ELFTREE (TM) (C) Copyright 1988-1993 By Alan J. Avery ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Alan Avery (developer) Elvish Consulting 1408 Noble Avenue Springfield, Illinois 62704 (217)-698-8600 (8 a.m. to 9 p.m. CDT only, please) DISCLAIMER Users of ELFTREE must accept this disclaimer of warranty: "ELFTREE is supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the use of ELFTREE." Thank You! Many people have told us that ELFTREE is vastly more powerful than any commercial product sold as a `DOS shell'. We've been praised for making ELFTREE simple to use (it hasn't been easy!), fast (it's written in Borland's Turbo C and Turbo Assembler), and intuitive. We thank all of you who have used ELFTREE and have helped, with your ideas, to make it such a wonderful product. No programmer has the skill to think of all the wonderful ideas blended together in this version of ELFTREE. Thank you all! Why Shareware? This is a shareware version of ELFTREE. It is distributed as shareware for the following reasons: 1. You get to use it for 30 days, to see how you like it. We are sure you will love it. 2. When you ask for features to be included, they are usually added to the next release - often within a week! This means that you don't have to wait six months to a year for the next upgrade, a problem with most commercial software. Also, you get to see your ideas incorporated! 3. Advertising is expensive. For example, a full page ad in one issue of one computing magazine can cost $25,000. By telling 10 of your friends about this great product, and giving them a shareware copy of it, you can keep its cost extremely low. If you upload the latest version to BBS's you know, you'll be doing an even greater service. -- Page 2 -- Tell Me More About Shareware Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to register. Individual programs differ on details -- some request registration while others require it, some specify a maximum trial period. With registration, you get anything from the simple right to continue using the software to an updated program with printed manual. Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific exceptions as stated below. Shareware authors are accomplished programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are of comparable quality. The main difference is in the method of distribution. The author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute the software, either to all and sundry or to a specific group. For example, some authors require written permission before a commercial disk vendor may copy their Shareware. Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook, whether it's commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting your needs easier, because you can try before you buy. And because the overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware has the ultimate money-back guarantee -- if you don't use the product, you don't pay for it! AGREEMENT ELFTREE is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware- related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536." All users of ELFTREE must register and pay for their copies of ELFTREE within 30 days of first use or their license is withdrawn. For site licensing, please refer to the file SITELICE.DOC elsewhere in this package. If this file is missing, please contact Elvish Consulting at 217) 698-8600 for a free replacement. Anyone distributing ELFTREE for any kind of remuneration must first contact Elvish Consulting at the address below for authorization. This authorization will be automatically granted to distributors recognized by the (ASP) as adhering to its guidelines for shareware distributors, and such distributors may begin offering ELFTREE immediately (However Elvish Consulting must still be advised so that the distributor can be kept up-to-date with the latest version of ELFTREE.). You are encouraged to pass a copy of ELFTREE along to your friends for evaluation. Please encourage them to register their copy if they find that they can use it. All registered users will receive a copy of the latest version of ELFTREE, a toll-free number for tech support, a printed manual, and updates for a nominal fee. -- Page 3 -- Does Shareware Mean Crippled? This version has all the functions of the version you'll get when you register, but there is an opening message screen, and a delay before you can start using the product. Also, this version does not have any additional progams you can get when you register for the full version: editor, external viewers, etc. Read on for information on how to get these valuable enhancements. You are free to use ELFTREE for 30 days, to test it and to determine if it is useful to you. If you are still using it after 30 days, you must register with us. The file ORDER.DOC, included with this package, has an order form. Just fill out the form, print it, and mail it to us along with your check or money order. When you register with us, you get the latest version of ELFTREE, with all reported bugs fixed, with any new or enhanced features that may have been incorporated, a professionally printed manual, a toll-free number for tech support, notices of updates as they become available, and one FREE update. In addition, you can get the ELFTREE editor, any viewer(s) we've developed, and a flat-file database sort program. This is a great value for you! More importantly, you make us want to keep improving ELFTREE so that it can do even more for you! Cheap Upgrades! Once you license ELFTREE, you can upgrade to the latest registered version at a nominal cost. Through December 31, 1993, this fee is US$5, a very reasonable cost for you. ELFTREE System Requirements ELFTREE requires you to have a screen so that you can see what it shows you, a keyboard to give it commands, and some memory to hold information. You determine how much memory it needs (minimum is about 150K free) by customizing it, whether by command-line switches see end of this document) or with the [F4] key once it first comes up for you. It can take advantage of EGA or VGA displays, it works with the largest hard disks (even under DOS 3.31 and above), it works on all DOS-compatible networks, etc. In other words, it has modest requirements, and it should run on any hardware you've got. ELFTREE will operate much faster on a particular machine with disk caching enabled than with disk caching turned off. ELFTREE understands FAT and other system tables under DOS, but it only reads this information. It NEVER writes it. Environment Variables ELFTREE recognizes the following optional environment variables: ELFTREEPATH - For DOS 2.X, specifies where ELFTREE files are stored. ETFIND - Specifies where to store menus, tree maps, etc. ETMAP - Specifies where to store tree maps for removable drives (such as Bernoulli cartridges, optical media and floppy disks). ETMAPCDR - Helps control CDROM tree map management. ETCONFIG - Specifies the configuration file to use. ETDRIVES - Specifies a default selection of drives to search when using the FIND command. -- Page 4 -- Introduction ELFTREE is designed to simplify your goal of getting the most out of your computer. The heart of the program is a powerful, intuitive and marvelously integrated file, directory and application manager. With it, you can install software in record time, move files from one place to another (even across a network!) with ease, and locate files fast on even the largest hard disk, regardless of whether you use DOS or 4DOS! You won't believe how easy it is to run a program from within ELFTREE, or to customize it to suit your tastes. You will see in all of ELFTREE's features that great care was taken to marry great power with extreme convenience. The result is a delightful product that can help you be more effective in how you use your computer. What Makes ELFTREE Special? What Makes ELFTREE Special? Power - For the full story, print the file ELFTREE.HLP. Notes - Attach short notes to files in any directory. If you use 4DOS, ELFTREE can read/write 4DOS note files! Brains - When you choose an option, ELFTREE anticipates your next need, where possible. For example, when you: a. Rename a directory, the tree is adjusted automatically. b. Attempt to use an unformatted floppy disk, ELFTREE will let you format it (even if you are in the middle of copying files). c. Create a directory in the middle of specifying where to copy or move files, ELFTREE will highlight the new directory for you. d. Select a menu option that has a submenu, ELFTREE will highlight the most likely submenu option for you. e. Rename an item with spaces in the name, the spaces are conveniently removed for you. Convenience - Integrated customization; associate file extensions with programs for quick launching. Menus - 13 main menus, 10 levels of submenus, 100 selections per menu. Programmable symbols to integrate your commands with your files or ELFTREE actions. The file SAMPLE.ETU is included to get you started. Trim - Either 0 or 2K is used when running a program, and you determine how much. Strong Editing - Edit many files at once, cut/paste between them, speedy search/replace, and tiny! Viewing - Many customizable settings plus a host of block operations for cleaning up files and FAST text searching! Video - Full support for standard EGA/VGA display modes, plus accommodation of non-standard ones. Flexibility - You tell ELFTREE how much memory to use for files, directories and notes. -- Page 5 -- INSTALLATION To install it, just copy the files into whatever hard disk directory you want to start it from. To start it up, just type: ET and tap [ENTER]. These are the files that should have been included in the ELFTREE package. If any are missing, please call us at (217) 698-8600 to correct it. ! - Used for self-extracting archives. ASKET.EXE - Used when repeating commands in 0K RAM. AUTOEXEC.DOC - examples of SET ELFTREEPATH, PATH commands DESCRIPT.ION - File of notes (4DOS format) ET.EXE - starts up the program ETT.BAT - used when ELFTREE runs a program in 0K RAM. ELFTREE.CHL - part of the program ELFTREE.HLP - Help file (Think of it as on-disk manual) ELFTREE.NTE - File of notes (ELFTREE format) FEATURES.ET - Brief list of ELFTREE features. ORDER.DOC - Invoice for ordering ELFTREE README.DOC - this file SAMPLE.ETU - Sample menu file SITELICE.DOC - Site license agreement SNOOZE.ELF - File of screen saver messages TITLES.PF - File of notes (ProFinder format) VENDOR.DOC - Required reading for disk distributors WHATSNEW.ES - List of recent enhancements to ELFTREE. DOS 2.X CONSIDERATIONS If you have DOS 2.X, you need to give the following command before you can successfully bring up ELFTREE: SET ELFTREEPATH=C:\TREE (use the directory ET is installed in) It is recommended that you put this command in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. ORDERING If you like ELFTREE, order it! When you order, you get the most recent version of the software, an editor that can handle multiple files at once, a dBase viewer, a toll-free support number, a professionally printed wire-spiral-bound, manual and notices of updates to ELFTREE (your first update is FREE). If you prefer, you can order ELFTREE without the editor and viewers. See the file ORDER.DOC for an invoice/order form. Credit card orders are handled via the Public Software Library, and cost $54.00 (free shipping). Call (800)242-4775 to order. From outside the US (same price), call (713)524-6394. Enjoy using all of ELFTREE's features. -- Page 6 -- ELFTREE Command-Line Switches ____________________________________________________________ In addition to the customize menu, you can configure ELFTREE with certain command-line switches that you type after the ET that gets ELFTREE up and running. Here are the switches that may be used, and what they represent: /#=- If you prefer not to use '#' as the symbol that identifies a macro symbol (for example, you may have files with '#' in their names), use this to select another symbol. For example, to make '+' the symbol, use /#=+ /4 - Use 4DOS-style note files (file name DESCRIPT.ION). /5 - Use ET-style note files (file name ELFTREE.NTE). /6 - Use ProFinder-style note files (file name TITLES.PF). /C - if you have a composite monitor. /D=#### - Set maximum # of directories to handle. Each uses 16 bytes. (max is 3,999; default is 1000) /F=#### - Set maximum # of files to handle. Each uses 22 bytes. (max is 16384; default is 5000) /G=#### - Set maximum # of directories that Find can handle. Each uses 64 bytes. (max is 999; default is 50) /H=# - If # is 1, this activates high-speed disk scanning routines for non-networked drives. (default is 1, or ON; /H=0 turns it off) Note: A separate logical variable is maintained for high-speed scanning in the OS/2 Compatibility Box. This switch affects only that variable's setting. /K=#### - If # is at least 10, this refers to the number of internal macro keys to allow. (max is 5000; default is 100) /L=Z - Sets last drive accessible to user. (default is Z) /N=#### - Set maximum number of notes to handle. Each one uses 64 bytes; the space is shared with /G=####. (max is 1,000; default is 50) /R=### - ASCII code of `retag' character to use (1-255). (default is 9, which looks like a hollow circle) /T=### - ASCII code of `tag' character to use (1-255). (default is 4, which looks like a solid diamond) /U=#### - if #### is at least 500, this sets the maximum allowable length of a menu command line. (max is 10,000; default is 500) /Y=# - If you do not have an enhanced keyboard, but you want ELFTREE to think that you do (this will let you use [Ctrl-Del] and other nonstandard keys), use 1 for #. Use 0 for # if you do not want ELFTREE to use any of the enhanced keyboard facilities, even if you have such a keyboard. (default is 1 if an enhanced keyboard is detected, and 0 if not) Here is an example of how to set up ELFTREE to use 2,000 files, 300 directories and 500 notes per directory: ET /F=2000 /D=300 /N=500