The Business Master (3rd Edition)

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ The Business Master (3rd Edition) / The Business Master (3rd Edition).iso / files / utilfile / afl / afl.doc next >

Wrap

Text File | 1992-05-02 | 12.6 KB | 331 lines

` Auto File Loader v1.3 Copyright 1991 Shareware Solutions PLEASE NOTE THE DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTIONS AND A VERY SPECIAL OFFER AT THE END OF THIS DOCUMENT! VERY IMPORTANT! INTRODUCTION The Auto File Loader program is a simple utility that I wrote because I needed it to run some music files using the TrakBlaster program. (A great PD program for those who have a SoundBlaster music board.) After adding a few features I began to realize that even though it was simple it had some interesting possibilities. Basically all it does is bring up the current directory and allow you to shell out and run any of the files with a program that you choose. For example the TrakBlaster program plays music files. The syntax for running a music file is, TRAK FILENAME.MOD. When the TrakBlaster program has finished playing a file it returns to DOS. To play another file you've got to type the command again using a different filename. This can be a real drag if you've got a lot of files, hence the Auto File Loader program. With AFL you can tag any files you like and play them one at the time or you can have the program play them randomly. WHAT GOOD IS IT... So far I've found only a few good uses for this program but when you need what this program does it's invaluable. It's most valuable use by far would be it's potential for running customized batch files that perform repeated tasks on different files or directories. 1. It's great for running music, graphic, and speech files. It's interface provides a convenient platform for running any kind of program that executes a function then returns to DOS. For example, if you use a file viewing program as the RUN file and *.* (or *.DOC or *.TXT) as the mask you could you could bring up all the documentation files then tag them all and view them one after the other. 2. In my work I support a forty node LAN with more than sixty users. If you've ever worked with a LAN and needed to add a file or make a change to a number of files in separate directories you can easily appreciate this program's potential. By setting it's file mask to *. the program will bring up all of the sub-directories in the current directory. By writing a batch file that does a simple function you can have AFL repeat the batch file for each user's personal directory. For example you might need to replace a configuration file for thirty or forty different users. To make this long, drawn out task a thing of ease you would simply write a batch file that copied the new configuration file into the users directory using the %1 parameter. (If you don't know how to pass batch files parameters you're missing out! You can make batch files do all kinds of work for you.) You would then run AFL using the *. file mask and use the name of your batch file as the RUN file. When the program displays a directory it will list all of the sub- directories. (It will also list any file names without an extension.) You can now tag any of the user's personal directory names to pass to your batch file. When you press ENTER the batch file will execute for each directory you've tagged. Quick as a wink a thirty minute job is over and you can go back to reading PC magazine. 3. AFL makes a decent platform to run programs from, kind'ov like a cheap imitation for a menu system. It's one advantage is it's ability to tag files and execute them one at the time. For example if you set the file mask to *.* (or .COM or .EXE) and the RUN file to NUL (meaning nothing, blank, etc...) you can use AFL to tag and run a few utilities. It can be a time saver if you want to go watch the tube while your PC runs CHKDSK, then a virus scanner or a disk optimization program. 4. If you use a DOS command as the RUN file such as DEL or RMDIR you can use AFL to tag files for deletion. If there's any interest at all in this program (meaning registrations) I'll try to add a feature that lets you tag programs then enter any parameters you might wish to run them with. SET-UP, INSTALLATION, ETC... When you install the AFL program on your hard disk you should copy it into a directory that can be found using the PATH command. The reason is that AFL brings up the directory of the currently logged drive. This way you'll only need one copy of AFL to run multiple configurations. That's about it for the installation. The first time you run the AFL program it will try to write a tiny little 17 byte configuration file called AFL.CFG into the currently logged drive. (If you run this program from a CD-ROM it will inform you that it could not write if configuration and carry on...) This little file stores the name of the RUN file and the file mask. The first time AFL is run this file will be empty. When you change these options from the menu they will automatically be saved. By saving the configuration in the directory the program is run in you can run AFL for different kinds of files without having to reset the file mask and RUN file. HOW TO USE AFL... The first thing you need to do is install it. (See above) The next thing to do is change to the directory you wish to run it from then type AFL and press ENTER. From the menu you should change the File Mask then the RUN file. THE FILE MASK The FILE MASK is simply tells the program what kind of files to list in it's file directory. A fike mask of *.* will display every file in the directory. A file mask of *. will display only the sub- directories and any filenames that do not have extensions. You may include a path along with the mask. THE RUN FILE The RUN FILE is the executable file you wish to pass file names of directory names to. The real power of this program is when you use a batch file to perform multiple tasks. The run file can be preceded with a path. (Note: The program automatically turns off the CAPS LOCK and NUM LOCK keys. This is necessary for the ESC key to work properly in the random file play mode.) 1. TAG FILES TO RUN Selecting this option will bring up a sorted directory using the set file mask for the currently logged directory. Use the ARROW keys to hi-light file names and the + and - keys to tag or untag file names. Pressing a letter will jump to the first filename that begins with the pressed letter. Press ENTER to execute the tagged files. 2. RUN FILES 1 AT THE TIME The second choice, Run files 1 at the time, works exactly the same as the Tag files option with one difference. This options lets you hi-light a file then press RETURN to have it execute immediately. You cannot tag files using this option. If you press a letter to jump to a file it will execute the first one it comes to having the letter you pressed. KEY FUNCTIONS Use ARROW keys, PGUP, PGDN, HOME and END keys to move around the file list. Use the + and - keys to tag or untag files. (Option #1 only.) Press any letter to jump to a file that begins with the pressed letter. Subsequent presses of the same letter will jump to the next filename beginning with the pressed letter. (The routine allways searches from the cursor down.) Press ESC to return to a previous screen. In random play mode press ESC twice to return to AFL. Press ENTER to execute the tagged or hi-lighted file(s). Press the SPACE BAR to tag or untag all files. 1. RUN ALL FILES RANDOMLY This option does what it says. It just starts executing files at random. It has limited use but can be handy for music or graphic file. It could even be used as a random selection generator. For example if you needed to randomly select individual names just put each name into a batch file that echo's each name tothe screen, set the file mask to *.BAT and the run file to null (nothing). Now when you select random play all the names will be displayed on the screen randomly. Think about it... The only thing to note here is that pressing the ESC button twice will allow you to exit the random routine. If that doesn't work pressing CTRL-BREAK will. THE LEGAL STUFF Under no circumstances shall Shareware Solutions be liable for any damages, including lost profits, savings, or any other incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of or inability to use this program, even if Shareware Solutions has been notified of the possibility of such damages, or for any claims by any other party. Copyright (C) 1991 Shareware Solutions. SHAREWARE SOLUTIONS PRICING - REGISTRATION That's about it. It's a simple program that does a simple job but if you ever need it it's simply invaluable. So If you use this program in any kind of environment that makes your life a bit easier it ought to be worth a few bucks, say about $10.00 for a registered version and a clear conscience. If you decide it's worth something you can send your registration payment to: Shareware Solutions Michael L. Wester Route #6 Box 34 Fuquay-Varina, N.C 27526 DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTIONS This is a shareware program. This means share it! You are free to distribute evaluation copies to anyone you choose. Disk vendors are also encouraged to include this program in thier catalogs. The only restriction (and this is very important) is THIS PROGRAM MAY NOT BE DISTRIBUTED ON A CD-ROM (compact disk) MEDIUM WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR. Please note that we WILL persue litigation if this copyrighted program is found on a CD-ROM without our permission. SPECIAL OFFER! By the way, Shareware Solutions is a small business running a shareware software library that offers over 2800 of the latest, greatest and absolute best shareware programs available. (We also sell our entire library on CD-ROM! The CD-ROM version contains a complete database of the entire library complete with descriptions, the ability to print labels, the automated ability to format disks and copy programs at the same time and a NO ROYALITY distributable catalog so you can start your own shareware business. It's great for computer store owners and entrepreneurs! You get one of the best libraries available and a complete buisiness with almost no effort! If interested call us at (919)-552-0767.) We sell copies of shareware programs for only $3.00 per disk! Buy 5 get 1 free! You ask yourself, why should I buy this stuff when I obviously can get it for the cost of a download? Well right off hand I can only think of a few reasonably decent reasons. 1. If you're calling long distance it'll be cheaper than downloading large files. 2. All of our files have been tested. We cull the junk! 3. We're an ASP APPROVED VENDOR! We get the latest software straight from the gurus who write it. 4. We offer a FREE disk catalog! It has full, honest descriptions, program requirements, and evaluations of what we choose to be some of the best shareware available. Did you know there are over 75,000 shareware and public domain programs? Do you really have time to check them all out? Did you know that over 50% of shareware registrations are made through vendor sales? If you're a shareware author and would like to have your program distributed in our catalog, send us a copy! We'll evaluate it and if it's not too common and of a good quality we'll put it in the catalog. (If there are a zillion other programs that do what your's does your's will have to be better.)