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=== DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 +---------------------------------------------------------------------+ | +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DISKTRAK Version 7.40 | | | | | | | | | | | | A Utility for Managing Diskettes | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ | +---------------------------------------------------------------------+ Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 1 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 Table of Contents ----------------- Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Installation . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Conversion from Earlier Versions . 4 System Requirements, Compatibility, and Limitations . . . . . . . 5 Using the Menus and Windows . . . . 6 Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 ACTION -- View Data . . . . . . . . 7 ACTION -- Report to Print . . . . . 8 ACTION -- Report to Screen . . . . 8 ACTION -- Report to File . . . . . 8 ACTION -- Restore Files . . . . . . 9 ACTION -- DOS Shell . . . . . . . . 9 ACTION -- Exit . . . . . . . . . . 9 UPDATE -- Add/Update Disk(s) . . . 10 UPDATE -- Add/Edit Comment . . . . 10 UPDATE -- Delete Disk(s) . . . . . 11 UPDATE -- Delete File(s) . . . . . 12 UPDATE -- Label Disk . . . . . . . 13 SEARCH -- Filename . . . . . . . . 13 SEARCH -- Diskname . . . . . . . . 14 SEARCH -- Comment . . . . . . . . . 14 UTILITIES -- Compress Data . . . . 14 UTILITIES -- Expand Data . . . . . 14 UTILITIES -- Make a Database . . . 15 UTILITIES -- Switch Databases . . . 15 UTILITIES -- Sort by Disknames . . 16 UTILITIES -- Sort by Free Space . . 16 UTILITIES -- Show Free Space . . . 16 UTILITIES -- Convert to V7 Format . 16 CONFIGURATION -- Screen Colors . . 17 CONFIGURATION -- Background Char. . 17 CONFIGURATION -- Data Disk Drive . 17 CONFIGURATION -- ZIP Filenames . . 18 CONFIGURATION -- Print Lines/Page . 18 CONFIGURATION -- Report Type . . . 18 CONFIGURATION -- Config. Save . . . 19 Future Enhancements . . . . . . . . 19 The DISKTRAK Database . . . . . . . 19 Update Summary . . . . . . . . . . 21 Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 2 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 Introduction ------------ DISKTRAK was designed to provide a "quick and easy" method for keeping track of diskette files. DISKTRAK will allow you to easily create a database that contains a list of all your diskettes and the files and free space available on each one. Optionally, you can include a comment or description for each file on each diskette. Also, you can have DISKTRAK extract the names of files stored inside a "ZIP", "PAK", "ARC", and "LZH" archive file. Then, anytime you want to locate the disk containing a particular file, simply enter the filename into DISKTRAK and it will tell you the disk (or disks, if there are more than one) that holds the file you're looking for. If you don't know the complete name of the file, key in as much of it as you do know and DISKTRAK will search its database for all disks containing any file that has the partial name you entered embedded in it. DISKTRAK supports this same database search capability for disk names and file comments as well. DISKTRAK also has other useful disk and file related capabilities: it can label diskettes, delete and/or restore any set of files in its database, and produce 5 types of hard and/or soft copy reports of its database contents. Finally, DISKTRAK supports several "usability" functions such as screen color and background character customization, database maintenance, and DOS Shell functionality. Creating and maintaining the DISKTRAK database is easy. Simply "feed" your diskettes to DISKTRAK and it will read the directories and sub- directories on each one, extracting all filenames (including hidden and system files) and the amount of free space and then automatically update its database. If you add or delete files on a diskette, simply "re-feed" it into DISKTRAK; the database will be automatically updated. DISKTRAK is completely menu driven and was designed for easy, intuitive use. Hopefully you will find DISKTRAK not only easy to use, but also useful. DISKTRAK is being distributed as "shareware", meaning it is allowed to be freely copied and distributed, but if used on a regular basis, must be paid for. If you continue to use DISKTRAK you are obligated to send its registration fee ($15.00) to Peninsula Software. Doing so will allow Peninsula Software to continue further enhancements to DISKTRAK (many features in the current version were suggested by registered users) and to develop other low cost software products. The following sections describe how to install DISKTRAK and how to use DISKTRAK's menus and windows. After that is a description of each menu selection. Finally, there is a brief discussion of the DISKTRAK database and a summary of the changes made to DISKTRAK since version 4.5. Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 3 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 Installation ------------ DISKTRAK is very easy to install. Simply copy the files DISKTRAK.EXE and SAMPLE.DT7 to the disk and directory from which you wish to run. Then, make this directory the default directory and enter the command DISKTRAK. DISKTRAK will start; it will use the file SAMPLE.DT7 as a "demonstration" database. You can use this database to try out all of the DISKTRAK functions, including making updates and deletes, before you create your own database. Later, when you're familiar with how DISKTRAK works, create your own database, verify that it works O.K., and delete SAMPLE.DT7. (Note -- when you do this BE SURE to first create a DISKTRAK configuration file identifying your database as the one DISKTRAK should use. See the section "Config. Save" below for details on how to do this.) DISKTRAK was designed for a system with a hard disk. If you have a hard disk it is recommended that you put DISKTRAK.EXE and SAMPLE.DT7 in your "utility" subdirectory. Then, after making this the default directory, simply enter the command "DISKTRAK". If you do not have a hard disk you will need two diskette drives to use DISKTRAK. In this case you should put DISKTRAK.EXE and SAMPLE.DT7 on a diskette in Drive B: and make this the default drive. Do not put DISKTRAK in Drive A: because DISKTRAK assumes Drive A: will be used to read diskette files into its own database. (You can change this if you wish -- see the Configuration section below.) If you have a large enough RAMDISK you can copy the DISKTRAK database there and make it (the RAMDISK) the default directory. However, if you choose to do this, be certain to copy your RAMDISK database to a real disk after any DISKTRAK session in which you make database updates or changes. Conversion from Earlier Versions -------------------------------- Beginning with Version 7.00, DISKTRAK has been enhanced to include in its database the free space on each diskette that the program processes. The addition of the free space information necessitated a change to the internal format of the database. As a result, versions of DISKTRAK starting with 7.00 will NOT RUN using a database created by an earlier version of the program. Similarly, previous versions of the program will NOT RUN using a Version 7 database. To ease this transition, DISKTRAK versions starting with 7.00 use the extension ".DT7" for database names; earlier versions all used the extension ".DTK". Furthermore, version starting with 7.00 include a Convert function that makes it easy to convert old ".DTK" databases to ".DT7" ones. See the section called "Convert to V7 Format" below for details about the conversion process. If you are converting from a version prior to 7.00, note that after you have performed the Config. Save function, earlier versions of DISKTRAK will not work. To return to an earlier version, simply delete DISKTRAK.CFG. Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 4 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 (This is because DISKTRAK Version 7.00 or later creates the DISKTRAK.CFG file with the name of a <name>.DT7 database; these are unusable by earlier versions -- they can use only the <name>.DTK databases.) System Requirements, Compatibility, and Limitations --------------------------------------------------- DISKTRAK requires DOS 3.0 or higher. DOS 3.3 or 5.0 is recommended. DISKTRAK will not work properly with DOS versions prior to 3.0 because they do not support some of DISKTRAK's functions, such as disk labeling or DOS Shell. Several users of DOS 4.XX have reported problems seemingly related to that version of DOS. This version of DISKTRAK is incompatible with the database formats from versions 6.20 or earlier (smaller version numbers). These earlier versions created database with the extension ".DTK"; this version of DISKTRAK uses ".DT7" as its extension. To prevent compatibility problems, this version will not access databases created by earlier versions. You can use the "Convert to V7 Format" function to quickly (and safely) convert your ".DTK" databases to the new format. DISKTRAK is written using the Microsoft QuickBasic (r) compiler and there- fore must maintain all information being processed in conventional RAM memory. This places a limit on the maximum number of diskettes DISKTRAK can handle in any one database. (Actually, the limiting factor is the total number of filenames in the database.) Changes implemented in Version 6.20 significantly increased the size of the database DISKTRAK can handle. The three functions requiring the most RAM usage are the Report Type 3 function and the Restore or Delete Files function. The Report function requires less RAM than do the Restore or Delete functions, so if you have a large database (lots of file names), DISKTRAK may be unable to perform the Restore or Delete File function, but still be able to produce a Report Type 3. (Report Types other than 3 need much less RAM than Type 3.) Testing on a 640K DOS 3.3 system showed DISKTRAK exceeds available RAM capacity when attempting to Restore or Delete Files for a database having between 7500 and 8000 file names. However, it can easily handle the Report Type 3 function for that same size database. The upper limit for Report Type 3 appears to be in excess of 10,000 filenames. In any case, DISKTRAK checks for sufficient free memory and issues an error message if there is not enough to complete a selected function. If you receive these error messages you should split your diskettes up into two (or more) DISKTRAK databases. Finally, DISKTRAK is limited to not more than 30 different database files and a maximum of 900 files per diskette directory (not including filenames found inside ZIP files.) Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 5 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 Using the Menus and Windows --------------------------- DISKTRAK's menus and windows are all of the "point-and-shoot" variety. This means that you make the choice you want by first selecting it and then telling DISKTRAK to proceed. This is done in one of two ways: use the arrow and Home/End keys to move the highlighted menu selection bar to the desired option and then press "Enter", or simply type the single letter (upper or lower case are considered the same) in each selection's name that is highlighted. In this case the "Enter" key is not needed; the selection is made as soon as you type the highlighted letter. Some windows have no selections with highlighted letters. These are windows in which selections are to be made, but there is no way for DISKTRAK to be able to establish unique selection letters for highlighting, or they are windows in which multiple selections are to be made and it is not possible to guarantee unique selection letters. In these windows you select the desired item by using the arrow and Home/End keys to position the highlight bar, then press the "Enter" key to invoke the selected function using your selected item. When multiple selections are to be made (for instance, when selecting files to be restored) you position the highlight bar over an item to be selected and press the space bar. The selected item itself will be both highlighted and indicated by surrounding arrow points, and the highlight bar will move to the next item. You can de-select items by positioning the highlight bar over a previously selected item and pressing the space bar. When you are finished selecting and/or de-selecting items, press the "Enter" key to tell DISKTRAK to continue the selected function on all of the selected (and highlighted) items. In all of the menus and windows the "Home" key moves the selection bar to the first entry, and the "End" key moves it to the last entry. If there are more items than can be shown in the window at one time, use the "Page Up" and "Page Down" keys to scroll back/forward through the entire set of items. At any time the "Esc" key immediately exits the current window and returns you to the next higher window or menu without invoking any function. DISKTRAK will not let you make an invalid selection, and will query you for confirmation in those instances where a major change in your database will occur (like deleting disks.) Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 6 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 Main Menu --------- DISKTRAK's Main Menu command line is always displayed at the top of the screen, allowing you to select one of five possible options: ACTION, UPDATE, SEARCH, UTILITIES, and CONFIGURATION. The command line also displays a continuously running digital clock and the current version number of the DISKTRAK program. (If you have a question, problem, or suggestion about DISKTRAK, please be sure to mention the version number of the program you're working with.) The Main Menu screen also displays a window with information about the current DISKTRAK database. When DISKTRAK starts, ACTION is automatically selected by default. Each Main Menu option has several sub-options. You can view these by pressing "Enter" when the Main Menu appears, and then moving the Main Menu high- light left or right by using the arrow keys. DISKTRAK will not perform any sub-option until you specifically select one. Do this by (1) highlighting it by use of the up/down arrow keys and pressing "Enter", or (2) typing the highlighted letter (lower case is O.K.) in the desired sub-option. The following diagram shows the Main Menu command line and all sub-options: ACTION UPDATE SEARCH UTILITIES CONFIGURATION View Data Add/Update Disk Filename Compress Data Screen Colors Print Rpt Add/Edit Comment Diskname Expand Data Background Char Screen Rpt Delete Disk(s) Comment Make a Database Data Disk Drive File Rpt Delete File(s) Switch Database ZIP Filenames Restore Files Label Disk Sort by Disknames PrintLines/Page Exit Sort by Free Space Report Type Show Free Space Config. Save Convert to V7 Fmt. In addition to the Main Menu, the Main Menu screen has a window showing information about the current DISKTRAK database. This window is labeled "Database Data" and shows the name of the current Database, the maximum number of diskettes it can hold, the number of diskettes currently in it, the amount (in terms of overall percent) of free space in the database, the total size (in K-bytes) of the Database, and the diskette drive DISKTRAK will use for reading disks. The section headed DISKTRAK Database has more information about the database contents. ACTION -- View Data ------------------- Selecting this option causes DISKTRAK to display a window listing all of the disks in the current database. The disk window contains three columns of data: the disk name, the amount of free space it has (expressed as "K", where 1 K = 1024 bytes), and the number of files on the disk. To see the Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 7 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 names of the files on any particular disk, simply select the disk and DISKTRAK will display a second window containing the filenames for the selected disk. You can scroll through the filenames using the Up/Down, PgUp/PgDn, and Home/End keys. Filenames for which you have added comments have the symbol "<C>" after their names. (See the UPDATE Add/Edit Comments section for how to create comments.) Selecting a filename with a comment will cause its comment to display in a window at the bottom of the screen. Selecting a file with no comment has no effect. To erase the filename window and return to the Disks window, simply press "Esc." From there you can select another disk to examine, or press Esc to return to the main menu. ACTION -- Report to Print ------------------------- This option causes DISKTRAK to send its report directly to your printer. DISKTRAK can produce any of five types of reports (see CONFIGURATION -- Report Type option below for details) summarizing its database contents. When you make this selection, DISKTRAK will first show a message indicating how much data is being sorted, and then will display a message telling you the report is being printed. DISKTRAK returns to the main menu when the printout is finished. ACTION -- Report to Screen -------------------------- This option is like the previous one, except the report is presented on the screen instead of being printed. The report is formatted into screen images of 25 lines, so there will be more screen pages than printed pages. Pressing any key except ESCape will present the next page of the report on the screen. Pressing the ESCape key will abort the screen report and return you to the main menu screen. This option creates no printed or disk file output. ACTION -- Report to File ------------------------ This option "prints" the report to a disk file named DISKTRAK.RPT that is created in the default directory. The format of the report file is as specified in the CONFIGURATION -- Report Type option below. This option is provided to allow you to create the report output and view it with some utility text viewing program (or the DOS "TYPE" command), and then decide if you want to print it by copying the file DISKTRAK.RPT to a printer. This option creates no printer or screen output. Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 8 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 ACTION -- Restore Files ----------------------- This option allows you to select a set of files from the DISKTRAK database and have them copied from their respective diskettes to a hard disk directory you specify. This function is typically called "restoring". When you select this option, DISKTRAK first asks you to enter the full path name (such as C:\WORDPROC) specifying where it should restore files. DISKTRAK first verifies the path you entered exists, then displays a message telling you it is sorting all of the filenames in the current database and, when the sort is complete, opens a window showing a 3-column list of all filenames and the diskettes containing them. You are prompted to select files for restoring; do this by moving the highlight bar to the desired filename and pressing the space bar to select it. A selected file can be de-selected in the same way. When finished selecting files, press the Enter key. DISKTRAK will then ask you to insert the required diskette(s), copy the appropriate files to the path you specified, and return to the main menu with a message telling how many files were successfully restored. DISKTRAK displays a message identifying each filename and its target directory as it is copied. Note: Because DISKTRAK does not store directory (or subdirectory) information in its database it will be unable to restore files contained in diskette directories other than the root. DISKTRAK will indicate "File not found" in these cases. ACTION -- DOS Shell ------------------- Selecting this option causes DISKTRAK to start a "child" DOS shell. This means DISKTRAK will appear to end and return control to DOS. In fact, DISKTRAK is still active (in your computer's memory), but has invoked the DOS command processor allowing you to issue any command you would when running under DOS alone. From the DOS shell you can copy files, initialize disks, invoke other programs, etc. However, you MUST remember to return to DISKTRAK by entering the command "Exit" when you have finished with your DOS functions. Also, since DISKTRAK is still in memory when the DOS shell is active, you will have significantly less memory available for programs than when running DOS directly. Note: when in the DOS shell, do not move, rename, or otherwise disturb the DISKTRAK database or configuration file. Changes made to these files while in the DOS shell would be unknown to DISKTRAK, and unpredictable (probably bad) results would occur when DISKTRAK resumes. ACTION -- Exit -------------- Selecting this option ends DISKTRAK and returns you to DOS. As the closing Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 9 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 screen indicates, if you use DISKTRAK on a regular basis you are obligated to send the registration fee to Peninsula Software. UPDATE -- Add/Update Disk(s) ---------------------------- Selecting this option allows you to enter a diskette into the DISKTRAK database. The diskette you enter can be either a new diskette, i. e., one not currently in the database, or a re-entering (called a "refresh") of a diskette currently in the database. After selecting this option DISKTRAK will ask you to insert the diskette into the Data Disk Drive and press Enter when ready. DISKTRAK will then attempt to read the diskette's internal label (sometimes called the volume ID.) If there is no internal label, DISKTRAK will ask you to enter one. This label will be used by DISKTRAK to identify the diskette in its database and will also be automatically written onto the diskette. (See the UPDATE -- Label Disk section below for details on the labeling process.) DISKTRAK will then check to see if the diskette is already contained in the database. If not, DISKTRAK will read all the filenames on the disk (including hidden and system files and files in directories and/or subdirectories, if any) and enter them into the database. It also stores the amount of free space on the disk in the database. If you specified the "ZIP" option to be enabled, DISKTRAK will extract all filenames from inside archive files of type ZIP, PAK, ARC, or LZH. If the diskette is already in the DISKTRAK database you will be asked if you want to proceed and "refresh" the database information. Normally you will want to do this, because (presumably) you have added or deleted files from the diskette, and you want its current status reflected in the DISKTRAK database. However, if you have inadvertently created two different diskettes with the same name, you can abort the Add/Update function at this time, relabel the diskette, and proceed again. Note that DISKTRAK will process only normally formatted DOS diskettes. DISKTRAK will reject an unformatted diskette, or a diskette with a non- standard format, such as those created by some hard disk backup programs. Also, note that DISKTRAK stores in its database only the diskette name and filenames for each diskette. It does NOT store any directory (or subdirectory) names; it does store only the filename contained in these directories (or subdirectories.) Consequently, if a file is contained in a directory other than the root directory, DISKTRAK will identify it only as being on the diskette, and not in a particular directory or subdirectory. UPDATE -- Add/Edit Comment -------------------------- Use this option to enter a comment for a filename that does not yet have one, or to update an existing comment. Files with comments have the symbol "<C>" (without the quotes) following their names in the Files window. To add/update a comment, select the desired file in the Files window and press Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 10 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 "Enter". A window will appear at the bottom of the screen and query you to enter a new comment or update an existing one, depending on whether or not the selected file has the "<C>" symbol. New comments can be up to 63 characters long; to create one simply enter the text and press "Enter" when finished. After entering the comment the "<C>" symbol will appear after the file name and the filename highlight bar will move to the next file in the Files window. You can enter a comment for this file, or select a different one. When you have finished entering comments, press "Esc" and DISKTRAK will return you to the Disks selection window. Continue to select disks/files until all comments have been entered. Press "Esc" from the Disks window to return to the main menu. If the file you select already has a comment (i. e., the "<C>" symbol appears after its name in the Files window) you can edit the comment by simply pressing "Enter." DISKTRAK will display a window at the bottom of the screen and request you to edit the existing comment. You can use the "Ins" toggle, Backspace, Home, End, and arrow keys when editing a comment. Also, the Ctrl+arrow key combination moves the cursor one word left or right. If you select a file with a comment by mistake, pressing "Esc" at the comment edit window will return you to the Files window with no effect on the existing comment. UPDATE -- Delete Disk(s) ------------------------ This option is provided to allow you to delete one or more diskettes from the current database. You would want to do this if, for instance, you decided to re-use a diskette for a different purpose and had given it a new internal label and a new set of files. Note that if you keep the same internal diskette name (volume label) and merely replace all the files on it there is no need to delete the diskette name from DISKTRAK's database. Simply use the Add/Update function described above to "refresh" the DISKTRAK database with the diskette's current status. To delete a diskette first select this option; DISKTRAK will present a menu of all diskettes in the database. The select the diskette(s) you want to delete and press Enter. DISKTRAK will ask you if you really want to proceed. If yes, enter a "y" (without the quotes); any other character will abort the Delete a Disk function with no action taken. Note: To select diskette(s) to delete, use the arrow keys to position the highlight bar over the name of the diskette you want to delete. Then press the space bar. Doing this will highlight the name and move the highlight bar down to the next name. Continue selecting/ moving until all desired disks have been selected. If you make a mistakenly select a diskette you don't want to delete, move the highlight bar to the (now highlighted) diskette name and press the space bar; this will "un-selects" it. You can select and unselect as many times as necessary before pressing Enter. Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 11 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 UPDATE -- Delete File(s) ------------------------ This option allows you to physically delete one or more files from your diskettes. WARNING: THE SELECTED FILES WILL ACTUALLY BE DELETED FROM YOUR DISKETTES, NOT SIMPLY REMOVED FROM THE DISKTRAK DATABASE. This option was included to make it easy to "clean up" your diskettes; you can easily delete unwanted and/or duplicate files using this option. (You can also delete files you really want to keep if you are not careful!) When this option is selected DISKTRAK first displays a message indicating it is sorting all of the filenames in the database. It then displays a window containing list of all the filenames in the DISKTRAK database sorted alphabetically, along with the disk name containing each file. (The format is the same as the ACTION -- Restore Files option described above.) The list allows you to page through all the files in the database, and to select individual or groups of files for deleting by pressing the space bar after you have moved the highlight bar over the desired filename. (The selection and de-selection process is the same as that described in the above section.) Once you have selected all the files you want to delete, press "Enter." DISKTRAK will ask you to confirm the fact that you want to delete files. Pressing anything but "y" (or "Y") will return to the main menu with no action. If you confirm that you want to proceed, DISKTRAK will make an internal list of all the diskettes containing the selected files, sort the list alphabetically, and ask you to successively mount each diskette in the data drive. After verifying that the correct diskette is mounted, DISKTRAK will delete the selected files on that disk. (By sorting, DISKTRAK insures that each diskette will have to be mounted only once.) After deleting the selected files from the diskette, DISKTRAK will automatically update its database to reflect the deleted files, and then ask you for the next diskette. This process continues until you have mounted all needed diskettes, after which DISKTRAK returns to the main menu with a message indicating how many files (in total) were deleted and how many (if any) were not deleted. Undeleted files can result from the file not actually being on the diskette (it was deleted outside DISKTRAK after the diskette was added to the DISKTRAK database), being in a (sub)directory other than the root (DISKTRAK does not retain subdirectory data in its database), or the file was found on a disk that was write protected, and consequently could not be deleted. Note: this option can be used to simply view the sorted contents of the DISKTRAK database, and not actually delete any files. For instance, because it displays the entire DISKTRAK database sorted by filename, this option is very convenient for determining if you have duplicate files on your diskettes. You can then decide if you want to delete duplicate files, or, when asked to confirm the delete request, simply return to the main menu by replying "n" or hitting the Esc key. Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 12 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 UPDATE -- Label Disk -------------------- This option lets you label (or re-label) a diskette from within DISKTRAK, thus eliminating the need to shell to DOS and use the DOS LABEL command. When you select this option DISKTRAK will ask you to put a diskette in the data disk drive. It will then attempt to read the internal label from the disk. If there is no label DISKTRAK will so indicate and ask you to enter one. If there already is a label on the disk, DISKTRAK displays a message showing the current label and asks you if you want to re-label the disk. If so, enter the new label. When you have finished labeling disks simply hit the Esc key to return to the main menu bar. DISKTRAK will continue to ask for another disk to relabel until the Esc key is pressed; this makes it convenient to label numerous disks in one session. Note: DISKTRAK checks for a write protected disk prior to initiating the label operation. DISKTRAK will return to the main menu and display an error message if you attempt to label a write protected diskette. Also, DISKTRAK checks the label name you enter for valid characters and will reject a name that contains invalid characters. DISKTRAK displays an error message in this case. SEARCH -- Filename ------------------ This function is the primary reason DISKTRAK was written. It allows you to enter a filename (or part thereof) and have DISKTRAK search its entire database for all diskettes containing a file with that name (or partial name). Upper and lower case letters are considered the same for the search text. DISKTRAK will display a window showing all diskettes containg files whose names contain the search text. To see all of the files on any particular diskette, simply select it and DISKTRAK will display its filenames, with the highlight bar positioned over the first filename that matches your search criteria. If this filename has a comment, it will be displayed in the Comment window. Pressing either the Enter key or Space Bar will automatically move the highlight bar to the next filename that matches the search criteria. If this file has a comment, it will be automatically displayed in the Comment window. Repeatedly pressing either the Space Bar or Enter key will automatically cycle you through all the matching filenames (and comments, if existent.) Note that the search functions (Filename, Diskname, and Comment) employ literal searches based on the exact set of characters you enter. The special DOS wildcard characters * and ? are NOT recognized as wildcards, and consequently should not be used in the search string. Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 13 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 SEARCH -- Diskname ------------------ This function works just like Search -- Filename except DISKTRAK searches its database for the input diskette name (or part thereof). Use this function if you want to quickly browse the filenames of a series of diskettes having similar internal labels. SEARCH -- Comment ----------------- This function works just like Search -- Filename except DISKTRAK searches its database for a match between the input character string and a comment associated with a filename. Use this function to find files whose comments contain a particular character string. As with the Search -- Filename option above, after returning to the main menu screen, DISKTRAK will automatically select the next filename with a comment containing the searched for character string each time you press the Enter key or Space Bar. DISKTRAK displays the comment for each automatically selected file name in the Comment window. UTILITIES -- Compress Data -------------------------- Selecting this option causes DISKTRAK to remove all of the unused space from its database. To do this, DISKTRAK creates a new database for itself, copies all of the current database information to it, deletes the old one, and renames the new one to the same name as the old. When this operation finishes there will be 0% free space in the DISKTRAK database. Note: in order for this function to work there must be sufficient free space on the disk with the default directory to accommodate a second file equal in size to the current DISKTRAK database. UTILITIES -- Expand Data ------------------------ Select this option if you have to add more disks to your database than it was originally specified to hold. After choosing this option DISKTRAK will ask you for the number of diskettes in the expanded database. You should enter the new TOTAL number of diskettes desired, NOT the increase (delta) over the current number. After entering this new total, DISKTRAK will create a database capable of holding the specified number of disks, and will then copy all of the data in your current database to the newly expanded one. When this is complete, DISKTRAK will delete your current database and rename the new one to your "old" current database name. The new, expanded database will also be compressed, i. e., it will have 0% free space. Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 14 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 Note: since there is no way to reduce the size of a DISKTRAK database you should avoid specifying a total number of disks significantly larger than you are likely to need. You can always expand your database later. UTILITIES -- Make a Database ---------------------------- Use this option to create your own DISKTRAK database(s). You can have up to thirty DISKTRAK databases, but only one can be in use at a time. Multiple databases may be desired, for instance, if there are several people using your computer and each has his/her own set of diskettes. Or, you may have so many diskettes that you want to logically segregate them into groups. To create a DISKTRAK database, select this option and specify the name of the database and the number of diskettes you want it to hold. When specifying the database name, enter only the 1 to 8 character primary extension. (Because all DISKTRAK Databases must have a name of the form <name>.DT7, DISKTRAK will automatically add the extension ".DT7" to the name you enter.) After specifying the name, DISKTRAK will query you for the maximum number of disks the database should hold. Enter a reasonable number; you can always increase it later by use of the Expand function described above. The database created by this option will (obviously) be empty. Add diskettes to it by first selecting the new database for use by using the UTILITIES -- Switch Database function, and then invoking the UPDATE -- Add/Update Disk option. UTILITIES -- Switch Databases ----------------------------- This option allows you to select the database to use by presenting you with a menu showing all files in the current (default) directory having a name of the form <name>.DT7. All such files are assumed to be DISKTRAK databases. Selecting the file you want to use makes it the current DISKTRAK database. To make the current database the "default" for DISKTRAK to use when it starts, you must use the CONFIGURATION -- Config. Save function described below. Note: if there is a file in the default directory with a name of the form <name>.DT7 that is not a DISKTRAK database it will still be shown in the list of files for selection as a DISKTRAK database. If you select such a file for use by DISKTRAK, unpredictable (probably bad) results will occur. Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 15 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 UTILITIES -- Sort by Disknames ------------------------------ In general, DISKTRAK displays diskettes entered into its database in the order in which they are entered. The UTILITIES -- Sort by Disknames option lets you change the order of the display to alphabetical. New diskettes will continue to be added in the order entered, and will not be listed in alphabetical order unless you re-sort the entire list of names using this option. UTILITIES -- Sort by Free Space ------------------------------- This option is similar to the above one, except the list of disks is sorted by available free space. The disk with the most free space is listed first. Disks with unknown free space (showing "?K") are listed last; these are disks from a converted database that have not yet been entered into the database by this version of DISKTRAK. UTILITIES -- Show Free Space ----------------------------- This option shows you the amount of free space on a diskette. After selecting this option DISKTRAK will ask you to insert a diskette into the Data Disk Drive. After doing so, press Enter and DISKTRAK will read the label of the diskette, determine its total free space (in K bytes, where K = 1024) and display a message containing this information. DISKTRAK will then repeat this process until you press the Esc key to return to the main menu. UTILITIES -- Convert to V7 Format --------------------------------- This option converts DISKTRAK databases created by pre-Version 7.00 programs to the format required by Version 7.00. Selecting this option opens a window displaying all the <name>.DTK files in the current directory. These files are presumed to be databases created by earlier versions of DISKTRAK. Use the arrow keys to move the highlight cursor over a <name>.DTK file for conversion; after you press Enter (or the space bar) DISKTRAK will convert the selected file to the new database format. The resultant database will be named <name>.DT7 -- in other words, it will have the same name as the ".DTK" file you selected; only the extension will differ. After conversion is complete, use the Switch Database function to select and use your newly cinverted database. The original <name>.DTK file is left unchanged. After you have verified your new <name>.DT7 file works properly you can delete the old <name>.DTK file. You will see that each file's free space shows as "?K" immediately after conversion from a <name>.DTK database. This is because the free space information does not yet exist in the new database. To get accurate free Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 16 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 space you must re-enter ("refresh") each disk in the database. Doing this will retain any comments you may have entered previously. Note that disks with "?K" will end up at the end when you sort the disks by free space. CONFIGURATION -- Screen Colors ------------------------------ This option lets you set the colors for the various DISKTRAK menus. When you select this option DISKTRAK displays a "sample" screen on the right hand side of your display, with all colors set to their current values. A menu on the left lets you pick the particular set of colors to change. After selecting the set you wish to change, DISKTRAK will allow you to pick the background and foreground colors; as you pick them, the "sample" screen will be updated accordingly. To activate the setting you have currently picked, select the Quit to Main Menu option in the Selections menu. To retain the selected colors permanently, use the CONFIGURATION -- Config. Save option described below. (If you don't do this your newly selected colors will be in effect only for your current DISKTRAK session.) CONFIGURATION -- Background Char. --------------------------------- This option lets you specify one of thirteen different characters for DISKTRAK's main screen background. Selecting this option displays a menu showing a string of each of the possible characters. Selecting the desired character (by entering its corresponding menu selection character or using the arrow/enter keys) will immediately change the background character to the selected character. Instead of returning immediately to the main manu command line, DISKTRAK will keep the character selection menu active, thus making it easy to cycle through all of the possibilities. When you have decided which background character you want, use the Esc key to return to the main menu command line. Remember to use the Config. Save option to permanently retain your selected background character, or your newly selected character will only be used for your current DISKTRAK session. CONFIGURATION -- Data Disk Drive -------------------------------- This option allows you to specify the diskette drive DISKTRAK will use for reading diskettes. The default diskette drive is A:, but you can change it to any drive letter A: through P:. DISKTRAK will reject a drive "letter" that is not a character in the range A -- P. You can enter either an upper or lower case letter (no colon). Although not recommended, you can use this option to "point" DISKTRAK at a hard disk and then read all its filenames into the DISKTRAK database. Doing this may be interesting, but is of little value since DISKTRAK does not contain directory or subdirectory information in its database; it can Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 17 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 only tell you the filenames that are on the disk, not what directory they are in. CONFIGURATION -- ZIP Filenames ------------------------------ This option lets you specify whether or not DISKTRAK is to extract the names of files stored inside an archive file of type ZIP, ARC, PAK, or LZH. The default is NOT to do this. If you specify yes, DISKTRAK will add to its database, in addition to the base ZIP, ARC, PAK, or LZH archive file, all of the filenames contained inside it. Note that if you enable this function and then add to the DISKTRAK database one or more disks containing numerous archive files, the size of your database will get very large very quickly. When you select this option DISKTRAK will display a message indicating whether this option is currently enabled or disabled and will ask if you want to reverse this status. Enter a "y" if you do, or an "n" to retain the current status. DISKTRAK will display the new status in a message window when it returns to the main menu screen. Also, the current ZIP status is always displayed in the Configuration Data window. Entering "Esc" will return you to the main menu screen with no change in status. The "ZIP" status is saved in the DISKTRAK.CFG file, so if you want it always enabled, enable it and then perform the Config. Save function. CONFIGURATION -- Print Lines/Page --------------------------------- This option lets you specify the number of lines DISKTRAK will place on its output reports. These reports can be sent either directly to your printer or to a disk file: see the ACTION -- Report options above. Because of the title and page number lines DISKTRAK prints on each report page, the number of lines per page must be at least 7. The Print Lines/Page option has no effect on reports directed to the screen. You can retain the number you specify in the DISKTRAK.CFG configuration file by selecting the CONFIGURATION -- Config. Save option below. CONFIGURATION -- Report Type ---------------------------- DISKTRAK can create five types of reports that summarize the information in its database. Report type 1 lists all files in the database and the diskette name each file is on, sorted alphabetically by filename. Report type 2 contains the same information, but sorts it by diskette volume name. Report type 3 list every filename and its comment (if present); this report is sorted by filename. Report type 4 lists each disk and its free space, sorted by disk name. Report type 5 is like type 4, except the sort is by amount of free space. All reports except type 3 are formatted in 3 Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 18 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 columns, with 50 filename/diskname entries per column. Report type 3 lists one filename per line, followed by a line containing its comment, if there is one. Use the ACTION -- Report to Screen option to first see the reports, then either print them or direct them to disk. For reports destined to be printed, use the Print Line/Page option above to set the number of printlines you want printed per page. You can retain this number by selecting the CONFIGURATION -- Config. Save option below. CONFIGURATION -- Config. Save ----------------------------- This option creates (if it does not already exist) or updates (if it does exist) a file in the current default directory called DISKTRAK.CFG and writes into it all of the current DISKTRAK configuration parameters. These parameters include the current color specifications, the DISKTRAK database name, the main screen background character, the diskette drive to use when reading diskettes, the number of lines per report page, the desired report type, and the ZIP status (enabled or disabled). If there is no DISKTRAK.CFG file, DISKTRAK uses default values for the color settings and report parameters, assumes the database name is SAMPLE.DTK, uses diskette drive A:, and disables the ZIP function. Future Enhancements ------------------- Additional enhancements for DISKTRAK will be developed depending on the degree of interest and support received by the current version of DISKTRAK. Peninsula Software will seriously consider any enhancements suggested by registered users. For example, the report option was added as a result of a suggestion (and sample source code) from Joseph R. Nelis, Jr. (Thanks, Jody!) and the comments option resulted from a suggestion by L. P. Thomason. Microsoft has released a new version of the BASIC programming language that is capable of supporting Windows. With this new compiler, the next significant change for DISKTRAK will be to re-write it as a native Windows application. Consequently, only minor enhancements to the current DOS version, except for bug fixes, are planned. The DISKTRAK Database --------------------- DISKTRAK cannot operate without a database file. The distribution DISKTRAK files contain a "sample" database called SAMPLE.DT7; this database contains information from a small set of disks and includes comments containing helpful information about DISKTRAK's use. When DISKTRAK starts, it first checks to see if a configuration file exists. (See above section CONFIGURATION -- Config. Save for more information on creating the Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 19 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 configuration file.) If there is a configuration file, DISKTRAK attempts to use the database defined in it. If there is no configuration file, DISKTRAK attempts to use a database called SAMPLE.DT7. If it is unable to do this (file not found) it attempts to build an empty database called EMPTY.DT7 with space for 10 diskettes. If it is successful, DISKTRAK then starts using this empty database. If unable to create the "empty" EMPTY.DT7 file (probably caused by the default disk being full) DISKTRAK terminates, displaying a message that it was unable to create EMPTY.DT7. The DISKTRAK database will contain the names of all the diskettes you have entered, the amount of free space on each, all of the file names on all diskettes, and all of the comments you enter. There are pointers in the database that connect a diskette to its files, and files to their comments (if present). Finally, there are counters holding the total number of diskettes in the database, the number of "free" file names, and the number of "free" comment characters. "Free" filenames result from files being deleted from diskettes, or from diskettes being deleted from the database. "Free" comment bytes result from files with comments being deleted from the database, or by creating new (edited) comments that are longer than the original comment. The latter two numbers are what determine the "free space" in the data- base. Free space results from deleting a diskette from the database, or from "refreshing" a diskette already existing in the database. In either of these two cases, the filenames previously used are flagged as "free" and are no longer usable. (Comments are maintained intact, however, if the filename with the comment is still on the updated disk.) All updates and/or additions to the database are made at the end of the database. Consequently, as time goes on, unwanted "free space" will build up inside the database. This "free space" is reported on the DISKTRAK main menu in terms of a percentage of the size of the entire database. This "free space" is literally unusable, wasted space and should be eliminated when it becomes excessive. The "Compress Data" sub-option under the Main Menu Utilities selection will eliminate all "free space" from your database. See the section describing that option for more detail. Note that the DISKTRAK database does NOT contain any information about directories or subdirectories. Consequently, DISKTRAK cannot perform any functions dependent on the directory structure of a diskette. Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 20 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 Update Summary -------------- Version 5.00 ------------ Added the ability to control the number of lines printed on each report page, and changed the default number of print lines on reports from 61 to 60. (Thanks to Ronald C. Brazell, Jr. for these two suggestions.) Added the ability to create reports sorted by either file name or disk name. (Thanks to Kyle Rudden for suggesting these report options.) Also added the Report type 3 option which produces a report showing all filenames and their comments. Eliminated the "beep" when paging through screen reports of more than 12 pages. Added the report type and the number of lines per printed report page to the configuration data displayed on main screen and saved in DISKTRAK.CFG. Added a message displaying the current disk label when using the Label Disk function to relabel a disk having an existing label. (Thanks to Mahlon Huff for suggesting this one.) Added the ability to sort disk names so they appear alphabetically in the Disks window. (This capability was requested by several users.) Added several information messages that appear in the Message window as DISKTRAK is running. Increased the size of the windows displaying disknames and filenames for the Delete and Restore functions, and made the window highlight and selection colors consistent with other selection windows. Eliminated a program hang when attempting to label or delete files from a write protected diskette by checking for write protect and issuing an error message if encountering same. Version 5.10 ------------ Corrected a bug introduced in Version 5.00 that resulted in incorrect display of Delete Files window when Report Type was specified as 2 or 3. Version 6.00 ------------ Redesigned most windows and menus to incorporate a "3-D shadow" effect. Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 21 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 Also changed many window sizes and shapes to include more information. Added the capability to determine and display the total free space on any diskette. Enhanced the Search Filename option to automatically highlight the first filename matching the search criteria when viewing search results. DISKTRAK version 6.00 will also automatically highlight the next filename matching the search criteria after each press of the Enter key. (Thanks to Larry G. Crowell for suggesting this usability enhancement.) Added more informational messages throughout the program. Updated the System Requirements and Compatibility section of the documentation to include a paragraph on program limitations, and added other clarifying information throughout the documentation. To defray the cost of higher postage rates, disks, mailers, and the cost of new windowing and menu software (also Shareware), the program registration fee was raised from $10 to $15. Changed the routine used to accept user text input so it responds to Ctrl + arrow key commands to move one word left or right and to no longer ignore text to the right of the cursor when "Enter" is pressed. Added a continuously running digital clock to the main menu command line. Increased the number of filenames that can be extracted from archive files from 255 to 500, and removed the limitation of a maximum of a 600 filenames per diskette. (Thanks to Larry King for pointing out these program limitations.) Added the ability to ESCape back to the main menu when paging through a multi-page screen report. Enhanced the ZIP file function to include extracting file names stored in PAK, ARC, and LZH archives in addition to ZIP archives. (Thanks to Tom Hanlin III for writing the QuickBasic shareware library that provided this, and several other, capabilities for inclusion in DISKTRAK.) Added the Search -- Comment capability allowing database searches on comments as well as filenames and disknames. Several users requested this feature. As with the Search -- Filename function, DISKTRAK automatically selects the filenames who's comments contain character strings matching the search argument. Added checks for sufficient free memory (RAM) to complete data sorting operations. When insufficient memory is available to perform necessary sort operations, DISKTRAK will now beep, return to the main menu, and display an error message. Previous versions of DISKTRAK would terminate with error messages like "Subscript out of range..." or "Insufficient Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 22 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 memory..." when running out of RAM memory. Version 6.10 ------------ Corrected mis-spelling of the identifier "Files" in the window listing disk file names. ("Files" was spelled "Disks" in version 6.00. Dumb!!) Version 6.20 ------------ Added message "Searching for text `xxxx'...." when performing a search function. Changed the logic for the automatic display of filenames and comments after a search operation so the displayed comment always matches the filename highlighted in the "Files" window. Corrected an intermittent color selection menu display problem when changing colors for certain menu items. Added code to save the status of the ZIP file extraction option in the configuration file, so the status in effect when the Config. Save option is performed will return when the program is restarted. Also, added the ZIP status to the Configuration status window. Several users requested this enhancement. Corrected a bug introduced in Version 6.10 resulting in extracting only the first file name stored inside archive files when using the ZIP option. Changed the internal structure of the program to enable it to handle databases of significantly larger size. See the section "System Requirements, Compatibility, and Limitations" for more detail. Changed the titles on the color selection windows to indicate whether foreground or background colors are selected for change. Version 7.00 ------------ Added support for retaining diskette free space information in the DISKTRAK database. This required a change in the internal database format, so the CONVERT to V7 Format function was also added to the Utilities menu list. Report types 4 and 5 were added; these list disknames and free space sorted by diskname (report type 4) or by amount of free space (report type 5). Also, the size and format of the main screen windows were changed to accommodate the new free space information. (Thanks to Wayne Burns for Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 23 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 convincing me of the value of adding free space support.) Added the "Sort by Free Space" function to the Utilities menu that sorts diskette names by available free space. Because databases created by earlier versions of DISKTRAK will NOT work with Version 7.00, be sure to read the section in the documentation titled "Conversion from Prior Versions." The process is easy (and safe), but you should understand what you're doing before you do it. Corrected intermittent bug introduced into Version 6.20 that resulted in "Subscript out of range ..." error when using the Report to Screen function. Version 7.10 ------------ Corrected bug introduced into Version 7.00 that caused the Search Filename and Search Diskname functions to return with incorrect disk names identified. Thanks to Paul G. Allain for finding and reporting this problem. Version 7.20 ------------ Corrected bug introduced into Version 7.00 that caused the View Data function to abort the program when attempting to view a comment for a file name other than the first one listed in the Files window. Thanks to William S. Forschner for finding and reporting this problem. Changed the Search -- Filename and Search -- Comment functions to automatically display file comments instead of requiring a second press of the Space Bar or Enter key. Version 7.30 ------------ Corrected bug that prevented DISKTRAK from recognizing diskette files with certain combinations of read-only, archive, hidden, and system attributes. Thanks to Roger Bricker for identifying this obscure bug. Version 7.40 ------------ Corrected a very obscure bug that caused the Search functions to fail to list files matching the search criteria when the database contained some disks with no files on them. Thanks to Sverre Daehlen who reported this Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 24 === DISKTRAK === Version 7.40 bug all the way from Oslo, Norway. Added code to properly extract filenames stored inside ZIP files that were created using the "-P" option. This option causes the file's path to be stored in the ZIP file preceding the filename, and previous versions of DISKTRAK extracted only the first 12 characters of the name, which was incorrect if the name was preceded by a path. Thanks to Paul Randall for reporting this problem. Eliminated incompatibility with systems using monochrome video cards. DISKTRAK now operates properly on both monochrome and color systems. Corrected bug that caused EMPTY.DT7 to be created with space for zero diskettes instead of ten. Thanks to Paul Randall for reporting this problem (also). Corrected bug that allowed a space character to be used in diskette labels and database file names, which violates DOS standards. This bug was fixed once before, but it reappeared. Thanks to John W. Rich for reporting it (again.) Peninsula Software - 28510 Blythewood Dr. - Palos Verdes, CA - 90274 Page 25