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File_Handle (tm) Version 2.00 ┌┬───────┬┐ ││ File- ││ │└──┌┬───┴┴──┬┐ │ ┌┬││ and ││ └─┴┴│└───┌┬──┴┴───┬┐ │ ┌┬┬││Program││ └─┴┴┴│└────┌┬─┴┴────┬┐ │ ┌┬┬─││Manager││ └─┴┴┴─│└───────┘│ │ ┌┬┬──┐ │ └─┴┴┴──┴──┘ <ASP> Copyright 1993-1995 by Hasoft (tm) and Arjen van Andel All rights reserved Meeuwensedijk 10, 4268 GV, MEEUWEN, Holland, Europe Telephone . . . . . . . . . . . +31 (0)416 351 469 Compuserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100710,1352 Internet . . . . . . . . 100710.1352@compuserve.com Uses Hasoft's Proprietary Buffered Video Technology For Steady Video Images File_Handle is a professional file management program for DOS, Windows and LAN's. It incorporates a flexible script-driven File-Finder, a full fledged, collision detecting File-Manager, and a sophisticated associative Program-Launcher. It has special support for removable media, such as CD-ROM's and Magnetic-Optic devices. It 'handles' files in ways unseen in other programs. See "Quick Start", "Tutorial" and REVIEW.TXT for a guided tour. File_Handle works on IBM-PC's and compatibles. It will run under most MS-DOS compatible operating systems. It can run under, and act as a companion for Windows 3.0, 3.1(1), '95 and NT, as long the program paths are kept within DOS' standard length (64). Trademarks ────────── Hasoft, File_Handle, and Tryware are trademarks of Hasoft. The trademarks Microsoft, IBM, MS-DOS, PC-DOS, DR-DOS, Novell, Windows, DoubleSpace and Stacker are owned by their respective owners. ii File_Handle ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY THIS SOFTWARE IS SUPPLIED AS IS. THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WAR- RANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND OF FITNESS FOR ANY PURPO- SE. THE AUTHOR ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES, DIRECT OR CON- SEQUENTIAL, WHICH MAY RESULT FROM THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE. ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── First Edition 1995/10. (c) by A. van Andel, All rights reserved. No part from this document may be used commercially or be inclu- ded in other works without written permission from the author. File_Handle iii ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Table of Contents Quick Start (Look here first) . . . . . . . 1-1 What's Different . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Who are File_Handle's users? . . . . . . . . 2 Quick Install . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Basic Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 After the First Evaluation . . . . . . . . . 4 Uninstalling File_Handle . . . . . . . . . 4 Making a Copy For a Friend (What to think of when...) . 2-1 An Introduction to File_Handle . . . . . . . 3-1 File_Handle, The Program . . . . . . . . . 1 Animation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Windowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Source & Destination . . . . . . . . . . 2 Swap Windows (Shift+Alt+F4) . . . . . . . . 2 Diskspace . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Date-Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Time-Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Field-Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 File Size Notation . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Error Log Window (Alt+F1) . . . . . . . . . 4 Tutorial (A Hands-On Demo) . . . . . . . . 4-1 Using the File Finder (Demo) . . . . . . . . 1 Installing File_Handle . . . . . . . . . 5-1 Alternative FH.BAT File . . . . . . . . 1 Configuring File_Handle . . . . . . . . . 6-1 Log─files . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 FH_LOGDIR System variable . . . . . . . . . 1 FH_SETUP.BAT . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Editor & Viewer . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Screen Colors (Ctrl+Shift+F1) . . . . . . . . 2 Screen Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Sound . . (Alt +Shift+F1) . . . . . . . . 2 COUNTRY.SYS . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 File-Window . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1 Filter . . . (Ctrl+F4) . . . . . . . . 1 Multiple Wildcards . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Filter Scripts . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Reset Filter to *.* (Shift+F4) . . . . . . . . 2 Equal Filter . (Shift+F9) . . . . . . . . 2 Files First . (Ctrl +F6) . . . . . . . . 2 Tree-Window . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1 Tree Position . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 iv Table of Contents File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Tree-Window <Continued> . . . . . . . . . 8-1 (RE)Build Tree . (Ctrl+F4 or Refresh Corner) . . . 2 (RE)Build All Trees (Shift+F4) . . . . . . . . 2 Removed Directory . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Directory Totals (Shift+F7) . . . . . . . . 2 Removable Media . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Floppy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1 Type-Ahead Buffer . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Changing to Another Window or Field (Tab & Shift+Tab) . . 1 Editing Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Halting A Process (Escape) . . . . . . . . . 1 Home & End Keys . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Insert Mode (Ins) . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Undo & Redo (F2 and Ctrl+F2) . . . . . . . . 2 Quick Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Help Screens (F1 and Ctrl+F1) . . . . . . . . 3 Help Viewer . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Help & Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1 Mouse-Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Left button . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Right button . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Both (outer) buttons . . . . . . . . . . 2 Repeating Menu-Choices . . . . . . . . . . 2 Screen-Buttons & Quick-Spots . . . . . . . . 2 - Scrolling . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 - Sorting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 - Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 - Baseline Buttons . . . . . . . . . . 3 - In-window Clicking . . . . . . . . . . 3 - Choosing a Drive (F4) . . . . . . . . . 3 - Tree/File Toggle . . . . . . . . . . 3 - Reread Directory or Tree . . . . . . . . 3 - Escape . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 - How to Cancel a Screen-Button . . . . . . . 3 - Thumb Index . . . . . . . . . . . 3 - Page Up/Page Down . . . . . . . . . . 4 Dragging . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 - Scrolling . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 - Browse . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 - Select . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 - Top-menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 - Bottom-menu (Alt+Space, Mouse: ■4 ... ■8) . . . . 5 Fast Reset . (Commandline switch: -m[h|s]) . . . . 5 Menu Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1 Previous Choices . . . . . . . . . . . 1 File_Handle Table of Contents v ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Menu Systems <Continued> . . . . . . . . . 11-5 - Executing a Previous Choice . . . . . . . . 1 Top-Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 - Pull-Right, not Pull-Down . . . . . . . . 2 - Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 - Making a Choice . . . . . . . . . . . 2 - Repeat Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 - Root or Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . 3 - Reset Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Bottom-Menu (Alt+Space, Mouse: ■4 ... ■8) . . . . . 3 - Hot- or Quick-Keys . . . . . . . . . . 3 - Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Menus and Pop Up Menus . . . . . . . . . . 4 Accept Pop Up . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Entry-boxes . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Enter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Accept (F3) . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Erase Pop Up . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Embedded Wildcards . . . . . . . . . . 12-1 Wildcards . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Selecting or Searching . . . . . . . . . 1 - Renaming . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Search Systems . . . . . . . . . . . 13-1 Quick-Find . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Clear Field . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Activate Quick-Find . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Incremental Quick-Find or Navigate . . . . . . 1 - Find-Info . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Repeat Quick-Find (Ctrl+Up Ctrl+Down) . . . . . 1 - Wildcards . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Quick-Find by Mouse («») . . . . . . . . . 2 Find Files . . . (Alt+F) . . . . . . . . 2 Drive Logging . . . . . . . . . . . 14-1 Drive Logging (F4) . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - DoubleSpace . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Diskspace . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 - No media . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 - Dynamic Drives (Mapping/Sharing) . . . . . . . 2 Selecting Methods . . . . . . . . . . 15-1 Space Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Selection Menu (F5) . . . . . . . . . . 1 File-Window . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Tree-Window . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 vi Table of Contents File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Selecting Methods <Continued>. . . . . . . . 15-4 Top-Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 - Compare . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 - Select . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 - Quick_select . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 - Duplicates . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 - Identicals . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 - Today's Files . . . . . . . . . . . 3 - System Files . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Copy and Move Files . . . . . . . . . . 16-1 Destination . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Path . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Move (Alt+M) . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Copy (Alt+C) . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Renaming Duplicates . . . . . . . . . . 2 Newer & Older . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Progress-Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Full Disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Floppy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 No Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Erase Files . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-1 Erase Files (Alt+E) . . . . . . . . . . 1 Security Erase . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Wiping Free Space . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Compressed Drives . . . . . . . . . . 2 Erase Subdirectories (Alt+F6) . . . . . . . . 2 Hiding Files and Subdirectories . . . . . . . 18-1 Hide (Alt+H) . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Hide and the Finder . . . . . . . . . . 1 Rename (Files, Attributes, Touch) . . . . . . 19-1 Wildcards . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Name (Ctrl+F5) . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Wild-Rename . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Rename . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Repeated Rename . . (Ctrl +F3) . . . . . . 2 Touch ("Rename" Date or Time) . . . . . . . . 3 Attributes . . . . (Shift+F7) . . . . . . 3 Set Files to Nodate-Mode (Ctrl +f4) . . . . . . 4 Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Changing Directory - ChDir . . . . . . . . 20-1 ChDir (F6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 File_Handle Table of Contents vii ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Create Directory - MkDir . . . . . . . . . 21-1 MkDir (Alt+F6) . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Remove Directory - RmDir . . . . . . . . . 22-1 RmDir (Shift+F6) . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Empty Directory . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Contains Files and/or Subdirectories . . . . . . 1 - Read/Only or System Files . . . . . . . . 1 - The Root Directory, A Special Case . . . . . . 2 - Relog . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The Executer . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-1 Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Associative Response File . . . . . . . . . 1 - Executable Type . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Rebuild Type . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Show Type . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Extract Type . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - DontRun Type . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 SetARF (Shift+Ctrl+F2) . . . . . . . . . . 2 An Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Extract to . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Working Directory . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Default Editor & Viewer . . . . . . . . . 3 Unsupported Files . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Update After Execute . . . . . . . . . . 3 Relog & Existing Selection . . . . . . . . . 3 RunARF (Shift+Ctrl+F9) . . . . . . . . . . 4 Memory Usage . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Sorting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-1 Sort (F9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Sort with Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Direction . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Path . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 - Group Tags . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Same (Ctrl+F9) . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Group Family . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The Finder . . . . . . . . . . . . 25-1 Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Find-Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Finder-Window . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Restrictions . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 - Defaults (F4) . . . . . . . . . . . 4 - Today Files (F8) . . . . . . . . . . . 4 - Undo & Redo (F2 and Ctrl+F2) . . . . . . . . 4 viii Table of Contents File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The Finder <Continued> . . . . . . . . . 25-6 Finder & Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Wildcards . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 - Filename . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 - Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 - Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 - Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 - Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Sort . . (F9) . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Scan-Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 - System . (F5) . . . . . . . . . . . 6 - Drive . (F6) . . . . . . . . . . . 6 - Branch . (F7) . . . . . . . . . . . 6 - CD-ROM and Floppies . . . . . . . . . . 6 Copy and Move (Alt+C Alt+M) . . . . . . . . 7 - Collisions . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 - Duplicates . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Stop Searching . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Finder Scripts . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 - Load & Save (F9 & Ctrl+F9) . . . . . . . . 8 Quit Finder . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Removable Media . . . . . . . . . . . 26-1 Media Changed . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - With labels . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - No labels . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Replace disk . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Log disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Media Not Changed . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Replace disk . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Log disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 DOS-Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . 27-1 DOS Interface . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - DOS Shell (Alt+F10) . . . . . . . . . 1 - DOS Command (Shift+F10) . . . . . . . . . 1 - Name . (Ctrl+F5) . . . . . . . . . 1 - DOS's Output (Ctrl+Shift+F10) . . . . . . . 1 Volume Label . . (Ctrl+Shift+F4) . . . . 28-1 Volume Label . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Add a Volume Label . . . . . . . . . . 1 - Edit a Volume Label (Ctrl+Shift+F4) . . . . . 1 - Remove a Volume Label (Ctrl+Shift+F4) . . . . . 1 Removable Media . . . . . . . . . . . 1 File_Handle Table of Contents ix ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Appendices ────────── Technical Info . . . . . . . . . . . A-1 Limits and Needs . . . . . . . . . . . 1 XMS/Extended or LIM-EMS/Expanded . . . . . . . 1 Operating Systems/Environments . . . . . . . . 1 Known Incompatibilities. . . . . . . . . . 1 Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Hot-keys ─ Bottom-menu . . . . . . . . . B-1 File-Window . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Tree-Window . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Definition of Shareware . . . . . . . . . C-1 Disclaimer of Warranty ─ Agreement . . . . . . D-1 Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . E-1 Support Policy . . . . . . . . . . . F-1 Getting Support . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Moving (to a new address) . . . . . . . . . 1 Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . G-1 The ASP Ombudsman . . . . . . . . . . H-1 Notes File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── File_Handle 1-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Quick Start File_Handle for DOS is a professional File and Program Manager for DOS-like systems. It currently handles 2600+ files and/or subdirectories per window. It is basically a side-by-side-display file manager, designed to be the back-bone of a versatile utility for everyone who has to do serious file management on small or large systems, including networks. File_Handle runs on most systems without installing. What's Different ──────────────── File_Handle is different from other file managers because: o It has its own wildcard system that allows for embedded wild- cards. This will, for instance, locate files on a given sub- string, either at the start, end, or in the middle of a file- name. o Its built-in Finder locates any file on any parameter on any drive or set of drives in the system. o File_Handle's Finder can do a SYSTEM-WIDE copy, move, rename, set or reset Attributes, erase, etc. etc. o The Escape key (and mouse) can halt (almost) any process. o It has powerful Compare, Select and Rename options. o It supports removable media like CD-ROM and MO-drives. o It can remove Read-Only Attributes from a complete directory or a complete branch of a tree. This is a valuable feature when copying programs from a CD-ROM to hard disk. o It has Security-Erase options for files and free diskspace. o It shows all activity directly on screen; no single refresh. o Any option can be controlled by the mouse. o It has flexible log file control, no rescanning of removable media necessary after exchanging media. o It features media exchange control. Inadvertently exchanged (or NOT exchanged, after such request) disks will be detected. o It directly Renames or sets Attributes on a set of one or more files. (Also from the Finder). 1-2 Quick Start File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── o It sorts on any field. o It detects most types of media and free space on them. o It keeps track of copied/moved files so they can be erased or moved back when a wrong destination was chosen. o Shows modifications in current directory after running an ex- ternal (DOS)command. o The Tree-Windows show directory totals. o Can still copy/move/erase/rename/... a single file without loosing an already made selection. o All menu systems and input fields remember their previous in- put. o Menus don't close at every intermediate command. o It adds, shows, edits and removes volume labels. o More, and much more to come... Who are File_Handle's users? ─────────────────────────── File_Handle was designed as a small, yet powerful, management tool for the experienced and/or demanding computer user. Because File_Handle never starts copying, moving, or a deletion without asking confirmation, it might also be a first choice for begin- ners. Many safety features protect your precious data. Even experienced computer users tend to get dazzled by the many functions of File_Handle. Direct your attention to the Copy com- mand at first; this will take away much of the confusion. The manual has a special Tutorial which lets you copy files step-by- step. This will take only a few minutes, and shows you what File_Handle is all about. Hint: F8 is a Quick-key (macro) for some Top-Menu commands, and automatically operates on the highlighted file if there are no selected files. The experienced user can bypass the manual for a while, and wan- der through the program for a first impression. File_Handle is designed to be used without the need to install it first. Because of this, evaluation of File_Handle is quite simple. This could even be done from a floppy (although slow) or or a RAM-disk. File_Handle Quick Start 1-3 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Quick Install ───────────── 1 Copy the files from the diskette to a subdirectory of your choice. MKDIR C:\FH <Enter> COPY A:\*.* C:\FH <Enter> 2 Go to that directory C: <Enter> CD C:\FH <Enter> 3 Extract the files if necessary. Shown here for FHDnnn.ZIP. PKUNZIP FHDnnn <Enter> (nnn is the version number) 4 Execute FH.EXE FH <Enter> 5 You are running! Fine-tuning (if any) can be done after the first evaluation. Basic Control ───────────── - Top-Menu (Alt) ──────── Hold down Alt to open the Top-menu. Now press the highlighted character of your choice from the top line. - Bottom-Menu (Alt+Space, Mouse: ■4 ... ■8) ─────────── The Bottom-menu works with function keys F1-F10, together with any combination of Shift/Ctrl/Alt. For easier control of this interface, press Alt+Space to open a menu containing all combinations. Use Up- and Down-arrow keys to select a menu, and press the appropriate function key for the column. See Bottom-menu in chapter Menu Systems. ═══════════════════════ (U/C/S/A) Function Keys (SA/SC) ═> 1Help 2Undo 3Accept 4Drive 5SelecQ 6ChDir 7Tree 8< 1HelpQ 2Redo 3 4Filter 5Name 6FilesF 7 8> 1 2 3 4ResetF 5 6MkDir 7Attrib 8< 1Errlog 2 3 4 5 6 7 8> 1Sound 2 3 4WinSwp 5 6Parent 7Editor 8< 1Setup 2 3 4Label 5 6Root 7Edit 8> 1-4 Quick Start File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - Pop up menus work with Alt+Letter and also Up- and Down-arrow. Or press a highlighted character from the menu and Enter. - Use F3 to accept (most) commands, not Enter. Tab opens window. Mouse ───── If you have a mouse, use it, it will make your life so much ea- sier while exploring File_Handle. All options can be controlled without the keyboard (except entering names, dates and times). After the First Evaluation ────────────────────────── See chapter Installing File_Handle for properly installing and fine-tuning (if needed). Read this manual. You cannot control File_Handle properly with- out knowledge of its internal workings. You probably have made incorrect assumptions about the program that might prevent you from using File_Handle optimally. For example, the mouse has Screen-Buttons you don't know about, wildcards can behave in ways you have never seen. The order of manipulations you used was not the most efficient, but other programs do it that way, so how could you know? The screen isn't large enough to show all features, or to have buttons for them all. Uninstalling File_Handle ──────────────────────── File_Handle can be uninstalled by deleting the directory where File_Handle resides. This can be accomplished with the DOS com- mands DEL *.* and RMDIR. File_Handle can uninstall itself with the RmDir (Shift+F6) fea- ture from the Tree-Window, and then Exit (F10). Warning ─────── If you are uncomfortable with handling files, use empty floppies and/or RAM-disk as practice material during the first few steps. This will minimize the chances of loosing data. Copy some random files to the practice material, and work on them for a while. See also ──────── The file FH_QUICK.TXT for keyboard- and mouse control. The chapter Definition of Shareware. The chapter Disclaimer ─ Agreement. File_Handle 2-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Making a Copy For a Friend It is forbidden to pass on MODIFIED copies of File_Handle or co- pies of the registration key file FH_NAME.CNF. A MODIFIED copy is a copy which has been started at least once. This starts the internal timekeeping. The receiver (your friend) shall unwillingly be violating the copyrights before his eva- luation period even has started. An UNMODIFIED copy can be found on the distribution diskette. Don't copy the registration key file FH_NAME.CNF, but do include FH_PARMS.CNF. It is also possible that the distribution diskette only holds a large compressed file plus the file FH_NAME.CNF. It's sufficient to copy the large compressed file. In that case you get an UN- MODIFIED copy. The format of such a compressed filename is: FHDnnn.aaa Where 'nnn' is the version number and 'aaa' is the archive type. Examples: FHD100.ZIP FHD203.ARJ Hint : A simple way to copy a shareware version is to use the Finder. Press Alt+F from the main screen to enter the Finder, then press Load (F9) and choose FH2BUDDY. Press Accept (F3) to start the Finder. If the compres- sed distribution file is on your system, it will be found. Position the cursor bar on that file and press Alt+CHDA to copy it to drive A: Notes File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── File_Handle 3-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ An Introduction to File_Handle File_Handle, The Program ──────────────────────── File_Handle is an animated (live) Multi-Purpose DOS-Filemanager. There are a total of four windows, two of the 'Tree' and two of the 'File' variety. You can copy or move files directly from one window to the other. You can rename or erase files and directo- ries. You can compare them on screen while tagging the files that are different, and show in what they differ. This is just a small selection from the menus. There is a great variety of selection-, searching- and sorting functions. You can control File_Handle, with the exception of filenames and numbers, fully with the mouse. File_Handle can also be control- led by the keyboard without loss of any functionality. File_Handle is a program of modest size, and works ─ without having to install it first ─ directly from a floppy. A tech- nician or (LAN) administrator can do file management on a system without polluting the host with temporary- and log files, envi- ronment variables, and without the need to modify AUTOEXEC.BAT and/or CONFIG.SYS. The memory swap file, when needed, will also go to the floppy. Copy FH.EXE plus the .CNF and .ARF files to a temporary directory or to a Ram disk, if the floppy is slowing you down too much. Animation ───────── Almost all activities will be shown, step-by-step, like an animation, on the screen. For example, when a log file is being built, the tree will be built directory-by-directory on screen, files before your eyes deleted, copied, moved or compared, etc, etc. Although this animation is not performed graphically, it is a costly process, timewise. It needs a lot of processor- and video power. This is why this program is less adequate for slow per- sonal computers like the now (almost) obsolete XT. Windowing ───────── As mentioned above, there are four windows, two of the File- and two of the Tree-variety. After starting File_Handle, only the left window is visible. The other three windows will be opened automatically when needed. They will remain active until the program is terminated, or the connection with one of the other windows calls for deactivation. 3-2 An Introduction to File_Handle File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── These windows can be interconnected when they give an outlook to the same data. This means that if a certain action is taken in one window, it might lead to a reaction in one or more of the other windows. Select, Erase, Copy, Move, MkDir, RmDir, Rename etc, will be followed by other windows if there is a connection between them. See chapter File-Window on Reset Filter to "*.*". Source & Destination ──────────────────── All windows can be source or destination. Swap Windows (Shift+Alt+F4) ──────────── It is possible to swap two windows (and the invisible two also) through WinSwp. This will make it possible to always have the source on the left, even if you, for some reason, started on the 'wrong' side. Diskspace ───────── Diskspace on the destination is not truly checked during copying and moving. File_Handle asks you to continue, and will start the process, even if the destination has NO free space. This will sometimes lead to an incomplete copy on the destination. File_Handle will automatically remove uncomplete copies from the destination. This will also happen if a copy or move process is interrupted with the Escape key or mouse right button. There is no good solution to this disk-space problem. Thanks to utilities like DoubleSpace and Stacker it is no longer possible to figure out how much free space there is, and how much a certain file will take after copying. The destination can also have duplicate file names on it, which will influence diskspace when they are overwritten, directories can grow and use up extra space, different media can have different cluster sizes, etc. Date-Entry ────────── All date fields in File_Handle can be edited, it's not necessary to re-enter the whole date if, for instance, only the day or the month has to be changed. A field can be skipped by entering any of the separator characters (./-,:;) or with the arrow keys. Say, you only want to change the month to July. Then you (supposing we have the DDMMYY format) enter: ".7". The '.' will move the cursor to the MM field. Fields like this will be automatically justified when they are accepted by pressing Enter or any other valid key that leaves the field. The month field will then contain "07". File_Handle An Introduction to File_Handle 3-3 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── When there are more separator keys pressed than there are sub- fields, the cursor will start to walk the subfields in the oppo- site direction, so any field can be reached quickly. The limits for the internal date system are: 01-01-80 to and including 31-12-79. '80' meaning 1980 and '79' meaning 2079. The year 2000 is ente- red as '00'. Date format will follow the COUNTRY.SYS setting. Invalid dates will not be accepted. See also Field Rotating below. Time-Entry ────────── Entering of time follows the same principles as the date system. The limits for these are: 00:00 and 23:59 (or 24:00 for the Finder) Field-Rotation ────────────── Date-, time-, and all other numerical fields can be rotated up or down using the Alt+'+' (the unshifted '=') or Alt+'-' keys on the keyboard. (Not the ones on the numerical keypad, and don't use the Shift key to reach Alt+'+'). This is a nifty feature to have when you need to modify a complex data type like the one in a date- or time field. For instance, to change an existing date a few days, or a time a few minutes, is easier than retyping all the subfields, especially when the new value passes a boundary. A date, for instance, can be rotated from 31-01-94 to 01-02-94 by pressing Alt+'+' (the unshifted '=' on the keyboard) once. Keep in mind that some key- boards may have a different layout. File Size Notation ────────────────── File sizes are in bytes. This notation changes to kilo-, Mega- or Gigabytes, if the field cannot hold byte units. The size gets a trailing 'k', 'M' or 'G' to denote the conversion. See also ──────── Chapter Menu-Systems for the use of keys. Chapter Mouse for using the mouse. The file FH_QUICK.TXT for keyboard- and mouse control. 3-4 An Introduction to File_Handle File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Error Log Window (Alt+F1) ──────────────── File_Handle has an error system which does not lock the system with a pop up overwriting the screen - it uses the bottom line for that purpose. File_Handle doesn't need a special key-stroke to remove the message. The next key or mouse button will remove the error, so you won't have do anything special to unlock the system again. After you get used to File_Handle, you will be able to predict most errors, a system-locking error system would quickly become irritating. The last five errors are automatically logged by File_Handle. If you saw an error fly by, but accidentally erased it by pressing a key, you can inspect this log by pressing Errlog. File_Handle 4-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Tutorial Copying files is probably one of the most frequently performed operations. This chapter describes step-by-step the process of copying files from one location to another. This is an introduction to the powers and capabilities of File_Handle. It'll give you a hands- on feel of how File_Handle is to be used and controlled. This Tutorial will let you select files, choose a drive and di- rectory, and let you copy those files to that destination. 1 - Install File_Handle as described in the chapters Install and if needed, Configuring File_Handle. The latter is not needed for this tutorial. 2 - Execute File_Handle by typing "FH" followed by Enter. 3 - Select files by walking the cursor-bar up and down through the directory with the arrowkeys, and pressing the Space- bar (Tagging) on the files of your choice. Copy]Move Rename Select Erase Finder Hide Mainmenu: Copy files ┌───────────── C:\DOS\*.* ───────┬─────┐┌───┌────────────> │ Filename.Ext│ Size│ Date│ Time││ ▀ │ < │ <PARENT> │══─DIR─══│10-02-93│15:43││ │ File_Handl> ░ANSI .SYS│ 9,065│30-09-93│ 6:20││ │ < │APPEND .EXE│ 10,774│30-09-93│ 6:20││ │ File and P> │ASSIGN .COM│ 6,399│09-04-91│ 5:00││ │ < 4 - Now press Alt+C to choose Copy from the upper menu; a second menu will appear, asking which files to copy. 5 - Now choose 'Tagged' by pressing Alt+T. By doing this, we prepare the files you just selected for copying. 6 - To be able to copy these files, we need a destination. This destination can be selected in a number of ways. One method is to set up a destination beforehand, another way is pick one when the need arises. We will do the latter. Use Alt+D to choose 'Drive' in the Top-menu. Now two things happen: 4-2 Tutorial File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── First, an Accept pop up will block the source window: ╒═══════════════ Copy ═══════════════╕ │ │ │ 3 Tagged Files │ │ │ │ CHOOSE or CREATE a DESTINATION │ │ │ │ in the other window and │ │ │ │ press Accept │ │ │ ╘════════ Esc=Close F3=Accept ═══════╛ Second, a menu with all possible destination drives appears on the right. It may take a second or so to build this list the first time. 7 - The right side of the screen will present a menu, from which you can select a destination. ╒═════ Log Drive ════╕ │A:Floppy 3½" -│ │B:Floppy 5¼" -│ │C:Harddisk 19M│ │D:Harddisk 13M│ │E:Harddisk ² 1,212k│ │F:Ramdisk 2,048k│ │I:Harddisk 2 137k│ │J:CD-ROM -│ │K:Subst 19M│ ╘═════ Esc=Close ════╛ Insert a formatted, preferably empty, floppy disk into drive A:. Now press Alt+A to choose drive A:. The logo will be replaced by a Tree-Window showing the flop- py's contents. 8 - You can now choose any directory as the destination, if the floppy has any. Just move the cursor-bar with the arrowkeys to the directory you want to use. You now can, in fact, create a new directory by pressing MkDir (Shift+F6), or removing one with RmDir (Alt+F6) or rename one with Alt+R. Even formatting this disk by using DosCmd (Shift+F10) to execute DOS's FORMAT.COM. File_Handle Tutorial 4-3 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Rename Finder Mainmenu: Rename directories ┌───────────── C:\DOS\*.* ───────┬─────┐┌───────────────> │ Filename.Ext│ Size│ Date│ Time││ Dir< │ <PARENT> │══─DIR─══│10-02-93│15:43│ A:\ > ░ANSI .SYS│ 9,065│30-09-93│ 6:20││ ├─ DOS < │APPEND .EXE│ 10,774│30-09-93│ 6:20││ ├─ BACKUP > │╒═══════════════ Copy ═══════════════╕││ ├─ SOURCE < 9 - The source-window (left) is still covered by the accept pop- up. This pop up just waits for you to press Escape or the general Accept-key F3. Press F3 now. 10 - File_Handle will remove this Accept pop up, switch to the destination-window, open the directory, and check for colli- sions (duplicate filenames). You have the option to over- write or save any duplicate by skipping it. ╒═══ Duplicate Check ══╕ │Overwrite this file │ │Rename this file │ │Skip this file │ │Don't check duplicates│ ╘══════ Esc=Close ═════╛ Before File_Handle starts copying, it asks for F3 once more. This is needed to separate the checking phase from the copying phase, and to give you the opportunity to inspect the destination. Now press F3 to proceed. 11 - File_Handle will now copy the selected files one-by-one to drive A:, showing its progress with a thermometer-like bar over both the source and the destination record. Each completed file gets a Reselect Attribute '>' in front of the filename to show you it was successfully transferred. If you find out you did copy to the wrong directory, the files in the right window, with the '>', can be retagged by pressing SelectQ (F5, a Quick-macro for Alt+S+S) and Reselect those files. Then use Alt+E or EraseQ (Shift+F8) to erase them. - You probably noticed you never had to let go of the Alt key. In this example you used a number of File_Handle's Quick- keys. These Quick-keys are for File_Handle what shorthand is for the secretary; fast ways to execute complex commands. In the drive menu you could have pressed the letter 'A' just as well, and then Enter, or you could have located the des- tination drive with the arrow keys and then Enter. Alt+A is 4-4 Tutorial File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── just a faster way to do the same thing. - You can repeat this demonstration, but use Move instead of Copy. This will work in a similar way, but the source files will be deleted from the source-window after they are moved. Warning: Moving the files means they are DELETED from the source-directory! The ONLY copies you then have are on the destination! And if this is a RAM-disk!... Using The File Finder ───────────────────── File_Handle features a powerful File-Finder. Say, you wanted to clean up your system. The following is a quick way to do that: 1 - Choose Finder (Alt+F) from the main screen to enter the Fin- der pop up. 2 - Press Load (F9), choose the CLEAN_UP script and press Enter. 3 - Press Accept (F3) and wait for the cursor bar to come back. 4 - Select any files (as demonstrated in the Copy tutorial) you want to delete. Select All files with Select-Quick (F5) plus Alt+A if you want to erase all the files. Keep in mind that you may need to adjust the CLEAN_UP script for your own sit- uation, and save it with Save (Ctrl+F9). 5 - Choose Erase (Alt+E) followed by Tagged (Alt+T), and respond with Accept (F3) to the confirmation pop up. See also ──────── The chapter Copy and Move Files, Selecting Methods, The Finder. File_Handle 5-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Installing File_Handle File_Handle is designed so it can be used on most configurations without any modifications to the host system. You can do main- tenance work on any system, running it from a floppy. File_Handle can be placed in any directory on any drive. If this directory's name is also in the PATH variable, you can execute File_Handle from anywhere in the system. In this example we create a special subdirectory named "C:\FH", and copy all files from the distribution-diskette to this directory by the following commands: C: MKDIR C:\FH CHDIR \FH COPY A:*.* Here we adjust the PATH variable so File_Handle can easily be reached from anywhere in the system: SET PATH=C:\DOS;....;C:\WINDOWS;C:\FH; After this modification you need to reboot the computer, and let DOS install the new PATH (Or activate the SET command manually). After the above instructions are carried out, File_Handle will be ready for most users and/or systems. Possibly no other adjustments are needed to run File_Handle on your system. Alternative FH.BAT File ─────────────────────── Instead of modifying the PATH variable, an alternative is to create a batch file, which will take care of finding and execu- ting File_Handle. Place this batch file in a directory which name is in the PATH variable. To create this file, enter the following commands from the DOS prompt: COPY CON C:\UTIL\FH.BAT <== UTIL must be in PATH! @C:\FH\FH.EXE <== Enter actual directory here. CTRL+Z followed by <ENTER> There are a few additional adjustments which can be made if, for instance, you have a RAM-drive or network installed. If your computer is hooked up to a network server, it might be necessary to fine-tune the installation. See the chapter Confi- guring File_Handle for further information on this. File_Handle should work on all DOS-compatible systems, including 5-2 Installing File_Handle File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── networks such as, for instance, Novell. - Note ──── File_Handle detects that Novell doesn't supply [..] and [.] to calling programs, and compensates for it. There's no need to put a "SHOW DOTS = ON" command in NET.CFG for File_Handle's sake. File_Handle 6-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Configuring File_Handle Log Files ───────── File_Handle, by default, creates log files for all disk drives, including removable media like CD-ROM's and MO, but not for the floppy drives A: and B:. Log files let File_Handle respond immediately when a tree needs to be shown. On systems with large hard disks or CD-ROM, the re- build delays would be unacceptably long, even with File_Handle's fast scanning methode. There are three distinct log file names: 1 = FH_@.LOG Default log ON removable media. This format has NO fixed drive letter. 2 = FH_x.LOG The log files of hard- or RAM-disks. 'x' marks the spot for the drive letter (FH_C, FH_D...). 3 = FH_#xxxx.LOG Log files used for removable media which has no FH_@.LOG logfile on it. 'xxxx' is the hexadecimal checksum of the media. This format also has no fixed drive letter. The first format, FH_@.LOG, can only be found in the root of re- movable media like floppies, CD-ROM or MO-drives. A CD-ROM pub- lisher can place a FH_@.LOG file in the root of a CD-ROM. There are special considerations to think of doing this. See the file VENDINFO.DIZ for specifics. When a FH_@.LOG is created on removable media via BldRML (Alt+F4), then it has precedence over a FH_#xxxx.LOG that may be on the hard disk. Log file updates will also be written to the FH_@.LOG on the media. This media must not be Write-Protected, of course By default, these log files (with the exception of FH_@.LOG) are placed in the same directory where FH.EXE is located. This might not be allowed on your system. For instance, if you are hooked up to a server, and FH.EXE is executed from that server, you may not have write permission to that directory. File_Handle cannot write its log files in this case. This problem can be remedied by creating an environment variable with the SET command. The drive and directory you enter should both be available when your system is running, and you must have write permission there. SET FH_LOGDIR=C:\TEMP <== Use appropriate drive & directory. 6-2 Configuring File_Handle File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Place this line in AUTOEXEC.BAT (or in the FH_SETUP.BAT, descri- bed further down). File_Handle will search for this environment variable when it is executed, and uses that directory. This di- rectory must exist; it's not automatically created. AUTOEXEC.BAT ──────────── SET FH_LOGDIR=C:\TEMP : File_Handle's log files When File_Handle is executed from a floppy, and there is no en- vironment variable FH_LOGDIR, then all log files are automati- cally written to that floppy. The host will never be polluted with log- and swap files. To prevent log files for RAM-drives causing problems at boottime (RAM drives are empty), you can create a batch file FH_SETUP.BAT and 'call' it from AUTOEXEC.BAT. Repeat the 'DEL'-line below for every disk drive (except A: and B:) which can get an invalid log file after resetting or starting the computer. FH_SETUP.BAT ──────────── SET FH_LOGDIR=C:\TMP : Log files go here now DEL %FH_LOGDIR%\FH_X.LOG : Remove log for RAM drive X: DEL %FH_LOGDIR%\FH_Y.LOG : Remove log for RAM drive Y: AUTOEXEC.BAT ──────────── CALL FH_SETUP.BAT : Initialize File_Handle Editor & Viewer ─────────────── If you want to use these functions from within File_Handle, see the chapter about The Executer. That chapter describes how to change the defaults for the external editor and viewer. You can use the tools you are already used to. Default for both is DOS's EDIT.COM, which should be in the directory C:\DOS. Screen Colors (Ctrl+Shift+F1) ───────────── File_Handle has six internal color tables for four types of vi- deo systems. You can configure File_Handle to use another table by choosing Setup in the Bottom-menu. Restart File_Handle af- ter choosing another color scheme to install the new colors. You may have to experiment some to find an agreeable set of colors for your particular equipment. File_Handle will detect a color- or monochrome-monitor by itself if you choose either EGA/VGA Color scheme. Not all systems know File_Handle Configuring File_Handle 6-3 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── which type they have, and report back something they don't have. All setups other than EGA/VGA will result in File_Handle for- cing the chosen mode. Screen Lines ──────────── File_Handle will follow DOS' resolution at start-up. The maximum number of lines File_Handle can cope with are 43 on EGA, and 50 on VGA. Sound (Alt+Shift+F1) ───── File_Handle's sound can be enabled or disabled in four stages; Errors and/or Beeps and/or Attention, and no sound at all. When Beep- and Error-sounds are turned off and Sound is left on, then only the alarm sound is enabled, to warn you of the most severe (possible) errors, like erasing an entire disk. COUNTRY.SYS ─────────── File_Handle uses CONFIG.SYS to determine the country code. This will result in different representation of dates, times and file sizes for different countries. Add a line to your CONFIG.SYS and reboot the computer to activa- te it. The 'nnn' should be replaced by the desired international country code. Enter 031 for The Netherlands, 001 for USA, etc. CONFIG.SYS ────────── COUNTRY = nnn,850,C:\DOS\COUNTRY.SYS Notes File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── File_Handle 7-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ File-Window Copy]Move Rename Select Erase Finder Hide Mainmenu: Copy files ┌───────────── C:\DOS\*.* ───────┬─────┐┌───┌────────────< │ Filename.Ext│ Size│ Date│ Time││ ▀ │ < │ <PARENT> │══─DIR─══│10-02-93│15:43││ │ File_Handl> ░ ANSI .SYS│ 9,065│30-09-93│ 6:20││ │ < │ APPEND .EXE│ 10,774│30-09-93│ 6:20││ │ File and P> │ ASSIGN .COM│ 6,399│09-04-91│ 5:00││ │ < │ CHKDSK .EXE│ 12,241│30-09-93│ 6:20││ │ > │ COMMAND .COM│ 54,619│30-09-93│ 6:20││ │ A. van And< │ COMP .EXE│ 14,282│09-04-91│ 5:00││ │ 4268 GV Me> │ COUNTRY .SYS│ 19,546│30-09-93│ 6:20││ │ Holland < │ DBLSPACE.BIN│ 64,246│30-09-93│ 6:20││ └────────────> │ DBLSPACE.EXE│ 177,034│30-09-93│ 6:20││ < │ DBLSPACE.HLP│ 80,724│30-09-93│ 6:20││ ┌───────> │ DBLSPACE.INF│ 2,620│30-09-93│ 6:20││ │ < │ DBLSPACE.SYS│ 22,502│30-09-93│ 6:20││ │ > │ DEBUG .EXE│ 15,718│30-09-93│ 6:20││ │ < │ DEFRAG .EXE│ 79,177│30-09-93│ 6:20││ │ > DEFRAG .HLP│ 9,227│10-03-93│ 6:00││ │ < ├─* ┴«»───────┴──┬─────┴─────┤└────────└───────> │Tagged 0 Size 0│ Free │ │Files 126 Size 3,838,555│ 19,998,720│ └──────────────────────────┴───────────┘ 1Help 2Undo 3Accept■4Drive 5SelecQ 6ChDir 7Tree ■8> Filter (Ctrl+F4) ────── The top border or title area of the File-Window contains the name of the active directory, and also the filter used for scan- ning that directory. In this example: "C:\DOS\*.*". The default for the Filter is "*.*", which will show all files in the current directory. Use the Filter command to set this filter to a different value. ╒════════ Reread with Filter ════════╕ │ *.EXE;*.COM;*.BAT;*.CMD │ ╘════════ Esc=Close F3=Accept ═══════╛ Multiple Wildcards ────────────────── The Filter command supports multiple wildcards, separated by a semi-colon ';'. You can enter up to 225 characters in the wild- card field. Warning: The Filter uses ONLY the wildcard field from the Finder scripts, not the restriction parameters. Scripts made by the Filter have default restrictions. 7-2 File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Filter Scripts ────────────── The Filter command also supports loading and saving of scripts. See the chapter Finder, sub-section "Finder Scripts" on this. In fact, Filter and Finder use the same script file format. Reset Filter (Shift+F4) ──────────── If both File_Windows use a different Filter, they are no longer connected. This means the windows don't send information to oth- er windows anymore. You have to relog the other window, or give both windows the same wildcards to make it actual again. You can quickly reset the wildcards to "*.*" and reread the cur- rent directory by pressing Reset Filter. The other window will remain as is. Equal Filter (Shift+F9) ──────────── From within the Filter-editor you can copy the wildcards from the other window by pressing Equal Filter. Note : Don't forget to reinstate the Filter to "*.*" (actually "*.*" is not a filter; it filters nothing) again if you log onto another drive or directory, or else you might not get what you expected. You can see if a filter is installed or not by inspecting the title area. Files First (Ctrl+F6) ─────────── FilesF repositions the File-Window in such a way that the first file entry (if any) will be at the top of the window. File_Handle 8-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Tree-Window Rename Finder Mainmenu: Rename directories ┌─────────────── C:\DOS ───────────────┐┌───┌────────────> │ Directory Tree ││ ▀ │ < C:\<DRIVE_C > 136││ │ File_Handl> │ ├─ -DOC 268││ │ < │ │ ├─ ADDENDUM 440││ │ File and P> │ │ │ └─ REMARK 55││ │ < │ │ ├─ CONTENTS 34││ │ > │ │ ├─ DOC 1038││ │ A. van And< │ │ ├─ INDEX 10││ │ 4268 GV Me> │ │ ├─ MISC 3247││ │ Holland < │ │ └─ TECH 1128││ └────────────> │ ├─ ASYNC 90││ < │ ├─ ASM 116││ ┌───────> ░ │ └─ MIXED 15││ │ < │ ├─ BIN 624││ │ > │ ├─ BRIEF 533││ │ < │ │ ├─ HELP 203││ │ > │ └─ MACROS 327││ │ < ├─* ─«»──────────┬───────────┤└────────└───────> │Tagged 0 Size 0│ Free │ │Dirs 94 Size 1,037,845│ 19,998,720│ └──────────────────────────┴───────────┘ 1Help 2Undo 3Accept■4Drive 5SelecQ 6ChDir 7Files ■8> Tree Position ───────────── The current position is marked, or pointed to, by a bar of back- ground color. Such a bar is also known as a cursor-bar, and can be moved up or down with the appropriate arrow keys or with the mouse. The currently LOGGED position in the tree ─ this is the direc- tory where the File-Window is logged to ─ has a highlighted foreground. This is not to be confused with the position of the cursor-bar, which is the currently SELECTED position. They may both be the same position, however. The currently SELECTED position in an inactive Tree-Window ─ the position of the cursor-bar when activated ─ will be highlighted by another foreground color. This shows which directory in the inactive window will be the destination for transfers from the other, active, window. If the currently SELECTED directory, in the inactive window, is the same as the currently LOGGED position, two brackets, placed around the directory name, tell which is which. 8-2 Tree-Window File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The total number of bytes in the current directory (the one the cursor-bar is on), is represented by 'Size' (on the line contai- ning 'Dirs') in the status area below the Tree-Window. (Re)Build Tree (Ctrl+F4 or Refresh Corner) ────────────── A tree, and with it, the log file, can be (re)build by pressing Build, or by clicking the left Mouse-Button on the Refresh Cor- ner (upper right corner) of the window. (Re)Build All Trees (Shift+F4) ─────────────────── BldAll will (re)build the trees of all non-removable media with a single command. Removed Directory ───────────────── If any directory on disk is removed without intervention of File_Handle, this part of the tree will be automatically recon- structed (by File_Handle) when such a directory is opened. To instruct the user of what is going on, an Accept pop up will in- form you of this. Pressing Escape will prevent the reconstruc- tion, so you can inspect the tree first, if desired. ╒═══════════════ ChDir ══════════════╕ │ │ │ No directory │ │ │ │ C:\DOC\ADDENDUM\REMARK │ │ │ │ Press Accept to │ │ │ │ reconstruct this Branch │ │ │ ╘════════ Esc=Close F3=Accept ═══════╛ Directory Totals (Shift+F7) ──────────────── By pressing Totals, File_Handle will show the total size of each directory, rounded up to the next kilobyte (1000). Empty direc- tories have no size, those with less than a kilobyte have 1 for the total. The 'Size' field after 'Dirs' in the statistics will show the actual total for the current directory. Selected (Tagged) directories will be totaled in the other 'Size' field. This can be used to figure out how many bytes a certain branch in the tree holds by tagging the branch in ques- tion. Tagging from the root down will result in the number of bytes used on the whole disk. File_Handle Tree-Window 8-3 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - Note ──── Because the contents of each directory can change without the intervention of File_Handle, you cannot depend entirely on the totals shown here. File_Handle keeps these numbers correct for its own operations, and attempts to correct any changes done outside its control. If you need these figures to be absolutely correct, perform a Build or BldAll (Ctrl+F4 or Shift+F4) operation. After this, you can depend on the numbers; except in a multi-tasking or multi-user environment, of course. Hint: Logging a File-Window to a directory, or loading a log- file, will overwrite the total for that directory in the Tree-Window. In these circumstances you can be assured that the total for at least the current directory is correct. Removable Media ─────────────── Log files (trees) are normally kept in the directory where FH.EXE resides, or where ever the environment variable FH_LOGDIR points to. This method is not satisfactory for removable media. A special filename FH_@.LOG is reserved to solve this problem. If any type of removable media has a thus named file in its root directory, this file will be loaded and updated instead of the one in the default place (if any). ╒ Build RM Log ╕ │A: │ │B: │ ╘═ Esc=Close ══╛ An FH_@.LOG must be forced to the removable media by the BldRML (Build Removable Media Log, Alt+F4) command, which will build a new log file, and writes it to the root of that drive. Any other log file of this particular media in the default place, can now be deleted. Floppy ────── There are no automatic log files for floppy drives. These are kept, rebuilt and updated in memory. Floppies can work with the FH_@.LOG in their root directory too. Hint: The trees width can be adjusted by Twidth (Shift+Alt+F2). The default is 3, wich gives you 6 uncompressed levels. Notes File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── File_Handle 9-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ The Keyboard See the file FH_QUICK.TXT for the keyboard and a floor plan for mouse control. Type-Ahead Buffer ───────────────── File_Handle has its own type-ahead buffer which it fills from DOS's keyboard buffer before passing on any key to the program. This is why File_Handle always will notice the Escape key first, it will empty its own buffer in that case, so any commands al- ready in the buffer are terminated at an abort. Change to Another Window or Field (Tab & Shift+Tab) ───────────────────────────────── These let the cursor move from field-to-field or from window-to- window, and back, respectively. Pressing Tab also opens the right window ─ when still closed. This window will also open automatically when the need for a destination arises. Editing Fields ────────────── A filename-, date- or time field will be erased by the first character you enter if no intermediate cursor movement has taken place. This feature prevents you from having to remove unwanted characters each time you enter the field. To edit a field without erasing it, just modify it by moving the cursor at least one position. This effectively prevents era- sure. To erase an already modified field, press Ctrl+Del. Halting a Process (Escape) ───────────────── The Escape key, or the right Mouse-Button, halts almost any on- going activity. This includes logging a drive or a directory. In this specific example you might wind up with an empty window. Press Drive (F4) or use Filter (Ctrl+F4) to relog the drive. Halting Copy or Move in the middle of a transfer will automat- ically remove the incomplete copy from the destination. Home & End Keys ─────────────── This is a little tricky, so read this carefully. If the cursor is NOT at the start or the end of a field, Home and End keys first move the cursor just there. If the cursor cannot be moved, any Home or End key will be passed on to a program layer higher 9-2 The Keyboard File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── up in the chain. In practice, this means the cursor will first be placed at the beginning or end of the Quick-Search field, then the cursor-bar moves to the beginning or end of the File- or Tree-Window, and then to the first or last line of the data. Hint: Pressing Home or End three times will effectively move the cursor-bar of the File- or Tree-Window to the first or last line of the data. Insert Mode (Ins) ─────────── Insert mode is the default mode after starting File_Handle. This mode can be changed back and forth by pressing the Insert key. Insert mode has a bigger cursor than overwrite mode. Undo & Redo (F2 and Ctrl+F2) ──────────── These commands will Undo or Redo filenames, numbers, date- and time fields and whole entry boxes, as long as the field or box in question has not been left by the cursor. If any field is erased accidentally, or filled with wrong data, press Undo to restore its previous contents. Restoring the new value after Undo can be achieved by pressing Redo. In delimiter-separated fields like time or date, Undo will re- store the current part if it's already modified, or restores the complete complex structure if it's not. For instance, in a date field, pressing Undo will first restore the current field, then the whole date, then, if there is an entry-box, it will restore the contents of that box. Three Undos (maximum) will restore the whole lot. - Note: The mouse and arrow keys can disturb the Undo/Redo data if their actions make the cursor leave the active field, even for a short while. Quick Keys ────────── Under F8 you find a few Quick-keys. These are context sensitive fixed macros for Copy, Move and Erase. In the absence of (a) tagged file(s), they operate on the current file only. If at least one file has a tag on it, these macros work on the select- ed files. These macros are derived from their respective choices from the Top-menu. File_Handle The Keyboard 9-3 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Help Screens (F1 and Ctrl+F1) ──────────── There are two forms of help, a fully descriptive and a condensed one. - Help (F1) ──── Shows the contents of the file FH_MANUA.TXT, which must be in the same directory where FH.EXE resides. This is the full- fledged help. - HelpQ (Ctrl+F1) ───── Shows the contents of the file FH_QUICK.TXT, containing the condensed list for for keyboard- and mouse control. Help Viewer ─────────── The help viewer remembers the respective position of all help screens. You can swap back and forth between the program and any of the help files. The help viewer can search forward and back, with or without regard to case. You can press Next or Prev (F5&F6) from the edit pop up directly. Help & Mouse ──────────── Double clicking the mouse on a word or a number will search for that word in the forward direction. Hint: Click twice on the double line above the chapter to find the next chapter downwards, and on the single line to find the next page. Note: The results of a search vary on the setting of the Case toggle (F7). Press Search (F4) to see what the setting is. By clicking or pressing Case (F7) the setting can be chan- ged at any time. Notes File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── File_Handle 10-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ The Mouse File_Handle can be fully controlled by a point-and-click tech- nique if a Microsoft-compatible mouse and driver are installed in your computer. Most PC's are nowadays equipped with such a device. The mouse driver must support at least the most basic mouse commands to be workable for File_Handle. File_Handle's mouse interface is designed in such a way that all functions and features, except for entering filenames, dates and times, can be controlled by the mouse. Navigating File_Handle by mouse is much easier than by keyboard. This will greatly help a new user to get familiar with the pro- gram, and during the process, teach him which key-combinations will do the same thing. Once mastered, the keyboard is always faster than any form of mouse control; pointing the mouse-cursor costs more time than hitting some ─ more or less obscure ─ key- combination. Mouse Buttons ───────────── This is a description of the meaning of the Mouse-Buttons. See the file FH_QUICK.TXT for a quick reference diagram. - Left button ─────────── Button down : Positions the text cursor or cursor-bar at the location of the mouse pointer. Activate scroll buttons. Move cursor to other menu or window. Single click: Choosing in menus and pop up menus. Activates various Screen-Buttons. Double click: Enter/Accept in all non-menu pop ups. Equivalent to F3. Does also Execute(ARF)/View/Edit/ChDir. - Right button ──────────── Single click: General Escape. The mouse pointer doesn't have to point at the item to be closed or canceled. Clicking the right Mouse-Button is equivalent to pressing Escape. There is an exception. The upper and lower menubars won't react to an Escape-click, unless the cursor is IN the upper or lower menu. This was done to prevent a general Escape-click to reset both menus. 10-2 The Mouse File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── If the menu has already been reset and there's nothing from which to escape, the click is con- verted into a general Escape. Double click: Select files in File-Windows, or subdirectories in Tree-Windows. Cursor will move one line down automatically. - Both (outer) buttons ──────────────────── Click both : Repeats last command from top- or Bottom-menu. Repeating Menu-Choices ────────────────────── Some Screen-Buttons will repeat their actions when they are held down with the mouse. If you use the mouse to place the cursor somewhere in either the top- or Bottom-menu, a click with BOTH buttons (the 2 outer but- tons on 3-button mice) will repeat the last choice made in that menu. To repeat a choice many times, it will be easier to hold one button down, and repeatedly click the other. Screen-Buttons & Quick-Spots ──────────────────────────── Screen-Buttons are, for instance, the up- and down-scroll but- tons in the left vertical border line of a window. There are al- so Quick-Spots, hidden screen-buttons, which usually do the same thing as a menu choice, but don't need an open or visible menu. - Scrolling ───────── Clicking or holding the up- or down-scroll Screen-Buttons with the left Mouse-Button, will fine-scroll to any position with a maximum rate of approximately 20 records per second. - Sorting (F9) ─────── The number of options of sorting with the mouse are equal to the Sort menu, with the exception of 'Unsorted'. Clicking the column headers at the top of the File-Window, will sort the window, with that column as the master sort key. Clicking the period '.' in the 'Filename.Ext' header, will reverse the sorting order. Clicking the space in front of the 'Filename.Ext' header, will sort the tags. This will effectively group tagged files to- gether at the beginning or end of the buffer. File_Handle The Mouse 10-3 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - Attributes ────────── Clicking the vertical line to the right of the 'Filename.Ext' header will toggle between Size- and Attribute mode. Attributes can only be sorted as a group, not separately. - Baseline Buttons ──────────────── Any texts at the baseline, like 'Esc=Close' or 'F3=Accept' will also act as Screen-Buttons for the mouse. - In-window Clicking ────────────────── A double-click, with the left mouse button inside a window with an 'F3=Accept' button, will be translated to F3. - Choosing a Drive (F4) ──────────────── Clicking the top line or title of the File or Tree-Window will open the Drive menu. - Tree/File Toggle (F7) ──────────────── A click on the lower right T-connection (above the statistics) toggles the window between File- and Tree-mode. - Reread Directory or Tree (Refresh Corner) ──────────────────────── A click on the upper right corner will force a refresh of the File- or Tree-Window. This will come in handy when exchanging floppies. - Escape ────── The right Mouse-Button or Escape will break off a refresh or normal logging operation. The window's contents, however, can be incomplete, when interrupted! - How to Cancel a Screen-Button ───────────────────────────── As long as you have not released the mouse button, you can still cancel the operation. Just move the mouse cursor away to a non-sensitive location on the screen, and release the button. - Thumb Index ─────────── The windows feature a vertical position-indicator, or thumb- index, in the left border. This thumb-index can be moved by 10-4 The Mouse File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── pointing the mouse cursor between the two scroll buttons, and then clicking the RIGHT Mouse-Button. This will roughly posi- tion the cursor-bar at the corresponding position. Clicking the center, for instance, 'opens the book' in the middle. - Home & End ────────── A click with the right Mouse-Button at the upper or lower end of the thumb-index ─ near the scroll-indicator- will perform the function of the Home- or End-key, respectively. - Page Up/Page Down ────────────────── A click with the LEFT Mouse-Button on the upper or lower half of the left vertical border line of the window, will produce a page-up or page-down, respectively. Dragging ──────── The left, and sometimes also the right Mouse-Button, will drag a cursor or cursor-bar when held down during mouse movements. - Scrolling ───────── If there are more records than the window can accomodate, dragging the cursor outside the window, with the Mouse-Button held down, will make the window scroll proportionally for as long as you keep moving the mouse and as long as there are re- cords to scroll. Move the mouse 'off-screen', not just out of the window. This mode of operation is not conventional, but it works bet- ter, and is more accurate than holding down a button, and then hoping the screen will stop scrolling where you want it to. File_Handle's method doesn't have a repeat-delay, and there's no uncontrollable repeat rate. Moving the mouse back as far as you moved it forth, repositions the cursor where it started. - Browse ────── Dragging with the left Mouse-Button, up or down let's you browse through files and trees. - Select ────── Dragging with the right Mouse-Button, up and down, let's you mark files and directories for selection. When the mouse button is released INSIDE the window, all records inside the mark are either selected or deselected. This depends on the status of the beginning record, which acts as a toggle. File_Handle The Mouse 10-5 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Starting the mark on a selected record will deselect all the records inside the mark, and vice-versa. - Top-menu ──────── Holding down the Mouse-Button in the Top-menu while moving the mouse, will drag the highlight over the choices. Releasing the mouse on a choice will execute that choice. Clicking the option once, without dragging, has the same result. - Bottom-menu (Alt+Space, Mouse: ■4 ... ■8) ─────────── Click the Screen-Button directly, or open (pull-up) this menu by pressing one of the little squares, and then click or Drag & Drop your choice. Hint: Clicking the right Mouse-Button (Escape) while the mouse cursor is IN the Bottom-menu, will reset this menu. The Escape key will do this also. Hint: This menu sometimes leaves the last choice on screen. If this is the case, F10 is not Exit anymore. Reset the menu first as shown in the previous hint. Fast Reset (Commandline switch: -m[h|s]) ────────── The reset mode for the mouse can be controlled, and saved in the CNF file, via the commandline. Enter 'fh -mh' or 'fh -ms' for Hardware or Software reset respectively. The default is hardware reset. If your mouse supports fast reset, File_Handle may start faster and resume more quickly after a shell command. See also ──────── Chapter Sort, Sort with Mouse, for Screen-Buttons. Notes File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── File_Handle 11-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Menu Systems File_Handle has a number of control systems simultaneously ac- tive: the Top-menu, one or two File/Tree-Windows (one of them is always active), a Quick-Search mechanism which can locate files or directories by wildcard, the bottom function-key menu, and the Space-bar, used for simple ON/OFF selections, and last but but not least, the mouse control. The menu systems feature a mode-less technique for ease of use. This means that while a menu is open, other actions can still be done without closing or losing the open menu or the menu's cur- rent state. Because of this concurrent control it's impossible to reach dif- ferent functions with the same key or key-combination. For in- stance, the plain Enter key cannot be used by all these systems without a modifier (Shift/Ctrl/Alt) key. Keys are chosen very consistently, so once mastered, it's quite clear which system uses which keys. File_Handle has many functions ─ future releases will have even more ─ that might make it less than ideal for novices. Nonethe- less, File_Handle has a number of safety features which will prevent the untrained user from making mistakes. It will take a while for the user to get acquainted with the way File_Handle is controlled and the way it does things. This will require some persistence from the user, but not more than simi- lar programs would need. Don't forget that File_Handle has a number of tricks the competition lacks; you'll need extra keys and menus to control those extras. First, master the basics, and then you can concentrate on the special features. See chapter Tutorial for a demonstration. Previous Choices ──────────────── All menu systems keep track of their latest active choice(s). This means that when a menu is opened again, it gives this last choice as the default. Multi-level menus remember the final com- mand of every command-path, and all intermediates too. - Executing a Previous Choice ─────────────────────────── If the mouse pointer is placed somewhere in either the top- or Bottom-menu, a click with BOTH buttons (the 2 outer buttons on 3-button mice) will repeat the last choice made in that menu. To repeat this choice many times, it will be easier to hold one button down, and repeatedly click the other. 11-2 Menu Systems File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Top-Menu ──────── The Top-menu is mainly used for operations with lengthy control paths. This means; menus with one or more submenus. It's also used for the less frequently used functions. - Pull-Right, not Pull-Down ───────────────────────── The Top-menu is a pull-right instead of a pull-down menu sys- tem. This has the advantage of not having pull-down menus overlaying the screen; the Top-menu can be open and active and you can still see and work with the main screen. - Keys ──── The Top-menu is controlled by the Alt-key. As soon as the Alt key is pressed, the default for the current menu will be highlighted. All menus, including this one, can be fully con- trolled with a mouse. - Making a Choice ─────────────── Press Alt+Letter to choose an option, or use Alt+Left or Right arrow keys to change your menu selection and execute it with Alt+Enter. Hint: The arrow keys on the numerical keypad won't work with the Alt key! This is not a restriction of File_Handle, but a feature of the computer's internals. You can enter any character from the video-BIOS by entering its code on the numerical keypad, while holding down Alt. You must use the upside-down T-shaped arrow keys to move the cursor in the Top-menu. The net result is that old XT keyboards have to use Alt+Letter or mouse commands to change their menu selection in the Top-menu. - Repeat Menu ─────────── Alt+Enter will repeat this menu. This menu system remembers each command-path separately. Just press Alt+Enter the reques- ted number of times. Hint: Shift+Alt+Letter will execute an option from the main menu directly from within a SUBMENU. For instance, Shift+Alt+C(opy) will open the Copy-submenu immediately from, say the Erase submenu, without ever opening or showing the main menu. File_Handle Menu Systems 11-3 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - Root or Main Menu ───────────────── All submenus of the Top-menu have a backslash '\', just like the root in DOS has. This is used here to indicate you are looking at a submenu. - Reset Menu ────────── The upper menu returns automatically to the main menu after the final choice of the command-path is made. Press Alt+'\' or click the '\' with the mouse to return to the main menu. Bottom-Menu (Alt+Space, Mouse: ■4 ... ■8) ─────────── The Bottom-menu is typically used for frequently used functions, that, unlike the Top-menu, have no intermediate menu-levels, and therefore can be executed by a single key or key-combination. There are exceptions though; Sort (F9), for instance, opens ano- ther menu. - Hot- or Quick-Keys ────────────────── The choices of the Bottom-menu (on the status- or errorline) are executed by so-called hot-keys. These are the function keys F1-F10, whether or not combined with Shift, Ctrl, Alt or any combination of these three. The theoretical limit for this menu is (2 to the power of 3) x 10 = 80 choices per menu. One can browse this menu by alternating all Shift, Ctrl and Alt combinations. Once the correct menu line is found, a press on the correct function key F1-F10 executes the requested op- tion. For those of you who are new to File_Handle, a special feature was added to make this menu easier to use. The Bottom-menu can be pulled-up into the screen by Alt+Space, thus showing all possible choices of the current menu at the same time. ═══════════════════════ (U/C/S/A) Function Keys (SA/SC) ═> 1Help 2Undo 3Accept 4Drive 5SelecQ 6ChDir 7Tree 8< 1HelpQ 2Redo 3 4Filter 5Name 6FilesF F7 8> 1 2 3 4ResetF 5 6MkDir 7Attrib 8< 1Errlog 2 3 4 5 6 7 8> 1Sound 2 3 4WinSwp 5 6Parent 7Editor 8< 1Setup 2 3 4Label 5 6Root 7Edit 8> Once opened, the menu still operates much the same; the cursor-bar follows the Shift, Ctrl and Alt keys. Additionally, the cursor-bar can be positioned with the arrow keys. Once the cursor-bar is on the correct line, press F1-F10 for the column 11-4 Menu Systems File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The option will then be carried out. This pull-up makes it easier to find any option on the screen than locating it in the manual. The top line in the example above shows the Control, Shift and Alt combinations forming the hot-key. Shift+Ctrl+F4 activates the volume label editor, for instance. The order is: ════════════════> Unshifted 1Help 2Undo < Ctrl 1HelpQ 2Redo > Shift 1 2 < Alt 1Errlog 2 > Shift+Alt 1Sound 2 < Shift+Ctrl 1Setup 2 > Ctrl+Alt > Both of these combination are not used Ctrl+Alt+Shift > (yet). An attempt has been made to keep related options grouped together vertically. For instance, all tree functions are under F6, DOS related functions like Exit, Shell, DosCmd and Exit-to-Current-Dir are under F10. - Mouse ───── The mouse opens the menu by clicking one of the little squares located near F4 and F8. Then move the mouse to the desired position, and click to execute the option. The Drag & Drop technique can also be used here. Hint: A click on any space in the Bottom-menu with the mouse will act the same as the squares do. The Top- and Bottom-menu won't react to a click of the right mouse button (Escape) when the mouse cursor is not pointing at one of those menus. This was done to prevent resetting both menus on a general Escape-click. To reset these menus, move the mouse cursor into the menu before clicking. The Escape key resets both menus. Menus and Pop Up Menus ────────────────────── Pop up menus use modal techniques, meaning no other activities can be performed before the situation at hand is resolved. They are like a screen-in-a-screen. If a pop up is visible, only that pop up, and the Bottom-menu can be controlled. Pop up menus are controlled by Alt+Letter, Up or Down arrow keys File_Handle Menu Systems 11-5 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── and Enter or Alt+Enter, and the mouse. Accept Pop Up ───────────── The so called Accept pop ups are an exception. This type of pop up blocks the source window, but keeps most other functions a- vailable. In this mode you can use the other non-blocked Tree- or File-Window to locate or create a destination, while the source is locked out. Entry-Boxes ─────────── Entry-boxes are used to get more the complex types of responses from the user. For instance, filenames, wildcards, dates, times. Enter ───── Some commands or pop ups accept Enter to perform the operation, but these commands usually are not of the destructive variety. Accept (F3) ────── The function key F3 is reserved for commands that change data. Commands that erase, copy or move files for instance. This type of commands cannot be executed with Enter. Erase Pop Up ──────────── The Accept pop up for Erase or Move has a Red color to alert the user he is going to destroy something. This kind of operation can only be confirmed by F3, not by Enter. Enter is used for many default functions. Using F3 for destruc- tive operations prevents accidental loss of data. - Note ──── Remember that File- and Tree-Windows have their own set of menus. Changing between these different types of windows will also change menu-options. This might take some getting used to, because menu options appear and disappear when the mode changes. See also ──────── Appendix B for a list of the Hot-keys for the Bottom-menu. Notes File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── File_Handle 12-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Embedded Wildcards Wildcards ───────── File_Handle's wildcards work somewhat differently than those in DOS. In File_Handle, a '*' can be utilized to match zero or more characters, and each '?' matches exactly ONE character. DOS will match anything in the target beyond a '*', and zero to as many characters as there are '?' in the search string. DOS's system will prevent you from finding EVERY file, except with "*.*". File_Handle's system can handle 'embedded' wildcards; meaning there can be more than one '*' in the search string. This will greatly improve your chances of finding what you are looking for. This wildcard system is File_Handle's ONLY system; You can use it at every location or menu option that accepts wildcards. Examples ──────── - Selecting or Searching ────────────────────── *.* : Match all files ─ same as DOS. *A* : Match any file with at least one 'A' in it. A* : Match any file with 'A' at the start. *A : Match any file with 'A' at the end. *A*E* : Match any file containing both 'A' and 'E'. *A*B*C* : Match any file containing 'A' and 'B' and 'C'. *A*B*C : Match any file containing 'A' and 'B' + 'C' at end. ??.* : Match two-character filenames only. 12-2 Embedded Wildcards File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - Renaming ──────── The spaces here were added to improve readability, you don't actually enter them: Wildcard Original Result ───────── ───────── ───────── ??? .* pete .bat pet .bat z* .* pet .bat zet .bat *og .* zet .bat zog .bat ?a* .* zog .bat zag .bat le* .* zag .bat leg .bat ???1 .* leg .bat leg1 .bat test1.* abcd .bak test1.bak * .dat test1.bak test1.dat ????2.* test1.dat test2.dat *2 .* test1.dat test2.dat moes*.* test1.dat moes1.dat *lp1 .* test1.dat telp1.dat ?ulp?.* test1.dat tulp1.dat tulp*.* test1.dat tulp1.dat File_Handle 13-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Search Systems Quick-Find ────────── Each File- and Tree-Window has its own Quick Find field in the bottom left corner. It is essential that this field is in INSERT MODE (big cursor), and to have a trailing '*'; the search system won't work otherwise. The system will automatically add an '*' as soon as you enter a period '.', making sure there is a wildcard for the extension. A single '*' is functionally equal to "*.*", but "*." is not. The latter will explicitly search for extensionless file- or directory names. - Clear Field (Ctrl+Del) ─────────── When this field is erased with this combination, a single '*' will be inserted, so the search system can work. - Activate Quick-Find ─────────────────── This system is always ready, you don't have to switch it on or off. As soon as a key is entered which can be used by this system, it will attempt to locate a file- or directory-name fitting the current description in this field. - Incremental Quick-Find or Navigate ────────────────────────────────── The system allows you to navigate quickly through huge amounts of files and directories by just entering a few characters. It will jump to the first one from the top that fits the descrip- tion you enter. - Find-Info ───────── Use Insert, Delete and Backspace to 'build' find-info. A short beep tells you that that specific key does not (yet) lead to a match. The character is accepted though, so you can continue modifying the wildcard until it does find a match. - Repeat Quick-Find (Ctrl+Up Ctrl+Down) ───────────────── These arrow-keys locate the next or previous match, or a first match after a relog or change directory. If no match is to be found in the requested direction, you'll hear a short beep. - Wildcards ───────── See the chapter Embedded Wildcards. 13-2 Search Systems File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - Quick-Find by Mouse («») ─────────────────── Click on the 'fast-forward' or 'fast-reverse' button, situated after the wildcard field, to repeat Quick-Find by mouse, in either direction. Hint: If the wildcard field contains "*" or "*.*", every file will match the wildcard, so repeating Quick-Find will be the equivalent of scrolling up or down. (This has confu- sed many!) Find Files (Alt+F) ────────── Using the Finder, you can utilize a set of extended wildcards on any parameter to scan the system for any file. See the chapter Finder for details. File_Handle 14-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Drive Logging Drive Logging (F4) ───────────── By pressing Drive, or by clicking the title bar of the window, a menu pops up. This menu contains all available drive letters, special info, and free space for each drive. Because of the lat- ter, the menu might not appear instantaneously; gathering the amount of free space for all drives will take a second or so. Once this info is known to DOS, this menu pops up without delay the next time it's needed. The cursor-bar is positioned on the currently active drive. ╒═════ Log Drive ════╕ │A:Floppy 3½" 1,457k│ │B:Floppy 5¼" -│ │C:Harddisk 19M│ │D:Harddisk 13M│ │E:Harddisk ² 1,212k│ │F:Ramdisk 2,048k│ │I:Harddisk 2 137k│ │J:CD-ROM -│ │K:Subst 19M│ ╘═════ Esc=Close ════╛ - DoubleSpace ─────────── In this example, drive E: is a DoubleSpace compressed drive. This fact is depicted by the compressed '²'. Drive I: in this example, is the host drive for the huge DoubleSpace file, por- trayed by the uncompressed '2'. - Keys ──── As in all other pop up menus, Alt+Letter logs the requested drive immediately. By pressing a drive letter or arrow keys, followed by Enter you can accomplish the same. Escape will close the menu without any further action. - Mouse ───── Clicking the desired line in the menu will log that drive. - Diskspace ───────── The numbers with the trailing 'k', 'M' (and 'G') stand for the free space on that drive in kilo-, Mega- or Giga-bytes. This let's you find a free spot quickly, if, for instance, you want to save a copy of some files, or want to move them out of the way. 14-2 Drive Logging File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - No media ──────── When the drive in question has no media, (floppy, CD-ROM or MO drive) then File_Handle will request to insert a disk. ╒═════════ Drive not ready ══════════╕ │ │ │ Insert disk in drive │ │ │ │ E: │ │ │ │ and press Accept │ │ │ ╘═══════ Esc=Close F3=Accept ════════╛ Escaping from this message, without any media, will leave an empty File- or Tree-Window on screen. Any of the above mentioned methods can be used to log this window to valid media again, if so desired. - Note ──── If the CD-ROM drive has an AUDIO-CD inserted, DOS will not re- cognize this as valid media, and produces the message above. Compressed (DoubleSpace) media which was mounted before File_Handle was executed, can be processed normally. They can, however, not (yet) be mounted from within File_Handle. Trying to log compressed media will result in logging uncom- pressed media, showing only the compressed host-file on it. The Drive menu will also falsely identify the drive as having compressed media. Warning: File_Handle makes no (not yet) connection between substituted drives and windows showing their original directories. This might create problems, since this can make some files duplicates while they really are not. - Dynamic Drives (Mapping/Sharing) ────────────── File_Handle automatically adjusts the Drive pop up (F4) if a- nother process adds or removes drives. Just call up the pop up and it refects the current situation. File_Handle 15-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Selecting Methods Space Bar ───────── The most simple way to select anything is the Space bar. It will turn a tag on or off. This way of selection is always open as long as no other menu system blocks the screen. One can still modify tags by use of the Space bar while the top menu already is opened, right up to the moment some final opera- tion is initiated. The Space bar can tag files while using Quick-Find to locate them. Selection Menu (F5) ────────────── The most frequently used select-options are grouped together in a menu under the macro key SelectQ. File-Window ╒═════ Select ════╕ │Select All │ Select all files │Deselect all │ Deselect all files │Wildcard Select │ Select via wildcard │Wildcard Unselect│ Deselect via wildcard │Reselect '>' │ Reselect previous selection │Invert selections│ Invert current selection │Cleanup 4 windows│ Remove all tags from all windows ╘═══ Esc=Close ═══╛ Tree-Window ╒═════ Select ════╕ │Select All │ Select all subdirs │Deselect all │ Deselect all subdirs │Wildcard Select │ Select via wildcard │Wildcard Unselect│ Deselect via wildcard │Reselect '>' │ Reselect previous selection │Invert selections│ Invert current selection │Cleanup 4 windows│ Remove all tags from all windows │Select Branch │ Select all subdirs in a branch │Clear branch │ Deselect all subdirs in a branch │Invert branch │ Invert current selection of a branch ╘═══ Esc=Close ═══╛ The option 'Cleanup 4 windows' removes ALL tags from ALL four windows, thus including the two that are not visible. This comes in handy if you need to force File_Handle into a known state. 15-2 Selecting Methods File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - Note ──── The option 'Reselect' in the Tree-Window does not (yet) have any meaning. The 'Branch'-options operate on the current Tree-branch only. Place the cursor-bar on the BEGINNING of a subtree, or else the current directory will be selected, as a very short branch. Top-Menu ──────── The following methods of selection are available in the Top-menu under the option 'Select'. - Compare ─────── With this function you can quickly test if two directories, or diskettes, are equal. This function compares the contents of two File-Windows. All files are compared by filename, extension, size, date, time and their Attributes. If any of those fields is diffe- rent, the fields with the biggest or highest values get high- lighted. The newest, or if date and time are alike, biggest file of the two, gets a selection tag. If a file is unique (i.e. it is not in both windows), all its fields are highlighted, and it gets a tag. - Select ────── This is a menu of frequently used selection operations. It can be reached faster by SelectQ (F5). - Quick_select ──────────── This method selects files with similar fields. The fields are: Filename, Extension, Date, Time, Size and Attributes. This works like this: Place the cursor-bar on any file, say one with the extension ".BAK". Now look up Quick_select, and choose Extension. This file will now get a tag, and if there are more files with that same field-value, then they are also selected. In this manner, files can be selected on any of the other fields. For instance, files of the same family, of the same date, same attributes, etc. File_Handle Selecting Methods 15-3 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - Duplicates ────────── This method will quickly select all files in the current window, which are duplicates of files in the opposite window. Any differences will be highlighted. Once selected, you can, for instance: - Copy the selected batch to the destination, or some place else. Only the (duplicate) files already on the destination are selected, other files are not disturbed. - Save the duplicates for a while on a floppy, while upgrading some program. - Remove the duplicate files. See Newer and Older (in Copy and Move menus), they can use the selection made here to upgrade another directory with the newest version or to restore an old one. Warning: The file CONTENTS are not (yet) compared, only the externally visible parameters. - Identicals ────────── This option is basically the same as Duplicates above, but only files with all fields 100% equal are selected. This option will determine if duplicates are EXACT duplicates, and not just mutations. You could, for instance, now clean up unnecessary duplicates without remorse or afterthought. See also Duplicates above. - Today's Files ───────────── Using the defaults, this function will select files, which are created today, to quickly save today's work, for instance. ╒═══════════ Date Filter ════════════╕ │ 08-06-94 - 08-06-94 │ ╘═══════ Esc=Close F3=Accept ════════╛ Because either limit is adjustable, the range can be extended beyond today. To select files of the previous month, for in- stance. 15-4 Selecting Methods File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - System Files ──────────── Hidden and system-files get a different foreground color on their file names to make them stand out more. This way you can detect those file-types without switching to attribute-mode. This will prevent you from erasing them accidentally. See also ──────── Chapter An Introduction to File_Handle on Date-Entry and Field- Rotation Chapter The Mouse; Dragging. File_Handle 16-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Copy and Move Files Destination ─────────── Files can be transferred to Window, Drive or Path destinations. \[Window]Drive Path Highlighted: Copy file to other window ┌───────── C:\BRIEF\MACROS\*.* ──┬─────┐┌───┌────────────> │ Filename.Ext│ Size│ Date│ Time││ ▀ │ < DIALOG .H │ 2.215│29-10-90│12:48││ │ File_Handl> │ DLG .H │ 4.148│31-01-91│11:24││ │ < - Window ────── Use this choice to transfer the files to the OTHER window. You must set up the destination directory before issuing this command. See the 'Drive' option below for choosing a new des- tination. If the destination window is not yet opened, this command is converted to the 'Drive' option to give you the opportunity to choose a drive and a directory. - Drive ───── Use this option if the other window is already active, but you want to choose another destination than the current one. - Path ──── This option will limit the destinations to choose from to only the directories that are in the PATH variable. This is handy for placing some executable or batch file so you can start it from anywhere. Move (Alt+M) ──────────── Moving is essentially Copying followed by Erase. See COPY below for an explanation. Copy (Alt+C) ──────────── File_Handle checks all possible collisions of all files before copying any. Once all problems are resolved, it can copy all fi- les in a single uninterrupted pass. You may leave the computer once the actual copying has started. Only a system-error or an Escape will abort the copying process. You are asked, file-by-file, if a duplicate must be kept or overwritten. The duplicates will be aligned side-by-side at the 16-2 Copy and Move Files File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── top of the window, with their differences colored like the Com- pare function does. If you force an overwrite of a duplicate, then it is checked first if the file has its Read-Only and/or System Attributes set. You must answer all the questions first, before File_Handle lets you start the actual copying by pressing F3. Successfully copied files get the Reselect Attribute '>' in front of the filename in both windows. If by now, you find out you copied to the wrong directory, simply Reselect (F5) those files in the destination window, and delete them or move them back to the source window or the proper location. After copying, any file in the destination window with a tag on it, is a duplicate you excluded in the collision-checking phase. Hint: Any tagged files left over after the process, are files that are NOT (yet) copied or moved. - Note ──── The File-Attributes are copied together with each file to the destination. Renaming Duplicates ─────────────────── A duplicate can be renamed during the checking phase. To prevent you from giving the duplicate the name of a file which also will be copied, the system checks for this kind of collision, and asks you to choose a different name. Warning: Because the system cannot (yet) check for the colli- sion before the file already is renamed on disk. Esca- ping from this function now, may overwrite the renamed destination later on, because its name is not unique. If a duplicate is found which is a SUBDIRECTORY, you have the option to either rename or skip it. - Note ──── File_Handle cannot overwrite a duplicate if it has a selection tag on it. Remove previous selections from the destination if this is the case. Copying tagged files will automatically remove all tags from the opposite window. File_Handle Copy and Move Files 16-3 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Newer & Older ───────────── As can be expected, this option will overwrite destination files only if they have a newer or older creation date. These options operate with tagged files only. See the chapter Selecting methods; the paragraphs about Duplica- tes and Compare for an explanation of these options. Progress-Indicator ────────────────── The copy system has a thermometer-like indicator. This bargraph indicates the percentage of data already processed in each win- dow. - Note ──── When using a disk cache or copying small files, sometimes the indicator either won't show or is only partly visible, because it's updated and removed before the screen is refreshed. Full Disk ───────── File_Handle will remove an incomplete copy from the destination. See the explanations about DISKSPACE in An Introduction to File_Handle about why File_Handle doesn't check free space. Floppy ────── If the destination is a floppy, you will be asked to replace the media when diskspace runs out. You have the option to insert ei- ther an empty or a used floppy. If you insert a used disk, and and you DON'T want it to be erased, File_Handle will add any re- maining files to that disk if free space allows it. ╒═════ Floppy disk full ═════╕ │Resume with new floppy │ │Erase new floppy and resume │ │Skip file for now │ ╘════════ Esc=Close ═════════╛ The option to skip large non-fitting files is useful to fill the remaining space with smaller files. File_Handle keeps processing any skipped files until they are all copied. Just keep feeding the drive disks with enough free space on them. 16-4 Copy and Move Files File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── No Media ──────── When the drive in question has no media, then File_Handle will request you to insert a disk. ╒═════════ Drive not ready ══════════╕ │ │ │ Insert disk in drive │ │ │ │ E: │ │ │ │ and press Accept │ │ │ ╘═══════ Esc=Close F3=Accept ════════╛ Escaping from this message, without any media, will leave an empty File- or Tree-Window on the screen. Use any logging option to log this window to valid media again, if so desired. File_Handle 17-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Erase Files Erase Files (Alt+E) ─────────── This option removes tagged or untagged files from the window and the disk. Like the Copy and Move options, it is checked first if any files on the list are System or Read-Only. You have to decide file-by- file if you really want to remove them. ╒═ R/O or System: COMMAND.COM ═╕ │Erase or modify this file │ │Skip this file │ │Skip remaining Protected files│ │Don't check remaining files │ ╘══════════ Esc=Close ═════════╛ File_Handle checks all files before erasing any, so, once done, it can erase all files in a single uninterrupted pass. You may leave the computer once the actual erasing has started. Only a system-error or an Escape will abort the erasing process. Skipped files will get a Reselect Attribute ('>'), so you can Reselect (F5) and copy them, or whatever needs to do be done. Hint: An Escape before Accept (F3) will retain ALL files! Security Erase ────────────── Files containing critical and/or secret data, can be effectively deleted so they cannot be recovered anymore. There is no way the the contents of the files can be restored from the erased disk sectors. (Normally, erased files can be fully recovered, most of the time). Copy Move Rename Select[Erase]Finder Hide Mainmenu: Erase files (Normal & Security) ┌───────────── C:\DOS\*.* ───────┬─────┐┌───┌────────────< │ Filename.Ext│ Size│ Date│ Time││ ▀ │ < │ <PARENT> │══─DIR─══│10-02-93│15:43││ │ File_Handl> ░ ANSI .SYS│ 9,065│30-09-93│ 6:20││ │ < │ APPEND .EXE│ 10,774│30-09-93│ 6:20││ │ File and P> │ ASSIGN .COM│ 6,399│09-04-91│ 5:00││ │ < │ CHKDSK .EXE│ 12,241│30-09-93│ 6:20││ │ SN H000000> - Wiping Free Space ───────────────── Wiping will erase the contents of unused (or no longer in use) disk sectors. This will accomplish two things: First it will 17-2 Erase Files File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── prevent anyone from restoring file fragments. Second, it will make it easier to reconstruct non-erased data in the event of a disk crash. - Compressed Drives ───────────────── Wiping unused space of such drives is reliable, which cannot be said of wiping files on those drives. The problem with wiping files is to create random data which has the same compression ratio, so the file is guaranteed to be completely erased up to, and including, the last byte. Unused space can be wiped completely, no ratio problems here. File_Handle keeps writing data until the disk has no more free space. Hint: Don't use security erase for files on compressed drives. Use Security erase for free space (Disk) instead, after first performing a normal file erase. Note ──── When a file is manipulated after it's created, it is possible that fragments of it are left in many disk sectors now unused. DOS will delete a file in one place, and recreate it in ano- ther when edited, for instance. This means that security- erasing a manipulated file doesn't give 100% assurance that (old) parts can't be restored. Do a Security erase on the who- le disk to be safe. Warning ─────── The technology File_Handle uses to wipe the disk is absolutely safe, you won't lose unrelated sectors. This, however, makes it impossible to be ABSOLUTELY sure that there are no frag- ments at all of your 'hot' data. It can be imagined that to- tally unrelated programs are using parts of memory or disk without erasing them first. Formatting is possibly the only way to get rid of all traces of 'hot' data. However, some for- mat programs don't rewrite disk sectors, you might need to to a low-level format to be sure. Low-level formatting is a job for the specialist, don't try this yourself! Erase Subdirectories (Alt+F6) ──────────────────── Subdirectories can only be removed from a Tree-Window via RmDir. See the chapter Remove Directory. File_Handle 18-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Hiding Files and Subdirectories Copy Move Rename Select Erase Finder[Hide] Mainmenu: Exclude records from processing until next read< ┌───────────── C:\DOS\*.* ───────┬─────┐┌───┌────────────< │ Filename.Ext│ Size│ Date│ Time││ ▀ │ < │ <PARENT> │══─DIR─══│10-02-93│15:43││ │ File_Handl> ░ ANSI .SYS│ 9,065│30-09-93│ 6:20││ │ < │ APPEND .EXE│ 10,774│30-09-93│ 6:20││ │ File and P> │ ASSIGN .COM│ 6,399│09-04-91│ 5:00││ │ < │ CHKDSK .EXE│ 12,241│30-09-93│ 6:20││ │ SN H000000> Hide (Alt+H) ──────────── This option will temporarily hide subdirectories or tagged or untagged files form the window. It can be a handy feature to exclude files from a certain process, or simply to just not see them for a while. You can direct your attention to the more im- portant things at hand. The first Filter- or log-operation re- stores the hidden records again. Hide and the Finder ─────────────────── This option will prove itself very useful in the Finder. The Finder can locate many files, most of which are not targeted. Just tag lots of unwanted files and Hide them, or hide single non-targeted files. After a while you've hidden so many files, that the target list is small enough for you to oversee. Notes File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── File_Handle 19-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Rename Wildcards ───────── The RENAME-system can handle wildcards. These wildcards behave somewhat differently than DOS's wildcards during a rename. Some examples are given in chapter Embedded Wildcards ─ Rename. The number of leading or trailing characters from the wildcard, is placed over the old name, starting from the end opposite to the '*'. This fixed number of characters is replaced, and the '*' adds any leftovers to the result, at the appropriate end. Both files and directories can be renamed. Directories can also be renamed from the Tree-Window. When renaming directories, File_Handle will load and update the log file, or create a new one in case there wasn't one already. Name (Ctrl+F5) ────────────── The filename will automatically be extracted from the current window into the rename pop up and can be edited there. Pressing Name will extract it again, should you mess up so badly that Redo can't restore it anymore. - Note ──── If a wildcard character was entered in the rename-field during a previous rename operation, then that wildcard will be reused and the original name will NOT be extracted in this case. Wild-Rename ─────────── It is possible to perform a so called 'wild-rename', if the tar- get filenames have something in common. For instance, to rename all files TESTn*.* to PROGn*.*. See the chapter Embedded Wildcards for examples on more complex rename operations. Rename ────── ╒══════ Rename File FH_SETUP.BAT ══════╕ │ Filename.Ext│ Size│ Date│ Time│ │ FH_SETUP.BAT│ 256│01-04-94│11:46│ ╘════════ Esc=Close F3=Accept ═════════╛ To rename, just change any field in the pop up presented to you, and press Accept (F3). If you try to duplicate an existing file- name, File_Handle asks if you want to overwrite THAT file, or to skip renaming THIS file. 19-2 Rename File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ╒═ FH_SETUP.DOC Already Exists ═╕ │Replace existing file │ │Skip this file │ │Replace All duplicates │ ╘═════════ Esc=Close ═══════════╛ Warning: Replacing an existing file will, of course, overwrite that file, which will then be lost. Repeated Rename (Ctrl+F3) ─────────────── The rename operation can be repeated automatically for tagged files by pressing Repeat. The procedure is: - Tag some files. - Choose Rename of Tagged files in the Top-menu. - Adjust the name, date and/or time of the first record presen- ted. When renaming the filename, use wildcards in that field. - Think twice. (Are you requesting the impossible?) - Press Repeat. Remember that if you are renaming filenames or extensions, there must be at least a single wildcard character in at least one of those fields. Repeat works in the Finder also. Warning: Use wildcards in conjunction with Repeat with the ut- most care. Repairing destroyed filenames ─ which can be the result of a lightheaded rename operation ─ can take a lot of your time! Any wildcard character in the name or extension will be forced onto ALL tagged files! Leaving the filename as is or using "*.*" in a repeated rename, will prevent such disasters. If you really need to rename many filenames using Repeat, inspect the fi- lenames carefully for strange conflicts. If in doubt, copy the files to a temporary directory, or better still, a RAM-disk. Do the (possebly) des- tructive work there. File_Handle Rename 19-3 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Touch ('Rename' date or time) ───────────────────────────── The rename option can also 'rename' Date and/or Time. This is known as 'touching' files. This means that the date or time of a file, or set of files, are set to a specific value. To 'touch' files, select them, choose Rename, set date and time, and Repeat the rename operation. Use "*.*" or no wildcard at all. See War- ning above. Examples are: - Setting the date for the files of a software package to the distribution date, and setting the time to the version number. - Resetting date/time on compiler source files, so the Make utility won't recompile them when some non-code modifications are made. Attributes (Shift+F7) ────────── Set the File-Window to attribute mode by pressing Attrib, to be able to 'rename' Attributes. ╒═══════════ Set Attributes ═══════════╕ │ Filename.Ext│ Arc Hid │ Rdo Sys│ Time│ │ FH_SETUP.BAT│ n/c n/c │ n/c n/c│23:32│ ╘═════════ Esc=Close F3=Accept ════════╛ Change Attributes by toggling them with the Space-bar. A 'n/c' (No Change) field means the setting of this attribute will re- main the same when the file is 'renamed'. Repeat will also work on Attributes. The following example will reset all Archive-bits of all tagged files, so these files are not backed up to a tape-streamer, for instance. - Select all "*.BAK" files. - Adjust the 'Arc' field by pressing the Space-bar, or clicking the mouse a number of times until it says 'Off'. - Set or leave all other attribute fields to 'n/c' (No Change). - Press Repeat (Ctrl+F3). - Note ──── Only Attribute-rename will modify File-Attributes. The other forms of rename do not. 19-4 Rename File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Set Files to Nodate-Mode (Ctrl+F4) ──────────────────────── If files are set to nodate-mode, File_Handle, and many other ap- plications, won't show the date and time anymore. Use Nodate to change a file to nodate-mode, and use Select and Repeat to do this on multiple files. - Note ──── There are applications that cannot handle null-dates, and will show something like 00-01-80 instead of just spaces. No-dating or redating files is 'forever', the original date is lost. You can give such files a new date and time, however. Keys ──── Use TAB and Shift+TAB or the mouse to move to another field. Use Accept (F3) to record any changes. Escape will cancel rename. Use the Spacebar or the mouse to adjust the Attributes. File_Handle 20-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Changing Directory - ChDir Rename Finder Mainmenu: Rename directories ┌─────────────── C:\DOS ───────────────┐┌───┌────────────> │ Directory Tree ││ ▀ │ < C:\<DRIVE_C > 136││ │ File_Handl> │ ├─ -DOC 268││ │ < │ │ ├─ ADDENDUM 440││ │ File and P> │ │ │ └─ REMARK 55││ │ < │ │ ├─ CONTENTS 34││ │ SN H000000> │ │ ├─ DOC 1038││ │ A. van And< │ │ ├─ INDEX 10││ │ 4268 GV Me> │ │ ├─ MISC 3247││ │ Holland < │ │ └─ TECH 1128││ └────────────> │ ├─ ASYNC 90││ < │ ├─ ASM 116││ ┌───────> ░ │ └─ MIXED 15││ │ < │ ├─ BIN 624││ │ > │ ├─ BRIEF 533││ │ < │ │ ├─ HELP 203││ │ > │ └─ MACROS 327││ │ < ├─* ─«»──────────┬───────────┤└────────└───────> │Tagged 0 Size 0│ Free │ │Dirs 94 Size 1,037,845│ 19,998,720│ └──────────────────────────┴───────────┘ 1Help 2Undo 3Accept■4Drive 5SelecQ 6ChDir 7Files ■8> ChDir (F6) ────────── ChDir in the Bottom-menu, logs the selected directory to a File- window. This works from both File- and Tree-Windows. The same can be accomplished by pressing Enter, or clicking twice on the name of the directory. Pressing ChDir in a File-Window while the cursor-bar is NOT on a directory name, will log the window to the parent directory. Notes File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── File_Handle 21-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Create Directory - MkDir Rename Finder Mainmenu: Rename directories ┌─────────────── C:\DOS ───────────────┐┌───┌────────────> │ Directory Tree ││ ▀ │ < C:\<DRIVE_C > 136││ │ File_Handl> │ ├─ -DOC 268││ │ < │ │ ├─ ADDENDUM 440││ │ File and P> │ │ │ └─ REMARK 55││ │ < │ │ ├─ CONTENTS 34││ │ SN H000000> │ │ ├─ DOC 1038││ │ A. van And< │ │ ├─ INDEX 10││ │ 4268 GV Me> │╒══════════ Make Directory ══════════╕││ │ Holland < ││ TEST │││ └────────────> │╘════════ Esc=Close F3=Accept ═══════╛││ < │ ├─ ASM 116││ ┌───────> ░ │ └─ MIXED 15││ │ < │ ├─ BIN 624││ │ > │ ├─ BRIEF 533││ │ < │ │ ├─ HELP 203││ │ > │ └─ MACROS 327││ │ < ├─* ─«»──────────┬───────────┤└────────└───────> │Tagged 0 Size 0│ Free │ │Dirs 94 Size 1,037,845│ 19,998,720│ └──────────────────────────┴───────────┘ 1Help 2Undo 3Accept■4Drive 5SelecQ 6ChDir 7Files ■8> MkDir (Alt+F6) ────────────── Use the MkDir option in the Bottom-menu to create new subdirec- tories. The new directory will be created as a subdirectory of the current directory. The current directory in a Tree-Window is the one the cursor-bar is pointing to. The behavior differs among both window types. Adding a direc- tory to a File-Window will automatically log the new directory. Adding one to a Tree-Window will point the cursor-bar at it, af- ter resorting the tree. Notes File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── File_Handle 22-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Remove Directory - RmDir RmDir (Shift+F6) ───── For safety reasons, you can remove directories only from the Tree-Window. Use RmDir from the Bottom-menu. - Empty Directory ─────────────── If a directory is empty, it will be removed without prompting. ╒═════════ Remove Directory ═════════╕ │ │ │ TEST │ │ │ │ Contains files! │ │ │ │ Remove this directory? │ │ │ ╘════════ Esc=Close F3=Accept ═══════╛ - Contains Files and/or Subdirectories ──────────────────────────────────── If a directory is NOT empty, File_Handle requests confirmation from you, before removing the it. ╒═════════ Remove Directory ═════════╕ │ │ │ BRIEF │ │ │ │ Directory has Subdirectories │ │ │ │ Remove them all? │ │ │ ╘════════ Esc=Close F3=Accept ═══════╛ - Read/Only or System Files ───────────────────────── Directories will be checked directory-by-directory for Read- Only and/or System-files. ╒═ Rdo or Sys file: COMMAND.COM ═╕ │Erase this file │ │Remove directory now │ │Don't check directories │ ╘═══════════ Esc=Close ══════════╛ Only after all protected files are dealt with, is the directo- ry wiped and removed. Hint: Escaping the pop up will retain the directory contents. 22-2 Remove Directory - RmDir File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - The Root Directory, A Special Case ────────────────────────────────── Removal of the root directory equals WIPING THE COMPLETE DISK! For this reason confirmation is asked in two different ways, so you won't accidentally wipe a whole disk by pressing F3. ╒════ Remove ROOT Directory ════╕ │YES, ERASE THIS DISK COMPLETELY│ │No, don't erase this disk │ ╘══════════ Esc=Close ══════════╛ ╒═════════════ Wipe Disk ════════════╕ │ │ │ This action will leave you │ │ │ │ with an EMPTY disk │ │ │ │ Are you sure? │ │ │ ╘════════ Esc=Close F3=Accept ═══════╛ - Relog ───── Other windows will, if appropriate, follow the deletions. If a directory in another window was logged to a removed directory, it will be logged to its parent. File_Handle 23-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ The Executer Keys ──── File_Handle will try to 'execute' a file when you position the cursor-bar on it, and then press Enter or click it twice. Not all files can be executed, however. But most files initiate some specific default response. You can tell File_Handle what that resonse should be for a certain type of file. Associative Response File ───────────────────────── File_Handle loads the file FH_EXEC.ARF when initializing. This file must contain all information needed to execute certain types of files. There are five main types of executables: Type name Type of file ────────── ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Executable EXE, COM, BAT and BTM (internal table) Rebuild Editors, Textprocessors, Databases, etc. Show Graphic/Hex/dBase Viewers, Sound players, etc. Extract Decompressors for ZIP, ARJ, LZH, UC2, etc. DontRun Device-drivers/Terminate & Stay Resident programs - Executable Type ─────────────── Files of the 'Executable' type are typically not handled in the response file. File_Handle has an internal table for them. Note: This table is scanned only when the other types are ex- hausted. This means that one can play some tricks here. - Rebuild Type ──────────── The 'Rebuild' type needs some explanation. File_Handle has a rebuild mode, which can be activated after a shell command. Programs that change the appearence of the disk, are typically of the 'Rebuild' variety. The rebuild mode logs modifications. - Show Type ───────── This type of executables do not change anything on the disk. This is the typical behavior of file- and database viewers, sound players and various other programs that don't write to files. - Extract Type ──────────── This is a special form of 'Rebuild' type. It needs an extra parameter to tell the decompressor where to put the files from 23-2 The Executer File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── the archive. - DontRun Type ──────────── This type will prevent you from loading device drivers and TSR type programs into the swap-area of File_Handle. This would crash the system after File_Handle swaps back into ram again. Warning: Don't try to load such programs with the Shell or DosCmd options either! Quit File_Handle, run the com- mand, and restart File_Handle again. SetARF (Shift+Ctrl+F2) ────── This option edits the ARF file. File_Handle reinitializes the execution table on return, allowing on-the-fly modifications. An Example ────────── Rebuild: c:\dos\edit %% ('%%' is the filename placeholder ) MenuTxt: DOS' Editor (Pop up menu if more groups conflict) Connect: *.txt;*.doc;*.edt (These file types execute edit.com ) Hint : More groups may have one or more Connect wildcards in common; File_Handle will build a pop up menu and ask you which program must execute the command. An example will be where *.BAT can be executed, or just edited. Extract to ────────── You have the option to extract archives to the current directory or any other destination you choose. File_Handle will check the directory after decompressing and marks any additions with a Re- select Attribute '>'. This will enable you to see which files and/or directories were extracted. You can easily reselect to erase or copy them, for instance. - Warning: SEA's ARC program cannot decompress to another direc- tory. Keep this in mind. - Note ──── A later version of File_Handle will probably show the contents of the compressed archive. It will then be possible to select and copy from the archive right away. Also the reversed di- rection will possibly be supported. Directory ───────── 'Executing' a directory will perform a ChangeDir operation. File_Handle The Executer 23-3 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Working Directory ───────────────── The Executer executes commands in the directory that is current in File_Handle at that moment; this means that if the command creates any offspring, you will find it in this directory. This is also true for DosCmd and Shell (Shift+F10 and Alt+F10). Default Editor & Viewer ─────────────────────── File_Handle needs a default editor (DefEdit) and viewer (DefView) so it can be forced to bypass the default response when needed. Unsupported Files ───────────────── All files not covered by any of the above, are passed on to the default viewer (DefView) mentioned in the response file. Update After Execute ──────────────────── All windows are updated (current directory only) automatically after an external command of the 'Rebuild' or 'Extract' type. If the external command created or deleted files or subdirecto- ries, the windows will show the new state. Added files and directories get the Reselect Attribute '>', so you can see immediately what was changed while an external com- mand was in control. Relog & Existing Selection ────────────────────────── File_Handle's uses its internal selection system to mark changes made by external (shell) commands. This suggests a previous se- lection (files with tags) will be disturbed by this process. For this reason you are asked to confirm the relog operation. ╒═════════ Modified by Shell ════════╕ │ │ │ Rereading NOW will │ │ │ │ LOOSE the SELECTION │ │ │ │ Start Reread? │ │ │ ╘════════ Esc=Close F3=Accept ═══════╛ If you, for some reason, need the selection to remain ─ although the window possibly doesn't match the disk anymore ─ you must skip the relog operation by pressing Escape. 23-4 The Executer File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You can relog manually at any time by pressing Drive (F4), Filter (Ctrl+F4), or clicking on the Refresh Corner (right upper corner) of the main window. - Note ──── The relog mechanism puts Reselect Attributes '>' on all chan- ged entries. It doesn't take into account any kind of orde- ring like a newer date or so. This is because all changes were made outside File_Handle's control ─ any previous versions are already lost! If an external command created or removed subdirectories outside the current directory, File_Handle doesn't know about that. This is because rescanning all drives after each external command ta- kes too much time. You have to relog those windows manually if you expect any off-base changes. If File_Handle is instructed to enter such a directory later on, it will detect this problem, and reconstruct that part of the tree automatically. RunARF (Shift+Ctrl+F9) ────── This option reverses the use of the Executer. It gathers all the Rebuild and Show groups from the ARF table, and presents them in a menu. This option will enable you to link any file to any pro- gram, so in cases of less well-chosen file names or extensions, you still can run the proper application. Memory Usage ──────────── The Associative Response File has no real limits, as long as the file FH_EXEC.ARF is less than 60,000 bytes, not counting comment lines. File_Handle has a built-in memory swapper to be able to run ex- ternal commands without running into memory problems. This swapper is currently Ralph Brown's Spawno, and it swaps conventional memory to EMS/XMS/RAW-EXTENDED or, if all this is not available, to disk. In case that Spawno uses the disk, it will use the current di- rectory or the one the FH_LOGDIR system variable (if you instal- led it) points to. If there is a SWAPDIR system variable (Spaw- no's default), it has precedence over the FH_LOGDIR variable. Spawno has demonstrated problems in conjunction with a resident Norton Antivirus. This combination will corrupt File_Handle's environment so badly that it won't be able to find COMMAND.COM. Executing external commands won't work in this special case. File_Handle 24-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Sort Sort (F9) ───────── Each File-Window can be sorted independently from the other. The cursor-bar will follow the record to its new position. When a directory is logged, the window will be sorted using the last used sort key. Tree-Windows cannot be sorted. ╒═══ Sort ══╕ │Unsorted │ │Filename │ │Extension │ │Date │ │Time │ │Size │ │Attributes │ │Group Tags │ │Direction │ │Path │ ╘ Esc=Close ╛ - Sort with Mouse ─────────────── There are shorthand Screen-Buttons for sorting. Just click the column header to sort on the master-key for that column. There is no Screen-Button for 'Unsorted'. Copy Move Rename Select Erase Finder Hide Mainmenu: Copy files ┌───────────── C:\DOS\*.* ───────┬─────┐ │ Filename.Ext│ Size│ Date│ Time│ ^ ^ ^ │ │ │ │ │ │ Attribute mode toggle Direction (reverse order) Group Tags - Direction ───────── Clicking the period '.' in 'Filename.Ext' reverses the current sorting order. The 'Direction' arrow shows the current order. - Attributes ────────── Clicking the vertical line to the right of the 'Filename.Ext' header, will toggle between SIZE- and ATTRIBUTE mode. Attributes can only be sorted as a group, not separately. 24-2 Sort File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - Path ──── The 'Path'-option is only available in the Finder, and sorts all records on drive and path. - Group Tags ────────── Clicking the space in front of the 'Filename.Ext' header, will sort Tag- and Reselect Attributes, and the colored fields made by any compare operation. This will effectively concentrate tagged files at the beginning or end of the window. Hint: Use the Group option to quickly find out which files are tagged when there are too many files to fit in the window. - Note ──── The 'Unsorted' option will reread the directory, and will thereby lose all tags (if any). File_Handle keeps no record of the original order on disk. This option won't be used often enough to surrender precious memory to it. Same (Ctrl+F9) ──── As expected, the option 'Same' will look up a file by the same name in the other window. If found, both windows are manipulated in such a manner, that the two files are side-by-side on the first line of the windows; the biggest or newest fields are colored to show which file is the last version. Group Family ──────────── If you'd like to quickly discover if there are other files with the same name, extension, size, date, time or attributes, this is how you you do it: Point the cursor-bar at the parent record, and sort the desired column. The similar records are grouped around the cursor-bar. File_Handle 25-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ The Finder Purpose ─────── Finding any file or set of files, on any drive or set of drives, and then performing the next system-wide operations on them: - Copy or Move. - Rename. - Erase. - Edit or View. - Execute. - Other global operations. This includes for instance: - Locating files using File_Handle's embedded wildcards. - Global Removal of Duplicates. - Locate ALL batch files and moving them to a new location. - Rename ALL "*.BAK" files on ALL drives to, say, "*.OLD". - Erase ALL back-up, error and temp files from ALL drives. - Set the Archive attribute of ALL files pending a total backup, or reset the Archive attribute of ALL temporary *.ZIP files. - Reset the Read/Only attribute of ALL files in a branch, after xcopying them from a CD-ROM. - Viewing ALL "*.GIF" files on all drives with a graphic viewer. - Locate ALL huge files pending a clean- or back-up operation. - Locate ALL files larger than .. and older than .. . - Jumping (ChangeDir) to this file in that directory. - Locate Hidden and/or System files. - And more... 25-2 The Finder File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Find-Parameters ─────────────── To let File_Handle find what you are after, it uses an extended wildcard search. This mechanism has the defaults set so you can find anything. Just restrict the Finder's options in such a man- ner it can locate your target(s). ╒═══════════════════ Finder ═══════════════════╕ │ │ │ Wildcard(s) : *.EXE;*.COM;*.BAT;*.CMD │ │ │ │ Size limits : 0000000000 - 4294967295 │ │ Date limits : 01-01-80 - 31-12-79 │ │ Time limits : 00:00 - 24:00 │ │ Arc Hid Rdo Sys │ │ Attributes : ? ? ? ? │ │ │ │ [√] Scan system : CDEFIJ ABG │ │ [ ] Scan drive : C: │ │ [ ] Scan branch : C:\BRIEF\MACROS\AVA │ │ │ ╘═════════════ Esc=Close F3=Accept ════════════╛ 2Undo 3Accept 4Deflts 5System 6Drive 7Branch 8Today 9 File_Handle The Finder 25-3 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Finder-Window ───────────── The Finder-window is basically a (left) File-Window, with an ex- tra column, attached at the right side, to hold the paths. Copy Move Rename Select Erase Finder Hide Main menu: Find any files(s) on any drive(s) ┌─ Find List: *.EXE;*.COM;*.BAT;*.CMD ─┬─────────────────> │ Filename.Ext│ Size│ Date│ Time│Path < │ AUTOEXEC.BAT│ 755│19-04-95│12:17│C:\ > ░ COMMAND .COM│ 54.619│30-09-93│ 6:20│C:\ < │ C1 .EXE│ 109.957│15-10-87│ 5:00│C:\BIN > │ C1L .EXE│ 140.667│15-10-87│ 5:00│C:\BIN < │ C2 .EXE│ 199.431│15-10-87│ 5:00│C:\BIN > │ C3 .EXE│ 117.403│15-10-87│ 5:00│C:\BIN < │ CL .EXE│ 32.969│15-10-87│ 5:00│C:\BIN > │ CV .EXE│ 220.066│15-10-87│ 5:00│C:\BIN < │ CVPACK .EXE│ 38.241│15-10-87│ 5:00│C:\BIN > │ LIB .EXE│ 58.965│08-02-93│ 1:01│C:\BIN < │ LINK .EXE│ 64.319│15-10-87│ 5:00│C:\BIN > │ MAKE .BAT│ 171│28-02-90│12:23│C:\BIN < │ MASM .EXE│ 103.175│31-07-87│ 0:00│C:\BIN > │ SHAREBK .EXE│ 771.888│12-05-92│ 1:00│C:\C\H\SH < │ SDN_KIT .EXE│ 38.044│10-11-94│16:00│C:\C\H\SH\SDN > AUTOBACK.COM│ 15.588│28-12-93│16:50│C:\JUMBO < ├─* ┴«»───────┴──┬ Esc=Close ┼─────────────────> │Tagged 0 Size 0│ Free │ │Files 18 Size 2.413.892│ │ └──────────────────────────┴───────────┘ 1Help 2Undo 3Accept■4 5SelecQ 6ChDir 7 ■8> Restrictions ──────────── The Finder is integrated in the main system. This means that, up to a point, all of File_Handle's functions are available in the Finder also. Some options have no meaning in the Finder, and are therefore removed from the menus. Among these are the Select options Compare, Duplicate and Identicals; there is no target for them in Finder-mode. Other options, like Copy and Move, work exactly the same as in a normal File-Window. When copying or moving, the right side of the screen will temporarily show the activity on the destination. Keys ──── With some exceptions, all keys of the File-Window work here too. 25-4 The Finder File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - Escape or ChDir (F6) ─────────────── The Finder is cancelled by any of these two keys. ChDir will log the directory which was under the cursor-bar, and the cur- sorbar will be moved to the target. Think of this as a 'Go To' function. - Defaults (F4) ──────── This option installs such parameters that you will find, memo- ry permitting, all files on all drives. - Today Files (F8) ─────────── The Today-function adjusts the date- and time parameters to the date of today, so the Finder can find all files of the current date. You might have to remove other restrictions (if any) by pressing Deflts, or else the Finder may not find every file of today's date. See Date-Entry and Field-Rotation, in the chapter An Introduc- tion to File_Handle, for fast ways to adjust date and time. - Undo & Redo (F2 and Ctrl+F2) ─────────── These two options restore or unrestore the currently modified field(s) first, and then all parameters. This includes undoing and even redoing the Defaults. Use the Spacebar to adjust the Search-Attributes in the para- meter screen. Finder & Mouse ────────────── The mouse works as in the regular File-Window, with additions. A double click on any path in the Path-column (rightmost column) will close the Finder and performs a 'Go To'. This action is e- quivalent to ChDir (F6). Clicking the Esc=Close Screen-Button leaves the Finder, and relogs the previous drive or directory. Click the mouse in any field to bring the cursor to that field. Click inside the '[ ]' Screen-Buttons, or at the status line, to select System, Drive or Branch as the target area. Click on a search attribute to change it. File_Handle The Finder 25-5 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Wildcards ───────── The Finder has, in addition to the embedded wildcards, extended wildcards for Date, Time, Size and Attributes. These have de- fault values that will enable you to find anything with wildcard "*.*". Leave any irrelevant fields at their default value. For example, don't fill in Size-restrictions if size is not what you are looking for. The Finder can find any (still existing) file with only limited search-info. Even if you have no recollection whatsoever of the filename, you can still find it, if you know at least one other parameter of the file. This parameter doesn't have to be exact either; any vague recollection will help, if it's reasonably ac- curate. If you want to use multiple wildcards, you must separate them by placing a semi-colon ';' between them. You can enter up to 225 characters in the Finder's wildcard field. - Wildcard ──────── Embedded wildcards can be used. Enter a letter or combination you remember. For example, "*A*E*" finds any file with 'A' and 'E' in the filename part, "*SD" or "*SD.*" any filename ending with "SD". See chapter Embedded Wildcards. Separate multiple wildcards with a semi-colon ';'. The field accepts up to 225 characters, and shifts sideways to accomodate that amount. - Date ──── Enter beginning- and ending date (inclusive) of the period you want to include in the search. - Time ──── Enter beginning- and ending time (inclusive) for the time- window you want to include in the search. Enter 00:00 - 24:00 to find all files, not 00:00 - 23:59! - Size ──── If you explicitly want to find 1 kbyte files, enter 1024-1024. To find files up to, and including 1 kbyte, enter 0 - 1024. - Attributes ────────── Put an '?' in any attribute field to locate files with any va- lue for that attribute. 25-6 The Finder File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── If, for example, you want to locate all files which have at least the Archive attribute set, adjust the fields like this: Arc ? ? ? An 'Off' means that files with this attribute are excluded. For example, 'Arc Off Off Sys' means that the Finder looks for files that have both Arc and Sys, but don't have Hid and Rdo. Sort (F9) ───────── A Path-column option is added to the sort menu. This will enable you to sort on paths as well. Choose it by pressing Sort, or click on the header of the Path-column with the mouse. Scan-Locations ────────────── These are the locations the Finder will inspect. The active lo- cation has a check-mark inside the brackets. Press F5, F6, F7, or click between the [ ] brackets with the mouse, to select a different location. - System (F5) ────── This option lets the Finder look on all drives in the system. Edit this list to in- or exclude any drive(s). - Drive (F6) ───── This option scans only one drive. The default is the current drive. This might come in handy for scanning CD-ROM's, for in- stance. - Branch (F7) ────── If you want to search a certain branch in the tree, then this option is what you need. Which branch to search depends on the status of the Finder: Finder not active: Current directory, press Alt+F & Branch. Finder active : Path from the cursor-bar. Place bar and press Alt+F and Branch. - CD-ROM and Floppies ─────────────────── Floppy-drives and CD-ROM's are, by default, not in the System list. You can add them for the duration of the session, see "ABG" in the example. The order of the drive letters is not File_Handle The Finder 25-7 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── important, and spaces are allowed. The Finder scans this list, and therefore the drives, from left to right. File_Handle accepts only drive letters it found at start-up. Copy and Move (Alt+C Alt+M) ───────────── It is possible to Copy or Move files from the Finder to any known drive attached to the system, with the obvious exception of Read Only drives like CD-ROM and maybe some network-drives. - Collisions ────────── It's possible that the Finder gathers 'Colliding Files'. These are files you want to copy, but already exist on the destina- tion. Remember, the Finder finds files ANYWHERE, this includes the destination too! Colliding files will be detected and skipped. They keep their Select-Attribute, so you can find them after processing the non-colliding files. - Duplicates ────────── If you copy or move more than one file by the same name to the same destination, File_Handle will ask you to either skip or overwrite it, after the first one is copied or moved. The copies are showed with their differences highlighted, like the Same function does. Stop Searching ────────────── The Finder's search operation can be stopped with the Escape key or by clicking the right Mouse-Button. Note: File_Handle's mechanism which detects if a shell-command made any changes on the hard disk outside of its control, is not active in the Finder. This means that executing programs in the Finder, decompressing archives for instan- ce, will not show any changes on the screen like a normal File-Window does. Finder Scripts ────────────── File_Handle's Finder can use pre-fabricated script files for the restriction parameters. These scripts are stored on the disk, and can be loaded for specific searches. It is also possible to store your own restriction parameters in your ownscript files. Adding to or editing an existing script is just as easy. If you want to use multiple wildcards, you must separate them by 25-8 The Finder File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── placing a semi-colon ';' between them. You can enter up to 225 characters in the Finder's wildcard field. ╒ Load Script ╕ │ARCHIVE │ │BIGFILES │ │CLEAN_UP │ │DOCUMENT │ │EXECUTE │ │FHCOPYAL │ │FHSHAREW │ │FONTS │ │PICTURES │ │READONLY │ │SOUND │ │SYS&HID │ ╘═ Esc=Close ═╛ ╒═══════════════ Save Script ════════════════╕ │ EXECUTE │ ╘════════════ Esc=Close F3=Accept ═══════════╛ - Load & Save (F9 & Ctrl+F9) ─────────── You can load previously made scripts into the Finder with the load command. You can save modified scripts, or your own, with Save. The parameters are stored in files with the FHF exten- sion in the directory where File_Handle resides. These options are available when the Finder's parameter window is active, choose the Finder-option (Alt+F) from the main screen or from the Find List. Warning: The Scan positions are not stored in the script fi- les. Press Defaults (F4) before loading a new script, then you can be assured all your drives are scanned. Quit Finder ─────────── Press Escape or click on the 'Esc=Close' button to return to the normal mode of operation. See also chapters: ────────────────── Search Systems on wildcards. An Introduction to File_Handle on Date/Time entry. The Mouse; Dragging. Sort for Screen-Buttons. Hiding Files and Subdirectories File Window; the Filter also uses scripts File_Handle 26-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Removable Media Media Changed ───────────── File_Handle checks if the media has not changed (when removable) between operations like Erasing, Renaming or Copying. File_Han- dle keeps a 'fingerprint' for all removable media in memory. If changed, the contents of the window are no longer valid, and File_Handle asks you to rectify this. Here are two examples, one for disks with, and one for disks without volume labels. - With labels: ╒════ Media in A: is changed ═══╕ │Replace <COMPILER> and continue│ │Log <GAMES> and halt process │ ╘══════════ Esc=Close ══════════╛ - No labels: ╒═════ Media in A: is changed ════╕ │Replace <original> and continue │ │Log <this media> and halt process│ ╘═══════════ Esc=Close ═══════════╛ - Replace disk ──────────── If you want to continue the operation, just replace the origi- nal disk, and choose the Replace option. File_Handle will not accept a wrong disk, just keep feeding 'unknown' disks until you come across the right one. - Log disk ──────── Logging will accept the disk, but will cancel the ongoing ope- ration, for obvious reasons. Media Not Changed ───────────────── File_Handle checks if the media has actually changed in certain operations where the media should be changed. If the media is not changed, File_Handle will request you to do so now by: ╒══ Media in A: is NOT changed ═╕ │Replace <BAKUP 1> and continue │ │Log <BAKUP 1> and halt process │ ╘══════════ Esc=Close ══════════╛ - Replace disk ──────────── If you want to continue the operation, you MUST replace the disk, and choose the Replace option. File_Handle will not ac- cept this disk for a destination. 26-2 Removable Media File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - Log disk ──────── Logging will log the current disk again, and cancels the on- going operation. Hint: Always enter a volume label when formatting, and use one of the later DOS versions because these also put a serial number on the media during a format. All this will improve your chances of File_Handle detecting media changes. Hint: If two diskettes seem to have the same 'fingerprint', change the volume label on either one of them to resolve the problem. File_Handle 27-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ DOS-Commands DOS Interface ───────────── File_Handle has a number of Shell commands that can be reached from anywhere in the program, no matter how far down you are in a menu, or in the Finder, for example. See the chapter The Exe- cuter on Memory Usage. - DOS Shell (Alt+F10) ───────── File_Handle can temporarily return to DOS. File_Handle drops you off in the directory where File_Handle was pointing to. Once you are in DOS, any command or program can be executed. Type 'EXIT' at the DOS-prompt to return to File_Handle. - DOS Command (Shift+F10) ─────────── File_Handle can pass commands on to DOS. DOS executes the com- mand and File_Handle holds the screen until you press a key, after which you regain control of File_Handle. File_Handle executes the command in the current directory, which is shown in the top-line or title of the command box. │ │ │ │ │ > │ │ │ │ < ├─*╒═══════════════════ DosCmd path: C:\BRIEF\MACROS\ORG ══> │ │dir d:\brief\macros\old\AUTOSAVE.CB < │ ╘══════════════════════════ Esc=Close F3=Accept ════════> └──────────────────────────┴───────────┘ < 1 2 3Name ■4 5 6 7 ■8 > - Name (Ctrl+F5) ──── The name under the cursor-bar in the File- or Tree-Window can be extracted to the command box. It will insert or over- write, depending on the state of the Insert key. - DOS's Output (Ctrl+Shift+F10) ──────────── This option shows the screen-output of the most recently exe- cuted DOS-command, except File_Handle of course. Notes File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── File_Handle 28-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Volume Label Volume Label (Ctrl+Shift+F4) ──────────── This command will add, edit or remove a volume label for the current drive. It is strongly suggested to give ALL removable media, including floppies, a volume label. This will ease the detection of a media change for File_Handle, DOS's SHARE.EXE and possibly other programs as well. Volume labels can contain all valid filename characters, except ".?*", but they may contain spaces. To enter a space here, just skip a position with the right-arrow key. ╒════════════ Volume Label ══════════╕ │ DRIVE C WIN │ ╘════════ Esc=Close F3=Accept ═══════╛ - Add a Volume Label ────────────────── Enter a label and press Accept (F3) - Edit a Volume Label ─────────────────── Just change the label and press Accept (F3) - Remove a Volume Label ───────────────────── To remove a volume label, you must clear the field by pressing Ctrl+Del, followed by Accept (F3). Removable Media ─────────────── Modifying the label of removable media means that the 'finger- print' changes, and therefore, the log file FH_#xxxx.LOG will be renamed! Notes File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── File_Handle A-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Technical Info Limits and Needs ──────────────── File_Handle's limits and needs for the current release are: - Although a 8086 CPU works, a 386 (or better) is preferred - Supports EGA/VGA/CGA color and VGA/MDA/LCD monochrome - Files and/or filenames per File-Window . . . 2600+ - Directories per Tree-Window (per drive) . . . 2800+ - Diskspace needed for File_Handle, fully installed 400 kbyte - Diskspace needed for File_Handle, minimum install 130 kbyte - Memory usage depends on size of hard disk. At least 400 kbyte - Maximum safe program path length (DOS' standard) . . 67 bytes XMS/Extended or LIM-EMS/Expanded ──────────────────────────────── File_Handle can use either when executing external commands. Operating Systems/Environments ────────────────────────────── DOS 3.1+ and most MS-DOS 3.1+ compatible operating systems, like PC-DOS, DR-DOS or DOS box under Windows. Known Incompatibilities ─────────────────────── ! DO NOT USE File_Handle to manage drives with directory depths longer than the DOS limit, (67 characters). This seems to be a gray area, and can lead to undesired behavior. So be carefull on Novell, Windows '95 or NT, these allow more than that, and will cause trouble. File_Handle already has some support built in. When Norton Anti Virus is resident, File_Handle has no environ- ment when executing external commands through Spawno, the memory swapper. The PATH and COMSPEC are missing, and COMMAND.COM can't be found. This problem disappears when File_Handle exits to DOS. Some third-party ANSI.SYS drivers intercept keys. I don't even have a clue why they do that. Some keyboards can't handle Ctrl, Alt or Shift with F2. Others work ok?! Why is F2 a special case? On some keyboards, the Shift keys behave differently for some key-combinations like Shift-Arrow. Any resident program which intercepts keys that are crucial to the operation of File_Handle, can be incompatible if it cannot be reconfigured to use other keys. File_Handle uses more keys than any resident program, and future versions will only need more. Resident programs take over ALL control, and should have ALL their keys programmable, if not, then obviously, ALL other programs must reprogram their keys! See the files FH_QUICK.TXT and FH_MANUA.TXT for File_Handle's keys. A-2 Technical Info File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Files The File_Handle program includes the following files: - Compressed ────────── FHDnnn .aaa A Version = 'nnn', Archive type = 'aaa' Examples: FHD100.ZIP FHD203.ARJ This file contains the whole UNMODIFIED shareware package. This is the file you may hand out to your friends, or upload to any electronic information service (a BBS). Do not copy any loose files, only this compressed original. Keep a copy of this file on your hard disk, so you can share an unused version with anyone. This archive contains all of 'A' below. - Decompressed ──────────── FH_EXEC .ARF A b c Associative Response File FH_SETUP.BAT A b c Example setup batch file (if needed) INSTALL .BAT A Not present in some distributions README .BAT A Shows VENDINFO contents on screen FH_NAME .CNF C The REGISTERED parameter/key file FH_PARMS.CNF A B The UNregistered parameter file FILE_ID .DIZ A Description file for BBS's VENDINFO.DIZ A License/Vendor/Publisher/BBS info FH .EXE A B C The File_Handle program * .FHF A b c Various Finder/Filter script files FH .ICO A Windows icon for File_Handle FH .PIF A Windows PIF for File_Handle FH_COMM .TXT Communication form from you to Hasoft FH_MANUA.TXT A The manual for File_Handle FH_NEWS .TXT A Any additional info FH_ORDER.TXT A For those of you looking for a file FH_QUICK.TXT A The quick reference list ORDER .TXT n/a Generated from registration screen REGISTER.TXT A Help for order/registration screen REVIEW .TXT A A guide to quickly review FH's basics VENDOR .TXT A For those unfamiliar with VENDINFO A These are the files in the Shareware package. B Minimum system. You *may* need also any of 'b' to edit, view, etc, plus the external programs. If you are a registered user you need 'C-c' instead of 'B-b'. C FH_NAME.CNF is supplied with *REGISTERED* versions only, it contains *YOUR* name and turns off shareware registration re- minders and delays. You may *NOT* give it away, and it may *NOT* be used by unregistered users. File_Handle B-1 ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Hot-Keys - Bottom Menu Shift Combinations ────────────────── F1 Help - Shows FH_MANUA.TXT. HelpQ - Shows FH_QUICK.TXT. Sound - Control sound. Setup - File_Handle's setup (Currently only video) Errlog - Last 5 errors from the bottom line. F2 Undo - Restore previous contents. (Not after mouse-click) Redo - Restore new contents after an Undo. Twidth - Adjust the width of trees. SetARF - On-the-fly adjusting of the execution table (ARF) F3 Accept - Special key for accepting input. Is a kind of Enter. Repeat - Repeats without F3=Accept a rename operation. F4 Drive - Choose drive. Filter - Reread a directory with an optional filter. ResetF - Reset Filter to *.* and reread. Build - (Re)build a directory tree. BldAll - (Re)build log files (trees) of All NON-REMOVABLE media. BldRML - (Re)build a Removable Media Log on a specific device. WinSwp - Swap left and right windows. Skip - Skip single file during Rename Tagged Files. Nodate - Remove dates from files through rename. Label - Edit/Create/Remove volume label. Search - Enter search string for help viewer F5 SelecQ - Pop up for simple selections (QuickSelect). Name - Puts current name into edit field. Next - Search next occurrence in help viewer. F6 ChDir - Change Directory (log) in Tree- en File-Window. MkDir - Perform a MkDir, in Tree- or File-Windows. Curdir - Cursor jumps to logged directory in tree window. RmDir - Perform a RmDir from tree window, including files. Parent - Steps back ONE directory level in Tree/File-Window. Root - Steps back ALL directory levels in Tree/File-Window. FilesF - Position window so first file is at home position. Prev - Search previous occurrence in help viewer. F7 Files - Switch window to File-mode. B-2 Hot-keys File_Handle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Tree - Switch window to Tree-mode. Attrib - Switch File-Window from 'Size' to Attribute mode. Size - Switch File-Window from 'Attribute' to 'Size' mode. Editor - Start default editor from FH_EXEC.ARF with no filename. Edit - Force default FH_EXEC.ARF editor onto current file. Totals - Toggle directory size column in Tree-Window. CaseIg - Case toggle of help viewer is in Ignore mode. CaseMa - Case toggle of help viewer is in Match mode. F8 CopyQ - Copy Quick, a macro for Copy to Window. MoveQ - Move Quick, a macro for Move to Window. EraseQ - Erase Quick, a macro for Erase. View - Forces default FH_EXEC.ARF viewer to show current file. F9 Sort - Sort File-Window. Same - Find equal filename and compare size/date/time. RunARF - Force Rebuild/Show from FH_EXEC.ARF onto any file. Load - Load FHF parameters into Finder. Save - Save your Finder parameters to an FHF file. EqualF - Copy Filter from other window and reread. F10 Exit - Exit to directory active when File_Handle started. ExDir - Exit to current indexed or logged directory. DosCmd - Execute a DOS-command from inside File_Handle. Shell - Temporarily to DOS. Type "exit" to return to resume. Output - Shows DOS'-output after startup, Shell or DosCmd. Note: Some of the texts shown are only visible when File_Handle is in the appropriate mode. File_Handle C-1 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Definition of Shareware Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to register. Individual programs differ on details, some request registration while others require it, some specify a maximum trial period. With registration, you get anything from the simple right to continue using the software to an updated program with print- ed manual. Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific excep- tions as stated below. Shareware authors are accomplished programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are of comparable qua- lity. (In both cases, there are good programs and bad ones!). The main difference is in the method of distribution. The author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute the software, either to all and sundry or to a specific group. For example, some authors require written permission before a commercial disk vendor may copy their Sha- reware. Shareware is a distribution method, NOT a type of software. You should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook, whether it's com- mercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting your needs easier, because you can try before you buy. And because the overhead is low, prices are low also. The author trusts you, and expects you to be honest and pay if you are going to use it after the evaluation period. Shareware has the ultimate money-back guarantee, if you don't use the product, you don't pay for it. D-1 File_Handle ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Disclaimer of Warranty - Agreement Users of File_Handle must accept this disclaimer of warranty: THIS SOFTWARE 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, WHICH MAY RESULT FROM THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE. Agreement ───────── File_Handle is a "Shareware program", and is provided at no charge to the user for evaluation. Feel free to share it with your friends, but do not give it away altered or as part of another system. The essence of "user-supported" software is to provide personal computer users quality software at affordable prices, and yet to provide incentive for programmers to continue to develop new products. If you find this program useful and find that you are using and con- tinue to use File_Handle after a resonable trial period, you must pay the registration price to Hasoft, or stop using the program. You may not alter, reverse engineer, decompile, etc. the program or parts of the program in any way. Distributing, repackaging, or reselling of the software to third par- ties, other than under the rules of the Vendor/BBS license is not al- lowed. By ordering a license, you acknowledge that the file FH_NAME.CNF re- presents a trade secret and that you agree to protect it as such. You may not distribute, sell, lease or give this file to anyone. You acknowledge that full ownership rights to the Software will remain the exclusive property of Hasoft. All rights not expressly granted in this document, are reserved by Ha- soft. Governing Law ───────────── Disputes under this agreement will be subject to binding arbitration by a Dutch Court of Law in the Arrondissement 's-Hertogenbosch. File_Handle E-1 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Limited Warranty Hasoft warrants the diskette and documentation (registered versions), to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a PERIOD OF NI- NETY DAYS from the date of registration. Hasoft will replace the defective diskette and/or documentation and will fix serious bugs during this period. Hint: If the diskette seems to be unreadable, you might try making a diskcopy on another computer. One floppy drive can have its tracks aligned with a slight difference from another drive. For problems involving a specific hardware or software environment or feature, reported by the user within the warranted period, Hasoft re- serves the right to offer a full refund instead of modifying the pro- gram. F-1 File_Handle ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Support Policy One full year of free technical support comes with a purchased copy. What ever you do, don't pick up the phone to make a support call be- fore at least making some effort to solve the problem yourself first. Read the manual and the files FH_MANUA.TXT, FH_QUICK.TXT and, if it's there, FH_NEWS.TXT. Hasoft is not in the business of teaching DOS/WINDOWS, there are books and computer clubs to provide that kind of help. Hasoft does not offer training on the use of File_Handle's keys and mouse controls, copy a file, rename a directory, etc. You can find all all those features described in the manual and support files mentioned above. FH_QUICK.TXT contains all relevant keyboard and mouse commands; print this file to get a quick-reference list. The manual describes installation and setup procedures for special modes of operation, should you need them; see chapters Installing and Configuring. Hasoft will of course offer support for File_Handle-related PROBLEMS. On the other hand, if you really don't understand something in the program or the documentation, it could be a programming or documenta- tion bug, I sure would like to know about it. Moving ────── Send a FH_COMM.TXT with at least your registration number and your new address when you move, so I can keep you up-to-date on developments. Getting Support ─────────────── Language : English or Dutch By mail : Fill in communication form in file FH_COMM.TXT, and mail a it to : Hasoft. Support Dept. Meeuwensedijk 10 4268 GV, MEEUWEN The Netherlands, Europe By e-mail : Fill in communication form in file FH_COMM.TXT and email it to CIS : 100710,1352 Internet: 100710.1352@compuserve.com By fax : Fill in communication form in file FH_COMM.TXT, and fax it to : +31 (0)416 351 469 (24 hours) Don't forget to enter a fax number if you want reply by fax. I will try to resolve your problem within 48 hours. By telephone: During European business hours, at +31 (0)416 351 469 File_Handle G-1 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Acknowledgments The following people deserve credits for testing the many pre-Beta versions or parts of File_Handle, and/or their contributions, and/or lending me special equipment: Andel, Paul van Rotterdam Blonk, Leo Puttershoek Feenstra, Luut Waalre Floor, C.W. Amersfoort Gillen, Joan T. U.S.A. Hamberg, Han Leerdam Looyenga, L.D. Amersfoort Wassink, Gijs Nijkerk Weerdt, G.M.A. de Leusden Werf, Jan van der Utrecht Hordijk, Wout Den Bosch H-1 File_Handle ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ The ASP Ombudsman ┌─────────┐ ┌─────┴───┐ │ (R) ──│ │O │────────────────── │ ┌─────┴╨──┐ │ Association of │ │ ├─┘ Shareware └───┤ O │ Professionals ──────│ ║ │──────────────────── └────╨────┘ Member This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware princi- ple works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for member' products. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at: 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442-9427, USA or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to: ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536. The Ombudsman may be contacted by faxing to the ASP FAX number: (616) 788-2765. In communications with the Ombudsman please include a telephone number and/or FAX if available. Ask the ASP for my (member 1295) address if it seems you can't contact me. Hasoft might have moved, the phone numbers changed, etc. ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────