File Finder/Grouper Installation


Installation Instructions
-------------------------

Note:  FFG.EXE is a stand-alone utility program that doesn't require any
       other support files.  If you know how to do it, a short cut to
       this installation is to simply unzip FFG.EXE, put it in a
       directory on your search path and begin using it.

1.  If not already done, create a directory for FFG (for example C:\FFG).

2.  If not already done, copy the FFG ZIP package file to the FFG
directory.

2.  If not already done, unzip the FFG ZIP file into the FFG directory.

3.  For FFG to be useful, it should be on your DOS search path.  Either
copy FFG.EXE to the DOS directory or another utility directory on your
search path (recommended) or edit your AUTOEXEC.BAT file to add the FFG
directory to your path statement in AUTOEXEC.BAT (not recommended).

4.  There are two optional environment variables that can be set to
enhance/customize FFG operation:

5.  (OPTIONAL) Environment variable FFGTMP allows you specify where FFG
should create any temporary files it may need to create.  This should be
a relatively fast disk with at least 256K of free space.  Your best bet
would be to use your fasted hard disk that has plenty of free space.  In
terms of performance a RAM disk would be a good choice, but may not be
big enough.  If FFGTMP is not set, or is there is insufficient space, FFG
will look for TEMP and TMP environment variables.

There are currently two cases where FFG needs to use this disk space: 1)
when searching for text inside files that are archived, FFG must first
extract the file to a temporary directory.  Therefore, if these options
are to be used (combination of /Z and /$) there must be enough space for
about 200K plus the size of the largest file to extract. 2) when
executing commands on found files (using the /e option) FFG swaps itself
out of memory to disk maximize the memory available for the command you
are executing.

6.  (OPTIONAL) Environment variable FFGOPT allows you to set FFG command
line parameters semi-permanently.  Anything options in the FFGOPT are
effectively inserted before any FFG options you type on the command line.


Installation of DEMO and UTILITY Batch Files
--------------------------------------------

Note:  These files are not required to use FFG, but they provide valuable
       demonstations of FFG capabilites and can be modified by you for
       your own custom use.  Installation is recommended.  After you have
       tried the demos you can delete these files with no impact on FFG
       operation.

1.  Run UNPACKEM.BAT from the FFG directory, which will create
subdirectories containing the DEMO batch file and some utility batch
files that make use of FFG.  UNPACKEM.BAT will also use FFG to search for
your DOS directory (it actually looks for where the DOS XCOPY program is
located) and gives you the option of copying FFG.EXE there.

2.  If not already done, make sure FFG.EXE is in a directory that is on
your DOS search path. The DOS directory is a good place if you don't
already have another place to put utility programs.

3.  To run the DEMO programs change to the DEMO_BAT directory and run
DEMO.BAT.