This easy-to-use and fast application creates catalog files of CD-ROMs, hard disks, floppies, ZIPs and almost everything that turns. Using the powerful research function you are able to easily locate and display files or folders.
While reading this document please keep in mind that English is not my native language. Nevertheless I hope that the translation is acceptable.
The story
The whole thing started on one of those days that found me frantically searching my zillions of floppies and CD-ROMs for one particular file. Of course, I just found it on the last possible volume.
After this enlightening event I decided to search my huge software collection for a suitable cataloging tool. Most unfortunately, my search turned out empty.
Some of the tools I found required system extensions - which I do not like very much. One even created alias files of the contents of the CD-ROMs, a stupid behavior if you have some 1,000,000 files on several disks (the Mac OS does not like that!). Some programs were simply too slow or did puke at large CD-ROMs. Some expensive commercial applications were not native or would not run in the background. Most tools didn't even support drag&drop!
So I made up my mind and started my own little project. Since some of my friends were quite positive about my ideas, I decided to put the results into a shareware program called "CDFinder". The application should be easy to use, very fast, support drag&drop, work in the background and include powerful search tools.
And here it is!!
System requirements
CDFinder needs System 7.0 or newer and at least a 68020-CPU or a Power-Mac. Since it also uses Color QuickDraw, it can't run on any of the older Mac Plus, SE, Classic and the PowerBook 100. I did my tests on many different Power-Macs, native and using the 68k emulation. If you have drag&drop installed, the application uses it in some parts (see "Help").
Theory of operation
CDFinder displays every known catalog in it's main window. You can sort the content by name, size, or label. By changing the name of a catalog, you can influence the sort order for a given catalog (put a space in front of the name to let it appear right on top, if you sort by name).
Using drag&drop (if installed) or "Create Catalog…", you can create a new catalog of a volume. To create lots of catalogs at once, try using "Batch Create…", which will eject any volume afterwards.
To display the content of a catalog, simply double click it or select it and press "return". To obtain more information about any catalog or any object inside a catalog, simply use "Information".
But what is a bunch of catalogs without the ability to search them? Nothing! That's why you should take a very close look at the window "Find…". It will allow you to enter the type and content of information you look for, and also narrow the range by including only catalogs with a selected label to the search.
Performance
CDFinder is absolutely optimized for the PowerPC processor but runs very fast on the "older" Macs as well. Another positive aspect is the simple fact that you can move the program during time consuming processes into the background to work with other things.
However, CDFinder must handle a real big amount of data, just go and check the size of your catalog folder! A very simple way to improve the performance is to increase the memory partition of CDFinder. Please note that increasing the file system cache using the control panel "Memory" will have no valuable effect at all, on the contrary. CDFinder is using it's own sophisticated caching mechanism that simply knows more about the state and importance of the data than the file system.
Special things...
Since CDFinder is basically designed to handle huge amounts of huge CD-ROMs and other volumes whose contents will not change at all or only very seldom, the program does not check if anything changes on a volume while the catalog is being created. This can lead to some problems if the volume is in fact changed, which is quite likely to occur for file server volumes. In that case, the content of the catalog may not be identical to the content of the volume.
Due to the nature of the current MacOS file system, CDFinder cannot catalog more than 32,000 items inside a single folder. Since you theoretically could create such folders, any items after the first 32,000 will be ignored.
It is possible to change the name of a catalog by using the "Information" window. You can also add a comment, which is displayed (first line only) in the main window if you have chosen "View With Icons".
Limitations
The unregistered version of CDFinder will annoy you at every launch with a little dialog reminding you of the benefits of paying your shareware fee. The number of catalogs is also reduced to 15, which is enough to evaluate the application and its functions.
History
1.2.2 (February 28, 1997) BUGFIX!
- When launching without the extension "AppleScript" or "Finder Scripting Addition", CDFinder tries to display a dialog, explaining that some functions are not available. In version 1.2.1 however, the German version of this dialog was missing and thus freezing CDFinder. Thanks to Wolfgang Warmbold for the report!
- The display of labels in the main window and "View With Icons" was incorrect for catalog entries with a comment. Thanks to Holger Ruhnke for the report!
- It is now possible to select a catalog item by typing the first character of its name.
1.2.1 (February 14, 1997)
- The width of the main window is now also adjustable.
- Launching CDFinder is now much faster, especially if you use lots of catalogs. This is accomplished by a cache file found inside the preferences folder. Until now, CDFinder had to open each and every catalog file to obtain the neccessary header information. All these information is now stored inside the cache file when CDFinder quits. If the catalog folder is not changed by any other side, CDFinder uses the cache file to get the data much faster.
- Added a new file type "Archive" as a preparation for version 1.3 which will be able to look inside StuffIt archives.
- The new dialog "About CDFinder" presents a lot of interesting data about the program and the catalog files. Now you are finally able to see how many megabytes CDFinder searches for you! If you use Internet Config, you can now connect directly to the CDFinder Homepage or send me an email by a simple mouse click!
- The dialog to fill in the registration form has been improved. Not only does it look better now, it will fill in your name (set with the control panel "Sharing Setup") and your email address (if you use Internet Config!). To feed my curiosity, it will also print the machine type and the MacOS version you are using, if you allow it!
- The dialog "Please insert" is also improved. While you can finally see the label and the first line of a comment you might have added, there is also a new menu that lets you eject any currently mounted CDROMs or floppies or such. This new menu is also available for the "Batch catalog" dialog.
- You can now drop more than one volume at once into the main window and they will all be catalogged!
- A couple of smaller corrections and fixes, nothing serious though!
1.2 (December 20, 1996)
- To improve the integration of CDFinder into the Finder, you can now drag any catalog items of CDFinder windows into the Finder, thus copying them to the desired location. The same is true for any item of the found objects. If the source volume is not available, CDFinder first asks you to insert it.
- The catalog windows and the found items display now display labels for any items. You can simply set the labels by using the "Labels" menu. Since you now can also search for labels, this allows you to mark any items and makes it much easier to find those items.
- To allow the display of the labels, I had to increase the size of those windows. Since there are a lot of people out there who do not own a real large display, you can now reduce the width of catalog windows. Of course, the size of the windows is saved!
- The main window now contains a couple of buttons to allow you to engage some important actions by a single mouse click.
- The main window now displays the free space of the catalog volumes. You can even sort the display by that information. This often requested feature allows you to keep track of the free space of any writeable disk.
- Some minor corrections and optical improvements.
1.1.1 (November 1, 1996)
- The number of currently known catalog files is displayed in the main window, as well as the number of objects in every catalog window.
- The header of the window containing the found objects is now the same as the header of the catalog windows.
- If AppleScripts is available, catalog files will be moved into the trash instead of being deleted immediately, if you press the "delete" button.
- By typing the first character, you can select an object in the main window as well as in the found items window.
- It is possible to update catalog files. You can use the menu command found in the "File" menu, but you will also be asked if you want to update a catalog, if you try to catalog a volume that is already known to the programm, but that has a different modification date. Please note that the Mac OS does not update the modification date of a volume immediately.
- You can drag a catalog directly into the trash to delete it (if drag&drop and AppleScript is installed).
- You can set the folder where CDFInder is keeping its catalog files by using drag&drop as well. (to be found in the preferences dialog!)
- Some minor bugs and improvements.
1.1 (Sept 29, 1996)
- First bilingual version
I will release the next major version 1.3 hopefully in April '97 with the following planned improvements:
- You will be able to catalog items inside StuffIt archives
- You can search the found items
- The display of catalogs will be improved by optionally using their own icons, if available
The most actual version is available in the Info-Mac archives and on the CDFinder-Hompeage at:
If you use Internet Config, you can also open the "About CDFinder…" dialog and simply click inside the http address!
Legal stuff
CDFinder is shareware.
The application "CDFinder" and all included materials are protected by copyright law. You may not disassemble it or modify it with similar tools.
You may copy the program together with all additional documents as often as you want, as long as you don't modify any part of it! You may not sell it or use it commercially in any other way without my written consent.
If you want to distribute CDFinder on a shareware collection CD-ROM or anything like that, you have to inform me with an e-mail or a written letter. I'd also like to have a copy of the CD-ROM, if possible...
For a trial period of 30 days you may freely use the program. After that, you need to register it.
In absolute no way am I responsible for any damage occurring by the use of the software.
Registration
CDFinder is shareware. For private use, the fee is 20 DM (or US$ 15, or 10 £ (British pound)).
For additional 5 DM (or US$ 5, or 2 £ (British pound) I send you a floppy disk containing the most recent version of the program (by airmail, if possible).
Multi user licenses and site licenses for companies are available. Please contact me.
You can pay cash by simply adding the money to your registration form. This works quite well if the envelope is made of thick paper.
You can also transfer the payment directly to my bank account.
My account number:
101 8715 10 (Norbert M. Doerner)
at:
Raiffeisenbank Aschaffenburg eG
Glattbacher Ueberfahrt 18
63741 Aschaffenburg
Germany
If you fill in your registration form without using the dialog provided by CDFinder, please print carefully. My brand new biological character recognition system (BRAIN 3.0) still needs some training ;-)
After I receive the payment, I will send you your personal registration keyword by snail mail (airmail!).
Please do not send any bank cheques, since I have to pay 25 DM fee to cash them. German banks are extremely expensive in such matters.
If you're living in the USA: I am currently opening a bank account in the US, so payment will be much easier in the future. Please contact me!
Acknowledgements
First of all I would like to thank my wonderful wife Silvia. Without her patience, the development process would not have been possible.
I also want to thank all those who helped my doing the first beta testing and thereby provided invaluable assistance checking the functions and user interface of the software: Wolfgang Warmbold, Martin Girschick, Patrick Röder, Michael Stunz, Manfred Kunkel, Heiko, and Manfred Richter.
The comments and notes of all registered users also helped a lot.
Please send me ideas, comments, notes and Cocoa Puffs!
Just send me e-mail (Tip: Use the "About CDFinder" dialog in connection with Internet Config!):
