Copyright: Copyright (c) 1994-8 Praful Kapadia.


Space Explorer: Help Contents

Introduction

Getting started

What’s new in version 5?

Known problems and limitations in this release

Reviewer’s Guide

Licensing and ordering

Feedback

Commands

Menu commands

How do I...?

Procedures

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions, problems and answers

Background

Acknowledgements

Technical information

Mission statement


Getting Started

Welcome to Space Explorer!

What is Space Explorer?

Space Explorer is a great tool for managing files and analysing drive usage. It combines many features usually found in several different utilities into one easy-to-use, multithreaded, multiple-document environment providing information in lists (like Windows Explorer) and in charts.

Using Space Explorer is very easy. To use Space Explorer, first compile a list of one or more folders; then choose a command from the Find sub-menu on the Folder menu. And that’s it!  For some options, such as the Explore and Monitor Drives commands, you don’t have to compile a list of folders.

If you require more information while you’re using Space Explorer, press F1. This will provide context-sensitive help.

See also

Ordering Information

Reviewer’s Guide


What's New in Version 5?
What’s New in Version 5?

Space Explorer has been significantly re-engineered for this release. Here are some of the new features:

Explore multiple folders: combines the best features of File Manager and Windows Explorer.

Find duplicate files.

Compare folders, including “snapshots” to see how drive usage changes over time.

Monitor drives: local, network, and pre-selected drives.

Display drive properties: disk and file system information.

Find large files (largest or larger than a specified size).

Find certain references to system files.

Window Explorer context menu support.

Create shortcuts.

OLE file drag and drop support (drag files between Space Explorer and Windows Explorer).

File copy, move, rename, and delete single or multiple files; create folders.

Find a file’s owner and compression (for NTFS) and its last access time.

FAT32 and NTFS support.

Microsoft Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer “look and feel”.

Internet registration.

Animated icon for thread progress.

Floating toolbars

Most new features include the option of displaying information in a table or chart, as well as saving and updating it.

New chart engine.

More customisation options.

Plus much, much more…!

See also

Reviewer’s Guide

Version history


Reviewer's Guide
Reviewer’s Guide

Considerable effort has gone into making Space Explorer a  great file management system. This short guide provides more information for reviewers.

Ease of Use

There are many file utilities available. Most of them do one or two tasks very well. Space Explorer is different. It combines features usually found in several different utilities into one easy-to-use, multithreaded, multiple-document environment providing information in lists (like Windows Explorer) and also in charts.

Space Explorer has been designed to be used on standalone and networked computers. It will be useful for everyone from home users to network administrators. To make Space Explorer easy to learn and use, the familiar interface of Windows Explorer and some aspects of Internet Explorer have been emulated.

In most important areas, the recommendations from the Microsoft Interface Guidelines for Software Design and the Designed for Windows NT and Windows 95 Guidelines have been followed. The result is an interface that is immediately familiar to Windows 95 and Windows NT 4 users.

Features

Space Explorer has many features; you can:

explore multiple folders; this feature combines the convenience of File Manager with the usability of Windows Explorer; the bonus is that in Space Explorer you don’t have to wait while a file list is being retrieved: you can interrupt it or launch a program while it is displaying files;

see folder tree sizes in a Windows Explorer-like tree (which you can drill down and save); you can also highlight folder trees that exceed a certain size to find out which trees are taking up most space;

find duplicate files;

compare folders and take “snapshots” to see how drive usage changes over time;

find large files; you can find the largest files on your system or those files exceeding a specified size;

monitor local, network, and pre-selected drives; if you manage a network, you can keep an eye on free disk space on servers;

find certain references to system files; this is an experimental feature that could help you find unused DLLs;

display drive properties such as disk and file system information;

use the Windows Explorer context menu;

create shortcuts;

use OLE file drag and drop to copy and move files within Space Explorer and also to other OLE clients such Windows Explorer;

copy, move, rename, and delete multiple files all from a toolbar or a menu;

display a file’s owner and compression (for NTFS) and its last access time;

work with FAT, FAT32 and NTFS partitions;

move floating toolbars;

save file lists in tab-separated text files;

create and save folder lists so that you can repeat commands; network administrators, for example, can create folder lists containing users’ home directories and regularly scan them to see which folders trees are growing or shrinking;

see most generated information as a list (like Windows Explorer) and in charts (2D/3D, pie, bar, and line charts can be displayed and printed);

sort list columns in ascending or descending order;

view one window while other commands are executing in the background; Space Explorer is multithreaded (you can set thread priorities);

scan network drives; UNCs (Universal Naming Convention), such as \\MYSERVER\ASHARE, are supported; this means you do not have to map drive letters to network directories; you can, if you wish, map and disconnect drive letters from Space Explorer;

set many options to fine-tune Space Explorer;

launch Space Explorer from batch files; command line parameters and switches are supported;

use the keyboard or mouse; most functions have a keyboard equivalent;

install and uninstall Space Explorer;

use the Internet to register Space Explorer (this is a feature well worth trying :-) ) or e-mail suggestions.

Documentation

Space Explorer has full context-sensitive Help. If you require more information while you’re using it, press F1. The Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications was used during the creation of the Help system.


Feedback

Thank you for trying Space Explorer. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or bug reports, you can contact me using one of the following methods:

Electronic mail (Internet): SpaceExplorer@BTInternet.com

Post: Praful Kapadia, Kaptech Ltd, 75 Salisbury Walk, London, United Kingdom, N19 5DU.

Web site: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/praful

Please check the web site for updates to Space Explorer.

Before sending any comments, check this Help file, especially the known problems and limitations in this release.

Bug reports

If you are sending bug reports, please provide as much information as possible, such as:

operating system;

version numbers (including service packs) of Windows and COMCTL32.DLL;

error message(s);

steps to reproduce error;

how you can be contacted, for example, your e-mail address.


Known Problems and Limitations in this Release

The following are the known problems and limitations in this version of Space Explorer:

The options from Space Explorer 4 are not migrated to version 5.

The folder tree view displayed by the Explore command is not always updated; to update it, focus on the tree view and press F5 (or use the Refresh command on the Windows menu).

Snapshot files are not locked. It is therefore possible to read from a snapshot file using one window and write to it from another window.

The Explorer context menu is not displayed for files in “special folders” such as the Recycle Bin.

The maximum size of a folder tree is 1.7 * 1038 bytes (10 to the power of 38).

The maximum length of a folder path is about 260 character (see the section titled Excluded Folders for more information).

Information about files larger than 2GB is not correctly reported.

Windows 95 does not correctly display some drive usage information (such as drive size) for network drives larger than 2GB (Windows 98 may correct this problem). Space Explorer is no different. Windows NT appears to report drive information correctly.

When the Explorer context menu is shown, the Send To menu is empty. I have had various explanation for this and hope to fix it in a future version (once I can work it out!).

When a file or folder is dragged from Space Explorer to Windows Explorer using the secondary mouse button, the context menu does not contain the “Create Shortcut(s) Here” menu item.

There is no (known) built-in limit to the number of threads that can be run simultaneously. Usually, the computer’s specification will determine the maximum number of threads that can be run.

Windows shell extensions are not supported; for example, the WinZip command is not on the popup menu that appears when you drag and drop a file with the secondary mouse button. However, WinZip does appear when you use the secondary mouse button on a file or folder.

When multiple files are selected and you click the secondary button (or press ALT-F10), the Explorer context menu is not displayed. Instead a file menu is displayed.

The folders displayed in the folder tree view (left half) and in the file list view (right half) of the Folder Tree Sizes window are not updated when folders are created, amended or deleted. The files listed in the file list view (right half) are updated. Similarly, although you can drag and drop folders to and from the Folder Tree Sizes window, the tree and list are not updated. The Folder Tree Sizes window is a snapshot of information about folders. It can be updated using the Refresh command on the Window menu.

Certain folders displayed in the Explorer window and the Folder Tree Sizes window are “special” folders, for example, the “Recycled” folder and the Windows “History” folder. Space Explorer cannot display the contents of these types of folders. I will correct this in a future release.

See also

Feedback


Licensing and Ordering

Licence Agreement

Ordering Information


Licence Agreement

You should carefully read the following terms and conditions before using this software. Your use of Space Explorer indicates your acceptance of this Licence Agreement.

Warning   This is a beta release. It has not been fully tested and may contain bugs. It has been released for experienced users who are aware of the potential problems and risks associated with using beta software.

You are strongly advised to save any open documents before using Space Explorer. It is also a good idea not to use beta software with important data.

Evaluation Version

This is not free software. You are licensed to use this software for evaluation purposes without charge for 30 days. If you use this software after the 30-day evaluation period, a registration fee is required. If this is a beta version of Space Explorer, you must stop using it when the final version is released.

For information on how to register Space Explorer, see the section titled Ordering Information.

Registered Version

A single registration fee will license one copy of Space Explorer 5 for use on any one computer by one person. This software may be moved from one computer location to another, so long as there is no possibility of it being used at one location while it is being used at another.

You may access the registered version of Space Explorer through a network if you have obtained individual licences for the software covering all workstations that will access the software through the network. For example, if three workstations will access Space Explorer on the network, each workstation must have its own Space Explorer licence, regardless of whether the workstations are used to access Space Explorer at different times or concurrently.

Distribution

Provided that you distribute only the evaluation version (that is, you do not pass on any registration details), you are licensed to:

make as many copies of the evaluation version of this software and documentation as you wish;

give exact copies of the original evaluation version to anyone;

distribute the evaluation version of the software and documentation in its unmodified form via electronic means.

You are prohibited from:

charging, or requesting donations, for any such copies, however made (free CDs on magazine covers are excluded from this prohibition);

distributing the software and/or documentation with other products (commercial or otherwise) without prior written permission.

Governing Law

This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the England, UK. Unregistered use of Space Explorer after the 30-day evaluation period is in violation of UK and international copyright laws.

Disclaimer of Warranty

SPACE EXPLORER IS SUPPLIED “AS IS”. THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND OF FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. THE AUTHOR ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES, DIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL, THAT MAY RESULT FROM THE USE OF SPACE EXPLORER.

THE USER MUST ASSUME THE ENTIRE RISK OF USING SPACE EXPLORER.


Ordering Information

How to register

You can pay using one of the following methods:

by secure online registration using the Internet;

by cheque (check) using the order form;

by using the shareware registration service on CompuServe.

Site licence arrangements may be made by contacting the author.

All orders are subject to the Space Explorer Licence Agreement.

Space Explorer’s Internet home page will be updated to include more ways of registering.

Why register?

This is not free software. You are licensed to use this software for evaluation purposes without charge for 30 days. If you find this software useful and continue using it after the 30-day evaluation period, a registration fee is required. Unregistered use of Space Explorer after the 30-day evaluation period is in violation of UK and international copyright laws.

By registering, you will:

receive a registration number (via e-mail if you provide an e-mail address);

have a legal licence for Space Explorer;

not see the reminder screen when you start Space Explorer;

receive free technical support via e-mail for 6 months;

receive minor (point) updates of version 5 free of charge;

see your name and registration number displayed in the About box;

help support the shareware concept. Good quality software takes several months to develop; by registering shareware, you will encourage shareware authors to develop their existing programs and to develop new programs. If you find shareware useful but do not register it, you may find that eventually there will be no shareware for you to try out. Do not assume that other people will register so you don’t have to!

See also

How to let Space Explorer know you’ve registered


Online Registration

You can register Space Explorer by using the Internet. The registration fee during the beta program is $29.95 (29.95USD).

To place secure credit card orders via the Internet, choose one of the following methods:

from the Help menu, choose Internet and then choose Secure Registration; or

use the following URL:

http://www.atlantic-coast.com/cgi-bin/sellonline/k001cart.htm

See also

Ordering Information


Space Explorer Order Form

A payment of £20 (20GBP) must be made in GB pounds drawn on a GB bank. You can also send a EuroCheque (in GB pounds only).

Cheques should be made payable to:

“Kaptech Ltd”

Payment should be sent to:

P Kapadia
Kaptech Ltd
 75 Salisbury Walk
London N19 5DU
United Kingdom

To print the form, choose the Print Topic command on the File menu.

___________________________________________________________________________

Name: _______________________________  Date: ___________________

Company: _______________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________

         _______________________________________________________

City, State: ___________________________________________________

Zip/Postcode: __________________________________________________

Country: _______________________________________________________

Day Phone: ________________________  Eve: ______________________

Electronic Mail address: _______________________________________

How did you hear about Space Explorer?

Comments:


Registering using CompuServe

You can register Space Explorer by using the shareware registration service on CompuServe. A registration fee of $30 (30USD) will be automatically added to your CompuServe bill.

To register, use the CompuServe command GO SWREG, select “Register Shareware” and follow the menus. The registration number for Space Explorer is TBA. The rest of this section provides detailed instructions for registering Space Explorer.

Registering using WinCIM:

1.	From the Services menu, choose the Go command and type SWREG.

2.	In the Shareware Registration box, double click on the “Register Shareware” line. The Registration Agreement dialogue box appears.

3.	After you have read the Registration Agreement, click on Proceed. The Geographic Region dialogue box appears.

4.	Select your region.

5.	In the Register Shareware box, double click on Registration ID and enter xxx as the ID number:

6.	Double click on “Display Selected Titles”.

7.	Click the Register button to fill in your order information.

See also

Ordering Information


Register Space Explorer

Before you can enter your registration details, you must obtain a licence for Space Explorer (see Ordering Information).

Once you receive a registration number, you can let Space Explorer know your registration details:

1.	From the Help menu, choose the Register command.

2.	Enter your name and registration number exactly as they appear on the registration instructions sent to you when you registered Space Explorer. You cannot substitute a different spelling for your name or use a different name. If you register correctly, your name will appear in the About dialogue box, and the registration reminder dialogue box will no longer be displayed when you start Space Explorer.

You should save the registration instructions for possible use with future upgrades, or in case you re-install Space Explorer.

Note   If your name is spelt incorrectly in the registration instructions, please contact the author to receive a new registration number.


Menu Commands

Choose one of the following to get help on its sub-menus:

File menu commands

View menu commands

Chart menu commands

Compare menu commands

Folder menu commands

Monitor menu commands

Tools menu commands

Windows menu commands

Help menu commands

You can get help on any menu command while you are using Space Explorer. To get help, highlight the menu command and press F1.

Many menu commands can be accessed more quickly by keyboard shortcuts.


File Menu Commands

The following commands are available on the File menu:

New

Open Folder Selection

Save Folder Selection

Save Folder Selection As

Save Folder Tree As

Save List As

Save Comparison Result As

Save Snapshot of Path

Close

Open

Copy

Move

Rename

Delete

Create Folder

Explore

Print Chart

Information

Stop

Exit

Note   The menu commands that appear on the File menu vary according to the selected window.


New Command (File Menu)

The New command clears all folder selection details so that you can create a new folder list.


Open Folder Selection Command (File Menu)

The Open Folder Selection command opens a file that contains folder selection information. Use the Save Selection command to save folder selection information.

You can also open a file by dragging it from Windows Explorer onto Space Explorer.


Save Folder Selection Command (File Menu)

The Save Folder Selection command saves folder selection information in a text file.


Save Folder Selection As Command (File Menu)

The Save Folder Selection As command saves the folder selection in a text file. You are asked for a new file name.


Save Folder Tree As Command (File Menu)

The Save Folder Tree As command saves the folder tree of a Folder Tree Sizes window in a text file.


Save List As Command (File Menu)

The Save List As command saves the tabular list of the selected window in a tab separated text file.


Save Comparison Result As Command (File Menu)

The Save Comparison Result As command saves the displayed comparison results. The actual results saved depends on the option chosen on the Compare menu.


Save Snapshot of Path Commands (File Menu)

The Save Snapshot of Path command saves the snapshot of the folder indicated by Path 1 or Path 2.

This option is available once a comparison has finished. To save the snapshot of folder without performing a comparison, use the Take Snapshot command.


Close Command (File Menu)

The Close command closes the selected windows.


Open Command (File Menu)

The Open command opens the selected file. If the file is a program, it is run. If it is a document, it is opened using the program associated with it.


Copy Command (File Menu)

The Copy command copies the selected files and/or folder to a new folder. You are asked for the destination folder.


Move Command (File Menu)

The Move command copies the selected files and/or folders to a new folder. You are asked for the destination folder.


Rename Command (File Menu)

The Rename command renames the selected file or folder.

You can rename multiple files using the Manage File and Folders dialogue box.


Delete Command (File Menu)

The Delete command deletes the selected files and/or folders.


Create Folder Command (File Menu)

The Create Folder command creates a new folder in the selected folder.


Explore Command (File Menu)

The Explore command opens a new Explore window.

The selected folder in the new window depends on the selected window when you choose the Explore command.


Print Chart Command (File Menu)

The Print Chart command prints the chart displayed in the selected window.

You may want to change various settings before you print a chart, for example, title and legend fonts.


Information Command (File Menu)

The Information command displays various information (such as statistics) for the selected window. This may include information such as: time taken, totals, and settings.


Stop Command (File Menu)

The Stop command terminates the operation that is occurring in the selected window.

If you choose the Stop command, the displayed information will usually not be correct.


Exit Command (File Menu)

The Exit command closes Space Explorer.


Edit Menu Commands

The following commands are available on the Edit menu:

Select All

Select By File Type

Invert Selection


Select All Command (Edit Menu)

The Select All command selects all files and folders in the selected window.

You can perform various actions on the selected items, for example, copy or move them.


Select By File Type Command (Edit Menu)

The Select By File Type command selects files and folders according to their file extension. For example *.TXT selects all files with an extension of TXT.

 You can perform various actions on the selected items, for example, copy or move them.


Invert Selection Command (Edit Menu)

The Invert Selection command selects all files and folders that are not already selected and deselects those that are selected.

You can perform various actions on the selected items, for example, copy or move them.


View Menu Commands

The following commands are available on the View menu:

Toolbar

Status Bar

List/Chart

Arrange Icons


Toolbar Bar Command (View Menu)

The Toolbar menu item contains a sub-menu that shows or hides various toolbars. A tick appears next to the command when the toolbar is visible.


Status Bar Command (View Menu)

The Status Bar command shows or hides the status bar. A tick appears next to the command when the status bar is visible.


Legend Command (View Menu)

The Legend command shows or hides the legend to the right of a chart. A tick appears next to the command when the legend is visible.

The legend is a key that shows the colours used to represent folders and files.


List/Chart Commands (View Menu)

The List/Chart menu item contains sub-menus which change the way information is displayed.

You can click on the columns (displayed in the Details view) to sort files in ascending or descending order. Click once to sort the items in ascending order, click twice to sort them in descending order.

Some windows allow a subset of the List/Chart options because certain views are not appropriate for the information they provide.


Arrange Icons Commands (View Menu)

The Arrange Icons menu item contains a sub-menu that contains commands for sorting files in ascending or descending order according to the column specified. If you choose a column twice in succession, the sort order is reversed. For example, if you choose the Size column, the files with the largest size appear first; if you choose the Size column again, the smallest files appear first.

Some windows do not allow information to be sorted.


Chart Menu Commands

The following commands are available on the Chart menu:

Copy Chart to Clipboard

3D

Titles


Copy Chart to Clipboard Command (Chart Menu)

The Copy Chart to Clipboard command copies the displayed chart to the Windows clipboard. Use the Paste command to insert the chart into other programs.


3D Command (Chart Menu)

The 3D command switches between 2D and 3D charts.


Titles Command (Chart Menu)

The Titles command shows or hides chart titles. Chart titles can appear on top of charts or on either of the number axes.

Pie charts do not have a number axis; other charts have a number axis either to the left of or below the chart.


Folder Menu Commands

The following commands are available on the Folder menu:

Add to Selection

Remove from Selection

Find: Folder Tree Sizes

Find: Large Files

Find: Duplicates Files

Find: System File References


Add to Selection Command (Folder Menu)

The Add Selection command copies a folder name from the Available Folders list to the Selected Folders list.

You can also add a folder name to the Selected Folders list by dragging it from the Available Folders list, or from Window Explorer. If you use Windows Explorer, you can drag more than one folder onto Space Explorer.

See also

Remove from Selection


Remove from Selection Command (Folder Menu)

The Remove from Selection command removes a folder name from the Selected Folders list.

See also

Add to Selection


Find: Folder Tree Sizes Command (Folder Menu)

The Folder Tree Sizes command calculates the total disk space used by the list of selected folders (including their subfolders).


Find: Large Files Command (Folder Menu)

The Large Files command displays files that are bigger than a certain size or the largest N files (the minimum file size and N are specified in Options).

You must select one or folders before this option is available.


Find: Duplicate Files Command (Folder Menu)

The Duplicate Files command displays files that are identical in the list of selected folders and their subfolders.

This command compares the contents of files so that only identical files are displayed.

You must select one or folders before this option is available.


Find: System File References Command (Folder Menu)

Important   USE THIS COMMAND WITH EXTREME CAUTION. IT IS FOR EXPERT USERS ONLY. DO NOT DELETE SYSTEM FILES.

The System File References command displays system files that are (or are not) referred to by other files and by the Windows Registry.

This command can help you find unused system files (such as DLLs) but it is not sufficient on its own. The reason is that programs load DLLs in two ways: while loading or while running. This command can search files (that have PE and NE headers) for load-time references (by looking in the file’s Import Table) but it cannot find out about DLLs loaded while the program is running. The only way of finding out which DLLs are loaded at run-time is to run the program.

By default, Space Explorer regards files with extensions DLL and DPL as system files. In this version, this list can be changed only via the Registry. The files that are scanned (program files) must have a pre-defined extension (again, specified in the Registry).

You must select one or folders before this option is available. At minimum, you should select all drives that contain programs files (including the drive on which Windows is installed).

Warning   Files that have no references to them are not necessarily unused. DO NOT DELETE SYSTEM FILES.

See also

Options: System Files/Compare

System File References window


Compare Menu Commands

The Compare menu commands show or hide various comparison results. The following table describes the options available:

Option	Meaning
Same Size	Displays files that appear in both paths and have the same size. The contents of these files are not necessarily identical.
Path 1 Only	Displays files that appear in the folder indicated by Path 1 but not in the folder indicated by Path 2.
Path 2 Only	Displays files that appear in the folder indicated by Path 2 but not in the folder indicated by Path 1.
Path 1 Newer	Displays files that appear in both the folders indicated by Path 1 and Path 2 where the files in Path 1 are newer than the files in Path 2.
Path 2 Newer	Displays files that appear in both the folders indicated by Path 1 and Path 2 where the files in Path 2 are newer than the files in Path 1.
Different	Combines options Path 1 Newer and Path 2 Newer above.


Monitor Menu Commands

The monitor menu commands determine which types of drives are monitored in the drive monitor. You can choose the default settings with the Options command.


Tools Menu Commands

The following commands are available on the Tools menu:

Compare

Monitor Drives

Drive Properties

Map Network Drive

Disconnect Network Drive

Options


Compare Commands (Tools Menu)

The following commands are available on the Compare sub-menu:

Two Folders

Two Snapshots

Snapshot and Folder

Take Snapshot


Compare Two Folders Command (Tools Menu)

The Two Folders command compare the files in two folders and their subfolders.

The files of subfolders are compared when the relative paths of these files are the same. For example, if Folder 1 is C:\WINDOWS and Folder 2 is D:\WIN, then the subfolders C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM and D:\WIN\SYSTEM are compared because the SYSTEM subfolder is in the same relative position in both folders. However, if Folder 2 has a folder called C:\WINDOWS\TEST\SYSTEM, this folder is not compared with D:\WIN\SYSTEM. Instead, the files in C:\WINDOWS\TEST\SYSTEM and D:\WIN\SYSTEM are displayed with the result being that they exist in only Folders 1 and 2 respectively.

See also

Comparison results


Compare Two Snapshots Command (Tools Menu)

The Two Snapshots command compares two snapshots files that were created by the Take Snapshot command or the Save Snapshot of Path command.

See also

Comparison results


Compare Snapshot and Folder Command (Tools Menu)

The Snapshot and Folder command compares a folder with a snapshot. The snapshot should have been created using the Take Snapshot command or the Save Snapshot of Path command.

You can use option to see how folders (and their subfolders) have changed since their last snapshot was taken.

See also

Comparison results


Take Snapshot Command (Tools Menu)

The Take Snapshot command takes a snapshot of a folder and its subfolders.

A snapshot file saves details about folders and their files so that you can compare them over time.

See also

Comparison results


Monitor Drives Command (Tools Menu)

The Monitor Drives command starts the drive monitor. This displays drive usage information about drives and folders.

See also

Monitor Drives window


Drive Properties Command (Tools Menu)

The Drive Properties command displays information about drives. Information displayed includes cluster sizes, sectors sizes, free space, and file system properties.

See also

Drive Properties window


Map Network Drive Command (Tools Menu)

The Map Network Drive command maps a letter to a network drive.

This command is available only if a network is detected.

See also

Disconnect Network Drive


Disconnect Network Drive Command (Tools Menu)

The Disconnect Network Drive command removes a mapping between a letter and a network drive.

This command is available only if a network is detected.

See also

Map Network Drive


Options Command (Tools Menu)

The Options command displays the Options dialogue box which lets you change options for Space Explorer.


Window Menu Commands

The following commands are available on the Window menu:

Tile

Cascade

Arrange Icons

Home (Folder Selection Window)

Change Folder/Run Program

Refresh


Tile Command (Window Menu)

The Tile command arranges all windows so that they do not overlap on the screen. Use this view to see windows that may be hidden or to organise the windows on the screen.


Cascade Command (Window Menu)

The Cascade command arranges all windows so that they overlap on the screen. Use this view to see windows that may be hidden or to organise the windows on the screen.


Arrange Icons Command (Window Menu)

The Arrange Icons command arranges all iconised windows on the screen.


Home (Folder Selection Window) Command (Window Menu)

The Home command displays the Folder Selection window.


Change Folder/Run Program Command (Window Menu)

The Change Folder/Run Program command changes the folder displayed in the selected window (if appropriate).

You can also use it to run a program or open a document.

Files and folders can be dragged and dropped on the box from Space Explorer or Windows Explorer.


Refresh Command (Window Menu)

The Refresh command updates the currently selected windows. You may be asked to confirm this request.


Help Menu Commands

The following commands are available on the Help menu:

Contents

Internet

Ordering Information

Register

About


Contents Command (Help Menu)

The Contents command displays this Help file.


Internet Menu (Help Menu)

The following commands are available on the Internet sub-menu:

Secure Registration

Space Explorer Home Page

Send Suggestion (using e-mail)


Secure Registration Command (Help Menu)

The Secure Registration command connects to the Space Explorer secure registration service. You will be asked to confirm your order once you are connected.

This options requires that your computer has access to the Internet.

See also

Ordering Information


Space Explorer Home Page Command (Help Menu)

The Space Explorer Home Page command connects to the Space Explorer home page on the Internet.

You should periodically check this site for updates and information.

This options requires that your computer has access to the Internet.


Send Suggestion (using e-mail) Command (Help Menu)

The Send Suggestion command displays instructions for sending e-mail to the author of Space Explorer.

Use this option to send suggestions for future versions, error reports, and comments (good or bad)!

This options requires that your computer has access to the Internet and that the “send” option of your e-mail software can be started directly from Windows. This is available in products like Microsoft Internet Mail and Microsoft Outlook 97 but not in products with a proprietary interface (such as CompuServe 3.0).


Ordering Information Command (Help Menu)

The Ordering Information command displays instructions for ordering Space Explorer.

If you have a credit card and your computer can connect to the Internet, use the Secure Registration command from the Help menu.


Register Command (Help Menu)

The Register command enters registration details into Space Explorer. You must obtain a licence for Space Explorer before entering registering your details with Space Explorer.


About Command (Help Menu)

The About command displays program information about Space Explorer.


Folder Level to Display

Setting the folder level affects how far down a folder tree you can see in the Folder Tree Sizes window and what information is saved when you save the contents of the Folder Tree Sizes window. The sizes displayed in the Folder Tree Sizes window are unaffected. For example, if a folder structure consists of:

C:\APPS

\WORD

TEMPLATE

\EXCEL

and you specify a level of 2, you will be able to view the folder sizes for APPS, WORD and EXCEL but not TEMPLATE.

This option is useful if you have a server whose structure is something like:

\USERS

\FRED

\JANE

\MARIE

By specifying a level of 2, you can find out how much disk space is used by each person. No information about the users’ subfolders will be provided and, when you save the folder tree sizes, information about the users’ subfolders will not be saved.


Keyboard Shortcuts

If you prefer to keep your hands on the keyboard when you are working, you can use the shortcut keys. For example, pressing CTRL+C lets you calculate the sizes of selected folders; it is the same as choosing Calculate Sizes from the Folder menu.

The following table provides available shortcut keys.

To	Press
Pop-up context menu	ALT+F10
Go to parent folder	BACKSPACE
Add to folder selection	CTRL+ A or INSERT
Monitor drives	CTRL+D
Explorer	CTRL+E
Start folder tree size scan	CTRL+L
New (folder selection)	CTRL+N
Open (folder selection)	CTRL+O
Remove from folder selection	CTRL+R or DELETE
Save (folder selection)	CTRL+S
Options	CTRL+T
Home (Folder Selection Window)	CTRL+W
Exit	CTRL+X
Stop calculation	CTRL+Z
Delete file	DELETE
Rename file	F2
Change Folder/ Run Program	F4
Refresh window	F5
Move file	F7
Copy file	F8
Note   The ‘+’ means you should press and hold down the keys mentioned at the same time. For example, CTRL+S means you should press and hold down the CTRL key, and then press the S key (without releasing the CTRL key); you should then release both keys at the same time.


Main Window

The main window of Space Explorer contains the following elements:

Filter

Available Folder

Add button

Selected Folders

Description

Clear List button

Remove button


Path (on File Toolbar)

The path box lets you manually change the current folder in the selected window (if appropriate).

The Path box accepts UNC (Universal Naming Convention) paths. The format of UNC paths is \\SERVER\SHARENAME.

You can also run programs and open documents by entering a program or document name.


Filter (Main Window)

The filter box determines which files are used to are scanned  for any subsequent action you  choose.. For example, if you want to know how much disk space is being used by files with extension TMP, select the *.TMP filter.

The list of filters cannot be amended.


Available Folders (Main Window)

The Available Folders box displays the list of local and network drives.

To add a UNC path, select it from the Go to Different Folder button on the File toolbar or type in a new path in the box on the File toolbar.

You can add folders to the Selected Folders list by:

pressing the Add button; or

dragging a folder to the list; or

pressing the Insert key.

Press F5 to update the list.


Add button (Main Window)

The Add button copies a folder name from the folder list to the Selected Folders list.


Selected Folders (Main Window)

The Selected Folders list displays paths for which folder sizes are calculated.


Description (Main Window)

The Description box lets you provide a name for the list you create. This description is saved when you save the Selected Folders list. For example, if the folder selection contains users’ home folders on server ACCOUNTS, you can type ‘Users on ACCOUNTS server’.


Clear List button (Main Window)

The Clear List button removes all entries in the Selected Folders list.


IDH_Remove button (Main Window)
Remove button (Main Window)

The Remove button removes the currently highlighted entry in the Selected Folders list.


Options Dialogue Box

The Options dialogue box is displayed when you choose the Options command from the Tools menu.

You can change options for the following:

Folder Tree Sizes

Large/Duplicate Files

Drive Monitor

Files

System Files/Compare

Charts

Display

Advanced

Note   The options usually take effect for new windows only. Existing windows will usually continue to use the options that were set when the windows were first opened.


Options: Folder Tree Sizes

The Folder Tree Sizes options are part of the Options dialogue box. These options affect the display of the Folder Tree Sizes window.

You can change the following options:

Unit

Determines what unit is used to display the folder tree sizes. Folder sizes in the Folder Tree Sizes window can be expressed in bytes, kilobytes (KB) or megabytes (MB).

One kilobyte is 1,024 bytes and one megabyte is 1,048,576 bytes

Formatting

The following options determine how the folder sizes are formatted.

Show thousand separator

Displays a separator between groups of digits in large numbers, for example: 1,000,000.

Append unit name

Displays the unit used for the folder size. The unit is bytes, K (for kilobytes), or MB (for megabytes).

Highlight

The following option highlights certain folders.

Folder trees exceeding ...

Highlights a folder if its size and the size of its subfolders exceed the value specified. The unit used to express the value is the same as the unit specified in the Unit box.

Folder levels to display

The following option determines the structure of the Folder Tree Sizes window.

Maximum folder levels to display

Displays all or some folder levels. This affects how far down a folder tree you can see and what information is saved when you save the contents of the Folder Tree Sizes window. The sizes displayed in the Folder Tree Sizes window are unaffected. For example, if a folder structure consists of:

C:\APPS

\WORD

TEMPLATE

\EXCEL

and you specify a level of 2, you will be able to view the folder sizes for APPS, WORD and EXCEL but not TEMPLATE.

This option is useful if you have a server whose structure is something like:

\USERS

\FRED

\JANE

\MARIE

By specifying a level of 2, you can find out how much disk space is used by each person. No information about the users’ subfolders will be provided and, when you save the folder tree, information about the users’ subfolders will not be saved.


Options: Large/Duplicate Files

The Large/Duplicate Files options are part of the Options dialogue box. These options affect the display of the Large Files window and the Duplicate Files window.

You can change the following options:

Large files

Specifies whether to display the largest N files (N > 0) or files greater than a minimum size.

Duplicate files

Alternate colour

Denotes the colour used by alternate groups of identical files.

Skip files smaller than

Does not examine files smaller than the specified file size. Often there are many small files that have the same size. Setting this option to a small value (say 10K) will decrease processing time.


Options: Drive Monitor

The Drive Monitor options are part of the Options dialogue box. The options affect the display of the Monitor Drives window.

You can change the following options:

Default drives to monitor

Specify which drives are monitored when you open a new Drive Monitor window.

Update interval

Specifies how frequently a Drive Monitor window is updated.

Alert colour

Determines whether a monitored drive appears in a different colour when its free disk space falls below a specified value.


Options: Files

The Files options are part of the Options dialogue box. The options affect windows that display file information.

You can change the following options:

Display for files and folders

The following options determine what file information is displayed:

Last access date/time

Displays the date or time (or both) of when a file was last accessed.

Owner

Displays the owner of a file or folder. You must be running Windows NT and the file or folder must be on an NTFS partition.

Compressed size

Displays the compressed size of a file instead of its nominal size. You must be running Windows NT and the file or folder must be on an NTFS partition.

Display immediately

Displays files as their details are found. The file list is sorted after all files are found. This option is relevant for the Explore and Folder Tree Sizes windows. Setting this option improves the responsiveness of Space Explorer, for example, you can open a document in the file list before all files have been displayed.

Sort before displaying

Displays files after all file details have been found. Files are sorted before they are displayed. This option is relevant for the Explore and Folder Tree Sizes windows. There may be a pause before files are displayed.

Folders

Specifies the default folder in which Space Explorer documents are stored.

Windows Explorer

Add shell extension

Adds Space Explorer to the Windows Explorer context menu.

Enabling this option lets you start a Folder Tree Size operation by clicking the secondary button of your mouse on a folder in Windows Explorer and choosing Space Explorer from the context menu.

You can also start Space Explorer from the command prompt.

Alignment

Determines whether files are arranged automatically after they are displayed. This option is most relevant when you resize a window.


Options: System Files/Compare

The System Files/Compare options are part of the Options dialogue box. These options affect the display of the System File References window and the Comparison Result window.

You can change the following options:

Compare: default display

The options specify which files are displayed while a folder comparison is taking place. You can change these options when a Comparison Result window is selected.

System file references: display

The following options determine what file information is in a System File References window:

In executable

Displays system (typically DLLs) files that have a reference in other (typically program) files. The program files’ “headers” (types PE and NE) are searched for references. Other references are ignored.

In Registry

Displays system files that have references in the Windows Registry

In both

Same as In executable and In Registry above, that is, there is program file reference and a Registry reference.

In neither

Displays files for which there are not referenced by program files or the Registry. These system files may still be required.

See also

Find: System File References


Options: Charts

The Charts options are part of the Options dialogue box. You can change the following options:

View

These options determine whether files and folders are displayed for a new window or a chart with a certain colour scheme.

Colour scheme

Specifies which colour scheme is used for charts.

Maximum points

Specifies the maximum number of visible points. If a chart has more points than this value a scroll bar appears.

Titles

These options show or hide titles.

Top title

Determines whether a title is shown above the chart.

Axis title

Determines whether a title is shown for the number axis.

Dimensions

These options determine the dimensions of a chart (2D, 3D, perspective).

3D

Determines whether chart is shown in 3D.


Options: Display

The Display options are part of the Options dialogue box. You can change the following options:

Tool tips

Tool tips are small windows that pop-up to provide immediate help about parts of the screen.

Toolbar

Displays tips when you position the mouse over a button on the toolbar.

Window position at startup

The following options determine where on the screen Space Explorer appears when you start it.

Centre of screen

Displays main window in the centre of the screen.

Last saved

Displays main window in the position it was when you last quit Space Explorer.

Number of recently used entries for

These options specify how many past entries are saved in the file and path lists.

Files

Specifies how many recently opened and saved files appear in the File menu.

Paths

Specifies how many paths you typed appear in the Path list.


Options: Advanced

The Advanced options are part of the Options dialogue box. Do not change these options unless you are an experienced user of Windows and are familiar with the concepts mentioned below.

Thread priority

The calculation thread priority determines which Windows thread priority a calculation is started with. Each calculation runs in its own thread. The main thread priority is always Normal.

Changing the thread priority to the highest value is not necessarily the optimum setting. The optimum setting depends on a number of factors. The default setting usually provides good performance.

Thread Priority	Meaning
Highest	The thread’s priority is two points above normal.
High	The thread’s priority is one point above normal.
Normal	The thread has normal priority.
Below normal	The thread’s priority is one point below normal (recommended).
Low	The thread’s priority is two points below normal.
Lowest	The thread executes only when the system is idle. Windows won’t interrupt other threads to execute a thread with this priority.
Note   All Windows 32-bit applications have a main process thread. This usually performs the bulk of the work. Applications may also create child threads to perform background processing. In Space Explorer, most processing is performed by child threads. However, all screen updates are performed by the main process thread (which usually runs at Normal priority). When a child thread wants to update the screen, it passes the update to the main thread. Therefore, setting the thread priority equal to or greater than Normal will usually create a bottleneck and, consequently, reduce the responsiveness of Space Explorer.

On computers with multiple processors, the multithreading behaviour will be different. To find the best setting, try experimenting!


Folder Tree Sizes Window

The Folder Tree Sizes window displays information in three ways:

Folder Tree View

The number in brackets (after the name of a folder) always indicates the nominal size of a folder and all its subfolders (not the allocated size). A breakdown of the size is provided by the list on the right of the window and on the chart.

File List View

The size of a folder in the list provides the size of folder and all its subfolders. It provides the same information as that which appears in brackets in the tree view.

The meaning of the columns in the list is provided in the following table:

Column	Meaning
Name	The name of the file or folder.
Size	The nominal size of files in the folder tree or a file. This is the minimum space required by the folder tree or file.
Allocated	The actual disk space allocated for files in the folder tree or a file. This figure is usually larger than Size because filing systems (such as FAT and NTFS) use clusters when allocating space for files. A cluster is the minimum space allocated to a file when it requires more space. It is usually a multiple of 4K. For example, if the cluster size is 4K and a file requires 5K, the file will still use up 8K of disk space (because it will be allocated two clusters of 4K).
Wasted	This is the difference between the Size and Allocated values. It indicates the amount of allocated space that is unused.
Modified	Date and time the folder or file was last modified.
Note   If you have chosen a UNC path instead of a drive letter the Allocated and Wasted columns may display incorrect information. This is because Space Explorer cannot find out the cluster size of a UNC path.

You can:

open a file by double-clicking on it;

view the contents of a folder by double-clicking on it;

sort any column in ascending or descending order by clicking on the column; two consecutive clicks on a column reverses the sort order, for example,  if you click once on the Size column, the folders and files are sorted in ascending order; if you click again, they are sorted in descending order.

Chart View

The chart view provide a breakdown of the folder selected in the tree view. The following is an example of a chart:

You can click on and drag various parts of a chart. Try experimenting!

A chart consists of values for files and folders. The Files section of a chart indicates the space used by files in the folder selected. The other folders indicate the tree sizes of the subfolders of the selected folder. For example, if the number in brackets in the tree view of a folder is 100KB then a pie chart could have 20KB for one subfolder’s tree size, 70KB for another subfolder’s tree size and 30KB for the size of all files in the selected folder.

See also

Options: Folder Tree Sizes

Options: Files

Options: Charts


Explorer Window

The Explorer window provides a list of files and folders. It is similar to Windows Explorer except you can have multiple windows open.

You can transfer files to and from Windows Explorer or any other program that supports OLE drag and drop for files. Currently, non-file formats are not supported.

The charts display the space used by files in a folder.

See also

Options: Files

Options: Charts


Large Files Window

The Large Files window displays the largest N files (N > 0) or files exceeding a specified size. Both options are set using the Options dialogue box.

Charts are visible only when using Windows NT and when looking at files on an NTFS partition. They charts display the disk space used by owners of files.

See also

Options: Large/Duplicate Files

Options: Files

Options: Charts


Duplicate Files Window

The Duplicate Files window displays files whose contents are the same as other files.

Files are grouped together in alternating colours. A group of identical files appear together in one colour. Then another group of identical files appear in another colour. This alternating colour pattern is repeated to separate groups of files. Individual groups are unrelated.

For example, if there are four groups of files:

c:\apps\file1.txt

c:\data\file2.txt

d:\temp\file3.txt

d:\apps\file4.txt

d:\win\readme1.txt

c:\nt\readme2.txt

c:\autoexec1.bat

d:\autoexec2.bat

c:\backup\autoexec3.bat

the files c:\apps\file1.txt and c:\data\file2.txt are identical; the files d:\temp\file3.txt and d:\apps\file4.txt are identical; the files d:\win\readme1.txt and c:\nt\readme2.txt are identical; and the files c:\autoexec1.bat, d:\autoexec2.bat, and c:\backup\autoexec3.bat are identical.

Warning   If you delete a group of files, you may find that unrelated groups (with the same colour) appear next to each other. This can give the impression that the files are all identical because they appear in one group. For example, if you delete the files d:\win\readme1.txt and c:\nt\readme2.txt (above), the two red groups join together. Sometimes, it is easy to recognise that two groups joined like this are unrelated because their file sizes differ. However, remember that although all files that are identical must have the same size not all files that have the same size are identical.

See also

Options: Large/Duplicate Files

Options: Files

Options: Charts


System File References Window

The System File References window displays system files that are (or are not) referred to by other files and by the Windows Registry.

See also

Find: System File References

Options: System Files/Compare


Comparison Result Window

The Comparison Result window displays the result of a comparison of two folders.

The charts provide a breakdown of how many files are the same and how many differ.

See also

Compare menu commands

Options: Files

Options: System Files/Compare

Options: Charts


Monitor Drives Window

The Monitor Drives windows displays information about selected drives and folders.

If specified in Options, some drives appear in a different colour. These occurs when their free disk space is less than the value specified in the options.

The used and free space statistics are also shown in horizontal and vertical bar charts. In the charts, solid colouring indicates used disk space and stripes indicate free disk space.

Note   Windows 95 does not always report correct information for network drives over 2GB. You can test this in Windows Explorer by selecting a large network drive and looking at its properties. You should find that Space Explorer reports the same information.

See also

Options: Drive Monitor

Options: Files

Options: Charts


Drive Properties Window

The Drive Properties window display various information about drive and their filing systems.

Note   Windows 95 does not always report correct information for network drives over 2GB. You can test this in Windows Explorer by selecting a large network drive and looking at its properties. You should find that Space Explorer reports the same information.


Manage Files and Folders Dialogue Box

The Manage Files and Folders Dialogue Box helps you copy, move, delete and rename one or many files and folders.

You can rename multiple files by specifying a wildcard in the To box, for example type “*.BAK” (without the quotes), to change the extension of all selected files to “BAK”.


Excluded Folders

Folder paths that exceed about 260 characters are not displayed. Therefore, some of the sizes shown in the Folder Tree Sizes window may be incorrect if long paths are found. You will be told if long paths are found.

Long paths may exist for many reasons, for example:

the folders were created using another operating system;

a subfolder is shared out and many subfolders are added by the user connected to the share; consequently, the new path relative to the share may be valid but invalid relative to the subfolder’s absolute path on the server.

See also

The folder tree sizes are not correct


Duplicate Files: Skipped Files

When you are searching for duplicate files, Space Explorer looks for files that have the same file size. It then compares the contents of these files. Sometimes, Space Explorer encounters a problem when comparing files. When the search for duplicate files is complete, Space Explorer displays a list of the pairs of files it was unable to compare. No list is displayed if Space Explorer does not encounter any problem,

I don’t know the cause of this problem but it seems to happen only on Windows 95.


Procedures

How to use Space Explorer

How to let Space Explorer know you’ve registered


How to use Space Explorer

The basic procedure for using Space Explorer is to compile a list of one or more folders and then to choose a command from the Folder menu. The following provides a step-by-step guide:

1.	In the Available Folders box, locate the folder(s) you want to find information about.

2.	Choose the Add Button to add the folder to the Selected Folders list.

3.	Repeat steps 1 and 2 for other folders whose tree sizes you require.

4.	Select a command from the Find submenu on the Folder menu.

Some commands (such as Compare and Monitor Drives) can be run directly without compiling a list of folders.

See also

The folder tree sizes are not correct


Frequently Asked Questions

The folder tree sizes are not correct

Setup and/or startup problems

Where are the chart templates?

How do I display the properties of a file or folder without a mouse?


The folder tree sizes are not correct

The sizes returned for folders may be wrong or appear to be wrong for several reasons. Here are some:

If you are comparing the sizes returned by Space Explorer with another program, it is possible that the other program does not include certain files and folders; for example, system and hidden files may be excluded. Space Explorer includes system and hidden files. Also, if you are running Windows 95 or Windows NT version 4, some programs may exclude system folders such as the RECYCLED folder. The DIR command excludes the RECYCLED folder by default.

The sizes returned by Space Explorer may be incorrect if the folder path is being updated while Space Explorer is running.

The sizes returned by Space Explorer may be incorrect if it finds long paths. See the section titled Excluded Folders for more information.

The sizes returned by Space Explorer may be incorrect if you do not have “list” permission for the complete folder tree. This usually means your network administrator does not want you to see the contents of specific folders. The consequence is that the folders cannot be seen by Space Explorer.

The sizes returned by Space Explorer may be incorrect if you stop a scan before it finishes.

If you have chosen a UNC path instead of a drive letter the Allocated and Wasted columns may display incorrect information. This is because Space Explorer cannot find out the cluster size of a UNC path.

Important   During testing, the results produced by Space Explorer were double checked and found to be accurate. If it is important to you that the results produced by Space Explorer are entirely correct, you are advised to double check them.


Setup and/or startup problems

If Space Explorer fails to install, check that your computer satisfies the system requirements.

Space Explorer has been tested on Windows NT 4.0 (SP3). It has not been tested on Windows NT 3.51. It is possible that Space Explorer may run on Windows NT 3.51 with SP5.


Where are the chart templates?

Chart templates existed in Space Explorer version 4. In version 5, this feature has been removed. The reason for this is that a new chart “engine” has been introduced. This new chart engine provides similar functionality but requires less disk space.

I apologise to those people who found this feature useful. To make amends, version 5 is a free upgrade despite the considerable new functionality.


How do I display the properties of a file or folder without a mouse?

There is currently no Properties command on the File menu. However, you can display the properties of a file or folder by selecting it and pressing ALT-F10.


Technical Information

This section provides background information about Space Explorer.

Version history

System requirements


Version History

This section provides the history of Space Explorer.

Version 5.0 (Q1 1998)

This was the first step to providing a complete multithreaded file management system.

Explore multiple folders.

Find duplicate files.

Find certain references to system files.

Compare folders, including “snapshots” to see how drive usage changes over time.

Find large files; included graphical representation of NTFS file ownership. Largest files displayed in two ways: the largest N files (N >0) or those exceeding a specified size.

Drive properties: disk and file system information.

Monitor drives: local, network, and pre-selected drives.

Window Explorer context menu support.

Create shortcuts.

OLE file drag and drop support.

File copy, move, rename, and delete; create folders.

File owner and compression displayed (for NTFS) and last access time;

FAT32 and NTFS support.

Tree size scan information is automatically updated if a folder is deleted from Space Explorer.

Microsoft Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer “look and feel”.

Internet registration.

Animated icon for thread progress. Floating toolbars

Most new features include the option of displaying information in a table or chart, as well as saving and updating it.

New chart engine.

Significantly re-engineered to use common code across many features.

More customisation options.

Program file name changed to SpaceExp.exe.

Version 4.0 (March 1997)

This was the first 32-bit version for Windows 95 and Windows NT. The following features were added:

Use of Windows 95 and Windows NT 4 controls.

Multithreading support.

Multiple chart views: pie, bar, line, and spline.

Multiple list views (like Windows Explorer).

Options for threading priorities and charts.

Name changed from PKDirUse for Windows to Space Explorer.

Version 3.0 (January 1997)

This was a complete re-write in Borland Delphi 1.0. The following features were added:

The results were displayed using the File Manager/Explorer tree metaphor. This meant only top level folders needed to be specified because other information could be obtained by drilling down to lower folders.

User-configurable units for results.

User-configurable formatting.

Maximum folders to display

Context-sensitive help.

Version 2.0 (August 1995)

This version was functionally identical to version 1. The folder sizing routines were replaced by a DLL written in Borland Delphi. This reduced the time taken to sum up sizes for large folder trees from minutes to seconds.

Version 1.0 (1994)

This version was written in Microsoft Visual Basic. It provided folder sizes for a list of user-specified folders.


System requirements

The table below describes the system requirements for Space Explorer. You may find that you do not need a computer with a specification that matches these requirements.

Component	Requirement or Recommendation
Operating system	Windows NT 4 (or higher) Windows 95 (or higher)
Processor	486 100Mz or faster (Windows 95) Pentium 90Mhz or faster (Windows NT)
Memory	16MB or greater (Windows 95) 32MB or greater (Windows NT)
Disk space	1.3MB (approx)
Software	COMCTL32.DLL (version 4.70 or later)

COMCTL32.DLL usually resides in the WINDOWS\SYSTEM or WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 folder. You can download a recent version of this from Microsoft’s web site (www.microsoft.com).

You may require a higher specification computer if you start many threads simultaneously in Space Explorer.


Acknowledgements

The following are some of the people who (sometimes without knowing it!) have made my life easier. They have provided code examples, made it easier to use Delphi, beta tested Space Explorer, and sent suggestions. Their assistance and generosity is gratefully acknowledged:

Damien Guard, Robert R. Marsh, Andrea Mennini, Nico Mak Computing, Inc., Gerald Nunn, Pablo Pissanetzky, Jeffrey Richter, Jordan Russell, Brad Stowers, Glen Why, and many other Delphi programmers.

All trademarks acknowledged.


Mission Statement: for Space Explorers everywhere

Disk space, the final frontier,

these are the voyages of the Space Explorer,

its ongoing mission,

to explore strange new machines

to seek out new files and new configurations,

to boldly go where many have gone before.

[With apologies to GR]


Drag

To drag an object (such as a file or colour):

1.	click on the object with your mouse button;

2.	hold down the mouse while you drag the object to its destination;

3.	release the mouse button.

You can press the CTRL key (to copy) or the SHIFT key (to move) while dragging the object.


Command Line Parameters

Space Explorer can be called from Windows Explorer and the Windows command prompt. The command line syntax is:

SpaceExp [ Folder Name | Folder Selection File ]

where

Folder Name is the name of a folder whose tree size you want to calculate when Space Explorer starts; and

Folder Selection File is the name of a folder selection file whose folders’ tree sizes you want to calculate when Space Explorer starts.

Examples

Command line	Meaning
SpaceExp	Start Space Explorer
SpaceExp C:\Windows	Start Space Explorer and calculate the tree size of the C:\Windows folder
SpaceExp Select1.txt	Start Space Explorer and calculate the tree sizes of all the folders in the Select1.txt file