Gold Medal Software 4/Gold Medal Software - Volume 4 (Gold Medal) (1994).iso/utils1/fh103.arj/FH.DOC

Text File | 1994-08-05 | 37KB | 1,062 lines

┌────────────────────────────┬───────────────────┐
│ FILE HANDLER SYSTEM  v1.03 │ by Mark Bloss     │
└────────────────────────────┴───────────────────┘

 Copyright (c) 1994    All Rights Reserved.

┌────────────────────────┐
│ WHAT IS FILE HANDLER?  │
└────────────────────────┘

File Handler, or FH, is an interface between you,
and your computer.  It allows you easy and
intuitive access to every file and directory on
your system.  It can delete, copy, move, change
attribute flags, stamp the time and date, rename,
and view files.  FH has the ability to execute
external programs.  It has the capability to search
for a file "mask" such as "*.BAK" or any other
normal wildcard combination, flag these files for
some action, and then let you delete all of
them, or just some of them in particular
directories, or to copy them or move them to a
common location.  FH also makes and removes
directories.

FH is completely configurable with command-line
switches, built-in color configuration and
program setting configuration.  Among them are
whether or not you want access to files which have
the "hidden" and "system" attributes set, whether
you prefer ALL CAPS or Mixed Case display of
filenames, whether you prefer a wide format, or
single column format, (there is a Toggle "hot-key"
which switches this mode back and forth).  And
several other noted features, with both command-line
and internal configurable settings.
It allows the user to execute external programs,
including a user-written batch file which will execute
at the press of a single "hot-key" combination.  Plus,
it has a "screen-saver" and context-sensitive help
screens.


┌────────────────────────┐
│ DISCLAIMER             │
└────────────────────────┘

This Program has been Copyrighted.
All Rights have been Reserved.

I take no responsibility for anything, and if
anything you do with this program ruins your life
or makes your roof leak, or anything else, that's
just too bad.

Further, I do not guarantee the fitness of this
program for any specific use, other than taking
up disk space.  This program is capable of
deleting files, which may or may not be required
to use your computer.  You are responsible for
any damage you do to your system, if this program
is used, or misused.  Please read the instructions
carefully, and take the time to learn how to use
File Handler to its fullest potential.


┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ REGISTRATION AND DISTRIBUTION POLICIES          │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

This program is Shareware.  You are given a limited
license to use this program for a period of about
thirty days, after that you must register the program
in order to continue using it.

This program is not hindered in any way from functioning
completely as designed.  I don't believe in "nag reminders"
or crippling my software in any way.  If you appreciate
that in a programmer, please show your support by
registering the program.

If you enjoy using this program and want others to
have it, you may distribute it.  However, there is
such a thing as a "registered" copy of this
program, and you must not distribute any
"registered" copies!  The notice in the program
which determines the registration status of the
program is on the opening screen.  If you do not
have a registered copy, you will see the words,
"░UNREGISTERED COPY░" prominently displayed in the
initial Copyright notice.


If you do distribute the program:

You MUST distribute "FHxxx.ZIP" EXACTLY AS IT CAME
TO YOU, including this documentation.  The internal
self-extracting files must be left "as is". You must
also keep the naming convention used in the copy you
received.

(ie."FHXxx.", where X=Major version, xx=minor version)


If you become suspicious of anything after having
checked this program, you should let me know, and
the Sysop of the BBS from which you downloaded this
program.  I have no further responsibility for what
happens to this archive after it leaves my PC.  You
can always get a fresh copy directly from one of the
Official Distribution Sites (ODS's) listed at the end
of this documentation.


┌─────────────────┐
│ HOW TO REGISTER │
└─────────────────┘

Write me at the address at the end of this document.
You may include your suggestions, bug reports, and
likes and dislikes, and send a check or money order.
The price is a very reasonable $20.00 for each copy.
The benefit of registering is receipt of a registered
copy of this program, licensed for your own use for
an indefinate period of time. You will also receive
technical support and be given priority when you pass
along any suggestions and bug reports.  Any bug report
from a registered user will earn a free upgrade and
your name may be mentioned in my documentation.

If you intend to use this program in a business or
government agency, you MUST register the program
with the author.  The fee for business or
government use is $50.00 per workstation.

Registered copies have commenced to be distributed
as of Version 1.00.  At no time whatsoever, are
registered copies of the program to be distributed!

Please send payment and/or correspondence to my
address below.  If you send me notes via e-mail,
be certain you note the correct address given
below.  Checks, or money-orders, should be made
out to me: Mark Bloss.

I may send you more details through the mail, and I
will answer correspondence, either Postal or E-
Mail.   If you want your registered copy through
the mail, please include an additional $3.00 per
diskette, and include whether you want 5.25 or 3.5
inch diskettes.

All prices and fees are subject to change without
notice.

Business and Goverment Use:    $50.00 per diskette, with no handling charges,
                               for up to thirty separate copies.
                               31 or more is $30.00 per copy.  For very large
                               orders, of 100 or more licences and copies,
                               there is an additional one-time charge of
                               $15.00 to defray postage costs.


Individual Users:              $20.00 plus $3.00 handling for each copy.
                               There is no limit on the number of copies an
                               individual may register.  The $3.00 handling
                               charge is waived for more than 10 copies.


┌─────────────────────────┐
│ INSTALLATION            │
└─────────────────────────┘

For a quick start, find the line with %%%%%%%%% below.

File Handler was designed for the experienced user.
However, anyone can learn to use FH with little or
no experience.


FH runs from a batch file called FH.BAT, which is
created by the installation program, INSTALL.COM.

The installation program will NOT change your
AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS files, or any other
start-up files you may have specified.

If you would like to use File Handler as a Menu/Shell
style program, you may include the line:

FH.BAT [param1] [param2] [etc]

on the last line of your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

Since you are reading this document, I assume you have
already discovered how to unarchive the "outer" archive.
You should have on your disk, this file: FH.DOC, then
FILE_ID.DIZ, FHEX.INS, FHINST.INS, INSTALL.COM and
README.1ST.


The directory you choose to unarchive the main or
"outer" archive does not have to be the "final"
directory in which FH is to be installed.  A temporary
directory, or the root directory, will serve just
fine.


IMPORTANT!!!!!
Please be certain you are logged into the directory where
you un-archived FHxxx.ZIP before running the INSTALL
program.  The files FHEX.INS and FHINST.INS will be deleted
upon a successful installation.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Key "INSTALL" [enter] at the "DOS" prompt.  INSTALL
will ask you, first, for the directory in which you want
the program files to reside.  They will be FHMAIN.COM,
FH.000, FH.001, FH.HLP and FH.CFG.  Additional files will
be copied to this directory also, such as FH.DOC, but
they are not essential for the program to operate.
After that, INSTALL will ask you where you want it to
create the FH.BAT file mentioned earlier.  You will want
to tell it to create this file somewhere along your PATH.
(See your Operating Systems' documentation for more about
the PATH environment variable.) The default is to place
FH.BAT within the root directory of the currently logged
drive.

Once you have finished running INSTALL, you should
get a message that the installation was successful.
If not you will receive a short message hinting
at what may have happened.  If you do receive one
of the error messages, run INSTALL again.  Be
certain the directory paths are valid.


It is recommended that you keep the original archive
in the event you ever need to re-install the program,
and for passing along to your friends.


┌────────────────┐
│ TO START FH... │
└────────────────┘


After you receive a successful response from the
installation procedures, you may enter "FH" at the
DOS prompt to start File Handler.

You should familiarize yourself with File Handler,
and configure your permanent settings from inside
FH before depending on the command-line switches.

The reason for this, is that most of the command-line
switches are used to override, for a single session, the
settings you have configured from within File Handler.


However, COMMAND-LINE SWITCHES are explained when you
request help from the command-line, with "FH /?".


You may edit the FH.BAT file to include the
ones you will be using all the time.  The line
to edit within FH.BAT will look like this:


%FHDIR%\fhmain.exe @%FHDIR% %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9


Push the %1 over to add additional commands.  If you
wanted to add the parameter "-M" as a permanent
setting, you would change the line to look like this:


%FHDIR%\fhmain.exe @%FHDIR% -M %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9
                            ^^

"-M" is used for allowing MONOCHROME monitors to use FH
without making it impossible to read the screen.  This
particular command-line switch is NOT in the program
configuration, so you would want to add this command-
switch to FH.BAT.

One of the configuration settings include the so-called
"Directory-Exit" setting.  This tells FH whether you want
FH to exit to the directory you started FH from, or exit
to the directory you are currently logged to when you
press the [esc] key to exit the program.  However you have
this set, there is a command-line switch to override this
setting, and you can override that from within FH by using
the hot-key [alt-x] to exit the program instead.

A single backslash "\" on the command-line, will force
FH to begin at the root directory of the currently logged
drive.  You would still exit according to your configuration,
however.  For instance, if you have "directory exit" configured
to exit normally to the directory you are logged to when
exiting with the [esc] key, then you will exit to that
directory, regardless of where you started from.  But, if you
have it set to exit to the original directory, you will not
exit to the root directory if you placed the "\" on the
command-line, unless you were actually logged to the root
directory anyway.  Instead you would return to the drive
and path from which you actually invoked File Handler.


   Use the command-line switch "/?" for more
   information about the command-line switches.


FH is designed for computers with at least one Hard Drive
installed.  However it is possible to use FH on floppy-only
systems, but it is not recommended.

If you ever have difficulty getting FH to run, something
may have damaged the FH.CFG file. In which case you should
delete that file and start FH again.  You do NOT have to
re-install the entire program, unless something happens
to the program files themselves.

If you totally screw-up your colors, you can start over
by deleting the FH.CFG file, also.  Then FH will begin
with a fresh FH.CFG with the default settings in place.

If you delete or lose the FH.BAT file, you will have to
re-install FH from the original archive.


┌────────────────────────┐
│ TAGGING FILES          │
└────────────────────────┘


One of the first things to know, in order to enjoy
File Handler is knowing how and when to select files.
Selecting, or tagging files is simple to accomplish
one at a time, or using wildcard combinations.

The opening screen (the MAIN screen) allows the
tagging of files by moving the pointer with the
arrow keys to the filename and pressing enter.
Pressing enter on a tagged file, untags it.


The "hot key", [alt-l], allows you to tag multiple
files, and [alt-u] untags everything.  You cannot
tag directories.  If you place the pointer on a
directory's name and press enter, you change to
that directory.  If you have files tagged, you
are warned that changing directories will untag
your files.


If the program is unable to act on all the files
you have tagged, it retains the tags on the files
it was unable to act upon.  If you run out of space
on your floppy disk while copying multiple files,
you can pick-up where you left off.  If you have
tagged files, and enter the program configuration,
the tags are re-establish when you return.


Changing directories, or drives, will untag any
files already tagged, but the program will allow
you to answer [N]o to continue.


In order for you to rename, delete, copy, move,
stamp a file with time and/or date, or change the
attributes of files, or view files, you must tag
the files you want to act upon first.


If you ever run into a snag, or simply can't figure
out what to do next, always try the [F1] key.  Help
is available from the Main Screen, the Action Menu,
the Color Configuration Menu, the Program Config
Menu, as well as while viewing a file, and while in
the Search Files Utility, and many other places as
well.




┌────────────────────────┐
│ OOPSIES                │
└────────────────────────┘


Anything and everything you want to abort or exit
is done with the [esc] key.  You exit the program
with [esc] as well.




┌────────────────────────┐
│ DELETING FILES         │
└────────────────────────┘


You will enjoy being able to coast through your
hard drives' directories, and getting rid of
unneeded files quickly and efficiently without
being confused with dozens of menus.  After tagging
files, press [alt-d] and you will be prompted with a
list of the files you have tagged to delete, and you
may answer [N]o to abort, or [Y]es to proceed with
deleting the tagged files.  Once you press [Y]es...
it's too late to change your mind.


FH has no UNdelete facility, so it would be to your
advantage to become familiar with such a utility,
such as IBM-DOS's excellent UNDELETE program, just in
case.



┌────────────────────────┐
│ SPECIAL ATTRIBUTES     │
└────────────────────────┘


There are two places FH takes file attributes into
account.  One is done automatically, and the other
is user configurable.


The program will allow you to exclude files which
have special attributes such as hidden files or
system files.  Read-only files can always be "seen"
by your program, but to copy, delete, or move files
which are Read-only, you must have the program's
configuration set to act on ALL FILES.


The default setting is to exclude system and hidden
files, thereby disabling the Change Attribute
facility as well.  This setting can be changed in
the Program Settings Menu.  You go there from the
MAIN Screen by pressing [F3] twice.


Once you have ALL FILES set, you will be able to
use the Change Attribute section of the program.
And you will be forced to do so, if you want to
delete files which are Read-Only.  Also, hidden and
system files will be accessible, but there is no
need to change their attributes in order to delete,
copy or move them.


FH handles the attributes of files you copy or move
according to how you have "attribute handling" set
in the configuration.

Normally, if you copy or move a file with FH, it
automatically restores the original attribute byte
to its original state in the destination copy.  You
may configure FH not to restore the original
attribute byte of files by choosing "reset
attributes".

The new file will have only the "Attribute"
attribute set, to indicate that the file has been
created (or altered) since the last backup was
made, generally speaking.  Otherwise, after the
copy or move, the destination-file will have its
attribute set to the attribute of the original
source-file.


An important point about this, is that some disks,
CD-ROMS included, are write-protected, and
therefore, FH will be unable to change the
attribute flag before a copy or move.  This becomes
critical when attempting to copy a hidden, system,
and/or read-only file from a CD or write-protected
diskette.  The Critical Error Handler installed
catches most of these instances, and you will have
to amend whatever it is you are trying to accomplish
in order to avoid the error.  FH depends on its
built-in ability to alter the attribute flagbyte
of a file such as this, before attempting to
move it, or copy it, in order to avoid DOS's strict
protections placed on these files.  FH cannot
change a write-protected diskette in any way.  When
you realize that this is the whole purpose of
write-protection, then I believe you will forgive
this minor inconvenience.


Some files are protected by File Handler from being
MOVED or DELETED, such as IBMDOS.COM, IBMBIO.COM,
MSDOS.SYS, IO.SYS, DRBDOS.SYS, DRBIOS.SYS,
SYSTEM.INI and WIN.INI.  These are System files
needed by IBM-DOS, MS-DOS, and DRDOS, as well as
third-party OS vendors such as 4DOS, NDOS, and
WINDOWS.

Moving these files would be catastrophic, because
doing so would likely force you to have to re-format
your hard drive.  You can add to the default files
list by entering filenames in the "user excluded"
area in the program configuration.  One recommended
addition would be COMMAND.COM or other Command
Processor you use with your system, also AUTOEXEC.BAT
and CONFIG.SYS are good choices to include in your
list.


FH.BAT, FHMAIN.EXE, and FH.HLP are also protected in
this way. You may define up to 18 additional files
by including them in your "user excluded" list.


Moving or deleting the FH program files themselves
from within FH would be foolish at least, because
your system WILL hang, forcing you to reboot. Since
the program might not have even finished writing
to your hard drive when, suddenly the program file no
longer exists.  This could cause damage to your hard
drive.  If you have more than one copy of the FH
program file, and you want to delete the copy
that isn't being used, you may rename the files
first, then delete them.  This is the only way
to circumvent FH's protective measures, but you do
so at your own risk.



┌─────────────────────────┐
│ CHANGE ATTRIBUTES       │
└─────────────────────────┘


In order to alter the attributes of files, you
must have "ALL FILES" set in the program
configuration.

Once you have this option enabled, you may tag
the files you need to change the attributes of,
and press [alt-a].  A mini-menu appears which
is very simple to use.  The filename will be
shown in the left of the box, and each choice:
Attribute, Hidden, System, and Read-Only, is
written below it.  If the file at hand has
a certain bit set, it will indicate that with
a checkmark (√) underneath that choice.  To
toggle one of the choices on or off, press the
highlighted key: A,H,S,or R.  Once you have
selected which attributes you want for that
file, press enter and the next file will come
up.  You will return to the Main screen when
all your tagged files have been processed.

Be certain of your reasons for changing attributes.
Some .EXE's are self-altering, and changing
these type files to Read-only would be unwise.

When hiding executables, you must henceforth enter
its fully-qualified-filename-specification,
including extension and directory-path before
running that program, unless logged to its
path-location.  Its existence in a directory
in your PATH environment variable is insufficient
once it is hidden.


┌────────────────────────┐
│ TYPING FILES (VIEW)    │
└────────────────────────┘



Viewing files which are not text files are
automatically filtered of unprintables.
First, tag the file(s) you want to view, then
press the "hot-key" [alt-t].  Each file is
brought up in the order shown on the Main screen.

While viewing a file, if you choose to keep the tag
on that file, press [F10].  Pressing [esc] will
return you to the Main Screen, and the tag will
still be in effect for that file.

To view the next file which you have tagged, press
[enter] and the next file will be viewable.

The [pgup] and [pgdn] keys let you move back and forth
through the file.  This particular View procedure isn't
fancy, it truncates lines at 80 characters wide, but it
will allow you to view any size file, as long as it can
fit on your "Workdrive".

You set the "Workdrive" for this and other procedures to
use, in the program configuration.



┌──────────────────────┐
│ COPYING AND MOVING   │
└──────────────────────┘


Copying files is straightforward as well. Select
the files you want to copy, press [alt-c], enter
the destination directory and press enter.

Copy-with-rename is allowed only on a file-by-file
basis.  A plurality of tagged files cannot be
renamed with the copy or move procedure.


The program has an exclusive optimizing code for
the most efficient use of disk-space, especially
pertaining to floppy disks.  FH has the ability
to fill floppies to maximum capacity automatically.
Simply tag all of the files you want to copy,
and press [alt-c].  When the program encounters a
file too large to fit in the space left on the
diskette, you are asked to continue with other
files, or abort.  Continuing will try the next
file, etc, until there aren't any more files
that will fit, or you press [N]o.  Either [Y] or [N]
will leave the files tagged which were not copied.
If you know you want to continue with another diskette,
insert your next floppy and press [Y]es.  Use the
[esc] key if you want to completely abort the copy
procedure, untagging all remaining files.


If "retain attributes" option is set in the program
configuration, then the attributes of the files being
copied will be duplicated on the destination files.
The same is true when moving files as well.


Moving files is exactly like copying.  Except that
the source files will no longer exist after the move.
It can move files across drives as well.  Files
generally moved from one directory to another are
simply updated in the FAT of your drive, while
occasionally files will be copied instead, and
then the original file(s) will be deleted after
a successful copy.



┌──────────────────────────┐
│ RENAMING FILES           │
└──────────────────────────┘


Renaming files is handled just like the rest, for
consistency.  You tag the files you want to rename,
and press [alt-r].  You are prompted to enter a new
filename for each file you have tagged.




┌──────────────────────────┐
│ FILE STAMPING            │
└──────────────────────────┘


As in most of the other functions, tag the file(s)
on which you want to change the time/date stamp.
Then use [alt-p] to bring up the dialog window.
It will show the name of the first file queued to be
stamped, with the date of the file.  You may change
the date, or press [esc] to accept the current date
showing.  As soon as you have changed or accepted the
date, the time is prompted for.  You then do the same:
key a new time, or [esc] to accept the current time
showing.


If you make a mistake, you have to go back in and
rerun the File Stamp on that file again.  You do
NOT press [enter].  Each field is recorded, the
instant you key a field in.  A little practice with
this, and you will become comfortable with the
input-method.


This feature is included in FH because of the
suggestion of Gene Tucker of Peripheral Vision BBS
in Nashville Tn.  Thanks Gene.




┌────────────────────────────────┐
│ NOTES ABOUT HANDLING FILES     │
└────────────────────────────────┘


Files are always sorted by name in File Handler.
In a future release sorting will be available by
date-time, size, or no sorting at all.

FH will only work with 1000 files per directory. If
you have more than 1000 files in one directory -

   1) Congratulations.

   2) FH will only work with the real first 1000 files
      in that directory.  This means that the sort on
      the filenames doesn't occur until all the files
      in the directory which can fit in the buffer are
      loaded.  If you delete files (or move files) so
      that less than 1001 files remain, then of course
      File Handler will be able to load the entire
      directory.




┌─────────────┐
│ DIRECTORIES │
└─────────────┘


Handling Directories is even more straightforward
than file handling.  You don't even have to be in
the parent directory to remove one of its subs.  It
must be an empty directory, however.

The command for removing a directory is [ctrl-v], and
to make a directory, [ctrl-k].  You will prompted
afterwards, if you want to remove or make more.


Remember this: The Control Key is used exclusively
for handling Directories in File Handler.




┌────────────────────────┐
│ THE SEARCH UTILITY     │
└────────────────────────┘


One of the most powerful features of File Handler,
is the Search routine.  [Alt-s] prompts you to enter
a mask, and then sets about searching the entire
logged drive for matching files.  After it has
completed its search, you may do several things.


Each directory with matching files is shown one after
another, and you may page through each directories'
found-files with the [pgup]/[pgdn] keys, or use the
[up]/[dn] arrows to scroll through the filenames in
each directory list.

You may press [F4] to exit to the directory
currently being displayed.

Or, you may Move, or Copy all the found-files to a
common location, such as a floppy diskette or another
directory, or drive.  Or you may Delete all found-files
on the entire drive.

Fortunately, you may exclude a directories' files from
being acted upon when the program gets to that directory.


WARNING!!!!!WARNING!!!!!WARNING!!!!!

PLEASE use this powerful ability carefully!

It's not for the faint of heart.  If you move all
your .EXE files to C:\IDIOT, then you will have a
problem when you try to run any of those programs
and they no longer can be found in your path.  You
can also delete files quickly and the program won't
be forgiving in these circumstances.  Copying is
not very dangerous.

I cannot be responsible if you use this program to
destroy your File System!



┌──────────────────┐
│ EXIT and EXECUTE │
└──────────────────┘


FH has no shell capability, because "Shelling to DOS"
while files are being directly manipulated at the
FAT level is dangerous.  Also, if files are changed,
deleted et cetera, while shelled out- upon return FH
would have invalid information available to it, which
is even more dangerous.  Because of this, File Handler
will exit out to the FH.BAT file which handles the
DOS ErrorLevel, giving you the ability to run
external programs from "within" FH.


The FH.BAT file will restart FH, returning you to
the directory you were most recently logged to,
(unless "\" or other path-specifier was entered on
the original command-line) while retaining the name
of the directory from which you originally started FH,
allowing you to return there after finally exiting
File Handler.


FHMAIN.EXE could be run without the FH.BAT file,
but doing so prevents FH from using the Exit and
Execute facility, and also requires the use of
the "@drive:\path" switch on the command-line.

(Use "/?" on the command-line for more information.)


At the Main screen of FH, press the combination
[alt-e] to bring up a prompt to enter the full
command, or you may tag a file (an executable,
such as one with an extension of .EXE, .COM or
.BAT).  Then press [enter].  Or at the prompt,
key in any command-line parameters required
to run the external program.


Including "#P" in the command-tail causes a PAUSE
before returning to FH.  Any other parameters added
to the command-tail will be passed on to the external
program.  If you make an error on the command-line,
FH will normally restart immediately.


You may have a particular set of commands you would
like to execute often.  In this case you may want to
take advantage of the FHD.BAT file.  Change this file
for your own use, and from within FH press [ctl-e] -


Do NOT distribute any FHD.BAT that you have altered!  It
would definately be confusing to anyone else that
aquired my program from you further down the road,
and is also illegal to do so.  FHD.BAT is an example
batch file, and should be updated to include your
most used command(s).  For instance, you may want to
place a command to begin your Communications program
from the FHD.BAT.  Then to execute your Communications
program, simple press [crtl-e] then [enter].

The text of FHD.BAT is included below.  Please compare this
to the actual copy of FHD.BAT which you received in your
archived copy of File Handler.  If there is anything added
or missing from your FHD.BAT, please know that someone has
altered your copy of this archive, in which case you ought
to suspect the worst and get a fresh copy of FH from one
of my ODS's listed below.

{------------------------------ cut -----------------------------------}
@echo off
: This is an example batch file.
: Place whatever favorite command(s) you would like to be able to use
: from "inside" File Handler.
: From the Main Screen within FH, press [ctl-e] to run this batch file.
echo This batch file is an example batch file to be edited by the user
echo of File Handler.  It can be run from within FH by pressing [ctl-e]
echo while at the Main Screen.
echo.
echo You may alter this batch file to your liking. But if you distribute
echo File Handler you must use this original with the distributed copy.
echo See FH.DOC for more details on registration and licensing.
pause
{------------------------------ end -----------------------------------}


Some examples of how you may use [alt-e] :

If you want to format a diskette in drive A, and pause
before FH restarts after the format is finished:

First, insert the diskette in the drive and from
File Handler's Main Screen, press [alt-e].  At the
prompt key "FORMAT A: #P" [enter].  You could just
as well key "#P FORMAT A:" or even "FORMAT #P A:"
(do NOT key in the quote (") marks, however).  FH
will Exit, and then Execute from the DOS prompt
FORMAT A: <cr>. Afterwards will prompt for you to
press a key to return to File Handler.  FH restarts
with the same command-line parameters you started
FH with originally.

Assume you have just downloaded a "ZIP" file.  You
want to get in quickly and find out what this new
program is like:

From FH's main menu screen, you change to where this
new file is.  Press [alt-e] and at the prompt enter:

        "PKUNZIP NEWFILE.ZIP C:\TEMP"

After pressing the [enter] key, FH exits and then
executes the command-line. Afterwards you return
to FH, and change to the C:\TEMP directory. You see
a .DOC file, a README file, and a couple .BAT files.
You tag them, and press [alt-t] to view them.  After
reading them, you've found out that to install it you
need to run NEWINST.EXE, but first you want to run your
virus scanner to check these files for viruses.
So you press [alt-e], enter your virus software's command-
line, and press enter.

Everything seems to be okay so far, so you tag
the NEWINST.EXE file and press [alt-e] to
exit and execute it.  Once that install program
is finished, you can run your new program by using
[alt-e] once again.

As you can tell, FH is very flexible indeed.
Other programs do this kind of thing, but FH is
different in that it completely exits before executing
any other programs.  This allows your other programs
to have the RAM they deserve.  You can even change
your system's environment by using the [alt-e]
command.



IMPORTANT:  The hot-keys [alt-e] and [ctl-e] are NOT
            included on the "Action" menu, or listed
            anywhere in the program, per se.  Help
            for Exit and Execute is available using
            the [F1] key, however.





┌────────────────────────┐
│ PROGRAM CONFIGURATION  │
└────────────────────────┘


Use [F3] to configure your colors.  Any of the
basic 16 colors are allowed.  You will need to
decide if you want to be able to read your screen
or not.  Save your setup with [F10].  Pressing [TAB]
will move you to the Screen Saver time index.  The
default is 5 minutes, but can be set to as high as
254 minutes.  Press enter and you are returned to
the color configuration process.  Pressing [F3]
from within the color configuration menu, takes you
to the Program Settings.

Please use the [F1] help key on the Program Settings
screen for detailed help and explanations for the
various program settings.




┌───────────────┐
│ GENERAL NOTES │
└───────────────┘


Most of the "hot-keys" listed above are shown with
their uses, on the "Action" Menu.  Use the "Action"
Menu when you can't remember what commands to use.
It won't be long before you will have all the keys
memorized and the "Action" Menu will be all but
unnecessary.  Help is "context sensitive" and, when
available, is accessed with [F1].


I'm certain that once you have become familiar with
how FH works, and how easy it makes dealing with a
complex file system, you will enjoy using the program
for almost everything.


Back in 1987 I wrote a program distantly related to
this one, which I also dubbed File Handler.  I never
intended to pass it around, so it wasn't as flexible
as this one.  I did like being able to see my directories
and delete files with it, which is about all it could
do.  This File Handler program is radically different
from what I wrote in 1987 for my own personal use.

One thing about File Handler which is unique, is its
simplicity.  I fully intended to make it simple, so
even my dad could use it.  It won't bother with
using EMS or XMS, operates entirely in real-mode so
that it is compatible with every PC including the
original IBM-PC, and won't hog RAM.  It doesn't have
myriads of program settings to confuse.  And it
doesn't revector all your computer's interrupts; so
it won't be incompatible with communication software,
fossil drivers, cache programs, TSR's or anything.  It
will work fine with redirected logical drives, using
DOS to identify them.

This program has been tested on the original IBM-PC,
all the way through to a Pentium equipped computer.
It operates consistently on all DOS based systems,
including PS/2's with the MCA bus.  The speed of
this program is rather suprising, even on the
4.77Mhz 8088.  You will notice an additional
improvement in speed if you have a cache program
running concurrently.

The added feature to Exit and Execute makes FH a
flexible program indeed; allowing you to use it
as a type of Menu program.  I invite you to try
it out in this manner; I believe you will enjoy
it even more.


Send your registration payments and comments to:


    Mark Bloss, aka Sin Tacks
    313 Hooper Court
    Nashville TN  37211
    [e-mail]
    FidoNet 1:116/129


    Official Distribution Sites:

    The Common Wavelength BBS
    Dave Parsons, Sysop
    1018 Lone Oak Road
    Mt. Juliet, TN  37122
    [phone]

    The Northern Lights BBS
    Jeff Jenkins, Sysop
    FidoNet 1:116/129
    Nashville, TN
    [phone]

    UltraTech CBCS
    Jack Smith, Sysop
    FidoNet 1:116/30
    Nashville, TN
    [phone]



Thanks for Using File Handler!