PsL Monthly 1994 January/PSL Monthly Shareware CD-ROM (Public Software Library) (January 1994).iso/reviews/u1_07

Text File | 1993-11-10 | 12KB | 326 lines

U1-07:  File Cataloging


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#1148 File Catalog Programs          Small Programs Disk
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1148 File Description Listers
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These are programs that like sorted directory listers or file managers whose
main reason for being is to let you save file descriptions right in the
directory so that you can see them the next time you use the program to view
the directory.

Frankly, the program Taxi (disk #2744) does the best job of this, in our
opinion, but the following programs each have somewhat different approaches
which other people may prefer.

CDir (CDIR-KC)
   Curtis, C. Kenneth
   $0

DirNotes (DIRNOTE)
   Mefford, Michael J.
   $0
(note: this program appears not to work with subdirectories that have
numbers in the name.)

FileNotes 1.6 (FILENTS)
   RSE, Inc.
   $25
is a 26k TSR which allows you to easily attach 160 character pop-up notes to
your filenames. You can also view, delete, rename and tag copy files as well
as change drives and directories.

What 2.14
   Newell, Bill
   $15

What2 1.3
   Ross, Kevin
   $?

XDir
   Weinstein, Iram J. ASP
   $25


1148 Disk File Cataloging
-------------------------
DCAT 3
   Deakin, John
   $0
is a floppy disk file catalog program.  It will not read hard disks, but it
will read subdirectories.

MaxCat 1.1
     Burgstahler, Max
     $20
is full featured diskette cataloging utility which creates a searchable index
using volume labels. Comments can be added to entries. You can search the
catalog by filename or extension; export the catalog to an ASCII comma
delimited file; and extract filenames from both ARC and ZIP files. Requires
DOS 3.

Newdex
   Bobo, Ronald
   $?
is a simple disk file cataloging program. It reads disk directories and stores
the data in a straight text file.

--------------------------------
END OF SMALL PROGRAMS DISK #1148
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CatDisk 7.02
   Hillier, Rick ASP
   $25
   #27338/1277 [2 disks] (08-93 CD)
catalogs files, including contents of subdirectories and archives. It has the
capability to extract comments from archives files during the cataloging
process; it can import comments from a text file, such as a bbs file listing.
It can insert the resolution and color information for GIF files. Other
features include two-sided printing of reports, support for 4DOS/NDOS file
descriptions, ARJ and HYPER file support, mass-delete, and more.


Diskcat
   Ford, Nelson ASP
   $40
   #27338/591
is a floppy disk catalog program.  It also allows you to add categories and
descriptions.


InteliCat 1.89b [INTELCAT]
   Little, Curtis
   $25
   #27338/2741 (09-93 CD)
(formerly LogiCat) is a very slick looking and fast disk cataloging program.
Features include the ability to read hard disks, subdirectories, and archives;
key word and comment fields; automatic disk naming; multi-level sorting;
searching on text strings; displaying on screen or printer with search
criteria and user defined formats. Drawbacks are a cumbersome method of
changing drives to be read, inability to screen out types of files, and no
option to print disk directory labels. The maximum number of files allowed
appears to be around 5000. Comment listings from some BBS types can be
imported, which is a big plus. EMS/XMS support is provided, and a hard disk is
recommended.


PMCat+
   Scott, William C. ASP
   $25
   #27338/2072
is a floppy and hard disk file cataloging and browsing program. It has Mouse
support, context sensitive help, pick list windows, and the ability to read
cataloged files, archived or not. It supports ARC, ZIP, ZOO, PAK, LZH formats
and reads subdirectories. A Soundex capability for filenames is included.
(Soundex allows you to search for names without having the exact spelling.)

Other features include automatic sorting and save to disk for categories, the
ability to retain category names, the ability to sort on Disk Number, the
ability to change or retain disk numbers in catalog, and a routine to print
the summary at the end of a printout. Requires 640k.


QLib3
   Creative Resources
   $25
   #1424
is a menu-driven disk cataloging program designed for user groups to catalog
floppies. Features include disk listing import, the ability to edit entries
and more.


Taxi!
   Dresser, Larry
   $23-$33
   #27341/2744
is the "perfect" read-and-run program that we have been looking for all these
years. It brings up a sorted directory listing of files to which you can attach
up to 40-character descriptions, using the same format that 4DOS uses and which
can be viewed in DOS with the TYPE command or with List, etc.

You can view text files and run program files with a keypress. This is ideal
for crowded UTIL subdirectories in which the purpose and/or syntax of a lot of
programs are soon forgotten. Many file management features are included. (The
author is no longer at the address provided in the documentation.)


Memos&More
   JCK Enterprises
   $25-$40
   #27341/2830
is what we call a Read-and-Run type program. It allows you to view files in a
directory, including descriptions of each file which you can enter and save. It
will also let you "launch" an application by selecting a data file to be used by
that application, or run a program by selecting it, view or edit files easily
with its built in editor, copy, move, rename, print and delete files and
make/remove directories. It will also display two directories for easy
comparison and moving/copying files between them.

M&M is similar in nature to Taxi (#2744, above). Some differences are that
Taxi uses one line descriptions of files and M&M allows up to 500 characters
of description for each file. We prefer Taxi's method which allows you to see
brief descriptions of a lot of files at once, since you can always pop up a
description file of any length for more details, but this is a purely personal
preference. Taxi is also the easier of the two to use, because it has a menu
bar for accessing its features, while M&M requires you to remember "hot keys"
or to scroll through lengthy on-screen documentation. Finally, Taxi's
description files are 4DOS compatible.

However, M&M is still a very worthwhile program and will be preferred by people
wanting the longer file descriptions and the ability to compare directories.


Disk Rak
   SOFTreat
   $25
   #3859
is a floppy catalog program that is based on storage trays. Up to 1000 disks
each in up to 1000 trays can be cataloged. Disk labels can be printed on
standard mailing labels, 3.5" disk labels, and 4 x 1/4" disk labels. It includes
the assigning of categories, titles and comments, record editing, browsing,
printing capabilities, index reports, fast look-up, and more. Requires 384K and
a hard disk.


Diskmate 2.33  [DISKMATE]
   Key Software Services
   $22
   #12465 (09-93 CD)
is a disk file catalog program. Each disk read can be assigned a Box
number as well as a disk number and volume label. This allows you to
store your disks in boxes and easily locate a particular disk.

Disk and file descriptions can be easily entered and edited. The
contents of archive files are automatically read and can be displayed on
screen at the press of a key. Disk directory labels can be previewed on
screen and printed. Diskmate requires 1MB of disk space.


DiskTrak
   Peninsula Software
   $15
   #3860
helps keep track of disks. It creates a database with a list of disks, files
names, free space, comments and more. It extracts files stored inside a ZIP,
PAK, ARC, and LZH archive file. It labels disks, delete and/or restore any set
of files in its database, and produce five types of hard and/or soft copy
reports of its database contents.


EZ-Disk Admiral 1.11
   EZX Corporation
   $55
   #3255
catalogs the directories of all of your disks, including hard disks. It will
optionally catalog the contents of archive files. Data is stored in standard DBF
files for easy access with any dBase compatible programs. However, EZDA offers a
number of viewing, searching and printing options within the program. This is a
nice program; unfortunately, testing it is made a pain by the author's use of
"nusiance screens" that pop up for five seconds at a time at intervals - a
"feature" found in many, if not all, EZX programs.


FBNCat
   Miller, Larry D. and FBN Software ASP
   $25
   #3127
is an easy-to-use disk catalog manager. It also supports the most
popular archives. Requires 512K.


OMNIDizk
   Unicorn Software Limited ASP
   $25
   #3260
is a disk file catalog program. You may enter a 21 character title, a
four-digit disk number, a three-character code and two lines of remarks up to
65 characters each. You can print labels and lists and search by name,
description, date, title, disk number code, or remarks. It has support for
1-15/16" X 2-3/4" labels and a compatibility utility program for users of
QEMM.


PC-Catalog
   Andrews, Dale R.
   $20-$40
   #2546
is a disk/file cataloging system. It is menu driven, mouse aware, and reads
all types of disks. It also reads file names and descriptions from inside ARC,
ZIP, LZH, PAK, ZOO, and can read LHarc and PKZip self-extracting files. EMS is
used when available. It allows you to enter keywords and descriptions for
everything, automatically add BBS descriptions, view files with any external
program, and search for things in several ways including looking for
duplicates. You can customize your report printouts and write to a printer or
a disk file.

If you try to print a complete catalog to either a file or the printer, it
prints only a part of the catalog. A fix is under way, but meanwhile you can get
around it by the following procedure: Find things Name [ENTER] [F5]. This finds
everything, if you have enough memory; otherwise, you have to wait for the fix.


PibCat
   Burns, Philip R.
   $0
   #1544
is a disk file cataloging program.  It lists all files in all subdirectories
on a given disk, and also lists the entries in library files of the .ARC,
.PAK, .MD, .ZOO, .LBR, .ZIP and LZH formats.  You may indicate a match
criterion for files, and you may suppress the library files expansion listing.
Turbo Pascal source code included.


QuickCat 1.01 [QUICKCAT]
   Micro System Solutions ASP
   $42
   #2369 (11-93 CD)
will quickly catalog, update, and query every file on all disks,
diskettes, and CD-Roms. It can catalog all major archive types, and up
to 60-character descriptions can be added. Disk directory labels may be
printed for 5.25 and 3.5" diskettes.


Software Susie II 1.2 [SUSIE]
   Lansford Software
   $25
   #2497 (09-93 CD)
will keep track of all your computer software. It is NOT a disk file
cataloging program such as those that will read a disk directory and store the
information in a file. It is a database program optimized for keeping track of
of all the information you might possibly need about the software programs you
own, such as serial number, vendor, publisher, related phone numbers, cost,
etc. Several reports can be generated.

While the author seems to be aiming this program at businesses that have lots
of software to keep track of, it could be a very useful tool for pd/shareware
librarians for distributors or user groups (even more so if there were an
option to print the programs sorted by category).


WSSIndex 5.27
   Babcock, Robert W.
   $38
   #2724  (10-93 CD)
is a program for keeping track of files stored on floppy or hard disks.  A
database is created which contains, for all of your disks, the information
normally available from the DOS DIR command, as well as optional comments and
categories describing each file.  The information in the database may be
printed with various sorting options, or may be searched for specific file
names with wild cards in case you don't remember the exact name of the file
you are looking for.

Additional functions include listing files without current backup copies;
extracting directory information from ARC files; support for LBR, ZIP, ZOO,
PAK, PKA, ARK, and LARC; the ability to extract comments from libraries; a
database file splitter; a powerful text search option; mouse support; support
for ARJ and GIF files and much more.

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