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Text File | 1990-06-29 | 35.9 KB | 755 lines

Directory Scanner (tm) Ver 4.00a Copyright (c) 1986-1990 by Nat Martino ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Topic Page Program Summary . . . . . . . . . . 1 Program Display . . . . . . . . . . 2 File Composition . . . . . . . . . 2 Installation Procedures . . . . . . 3 Program Limitations . . . . . . . . 5 Recent Revision History . . . . . . 5 Common Problems & Solutions . . . . 11 Reporting Software Bugs . . . . . . 11 Contacting the Author . . . . . . . 12 Registration/Licensing . . . . . . 12 Disclaimer . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 -----------------------------[ PROGRAM SUMMARY ]---------------------------- --- A Directory/File Management and DOS Shell Program --- Presents a tree diagram of the directory structure of the current disk/drive on the left side of the display screen. A listing of the files in the current directory is displayed on the right side of the display screen. Function keys (or optionally arrow keys) allow movement up and down through the directory tree while hitting the enter key enters the current "highlighted" directory and displays the appropriate files of that directory on the right side of the display. Option keys are available for copying, deleting, moving, renaming, tagging, untagging, finding, executing and doing many other functions on files. Users with color displays may select their choice of colors for foreground and background. EGA 43 line mode is supported as is PS/2 MCGA and VGA 50 line mode. A split-screen display mode is available where 2 different directories on 2 different drives can be displayed at the same time. The user may link in their favorite editor to the program so that they may "point & shoot" at a file and be able to edit it with their desired editor. Additionally, the user's favorite "lister" or "browse" program is linked into the program to enable point & shoot listing of the desired file. A macro facility is supported which enables the user to specify repetitive commands which can be activated with an Alt, Shift, or Control Function Key sequence. It allows specification of special - 1 - key sequences such as "%F" (current indicated file) and "%T" (currently tagged files) to be included in the macros. On-line context-sensitive help is available. -----------------------------[ PROGRAM DISPLAY ]---------------------------- The program presents a full screen display of the directory structure of a given disk drive. The display looks similar to the following: ##### Drive C ##################################### C:\DIR2 ################## # c:\ # backup .exe | finder .com | guts .zzz # # |- dir1 # create .com | finder .exe | help .def # # |- dir2 # dump .asm | finder .obj | killer .com # # | |- sub1 # dump .exe | guts .asm | print .com # # | | +- subsubno.1 # dump .obj |>guts .com<| qsort .exe # # | +- sub2 # eater .bas | guts .exe | vdisk .sys # # +- dir3 # eats | guts .obj | zoo .bas # # # eatz .bat | | # # # | | # # # | | # # # | | # # # | | # # # | | # # # | | # # # | | # # # | | # # # | | # # # | | # ############################################################################### Total: 10,456,123 | Help=? Name ^ | Files: 22 Used: 137,354 Tagged: 0 Used: 8 000,000 | Free Core 146K | ----name---- --size-- -date-- -time- attr Free: 2,456,123 | Drive 80% Full | guts .com 17,123 10Aug85 4:36p r a -----------------------------[ FILE COMPOSITION ]--------------------------- 1. DS_READ.ME - This read.me file 2. DS.EXE - The program which loads/reloads the main DS program. This ".exe" file can be renamed to something other than "ds.exe" should the user have a conflict with another program by the same name; however, the rest of the ".exe" files which make up the program cannot be renamed. 3. DS_OVRLY.EXE - The main DS program. This file should not be renamed. 4. DS_GLOBL.LOG - This file SHOULD NOT EXIST THE FIRST TIME YOU INSTALL THE PROGRAM. The program will create this file the - 2 - first time the program is executed. This file contains various global variables which are passed between program modules and resides in the "home" directory where all the rest of the DS files reside. The "home" directory is specified with a "set DS=c:\ds" command in the user's autoexec.bat file. 5. DS_DRV_?.LOG - The "?" represents an appropriate drive letter. This file (or files) SHOULD NOT EXIST THE FIRST TIME YOU INSTALL THE PROGRAM. The program will create the file the first time the program is executed so long as the user has specified that a "log" file should be maintained for a specified drive with the "Ctrl-E" option. Once a "log" file has been created for a specified drive, subsequent program startups and/or drive changes to that specified drive should take little time as the program will obtain the directory structure info from the log file instead of scanning the entire disk for the information. 6. DS_HELP.EXE - The expanded context-sensitive help displays. The program is activated from within the main program by pressing the F10 key. This file should not be renamed. 7. DS_INIT.EXE - This program is called by the main ds program to aid in displaying/changing macro definitions, the default editor and lister, and the directory to number linking. It also allows the user to change the list of which drives will have "log" files maintained on them. This file should not be renamed. 8. DS_PROG.DEF - The program "defaults" file. This file contains data on the default startup colors, macro definitions, the defined editor and lister, the links of directories to numbers, and which drives should have "log" files maintained. 9. DS_USERS.MAN - A 24 page users manual. (59 lines/page) 10. DS_MOUSE.MSC - Source file for a Mouse Systems optical mouse device driver pop-up menu display. 11. DS_SITE.LIC - Information on site licensing of the program. 12. DS_SINGL.LIC - Information on single user licenses. -------------------------[ INSTALLATION PROCEDURES ]------------------------ Note: The following procedures make the assumption that you have a hard disk as drive "c" and boot up off that drive. 1. Make a subdirectory "DS" under the "C:\" (root) directory. - 3 - 2. Copy all DS files to this new "C:\DS" directory. 3. Remove any files from previous versions of the DS program to a backup floppy so that this new version will not attempt to use supporting files from previous versions. The "ds_prog.def" file from version 3.30 should be compatable with version 4.00 so you should not need to delete this file or re-enter all your macro definitions. 4. In "autoexec.bat" file of root directory have the following line: set DS=C:\DS The foregoing "set DS=pathname" command is MANDATORY to enable execution of the program. If it was not executed in the autoexec or directly at the DOS prompt prior to executing DS, the Directory Scanner program will not work. PLEASE ENSURE WHEN ENTERING THE ABOVE LINE IN THE "autoexec.bat" FILE THAT YOUR TEXT EDITOR DOES NOT ADD ANY EXTRA CHARACTERS OR BLANK SPACES ON THE SAME LINE AFTER THE ABOVE ENTRY. "C:\DS" should also be present in your PATH command Sample "autoexec.bat" entries follow: path c:\;c:\dos;C:\DS;... {"C:\DS" plus other user directories} dpath {shareware dpath program (optional) } set DS=C:\DS {sets HOME directory of ds files } Notes: a. "DPATH" shareware program is optional but useful to enable DOS to find overlay and support files the editor may need. Users with DOS version 3.2 or later should use the DOS "APPEND" command which does the same thing as the DPATH program. b. A cursor/keyboard speedup program (like "hotkey" shareware program) is also highly recommended in your "autoexec.bat" file to speed up directory and file movement. c. Another entry that MUST be in your "environment" for the program to execute is the "COMSPEC=" variable. This variable is normally inserted in your "environment" automatically by DOS upon booting up the system. You can check to see that it has been loaded into the environment by typing "set" followed by a carriage return at the DOS prompt. You should see a line something like the following: COMSPEC=c:\command.com 5. Reboot the computer. (ie: Ctrl-Alt-Del) 6. Type "ds" at the DOS prompt if "ds" was not the last line of your "autoexec.bat" file. - 4 - ---------------------------[ PROGRAM LIMITATIONS ]-------------------------- Maximum number of fixed/hard disk drives supported/saved: 26 Note: The number of drives saved or "logged" is user-definable. Use the "Ctrl-E" option to enter the drive letters of those drives you wish to have logged. Floppy disk drives and RAM disk drives are not recommended to "log" as it takes little time to scan those type drives. Maximum number of directories per drive: 150 (but this limit can be offset by using multiple "log" files for a drive with more than 150 directories. See the "ctrl-d" option.) Maximum number of files per directory: 300 Maximum length of full pathname for any directory: 64 characters Maximum length of directory printname on screen: 39 characters These limitations were chosen for no particular reason. The program can be recompiled extending these limitations, but with a consequent increase in the size of the program. The program currently takes up approximately 120k during execution. -------------------------[ RECENT REVISION HISTORY ]------------------------ Ver 3.20 (01 Jul 88) - Due to popular demand, have reinstated the "TAB <ltr>" option to work on tabbing/jumping to a 1st level directory whose name begins with <ltr>. The option of tabbing/jumping to a file will now be accomplished by "TAB TAB <ltr>". - Corrected problem with PS/2 MCGA video mode switching. - Added following macro options: %t = Insert names of all tagged files at this position of macro. Filename will not include filename extensions. %T = Insert names of all tagged files at this position of macro. Filename will include filename extensions. %1c = Execute a macro with tagged files only once even though the macro may run on to multiple lines due to the number of files tagged. The specified "c" character is the - 5 - character to end each line (except the last) of the macro. Some programs would expect this character to be a "+". %O = Overlay DS program to execute the macro, thereby recovering about 83k of memory. DS program will be reloaded and executed upon termination of the macro. %X = Directly execute the command in the macro instead of executing macro through a command processor (command.com). This option is less desirable than executing thru a command processor, but available to try if the macro fails to work thru the command processor. Read the user's manual for a fuller description of the foregoing new macro options. - Enabled overlaying of DS program with following options: + Alt-L = List indicated file + Alt-E = Edit indicated file (old EGA toggle option) + Alt-X = Execute indicated file + Alt-C = Command Entry (old copy files option) These options will overlay the DS program, thereby recovering about 83k of memory. Upon completion of the specified activity the DS program will be reloaded and executed. Each of the above options have a counterpart option without the "ALT" key which does the same activity but without overlaying the DS program. The perferred and fastest method is the option without the "ALT" key, but if memory is in short supply the ALT- Option sequence may enable accomplishment of the desired activity when the perferred option is unable to complete the requested activity. With this option it is now most important that the user specify the complete pathname for the desired "editor" and "lister" programs (using the "ctrl-e" option) otherwise the "alt-l" and "alt-e" options will display the following rather misleading DOS error message: "run-time error R6005 -not enough memory on exec" This option has also caused the following options to change activation keys: + Copy Tagged Files is now Option "K" (vice alt-c) - 6 - + 25 43/50 Line Mode Toggle is now Option "Alt-M" (vice alt-e) Ver 3.20a (10 Jul 88) - Fixed problem of BASIC programs not executing under the "X" and "Alt-X" options. Ver 3.20b (19 Nov 88) - Reworked logic on capturing and releasing of Ctrl-Brk interrupt. - Fixed bug in copy routine that caused keyboard to hangup when copying files of 0 bytes or when attempting to copy to a write protected disk. Ver 3.30 (02 Apr 89) - Have added additional sub-options to the Directory Mod ("ctrl-d") option. These new sub-options will be of primary help to those individuals who have exceeded the program limits of 150 directories per drive. It should be of some benefit for use on LAN's (local area networks) which have file servers that often times have more than 150 directories. The new options, however, can be useful to standalone PC's with less than 150 directories should the user just like to have more control over which directories are or are not shown on the tree display. Additionally, users with removable hard disks (like Bernoulli boxes) will also find the new options useful. The new sub-options include the following: + Unmount Subdirectories - This option will enable the user to point at a directory in the tree display and eliminate all subdirectories of that highlighted directory from the tree display. It does not delete or modify any directories on the hard disk, but only eliminates them from the display. This option will free up space in the tree display to use the following mount option. This option will also validate that the directory which is highlighted is a valid directory. By using the F1-F8 keys to move the highlighter over directories, the program will determine if the currently highlighted directory is really out on the disk. If the program finds a directory in the tree which is not out on the disk, an error message stating "invalid directory" is displayed to the user who can then get rid of the directory - 7 - by activating the unmount option. + Mount Subdirectories - This option will enable the user to point at a directory in the tree display and attempt to add to the display any subdirectories of the highlighted directory which are found on the hard disk. This option is similar to the "alt-r" (rescan) option except this option starts scanning from the highlighted directory instead of the root directory. + Write Log File - This option allows the user to write a "drive log file" out to the hard disk. This option would be used after the user had finished prunning and grafting the directory tree display with the Mount and Unmount options. + Switch Log File - This option allows the user to switch to a new log file for the same drive. The previously specified options enable the user to create multiple log files (each containing a different tree display) for the same drive. This option allows the user to switch amongst those specified log files. The drive change ("d") option can also be used to switch to a different log file. + Remove Extension - This option allows the user to drop or remove the extension from the current default log file. - Compacked the file columns. All but the rightmost file column had one extra space in the column which was unused and has been eliminated. - Changed the directory tree display so that subdirectories are indented only 3 spaces (vice 4) from their parent directory. This enables a more compact tree display and should provide users with a better chance of having more columns of files. Should the user object to the new "3 space indent" default, the Rescan Tree (Alt-R) option will allow the user to create the old "4 space indent" log file. - Fixed bug in macro edit routine which deleted the macro immediately below the one you were editing if the insert mode (large box cursor) was selected. - 8 - Ver 3.30a (18 Jun 89) - Bug Fix: When deleting a directory the directory high- lighter would scroll up into the border area if the directory which was being deleted showed up in the top of the screen. (This bug was also in previous versions of the program) - Bug Fix: The "Alt-X" option did not properly execute ".bat" files properly. It should have overlayed the DS program but instead executed the ".bat" file as if the "X" vice "Alt-X" option had been selected. (This bug was also in previous versions of the program) - Bug Fix: The "0" and "Alt-0" options would hangup the program if they were selected on drives which did not have a ".log" file maintained, as for example on a floppy where such a ".log" file is not normally main- tained. - Bug Fix: The rename option would hangup the program if the user incorrectly specified a new file name which had an extension and the filename prior to the ".ext" had more than the allowed 8 characters. For example a new filename of "123456789.ab" would hangup the program. (This bug was also in previous versions of the program. Ver 4.00 (01 May 90) - Added Split Screen mode. Hitting the "s" key will split the display screen in two with an upper and lower display. Initially both upper and lower displays are identical, but each display can be changed to a different drive/directory. Hitting the "s" key while in the split screen mode will revert the display to the single full screen mode. Hitting the "+" key while in the split screen mode will "SWITCH" the active display from upper to lower or lower to upper. Hitting the "+" key while in full screen mode, after having previously selected split screen mode, will "FLIP" the full screen display to the other full screen display. - Added 3 options to the Edit Defaults (Ctrl-E) option. + Users may specify a print program as they were previously able to specify an editor and lister program. Specify a "complete pathname" for the desired program. + Users may specify whether the space bar will toggle the operation of the arrow keys to work on - 9 - both files and directories, or just files. + Users may specify for each option ("e", "l", "x", "c", and "p") which has an overlay counterpart, a memory limit at which point the option will automatically switch from doing the normal option to doing the overlay option. Lowering the memory limit will decrease the possibility the overlay option will be used, while increasing the memory limit will increase the possibility the overlay option will be used. - First attempt at installing code for compatability with Desqview. - Deleted Backup option due to lack of available time to accomplish required modifications to backup program to conform with new changes. Have moved archive bit display, previously available only in the backup option, to the main display. - Modified Attribute File option "A" to include archive bit and to enable users to tag or untag files based on read-only, system, hidden, and/or archive bits. - Added Control Tagging Option "ctrl-t". Enables user to tag or untag files based on matches or comparisons with Name, Date, and/or Size of files. Also allows comparisons of files across split screen displays. - This version of the program commenced using "overlays". The overlays were necessary to prevent the program from using too much memory if the entire program was memory resident. Please ensure you use the new loader "ds.exe" that comes with this version of the program and is required for use with this overlay version. Ensure you remove all files from previous versions of the program so this version will not inadvertently use any such files. The "ds_prog.def" file is the only file which can be copied to this version of the program. Ver 4.00a (20 Jun 90) - Fixed bug which caused program to occasionally lose or forget its default colors. The change was made to the "ds_ovrly.exe" file. - Fixed bug which caused program to return to the DS HOME directory (directory where DS files are stored) on a drive change vice returning to the default directory on the same drive. The change was made to both the "ds.exe" and "ds_ovrly.exe" files. - 10 - -----------------------[ COMMON PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS ]---------------------- Some recommendations and/or common problems follow: 1. Do not modify the DS files and make them "read-only". Many of the DS files must be written to or modified based on options which you select. To enable the files to be modified, the files must not be "read-only". 2. When moving the program to another computer or when installing a new video display in the current computer, delete the "ds_globl.log" file. The "ds_globl.log" file maintains data about the type of video display and computer the DS program is currently operating on and enables the program to make certain decisions based on that data. If the system configuration changes due to moving the program to a new machine or installing a new video display adaptor, the program must be forced into determining the new system configuration. Deleting the "ds_globl.log" file will force the program to determine the new system configuration and create a new "ds_globl.log" file. 3. If you experience difficulty seeing the text while operating on a non-color video display, select the "alt-k" option and then the F6 (reset mono attribute) suboption. This should enable the user to see the program display as it sets the foreground and background colors/attributes to values which can be seen on all displays. The user should then select the F4 (save default colors) suboption so that the program will record these values for later use. 4. Deleting Directories - To delete a directory from within DS, the directory must be empty (no files) AND the user MUST NOT BE CURRENTLY IN the directory which they are trying to delete. Users often forget the second point. -------------------------[ REPORTING SOFTWARE BUGS ]------------------------ The key to correcting software bugs is to identify those actions which will REPEATEDLY cause the program to perform in an incorrect manner. REPEATABILITY is essential to identifying those sections of code which must be corrected. Identifying the precise circumstances which will repeatedly cause the discrepancy will enable the author to duplicate the procedure, verify the problem, identify and isolate the faulty program modules, and develope the code necessary to rectify the discrepancy. In addition to identifying the circumstances which will repeat- edly cause a discrepancy, the user should verify that the problem occurs in a "virgin DOS" system. A "virgin DOS" system is a system which has been "booted" with no TSR's or other special device drivers or programs running. If the discrepancy occurs in a "virgin DOS" system the author again has a good chance of correcting the - 11 - problem. If the discrepancy does not occur in a "virgin DOS" system then the problem may be caused by a conflict with a TSR, device driver, or other loaded program. This makes it much more difficult to isolate and correct the problem as the author probably does not possess the same programs the user possesses, and a conflict between DS and another program could possibly be the fault of the other program. --------------------------[ CONTACTING THE AUTHOR ]------------------------- I welcome comments, suggestions, and indications of possible bugs or discrepancies. Users may contact me at the appropriate below listed address. Nat Martino Nat Martino 501 W. Vineyard Ave. #514 PO Box 21284 Oxnard, CA 93030 Concord, CA 94521 (805) 485-6340 (415) 682-3618 -> PRIOR TO 1 MAY 1991 <- -> AFTER 1 MAY 1991 <- ------------------------[ REGISTRATION & LICENSING ]------------------------ * A $15 shareware contribution is requested for using the program. * The author retains the sole right to sell the program. * The author grants users the right to copy and distribute the program within the following constraints: - All program files remain unaltered and are distributed en masse. - Only the original "non-cloned" version of the program with the startup/termination and drive change time delays is distributed. - No attempt is made to sell the program, or to make money from it or any modified version of it. - The program is not bundled with any other hardware/software transactions without the author's permission. - Recognized users' groups may charge a maximum $5 duplication or distribution fee. * Continued use of the program (more than 2 weeks) by any individual, corporation or institution without a single-user or site license is prohibited. * A Single-User License (no disk) is obtained by sending in the $15 shareware contribution. This assumes you already have the program and are registering it so that you can "clone" a copy without the time-delay. The "cloning" information is provided to the user as part of the registration. * A Single-User License with a disk (5.25" 360k only) of the latest version of the program can be obtained from the author for $25. * Corporations and other institutions (including government and educational) which desire using the program should refer to the "DS_SITE.LIC" file for site licensing information. - 12 - ------------------------------[ DISCLAIMER ]-------------------------------- The author disclaims all warranties expressed or implied as to the quality or performance of this program. The author will not be held liable for any lost profits, lost savings or any other direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages resulting from the use of this program. Your use of this program constitutes your agreement to this disclaimer and your release of the author from any form of liability or litigation. - 13 -