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Text File | 1987-05-02 | 10.8 KB | 217 lines

DoTil Revision 2.0 March 28, 1987 Directory utilities seem to be a popular item. Many of us spend a large proportion of our console time rooting through our disks trying to maintain some semblance or order. This means a lot of typing of obscure file names and directory paths which end up being wrong more often than not. DoTil hopes, or at least pretends, to make those file maintenance chores a little easier. DoTil will list, in alphabetical order, all files on any two directories. It will show the file size, creation date or time, and the amount of free disk space. It will copy, rename and delete files, create or delete directories and move one or more files from one directory to another. It will even do some of the things it can't do itself using the COMMAND feature. Most of the program is intuitively obvious like a good Amiga program should be. There are some points which require the inevitable clarifications. GETTING STARTED... Start the program from WorkBench or CLI. The RAM: disk is displayed in both 'windows'. The left window is the source, the right window is the destination. The copy gadget >>>-COPY->> is a not so subtle reminder of this relationship. Unlike Revision 1.0 of DoTil, Revision 2.0 will not change the location of the source and destination 'windows'. Immediately below each window are the drive gadgets. Select one to display the root directory of a disk. Files are displayed in 'white' letters, directories in 'orange'. These colors may vary depending on your Preferences. The total size of all files in the source directory is displayed above the source window. The destination window shows the space available. This value is ALWAYS zero for the RAM: disk. Select a directory in the source window by clicking on it. The directory will be loaded and displayed. Notice that the Total is updated to reflect the contents of the source directory. Also notice the path name displayed in the Source string gadget located immediately below the drive gadgets. The GP (GetParent) gadget may be used to return to the parent directory. Now select a single file in the source directory. The file is highlighted, the name appears in the Source string gadget, and the size of the file is now the Total. Total will show the total size of all selected files in the source directory. The Source string gadget will show the path AND name if only one file is selected, otherwise it shows the path only. Select some more files and note the Total size. This value may be compared to the Space Available to see if there is enough room on the destination. It does NOT take into acount any files on the destination which have the same name and will be written over. Select the Copy gadget (or use the Copy menu item) to copy the files. The Message area will display each file as it is copied, and the total number copied when the command is complete. So much for getting started. MENUS The menus provide most of the additional features of DoTil. The Windows menu allows the CONTENTS of the source and destination windows to be swapped. The contents of both windows may be made identical using the S -> D and D -> S menu items. The Actions menu items do most of the work. All files may be selected or cleared (deselected). COPY, RENAME, MOVE, and DELETE are activated here. Note that some actions require a single path (delete for example) and are only operative on the source window. See the discusion of DELETE, MAKE DIR, and VIEW below. The Options menu items allow various program options to be changed. Files are normally deselected after a command. Sometimes it is useful to leave the files selected so they may be deleted. This insures that only the copied files are deleted. Select this option using the After Copy menu item. The date or time of all files in the source or destination may be displayed, instead of the file size, using the Info menu item. Last but not least, directories may be selected rather than loaded using Select Directory. This is necessay in order to delete or rename a directory. COMMAND picks up where DoTil leaves off. The VIEW item allows ASCII or binary files to be displayed. A single file must be selected in the source window prior to using the VIEW command. This is an internal command and does not require any external files. The S to Command and D to Command concatenates the contents of the Source or Destination string gadget to the Command string gadget. The Execute item will 'Execute' the contents of the Command string gadget as if it had been typed in from CLI. This feature may be used to run ShowILBM or do an Info, without exiting to CLI. This command has some important restrictions as discussed below. MOVE and RENAME These two commands actually do the same thing. The destinction is that RENAME changes the name of a single file. MOVE changes the path of one or move files by using the AmigaDOS Rename() function. In either case, the source and destination device must be the same. To RENAME, select the file in the source window. Now select the same file (in the same directory) in the destination window. The S -> D menu item may be used to expedite getting the same path in both windows. The Source and Destination string gadgets should now contain the file name, if not, be sure that only one file is selected in each window. Now select the Destination string gadget and edit the file name. Press RETURN and select the Rename menu item. The file need not be actually selected in the destination window, as long as the paths are the same. The MOVE command is easier. Select a destination directory ON THE SAME DISK. Select as many source files as you wish and then select the Move menu item. The files will disappear from the source and appear in the destination. This is so handy for organizing disks that I rarely bother to create seperate directories until the disk becomes cluttered. Then I make whatever directories I need and move everything around as appropriate. TIPS, TRICKS and CAVEATS Coping to a New Name: Select a source and destination directory and then select a SINGLE file in the source. Select the Destination string gadget and type in the new name. Select the Copy gadget and it's done. This is really useful for changing Icons. Want to use a fancy new Drawer gadget? Select it in the source window, and then select the .info file for a directory in the destination window. No editing is necessary since the new file name will already be in the destination string gadget. Do the copy and select the .info file for another directory. If the Leave Files Selected option is on you can do this again and again until all the directories have new drawer gadgets. DELETE, MAKE DIR, VIEW These functions do not require a 'destination'. A single path is all that is needed, obviously. Only the 'Source' path is valid for these commands. This is the main reason for the WINDOWS menu list. Want to delete a file on the 'Destination' to make room for the file you are about to copy? You must make that 'window' the 'Source' first using the Swap menu item. Delete the file, and SWAP again. You are ready to copy. Manual Input: The Source and Destination string gadgets may be used to manually enter the path and file name. Do this ONLY if you are using RENAME, coping a SINGLE file, or using VIEW. Program variables are used to maintain the 'current' device and path when performing other tasks and anything you have typed into the string gadgets will be ignored. This is not much of a limitation since the whole point of DoTil is to avoid typing things. If it seems confusing, just remember: If you can select it with the mouse, do so. Otherwise, type it in. It WILL work. Standard Output: DoTil may be run either from WorkBench, or from the CLI. If the program is executed from CLI, it will use the CLI window for standard output. DoTil itself does not use the standard output except for a few hopefully never to be seen error messages. Any program executed using the COMMAND feature will use the CLI window just as if it had been run directly from CLI. If DoTil is run from WorkBench however, a little window is opened for use as the standard output. This window will be located behind DoTil, and must be made visible using the depth gadgets if you want to see what you are doing. Commands: The COMMAND feature will let you run ED or EMACS. You can do an INFO or use SHOWILBM. The program need not reside in the 'c' directory as long as you specify the path. The path for ANY data files MUST be provided because there is no 'current' directory. Most important, there is NO standard input. You can provide redirection just as you would with CLI, but unless the program performs its own input (ED,EMACS), you won't be able to enter anything. This has some drastic implications. You can use the FORMAT command, but you had better be sure you specify the proper drive because the program will go right by the ENTER RETURN prompt and start formatting immediately! Experiment with caution. Perhaps someone who understands the Execute() function can enlighten me as to how to pass the standard input along to the called program. To clear the Command string gadget, select it with the mouse and press Right Amiga X. NOTE: SHOWILBM and ARC will work from DoTil, but ONLY if it is run from CLI. I cannot explain this. Perhaps the folks at LATTICE know something I don't. I wouldn't be surprised. Limitations: You can not select files in more than one directory. A directory may only hold 150 files. The Source, Destination and Command string gadgets are limited to 53 characters. The DF2: and DH0: devices have not been tested. VIEW will not process TABS correctly, and will not advance to the next page with any accuracy. It is better than nothing. Contributions: Please send your check or money order to: Dan Franki 12306 Tomanet Trail Austin, Texas 78758 When I have the source in a condition I consider distributable, I will make it available to all. DoTil owes a lot to other peoples programs from which I have borrowed shamelessly. Send me a disk (and a little money) if you just can't wait. Last but not least, this important announcement: DoTil may be freely copied and used by anyone provided that: The party providing the copy recieves no fee or other compensation excluding club membership dues or media charges. This documentation file is included in its original form. The author makes no claims as to the suitablity or accuracy of this program. Any damage resulting from the use of DoTil is the sole responsibility of the user.