Software Vault: The Gold Collection/Software Vault - The Gold Collection (American Databankers) (1993).ISO/cdr22/4file2ua.zip/4F-READ.ME

Text File | 1993-06-09 | 7KB | 137 lines

 READ.ME ................. for 4FILES

  ╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
  ║ NOTE:  The format of 4F.CFG was changed in Version 2S.0.                ║
  ║        If you are upgrading from a previous version, delete your old    ║
  ║        4F.CFG file and configure the new version from scratch.          ║
  ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

 CONTENTS:   ..... 1) A note to all users, new and old.
 ---------
             ..... 2) A note to registered users.

             ..... 3) A note for NEW users.

             ..... 4) Compatibility.


1)  TO ALL USERS:
=================  This release was made for an ASP (Assoc of Shareware
Professionals) disk mailing to BBSs and vendors.  The features for copying,
moving and renaming marked files were not quite ready as the deadline
approached, but are in Version 3.0, which is now in Beta testing.  Although
I don't plan to release 3.0 as public shareware before late fall, all
registered users will get a branded copy of the Beta (in addition to a
branded copy of 2U.2) as soon as the Beta is in stable condition (soon!).

    If you have difficulties be sure to check the section on compatibility
below, and also press <Alt-F10> to check your configuration.  If that
doesn't help, Tech Support is listed on Page 1 of the manual.

    If you will be using 4FILES under OS/2 or MS-Windows, CTRL-ESC & ALT-ESC
have their OS/2 or Windows rather than 4FILES functions; use plain ESC to
quit 4FILES.  Also, your mouse driver should be loaded before loading
Windows.  While the mouse will be operative in Windows without a pre-active
driver, a pre-active driver is necessary for non-Windows applications such
as 4FILES.


2)  TO REGISTERED USERS:
========================  If this is a registered 4FILES disk, you will
find several un-zipped files ready for immediate use, including your
personalized copy of 4F.COM.  The .ZIP file contains all files in the
4FILES package, but the 4F.COM in this archive is the _shareware_ version,
and is not a backup for the non-zipped, registered 4F.COM.  The purpose of
the .ZIP file is to have the complete shareware version in one place,
ready for you to upload or copy for someone else.

    It would be a good idea to read the "new users" section below for
features which may be new to you, and you will also find 4F.VER(sion) to
serve well as a quick-start for the new features.

    Remember to delete you old .CFG file if it was from a version previous to
2S.0.


3)  TO NEW USERS OF 4FILES:
===========================  Thanks for taking the time to give 4FILES a try!
Here are a few quick notes to help get you started.  See also the section
on compatibility below, and "Quick Start" in 4F.DOC.  The file 4F.VER(sion)
may be of interest too.

    You should copy all files provided into a directory which is listed in
your PATH statement.  Type 4F to start 4FILES.  If you get garbage on your
display at startup, try restarting with the /8 switch.  (The video system
detection should be fully automatic, but there is always the possibility of
an incompatibility.)

    One of the first things you should do is hit <Alt-F10> to call up the
configuration menu.  This is where you set up 4FILES so it can find your
utilities (the key designations such as "G+" (meaning the <Grey+> key) may
seem cryptic until you read the manual).  If a utility is in your PATH you
need give only its filename AND extension (required).

    If you are operating with 4DOS, its internal browser called LIST will
be activated by the <Grey+> key, but you may wish to recongifure 4FILES to
use a stand-alone browse utility.  Vern Buerg's LIST or TV.COM (included in
this .ZIP file) will give much faster performance since running internal
commands like 4DOS's LIST require shelling to DOS first.  The browser is
also called by <F1> and <CTRL-F1> to display HELP and the manual.

    Play around a lot with the Grey-Minus, Grey-Plus, and Grey-Star keys in
various levels of your directory tree.  (On 83-key keyboards the <Scl-Lk> key
takes the place of Grey-Star.)  Grey-Plus has differing functions when the
cursor-bar is on directories, normal files, and archived files.  <TAB>
toggles between file-management and note-editing modes.  <NUM-LK> toggles
the display of attributes and file creation time.  <Alt-char> locates a
record starting with the character, and <SCROLL-LK> reverses the search
direction, either on-the-fly or before a search.

    There are many other features and a great file note editor, all well
integrated into the keyboard to put a lot of power at your finger-tips in
an easy to learn and remember arrangement.  Please lavish a little time on
the manual (4F.DOC) and at least look at "Quick Start" therein for now.  I
have worked hard to incorporate a lot of features into 4FILES and to write
a thorough manual.  It would be a shame for you to miss the full benefits
of that labor by trying to get-by by running the program by the seat of
your pants (although it's easy enough that you can get pretty far that way).

    I hope you enjoy 4FILES and that you will find yourself putting it into
daily, if not constant, use.  If not, I'm always looking for constructive
criticism to help improve the program.  Again, thank you for taking time to
try out my program.  I look forward to receiving your registration, and if
you need help I welcome your call or note, whether you are registered or not.


4) COMPATIBILITY:
=================  4FILES is compatible with both MSDOS (2.x through 5.0),
DRDOS 5.x and 6.0, all versions of 4DOS and NDOS, OS/2, Windows & Desqview.

COMPATIBILITY ISSUES:
--------------------
  A) PC-Magazine's LOG.COM intercepts calls to the DOS EXEC function, but
  trashes the success/non-success data returned by the EXEC'd program.  This
  causes 4FILES to display the "incorrect configuration" message after every
  utility call.  While LOG.COM _can_ be used, this problem makes it awkward.
  The best choices for logging are 4DOS' own internal LOG feature or a
  shareware log program.

  B)  In past versions of 4FILES, some keyboard enhancers conflicted with
  some of 4FILES' use of special keys (e.g. with keys without IBM-documented
  software scan codes), or were conflicting more directly with 4FILES'
  keyboard interrupt handler.  These conflicts have now been resolved.

  With NEWKEY.EXE, you should run NEWKEYSP.EXE and free-up <Ctrl-Esc> for
  use by other programs via one of the menus.  Otherwise, this key will be
  non-functional in 4FILES.

  Conflicts with SWITCH5.COM and a few other freeware key-swap utilities
  result from the failure of the offending utilities to properly update the
  BIOS data bits for shift key states (including Ctrl and Alt).  I have
  found several such utilities which either change only the scan codes or do
  update the BIOS data, but do so incorrectly for some shifted keys.
  Programs which avoid using the BIOS shift data will work properly with
  these utilities, but for the moment 4FILES does rely on this data.

  A handler for German keyboards called KEYGR has some problems.  Use
  KEYGR16 instead.