ASP Advantage 1994 2nd Q2

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Text File | 1993-11-16 | 21.0 KB | 469 lines

XFile(tm) Version 1.5 Copyright⌐ 1993 Phase 33 Digital, Inc. * DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: THIS SOFTWARE AND DOCUMENTATION ARE SOLD "AS IS" AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES AS TO PERFORMANCE OF MERCHANTABILITY OR ANY OTHER WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE ENVIRONMENTS INTO WHICH THIS PROGRAM MAY BE PUT, NO WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE IS OFFERED. GOOD DATA PROCESSING PROCEDURE DICTATES THAT ANY PROGRAM BE THOROUGHLY TESTED WITH NON-CRITICAL DATA BEFORE RELYING ON IT. THE USER MUST ASSUME THE ENTIRE RISK OF USING THE PROGRAM. ANY LIABILITY OF THE SELLER WILL BE LIMITED TO PRODUCT REPLACEMENT OR REFUND OF PURCHASE PRICE. * Program Overview: XFile is a multifunctional desktop utility designed for the Windows environment. The program can operate in user selectable "modes" which provide various file, system, and informational functions... File functions supported include file/directory deletion, re- naming, and attribute alteration. XFile REQUIRES file icons to be "dropped" onto the XFile program icon from any program, such as Windows File Manager, which supports the "Drag and Drop" functions supported by Windows Version 3.1. XFile will then process all files dragged to its desktop icon according to the the current mode and options set by the user. The program can also be set to various reporting modes which display such system information as remaining system re- sources, free memory, current system time, or current system date. The XFile icon "floats" above all other applications, continually updating the selected system function information. Additional dialog boxes, providing some hardware and system information, may also be invoked at any time. Beyond this, XFile can also be used to set the operating system time or date as well as set periodic alarms for the user. Also included is a program launcher, timed program execution, and a multi-drive file finder. Finally, all settings and selected options may be saved for the next XFile session. * Program Requirements: XFile requires Windows Version 3.1 or higher to operate. A mouse and support for "drag & drop" functions is required for the four file "modes" in XFile. * Program Installation: XFile requires only one file, XFILE.EXE, for successful op- eration. It is recommended that this file be copied to any convenient location on the user's hard disk. This text file, XFILE.TXT, contains instructional information for operating XFile, but most of the operational information is is duplicated in the online help information available within the program. * Program Operation: XFile's presence consists only of a desktop icon. As such, it has no main window. However, all program functions are accessible via the icon's menu (made visible by simply clicking on the XFile icon). Note that the icon will always display the currently active "mode" of the program; the default mode for XFile is the "disposal" mode, but users may select and save other modes for startup use. Note that the 4 file "modes" in XFile can only be utilized by "dropping" file icons from File Manager (or any "Drag and Drop" compatible program). There is no other method of importing files into XFile for processing. Since XFile allows multiple instances of itself to be running concurrently, users can run any number of XFile programs and set each to a different operating mode. It is important to note that, since only one configuration file exists, only the last open XFile program on the desktop (with the "Save Settings" option enabled) will dictate the startup settings used the next time XFile is run. However, the user may override the startup mode by using an optional command line switch (see "Command Line Switches" for more info). * Program Menu: From the icon's menu, the user may choose one of the following: * Program Mode: This selection will invoke a dialog box showing all modes as selectable buttons, with the current mode button selected. Note that any options available with the current mode may viewed and/or changed by select- ing the "Options" button at the bottom of the dialog box. The icon display state may also be toggled from within this dialog box. * Utilities: Displays a dialog box giving access to XFile's various utilities. These include the program launcher, file finder, timed events utility, system information, and specifics about XFile. * Process Files: This item is only available when the user specifies the "On Demand" option for file operations. When files are dropped into XFile, this menu item becomes active and alerts the user that files are being held for processing. * Save Settings On Exit: When this item is checked, all current XFile mode and option settings are saved. This allows users to preserve any preferred configuration for each session. * Help Index: Displays a list of topics for which help informa- tion is available. Context sensitive help is also available at most times in the program. * Move Icon: Since XFile remains (optionally) above all applica- tions during execution, this item allows an easy method to move the icon. * Close: This terminates the execution of the XFile program. * Switch To: This item invokes the resident Windows Task Manager. Note that the following hot keys will also engage the above menu items as follows: * Program Mode.................................F5 * Utilities....................................F6 * Process Files................................F7 * Save Settings on Exit (toggle)...............F8 * Help Index...................................F1 * Close....................................Alt+F4 * Switch To..............................Ctrl+Esc * Program Modes & Options: As discussed above, selecting "Program Mode..." from the XFile icon's menu allows the user to change the current program function. Note that the "Program Mode" dialog also allows the user to toggle the XFile icon display state. With the "Keep XFile icon topmost" box checked, the XFile icon will always remain "above" other windows on the desktop. The following section provides an overview of all XFile modes and encapsulated options... * File Disposal: Allows deletion of files dropped onto the XFile icon. If a directory folder from the File Manager file list is dropped onto the XFile icon, all files in the dropped directory will be deleted. Note, however, that XFile will NOT delete the files of subdirectories of the dropped directory. XFile will attempt to delete even READ ONLY files if possible, so wise use of the disposal options (below) should be employed. XFile will alert the user if it cannot delete any of the list files, optionally showing a possible error cause. Disposal Options: Confirmation options include 3 choices... 1. Always... user must confirm ALL file deletions. 2. System files only... user will only be alerted if and when a system file is to be deleted. 3. Never... user will never receive any confirmation notice before files are deleted--- careful! Display options also include 3 choices... 1. Immediately... immediately shows a list of received files and allows restoration any list files. 2. On Demand... allows files to be dropped from multiple sources and deleted only when "Process Files" is selected from the XFile menu. As in option 1, the user views a list prior to any deletions and may restore any list files. 3. Never... no file list will be shown before deletions. Note that if the user sets both confirmation and display op- tions to NEVER, files dropped onto XFile will be deleted immediately without notice! * File Attributes: Allows the alteration of file and directory attributes. XFile allows any file attribute to set or re- moved by toggling the check boxes shown for each attribute. Directories may only have the "Hidden" attribute altered; all other attribute selections will have no effect. Files and directories may be processed individually or as a group, de- pending on the options active at the time. If you need more information on file attributes, consult your DOS manual. Attribute Options: Files may be changed in two ways... 1. Individually... processes files one at a time, allowing attributes to be set or removed by simply checking or unchecking the various attribute values. Currently set attributes are checked when the dialog box first appears. 2. As a group... attributes may be set and removed for a group of files. XFile sets and removes any attri- butes checked by the user, but leaves all others unaltered. Display options... The display options are the same as those for file disposal (see Disposal Diplay Options section above). * File Renaming: XFile allows the user to rename any files OR directories. As with the other file operations, files or directories must be dropped onto the XFile icon for process- ing. Upon receipt of files, XFile sequentially prompts the user to input a new name for each file in its list. The user will receive notice if either the new name contains invalid characters or the renaming operation fails for any reason. Rename Options: Confirmation Options... The confirmation options are the same as those for file disposal. Display Options... The display options are the same as those for file disposal. * Directory Deletion: Allows deletion of directories dropped onto the XFile icon. XFile will attempt to delete all files AND subdirectories of the dropped directory; XFile will then delete the dropped directory itself. In essence, the user is asking XFile to delete the entire file "branch" below the dropped directory along with the dropped directory itself. Individual files may also be deleted using the "Directory Delete" mode. Directory Delete Options... Confirmation options include 2 choices... 1. Always... user must confirm ALL directory deletions. 2. Never... user will never receive any confirmation notice before directories are deleted--- careful! Display options also include 2 choices... 1. Immediately... immediately shows a list of received directories and allows restoration any list items. 2. Never... no list will be shown before deletions. Again, it is important to note the setting confirmation to "Never" and display to "Never" will delete directories immediately and without notice. * Free Memory: Continually reports the amount of free memory reported by Windows. Note that this figure includes any virtual memory which Windows has established. The XFile icon displays the free memory amount in kilobytes and con- stantly updates its display even as other programs operate. Free Memory Options: There are no options for this XFile mode. * Free Resources: Continually reports the available amount of system resources in percent form (as reported by Windows). As with the free memory mode, this mode also continues to update the icon's display as other programs function. Free Resources Options: The one option available for free resources permits the user to set the minimum resource percentage allowed while Windows is running. If the minimum free resource level is reached, XFile will alert the user that the threshold per- centage has been reached. Note that the resource alarm, if active, will operate no matter which program "mode" XFile is currently using. The alarm can be toggled with the button in the Free Resources Options dialog box. * Time Display: Continually updates a time display under the XFile desktop icon. The hour and minute display uses the current system time reported by DOS. Time Display Options: There are 3 options available in the Time Display mode... 1. Set Alarm... allows the user to set an alarm for a specific time. At the specified time, XFile will pop up a dialog box over any Windows tasks to alert the user. To set an alarm, the user simply selects the "Set Alarm" button and then sets the scroll bar to the desired time. Selecting the "Ok" button will set the alarm, allowing an optional message of up to 64 characters to display when the alarm is triggered. There is no limit to the number of alarms which may be set. The user may see all pending program events by selecting the "Review Timed Events" button. 2. Set System Time... allows the user to reset the operating system time. The user may move the scroll bar to the desired time and then select the OK button to effect the change. 3. Timed Execution... allows the user to set the time at which a specific program will execute. To use this option, simply set the time you wish to launch a program and then select "Ok". At that time, you will be asked to enter a program name or select one from the program launcher file list. Note that files with "associated" executables can also be launched. * Date Display: Continually updates a date display under the XFile desktop icon. Date Display Options: The only option available under the Date Display mode is the ability to reset the operating system date. The user may move the scroll bars to the desired date and then select the OK button to effect the change. * Program Utilities: Selecting "Utilities..." from the XFile icon menu will provide access to various utility and informational functions. The following section provides a brief description of each... * Program Launcher: Provides a list to hold frequently used program names or command lines to execute. Program names or paths may be typed in the edit line or "dropped" from File Manager. XFile will maintain a list of all program names, saving up to 15 entries for the next XFile session. * System Information: Provides some informational screens about the user's system hardware and software. * File Finder: Provides the user means to perform multi-drive searches for specific files or groups of files. Drives to be searched should be added to the right hand list. The file name or wildcard specification should be typed into the edit line below. After the search, XFile will display a list of all matching files, optionally providing specific information about the selected file. * XFile Information: Provides information about the current program version, file size, and path. Registration information may also be accessed here. * Timed Events: Provides user access to the "Timed" functions of XFile, including alarm setting, alteration of system time, and timed program execution. These functions are also available under the "Time Mode" options. * * * * * * * * * * * * Shareware and Registration Information * What is Shareware? XFile is offered to the user as "shareware". Essentially, this a "try before you buy" concept for software. The user may try the program for a reasonable period and gauge its suitability and usefullness. If the user finds the program to be of value and continues to use the application, he or she is expected to pay the shareware "registration" fee. Registered users are entitled to a number of benefits along with notice of any XFile news and upgrades. Since XFile is shareware, the user is encouraged to distribute the program for others to try. However, please note the XFile is copyrighted and, as such, may not be altered or modified in any way. * Registration Benefits: Users gain a number of benefits by registering XFile. Some of these benefits include: * A registration number to disable all shareware notices in the XFile application. * One free upgrade to the next version of XFile (if any). * Upgrade notices and any news releases concerning XFile. * Direct user input to the author for improvements or new features which users feel may enhance XFile. * Technical support: Users may direct any and all ques- tions via mail to the registration address found at the end of this document. Registered XFile users will receive, minimally, a 3 month period of unlimited techni- cal support. By registering, the user both promotes the idea of shareware and allows the author to maintain and upgrade the program. Note also that registered users of XFile also benefit from the mediating services provided by the Association of Shareware Professionals: "This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide tech- nical support for member's products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Rd., Muskegon, MI 49442 or send a Compuserve message via Compuserve Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536." * Registration Information: To register XFile, simply print out this document and complete the registration form below. If you do not have a printer, simply send the fee along with your name and address to the address given on the form. ************************************************************** XFile(tm) Registration Form (Version 1.5) Registration Fee: $18.00 (payable in US funds) Make checks payable to: Phase 33 Digital, Inc. Mailing Address: 1346 Remsen Rd. Medina, OH 44256 Please fill out the section below: Name:______________________________________ Address:______________________________________ City & State:________________________ Zip:_________ *************************************************************** Thanks for your support! ( "Windows" is a registered trademark of the Microsoft Corp. )