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1997-03-04
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=============================
DiskEase v1.11
=============================
(C) Copyright Simon Page 1996, 1997
Important Information
---------------------
DiskEase is not a Public Domain program and is not free. DiskEase
is Copyright (C) 1996, 1997 by Simon Page. DiskEase is a shareware
program that is provided for a 21 day trial period. You are
permitted to use DiskEase during the trial period to evaluate its
suitability for your requirements.
If you wish to continue to use DiskEase after the 21 day trial
period, you MUST register the program. See the section on
registration for more information or select registration from
the programs menu.
What is DiskEase ?
------------------
DiskEase records details of the files (all or matching user
criteria) found from any given path on a drive for later viewing,
comparing and searching. DiskEase 'scans' the selected path
recording file names and all details along with a description
and the disk label and serial number. DiskEase has extensive
options for file selection/exclusion, options for scanning
sub-directories, hidden/system directories and into ZIP files.
Once a scan is complete, it is stored and added to a catalogue
of existing scans which can then be used for:
1. Viewing in a display similar to the way most file
manager programs display the current contents of a
drive. Selected parts of the scan can be printed out
for reference.
2. Searching for files/directories using a file mask with
wildcard characters and by date, time, attributes etc..
The searching can be of a specific scan, scans of a
specific drive letter, scans of a certain type of drive
or all scans. The results can be viewed or printed.
3. Comparing with each other or with a current disk. The
comparing function can find all differences or selected
types of change such as time, size, attributes, new or
deleted. The results can be viewed, printed and stored.
Stored comparisons can be re-opened and used to remove
unwanted NEW files from disks.
DiskEase is ideal for:
1. Cataloguing removable media such as CD ROMs so
that useful files can be located easily.
2. Removing files added by new programs. Obviously
DiskEase can do nothing about files that have been
modified or deleted but it enables selected removal
of new files and details of the other changes.
3. Finding misplaced files on non-removable media
without using traditional tools that have to keep
physically checking a disk for every search you
make which can be very time consuming especially
on slow/network drives. In comparison DiskEase
can check thousands of files per second for your
search criteria.
4. Comparing directories/disks enabling file differences
(size, attributes, date, time, new, deleted) and
directory structure changes to be easily identified.
DiskEase is written so that most tasks can be carried out without
having to close other viewing, searching, etc windows. Additionally,
once a search is started it is carried out in the 'background'
enabling multiple searches to be in progress at the same time or
using other parts of the program while the search is in progress.
There are real and protected mode versions of DiskEase. The real
mode version can only use the free RAM in the first 640K (and
any available expanded memory for certain operations such as
sorting). The protected mode can use as much extended memory as
is available which improves the speed of sorting scans and allows
more search / comparison results to be found. However, if you want
to keep DiskEase on an emergency/handy tools disk, the real mode
version is slightly smaller and does not need the two DPMI files
listed below.
Files
-----
RTM.EXE Borland redistributable DPMI file (See note 1)
DPMIBI16.OVL Borland redistributable DPMI file (See note 1)
DISKREAL.EXE Real mode version of DiskEase
DISKEASE.EXE Protected mode version of DiskEase
DISKEASE.HLP Help file
README.TXT This file
FILE_ID.DIZ Program description file
DISKEASE.ICO Icon for DiskEase
(Note 1: Only required by protected mode version)
Installing DiskEase
-------------------
=================================================================
NOTE FOR EXISTING V1.0x USERS ONLY:
DiskEase v1.1x program files can be either used to replace
an earlier version or can be installed in a different
directory with the data path set to the existing scan data.
If DiskEase v1.1x is copied to the same directory as an
earlier version of DiskEase, it will report that there was
an error loading the configuration file when it is run for
the first time. This is normal as the format of this file
has changed. Simply select OK and then select the Set data
path option and choose your existing data directory. A new
configuration file will then be created.
=================================================================
To install DiskEase simply copy all of the files to the required
directory. Then run either version of DiskEase - DISKREAL.EXE or
DISKEASE.EXE. The first time that it is run it will display a
dialog box giving you the option of creating a new catalogue
file, exiting the program or setting the location to an existing
directory containing DiskEase data files.
Select the SETUP DEFAULT option to have a new sub directory added
to the location where DiskEase is installed and a new catalogue
file created in that directory. The data directory can be moved at
a later date and the path updated in the program. All new scans
and the catalogue file will be stored in that directory.
The real and protected mode versions of DiskEase are completely
interchangeable.
Usage Notes
-----------
After exiting the protected mode version when in Windows 95 you
may get a message saying 'Microsoft Windows Pop-up Program
Support' and have to press CTRL-C to end. This is not a problem
and can be prevented by simply opening the Windows 95 properties
box for DiskEase and ticking the 'Close on exit' option on the
'Program' settings page.
If you require to shell to DOS from the protected mode version
of DiskEase to run a program that requires extended memory you
may need to limit the amount of extended memory that the Borland
DPMI run time manager uses. If it is not limited, it will
reserve all available extended memory. To prevent this type
the following at the command line before running DiskEase or
put it in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file:
SET RTM=EXTLEAVE xxxx
{ where xxxx is the amount of extended RAM in KBytes that the
run time manager should leave available }
This is not normally needed when running DiskEase from Windows.
Limitations of SHAREWARE version
--------------------------------
In the shareware version:
1. The number of scans that can be made and stored in the
catalogue file is limited to 10. The registered version
has a limit of 10,000.
2. After the 21 days evaluation period has expired you will
be regularly reminded to register but the program will
otherwise continue to work as before.
Registration
------------
To register, GO SWREG on Compuserve and enter the ID 11909
The cost is $25 (US) for which you will receive via email a
registration program that will upgrade both versions to the full
versions.
This method of registration means that if minor upgrades are
released, these can be downloaded and upgraded using your
existing registration program.
Revision History
----------------
V0.50 13/05/96
First BETA version
V0.60 01/06/96
Second BETA version
V1.00 15/06/96
First release.
V1.01 18/10/96
Bug fixed in Borland Pascal library code that would cause the
program to crash at start up on a Pentium Pro 200 or faster
machine.
Bug fixed that would allow the delete key to be used in the
Delete Scans window even when there were no scans left, causing
the program to crash.
Stack usage improved to allow up to 126 directory levels.
Currently this is more than is possible due to the current DOS
total path length maximum of 127 characters but will allow for
scanning of Windows 95 long names/paths in future revisions.
Error check added so that when the length of a complete path name
could exceed the 127 character DOS limit (as can be created with
Windows 95) a warning message is displayed. DiskEase displays this
warning when the current path length plus an 8.3 file/directory
name is greater than 127 characters. Previously a > 127 character
path could cause DiskEase to report a path not found error, miss
the deeper directories or even crash. The varying behaviour was
due to DOS 7 having different capabilities when run in and out of
Windows 95. For those interested: DOS 6 and DOS 7 (not within
Windows 95) are happy with paths up to 127 characters (apart
from CHDIR command and equivalent DOS call - 64 chars max), and
DOS 7 within W95 will change to and return paths up to 255
characters long !
V1.10 01/03/97
Bug fixed which affected PCs with a B: floppy drive. When
running the protected mode version of DiskEase with the supplied
Borland DPMI server (ie. under DOS with no other DPMI server)
the drive would not be listed in the list of drives.
A couple of minor user interface bugs were fixed.
Improved performance when scanning fast media (hard disks, fast
CD ROMS etc) for the protected mode version.
History boxes added for many text input fields.
Scanning can now start from any selected path.
Numerous scanning criteria added (inclusion/exclusion masks,
time/date options, attribute options, directory options etc).
This criteria is stored (but at present not displayed when
scans are viewed) in the scan files - see 'Planned Improvements'
below.
Zip files can now be scanned into during scanning and the paths
stored in the zip file can be recreated in the scan file for
easy viewing.
V1.11 04/03/97
Bug fixed that would cause a runtime error when selecting to view
a scan (and highlight the file or dir) found in a search window
when:
the applicable scan did not start at the root of a drive or,
if the path to the file had any directories in that have a
name extension.
Planned Improvements
-------------------
A Windows 95/NT version is under development. Development of
the DOS version will continue for the present and where possible
compatibility will be maintained between the DOS/Windows
versions data files.
This version extends the scan file format so that it stores
the file selection and directory criteria selected for
completing the scan. Currently this information is not being
displayed but the next upgrade will have a conversion program
that will upgrade DiskEase v1.0x format scan files and DiskEase
will show this information in addition to its existing scan
information. Please note that scans created by this version
can still be used by DiskEase v1.0x and vice versa.
Suggested Improvements:
----------------------
Although you can change between multiple data directories in the
current version it may be useful to have some functions to move
scans between catalogue files and directories. At present you can
move them manually, but you then have to rebuild affected catalogue
files to keep them up to date.
The facility of specifying a favourite list of drives for scanning
to enable them to be scanned as a group.
The facility to perform scans and compares via command line
parameters (useful as part of a routine backup schedule).
Other suggestions and/or votes for any of the above always welcome !
Contacting the author
---------------------
Author: Simon Page
Suggestions, comments and problems to:
Email : Compuserve 100407,2171
Snail Mail: 1 Albert Villas,
Pean Hill,
Whitstable,
Kent,
CT5 3AY
United Kingdom.