The Original Shareware 1.1/The Original Shareware (WeMake CDs)(Volume 1.1)(CDs, Inc)(1993).iso/23/fetch.zip/FETCH.DOC

Text File | 1987-03-26 | 46KB | 872 lines

Underdog's FileFetcher v2.06  March 21,1987    (C) Crater Rim Software

    I  wrote  this program to (attempt) to get a better hold on the files I
have available on the BBS.  What with 280megs (soon to be 350megs) and some
10,000+ files,  I suddenly found myself lost in a sea  of  ARC  files!  The
original   layout  of  the  hard  drives  was  some  20  or  so  categories
(directories) but after a while, I got tired of having to read the doc file
of each new upload,  then make a determination of  what  category  it  fell
into...  and  sometimes having to 'fudge' on that dertimination because the
file content didn't quite fit into an appropriate  'niche'!  I  also  found
that  the system was spending an extraordinary amount of time hunting for a
file requested for download.  So,  I loaded up  the  BBS  source  code  and
modified  the  file  request  category  (directory)  search  routine to the
following:

       My  first  step was to re-organize all of the hard drives creating 1
letter directories each biginning with  a  letter  of  the  alphabet.  That
netted  me  26  directories  (A  thru  Z).  I  then  loaded the directories
according to the first character of the filename  (  ALBERT.ARC  went  into
directory  A  -  XYZ.ARC when into directory X). This was all well and good
but I found that there were certain directories which were getting a lion's
share of the files.  I quickly modified the directory specifications in the
BBS software to allow upto 6  letters.  This  allowed  me  to  create  2600
directories  (100  for each letter   C:\A, C:\A1, C:\A2 ...  C:\A99),  thus
allowing a limit to the number of files in  each  directory.  This  covered
all  the possible filenames except for three categories...  Those filenames
beginning with numbers (like  123UNP.ARC), those files starting with all of
the  other  filename  characters  allowed by  DOS  (like  !TROJAN!.ARC) and
finally the uncataloged new uploads.  Simple enough,  created three  catch-
all directories...  the number  directory  was named  00  the miscellaneous
directory was named  NA  and the upload directory was named  0

       Nice and easy now! Simply store each new file in the first character
directory! Now I was in business, right?  WRONG!!!  Another trip to the BBS
source code corrected the problems...

       The old file search process went something like this:

1)   User requests a file.
2)   System first checks the new upload directory
3)   If it isn't there,  it then  steps  through  the  other  designated
     directories one at a time,  searching all of the drives, all of the
     directories until the file is found  or  the  system  runs  out  of
     directory names.

Not a whole lot of time consumed,  but the hard drive lights  look  like  a
Christmas tree and Ma' Bell keeps that clock ticking!

       The new file search process goes something like this:

1)   User requests a file.
2)   System first checks the new upload directory
3)   If it isn't theren it then checks the first character of the filename
   A)  If it's a number, it jumps directly to the catch_all number directory.
   B)  If it's a letter,  the system loops through the designated directory
       names,  checking only those  directory  names  which  begin  with  a
       matched letter.
   C)  If  the first character didn't fall into either of the above,  or if
       it did  but was not found in the above searches,  the  miscellaneous
       directory is then searched

So  from  a potential 20+ category/10,000 file search under the old method,
in most cases,  the new method requires only a 3 or  4  category/1000  file
search.

       OK,  NOW I was in business, right?  WRONG!!!  Now that I got the BBS
up to speed,  I found that I was spending an extraordinary amount  of  time
trying to locate files!  Under the new method, the directories went from 21
to  36!  I found I was constantly doing a directory of the hard drives just
to see what directories were on what drives!  Next step  was  to  dig  out,
unpack  and  test  all of the different FINDIT type programs I have online.
Well,  I've got to admit,  there are some great FINDIT  type  programs  out
there!  Some  do  a  search  of  only one drive,  others do a search across
drives, others do a search inside ARC files... etc. etc. etc...  BUT....

       First  -  I found that they all operate the  same  way my old search
method worked!  I had two available options when  executing  any  of  these
programs.

  1)  Blindly  searching each and every hard drive completely until the
      file is found.
  2)  Doing a root directory of each hard drive to find the directory which
      may possibly contain the file I was looking for.  Then calling up the
      file finder to locate the file (I'm already there, why bother!)

       Second - if I wanted to list the members  of  the  ARC  file  I  was
looking for, I would have two more options.

  1)  Find the file using the finder,  write the drive\directory path  down
      on a scrap of paper, exit the finder, then do an PKXARC V (or ARC V)

  2)  Use  a finder that would search EACH arc file (that would take months
      and I had to designate a member file to look for!)

       Third - if I wanted to look for  another  ARC  file,  I  had  to  go
through the ENTIRE process again!

       Now, since I had already written the routines for the ARC V (verbose
listing of ARCfile members) and it was fully functional  in  both  the  BBS
software  and  K9X  (my  communications  package)...  and  since I had just
completed the routines for this efficient new way to search my drives for a
file,  the next logical step was to merge the routines and  create  my  own
file finder.... Welcome to FETCH - Underdog's FileFetcher!


       N O W    I    A  M    I N    B U S I N E S S !!!  (You Too!)

       This  program  combines  a  number  of functions into one all around
utility which I have found almost a prerequisite when working with  a  hard
drive!

      A note here on where the FETCH  files  can  reside.  Upon  start  up,
FETCH  makes  note of where all of the FETCH support files are located.  In
order  to  allow  you  the  flexibility   to   startup   FETCH   from   any
drive\directory  on  your system,  I've included a routine that will search
your system environment for       FETCH=

What this allows you to do, is place the FETCH files in a special directory
or in your DOS directory and place a line into your AUTOEXEC.BAT file which
will allow FETCH to find its overlay files and the FETCH.CNF file no matter
where you are on your system's drives. Let's take a couple of examples:

   Example one:

      You place the FETCH.COM and FETCH.CNF files in a directory named
      FETCH  on drive  C

      Add the line   SET FETCH=C:\FETCH     to your  AUTOEXEC.BAT file

      If you haven't previously set a DOS path,
      Add the line   PATH=C:\FETCH          to your  AUTOEXEC.BAT file

      If you have set a DOS path,
      Add  ;C:\FETCH   to your path statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file

   Example two:

      You place the FETCH files in with your DOS files in  the  directory
      previously named DOS on drive D

      Add the line   SET FETCH=D:\DOS      to your  AUTOEXEC.BAT file

      If you haven't previously set a DOS path,
      Add the line   PATH=D:\(your DOS directory) to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file


   PLEASE NOTE  that  you  MUST reboot your system in order for DOS to know
                where you have placed the FETCH files.  Upon completing the
                initial   startup,   FETCH  will  automatically  write  the
                FETCH.CNF file to the area you specified  in  the  SET  and
                PATH lines of your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

       Now  that  you have the files in the proper location,  modified your
AUTOEXEC.BAT and have rebooted your system,  your first step to  using  the
program  is  to  copy  the  FETCH  files  into either the FETCH or your DOS
directory.

       Now type FETCH at the  DOS  prompt.  This  sequence  will  step  you
through  the  creation  of  the configuration file,  allowing you to custom
configure FETCH to your own tastes. Let me step though the options.

       Upon startup,  FETCH will automatically determine whether or not you
are using a CGA card and set the default mode to what it finds.

FETCH will then open up the first of several windows.  The first window  is
the  flag  for  whether or not you want the directory listings displayed in
LIVING COLOR or just (BLAH!!) black  and  white.  The  default  setting  is
determined  initially  by  whatever FETCH finds when it queries your system
for a CGA card. The default setting will be displayed in inverse colors.

Simply hit the ENTER key.

With this menu, and all of the menus in FETCH,  there are two ways in which
to select the different options.

  1)  Use  the  up  and  down  arrow  keys  or  the  space  bar to move the
      highlighted  cursur  from  one  option  to  another.  When  you  have
      positioned the cursor where over the option you want,  simply hit the
      ENTER key. If you are not using the Screen writes option (you are NOT
      during the first portions of the initial setup), you will have to tap
      one of the arrow keys or the space bar (rather than press  and  hold)
      to move the highlighted cursor.

  2)  Type the first letter (upper or lower case) of the option you want to
      use. This is the fastest way!

If you should hit a wrong key, FETCH will display an  <ERROR>  message down
on line 26 of the screen.

       The  next  menu  to appear will contain the list of available colors
for menu frame, menu text, menu title and lastly, the border color.  If you
are satisfied with the current menu colors, simply type Q.  If you want  to
change the menu colors, do so now.  When you have selected your choices (or
hit ENTER for the default settings),  move the highlighted  cursor  to  the
Q)uit  option  and  hit  ENTER (You MUST use the Q)uit option or FETCH will
simply keep on cycling through the different Menu Color menus).

       The  next  menu  to appear will contain the list of available colors
for directory listing filename, filesize,  filedate,  filetime and transfer
times  colors.  A  second  window will open toward the bottom of the screen
displaying a sample fileline.  Again, if you are satisfied with the default
colors,  type Q.  If not,  change them now.  When you  have  selected  your
choices  (or  hit  ENTER  for  the default settings),  move the highlighted
cursor to the Q)uit option and hit ENTER (You MUST use the Q)uit option  or
again, FETCH will simply keep on cycling through the different Global Color
menus).

      The next menu displayed will allow you to complete  the  majority  of
the  configuration  of FETCH.  The first choice here is to type S and check
to see if your system will allow direct screen updates.  If  it  will  not,
you  may  have  to do a [Ctrl C] to abort FETCH,  and start over again.  If
your system will handle direct screen updates,  it will speed up the screen
displays considerably. Another window will now open showing what setting is
current  status of the S)creen Writes option (in the form of [YES] or [NO])
and then prompt you to type Y or N to  the  question  being  asked.  PLEASE
NOTE that ALL Yes/No (Y/N) questions will default to YES if you simply  hit
the ENTER key.  How you repond is not that critical here...  but it WILL be
VERY critical in other sections of Fetch -Such as during  the  Delete  File
option!!!  So, be sure you think out your reponses before you type them it!
So type Y (or hit ENTER) now.

      FETCH uses a DOS shell to access your ARC program(s) so that you  can
make (create), test, type a text file member, and unpack arc files.  The  A
option allows you to define which ARCing,  UnARCing utilities you  wish  to
use.  Along with the ARC utility name, you must also supply the appropriate
options  for that particular ARCing function.  Type A and let's take a look
at the default values.

      Our first choice is the M)ake an ARC.  Type M now.  The window at the
base  of  you screen shows you that the default program for creating an arc
file is   PKARC /OC A   I have chosen Phil Katz' PK series for the speed in
which they do their job. In creating an arc file, the  /OC  parameter tells
PKARC  NOT  to  use  the squashing method.  The reason for this will become
clear when we discuss the R)ead an ARC Text file option. If you wish to use
the original ARC.EXE utility, simply enter   ARC A  in place of the default
setting. If you simply hit ENTER now, no changes will be made.

      Type  R  now. As you can see, I have chosen Vern Buerg's  ARCTYPE for
this option. ARCTYPE cannot read squashed files (thus the /OC when creating
ARC  files).  The  reason I chose Vern's ARCTYPE is because it pauses after
each screen and displays a [More] prompt.  The one flaw I have  found  with
ARCTYPE  is  that  the  only  way  you can stop the display is by issuing a
Control C at the [More] prompt.  No problem though,  as this simply returns
you to FETCH. If you want to use ARC.EXE here, enter  ARC P in place of the
default setting. If you are using PKXARC, enter PKXARC/C

NOTE: If you are using  PKXARC for this option,  you may wish to change the
      default setting for the M)ake option above to  PKARC A  so that PKARC
      will take advantage of the Squashing Method of file compression.

Again, an  ENTER response exits this window without making any changes.

      Type  T  now.  The default for T)esting an ARC is PKXARC/T     If you
are using  ARC.EXE, the test command is   ARC T    ENTER  exits you back to
the menu.

      Type  U  now.  The default for U)npacking an ARC is  PKXARC    If you
are using  ARC.EXE, the unpack command is either  ARC E   or   ARC X   (see
the ARC.EXE documentation for more details).   ENTER  exits you back to the
menu. Type  Q  at the ARC Utilities menu to return to the Defaults Menu.

NOTE: You  may  have noticed that the  ARC List function is not included in
      this section.  The ARC List is built in to FETCH and displays the ARC
      listing in FULL LIVING COLOR!

      At  this  point you have already completed the B)ase Colors option so
lets move on to the next option.

      Option  B  is new in version 2.05. It allows you to define the backup
and restore utilities commands and the Floppie Drive designator  that  will
be  used during system backup and restore. There are three parameters which
you may set/reset through this option. They are:

      The Command to backup the system
          (14 characters maximum with the default set to DOS  BACKUP.COM)

      The Command to restore the system
          (14 characters maximum with the default set to DOS  RESTORE.COM)

      The BackUp Drive designator which will hold the backed up files
       during the backup procedure
          (20 characters maximum with the default set to drive A:)

      The Restore Drive designator which will hold the backed up files
       during the restore procedure
          (20 characters maximum with the default set to drive A:)

During both the backup and restore functions,  Fetch  uses  the  predefined
drive\directory  names  list  to  backup/restore  each  specified  pathname
individually.

During the backup procedure, Fetch loops through the entire drive\directory
list  building  and  passing  the  following  parameter  line  to  the  DOS
BACKUP.COM via a DOS Shell for each entry in your drive\directory list:

  backup_command + ' ' + drive\path[#] + '\*.* ' + backup_drive

As  you  can see,  Fetch adds the required spaces and last backslash *.* to
the  drive\path[#]  (the [#] being the loop number)  automatically.  During
the restore,  the process is identical except that the string passed to DOS
RESTORE.COM is:

  restore_command + restore_drive + ' ' + drive\path[#] + '\*.* '

I have defined the maximum string lengths for each of these defaults to 14,
14, 20  and  20  respectively so that you will have enough  'space'  to add
whatever  options  you desire.  If you are using FASTBACK or the like,  you
can use the default_drive  parameters to  hold  the  required  Y/N  prompts
instead  of a drive specifier as FASTBACK uses all available floppie drives
(as opposed to just one).

  Note: When  customizing  these  parameters  to  use FASTBACK or the like,
        remember  that  Fetch  automatically  adds  the  \*.*  as  a   file
        specifier.

      Option  D  allows you to designate the default command to be used  in
the DOS command option of the Utilities menu (discussed later).  There is a
special  character which is used here...  it is the vertical bar | (not the
colon :).  This allows you to enter a portion of a command  and  when  this
option is selected, FETCH will prompt you for the remainder of the command.
Let  me  see if I can clear this point up...  There are some programs which
require a command line parameter to  be  specifed  when  starting  up  that
program... such as a word processor requiring a filename for the file to be
edited.  The  vertical  bar  allows you to make this designation.  Your DOS
Command might look like:

     Your program name is          EDIT.COM
     When you use it, you type     EDIT myfile.txt
     Your DOS COmmand will be      EDIT |
     When you choose  the  DOS  Command  option,  FETCH  will  replace  the
       vertical bar with whatever else you enter.  If you simply hit ENTER,
       FETCH will start that  program  by  itself  without  any  additional
       parameters.

The default value here is simply the vertical bar.  In effect, the vertical
bar by itself acts the same as the DOS Shell option discussed later.

      As you have already seen, the menus are displayed in a straight print
type routine.  The E option will display the menus in an exploding fashion.
If you opt for exploding menus, FETCH will display the menus by starting at
a central point and expanding the menu frames  out  to  their normal  size,
simulating an explosion.  Type E and then type Y and decide for yourself if
you  want  exploding  menus!  If  you decide not to have this type of menu,
simply type E again and then N.

      Option  F  allows  you  to specify if you want FETCH to do a straight
sequential search or a designated search of the drive\directory  list.  The
designated  search  requires that your files are stored in the same fashion
as I set up the  BBS  directories...  the  actual  list  sequence  for  the
designated  search  is  covered further on in this document.  Most 'normal'
users will not require this special designated search feature.  Type F then
Y for a sequential search pattern or N for the special designated search.

      We've already completed the M)enu Colors option.

      Option  N  allows  you  to  specify the number od directories in your
list. The range is from a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 80. The default here
is 2...  NOTE that this number  DOES  NOT  include  the  the  Default  Path
drive\directory  (option  P  below).  You  will have to count up and make a
list of the drive\directory\subdirectory paths you have on your  system.  I
will explain how to edit the directory list later on,  but you will have to
enter the total number of entries in your list from this option.

      Option  P  allows you to designate the default drive\directory (in my
case, this is my new upload directory) which is the first to be search upon
each and every search request. A note here... The total allowable length is
29  characters.   That  includes  the   drive   designator.   Also,   FETCH
automatically  inserts the last backslash  \  when using this or any of the
directory names in your list.  DO NOT include the last backslash! Take note
to the default setting which is displayed  when  you  select  this  option.
Notice that it is simply a C:  without the backslash.  When FETCH uses this
entry, it will be C:\

      Option T is another special feature.  Since there are numerous  times
when  I  am  looking  for  a file so that I can upload it to another BBS or
transfer it to a client,  FETCH will display approximate transfer times  at
1200,  2400  and 9600 bps (as you've already seen when selecting your B)ase
Colors).  The T)ransfer Times option enables and disables this option. When
you type T,  FETCH will first ask if you want the transfer times displayed.
If you type Y to have them displayed,  FETCH will then allow you to turn on
(or off) any combination of the three baud rate times.

  Examples:
     if you only have a 300/1200 modem, you can disable the 2400b and 9600b
     times  by  responding  with  a Y for the 1200b and N for the 2400b and
     9600b

     if you have a 300/1200/2400  modem,  you  can  disable  the  9600b  by
     responding with a Y for the 1200b, another Y for the 2400b and a N for
     the 9600b

The last option in this set concerns which files will have  their  transfer
times displayed. If you respond with a  Y  here,  all files will have their
transfer times displayed...  If you respond with an   N   only those  files
having an extension of ARC  (ie: FETCH.ARC)  will have their transfer times
displayed.

If,  after opting to display transfer times,  you then set all the times to
off (by reponding N to the individual baud  rates),  the  original  display
transfer times flag will be set to No.

If you type N to the T)ransfer times option,  none of  the  transfer  times
will be displayed.


      Option  W  will  save any changes you have made to the FETCH.CNF file
residing with the FETCH program.  Please note, upon your initial startup of
FETCH,   the  FETCH.CNF  file  is  automatically  saved...   HOWEVER,   any
subsequent  changes  you  may make will NOT be automatically saved.  If you
want the changes to be there when you startup FETCH the next time, YOU MUST
use this option.

      Option  Q  is your route out of this menu.  Both options  (W  and  Q)
will  cause  an exit from the defaults section,  the difference being that,
other than during this initial startup,  the  Q  option does not  save  any
changes you may have made. The changes will be active, but not saved to the
disk copy of FETCH.CNF configuration file.

      Once  out  of  your  initial  setup  menu,  (hit  ENTER with option q
highlighted), FETCH will clear the screen and display the prompt:

      Search Specification: ([Enter]= *.*, [?]= Drive_List):

      Since we are not done with the initial setup (and I want  to  explain
the Utilities menu to you).  Simply hit ENTER at this time.  FETCH will now
display  a  directory  of your current logged drive\directory.  If you have
more than one page worth of files listings, you will encounter the prompt:

      More ([Esc], [Y]es/[Enter], [N]o, [C]ontinuous)...

      Briefly,  your choices here are pretty straight forward.  Hitting the
Enter  or  the Y key will simply scroll up the next page of files listings.
The N response here will stop any further listing and take you to the final
prompt.  The C response will scroll all of the remaining files listings for
this directory non-stop.  The Esc response represents the  Escape  key.  It
brings  up the Utilities menu which allows you to 'work' on a file or files
mid-stream in the directory listing.  This command  will  be  discussed  in
detail later on... If you have the

      More ([Esc], [Y]es/[Enter], [N]o, [C]ontinuous)...

prompt displayed now, hit the  N   key. If not, you should be at the prompt

      That's It! [Esc] [A]gain or [Enter]/[Quit]

      This  prompt  signals the end of the directory listing.  I will cover
the available  commands  for  the  this  prompt  in  detail  later  on  but
briefly...  The Esc response is the same as described above.  It allows you
to enter the utilities section and work on files.  The A response  recycles
FETCH  by simulating the DOS command line parameters so you can continually
cycle FETCH without ever exiting the  program!  This  option  and  the  DOS
command  line parameters will be discussed in detail further on...  But for
now, hit the Escape (Esc) key.

      You should have the Utilities menu display in the upper right corner.
I have attempted to place all of the main work windows up in this  area  so
the majority of the directory listing will be visible.

Utilities Options:

   ARC Type

   This  routine will prompt you for the source filename.  Note that if you
   do not specify a drive\directory path,  FETCH will use your drive  names
   list  to automatically find the specified arc file for you.  If,  on the
   other hand,  you specify a drive\directory path,  FETCH  will  use  that
   information  instead of using the drive names list.  This is true of all
   instances  where  the [d:\][path\] is included in the prompt line.  When
   using any of the ARC functions,  the .ARC extension is assumed so you do
   not  have  to type the .ARC after the filename.  If you simply hit ENTER
   here,  FETCH will return you to the Utilities menu without  any  further
   action.  After entering the source file name,  FETCH will prompt you for
   the File(s) to type.  If you are using ARCTYPE,  you will not be able to
   use  wildcards  and  must specify the full filename to be typed.  If you
   are not sure of the name, use the L)ist ARC option (discussed later). If
   you are using PKXARC,  you may use wild cards as described in the PKXARC
   documentation.

   Backup/Restore

   This routine will perform a system backup and/or  system  restore  using
   the your predefined drive\directory list  and  the  default  values  set
   earlier  in the backup portion of the defaults section.  NOTE that Fetch
   backs up each (and every) drive\directory in the list individually. NOTE
   ALSO no backup/restoration will be made on any drive\directory that does
   not appear in your list.  To use this option,  simply select either  the
   Backup or Restore option.  Fetch will perform a DOS shell and pass  both
   the  parameter  string  and  control  to the back/restore utility.  Upon
   completion,  you will be returned to the Fetch Utilities menu  and  your
   screen will be restored to whatever was displayed.

   Copy File

   This routine will prompt you for the source and target file  names.  You
   may  enter a full drive\path for one and or the other.  FETCH will check
   both source and target filenames to make sure all is ok... If it finds a
   duplicate target filename,  it will  let  you  know  and  give  you  the
   opportunity  to  overwrite  the  target  file  or  abort  the  file copy
   operation.  Unlike other 'in program' files copiers which only copy  128
   bytes  at  a  time,  FETCH  uses a 16K buffer for a FAST efficient copy!
   Additionally,  FETCH will ask if you wish to delete (erase)  the  source
   file upon successfully completing the copy.


   DOS Command

   This routine,  along with the DOS Shell are probably the  most  powerful
   features  of  FETCH!  They give you total flexibility from within FETCH.
   This option uses the default  DOS  Command  specified  in  the  Defaults
   Section (see default DOS Command option above). It acts exactly the same
   as  specifying  a  command  when  using  the DOS Shell option.  The only
   difference is this option allows you to  predesignate  a  commonly  used
   program  command  and not have to type the command each time you use the
   program.  Please study the Default DOS Command option in  the  Utilities
   section above.


   Erase File

   This  routine  allows you to erase a file.  Again,  you may enter a full
   drive\path.  You will be asked to confirm the  erasure  prior  to  FETCH
   performing the task.


   Free Space

   This routine will return the space remaining on any valid drive.  Simply
   type in the letter of the drive.


   In Memory of

   This  option will display the current program version,  compile date and
   the program dedication.


   List ARC

   This routine allows you to list the members of an ARC file.  It displays
   a  modified verbose listing,  excluding the compression method.  You may
   designate a full drive\path here also.


   Make ARC

   This routine is identical to the ARC Type option  except  that  it  will
   first prompt you for the name of the arc file you wish to create (taget)
   and then for the file(s) you wish to place into the arcfile. You may use
   any  wildcards  here.  And  you may also specify full paths for both the
   target arcfile and the source member files.


   New FileName

   This option allows you to rename a file. Your first input is the name of
   the file to be changed.  If no drive\path is  specified  in  you  input,
   FETCH  will  use  the  drive\directory name list to find the file.  Once
   found, FETCH will request the new file name.  Again,  FETCH will use the
   drive\directory  name  list to see if that filename exists anywhere else
   on your system.  If a match is found,  FETCH compares the matched file's
   drive\directory  with that of the file you wish to rename.  If these two
   paths match,  the rename file function is aborted  without  any  changes
   being  made.  If  the  two  paths  do not match,  FETCH will display the
   already existing drive\path\filename and ask if you wish to continue.  A
   Y response here will go ahead and rename  the  file  regardless  of  the
   duplication.  A   N   response will again abort the rename file function
   without any changes begin made.  If,  in its search for a match  to  the
   new filename, FETCH does not find a match, one last check is made in the
   drive\path  of  the  file  to be renamed.  The operation is aborted if a
   match is found or completed of no match is found.

   Registration

   This option displays two screens.  The first screen is  the  Crater  Rim
   Software  Logo.  The  second screen is the program licensing summary.  I
   could have placed this in full sight but didn't...  so please  read  and
   heed!


   Parameters

   This is your doorway to the Defaults Menu (where we just came from).  If
   you wish to change any of your default settings at any time, this is the
   way in!  Upon exiting the Defaults Menu you will  be  returned  to  this
   (Utilities) menu.


   Shell to DOS

   This routine allows you to drop  to  DOS  without  exiting  FETCH.  Upon
   selecting  this  option,  FETCH  will open a window and prompt you for a
   command to be executed. You may start up any program (memory permitting)
   or simply drop to DOS.  NOTE: If you drop to DOS and change directories,
   be sure to log back into the directory in which  you  first  dropped  to
   DOS.  Secondly,  you MUST type EXIT at the DOS prompt in order to return
   to FETCH.  These two restrictions only apply if  you  drop  directly  to
   DOS.  If  you  enter  a  commnd at the prompt,  FETCH will automatically
   restart upon exiting the secondary program.  NOTE that, while at the DOS
   level within the DOS Shell, your cursor will be a large block as opposed
   to the standard underline type cursor.


   Test ARC

   This  routine allows you to test the integrety of one or more ARC files.
   Again,  if you specify a  drive\directory  path,  FETCH  will  use  that
   information.  If  no  drive\directory  is specified,  FETCH will use the
   drive name list. You may use any valid wildcards here.  With PKXARC, the
   single * without a drive\directory path will test all arc files found in
   every drive\directory in you drive names  list!  The  single  *  with  a
   drive\directory  will text all arc files in that directory.  Again,  the
   ARC extension is assumed.


   Unpack ARC

   This routine allows you to unpack an arc file.  You may  desingnate both
   the  source  arcfile  path and the drive\directory in which to place the
   extracted files.


   View File

   This  routine  allows  you to view a text file.  This option is for text
   files which are NOT within an ARC file!  A straight page by page display
   of  the specifed text file is made.  Your prompt line allows you to stop
   the display at any time or do a C)ontinuous non-stop display of the text
   file.


   Quit

   This  option returns you to the directory section of FETCH.  Notice that
   your original place with the directory listing has not been altered. You
   may now continue on to another page of files listings,  hit  the  Escape
   key and enter this section again, or simply exit FETCH completely.

   Let's exit this section and go back to the directory listing.  Hit the q
   key or highlight the Quit option and hit Enter...


      I had mentioned exiting FETCH in the Quit option above.  Since we are
at  a  prompt line,  this is a good place to explain your exit options.  If
you are positioned at a

      More ([Esc], [Y]es/[Enter], [N]o, [C]ontinuous)...

prompt,  your  exit routine is a two key operation.  First hit the N key to
prevent any further directory listing. Then simply hit  ENTER  or  Q at the

      That's It! [Esc] [A]gain or [Enter]/[Quit]

prompt. If I recall, we were at the 'That's It!' Prompt when we entered the
Utlities  section.  So let's finish up your tour.  Hit the A key.  You will
notice that the prompt line has changed to:

      [\] [spec] [/spec] or [Enter]

These are the command line parmaeters which may be  passed  to  FETCH  upon
startup. They are:


   \

   Forces FETCH to do a directory of the root of the logged drive.  This is
   equivilant  to  typing  Dir  C:\  at  the DOS prompt.  Execution of this
   option at the DOS command line would take the form FETCH \


   spec

   This may be any drive\path\search  criteria.  FETCH  will  aoutmatically
   perform a directory listing using the specified search specification.

    Valid entry examples:  C:\DOS\   or   D:\MYDIR\A*.T?T   or   A:\
                           C:\DIR1\DIR2\DIR3\*.ARC  or C:\DOS\FET*


   /spec

   This  option is the same as spec above except it forces FETCH to use the
   drive\directory list so DO NOT include the  drive\directory  path  here!
   FETCH  will ONLY search those drive\directory names previously specified
   in the program configuration.

    Valid entry examples:  /  or  /A*.T?T  or  /*.ARC    /FET*


   Enter

   This option simply takes you back to the prompt line

          Search Specification: ([Enter]= *.*, [?]= Drive_List):

   And, at this point, that's exactly where we want to go! So, hit the
   Enter  key!


      First a note about  entering  Search  Specifications...  Entering  an
asterik/period  (*.) without the extension will cause FETCH to display only
the  Directory  Entries  (all  directory  entries  containing   the   <DIR>
designation including the   .  <DIR>  and   ..  <DIR> entries from within a
directory).  If no   period  or  period/extension  is supplied,  Fetch will
automatically add the   .*   to your search specification.

      We should now be at the prompt line

          Search Specification: ([Enter]= *.*, [?]= Drive_List):

      Our  next detour is to the Drive_List section so type a question mark
and hit the Enter key.  Your screen should now contain the following:

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Dir[ 0]=C:                                FileFetcher Drive/Dir Names Page 1
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Dir[ 1]=C:                             Dir[ 2]=C:
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Which Dir number [0..2]  [P]age  [E]dit  or  [C]lear

There are a possible two full pages (40 per page) of drive\dir  names.  You
are presently viewing page 1 as noted in the upper right corner. Unless you
have  specified  more than 40 directory names in the Defaults Menu section,
page 1 will be the only page you will  be  able  to  access.  If  you  have
specifed  more  than  40 directory names,  page 1 will display the first 40
entries and page 2 will display the remaining entries up  to  the  maiximum
80.  Dir[  0]  is  the  default  path  which  you specified from within the
Defaults Menu section and will remain visible no matter which page you  are
viewing. Your options here are:


   0..2

   These  numbers  are  the  maximum  (as  configured  earlier)   available
   directory names available.  The 0 represents the default path name,  the
   2 designates the total number of directory names you have set.  A choice
   of a number from 0 to 2 will allow you to view the directory listing for
   a specified drive\directory.  Upon selecting a number,  your prompt will
   change,  displaying  the  actual  drive  designator (including the final
   backslash) and wait for you to input a search specification.  Enter your
   search criteria and hit Enter.  FETCH will then procedd  to  diplay  all
   matches  found in that drive\directory.  If you simply hit Enter for the
   search spec prompt, FETCH will insert *.* as the search criteria.


   [P]age

   This is the paging command.  It will switch you from page 1 to page 2 if
   you   have  designated  more  than  40  drive\directory  names  in  your
   configuration.   If  you  have  less  than  40   drive\directory   names
   designated, this command will have no effect.


   [E]dit

   This command places you into an endless loop!  Upon selecting  the  edit
   option,  FETCH will open a window prompting you for a number from 0 to 1
   more than the maximum designated (and number  larger  than  the  maximum
   designated or simply an Enter response exits the loop).  Upon entering a
   valid  number,  FETCH  will open another window,  displaying the present
   value for that drive name and prompt you for a new value.  Hitting Enter
   here will  restore  that  entry  to  its  previous  value,  refresh  the
   displayed  listing,  and  return  you  to  the entry number input window
   again.  You may continue editing the  assorted  entries  until  you  are
   satisfied...  at  which  time,  either  enter  a  value  larger than the
   configured maximum or hit the Enter key to exit the edit mode.  Oh  yes,
   the  maximum  drive\directory  length here is also 29 characters...  and
   again, do not include the trailing backslash.

   Valid entry names:   C:\FOO\BAR\YOU\ME\TODAY\NOW
                        C:\K9X\MININET\DOWNLOAD
                        C:\DOS
                        C:

   Be sure to include all of the drive\directory names you  wish  FETCH  to
   search. Any drive\directory not specifeid will not be searched.

   If  you  want  to  use  the  special  disignated search feature (see the
   introduction above), your drive\directory entries must be as follows:

           Drive 0      Default Logged Drive

           Drive 1      The catch-all number drive\directory

           Drive 2      The catch-all miscellaneous drive\directory

           Drive 3 ... Drive 80  the Alphabetically named drive\directories
                     If you have one directory named  P  and need a  second
                     directory with the P letter, simply create a directory
                     named  P1  increase the default menu   number of drive
                     names by one,  edit the new last entry  to reflect the
                     drive\directory name. It does  NOT  matter that the  P
                     and  P1  directory names are not next to eachother  as
                     FETCH  will  ONLY  search those two directories, along
                     with the default drive 0 and  possibly  the  catch_all
                     miscellaneous directory.

   [C]lear

   The  number entry  portion of this  command functions identically to the
   edit mode.  Upon entering a valid entry number, FETCH will automatically
   delete  the current directory entry value and replace it with C:  If you
   no longer require the use of cleared entries,  and the  cleared  entries
   are  located  in the middle of your list,  you should compress your list
   and replace all cleared entries with the last most entries,  then  enter
   the  Defaults  Menu  Section  and decrease the total number of directory
   entries.  Any duplicate drive\directory names will only  slow  down  the
   performance of FETCH when using the drive_list feature.


      That  takes  care  of the drive_list section!  Hit the Enter key when
you are ready and let FETCH do its thing!  I think that only leaves one (or
two)  commands  yet  to  be  discussed...  These reside in the command line
parameters section.  The easiest way the  display  the  commnad  line  help
screen is from the DOS command prompt. So let's exit FETCH now... type N at
the   'More'  prompt, then hit  Enter  at the  'That's It!'  prompt.

      Back to DOS!  Along with the command line parameters already covered,
there are  some  special  command  line  parameters  which  have  not  been
discussed yet. The first one is the question mark. Type FETCH ?  at the DOS
command prompt.  The help screen should now be displayed  on  your  screen.
The [\], [/spec], [spec] have already been covered.  The [?] you just used,
so the only one remaining is the [`] parameter. Starting FETCH with a ` (in
the form of  FETCH ` ), takes you directly to the Utilities menu, bypassing
all of the other directory functions.  Your screen will be blank except for
the Utilities Menu in the upper right corner.  Upon exiting  the  Utilities
menu, FETCH will place you at the 'That's It!' prompt.  From that point you
may choose any of the available options to  enter  the  directory  mode  or
simply hit the Enter key to exit back to DOS.

      Well,  I  think  that just about does it!  You've had the full guided
tour of the power available from within FETCH.  One last point I would like
to mention...  and that's registration.  FETCH  is  distributed  under  the
terms  outlined  within  the  program's  'Program  Info'  section  and more
importantly,  under the licensing agreement supplied within  the  FETCH.ARC
file.  I  wont go into details here as the licensing agreement says it all.
The only point I want to make is  that  all  proceeds  received  from  this
program,  K9X,  PopEdit, and the other programs I have written and released
go toward the upkeep and maintenance of Underdog's MiniNet BBS.

      And a special plea for all the authors who supply  all  the  programs
you  download  and  use...  After being both a user and a Sysop for over 10
years now,  I know that alot of you say

 'What the Hell, what does he know whether I'm using  his program or not'.

I  also  know that an equal number (if not more) use the programs available
to them and make a mental note to register the program but never quite  get
around  to doing it.  And,  in both cases,  you are right!  It is true that
the authors do not know who is using their program  and  who  is  not.  The
point I am trying to make is that over the years, I have seen more and more
'ShareWare' programs go commercial because the ShareWare users neglected to
register a package they were using.  I've also seen authors of really  good
programs  simply  stop  writing and releasing their work due to the lack of
support.  I've  seen thousands upon thousands of users log onto the MiniNet
and download countless numbers of files.  I know that they  are  using  the
programs  by  the  way that they hunt out and download the latest versions.
Unless you guys (and gals) start  supporting  the  authors  by  registering
these programs,  sooner or later the 'source' is going to dry up.  The only
losers at that point will by yourselves!  I urge you to please support  the
authors  of the programs you use by registering them.  The $20.00 or $30.00
or whatever is requested is a small price to pay to keep this whole concept
alive and thriving.

                    Enjoy and....
                         Keep the Faith.
                             Sal Manaro
                             Underdog's MiniNet
                             Crater Rim Software