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ZADDD Version 2.1 March 5, 1992 Copyright 1991, 1992 by Bruce Jaeger See REGISTRATION INFORMATION near end of document. ╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ BEFORE TRYING TO RUN ZADDD, BE SURE YOU EDIT THE ZADDD.CFG FILE ║ ║ TO MATCH YOUR SYSTEM! ║ ║ ║ ║ ALSO, ZADDD CANNOT READ THE FILENAMES INSIDE PKZIP, ARC, ARJ, ║ ║ LHA/LHARC, OR ZOO FILES UNLESS YOU HAVE THOSE PROGRAMS ON YOUR ║ ║ SYSTEM! ║ ║ ║ ║ HARD DRIVE REQUIRED FOR EFFICIENT USE. ZADDD OFTEN HAS SEVERAL ║ ║ FILES OPEN AT ONCE; YOU MAY HAVE TO INCREASE YOUR FILES= LINE ║ ║ IN YOUR CONFIG.SYS. ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ QUICK START: Use ZADDD to create one or more databases ("libraries") of the files on your floppy disks. ZADDD can then be used to find which floppy has a file, and can also copy the file or decompress the file from the floppy to another destination like your hard disk. Step 1. Create a directory for ZADDD, and copy the ZADDD files into it. Step 2. Using a text editor (or a word processor with the ASCII output option), edit the ZADDD.CFG file to match your system. Step 3. Make sure you're in the ZADDD directory, and type "ZADDD" to run the program. Step 4. If you don't want to use the default library name ZADDD.MAS, press "C" to get to the library screen, and create a new library with a name of your liking. (Multiple libraries are possible, and even desirable, according to your organization.) Step 5. Start indexing floppies! Press "I" to index disks, stick 'em in the drive, and fill out the label when asked. ZADDD is very fast on new disks, because it doesn't have to remove any old information. Step 6. Play with the search part of ZADDD. ABOUT ZADDD: ZADDD (short for the original silly title, "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dir") was written to help find particular files in a large floppy disk collection. Besides keeping track of "regular" file names on floppies, ZADDD will also break down the file names contained in ZIP, ARC, LHARC/LHA, ARJ, ZOO and Corel Draw!'s MOSAIC files. ZADDD will also index any DOS device (optical, tape, etc.) that acts like a disk (i.e., you can do a DIR from the command line without invoking a special program to access the device.) IN A NUTSHELL: ZADDD reads the directories on your floppy disks, and stores the filenames in ASCII library files. The filenames in compressed (ZIP, ARC, etc.) files are stored, too. For each floppy you archive, you type in that disk's label; this is how ZADDD will describe that disk from then on. (No cryptic volume numbers!) To find a file, use ZADDD's Search mode and enter some characters sure to be found in that file's name. ZADDD will search the selected library, and notify you of every filename that it finds those letters in, and the disk that file is on. If desired, you can enter two keywords, and ZADDD will only report "finds" that contain both keywords. ZADDD can also copy or automatically extract files from compressed archives. There are other features and options, but the above describes ZADDD's primary use. ZADDD DOESN'T: Make nifty disk labels in teeny-tiny type. Those tend to be pasted six deep on disks as they are updated, and can't be read all that well anyway! ZADDD's simple concept is to use your computer to tell you which disk your file is on. FILES INCLUDED: ZADDD.EXE The ZADDD program. ZADDD.CFG A configuration file; must be in same directory as ZADDD.EXE. Read and modify this file as necessary with your own text editor. ZADDD.DOC This text. ZADDD.ICO An icon for Windows users. (ZADDD is a DOS program.) Files created by ZADDD: *.MAS Disk library file(s), containing disk titles, subdirectories and filenames of all floppies archived. ZADDD.* Several temporary files are created by ZADDD as it pipes information from shelling out to the DOS prompt. These files are erased by ZADDD after it is finished with them. If they are left for any reason, they won't cause any trouble, and will be written over in the next session. ********************************************************************* INSTALLING ZADDD: Step 1. Create a directory for ZADDD. I suggest C:\ZADDD or D:\ZADDD or something similar. Copy all of the ZADDD files you've received into this directory. Step 2. Using the text editor of your choice, modify the file ZADDD.CFG to match your system. These are the items you may need to change: Store = C:\ZADDD (This is where ZADDD will save its *.MAS Library files and where ZADDD places its temporary files. Change if you like.) Library = ZADDD (This is the default library name that ZADDD will use when it loads. Replace the name if desired; if the library doesn't exist when ZADDD is first run, it will automatically be created in the directory specified by "store=" above.) Device1 = none (Device1, Device2 and Device3 can be used for "special" hard- ware devices that can be read by DOS; if you can do a DIR on the command line for that device, ZADDD can probably read and index it! Only one-letter disk- type names are allowed.) Hint: Play with SUBST! NickName1 = none (NickName1, NickName2 and NickName3 correspond to the Devices mentioned above, and are used to add more descriptive names to the one-letter Device names.) expand = true (NEW FOR 2.1 This sets ZADDD's Expand mode on startup. If expand = true, ZADDD will list the contents of all ZIP/ARC etc files when it archives a disk. If expand = false, it won't. You may also set this temporarily from within the program.) pkzip = pkzip (This is how YOUR SYSTEM would call the PKZIP program. Modify or add a pathname if necessary. Use pkzip = none if you do not have PKZIP on your system.) pkunzip = pkunzip (This is how YOUR SYSTEM would call the PKUNZIP program. Modify or add a pathname if necessary. Use pkunzip = none if you do not have PKUNZIP on your system.) arc = arc (This is how YOUR SYSTEM would call the ARC program. Modify or add a pathname if necessary. Use arc = none if you do not have ARC on your system.) lha = lha (This is how YOUR SYSTEM would call the LHA program. Modify or add a pathname if necessary. Use lha = none if you do not have LHA or LHARC on your system. Note that this program used to be called LHARC; if your program is LHARC, change this line to lha = lharc and it will work fine.) arj = arj (This is how YOUR SYSTEM would call the ARJ program. Modify or add a pathname if necessary. Use arj = none if you do not have ARJ.EXE on your system.) zoo = zoo (This is how YOUR SYSTEM would call the ZOO program. Modify or add a pathname if necessary. Use zoo = none if you do not have ZOO.EXE on your system.) Step 3. (Optional) Create a batch file ZADDD.BAT in your root directory that looks something like this: CD\ZADDD ZADDD CD\ The only point of this is to make sure that you're IN the same directory ZADDD.EXE is in when you execute the program, so that ZADDD can find its ZADDD.CFG file. ********************************************************************* RUNNING ZADDD Change to the directory you installed ZADDD in, and type ZADDD <Enter>. The main menu lists the current library, and gives you the following choices: I.....Index a disk S.....Search for a file C.....Change Library (or Create new one) B.....Bytes free display for this library D.....Directory of a disk (expanded or not, depending upon the Expand mode setting) A.....About ZADDD E.....Expand compressed files mode OFF (ON) Q.....Quit ZADDD "I" INDEX A DISK asks you for what drive the disk will be indexed from, asks for the LABEL of a disk (if it is a new addition to the archive), then reads the disk. LABEL: Type in all the information on your disk's label that will differentiate it from other disks you have. (If you have a lot of disks labeled "TEMP" add another name like "TEMP FRED" or "TEMP #47B" or "TEMP BOBO.") ZADDD will then write this name on your floppy in a file named {ZADDID}.!!! so that you won't have to re- enter the label the next time you index (update) this disk. Enter all the information in the box; press <Ctrl-Enter> to end the input and perform the READ step. READ: ZADDD then reads the floppy disk, and gets the names of all files in all subdirectories; it also breaks down ZIP, ARC, LHARC/LHA, ARJ, ZOO and MOSAIC files to get the filenames embedded in them. These files are then stored in the current .MAS library, under a heading that is the name of the floppy's label. When a disk is updated, old entries under that disk's label are first removed, then the new ones added. If you're updating a write-protected or jam-packed disk that doesn't have a {ZADDID}.!!! diskname file on it, you'll have to use a text editor to manually remove the outdated information from the .MAS library file. (The .MAS files are in easily-understandable ASCII format.) "S" SEARCH CURRENT LIBRARY will look through the current .MAS library for whatever key letters you type in. You then get a chance to scroll through the listing of "finds" and, if desired, save this listing to an ASCII file. KEY: Type as few letters as possible to get the maximum number of finds. If you're trying to remember what disk your picture of Arnold the Clown is on and don't remember the filename (ARNCLN.PCX? ARNOLD.PCX? CLWNARN.PCX) then enter ARN and press <ENTER>. You might get a lot of unrelated finds with the letters ARN in them, but you WILL find Arnold the Clown--that is, unless you named the file FUNNY.GIF! (DAMN these antique 8-letter IBM filenames! Commodore PETs were more advanced!) You can type in TWO keywords, separated by a comma. Then only filenames that contain BOTH keys will be listed. SCROLL: If your list of finds scrolls off the screen, you can use the arrow keys along with PgUp, PgDn, Home and End to search the listing. The up and down arrow keys move the highlight bar one line at a time; if you reach the bottom or top, the listing scrolls one line. PgUp and PgDn move a screen page at a time. Home goes to the beginning, and End goes to the end of the listing. The right and left cursor keys scroll the listing horizontally. (This is useful if you have long disk labels, or have used a text editor to add comments to your .MAS files.) FILE: If you've just done a search and want to save the listing, press F and enter a DOS-legal path and filename. ZADDD will then save the list of finds in the specified file. ENTER: If you move the highlighted bar over a disk name (printed in green) and press <ENTER>, you will get a listing of all the files on that disk, whether or not they match the KEY word. Again, you can save this as an ASCII file by pressing the "F" key. Press ESC to go back to the original list of "finds." "C" CHANGE OR CREATE LIBRARY gives you a chance to create new .MAS libraries to store your floppy indexes in, or change between existing libraries for searching or storing. Use the arrow keys to highlight your menu choice. CREATE: Enter an eight-letter or less filename. ZADDD will add the .MAS to the end. This file will be stored in the directory indicated by the Store= direction in the ZADDD.CFG file. Limit: 15 libraries. It's best to keep most files in one main library; after all, the purpose of indexing your disks is so you only have to look in one place when trying to find a file! Separate libraries might be for GIF-filled disks, business client's disks, etc. CHANGE: If you aren't creating a new library, use the arrow keys to highlight the library you wish to use, then press <ENTER>. "B" BYTES FREE DISPLAY FOR THIS LIBRARY. Searches the library, and prints the bytes free for each disk in the library. (Disks archived under ZADDD 2.0 or earlier won't have this information, and will have to be re-indexed if you want the bytes free information.) "D" DIRECTORY. Displays a directory of a device. All subdirectories are explored, and, if Expand Mode is ON, compressed files (ZIPs, ARCs, etc.) have their individual files listed. You can also copy or Expand files from this listing. "A" ABOUT ZADDD. Every program has some "About" advertising built in. So does ZADDD. "E" EXPAND COMPRESSED FILES MODE (OFF or ON). The default for this mode is set in the ZADDD.CFG file; here you can switch between off and on. When Expand Mode is OFF, "ZIPPED" files won't have their individual files broken out; this is faster, and takes less disk space for the libraries. When Expand Mode is ON, "ZIPPED" files will have their individual files broken out; while slower, you get more information about what files you have on disks. "Q" QUIT ZADDD makes use of tight, creative programming and exotic DOS calls to complete remove all traces of itself from your monitor screen, then take itself out of memory! ********************************************************************* Versions: Beta Worked, but difficult to set up on other systems because of oversights by the brain-cramped programmer. 1.0 Added multiple libraries, ZADDSRCH, and at least a reasonable chance that it would install and work. 1.1 Fixed error screen that worked but didn't bother to erase what was under it (hard to read!); eliminated (hopefully) need for error screen in the first place. Made certain new disknames got written to the correct libraries. Added Search for ALL, notes on where a "matched" file came from if it was in a compressed file, and Display Disk. ZADDSRCH also gets notes on where a "matched" file came from if it was in a compressed file. 1.2 (Never released) Adds support for ARJ and ZOO compression programs, fixed problem with directory names >8 characters long, added horizontal scrolling of "Finds" window, sorted Library names. 2.0 Improve input routine, general improvements, fixed problem with ZIP files containing "advertisements," cleaned up DOS error messages, stopped forcing you to use "ZADDD.MAS" as a library name, added default library spec in ZADDD.CFG, eliminated .DSK files, prettied-up missing disk errors, added simple directory command, Registered features Expanded DIR, Copy & Extract, and Multiple Keys. Added Devices 1, 2 and 3, eliminated 2000 files-per-floppy restriction (as that number can easily be exceeded on non-floppy devices.) 2.01 (Never released) Added ESC hatches for Index and Search for All, cleaned up "End of Search for" message, ensured all files closed before opening (rare), added override for extracting files from archived but not marked (full or write-protected) disks, sped up removal of old records on updating a disk, added bytes free information, fixed to work with 4DOS directories, added switchable Expand Mode. 2.1 All of 2.01, plus speeded up PKZIP file read about 80%, added Bytes Free display feature, eliminated 2.0's "d" directory (not necessary with switchable Expand mode), made "D" directory, Expand and all "crippled" features work on non-registered versions. Dropped windows ZADDSRCH because I never used it--too slow, run ZADDD in DOS window instead. Fixed embarrassing color bug on true monochrome systems (like, you couldn't see some of the text). Added debug output for tracking down problems that never seem to occur on MY systems. (If you're reading this deep, you must be a real computer nerd, right? To turn on the debugging log, at the main menu type "debug" while holding down the Control key. This will produce a log file called DEBUG.TXT, which among other things includes the commands ZADDD sends to DOS and your compression programs.) Speeded up whole-disk searches, made sure "Bytes Free" included the space used for the {ZADDID}.!!! file. ********************************************************************* * * * REGISTRATION INFORMATION * * * ********************************************************************* ZADDD is NOT Public Domain. It is copyrighted by me, Bruce Jaeger. If you like and use ZADDD, you are required to send $10.00 (CHEAP!) to me at the address below. This will keep me interested in coming out with improved versions. (Minnesota residents must add 6.5% sales tax.) Bruce Jaeger 5500 80th Avenue N. Brooklyn Park, MN 55443 U.S.A. At present there is no "nagging" in the program. If you register, you will receive the latest version of ZADDD, and a warm feeling in your heart from finally registering a shareware program. Since that warm feeling probably isn't enough, when you register you will also receive: PATRIOT A shoot-down-the-Scud game I wrote as Desert Shield was turning into Desert Storm. MURDER CRUISE A text murder mystery game. MOTHER-IN-LAW A computerized mother-in-law, based on the timeless ELIZA program. I can pretty much guarantee that all money received will be spent on more software and hardware, thereby helping the economy... Bruce Jaeger CompuServe 76217,1460 DISCLAIMER Bruce Jaeger disclaims all warranties as to this software, whether expressed or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of fitness for a particular purpose, functionality, data integrity or protection. ********************************************************************* TECH STUFF and COMMENTS: ZADDD keeps all of its disk file records in ASCII "library" files with the suffix .MAS (like "MAIN.MAS" or GIFS.MAS"). MAS stood for MASter file; the original versions only allowed one library, ZADDD.MAS, and now I'm stuck with .MAS for compatibility's sake. ZADDD does not have a print option to make a pretty book of your files, or to make labels with microscopic type for your floppies. (You can use your favorite word processor for that; just load the library as a text file.) My reasoning was why squint at boxes full of labels when your computer can do it? That ties in with my use of label names for disks. You can't count on volume numbers--and you can't read them with your eyes! And why write Disk Numbers on your disks when you've already got a perfectly good label for identification! The downside is that you have to remember not to call ALL of your disks "TEMP" or "JUNK," and that I have to write the disk's name on the floppy in the file {ZADDID}.!!!. Since the .MAS library files are never fully loaded into RAM, there shouldn't be any storage limitations. The maximum number of files and subdirectories (together, including exploded compressed listings) per floppy disk indexed is 1000. Large libraries take longer to search, of course, but the time difference isn't significant. This last is one of ZADDD's shortcomings. When dealing with a 400K file of disks, updates and searches can take what seems like a long time. (We've become so spoiled that anything that isn't instantaneous takes too long!) Loading the library into RAM would speed things up-- but would require RAM that not every user would have. A more sophisticated file structure would speed up searches, but would make the library files larger. The ASCII files are fast enough, and have one great advantage--you can edit them easily. If you've indexed a disk that won't be updated (perhaps an archive disk of some sort), then you can load the .MAS library file that it's contained in and add comments or keywords to the file names! No more forgetting what "REGREHQ.ADV" stands for! The SEARCH mechanism will then check your comments as well as the filename. I haven't added a comment feature to ZADDD yet because I can't think of a clean way to keep the comments when a disk is re-indexed. You can't go by filenames alone, as there may be several files of the same name in different directories. Using the new DeviceN = (Drive) devices, ZADDD can be made to read and index any hardware device that responds like a disk drive. If you have to load a special program (other than device drivers at boot-up), to access your device, ZADDD won't work. Generally, if you can do a DIR from the command line to your device and get back information that looks like a DOS directory, ZADDD will index that device. Testing this extensively would mean that I'd have to have all those neat worm, CD-rom, magneto-optical, tape and other whiz-bang pieces of hardware. I don't. (I'd appreciate comments on what does and doesn't work.) MAKING .MAS-COMPATIBLE FILES If you can get a directory out of your tape-drive software or other source, here's a way to make it compatible with the .MAS files used by ZADDD. Then you can still use ZADDD's search feature, although you won't be able to automatically extract the files. (For example, I have a large list of Commodore PET and C64 programs in a .MAS- compatible file that I use frequently.) Your library must be located in the same directory as the rest of the .MAS libraries, and must be a straight ASCII file. (No word processor formats!) The first line should read: ZADDD Disk Library YOUR_NAME_HERE. (Note that YOUR_NAME_HERE is the same as the filename, less the .MAS suffix.) The next line starts the library entries. Each disk starts with a label like: Disk Label: FINANCE < 3.5" > In the example above, FINANCE is the label name of the disk, and is exactly the same as the contents of the {ZADDID}.!!! file on that disk. You may wish to replace it with the directory or sector description of your tape drive, the tape name, etc. In the example above, the item inside of the < > tells both you and ZADDD the size of the disk. If you're extracting or copying files, ZADDD uses this information to tell you what drive to put the disk in. In this case, the information can be replaced by whatever descriptive text you consider appropriate. The next lines would all be filenames. Precede each filename by 5 spaces. If you break out compressed archive files, locate them beneath the main filename, and precede each with three periods: FAXES ZIP 54093 10-12-91 3:08p ...BIGCOMP.CDR ...BLIMPFAX.CDR ...BLUEFAX.CDR ...BOOFAX.CDR Look at an existing .MAS file for an example.