Copyright: Copyright 1999/2000 - Accessory Software


Table of Contents
 File Viewer - The Windows File Utility

Table of Contents

Welcome to the File Viewer 3.0 Program

Installation and Setup

Selecting and Displaying Files

Finding Files

Quick View of Pictures in a Folder

Using another Program to work with a File

Viewing Pictures and MultiMedia Files on the Internet

Saving Files

Moving Files

Renaming Files

Deleting Files

Printing Picture/Image Files

Sending Files over the Internet

Receiving Files by E-Mail

File Properties

The Multi-File Viewer

Viewing Pictures and Images

Viewing Database Files

Viewing Text Files

Adding Text to Pictures

Adding Geometric Shapes to Pictures

The Multimedia Player

The File Group Organizer

Create and Maintain File Groups

Adding Files to the Group Organizer Database

Browsing the File Group Database

Adding Files in a Folder using the File Search

Remove all Files from the Group File Organizer

Repairing and Compacting the File Group Database

Selecting Folders for Organized List

Setting Window Colors for Application

Setting the File Viewer Application Options

Refreshing the File List

About File Viewer 3.0

Registering File Viewer


Introduction
Welcome to the File Viewer 3.0

Welcome to File Viewer 3.0. This is a disk utility program that

helps you find and display files of common file formats for

Microsoft Windows. If you are looking for a file, and you do not

know the name of the file, but you know it is a document or

picture or spread sheet, the File Viewer can help you find the

file.  You can also print many of the displayed files and send

nearly all files over the internet using the windows message API

function. The File Viewer contains the Microsoft Multimedia

player component, so you can play Video Files (AVI,MPG,MOV)

and music files such as MP3,MIDI, and M3U. The File Viewer

also contains a small database to organize you files by group

without moving the files on your disk. This is useful if you are

on a network, and frequently need files on other computers.

File utilities are provided enabling you to move, rename,

delete, and copy files. A quick list of folders can be made and

quickly set the File/Folder selector boxes by clicking the

Folder button [image] .

A file is displayed or played by clicking on the name of the file

in the File Selector Box on the first window. You can also use the

Open File menu option. This is useful to open files on another

computer on an internal network. Some of the files supported

by the File Viewer are listed below:

    1. JPEG (JPG)

    2. Lead Compressed (CMP)

    3. Uncompressed TIFF

    4. Bitmap - BMP

    5. Icons and Cursors (ICO,CUR)

    6. PCX Formats (PCX,DCX)

    7. Kodak Formats (PCD,FPX)

    8. Exif Formats (TIFF,JPG)

    9. Windows Metafile (WMF,EMF)

  10. Drawing Interchange (DXF)

  11. XPicMap (XPM)

  12. Interchange File Format (IFF)

  13. Portable Bitmap Utilities (PBM)

  14. Dr.Halo (CUT)

  15. Photoshop 3.0 (PSD)

  16. Portable Network Graphics (PNG)

  17. Truevision TARGA (TGA)

  18. Encapsulated PostScript (EPS)

  19. JBIG (JBG)

  20. Sun Raster (RAS)

  21. WordPerfect (WPG)

  22. Macintosh Pict Format (PCT)

  23. Fax Format (AWD)

  24. Microsoft Windows ClipBoard (CLP)

  25. X Window Dump (XWD)

  26. Flic Animation (FLC)

  27. Microsoft Animated Cursor (ANI)

  28. Silicon Graphics Image (SGI)

  29. XBitMap (XBM)

  30. Miscellaneous 1-Bit (MAC,IMG,MSP)

  31. Wave Sound Files (WAV)

  32. Multimedia MIDI (MID,RMI)

  33. AudioVideo (AVI,MPG,MOV)

  34. Music Files (MP3,M3U)

  35. Text Files (TXT,LST,BAT,SYS,RTF,HTML,etc.)

  36. Database Files (DBF,DB,MDB)

  37. Spread Sheet (XLS,WK4)

  38. Documents (DOC,WPS)

  39. Zip Files (ZIP)

Most of these files can be displayed and printed by the File

Viewer program.


Installation

The File Viewer is easily installed by clicking on the downloaded

FileView.exe file. You will be easily taken through a setup

procedure after the FileView.exe file is uncompressed. This

program is initially provided on a 60 day free trial basis. If you

choose to continue using the program, you are required to

register the program. The easiest way to do this is by clicking the

Register button on the register reminder window when exiting the

program. You can easily uninstall the program by selecting the

uninstall File Viewer menu option. If any new files are created or

placed in the File Viewer Folder, an incomplete removal of the

folder during the uninstall will occur. This program can create files

for the E-Mail Address files. Be sure to remove these files from

the File Viewer Folder before running the uninstall. If you receive

a message while uninstalling File Viewer, you can use Window's

Explorer to remove the File Viewer folder from your disk with no

problem. Always use the uninstall procedure provided with the

program to completely remove all supplemental files. This

ensures the Visual Basic and component files in your

Windows/System folder are removed.

If you are reinstalling the File Viewer, it is recommended you

remove the previous version, or install the newer version to a

different folder.

After the File Viewer is installed, running the program the first time

may show a prompt asking you to select the name of your

computer. This is necessary if you are on a network (intranet) for

the search to avoid researching your machine on a network

search. You can also display this prompt by selecting the

'Select Computer Name from Network' on the Main Utilities

menu.


Selecting and Displaying Files

The File Viewer allows you to find and display many types of

files on your PC disk, or CD-Rom. When starting the program,

two large boxes are shown containing selection for devices,

disk drives, folders, files, and a way to display specific file types.

Clicking a file name once will enable menu options and a pop up

menu accessible by clicking the right mouse button. Double

clicking the file will display another window with the file. This

window can display many files at once, allowing selection of

functions from the menu. Clicking the line between the two large

boxes (device/folder box and folder/file box) will change the

mouse pointer allowing you to shift the proportion of space

occupied by each box. Click the line separating the two boxes,

and move the mouse pointer left or right, giving more space

to one box and less to the other. You can resize the window

maintaining the relative proportions of each side of the

device/folder or folder/file display. Moving the mouse pointer

just under or over the boxes will adjust the box sizes more

quickly.  The window displaying the pictures can be also be

resized to occupy the entire screen. Pressing the Space bar

will redisplay the window of file selections if it becomes hidden

by the file window.  The Toolbar gives you the convenience of

quick access to picture functions.

Another disk drive or CD Rom drive can be selected using the left

list box on the main window. A new list of folders is displayed, and

files in the folder clicked will be displayed. You may select from

a list of many file types in the box below the file list to display

specific file types. The buttons under this box will set the file list to

pictures, sounds, music, or audio/video files. Clicking on an

audio/video file such as MPG, AVI, or MOV will show Microsoft

Media player that will play the file. You can also play songs from

a CD. Be sure to select the CD Rom drive with the device/folder

box on the left, and the song to play on the right of the window to

play songs from the CD.

Files can also be displayed and folders positioned, by selecting

the Open menu option on the File menu. Clicking the Open menu

option will display a windows dialog box allowing you to select

files and move to different folders. You can also use this dialog

box to locate and select files on another computer over the

network. The Close File menu option will close the active window

displaying a file. Both of these options are available on the File

window as well as on the Main Window menu.

The Combo box near the buttons at the main window top, contains

a history of file and folder selections as you have been using

the File Viewer. Clicking on one of these items will display the

picture or text on the viewer window on the right.

Button Functions on the Main Window

    - Open and display Files.

   - Find Files and File types on your system.

     - Find next File or File type without changing selections.

    - Print Pictures, Text, Spread Sheets and Database Files.

    - Send Pictures, Text, Spread Sheets and Database Files.

    - Receive Pictures, Text, Spread Sheets and Database Files

   - Display Groups and organized files.

   - Add and change files in organized groups.

   - Collapse Device/Disk/Folder List View

    - Move up one Folder.

   - Quick Display of Pictures in a Folder.

   - Stop Loading of Thumbnails.

    - Display Folders and Files as Large Icons.

    - Display Folders and Files as a List.

    - Display Folders and Files as Small Icons.

    - Display Folder and File Details.

    - Quick Display of pictures with one mouse click.

   - Refresh Folder/File Explorer list.

   - Display Help Table of Contents.

    - Only Display Picture Files.

    - Only Display Sound (WAV) Files.

    - Only Display Music (MID,MP3,etc.) Files.

    - Only Display Video (AVI,MPG,MOV) Files.

   - Only Display Text (TXT,DOC,HTML,etc.) Files.

   - Only Display Database and Spread Sheet Files.

    - Immediately go to Folders saved in a list.

   - Exit File Viewer.

Button Functions on the Picture Window

     - Go back to Main File Viewer Window.

   - Open File.

   - Close File.

    - Save File.

   - Rename File.

    - Move File.

   - Delete File.

   - Print File.

    - Send Picture, Text or Database File.

   - Receive Picture, Text or Database File.

   - Copy Text of Data Field.

   - Select Database Table.

   - Select Database Table Index.

   - Display Normal Size Picture.

   - Stretch Picture into Frame.

    - Resize Picture.

    - Adjust Picture Brightness.

   - Add Text to Pictures.

    - Add Shapes to Pictures.

   - Display Help Text.


Finding Files
Finding Files using the File Viewer

One of the main functions of the File Viewer program is to help

you locate your Files. You can search your disk, diskette, or

CD Rom for pictures, sounds, music, text, audiovideo files,

documents, spread sheet, and database files using the Search

window. Click the Find  button  or Find File menu option to view

the Search window. Five Tab settings divide the various file lists

into several sections: Picture files, Multimedia files, Text and

Document files, Database and Spread Sheet files, and

miscellaneous combinations. Theses file lists on a page are

the different file types and file type combinations that can be

located. Select one of these file types by clicking the name of the

file type circle listed on the window. You may also search for a

specific file by entering the complete file name with dot extension

in the field on the bottom right of the miscellaneous tab window.

You may enter a Global Search file name in this field as *.any to

search for file types not on the list. Most files not on the file type list

cannot be displayed.

The first folder containing the files of the type searched or specific

file is displayed on the file list of the main window. You may view

the next folder with files in search by clicking the find next button,

or find next menu option. Please be patient during the search,

this may take a few minutes. The search will continue checking

all devices attached to your machine until files are found

matching  your selected search criteria. If you are on a computer

network with other computer folders and devices accessible by

your machine, the search can be performed over the network.

When no files are found or you have selected to continue the

search past all devices on your computer, you will be prompted

to continue the search on other computers on the network, if a

network is detected. The option to set the number of files, folders,

and devices to be searched before prompting to continue when

no files are found is available in the Set Program Options window.

You may also set the number of files, folders, and devices to

continue search once this point is reached, before prompting

to continue the search again.

You can cancel a long search by hitting the Escape Key when a

search is in progress.

The OK button performs the Search. The Cancel button closes

the Find Pictures and MultiMedia Files window without a Search.

The Help button displays the current Help Text.


Quick View of Pictures  in a Folder

The File Viewer provides you with a Thumbnail window showing

all the pictures in a selected folder. Clicking the Thumbnail button

  or selecting the Quick view of Pictures in a folder menu

option on the File menu will display the Thumbnails.

Occasionally, it may take a few minutes to display the pictures,

if there are many and the pictures are large in size. The loading

of picture thumbnails can be stopped at any time by clicking the

Cancel or Stop buttons. The Cancel button will close the

Thumbnail Window, while the Stop button will stop the loading

of thumbnails without closing the window.

You can resize the thumbnail picture display by resizing the

window to get more pictures in a row. You also can set the size

of the pictures using the Set Program Options menu option on

the Utilities menu. The bitmap bits per thumbnail can also be set
here. Double clicking on a thumbnail picture will display that

picture in the Picture Image window.


Using another Program to work with a File
Loading another Program for a File

You can load another program, the program default for the file

type, for a file highlighted in the file box by clicking this File menu

option. This option is useful if you are using the File Viewer to

locate files that you edit with another program. The program that

is called when using this option, is the program set up to run for that

specific file type. You can use the Window's Explorer Folder

Options on the View menu of Explorer to select the program used

to display or work with different file types. Select the File Type

Tab when the folder options are displayed.


Saving Files using the File Viewer

You can save pictures, images and other files with the File

Viewer program. This function is available by selecting the File

menu option - Save File As on the Main File Viewer window or

on the File window display. After selecting this menu option a

Dialog Window will be displayed showing the File and folder

selected. You can change the File name or select another

folder, and the file will be saved. The windows networking

function is available using the dialog window to save the file

on another computer. If you keep the same file name, and folder,

you will be prompted if you want to replace the picture. The Save

File As menu option is handy after changing the color, brightness,

size or any editing to the image. Database Files are also saved

using this function. When the files are DBase or Paradox, all files

with the same name are copied to ensure index and memo files

are included.


Using File Viewer to Move Files

You can move  files from one folder to another using the

File Viewer program. Click the Move Files menu option on

the File Menu of the main window or file display window to

perform this function. A Dialog window will appear with the

selected file and file folder location. You can select another

folder using the Dialog window and Save the file in the new

folder location. Before the move is actually performed, a

window will pop up displaying the from and to locations where

the file will be moved.

Clicking the OK button will perform the file move. The Cancel

button will close the window without performing the file move.

The Help button will display the current Help text.


Renaming Files

The File Viewer provides you with the option to Rename Files.

Selecting the Rename File option on the File menu will a display

a window with the file name of the highlighted file on the file

selection box. Beneath this field is a field where you can enter

a new file name. This procedure only changes the name of a file.

You cannot move the file to another folder or make a copy of the

file. The original file type is preserved.

The OK button renames the file. The Cancel button closes

the Rename file window. The Help button displays the current

Help text.


Deleting Files

You can select and move files to the Window's Recycling Bin

using this program. Selecting the Delete File option on the File

menu will display the Confirm File Delete Dialog window.

Here, you can move the file to the recycling bin or not. When

files are moved to the Window's Recycle Bin, as you know,

they can be restored.


Printing Files
Print Files or File Locations

You may print the contents of a file or a list of all the folders

where a file is located.  You may view the Print Selection

window by clicking the Print Button [image] , or selecting the Print

option on the File menu. The contents of file selected using the

File Selector will be printed for most file types supported by

this program. You may also choose to print a list of all folders

containing this file or all folders containing files of a particular

file type. Select the System Tab on the Print Selection Window.

You are able to print all the folders with the file type selected

by clicking the circle, or all folders with the file displayed at the

top of the window. The Use file check box must be checked

to list all locations of the selected file.

The print window selection is also tabbed according to three

file groups: 1. Pictures, 2. Text Files, 3.Database Files.

When printing pictures, you may set the size of the using the

coordinate and size fields on the print picture window selection.

Enter or change the X and Y position on the page, starting at the

top left corner. Also, enter the height and width of the picture to

be printed. The picture will be stretched into this frame.

Select the Text or Database tab print selections when the

file printed is text or database. The text files required no

selections other than to print. The database files give you the

option to select the fields in the file to print on the listing.

If no fields are selected, all fields will be printed. You select the

fields the show up on the report listing by clicking on the available

field in the file, and clicking on the single arrow button [image] between

the two field list boxes. You can also undo the field to print

selection by clicking the field in the fields to print list box on the

right, and clicking the arrow left button [image] . All fields may be

selected to print by clicking the All fields button [image] , and unselect

all fields by clicking the remove all fields selected to print

button [image] . The entire file will be printed unless the process

interrupted.

You may change to font used in printing these listings by

clicking the Font button on the bottom of the window. The OK

button will print the report, and the Cancel button closes the

window.


Sending Files over the Internet

The File Viewer program allows you to send files highlighted in

the main window file selection box, over the internet using E-Mail.

The file you selected or highlighted on the file selector is the file

that will be sent to an e-mail address when selecting this option.

Clicking on the Send File button [image] will display the send file

selection window. The file selected by the file selector on the

previous window is the file that can be sent to an e-mail address

over the internet.

If you are using Microsoft Outlook Express, sending files to an

e-mail address should not be any problem. Clicking the Send

button at the bottom of the Send File Window will load Microsoft

Outlook Express or another external email program you are

using, and create a message with the file attachment of the

selected file. All you need to do is click Send to complete the

process. Unfortunately, some Internet Service Providers only

allow e-mail to be sent from within their Internet Program. For

example, if you only use America On Line for your email, this

program will not complete the file send. Sending files with File

Viewer will only work with an e-mail program external to you

Internet Service Provider. Microsoft Outlook Express and

Netscape Composer are examples of email programs compatible

with File Viewer, as long as these email programs are successfully

sending e-mail.

The Check box to view the message and attachment being sent,

will display the compose dialog window of your  external e-mail

program as Microsoft Outlook Express. The Send button within

your e-mail program must be pressed to complete the e-mail

transaction. You can drag Pictures and files from the Folder/File

Explorer on the main window to the Send Pictures window or

picture list box to add pictures to send. Keep in mind the larger

the picture or more pictures sent, the e-mail sending process

will be slowed. When sending picture files, a zip file for the

attached pictures is automatically created. You can check the

Omit Zip File check box to send the files individually in a list

without Zip compression. This will send the files slower since

they are in their original format.

Pictures can also be selected to send by clicking the

Open Picture File button [image] . Pictures can be deleted

indivdually from the pictures to send list with the Delete

button [image] , or the entire list cleared with the Clear Picture

List button [image] . To Delete a specific picture on the list,

click on the picture name on the list to highlight before

clicking the Delete button.

You must have an proper email address entered in the

Send To Field at the top of the window.  You can maintain

a list of email addresses using the EMail Address List .

The message send with this file, can be changed or

entered using the Message Field at the window top.

This message may also be altered with you e-mail

program.

A history log is provided near the center bottom of the

window, showing the files you have sent. It is periodically

worthwhile to clear the history log of sent files when there

are over 100 items. Click the Clear button at the bottom of

the window to clear the history file log. The Cancel button

at the bottom of the window will close the Send File

Selection window.


E-Mail Address List
E-Mail Address List for Sending Files

You can maintain a list of frequently used e-mail addresses you

use in this program to send files with this window. To view the

E-Mail Address List Window, select the New or Open Address

List menu option on the File Menu on the Send File Window.

Enter the name of the person or organization pertaining to the

e-mail address in the field on the left, and enter the e-mail

address in the field on the right. Click the Add button near the

bottom of the window to use this address. You must click on the

Save button to Save all e-mail addresses. An address may be

removed by clicking on the address and clicking the Delete

button.

Highlighting an e-mail address by clicking on the address,

makes the address available for edit or use. You may make

changes to the address in the box field at the top of the window.

The e-mail address may also be dragged to the To address on

the Send E-Mail Window when you want to send a file to that

address. The Select button also selects the highlighted e-mail

address as the Send To address. You may view the address

information within your e-mail service program by clicking the

Address Book button [image] . The Cancel button will close the E-Mail

Address List window.


File Properties

You can display the properties of a file by clicking the File

Properties menu option on the File menu. Some basic facts

about the highlighted file in the file selector is displayed, or

the active window file on the multiviewer window. Different

facts are displayed depending on the type of file.

The properties listed for pictures and images are:

  1. Number of Bits per Bitmap

  2. Number of Colors in the image

  3. The Image Format

  4. The Image Height in pixels

  5. The Image Width in pixels

  6. The Image Disk Size

  7. The Image Size in memory

  8. The X axis Resolution

  9. The Y axis Resolution

Database files display these properties:

  1. Type of Database File

  2. The Database Name

  3. The Current Table Name

  4. The Record Count

  5. The percent record position  in the table

  6. The Date Last Modified

  7. The Date Last Updated

  8. The Date Created

  9. The File Size

10. Table Field list with Field Type and Field Size

Only the Name and size of the file is displayed for Text,

System or Document Files.

The Cancel button closes the File Properties window.


The MultiFile Viewer
The Multi-File Viewer

When you click on a file in the File Selector in the main window,

a larger window is displayed showing the contents of the file.

You can display many types of pictures, text, documents,spread

sheet, and database files. More than one file can be displayed,

as many as your computer memory can hold. The name of the

file is displayed at the top of the window, and a list of all the files

being viewed is found under the window menu option. The file

windows can be arranged and tiled horizontally or vertically.

When menu options are selected from this window, they are

applied to the active window containing the file. Some options

as rename require the file to be closed. In these cases, the

file is closed immediately before performing the function. This

pertains mainly to database files.

All the file utilities, as move, save, rename, and delete apply to

any file that is displayed. There are functions specific for

pictures, and a few viewing options that only apply to database

files.


Viewing Pictures and Images

Pictures of many file types can be viewed using the File

Viewer program. Several editing and viewing functions are

available that apply only to pictures. Pictures can be viewed

exactly as they are, or stretched into the size of the window.

If the picture or image is smaller than the window, it will be made

larger occupy the entire window. If the picture is too large to fit in

the window, it will be compressed into the window. This will

change the aspect ratio or proportions viewable in the picture.

Clicking the View menu option - Stretch will perform this function.

Clicking the View menu option - Normal will set the picture back

to it's original size and aspect ratio.

Editing Options for Pictures and Images

Some of the image editing functions available in File Viewer

are Flip, Rotate, Reverse, Resize, Brightness, Contrast,

Stretch Color Intensity, Color Invert, and add text to pictures.

The Flip menu option will flip the picture upside down.

The Rotate menu option allows you to rotate a picture by any

angle selecting the color background. Reverse the Image will

display the current picture as a mirror or reverse image in the

picture window. You can Resize the picture or image by selecting

the Resize menu option on the Image menu. A window will be

displayed allowing you to choose exactly how much to resize the

picture, maintaining the aspect ratio, and resampling the image

as additional options. The Brightness can be modified for a

picture, allowing you to add more or less light to the image.

You can sharpen or soften the Contrast to an image using this

menu option. The Stretch Color Intensity will maximize the visible

colors on a picture. The Color Invert will reverse the colors of the

image giving the appearance of a negative. You can also

Add Text to a Picture using a special window that is discussed in

the Help text ahead. Common Geometric shapes can be added

to pictures such as arrows, circles, rectangles, triangles, etc.

Select the Image menu option Add Shapes to a Picture to

accomplish this function.


Viewing Database Files

Database Files can be located and viewed by the File

Viewer. DBase 5, Paradox, Access, Excel, and Lotus (WK4)

files are supported. Support for these files is provided by

Microsoft DAO database engine. Later versions of these files

maintained by other software companies may change the

compatibility with this program.

Clicking on the name of the file in the File Selector or opening

the file with the Open File menu option will display the file, unless

there is a problem opening the file. There are a few viewing

options on the View menu, exclusive to database and spread

sheet files. DBase, Paradox, and Access files may have

indexes that allow you to view the data in different orders.

Access, Excel, and Lotus files have different tables within

the file you can select. If these View menu options are

available, clicking on the option will display a small list on

the left side of the database grid, allowing you to make a

index or table selection. Click the menu option a second time

to hide the list from display. Memo fields can also be displayed

by clicking the Comment menu option on the View menu. A

small box will appear on the right side of the table grid showing

you the memo field. The Grid can also be easily resized using

the mouse pointer or clicking the maximize box at the top of

the window.


Viewing Text Files

Text, System, and some document files can be displayed

using the File Viewer. Microsoft Word and Microsoft Works

documents are files that can be viewed. Text and System files

are available for viewing and not editing. Text can be copied to

the window's clipboard by highlighting the text using the mouse,

and pressing Ctrl C on the keyboard. One practical use of doing

this is to put text from another file onto a picture. Move the mouse

pointer to the beginning of the text displaying you want to copy.

Press down on the left mouse key and moving the mouse to

highlight the text. When you have captured the text you wish to

copy, let up on the left mouse button. Click the Copy menu option

on the Edit menu or press Ctrl C on the Keyboard. Click the Edit

menu option - Add text to a picture, and a window will be

displayed that you can paste the clipboard text. Place the mouse

pointer in the large box near the top of the window, and press

Ctrl V. This will display the copied text that you can use to add

to the picture. Other options are available with the Add Text

to a picture window that will be discussed in the next Help Text.


Adding Text to Pictures
Adding Text to Pictures and Images

You can add titles, quotes, and paragraphs of text to an image

or picture. To enter text to be added to an image, select the Edit

menu option - Add Text on a picture. The Add Text to picture

window will appear. The large box at the top of the window allows

you to enter the text. You can also press the Ctrl V key, if there

is any text in the windows clipboard, and that will be placed in

the box. Since you can display Text files in the Picture/Image

window, text can be highlighted, and Ctrl C will place the text in the

windows clipboard.

You can set the Font and Size of the text, set the color of the text,

set the color of the text shadow, set the color of a highlight around

the text, set the text style, place a rectangle around the text, and

set the color of the rectangle.

Selecting the Text Font and Text Colors

Clicking the Text Font button [image] will display a dialog window

allowing you to select the text font, bold, underline, and size of the

text. The OK button will accept the Font, etc. selected. There are

3 colors you can set for the text:

   1. The Text Color

   2. A Shadow Color for the Text

   3. A Highlight Color for the Text

Clicking the Color button [image] next to any of these options will display

the windows color dialog window, allowing you to select the

color. You can click the Define Custom Color button to fine tune

your color, or select another color.

Setting the Style and Optional Rectangle

You are provided with different styles for the text. The box on the

lower right of the Add Text to Image window, lists your style

choices. Some of these styles may not have a Shadow or

Highlight feature, so for those styles, that will not appear

although a color was selected. You can also place a rectangle

around the text. Click the Check box - Place Rectangle around

Text to do this. The Color of the Rectangle can also be set by

clicking the Color button  under the Rectangle Check Box.

Clicking the OK button will accept these options, while Cancel will

close the window without accepting the values set. The Help

button displays the current Help text.

If you entered text, selected your options, and clicked the OK

button, you now can position the mouse pointer on the image

and click the Left mouse button to drop the text on the image

or picture. This can be done as many times as you want. To

cancel this procedure, click the Right mouse button.


Playing MultiMedia Files

The File Viewer will play multimedia files such as wave files,

MIDI files, MP3 files, and audiovideo files (AVI, MPG,MOV).

Clicking on a multimedia file in the file box on the main window,

will display the Play Multimedia file window, and start playing the

file. The Multimedia selections on the Filter box  on the main

window sets a filter on the file box so only music or audiovideo

files are displayed.

The component used to play the multimedia files is the Microsoft

Media Player.  The volume can be adjusted with the triangular

volume control button on the right. The player can be stopped

and restarted using the controls under the video screen. The

square block is the Stop button, the right arrow is Play, and the

two vertical parallel lines is the Pause button. Wave Files

(WAV extension) will be played with a different component.

The same functions are available: Play, Stop, Pause, with

Beginning of file, End of File, Next, and Previous also available.

This component can be used to play CD's. Insert the Compact

Disc in the CD Rom drive. Now select the CD Rom Drive using

the Drive box near the top of the main window. Clicking on a track

displayed in the file selector box will position to that Compact

Disc track, and play the song.

The OK button on the Multimedia Window, will replay the selected

multimedia file. The Cancel button will stop playing the file and

close the window. The Help button will display the current Help

Text.


The File Group Organizer

Files can be organized in groups using a database with

searchable key words for easy access. If you use many files

scattered over your disk or a network, the organizer allows

easy access to these files. Groups can be set up with any

name, containing files you select, without changing the file or

file location. The Organize menu option lists all the functions

available to the Group File Organizer.

 Files can be selected and added to a group using the Set Up

and Maintain File Groups menu option. This window will set up

groups, and allow you to add files to the group. You can display

a table of groups, and all the files in a group using the View and

Select File Group menu option on the Organize menu. Files can

be added in batch to a file group while using the File Viewer

Search window by clicking the Organize Files with Disk Search

menu option. Finally, the File Organizer Database File can be

compacted or repaired using the Repair or Compact Database

menu option.


Adding Files to the File Group Organizer

It is an easy process to add files to the File Group Organizer.

 If you are working with files on  another computer on a network,

use the Open file menu option to get the file. This will set the file

selector to folders on the other computer. Now, display the File

Organizer maintenance by clicking the File Organizer

maintenance button [image] . You can create a new file group or use

an existing group. Clicking on different files in the File Selector,

will display the file name and file path in the bottom half of the

window. To save the file to the group and database, click the

Save button [image] .

Using the File Group Organizer

Adding Files to a group is simple. When the Check button is

visible [image] , any file you click on the main window file selector

box, will be displayed in the file organizer maintenance window.

Only the file name, and path information is available. Change the

description and search keyword for future reference. If you do not

want the main window file selector to display a file on a click, then

click the Check button, and this will be shut off. Another button

is displayed. To save a file to the group, click the Save button

 . Files can be deleted from the group using the Delete button

 . You can refresh file information from the database since the

last save by clicking the Refresh button [image] . Files can be

changed to different groups using the group combo list box. The

drop down list box in the toolbar assigns the file to a general

type such as picture, document, database, etc. This can be

changed, but it is not recommended. You can locate files in the

File Group Organizer using the Find button [image] .

Exit the File Organizer Maintenance window by clicking the Exit

button [image] at the bottom of the window.


Browsing the File Group Database

A table of all File Groups and files in a group is displayed by

this window. Clicking the Organizer Table Browser button [image] ,

or the Organize menu option - View and Select File Groups

will display a table with file groups, and the files within a selected

group. The Group Name, description, date and time created is

displayed. Clicking onto a group will highlight that group on the

table display. You can then click the Switch button [image] to view the

files belonging to that file group.

Files in a Group Table Browser

All the files selected for the group are now displayed.  The File

Group, File Name, File path location, File Description, File

Search Key word, File Type, Date File Last Updated, Time

File Last Updated, the Date and Time file added to the

group database are displayed in the table. You can click on

a file, then click the Select button [image] , to display the file with

File Viewer. The table of files for the group can be sorted in

different orders by clicking the File Sort button [image] . A small list

will be displayed on the right side of the table that you can

select how you want to sort the file list. The following sorts are

available:

  1. When File added to the List

  2. Group Name

  3. File Name

  4. File Type

  5. File Date and Time Last Updated

  6. File Search word

  7. File Path Location

The Search button [image] will display a window allowing you to

search for a particular file, or search using the File Search

key word.


Searching for Files in the Group Organizer

You can perform a search for a file added to the group organizer

database using this window. You can enter the name of the file,

or a few letters close to the name of the file to find a file in the

group database. You can also enter a search word you

remember or a few letters near the search word to perform an

exact search or approximate search using the search word. The

Table browser will be displayed showing a list of files closest to

matching your search criteria. All groups are displayed at this

time since the group of the file you are searching may not be

known.

The OK button will perform the search. The Cancel button will

close the Search window without searching, and the Help

button will display the current Help text.


Adding Files to the Organizer using Search

You can add all the files in a folder to a group using the File

Viewer Search at once using this window. Clicking the Organize

menu option - Organize Files with Disk Search will display this

window. The Search for File Type window is displayed. Select

the file type search option and click the OK button. The system

search will proceed until the first folder meeting the search

criteria is displayed. This window to add files to the group

database is now focused. You can select the group to add the

files in file selector on the main window. Clicking the OK button

will add these files, and proceed to the next folder. You can

change the file group at any time. Click the Cancel button to

stop the process. You can reopen this window to start another

search with different criteria. If you want to put all the JPEG files

on your entire computer in a group, this function is very handy.


Repairing or Compacting the Group Database

Selecting the Organize menu option - Repairing and Compacting

the Group File Database will display this window. If the database

file index becomes unreadable, and the program does not seem

to be working correctly, it may be necessary to repair the

database file holding the groups and files in the groups. Also,

when records are deleted from the database file, it is necessary

to compact the database to reorganize the database file. When

this window is displayed, you will see two options allowing you to

compact the database file or repair the database. Click the

circular button to select the desired option. Click the OK button

to perform the database file function. When you opt to Compact

the database file, a dialog window will appear asking you to

name a new file to move the data. You can select the existing

table - FileTabl.MDB, and replace the file.

The Cancel button closes the window without doing any work on

the file. The Help button displays the current Help text.


Selecting Folders for Folder List
Selecting Folders for a Quick View List

The File Viewer gives you the option to create a list of folders

that you can move through setting the folder box on the Main

window. Selecting the Set Working Folders option on the Utilities

menu will display a window you can select folders for the list.

Clicking the Folder List button [image] will move to the next item on the

list and set the Folder box to the item on the list. The purpose of

this is to keep at hand your most frequently used folders for

different files.

Using the Make Folder List Window

You are presented with a similar view of Drive, and Folder

selection as on the Main window. A Drive, Folder, and File list

boxes are displayed on the Left. Another list is on the right

showing the Folders selected, and a number for the filter item

in the filter combo box is set when selecting this folder from the

list. You can highlight the folder you want ot select by clicking on

that folder with the left mouse button. Then click the Select Folder

button [image] to add the folder to the list on the right. You can remove

a folder from a list by highlighting the folder with the click of the

mouse, and clicking the Remove Folder button [image] . The position

of a folder in the list can be moved up or down by highlighting the

folder in the list and clicking the Up [image] or Down [image] buttons.

As you can see, all the folders are accompanied by a number

representing the position of the filter item in the filter combo box.

This is used to set the filter on the file selector list on the main

window for the list selected.

The OK button will save your folder list, while the Cancel button will

close the window without saving the list. The Stop button will stop

loading thumbnails, allowing you to more easily select the

picture you want to view. The first folder on the list, is the folder

that the folder list on the main menu will be set to when the

program is first started.


Set Application Colors
Set The File Viewer Window Colors

You have the capability of setting the colors for the different

windows and window components. Selecting the Set Window

Colors option on the Utilities Menu, will display the window

allowing you to select colors for windows, and window

components.   Both background and text colors can be set for the

different windows and some window components. Clicking on the

color box will bring up a color palette from which colors can be

chosen. Listed below are items that you may set the colors:

  1. The background and text colors for the Main Window

  2. The colors for List boxes can be set.

  3. The background and text colors for entry fields for non dialog

       selection windows can be chosen.

  4. The background and text color for the display only fields can

       be set.

  5. You can set the colors for non-dialog Selection Windows.

  6. The background and text color for Database Table Grids.

  7. The background and text color Thumbnail Window.

  8. You can set the colors for then Quick Tip Window.

  9. You can set the background color for selection item on the

      Thumbnail Window.

10. You can set the background color for the Picture Image

       Window.

11. You can set the background color for non dialog selection

       window buttons.

The OK button will save and set your color selection, while

the Cancel button will close the window without changing the

current colors.


Setting Options
Setting The File Viewer Program Options

There are a number of options that can be changed, and saved

using the File Viewer. In general, you can set Bold Text on all the

windows, Grid lines on all Table Browsers. The divider between

the device, folder tree selector, and folder file selector can be

set as a percentage of the device, folder section on the left to the

width of the main window. The Text on database table browsers

can be set for flat, indented, or raised. You can use the slide bar

to set the height of a table row between 250 and 600 twips. The

appearance of menus can be set from flat to 3 dimensional.

You can set the number of folders or files to search for file or file

types, before prompting you to continue if no matches are found.

The Size of the Thumbnails can set entered and saved.

The Thumbnail picture resolution can be set.  The name of the

default Address Book for sending files via E-Mail can be saved.

It is helpful to save your from E-Mail Address here if you use this

program to send pictures using the programs E-Mail function. If

there are a few e-mail addresses you send frequently, three To

E-Mail Addresses can be entered.

Using the Control Option Window

The Control Options are divided into five sections:

  1. General Options

  2. Number of Folders/Files to Search

  3. Thumbnail Options

  4. Browser Text

  5. E-Mail Options

The General Options allow you to check whether or not you

want Bold Type used on the File Viewer windows, and if

you want to use grid lines on your database table browser

displays. If you do not have Microsoft Word on you system,

you may have difficulty displaying Word Documents (DOC)

unless you use the Text File Format Display. Use this option

if loading Word or other Documents does is a problem.

You may also enter a percentage between 20 and 80,

representing the portion of the main window the left hand

section of the computer system explorer occupies. You can

set the Main and File Viewing window menus from flat to raised

or inset text for a 3 dimensional look.

The Browser Text Options allow you to set the type of text used

on database browser tables. The text can be flat or 2

dimensional, Indented, or Raised. The scaled slide bar can set

the height of a database table row between a value of 250 and

600.

You can also set the number of files to search before prompting

whether to continue the search when no match is found that halts

the search. This is necessary if you have a large number of files

on your system, and no match is found. The second smaller

number is the number of files and folders to continue searching

after the first prompt. The range for the first search block is from

2,500 to 10,000. The range for the second search block is from

500 to 2,500.

The next section allows you to specify the size of Thumbnails

displayed when selecting the Quick view of pictures/images

in a folder. These units are also in centimeters. There is a size

limit for the thumbnail pictures - from 0.5 to 5.5 centimeters. You

can also change the picture resolution or bits/bitmap to

increase the speed of thumbnail display.

Finally, the last section you can enter the name of the E-Mail

Address book, so you will automatically be positioned to that

address book when selecting E-Mail addresses to send files.

You can use the Open button  to display an Open Dialog listing

folder locations and e-mail address list files to select. Enter your

from e-mail address as a reference for sending e-mail. You can

save up to three To E-Mail addresses that will appear in the

Send To E-Mail field when sending files using the Send File

window.

The OK button will permanently save these entered options,

while the Cancel button will close the Control Options window

without saving any changes. The Help button will display the

current Help text.


Refreshing the File Selection List

The Folder/File Explorer List on the main menu can be easily

refreshed by clicking the Utilities menu option -  Refresh File List.

This will reload the file names on disk into the Folder/File

Explorer List box. Most of the functions that change file names,

created new files or delete files, automatically cause the

Folder/File list box to be refreshed. If you make a change to a

file or add a file to the folder being viewed by the File Viewer,

it may be necessary to refresh the Folder/File  Explorer List

for accuracy. The Refresh button [image] on the Main window will

also Refresh the Folder/File Explorer List below.


About the File Viewer
About the File Viewer Program

The File Viewer program was written in January, February, and

May of 1999. Updates producing version 2.0 when coded in

October and November of 1999. The new interface with

windows explorer features was completed in February 2000.

The primary purpose of the program is to help you find, print

and send files over the internet using e-mail services.

A small upgrade to add the ability to view multimedia files on

the internet, and create picture thumbnails in the File/Folder

display box was coded in April of 2000. In October 2000, new

Toolbars and Menus were added. Better viewing of

documents, and additional file types such as zip files were

added to support. Better Send and Receive File capabilities

were added to the File Viewer producing version 3.0. The

following components are used in the File Viewer:

  LeadTools Imaging Active X component

  Plasmatech Windows 'Explorer Like interface'

  Zip File creating and opening - Inner Media's Dynazip-Ax

  Visual Basic 6.0 runtime provided by Microsoft

  Sheridan Active Toolbar component

  Wise InstallMaker - Wise Solutions

The File Viewer software does not have any warranty of any

kind, either expressed or implied. All risk related to this program

performance or quality is assumed by the user. Any errors or

damage resulting from the use of this program is entirely the

responsibility of the user. The end user agrees to hold the author,

Robert Carson completely free of any liability for any problems

as a result of the use of this program.


Register File Viewer

If you can use the File Viewer Program, I appreciate your

support by Registering the program. The easiest way to Register

is by clicking the Register button on the Registration Reminder

window that appears when exiting the program. You will be

taken to an online registration Web Page where Credit Cards

payment is supported. Please sign on the internet as you normally

do with your Internet Provider's signon. Do not use the generic

looking dialer pop up signon that may appear a few seconds after

clicking the Register button. You can also Register the program

by going online and going to Accessory Software Web Site:

     www.Accessoryware.com/FileView.htm. The Order button will

take you to the Registration Web Page. Be sure to include

a Valid E-Mail Address and the Registration Code number that

appears near the bottom of the Registration Reminder window

that appears when exiting the program. This is important, because

after the online registration is done, you will be e-mailed a

password that will activate the program, allowing the program to

function normally past the 60 day trial. If you do not register before

60 days, the program will shut off and only the Registration

Reminder window will be shown. After you complete the online

registration, a password will be e-mailed needs to be entered

using the Registration Reminder window. Click the Activate button

to display a small box with an entry field where you can enter the

password sent to you. Click the Activate button a second time, and

if the password is correct, the Registration Process is complete.

You can also register by sending a check or money order. Please

send the following information with a check or money order for $25

to:

                           Accessory Software

                           P.O. Box 5062

           Oxnard, CA. 93031

Be sure to include your E-Mail address, or an E-Mail Address

where the password can be sent to complete the Registration.

You will need to enter the password using the Registration

Reminder Window. Click the Activate button, enter the password

in the small boxed field on the right bottom of the window.

Click the Activate button again to save the password. If this is

not done properly, the program will not function after 60 days

from the installation.

Thank you for your support.

Robert Carson


Adding Object Shapes to the Image

You can add simple geometric shapes to an image or

picture with the File Viewer. The Image menu option:

Add Shapes to Picture will display a window allowing

your to select from various geometric shapes to place

anywhere on your picture or image. A list of shapes by

name is displayed. Clicking on one of these names in

the list will show the image in the box on the right. This

window will allow you to set the height, and width of the

shape. You can set the color of the shape, and the color

of the border. A simple effect can be added to the

borders of the shape.

Editing the Shapes

Entering a number in the Height or Width Fields, will set

the size of the selected shape. The scale for the shape

is in a unit called Twips. Approximately 100 twips will be

about 1 centimeter in length. You can set the color of the

object and the color of the border around the object by

clicking the Color buttons  . You can fine tune the

color by clicking the Define Custom Colors button on the

displayed color dialog window. The Shape can have an

Inner Band and an Outer band for a 3 dimensional effect.

The Radio button selection allows you to set the inner

and outer bands as Flat, Raised, or Indented. Click the

circle option you want for both the inner and outer bands.

The OK button will set the object shape options that can

be placed on the image or picture. When the Add Shape

to Image window closes, you can place the object

anywhere on the picture using the mouse pointer. Click

the Left mouse button to drop the shape on the image,

where the mouse pointer is on the image. This can be

done many times. Click the Right mouse button to

disable the shape addition to the picture.

The Cancel button on the Add Shape to Image window

will close the window without selecting a geometric

shape. The Help button will display the current Help text.


Maintain File Groups
Creating and Maintaining File Groups

You can create and change group descriptions used to

organize your files using this window. File Groups can be

created, and files selected for the group are maintained by this

window. All the windows associated with the Organizer are

available on the Organize menu option. Clicking the Set up and

Maintain File Groups will display this window. The top half of the

window allows you to create and change file groups. Clicking the

Insert Group button [image] , will create a blank record you can enter

the group name and a description of the group. Click the Save

button [image] at the top of window to add the group to the file

organizer database. A group can be deleted by clicking the

Delete button [image] . All Files in the group must be deleted before

deleting the group. If you want to cancel a group addition before

it is saved, click the Refresh button [image] .


Clear Group Organizer
Clear all Files from the Group File Organizer

All Files organized into groups can be easily cleared from the

Group File Organizer Database. Clicking the OK button will

completely delete all files in the Group File Organizer Database.

Clicking the Cancel button will prevent files from being deleted,

and close the window. The Help button displays the current

Help text.


View Pictures on the Internet
Viewing Pictures and Multimedia on the Internet

Pictures and multimedia files can be viewed or played

located on the internet. Clicking the menu option -

Open File located on the internet from the main menu or

Picture Viewing window menu will display a small

resizable window. You can select multimedia files on the

list or enter new known web site addresses for other

multimedia files. This includes pictures, music, sounds,

and video files. When you enter a new file address, it

is automatically saved on the list. Files that cannot be

located on the internet should be removed from the list.

Clicking the Open button [image] or pressing the Enter Key

will start the process of looking for the file on the

internet. If you are not signed on to the internet, sign

on using your Internet Service as AOL, etc. If a sign on

appears that is not what you normally use to sign on to

the internet, cancel the sign on, and use your usual sign

on. It may take a few minutes for the picture to be

located and drawn, depending on the size. Videos

and music will be played with windows media player.

You can perform other tasks with the File Viewer,

while Internet Pictures are loading. This may slow down

you computer, depending on memory and processor

speed.

You can use the Up [image] or Down [image] buttons to move the

highlighted file position up or down on the list. The

Delete button [image] will remove a highlighted file from

the list. The Help button [image] displays the current Help

text, while the Exit button [image] closes the Internet File

Selection window.


Receiving Files by E-Mail
Receiving Files by E-Mail over the Internet

Pictures and packages of pictures can be received directly

into File Viewer using this window. Clicking the Receive Pictures

button [image] on the main window toolbar or selecting the send menu

option - Receive Pictures will display this window. Basically,

the Receive Pictures and Files Window connects to your e-mail

service using windows message API to Receive e-mail with picture

attachments. Using external e-mail programs as Microsoft Outlook

Express or Netscape Composer work with File Viewer. Some

e-mail services are inaccessible to Picture Viewer Max as AOL

and CompuServe. If the POP3 or SMTP Servers are accessible

in windows, the File Viewer should receive E-Mail with file

attachments.

Using the Receive Pictures by E-Mail Window

Receiving E-Mail with the File Viewer is easy. Sign on with the

Internet Service you use when receiving e-mail with Microsoft

Outlook,Outlook Express or Netscape Composer. File Viewer

will automatically display the sign on with some internet services

when clicking the Receive First  or Receive Next  message

buttons. Be sure to use your regular User ID and Password

signon window, instead of the generic substitute. The usual

signon is needed for password clearance. The Receive First

Message  button [image] starts communication with your e-mail

service. If everything is successful, the e-mail information should

appear in the boxes. You can select between viewing all e-mail

sent to you in your system inbox or e-mail you have not yet read.

This option should be selected before clicking the first e-mail

message button. If a zip file as a message attachment is located,

you can open the zip file with the Open Zip File button [image] .

The picture files appear in the Picture list near the bottom of the

Receive Pictures window. You can highlight one of the pictures on

the list by clicking the name with the mouse button. Click

the Picture View button [image] near the list of pictures to view the

picture with the File Viewer. If a Pictures were sent to you, the

Package button [image] will be enabled. The Zip file you receive, can

be moved and opened in the location designated by the

Open Zip File button [image] .

You can Forward E-Mail messages and Reply to messages sent

to you with the Forward E-Mail button [image] and the Reply button [image] .
Clicking the Name and Address button [image] will display names and

addresses for the current Address Book. This Help Page is

reachable by clicking the Help button [image] .