This easy-to-use and fast application creates catalog files of CD-ROMs, hard disks, floppies, ZIPs and almost everything that turns. Using the powerful research function you are able to easily locate and display files or folders.
While reading this document please keep in mind that English is not my native language. Nevertheless I hope that the translation is acceptable.
The story
The whole thing started on one of those days that found me frantically searching my zillions of floppies and CD-ROMs for one particular file. Of course, I just found it on the last possible volume.
After this enlightening event I decided to search my huge software collection for a suitable cataloging tool. Most unfortunately, my search turned out empty.
Some of the tools I found required system extensions - which I do not like very much. One even created alias files of the contents of the CD-ROMs, a stupid behavior if you have some 100,000 files on several disks (the Mac OS does not like that!). Some programs were simply too slow or did puke at large CD-ROMs. Some expensive commercial applications were not native or would not run in the background. Most tools didn't even support drag&drop!
So I made up my mind and started my own little project. Since some of my friends were quite positive about my ideas, I decided to put the results into a shareware program called "CDFinder". The application should be easy to use, very fast, support drag&drop, work in the background and include powerful search tools.
And here it is!!
System requirements
CDFinder needs System 7.0 or newer and at least a 68020-CPU or a Power-Mac. Since it also uses Color QuickDraw, it can't run on any of the older Mac Plus, SE, Classic and the PowerBook 100. I did my tests on many different Power-Macs, native and using the 68k emulation. If you have drag&drop installed, the application uses it in some parts (see "Help").
Theory of operation
CDFinder displays every known catalog in it's main window. You can sort the content by name, size, or label. By changing the name of a catalog, you can influence the sort order for a given catalog (put a space in front of the name to let it appear right on top, if you sort by name).
Using drag&drop (if installed) or "Create Catalog…", you can create a new catalog of a volume. To create lots of catalogs, try using "Batch Create…", which will eject any volume afterwards.
To display the content of a catalog, simply double click it or select it and press "return". To obtain more information about any catalog or any object inside a catalog, simply use "Information".
But what is an amount of catalogs without the ability to search them? Nothing! That's why you should take a very close look at the window "Find…". It will allow you to enter the type and content of information you look for, and also narrow the range by including only catalogs with a selected label to the search.
Performance
CDFinder is absolutely optimized for the PowerPC processor but runs very fast on the "older" Macs as well. Another positive aspect is the simple fact that you can move the program during time consuming processes into the background to work with other things.
However, CDFinder must handle a real big amount of data, just go and check the size of your catalog folder! A very simple way to improve the performance is to increase the memory partition of CDFinder. Please note that increasing the file system cache using the control panel "Memory" will have no valuable effect at all, on the contrary. CDFinder is using it's own sophisticated caching mechanism that simply knows more about the state and importance of the data than the file system.
Special things...
Since CDFinder is basically designed to handle huge amounts of huge CD-ROMs and other volumes whose contents will not change at all or only very seldom, the program does not check if anything changes on the volume while the catalog is being created. This can lead to some problems if the volume is in fact changed, which is quite likely to occur for file server volumes. In that case, the content of the catalog may not be identical to the content of the volume. A later version of the program will add the feature to update a catalog file (maybe even show the differences? Any ideas? Tell me!)
It is possible to change the name of a catalog by using the "Information" window. You can also add a comment, which is displayed (first line only) in the main window if you have chosen "View With Icons".
Limitations
The unregistered version of CDFinder will annoy you at every launch with a little dialog reminding you of the benefits of paying your shareware fee. The number of catalogs is also reduced to 15, which is enough to evaluate the application and its functions.
History
Since 1.1 is the first bilingual version of CDFinder and all earlier versions were not distributed outside of Germany, history begins right here.
I will release a version 1.1.1 in a few weeks, because there will surely be some smaller bugs and definitely some typos and misspellings in this part of the documentation.
I will release the next version - 1.2 - hopefully in December '96 with the following planned improvements:
- Even better user interface with some buttons and more drag&drop
- You will be able to label files and folders in catalogs and find them
- You may change the name of files and folders and add comments to them
- It will be possible to update catalog files (if you changed the contents somehow)
Legal stuff
CDFinder is shareware.
The application "CDFinder" and all included materials are protected by copyright law. You may not disassemble it or modify it with similar tools.
You may copy the program together with all additional documents as often as you want, as long as you don't modify any part of it! You may not sell it or use it commercially in any other way without my written consent.
If you want to distribute CDFinder on a shareware collection CD-ROM or anything like that, you have to inform me with an e-mail or a written letter. I'd also like to have a copy of the CD-ROM, if possible...
For a trial period of 30 days you may freely use the program. After that, you need to register it.
In absolute no way am I responsible for any damage occurring by the use of the software.
Registration
CDFinder is shareware. For private use, the fee is 20 DM (or 15 US-$, or 10 £ (British pound)).
Multi user licenses and site licenses for companies are available. Please contact me.
For additional 5 DM (or 5 US-$, or 2 £ (British pound) I send you a floppy disk containing the most recent version of the program (by airmail, if possible).
You can pay cash by simply adding the money to your registration form.
I also accept International Money Orders, but no U.S. Money Orders.
You can also transfer the payment directly to my bank account.
My account number:
101 8715 10 (Norbert M. Doerner)
at:
Raiffeisenbank Aschaffenburg eG
Glattbacher Ueberfahrt 18
63741 Aschaffenburg
Germany
If you fill in your registration form without using the dialog provided by CDFinder, please print carefully. My brand new biological character recognition system (BRAIN 3.0) still needs some training ;-)
After I receive the payment, I will send you your personal registration keyword by snail mail (airmail, if possible).
Acknowledgements
First of all I would like to thank my wonderful wife Silvia. Without her patience, the development process would not have been possible.
I also want to thank all those who helped my doing the first beta testing and thereby provided invaluable assistance checking the functions and user interface of the software: Wolfgang Warmbold, Martin Girschick, Patrick Röder, Michael Stunz, Manfred Kunkel, Heiko, and Manfred Richter.
The comments and notes of all registered users also helped a lot.
Please send me ideas, comments, notes and Cocoa Puffs!
