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Atari Mega Archive 1
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Atari Mega Archive - Volume 1.iso
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diskutil
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dirsort.lzh
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DIRSORT.TXT
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1990-09-29
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#######################################################################
# File: DIRSORT.TXT #
# #
# DDD IIIII RRRR SSSS OOO RRRR TTTTT #
# D D I R R S O O R R T #
# D D I R R S O O R R T #
# D D I RRRR SSS O O RRRR T #
# D D I R R S O O R R T #
# D D I R R S O O R R T #
# DDD IIIII R R SSSS OOO R R T #
# #
# Documentation for DIRSORT #
# #
# Author: Andrew Dawson #
# Last Modified: 28th May 1990 #
# #
#######################################################################
Introduction
============
With the ever increasing number of AUTO-folder programs becoming available,
along with the requirement that some are loaded before others, management
of the AUTO folder has started to become a tedious process. The only way
to re-order it is to copy everything to another folder, delete everything,
and copy everything back again. As the ST Desktop copies in alphabetical
order when several files are selected, this usually has to be done on a
file by file basis.
DIRSORT was written in an attempt to put an end to this by providing a
means of rearranging the order of files in a directory. I am sure it is not
the only program of its kind, although I have yet to see a program that
supports a GEM interface and works with hard disks (particularly with
sectors of >512 bytes) and works on all versions of the operating system.
In fact, DIRSORT is not restricted to the AUTO folder - it can alter the
order of any directory. This should make it possible to select the running
order of graphics "slideshow" programs, and possibly the loading order of
Desk Accessories (I'm not sure about this last one, as I'm not sure what
criteria GEM uses to determine the loading order).
Starting DIRSORT
================
Double click on DIRSORT.PRG. After a short delay, a display of the top level
directory of the current drive will appear, along with a menu bar at the top
of the screen.
Changing the Order of Files
===========================
The position of a file in the directory is changed using a drag operation.
Click on the name of a file. The mouse pointer will turn into a hand-shaped
pointer and an outline will appear around the directory entry for the file.
Keeping the mouse button pressed, drag the outline to the desired position
for the file. Release the mouse button.
NOTE: When editing a folder, the first two entries will be "." and "..".
It is strongly advised that these are left at the top of the list.
Moving Up and Down the Directory Structure
==========================================
Double clicking on a folder causes the directory for that folder to be
displayed for re-ordering. You will asked if you wish to save any changes
made to the current directory if it has been changed. Double clicking on
the ".." entry goes back up a level to the folder above. (You can also
click on the "." entry if you like, but this simply re-reads the directory
currently being edited.)
Desk Menu Options
=================
About DIRSORT
This reports the version number of DIRSORT being used
Any installed desk accessories are also available. Do NOT use any Desk
Accessory that creates files or folders in the directory currently being
edited. This could cause disk corruption to occur.
File Menu Options
=================
Select Drive
A list of drives appears. Select the appropriate drive and click OK.
This will always re-read the disk, and should be used after changing the
disk in a drive.
Write Directory
This writes the directory being edited back to disk.
Quit
Self explanatory.
Sort Menu Options
=================
Sort Directory
Although most directory re-arranging will probably be done manually, it
is also possible to sort the entries by Filename, Extension, Size or
Date in either ascending or descending order. There are some constraints
on the resulting order:
Volume labels are always placed first if present (there should be no
more than one of these, and it should only appear in the root
directory - unfortunately, there are a few badly-behaved volume
labelling programs out there!).
Folders come next, in the selected order. The special entries "." and
".." will always be placed first.
Next come standard files, again in the chosen order.
Deleted files and folders are placed at the end of the list.
Limitations & Possible Problems
===============================
This program has been tested under TOS versions 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 with
a variety of floppy disk formats, plus a hard disk using AHDI 3.0 (including
large sectors).
Some floppy disk formatters don't seem to zero the directory properly, which
may lead to a large number of "Deleted files" appearing at the end of the
directory listing. This shouldn't be a problem.
There is a limitation of 32K on the size of the directory buffer, so it
may not be possible to edit directories containing several hundred files.
FREEWARE
========
This software may be freely distributed. The documentation must be included
in any distribution. Only not profit distribution is allowed.
Disclaimer
==========
As this software is made available free of charge, it is provided on an
"as-is" basis, without warranty of any kind, including any implied/explicit
suggestions of usefulness for any purpose. Use this program only if you
are willing to assume all risks, and damages, if any, arising as a result,
even if caused by negligence or other fault.