File-Ex (tm) version 2.0 for Windows 95 --------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 1996 by Cottonwood Software All Rights Reserved Thank you for trying File-Ex! File-Ex adds file management functions like Find, Copy, Delete, Rename, and MakeDir to the Open and Save dialogs of most Windows applications automatically (any that use the Windows common dialogs in COMMDLG.DLL), and can be trained to work with almost any other program. If you have just installed File-Ex and are reading this from the Notepad program, try it out now by selecting File from the menu, then Open. You should see buttons and the 'Recent...' and 'Favorite...' lists at the bottom of the Open dialog. If you need help, click the 'File-Ex' button, and then the Help button from that dialog. File-Ex runs as a taskbar tray icon in Windows 95 -- you should see a small File-Ex icon at the far right of the taskbar. Right- click on this for the main menu, or double-click on it to bring up a dialog with configuration, help, & option functions. Enjoy! ----------------------------------------------------------------- ** BONUS FREEWARE PROGRAM INCLUDED ** Our freeware program "Delayer" is also included with this package. While Delayer can be used for other purposes as you like, it was included here to combat a problem caused by some programs that prevent File-Ex from working. This problem happens when some other programs (such as Excite's "Direct" program) run after or at the same time as File-Ex, typically during Windows start-up. The errant programs trap the necessary system "hooks" that File-Ex needs, so File-Ex cannot function. This is not a problem, however, if File-Ex is forced to run AFTER the other programs. Delayer is designed to simply delay execution of a program for a specified number of seconds. Delayer is not used by default, and if you don't encounter the problems described above then you don't need to use it. However, if you do find that File-Ex doesn't work after Windows booting up, try using Delayer in the StartUp group/folder to execute File-Ex about 3 seconds later. Please see thte "Troubleshooting" section of the Help file for notes about using Delayer. Also see the Delayer help and text files for more information. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ** Important note for users of a Windows 3.1 version of File-Ex ** The File-Ex Setup routine will not overwrite a FILEEX.DAT file if it already exists in the program directory -- this is to avoid erasing your trained applications when upgrading. However, if you used the Windows 3.1 version and install the Win95 version in the same directory, this will prevent the new FILEEX.DAT file from being installed. Applications trained in Windows 3.1 will not be recognized in Windows 95, so this is a problem. To avoid the problem, either delete the old FILEEX.DAT file before installing the Win95 version, or install the Win95 version to a new directory. (Note: It is not necessarily recommended to do a Complete Removal of the old File-Ex, since this will also delete file histories and configuration preferences.) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Readme.txt Contents: -------------------- What's New in Version 2 File Packing List System Requirements Installation About the Evaluation Period Giving Copies to Friends -- (Please Do!) Support Ordering Site licenses & multiple-user pricing Troubleshooting Un-installing File-Ex ASP Ombudsman statement Warranty & License info Distribution by Vendors, BBS's, etc. What's New in Version 2 ----------------------- In case you're familiar with File-Ex version 1.x, here are the highlights of the new features in Version 2: - Favorite file and directory lists, including favorite masks - Option to Hide the program icon - Options to hide recent and favorite file/dir lists - Options for length of visible items in recent/favorite lists - Option for filename-only in recent/favorite lists - The CommEx DLL no longer replaces the COMMDLG.DLL, which results in less low-memory being used (fixes some problems with executing programs in Windows 3.1) and simpler install/uninstall procedures For Windows 95: - Use long file names in 16-bit applications - Various options for Explorer vs. non-explorer style dialogs File Packing List ----------------- These files should be included in this distribution set. If any are missing, please contact Cottonwood Software or your distributor for a complete set. (You can download the latest version from Compuserve or our Web page -- see the Support section) README.TXT This file SETUP.EXE Installation program REMOVE.EXE Removal (un-install) program FILEEX.EXE Main program (please run Setup before using!) FILEEX32.EXE 32-bit portions of the program FXHOOK32.DL_ Part of the main program FXHOOK.DL_ Part of the main program COMMEX.DL_ "CommEx" portion FXCOMN.DL_ File-Ex common functions FILEEX.HLP Help file FILEEX.DAT Data file for 'trained' not-so-common dialogs FILEEX20.BIN Registration file (purchased version only) REVISION.TXT Program revision history ORDER.TXT Text form for ordering File-Ex (trial version only) FILE_ID.DIZ Short description file (trial version only) VENDINFO.DIZ Vendor info (trial version only) DELAYER.EXE Delayer utility program DELAYER.HLP Help file for Delayer DELAYER.TXT 'readme' text file for Delayer System Requirements ------------------- File-Ex will work with any version of Windows 95 Windows NT users: ------------------------ Do NOT install this version of File-Ex if you run Windows NT! There should be an NT version of File-Ex available in mid-1997. Let us know if you need an upgrade to the NT version. Just E-mail, FAX, or mail your address to us, and we will let you know when it is released. Installation ------------ If you're not familiar with File-Ex, please read the 'Overview' section in the Help file after installation. To install File-Ex, run SETUP.EXE from Windows: 1. From the Start Menu, select Run... 2. In the Command Line box, type d:\path\SETUP, where 'd' is the letter of the drive and 'path' is the directory where the File-Ex files are. For example: C:\FILEEX\SETUP 3. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen. 4. After File-Ex installation is complete, it will need to validate some files. This will happen automatically the first time File-Ex is invoked, so you don't need to do anything special for this to happen. 5. If you're not familiar with File-Ex, open the Help file and read through the Overview sections. Technical information on installation ------------------------------------- The installation procedure does the following: Copy appropriate files to the Program and Data directories. Add a File-Ex group with appropriate icons. Add File-Ex to the startup group. Verify that the operations succeeded. Run File-Ex if requested. Run notepad to display the readme.txt file if requested. When File-Ex is actually invoked for the first time (through a File/Open or File/Save command, or by automatically loading File-Ex), it validates the information files (fileex.hlp, readme.txt, order.txt). This ensures that File-Ex cannot be modified and re-distributed with different company contact/order information. What files should be where, after installation ---------------------------------------------- These files should be in your File-Ex program directory : README.TXT FILEEX.EXE FXHOOK.DLL FXHOOK32.DLL FXCOMN.DLL COMMEX.DLL FILEEX32.EXE FILEEX.HLP FILEEX20.BIN (if it's a purchased copy) ORDER.TXT REVISION.TXT REMOVE.EXE DELAYER.EXE DELAYER.HLP DELAYER.TXT The file FILEEX.DAT will be copied to the 'Data' directory. (This is usually the same as your Program directory, but may be different, for instance, in a network environment where the Program directory is shared. The FILEEX.DAT file should be in a place not shared by users, similar to INI files.) These files are not copied anywhere, and are not needed by File-Ex after setup: SETUP.EXE FILE_ID.DIZ VENDINFO.DIZ The files COMMEX.INI and FILEEX.INI will be created by the Setup program, and will be placed in the Windows directory. The file FILEEX.LOG will be created in the Windows directory, and is useful for troubleshooting. If everything works after installation, this may be deleted. About the Evaluation Period --------------------------- File-Ex is distributed as a shareware trial version. This means that you are free to try it out for 30 days. It will be fully functional during that time, so you can try all of its functions. After using it for 30 days (not necessarily calendar days, but when it's been used on 30 different days), some of the functions will be unavailable. You will still be able to use the basic functions like Copy and Delete, but the advanced functions (Find and MakeDir) will not be available unless you register (purchase) the program. Giving Copies to Friends -- (Please Do!) ---------------------------------------- Shareware works best when you 'share' it with other people! If you like this program, we would appreciate it if you spread it around. Give copies to friends and co-workers, or even upload it to your favorite BBS. Please only distribute the original compressed (.ZIP) file that you received File-Ex in. This is the only way to have the complete file set needed to install File-Ex, since the File-Ex directory after installation does not contain all of the necessary installation files. Note: If this is a purchased copy, please DON'T distribute it! The registered copy contains your registration key file, and giving this to someone else is illegal. Please only distribute the shareware trial version! Support ------- For support, contact Cottonwood Software by phone, fax, mail, or E-mail. (E-mail is preferred, and will get a fast response.) Mail: Cottonwood Software P.O. Box 6546 Leawood, KS 66206-0546 USA Phone: (913) 663-3022 FAX: (913) 663-3747 Internet: info@cottonwoodsw.com CompuServe: 75264,1630 WW Web: http://www.cottonwoodsw.com Please see the Help file for more information. Ordering File-Ex ---------------- Benefits of ordering: The latest version as of the day you order. Notification of bug fixes and update releases when available. Free technical support. Discounts on updates and other products, as available. To order, send $29.95 (U.S.) plus $2.00 S&H ($4.00 S&H outside the U.S. or Canada) to: Cottonwood Software P.O. Box 6546 Leawood, KS 66206-0546 USA For a complete order form you can print the text file ORDER.TXT, or click the 'File-Ex' button in an Open/Save dialog and select the 'Order Form' button. You may also order through our web site by credit card (or by mail, phone, or FAX). Purchase orders will be accepted from approved companies and organizations, but will be charged an additional $10.00 processing fee. Please see the Help file or ORDER.TXT for complete information and other ordering options. Site licenses & multiple-user pricing ------------------------------------- Please see the Help file for complete information. Troubleshooting --------------- Please see the Help file for complete information, but here are some important notes about programs that File-Ex will not work with: File-Ex does not cooperate well with some other programs that do the same thing (modify the file dialogs). If you have these, then you should disable them when running File-Ex. These include: - Instant File Access (don't load it at the same time) - Long File Names (some reported problems, but usually works) - LFNs Now (don't load it at the same time) - Norton File Assist / LFN Enabler (disable it from the desktop options) - Q.E.D. (can't co-exist with File-Ex since it changes the common dialogs) Excite Direct will disable File-Ex, unless File-Ex is started AFTER Excite Direct is loaded. This is a bug in Excite Direct, but can be avoided by using the Delayer program included with File-Ex. AutoCAD R12 can't handle long file names, even with File-Ex's help. Apparently it doesn't accept the short-name aliases because of the tilde ('~') character. Some NetRoad versions prior to 1.41 will crash with File-Ex If a 16-bit program forces the file name into lower case, then it cannot use long filenames. (One known case is Codewright's Save dialog.) If File-Ex does not seem to work when it's in the StartUp group, but does work if you close it and re-start it, then there is probably some program in the StartUp group (or started from WIN.INI) that is interfering. Please see the Help file for more informaion on using the Delayer program to fix this. If you discover other problems, please let us know. For the latest information on known problems, please see our web site: http://www.cottonwoodsw.com/cottonwd/fileex95.html Un-installing File-Ex --------------------- If you encounter insurmountable problems, or just don't like the new functions that File-Ex provides, you may need to un-install it. A Remove program is provided for your convenience. Its icon is installed in your File-Ex program group. Please see the help file for more information on this. ASP Ombudsman statement ----------------------- _______ ____|__ | (R) --| | |------------------- | ____|__ | Association of | | |_| Shareware |__| o | Professionals -----| | |--------------------- |___|___| MEMBER Cottonwood Software is 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 USA 49442-9427, Fax 616-788-2765, or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536. Warranty and license info ------------------------- Complete Warranty and license information may be found in the Help file, FILEEX.HLP. Distribution by Vendors, BBS's, etc. ------------------------------------ Commercial vendors please refer to the VENDINFO.DIZ file for complete details. If this file is not present, please contact Cottonwood Software for a replacement copy.