The main purpose of this program is to let you create partitions, and/or to format existing partitions, on Hard Drive(s). It has full support for a second Hard Drive.
While other utilities, select a default cluster size (based on partition size), TSUtil gives you a unique option, to select this size at your own choice.
By selecting the size of the cluster to best fit the size of your files in that partition, you may improve very much the speed of your PC, when read/write files.
Enclosed is a file called "REFRESH.EXE". If you are running MS-DOS VER 3.3 then, this file has to run every time you start you computer. Failing to do so, may result in loss of data on drive(s) formatted with a bigger cluster size. If you run MS-DOS VER 5.0 or later, then you do not need to run this program. For your convenience, "REFRESH.EXE" can be used to increase cluster size on a RAM Drive (if one is installed). To do so run:
"REFRESH.EXE ss"
Where 'ss' can be: 16,32 or 64
NOTE: If you have more then one
RAM Drive, you can change
the cluster size of all by
adding inline values.
EX: REFRESH 64 32 64 - This
will change 3 RAM drives.
Calling REFRESH with parameters
will change only RAM Drives.
If you are running DOS 3.3 then
run REFRESH without params also.
TSUtil.ZIP contains following files:
TSUTIL.EXE - The program itself
TSDSK.DSK - Color/Desktop map file;
TSHELP.HLP - Help file;
REFRESH.EXE
README.1ST - Information about TSUTIL
Hints:
1. Put all four files in the same
directory (suppose: C:\UTILS);
2. Add following line to your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file:
"SET TS=C:\UTILS"
Another capability of TSUtil is a full powered "DOS File Manager", which let you organize you disk(s) (Floppy or Hard Disk(s)) very easy. You can view(Text and Hex mode), edit, copy, delete, change files attribute etc, with a few key strokes or a click of the mouse. k
Finally, enclosed is code to detect and destroy "viruses". This option let you keep your computer, clean. u
TSUtil has a windows_like interface with pull down and pop up menus, dialog boxes, etc, and has full mouse support. a
NOTE: 1. This programs require an IBM PC
or 100% IBM compatible computer
AND DOS 3.3 or higher. It needs
at least 300 K of memory to run
(640 is desired).
2. Extensive tests had been done
with DOS 3.3 ,5.0 and 6.0(and
their corresponding PC DOS
versions).
This new version improves version 1.1 in many ways. REFRESH can change the cluster size of more then one RAMDRIVE(if installed) e.g.
REFRESH 64 32 64
will change the cluster size as: Z
- First Ram Disk --> 64
- Second " --> 32
- Third " --> 64
"DOS File Manager" has new options now to do a security format(filling up the partitions with 0). File delete feature can do normal delete(and the files can be recovered if not overwritten), and security delete which will fill all sectors occupied by the file with 0. Then the entry in the directory is erased. If you delete a file in this mode there is no way to ever recover it. Tagging a file will not only change the color file is displayed, but also will print a special character next to its name. The algorithm to detect partitions on HDs was improved. The program does a better job in detecting RamDrives and compressed drives. Version 1.2 adds more ways to see the files on display. You can display for every file, the Time, Date, Size and Attributes.
Command line options:
1. "TsUtil /m" will go directly to
'DOS File Manager'
2. "TsUtil /p" will go directly to
'View/Format Options'.
Press <TAB> key to select the highlight bar. Select it by pressing <Enter>
Register
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY
THIS SOFTWARE IS SOLD "AS IS" AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES AS TO PERFORMANCE OR ANY OTHER WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. BECAUSE OF VARIOUS HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE ENVIRONMENTS INTO WHICH THIS PROGRAM MAY BE PUT, NO WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE IS OFFERED. THE USER MUST ASSUME THE ENTIRE RISK OF USING THE PROGRAM. NEITHER THE AUTHOR NOR ANYONE ELSE INVOLVED IN CREATING, PRODUCING OR SELLING OF THIS PROGRAM, SHELL BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THIS PROGRAM. )
Press ESC to put this help screen away.
Register Info
This product is a shareware.
The registration fee is $24.95 and when
you register your copy you will be
regularly notified of future updates AND
they are free. Also, after registration
you will receive free support.
To register your copy, please follow the
instructions on CompuServe, or send check
or money order for the above amount to:
George Tihenea
PO Box 1553
Manchester, NH 03105-1553
TSUtil was written in Borland Pascal
7.0 and Turbo Vision. If you send $39.95
when you register your copy, you will
receive libraries (INTERFACES & '.TPU'
files) with most of low level procedures
and functions used in this program. Among
them you will find functions to read/write
sectors using DOS or BIOS interrupt calls.
You can use them in your programs.
Some sources also available.
For any contact or help with TsUtil please
use e-mail on CompuServe(CS_ID: 74660,1613),
or write to the above address.
Cluster
A cluster is, the minimum allocation unit used by DOS, to keep information in files on disk. That means that even 1 byte file, will occupy on the disk one cluster. Z
Cluster normal size selected by DOS when you 'FORMAT' the partition, is 4, 8 or 16 (for big partitions - DOS 5.0) sectors. However, with TSUtil, you can select a 16, 32 or 64 sectors size for any partition. So, if you have in a partition ("C", "D", etc) a few files, but they are very large (Megas of bytes - like in many SpreadSheet or dataBase applications), then selecting a size of 16, 32 or 64 sectors/cluster, will drastically reduce the number of FAT(File Allocation Table) readings, and will speed up I/O operations. Also, increasing the cluster size reduces the chance of file fragmentation.
(System) menu
(Alt-Spacebar)
The System menu appears on the far left of the menu bar and is represented by the
symbol. (
When you pull down the
menu, you see
About DosVer
Exit
About
When you choose the About command from the
(System) menu, a dialog box appears, showing copyright and version information. G
To close the box, press Esc, Space, or Enter, or click the OK button.
Dos Version
The Dos Version menu item, let you see the version of DOS you are using.
Exit
(Alt-X)
The Exit menu item quits the program, and return to DOS prompt.
Disk
(Alt-D)
The Disk menu contains: l
A Format/View command which
let you format or view the existing
partitions on your Hard Drive(s).
A Partitioning command, to
create (or change) the partitions on
your Hard Drive(s).
A Transfer DOS command, to copy the
operating system from boot drive
(DOS > 3.3), or default drive
(DOS = 3.3) to the drive you
have selected in the dialog box.
A Virus command which let you
do an in_deep search for computer
viruses.
Disk
Format/View
(Ctrl-F9)
This item brings up first, a dialog box with: |
A cluster of Check Boxes with all your
partitions. You can select one or more
partitions you want to Format/View.
A cluster of Radio Buttons, where you can
select the type of operation you want to
perform: View or Format.
[ OK ]
Button, which means "I'm set, go ahead".
<Enter> is seen as "OK".
[Cancel]
Button, which means "Abort operation,
restore previous settings".
<ESC> is seen as "Cancel".
NOTE: The drive letters you see in this box
corresponds to existing partitions on
your HD(s). If you have a compression
program(DOUBLESPACE, etc), the drive
letters may be changed.
Once you press "OK" button, the dialog box will be closed, and on the screen will be shown a window with information about partition(s).
If you did choose "Format" operation, another dialog box will be open, and you can select here, the cluster size. By pressing "OK" button, formatting will start, else (pressing "Cancel") will abort. If, while formatting, you decide to abort it, then press Ctrl_Break and the old structure of partition will be restored without loosing any data. Once the formatting is ready, all your data are lost ! (The data are lost if partition size is bigger then 32M, even if you have pressed "Ctrl_Break", while formatting). Once you have finished the "format" operation, quit the application and reboot the computer by pressing <Ctrl> - <Alt> - <Del> from DOS prompt.
Disk
Partitioning
(F4)
This item leads you to an easy_to_do partitioning of Hard Drive(s). Remember, if you choose to go to the end with this option, all your data on Hard Drive(s) will be lost. So, be sure you know what you are doing.
TSUtil gives you a unique option to make partitions on your Hard Disk(s) AND format them, in one single step. At the end, the computer will reboot, to let DOS know the new structure of Hard Disk(s).
Disk
Virus
(Ctrl-F10)
This item puts on your fingertips a powerful tool to explore directories(or an entire partition at a time), hunting computer viruses. These(viruses), can damage your programs, if not detected and destroyed in time. The program will check at the begging, the Master Boot Partition for MichelAngelo virus. If this virus exist, then the program will let you, either destroy the virus, or "vaccinate" it (make the virus inactive, but keep it on disk). %
Q - Why should I vaccinate a virus,
instead of deleting it ?
A - Sometimes is better to only
vaccinate a virus because,
almost all viruses check the
program/disk for a copy of
itself. If one exists, then
the virus will not strike
again.
File (Alt-F)
The File menu offers choices for Files Handling, Changing Directories, and Dos Shell. '
Files
Handler
Change
Shell
DOS Files Manager
(F3)
'DOS Files Manager' gives you full control over all files in your computer. This complex dialog box consists from:
Input
Line - Where you can type a mask
for files to be displayed (wild characters are
accepted, e.g. '*.*', '*.TXT', etc).
Directory List
This List Box is where you will have
displayed all files which meet the mask
from 'Files Mask'. You have options to
Copy, Delete, View(text_mode or hex_mode),
Rename, Print or Edit (up to 64K size) a
file. Also the program lets you change file
Attributes, or Create a Sub_Directory.
'Copy' and 'Delete' options will work on
focused file, or on all selected files.
A file can be selected/deselected by
pressing <Space Bar> or double click from
the mouse. ALL files can be selected by
pressing <Ctrl> + <Space Bar>, or
deselected with either <Alt> + <Space Bar>
or <Shift> + <Space Bar> (The latter is
useful if you run TSUtil from a DOS
box under Windows, in which case
<Alt> + <Space Bar> cannot be used).
To use "xCopy"(extended copy) or "Erase",
first select the directory you want to
copy/erase, and then press the button.
"Options" button let you select some
global settings of how TSUtil will work.
You can select the path to be displayed,
how the deletion will be done, etc.
Hint - If you want to focus a file,
type in its name. As soon as
you start typing, the highlight
bar will start moving to matching
files !
- Same thing for directories, except
that you must hold down shift
key while typing first letter
of directory name.
Info Panel - Here you have information
about focused file in 'List Box'.
A number of Buttons with obvious purpose.
All these options are available from 'DOS Files Manager', by pressing <ALT> key followed by highlighted letter. An alternative is to press <TAB> key to focus the desired option, and then press <Enter>. Z
If you have a mouse, the selection of an option is even easier: Just "Point'n Click" it.
Input Line...
Input Line is where you can type in a value.
Usually, an Input Line has attached a history list box with previous entries, using
icon. You can bring up the history list box by pressing down arrow key or mouse click. Then select the desired entry and press <Enter>.
Sometimes an Input Line may have attached using
icon, a directory tree. By pressing up arrow you can navigate through all drives and subdirectors.
File Attributes...
This Dialog Box lets you view/change files attributes.
It consists from: B
Check
Box cluster where
you can set/unset file attributes.
Standard [ OK ] and [Cancel] buttons.
List Box
A List Box is a complex window which displays a collection of elements, from which you can select a specific one by moving the highlight bar with arrows keys and press <Enter>, or by pointing the mouse and click. If there are more elements then a screen full, then you can do scroll. Some List Box may have scroll in two dimensions.
Copy Files
Copy Files Dialog Box consists of:
Input
Line where you
must type the destination path,
(and a new mask, if you want to
copy file(s) under a different name);
Cluster of two check
boxes
1 - Prompt on replace; is checked ON by
default. If destination file exists,
then you will be asked if you want to
replace it.
2 - Changed files; will copy only files who
were changed from last copy.
3 - Make directory; is checked OFF by
default. If destination path does not
exist, then if you check ON this box,
the path will be created, and then the
file(s) will be copied.
Standard [ OK ] and [Cancel] buttons.
Make Directory
Make Directory Dialog Box consists of:
Input
Line where you
must type the full path to directory,
you want to create. The program will
create ALL directories needed.
Example: If you type in the following:
"F:\MYDIR1\MYDIR2\MYDIR3\", and
"MYDIR1" & "MYDIR2" does not exist on
drive 'F:', then first "MYDIR1" will be
created, then "MYDIR2" under "MYDIR1" and
finally the program will create "MYDIR3".
Standard [ OK ] and [Cancel] buttons.
File
Change Dir...
Change Dir brings up the Change
Directory dialog box, in which you can change the current directory.
File
DOS Shell
With the DOS Shell command, you can leave the program temporarily to perform a DOS commands or run other programs. 9
To return to this program, type EXIT at the DOS prompt.
File Viewer
A file viewer views the contents of a file. a
Up Move up one line
Down Move down one line
Right Move right one column
Left Move left one column
PgUp Move one page up
PgDn Move one page down
Home View right most column of the file
End View left most column of the file
Ctrl-PgUp View top of file
Ctrl-PgDn View bottom of file.
File viewers can be resized and moved using the mouse. You can choose to view a file either in Text_Mode or in Hex_Mode.
Edit File
This is a fast, 64K editor. 2
To do a search in the file, press <Ctrl> + <QF>. <
To do a search & replace in the file, press <Ctrl> + <QA>. &
To move a block, follow these steps:
Put the cursor at the beginning of the block,
then hold down <Shift> key, and press
arrow keys to select the desired block.
Press <Ctrl> + <Insert>, to move block in
Clipboard.
Put the cursor on the location where you
want to insert block, and press
<Shift> + <Insert>.
Delete - Press <Delete> key to delete the
character with the cursor.
- Press <Ctrl> + Y to delete a line.
- Press <Ctrl> + QY to delete to the
end of line.
Check Boxes
A Cluster of check boxes may look like this: s
Valid Drives
[X] C
[ ] D
[X] E
[ ] F
Usually check boxes are used inside a dialog box. You can select as many (or as low) check boxes as you want at a time. One check box can be selected by focusing the cluster with <TAB> Key, followed by selecting the desired option with arrow keys. Once the focus is on the option, press <Space Bar>. If you have mouse, just point'n click. If there is a highlight letter, then press <ALT> and that letter.
Radio Buttons
A Cluster of radio buttons may look like this:
Cluster Size
) DOS Default
( ) 16
( ) 32
( ) 64
Usually, radio buttons are used inside a dialog box. They let you select one-and-only-one radio button at a time. In a cluster you can have a maximum of 65,536 radio buttons. One radio button can be selected by focusing the cluster with <TAB> Key, followed by selecting the desired option with arrow keys. If you have mouse, just point'n click. If there is a highlight letter, then press <ALT> and that letter.
Window
(Alt-W)
The Window menu contains commands to close, move and perform other window-management commands.
Most of the windows in this program have all the standard window elements, including scroll bars, a close box, and zoom icons. >
For more about windows and their elements, refer to windows. :
Window-management commands
Size/Move Zoom
Tile Cascade
Next Previous
Close
Window
Size/Move
(Ctrl-F5)
Choose this command to change the size or position of the active window.
Size
If you press Shift while you use the arrow keys, you can change the size of the active window. Once you've adjusted its size or position, press Enter. Q
If a window has a Resize corner, you can drag that corner to resize the window.
Move
When you choose Window
Size/Move, the active window moves in response to the arrow keys. Once you've moved the window to where you want it, press Enter. F
You can also move a window by dragging its title bar with the mouse.
Window
Zoom
(F5)
Choose Zoom to resize the active window to the maximum size. If the window is already zoomed, you can choose this command to restore it to its previous size. {
You can also double-click anywhere on the window's title bar (except where an icon appears) to zoom or unzoom the window.
Window
Tile
Choose Window
Tile to tile all file viewers on the desktop. L
Tiled Windows
Window
Cascade
Choose Window
Cascade to stack all file viewers on the desktop. A
Cascaded Windows
Window
Next
Choose Next to cycle forwards through the windows on the desktop.
Window
Previous
Choose Previous to cycle backwards through the windows on the desktop.
Window
Close
(Alt-F3)
Choose Close to close the active window. O
You can also click the Close box in the upper right corner to close a window.
Options (Alt-O)
The Options menu contains commands that let you change color and mouse default settings.
Options
Mouse...
The Mouse command brings up the Mouse
Options dialog box, where you can set various options that control how your mouse works, including: R
how fast a double-click is
which mouse button (right or left) is
active
Options
Colors...
The Colors item brings up the Colors
dialog box, where you can customize the colors of the display.
Options
Save Desktop
Saves the state of all open windows to a file call TSDSK.DSK. This file can be reloaded by selecting Options
RestoreDesktop.
Options
Restore Desktop
Restore a previously-saved state of all open windows from a file call TSDSK.DSK. This file is saved via the Options
Desktop menu command.
Help on Open a File Dialog Box
The Open a File dialog box contains an input box, a filelist, a file information panel, the standard button Cancel, one other action button (Open), plus a history list that's attached to the Name
inputbox.
Name
The Name input box is where you enter the name of the file to load, or the file-name mask to use as a filter for the Files list box (for example, *.*).
Files
FILENM01.PAS
FILENM09.PAS
FILENM02.PAS
FILENM10.PAS
FILENM03.PAS
FILENM11.PAS
FILENM04.PAS
FILENM12.PAS
FILENM05.PAS
..
FILENM06.PAS
\MOREXAMP
FILENM07.PAS
\TOURS
FILENM08.PAS
\ANSWERS.DIR
The Files list box lists the names of files in the current directory that match the file-name mask in the Name input box, plus the parent directory and all subdirectors.
C:\TP\EXAMPLES\*.PAS
HELLO.PAS 52 Jul 14,1990 12:00pm
The File information panel shows the path name, file name, date, time, and size of the selected file. =
None of the items on this information panel are selectable.
[ Open ]
The Open button opens a new Viewer window and places the selected file in that window.
[ Cancel ]
If you choose Cancel, nothing changes and no action occurs, and the dialog box is put away. M
(Esc always cancels a dialog box, even if a Cancel button does not appear.)
[ Open ]
In the Open a File dialog box, if you choose the Open button TsUtil opens a new file
viewer and places the selected file in that window.
Help on the Change Directory dialog box
The Change Directory dialog box consists of an input box, a list box, the standard OK and Help buttons, and two other buttons (Chdir and Revert). |
Directory Name
The Directory Name input box is where you type in the path of the new directory.
Directory Tree
Drives
C:\
BP
PAS
The Directory Tree list box enables you to navigate directories by using the selecting bar and pressing Enter.
If you're using the keyboard, press Enter to make the selected directory be the current directory, then choose OK or press Esc to exit the dialog box. +
[Chdir ]
The Chdir button changes the current directory once you've selected or typed in a directory name. +
[Revert]
The Revert button goes back to the previous directory, as long as you haven't yet exited the dialog box.
Help on the Mouse Options dialog box
This dialog box consists of one check box, one slider bar, and the standard buttons OK and Cancel.
Mouse Double Click
Slow Medium Fast
The Mouse Double Click slider bar adjusts the double-click speed of your mouse. ^
[X] Reverse Mouse Buttons
Reverse Mouse Buttons makes the right mouse button take on the normal functions of the left--and vice versa. 6
See also:
Options
Mouse...
command
Help on the Colors dialog box
The Colors dialog box consists of two list boxes, a text display area, the standard OK, Cancel, and Help buttons, and one of the following:
On color and black-and-white systems, it
also contains two color palettes.
On monochrome systems, it contains a set
of radio buttons instead of the palettes.
This dialog box is where you can change the colors of different parts of this program.
Group
Desktop
Menus
Dialogs/Calc
The Group list box contains the names of the different regions of the program that you can customize. L
Item
Color
When you select a group from the Group list, the Item list box displays the names of the different views in that region.
Foreground
Background
On color and black-and-white systems, you use the Foreground and Background palettes to modify colors.
Colors
) Mono low
( ) Mono high
( ) Mono underscore
( ) Mono inverse
On monochrome systems, you use the Colors set of radio buttons systems to modify the character attributes. Q
Text Text Text
Text Text Text
On all systems, the display text (above the Help button) shows the current color or attribute settings. a
Changes do not take effect on the desktop until you close the Colors dialog box by choosing OK.
Help on the Format/View dialog box
This dialog box lets you select the partition(s) you want to act on, and the operation to be executed (Format/View). An item can be focused by pressing <TAB> key, or by using the mouse. Also, you can select any item in this dialog box by pressing <ALT-Z>, where Z is the highlighted character.
This Dialog Box contains: u
A cluster of Check Boxes with all your
partitions. You can select one(or more),
you want to act on, by:
1 - Focusing the cluster with <TAB> key,
followed by selecting the partition
with arrow keys, and checking it with
space bar, or
2 - Clicking the area with the mouse, or
3 - Pressing <ALT> and the highlighted
character.
A cluster of Radio Buttons where you can
select the type of operation you want to
perform: View or Format(on selected
partition[s]).
[ OK ]
Button, which means "I'm set, go ahead".
<Enter> is seen as "OK".
[Cancel]
Button, which means "Abort operation,
restore previous settings".
<ESC> is seen as "Cancel".
Help on the Partition(s) information
This window give you a variety of information about partition(s). If you have chosen more then one partition, then at the bottom of the window, will be displayed two icons, where you can click the mouse, or use keyboard to display information about next/previous partition. 6
At the bottom of the window there is an icon called:
DPB-Info/*
If you click it or press '*', then an additional window is opened with information about the Device Driver selected in main window. 6
NOTE: The drive letter displayed in 'DPB-Info/*' may
not be the same with the letter shown in the
main window. This means usually that on the
partition you have one or more compress drives.
The drive letter in 'DPB-Info/*', is the letter
under which DOS see that drive.
Help on Format Dialog Box
This dialog box let you select the cluster size you want to format current partition. You can choose between 'Default', '16', '32' and '64' sectors per cluster. If you select 'Default' then, TSUtil will format the partition as DOS_Format command should do it.
You also, have the possibility to check "DOS on" Check Box. If this is selected, and partition to format is "C", then the operating system will be transferred from "A" drive to "C" drive.
Help on Explore Directories
This powerful feature lets you browse through all your sub-directories in a partition. Use arrow keys or mouse to select a sub-directory. Press <Enter> or double click the mouse to select it. If you select first entry, then a list of ALL partitions on hard drive(s) & floppy drives("A" & "B") will be displayed(RAM Drives are included).
Options Dialog box
This Dialog box let you select some global settings which affects the way TsUtil works. You can select: 6
What path to be searched for matching
files.
What files to include.
How to do the delete operation.
If you have selected 'Wipe' option,
once a file is deleted, there is no
way to recover it.
You can display file's Size, Time,
Date and Attributes by toggling the
corresponding flag.
Extended Copy Dialog box
This function let you copy whole directory at a time. Will copy ALL files(which match the mask) in ALL directories below selected directory, replicating DIR structure. The process can be stopped at any time, by pressing
Ctrl - Break
Erasing Directory
This function let you erase ALL files (which match the mask) and sub-directories below selected DIR. The process can be stopped at any time, by pressing
(.txt)