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CAT - a - DISK
===============
Disk Cataloging Program
Copyright 1988,1989 - Andrew C. Manti Jr.
Version 3.1
4/12/89
This program is distributed as User Supported Software.
Users are licensed to copy and distribute this program freely
as long as it is in its original form and includes this
documentation file. It is however, protected under United
States Copyright laws and as such can not be sold or in any
way distributed for profit without the prior written consent
of the author.
User Supported Software is made possible only through the
support and contributions made by satisfied users. After an
initial evaluation period, if you find this program useful,
you are requested to pay a $15 registration fee. Benefits of
being a registered user are detailed later in this document.
Thank you for your support
Andrew C. Manti Jr.
2 Deana Rd.
Methuen, Massachusetts
01844
CAT - a - DISK
==============
Contents
----------
Introduction................................. 1
Hardware Requirements........................ 2
Registration................................. 2
Initial Set Up............................... 3
Getting Started.............................. 4
Details of Menu Choices...................... 6
Initializing Catalogs........................ 6
Cataloging Disks............................. 6
Uncataloging................................. 7
Printing..................................... 7
Searching.................................... 9
Creating Disk Identifiers.................... 9
Adding/Editing File Comments................. 9
Registration Form............................ 11
CAT - a - DISK
==============
Introduction
--------------
CAT - a - DISK is a disk cataloging program written in Turbo
Pascal (TM Borland Int.). The program is designed to allow
the user to compile a catalog of all of their floppy disks
The features of this program are as follows:
1. Catalog up to 2200 filenames on floppy (unlimited
on a hard disk)
2. Ability to select and use different catalog names
3. Catalog filenames from any drive on your system.
(The program automatically detects what drives
are available.)
4. Monochrome or color monitor operation at the
touch of a key.
5. Add comments of up to 30 characters to describe
or identify each file.
6. Catalog from disk root directory and up to three
sub directories deep
7. Consolidated listings of all files in
alphabetical order by filename in 2 column
summary or single column with file comments
included.
8. Detailed listings including file comments,
directory information or both.
9. Listings include filename, extension, file size,
and identifier of disk on which the file resides.
10. Listing by disk identifier printed in a fashion
to be cut and pasted to the front of a standard
5 1/4" disk envelope.
11. Consolidated listing by disk identifier giving
the amount of free space on each disk
12. All listings in a format that can be three hole
punched.
13. Automatic warnings to prevent re-cataloging of
the same disk twice or two disks with the same
identifier. (The user has the option to
continue with re-cataloging the entire disk or only
newly added files.)
14. Ability to UN-catalog a disk
Page 1
15. Search routine to locate the correct disk
containing any filename.
16. Ability to add or edit catalog comments at any
time.
Hardware Requirements
---------------------
IBM PC or compatible, minimum 384K RAM, 1 floppy drive,
DOS 2.0 or higher and an Epson/IBM compatible printer for
listings.
Registration
------------
This User Supported version of CAT-a-DISK is a fully functional
program with all its bells and whistles. Catalog information
created with this version is totally compatible with past and
future versions.
Benefits of becoming a registered user include receiving a
laser printed copy of the full users manual as well as a copy
of the next release of Cat-a-Disk and notification of other
programs as they may become available.
Registering a User Supported Program also supports the concept
of totally functional software as good or better than that
found commercially at affordable prices.
Registration is simple. Just fill in the registration form
at the end of this document and also included separately as
REGFORM.TXT. Send the completed form along with check or
money order for $15 (Payable to Andrew C. Manti Jr.) to:
CAT-a-DISK
c/o Andrew C. Manti Jr.
2 Deana Rd.
Methuen, Ma. 01844
You will receive your hard copy of the full user manual
by return mail within 10-14 days.
I thank you for your support!!
Page 2
Initial Set Up
--------------
All floppy disks to be cataloged must of course have some
sort of identification. To make the program compatible with
DOS 2.0 and 3.X, two methods of identification are
recognized. (Both of the methods to be described are
available to you from within the program itself by selecting
option 6 at the main menu.)
The first for DOS 3.X use, is the use of VOLUME LABELS on
your disks. Volume labels can be initialized during disk
formatting with the /V option. (i.e. FORMAT B: /V) Using this
option will prompt you for a volume label as you format each
disk. With DOS 3.2 you can add volume labels at a later time
by using the LABEL command. (See your DOS manual for more
details).
If you are using DOS 2.X, the program will recognize
a second method of labeling. The second method is through
the use of an IDENTIFIER FILE on each disk. Although this
method can also be used with DOS 3.X (separately or with Vol
labels), it is the ONLY acceptable identifying method for DOS
2.X!!
An Identifier (ID) File is a file on each disk which serves
only to identify the disk and is only 2 or 3 bytes long.
This file which has the form:
DSKIDxxx
can be created on any disk at any time. The first portion
of the ID file name must remain the same on all disks. The
last three (3) characters may be anything you wish to
identify the disk. The identifier of course must follow
standard DOS file naming conventions. For example the
following are all acceptable disk ID filenames:
DSKID001 DSKID299 DSKIDABC DSKIDA7X
These filenames can be added to an existing disk by typing
the following at the DOS prompt: (Substitute your ID for xxx)
COPY CON DSKIDxxx <ENTER>
<ENTER>
<F6> (or Control Z)
<ENTER>
The computer will respond with '1 File Copied'
NOTE: The 'DSKID' portion of the identifier MUST remain
unchanged for the program to operate properly!
Page 3
Getting Started
---------------
The program file CATADSK.EXE is the only file required to
start this program. This file should be copied onto whatever
disk will hold your catalog files. CATADSK.EXE and the
catalog files MUST reside on the same disk. The program will
create additional files for catalog data and indexing.
Once the CATADSK.EXE file has been copied to your catalog
disk, and your disks have had identifiers added, at the DOS
prompt type CATADSK to begin. The program will automatically
determine all available drives on your system as well as
which drive is in use and place your catalog files on that
drive. The automatic detection of drives is totally functional
if you are operating under DOS 3.xx. If using a DOS version
less than 3, a total of 26 drives will be available. The system
will however, check each drive you attempt to use and will not
allow you to select a drive which does not exist. When
started, a program information screen will appear. Pressing
any key will erase this screen and bring up the main program
menu.
The main menu will offer you 8 choices:
1. Initialize New Catalog Files
2. Catalog Disks
3. UN-catalog Disk
4. Print Catalog
5. Search Catalog
6. Create Disk ID
7. Add/Edit File Comments
8. End Program
Additional options are available at the bottom of the menu
screen. These options which are accessed by entering the
first or highlighted letter (ie [D]) will be described first.
These are:
[D]rive to Catalog - pressing the <D> key will change the
drive which you wish to catalog from.
In the case of a floppy drive, this
drive is where you place the disks you
want added to your catalog. If this is
a hard drive then the files on the hard
drive will be cataloged. Each time you
press <D> the drive letter will change.
All drives on your system are
automatically identified at startup so
there is no need to tell the program
what drives exist.
Page 4
[S]elect Catalog Name - this option gives you the opportunity
to select (or create) catalogs under
different file names. Using this option
allows you to have separate catalogs for
different types of disks. (ie.
Wordprocessing files, Game files etc.)
Pressing the <S> key will display a list
of available catalogs and give you the
opportunity to enter the name of the one
you wish to use. If you type the name of
a file that does not exist, it will be
created. The default catalog when you
first run Cat-a-Disk is 'Catalog'.
[F]ile Comments - this option allows you to add descriptions
of up to 30 characters to each catalog
entry. Pressing the <F> key toggles this
option on and off. Using file comments is
described later in this document.
[M]onitor - this option switches between Monochrome and Color
monitor mode. The program initially
boots in MONOCHROME mode. If you wish
to run in color mode, simply press the
<M> key. Again, this is a toggle, it
will change mode each time you press
<M>.
At the bottom of the main menu screen you will also find the
word 'Files:'. This is where you can see a running update as
to the number of files you have in your catalog.
Page 5
Details of Main Menu Choices
============================
Option #1: (Initialize Catalog)
-------------------------------
The first time the program is used or at any time that you
wish to start a new catalog, you must select choice 1 to
Initialize Catalog Files. Keep in mind that this choice
will ERASE any existing catalog data. With this version,
if a number of different catalogs are to be kept, a separate
disk for each catalog is required. When selected, this
choice will verify that in fact you want to initialize (and
delete any existing catalog files) before actually doing
anything.
Once you have initialized your catalog files, you are ready
to actually start building your catalog.
Option #2: Cataloging Disks
---------------------------
When you are ready to actually catalog your disks, select
the 'D' option from the bottom of the menu screen. Each time
you press 'D' the Drive to catalog will change.
Once you have selected a drive, you can select option 2 at
the main menu to actually catalog your disks. You will be
prompted to insert the disk to catalog in the selected drive
and to press <ENTER>. If you decide to quit at this point,
merely enter 'X' to abort the cataloging process.
The disk identifier will now be checked. If that disk (or a
disk with the same identifier) has already been cataloged,
you will be warned and given the option to continue or abort
the cataloging process. If you choose to continue, you will be
given the option of recataloging the entire disk or only files
which are new or have been added since the last time you
cataloged the disk. If you elect to recatalog the entire disk,
all references to that disk will be removed from the catalog
and the disk will be cataloged as if it were a new one.
If the disk to catalog has no identifier, you will be warned
of this also and the program will automatically return you
to the main menu.
If the identifier is new or you choose to re-catalog, the
disk will then be added to the catalog. If you have chosen
to include file comments ([F] option) you will be prompted
for your comments as each file is cataloged.
If you are using a single disk system, the program will
prompt you to swap disks as needed to complete the cataloging
process. Safeguards are built into the system to verify that
the proper disk has been inserted in the single drive so
should the program repeatedly prompt for the same disk, be
sure to verify which disk you have inserted!
Page 6
Once the disk has been cataloged, you will be returned to the
main menu from where you may catalog additional disks or
continue with other options.
Option #3: UN-Catalog Disks
---------------------------
This option allows you to remove all references to any
specific disk from the catalog without having to have the
disk available. This is extremely helpful if you have
erased a disk since it was cataloged and don't want the old
file information to remain in the catalog.
Option #4: Print Catalog
------------------------
Option 4 at the main menu will allow you to print a number of
different listings giving information about your disks.
When selected, this option will present you with a second
menu from which you can select the various report listings to
print. All printouts are formatted in a manner such that they
can be later three hole punched.
As with the main menu, the print menu also contains some
additional options at the bottom of the menu screen. These
options are:
[C]omments, which when on will include file comments
in your listings. These comments are added
to the listings printed from the 'Listing by
Filename' option on the print menu (Option 1).
[D]irectory List, which when toggled on will include
the actual directory in which each file
resides in your listings by filename.
The actual reports are as follows:
1. Listing by filename:
This listing will print a header and then a two
column listing of all the files which are in your
disk catalog. This listing if selected will give
you a list all files in alphabetical order going
down the first column and then picking up at the
top of the second column.
Each filename will be followed by the size of the
file and then the identifier of the disk which
contains the file.
Page 7
2. Specific Disk Identifier:
This option will print a listing by disk of all
files and their size in a format which can be cut
out and taped to the front of a 5 1/4" disk
envelope.
The list will begin by printing the identifier of
the disk and then the amount of free space left on
it. The program then instructs the printer to go
into compressed print mode, and prints all files
and their size in a four column format. The
filenames will be in alphabetical order from left
to right in each row. A maximum of 80 filenames
will fit in this format.
If you are using 3 1/2" disks, the printout can be
cut and folded and stored with each disk.
3. Disk Identifier Listings:
The final print option is similar to the first
option except that instead of printing filenames,
this option lists all of your disk identifiers and
shows the amount of available free space on each
disk.
This listing is helpful when looking to store
additional files and needing to know how much space
exists on any specific disk.
4. End Print Routine:
This option as you would expect, ends the print
routines and returns you to the main menu.
Option #5: Searching Files
--------------------------
Option 5 on the main menu allows you to search your entire
catalog for specific filenames. This option is very handy
when you remember the name (or a part of it anyway) for a
file you want, but cannot remember which disk it is on.
When selected, this option will prompt you for the filename
you wish to locate. You may enter the entire filename or
a portion of it or only the extension if you like. The
program will then locate and display every like file it
locates. Keep in mind that even partial matches will be
displayed. As each file found is displayed along with the
name of the disk it is on, you will be given the option of
continuing to search for more matches or quitting at that
point. If you wish to continue the search, respond to the
prompt with 'Y'. Any other response will exit the search.
When all files have been searched, a message indicating the
end of the search will be displayed.
Page 8
Note that when you enter the filename to search for, your
input is case insensitive. In other words, it doesn't matter
if you use upper or lower case letters, the program converts
everything to upper case before searching.
Option #6: Create Disk ID
-------------------------
This option is to take care of the case where you want to
catalog a disk but have forgotten to previously label the
disk. It allows you to add a DSKIDxxx (0K) file, (MANDATORY
if using DOS 2.x) or to add a volume label if using DOS 3.x.
If you are using DOS 3.x, you have choice of either method of
identification. If the disk you are cataloging already has a
volume label, this option will change the label.
Option #7: Add/Edit File Comments
---------------------------------
This is a new option with version 3.1 of CAT-a-DISK. One of the
major complaints I have received was that if you made a mistake
during cataloging with [F]ile comments ON, or decided later
that you wanted to modify a comment, you had no way to recover
once you had cataloged the disk. Now you have that ability.
File comments can now be added or edited for any filename in
your catalog at any time you wish.
When you select this option, you are first prompted for the
disk identifier of the disk which contains the filename you
wish to edit comments for. This is a necessary step since you
may have files with the same name on a number of disks. If you
are not sure of the disk ID, just check your CAT-a-DISK
printouts.
You are next asked whether you wish to edit or review comments
for all files on this disk or a specific filename only. If you
select a specific filename you are then prompted for the name
of the file. You may enter the entire name and extension or
just the first few letters of the name. The program will
search for all files meeting this criteria and allow you to end
the search and edit or continue searching until you find the
correct file. At this time DOS wildcards are NOT acceptable.
Once the file you wish to edit has been found, the screen will
clear and you will be shown the filename and allowed to enter
or edit your comments.
If you select to review all comments, you will be shown ten
(10) filenames at a time along with any existing comments. For
each page of filenames you have four options. You may press [N]
to view the next page of files, [P] to view the previous page,
[Q] to quit the edit function, or you may enter the number of
the file you wish to edit. If you enter a number, the cursor
will move to the beginning of the comment field for that
filename and you may add or edit the actual comment.
Page 9
The program will allow you to view up to 299 files and comments
in a group. Should the disk you are editing have more than
this number you will be given the option of viewing the next
group when you press [N] at the display of the 291-299th files.
If you select to view the next group of files you will also be
allowed to return to the previous group when you press [P] at
the display of the first 10 files in the group. You can only
back up one (1) group of previous files!
The editing commands are straight forward:
INS - switch from insert to overwrite mode
DEL - delete the character under the cursor
BS - (Backspace) erase the character to the left of
the cursor
Left & Right Arrow Keys - move cursor left or right
Home - Move to start of comment
END - Move to last character in comment
ENTER - End edit
The program will default to a mode to enter new comments. If
you wish to edit an existing comment and find nothing happens
when you type, just press the INS key and you will be in
business.
Option #8: End Program
----------------------
This option at the main menu is self explanatory.
Page 10
CAT - a - DISK
Disk Cataloging Program
Version 3.1
Registration Form
=================
Please register me as a user of CAT-a-DISK. This form along
with my $15 (Fifteen dollar) registration fee entitles me to
a printed copy of the user manual by return mail as well as
a copy of the next release of Cat-a-Disk.
Name:__________________________________________________
Address:_______________________________________________
City:___________________________State:_______ Zip:___________
=============================================================
The following information will aid me in determining what
types of other programs and support might be of interest.
Please take a second and help me out!
1. Computer:____________________________
2. Printer:_____________________________
3. Is Monitor Color or Mono? _________________
4. Do you have a hard disk? __________________
5. Where did you obtain your User Supported version of this
program?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT..............
Please mail with check or money order payable to Andrew C.
Manti Jr. (NO cash please!) to:
CAT-a-DISK
c/o Andrew C. Manti Jr.
2 Deana Rd.
Methuen, MA. 01844
