home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
-
- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
- * Trash-It (tm) Version 1.8 *
- * Copyright 1991 RSE Inc *
- * Aug 24, 1991 *
- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
-
- Have you ever accidentally deleted a file or groups of files and
- found you couldn't recover them? I have. Several times. Now
- there's a way to prevent this from ever happening again.
-
- Trash-It works with DOS, PC-Directory, PC-FileNotes, MS Windows or
- any program that uses DOS function calls to delete files. Instead of
- deleting the file, Trash-It moves the file over to the \TRASH subdir.
- In other words, your deleted files remain intact, they just get moved
- out of the way. If you accidentally delete a file, don't worry, it's
- still completely intact over in the \TRASH subdir where DOS can't
- overwrite it. And Trash-It is completely transparent to the user.
-
- But you say, "I have an un-delete program". That's all well and
- good. However, if DOS has overwritten any part of the disk where the
- deleted file was stored, even the most sophisticated of the un-delete
- programs fail. The less sophisticated ones fail for even more
- reasons (directory info overwritten, files clusters that aren't
- contiguous, etc..). In my experience un-delete programs work about
- half the time, if you're lucky. With Trash-It there's no chance of
- DOS overwriting the file, because the file is never deleted.
-
- Of course, since you're not actually deleting these files, eventually
- your hard disk is going to fill up, requiring that you "dump the
- trash", i.e. go to the \TRASH subdirectory and clean it out.
-
- When you register you'll get AutoDump, a program that automatically
- deletes trashed files (files that have been moved to the TRASH
- subdir) that have been there longer than the number of days you
- specify. In addition, AutoDump gives you the option of using PKZIP
- (tm) to automatically ZIP your trashed files in order to save even
- more disk space.
-
- As a registered user you'll also get KeyDump, a TSR that does pretty
- much what AutoDump does but at the touch of a key. Even during other
- programs. That way if you're in the middle of another program and
- you get a "Disk Full" message you can activate KeyDump and free up
- some space.
-
- In the interim you can use any file manager (like PC-Directory), or
- DOS itself, to delete the files in the \TRASH subdir.
-
- ** Trash-It doesn't interfere with deletes done in the \TRASH subdir.
- Files deleted in the \TRASH subdir are actually deleted.
-
- Note: PC-Directory (another of our shareware programs) is a big help
- when it comes to recovering trashed files, or housekeeping the Trash
- subdir. For example, let's look at how you might recover a trashed
- file using PC-Directory. First you'd pop-up PC-Directory and use the
- tree listing of directories to move to the TRASH subdir. Instantly a
- listing of all trashed files would be displayed, sorted by name. If
- it's easier to find the file you're after by the time it was trashed,
- then you can re-sort the entire listing by date/time in the blink of
- an eye. When you find the file you want, you can instantly view it
- with one keystroke. Once you're sure this is the one, then you can
- use PC-Directory to move it back to its original directory. And if
- you need to rename it (because there was another trashed file with
- the same name), you can do it with just one more keystroke. Fast and
- simple. And because PC-Directory is a TSR (33K) you can use it even
- while in the middle of another application. This can be real handy
- if you need to free up some disk space NOW. And the nice thing is
- you'll get the shareware version of PC-Directory (plus a bunch of our
- other programs) when you register Trash-It.
-
- The Configuration Program:
-
- Trash-It also comes with a configuration program. The key to keeping
- disk space free is to only trash significant files. The
- configuration program lets you do just that. To run it, go to the
- where the Trash-It files reside and enter "TI_CFG" at the DOS prompt.
- Do it now.
-
- You use the configuration program to exempt files from being trashed.
- You can set a minimum file size in which files greater than the limit
- are trashed (moved to the TRASH subdir) and those less than the limit
- are deleted. This can save a lot of disk space. Even a 1 byte file
- takes up 4K of hard disk space. By having Trash-It delete small
- files (instead of trashing them) you can free up a significant amount
- of disk space, without sacrificing important files. The number Trash-It
- displays in the configuration program is the file size in bytes NOT
- Kilobytes.
-
- The configuration program also lets you specify up to five different
- filename extensions. All "deleted" files with the extension(s) you
- define will be deleted instead of trashed. This too can save a
- significant amount of disk space. For example, some programs create
- temporary files with "TMP" as the filename extension. These files
- aren't important once the program ends and are deleted. If you
- specify "TMP" in the configuration program then Trash-It would delete
- these files rather than trash them. You may use the global character
- "?" when defining your extensions.
-
- The last item in the configuration program lets you decide whether
- you want Trash-It to change the trashed file's date/time to the time
- it was trashed. If you select "No" then Trash-It leaves the
- date/time of the trashed file unchanged. This lets Trash-It run a
- little faster. The downside is that you have no way of knowing when
- the file was trashed, rendering AutoDump and KeyDump practically
- useless. "Yes" is the default value and the position we recommend.
- However if you're a real speed freak, or for some reason you want the
- deleted files to retain their original date/time, then select "No".
-
- To change an item use the up/down arrow keys to select the item and
- press C for Change. Then input the new value. To delete an
- extension: select the extension you want to delete, press C for
- Change, and then press the Enter or Return key without entering
- anything. When you've finished making all your changes then press
- the Escape key to save the changes and exit the configuration
- program.
-
- Getting started:
-
- Before you use Trash-It for the first time you need to create a
- subdirectory called "\TRASH" on your hard disk by entering:
-
- "md \trash"
-
- at the DOS prompt. If you have your hard drive partitioned than
- create a "\TRASH" subdir in each partition.
-
- After you've created the "\TRASH" subdir then all you do to run
- Trash-It is move to the subdir where TI.COM is located and enter "ti"
- at the DOS prompt. Once loaded Trash-It automatically intercepts all
- attempts via DOS function calls to delete files, and instead moves
- the files to the Trash ("\TRASH subdir"). You don't do anything
- different than before. It is totally transparent to the user.
-
- * The "how to register" information that appears when Trash-It is
- loaded, and the 5 second delay, will disappear when you register.
-
- The best way to make sure Trash-It is loaded is to put "TI.COM" in
- the root directory, and the phrase "TI" in your "AUTOEXEC.BAT" file,
- also located in the root directory. This will automatically load
- Trash-It every time you boot your computer.
-
- You can remove Trash-It from memory by entering "ti/u" at the DOS prompt.
- Remember, you always remove TSR's in the reverse order in which they were
- loaded. If you don't, it's possible your computer will lock up,
- requiring a re-boot. If you get the "unable to remove Trash-It" message
- chances are the TI.COM isn't the last TSR loaded.
-
- Limitations:
-
- Programs can delete files using two methods. Most programs use DOS
- function calls do it. However, a few programs directly modify the
- disk data (FAT and Directory info) without using DOS.
-
- * Trash-It works only if DOS function calls are used to delete *
- * the file(s). *
-
- Trash-It can't protect against programs that go in and modify the FAT
- and Directory information directly. However, almost all programs let
- DOS do what it's designed for by using DOS function calls to delete
- files, thereby allowing Trash-It to do its job.
-
- * Trash-It only works if it finds a "\TRASH" subdirectory on the *
- * disk (or partition) where the deleted files are located. *
-
- For example, let's say you have a Trash subdir on your hard drive,
- C:. You then attempt to delete files on the A: drive. If the disk
- in the A: drive doesn't have a \TRASH subdir then the files will be
- deleted, even tho there is a \TRASH subdir on the C: drive. Files
- will only be moved to the \TRASH subdir if the \TRASH subdir is
- located on the same disk as the files being deleted. Of course, you
- can make \TRASH subdirs on all your disks if you want.
-
- ** WARNING **
- You shouldn't take deleting files any less seriously than
- you always have, because in the situations described above
- (and possibly a few we don't know about yet) the file will
- actually be deleted.
-
- * If Trash-It finds a file in the \TRASH subdir with the same name *
- * as the file it's trying to move there, then it will increment *
- * the last letter of the filename until it's unique. *
-
- For example, if you're trying to delete "TEMP" and a file named
- "TEMP" already exists in the "\TRASH" subdir then Trash-It would
- increment the last letter of the filename being moved, in this case
- from "TEMP" to "TEMQ", and try again.
-
- Using AutoDump: Registered Users Only
-
- AutoDump helps free up disk space by automatically deleting trashed
- files older than the user-specified number of days, or smaller than
- the user-specified size. You adjust these values by configuring
- AutoDump. To configure AutoDump enter "autodump /c" at the DOS prompt
- and follow the instructions. You'll notice when you configure that
- you also have the option of Zipping the trashed files.
-
- The Zip option uses PKZIP (a shareware file compression program from
- PKWARE: 1-414-352-7176) to combine and compress all the files that
- have been trashed since the last time you used AutoDump and puts them
- in a single file. The advantage is that this frees up disk space.
- The disadvantage is that it's harder to know what files have been
- trashed, making it tougher to find and recover a trashed file.
- Personally, I wouldn't use this option unless disk space is at a
- premium.
-
- The filename given the zipped file contains the month and day plus a
- letter starting at A and increasing each time AutoDump is run on the
- same date. For example, if today is October 5th then the filename
- would be 1005A.ZIP. If you ran AutoDump again today then the
- filename would be 1005B.ZIP, and so on. Tomorrow the filename would
- be 1006A.ZIP.
-
- AutoDump treats .ZIP files just like trashed files and will delete
- them after they become older than the user-specified number of days.
-
- If you have .ZIP files in the TRASH subdirectory, they won't be added to
- the .ZIP file Autodump creates. In other words, only those files that
- don't have .ZIP extensions will be compressed into .ZIP files.
-
- In order for the Zip option to work, PKZIP.EXE must be in the
- directory from which AutoDump is run, not necessarily where AutoDump
- resides. For example, let's say you keep the Trash-It files in a
- subdirectory called "TI" and you want AutoDump to run every time you
- boot your computer so you put the phrase "\TI\AUTODUMP" in your
- AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Since the AUTOEXEC.BAT file resides in the root
- directory then PKZIP.EXE must be in the root directory as well, even
- though TI.COM isn't.
-
- Refer to the PKZIP documentation for instructions on how to view and
- retrieve files in a .ZIP file.
-
- Give some thought to the values you chose for AutoDump. If you're
- not short of disk space then you'd want to specify a larger # of
- days to keep trashed files around than you would if disk space is at
- a premium. Remember too, that you can specify a minimum file size in
- Trash-It itself, so why specify it again here? The reason: tiny
- files usually aren't important, and if they are you'll probably know
- right away. By making the minimum file size smaller in Trash-It than
- in AutoDump you give yourself a period of time where you can recover
- these tiny files before AutoDump comes along and deletes them. You
- still get your hard disk cleaned up, it's just that you now have a
- grace period to recover those tiny little buggers.
-
- You run AutoDump by entering "autodump" at the DOS prompt. The best
- way to operate AutoDump is from your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. That way
- it's activated every time you boot your computer, without any input
- from you at all.
-
- Using KeyDump: Registered Users Only
-
- KeyDump enables those of you silly enough not to use PC-Directory, to
- recover (maybe) from a "disk full" error. It operates exactly the
- same as AutoDump, except there's no .ZIP option, and you activate it
- by pressing its hot key Ctrl-Alt-K. By specifying a higher value for
- the "min file size" variable, or a lower value for the "# of days to
- keep trashed files" in KeyDump than in AutoDump, KeyDump will hopefully
- find more trashed files to get rid of, thereby freeing up enough disk
- space (we hope) for the current application to recover from the disk full
- error. You could even set the number of days to keep trashed files
- around to zero, thereby deleting all the trashed files whenever you
- activate KeyDump. Drastic but effective.
-
- KeyDump is a small TSR (2K) which means you only run it once when you
- first boot your computer and it stays hidden in memory waiting for
- you to activate it. You load KeyDump into memory by entering
- "keydump" at the DOS prompt. You configure it (change the file
- size, and # of days values) by entering "keydump /c" at the DOS prompt
- and following the instructions.
-
- After you've loaded KeyDump if you ever get a "disk full" message
- then press Ctrl, Alt, and the K key at the same time. KeyDump will
- do its thing and emit a double beep to let you know it's done. Then
- have the current application try again to save the file.
-
- A much better method of recovering from a "disk full" message is to
- use a TSR file manager like PC-Directory that lets you pop-up, go
- over and selectively delete trashed files, and then return. This way
- you can delete as many trashed files as necessary: more or less as
- the need requires.
-
- Of course if you use a multi-tasker like DesqView or Windows, you can
- change to the DOS window, or a file manager window (like the non-TSR
- version of PC-Directory), delete some trashed files, and then return
- to the application that gave you the "disk full" message and try
- again.
-
- Remember, if you configure Trash-It to NOT change the trashed file's
- date/time to the date/time when it was trashed then AutoDump and
- KeyDump will delete trashed files according to when they were created
- or last modified, not when they were trashed.
-
- Tech Support:
-
- Registered users can call (206) 939-4105 for technical support.
- You can also contact us by E-Mail on Compuserve ID #: 72371,1557
-
- How Much?:
-
- Trash-It (tm) is copyrighted 1990/91 by RSE Incorporated. It's being
- released as user-supported shareware. This means you're given
- this copy in order to evaluate it. If after a 21 day evaluation
- period you decide to continue using Trash-It, you need to become a
- registered user by sending the registration fee of $10 plus $1 shipping
- (add $1 for 3.5 disk, $5 for overseas) to:
-
- Trash-It Registration Mastercard or Visa customers:
- 1157 57th Drive SE Call or FAX (206) 939-4105
- Auburn, WA 98002 Compuserve: 72371,1557
-
- A Manual containing printed documentation for all 12 of our shareware
- products (including Trash-It) is available for an extra $5.
-
- You're encouraged to freely distribute copies of the TI18.EXE file
- as long as you don't charge anything for the copies. DO NOT
- distribute the individual, extracted, files; only TI18.EXE.
-
- When you register Trash-It you'll receive a disk crammed full of our
- other user-supported programs including PC-Directory, Playback,
- Conjecture, Remind Me!, Nabbit, BriteLine, and PC-Images. After all,
- you'll need a good file manager to go with Trash-It, and PC-Directory
- is the best (if I do say so myself -grin-).
-
- Registered users also get the two programs described earlier:
- AutoDump and KeyDump.
-
- In addition, when you register all the "please register" info that
- appears when you run Trash-It (along with the 5 second delay),
- disappears.
-
- Those using Trash-It in a commercial or educational environment must
- register within 30 days. Site licenses are available, as well as
- quantity discounts.
-
- I hope you find Trash-It worthy of your support. Take care.
-
- *** Disclaimer ***
-
- RSE Incorporated specifically disclaims all warranties expressed or
- implied, including, without limitation, any implied warranties of
- merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The software
- itself is licensed "As Is", without any express or implied warranties
- whatsoever. In no event shall RSE Incorporated, its distributors or
- dealers, be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial
- damage, including, without limitation, special, incidental,
- consequential or other damages. In no case shall any liability
- exceed the price paid for the software.
-
-
-
- ----------------end-of-author's-documentation---------------
-
- Software Library Information:
-
- This disk copy provided as a service of
-
- Public (software) Library
-
- We are not the authors of this program, nor are we associated
- with the author in any way other than as a distributor of the
- program in accordance with the author's terms of distribution.
-
- Please direct shareware payments and specific questions about
- this program to the author of the program, whose name appears
- elsewhere in this documentation. If you have trouble getting
- in touch with the author, we will do whatever we can to help
- you with your questions. All programs have been tested and do
- run. To report problems, please use the form that is in the
- file PROBLEM.DOC on many of our disks or in other written for-
- mat with screen printouts, if possible. PsL cannot debug pro-
- programs over the telephone, though we can answer questions.
-
- Disks in the PsL are updated monthly, so if you did not get
- this disk directly from the PsL, you should be aware that the
- files in this set may no longer be the current versions. Also,
- if you got this disk from another vendor and are having prob-
- lems, be aware that some files may have become corrupted or
- lost by that vendor. Get a current, working disk from PsL.
-
- For a copy of the latest monthly software library newsletter
- and a list of the 4,000+ disks in the library, call or write
-
- Public (software) Library
- P.O.Box 35705 - F
- Houston, TX 77235-5705
-
- 1-800-2424-PSL
- MC/Visa/AmEx/Discover
-
- Outside of U.S. or in Texas
- or for general information,
- Call 1-713-524-6394
-
-