Workbench Design/WB Collection.iso/workbench werkzeuge/dateimanager/mtool/docs/mtool_gb.guide

Amigaguide Document | 1996-04-07 | 38KB | 749 lines

@database "MultiTool II V2.1"
@node MAIN "Manual for MultiTool II V2.1
1993 by Boris Jakubaschk"
                                  MultiTool II
                                      V2.1
                                   05.02.1995
                              - Shareware Version -
                                     MANUAL
             INHALT:
             @{"    For you who never read manuals...              " link NoDocs}
             @{" 1. Introduction                                   " link Intro}
              @{"  1.1 Legal matters     " link Legal} @{"  1.2 Shareware         " link Share}
              @{"  1.3 Thanks            " link Thanks}
             @{" 2. Installation                                   " link Install}
             @{" 3. Preferences                                    " link Prefs}
              @{"  3.1 General           " link PR_general} @{"  3.2 Programs          " link PR_progs}
              @{"  3.3 Menu              " link PR_menu} @{"  3.4 Icon              " link PR_icon}
              @{"  3.5 Data types        " link PR_types} @{"  3.6 Device list       " link PR_devs}
              @{"  3.7 Action list       " link PR_action} @{"  3.8 Device modes      " link PR_devtype}
              @{"  3.9 Gadget array      " link PR_gadgets}
             @{" 4. Usage of MTool                                 " link Usage}
              @{"  4.1 Directory lists   " link US_dirs} @{"  4.2 Copy, Delete...   " link US_copy}
              @{"  4.3 Selections        " link US_select} @{"  4.4 Archive           " link US_archiv}
              @{"  4.5 Analyze / Action  " link US_analyze} @{"  4.6 Menu              " link US_menu}
              @{"  4.7 Icons             " link US_icon} @{"  4.8 Other features    " link US_rest}
@endnode
@node NoDocs "For you who never read manuals..."
... I will briefly address some important things.  Otherwise I must
answer the same questions again and again!
- MTool is shareware.  If you use it frequently, you should pay US$15
  for registration.  This will get you a keyfile which will remove all
cripplings in this, and all future versions, of MTool.
- You can give MTool to anyone you want if you don't ask money for it.
- The first line in every file list is displayed in bold because
  you can use the cursor keys to control the file lists.  The entry
  shown in bold is used as a cursor.
- The backtick ("`", below ESC) switches the devicelist gadget to an
  alternative list (configurable).
- Press Space to change the active file list.
- There are invisible Parent-gadgets at the left and right window
  borders.
- "Hide" in the Project menu closes the window of MTool.  It reopens
  by pressing the Hotkey Ctrl-Alt-"<".
If you didn't understand a single word of that, you should consider
reading the complete manual ;-)
@endnode
@node Intro "Introduction"
1. Introduction:
Welcome to MultiTool II V2.1!
MTool is a tool that will help you to manage your floppy and hard
disks: to install programs, to change the organization of your
data or to delete files.
Such programs are often called DOS or directory utilities.  They
all work the same way:  There are two listviews that each display
directory.  You can select files and subdirs in these lists and
perform actions on them through special gadgets: copy, delete,
view picture, etc.
MTool offers some extra features that make it different from
most other DOS utilities:
- The layout gives as much room as possible for the file lists.
- The action gadgets are between the file lists.  Compared to
  other programs, there are considerably fewer gadgets with
  considerably more complex functions.
- Another listview above the action gadgets can be toggled
  between different options lists.  This can be used to select
  your current
  device or to perform special user-difineable actions.
- I programmed to be conformant to the "user interface style
  guide".  MTool needs OS2.0 (V37.xx).  Newer OS versions are
  detected and used (i.e. localization with OS2.1, system busy
  pointer with OS3.0)
- With all of its complexity, MTool can be installed and set up
  very easily.  There's a prefs editor where you can define
  everything by mouse.
I hope MTool will be useful in helping you to manage your
                                            Boris Jakubaschk
@endnode
@node Legal "Legal matters"
1.1 Legal matters:
The author cannot be held liable for the suitability or accuracy of
this manual and/or the program it describes.  Any damage directly or
indirectly caused by the use or misuse of this manual and/or the
program it describes, is the sole responsibility of the user her-/
himself.
MultiTool II,
 Copyright 1994 Boris Jakubaschk. All rights reserved.
This program is SHAREWARE so if you use it frequently, you should pay
a registration fee of US$15 (See next chapter for details).  This
program may be freely distributed as long as all documentation and
executables remain unchanged and are included with the distribution.
Also no profit is to be made by selling this program.
You may however:
- Give MTool to your friends.
- Upload it to any mailbox or network where the users don't have to
  pay for downloads (FIDO, FTP).
- Include it with any non-commercial PD collection.
The following files should have come along with MTool:
MTool            - the program itself
MTool.info       - its icon
Prefs/MTool      - the preferences editor
Prefs/MTool.info - its icon
ENVARC/MTool/MTool.Prefs
                 - example prefs file
Catalogs/#?      - catalog files for different languages (OS2.1+)
MTool_x.guide    - this manual.  The "x" stands for the language
MTool_x.history  - history of MTool
MTool_x.desc     - short description for filelists in mailboxes
Localesource/#?  - Source of the locale files enabling you to make
                   your own catalogs
All files must be redistributed unchanged!
If you are able to translate the locale files for MTool to another
language, please do it and send me the result.  The locale source
can be found in "Localesource/...".  Please translate only the contents
of MTool_d.ct.  MTool.cd must remain unchanged.
MTool has been developed in a period of over one year and should no
longer contain any severe bugs.  Of course no big program is absolutely
bug free. I would appreciate being told of any bug you encounter. That's
the only way I can remove it!
Write to:                  Boris Jakubaschk
                           Klauprechtstra
                           76137 Karlsruhe
                           Germany
or send a mail:    E-mail  [e-mail]
                   Fido    Boris Jakubaschk, 2:246/1115.2
@endnode
@node Share "Shareware"
1.2 Shareware:
This version of MTool is crippled.  Its functionality is reduced
by "Please register"-requesters.  In addition, some new features are
visible but you can't use them:
- There's a requester at startup.  You must wait until the snail
  has crossed the window.
- Automatic icon creation disabled
- Action on files inside archives disabled
- Appwindow (moving icons to the mtool window) disabled
If you are a registered user I will send you a keyfile.  It will
remove all handicaps of the crippled version.  This keyfile
works with all future releases of MTool as well.
Please help me to continue the development of MTool by sending me
your registration fee.
The price is now $15.  No exceptions (Hm. If you're an unemployed
pupil with more than five children I could think about it...).
You can pay an equivalent price in other currencies.  When the money
arrives, the keyfile comes UUEncoded via e-mail, or I send you a disk
containing the keyfile.
I prefer getting the money in cash.  I know that there's a risk
sending money in letters, but it's the easiest way for me to get
DMs for it.  Eurocheques (in DM!) are welcome, too.  Other cheques
are very expensive to cash.
Send it to : Boris Jakubaschk, Im
schle 28, 78727 Oberndorf
             Germany
             (These registrations are processed by my sister. If you
             want to get a personal reply by me, send your registration
             to (becomes valid at March 1995):
             Boris Jakubaschk, Klauprechtstra
e 1, 76137 Karlsruhe)
Or to one of the following registration sites:
Australia  : Continental Drift BBS, Shareware Registration, PO BOX 259,
             Newport Beach NSW 2106.
             AUS $20
             See information file for details.
New Zealand: Peter Lowish, 10 Brunner St., Nelson.
             FidoNet  3:771/850.0
             Internet [e-mail]
             NZ $30
@endnode
@node Thanks "Thanks"
1.3 Thanks:
MTool has been developed with the help of many friends and other
people who sent me bug reports and suggestions.  Thank you!
Namely:
  - Those who translated the catalogs and/or the manual:
 Christopher J. Ellerbeck (English, V1.5)
 Arian T. Kulp (English, V2.0)
 Mikael Silfver (Swedish catalog)
 Johan Billing (Swedish manual, V2.1)
 Thorkild Stray (Norwegian)
 Adam Sj
gren (Dansk catalog)
 Volker A. Graf (Dansk manual, V2.1)
 Pascal Aubert (French catalog)
 Lionel Vintenat (French manual, V2.1)
 Marco Mellia (Italian)
 Vlado Saffa (Slovakian)
 Osma Ahvenlampi (Suomi)
 H. Huisman (Dutch manual)
 Rembrandt de Witt (Dutch catalog)
 Ali Kauffeld-Kars (Dutch, V2.1)
  - Andreas Baum for his MultiIndicator
  - Stefan Boberg for LHA
  - Matt Dillon for the C compiler DICE
  - Holger Trapp & Osma Ahvenlampi for their MagicWB icons for MTool
  - Klaas Hermanns for FileX
  - Stefan Becker for Toolmanager, and the permission to clone the
    user interface of his prefs editor
  - Jan van den Baard for GadToolsBox
  - Markus M
nig for solving many problems in the beginning.
  - Markus Nerding (MAXON) for sending me the RKRM Libraries
  - All betatesters and all who helped me with bug reports and sugges-
    tions. They have become too numerous to be mentioned here without
    forgetting someone...
  - All registered users: It is owing to you that I have continued
    with MTool despite of having very little time. The letters and
    mails from all over the world showed me, that every minute I
    spent working on MTool was worth it. Thank you very much!
@endnode
@node Install "Installation"
2. Installation:
In the standard distribution of MTool, you will find an installation
script for quick and easy installation of MTool on your system.
It needs the Commodore installer.  If you don't have it, or want
to install MTool manually, please follow these directions:
- Make a directory for the prefs files:
  MAKEDIR ENVARC:MTool
  If you have already registered MTool, you should copy your
  keyfile to this directory.
- Choose a directory for the main program or make one. Copy "MTool"
  and "MTool.info" into it.  If you prefer handling things by
  Workbench just move the MTool icon to the desired drawer.
- You can copy "MTPrefs" and "MTPrefs.info" to a directory in your
  system search path, i.e. SYS:Tools.  Alternatively you can copy
  these files to SYS:Prefs.  The names must be changed to "MTool"
  and "MTool.info" then.
  Workbench users just move the MTPrefs icon to the prefs drawer
  and rename it to "MTool" (select Icon/rename from menu).
- If you use OS2.1 or higher, you should copy the directory
  "catalogs" to "Locale:catalogs".  All texts will be displayed in
  your selected language then.
- The fonts, manuals, and catalog sources are not necessary for
  the function of MTool but probably useful.
- Now reset your Amiga or copy the contents of ENVARC:MTool to
  ENV:MTool.  Now you can start to set up MTool with MTPrefs.
@endnode
@node Prefs "Preferences"
3. Preferences:
You should do some basic adjustments before you use MTool for the
first time.  To do this, please start the program MTPrefs first.
A window shows up with a big listview in it.  Above the listview
there's a cycle gadget enabling you to choose what items are
shown in the list.  At first you should see "Miscellaneous."
This is what you need to start.
On the left you see some gadgets for manipulation of single
entries in the list.  They are disabled while you are working
on the "Miscellaneous" settings.
The three gadgets at the bottom of the window are used to leave
the program.  If you choose "Save", your settings are saved forever,
"Use" makes them valid until the next reset and "Cancel" will
leave the prefs editor without changing anything.
If you double click on an entry in the list or if you select it
and click on "Edit" then, another window will open.  It will ask
you for the appropriate settings.
@endnode
@node PR_general "Miscellaneous"
3.1 Miscellaneous:
Paths:
- LHA location  : Input the path and name of the program LHA in
                  your system.  If LHA is located in your systems
                  search path (i.e. in C:), "LHA" will be suf-
                  ficient here.  If you don't enter the LHA
                  location, MTool won't be able to handle
                  archives.
- Def. Path 1   : MTool can display two directories in its file
                  lists at startup.  You can define the directory
                  for the left file list here.
- Def. Path 2   : Same as above for the right file list.
- Drawer Icon   : Later in this document, we will discuss how
                  to generate icon objects.  Here you can
                  choose the icon object MTool will use for
                  drawers.  For now you can't define the
                  drawer icon because there is no icon
                  object defined.
Screen & Flags:
- Screen Type   : Choose if MTool will open its window on the
                  Workbench screen, on a Public Screen, or on
                  a new screen.
- Screen Name   : If the MTool window doesn't open on the Workbench,
                  you can enter the name of the screen it will create.
- Fullsize...   : If selected, MTool uses the full size of the
                  screen without sizing gadget.  This won't work
                  on the Workbench screen.
- AutoDir       : With AudoDir selected, MTool detects disk changes
                  and updates the file lists if necessary.
- Close = Hide  : Normally MTool quits if you close its window.
                  If you select this option, MTool will fall
                  asleep if you close the window (though it will stay
                  in memory.  It can be reopened by pressing its
                  hotkey (Ctrl-Alt-<).  The hotkey can be configured
                  through MTool's tooltypes.
- Length, ...   : This and all other gadgets are used to define
                  the options for copying, moving and deleting
                  files.  These gadgets are in the same order in the
                  copy requester of MTool.  They are described in more
                  detail in chapter 4 of this manual.
Screenmode:
A screenmode requester opens.  You can enter the resolution, number
of colours, and display mode for MTool if it is configured to open
its own screen.
Window Dimensions:
An empty window appears.  You can move or resize it any way you like.
When it's the way you like it, just close it.  From now on, MTool
will open its window in the same size and position
Gadget Font:
You can selct the font name and size that will be used for the
gadgets.
List Font:
Same as above for the listviews (non proportional fonts only).
If you were following the manual sequentially up to here, and you tried
each thing in the program, you should save your settings now ("Save")
and start MTool.  Its functions are described in @{"Chapter 4" link Usage}
of this manual.  The following sub chapters describe advanced
preferences.  These will not make sense until you have tried MTtool.
@endnode
@node PR_progs "Program"
3.2 Program:
If you cycle "Object Type" from "Miscellaneous" to "Program", you
will first recognize that the gadgets on the left are no longer
disabled.  You can use them to create new entries in the list, to
remove them, to move them up and down the list, or to copy them.
You can sort the complete list alphabetically.
Make a new entry by selecting "New".  Select the new entry and change
the name (i.e. to "Protection Bits") by typing the name in the string
gadget below the list view.
Now click on "Edit".  There's a requester with the object name in
the topmost string gadget.  You can change the object name with this.
The slider below the string gadget can be used to select all entries
of the list to change them:
Program    : Path and name of the program.
Parameters : Enter the arguments for the program here.  Fixed
             arguments (i.e. options) are written exactly like
             you would do in a Shell.  Changing arguments like
             file names or paths are replaced by a "%s" (incl.
             quotation marks).
Def.Parm. 1: Here you can determine what will be used to
             replace the first "%s" in the parameters string.
Def.Parm. 2: Same for the second "%s".
Def.Parm 3:  Same for the third "%s".
I know this method of defining program objects isn't easy to under-
stand.  Perhaps some examples will help:
1. Protection Bits:
Program    : C:Protect
Parameters : %s "%s"
Def.Parm. 1: Request
Def.Parm. 2: Source File Name
Def.Parm. 3: None
If this program object is called (how to do this will be described
later), there will be a requester asking you to enter an argument.
Your input will replace the first "%s" in the parameters string.
MTool will now create a command for every file in the active file
list.  It will replace the second "%s" with each of the selected
file names in turn.  If, for example, you have selected
the files "startup-sequence" and "user-startup" in your S: drawer,
then call this program object and type "+S" in the string
requester.  MTool will not create and execute the following
commands:
  C:Protect "S:user-startup" +S
  C:Protect "S:startup-sequence" +S
2. Editor:
Program    : SYS:XCli/EDC
Parameters : "%s" -Sticky
Def.Parm. 1: Source File Name
Def.Parm. 2: None
Def.Parm. 3: None
This example shows how to call CygnusEd from within MTool.  If you
leave out "-Sticky", you can use this kind of object for many
other programs, i.e. picture viewer, mod player, file monitors...
3. Copy:
Program    : C:Copy
Parameters : "%s" "%s"
Def.Parm. 1: Source File Name
Def.Parm. 2: Dest Path
Def.Parm. 3: None
This is an alternative to the "Copy" gadget of MTool.  There's not
much sense in this example, but it's a good example of the program
object concept of MTool.
@endnode
@node PR_menu "Menu"
3.3 Menu:
The layout of the requester is no big surprise.  There are only two
new gadgets:
Shortcut   : Key that will be used (together with right amiga) to
             call the program object defined below.
Program    : Program object called by this menu entry.
The object names are used as menu entries in the tools menu of
MTool.
Example:
Object Name: Copy Files
Shortcut   : Y
Program    : Copy
This creates a menu entry "Copy Files."  The shortcut is shown at
the right side of the menu entry.  If you select the menu entry,
the program object "Copy" is called.
@endnode
@node PR_icon "Icon"
3.4 Icon:
This only opens a file requestor.  From there select an icon file to be
used for the current name.
Example:
Object Name: Drawer
Icon File  : SYS:System.info
"System.info" is a drawer symbol.  You can use this object to
define an Icon for drawers (see miscellaneous->paths).
@endnode
@node PR_types "File Type"
3.5 File Type:
This is a very strong feature of MTool, so therefore a little bit
complicated.  You must tell MTool a way to identify different files.
Later, you can tell MTool what it should do with them.
The right "Recognition" gadget is used to select the scanning mode:
- Pattern     : The recognition string is used as a DOS pattern and
                compared with the file name of the file to test.
- ASC-Filter  : The recognition string is compared byte by byte against
                the beginning bytes of the file.  Question marks in the
                recognition string are wild cards.
- HEX-Filter  : Every two chars of the recognition string are used
                as a HEX byte and compared with one byte of the
                file.  You can use question marks as wild cards, too.
- ASCII Text  : MTool tests if the file is ASCII text.  The
                recognition string is not used here.
- Unknown File: The objects assigned to this entry are called only
                if no other file type matches.  The recognition
                string isn't used here, either.
There are three uses for the file type recognition:
- MTool can display the type of a file if you select "Analyze".
- MTool can execute an appropriate program object for a file if
  you double click it or select "Action".
- If you click on "Icon", MTool will create an icon for the file
  according to the file type.
So you can define a program object and a icon object for every
file type.
@endnode
@node PR_devs "Device List"
3.6 Device List:
You can define an alternative device list.  The object names are used
as list entries.  If you select an entry, the active file list will
show the directory that's entered in "Path Name".
@endnode
@node PR_action "Action List"
3.7 Action List:
The device list can be switched to an action list.  It works the same
way as the configurable device list: The object names show up in the
list view and one of the "Program" objects is executed when you
select its entry.
@endnode
@node PR_devtype "Device Modes"
3.8 Device Modes:
You can use this list for two different types of settings. First
you can remove device list entries using a DOS pattern. This can
be done seperately for devices, volumes and assigns. Perhaps it's
best to see this in two examples:
- Imagine, you'd like to want to see all device names (DF0:, DH0:,...)
  in the device list but no volume names. Just set the cycle gadget
  to "Volumes", set the pattern string to "#?" and switch on
  "Hide Object in Device List". The object name can be freely chosen.
- Imagine, you don't want to see the "Wordsworth:" assign in the
  device list. Pattern: "Wordsworth:", Cycle Gadget: "Assigns",
  "Hide Object in Device List". Done.
As a second function, you can switch off dir caching for some devices
that don't support it (see explanation in chapter 4.8.5). To figure
out, if a device supports dir caching, just copy a file (using MTool)
to a directory on this device. If the dir list isn't updated
automatically, dir caching must be disabled. I only know CrossDOS
where this applies. So I use it as an example:
- Set the pattern to "PC?:", the cycle gadget to "Device". Then switch
  on "Disable Caching". That's it.
@endnode
@node PR_gadgets "Gadget Array"
3.9 Gadget Array:
MTool is able to display an array of gadgets at the bottom of its
window. Using these gadgets, you can call actions the same way you
already know from the actions list. The preferences window looks
exactly the same as the action list window.
@endnode
@node Usage "Using MTool"
4. Using MTool
If you you have never worked with a directory utility like MTool,
I'll briefly describe the basics of such a program.
As a user of MTool you should be familiar with using the Workbench and
the shell.  Otherwise, you and your system will both be confused!
MTool provides the features and flexibility of the shell with the
comfort you know from using workbench.  You can perform all actions
by mouse: including copying, moving and deleting files, displaying
pictures, editing text, etc...
After you have started MTool you should see two big empty boxes.  They
will be used later to display file lists.  On top of each file list is
a string gadget where the name of the current directory is displayed.
You can activate this gadget by clicking in it with the mouse.  Then you
can type in a new directory path to be displayed.  Below
each file list is a small box containing further information about
the disk belonging to the directory.
In this box is the free space on the disk, and its status ("OK": All
right, "Prot.": write protected, "Vali": Disk is not validated,--No
writing allowed).
At the side of this box is a gadget with an "I" in it.  Clicking on it
makes a requester come up which shows more information about the disk:
the complete capacity, the name of the disk, and the size of the
selected files and directories.
 If you click into one of the file lists, the status line below it
will be highlighted and the other one appears darker.  In addition
the box around the list is bevelled inward.  This list is called the
active file list.  You can change the active file list also by pres-
sing the "SPACE" key.
@endnode
@node US_dirs "File Lists"
4.1 Operations with the File Lists
Between the two file lists is a column of different gadgets used to
perform the basic functions of the program.
On top of this column is the "Parent" gadget.  If you click on it,
the active file list change to the idrectory one level above--the
parent directory.  For example, if you were in the
"Workbench:devs/printers" directory and you click on "Parent",
MTool will load the directory "Workbench:devs" and displays its
contents.  You can reach this also by clicking on the outside border
of either listview, or by pressing the cursor left key.
The "P" in the Parent gadget is underlined.  This means that you
can also perform the action of this gadget by pressing the p key.
This is the same thing with all gadgets with underlined letters in
them.
Below the parent gadget, you will find a listview containing the names
of all devices, available disks, and the active "assignments".  The
list will be updated whenever you insert or remove a disk.
If you select an entry from this list, its directory will be displayed
in the active file list.
The device list can be used for two other purposes.  First, you can
define your own device list using the prefs editor.  Second, you can
define a list for extended actions.  The mode of the device list can
be changed with the gadget below the list view.  Its keyboard shortcut
is the backtick "`".
@endnode
@node US_Copy "Copy, Delete..."
4.2 Copy, Move, Delete, Rename and Makedir
The first three gadgets below the device list are the most important
to the structure of your disks and the data stored on them.
This is also where you delete any (or all) files.  Be careful!
Copy: All files and directories that are selected in the active
file list are copied to the directory of the inactive file list.  The
original data remains unchanged.  Directories are copied with all
their contents.
Move: does the same as Copy but with one big difference: Every
original file is deleted after it has been copied.  After moving the
selected files, the originals in the source directory are deleted.
Delete: Kills all selected files and directories (including their
contents) in the active directory.  Remember that this permanent!
If you accidently erase something, there are tools like DiskSalv2 and
FixDisk that can bring it back, but only if you have not written
anything to the disk afterwards.
Each of these three gadgets brings up a window.  It's used to control
the copying or deleting of the files.  If you are sure you want to
copy/delete all selected files, you can press the "Return" key.
MTool will copy/delete all files without giving you the chance to
abort it.
Otherwise you will be shown information about the actual file depending
ont what you tagged in the top half of the window: Date, size and
version.
You can also compare the file with a file of the same name that
already exists in the inactive directory.  Additionally you can
tell if you want to confirm every file, if all files should be
copied/deleted without asking or (in case of copy) if you want to
be asked about files that already exist in the destination drawer.
If you select "Change name" you will be asked for a new name for the
file if it already exists.
Rename: There's a window for every selected entry in the active file
list where you can change the name of the file or directory.  If you
want to abort this action for all selected files, click on the close
gadget of the rename window; "Cancel" skips only the current file.
"MakeDir" creates a new drawer in the active directory.  In the
window you should type in the name you choose.
The gadget "I" besides "MakeDir" serves the same purpose, but will
create an Icon for the new drawer.
@endnode
@node US_select "Selections"
4.3 Selections
The next two gadgets are used to select some of the entries in
the active file list.  "All" selects all entries, "Nothing" clears
all selections.
The small "?" gadgets at the right bring up a string requester where
you can type in an AmigaDOS pattern.  All files that fit with that
pattern are (un-)selected.
In your AmigaDOS manual you will find a good description on how to
use patterns.
As soon as you have selected some files in the actual file list
- without concern if this has been done by mouse or using one of
the above mentioned gadgets - the display of the free capacity
on the disk below the file list changes to a display of the
number of selected bytes. So you can see instantly, whether the
selcted files would fit on the destination disk or not.
@endnode
@node US_archiv "Archives"
4.4 Archives
Archives are files containing one or more files stored in a
compressed format.  They are used mostly for modem file transfers
as they transfer faster, and easier to manage (work with only one
file instead of dozens).
MTool is able to control all standard actions of the archiver "LHA."
LHA must be on your system and its path must be set up correctly
using MTPrefs.
4.4.1 Creating new archives:
If you want to create a new archive, you do the same as you would
to copy any files or directories.  Decide which ones you want in the
archive.  Then, instead of selecting "Copy," just select "Archive."
Then you will be asked a name for the new Archive.  Afterwards, all
selected files and directories of the active file list will be packed
into one archive that will be placed in the inactive file list.  The
original files will be unaffected.
4.4.2 Unpacking archives, deleting them partially, or adding files:
If you have an existing archive, you can double click its name
like the name of a directory.  MTool will then display the contents
of the archive as the active list.  Subdirectories are not shown as
subdirectories--all files are displayed with their complete path.
You can treat this list as any other file list: Copy, Move, Delete, etc.
MTool will refuse to show archive contents in both file lists, because
copying files from one archive to another would have been too
complicated as it's not directly supported by LHA.  To do this you
must unpack the files first (maybe to RAM:) and then pack them again.
Some actions can't be used with archives, so their gadgets become
ghosted as long as there is an archive displayed in the active file
list.
@endnode
@node US_analyze "Analyze and Action"
4.5 Analyze and Action
You can make MTool analyze the selected files (not directories) by
selecting the "Analyze" gadget.  The Analyze window shows the name
of the file and a list of information that MTool knows about this file
either based on your object definition, or from code which is internal
to MTool.
On the right side you can see and manipulate the protection flags of
the file.  The changes will only be written to the file if you don't
"Cancel" the window.
Action: tries to do something useful with the file.  Normally, a
program is started (i.e. a picture viewer).  There are two other ways
to perform an action specific to a filetype without using the analyze
window.  You can double click a file name in the file list or you can
click on the "action" gadget.  In the first case, action will be done
for the double clicked file only, in the other case all selected
files are affected.  At the moment, action works with ASCII-Texts and
LHA-Archives if MTool is set up correctly.  Other file types can be
defined using the prefs editor.
@endnode
@node US_menu "Menu"
4.6 Menu
There are two major functions in the menu.  You can call the prefs
editor to set up the screen mode and fonts for MTool according to
your needs, or you can include external programs to the "Tools"
menu.  This will be explained later.
In the "Project" menu you find entries to display some information
about MTool and to leave the program.  This can also be reached by
pressing "Amiga-q" or ESC.
"Hide" closes the window (and screen) of MTool.  To open it again,
you must restart MTool, press its hotkey (default: Ctrl Alt "<")
or use the commodities exchange program.
The "Preferences" menu is used to load prefs files, to call the
prefs editor, and to switch between two important modes:
"CustomScreen" changes between the Workbench screen and an custom
public screen.
"AutoDir" enables the updating of the Devices list when a disk is
inserted or removed.  The file lists will then be updated too (if
necessary).
As menitoned before, the "Tools" menu can contain additional programs
that you can set up with the prefs editor.
@endnode
@node US_icon "Icons"
4.7 Icons
MTool can create an icon for any file you choose.  For this to work,
you must have first defined the Filetype in prefs, then also have
defined an Icon attached to that Filetype.  To assign the icon,just
select the files, click on "Icon" and MTool will do the rest.
@endnode
@node US_rest "Other Features"
4.8 Other Features
4.8.1 Keyboard control
Sice version 1.3 of MTool, almost all functions can be called by the
keyboard.  Most important are the cursor keys.  They control the
active file list.  The list entry that is shown in bold letters
is used as a "cursor".  The key "cursor left" brings up the parent
directory, "cursor right" performs "Action" to the bold entry, meaning
if it's a directory, the files will be shown, if it's an archive,
the contents will be displayed.
This interface is consistent with the file requester MFR from Stefan
Stunz.
You can select entries by holding the SHIFT key while moving through
the file list.  Unselect is done by holding the ALT key.  You can
change the active file list by pressing the SPACE key, and "Return"
selects the string gadget above the active file list.
The control of the device list works almost the same.  "Del" switches
cursor control to the device list.  Up/down moves the cursor, left/
right loads the directory of the selected entry to the left/right
file list.  The different modes of the device list can be changed by
pressing "`" (backtick).
4.8.2 Commodity
Commodity support has been included in V1.5 of MTool.  This introduced
a new menu entry in the project menu: Hide.  If you select it, MTool
closes its window (if MTool runs on an own screen, it will be closed,
too).  It still remains in memory, though.  To reopen the window,
press the hotkey (Default: Ctrl Alt <), use Commodities Exchange,
or start it again.  The second MTool will wake up the first one
and exit quietly.  You will briefly need memory for two MTools.
You can change the hotkey by entering "CX_POPKEY=key combination" in
the tooltypes of MTool or by supplying it as a shell parameter.
"CX_POPUP=no" lets MTool keep its window closed after startup.  So
you can put it in your WBStartup drawer and it is ready to use with
a simple keystroke.
4.8.3 Appwindow
There is a very easy way to display directories if MTool runs on the
Workbench.  Just take an icon and drag it over one of the file list
views.  Its directory will be displayed and the file name of the icon
will be selected.  This also works if you select more than one icon.
4.8.4 AppIcon
As an AppWindow only works on the workbench screen, in MTool V2.1
there's an AppIcon appearing on the workbench screen immediately
after you have started the program. It serves two purposes. First
you can put icons on it to show their paths in the actual file
list, second you can double click on it and MTool will show up
it's window - independend from where it was before (covered by
other  windows, on another screen or hidden).
4.8.5 Directory Caching
MTool always buffers the last twenty directories. If you want to
display one of the buffered directories and if it hasn't changed
since it has been put into the buffer, it will be displayed
without any delay. This is especially useful when you are working
with floppies. You don't have to spend any thought to this feature,
everything works automatically.
4.8.6 Rescanning Directories manually
Normally MTool automatically detects if one of the displayed directories
is changed and rereads this directory. This doesn't work with some
filesystems. In this case, dir caching (see 4.8.5) must be disabled.
MTool won't detect changes in this directory, so you can rescan it
manually by clicking on the "!"-gadget besides the string gadget
displaying the path name.
4.8.7 Special Features
- Left and right besides the parent gadget you find two gadgets
  with ">" and "<" symbols. They are used to display the contents
  of one file list in the other, so both file lists show the
  same directory.
- The prefs editor opens its window on the same screen as MTool,
  if available.  Every change in the prefs is reflected by MTool--it
  adapts instantly.
- While waiting for your input, MTool checks for changes in the
  directories displayed in the file lists.  If anything does change,
  MTool reloads the lists to reflect that change.  This is done using
  "notify," and takes up no processor time.
- Directories are reread only if they actually have changed.
- You can change the settings of the copy requester during work.
  It will stop then and can be restarted using "Start".
- While renaming multiple files, you can abort by simply closing
  the string requester.
- Double bevelled gadgets can be operated by pressing "Return"
@endnode