ProfitPress Mega CDROM2 …eeware (MSDOS)(1992)(Eng)/ProfitPress-MegaCDROM2.B6I/UTILITY/SYSTEM/BCU100.ZIP/BCU.DOC

Text File | 1992-01-01 | 10.1 KB | 242 lines

BCU: Bob's Combined Utilities                              Registration $10.00
Copyright (c) 1991 by R.P.McCormick
                      79 Rye Street
                      Broad Brook, CT 06016

Command line: BCU

The following files are included with BCU:

ATTR     EXE List files by Archive, Read-only, System or Hidden attributes
BCU      DOC This File
BCU      EXE Bob's Combined Utilities.
DD       BAT Delete Directory
DOSUTIL  DOC DOS utility user's guide
NUMOFF   EXE NumLock Off
RDIR     EXE Shows relative directory size in a pie chart.
             RDIR  requires CGA, EGA or VGA.
REG      FRM Registration form.
SFT      EXE Show file with tabs. Search for text.
SINCE    EXE List files modified SINCE date [& optional time].
STF      EXE Show 2 files side by side. Highlights differences.
             STF & SFT work with ASCII text files.
WDN      EXE Wipe Directory Names

To print this file, enter "TYPE BCU.DOC > PRN"


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ATTR   List files by ATTRibutes

ATTR provides you with a optionally printable list of _only_ those
files with the specific attributes set which you selected.

DOS provides a system of marking each file with "attributes".
The 'a' attribute is set by DOS whenever you copy a file to the disk,
or if you modify it.

ATTR is an aid to knowing when to backup the files on your hard disk.

The DOS command "ATTRIB" will display a directory of _all_ file names
and their attributes whether they are set or not. If you are trying to
figure which files need to be backed up, you have to look at the entire
list.

ATTR will include any files meeting the requirement which are in
the current directory or any of its subdirectories.
Looking at a list of files with the 'a' attribute set gives you an idea
of how much would be lost if you don't do a backup.

ATTR will list System or Hidden files. For DOS versions prior to 5.0,
ATTRIB ignores these files.


If you use ATTR at the top level, you will see many files listed which
you don't intend to backup. Applications, such as WordPerfect, will have
dozens of files with their archive bit set. If you want to use ATTR to
show you how many of _your_ files need backup, you will probably want
to clear the 'a' bit for some applications. That is what the DOS
command is good for. ATTRIB -a *.*/s will clear all the archive bits
in the current directory and all its subdirectories. From then on when
you type use ATTR you will get a list of only the files which have been
added or have changed since you last backed up.

DOS commands COPY & XCOPY do not ordinarily clear the archive bit, but
BACKUP and most commercial software such as Fastback do.


*****************************
RDIR   Relative DIRectory size


I wrote RDIR because the DOS command "DIR" provides only the size of
each file in the current directory. I wanted something to show the
size of each subdirectory. Typically on a hard disk, there are several
subdirectories, and RDIR shows the size of each. This is useful in
tracking down what is taking up too much room on the disk.

A pie chart shows the size of each subdirectory, relative to
the total of all subdirectories at the current level, sorted by size.
Files at current level are not included in the pie.
A bar chart shows the size of the current directory,
including files at the current level, as a percent of the whole disk.
If percents are less than 1%, it prints a dot.

There is no limit on the number of directories at any level,
but I have limited the nesting of subdirectories to 16.

No parameters are required on the command line, but you can type
"RDIR ega" or "RDIR cga" to force it to operate in those modes.
There is a help screen, reachable with the function key F1 while
the graphics display is active.



*****************************
Show File w/ Tabs.


Command Line: SFT filename

Main reason for the existence of SFT is for viewing ASCII text files
which contain TAB characters which may differ from the norm.
You can adjust the TAB size while viewing a file (or while on the F1
Help screen) by using the TAB key. Shift-TAB decreases the number
of spaces between TABs. The current TAB setting appears on the Help screen.
SFT can view WordStar files, but ignores imbedded control codes.
Files may be up to 132 columns per line.
When using the "Find" or search feature, the line containing the target
phrase is "Highlighted" by dimming the text.

Some file viewers read the entire file into RAM before allowing you to
see the first page. For a large file residing on a floppy, this can take
a long time. I chose not to do that, so the first page appears much faster.
Sometimes you just want to take a quick look to see what is in a file.
Maybe you can't tell what it is from it's name in the directory.



*****************************
SINCE: list files modified SINCE date & time


This is something I wrote for my own use to help jog my memory as
to just what was it I was working on yesterday. If you can't
remember the name of the file or even the directory it was in,
type SINCE at the top level (typically C:\), followed by a date
previous to what you are interested in. It will give you a list
of all the files which have changed since then.
You may also find it useful to show which files have changed since
you last backed up.
If someone else has access to your computer you can use SINCE to
find out what files they may have modified.


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STF:  Show Two Files.


Command Line: STF file1 file2

STF compares two ASCII text files side-by-side.
It can be used to see if two files are identical, or if not,
to pinpoint what is different between the two files. This should help
to identify what changes you may have made between two revisions.
Allows comparison of WordStar files, but ignores imbedded control codes.
Files may be up to 132 columns per line.
Differences are "Highlighted" by dimming unequal lines on
the right side: File 2.


*****************************
WDN: Wipe Directory Names.


WDN: An aid to backup.
Whenever I make a copy of a floppy disk, I usually make a temporary
directory on the hard drive, xcopy B:*.*/s to the hard drive, then
xcopy *.*/s B: to the new floppy. This leaves a mess on the hard drive.
Especially if there is a complex directory structure on the floppy.
You could go to each directory and del *.*, then back out and RD
each directory. I normally use Norton's Wipefile *.*/s/n to delete
all the files. But then you still have all the directory names.
WDN will wipe the names of all empty directories starting at the current
level down to 16 levels below. Much faster and easier than doing one
at a time.

WDN: For the security conscious.
If, for example you are copying personal files onto the office computer,
and you want to remove all traces of these files.
You may use Wipefile *.*/s to remove the files, but the directory names
still exist. DOS's RD leaves the name intact for the idly curious, deleting
only the 1st character. Not even a Wipedisk/e which erases all erased disk
space will remove the directory names. WDN does.


*****************************
The following two utilities are included gratis with each copy of  BCU, but
are not "controlled" by BCU. Neither one requires registration.


*************
DD: Delete Directory.
Command line: DD dirname.           Example: DD temp
I have included this very simple batch, which I find to be a real time saver.
All it does is delete all files in the directory you name, then deletes the
directory name. It does not "Wipe" the directory name.

*************
NUMOFF: Numlock Off.
Command line: NUMOFF
This very short program, written in assembler, shuts off "Num Lock".
It is used by BCU to insure that the arrows in the numeric keypad are
functional. I have found that other software requires the Numlock off,
but do not turn it off automatically. For these, I make up a batch
file which calls NUMOFF first, then the target program.


*****************************
                  -- REGISTRATION --

You are encouraged to register your copy of BCU. As shareware, it is
given to you for the purpose of allowing you to try it out to see
if you will find it useful. If it is not something you are going
to find much use for, it doesn't cost you anything. But if you
continue to use the program, you are violating the agreement.
The first time this program is run, it creates a unique serial
number, and allows you to enter your name for display each time
it runs. You are given a free trial period of about 60 uses,
after which the program ceases to function.

Although the individual utilities may be run from the command line,
they cannot be operated without a valid, operational BCU.EXE available.
NUMOFF.EXE & DD.BAT do not need BCU to operate.

If you register, you get a validation key number to enter, after which
you will have unlimited use of the program.

For your convenience in registering, print out the registration form
provided. Use the DOS command:  TYPE REG.FRM > PRN.

Your registration also provides me with an incentive to write
more useful programs to improve your productivity.

Please feel free to distribute unmodified copies of BCU. Once
it has run, however, and has generated the unique Serial Number
which identifies it as your copy, it is considered a modified
copy, and is not to be distributed.

          ****** ATTENTION SYSOP: ******

You can view (or print out) the help screens without starting the
usage count nor generating a Serial Number. The last screen contains
information directed at those responsible for the distribution of
shareware.

BCU '?' or 'h' or 'H' brings up the help screen.
BCU  ? > PRN will send the help screen to your printer.

The serial number shown in the help screen of a program which has
not yet "run" is 00000. When it runs it generates a non-zero S/N.