DosLynx Quick Start Home Page

DosLynx is now offered in a 16 bit Protected Mode version, as well as in its traditional Real Mode version. If your system can be equipped with a DOS Protected Mode Interface (or, DPMI) service, you will be able to run either version. The DosLynx v0.30b Protected Mode version will have about nine times as much memory, as the Real Mode version, to work with. (Over 2.3 MB versus about 250 KB.) This extra memory will virtually eliminate the inability to completely present some very large documents, still present in the Real Mode version.

If you run DosLynx in a Windows DOS window, you will find that a DPMI service is already available, there. If you run with QEMM, DPMI service can be provided simply by adding QDPMI.SYS to your CONFIG.SYS file. DPMI serving software is readily available from several other sources, as well. I've tested a number of DPMI servers with the new DosLynx Protected Mode version. A new document DPMIREVU.HTM reports on which ones the DosLynx Protected Mode version can and can't work with.

The DosLynx Protected Mode version has been implemented through use of the Kevin Morgan Software Services Protected Mode APPlication construction toolkit, PMAPP.ZIP. However, 90 to 95 percent of it still comes from the DosLynx Real Mode version's code. So, you can expect most of its features to be identical to the Real Mode version's. As it is still learning Protected Mode memory management, the DosLynx v0.30b Protected Mode version is a little slower than the Real Mode version. Its .EXE file is also somewhat larger. So, you may want to use both versions in different situations. (I look forward to improving on these issues in future release(s).)

The Traditional DosLynx v0.30b package contains DOSLYNX.EXE and all of its supporting files. This is the Real Mode version, recommended for all users. The new DosLynx v0.30b Protected Mode add-on contains DOSLYNXP.EXE, a sample DOSLYNXP.BA_ file, and DPMIREVU.HTM. It is recommended for users with systems that can provide DPMI service. Both of these .ZIP files may be un-zipped into the same directory, without conflict. If you don't quite like the name DOSLYNXP, you may change it to anything else that suits you better.

Work on the Protected Mode version has benefited the DosLynx Real Mode version, as well. This work and other improvements again make DosLynx v0.30b the strongest running version(s) of DosLynx, ever!

There are a couple other readme files for DosLynx. One is the again updated README.HTM which still tells about the original features, command line parameters, and other important stuff. There is also a history file which describes the major changes I've made in bringing Doslynx from v0.29b to v0.30b. The history file also contains known bugs or missing features. If you find one that isn't there, please email me at the address in this graphic. As I don't have a '286 based PC, presently, I am especially interested in hearing from anyone who is able to try the DosLynx Protected Mode version on such a system. Finally, Wayne S. Buttles has provided a little cheat sheet listing the key commands to run Doslynx from the keyboard. It includes ones he added. I've brought it up to date and added a second page listing the "DosLynx Control, Movement, and Navigation Keys".

Remember that you can navigate with your numeric key pad by putting Num Lock ON.

DosLynx no longer contains a built-in graphics viewer. That has been replaced with a swap out and call to DLXVIEW with a parameter naming the .BMP, .GIF, .JPG, .PCX, or .TIF file to be viewed. You may edit DLXVIEW.BAT to invoke your favorite viewer. The DosLynx v0.30b package contains a sample DLXVIEW.BAT which invokes LXPIC (requires CGA+).

As Wayne said: "I have enhanced DosLynx for my own personal enjoyment. . . . I am just releasing my changes to the general public in hopes that it will help some other DOS User. I have made every attempt to keep it compatible with the lowest IBM-Compatible computer so that the greatest number of people can benefit and I will continue to do so as long as I play with the code."

Good luck, and happy browsing.

Fred C. Macall
26 November 2005