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******************************************************************** "D" - Directory, File, and Disk Information Tool Version 4.11 -------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTENTS: (1) Introduction (2) "D" versus "DIR" (3) Syntax (4) Imbedded pattern matching (5) Multiple searchname patterns (6) Model (7) Case (8) Fuzzy (9) Hidden (10) Color (11) Index (Sort) (12) Detail (13) Archive (14) Subdir (15) Skan (16) Bonus switches (stats, change, actual) (17) Miscellaneous "D" techniques (18) Versions ******************************************************************** (1) INTRODUCTION: This documentation is to supplement the on-line documentation in "D" that you may view any time by typing "D/HELP" or "D/?". "D"'s on- line documentation explains all features, and gives a few examples. This documentation avoids repeating information exactly as the HELP screen presents it. Your best success at using "D" will be achieved by reading both this documentation AND the on-line help. You may find some features are elaborated on a little more in this documentation since the on-line screens dictate a more brief pres- entation. Generally speaking, "D" is an enhanced alternative to the DIR com- mand. It is not limited by the current directory or by the usual limitations of DOS filename patterns. "D" displays the Directory entries first, then the Hidden files, and finally, the rest of the files. They are always sorted alphabetic- ally, and (if the Pretty switch is active) displayed in different colors based on the most common file extensions. When using either color option (Pretty or Color), the directory entries are displayed in Light Green; the Hidden files, which are also grouped together, are displayed in Light Magenta. You will see that some file entries have the letter "A" appended to them in Light Blue. This indicates that the archive bit is set. ******************************************************************** (2) "D" VERSUS "DIR": "D" is first and foremost a replacement for the DIR command. To be- come a skilled user of "D" you should first use it instead of DIR. You will see the same information, but it will be more organized, and more informative. Using "D" in this context will allow you to increase your level of information, and do so in a more space efficient way than DIR provides. To use "D" as a simple replacement for the DIR command just type "D" followed by the searchname: D AUTOEXEC.BAT instead of using DIR, as in: DIR AUTOEXEC.BAT "D" will accept the same search arguments as DIR does, but removes the limitations by alowing you to imbed one or more asterisks in the searchname and by allowing you to specify more than one searchname at a time. By default "D" looks only in the current directory just like DIR does, but the searching may be increased to the current and all sub- ordinate directories, or to the entire disk based on your choice in the form of a command line switch or an environmental variable. "D" will display any file or directory on your drive. Using the DIR command can cause you to overlook files and directories that you were unable to see. Hidden and archived files are easily recogniz- able with "D". ******************************************************************** (3) SYNTAX: D /switch(es) searchname(s) OR D searchname(s) /switch(es) The searchname is similar to the DOS standard filename with wildcard characters allowed. Imbedded pattern matching is supported, and multiple searchnames can be specified by connecting them with plus signs. Switch values are 1 character in length. The first switch must be preceded by a slash (/). If more than 1 switch is specified, the 2nd through last switches cannot have spaces between them. Switches can have the following values: Switch Valid Values (Just use capitilized letter of Value) ------- ----------------------------------------------------- model LMTF Large, [M]edium, Tiny, best Fit case UXW Upper, mi[X]ed, loWer fuzzy ZE fu[Z]zy, Exact hidden HR [H]idden, Regular only color PCB [P]retty, Color, Black&white index I+NESDX [IN]ame, IExtens'n IDate, ISize, IX(none) detail OG Omit files, Grand total only archive A Archive files only subdir SD Subdirectories, entire Disk skan K sKan target drive stats % display disk used/free as percentage (%) change * change to displayed directory (*) actual # display byte counts as actual bytes allocated (#) If you almost always specify a certain switch, you can save yourself some keystrokes by setting the environmental variable DSET equal to the value of the switch(es). For example, if you would prefer to see the filenames displayed in upper case, then at the DOS prompt, you would type: C:\> SET DSET=U The DSET values override the default values, and the command line values will override the DSET values. ******************************************************************** (4) IMBEDDED PATTERN MATCHING: If you don't quite remember the name of a file, but remember a frag- ment of it's name, you can use D's imbedded pattern searching logic to help you remember. Let's say you remember the file's name had the string "YES" in it, but you can't remember if the "YES" was in the beginning, middle, or the end of the file's name. Also, to make things more difficult, you can't remember which directory it's in. "D" will take care of you if you type: D/D *YES If the fuZzy switch is in effect, this will have the same effect as if you had typed D/D *YES*.*. Since the DIR command will only allow the "*" to be the last charac- ter in a file or extension name, this feature should be a welcome alternative. Important definition: "*" <---- The asterisk says "zero or more of any character." You can mix asterisk's and other characters freely, for example: D *U*O*X would find AUTOEXEC.BAT and UTOEXEC.BAT and AUTOEX.DAT Another definition: "?" <----- each question mark says "one of any character except when the "?" is at the end of the searchname in which case it means zero or one character to comply with the DOS standard". ******************************************************************** (5) MULTIPLE SEARCHNAME PATTERNS: "D" does not limit you to 1 SEARCHNAME! Let's say you just want to select the .BAT files and the .EXE files. Type: D *.BAT+*.EXE Use the plus sign (+) to connect the searchnames. If you want to find all of the HELP files on your drive, you could do 2 searches: D/D *H*LP D/D *.HLP But you'd find all of the same files by typing: D/D *H*LP+*.HLP Of course you don't need to use wildcards: D AUTOEXEC.BAT+CONFIG.SYS There would be no limit to the number of searchnames that you can connect, but the DOS command line is only "so long" (128 characters, or something like that). Do feel free to type as many names as you want to as long as there's room to type them! Limitation: Only the first SEARCHNAME can refer to a disk/directory path, the second through the Nth SEARCHNAMES are only examined for their FILE and EXTENSION values. In other words the target drive and/or directory is de- termined solely by examining the first SEARCHNAME. ******************************************************************** (6) MODEL: Use the model parameter to determine how much information you will see: L = Filename, Extension, Size, Date & Time, Attribute [M] = Filename, Extension, Size, Attribute T = Filename, Extension, Attribute F = Best Fit. The largest model that will fit all filenames on 1 screen will be chosen. If that is physically impossible, the Tiny model is chosen. ******************************************************************** (7) CASE: Determines whether the file information is displayed in UPPER, lower, or Mixed case: U = UPPER CASE [X] = Mixed Case L = lower case ******************************************************************** (8) FUZZY: Can be used to automatically make all searches look for whatever you type as your searchname PLUS anything else that starts with that pattern. When fuzziness is active, typing "D TEST" is the same as typing "D TEST*.*". Also, typing "D TEST.B" is the same as typing "D TEST.B*". If you'd prefer to be consistant with the DOS standard which doesn't append "*"'s, use the E switch. [F] = Fuzzy E = Exact ******************************************************************** (9) HIDDEN: The Hidden switch decides if you see the hidden/system files of not. This also means that the total files and bytes won't reflect the totals of the hidden/system files. Unless you specify the "O" or "G" parameter, only displayed files are totalled. [H] = Hidden and Regular R = Regular only ******************************************************************** (10) COLOR: The color option can be used to enhance the readability of the dis- play. If you have an LCD screen, use the "B" switch. Otherwise, you'll probably want to choose between "P" or "C". The "C" switch causes the display to be in plain color mode. The "P" switch will show the files in different colors based on the file extension. [P] = Pretty C = Color B = Black & White (LCD) ******************************************************************** (11) INDEX: This option allows you to view your file display in different orders which will be very useful depending on what your current focus is. This switch requires 2 characters. The first is the letter "I"; it is used to tell "D" that the next letter that follows will specify the sort order. Be sure to alway follow the "I" with a letter, if you don't, you will lose the effect of the switch that follows the letter "I". Also be aware that if you use DSET to override the nor- mal "IN" sort, and you want to cancel it using the negative switch method, the minus sign must follow the letter "I". For example, if you usually wanted to see the files sorted by extension, you could arrange that by setting DSET=IE. To use the negative switch method to override it, your command line would read: D/I-E searchname. It might be more straightforward to type it like: D/IN. [IN] = Sorted name/extension IE = Sorted extension/name IS = Sorted size/name ID = Sorted date/name (implies a model switch of "L" which you can over-ride) Undocumented feature (on-line, that is). If you want to see the directory entries in their "raw" state, I mean totally unsorted. Try the hitherto forbidden: IX = No sort whatsoever! ******************************************************************** (12) DETAIL: This option will eliminate the filenames from the display, giving you just the counts and totals. Using the "O" switch (omit files) is most useful if you are doing a subdirectory or full disk search, and want to see the totals by directory. To say "Omit files" is the same thing as saying "directory totals only." To just see a grand total, use the "G" switch; you won't see totals by directory, but you will get a count for number of directories in addition to file counts and byte quantities. If you are just focusing on 1 directory, there is no practical dif- ference between using "G" and "O". O = Omit Files (Directory Totals Only) G = Grand Total Only ******************************************************************** (13) ARCHIVE: When the "A" switch is used, only files with the archive bit set will be chosen. If you regularly clear your archive bits by backing up or some other method, this option will make it easy to track which files you've changed or added. If you want to look at all of the archived files on your disk, type "D/AD". If you just want to know the total of all archived files, type "D/ADG". A = Only find archived files Archived files are indicated by the letter "A" to the right of the archived file. ******************************************************************** (14) SUBDIR: Use the Subdir option to determine the scope of your searches rel- ative to the target directory. Using "S" will cause the search to execute for whatever the target directory is, and extends into any directorys subordinate to (beneath) it. If you want your searches to look over the entire disk, just use the "D" switch. These switches make it possible for you to find a file (or files) no matter where they exist. They also make totalling and listing much more flexible. S = Current and Subordinate Subdirectorys D = Entire Disk ******************************************************************** (15) SKAN: Yes, I know it's usually spelled differently, but the "C" switch was used up by the time I got to this one! Anyway, the skan option causes the file of directory names used by "D" to be updated or created. There is one file for each drive ever skanned except for A: and B:. The files have the .TRE extension, and are created and maintained in the same directory that contains "D.EXE". The files are used for Subdirectory or Full Disk searches. The first time you search a disk with the "S" or "D" option, the file for that drive is created. After that, you must remember to use this option whenever you add a new subdirectory. This might seem a little inconvenient, but saves you beaucoup time, especially when searching the entire disk. K = Skan the drive being searched to rebuild the directory table. ******************************************************************** (16) BONUS SWITCHES: Not much explanation needed for these simple purpose switches, but they sure do come in handy occasionally! Use "%" (stats) when you want to see the disk used and free quan- tities expressed as percentages on the bottom line instead of the default byte counts. The total quantity for the disk is still ex- pressed as a byte count. Use "*" to (change) to the most recently viewed directory after it has been displayed. The "#" (actual) switch causes the byte counts on the top line, and for each displayed file entry to reflect the actual number of bytes allocated for the file on the target drive. It is assumed that you understand that the smallest unit of allocation that DOS can use is a cluster. It then follows that all byte counts will be evenly div- isible by the cluster size of the target drive. % = display disk used/free as percentage * = change to displayed directory # = display byte counts as actual bytes allocated ******************************************************************** (17) MISCELLANEOUS "D" TECHNIQUES -------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have a filename on drive C:, and you want to go to the direc- tory where it is, just type: D/*D searchname.ext It doesn't matter which directory you're in, you will be taken to the directory where that file is. If more than one directory get's a "hit", each one will be displayed, and you can terminate "D" by hitting the Esc key when your chosen directory is displayed. -------------------------------------------------------------------- To get the size of the current directory in a 1 line display, just type: D/O To get the size of the current and all subdirectories, one line each directory, just type: D/OS To get the size of the current and all sub directories, one line for number of directories, files, and bytes, type: D/GS -------------------------------------------------------------------- To find all of the archived files on your drive, type: D/AD ******************************************************************** (18) "D" VERSIONS: 1.10 - The original shareware Version 1.11 - Colors added based on file extensions - ([P]retty Switch) 1.12 - Colors refined based on actual feedback 2.10 - Multiple Searchnames enabled 2.11 - Option to display byte counts as bytes allocated 3.01 - Performance related & Maint Mode is introduced 4.01 - Index added to sort filenames by Name, Size, or Extension also Maint Mode is improved with explicit prompt 4.02 - (T)ype function is added to Maint Mode 4.11 - (C)opy and (A)ttribute functions are added to Maint Mode ********************************************************************