many shortcuts, such as alt+d immediately dial, alt+e Shell to Dos, press Exit to return, alt+q into the shortcut Notepad, alt+x exit Arachne,alt+f1 go to the home page, ctrl+l Find Next, CTRL + P Print screen and so on. If you use it frequently, you will find it very simple as you are proficient in your operation.

Although the function of Arachne is very powerful, but it has a big weakness for the people, that is not support Chinese (that is, Chinese can only be displayed as garbled). Although it supports many languages, but mainly European languages, there is no Chinese-Japanese-Korean (CJK) language. In order to view Chinese, the graphics browser is obviously not appropriate (unless it has a Chinese version), can only use the text browser, in the Chinese DOS system, such as lynx. From the interface, lynx of course far less than Arachne, but it is because of the text, so fast, and can view the Chinese page, you can enter Chinese characters. The way to view or enter Chinese Web page is very simple, start the Chinese character system (such as CCDOS97, Ucdos, etc., recommend using CCDOS97 to achieve the best results) and then run Lynx. However, if this simple operation to see Chinese web page when some Chinese characters are still some garbled, this is because the Lynx default character set to the western character set, you need to change its default settings to completely eliminate these garbled, the method is in the Lynx.cfg file set "Character_set: EUC-CN ", the later start Lynx can completely normal display Chinese characters. For the convenience of everyone, I am here to provide a modified Lynx.cfg file, you can download here (directly replace the original lynx.cfg file): http://firststep.ahwww.com/dosware/lynx.cfg

Lynx Although not Arachne powerful Setup wizard, but also relatively simple, such as loading network devices (such as NIC, modem, etc.) of the packet driver (specific to see the "DOS use" in the section of the "DOS Network") after running Lynx, It will automatically initialize the BOOTP/DHCP (also can manually specify the IP address, etc.), after success can be online. It has a lot of buttons, such as press the left and right arrows forward/backward, up and down arrow toggle link, g-key input URL, Q-key exit, O-Key settings options, h key to see Help and so on. You can also press CTRL + C or the Ctrl+break key at any time you run Lynx to return to DOS. In fact, it also has a lot of functions, such as support HTTPS protocol, support frame structure (but it does not show all frame at the same time, but it shows all the names of the frame, you can choose the appropriate name to enter the contents of the respective frame) and so on. In addition, lynx can also be used as an offline browser to view the computer in a variety of English and Chinese HTML page files, the effect is very good. If you only want to use it as an offline browser, edit the Lynx.cfg file to set the Lynx start page to the local address, and then load any packet drivers (including their own nullpkt, an empty packet driver, such as execution nullpkt 0x60 command) and then start Lynx.

The above is a DOS under the two more well-known web browser use method, you can try it, experience the DOS under the Internet capabilities and functions. In fact, there are a number of more powerful DOS browsers, such as a domestic company mentioned that they developed a "can be compared with Windows Internet Explorer browser in Chinese dos browser." Moreover, we can also participate in the "DOS development", the development of a more powerful dos under the Chinese browser, to grow more DOS it!