Media Share 9/MEDIASHARE_09.ISO/private/mpc93mar.zip/BECKTOOL.DAT

Text File | 1993-02-14 | 16KB | 269 lines

     BeckerTools 4.0
     Review by Gary W. Wodka, Madison PC User's Group

     I had just received my newest  update to  BeckerTools:  Version 3.0.
     It  was  a  great improvement  over 2.0.  I had no sooner loaded the
     program,  when Abacus  (the publishers of BeckerTools)  sent  me  an
     invitation to be a beta-tester for version 4.0.  To get the right to
     test BeckerTools 4.0, I had to sign a statement promising not to let
     anyone  know  any of 4.0's  secrets,  or release any of its code.  I
     agreed,  and soon received a beta copy of what is sure to become the
     standard in utility packages for Windows 3.1!

     BeckerTools  4.0  (BT4) has added seven new applications to its file
     and  disk  management  utility.  It  has  also  improved many of the
     existing features. Before I go into the new  features and what makes
     this  program  "sing,"  I  gotta  tell  ya:  The  beta  version  was
     impressive and the finished product is as polished a utility program
     as I've seen!

     Combining  many of the features of the "other guys" (Norton Desktop,
     PC Tools, XTree Pro  Gold  and Windows File Manager),  BT4 takes the
     state of the art several steps further.  Its  ease of  installation,
     ease of use,  and depth of features make it the only Windows utility
     package you'll probably need.  You can throw out  the  Windows  File
     Manager (even with its vast improvements in version 3.1) and get rid
     of all those other add-ons you probably have cluttering up your hard
     disk.

     Setup of BT4 can be accomplished either from the DOS  prompt or from
     within  the  Windows  Program  Manager.  The  Install  menu has four
     selections  (only two of which will be  active  on a  single-user PC
     install).  For single-CPU installs, the  program will let you choose
     to install the files either in the Windows directory  (under its own
     subdirectories) or in a directory and drive unique to the BeckerTools
     program.  The  other two  choices are active if you are performing a
     network installation.  The  network  installation  is similar to the
     single-PC  install.  First,  BeckerTools  installs  on  the  network
     server, then on each of the individual network stations.

     The most daunting feature of BT4 is the plethora of icons. There are
     so  many,  it's  hard  to  know where to start.  Luckily, Abacus has
     taken the work out of it  (which means you won't have to spend hours
     reading the manual!) by  providing  a text box at the  bottom of the
     screen  which  will  tell you what an icon does as your mouse passes
     over it.

     The features of BT4 are broken down into six basic groups:  File and
     Directory  Management,  Diskette and Hard Drive Management,  Editors,
     Archiving Files and Directories, Data Security and Disk Optimization,
     and  Application  Management.  Within each of these broad categories
     are a number of "applets."  The manual  included with  BT4 describes
     each of these  groups in detail,  with plenty of screen shots so you
     won't get lost, and examples of how to perform various functions.

     File and Directory Management

     The  most  prominent  feature  of  BT4  is  its Shell, which can be
     configured  to  be  used  the  way  YOU want to use it, not the way
     Abacus  thinks  it  should  be used.  From within the Shell you can
     select specific drives,  directories and files.  The shell provides
     the  basic  format  of  the BT4 program.  Through the Shell you can
     select the display format (there are almost as many ways to display
     the  directories  as you probably have directories!),  choose which
     filters you'd like to use (all files, all directories, or individual
     files by pattern, date, attribute or specific filters), and perform
     all the functions of Windows' File Manager (such as copying, moving,
     deleting files),  but much easier using the i con tools provided by
     BT4.

     Applications  can  also  be started from within the Shell by simply
     double-clicking  on  the  desired  application  name or a file name
     associated with  the application.  The application  will be  loaded
     automatically.  I found it useful to copy the Shell program into my
     Windows StartUp Group, so it will be there when I need it.

     A powerful File Finder is included, which can search for text on the
     hard drive that contains specific contents, or for applications that
     are  buried in subdirectories on large hard drives.  Searches can be
     made  within  specific  directories,  drives, or all drives.  Global
     searches can be made, or you can search using models, user-defined
     groups, and text within files.

     It's  often  convenient  to  preview files before you merge, copy or
     delete them  from your disk.  The BeckerTools Viewer lets you easily
     view your files.  It will automatically  recognize the file type and
     select  the  proper  viewer  for  you.  In  addition to text and HEX
     viewers, graphics in the  BMP,  GIF,  IFF,  PCX,  TIF,  PIC  and LBM
     formats can also be readily viewed.

     The  associated Print Service function lets you print files in ASCII
     or  hexadecimal  format.  It can provide a quick printout of a file,
     especially useful for programmers since it can print files in either
     ASCII or hex. Multiple files can be printed from the Shell using the
     same format with the same header.

     Diskette and Hard Drive Management

     The  BT4  Disk  Utilities application contains utilities for working
     with hard drives and floppy diskettes.  (They  don't, however,  work
     with network drives -- to the delight of IS managers!)  The graphics
     for  this  section have been improved dramatically.  This segment of
     the program allows copying of disks with different formats, without
     doing  a file-by-file copy.  The program copies  only  those  tracks
     containing data.  As a  result,  relatively  empty  diskettes can be
     copied very quickly.  Another great feature is an option for copying
     defective  diskettes.  BT4  attempts  to  recover as many sectors of
     defective tracks as possible.

     In addition,  the Disk Utilities will: rename volume labels, display
     disk  information,  do  multitasking  disk  copying  (allows  you to
     perform other tasks while disks are copying --The program beeps when
     its time to change disks!), make multiple copies with a single pass,
     wipe  all  data  from  a diskette for security, make bootable system
     diskettes, and format diskettes in all DOS formats.

     The Disk Information application provides a graphical representation
     of  hard  drive  and  diskette  information.  A pie chart is used to
     display the memory allocation of a hard drive. Each directory can be
     thoroughly   examined.   This  application  has  its  own  icon  bar
     containing  important  functions  of  the  program, including memory
     allocation of drives,  subdirectories,  root  directories and parent
     directories.  Through  the  icons,  you  can print the contents of a
     current window.

     Editors

     The  BT4  Text Editor can be used for writing notes or editing files
     while working with other Windows applications. Files created in this
     application will be stored as  basic ASCII files,  which can then be
     easily  loaded  into  other word processing applications for further
     editing.  This  Text  Editor  is  not a full-featured word processor
     application, although it does possess many powerful editing features,
     including  Undo,  Cut,  Copy,  Paste,  Shift  Block  and  Delete. In
     addition,  many  of  the  search  features  mentioned above are also
     available through the Text Editor.

     The Hex Editor lets  you edit application files and other files that
     the Text Editor cannot access. It's a powerful application that lets
     you  load,  view,  edit and save any file on your disk.  This editor
     will  let  you  edit  actual  program code.  Of course, this type of
     editor comes with a price:  If you  don't know  exactly  what you're
     doing,  you will destroy data and applications.  In fact, the manual
     comes  with  a  bold,  highlighted  warning  label regarding the Hex
     Editor.

     The Disk Editor lets you load, view, edit and  save the  information
     found on DOS diskettes or hard drives.  It provides access  to  data
     that you  might not  have  with the other editor.  It should only be
     used  in  emergencies  when  all  other  methods of disk recovery or
     editing  have  failed.  This  editor, too,  comes with the notorious
     WARNING!!!  label.  If you're  not a programmer,  ignore the Hex and
     Disk editors!!

     BeckerTools  4  also  provides  an  Icon  Editor that can be used to
     modify  or  create  icons.  This  is  one editor you shouldn't avoid.

     Have some fun!

     Surprise your  friends and  relatives with a new  icon  added  to  a
     Windows  file.  At  first  glance,  the  Icon  Editor  looks  like a
     graphics  program, which, in effect, is  what it is!  This editor is
     one  of  the most complete icon editing  applications I've seen, bar
     none!  In addition to a full color  palette, there's a pen and brush
     drawing  tool,  fill,  airbrush and  line tools, rectangle, circles,
     and free drawing tools, and cut and  paste tools.  Go crazy!

     Archiving Files and Directories

     BT4 provides several applications  for dealing with disk information.
     The  first is a new and improved version of BeckerTools Backup.  This
     version  compresses  data  so there is a 30 to 60 percent increase in
     speed.  In  fact,  BeckerTools  Backup is the easiest program of this
     type  to use that I've found, including the PC Tools version!  Backup
     is  a  complete  and  easy-to-use utility for making backup copies of
     data on your hard drive.  You can easily back up your important files
     to  floppy  diskettes.  With  the  Restore  operation, information is
     quickly restored to your hard drive.

     The  Disk  Librarian  lets  you archive a single floppy diskette or a
     series of floppies to your hard drive.  It will compress all the data
     on  floppy  diskettes  into  a single file.  If you  have a series of
     diskettes  you  want to  duplicate,  this feature can save a bunch of
     time!

     BT4's  File  Compactor  simplifies file archiving.  An archive can be
     used as  easily  as a  drive.  With the File Compactor you can easily
     copy or move  files  into  an  archive,  while  still  retaining  the
     important  shell  function  of  deleting, renaming, etc.  The mouse's
     drag-and-drop  features  are used to copy files and directories.  The
     Compactor  automatically  compresses or decompresses files during the
     copying  process.  Using the Compactor, you can dramatically increase
     the amount  of hard disk space available.  You can choose to compress
     for best speed or highest density.

     BeckerTools  also i ncludes a File Extractor in version 4.0 to enable
     you  to  pass compacted files to another computer, even if that other
     computer doesn't have BT4. The extractor lets others access compacted
     files, and can be freely distributed.  It only unpacks files.

     Data Security and Disk Optimization

     The  major  features  from  BeckerTools  3 have been retained in this
     version,  including  Undelete  and  Recover.  Undelete  will  help to
     retrieve files accidentally deleted by locating  those sectors on the
     disk  which  haven't  already  been  written over.  Just like the DOS
     undelete,  the  first  letter  of  the  replaced file will have to be
     re-entered by you.  You can also re-edit partially overwritten files.

     Recover  finds  and  eliminates  errors  on  floppy diskettes or hard
     drives. Through Recover you can test the File Allocation Table (FAT),
     where errors are prone to occur.  Recover first tests the readability
     of the FAT and then checks for invalid entries.  It then corrects any
     errors.

     The  BeckerTools Disk Optimizer is an application used to analyze the
     storage  structure of a disk and reorganize the way files are stored.
     It will restore   your disk to the optimum condition for quick access
     to your files by reorganizing the physical location of files in order
     to  minimize the amount of movement needed by your drive's read/write
     head to access files.  I found  the BT4 Optimizer to be substantially
     faster than the PC Tools version, which has always  been  my personal
     favorite!

     Application Management

     Three  application  management  tools  have  been  included  in  this
     version: Launcher, Group Service and  Blackout!  The  Launcher allows
     quick access  to  a  list  of user-defined  programs  from within any
     Windows  application  without returning to the Program Manager or the
     BeckerTools Shell.  It is  accessed   through  the  Control  menu  of
     any  Windows  application.  Detouring  to  the Program Manager can be
     troublesome when  you  don't  have  enough  space on the screen.  And
     switching back and forth between windows is time consuming.  Launcher
     eliminates the need to do both.   Adding  programs  to  the  Launcher
     is  simply a matter of "drag and drop."

     Group Service makes it easy to create, remove or modify groups within
     the Program Manager. You can place several applications in a group at
     the same  time, and open associated programs and files with one click
     of your trusty mouse.

     Finally,  Blackout!  is  a  screen  saver utility for Windows.  While
     "screen burn-in"  isn't really a problem any more, screen savers can
     be fun!  Seven savers are included  with BT4: Aquarium (with editable
     creatures), Fireworks, Mathematica, Rockets, Billiards, Kaleidoscope,
     and Puzzle.  There's also a message  field which lets you add text to
     the display to let people know where you are, when you'll be back, or
     issue a warning not to touch your computer!

     Summary

     Is there anything missing?  About the only thing I could find missing
     is  a  virus  checker,  which  has  become  somewhat standard in full
     featured utility packages. Other than that, I can't think of a single
     thing  that  needs  to  be  added  (although I'm sure they're already
     working  on  Version  5  with  things  unimaginable!).   Some  of the
     utilities  included  are  beyond  my  ken  (such  as the hex and disk
     editors).  I  read  the  warning  labels  and  obeyed!  But if you're
     looking for a full-featured,  easy-to-use  program that does whatever
     needs to be done, BeckerTools 4 is sure to fill the bill.

     BeckerTools 4 retails for $129.95 and is a product of:
     Abacus
     5370 52nd Street SE
     Grand Rapids, MI 49512
     [phone]
     [phone] (fax)