The System menu appears on the far left of the menu bar and is represented by the
symbol. (
When you pull down the
menu, you see
About
Registration
About
When you choose the About command from the
(System) menu, a dialog box appears, showing copyright and version information. G
To close the box, press Esc, Space, or Enter, or click the OK button.
Registration
When you choose the Registration command from the
(System) menu, a help box appears, showing registration information.
File (Alt-F)
The File menu offers choices for opening/creating/importing databases, shelling to DOS, and exiting the program. @
Open
Database Exit
Database DOS
Shell
Import
File
New (F4)
The New command is used to create a new database. This command will prompt you for the name of this new database. It will then open this new database automatically.
File
Import
The Import command is used to convert a Paradox database file into a TCAT database file. After selecting this command you will select the Paradox database file via a file
dialog box. The next step is to instruct TCAT how to interpret your Paradox file by using a database
interpretation
dialog box. F
Next, TCAT will sort this Paradox database and proceed to import it. J
Finally, TCAT will prompt you for a name for the new TCAT database file.
**NOTE** If this option is disabled (grayed), it's because TCAT has found the Paradox directory specification to be invalid. Check to make sure your directories are properly specified in the directories configuration.
File
DOS Shell
With the DOS Shell command, you can leave the program temporarily to perform a DOS command or run another program. 9
To return to this program, type EXIT at the DOS prompt.
File
Open (F3)
The Open command displays the Open a File dialog box. In this dialog box you select the database file you want open.
The open
dialog box contains:
an input
box with a history list
a list
box to browse the directory
the standard Cancel button
Open action button
an information panel that describes the
selected file
File
Exit
(Alt-X)
The Exit command terminates this program.
Options (Alt-O)
The Options menu contains commands that let you change default colors and directory settings.
Options
Colors...
The Colors item brings up the colors
dialog box, where you can customize the colors of the display.
Options
Directories
The directories item brings up the directories
dialog box, where you can specify directories that TCAT cares about.
Help on the directories dialog box
The directories dialog box contains four input fields which specify directories of interest. p
TapeCat Directory
This tells TCAT where to put its files. It will use this as a "work" directory as well as a place to store its database files, category listings, and other miscellaneous files. p
Colorado Directory
TCAT needs to know where to find your Colorado tape software since it uses it to see what's on your tapes. p
Paradox Directory
This is the default directory for importing. Exported TCAT entries are also written here. p
Listings Directory
This is the default directory for listings of files and descriptions.
Help on open a file dialog box
The Open a File dialog box contains an input box, a file
list, a file information panel, the standard button Cancel, one other action button (Open), plus a history list that's attached to the name
inputbox.
Name
The Name input box is where you enter the name of the file to load, or the file-name mask to use as a filter for the Files list box (for example, *.*).
Files
FILENM01.TCT
FILENM09.TCT
FILENM02.TCT
FILENM10.TCT
FILENM03.TCT
FILENM11.TCT
FILENM04.TCT
FILENM12.TCT
FILENM05.TCT
..
FILENM06.TCT
\BACKUP
FILENM07.TCT
FILENM08.TCT
The Files list box lists the names of files in the current directory that match the file-name mask in the Name input box, plus the parent directory and all subdirectories.
C:\TC\*.TCT
MYFILES.TCT 16493 Jul 14,1990 12:00pm
The File information panel shows the path name, file name, date, time, and size of the selected file. =
None of the items on this information panel are selectable.
[ Open ]
The Open button opens a new tape database panel.
[ Cancel ]
If you choose Cancel, nothing changes and no action occurs, and the dialog box is put away. M
(Esc always cancels a dialog box, even if a Cancel button does not appear.)
Help on the select directory dialog box
The Select Directory dialog box consists of a list box, the standard OK and Cancel buttons, and one other button (Revert).
Directory Tree
Drives
C:\
UTIL
TCAT
The Directory Tree list box enables you to navigate directories by using the selection bar and pressing Space.
If you're using the keyboard, press Space to make the selected directory be the current directory, then choose OK or press Enter to exit the dialog box. +
[Revert]
The Revert button goes back to the previous directory, as long as you haven't yet exited the dialog box.
Help on the colors dialog box
The Colors dialog box consists of two list boxes, a text display area, the standard OK and Cancel buttons, and one of the following:
On color and black-and-white systems, it
also contains two color palettes.
On monochrome systems, it contains a set
of radio buttons instead of the palettes.
This dialog box is where you can change the colors of different parts of this program.
Group
Menus
Dialogs #1
Dialogs #2
Dialogs #3
Busy Windows
Help
The Group list box contains the names of the different regions of the program that you can customize. L
Item
Color
When you select a group from the Group list, the Item list box displays the names of the different views in that region.
Foreground
Background
On color and black-and-white systems, you use the Foreground and Background palettes to modify colors.
Colors
) Mono low
( ) Mono high
( ) Mono underscore
( ) Mono inverse
On monochrome systems, you use the Colors set of radio buttons systems to modify the character attributes. Q
Text Text Text
Text Text Text
On all systems, the display text (above the Help button) shows the current color or attribute settings. a
Changes do not take effect on the desktop until you close the Colors dialog box by choosing OK.
Help on the tape base dialog box
The dialog box currently selected allows you to perform a number of operations to the loaded database. In this box there are nine buttons, some of the buttons perform operations on the database as a whole, the rest only perform on the highlighted tape entry. +
[ Open ]
Opens the currently selected tape and brings up a volume
dialog
box. 1
[ Export ]
Exports the current tape to Paradox format. The exported file is placed in the directory specified in the directories using the database name "TCEXPORT.DB".
Successive exports result in appends to the TCEXPORT.DB. TCAT tries to stop you from exporting the same tape to TCEXPORT twice.
**NOTE** If this button is disabled (grayed), it's because TCAT has found the Paradox directory specification to be invalid. Check to make sure your directories are properly specified in the directories configuration. (
[ Add ]
This command runs the Colorado tape software to extract all volumes and names from the tape in the drive (or files from a disk directory). TCAT then processes these names and prompts you for a tape name. The new tape is then added into the current database.
**NOTE** If this button is disabled (grayed), it's because TCAT cannot find a file called "TAPE.EXE" in the Colorado directory. Check to make sure your directories are properly specified in the directories configuration. .
[ Erase ]
Use this command to erase the highlighted tape entry from the list. 1
[ ExpTxt ]
Similar to [Export] only the entries are saved as ascii to a file called [DATABASE NAME].TXT. Where [DATABASE NAME] is the name of the database currently selected. This file is placed in the listings directory.
**NOTE** If this option is disabled (grayed), it's because TCAT has found the listings directory specification to be invalid. Check to make sure your directories are properly specified in the directories configuration. 1
[ Rename ]
Use this command to rename a tape. +
[ Pack ]
Erase commands which reside in three places (This dialog box, volume dialog box, and file entry dialog box), perform their function but do not actually remove the data from the file; The data is only marked as "dead". This command goes through the entire database and removes all "dead" data. 1
[ Search ]
This command brings up a prompt box for entering the search
data. After which, TCAT searches all tapes**, and all volumes for the first 500 entries that contain filenames or descriptions with matching data (key is found in file name or description). f
** The search begins the currently selected tape and continues searching to the end of the database. 1
[ ChkDup ]
One of TCAT's "Power" features. This command looks at all files in a directory specified by you via a directory
select
dialog, and tries to find them in the TCAT database. Matching names represent duplicates. The names (if any) are placed in a duplicate
viewer which is capable of deleting the duplicates at your command. ChkDup looks at the entire database, the tape selector plays no role. .
[ Close ]
Use this command to put away this dialog box.
Help on the volume base dialog box
The dialog box currently selected allows you to perform a number of operations to the loaded tape. In this box there are five buttons. +
[ Open ]
Opens the currently selected volume and brings up a file
entry
dialog
box. (
[ Add ]
This command runs the Colorado tape software to extract all volumes and names from the tape in the drive that don't already exist on the selected database tape.
**NOTE** If this button is disabled (grayed), it's because TCAT cannot find a file called "TAPE.EXE" in the Colorado directory. Check to make sure your directories are properly specified in the directories configuration. .
[ Erase ]
Use this command to erase a volume from the list. 1
[ Rename ]
Use this command to rename a volume. .
[ Close ]
Use this command to put away this dialog box.
Help on the file base dialog box
The dialog box currently selected allows you to perform a number of operations to the loaded volume/file entry list. &
In this box there are seven buttons. /
There are two non-button fields of interest : '
[ #1 ]
(------------------ #2 ------------------)
#1 - [ A / B ] Where A is the number of described files in the list and B is the total number of files in the list. S
#2 - The entire description viewer -OR- an input line for changing a description.
The buttons... +
[ Desc ]
Changes the description viewer to an input box and waits for your input. Press enter to accept the description and remove the input box and replace it with the viewer. =
[ Select Cat ]
Opens a category
selector for you to select or add a new category. 4
[ Set Cat ]
Sets the category field of the current file entry to the last selected category. 1
[ Inject ]
One of TCAT's "Power" commands. Inject matches names from the file entry list to a master
description
database. If a match was found and the description in the database is longer than the one in the file entry list, the description in the file entry list is replaced. +
[ Dupe ]
Dupe is used to duplicate descriptions in a "smart" manner. Let's say you type in a description for "LOOM1.ZIP" and the description was "Loom, a new Apolgy game [1/3]". Now move to "LOOM2.ZIP" and press Dupe, this results in a description reading "Loom, a new Apolgy game [2/3]". .
[ Erase ]
Use this command to erase a file entry from the list. .
[ Close ]
Use this command to put away this dialog box.
Help on the search results dialog box
This dialog box contains a list of matches to the search.
Press OK to close the box. @
Press Save to add the text to a disk file called "SEARCH.TXT".
Help on the category select dialog box
This dialog box manipulates a list of categories. (
[ Add ]
Use this command to add a category. 1
[ Delete ]
Use this command to delete the currently selected category from the list.
OK and Cancel work as normal.
Help on the duplicate results dialog box
This dialog box contains a list of duplicates. A duplicate is defined as a filename found both on a specific directory on the hard disk as well as on some tape in the database. Two things may be done using the list of duplicates: 4
[ Del NOW ]
Deletes the currently selected file off the hard disk and removes it from the duplicate listing. 4
[ Gen bat ]
Generates a "$KILLDUP.BAT" and places it in the directory with the duplicates. This bat file is a simple list of "del DUPE1.ZIP, del DUPE2.ZIP, etc". .
[ Close ]
Use this command to put away this dialog box.
Enter the name for the database, 8 characters or less, and press ENTER.
Enter new volume name and press ENTER.
Enter keyword(s) to search for and press ENTER.
Enter new tape name and press ENTER.
Enter tape name and press ENTER.
Adding from tape retrieves file names from a tape adds a tape entry. y
Adding from disk retrieves file names from a disk directory on your hard drive. This broadly expands TCAT applications!
Help on the database interp. dialog box
This dialog box is used to define the fields of the Paradox database being imported.
For example, in order to import a database, that database must have a filename field. This is all TCAT knows. You must tell TCAT which field is the filename field.
The filename, extension, tape number, date, and size are required fields. In short, if any of these fields do not exist, the database cannot be imported.
Help on the DEF edit dialog box
This dialog box is used to tell TCAT how to get useful information from a listing.
Here's a sample listing :
....|....1....|....2....|....3....|..
79 DJGPP-01.ZIP 1174k GCC C/C++ 32-Bit Compiler for DOS [ 1/11]
80 DJGPP-02.ZIP 1172k GCC C/C++ 32-Bit Compiler for DOS [ 2/11]
The filename starts at column 5 and the description starts at column 24.
Plug 5 in the filename input and 24 in the description input. Then tab down to the listing window and pan it down and make sure TCAT is extracting both the names and descriptions properly.
Warning!! Only master linear listings. If the filename or description field shifts throughout the file, this may cause problems. Fortunately, TCAT is fairly leniant in this manner in that it will remove preceeding white spaces when parsing the string.
For example: )
....|....1....|....2....|....3....|..
79 DJGPP-01.ZIP 1174k GCC C/C++ 32-Bit Compiler for DOS [ 1/11]
80 DJGPP-02.ZIP 1172k GCC C/C++ 32-Bit Compiler for DOS [ 2/11]
.. - -
.. - -
1000-RBBS17C.ZIP 311k-RBBS V17.3.C [1/1]
- -
A 5 for the filename and 24 for the description will work here because TCAT removes the preceeding white spaces.
This is very important!! If you add garbage to your master database, the only way to get rid of it is to erase MASTER.DB or edit it out by hand using Paradox.
Help on the master list entry dialog box
This dialog box is meant for accumulating a list of lists to be added to the master description database. Once all the listings are [ADD]ed, press [GO] and they'll be processed. (PATIENCE!)
Master (Alt-M)
The Master menu offers choices for performing operations on TCAT's master description database.
Process
DIZ's
Master
Process List
This command brings up the master
box to select listings to be mastered.
**NOTE** If this option is disabled (grayed), it's because TCAT has found the listings directory specification to be invalid. Check to make sure your directories are properly specified in the directories configuration.
Master
Get DIZ's
This command will prompt you for a directory using a directory
select
dialog. TCAT will then make use of PKUNZIP to extract the .DIZ descriptions from the files in this directory and add the filenames and descriptions to a list called "DIZ.LST" in the listings directory. You should then add this listing to your master database using the process
list command.
**NOTE** If this option is disabled (grayed), it's because TCAT has found the listings directory specification to be invalid or PKUNZIP.EXE could not be found in your search path. Check to make sure your directories are properly specified in the directories configuration.
Help (ALT-H)
When you pull this menu down, you see !
Contents
Index
What's
Help
Contents
This command brings up the table of contents for the help.
Help
Index
This command brings up the index for the help.
Help
Whats New
This command shows revision history of TCAT.
What's New
**** V1.10 **** 8/24/93
** NO BUG FIXES TO REPORT! **
Added [ExpTxt] button. Allows you to
export your tapes to ascii files.
Isolated desktop backdrop. You can
now make your own, or use the standard
checkerboard by deleting "TCAT.DRP".
See TCAT
files.
Entire disk directories may be added
to the database as if they were tapes.
This is an extension of the [Add]
command on the database dialog box.
**** V1.02 **** 8/16/93
Multiple fixes in export.
Clarification of search function in help.
OOP Portion of database engine removed.
(Provides 60 more K of heap space and
probably more speed when importing)
**** V1.01 **** 8/13/93 i
Bug fix in interrupt service routine.
(Caused TCAT to seize if executed after
certain applications)
Safety net added for loading files.
If memory drops below 20000, then
TCAT can't show you all the files on
that volume.
** NOTE: If this should happen, all
changes made to this volume will be
lost since it would be wrong for TCAT
to save the file list if it couldn't
load it completely.
**** V1.00 **** 8/9/93
(First release)
New intro screens and backdrop.
**** V0.80 **** (
Added registration and title screens.
Improved help text.
**** V0.79 ****
HELP System impovements:
* Cursor keys now allowed, improves feel.
* Previous topic hotkey.
* More help text, more help topics.
Bug fixed in adding tapes.
Shell to DOS command added.
Results of search may be saved to disk.
Ability to scan entire directories
of .ZIPs for FILE_ID.DIZ descriptors
and accumulates a listing to later be
mastered. (Get
DIZ's)
TCAT Tape Cataloger
Welcome to TCAT! TCAT is a top notch, cutting edge tape cataloging system placed on top of one of world's hottest and most intuitive user interfaces available (Turbo Vision).
A few features... }
* Designed to work with any version of
Colorado tape software.
* Quick searching.
* Ability to catch and easily remove
duplicates before they go on tape.
* Import from and export to the Paradox
database system.
* Context sensative help.
* Simple and powerful mechanism which
automatically describes your files.
* Excellent user interface with mouse
support.
Mastering
Under TCAT, "listings" are defined as being ascii lists of filenames and descriptions. Nearly all bulletin board systems have a mechanism for sending you their "listing". Since many of us get our files from BBS's, this mechanism allows us to describe our files with never imagined ease. /
To use this system follow these simple steps:
1. Get good listings, keep them up to date.
2. Process new listings. See process
list.
3. Inject descriptions into your files.
Before you begin
The only configuration necessary before TCAT becomes fully functional is to tell it where certain files are located on your hard disk. This is done by selecting directories under the options menu.
Before you archive
A typical scenario for archiving is to place a modest amount of files onto tape, label the tape, then erase the files.
1. Are you sure there are no duplicates?
2. There maybe descriptor files in the .ZIP
to help you describe the files later.
With TCAT in your arsenal, these issues are put to rest.
First select get
DIZ's from the master menu. This will scan your files and make a list containing the filenames and associated descriptors found inside the .ZIP files (if any). {
Next check for duplicates using the check duplicate [ChkDup] button. This will allow you to purge duplicates selectively.
A few words about cataloging
The first thing you need to do is create a database for all your tapes, this is done by selecting new under the file menu.
Next, pop in your first tape and select [Add]. TCAT will collect the information off the tape and then prompt you for a tape number.
This tape has been cataloged but the files have not been described or categorized. Although describing and categorizing is purely optional, TCAT has good tools to aid you here. See mastering.
Software credit
* Paradox is a trademark of Borland
International.
* Colorado TAPE SYSTEM is copyrighted by
Colorado Memory Systems, Inc.
* PKUNZIP is a trademark of PKWARE, Inc.
User credit
I would like to thank all the beta testers who helped find most of the bugs as well as providing great ideas. Great job guys!
Registration
TCAT is Shareware and represents many hours of grueling work. A registration fee of $15 is required and appreciated. d
In return you will receive my thanks and the registration code to remove the unregistered message. N
Please fill out the register form supplied with this program and send it to: K
(.txt)