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WinCat Disk Catalog
Version 2.2
Mai 20 , 1992
By
Mart Heubel
Heerlen, The Netherlands
INTRODUCTION
------------
WinCat is a tool that helps you organize your disks and enables you
to quickly find and restore the files they hide.
Although there are various disk catalog programs around, none of
them really suited my needs or taste. Therefore I decided to write
my own (always a guarantee for quality software !), and the result
of a few weeks fooling around with Visual Basic and assembler was WinCat.
Features of WinCat 2.2 :
- Easy to use
- Ability to restore files or extract archives.
WinCat interfaces to all DOS and Windows unarchive utilities
(like ARJ, LHA, PKUNZIP, WUNA, WINZIP etc.).
- Kingsize comment fields on both file- and volume-entries
- Supports sub-directories up to 3 levels deep
- Supports multiple diskdrives (3.5" and 5.25")
- Extensive file search capabilities
It's limitations :
- WinCat only works properly in Windows 386-Enhanced mode !
INSTALLING WINCAT
-----------------
WinCat was written in Microsoft Visual Basic. To run it, you must
have Microsoft's run-time module file, VBRUN100.DLL, installed in
your Windows directory. If you don't have a copy of this file :
you'll find it on all WINNET nodes and most other BBS systems.
You only need to download it once, since it works with all Visual
Basic .EXE files.
The WINCAT22.ARJ archive contains 9 files :
- WINCAT.EXE The WinCat program.
- WINCAT.INI WinCat settings & associations.
- WINCAT.CAT A sample catalog.
- WINCAT.DOC You're looking at it.
- WINCATDS.PIF PIF that WinCat uses to launch WINCATDS.
- WINCATDS.EXE The DirScan program that WinCat uses to
get directory information from a disk.
- WINCATRS.PIF PIF that WinCat uses to launch WINCATRS.BAT
- WINCATRS.BAT BAT that WinCat uses to execute unarchive
utilities (like ARJ, LHA, PKUNZIP and COPY).
- READ.ME For turbo-installers who never read DOC files.
To install WinCat, create subdirectory C:\WINDOWS\WINCAT on your
harddisk and extract WINCAT22.ARJ into that directory.
Move file WINCAT.INI to the \WINDOWS directory.
Edit WINCATRS.BAT and change the 'CD\SHEZ' statement to your directory
that contains the DOS un-archivers you use, like ARJ.EXE, LHA.EXE and
PKUNZIP.EXE .
If these files are accessable through your default PATH, or if you
prefer to include the path on the 'association' definitions, simply
this statement.
You can let WinCat's 'restore file' function call WUNA (a shareware
Windows UnArchive tool by James N. Hughes) to handle ZIP and ARJ files.
WinCat doesn't specify a path when calling WUNA.EXE, so make sure this
file is in your \WINDOWS directory.
You can download WUNA from any WINNET BBS.
WINCAT.CAT is a sample catalog you can use to see what you can (or can't)
do with WinCat. If you decide to use WinCat to catalog your disks, erase
the sample WINCAT.CAT. Next time you start WinCat a new (empty) catalog
will be created.
Now, all that's left to do is to add WINCAT.EXE to a Windows program group
and start WinCat by clicking it's icon.
(WINCATDS.EXE, the PIF and the BAT files are used only by WINCAT itself).
USING WINCAT
------------
WinCat has two main windows : the 'Volume List' window, which displays
all disks in the catalog, and the 'File List' window, which is used to
display selected files.
VOLUME LIST WINDOW
------------------
When you start WinCat you'll see the Volume List window : a scrollbox that
shows the disks in the catalog, and 7 buttons. The 5 leftmost buttons
(marked INFO, FILES, DIRECTORY, UNCATALOG and CHANGE ID) remain disabled
until you select a disk on the scrollbox.
Explanation of the buttons :
[ INFO ]
Displays the 'Volume Information' window, which shows :
- volume ID
- date the disk was cataloged
- free diskspace in bytes
- number of files on the disk
- disk type (physical size and capacity)
- drive ID
- whether or not this volume is excluded from search operations.
- any comment you entered
If you change the 'exclude from search' status or the comment field,
you must click [UPDATE] to change the record in the catalog.
The scrollbar at the left can be used to quickly scroll to other volumes.
[ FILES ]
Shows all files that are cataloged on the selected volume.
You can also do this by double-clicking a volume-entry.
See explanation of the 'File List' window below.
[ DIRECTORY ]
Displays the 'Directory List' window, which shows the directories
on the selected disk. This window also shows the number of files
and used diskspace per directory.
Select a directory and click [FILES] to see all files in it.
The same function can also be accomplished by double-clicking a
directory entry.
See also 'File List' window.
[ UNCATALOG ]
This function will delete the selected volume (and all files cataloged
on it) from the catalog.
Of course you'll receive the inevitable prompt 'are you sure ?'.
[ CHANGE ID ]
This function can be used to change the ID of a volume in the catalog.
The new ID you enter must be unique ; if there is already a volume
cataloged with the new ID, a messagebox appears prompting you to enter
a different ID.
[ SEARCH ]
Displays a window where you can specify the search criteria. You can
search on any combination of filename, extension, directory, comment,
creation date and size.
WinCat will compare the strings you enter with the corresponding fields
of all file-entries in the catalog.
So, if you specify ICO for filename and EDIT for comment, WinCat will
show all files that have the string ICO somewhere in the filename AND
that have the string EDIT somewhere in the comment field.
Use the 'Show' box to select which fields you want initially displayed
on the 'File List' window : the comment field or creation date, volume
and directory fields.
Use the 'Sort' box to select how the file list entries should be sorted :
filename/extension, extension/filename or volume/filename.
If you enable the 'search excluded disks too' checkbox, WinCat will search
for files on all volumes in the catalog, including those that are normally
excluded from search operations.
Clicking the [Clear] button clears all search-fields.
See also 'File List Window'.
[ CATALOG ]
This function will scan a disk and add it's volume- and file-information
to the catalog.
First insert a disk in a drive, then select the drive by clicking
the appropriate button.
WinCat then launches WINCATDS.EXE. This program scans the directory
of the disk. During the time WINCATDS is active, a DOS icon with the text
'Disk Scan' will be visible at the bottom of the screen.
When the DOS icon disappears, WinCat will display the 'Catalog Disk'
window, which shows the contents of the disk.
On the 'Catalog Disk' window you must enter a volume-ID for the disk
to be cataloged. This ID may be 1 to 11 characters long.
If the disk was labeled, the ID-field will show the label. You're free
to change it : WinCat doesn't require that disklabel and (external)
volume-ID are equal.
The ID you enter will only be used to identify the volume in the catalog ;
WinCat does NOT write the ID as a label on the disk.
When you click OK, WinCat will scan the catalog to see if the volume-ID
you entered is already in use.
If it isn't, the volume- and file-information will be added to the catalog.
If there IS a volume with the same ID in the catalog, WinCat compares the
information in the catalog with the actual contents of the disk and
shows a window which displays :
- files that are on the disk, but not yet cataloged
- files that are cataloged, but can't be found on the disk
- files on the disk that are newer than the ones cataloged
- files on the disk that are older than the ones cataloged
If you click the RECATALOG button, WinCat will delete the old volume
(and it's files) from the catalog and add the new volume- and file-
information to the catalog. Volume- and file-comments will be copied
from the old to the new volume- and file-records.
FILE LIST WINDOW
----------------
This window is used to display all files on a volume, files in a
particular directory or files that were found by the search function.
The 2 leftmost buttons (INFO and RESTORE) stay disabled until you
select a file from the list.
What the buttons are for :
[ INFO ]
Displays the 'File Information' window, which shows :
- filename
- ID of the disk the file is on
- file creation date
- file size in bytes
- directory the file is in
- any comment you entered
The comment field can be edited. If you do, you must click [UPDATE] to
change the record in the catalog.
The scrollbar at the left can be used to quickly scroll to other files.
[ RESTORE ]
This function can be used to restore files from floppy- to harddisk.
The 'Restore File' window shows at the top the command that WinCat will
execute if you click OK (you may edit this line).
The command that WinCat generates depends on the combination of
(filename-)extension, the selected option in the 'action'-box and
the selected target directory.
The 'action'-box has 5 options :
- Copy file to harddisk - Active for all files
- Call WUNA - Only active for ARJ and ZIP files
The following options are active only if there is an association
defined ( see Options menu : associate ) :
- Extract files from archive
- View contents of archive
- User defined function
If the generated command begins with 'DOS ' WinCat opens a DOS window
to execute the (DOS) command through WINCATRS.BAT, else it will be
launched as a Windows application.
[ ALT.DISPLAY ]
Clicking this button wil alternately display the files with their comment
field only, or with volume, creationdate and directory fields.
[ PRINT ]
Copies the contents of the 'File List' window to WINCAT.LST, and then
shows a message asking if you want to run NotePad to edit or print
this file (WINCAT.LST).
[ EXIT ]
Closes the 'File List' window.
FILE MENU
---------
- Statistics
Displays volume- and file-count, total free space on your disks,
and some catalog information.
- Save settings
Saves the following settings in WINCAT.INI :
- foreground and background color
- position and size of the 'Volume List' and 'File List' windows.
- Exit
Ends WinCat.
If catalog fragmentation has exceeded it's threshold, the 'Statistics'
window will be shown. You can then start catalog cleanup.
OPTIONS MENU
------------
- Colors...
Displays a window where you can set foreground and background colors.
- Associate...
Associations are used by the Restore File function to determine
which command to generate.
Main purpose in WinCat is to associate archive files (like ARJ)
with their unarchive utilities, but if you like you can use them
for lots of other purposes.
Unlike the Windows File Manager, where you can associate only one
application with an extension, WinCat lets you define up to three
different associations, which can be used to :
- extract files from an archive
- view the contents of an archive
- some other function defined by you
To define an association :
- Enter the filename-extension (e.g. ARJ)
If there is already one or more association defined, this will
be displayed.
A special case is extension '*'. Files for which no specific
associations are defined will be associated with the commands you
define for this 'wildcard' extension.
- Enter one or more commands, like :
DOS ARJ E < > (extract .ARJ files)
DOS C:\TOOLS\PKUNZIP.EXE < > (extract .ZIP files)
DOS PKUNZIP -v < (view contents of .ZIP files)
NOTEPAD < (edit .DOC files)
C:\WINDOWS\WRITE.EXE < (edit .WRI files)
The Restore function will replace the '<' with the name of the
selected file, and '>' with the selected target directory.
If a command start with 'DOS ' it will be executed as DOS command
in a DOS window, else it will be executed as a true Windows
application.
- Click the SAVE button.
This saves the association you defined in WINCAT.INI.
The sample WINCAT.INI comes with this set of associations :
[WINCAT]
Forecolor= 10
Backcolor= 8
EXTR_ARJ=DOS arj e < >
VIEW_ARJ=DOS arj v <
USER_ARJ=
EXTR_ZIP=DOS pkunzip < >
VIEW_ZIP=DOS pkunzip -v <
USER_ZIP=c:\windows\programs\winzip.exe <
EXTR_LZH=DOS lha e < >
VIEW_LZH=DOS lha v <
USER_LZH=c:\windows\programs\winzip.exe <
EXTR_DOC=
VIEW_DOC=
USER_DOC=notepad <
EXTR_LHA=DOS lha e < >
VIEW_LHA=DOS lha v <
USER_LHA=
EXTR_TXT=
VIEW_TXT=
USER_TXT=notepad <
EXTR_*=
VIEW_*=
USER_*=DOS copy < >*.*
PRINT MENU
----------
- Print
Makes a listing of all volumes and files in the catalog, and then
shows a message asking if you want to run NotePad to edit or print
this file (WINCAT.LST).
HELP MENU
---------
- Help
Shows WINCAT.DOC
- About WinCat
See for yourself...
HINTS AND TIPS
--------------
[1 - disk caching]
The SEARCH function of WinCat results in quite a bit of I/O on your
harddisk. Use a disk caching utility like SmartDrive or (even better)
HyperDisk, this will improve WinCat's (and any other application's)
performance considerably.
[2 - WinCat and Windows Standard or Real mode]
When you want to catalog a disk, WinCat launches WINCATDS.EXE to do a
directory scan of that disk (the 'Disk Scan' icon appears at the bottom
of the screen).
WinCat then waits until WINCATDS has finished (the icon disappears).
This works fine in 386-Enhanced (multitasking) mode, but if you run
Windows in Standard mode, you'll see that the 'Disk Scan' (DOS) icon
appears at the bottom of the screen and that it stays there forever.
Since WinCat is the foreground application, WINCATDS won't start until
you click it's DOS icon and select 'switch to'.
[3 - catalog reorganization]
When you delete or recatalog volumes, WinCat doesn't actually erase the
old records from the catalog : they are just marked as deleted.
To prevent your catalog becoming bigger and bigger (with a lot of junk in
it), WinCat checks the amount of fragmentation (junk) every time you end
WinCat. If there are more than 100 deleted records in the catalog, WinCat
will display the 'Reorganize Catalog' window, showing some statistics
and OK/Cancel buttons. If you click OK, WinCat will rename the catalog
to WINCAT.BCK, create a new catalog WINCAT.CAT and copy the old catalog
to the new catalog, leaving out all deleted records.
WINCAT 2.2 SUMMARY OF CHANGES
-----------------------------
* Menu
- 'Associate' selection added to 'Options'-menu.
- 'Save settings' selection added to 'File'-menu.
* Colors menu
- 'Save' button removed. Use 'Save settings' to save the current
color settings.
* Print Menu
- The listing of all volumes now also shows each volume's comment
field.
* Volume List and File List windows
- Can now be resized and moved. Use 'Save settings' to save their
current position and size.
- The Volume List window marks volumes that are excluded from search
operations with an 'X'.
* Volume Information window
- 'Exclude from search' checkbox added.
* Search Files window
- Now allows you to search for files that exceed a certain size,
and/or that are created before, on, or after the date you specify.
- 'Search excluded volumes too' checkbox added.
* Restore File window
- 'User defined function' added to 'action' box.
- The restore function now uses user-defined associations when generating
commands.
* Catalog Disk window
- The drop-down list with available drives has gone : now each drive
is represented by a button.
- When recatalogging a disk, a window is displayed which shows the
differences between the old catalog-information and the actual disk.
* Bugs fixed
- Instead of just dying, WinCat now issues a message when the 'Restore
File' window tries to run a non-existent windows application.
- WinCat showed a corrupted disklabel if that was 9 or more characters
long (between the 8th and 9th character a dot was inserted).
WINCATDS.EXE has been changed to fix this.
- Still problems with the combination WINCAT/WINCATDS.
The change I made in WinCat 2.1 (WinCat waiting on WINCATDS)
could cause problems when running Windows in Real or Standard mode.
Fix : WinCat now issues a 'retry / cancel' message if WINCATDS
doesn't respond after a reasonable amount of time.
I must admit that it's a bit clumsy that WinCat calls a DOS EXE
to scan the disk to be cataloged, but then, Visual Basic doesn't
provide the necessary functions to get all the information, so
you're forced to use external routines.
Putting these in a DLL library would solve all problems, and would
enable WinCat to work in Real or Standard mode too.
However, as far as I know you need the Windows System Development Kit
to create a DLL, and believe me SDK doesn't come cheap.
So, unless one of you folks lends a helping hand, we'll have to
keep on mudding...
WINCAT 2.1 SUMMARY OF CHANGES
-----------------------------
* Menu
- 'Options' menu added.
Fore- and background colors can now be changed using the 'Colors'
selection.
- 'File' menu.
'Statistics' selection added.
* Directory List window
- Now also shows the root directory (as [root]), and used diskspace and
number of files in each directory.
* Volume List window
- Double-clicking an entry shows the File List window.
* File List window
- Double-clicking an entry shows the Restore File window.
* Restore window
- Retains the selected target directory.
* General
- Code has been changed to make WinCat a bit faster.
* Bugs fixed
- WINCAT didn't catalog 'hidden' files (well, I guess that's why they
are called that way...).
WINCATDS.EXE has been changed to fix the problem.
- On slower (IBM ?) systems you could have the problem that WINCAT didn't
wait long enough on WINCATDS to finish. WINCAT has been tought to be a
bit more patient and to wait until his little slave has finished his job
or until hell freezes over, which ever comes first.
WINCAT 2.0 SUMMARY OF CHANGES
-----------------------------
* Search Criteria window
- Directory search-field added.
- 'Show' options added.
With these options you can select which fields initially should be
displayed on the 'File List' window.
- 'Sort' options added.
With these options you can select how to sort entries on the
'File List' window.
- [CE] button added.
Clicking this button wil clear all search fields.
* Volume List window
- [PRINT] button removed.
Use the PRINT menu option to print a listing of all files.
- [DIRECTORY] button added.
This function shows all (sub-)directories on the selected volume.
* File List window
- [Alt.Display] button added.
Clicking this button will alternately display comment field, or
volume, creationdate and directory fields.
* Restore File window
- 'Call WUNA' option added to 'action' box.
This option is only active for ARJ and ZIP files.
- 'Target Directory' list now reacts on single clicks.
* General
- WINCATDS.EXE now supports drives A-Z.
- The structure of WinCat's catalog has slightly changed.
If you start WinCat 2.0 with a version 1.0 catalog then WinCat
automaticly converts the old catalog to the new 2.0 format.
(The old catalog will be saved as WINCAT.BCK).
- Some minor cosmetic changes.
* Bugs fixed
- Edit-fields don't lose focus (cursor) anymore.
THINGS TO COME (sooner or, more likely, later)
----------------------------------------------
WinCat version 3, featuring :
- some way to import file-comments (from BBS ALLFILES listings ?)
- ability to merge or reshuffle disks
YOUR COMMENTS PLEASE
--------------------
If you discover serious bugs in WinCat, or if you have any "wouldn't it
be nice if WinCat ..." ideas, feel free to send me a note at one of
these bulletin boards :
- Cyberdyne Systems Leiden, node/id 2:512/1002 (R28 WINNET host)
- WildCat! Utrecht, node/id 2:500/222 (WINNET node)
DISTRIBUTION
------------
WinCat is a Freeware product and therefore may be freely copied and
distributed, as long as the following conditions are met :
[1] No fee is charged other than a normal time usage fee required
by some Bulletin Board Services.
[2] The program is distributed in its original, unmodified form.
[3] This document file is included with the executable file without
modification.
This program may not be bundled with, or transferred as part of, any
package which is sold or for which any licensing fee is charged.
DISCLAIMER
----------
No guarantee is made, expressed or implied, pertaining to the use,
misuse, or any problems caused by this program.
In no event will the author be liable for any damages whatsoever
arising out of the use or the inability to use this product.