Index Maker 3.0 is a major upgrade over Index Maker 2.0. It represents a complete re-write of the program that not only adds new features, but speeds performance by up to 20 times. The main new features included with Index Maker 3.0 are:
•••• Overview ••••
• Index Maker is now from 10 to 20 times faster than version 2.0.
• With version 3.0, you may select one or more volumes to index, rather than all mounted volumes. This is especially useful for users of removeable media such as Syquest and Bernoulli drives. You can also now eject disks and insert new ones from within Index Maker.
• Version 3.0 can catalog up to 10,000 files/folders in a single pass (memory permitting), over multiple volumes if so selected, and will find files in folders up to 20 levels deep. As before, file-in-folder depth levels are indicated by “>” characters, one per level inside folders.
• You now have the option of including the file type and creator codes, the file size, and the date and/or time of last modification in the index created, in any combination.
•••• Printing Enhancements ••••
• When index listings are to be printed, you can now select the font and size with which the listing will be printed. Index Maker will automatically format the printing into as many columns per page as possible. Folders are underlined, and root directory folders are in bold face.
• Page headers are added showing the volume name and page number. In addition, the first page of each volume index will show the date and time the index listing was created, how many files and folders are in the volume, and the number of bytes used and bytes free on the volume. Each volume indexed will start on a new page, with a new first page header.
•••• How to Use Index Maker ••••
Index Maker 3.0 is very easy to use. Simply select a volume or multiple volumes to index, select the indexing options you wish to have included, and then select either Save or Print from the File menu.
If you select Save, Index Maker will create an ASCII text file on the disk you specify in the standard Save dialog, containing an index of the volume or volumes you have specified. At the end of the index listing, a summary of the number of volumes, files and folders indexed will be added.
If you are indexing a single volume, Index Maker will offer a default file name of “Index of <Volume Name>”. If you are indexing multiple volumes, Index Maker will offer the default file name “Disk Index - <Date>”.
Indexes in ASCII format are suitable for importing into a word processing or page layout program. For instance, to create an index of several disks—such as removable media—in a single file, you could use a word processor to merge several index files, remove the leading level indicators with the search-and-replace function, and then sort the files alphabetically.
If you select Print, Index Maker will format the index data for printing. You can first select a font and size for the index printout.
•••• How Index Maker Works ••••
When you have made your selection and selected either Save or Print, Index Maker begins reading the directory information on the selected volume(s). It reads all information into memory, and then scans through it, formatting it either for saving as an ASCII file or for printing. While it scans the volume(s), it will present a progress indicator bar showing how far along it is for each volume.
It then either saves the data to disk or prints it, according to the command you used to start the process.
If you want to create both a disk file and a printed index, you’ll have to issue two separate commands, and Index Maker will scan the volume(s) over again. This should pose no real problem, due to Index Maker’s speed. For instance, during testing, Index Maker 3.0 scanned 180 Mb spread over three hard disks in less than a minute and 20 seconds.
•••• About Index Maker 3.0 ••••
Index Maker 3.0 has undergone extensive beta testing by more than 1,000 users prior to its release, and should perform very well under any configuration and circumstances. Please rest assured that under no conditions does Index Maker alter any directory information on your disk. The only time it opens a file for writing is after the selected volume(s) have been scanned, when the Save menu item has been selected.
Index Maker was developed and tested on a Mac IIci with 8 Mb memory and an internal 80 Mb hard disk, a Micron 128K cache card, an Apple 8•24 GC card driving an Apple RGB monitor, an external 60 Mb SuperMac hard disk and a Flipper 44 Mb Syquest cartridge drive. It has also been tested on a Mac IIfx with 32Mb memory and a Fujitsu 620 Mb hard disk, and on a Mac Plus with 2.5 Mb of memory and a SuperMac 40 Mb hard drive.
It has been tested under both the Finder and MultiFinder with a full compliment of CDEVs and INITs, including AfterDark, ATM, QuickKeys, SoundMaster, SunDesk, Virex, and many others. Print testing has been done with a LaserWriter Plus.
This release version of Index Maker is 32-bit clean, and is System 7.0 compatible. The two main changes since the beta releases are that the file type/creator option has been added, and that the Desktop file of a drive is no longer included in the index.
•••• An Obligatory Note on the Shareware Concept ••••
There are two reasons Index Maker 3.0 came about. The primary one was that, like the earlier versions, I needed it myself. The second was that I needed a new project with which to become familiar with a new CASE program—Chris Stasny’s excellent Program Generator II.
The one reason that can be completely excluded was experience with the shareware concept.
Since the original Index Maker and Index Maker 2.0 were released, well over 1,000 people have downloaded them from CompuServe and Genie, and I can only guess at how many copies have been distributed by other BBSs and public domain disks.
The beta version of Index Maker 3.0 has also been downloaded by more than 1,000 people from various services, and has been included on numerous user group shareware disks.
Of all of those people, the number who have sent in their shareware fees is so low that it’s too embarassing to relate.
Now I must admit that I’ve been guilty myself. There are shareware programs I’ve downloaded that I’ve used once or twice, but that really haven’t made use of because they didn’t do much for me.
On the other hand, there are some great shareware programs for which I’ve happily sent in my fee. The key factor is that if a program proves useful, its developer deserves support.
My challenge this time around was to make Index Maker 3.0 so useful that you’d have no choice but to support it. So here’s the deal: If you like it and use it, then send in the measly $15, and you’ll encourage me to continue to create useful software, including enhancements to Index Maker. If you don’t like it, tell me why, and I’ll try and make it better. I won’t say that this is my last shareware effort if this doesn’t produce any results, but that’s the way I’m leaning right now.
Since you’ve come this far, thanks for reading through the diatribe. Send those cards and letters (and perhaps a check) to:
