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CVR - The Disk Cover Utility
If you work with as many diskettes as I do, you undoubtedly
have difficulty in locating an important file from time to time.
The Disk Cover Utility (CVR) is designed to simplify the task of
locating files which have been placed onto diskettes.
I have tried a lot of alternative ways to address this task,
but none of them seemed to provide the answer. One obvious solution
is to print a diskette label that contains a list of files on the
diskette. This approach has two distinct disadvantages. First, I
am just too lazy to go through the trouble of changing forms in my
printer from plain paper to labels and then back again. And I am
much too cheap to buy another printer to dedicate to this purpose.
But the main problem with this approach is that since the contents
of the diskette change frequently, I would be constantly fighting
with the problem of removing the old, sticky labels.
Another solution is to use a diskette catalogue program to
record the contents of diskettes. The problem with this approach is
that I would frequently need to locate a diskette containing some
particular file at a time when the computer was turned off. I do
not relish the idea of booting the machine just to look up the
location of a file as I am leaving for the office. In addition,
this approach does not provide a solution to the related problem of
trying to locate a diskette with enough free space to hold some new
and wonderful file I have obtained. Sometimes the computerized
solution is not the best!
These problems can be resolved by simply printing a report
showing the contents of each diskette on plain paper. This would
introduce a new problem, however, of finding a place to store the
reports. The solution I wanted would keep the listing physically
close to the diskette (like a label), but without the mess and
bother.
The result was the creation of the CVR sheet program. CVR
prints a "cover sheet" showing the entire contents of a diskette
(and the amount of free space remaining) at a glance. The CVR sheet
is about the same size as the diskette (but just a little smaller),
and is designed to be retained in close physical proximity to the
diskette. For 5-1/4 inch diskettes, it slips right into the
diskette jacket along with the diskette itself; should that be
diskette "jackette"? For 3-1/2 inch diskettes, it forms its own
jacket by folding around the diskette.
No more gummy diskette labels, and the aggravating process of
trying to remove them! No more damaged diskettes because you use a
ball point pen or other improper marking device to mark on that
label! CVR makes the process easy! CVR makes the process (dare I
say it?) fun!!!
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CVR - The Disk Cover Utility
A CVR sheet looks like this:
+------------------------------------------------------------------+
| |
| VOLLABEL or SERIAL Free: xxxxxx mm/dd/yy |
| Your title; nicely centered |
| |
| filename.ext size filename.ext size ... |
| filename.ext size filename.ext size ... |
| filename.ext size filename.ext size ... |
| filename.ext size filename.ext size ... |
| |
| \subdir\ |
| filename.ext size filename.ext size ... |
| filename.ext size filename.ext size ... |
| filename.ext size filename.ext size ... |
| filename.ext size filename.ext size ... |
| |
| |
| |
| |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+
The idea is that you print a CVR sheet for each of your
diskettes, cut along the dotted lines (the only part of the job that
requires manual dexterity and a sharp instrument), and insert the
diskette with the CVR sheet on top back into the jacket so that it
will not get lost. If you have misplaced the diskette jacket (or
are too cheap to buy diskettes that have jackets!), one alternative
is to staple the CVR sheet to the diskette; it is not likely to get
misplaced that way! This procedure is not recommended if you wish
to be able to read and change the data on this diskette in the
future, however, since the stables have this tendency to cause disk
read/write errors. This is a minor inconvenience; at least that CVR
sheet won't get lost!
CVR uses many of the fancy features of your printer in order to
produce the CVR sheets. In order to print as much information as
possible into such a small area, CVR sheets are printed at 8
lines/inch (instead of the usual 6). CVR sheets are printed using
condensed letters (about 17.1 characters per inch instead of the
usual 10). In addition, CVR will make use of the "double sizing",
"emphasizing", and "underlining" features of your printer in certain
cases to help you locate important information.
The top line of each CVR sheet consists of three important
pieces of information. First, CVR will scan the root directory of
the diskette for a "volume label". If found, this name will appear
in emphasized, double sized characters. If there is no volume label
on the diskette, CVR will use the "volume serial number" if it can
be found. (The volume serial number is placed onto a diskette when
it is formatted using DOS version 4.0 or later.) In fact, this is
the only thing that I write onto the diskette label itself; this
makes it very easy to match a CVR sheet to the physical diskette.
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CVR - The Disk Cover Utility
Next, CVR will print the total amount of free space available on the
diskette. This is shown in K-bytes unless there is less than 512 K-
bytes free; in that case, the free space is shown in bytes. Finally,
CVR will print the current date, so that you can tell how up-to-date
(or out-of-date) the information on the CVR sheet actually is.
CVR will allow you to specify a title line for each diskette.
If you give one, it will be centered on the second line of the CVR
sheet, using emphasized characters. If you don't want a title, CVR
will not "waste" a print line; it always tries to get as much
information on a single sheet as is possible.
CVR will next list the entire contents of the root directory
for the diskette. The files are listed in the order that they
appear within the directory, or you can specify that the listing be
sorted alphabetically by file name. CVR assumes that you want to
know about everything it finds; it will print all file names,
whether they be "hidden" or not! It prints the file name in the
same format that you do (FILENAME.EXT) suppressing those ugly
trailing blanks that the "DIR" program produces. Immediately
following the file name is the size of that file. Usually, the file
size is in bytes, but for really big files (over 100,000 bytes), CVR
will print the information in K-bytes; when this occurs, the file
name and size is printed in emphasized characters so that you can
readily see those big files. In certain cases, CVR will print the
file size in K-bytes if the file name contains no spaces at all, and
the size of the file exceeds 10,000 bytes.
If the diskette contains sub-directories, CVR will print the
full path name of each sub-directory, and list its entire contents
as described above. The sub-directory path names are underlined to
help identify them.
Occasionally, a diskette may contain so many entries that the
entire contents may not fit on a single CVR sheet. This is no
problem, since CVR will simply print a second, third, or (what a big
diskette!) as many sheets as necessary. Each sheet will clearly
indicate the page number, and the name of the sub-directory which is
being continued from the previous page.
For 5-1/4 inch diskettes, the CVR sheet consists of one "side"
as described above. The file names are listed in four columns.
After printing the CVR sheets, simply cut them out along the dotted
lines provided and slip them into the diskette jacket.
For 3-1/2 inch diskettes, the CVR sheet consists of two "sides"
as described above. On each side, the file names are listed in
three columns. If there are more files than will fit on the first
side, CVR will continue to side two. The sides are separated by a
handy "folding guide". After cutting them out along the dotted
lines provided, fold along the center guide lines. The CVR sheet
will now wrap around the diskette.
Page 3
CVR - The Disk Cover Utility
How to Use CVR
You use CVR just like any other DOS utility. Simply type the
name of the program (CVR) at the DOS prompt, and follow the simple
directions that appear. There are a few potential parameters for
the command, which may be specified in any order. All parameters
may be specified in either upper or lower (or even mixed) case.
Command switch parameters may be prefixed by either a slash (/) or a
dash (-) character. Parameters are scanned from left to right; if
conflicting parameters are specified, the right-most specification
will be used.
The first parameter identifies the diskette drive to be used;
the default is drive A: (this default can be changed using the
configuration procedures described later). If you wish to use a
different drive, specify the drive letter followed by a colon (:) on
the command line, such as:
CVR B:
A command switch parameter identifies the printer to be used;
the default is PRN (this default can be changed using the
configuration procedures described later). If you wish to use a
different printer, specify the printer switch parameter as follows:
CVR /PRINTER=file-specification
The "file-specification" may be any valid DOS device or file name,
which may include a drive and directory path specification; wild-
card characters, however, may not be used. The word "PRINTER" may
be truncated to as few as one character ("P"); "PRN" is a valid
alternate spelling. Note that the equal sign (=) is required to
separate the word "PRINTER" and the actual print file specification.
A pair of command switch parameters specify whether or not you
want the file list to be sorted into alphabetical order; the default
is to print the list in physical order (this default can be changed
using the configuration procedures described later). If you wish to
specify that the file list be sorted, specify the sort switch
parameter as follows:
CVR /SORT
The word "SORT" may be truncated to as few as one character ("S").
If you have configured the program to sort the list by default, you
can override this by specifying the no-sort switch parameter as
follows:
CVR /NOSORT
The word "NOSORT" may be truncated to as few as three characters
("NOS").
CVR will type simple instructions for its use when it is
invoked. You will be instructed to insert the diskette to be
printed into the selected drive, type any "title" that you wish to
appear on the CVR sheet, and to press the ENTER key. As it works,
CVR will give you short messages describing what it is doing. After
it has completed processing the diskette, CVR will ask you for the
title line for the next diskette. Insert the new diskette, type its
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CVR - The Disk Cover Utility
title, and press the enter key. For 5-1/4 inch diskettes, two CVR
sheets will printed per sheet of paper; for 3-1/2 inch diskettes,
three CVR sheets will be printed.
When you have printed all of the CVR sheets you need, press the
ESC key. The program will wait until all queued output has been
written to printer, and then eject the printer to the top of the
next page (like all good programs should!) before it terminates.
You can use Cntl-Break to terminate the program at any time.
All output queued to be sent to the printer (but not actually
printed) will be flushed. Note that many printers provide an
internal buffer; data which has already been placed into the printer
buffer will not be flushed by using Cntl-Break.
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CVR - The Disk Cover Utility
Print Output Driver
The CVR program is supplied with an interrupt driven print
driver which is used by default for standard DOS parallel printer
devices. This driver allows CVR to buffer all output to the printer
so that you can process your diskette(s) more quickly. When you
exit from the program, the driver will retain control until all
output has been physically written to the printer device.
The print driver will function properly only when communicating
with parallel device ports. These are known to DOS as device names
"PRN", "LPT1", "LPT2", and "LPT3". When print output is directed to
one of these devices, the print driver is used automatically. If
the print output is directed to any other device or DOS file name,
CVR will use standard DOS file output techniques.
If you have a serial printer and are using the DOS "MODE"
command to redirect the output going to the standard printer device
(such as "LPT1") to the serial device name (such as "COM2"), the
internal print driver will not function correctly for the redirected
device. CVR must use standard DOS file output techniques to write
to the redirected printer device. You do this by placing a colon
(:) on the end of the print device name you specify. For example:
CVR /PRINT=LPT1:
It is recommended in such a case that you set your default output
device name (with the trailing colon) within the CVR configuration
file.
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CVR - The Disk Cover Utility
How to Customize CVR
The CVR program obtains all run-time control parameters from a
configuration file named "CVR.CFG". This file must be placed within
the same disk directory as the executable program file "CVR.EXE".
The configuration file contains various default values, and all of
the special printer control codes needed to produce the CVR sheets.
The distribution file contains several example configuration
files suitable for most standard printers. When you install the CVR
program, you should also rename the appropriate configuration file
to CVR.CFG, and copy it into the same directory as the program.
The distribution file contains a customization procedure
(CONFIG.BAT) which may be used to execute a customization script to
modify the CVR.CFG file. Several example customization scripts are
provided to assist you in this process.
If you cannot find a configuration file suitable for your
printer, you can still customize CVR for your printer using the
CONFIG.BAT procedure. I will not tell you it is extremely simple,
but by carefully following the instructions below, you should be
able to customize CVR to use any printer, even that one-of-a-kind,
non-standard beast that you have. One thing you are sure to need is
that printer manual which describes the printer control codes.
Customization Using the CONFIG.BAT File:
To make modifications to the configuration file, you use the
supplied CONFIG.BAT procedure. This batch file will execute the DOS
"DEBUG" command to patch changes into the CVR.CFG file. The
procedure is easy to follow:
(1) Create configuration script file. Create (or modify) a
customized configuration script file using any text editor. The
details of the script contents are explained below.
(2) Set working directory. Make the disk drive and directory
that contain CVR.CFG the current working DOS directory.
(3) Execute the CONFIG.BAT file. Enter the DOS command to
execute the CONFIG.BAT file, specifying the name of the customized
configuration file you have created, such as follows:
CONFIG MYCONFIG
(4) Enjoy! You have completed the customization process.
Well, you might want to test it to be sure it works just right. If
not, modify the customization script to correct whatever you messed
up, and execute the process again.
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CVR - The Disk Cover Utility
Creating Customization Scripts:
Any of the configuration parameters may be specified using a
customization script. You may change any and all of the parameters
within a single script; most importantly, you only need specify
those parameters that you want to change from the current (or
default) settings.
For each configuration parameter you want to change, you will
create a DEBUG "ENTER" command to enter the new value into the
configuration file. Each ENTER command is placed on a separate
line, beginning with an "E" in column 1. This is followed by the
offset of the configuration variable to be modified (these are
supplied below). The offset is then followed by the value to be
stored for the configuration variable. Character values must be
entered within quotes (either ' or " may be used). Numeric values
must be entered using hexadecimal format (yipes!); fortunately,
there are not many cases where this will have to be used.
Following all of the "ENTER" commands, you must create a
"WRITE" command, consisting of the letter "W" in column 1. This is
followed by a "QUIT" command, consisting of the letter "Q" in column
1. Next must be a completely a blank line. Anything following this
blank line is completely ignored; this is a good place to put
comments about the configuration values you have specified.
Specifying the default diskette drive:
The default diskette drive is used if no drive parameter is
given on the CVR command. To change the default to some other
drive, use the following script command:
E 0120 drive
where "drive" is:
0 for drive A
1 for drive B
2 for drive C
...
Specifying the default file order:
CVR can print the files either in the order it finds them on
the diskette, or in sorted sequence by the file name. By default,
the files are not sorted. To change the default, use the following
script command:
E 0121 sort
where "sort" is:
0 for unsorted (physical sequence)
1 for sorted by file name
Specifying the diskette drive types:
The CVR program supports two output formats for the CVR sheets.
One format is intended to be used for 5-1/4 inch diskettes, and the
other format is intended for 3-1/2 inch diskettes. The format to be
used is selected from a configuration table which contains eight
code bytes, corresponding to disk drive letters A: through H:
respectively. To change the drive type table, use the following
Page 8
CVR - The Disk Cover Utility
script command:
E 0128 a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h
where "a" is the type of drive A:, "b" is the type of drive B:, and
so forth. Specify the drive type value as follows:
5 for a 5-1/4" drive
3 for a 3-1/2" drive
0 for anything else (such as a hard drive)
The default values are 5 for drive A, 3 for drive B, and 0 for
drives C through H.
Specifying the default printer:
The default printer is used if no printer parameter is given on
the CVR command. To change the default to some other device or file
name, use the following script command:
E 0130 name,0
where "name" is the DOS device name or file name to be used (in
quotes).
Specifying the printer initialization string:
This string of characters is sent to the printer by CVR to
initialize print processing. The codes should clear all printer
options which might conflict with the use of the features to be used
by the CVR program. It might also set some special features not
otherwise needed by the CVR program. To change its value, use the
following script command:
E 0200 string,0
where "string" is the string of characters (in quotes) or values
coded in hexadecimal to be used. The maximum length for the string
is 31 characters. If the string must contain a character equal to
hexadecimal zero, code the value as hex 80 instead.
Specifying the printer reset string:
This string of characters is sent to the printer by CVR to
reset the printer after CVR has completed all of its processing.
This code string should reset the printer to your standard settings.
To change its value, use the following script command:
E 0220 string,0
where "string" is the string of characters (in quotes) or values
coded in hexadecimal to be used. The maximum length for the string
is 31 characters. If the string must contain a character equal to
hexadecimal zero, code the value as hex 80 instead.
Specifying the physical form feed string:
This string of characters is sent to the printer by CVR to
cause your printer to physically skip to a new page. Note that
while almost all printers use the standard "form feed" character
(hex "0C") for this purpose, many buffered printers will not perform
the action immediately, but wait until the current line is
completed, typically indicated by a carriage return (hex "0D")
character. You should place the code string that physically causes
the printer to skip to a new page. To change its value, use the
following script command:
E 0240 string,0
where "string" is the string of characters (in quotes) or values
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CVR - The Disk Cover Utility
coded in hexadecimal to be used. The maximum length for the string
is 15 characters. If the string must contain a character equal to
hexadecimal zero, code the value as hex 80 instead.
Specifying the set 8 lines/inch string:
This string of characters is sent to the printer to by CVR to
cause your printer to produce 8 print lines for each vertical inch
of paper. To change its value, use the following script command:
E 0250 string,0
where "string" is the string of characters (in quotes) or values
coded in hexadecimal to be used. The maximum length for the string
is 15 characters. If the string must contain a character equal to
hexadecimal zero, code the value as hex 80 instead.
Specifying the reset from 8 lines/inch string:
This string of characters is sent to the printer by CVR to
reset the printer to its normal line size (typically 6 lines per
inch). To change its value, use the following script command:
E 0260 string,0
where "string" is the string of characters (in quotes) or values
coded in hexadecimal to be used. The maximum length for the string
is 15 characters. If the string must contain a character equal to
hexadecimal zero, code the value as hex 80 instead.
Specifying the set condensed mode string:
This string of characters is sent to the printer by CVR to
cause your printer to print condensed characters (approximately 17.1
characters/inch). To change its value, use the following script
command:
E 0270 string,0
where "string" is the string of characters (in quotes) or values
coded in hexadecimal to be used. The maximum length for the string
is 15 characters. If the string must contain a character equal to
hexadecimal zero, code the value as hex 80 instead.
Specifying the reset from condensed mode string:
This string of characters is sent to the printer by CVR to
reset the printer to its normal character size (typically 10
characters/inch). To change its value, use the following script
command:
E 0280 string,0
where "string" is the string of characters (in quotes) or values
coded in hexadecimal to be used. The maximum length for the string
is 15 characters. If the string must contain a character equal to
hexadecimal zero, code the value as hex 80 instead.
Specifying the set to double wide characters string:
This string of characters is sent to the printer by CVR to
cause the printer to produce double wide (condensed) characters
(approximately 8.55 characters/inch). To change its value, use the
following script command:
E 0290 string,0
where "string" is the string of characters (in quotes) or values
coded in hexadecimal to be used. The maximum length for the string
Page 10
CVR - The Disk Cover Utility
is 15 characters. If the string must contain a character equal to
hexadecimal zero, code the value as hex 80 instead.
Specifying the reset from double wide characters string:
This string of characters is sent to the printer by CVR to
reset the printer to normal sized (condensed) characters. To change
its value, use the following script command:
E 02A0 string,0
where "string" is the string of characters (in quotes) or values
coded in hexadecimal to be used. The maximum length for the string
is 15 characters. If the string must contain a character equal to
hexadecimal zero, code the value as hex 80 instead.
Specifying the set to emphasized mode string:
This string of characters is sent to the printer by CVR to
causes the printer to produce emphasized characters. Note that this
is not the same as "near letter quality" (NLQ) or "correspondence"
quality print mode. To change its value, use the following script
command:
E 02B0 string,0
where "string" is the string of characters (in quotes) or values
coded in hexadecimal to be used. The maximum length for the string
is 15 characters. If the string must contain a character equal to
hexadecimal zero, code the value as hex 80 instead.
Specifying the reset from emphasized mode string:
This string of characters is sent to the printer by CVR to
reset the printer to non-emphasized print mode. To change its
value, use the following script command:
E 02C0 string,0
where "string" is the string of characters (in quotes) or values
coded in hexadecimal to be used. The maximum length for the string
is 15 characters. If the string must contain a character equal to
hexadecimal zero, code the value as hex 80 instead.
Specifying the set to underlines mode string:
This string of characters is sent to the printer by CVR to
cause the printer to underline characters as it prints. To change
its value, use the following script command:
E 02D0 string,0
where "string" is the string of characters (in quotes) or values
coded in hexadecimal to be used. The maximum length for the string
is 15 characters. If the string must contain a character equal to
hexadecimal zero, code the value as hex 80 instead.
Specifying the reset from underlined mode string:
This string of characters is sent to the printer by CVR to
reset the printer to non-underlines mode. To change its value, use
the following script command:
E 02E0 string,0
where "string" is the string of characters (in quotes) or values
coded in hexadecimal to be used. The maximum length for the string
is 15 characters. If the string must contain a character equal to
hexadecimal zero, code the value as hex 80 instead.
Page 11
CVR - The Disk Cover Utility
The Pitch
There just had to be one, right?
Are you unimpressed with CVR? That's just fine with me.
Simply erase the distributed files and don't use it. Better yet,
give the files to one of your more intelligent friends (if you don't
like CVR, then you are bound to have some more intelligent friends),
so that they can get some use out of it.
On the other hand, if you find the CVR program useful to you,
and you want to keep using it, then you are honor bound (well, you
are actually legally bound) to obtain a legitimate license for its
use. That, as you will shortly see, is an extremely easy and
gratifying process. Please note that this program is not "public
domain" software. While it may be true that all of the other best
things in life are free, CVR is not; read the information on the
following page for all the legal mumbo jumbo.
Now I realize that you may be tempted to forego this process
and continue to use the program, even though this is technically
known as software piracy. Probably, you will not experience the
same fate as Mrs. Norma Witherspoon, who decided to use a program
for which she had not paid. "Who's going to know?" she was heard to
say just two days before she was rushed to the hospital after that
bizarre accident involving her car, a band of Gypsies, and the
albino albatross. This is most likely a complete coincidence.
Simply read the following license agreement, agree to it, sign
it, and send it along with the required $10.00 license registration
fee (cheap at twice the price) to the following address:
Larry J. Bristol
10002 Old Towne Lane
Sugar Land, TX 77478
If you should happen to create a customized configuration file for a
printer not included in the distribution files, and you are willing
to share that file with other users, it will be most appreciated.
Please send a listing of the configuration parameters along with
your registration; if you happen to be the first to provide such a
configuration for your printer type, I will gladly refund your
license registration fee (as well as give you full credit for that
configuration file in future distributions of the CVR software).
Page 12
CVR - The Disk Cover Utility
Technical Support and Service
Once licensed, always licensed. If you obtain a license for
version 1.40 of CVR, you are automatically licensed for all future
releases of the software.
I would appreciate any comments you might have, especially any
suggestions to make CVR more usable. Technical support is available
by calling the support BBS:
THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE
(713) 242-0504
300/1200/2400/9600 bps (v.32)
24 hours a day
Page 13
CVR - The Disk Cover Utility
The Disk Cover Utility (CVR) software is the copyrighted
property of Larry Jack Bristol, the sole author. All rights
provided by copyright are reserved. The authors of customized
configuration files included with the software are as noted in the
READ.ME file.
Individual persons are granted a limited license to use this
software for an evaluation period not to exceed 30 days. After that
period, the software may be used only after completion of the
license registration procedure, as is prescribed hereinafter. Any
fees paid to any individual or organization for the copying or
distribution of this software do not constitute a license.
Business and government organizations may use this software
only after completion of the license registration procedure as
prescribed hereinafter. Any fees paid to any individual or
organization for the copying or distribution of this software do not
constitute a license. Site licensing is available for organizations
wanting to use the software on multiple computer systems.
The software may not be modified in any manner for any purpose.
Customization of the configuration parameters may be performed only
in the manners prescribed within the program documentation. Any
modification of the software or configuration parameters does not
constitute a new, original work, and the rights of the original
author still apply.
The software may be copied and distributed ad lib, and without
license, only insomuch as the author's copyright notice and
disclaimers of warranty are reproduced in full, and that the file(s)
are distributed only in the original, unmodified form provided by
the author. No fee may be charged for copying or distributing this
software without the expressed, written consent of the author.
This program is supplied as-is and the author disclaims all
warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the
warranties of merchantability and the warranties of fitness for any
purpose.
Page 14