home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Tech Arsenal 1
/
Tech Arsenal (Arsenal Computer).ISO
/
tek-05
/
igo14.zip
/
READ_ME.IGO
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1991-07-21
|
11KB
|
295 lines
July 21, 1991
Welcome to IGO!
I wrote IGO as a diversion and to better understand Borland's Turbo Pascal,
DOS, directories, etc. I also did it because I have a 100 MB hard disk and
needed a quick way to remember all the path names. I can remember short
names that refer to some subject, but I have no memory for several levels.
* IGO's alias naming allows you (and me) to create any directories you
need to and refer to them by a single, easy to remember name. It cuts
down on typing too!
* You can also save the current location to allow a quick return later.
Great for BATch programs!
* Ever wondered where a file was? IGO can search for a file (no wild
cards) and take you to that directory!
*** NEW ***
* Create the initial list of directory names using the included
IGODIR.EXE program! Now let IGODIR create your list of potential
alias' and edit it with IGO or your favorite text editor.
Try IGO for a while and pass it along to your friends. But, remember, IGO
is not free. It is Shareware. Shareware means that you can try it for a
few days or weeks to see if you like it before paying the $10 registration
fee. Using this software after that period of time is a violation of US
Copyright laws.
Let me know how you like IGO. I distribute the software through CompuServe
and several public Bulletin Board Systems (BBSs) rather than shipping
costly diskettes. Write me at the Silver Wolf Software address or send a
message in CompuServe to 71441,1637.
Mark S. Daly
Installing IGO
--------------
IGO should exist within your command PATH. If used this way, IGO can find
itself and will create two files, IGO.DIR and IGO.LOC, as needed in the
same place. You should not change the name of "IGO.EXE" since the program
won't be able to find itself.
Ok, there is another way to get around this. By setting a DOS environment
variable (using the SET command), you can force IGO to look in a specific
directory for the IGO.DIR and IGO.LOC files.
SET IGO=C:\MISC
will tell IGO to create - and later look for - these files in the C:\MISC
directory.
Using IGO on a LAN
------------------
I've found that IGO gets confused searching through the mapped pseudo disk
drives provided by Novell and, therefore, needs you to set the "IGO" DOS
variable (as mentioned above). I don't know about other LAN's since I
don't have access to any.
IGO Help
--------
IGO's help is online. Simply enter "IGO" and press then enter key. Press
the ESC (escape) key to get out of the help.
Running IGO
-----------
IGO uses a hyphen ("-") to indicate a command. So, "IGO -L" will tell IGO
the "L" is a command; otherwise, it would be treated as a directory name.
By the way, IGO is not case sensitive - L and l are the same thing to IGO.
That said, what do you have to type to get IGO to do anything for you?
IGO name Tells IGO to try to go to the "name" directory.
If the IGO.DIR file is found, the file will be
searched for "name" to see if it is an alias.
If IGO cannot switch into the directory, it will
place a "\" before the name to see if the directory
is a top level directory and you just forgot the
initial backslash.
If it still cannot switch into the directory, you
will remain in the current directory.
IGO -a name path Add a new "name" to the IGO.DIR directory list and
indicate that the "name" references the "path".
If the "name" already exists, you will be told so
and the add will not take place.
Some pre-defined alias' already exist; these names
should not be used. These names include:
UP OFF OVER ROOT BOOT
IGO -d name Remove the "name" from the alias list.
IGO -u name path Update/change the "path" for the "name" alias.
If the "name" does not exist, it will be added.
IGO -l List the alias names currently defined.
Going Places
------------
Given a name, IGO will try to find the name in the file IGO.DIR. If found,
the "name" is replaced by the actual path name found there. IGO will then
try to "go" to the requested directory name.
If it cannot it will try to "go" to the root directory and "into" the named
directory just in case you may have forgotten the initial backslash.
If the attempt still fails, you will find you have gone nowhere.
One other thing. If IGO finds any ":" or "\" characters in the original
name, it will not look for an alias. This is a good clue if you want to
by-pass the look up.
Substituting DOS Variables
--------------------------
IGO lets you substitute a DOS environment variable for a path name or part
of a path name. For example:
IGO \USER\%MAILNAME%
will look for a DOS "set" variable called MAILNAME and substitute what it
finds pas part of the path name. In this case, if MAILNAME was set to
MARKD, then we would try to go to \USER\MARKD.
Of course, normal rules about path/directory names apply.
Saving the Current Location
---------------------------
IGO can save off the current directory in the IGO.LOC file to allow a quick
return later. This is especially useful for BATch programs. Almost all of
my batch programs return me to the directory where I started when I ran the
program.
To do this you use the "-S" (for "save") command. Therefore,
IGO -s UTIL\DOCS
will save off the current location and try to go to "UTIL\DOCS". To return
later,
IGO -r
The "R" stands for "Return". The IGO.LOC file will automatically be
removed during the return.
You can manually remove the IGO.LOC file with the command "IGO -C" (for
"clear").
Sorting the IGO Alias Directory
-------------------------------
You can sort the IGO.DIR file simply by using the SORT program provided
with DOS. Check out your DOS documentation about how to sort files.
Finding Files
-------------
Have you ever been looking for a file but couldn't seem to find it? Well,
IGO can look for the file and then TAKE YOU TO THAT DIRECTORY! The file
doesn't have to be in the command path; IGO searches the entire disk.
IGO can search the entire disk and if the file is found, change into the
directory where the file was found. If there is more than file by the same
name, IGO gives you the opportunity to choose which one you meant.
No wild card characters (* and ?) are not allowed since this is a search
for a specific file. If enough people ask for it, however, I might be
persuaded to add this capability.
So, how do you do this? With the "F" (for Find) command.
IGO -f MYLOGO.PCX
The above command will ask IGO to search the entire disk for the file
"MYLOGO.PCX" and go to that directory.
While IGO is searching the disk, you will see a message which shows you the
number of files IGO has examined. I put this message out because some
large hard disks can take a while (like mine) to search - no matter how
fast the disk access may be.
Can you stop a search? Yes. Pressing the ESC (escape) key will stop the
search at any time.
Quick Find
----------
Sometimes I only want to find the file and go there. I don't want to be
bothered with questions about multiple copies...
So, the -F1 command (as opposed to -F only) has been added. If you use the
command as shown above, but add a "1" after the "F" (no spaces allowed),
IGO will take you to the directory where the FIRST occurrance of the file
was found.
This not only cuts the disk search time as soon as a file is found but it
takes you to that directory without stopping for questions.
IGO Change History
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
v1.0 Initial release to CompuServe.
v1.1 Fix a problem with long path names.
v1.2 Add ability to use '.' as "current directory" when adding
new alias names. So, IGO -A .\TODAY will give the current
directory path followed by "\TODAY".
v1.3 If -R (return) is set then automatically set -C (clear old
location) unless -C is found on command line. If -C is
explicitly on command line, do whatever it says. This way,
you can simply return with -R and clear the old location name
or explicitly ask IGO not to clear the location (-C-).
If the destination is not found, say so.
Fix the exit value: 1 = initialization error (rare)
2 = option conflict error
3 = error changing directory
Add -F (Find file) option to search for a specific file by
name. Currently, only a full and complete file name matched
exactly will work.
Add -F1 variation to allow finding a file w/o asking questions.
The first file found will be the trigger to go to that directory.
IGO Change History
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
v1.4 Correct a problem where alias names might become confused if the
whole alias name (or a similar actual directory name) was not
provided. That is, "X" might return the alias X-RATED or XTRA;
depending upon which was found first.
Add "/?" help syntax to help those using MS-DOS v5.0. This option
requests help. "-?" is also valid.
Add the IGODIR program to build the list of possible alias
directory names. This program examines the current disk (if you're
on C: it will look on C:\) and builds a file called IGODIR.DIR
layed out just like the IGO.DIR file. You can edit this ascii text
file to eliminate duplicates and/or change/delete the alias names
found there.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
IGO is not free or public domain; IGO is distributed as SHAREWARE. This
means that you don't have to worry about buying something you can't use
and then have troubles returning it. Shareware allows you to try before
you buy. Use it for a few weeks and, if you find it useful, register the
program with the author. The nominal registration fee will get you a free
copy of the most recent software and, optionally, notice of any upgrades.
IGO is marketed and distributed by Silver Wolf Software through an agreement
with the author. If you have any questions, call (818) 889-0800 or send a
message in CompuServe to 71441,1637 (that's me).
REGISTER TODAY!
Silver Wolf Software (compuserve: 76470,245)
31255 Cedarvalley Drive
Suite 211
Westlake Village, CA 91361
IGO Copyright (c) 1990 Mark S. Daly