DiskTools gives you at-a-glance access to all of the files and folders on your hard disk. From the DiskTools main window, you can get information about any mounted disk, any file or folder, or even your Macintosh; create new folders; delete files; rename files and folders; move and copy files and folders from one location to another; and much more.
When you choose DiskTools from the Ô£ø menu the DiskTools main window opens. The window contains a file/folder list and a row of buttons across the top. You use DiskTools by selecting files or folders from the list and then clicking on the button that represents the function you want to apply to your file selection.
 
DiskTools Main Menu
File/Folder List
The file/folder list displays the files and folders on your disk, on floppy disk, on any drive mounted on the desktop, or within one selected folder. DiskTools displays folders, applications, documents, and items in the System Folder, aliases (shown in italic typeface), and any other items on your hard disk.
 
The File/Folder list displays all items in the currently opened folder.
Navigating through the file/folder list is as simple as double-clicking a folder name or using the up and down arrows. Use the scroll bar of the up and down arrow keys to navigate up and down the list of available files and folders.
To go to the top item in the window, press the Left Arrow key.
To go to the bottom item in the window, press the Right Arrow key.
To select a particular file or folder, click on its name or type in the first few unique characters of its name.
To select several files and/or folders:
If they are next to one another, drag the mouse up or down while pressing the mouse button. If not grouped together, click on each file/folder name while holding down the Shift key. Shift-clicking toggles a selected folder, or select the folder and press the Return key, or press CMD-DOWN ARROW.
To move up one level to the enclosing folder: Press CMD-UP ARROW.
Launching from the File/Folder List
You can quickly launch applications, documents, control panels, desk accessories, and other items from the file/folder list. Just double click on the name of the item in the list. Or, type the first letter (or first few letters) of the file's name and then press Return.
Sorting Files and Folders
DiskTools gives you six different ways to sort the file and folder names in the file/folder list. The underlined category name at the top of the list indicates the current sorting method.
 
The underlined category name indicates the current sorting method.
To sort the file and folder names:
-alphabetically by name, click on the Name category just above the first file or folder in the list.
-alphabetically by type, click onType.
-alphabetically by creator, click on Creator.
-by size, from largest to smallest, click on Size.
-by modification date, from most recent to oldest, click on Modified.
-by label, click on the Label icon in the top left corner of the list.
Folder Menu
The folder pop-up menu at the top of the file/folder list displays the name of the disk or folder whose contents you are currently viewing. You are also able to view the desktop level of your hard disk. Viewing the desktop level lets you see any drives that are mounted on the desktop, any other files or folders that are located on the desktop, and the Trash. (An arrow next to a folder's name means you are one or more folders down from the top level.
To view the folders you have travelled through: Click on the menu when an arrow is present.
To move from one folder to another: Click on the menu and choose the folder you want to go to.
 
Easily view the contents of one folder
then move to another using the file/folder list.
The Navigator Menu
The Navigator pop-up menu is located immediately to the left of the folder pop-up menu. It allows you to store and navigate to folders you commonly use. To move directly to any folder on the menu, click on the name of the folder in the pop-up menu. If the selected folder is not currently available on line, the icon changes to a close folder with a question mark.
 
The Navigator Menu in action.
+Add Item:
Adds the name of the folder currently displayed in the file/folder list.
Appears only when the folder you are in is not already on the menu.
-Remove Item
Removes the names of the folder currently displayed in the file/folder list.
Appears only when the folder you are in is presently on the menu.
Removes all unknown items from the menu.
Drive Information Box
 
Just to the right of the file/folder window, the Drive Information box displays the status of the current disk drive. The following information is displayed:
-whether current disk is an HFS or MFS disk
-how many bytes of information it contains
-how much free disk space is available
-how many items the current folder contains
To move one level up to the next folder in the hierarchy, click anywhere in the Drive Information box. The change will be reflected in the file/folder list.
Disk Drive Pop-Up Menu
 
The Disk Drive Pop-Up menu is located just above the Drive Information box to the right of the file/folder list. If there is an arrow on the menu, it means that more than one drive is mounted. To switch between drives, click on the menu and select another drive. DiskTools keeps track of your location in the folder hierarchy when you switch drives. If you are in a folder two levels down and switch to another drive, then switch back again, you are returned to the original folder exactly where you left it, two levels down in the file/folder list.
Marked Groups Pop-Up Menu
 
A special feature of DiskTools is the ability to mark groups of files and folders, and to view and manipulate the marked files as if they were all together in one folder - even though they may be spread out over many folders of many disk drives. There are many ways to use the Mark function in working with groups of files. Examples might include copying related documents to a floppy disk, moving older spreadsheets of work processor files to a different folder or archive disk, etc.
The Marked Groups pop-up menu appears just above the Disk Drive pop-up menu. It allows you to display files marked as members of a defined set, even if they are in different disks or folders. Sets are defined and files added to those sets using the Edit Sets and Mark Items choices in the DiskTools menu on the menu bar. Generally, you will use the Find function to search for all of the files that will be part of the sets you create.
To create a marked file:
-Choose Edit Sets from the DiskTools menu. If this is the first you have used the Mark
function, there will only be one set listed named "Set 1."
 
-Click on New Set. Type in an appropriate name. Click OK.
-Use the Find function to search for all of the files that will belong in this set of marked files.
For example, if you are marking a group of applications, search for all of the applications on your hard disk.
-When the search is complete, all of the items that DiskTools found will be listed in the found file/folder list. Use the pop-up menu showing Mark All and choose the name of the new set you created.
-Note that all of the items in the found file/folder list have a tick mark in created. Click Done to return to the main DiskTools window.
-To display a set of marked files, press the mouse on the Marked Groups menu and select a defined set.
-The file/folder list now displays all the files you just marked. A path to the selected item appears, showing its location the folder hierarchy. You can now manipulate theses files in anyway that you like. For example, select all of the files and move them to a new folder or copy them to a disk. Instead of moving or copying each of those files individually, you can do it in one step.
Drive Button
To quickly switch to the next available drive, click on the Drive icon, or, press the TAB key.
Eject Button
To eject a disk, click on the Eject button, or type CMD-E. This also unmounts the disk if it contains no open files. You will not be able to eject and unmount (Put Away) 400K single-sided disks from DiskTools. Use the Finder in this case.
Launch On Checkbox
To launch applications, documents, and other items, make sure that the Launching On box (located near the bottom right of the file/folder list) is checked. Then just double-click on any application or document to launch it.
The DiskTools Menu
When DiskTools is the foreground application, an extra item appears in the menu bar at the top of your screen. The DiskTools menu offers several options and features.
 
About DiskTools
Selecting this item brings up information about the DiskTools author and version number.
Make Alias
Selecting this item makes a copy or an alias, of the file or folder selected. It will appear as the same name in italics.
Mount Drives
Selecting this item lets you remount a SCSI drive that has been unmounted using Disk Info's Unmount command. Command-D activates Mount Drives.
Edit Sets
Opens a dialog with a scrollable list of sets you have defined and allows you to choose:
-New Set, to define a new set and enter its name.
-Rename, to rename the set you have selected from the list.
-Delete, to delete the set you have selected form the list.
-Done, to exit from Edit Sets.
Mark Items
Pops down a submenu of groups you have defined. When you select the name of a set from the list, all files that are selected in the main DiskTools file/folder list will be marked as members of that group and a small dot appears to the left of their names.
Unmark Items
Unmarks all marked files that are selected in the main DiskTools file/folder list. Shift-Unmark unmarks all items in all groups (a confirmation alert is given).
Show Invisible Files
If checked, this will cause all invisible files to be displayed in any file/folder list.
Preferences
Choosing Preferences from the DiskTools menu causes a dialog to appear in which you can set various options for DiskTools. Checking and unchecking the boxes in this dialog turns these options on and off respectively.
 
-Show Sizes in ... sets DiskTools to display the size of files in bytes or kilobytes (K) in both file/folder list and the Size dialog.
-Track Standard File sets DiskTools' file/folder list in the copy and move dialogs to mirror the folder by the standard Open...dialog.
-Show invisible files, if checked, will cause all invisible files to by displayed in any file/folder list.
-Show file markings when viewing normal determines if markings will show in the normal file/folder list. If you have a lot of marked files, this can speed up display.
-Remember file selections between openings remembers which files/folders were selected (in up to the last 16 folders accessed). Speeds up opening of DiskTools if off.
-Icons in File Info dialog sets DiskTools to display a file's actual icon (as seen in Finder) in the File Info dialog. If not selected, a generic icon is displayed instead. Using the generic icon can save time for floppy disk users.
-Show indicator on compressed file icons determines whether or not a small "DD" is displayed on the icons of files compressed with either Symantec's AutoDoubler‚Ñ¢ or Diskdoubler‚Ñ¢.
-Automatic path refresh when viewing marked automatically shows the path(s) to files as you select them, while viewing a marked group in the file/folder list. If off, you must click the heading above to view paths.
-Draw using colour (slower) is only available if you have a colour display and are viewing more than 4 colours.
-Shutdown: Selecting this menu item shuts down the Macintosh. The Shutdown menu item is always dimmed when you are using DiskTools within the Finder. This is becausethe Finder's Shutdown performs more cleanup functions, and works better when you arein the Finder. If you are within a document and select Shutdown, the application's normal "Save changes?" dialog will come up, letting you save any changes before shutting down the Macintosh.
The DiskTools Buttons
The row of buttons across the top of the DiskTools main window represents most of DiskTools' functions. Clicking on a button brings up the corresponding dialog box with its selection of options.
Disk Info Dialog
The Disk Info dialog gives information about your disks and lets you perform several disk functions. you may change the name of the selected disk by typing in a new name. Remember, disk names are limited to 27 characters, and you cannot rename a locked disk.
 
Disk Info Dialog
The buttons in the right portion of the dialog let you perform certain actions on the selected disk. Click the Drive Button to see the next available drive if you have several drives mounted on the desktop. The Eject Button only works with ejectable media (like floppies). This has the same effect as dragging the disk's icon into the trash from the Finder.
Notes on unmounting:
If you unmount a disk that has not been ejected, it will automatically be ejected, then unmounted.
You cannot unmount a disk that contains an open file.
You can unmount server volumes (these are used when you are running network software). If you unmount a SCSI drive using Unmount, you can later remount it by selecting the Mount Drives menu item.
File/Folder Info
Clicking on the File/Folder Info Button (or typing CMD-I) brings up the File/Folder Info dialog. This dialog gives you information about the file(s) and /of folder(s) you have selected from the main window's File/Folder list and lets you change several file attributes.
 
File/Folder Info Dialog
The left half of the dialog gives you the facts about the file or folder currently displayed, such as its name, the kind of file, where it is located, when it was created, etc. The right half of the dialog displays the file or folder's Finder attributes, which you can examine or change by checking and unchecking the boxes next to the attribute.
Caution: Be aware that changing these attributes may have unexpected consequences and could possibly damage your file. Make sure you know what you are doing! Note: If the file resides on a locked disk, you will not be able to change any Finder attributes.
DiskTools lets you view file information on a sequence of files or folders using the Next and Prev buttons. These buttons are activated only when you select more than one file of folder. Clicking on the Next button lets you cycle forward through the files or folders you have selected, while clicking on the Prev button lets you cycle through them in reverse.
Set all items sets the attributes of all selected files the same as the current one. Be sure you want every selected file/folder to have the same attributes as those you have set for the current one. The warning dialog reminds you that changing attributes could have unexpected consequences and/or damage your files!
New Folder
Clicking on the New Folder icon (or typing Command-N) lets you create a new, empty folder. This new folder will appear on the currently selected disk whose files you see in the File/Folder List.
Trash
Clicking on the Trash icon (or using Command-D) lets you delete unwanted files and folders. You can delete one or more files or folders at once.
The Trash icon is dimmed if you are working with a locked disk. To use Trash, you first select one or more files and/or folders using any of the methods described in "Selecting files and/or folders". After clicking on the Trash icon (or using Command-T), the Trash dialog comes up. This dialog tells you the number of files and/or folders to be deleted and their total size. It also asks "Are you sure you want to trash these items?". You have a choice of clicking on a Cancel button or a Trash button.
Warning: Deleting a file of folder is equivalent to dragging its icon into the Trash and emptying it (in the Finder). Make sure that you know what files are in a folder that you are about to trash. there is no way to recover a "trashed" file or folder, so be very careful!
Rename
Clicking on the Rename icon (or typing Command-R) lets you rename a file or folder. You can select many files and /or folders to be renamed at one time an then cycle through them, using the Next and Prev buttons.
Move
Clicking on the Move icon (or typing Command-M) lets you move one or more files and/or folders to another folder on the same disk, or to another disk. This is equivalent to copying files or folders from one place to another and then deleting them from the original source. You can select many files or folders to be moved at one time.
 
The Move Dialog
To move files and/or folder:
-Select a file that you want to move from one disk to another.
-Click on the Move icon.
-Click on the Drive icon in the Move dialog to access the other disk.
-If you want to move the file to a particular folder, select the folder and press the Return key.
-Click on the OK button.
-Notice the "Moving file" message with the name of the file you are moving.
-Use the Drive button to switch back and forth between drives. Notice that the file you move is gone from the source disk, and now appears in the destination disk.
Copy
Clicking on the Copy icon (or typing Command-C) lets you copy one or more files and /or folders to another folder on the same disk, or to another disk. You can select many files or folders to be copied at one time. The steps for copying files and folders are the same as for moving files and folders.
Find
Clicking on the Find icon (or typing Command-F) lets you search for files and folders based on your search criteria. You can also select which drives are to be searched.
 
The Find Dialog
-To search for files or folders:
-Click the Find button, or press CMD-F, to bring up the Find dialog.
-Select the search criteria by clicking the appropriate pop-up menu and typing the search information in the text box, or by making a selection from the resulting menu or dialog.
-For each selection, click the pop-up menu in front of the selection and choose "and", "or", or "not", to define how the selection will be logically applied. If you make no choice, "and" is automatically selected.
-Select the drives to be searched by selecting the appropriate drives from the scroll box in the bottom left corner of the search dialog. Click the Select All button to select all available drives.
-Start the search by clicking the Start button.
-When the search is completed, the selected files are displayed in the Found File/Folder list.
You may search for files by name (the search string is NOT case sensitive); by date modified or created (use either the mm/dd/yy format (e.g. 07/13/94) or a format like July 13, 1994); by creator, by type, by size, and by label. After you have defined all of the search criteria you wish to use, click the Start button.
The Progress Indicator graphically displays how much of the search is completed (except when searching server volumes). When the search is completed, the selected files are displayed in the FoundFile/Folder list. Disks that were searched are shown as small disk icons. Underneath each disk name are all files and /or folders meeting your search criteria that were found on that disk. Clicking on the name of a found file or folder displays a diagram of its location on the disk (in the right hand portion of the window), from the root level all the way down through the folder hierarchy.
Use the Up and Down arrow keys to move from file to file, viewing the path diagram of each as it is highlighted.
 
To mark found files as members of a set:
-Select one or more files from the found file/folder list by clicking or dragging the mouse over the items you want to mark.
-Open the pop-up menu next to Mark and choose the name of the defined set in which you want to include the items as members.
To mark all found files as members of a set:
-Open the pop-up menu next to Mark All and choose the name of the set in which you want to include the found files as members.
To unmark files:
-Click the Unmark button to unmark all files you have highlighted in the found file/folder list.
-Click the Unmark All button to unmark all found files.
To exit from Find:
-Double-click on the name of a found file or folder to return to the main DiskTools window at the same level as the file or folder.
-Click on the Done button to return to the main DiskTools window at the same level as you started from.
Size
Clicking on the Size icon (or typing Command-S) tells you how large one or more selected files and/or folders are.
Mac Info
Clicking on the Mac Info icon (or using Command-I) shows you information about your Macintosh.
