home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
The Original Shareware 1.1
/
The Original Shareware (WeMake CDs)(Volume 1.1)(CDs, Inc)(1993).iso
/
8
/
defrag.zip
/
DEFRAG.DOC
< prev
Wrap
Text File
|
1986-11-25
|
6KB
|
127 lines
=== D E F R A G ===
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
DEFRAG requires BASICA and PC-DOS 2.0. It may work on other IBM-PC lookalikes,
but other hardware/software combinations have not been tested.
OVERVIEW
DEFRAG was written to facilitate de-fragmenting PC-DOS diskettes. If you are
continuously modifying the files on a diskette it does not take long for the
files on the diskette to become `fragmented', i. e., the files will consist of
several groups of non-contiguous tracks and/or sectors. This `fragmentation'
of allocated space causes two problems: (1) Existing files take much longer to
load because of excessive disk drive head movement across multiple tracks, and
(2) New files get allocated in non-contiguous blocks because of `fragmented'
free space on the diskette. Thus, the fragmentation problem tends to become
self propogating.
The DOS Manual recommends using COPY *.* to copy all the files on a fragmented
diskette to a new one. Doing this will `collect' all the non-contiguous parts
of each file into one single block on the target (new) diskette. However,
COPY *.* copies the files in the order they appear in the source diskette
directory -- and this may not be the order you want them in. For instance,
it is best to have frequently used files first on the diskette so they can be
close to the diskette directory. This way disk arm movement is minimized when
these frequently used files are accessed.
DEFRAG overcomes this problem by providing the following capabilities:
1. Full screen display of all files in the directory sorted
alphabetically.
2. The ability to select, via the cursor control keys, any
or all of the files on the diskette in any order.
3. Automatic invocation of the DOS COPY utility to copy the
files in the order selected.
In addition, DEFRAG allows:
4. The ability to delete selected files.
5. The ability to invoke any DOS command without leaving
the program.
METHOD OF OPERATION
DEFRAG uses the SHELL command to read directories, sort their contents, copy
files, and invoke DOS commands. It uses Function Key interrupt processing
to read the various Function Keys and Cursor Control Keys. These are all
BASICA/DOS 2.0 capabilities.
When DEFRAG starts it requests input of three disk drive identifiers:
Work (RAM) drive: this is where DEFRAG will place the sorted
directory contents. If you have RAM drive
DEFRAG will copy COMMAND.COM and SORT.EXE
there; this greatly speeds up execution.
Source drive: this is the drive containing the diskette that
DEFRAG is to copy from. Nothing is written by
DEFRAG to this diskette. Files selected for
Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Drive - Rancho Palos Verdes CA - 90274
=== D E F R A G ===
deletion are deleted from the source disk, not
the target disk. Deletion normally takes place
after copying.
Target drive: this is the drive containing the diskette DEFRAG
is to copy to; i. e., files will be copied from
the source disk to the target disk.
The Function Keys are used as follows:
F1: select a file for copy or delete
F2: restart DEFRAG allowing new source/target disk specifications
F3: copy all selected files from source disk to target disk
F7: delete all selected files from source disk
F9: allow input of any DOS command, then perform it
F10: end DEFRAG and return to BASIC (not DOS)
Arrow (cursor control) keys: move cursor around display of files to allow
individual files to be selected by F1
RESTRICTIONS/LIMITATIONS
1. DEFRAG does not handle sub-directories.
2. DEFRAG assumes SORT.EXE and COMMAND.COM are on Drive a:
3. If you respond other than a: to the location of the work (RAM) drive,
DEFRAG copies SORT.EXE and COMMAND.COM there and then patches DOS to
use those files instead of the ones on drive a:. This occurs only if
the work (RAM) drive is specified as being different from drive a:.
Note that DEFRAG will reset DOS to use COMMAND.COM on drive a: when
it ends, and it will delete all files it created from the work (RAM)
drive. DEFRAG must be allowed to end normally, i. e., by F10, if this
`cleanup' is to occur.
4. F9 allows you to invoke any DOS command. This can be dangerous. You
cannot execute BASIC however, since only one copy of BASIC (actually
BASICA) can be functioning at one time. Remember that any DOS command
you invoke will end up returning to DEFRAG, not to DOS, so don't do
things like deleting DEFRAG's work or PIPE files.
5. DEFRAG resets all 10 function keys when it ends. These specifications
can be easily changed if you prefer different assignments.
COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS
Please direct comments and/or suggestions to the author via the U. S. Mail
or to the Compuserve user ID #72356,556.
Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Drive - Rancho Palos Verdes CA - 90274