Introduction
Introduction to DateTime File Stamp

• 	Primary purpose of the DateTime File Stamp program is to stamp a collection of files with identical date and time before the files are distributed.  For example, a software developer may wish to stamp all files in a finished application, or just the newly created and modified files in an upgraded version of the application.

• 	A unique feature of the DateTime File Stamp program is the capability to modify the creation time of folders.

• 	The DateTime File Stamp program is also able to delete selected folders, including any files or subfolders, and to completely wipe out selected files.

• 	The program user interface features an Explorer-like folder tree and file list to help you navigate through the file system and select multiple files and folders for stamping or destruction.  The desired date and time is set by a bank of individual spin-buttons for month, day, year, hour, and minute or entered from keyboard in a variety of formats.  The date can be anything between the beginning of the year 1970 and the end of the year 2037.

Main Window

File Menu

Stamps Menu

Help Menu

Registration


Main Window

	←  Maximize_Box ←  Date/Time_Stamp ←  Folder_Tree ←  Sort_Buttons ←  File_List ←  File_Types


File Menu

	←  Make_Stamp  ←  Destroy_Files ←  Select_All_Folders ←  Select_All_Files ←  Options... ←  Time Zone... ←  Map_Net_Drive... ←  Remove_Net_Drive ←  Exit


Stamps Menu

	←  Maximum...  ←  Arrange ←  Delete_All ←  Recent_Date/Time Stamps


Help Menu

	←  Help_Contents...  ←  How_to_Use_Help... ←  Register... ←  About...


Date/Time Stamp

• 	On program start-up, the Date/Time Stamp edit control displays either the current system date and time or the last date and time used for stamping folders and files, depending on the check mark made in the previous session in the Time tab of the Options dialog box.  The date and time is rounded to the nearest minute, hour, day, or month,  depending on the minimum time step selected in the previous session by the Options menu command.  You can subsequently turn on a different date and time using the appropriate spin-buttons for month, day, year, hour, and minute.  The displayed date and time is used by the Make_Stamp menu command to change the creation time of folders and the last modification time of files selected in the main window File_List control.

• 	Keyboard control of the spin-buttons enables you to change the month, day, year, hour, or minute in steps larger than one.  After giving the input focus to the appropriate spin-button, either with the <Tab> key or clicking it with the mouse, use the <Up> and <Down> arrow keys to increment or decrement the corresponding element of the date and time display by one, just like clicking the spin-button with the mouse.  Use the <PgUp> and <PgDn> keys to increment the month indicator by 6 month, the day indicator by 7 days, the year indicator by 10 years, the hour indicator by 12 hours, and the minute indicator by 10 minutes.

• 	Alternately, you can enter the date and time from the keyboard and press the <Enter> key.  The two required fields are the month and the day of month.  If these two fields are not provided, the date and time do not change.  Other fields, such as the year, hour, minute, and the AM/PM string are optional.  If some of these fields are not entered, the current values are used.  The month can be either a number between 1 and 12 or a 3-letter abbreviation of the month name in English.  The year can be in either 4 or 2 digit format.  Individual fields (except AM/PM) must be separated by a space, tab, slash, backslash, hyphen, underscore, period, comma, colon, semicolon, or any combination thereof.  The trailing AM/PM string does not have to be separated.  Examples are "3/10", "3.10.1995", "3-10-95 11pm", "mar 10, 1995, 23:30", etc.  If you wish, for example, to keep the current date and only adjust the time, erase and re-enter just the hour, minute, and optionally the AM/PM string.  You can enter the time in either 12- or 24-hour format, regardless of the current time format selected in the Time tab of the Options dialog box.

• 	You can turn on (using the spin-buttons) or enter (using the keyboard) any date and time between January 01, 1970, 00:00 until January 19, 2038, 03:14 of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).  In western hemisphere, both limits shift up to -12 hours, depending on your time zone.  In eastern hemisphere, the lower limit shifts up to +12 hours, but the upper limit remains the same as the GMT upper limit.  Time zones in eastern hemisphere, which are located south of the equator and which use daylight savings (some Australian and New Zealand time zones), have their lower limits increased by additional +72 hours (+3 days) and their upper limits decreased by additional -72 hours (-3 days).  These limits are due to the operating system and programming language limitations.  Anything outside of these limits is ignored and will not affect or change the displayed date and time.

• 	Time is automatically adjusted for daylight saving according to the rules of the present time zone  set by the Time_Zone command or by the Windows 95/98 Date/Time Properties.  In all U.S. time zones, the daylight saving is in effect from 2:00AM standard time of the first Sunday in April until 2:00AM standard time of the last Sunday in October.  Other time zones may have different rules (particulary those used in southern hemisphere) or no daylight saving at all.  The rules are shown in the Time_Zone dialog box.


Folder Tree

• 	The Folder Tree combo control, called "Look in" on the main window, displays the name of the current open folder.  The drop-down list contains the names of all drives, removable, fixed, and network.  It also shows the folder path from the root directory on the current drive up to the current open folder and its sub-folders (if any).  If the appropriate option is checked in the dialog box of the Options menu command, these sub-folders are listed in the main window File_List control as well.

• 	You can use the drop-down list of the Folder Tree combo control to move one level down or several levels up in the folder tree on the current drive, or you can select another drive.  Any time you change the current open folder, both the Folder Tree and File_List controls are reset and refilled.


Sort Buttons

• 	Three Sort Buttons, called <Modified>, <Name>, and <Type>, are located right above  the main window File_List control.  You can use the <Modified> button to sort the folders by the creation time and files by the last modification time.  The <Name> button sorts the folders and files alphabetically by name and the <Type> button sorts files alphabetically by type, i.e., by the file extension.  Folders are sorted separately from files and always remain on top of the files in the main window File_List control.

• 	Each of the three Sort Buttons updates only the sorting order of the main window File_List  control.  If any folders or files were created, copied, moved, renamed, or deleted since the last refill of the control, these changes are not reflected until the File_List control is refilled again.  The one notable exception to this behavior is an automatic refill of the File_List control when one of the Sort Buttons is used right after typing in a user defined file type into the edit-line of the main window File_Types combo control.

• 	The fourth button left to the three Sort Buttons, with a little folder image and an up arrow, is not a sort button at all.  You can use this button to move one level up in the folder tree without opening the drop-down list of the main window Folder_Tree combo control. The File_List is scrolled down to show the previous folder on top.


File List

• 	The File List control contains a list of sub-folders and files, together with their dates and times, of the current open folder.  The control is automatically reset and refilled every time you open a new folder by moving up or down the folder tree, when you pick a new file type from the drop-down list of the main window File_Types combo control, and also when you change any file option in the dialog box of the Options menu command.

• 	Changing the time format in the dialog box of the Options menu command only updates the File List control.  If any folders or files were created, copied, moved, renamed, or deleted since the last refill, these changes are not reflected until the File List control is refilled again.  Sort_Buttons have similar effects, in addition to performing the specified folder and file sort.  The one notable exception to this behavior is an automatic refill of the File List control when a sorting button is used right after typing in a user defined file type into the edit-line of the main window File_Types combo control.

• 	Multiple folders and files can be selected in the File List control.  To select or unselect a folder or file, click it with the mouse.  Alternately, give the list item an input focus using the <Up> and <Down> arrow keys and then press the <Space> key.  With the exception of files currently in use by other applications, all selected files will have their last modification time changed to the date and time shown on the main window Date/Time_Stamp display when executing the Make_Stamp menu command.  The command will also change the creation time of all selected folders, unless some files in the folders or their subfolders are in use.  If you include any such folders in your selection and then execute the Make_Stamp menu command, you will receive error messages, one for each selected folder with files in use, as the command steps through the list.  Use the Select_All_Folders menu command for a quick selection of all folders listed in the File List control.  Use the Select_All_Files menu command for a of quick selection of all files.

• 	Double clicking on a folder listed in the File List control moves you down one level in the folder tree and opens the clicked folder.  Double clicking on an executable file starts the application.  Double clicking on a document file, i.e., on a file associated with another application, starts that application and loads the clicked file.  Giving focus to a folder or file and then pressing the <Enter> key has the same effect.  Please note that giving focus is different from highlighting.  Focus is indicated by a dashed border rectangle around the folder or file.

• 	You can drag folders and files from the Windows Explorer and drop them into the File list control.  Depending on whether or not you hold down the <Ctrl> key when you start this operation, the dropped folders and files are either moved or copied into the present open folder.  However, folders and files can be moved only within the same physical disk (even for a network drive mapped twice under under two different local drive letters).  If you try to move folders or files from one disk to another, the operation defaults to copying, regardless of the status of the <Ctrl> key.  If a file with the same name already exists in the present open folder, you have an option to overwrite it.  If a subfolder with the same names already exists in the present open folder, the drag and drop operation fails.  In addition, it is not possible to move or copy a folder unto itself or into one of its own subfolders.


File Types

• 	The list of available file types is reset and refilled every time you open a new folder by moving up or down the folder tree.  The file types include all file extensions found in the current open folder, plus the "All files (*.*)" type.  Although the DateTime File Stamp supports long file types, if the particular long file type is associated with more than one file extension, all these extensions are listed.  For example, both "Intermediate file (*.obj)" and "Intermediate file (*.res)" would be listed.  The main window File_List control is automatically reset and refilled upon selecting a new file type from the drop-down list of available file types.

• 	In addition to the predefined file types, you can specify any other file type, with the help of wildcards, by typing it in.  When finished typing, please update the main window File_List control by pressing the <Enter> key or one of the Sort_Buttons.


Maximize Box

• 	The Minimize and Restore boxes of the DateTime File Stamp program respond in exactly the same way as in other Windows applications.

• 	The Maximize box of the DateTime File Stamp program exhibits slightly different behavior from other Windows applications.  When maximizing the DateTime File Stamp Main_Window, the width remains the same.  Only height of the window is increased to fit the display, minus the hight of the Windows taskbar (if the taskbar is located at the either top or bottom screen edges, always on top of other application windows, and not in an auto-hide state - see the Windows Start menu, Settings → Taskbar command).  Height of the File_List control is increased as well, in order to fit the increased main window height, and make browsing of large file folders easier.  Drop-down box heights of the Folder_Tree and File_Types controls are also appropriately increased for the same purpose.  Restoring the main window size using the Restore box or the System menu Restore command also restores the original heights of all controls.

• 	Double clicking the DateTime File Stamp caption bar with the left mouse button has the same effect as clicking the Maximize or Restore boxes, just like in other Windows applications.


Make Stamp

• 	Use the Make Stamp command to actually change the creation time of folders and the last modification time of files selected in the main window File_List control to the date and time turned on the Date/Time_Stamp display by the year, month, day, hour, and minute spin-buttons.

• 	The Date/Time used for stamping is saved at the bottom of the Stamps menu, unless an identical Date/Time stamp already exists on the menu.  Stamps saved on the menu can be used again later on, without typing the date and time into the Date/Time_Stamp edit control or setting them with the help of the corresponding spin-buttons.

• 	The Make Stamp command will change the creation time of all selected folders, unless some files in the folders are in use by other applications.  If you include any such folders in your selection and then execute the Make Stamp command, you will receive error messages, one for each selected folder with files in use, as the command steps through the list.

• 	The Make Stamp command will change the last modification time even of the read-only, system, or hidden files if you include any files with these attributes in your selection.  Only in the case of read-only files you receive warnings, one for each selected read-only file, as the command steps through the list.  You have to confirm your intention to change the date and time of each read-only file before the command can proceed.  Alternately, you can confirm your intention for all selected read-only files or cancel the Make Stamp command progress.

• 	The Make Stamp command is unable to change the last modification time of files currently in use by other applications.  If you include any such files in your selection, you will receive error messages, one for each selected file in use, as the command steps through the list.

• 	When you stamp folders or files with a date ahead of the internal computer clock and then run the Norton Disk Doctor (NDD) manually, it reports disk corruption. If you allow NDD to fix it, it returns the future folder and file dates back to the present date.  If you do not, the NDD reports the same error next time you run it manually.  There is no disk corruption; the NDD just assumes that a future folder or file date must be a sign of it.  If you temporarily set the internal computer clock ahead of the stamped future dates and then run the NDD manually again, no disk corruption error is reported.  In any case, no disk corruption error is reported when you stamp folders or files with a date behind the internal computer clock, when you stamp with just the time ahead (within the present date), or when you run the Norton Disk Doctor automatically as a scheduled task.

• 	If no files or folders are selected in the  File_List control, the Make Stamp command is disabled.


Destroy Files

• 	When you delete a file by ordinary means, the file entry in the directory is marked invalid and the disk space occupied by the file becomes available for subsequent file storage.  However, until you create or copy some files following the delete operation, the deleted file is still present on the disk and can be recovered by various undelete utilities.  When creating or copying files, the operating system may randomly overwrite some or all segments of the previously deleted file, but not necessarily.  The entire deleted file or a portion of it may still be present and possible to recover.

• 	Use the Destroy Files command to destroy folders or to wipe out files selected in the main window  File_List control without trace.  All files in a folder selected for destruction and all files in its subfolders are also wiped out without trace and all the subfolders are destroyed.

• 	WARNING: The files are not just moved to the Recycle Bin or simply deleted. They are always completely lost and impossible to recover by various undelete utilities, not even segments of these files or their names.

• 	The Destroy Files command is able to destroy selected folders, unless some files inside these folders or their subfolders are in use by other applications.  If you include any such folders in your selection and then execute the Destroy Files command, you will receive error messages, one for each selected folder with files in use, as the command steps through the list.  Please note that only the files in use remain intact, while the other files are still wiped out.

• 	The Destroy Files command will wipe out even the read-only, system, or hidden files if you include any files with these attributes in your selection.  Only in the case of read-only files you receive warnings, one for each selected read-only file, as the command steps through the list.  You have to confirm your intention to destroy each read-only file before the command can proceed.  Alternately, you can confirm your intention for all selected read-only files or cancel the Destroy Files command progress.

• 	The Destroy Files command is unable to wipe out files currently in use by other applications.  If you include any such files in your selection, you will receive error messages, one for each selected file in use, as the command steps through the list.

• 	If no files or folders are selected in the  File_List control, the Destroy Files command is disabled.


Select All Folders

• 	The Select All Folders command selects all folders in the current open folder, i.e., folders listed in the main window File_List control, for date and time stamping or destruction.

• 	To clear the selection of all selected folders and files, just press one of the Sort_Buttons.

• 	If the File_List control is not set to display folders in the File tab page f the Options... dialog box, the Select All Folders command is disabled.


Select All Files

• 	The Select All Files command selects all files in the current open folder, i.e., files listed in the main window File_List control, for date and time stamping or destruction.

• 	To clear the selection of all selected folders and files, just press one of the Sort_Buttons.

• 	If the File_List control is not set to display files in the File tab page f the Options... dialog box, the Select All Files command is disabled.


Options
Options...

• 	The Options... command (Time tab page of the corresponding dialog box) allows you to choose 12- or 24-hour time format.

• 	You can start the next session of the DateTime File Stamp program either with the current date and time or you can keep the last date and time used for stamping folders and files, depending on the check mark in the Time tab.

• 	DateTime File Stamp program always stamps the files selected in the main window File_List control with time rounded to the nearest minute as a minimum time step.  Using the Time tab page, you can choose hours, days, or even months instead as the minimum time step.  When selecting hours, the time shown on the main window Date/Time_Stamp display is rounded to the nearest hour and the minute spin-button becomes disabled.  When selecting days, the time is rounded to the nearest day and both the minute and hour spin-buttons become disabled.  When selecting months, the time is rounded to the nearest month and the minute, hour, and day spin-buttons become disabled.

• 	The Options... command (File tab page of the corresponding dialog box) allows you to show sub-folders only, files only, or both in the main window File_List control, i.e., in the  current open folder.  Listing of sub-folders helps in navigating through the file system, because a mouse double-click on a sub-folder makes it the current open folder. This is the preferred way to go one level down in the folder tree on the current drive.

• 	Using File tab page, you can also direct the DateTime File Stamp program to list or hide system, hidden, read-only, or archive files, i.e., files with the system, hidden, read-only, or archive file attributes set.  Files with two or more of these attributes are not shown unless you include files with each of the corresponding attributes.

• 	You can allow all uppercase file and folder names, or you can change them to capitalized lowercase names for easier reading, depending on the on the check mark in the File tab. Please note that this applies only to the short (8.3) DOS style folder and file names.  File and folder names longer that the DOS limit are not affected even if their names are all capitals.

• 	When using keyboard control, give an input focus to the tab control with the <Tab> key.  Select the desired tab page with the <Left> and <Right> arrow keys.  Step into the tab page with the <PgDn> key and step out of the tab page with the <PgUp> key.


Time Zone
Time Zone....

• 	The Time Zone command allows you to select the time zone.  Similar capability is available in the Windows 95/98 Date/Time Properties, which you can access by double clicking on the Windows taskbar clock.  As opposed to this Windows utility, the Time Zone command allows you to select the time zone either by its name or by the location, where it is used.  The Time zone dialog box also shows the rules for daylight savings for the selected time zone.


Map Net Drive
Map Net Drive...

• 	The Map Net Drive command allows you to connect to a drive on the network and map it under a new local drive letter.  Similar command is available on the Tools menu Microsoft Windows Explorer (i.e., file manager) as well.  As opposed to the Windows Explorer, you do not have to type in the network path to the drive - you either select the network path fro the list of recent network paths (just like in the Windows Explorer) or you browse for it using the <Browse> button.  You can also clear the list of recent network paths using the <Clear All> button.  This option becomes handy if you want to remove non-existent network paths after your network configuration was changed.

• 	If you do not use the network security (for example, on your home computer network), you can leave the user name and password blank.  If the network security is used (usually at your workplace), you must provide valid entries for these fields.  Ask your network administrator, if you do not have or do not know your user name and password.

• 	You can make the connection persistent, i.e., Windows will try to connect to the selected network drive at the next log-on of the same user (usually at Windows start-up) and assign the same local drive letter.

• 	If no network is present, the Map Net Drive command is disabled.


Remove Net Drive
Remove Net Drive...

• 	The Remove Net Drive command disconnects from the network drive unless some files on this network drive are open or used by an active process on your computer.  In this case you receive a warning, which you can override and disconnect anyway.  Similar command is available on the Tools menu Microsoft Windows Explorer (i.e., file manager) as well.

• 	If you are disconnecting from a network drive, whose local drive letter is remembered for a persistent network connection, you can force Windows to forget this connection.  By default, this option is checked if the local drive letter of the selected network drive is actually remembered.

• 	If no network drives are connected, the Remove Net Drive command is disabled.


Exit

• 	The Exit command terminates the DateTime File Stamp program.


Maximum
Maximum...

• 	Using the Maximum command, you can set the maximum number of Date/Time stamps saved on the Stamps menu to anything between 1 and 25.  Twenty five additional menu commands just about fill a video monitor with 800 × 600 pixel resolution.

• 	The Date/Time stamps are added to the bottom of the Stamps menu whenever you stamp files or folders using the Make Stamp menu command, unless an identical stamp already exists on the menu.  After the maximum allowed number of Date/Time stamps is reached, the top stamp is simultaneously removed from the menu.

• 	The Date/Time stamps saved on the the Stamps menu can be divided into groups by inserting horizontal lines (separators) in the menu for improved readability.  By default, a separator is inserted after every fifth stamp.  Using the Maximum command, you can choose groups of different size.  Obviously, if the group size is greater than or equal to the maximum number of recent stamps, no separators are inserted.


Arrange
Arrange...

• 	Using the Arrange command, you can arrange the Date/Time stamps saved on the Stamps menu in an ascending order (past dates at the top, future dates at the bottom).

• 	The Arrange command also updates the 12- or 24-hour time format of the saved Date/Time stamps, depending on the current time format selected in the Time tab of the Options dialog box.

• 	If no more than one recent Date/Time stamp is present on the Stamps menu, the Arrange command is disabled.


Delete All

• 	Using the Delete All command, you can delete all Date/Time stamps saved on the Stamps menu.

• 	Individual Date/Time stamps can be removed from the Stamps menu by selecting them from the menu while holding down the <Ctrl> key.

• 	If no recent Date/Time stamps are present on the Stamps menu, the Delete All command is disabled.


Recent Date/Time Stamps

• 	Every time you stamp files or folders using the Make Stamp menu command, the current Date/Time stamp is saved at the bottom of the Stamps menu, unless an identical stamp already exists on the menu.  After the maximum allowed number of Date/Time stamps is reached, the top stamp is simultaneously removed from the menu.  The maximum is set by the Maximum menu command.  Recent Date/Time stamps saved on the menu can be used again later on, without typing the date and time into the Date/Time_Stamp edit control or setting them with the help of the corresponding spin-buttons.  Just select the desired stamp from the menu to insert it into the edit control.

• 	All recent Date/Time stamps can be removed from the Stamps menu using the Delete All menu command. Individual stamps can be removed by selecting them from the menu while holding down the <Ctrl> key.


Help Contents
Help Contents...

• 	The Help Contents... command displays context sensitive help window.

• 	If you press <F1> key or execute the Help Contents... command, help for the main window control object with the input focus is displayed.  Change the input focus by clicking the control object with the mouse or by pressing the <Tab> key.

• 	If you press <F1> key while tracking a menu, help on the pulldown menu or on the highlighted menu item is displayed.

• 	 If you press <F1> key while a dialog box is open, help on the dialog box is displayed. This help page is identical to the help page associated with the menu item that opens the dialog box.

• 	If none of the above conditions apply, the Help Contents are displayed.


How to Use Help
How to Use Help...

• 	The How to Use Help... command displays general directions on how to use the Windows help engine.


Register
Register...

• 	The Register... command allows to register the present version of the application by entering a valid serial number.  The serial number is send to the user upon Registration of this software product. After executing the Register command, entering a valid serial number, and pressing the <Register> button, the welcome dialog box no longer shows at the application start-up.

• 	The Register... command also allows to unregister the present and all previous versions of the application, i.e., to clean-up of all Windows registry entries the DateTime File Stamp application made on your computer.  Unregistering is recommended when upgrading to the next version or when uninstalling the application completely.  Please record the serial number (if you have one) in case you wish to use it to register the next version, and then press the <Unregister> button.  The application exits and you can manually delete all application files and folders.  If you execute the unregistered application after that, it updates the registry entries with default values.  Also, the welcome dialog box shows up again until the application is re-registered.


About
About...

• 	The About... command shows the application icon, application name, version number, name of the author, and the software development tool.


How to Register

• 	Unregistered copy of DateTime File Stamp program displays a registration reminder at start-up,  otherwise it is fully functional.  Registered users are entitled to receive, at an additional cost, the application source code in C++.

• 	To register the DateTime software, please send the Order_Form and a check or money order to:

Vladimir Zajic

29 Milldown Road

Yaphank, NY 11980, USA

E-mail vzajic@mail.bnl.gov

Payment must be in US dollars.  To print the Order_Form, display it first and then click on Print Topic in the File menu.  Registered copy of the DateTime software will be sent by E-mail or shipped on a 1.44 MB 3½" floppy disk.  Please include shipping in the total payment only if you wish to receive the disk.

• 	A site license for DateTime File Stamp program entitles an organization to receive one copy of the software, duplicate it for the specified number of copies, and install it on the specified number of computers.


Order Form

            Name: _________________________ Date: ____________

         Company: ____________________________________________

         Address: ____________________________________________

City, State, Zip: ____________________________________________

         Country: ____________________________________________

  E-Mail address: ____________________________________________

DateTime File Stamp software,

Single Copy:            ____ copies         at $19 each = ____

Site License:           ____ add. computers at  $7 each = ____

Source code in C++:*    ____ copies         at $19 each = ____

Shipping by E-mail                                        free

Shipping of 3½" floppy disk by U.S. mail:

                      USA and North America at  $2 each = ____

                   Europe and South America at  $3 each = ____

                                  elsewhere at  $4 each = ____

New York residents add local sales tax                  + ____

                         Total payment                  = ____

*) Only with the purchase of single copy registration