Night Owl 6/Night Owl's Shareware - PDSI-006 - Night Owl Corp (1990).iso/015a/obscd.zip/TOOLKIT.DOC

Text File | 1991-09-23 | 10KB | 217 lines

                               Obs Toolkit

                             Contrails, Inc.
                               Lompoc, CA

                             [phone]


This is only a component of Obs Toolkit. The complete Toolkit can be
acquired on CompuServe/Ziffnet ZNT:UTILFORUM (ASP Utilities) in the file
OBSKIT.ZIP.

Obs Toolkit components are available on IBMSYS.

This document provides a description of all the tools in the Toolkit.


ListFiles (OBSLF.ZIP)
---------
  A directory program with spice. ListFiles can sort the files any way
  you want (by size, time, name, extension, or combinations thereof). It
  can recurse through subdirectories. It can restrict the filenames with
  extended wildcards, and can exclude up to 8 filespecs. You can request
  multiple filespecs, restrict based on size, time, or file attributes.

  ListFiles can search out files with duplicate directory entries or
  duplicate contents. It will report files that have old timestamps and
  files that are executable but hidden because of DOS's search algorithm.

  ListFiles has improved page handling and can still be paused when you
  type characters when scrolling; you can even flip ListFiles into paged
  display mode after the listing has started (it is 25/43/50 line aware).

  ListFiles is a superset of the DOS 5 "DIR" command.


MultiFile (OBSMF.ZIP)
---------
  A file manipulator. MultiFile can copy, rename and delete files.
  MultiFile can even modify a file's directory entry (attributes, and
  timestamp). It has the same file restriction capability as ListFiles,
  but you can now request a prompt to selectively confirm each file.
  MultiFile can recurse subdirectories also.

  When copying files, MultiFile can be directed to just update the files
  in the target directory with the newer files in the source, or replace
  the files in the target, or add to the files in the target. Those
  options can be combined so that you can update & add, etc.... MultiFile
  can even reset the Archive attribute after copying the file. You can
  even hoist all of the latest files in a directory branch into a
  specified directory. MultiFile will even create the directory.

  When moving files, you can rename the files in the current directory,
  move them between directories, and even move them across disks. The
  move allows you to move entire directory branches and you can even
  rename an existing directory.

  MultiFile warns you before overwriting an existing file, or deleting a
  Read-only file (these warnings can be overridden). You can even
  perform a test run to see what would be done if you let MultiFile write
  to disk.


ObsCD (OBSCD.ZIP)
-----
  ObsCD is a quick directory change program. It can figure out what
  directory you want when you mis-type; it can change the current disk
  and directory; it can push and pop directories; and it can make and
  remove directories. When making directories you can change into them
  immediately.

  ObsCD is smart. It works very hard to keep the Hot directory file
  current. Whenever you create, make, or visit a directory, ObsCD will
  update its Hot directory file. (Not a rebuild, just an update, and it
  is not required.) ObsCD can even use quick change logic on floppy
  drives without writing to the floppy.

  With ObsCD you can write batch files that restore the directory
  environment to the way it was before you ran the batch file. You can
  exclude disks & directories that you do not want to be included in the
  Hot directory file. You can place the Hot directory file on any drive.
  You can push the current directory, and pop back later (stack can be up
  to 9 entries deep).


EnvEdit (OBSEE.ZIP)
-------
  EnvEdit is a DOS environment editor. You can modify the current DOS
  environment, its parents, or the root environment. You can
  interactively edit a variable, or you can perform batch mode editing.
  EnvEdit will also give you status on the environment block.

  The interactive editor can handle very large environment variables, and
  in fact, can be used to create environment variables which exceed the
  DOS command line limitation. This is useful to create PATH variables
  which are as long as you want.

  The batch mode editor can insert, append, and replace text in any
  environment variable. This can be quite handy to modify a PATH prior to
  launching a program, and then restore it when exiting.

  The status reports the total space of the environment block and how
  much is available, and reports the memory location where the
  environment block is located.


FileDump (OBSFD.ZIP)
--------
  FileDump reports the contents of files. The files can be reported in
  text, ASCII characters only, HEX dump, strings only, or a count of the
  total number of bytes, words, lines, and pages.

  You can restrict the output to start at a specific line or byte, and/or
  end at a specific line or byte (those calculations can be relative to
  one another). You can strip the high bit and even select the tab
  spacing.

  The page handling allows you to interrupt the scrolling display at any
  time (regardless of the keys pressed). You can chose to wrap long lines
  or truncate them. You can even have the lines numbered.

  When catenating files together, they are kept in the order specified,
  and when wildcards each is dereferenced in alphabetical order. You can
  catenate files as text files or binary files.

  A nifty feature is the Smart option. When that option is invoked,
  FileDump will work very hard to present the file in optimum form,
  regardless of the output mode chosen.


DirSize (OBSDS.ZIP)
-------
  DirSize produces a directory tree of the directory specified. Along
  side of that tree it can report size information and/or the creation
  date of the directory. DirSize was released to the Public Domain in May
  1990. The reception was so good it put the author into Shareware.

  The size information contains the total number of files in the
  directory, the total number of cluster bytes occupied by those files,
  and if there are sub-directories, the total number of cluster bytes
  occupied in that entire directory branch. This information can be very
  useful in deciding what directories to eliminate/move when you require
  additional disk space. (Remember MultiFile will do that for you.)

  The tree can be abbreviated to the depth specified, and at your option,
  the size information can still be collected. DirSize now provides an
  improved screen display format and is correct (as compared against
  CHKDSK).


Locate (OBSLOC.ZIP)
------
  Locate is a command locator and a multi-disk file finder. When
  operating as a command locator, Locate will search the DOS path to
  determine which file will be executed when a command is invoked at the
  command line. When operating as a file finder, you can select the disks
  that you want searched.

  The command locator can be used to tune your path statement. When you
  request to locate a single command, Locate will time the search to the
  command. This shows how (in?)efficient a path search can be. It is also
  interesting to locate which commands are supported via DOS internal
  commands, and those supported by .COM, .EXE, and .BAT files.

  The file locator is the same as what you are probably familiar with.
  The real difference is performance. Locate is considerably faster than
  most. Given the additional wildcard control and selective disk search,
  it is a noteworthy improvement. Locate can also include system and
  hidden files in its search.


Alias (OBSALI.ZIP)
-----
  Alias is an alias translator. As far as alias programs go, this one is
  pretty simple (but it isn't a slouch). Simple operation, and simple to
  use. The alias program is provided to serve one important purpose, and
  that purpose is to remap some of the DOS internal commands to the
  Toolkit equivalents.

  The Toolkit capabilities map easily to that familiar DOS interface. It
  is so seamless in fact, that many users will never notice that the
  Toolkit is running. You wont have to learn a thing to use the Toolkit.
  But when you do, you'll wonder how you got along without it.

  Now you can have a more powerful DIR command. A smarter COPY. A rename
  that can move files too. A PATH that you can edit. A TYPE that can
  display multiple files and page its own output. A CD that will get you
  there quickly without fussing. A SET that can read the current
  directory. In fact, most of the DOS internal commands (and many of the
  external ones) can be replaced by more capable Toolkit equivalents.

  You don't have to use the Alias program supplied by the Toolkit.
  Although it will be improved in later versions (watch out!); any alias
  capability can be very handy. That's why we provide aliases for other
  popular aliased environments, such as, DOSKEY, CMD-ED, PCED, and more.
  If your's isn't listed, then you can easily add the Toolkit commands to
  your existing configuration.


Summary
-------
  With all of the Toolkit commands, you get improved wildcards, better
  display handling, more capability and better protection. In fact, with
  the COPY command, you are actually safer than with DOS! Try to copy a
  larger existing file onto a full floppy and see what happens. The
  existing file on the floppy will be deleted! Not with Obs Toolkit. If
  you want the file deleted, you delete it! No hidden favors.

  The complete Obs Toolkit is Shareware and is available for $39.00. For
  your convenience, you can register the entire Toolkit now. If you are
  still hesitant, then get a copy of the Shareware Toolkit and try it out
  for yourself. DOS will never be the same.

  Thank you for your interest in Obs Toolkit.

  Member of the Association of Shareware Professionals.