Copyright: v2.x


 Contents

Introduction

FileMaid Creator

Sessions

Files

Message

Output Details

Password

Creating output files

FileMaid Extractor

Extractor Password

Extractor Message

Extractor Files

FAQ

License

Uninstalling

MAIDinNZ


 Introduction

FileMaid is a Windows 95/98 utility that makes transporting and storing computer files easier. FileMaid has many uses:

Sending large file attachments by email. Some email servers limit the size of attachments, and some files - multimedia and database files especially - exceed this maximum size even when they're zipped.

Sending files to destinations that don't have zip software. FileMaid's extraction software is internal - you need send nothing more than the output file or files.

Sending files where a level of security is desirable. You can password protect FileMaid's output files. Unlike zip software, the contents aren't listed until the password is entered.

Sending files with essential instructions attached. You can incorporate a message into FileMaid's output to ensure it's the first thing the recipient sees.

The FileMaid Creator's user-friendly interface offers a range of features:

Sessions	Files

Message	Output Details

Password	Creating output files

The FileMaid Extractor has a simple interface which provides:

Password Protection	Message Display

File List


 Creator

When you first launch FileMaid, the Creator window displays the Files window and the Output window:

From the Creator window you can access all  FileMaid's features:

Sessions	Files

Message	Output Details

Password	Creating output files


 Sessions

Each time you create a set of output files, FileMaid stores that information in its own database. Controls for the Sessions database are in the top left corner of FileMaid's Creator window:

With these controls you can browse sessions in chronological order [image], create a new session [image] or search for a specific session [image]. The panel also displays the date of the current session - or "new session" if you've not yet created output files.

When you click the [image] button to search for a particular session, the Find window will appear:

In the Find Window sessions are displayed alphabetically by output file name. You can select any session by double-clicking on it in the list, or by highlighting it and clicking the [image] select button.


 Files

The Creator's Files window displays the files to be included in FileMaid's output files.

You can add files with the [image] button or by dragging them from the Windows Explorer. You can delete files by highlighting them in the list and clicking the [image] button. Note that you can delete multiple files by using the SHIFT or CONTROL button when selecting them.

To the right of each file FileMaid displays the uncompressed file size in bytes. The number and total size of all the files is displayed to the left of the rotary knob. To the right of the rotary knob is the button which creates the output files - it's labelled with the number and compressed size of the output files.

By the way - if you reload a session after some of the files have been deleted, those files will appear shaded, and marked with a missing symbol rather than the file icon:


 Message

FileMaid's Creator lets you insert a message into each set of output files - the message will appear when the recipient starts the extraction process. To view the Message window and enter a message, click the [image] button on the Files window.

To return to the Files window, click the [image] button. You'll note that once you've entered a message, a checkmark will appear next to the [image] button for the rest of that session.


Output Details
 Output

The Output window is at the bottom of FileMaid's Creator window. Here you can enter a filename for the output files and a folder to send them to.

The filename and folder details will be stored in the Windows Registry between FileMaid sessions. These details are also stored with the session information - if you reload a previous session the output details are also reloaded.

If you select a removeable drive as the output folder, FileMaid will prompt you before creating each of the output files so you can insert a new disc.


 Password

FileMaid lets you password protect output files. If you create output files with a password selected, the first thing the recipient will see is a password entry box. Neither the filenames nor any message you include with the output files will be visible until the correct password has been entered.

To open the password window, click the [image] button in the Output window:

The last password you entered will be stored in the Windows Registry and reloaded each time you use FileMaid. If you don't want to password protect a particular session, uncheck the [image] checkbox.

To return to the Output window, click the [image] button. If you've entered a password and checked the [image] checkbox, you'll note that the password button [image] has a check mark next to it.

Please note. FileMaid's password protection does not internally encode your file data and is not intended to provide absolute protection against unauthorised access. It is useful only as a "first line of defence".


Creating
 Creating Output Files

FileMaid compresses the listed files into one or more output files.

The output file or files will be all be given the same filename - the one entered in the Output section - and they'll have consecutive file extensions .001, .002, etc. The last of the output files will share the same filename, but with the extension .EXE.

To determine how many output files are created, move the rotary knob in the center of FileMaid's Creator window. You can grab and drag the knob's pointer with your mouse, or if the rotary knob is highlighted you can use the left and right arrow keys on the keyboard.

To create output files you must have some files listed, and you must have selected an output folder and a filename. When you're ready to create the output files, click the Create button.


 Extractor

FileMaid's output files will use the filename you've chosen. If you've created only one output file it will have an .EXE extension. If you've created multiple output files, their extensions will be numbered .001, .002, .003, etc - the final output file always has an .EXE extension.

This final output file is the Extractor. With all the output files in the same folder, launching the extractor will begin the process of recreating the files you've used FileMaid to send or store.

What the recipient first sees when the Extractor is launched will depend on what options you've selected when you created the output files:

If you used a password, the first thing displayed when the Extractor is launched will be the password screen.

If you entered a message but no password, that message will be the first thing displayed when the Extractor is launched.

If no password and no message were used, the Extractor will immediately display the file list.


 Extractor Password

The password screen only appears if you included a password when creating the output files with the FileMaid Creator.

The correct Extractor password must be entered before any message or the file list can be viewed. Passwords are case-dependent.

Please note. FileMaid's password protection does not internally encode your file data and is not intended to provide absolute protection against unauthorised access. It is useful only as a "first line of defence".


Extractor Message
 Extractor Messsage

The message screen appears if you included a message when creating the output files with the FileMaid Creator.

If you also included a password when creating the output files, the message will be shown as soon as the correct password is entered. If there's no password, the message will be shown as soon as the Extractor is launched.

The file list can be viewed by clicking on the Files radio button.


 Extractor Files

The Extractor's file list lets the recipient choose which files to extract, and allows them to choose a folder to extract them to.

Files from the list can be extracted individually, or all files in the list can be selected and extracted at once. If the Extractor is launched from a removable drive, a prompt will appear before each source file is accessed so that discs can be changed if necessary.


 FAQ

What sort of compression does FileMaid use?

The LZRW1/KH algorithm. It's not absolutely the tightest compression, but it's very fast.

How much does the Extractor add to the size of the output files?

59.5kb.

What does FileMaid cost to license?

A single-user license is US$14.95. This licenses FileMaid for one computer.

A site license is US$29.95 and licenses all computers at one location.

A global license is US$149.95 and licenses all computers owned by the licensee.

Will there be future updates of FileMaid?

Almost certainly. We'll continue improving the existing version, dealing with any minor bugs that arise. Eventually we'll produce a further major release incorporating new features and enhancements. Check http://www.maidinnz.com/filemaid.htm for the latest version.

Is there any way I can clean out my Sessions database? It's grown really big.

Yes. Close FileMaid and go to the folder where FileMaid is installed. Delete (or rename) the file FILEMAID.QDB and your Sessions database will be empty the next time you run FileMaid. Future upgrades may deal with this in a more structured way - for instance by letting you select a expiry period after which Sessions data will be automatically deleted, or by setting a maximum number of Sessions to store.


 License

FileMaid is shareware. You're free to trial it for an evaluation period of 20 days. After that you'll need to license it if you wish to continue using it.

Licensing has a number of key benefits. For one thing, the software developer doesn't die of hunger, so there's an enhanced likelihood of future improvements to the product. Secondly, when you license FileMaid you get "all the email support you can eat" included in the deal. Very importantly, FileMaid will continue to operate.

Selecting License from the FileMaid Creator's popup menu will open the license form.

The links on the license page let you purchase FileMaid or enter the new license code you'll receive after your registration's been processed. The [EDIT DETAILS] options lets you change the name of the person or company to whom FileMaid is licensed. If you want a site license or a global license, it's important to enter the correct name by clicking on this link before licensing.

To purchase FileMaid, click on [PURCHASE FILEMAID] and choose either registration option:

When you click license FileMaid on line your default web browser will be opened at our secure purchase page. You can buy FileMaid here by credit card.

When you select the registration form option you'll be able to enter purchase details and email, fax or post them with either encrypted credit card details or a cheque.

After you've registered FileMaid you'll receive a license code from MAIDinNZ that will permanently unlock the software. To apply this new license code, reopen the license form and select [ENTER NEW LICENSE] to see the following options:

Select the appropriate option  - copying and pasting the entire email message containing your new license code is the easiest - and FileMaid will immediately activate your new license.


 Uninstalling

To completely uninstall FileMaid, open the Control Panel (select Settings from the Start Menu) and locate FileMaid in the Install/Remove Programs utility. Alternatively, launch Uninstall.exe from the same folder where FileMaid is installed.

Please note that using this uninstall utility will completely remove all the FileMaid files, and all other files in the FileMaid folder. The folder itself will also be deleted.


 MAIDinNZ

MAIDinNZ is a New Zealand software development and creative writing house.

New Zealand is a small nuclear-free country in the South Pacific with 60 million sheep and 3½ million people. It has a temperate climate, clean air, pure water and some of the loveliest scenery on the planet. At least, it does until the sheep recognise their numeric superiority and take over.

MAIDinNZ is based in the city of Wanganui, at the mouth of the Whanganui river.

Wanganui has a population of around 40,000. We're not sure how many sheep. It's a beautiful city which enjoys New Zealand's most temperate climate and is recognised internationally as a centre for education and a venue for sporting events. Wanganui has attracted considerable investment interest recently because of its excellent infrastructure, its geographical position and the mix of skills and experience available in the city. And also (of course) because there must be money it for someone.

MAIDinNZ is a partnership managed by Leigh and Rose Harrison.

We sometimes think MAIDinNZ manages us, but our accountant assures us it's the other way around. We work from one of Wanganui's hill suburbs in between coordinating a family of four children and a car pool of two. We don't have any sheep (although our next door neighbour does).

You can visit MAIDinNZ's web site at http://www.maidinnz.com and email us at filemaid@maidinnz.com