Copyright: Robert Galle, (c) March 1999
Citation: Copied from WhereIsIt? help file, (c) March 1999, Robert Galle


WhereIsIt? help index

The Ultimate 32-bit Media Catalog

version 2.00

Welcome to WhereIsIt?, and thank you for trying out this program.

About Where Is It?

Shareware version limitations

Program history, what's new

Getting started

How to use help in Where Is It?

Where Is It? basics

Where do I begin

To learn about Where Is It? user interface, click on the picture the item of interest.

Contacting the author and ordering

Contacting the author

How to order Where Is It?

Robert Galle,

March 1999


About Where Is It?

Where Is It? is a shareware program, designed to be the best media cataloging tool available on the shareware market today. Where is it? is a successor of a successful DOS program Floppy Master, extending it's capabilities to new and larger media storage devices and providing even more comprehensive access to cataloged data. Where Is It? is fully 32-bit, multithreaded program, targeted on Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0.

What can it do?

Where Is It? can store in the catalogs all the data for your media - floppy disks, CD-ROMs, removable drives - anything Windows can work with. It will scan a new media and build a picture of media and everything on it; files, folder, folder layout. Where Is It? can also browse in the content of compressed files like ZIP, ARJ, RAR etc. This way, you have in the catalog a complete media image, which you can further improve with your own descriptions and categories.

After building catalogs with images of your media, you can use a powerful search to locate items, create reports or browse disk content without having that disk available.

System requirements

• Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0 (or higher), or Windows 98 (tested with build 1691)

• At least 8 MB of RAM is strongly recommended, 16 MB or more preferred.

• 5.0 MB free hard disk space for program installation and catalogs.

• Mouse or other Windows-compatible pointing device.

Program Highlights

Suitable for beginners and advanced users

Very adjustable program with many options for power users, as well as easy to use with default settings and Quick-Setup Wizard for all those who don't want to get their hands dirty.

Explorer-like interface

Easy to use, familiar Explorer-like user interface with adjustable toolbar, columns to choose between, and extensive use of object menus (right mouse click).

Wide media and file system support

Where is it? supports any media type Windows can use, including diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard disks, removable disks like iomega Zip etc. It will recognize and collect useful data for most of them, too. Also, it is compatible with all windows-supported file systems, including FAT, FAT32 and NTFS.

Fast access to item's properties

Fast and easy access to every item's detailed properties, from wherever you are. Want to get item's description? Just leave mouse pointer on it for a moment, description will pop up as a tool-tip!.

Manageable catalog files

Logical organization of databases, based on one or more catalogs. Each catalog can easily be transferred as a single file to another computer, a friend, a public forum...  Small catalog-file size, with approximate usage of 2 MB for 70.000 files and folders (that's about 10 fully filed CD-ROMs). Internal database structure optimized for very efficient access and small total size. Single-file, transferable catalog storage makes sharing your data easy.

Detailed info with descriptions

Detailed info on every object in the database (files, folders, disks, catalogs,...) each capable of accepting up to 4000 characters of description text. Each file or folder can have assigned user-defined category or up to three flags.

Importing descriptions, help with describing items

Auto-importing and exporting descriptions from 4DOS/NDOS, FILE_ID.DIZ and FILES.BBS description files, even if they are compressed inside zip, arj,... archive files! There is also a Description Assistant, interactive tool to help you describe your folders, based on special (custom defined) description files like FILE_ID.DIZ or read-me files.

Internal support for many compressed file formats

Handling of most compressed file formats on media scan, including ZIP, ARJ, RAR, CAB, LHA/LZH, TAR, ARC, ZOO, GZ, SFX... Compressed files can be presented as folders, showing their content. Archive files can be extracted right out of Where Is It? to any folder, and a file compressed inside archive file can be launched with associated program with one click!

Powerful searching finds what you need

Powerful multi-threaded searching, with detailed settings on what to search for, where to search and how to search. Searching for duplicate items is there, too, as well as analyzing how data has changed since last cataloguing, or checking if older (or newer) versions of files are present somewhere in the catalog.

Report generator for summarizing your catalogs

Adjustable and powerful report generator adds a final professional touch to your catalog collection. Export your data to ASCII file, print on your printer, or send by fax using the Microsoft Fax, after previewing it on full-screen, with adjustable zoom.


Contacting the Author

Here is how you can contact me:

E-Mail:

support@whereisit-soft.com

robert.galle@bigfoot.com

World Wide Web (WWW):

Personal Home Page:

http://www.s-sser.lj.edus.si/robert

WhereIsIt? Home Page:

http://www.whereisit-soft.com

WhereIsIt? mirror sites:

USA 1:     http://members.tripod.com/~WhereIsIt

USA 2:     http://www.nettally.com/moribus/whereisit

Germany:   http://members.tripod.de/WhereIsIt

Slovenia:  http://www.s-sser.lj.edus.si/robert/WhereIsIt

Mailing address:

Robert Galle

Matije Tomca 1

1230 Domzale

Slovenia, Europe


Shareware

Shareware is a type of distributing software.

Basically it means you can try it out for free,

but if you like it, you should pay for it.


Floppy Master

Floppy Master 3.5 is a DOS-based catalog program,

written by the same author. WhereIsIt? can import

catalog data from old Floppy Master.


Catalogs

Catalog is a basic storage unit in Where Is It?. Each catalog can hold

one or more disks, and you can have more than one catalog opened at

once to work with (registered version only). Multiple catalogs system enables

you to organize your disks in logical groups, with each catalog's data

stored in a separate, easily relocatable file.


Compressed Files Support
Compressed File Support

Where Is It? can recognize and browse for contents the following compressed file formats:

   ACE*, ARC, ARJ*, CAB*, EXE, GZIP, HA, LHA, LZH, PAK, RAR*, TAR, ZIP*, ZOO.

   *supports multi-volume archives

The following file formats are also recognized in their self-extract (EXE) form:

   ACE, ARC, ARJ, LZH, PAK, RAR, ZIP.

Extracting files in Where Is It? is possible from the following formats:

   ACE, ARC, ARJ, GZIP, LHA, RAR, TAR, ZIP, ZOO.

Please note that extracting from multi-volume archive files is not entirely supported, and may

not work correctly in all cases.


Release Candidate version

This program is currently released as a Release Candidate. This means that

the program is more or less finished in this release, but is still undergoing

some final testing before being released as a final version.


Ordering Where Is It?
How to Order Where Is It?

Where Is It? is a shareware program. You may test program out at no charge for an initial trial period of 14 days since the day of installation. If you want to continue using Where Is It? after that period you must register. Please send a registration form to the author's address. You should include the registration fee, payable in US dollars ($30 USD), German marks (50 DEM), or Slovenian tollars (4000 SIT; Slovenian users only). with the registration form. If you would like to receive program via regular mail on floppy disk, please add $5 for postage expenses. Check out this link to find out more about how to send a registration fee, and be sure to read ORDER.TXT file for current details, including how to register by credit card.

When your registration form and fee have been received, you will get your own personalized serial number and registration code to register the program and unlock it to its full capabilities. Unless arranged otherwise, this data will be sent to you by e-mail.

The latest version of WhereIsIt? can be found on program WWW Home Page. With your serial number and registration code, you will be able to unlock every new version of this software, unless indicated otherwise (registration code may become invalid over the time - in that case, all registered users will receive a new registration code as a replacement for the old one).

The built-in "How to Order" wizard

You may want to use the built-in "How to Order" wizard to decide which is the best way for you to register this program. The wizard will present and describe all available options to you, let you choose the best options for your specific case, and help you to either place the order online or to print out the already filled order form based on your selections. Using this wizard does not force you into any commitments until you actually place the order - you can just run the wizard to learn about possible options, or print an order form to send in later. You can find the "How to Order" wizard in the Help menu.

                      R E G I S T R A T I O N    F O R M

                         WhereIsIt? (current version)

      Name    ___________________________________________________

      Company ___________________________________________________

      Address ___________________________________________________

              ___________________________________________________

              ___________________________________________________

      Phone   ___________________________________________________

      E-Mail  ___________________________________________________

      Where did you first hear about WhereIsIt?

      ___________________________________________________________

      [ ]  I would like to receive program and registration data

           by regular mail, instead (add $5 for postage expenses).

           Preferred distribution media:

           [ ] 5.25" floppy disk

           [ ] 3.5" floppy disk

           [ ] Other: _______________________

      Registration fee calculation:

      Quantity  _______  x  $30 USD   =  _______ USD

                         x  50 DEM    =  _______ DEM

                         x  4000 SIT  =  _______ SIT  (SLO only)

      + $5 shipping and handling if using regular mail

                       ============================

                             TOTAL  =  ____________

      Registration fee is:

        [ ]  payed by credit card via PsL service

        [ ]  included in this mail as cash

        [ ]  included in this mail as personal check

        [ ]  sent via direct bank transfer to author's account

        [ ]  Other: _____________________________________________

      Available quantity discounts:

        [ ]  5 - 10 licenses         =  10 % discount

        [ ]  11 - 50 licenses        =  15 % discount

        [ ]  51 - 100 licenses       =  25 % discount

        [ ]  more than 100 licenses  =  40 % discount

      Special discount for registered users of Floppy Master:

        [ ]  Floppy Master upgrade   =  50 % discount


Registration code

Registration code is generated for each individual registered user, enabling

him to unlock this program to its full potential and to disable limitations of

shareware version. You can only get your own registration code after you

have registered your copy of the program.


Shareware Version Limitations

Unregistered (shareware) version of Where Is It? has build-in some limitations in order to encourage registering this software. All of the following limitations are removed when program is registered, using given serial number and registration code. For more information on how to register, have a look on how to order.

Catalog size limit

Catalog capacity is limited to total of 2 GB data storage, You will not be able to add more data in the catalog, if the total sum of all media capacities in the catalog already exceeds this limit. If you want to add more data, you will have to open a new catalog.

No multi-catalog support

Only one catalog can be opened at the time. If you would like to work with another catalog, you must first close the current one.

No catalog auto-loading

Auto-loading catalogs on program startup is disabled. Registered users can setup a list of catalogs to automatically load when program is starting.

Unregistered message in reports

All reports will include a visible message saying they were generated with unregistered version.

Tips can't be disabled

Tips on program startup can not be disabled in the unregistered version. The first tip will always remind you that you are working with an unregistered program.

No script language support

Script language is only available in registered version. Script language is mostly used for unattended catalog updates, or it can perform special tasks on program startup, for example, updating the catalog data when program starts, so you always have the latest state to work with.


Where Do I Begin

After installing Where Is It? in your system you can begin your work at once. It is a good practice to check the program settings first, just to adjust some settings to your own needs and get familiar with program options. You can use the Quick-Setup Wizard to guide you through the most important settings. After that, here are a few basic steps for you to follow, just to get you started.

1.

Since Where Is It? is a media cataloging program, the first step is creating a catalog to work with. The easiest way to do this is to click the right-most button in the toolbar ( [image]), or to select File / New Catalog from the main menu. Here you may want to define some categories, flags or disk locations to use later on.

2.

Now we have an empty catalog created, and we have to add some data. Take a disk you would like to have in the catalog and insert it in the drive. Press the "Add disk image" button ( [image]) or select Catalog / Add/Update disk image option in the menu. A new dialog will show, allowing you to choose the drive where you have put your disk and some other useful options involved in scanning disk for data. Note that if you are using the unregistered shareware version, there are some limitations that apply to allowed size of media in catalog.

3.

Now you have your first disk in the catalog! Repeat step 2 for any other disk you wish to add.

4.

You are almost there! You may want to complete the catalog with your own descriptions, and set categories or flags for some files and folders. For descriptions, you may use item's properties ( [image]) to enter the text, or get some help from description assistant to help you describe folders by common description files like file_id.diz (you must set a list of such files in program settings prior to using description assistant).

Categories and flags can be set for every file or folder in their properties windows. Use the property button ( [image]) to access and set item's properties. You can select more than one item in any item list (using standard Windows CTRL and/or SHIFT selection keys) and select category, flags or descriptions for all selected items at once.

5.

Now you have get yourself quite complete catalog to work with (if you didn't do so by now, this would ba a really good time to save ( [image]) your catalog...). Now you can browse the catalog in program's main window, search for items ( [image]) using extensive search options, generate reports ( [image]) and so on. You can also assign a color to each category, flags or disk location to be used with item coloring.


Where Is It? Basics

Since Where Is It? is a media catalog program, everything is based on catalogs. The main task of Where Is It? is to keep all data for disks and other media in one place, allowing you to access that data without having to have that media actually there. Catalog is a place where data for your media is stored. Catalog can contain data for many disks, CD-ROMs, floppy disks etc. Each catalog is organized in a tree structure layout; catalog name on the top, disks in the first level, root folders on disks are on second level and so on.

After you have created a catalog and you have stored some data in it, you can use Where Is It? to explore that data or to complete it with your own descriptions, categories and flags. All these are there mainly to help you search, organize and print the data you need.

User interface

As you have probably already noticed, Where Is It? is quite similar to Windows Explorer The main window is divided in two resizable panes, with status bar at the bottom, and toolbar and main menu on the top (toolbar can be repositioned to and side of the window or even to be floating in the window on it's own - just grab it with mouse near the edge and drag it away).

Left pane is a tree structure, displaying all loaded catalogs and their contents. Items in the left pane can be expanded or collapsed; if they are expanded, all the items contained in the selected item are visible under it. On the other hand, collapsed item does not show it's content, but displays a '+' sign, announcing it can be expanded to display more.

Right pane is displaying content of currently selected item in the left pane - if you have selected a catalog, then the right pane would display all disks stored in that catalog. Right pane can be presented in either of four ways (large icons, small icons, icon list, and details), selectable in the main menu or with appropriate buttons. Detail view (most common view for WhereIsIt?) consists of columns, each displaying appropriate type of data. Columns can be adjusted by right clicking on the header area.

Every item, either on the left or the right pane has it's own pop-up menu - if you right-click it, a menu will show up by it, displaying all the options available over the selected item. Most of this options are accessible in more than one way; by toolbar, main menu, keyboard shortcut or item's pop-up menu; you may use any of them with the same effect.

All buttons on the toolbar have a hint - if you don't know what a button does, just place a mouse over it and wait for a second, and a short description will appear.

The status lights at the right side of status bar indicate the current program state. If the light is green, the program is idle. Red light means program is busy and you should wait for it to finish - this should never take more than a few seconds, except when sorting a lot of items, or when a media update is in progress. Yellow light indicates that search for items is in progress. In this case, you can still work with program, but some options may be limited until searching is finished.


Descriptions

Each item in the catalog can have assigned up to 4096 characters long

custom descriptions. That means you can describe in your own way

every catalog, disk, folder or file in the catalog, and use that description

to search, browse and print reports.


Categories

A category is a user-defined tag that you can put on any folder or file. Categories

are defined locally in each catalog, you can edit them with the Catalog Setup

option. Each catalog can have more than 4000 different categories defined, and

they can be organized in a tree structure, forming sub-categories. Each file, folder

or disk can belong to one or more categories. Categories are usually used to

logically group similar items together. This way, you can, for example, search by

category to find all your games in any media in the catalog.


Flags

Flags are custom defined markers, telling you something about the item with flag

set. Flags can be set on each file, folder or disk in the catalog. Flags are defined

locally in the catalog, using the Catalog Setup option. Each catalog can have up

to 255 different flags defined.

Commonly used flags can be, for example, "Include in report", "Important file", or

"Backup". In the first case, you can define the "Include in report" flag and set it for

all the items you want to appear in the report - before generating report, all you

have to do is perform a search for items with that flag set and generate report from

the found list.


Disk Locations

Disk Locations are a list of all possible locations where you may keep your disks.

Each media in catalog can have assigned one disk location to help you find its

location. A list of available disk locations is user defined for each catalog separately,

you can edit it in Catalog Setup dialog.


Description Assistant

Description Assistant is an interactive tool to help you describe folders (or even files)

using some standard description files like file_id.diz, or just plain text files like

readme.txt that can give you a hint what are you describing. Description Assistant

requires that media is present in the drive, and will try to make a list of all files that

may hold a description for the item you are describing. You can easily browse through

found files, displaying the file content in a special part of window, from where you can

copy text fragments by simply dragging them to your item's description.


How to send the registration fee

Ordering by credit card

You can order the fully licensed version of WhereIsIt? over the Internet from PsL, a credit card ordering service (WhereIsIt?'s product number on PsL is #30134). PsL will accept all major credit cards in use today, including MasterCard, Visa, Amex, and Discovery. To insure that you get the latest version, PsL will notify me within one business day of your order and I will ship the product directly to you (sending you registration data by email, or disk by regular mail, if so requested).

Please note!

Registration fee for ordering WhereIsIt? by credit card is a little higher ($37 USD) than if you send me the fee by mail or wire it to my bank ($30 USD). This is due to all the taxes, PsL fees and bank fees that your order must go through before reaching me. However, in some countries it may still be s better option, since bank may charge you an extra fee for wiring money to other state (the cheapest option is still just sending the fee by regular mail, in the envelope).

Sending a credit card order

There are three ways how to place an order for WhereIsIt? with PsL:

1. You can go online and access PsL Web ordering form from WhereIsIt? home page. Click on the "Ordering" button and then click a link to PsL Web ordering form in the "Credit Card Ordering" section.

2. You can FAX your order to PsL at 713-524-6398. Please include the fully fulfilled registration form; ask for product #30134 and please type or block print very plainly.

3. You can email your order to PsL. The email address is "30134@pslweb.com". Data to include is the same as if sending fax.

These numbers are for ORDERS ONLY. For tech support or to check on the status of the shipping of an order or information about our products, please contact the author!

Sending personal check (cheque) or cash

If you don't have a credit card, or if you don't want to use via Internet, you can also send me a personal check ("cheque" in some countries) for specified registration fee amount ($30 USD, 50 DEM). If sending an EuroCheque, please use your local currency instead, equivalent to $30 USD (if non-local currency is used with EuroCheque, bank will charge me an extra fee that is often higher than value of cheque itself). Please make sure your check is made payable to my own name (Robert Galle).

My mailing address is available here

Sending registration from your bank

After discussing this with our local bank, the most appropriate way for you to send in a registration fee in order to register Where Is It? is to wire it to my international bank account. The bank has assured me that you should have no trouble doing that from most of countries in the world. If you have any second thoughts about paying this way, please fell free to contact me and we will try to work out something else for you.

Bank account details

When sending a fee to my bank account, you should have the following data ready for your bank where you are sending from. You should have no trouble sending the fee in any of major world currencies, but USD or DEM are preferred.

My local bank, here in Slovenia, that holds my account:

Ljubljanska banka, Banka Domzale d.d.

Ekspozitura Domzale

Ljubljanska 82, Domzale, Slovenia

My international account number:

50120-620-149/303-72702-6479/26

Account owner: Robert Galle

You may want to print this data before going out to your local bank. Please note that some banks may charge you quite a large fee to process this request and some none at all, or very minimal - depending on where you are. You may want to check this in your local bank. If your bank would not have business done this way, e-mail me back and I will try to arrange something else. If everything else fails, there is always a way just to put that few bucks in the envelope and mail them to me.


Quick-Setup Wizard

This Wizard can guide you step by step through main program configuration.

If you are lost in many options WhereIsIt? is offering you to adjust, use the

Wizard to set the main ones and later you can adjust other, if needed.


Compare to Media

Results from comparing disk or folder to real media are displayed in a special window. Results consist from four lists, each containing either new files, changed files, deleted files, or files that have stayed the same since last cataloguing. One list is displayed at the time, in a main part of Compare Results window; you can select which list to view from the 'List Type' box on top of this window:

New files on media, not yet in the catalog

Displays all files that do not exist in the catalog, but are present on the media.

Files that did not change since last cataloguing

Displays all files that stayed the same. Files listed here have the same size, date, and location in the catalog as well as on the media.

Files that have changed since last cataloguing

Displays all files that have changed on media, but are still on the same location. The old data is listed in this list, as present in current catalog, not on the media.

Deleted files since last cataloguing

Displays all files listed in the catalog, but no longer found on media at the same location.

Comparing is folder-related, which means that all files are compared against items in the same folder. If you have moved a file on a media from one folder to another, for example, this file will be shown as deleted in first folder, and as a new file in the second.

The most common functions for file manipulation are available on the toolbar, as well as on file's pop-up menus. Toolbar is dockable to any side of list window, or can be made floating. If you close the Compare Results window, you can call it back with option available in Window menu.

Please note: File manipulation functions are only available for files already in the catalog, therefor they will not be accessible in the New files list.


Disk Image

A disk image is the basic unit stored inside a catalog. Entire catalog is actually a collection of disk images, representing the entire data for specific media. With adding and updating disk images you will keep your catalogs filled with up-to-date data about the disks and other media.


Program History - Versions before 1.00

See also: versions 1.0 - 1.26, current versions

Version 1.0 RC4 - 20. December 1997

• Added a new command: "Copy To..." With this one, you can copy one or more selected files and folders from the catalog to some other folder of your choice. Selected items don't have to have the same origin; you can select to copy items originating from different disks with one single command, and program will prompt you to insert appropriate disks during copying. Ideal if you have grouped items of interest in Search Results list or in the User List, and want to copy them somewhere else.

• Added categories to be displayed as columns in most item lists.

• Added option to disable auto-hiding descriptions shown as tool-tips. Until now, you could only set how long will it stay on screen, up to 15s.

• Search window will now remember last expanded size, and will set it the same next time.

• Report generator is faster and a bit smarter when generating reports. Sorting items by source is MUCH faster now, and is done only the first time when printing or previewing the report, not every time.

• Provided are ways to cancel report generation, printing, or exporting it at any given moment, and added some additional progress indicators.

• Made some small changes to how categories are handled, and improved a bit on associated dialogs.

• Added ability to search for items without assigned category.

• Fixed a few problems regarding printer settings in report generator. There were problems with printing to non-default printer, to printer with default paper orientation set to landscape, and printers set in Report Setup and Printer Setup dialog sometimes did not match. Also added more available paper sizes for your reports.

• When printing reports, number of copies and collate printing now works correctly.

• Fixed a problem with DiskInfo button in Add Disk dialog.

• Fixed support for some disks (partitions) over 2.1 GB.

Version 1.0 RC3 - 8. December 1997

• Reports had some major improvements in this release. Items in report can now be grouped by their origin (catalog, disk, folder), and printed with appropriate headings. Icons can be optionally included in report, adding some graphics to the printout. Report sections can now have customizable background color, allowing you to make color bands for titles etc, and some new sections were included (headings for grouped items).

• Added possibility to use some external shell program instead of Windows Explorer with "Open in Explorer" command.

• Added "Open Description Assistant" to available file double-click actions.

• In full-screen print preview mode, status line is no longer displayed, in order to maximize visible page area.

• Fixed repainting buttons in report preview toolbar after changing page.

Version 1.0 RC2 - 26. November 1997

• Fixed loading position for dialogs like Search and User List that did not work correctly for some users of RC1 version. The RC2 will fix this problem, as well as prevent any problems resulting from this misbehavior in RC1.

• Made some changes trying to prevent problems with saving files, as reported by one user. Saving should be more fail-safe now, and should at least report a problem if there is one.

• Improved saving procedure when operating in low disk space condition, like when saving catalog to floppy disk, or a very full hard drive. The new procedure is much more robust, and will sometimes manage to get job done where older versions couldn't.

• Fixed a problem with toolbar positioning when it is floating on program startup.

• Fixed some broken links in the help file.

Version 1.0 RC1 - 14. November 1997

• Closing catalogs is now about twice faster as it was before. This also affects the total shutdown time, cutting it to half.

• Improved a bit on start-up time, and reduced program's memory consumption.

• Exporting reports to ASCII files is done properly now, and few new options are now available when exporting (normal, tab-delimited or comma-separated columns to choose from).

• Added a new option to display settings, to disable smooth scrolling while expanding or collapsing tree nodes in main window. Smooth scrolling is automatically active in entire Windows system if using a newer Comctl32.dll library, included with Internet Explorer 4.0, for example.

• Added zoom cursor to report preview; left click on report area will perform zoom in, and right click will zoom out.

• Removed some flickering in report preview when changing pages.

• Description Assistant window will now save its size and position.

• Prevented the '..' folder to appear in reports.

•· Searching for duplicates did not find all duplicate files in some special cases. Fixed.

• Fixed support for disks (partitions) larger than 2.1 GB.

• Fixed a problem that may occur when printing report. If print job was canceled from Windows while program was still busy printing, WhereIsIt? had some major problems handling this situation in 0.99 version.

• Fixed some problems with updating main window while moving or copying disks with Catalog Manager.

•· Custom reports will probably have to wait until the 1.1 release, there is just too much to do about them if I want to do it right.

Version 0.99 - 6. November 1997

• Brand new report generator with print preview is finally included in this release! It is not  completely finished, some functionality is yet to come (custom reports), but you can get the general idea. Visual appearance of a report can be customized, and complete print preview is in there, with background page generation, zoom, full screen mode and all. Exporting to ASCII files is just basic at this stage, though, and there may be some minor problems left to solve later. A lot of fresh coding was done in a very short time for the new report generator, and some bugs are probably fair to be expected in this release. Let me know! Check the "reportg.txt" file for some more development details.

• Extended "Compare Files to Catalog" option to compare not only to one whole catalog, but to allow user to select which disks or catalogs to include in compare (just like in Limit Search option). Also, added a "Cancel" button to interrupt the process if it takes too long.

• Added a new feature in search by filename: if program detects that data to search for is in a file mask format (using '*' and '?' characters), it will automatically switch to 'Search by File Mask' mode, regardless of previous setting (default is 'Part of Filename' setting).

• Improved handling of international characters in filenames.

•· Improved detection of multi-session CD-ROMs where Windows may return incorrect total media size (only the last track is counted).

•· Fixed disk properties dialog for users with small font setting.

• Fixed a dialog for disk selection shown when at least two disks with the same parameters already exist in catalog when adding a new disk. For users with small font setting only, window with disks list was not resized properly, covering the buttons at the bottom completely...

• Added Ctrl-PgUp to act the same way as a backspace, or a Back button, just like it does in popular Norton Commander. Also added Ctrl-PgUp and Ctrl-PgDown shortcuts to switch tabs in Compare Results window.

• Fixed searching by filemask. In some special cases, searching failed to correctly locate items.

• Fixed some minor problems with extracting from RAR files when they are in the right pane of the main window.

• Fixed some minor problems with recognizing some rare TAR files, and adjusted .Z and .GZ files handling.

• Fixed some problems about importing descriptions from Files.bbs files.

• Some other minor adjustements that came my way...

Version 0.90.9b - 26. October 1997

• Added .Z (Unix compress) archive recognition, and .LZH extraction support.

• Added small fancy tabs in Compare Results window, for easy switching between lists as well as better preview of compare results.

• Added progress bar indicator when program is loading catalog data needed to search for files in that catalog ("Compare Files to Catalog" option).

• Added new option in Display Settings to enable/disable showing keyboard shortcuts inside button tooltips. If this is enabled (default), tips will have shortcut information appended, f.e. "Open Catalog (Ctrl-O)"

• Extended support for NTFS volume labels that can be up to 32 characters long (compared to 11 characters in (V)FAT, FAT32, or CDFS)

• Added F4 shortcut in Search window and User List to access properties, and added Ctrl-I shortcut for ASCII Viewer.

• When using external ASCII viewer, program will now always pass filename to view enclosed between two double-quotes. This should allow some applications proper long filename handling when spaces and other "invalid" characters are used in filename. Also, a new option was added to force using short filenames only when running external viewer program.

• Extracting from RAR archives was broken in 0.90.9, now it's working again.

• Quick-search introduced in previous version was not setup correctly for the new Compare Results window when new items were displayed. Fixed.

• Fixed importing description priority order (archive comments always had priority over File_id.diz inside archive, whatever the settings was).

• When updating disk data with "Quick scan" option on, folder sizes may have been calculated incorrectly. Fixed.

• Importing descriptions like File_id.diz from inside compressed files sometimes did not work correctly if lower-case chars were used in the filename. Fixed.

• Number of folders was sometimes reported incorrectly as 65535 for empty disks. Fixed.

• If trying to open already opened catalog, exception error would show. Fixed.

• Picture for disabled View button in Search window was displayed incorrectly.

Version 0.90.9a - 22. October 1997

• Added a new option to check if files located somewhere on your drive are already stored somewhere in the catalog. As a result you will get three lists of files, telling you which files are new, which were found to be the same in the catalog and which were only matched by name, but not other properties, like size or date .Using this, you should be able to avoid storing the same files to many different places.

• Added 'View File' command as a choice for double-click action.

• Changed the 'Clear previous search results' in Search dialog to be checked by default.

• Enabled quick search in all list windows: if you want to select a known item on the list (file, folder,...), just start typing its name - selection will be repositioned to the first item with name matching to what you have typed.

• Introduced a small delay before updating the left window when moving selection through the treeview using your keyboard. This prevents unnecessary flicker (left list will be updated in 0.5 seconds after you stop moving). If using your mouse, however, left window will still be updated at once.

• Fixed ASCII viewer settings, rich-text format parsing was active for all files, not only *.rtf (some rare text files would appear truncated).

Version 0.90.9 - 19. October 1997

• Help file has been dramatically improved, and more dialogs now have context-sensitive help available, including the options and main window.

• New option to compare data in catalog against current data on media is introduced in this version. You can now compare the contents of any disk or folder in the catalog to its origin, in order to find files that are new, deleted, changed, or the same as in time of cataloguing this data.

• The main toolbar can now be customized! You can rearrange buttons and separators, and select which buttons will appear on toolbar and which not. This became necessary since new version has even more available buttons and toolbar may simply get too big to see for some users.

• New internal ASCII viewer can show you the contents of any (text) file right out from WhereIsIt. It is no longer needed to have certain file types registered with Notepad and launch them in order to see their contents.

• Added Unix GZIP and UnGZIP support (.gz file extension)

• Searching is about 25% faster and safer than before, due to optimized search thread settings.

• Added ability to change disk serial number in Windows NT, too.

• Added some safe-guards when ejecting disk under NT. This should allow to safely remove media from drive, without interrupting the system.

• When program is already running, and user double-clicks catalog file in Explorer, or runs another instance of program with catalog filename as a parameter(s) to load, the running instance will be notified and will try load the specified catalogs.

• Improved settings dialog. Tabs now have small images on them and a few pages have been changed and added to adjust for new options.

• Extended Quick-Setup Wizard with some new settings.

• Sizes for files and folders now have thousands separators for easier reading. Also, you can now set in program's settings if you want sizes displayed as numbers (i.e. 665.795) or formatted printout (i.e. 650.2 kB)

• After returning to previous folder, by selecting '..' folder or pressing the Back button, previously selected folder is now selected by default.

• Updating disk image with quick-scan option turned on and lots of compressed files in the same folders will be much faster now.

• Removed all flickering on toolbar buttons in Search and User List windows when moving selection through items.

• When creating a new catalog, program will now ask you for the name of the catalog (in previous versions, name was auto-assigned as 'CatalogNN', which is now only the default value in the edit box when you are asked).

• Added option to create backup (.BAK) files while saving catalogs.

• Added a default path to catalog files in program settings.

• Improved multi-instance detection, now it's more fail-safe and robust.

• Installation files like Setup.exe and Install.exe will now have a special icon, different from other .exe files.

• Fixed a bug that may cause the catalog to become corrupted. This would only happen if updating disk image was canceled, you were using quick-scan option, catalog contained some archive files, and was later on modified and saved. Considering all this, most users should be on the safe side, but still, I am glad this bug is out.

• Fixed a problem where a disk scan was sometimes terminated with explanation that error has occurred during disk scan. This was traced back to archive files with dates older that 1.1.1980 (only possible to find on some CD-ROMs, disks with NTFS, but not on disks formatted with FAT). Thanks to Mr. Richard Hieber for detailed analysis on this problem.

• Fixed some problems when updating virtual disk image.

•  Fixed keyboard interface in Found List and User List. Keys like Enter, Alt-Enter, Delete, Shift-Delete etc. will now work properly.

• If user would switch to User List or Search window in the same moment while program is busy closing catalog(s), program would crash. Fixed.

• Fixed counting files on disk update. Archive files like zip, arj,... were not correctly counted in some cases when browsing inside archive files option was enabled. This caused that total files on disk or in catalog were displayed too low.

• Fixed TAR support. Third-parity component used in WhereIsIt? for most compressed file support had a problem detecting valid TAR files.

• If trying to autoload catalog that does not exist any more, program would report another error after correctly notifying the user about inaccessible catalog file. Fixed.

• Many other minor improvements and fixes were added.

Version 0.90.8b - 21. September 1997

• Changed Ctrl-X shortcut in main menu for program exit into more standard Alt-F4. Ctrl-X can be used for 'cut' operations where supported. Also added F3 shortcut to bring up Search dialog, and F4 to bring up item's properties.

• ESC key will now work in Export Descriptions dialog as Cancel button.

• Fixed problem with double-click on found list items. Item would stay selected from drag&drop operation.

• Selected items will now be preserved after sorting.

• Fixed error with exporting descriptions when program would report an error if subfolders checkbox was checked. Some last-minute changes before releasing the 0.90.8 broke this.

• Fixed some other minor bugs I found in the process.

Version 0.90.8a - 14. September 1997

• Added iomega JAZ drive recognition and icon (Win95 only).

• Fixed a problem regarding updating removable drives stored in existing catalogs that are now recognized as zip or jaz drives.

• Fixed a minor bug about preserving descriptions on disk update.

• Some other minor improvements have been added.

Version 0.90.8 - 12. September 1997

• Added option to export descriptions back to media, in either of three supported descriptions formats (File_id.diz, Descript.ion, Files.bbs).

• Added drag & drop capability for adding to User List and moving disks between catalogs. Program is now also capable of accepting drag&drop catalog files from other programs (like Explorer), opening them in WhereIsIt as a result.

• Added option to eject media after adding/updating it in catalog.

• Added a new option to change disk serial number if the same is found on another disk in catalog. This will only work on Windows 95 at the moment, I still need some details for Windows NT on this.

• Search and User List windows will now save their size and position, and they both have buttons to always stay on top of other windows if desired.

• In Search dialog is a new checkbox to clear previous search results when starting a new search.

• Extended archive file support with Unix TAR/UnTAR.

• Archive file support can now be customized, by enabling or disabling each of supported archive types. This allows you to enable only those archives you are using, allowing some faster disk scanning.

• Two new options are present in disk scan dialog: you can choose if you will allow quick archive file scan when it already exists in the catalog and has not changed, and you can choose to browse archive files only for descriptions, not their contents.

• Disk scan algorithm has been optimized to reduce number of disk's head movements during an add/update disk operation. This should result in faster and smoother disk reading on slower devices.

• Added iomega ZIP drive recognition (Win95 only). No more "default" removable-drive icon! For all other drives, I only need to have their signatures. If you have a removable drive, and would like to have it recognized by name and type, contact me by e-mail for simple instructions what I need to have from you. I am still looking for way to do the same in Windows NT.

• Added some new options when launching EXE files from inside archive files. In many cases, exe files need to have all distribution files available to run properly, not only the .exe file. Program will now offer an option to extract entire archive to temporary folder first and run the exe file from there. This should be enough to enable running most installation programs right out of WhereIsIt?, even if they are compressed.

• When first item is found while searching, focus is placed on that item, and list is scrolled so item is visible. This way, you can always see which items were added in current search, and which are left from before.

• Folders from compressed files are no longer stored as separate items in catalog. Only compressed files will be analyzed.

• Extracting from RAR solid archives is now faster and optimized.

• Added total files/folders display to catalog's properties

• Added F2 shortcut for renaming items (same as in Explorer)

• Program's shut down time has been optimized, and it is now about twice as fast as before.

• Screen updates were further optimized, resulting in faster browsing

• Fixed RAR and CAB support. Browsing those files should now finally work properly. Due to fixed bug in multi-volume CAB support, updating disks with such files will be much faster now.

• Fixed a few Catalog Manager problems, the worst of them sometimes missing files in root folder after moving disks between catalogs.

• Improved unARJ support. Previous version did not support files compressed with -m4 method.

When trying to change category for item in the left tree pane, item was always marked as without category. Fixed.

• Fixed a very inconvenient bug where sometimes disk descriptions were not preserved after updating the disk.

• Program will now correctly filter out EOF characters from imported descriptions where present.

• Extracting from CAB files was (temporary?) removed. It was not working as it should.

Version 0.90.7a - 16. August 1997

• Small bug-fix release. Importing from Floppy Master had some problems, and extracting files from compressed files during disk scan did not always work correctly. Some other minor fixes are there, too.

• A nasty last-minute bug crawled in the new Catalog Manager, causing GPF on move and copy operations.

Version 0.90.7 - 14. August 1997

• Sorting and browsing is now about three times faster than it was before, and there is much less flicker. Sorting by Disk name and Location (folder, where you can find an item) is more than 15 times faster, with speed comparable to sorting by other sorting options. Also, now you can always cancel sorting with ESC key if you think it's still going too slow.

• Added Catalog Manager, with ability to copy and move disks between two opened catalogs. Now you can arrange your existing catalogs as you wish. You can also rename, delete or access each disk's properties on the same spot.

• Added virtual-root capabilities. You can create "virtual disks" in the catalog, with their root folder based on some existing folder other than "\" (much like DOS subst command). This way, you can break down your disk folder structure to more "virtual disks", or select only part of disk to be cataloged.

• Added Quick-Setup Wizard to guide you through the most important setup settings. This is the easiest way to have program up and running without fear that you forgot to setup something important. During the process, you may also get to know some features of WhereIsIt? you were not aware of before.

• Sorting dialog has a new user interface. Too many options available at once seem to be to confusing for some users, so program will now show only what is really needed for your selection. The whole procedure of selecting search criteria can now be completed faster, since program will auto-select the appropriate pages and place focus to control you will most likely need.

• Added un-RAR support. Now you can extract files from RAR archives, too.

• Lengthy file extractions from compressed files can now be canceled.

• When updating disk, program can now (optionally) search for existing descriptions not only on the disk you are updating, but on all disks in the catalog. This means that if there is a file with description on any disk in the catalog, and that file matches the file currently updating, the existing description will be adopted by the new file (the same goes for folders, too). When adding a new disk, you may also enable searching through all other disks in the catalog for existing descriptions.

• Optimized disk update speed. WhereIsIt? will now read only items that have changed since the last update in the catalog, noticeably speeding up the process. This is actually nothing new to WhereIsIt?, but in previous versions it was only enabled for registered users.

• Improved disk selection dialog used when adding a new disk to catalog and there are already two or more disks with the same parameters. Now you can see details about each disk in selection list, sort disks and access their properties.

• Added volume label column when displaying disk data.

• Added standard popup menu to all multi-line edit controls (in Description Assistant, item's properties). There you have a quick access to Cut/Copy/Paste/Delete/Select All operations.

• Add/update disk dialog was equipped with context sensitive help, as an introduction to start working on the "real" help file (actually, this was a place to do some help related testing for me...)

• Program will now ask to save changes in catalog if Windows shutdown has been requested.

• Fixed some sorting problems when reverse sorting was on.

• Fixed a bug when some descriptions from deep-nested folders were not correctly preserved when updating the disk.

• Fixed a bug in searching by date. Some code used for testing made its way to the release version and searching by date didn't work as it should.

• Disabled horizontal scroll-bar from appearing in the properties form's description window. In many cases it took up almost half of usable space in the already too small window. Vertical scroll-bar will still appear if necessary.

• Importing descriptions from 4DOS/NDOS description file now correctly supports long file names with spaces.

• Fixed occasional (and quite rare) problem with floating point error when trying to save catalog with one disk, and disk had no subfolders.

• Fixed some other minor problems, and added some other improvements in program appearance (folders starting with '.' are no longer ignored, Esc key will act as Cancel button in most dialogs,  Alt-Enter is available in tree view, too, some minor adjustments on how program behaves in some specific situations).

Version 0.90.6 - 20. July 1997

• Windows NT 4.0 (and newer) support is finally there. This version of WhereIsIt? was developed and tested on the NT and many problems regarding this platform have been resolved in this release.

• NEW! Extracting files from many compressed files is now possible directly from WhereIsIt?. Program internally supports extraction from ZIP, ARJ, ARC, LHA, ZOO and some CAB compressed files, allowing you to extract one or more files to any folder, launch files with associated programs from within compressed files, importing files like file_id.zip from compressed files as descriptions and so on... Other formats will eventually be supported, too, at least by a possibility to use external programs for extracting.

• Added support for self-extracting exe files. Those can be recognized as normal compressed archive files, showing their contents as folders. Most of previously supported formats are now also supported by their sfx version.

• Added Column Manager; now you can select which columns you want showing and in what order when data is displayed in the details mode. Just right click on column header or select option from main menu.

• Improved searching - now you can search for disks, too, not only files and folders.

• Improved duplicate searching. "Search by Name or Type" tab in search settings is now available for duplicates searching, too. With this, you can search for all duplicate files that match the file mask or file type; for example, all duplicate ".doc" files. Searching for duplicate disks is now possible, too.

• Improved description importing on disk scan. The routines have been almost completely rewritten, and now you can select priority for description files to import (if description for an item is available from more than one source, it will be imported from the source with highest priority).

• Description Assistant can now take advantage of new extraction capabilities and load files with useful information even if they are compressed inside archive files like zip, arj,.. Also, there is a new checkbox present to enable/disable OEM-to-ANSI conversion filter on description files (making them more readable by filtering out unusual characters).

• Added column with item's description in found items list and user list.

• Added capability to setup catalog categories directly from item's property form (there is a new "Edit" button to access category management).

Progress bar flickering when searching for duplicates has been eliminated.

• Selecting action for double-clicking an item now works in the find window, too (previously, it always brought up item's properties).

• Fixed bug in searching for duplicates. Searching for files/folders setting did not work. There was also a nasty GPF if you were trying to close catalog while results of duplicate search were still listed in the search window. The algorithm used for searching for duplicate items was a bit too optimized for speed and sometimes missed some identical items.

• Fixed bug in importing 'descript.ion' files on disk scan. Program would sometimes terminate and cancel disk scan if it found a file with that name and this file was invalid for importing file descriptions.

• Launching associated programs with compressed files (zip, arj...) presented as folders in the catalog now works correctly.

• Improved internal icon handling, faster and more compatible with Windows NT.

• The reported bug about program using very small fonts in dialogs should be fixed now, but I have no way to verify that. If you notice anything weird about fonts it is using, please let me know...

• Fixed a few other bugs. Selected item statistics in status bar reported wrong selected size if '..' folder was selected. When reversing sort order, '..' folder was incorrectly moved to the end of list. There were some problems with enabling/disabling options and buttons (menu option was enabled and button for the same operation was disabled, for example). About box was a bit modified and WWW link now actually works.

Version 0.90.5 - 27. June 1997

• WhereIsIt? was migrated to a new version of Delphi, and adjusted to the new environment. This resulted in some improvements, including more flickerless display, solved problem with large tool-tips etc.

• Added new toolbars, hope you like them (they look just like MS Office 97). Also added saving position for user-list toolbar and fixed some minor problems about toolbars. Also, now you can have old-style buttons on the toolbars if you can't stand those new, mouse-active flat buttons.

• Searching for duplicate files and/or folders is finally implemented. You can set yourself what two items must have in common to be handled as the same (name, size, date&time, attributes).

• Added support for browsing inside CAB files while adding disks.

• Added ability to launch files from WhereIsIt? with associated programs. This requires media to be present, similar to 'Open in Explorer' option.

• Improved description importing. All imported descriptions are now checked for DOS graphics characters and converted to plan ASCII. This should result in more readable and eye-pleasing descriptions.

• Improved disk updating. If more disks with the same properties (serial number, label, size,...) are found in the catalog, you are now allowed to choose which disk to update, or to add it as a new disk.

• In search window, the found list can be maximized and search settings hidden to get more useful space out of search window. Also, searching has been updated to display found items at once, during the search.

• Added another option in program's settings: you can choose what double-clicking on file means: nothing, show properties, open in explorer, or launch file.

• Reversing sort order (like second click on already sorted column) is much faster now. Reversing sort order now works in user list and found list, too (just click again the column you wish to sort by).

• Fixed problem with toolbar buttons sizes, introduced in 0.90.4. Only the first five buttons were adjusted correctly to applied size.

• Fixed problem with disk media updating. if updating double-density disk in a high-density floppy drive, program would not recognize it as a compatible device.

Version 0.90.4 - 6. June 1997

• This one took a little longer, but it brings quite a lot, too.

• Media detection was almost completely rewritten in this release, and adding/updating disks in the catalog has changed a lot, too. Too much stuff to cover everything here, check out for yourself. This should resolve all the serial numbers troubles from previous versions (media detection is now based on media type, serial number, volume label, and total space on media). However, note the separate menu option for updating disk, on disk's popup menu.

• Added ability to auto-import FILE_ID.DIZ files as folder description when scanning disks.

• Added a new font setting, for description tool-tips. This is nice thing to have if you are importing a lot of text formatted descriptions like those in FILE_ID.DIZ files. With proportional font it looks a bit messy, and you can set it larger or smaller if you wish. Font setting page in general is a bit more user-friendlier now.

• Click on the column header in details view, with already sorted items by that column will now sort items in reverse order (the same as pressing the reverse sort button).

• Added catalog auto saving, on user defined intervals.

• The '..' folder now always has a description, saying what exactly '..' is.

• Added a new option in the settings, allowing you to sort archive files (zip, arj,...) that act like folders either as folders or as files.

• Added time of day to existing update disk date. Now you can see not only the day when disk was updated in catalog, but time also.

• You can now select to ignore hidden files, hidden folders, or Recycle Bin while performing disk scan.

• Help file is now closed when program exits.

• Fixed a few bugs. Adding '..' folders to user list is not possible any more, and '..' folders were causing troubles when they were selected for category and flags setup. Category and flags setup had a bug involving saving categories, which were not always remembered as set. In Description Assistant, disabling search in subfolders for description files did not work right. Report generator sometimes went wild, too, skipping columns and every once a while repeating data.

Version 0.90.3a - 29. May 1997

• Bugfix release - took some time and fixed some minor bugs found so far.

• Temporarily removed support for Windows NT. Some reports have indicated troubles running WhereIsIt? on the NT, so this will have to wait until I have a chance to take a closer look on it.

• Improved install script should now take care of proper installing of the COMCTL32.DLL, the file causing many problems in the last few days. Also, program was modified so it can detect older versions of this file without crashing out with error messages.

• Fixed bug on searching - after completed searching, most folders would show no contents at all until catalog was reloaded.

• Fixed a bug on disk scanning, when old descriptions would be lost in some occasions even if an option to preserve them was checked.

• Some other minor bugs reported have been fixed, and small improvements requested so far are now implemented.

Version 0.90.3 - 28. May 1997

• This version is out so early because of a bug found in a user interface. When fixing fonts in dialogs in the 0.90.2, I broke it even more for users with small font display settings. Much of text in the dialogs was displayed only partially or clipped away. This didn't show if you were using large font settings (I am, that's why I didn't notice anything)

• To avoid having out a new version on bug-fix basis only, I also added support for extracting comments from compressed archive files. If archive file supports comments (ZIP, ARJ, RAR and ZOO do), WhereIsIt? can import them as standard file descriptions. To avoid confusion: archive comment is the thing you can write with "pkzip -z" command for ZIP files...

Version 0.90.2 - 26. May 1997

• Fixed a nasty bug in the install procedure. File version checking did not work right, causing the comctl32.dll file being replaced even if there was a newer version already on the system. This could seriously impact Windows. Fortunately, the only known way to have a newer version of dll file installed is having Microsoft Explorer 4.0 in place before installing WhereisIt?. Thanks to Jan Libbenga (jali@worldaccess.nl) for reporting this.

• There was a report of a very small font being used in the program dialogs, making it almost unreadable. I couldn't confirm that bug, but I did some modifications regarding this and I hope it is OK now...

• Added a help file, but quite a basic one for now, just to get you started. Writing proper help files may be very time consuming, and my time is kind of short at the moment. There will be a full-scale help file in the final release, I promise...

• Added Floppy Master database import. All previous users of Floppy Master will now be able to use their old catalogs with WhereIsIt?. Still, it is highly recommended to rescan disks with WhereIsIt?, since the new database has a lot more information and support for disks and files than Floppy Master ever had.

• Added multi-choice support in the left pane. Now you can select multiple items at once to perform an operation on, like adding them to the user list or setting categories and flags. Status bar has been improved to show a small statistics for all selected items.

• Now you can set category or flags for more items at once, either from left pane list, found list after searching or from user list.

• Added previous instance checking - if program is already running when user runs it, previous instance will become active instead of running another copy of program.

• The '..' folder is now always displayed on top, regardless of sorting.

• Fixed disk usage graph for empty disks (display was wrong).

Version 0.90.1 - 14. May 1997

First public release on the Internet

mid-April 1997

Field testing started, WhereIsIt? is released to limited audience for evaluation and testing purposes.

January 97

WhereIsIt? development started.


Program History - Versions 1.00 - 1.26

See also:  versions before 1.00, current versions

Version 1.26 - 18. September 1998

• Probably the last release before the first 2.0 beta version. Version 1.26 should be and remain the most stable release for quite some time, at least until 2.0 is fully completed and tested.

• Fixed a number of small or rare problems reported or found during the last month, including problems during disk scanning, searching being interrupted, sorting large disks by size etc.

Version 1.25 - 16. August 1998

• Implemented some minor changes how menus are painted, and improved some details about launching files with associated programs.

• Included support for importing file info about *.CPL files.

• Fixed some language-related problems when using a language other than English, especially in Search dialog.

• Fixed a problem occurring with some removable drives when program tries to assign a new serial number to media.

Version 1.24 - 19. July 1998

• Added UNC filename support for saving and loading catalog files in network environments. Full UNC support is scheduled for version 2.0.

• Improved some minor details about properly importing 4DOS description files.

• Included some minor details for better support of Windows 98.

• When using "Copy To..." or "Extract To..." commands, directory tree to select the destination sometimes appeared empty, and manual refresh was required. Fixed.

• Fixed problem with Report Generator when running on Windows NT, after changing printer settings. This has been fixed before, but the buggy code has crept back in when I updated my development environment a few weeks ago.

• A number of fixes and safeguards have been implemented in disk scanning procedure, to prevent some rare problems occuring during the disk scan. Fixed a number of small problems or issues, either reported or discovered during development of new 2.0 version. Some portions of code from upcoming 2.0 release are also included in this release, to add small improvements in both functionality and speed.

Version 1.23 - 4. June 1998

• Major service release.

• Enabled option to allow case sensitive searching by file mask, both for normal searching and searching for duplicates.

• Fixed and improved algorithm for searching for duplicate items. Previous versions had problems returning correct results if both name and size were not checked as duplicates criteria.

• Fixed and improved importing existing descriptions on disk update. Program will now allow files that have changed, but remained on the same location to keep their current descriptions on update. This also includes better file recognition support, if more files with the same name but different descriptions exist in catalog.

• Alt-F4 shortcut will now always close currently active window or dialog, not necessarily the application.

• Improved importing information from WAV files. Some types of WAV files were not recognized properly in previous releases.

• Adjusted a few minor problems with browsing data in the main window. In some rare specific cases, sorting in just displayed window was not set correctly, or sort arrow was missing in column header.

• Fixed problem in report generator - exporting some very specific types of reports to ASCII file or to Excel could end with internal error message.

• A few other minor enhancements were included, mostly user suggestions.

Version 1.22 - 28. May 1998

• Service release. One bug was found after all in new searching routines, related to searching files in deep nested folders by descriptions. Sometimes program failed to find some of those files.

• A few more changes were implemented to ensure support for new version 2.0, when it will be released. Version 2.0 will introduce new catalog file format to support some of new features, and new catalogs created by 2.0 version will not be readable by this release. Changes included here will recognize new catalog file format and act accordingly. Of course, your current catalogs will be supported by 2.0 version, and automatically converted to new format when saved for a first time.

Version 1.21 - 25. May 1998

• Installation program has been improved and equipped with some special, custom made add-ons to provide additional functionality. Installation program is now able to detect location of previous installation and offer it as default, and it will now clear old program entries in "Add/Remove programs" list when re-installing or upgrading. Partial install is also supported, and a new sample catalog was added to present some of program's capabilities to new users.

• Assigned Ctrl-Enter shortcut to act as a click on the OK button when editing a description (it now works in Description Assistant as well in item's properties dialog).

• Improved changing serial numbers to handle 0000-0000 numbers on Windows 95, too. In previous versions, zeroed serial number could not be changed when running on Windows 95/98 (Windows NT users did not have this problem).

• Improved media type detection. Now program will try to detect type of media inserted, not just type of drive. This could be useful in cases such as DD media in HD drive, or regular 3.5" floppy disk in LS-120 drive.

• Added new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) file to WhereIsIt package.

• Fixed sorting in Search Results list and User List. Clicking on column sometimes did not sort items as it should.

• Fixed and improved importing database from Floppy Master.

Version 1.20 - 18. May 1998

• Right-clicking on drive button in Add Disk/Update Disk dialog will now show system context menu for that drive (the same one as if right-clicking drive icon in Explorer). The same context menus are also available when selecting a folder for some operation.

• Added catalog file size information to catalog properties.

• Changed a bit how sorting by disk numbers is handled for files and folders.

• Auto-save interval in program settings was not preserved correctly. Fixed.

• Importing descriptions from Files.bbs and similar was adjusted a bit, some descriptions could be skipped in previous versions.

• A number of other small changes and adjustments.

Version 1.20 beta 1 - 7. May 1998

• Almost completely rewritten search procedure and internal catalog handling, resulting in much faster searching, and shorter shut-down times. Searching is now in average about 3-4 times faster, and in some special cases even up to 10 or 20 times. Actual improvements will largely depend on number of hits (fewer the better), and a bit on catalog data structure.

• Added sort indicators to column headers. Headers are now by default a little wider than in previous versions, since some space is reserved for the arrow.

• Added IntelliMouse support in Windows 95 (scrolling active window with mouse wheel).

• Program will now remember last set "Copy to" folder.

• Modified a bit how media is detected, to address problem with using catalog file on both Windows 95 or 98, and Windows NT. Problem occurs because each system reports slightly different details about media - result is that media added to catalog in Windows 95/98 is not recognized on Windows NT, and vice versa. Program now tries to tolerate those differences, especially when working with CD-ROMs.

• Saved catalog files will now preserve their attributes, including the compression attribute on NTFS disks.

• Fixed a few problems related to saving Search dialog's settings.

• Fixed searching by file type, and searching for duplicates with file name filter turned on. Some new additions in previous versions broke this.

• Fixed some problems in report generator, like always printing from default paper source.

• When closing multiple catalogs with "Close All" command, there was some unnecessary flickering and redrawing. Closing is now faster and smoother.

• Disk size for virtual disks was always reported as 0. Virtual disk size is now represented as used space by all files on virtual disk.

• Fixed anomaly when scanning some specific CAB archives, and fixed extracting from archives with spaces in internal folders.

Version 1.11 - 5. April 1998

• Some internal optimization was done in this release, resulting in noticeable speed improvements, like faster list updates when scrolling. A few other speed optimizations are also prepared, but not yet included in this release, since some further testing is necessary first.

• "Show context menu" button on Win95 keyboards now works in WhereIsIt, too.

• Item lists will now show selected items even after window looses focus.

• Added recognition support for Fujitsu M2531A MO drives.

• When saving catalog failed for some reason (full disk, etc.), program could start incorrectly reporting catalog errors, or just crash in certain conditions. This has been fixed, and program is generally better protected against saving related problems.

• Fixed extracting files from RAR archives when files were stored in subfolders inside RAR.

• When moving with PgUp/PgDn keys (in large steps) through tree view in main window, the right pane sometimes didn't update itself properly. Fixed.

• Adjusted detection routine for detecting removable drives. On Win95/98, some removable drives could be sometimes detected as hard drives.

• (De)selecting files via +, *, - buttons was very slow in 1.10 release.

• Fixed anomaly when drawing popup menus (menu item's text was sometimes displayed too low).

• Added a few other minor adjustments.

Version 1.10 final - 20. March 1998

• Improved search capabilities when searching by name or description. Now you can specify more than one condition to search for, separated by commas. For example, to find all text and zip files, you can do this in single search by specifying '*.txt, *.zip' as a file mask. The same goes for text in descriptions. Program will search for items that match by at least one of specified condition.

• Adjusted a bit how menu items are painted, text should be better aligned now for most systems.

• When scanning disk with importing hidden files turned off, such files were also not checked for importing description. This has changed, descriptions will get imported from hidden files even if they are set to be skipped and are not appearing in the catalog.

• Program will now remember and next time set maximized window state. Previous versions only remembered window size, but not state.

• Fixed a bug with moving disks between catalogs (registered version only).

• Error messages could start poping up after or during disk is being moved.

• Fixed a problem with normal search / duplicates search setting.

• Fixed blank entries appearing in the most-recently-used catalog list.

• Fixed a problem occurring with multiple printers installed on Windows NT.

Version 1.10 beta 4 - 10. March 1998

• Installation program now supports German language, too.

• Added a new button to put program in the background during disk scanning, minimizing application and allowing to use other programs at that time. Program will pop up again when disk scan is finished.

• Search dialog will now remember not only window size, but also last used search settings and search type. This way, if your last search was by file name, the next time you press Ctrl+F search dialog will be already set to search by file name.

• Added support for some file operations to Compare / New items list.

• Added support for Java ARchives (*.JAR), quickly gaining popularity on Internet for Java packaging. They are handled as regular *.zip archives.

• Added importing information for wave (*.WAV) and MPEG (*.MPx) audio files. ID3 tags are supported, too.

• Changed "last opened catalogs" list size from 4 to 8 (this will be made user adjustable in the next major release), and modified a bit the logic how catalogs are added or displayed on this list.

• Improved Windows 98 compatibility.

• Added option to disable startup and shutdown logo (registered users only).

• Add/Update disk dialog will now remember "Advanced >>" button state between sessions.

• Added 'Add to User List' action to file double-click actions list.

• Added recognition for "Deltis MOS320" and "Olympus MOS332" MO drives.

• When updating disk image, old disk description was sometimes not preserved. Fixed.

• Fixed searching by file mask for files, compressed inside archive files and with subfolder(s) appended to file name in the catalog.

• Setting to browse inside archive files had some problems with its default setting in Add/Update dialog. Fixed.

• Fixed error occurring when trying to use "Copy To..." command on '..' folder.

• Fixed a bunch of spelling errors in English language file.

Version 1.10 beta 3 - 27. February 1998

• Added optional disk numbers to catalog, due to popular requests. Each disk can now have its own number, used mostly for reference purposes. Appropriate columns will appear when listing disks, files and folders, and relevant dialogs were updated to support this new feature. Catalogs remain compatible with previous versions, regardless of this new addition.

• Added 'Save All Catalogs' command to main menu.

• Added a new command line parameter, '/English', for forcing the program to start in English language, disregarding current language setting. You can use this to bail back to default language if you have mistakenly set a language you can't see or understand.

• Added ability to rename disks and catalogs from their Properties dialog.

• Added support for importing 00index.txt (and similar) files.

• Improved on handling of Files.bbs files. Some additional new formats are now supported, and program is more robust to other, perhaps yet unknown formats.

• Improved File_id.diz importing from compressed files. Program can now import File_id.diz files even if they are not in "root" of compressed file, and includes some logic what to do if multiple File_id.diz files are found inside single compressed file.

• Added 'Item Time' column to User List and Compare Results List. Please note that for compatibility reasons, users of previous versions will find new columns at the right end of listview window; you can use the 'Customize Columns' option to reorder columns.

• Added some special support for Seagate's Direct Tape virtual drives, to overcome problems caused by Direct Tape's not-exactly-perfect removable drive simulation.

• Improved removable drive detection, and added support for detecting new "iomega Zip 100 Plus" drives. E-mail me for details if you have a removable drive and would like to have it detected under real name instead of generic "removable drive" label (functional in Win95 only at the moment).

• Added support for detecting and recognizing LS-120 drives.

• Added context sensitive help to Properties dialog, User List, and Compare Results List window. I think that about covers it now.

• Made some additional changes to user interface, to accommodate new multi-language support.

• Updated column auto-resizing behavior. You should no longer experience columns changing sizes by themselves to default value when manually resizing some other column, and there should be less flickering.

• Finally fixed support for Novell NetWare network drives larger than 2GB.

• When program is searching for media to match catalogued disk, it will now correctly handle situation where more than one drive is found to have the same properties as needed media.

• Operations like View and Launch did not work correctly with files stored in internal subfolders inside RAR file. Fixed.

• Fixed exporting reports to ASCII files, sometimes exported report was empty.

• When changing active language, hidden columns and columns order settings were lost. Fixed.

• On language change, order of items in Disk Image Setting / "Import description from the following sources" list appeared to be reset to default order. Fixed.

• Removing temporary extracted files at program exit did not work correctly in 1.10 beta 1 and 2 if "Ask before delete" mode was selected. Fixed.

• Fixed "List index out of bounds" error in Compare Results list, occasionally showing when switching lists.

• Importing descriptions from Files.bbs and 00index.txt files could be slow in folders with a lot of subfolders, or archive files. This is much faster now.

• Improved on general program's stability, compromised by introducing multi-language support a while ago. Especially the Report Generator had a tendency to force an error when being used for a while, and this should be fixed now.

Version 1.10 beta 2 - 11. February 1998

• Added support for customizing font used in dialog boxes all over the program. This setting is now a part of language definition file, and includes font name, international character set to use, and font size. With this settings you can assign special font setting to each language supported in program. For example, to get Office 97 look & feel, select font 'Tahoma' instead of default 'MS Sans Serif'.

• Language Editor has been updated to comply with new font settings, and will now show source text and your translation in appropriate fonts, as set in language files.

• Fixed problem with no language being selected (English should always be default, but...) This bug showed as missing text in dialogs, column headers etc. Once you have selected the appropriate language yourself, everything has returned to normal.

• Fixed importing File_id.diz files from compressed files, when "Browse only for descriptions" option was enabled.

• Added some safeties to the new Language Editor, to prevent loosing most of your translations in case some critical error would occur.

• Fixed a few other minor user-interface related bugs, and made some changes for better multi-language support.

Version 1.10 beta 1 - 6. February 1998

• NEW! Complete multi-language support, with run-time language switching and built-in Language Editor for translating the program to your own language. English and Slovenian language files are included with this release, and there are many more under construction at this moment.

• NEW! Support for exporting reports directly to Microsoft Excel spreadsheet program. Program uses DDE to communicate with Excel, and builds a new table with your report contents. From there you can save generated spreadsheet to .XLS or any other format supported by Excel.

• Added support for extracting from self-extract (.exe) files.

• When extracting archive files, type of compression is no longer assumed by file extension, but is recognized from the file itself.

• Rewritten importing descriptions logic, preparing it for future upgrades.

• Added optional version info importing from 32-bit Windows files (exe, dll, vxd, ocx...) during disk scan. Program is now able to import file description and version from manufacturer's signature.

• Added simple description importing for Audio CD disks. Each track will be commented with track number and length, and if CD-ROM or track is already in Windows' CD Player's database, track or disk name will be imported from there.

• Added 'Remove from User List' button and menu option to most windows, acting as a counterpart to old 'Add to User List' command. This new function will enable you some more detailed user list handling, like using search for finding items to remove from user list. All this is mostly preparation for the next major version which will allow you to save User List contents, giving a whole new dimension to your catalogs.

• Changed some details about editing disk name in Add/Update dialog. Now you can enter disk name before clicking on the drive button (it won't get overwritten with default disk label any more if you typed it there).

• Right clicking column headers now shows a menu, where you can either force columns to auto-adjust their width to currently visible data, or show a Columns Setup dialog as in previous versions.

• After editing description or renaming an item is finished, columns will now auto-adjust their width to accommodate new data.

• Added *,-,+ keys on numerical keyboard for list selection. '+' ('-') will select (deselect) items on list by file mask, while '*' will invert current selection. All three are acting the same way as in ever popular Norton Commander.

• 'Export Descriptions' dialog will now keep settings inside current session.

• 'Compare Files to Catalog' will now store last used settings to registry, keeping them even between sessions.

• Replaced color selection combo in Report Settings with more powerful color button.

• Fixed some problems with importing and exporting Files.bbs descriptions, mostly where long file names were included.

• Improved file error handling in 'Copy To...' command.

• When trying to change serial number on write-protected disk under Windows NT, disk scan would be aborted with error message. Fixed to ignore the error, leave the serial number alone, and continue with scanning.

Version 1.02 - 21. January 1998

• Fixed a problem with detecting drives (partitions) in size over 2GB.

• Made changes to avoid reported problems with some network drives.

• Fixed problem with band size when changing fonts in report generator.

• A few problems reported with 1.01 were addressed and fixed in this release.

Version 1.01 - 9. January 1998

• This version fixes a few more or less rare problems that were reported regarding the final release, and adds some very minor enhancements.

• Installation script was updated to ask for confirmation before executing Microsoft's Comctl32.dll upgrade installation program.

• Browse for folder dialog now has a Refresh button, to allow updating the folder tree in case something changed (new drives available, etc.)

• Context sensitive help was added in Search dialog, too.

• Fixed problem in Description Assistant where program would sometimes report an error when accessing description files larger than 32kB.

• Fixed problem in searching for duplicates, the "Don't search for files inside archive files" option did not work as it should.

• Fixed searching by categories if more than one catalog with categories set was included in searching (returned results may have been incorrect).

• Fixed updating disks where categories set were sometimes not correctly preserved for some items without description.

• Fixed a "List index out of bounds" message that may show sometimes when disabling 'Show ".." folders' option in program's settings.

• The "Autohide After..." checkbox in User Interface settings did not save its state correctly between sessions (it was just reverted).

• Updated "View / Sort items..." menu to include some missing options.

• If more than one folder was selected, "Copy To..." only copied the first one and skipped all others. Fixed.

Version 1.0 Final - 31. December 1997

• Updated installation script to include the latest COMCTL32.DLL files for both Win95 and NT, and made possible for install program to update these files by itself, if necessary.

• Finally added custom reports to report generator. You can visually select items to include in a catalog tree display - what is visible in tree, this will be printed. There are also a few macro commands to make selection easier, and you can save prepared report layout to file.

• Added a new option to exclude items compressed inside archive files from searching.

• Added new shortcut Shift-F10 to bring up item's context popup menu.

• Finally located and fixed the problem where some descriptions in catalog were not preserved after updating disk data.

• Fixed a nasty problem with new categories display from the previous release. For some catalogs, categories displayed in columns were not the right ones.

• Fixed searching by Created and Last Accessed dates, which had sometimes incorrectly returned all compressed files.

• Fixed a few problems on Windows NT, especially for those users running new Internet Explorer 4.0 with active desktop installed.

• Fixed handling of Audio CDs on Windows NT. It seems that CD-ROM driver in Windows NT handles Audio CDs a bit strangely compared to Windows 95, and program is now adjusted to that behavior.

• Fixed numerous small bugs I managed to find in the last week, mostly user-interface related that might show under certain conditions. Hopefully, program is more or less clean now.

• Note to previous users of WhereIsIt: this final release will "upgrade" your existing catalogs, the first time they are loaded in the program. Each catalog will be marked as modified after loading, and rebuilt from scratch when saved. This is done to enable all of us a fresh start, filtering out all possible problems inside catalogs that could be left over from beta versions.


Program History - Current Versions

See also:  versions before 1.00, versions 1.0 - 1.26

Version 2.00 - 31. March 1999

• WhereIsIt has a new home on the Internet! Visit "www.whereisit-soft.com".

• Reports will now always include a full list of assigned categories instead of "(multiple)" mark, otherwise displayed on screen lists.

• Enabled support for printing only specified range of pages in Report Generator.

• When updating selected folder only instead of whole disk, the new data for that folder was not always saved when saving the catalog unless there were some other changes in data of the same disk. Fixed.

• Fixed automatic catalog updates, sizes for nested folders were not updated properly in their parent folders.

• Made some adjustmens to archive extracting function in order to detect and handle properly out of disk space situations.

• Addressed some auto-save related issues, preventing for auto-save to kick in while manual save is already in progress.

• Some other minor or rare problems have been addressed.

Version 2.00 Release Candidate 1 - 20. March 1999

• Release-candidate version, only bug fixes from now on.

• Catalog preview window in extended open dialog will now resize itself accordingly to current dialog size.

• Importing descriptions from list-based sources such as Descript.ion, Files.bbs, Index.txt,... files was broken in beta 5. Fixed.

• Transferring category and flags settings between catalogs when moving or copying disk from one catalog to another did not work correctly for categories and flags assigned to folders. Fixed.

• A few other minor changes.

Version 2.00 beta 5 - 14. March 1999

• Released an additional description module, for importing user-definable text files as descriptions. This feature was high in demand, but there are a lot of reservations about how much sense this can really have. The

  new plugin is not included in distribution package (it can be downloaded separately) and is not officially supported as part of WhereIsIt - use on your own responsibility.

• Extended Open Dialog with catalog preview has been optimized to be more responsive when working with large catalogs. Preview function should no longer interfere or cause delays while selecting catalogs to load, even with very large catalogs.

• Implemented some minor changes in Description API interface to enhance some plugin functions, especially with run-time setup support.

• Adjusted description import filter for MP3 files to handle new variable bitrate (VBR) MP3 files. Please note that file play time will not be calculated for VBR files due to performance reasons.

• Fixed some problems with removing data from catalog, error messages could occur in certain combinations of items selected to be removed.

• Extracting files from SFX archives did not always work correctly, except for RAR SFX and ACE SFX archives. Fixed.

• Text in combo box in Compare Results dialog was not initialized correctly.

• Lots of other small changes, improvements, and bug fixes.

Version 2.00 beta 4 - 5. March 1999

• Searching for duplicates is optimized and noticeably faster in many cases.

• Fixed a bug in Catalog Setup, where using "Copy from..." button to copy categories from another catalog didn't do its job correctly in some cases.

• Fixed a nasty bug in loading/saving search expressions, causing problems to some users. This version should be able to correctly load most of your saved expressions, but if you still have problems, write and save your expression again.

• Fixed a problem in Description Assistant. "Index out of bounds" message would appear when trying to edit description via Description Assistant for items located near the end of a long list (for example, a long list of

  files in the folder).

• Fixed a few similar problems in "Compare to Catalog" as well, sometimes occurring when calling up this function the second or later time.

• The "Compare to Catalog" function had some problems when scanning files on NTFS partitions under Windows NT, specifically with comparing files by date and time. Program has been adjusted accordingly.

• Included a workaround for some STB, Diamond and other S3-based video cards that were exhibiting problems with images.

• Adjusted a few details about handling multi-volume ACE and RAR archives.

• Adjusted description importing priorities on disk scan. It appears that in some cases new, just imported descriptions would replace the current ones in catalog, even if option was set to preserve existing descriptions.

• When running on Windows NT, "Move To..." and "Delete" functions deleted only files on source location, but did not remove folders. This problem did not exist on Windows 95/98.

• "Copy To..." and "Move To..." operations have sometimes failed to update target catalog, even if so instructed.

• Updated and fixed some issues about calling up the Search and Duplicates windows in different circumstances.

• Archive files were still showing extension in their file names even if this was set to disabled. Fixed.

• English language file was spell-checked and a few typos fixed.

• Some minor changes in help file and the rest of documentation, including the FAQ.TXT.

• As always, lots of other minor changes and adjustments to address other, not very common problems reported so far.

Version 2.00 beta 3 - 21. February 1999

• Added new support for ACE archive format. Both browsing and extracting functions are supported, including in ACE SFX archives.

• Support for browsing RAR archive files has been completely rewritten to avoid many problems with this archive type. Archives created with newer versions of RAR should be recognized correctly now, including all RAR SFX archives.

• Top bar in main window will now show parent disk info while browsing files and folders. More details about the disk are available in associated tool-tip, and you can click it for quick selection in catalog.

• Added a "Configure Plugin" button to plugin list in Add/Update Disk dialog.

• When processing a file operation on a list of items from different disks, program will now first handle all items that are available for access, and later ask to insert appropriate disks to handle the rest. Previous versions have always handled disks in alphabetical order.

• English help file is now completed and up to date for version 2.0.

• Optimized main window's painting during resize events, reducing flickering.

• Fixed a problem in Properties dialog - if changing categories, disks or flags with '...' button, item data in Properties dialog would be reseted to state when dialog was shown.

• Fixed a few problems related to duplicates searching and "Index out of bounds" error messages in Search dialog.

• Fixed a problem with searching for categories or flags. Some items in subfolders that were loaded as a result of search hit were missing their data about categories, disk locations, or flags. This could have some side effects in other parts of program, too.

• Setting to search for files inside compressed archives was acting just reversed of what it should be.

• Some items in Search dialog were not available for translation.

• Fixed sorting files by disk numbers.

• Some other minor fixes and improvements.

Version 2.00 beta 2 - 13. February 1999

• Multi-language support is now enabled, and translations can begin. Only English language file is currently prepared for version 2.0.

• Added a new option to hide file extensions in file names if extension column is also visible in list view. Some may not care much about having extensions displayed twice in both Name and Ext columns.

• The dialog asking to save modified catalog(s) will now show a check box to apply the same answer to all other modified catalogs as well.

• Modified a bit how searching by descriptions is performed. It should return less "false" hits due to spaces inside target text while retaining its flexibility.

• Modified the items sorting in report generator, which will now display disks in the same order as they are in the main window, and file and folders in the same order as they are on source list. Previous versions have always sorted all items alphabetically.

• Exporting descriptions has been extended with an option to add just created or updated description files in catalog.

• The algorithm to find first free disk number was changed to return first free number after the biggest one used so far in current catalog. This should help if counting disks in catalog does not start with number 1.

• It is now possible to search for items without assigned category, flag, or disk location.

• Outlook bar in Program Settings dialog is now able to adjust its width according to text used for items inside - this will ensure that item text will not be stripped, and make translations easier.

• Sound file to play after long operations is now user definable.

• Help file has been updated, but is not yet completed. Most of major dialogs are now covered with correct context sensitive help, but there is still some work left to be done.

• Fixed a problem with removing archive file contents. In most cases, this operation has caused an error message in beta 1.

• Fixed importing descriptions from archive files where option was set to only import descriptions, but not archive file contents. Description was attached to parent folder instead of archive file.

• Fixed some search expressions related problems.

• Fixed the problem with searching inside archive files - the new search engine did not handle this setting correctly, it was almost always regarded as being turned off.

• Fixed and improved some details in report generator. Duplex printing should now be OK, and it is possible to print range of pages (but only if printing from print preview).

• Fixed some minor details in exporting descriptions to HTML format.

• Fixed the option to disable showing disks in catalog when catalog is loaded, disks were always expanded.

• Many other small fixes, adjustments and improvements.

Version 2.00 beta 1 - 31. January 1999

• Completely rewritten search user interface and large part of search engine. The new user interface design is divided in two modes - Quick Search, and Advanced Search. Quick Search is capable of quickly finding items based on their names and/or descriptions, including searching by file masks, text included in item's name or description, file types etc. Advanced Search mode offers a complete search expression editor, allowing you to write, load, and save your own search expressions using full set of logical operators, and full set of WhereIsIt's search conditions, such as searching by name, description, size, date, time, attributes categories, flags, disk locations etc.

• New Description API programming interface allows WhereIsIt to be extended with third-party description plugins, importing descriptions from other, currently not supported description sources. All existing description filters were rewritten according to Description API specification, and extended with some new filters (importing HTML titles as descriptions, for example). The pre-release version of Description API in Windows Help format, as well as a sample description plugin are included with the program for all interested in writing their own description plugins.

• Program now uses new and enhanced catalog file format, capable of storing new features implemented in this release, and providing space to implement some new ones in next releases. Your existing catalog files will get automatically converted to the new format first time they are saved - you will also notice that new catalog format produces noticeably smaller files.

• Added catalog protection. Each catalog can now have assigned read-only and full access passwords, and catalog file itself can be stored encrypted for additional security.

• Extended categories, flags, and added new disk locations. There can now be up to 4095 categories per catalog, and up to 255 user-defined flags or disk storage locations. Categories can be organized in a tree structure, allowing some categories to act as subcategories (up to 16 levels). Disks are now also allowed to have categories assigned.

• Add/Update Disk dialog has been renewed, to comply with Description API settings, as well as to improve some features and interface appearance. New feature is a Folder Limitations button, where you can visually select virtual root folder, as well as check/uncheck each folder on selected disk if it is to be included in disk scan or not. There is also a new checkbox available, allowing for Add/Update dialog to be redisplayed after scanning completes - useful when adding multiple disks to catalog.

• A new tab in program's settings handles items to be skipped during disk scan. Apart from hidden files and folders you can now also choose to skip zero-sized files or empty folders, Recycle Bin folder, and provide list of file masks for files to ignore (for example "*.tmp, *.bak).

• Due to popular requests, program now allows removal of selected files or folders from catalog. In addition, you can now also remove the contents of compressed archive files, if no longer interested in files inside.

• In addition to "Copy To" command, program now also supports "Move To" and "Delete" commands to allow complete file management. Additional features are optional deleting to Recycle Bin, or automatic updating of cataloged data if destination disk is found in loaded catalogs.

• Items in all lists can now be syntax-colored, according to their type, category, flags, or disk locations. All colors, file types etc. are user-adjustable, stored either globally (file types) or inside each catalog file.

• File lists and the main tree window now support optional explorers one-click interface, with item underlining and click-less item selection.

• Internal ASCII viewer has been improved with new HEX mode for binary files, auto-detection of ascii/binary files, added is toolbar and a button to call up Quick View (Plus), if installed.

• There are two new wizard dialogs available. The "How to Order Wizard" will advise and help you choose the most suitable way how to send in registration fee, and will either connect you with online ordering site, or print the already filled registration form based on your decision. The other wizard can check on the Internet if there is a newer version of WhereIsIt available for download.

• ANSI/OEM conversion of imported descriptions is now optional.

• You can optionally set the program to play a default system sound (a "ping" of some kind, usually) after a long (>10 sec) operation completes. This can bring back your attention when a complex search or disk update operation completes.

• Sorting algorithm used in program has been rewritten. While it still supports stable sorting, it is noticeably faster especially on large lists. It does require some additional working memory though - WhereIsIt will try

  to detect if memory is very low, and use the old algorithm instead in this case.

• The dialog for selecting folders has been completely rewritten, and it now supports some enhanced features used in different places in program (it is now able to detect changes in folder tree and update it automatically,

  display checkbox with folders, display drive or folder as virtual root...)

• Description exporting has been enhanced with HTML description format. Similar to Files.bbs and Index.txt files, a HTML file is stored on original media in each folder, containing file descriptions in HTML format.

• The Program Settings dialog is now better organized, with new setting groups available on the left side. Since more tabs are now available, settings have been re-arranged in a way that allows more space on form for

  translations. There are too many new settings available to be listed here, only some of them will be mentioned.

• Added is a new option in program settings, specifying if folders are allowed to have extensions. If you are using long file names with periods for your folders, disabling folder extensions might be a good idea.

• Catalog autoloading feature can now be set to load all opened catalog from the previous session when WhereIsIt starts.

• The "Locate in Catalog" function was added to action list for mouse double- click. You can select it in program's settings.

• The toolbar in main window provides some new features, such as extended buttons with pull-down menus (for example, the "Open" button has attached a pull-down menu with recently opened catalog files for quick access).

• The Insert Media dialog is now able to auto-detect when the required media has been inserted in drive, and continue with operation without waiting for user to press the OK button. Auto insert notification must be enabled in Windows for drive in question for this feature to work.

• The Search dialog is not yet replaced with a new version, but there are a few enhancements already available. Some of edit boxes in are now equipped with a history list, storing old search queries to be re-used if required. Searching by description supports a new feature - searching for items that sound alike, using the soundex algorithm. The Help and Stay On Top buttons have been moved to window's caption.

• A new Properties dialog is now available for cases when more than one item is selected. The new dialog will show common properties for a group of selected items, as well as allow you to change description, categories, flags, or disk locations for all selected items at once. The Properties dialog for single items has also been added some new features, like setting the same categories and flags to all available subitems.

• The work on new Report Generator is not completed yet, however some new features are available. Most notable are new, more friendly dialog layout, new HTML and RTF report exporting functions, new internal reporting engine, changes in Report Settings dialog for easier access etc. Report Generator will now allow to word wrap single-line descriptions, if space on page is critical. This way, description column will take less space, but multi-line descriptions will not be word wrapped to preserve text formatting.

• Language support has been improved with some new language settings, like right-to-left reading. Support for languages using DBCS is planned for the final release. The use of language files can also be disabled in version 2.0, allowing the program to run faster if only using internal English language.

• Version 2.0 is now much more DBCS-friendly, and Far-East users should be able to use the program with their own language with much better results.

• The Compare Results window is no longer modal - user can now switch to other windows without loosing compare results data. Some heavy adjustments all around the program were needed to support this feature.

• New script language has been added to WhereIsIt, mostly for automated catalog management (loading, updating, saving,...) Network administrators should now be able to schedule unattended catalog updates. The script language itself is only basic for now and will likely be extended in the feature.

• The "Open Catalog" dialog was enhanced and is now capable of showing some catalog's properties without having to open the catalog in program. Some of available details are the catalog-tree preview, catalog description, a few details about stored disks, catalog's owner and protection state etc.

• Improved mouse wheel support.

• WhereIsIt now uses a new registration system - instead of typing four lines of user data, each registered user now gets a personal key file to register the program and unlock all capabilities. The new system allows me to implement some additional features, and is easier to use for end users.

• MANY other improvements and changes were made in WhereIsIt 2.0 (I have to admit I lost track for some of them myself). Some more are still planned before the final 2.0 release will be completed. At a rough estimate, about 80% of code was modified or rewritten since the 1.2x release.

Known Limitations And Missing Features in 2.00 beta 1

♦ Multi-language support is disabled in this release. Only English language is currently up to date with version 2.0, and it is not time yet to start updating other languages, too - program will still change a lot, including in user interface.

♦ Direct support for network drives using UNC addressing is not yet included in this release - you still have to assign a drive letter to network drive in order to access it with WhereIsIt. Program has been internally updated for UNC drives, though, this feature will be activated in later versions.

♦ Help file has barely been updated so far - you are likely to find some new items displaying no or even wrong help text. Help file is usually the last thing to update before release is called "final".

♦ Some improvements are waiting to be done in report generator as well, especially with printer settings and support functions.

♦ Some new exciting features still planned to be included in WhereIsIt will likely have to wait for the next major release, probably version 2.5. Among them are support for printing labels and CD inserts, the new "folder" system similar to one used in many e-mail programs which is intended to enhance and replace user list functionality, and some others. Program has been internally prepared for many such features, but I can't implement everything at one, development of version 2.0 is already taking too long.


ASCII Viewer

Internal ASCII Viewer is a small and simple add-on for Where Is It? that allows you to quickly open and browse the contents of any file in the catalog. It can function in both ASCII and HEX modes, and it will display all text or rich-text files in a readable form, while all other binary files are presented in HEX mode. If you would be rather using some other, external program for viewing files instead of this internal viewer, you can set so in the Program Settings (General settings group, External programs tab).

Before you can view your selected file, you must insert media with the required file in your drive, or make it otherwise accessible by system. If media is not accessible when you select the 'View' command, you will be prompted to insert it first.

You can switch the ASCII and HEX mode yourself, using the Options / View as ASCII/HEX commands. Program will auto-detect the correct mode based on file contents when it is opened, so there should be no need to change it manually.

Searching for part of text is also provided in internal viewer, but it is only available when in ASCII mode.

You can select a font to be used in Internal ASCII Viewer with the Options / Set Font command, or in Program Settings (Customize Fonts tab). While viewing rich-text formatted document, the font setting will be overridden with document formatting.

In the Options menu, you can also turn word wrapping on or off. If word wrapping is on, lines of text will be wrapped to the next line if longer than current window width.

If you have Quick View (Plus) installed on your system, you can quickly launch it with viewed file using the Options / Open Quick View command. Quick View is capable of showing contents of many different file formats.


Compare Files to Catalog

Results of comparing files against catalog data are presented as three lists, one of them is visible at the time. You can select which list to display by adjusting value of 'List Type' box, found on top of this window. The three lists are as follows:

Files not found in selected catalog

Here are listed all files from your source folders that were not found in selected catalog. These files are not stored on any media in the selected catalog.

Files found to be the same as in selected catalog

Files listed here are files from catalog that match completely at least one file from your source folders. If a file appears more than one time in the catalog, all appearances will be listed.

Files found in the catalog, but only matching file name

Files on this list are files from selected catalog that match by name at least one of your source files, but do not match them by other properties, like size or date. Most likely, these files have changed since last catalogued, or they may not be related at all, despite having the same name.

You can access the most common functions for item manipulation on the toolbar, as well as on item's pop-up menus. Toolbar is dockable to any side of list window, or can be made floating. If you close the Compare Results window, you can call it back with option available in Window menu.

Please note: Item manipulation functions are only available for items already in the catalog, therefor they will not be accessible in the Files not found in selected catalog list.


How to Use Help in Where Is It?

Where Is It? has the help file divided in two parts, and each part can be accessed in two ways.

Interactive help

The first part is the normal help file you are just reading. Here you can find some basic information about how to use the program, with index and search support. Use this help to browse through information and find what you are looking for. Help file can be accessed from main menu using the Help / Help Index option

Context-sensitive help

The second part is the context-sensitive help. Use this type of help to get information about specific parts of user interface, like buttons, check boxes, edit boxes etc., right from where you see them. Many dialogs in the program are equipped with this type of help, and you can recognize them by the help button ( [image]) in the upper right area. To use this help, just press the help button (notice that your cursor will change) point to the item you require help with and click on it.


Description Files Formats

Where Is It? uses description plugins to import descriptions from various sources. The Description API functions are published and anyone with programming knowledge can develop a new description plugin to be used in WhereIsIt. Program comes with default description plugin that can, among other sources, use the following description file formats to import description from:

FILE_ID.DIZ files  (import and export)

These are the most common description files today, most often found compressed inside archive files, distributed over Internet, CD-ROMs etc. File_id.diz file contains a description for its parent (archive file, or a folder). Basically it is text file, usually limited to about 40 characters in width, and a few lines long.

For exporting to File_id.diz files, please note that only folder descriptions can be exported to this format. Descriptions for archive files will not be exported since WhereIsIt? does not handle updating archive files.

FILES.BBS files  (import and export)

Files like Files.bbs were in the past very popular on the Bulletin Board Systems (BBS), but since the expansion of the Internet, those are in decline. Still, many shareware CD-ROMs are still shipped with descriptions in this file format. Files.bbs are multi-file description databases, containing descriptions for all (or some) files and folders inside a single folder (in other words, Files.bbs file can contain descriptions for all items you can get with a simple DIR command). Each description consists of a filename, at least one space character as separator, and a description. Description can stretch through more than one line; in this case, every new line is starting in the same column as it did the first line of the description.

Example:

FILE1.TXT       This is a description for a first file.

FILE2.TXT       This is an example of

                multiline description.

DESCRIPT.ION files  (import and export)

This description file format is native to a popular Command.com replacement, 4DOS from JP Software Inc., or its older version NDOS from Norton Utilities package. 4DOS can display descriptions with the DIR command, aligned on the right side. Descriptions longer than 40 characters are wrapped to the next line, and are normally kept under this limit. File format is quite simple: each Descript.ion file has descriptions for files inside a single folder, just like the Files.bbs files. Each description is presented in one single line, starting with the filename (or folder name), one space character as separator, and ending with the description text. Control characters like line-breaks, tab characters etc. are not permitted.

00INDEX.TXT files and similar  (import only)

These files are basically using the same format as Files.bbs files, except they usually originate from UNIX systems (mostly FTP servers on Internet) and are therefor using UNIX text format. Naming the files is not exactly strict in this case, and program will look for the following variations if file names when importing from 00index.txt and similar is enabled:

00index.txt, 00_index.txt, 0index.txt, index.txt, index, .index, catalog.txt, dirinfo

If more than one of listed files is found, file listed first will be used for importing.

Archive files comments  (import only)

Many archive files formats support adding your own comment to the archive file. Examples of such are ZIP, RAR, ARJ, and others. WhereIsIt? can extract this comments from archive files and use them as descriptions for those files. Please note that "Browse inside archive files" option must be enabled for this to work while scanning your disks.

Exporting descriptions into archive files comments is not supported since WhereIsIt? does not handle updating archive files.


Using Report Generator

Report generator is a very flexible tool, and can be used in many different ways. Here are the basic steps how to produce a report:

Prepare items to include in report

1. Generating report from one of the lists

Normally, you will want to generate report from one of item lists in the program (current list in right pane of the Main window, search results, user list...) In this case, you need to prepare data before selecting Report Generator option (for example, execute searching to find items you want to include in report, or collect those item in the User List). After your items are ready on the list, you can click on the [image] button, and select appropriate list as a source.

If you did not choose contents of Main window as a source, you can also choose if you want your items in report sorted by source or not. Without sorting, items will be in the same order as they are on the source list. On the other hand, if items are sorted, items will be grouped together by catalogs, disks, and folders, and equipped with appropriate headings.

2. Generating custom reports

With custom reports you can visually select from loaded catalogs how your report will be put together. To make custom report, click the [image] button in the main window, and select custom reports option. In the left bottom corner you will get a tree-like display of your currently loaded catalogs. You can expand or collapse nodes on that tree, making more or less items visible. When report will be generated, only visible items on that tree will be included in report. Most disks and folders also have checkboxes on the left side; check those to also include files stored in the disk's root directory or selected folder in the report. You can use the 'Macros' key to perform operations on many items at once. All macro commands available apply to currently selected item in the tree.

Select report columns

Each item is presented in report with one line, and each line can have many columns with detailed information about that item (for example, for file items, there are columns with filename, file size, date, time, attributes...). You can select by yourself which columns you want in report, and in what order. In the bottom right part of Report Generator dialog, you will find list of columns available for currently selected report type. Check all columns you want in report, and adjust column order in the list as desired.

Select report destination

Report can be generated to print or preview on screen, or to export as an ASCII file. Select the appropriate option in Report Destination group. If exporting report to ASCII file, you can choose the column delimiter mode, being either space aligned (best for visual appearance), or separated with TAB or comma characters (best for importing to other programs, like spreadsheets).

At this point, you should be able to print or export your report. If you would like to preview the result first, select 'Print Preview' option (this is only available if destination is set to printer, so you may want to temporarily select printer as destination when exporting to ASCII file).

Many other settings such as paper size, fonts, and colors are also available to adjust in Report Setup dialog, allowing you to customize the look and feel for your reports.


Using Search Dialog

Search dialog allows you to search for items (files, folders, or disks) by many different criteria, stand alone or combined. In general, Search dialog is divided in two sections, each is available as a separate tab.

Quick Search

Quick Search is the fastest way to find items by name, description, or both. Enter in the edit box part of text you are searching for, and set check boxes if you want to search by item names and/or descriptions, or if you want your search to be case sensitive. If searching by file names, you can also enter file masks, for example "*.txt", while searching by descriptions allows you use a special sound-ex feature that can help locate items with part of description that at least sounds like text you are searching for.

To search by more than one criteria, you can separate your entries with commas, for example "apple, banana" to search for either word "apple" or word "banana". If searching for expression that includes comma character, include the whole expression in double quotes (") to avoid it being handled as two separate expressions.

Advanced Search

Advanced Search is a powerful search tool that will allow you to write and use complex search expressions, using full Boolean logic and all search criteria groups WhereIsIt has to offer, such as searching by names, descriptions, sizes, dates, times, attributes, categories, flags, disk locations,...

The main part of Advanced Search is the Expression Editor, where you can assemble your search expression. Basic building block for search expressions are search criteria, logical operations (and, or, xor, and not), and parenthesis to assign priority. Each search criteria is presented in a form of readable text that describes your criteria. Note that this text is handled as a whole in editor - you can not edit or delete part of it, only the whole criteria at once. To edit criteria, double-click the text, or move the caret into the text and click the "Edit Criteria" button. Boolean operators in search expression are displayed in bold, to make the expression easier to read. The same as with search criteria, text for Boolean operators is handled as whole as well.

When your search expression is completed, you use the "Validate" button to check it out for errors, such as invalid use of operators, missing parenthesis etc. You can load or save your search expressions with the Options button.

Other Search Settings

Before you start searching with either Quick or Advanced Search, you can limit your search to only part of data, and setup some other details about how searching will be performed. With the Limit Search button you can select to search either in entire catalog, only in selected disks in catalog, or in previous search results. The latter option allows you to use sequential searching, every next search further limiting down results from the previous one. On the same spot you can also limit the number of hits before searching will stop. The Settings button allows you to select what kind of items are you searching for - files, folders, disks, or any combination of them. You can also select not to search inside compressed file's contents, and whether or not to clear results from previous search when starting a new search.


Using Description Assistant

Description Assistant is basically an editor, where you can edit description for selected item. While you can do the same task in item's Properties dialog, Description Assistant has two major advantages over that: editing window can be much larger, allowing you more comfortable editing, and you can use Assistant's advanced features to help you describe your items. You can start the Description Assistant by activating the option to edit item's description.

Description Assistant can help you edit description by providing access to specific files that may hold some information about the item you are describing. In program settings, you can setup which files will Description Assistant look for. Typical examples are all text files (*.TXT), FILE_ID.DIZ files, and similar. Program will look for these files in the same folder where your item is from, as well as in sub-folders, down to user-definable level in depth. In Description Assistant, you will be presented with the list of such found files, and you will be able to easily browse the contents of those files. Program is even able to find and display description files if they are compressed inside archive files, provided that browsing inside archive files was enabled when adding disk to catalog.

Window in Description Assistant is divided in two parts. The upper portion is the editor, where you are editing item's description. The bottom part contains a drop-down box with list of found description files, and contents of currently selected file. Drag and drop support from bottom part to upper editor is provided, enabling you to simply select the description found in some file and drag it to your editor. You can also quickly switch between items on the list, by using either combo box available at the top, or the two buttons (Previous and Next) next to it.

The Options button available in Description Assistant contains some settings you may find useful. The ANSI convert option will convert some special DOS graphics characters that may be used in description files with more common ones, improving readability. You can also turn on word wrapping if selected description file contains long lines of text.


Using the User List

You can think of User List as a special sort of clipboard. It is a place where you can gather all items of interest, and then perform an operation over items in this list. For example, if you would like to print report with only specific items on it, you could gather these items in the User List and make report with User List as a source.

Another common example where User List may be of help is when you would like to select many items at once to perform a common task on them, like setting a category. The problem is, most items come from different folders, and you can not select all of them at once in the main window. You could first add all items of interest to User List, select all items there, and set category for all selected items at once.

You can add items to user list using the 'Add to User List' command. You will find this command available in most parts of the program where dealing with items, including the Search window. This way, if you need to add some specific items to User List, you can search for them first, and add them from Search Results list.

You can perform many actions on items listed in User List, by either right-clicking desired item, or using button on User List toolbar. Items can be sorted by clicking on the appropriate column while list is in detail view.

User List will only remember its contents while program is running. If catalog is closed while items from that catalog are still listed in the User List, they will be removed from list while closing the catalog.


Language Editor

Starting with version 1.10 program uses language files in order to provide multi-language user interface. Each language file is in plain text format and can be edited by any ASCII editor; this way, you can make your own translations to unsupported languages, or modify specific user interface items, such as menu shortcuts.

Besides using an external ASCII editor, program also offers you the built-in Language Editor, the preferred method for translating or modifying language files. Language Editor can present you the data to be translated in more organized way, help you out with side by side presentation of original and translated text, and make some basic checks of data you entered.

Language Editor layout

Language Editor has the same internal structure as language file itself, allowing you to easily switch between external ASCII editor and language editor. Please see a special page about language file structure if you are not familiar with it yet.

Note that Language Editor itself is always displayed in English language, for obvious reasons. This is the only part of program (besides system dialogs that are beyond program's reach) that can not be translated to custom language.

On the top of Language Editor window you will find a main toolbar. Buttons include creating a new language file, opening existing language file, and saving currently loaded language. There are also two buttons for searching in currently loaded language, and the last button toggles between wrapped and unwrapped lines in main edit boxes (if wrapping is enabled, lines too long to be displayed are wrapped in the next line; normal behavior in this case is to show a horizontal scrollbar).

Right under main buttons is a header section, displaying properties for selected language. Edit this data to modify it in language file header. Here you can also change font used in program when this language is active.

Translation Editor is the main part of Language Editor. On the left side, you will find combo box will all sections available and just below it a list of all items in currently selected section. The right side mostly consists of both edit boxes. The upper one is read-only and serves as a reference, showing text to be translated, while the lower edit box is for you to type the translated equivalent. Navigation buttons at the bottom allow you easy navigation through items (note the Alt+P and Alt+N shortcuts!), and the 'Revert' button can recall previous contents of translated data. Program can also scan all items in language file, and change all other items with the same data as the one just have just changes (this can save you repetitive work with some controls like 'OK' buttons, often appearing in dialogs).

Follow this link to learn how to start translating and what to be careful about.


Language files

Language file is a text-only file that provides program with language-

specific data. You can easily introduce a new language to the

program by simply copying the existing language file and translating

its contents.


Language File Structure

Language file is a plain ASCII text file, very similar to Windows' INI files (but not the same). Basically, it consists of header, sections and items within specific section. There is a short example at the end of this page.

Header

Header only includes descriptive information about the language file, such as language name, author, source language file used for translation, language file version. This information is mostly used inside WhereIsIt to display user-friendly language name, to select appropriate source language in Language Editor etc.

Second part of header selects the default font and its properties to be used in program. Normally, this is MS Sans Serif. It is strongly recommended to leave font size to default, unless you have a very good reason for changing it! Charset depends on language it will be used; and will force Windows to use specific character set, even if it has to change font because of that. That means, if you force program to use specific character set, and user does not have specified font with this character set installed, Windows will choose different font! Because of that, it is recommended to leave charset set to default. For some Middle-East languages, you can also set the right-to-left reading to be used in program, if necessary.

When entering language name, please use the English name for the language.

Sections

Sections are groups of items than belong together. Most sections are in fact program's windows, with two exceptions mentioned later. Every section starts with a line with section name, enclosed in square brackets, like [STRINGS].  Lines with items belonging to this section are following, and empty line is marking end of section. In each language file you will find the following sections:

[STRINGS] - this section groups all text segments used in program that are not part of static user interface, for example messages, status bar text etc. Each item has an ID number as a reference for program to find it when needed.

[TIPS] - small section that holds tips about using the program - the same one you see when program starts. Each tip has assigned a reference number. To add new tips, just add a new line with new tip, and assign it a new reference number; program will pick it up from there.

other sections - all other sections are program dialogs. Names are internal, and can only give you a hint which dialog is presented with this section. Items in these sections are Windows controls, such as buttons, labels, check boxes etc. By translating item's value in language file, you are in fact changing text that will appear on button, label,... Many controls also support shortcuts - the underlined character in text that serves as a quick way to select that control in program when it is pressed together with Alt key. To create a shortcut, insert a '&' character before chosen letter. For example, button with text '&OK' will appear as 'OK', and Alt+O shortcut will act the same way as clicking on that button.

Section items

Each item in section is represented as one line of text, starting with internal item name, following by '=' and item contents. The only thing you care about is item contents, item name is there only for program to use. However, it is often useful to know what are you translating, and from item's name you should be able to recognize if this is a button, label, check box, hint, menu option...

 If any special characters need to be used, like line break, they are presented as three-digit ASCII-code numbers, preceded by character '/' (slash). For example, to insert a line break, you would insert '/013' in the text. Remember, each item must be presented as one single line of text (it can be a long one, but that's OK). If using internal Language Editor, you don't need to worry about any of this, program will take care of such conversions.

Small example of language file:

LangName=English

LangSource=none

Author=Robert Galle

LangFont=MS Sans Serif

LangFontSize=0

LangCharset=Default charset

LangBiDiMode=LeftToRight

Version=2.00

[STRINGS]

001=Unused buttons

002=Please check your windows registry, there may be more serious problem involved.

003=Error saving config

004=Folder "%s", set as temporary folder for extracting files does not exist!/013Reverting to default Windows temporary folder.

005=Invalid folder

[TIPS]

001=...this program is not free? By registering, you will support shareware concept and help developing new, more advanced versions. You will also receive a registration code to unlock the program to its full potential.

002=You can adjust size of buttons in a toolbar. Have a look in the program settings and resize them to fit your screen best.

[TMainForm]

MainForm=WhereIsIt?

ButtonOpen.Hint=Open Catalog

ButtonSave.Hint=Save Current Catalog

ButtonAddDisk.Hint=Add/047Update Disk Image in Catalog

ButtonSearch.Hint=Search for Items

[TMediaForm]

MediaForm=Insert Media

Label1=Please insert media labeled:

OKButton=&OK

CancelButton=&Cancel

ManualButton=&Manual Select


Translating the program
How to Translate

Translating process is most of the time nothing more than just converting text to another language. To start translating to a new language, first create a copy of existing language file, preferably the English one (in internal Language Editor, just press the New Language button, and save the new file under different name). Fill the language file header, select the source language, and you are ready to begin translating.

If using external ASCII editor:

In case you will be using external editor instead of build-in Language Editor, make sure you do not change section headers (appearing enclosed in square brackets) and anything before character '=' in lines of text. Again, each item must be in one single line of text; if you need to insert a line break, use a '/013' text sequence instead.

When translating, there are some things to be careful about:

• Try to make your translated data to be about the same length as the original English text. Try not to force it to maximum length possible, on some other display it may already appear truncated, even if you still can see it all. Program will try to adjust appearance to the new text wherever possible, but it can't do miracles. Be sure to verify how your translated data appears in the program.

• When translating the [STRINGS] section, make sure there is the same number of %s appearances in your translated text and the original text (if you are using internal Language Editor, program will check that for you, too). %s is a special placeholder for data that will be inserted during program execution. For example, in text 'Filename: %s', the %s will get replaced with actual filename, and text will show to user as, for example, 'Filename: Test.txt'.

• When entering main menu shortcuts (like Ctrl+O and similar), make sure not to assign the same shortcut to more than one menu item. The same goes for using '&' shortcut in control's texts: only one control on the form may have assigned specific hot key (for example, having controls '&OK' and 'Butt&on' on the same form is illegal, they both have set 'O' for a hot key).


This window presents you with results of comparing. Files are divided into relevant groups, each group is presented as a list. You can switch between available groups by changing selection of 'List Type' combo box, or by clicking appropriate tab on the bottom of displayed list.

Most operations such as sorting, printing, etc. are available, but only for files already in the catalog.


Selecting the default language

If, for any reason, you would like to switch back to default English language,

and are unable to do so in program because you can't understand or correctly

display currently selected language, you can run the program from command line

with this special parameter:

WhereIsIt.exe /English

This will effectively run the program in English language, ignoring current

language settings.


Script Language

Where Is It? has a simple script language, supporting some catalog-handling commands. The main purpose of script language is to make automated, unattended catalog updates possible.

Script Language Syntax

Syntax rules are kept as simple as possible. Each command is in a separate line, empty lines and lines starting with semicolon (;) are regarded as comments and are skipped. Each command starts with command verb, parameters, if any, are included in parenthesis ("()"). Each parameter has a name and value, in form of "name=value" - the name of the first parameter can be omitted, specifying only value. Some parameters are optional, text parameters are included in double quotes ("text"). You can find a short sample at the end of this page.

Command List

Parameter descriptions are displayed underlined, with optional parameters in Italics.

NewCatalog(File, Name)

Creates a new catalog, and assigns it a specified file name and catalog name.

Parameters:

File - the full path to a file where catalog will be saved

Name - the name of new catalog

Example:

NewCatalog("C:\WhereIsIt\Catalogs\CatFile.ctf" Name="New Catalog")

OpenCatalog(File)

Opens existing catalog, by specified file name.

Parameters:

File - the full path to a catalog file to be opened

Example:

OpenCatalog("C:\WhereIsIt\Catalogs\CatFile.ctf")

SaveCatalog(File, CreateBak)

Saves one of loaded catalog files.

Parameters:

File - the full path of the catalog file to save. File must be opened in WhereIsIt.

CreateBak - optional Boolean parameter (True or False), specifying if current version of catalog file should be renamed with *.BAK extension before saving the new file. Default is False.

Example:

SaveCatalog("C:\WhereIsIt\Catalogs\CatFile.ctf" CreateBak=True)

SaveCatalogAs(File, NewFile)

Saves one of loaded catalog files under a different file name. After saving is complete, catalog is known under a new file name.

Parameters:

File - the full path of the catalog file to save. File must be opened in WhereIsIt.

NewFile - Specified a new file name for catalog.

Example:

SaveCatalogAs("C:\WhereIsIt\Catalogs\CatFile.ctf" NewFile="C:\Test.ctf")

CloseCatalog(File, AutoSave)

Closes specified catalog file, with optional saving first.

Parameters:

File - the full path of the catalog file to close. File must be opened in WhereIsIt.

AutoSave - optional Bboolean parameter. Specify "True" if you want changes in catalog to be saved before catalog is closed, or "False" to ignore all changes in catalog. Default is True.

Example:

CloseCatalog("C:\WhereIsIt\Catalogs\CatFile.ctf" AutoSave=False)

CloseAllCatalogs(AutoSave)

Closes all opened catalog files in WhereIsIt, with optional saving first.

Parameters:

AutoSave - optional Boolean parameter. Specify "True" if you want changes in catalog files to be saved before catalogs are closed, or "False" to ignore all changes in catalogs. Default is True.

Example:

CloseAllCatalog(AutoSave=False)

UpdateDisk(Drive, CatalogFile, AllowNew, BrowseArchive, ArchiveDescOnly, VirtualRoot)

Adds or updates disk image in one of loaded catalogs.

Parameters:

Drive - specifies drive to scan, in form of "<drive_letter>:". If data for specified drive is found in catalog it will be updated, otherwise a new disk will be added in catalog.

CatalogFile - specifies catalog file (full path) where add/update disk operation should be performed. This parameter is only needed if more than one catalog is loaded in WhereIsIt.

AllowNew - optional Boolean parameter. Specify "True" if you allow adding a new disk to catalog, or "False" to allow only disk update operation. If parameter is false, and no matching disk is found in specified catalog to be updated, this command will report an error. Default is True.

BrowseArchive - optional Boolean parameter. Specify "True" to allow browsing inside compressed archive files during disk scan, or "False" to treat archive files as all the rest. Default is the same setting as set in WhereIsIt as default option.

ArchiveDescOnly - optional Boolean parameter. Specify "True" to only import description files from compressed archive files, but no archive contents. Specify "False" to fully analyze archive files. Please note that BrowseArchive parameter must be True for this setting to have an effect. Default is True.

Virtual Root - optional parameter with virtual root setting. If you want to scan media with virtual root set to one of the folders, specify full path to virtual root folder in this parameter, including leading and trailing backslash, for example: "\Virtual\Root\".

Example:

UpdateDisk("F:" BrowseArchive=False VirtualRoot="\Test\")

MessageBox(Text, Header)

Displays a simple message to the user, and wait until user clicks on the OK button.

Parameters:

Text - Text of the message to display.

Header - optional text to display on dialog's header. Default is "WhereIsIt Script".

Example:

MessageBox("Hello World!" Header="My First Script")

Debugging(State)

Turns debugging mode on or off. In debugging mode, program will pause and display each command in script file before executing it. You can use debugging mode to check which command in your script file is causing the problem. Debugging is turned off by default when script starts.

Parameters:

State - "True" or "False" parameter. Specify "True" to select debugging mode, or "False" to turn it off.

Example:

Debugging(True)

DisplayErrors(State)

Selects if program will display error messages caused by running script in a dialog, and wait for user to respond, or will it just quit the script quietly. If your script file is doing some scheduled, unattended maintenance, it may be preferable that no errors are reported and program continues or exits immediately.

Parameters:

State - "True" or "False" parameter. Specify "True" to show error messages, or "False" to force program in quiet mode.

Example:

DisplayErrors(False)

EndScript

Ends the script execution, and continues with interactive work with WhereIsIt. To exit the program when script completes, use the ExitProgram command instead.

Parameters:

None.

Example:

EndScript

ExitProgram(AutoSave)

Terminates the current script execution and exits the program, optionally saving changed catalog files before doing so.

Parameters:

AutoSave - optional "True" or "False" parameter. Specify it as "True" to save all changed catalogs before program exits, or "False" to ignore all changed catalogs and just exit the program immediately. Default is True.

Example:

ExitProgram

Small script sample:

; This is a test script file for WhereIsIt

Debugging(False)

DisplayErrors(False)

OpenCatalog("C:\WhereIsIt\Catalogs\Sample.ctf")

UpdateDisk("F:", AllowNew=True)

OpenCatalog("C:\WhereIsIt\Catalogs\Sample.ctf")

CloseAllCatalogs

MessageBox("Script file completed.")

EndScript


Using Script Files

Script files in WhereIsIt? are similar in usage to regular DOS batch files, except in that they can be executed when WhereIsIt? starts. They are plain ASCII files, with one command per line syntax - detailed description of script language syntax is available on a separate page.

To write your own script file, you will only need a plain ASCII text editor like Notepad. WhereIsIt? script files should have extension WSC, for example "MyScript.WSC". Write your script program, and save it.

To run your script, execute WhereIsIt? with the "-script <script file>" parameter, for example "WhereIsIt - script MyScript.WSC".  This will cause WhereIsIt? to immediately start executing your script file, operating in "quiet mode" and showing no visual indication that program is running. This way, you can use script files for automatic updates in a background without user being aware program is running. How will your script file end execution is up to you. You can use the ExitProgram command to terminate the program when your script completes, or you can use the EndScript command to allow WhereIsIt? to continue in normal, user mode. With the latter option, you have a chance to use scripts to automate tasks when WhereIsIt? starts, and then continue using the program. This way, you can for example update catalog data every time WhereIsIt starts, making sure that you always have the latest data available when program loads.

Since the main reason for script files is to allow scheduling automatic updates, you will probably need an external schedule program to run WhereIsIt at desired times to perform an update. Windows provide a good schedule program, but there are some other available as well. All you have to do in any schedule program is only to setup WhereIsIt? to be run at desired time with "-script" and your script file as parameters.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Copyright (c) 1997,1999 Robert Galle

All Rights Reserved

Last updated: March 23th 1999

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Registration and purchase

2. Installation

3. Using the program

4. Troubleshooting

1. Registration and purchase

Q: Why should I register?

A: WhereIsIt? is not a free software, a lot of time and effort has been invested in making this program. WhereIsIt? is released as shareware, allowing you to test it for a limited period of time (14 days). If you plan to continue using the program after that period, you are required to register. Evaluation version also has some limitations that are removed when program is registered.

Q: How can I register WhereIsIt?

A: The fastest way to register WhereIsIt is to use the online registration form, and pay with your credit card. Orders are handled by PsL, via secure connection, and you can expect to receive your registration code by e-mail in the next 24 hours. More details and link to online ordering form can be found on WhereIsIt's home page: http://www.whereisit-soft.com

Q: I don't have a credit card, or don't want to use it. Can I still register?

A: Yes, some other ways are available, too. Most often used are sending a personal check (cheque, in some countries), or cash, via regular mail to my own address (not to PsL!). You may also wire the registration fee directly from your bank to mine, but some banks in some countries may charge you their own processing fee. If you have WhereIsIt 2.0 or newer, you can find the "How to Order" wizard in the Help menu, describing in detail all available options to register the program.

Q: Do I need to re-register new version of WhereIsIt?

A: No, you don't have to, registration codes are valid for all future versions of WhereIsIt. If I am in any way forced to change that policy, this will not be done without discussing it with currently registered users first.

Q: I'm a registered user of WhereIsIt 1.xx, but I can't find where to put my registration data in version 2.0.

A: WhereIsIt 2.0 uses a different registration system. All registered users with valid e-mail addresses have already received their registration update. If you haven't received yours yet, please contact the author for more information.

Q: I'm working for a company, and we would all like to use WhereIsIt. Are there site licenses available?

A: Yes, site licenses are available for WhereIsIt. Please contact the author directly to work out the details. Discounts are also available if you would like to purchase 5 or more licenses at once.

Q: Can I buy WhereIsIt? in my local store?

A: Yes, you can, if you live in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland. Mitcom Neue Medien GmbH, Muenchen, is handling distribution of German version of WhereIsIt to stores all over German speaking part of Europe. If you can't find WhereIsIt in your local store, you can contact Mitcom directly at sales@mitcom.com and let them know. Please note that version distributed by Mitcom is cheaper (29.95 DM) than registered shareware version (50 DM), but it is not upgradeable to (newer) versions found on Internet. Author does offer a special upgrade program (10,00 DM) for Mitcom buyers to receive a personal registration code, which is valid for all the latest WhereIsIt shareware versions.

2. Installation

Q: Should I uninstall previous version of WhereIsIt? before installing a new one?

A: This is not necessary if you will install new version in the same folder. Just run the setup program, and program will upgrade itself. If you would like to install program to different location, then uninstalling is recommended. Please note that your catalogs will not be deleted while uninstalling, but you will have to configure the program again since old settings will be removed.

Q: How can I uninstall WhereIsIt?

A: Just open the Control Panel, select "Add/Remove programs" option, and double-click WhereIsIt's entry on the list. If you have created program group for WhereIsIt when installing, you can achieve the same by clicking the "Uninstall WhereIsIt" icon in WhereIsIt's group.

Q: Can I be notified about new versions?

A: Yes, you can, if you have a valid e-mail address. A free mailing list is available for all WhereIsIt users - notifications about new versions and current development news are posted there. You can add or remove yourself from WhereIsIt Mailing List at any time from WhereIsIt's home page, located at: http://www.whereisit-soft.com.

3. Using the program

Q: Does WhereIsIt run on Windows 3.1, or Windows NT 3.5x?

A: No, sorry, WhereIsIt? relies on technology not yet provided with these operating systems. You will need at least Windows 95, or Windows NT 4.0 to run WhereIsIt.

Q: How can change order of disks, displayed in left tree pane?

A: The same way as you would change order of files or folders - by sorting them in the right pane. Select the parent catalog entry in the tree view, so your disks are displayed on the right side, and sort them by clicking the appropriate column header. Changes in disk order will be reflected on tree view, too.

Q: Can I delete specific files or folders from catalog if I don't need them?

A: Not in the older WhereIsIt 1.xx, but the new version 2.0 does support such modifications, too. Older WhereIsIt 1.xx honors the data integrity in catalog, always assuring that data as stated in catalog resembles as much as possible the real data on your media. The only exception are hidden files, or special items like Recycle Bin, that can be set to be skipped during the disk scan. Version 2.0 will allow you to freely remove any selected item from catalog, although over-using this feature is not recommended.

Q: How can one print an alphabetical list of all files in the catalog?

A: The easiest way to do that is to use searching in combination with report generator. First, you have to get a list of all items that you would like to print - searching for all files with "*.*" mask should do the trick in this case. Sort resulting list by file names, and click on report generator button. Be sure to selected the "Print data in list 'as is', no sorting" option, in order to preserve items order as they are in search results list (nicely alphabetically sorted). Just select the columns you want in report, and that's it. Searching in combination with report generator is a very powerful and adjustable tool for making all kinds of reports. You can do a lot with it, but you will need to get a bit creative.

Q: Can I export my database to be used in some other program?

A: You can export data to either ASCII file (a few formats are available, including comma-separated values supported in most database programs), or directly to Microsoft Excel as a new datasheet. Exporting routines are part of report generator, meaning you can select yourself which data in what details will get exported. New version 2.0 can also export data to a few other formats, such as HTML, or rich-edit (Word).

Q: I have set the Description Assistant to import text files as descriptions, but this doesn't work.

A: Auto-importing descriptions is not what Description Assistant (DA) does. DA is an interactive tool, designed to help you when manually editing your descriptions. For more details about DA, consult the help file and be sure to read the next question, too. A plugin to import user-defined text files as description as also available, however due to some considerations with this functionality it is not distributed as a part of WhereIsIt and is not officially supported. You can download it as a separate package from program's home page.

Q: How can I get the program to import my own descriptions during disk scan?

A: You can use WhereIsIt's open standard Description API to write your own description plugins. The following section describes some issues about auto-importing descriptions in some more details.

---

Generally, importing specified text files as descriptions can be a bigger problem than it may seem on the first sight. If there are 100 users, there are also 100 different ways how each user is using text files to describe disk contents. Concepts of how and what is in such text files differs a lot. WhereIsIt 1.xx is limited only to well known and widely used description formats that have at least basically defined format and purpose. Even these supported formats can differ a lot - for example, I have here a collection of 28 (!) index.txt and similar files, every one of them using a bit different internal format, even if they are all used for the same purpose. Program has to do something close to magic to be able to decode out what is a file name and what a description. Expecting the program to import a custom text file and use it for a description source without some pre-programmed logic is close to impossible in many cases.

Just importing a whole text file as a description for parent folder, for example, may be a problem, too. Very long item descriptions in catalog are far from desired (WhereIsIt limits them to 4 kB for this reason, and even this is far from the ideal 3-5 lines). Just importing the first 4 kB of text file would rarely do any good - you have good chances to be stuck with an index, or a part of license agreement often included with such files at the top instead of some useful text. Another problem is what to import if there are more such files available - for example, a few *.nfo files. Only one of them is usually "the right one", and importing the wrong one would just waste space in catalog uselessly.

The new version 2.0 of WhereIsIt addresses this problem with a new feature, called Description API. Basically, it is a way to provide users with ability to include or even write their own description plugins, extending program's ability to handle other, currently unsupported description sources. For example, if you would like to import your *.nfo files as descriptions, you could write a simple description plugin for this task. It will be plugin's responsibility, however, to decide what will be used for description and how to get it. As far as WhereIsIt is concerned, it will just say to your plugin during the disk scan: "Hey, you said you can get me description for parent folder from *.nfo files, so here is a folder with some .nfo file in it, let me have up to 4 kB text for description then". A collection of third-party description plugins is planned to be available on WhereIsIt's home page for a free download.

---

Q: What about importing and storing images as thumbnails in catalogs?

A: WhereIsIt's catalog file format is well capable of storing binary data such as images or even sound together with other file data, however there are some considerations. The biggest problem with thumbnails is their size. Currently average storage requirements per file are about 15 bytes, while still useable thumbnail should be at least a few kB. This would result in much larger catalog files, likely too large to still be manageable without a major change in catalog handling and database structure. Media scanning performance would suffer a lot, too, generating thumbnails can be a very time-consuming operation. Interactive graphic programs can effectively hide such delays by handling only a few images at the time and counting on user's reactions to be slower, but WhereIsIt has no such ways out.

4. Troubleshooting

Q: When clicking on "Find" tab in help file, I get the following error message: "Unable to Display Find Tab (177)".

A: This error can occur if the WhereIsIt.fts, or WhereIsIt.gid file in program folder is damaged or corrupted. Delete all WhereIsIt.fts files you can find (another location to look at is Windows\Help folder) and WhereIsIt.gid file (it is a hidden in the same folder as WhereIsIt.hlp), and start help again. Both files will be re-created the next time you start help and click on the Find tab. Problem is described in Microsoft Knowledge Base, articles ID Q142222 and Q143118, and is not directly related to WhereIsIt.

Q: Icons in Settings dialog and some icons in the main menu are missing. I'm using a Matrox display card.

A: There is a known bug in some latest Matrox video drivers that can cause some images to be missing in WhereIsIt. It is recommended to use the latest *certifed* video drivers that may be a bit older, but are at least known to work correctly and do not have this problem. You can download the latest certified video drivers for Matrox cards from Matrox's web site, at time of this writing located at: http://www.matrox.com/mga/drivers/certified_drivers/home.htm

Q: I have just entered the registration code in WhereIsIt 1.xx and program has accepted it, but when I run program the next day, it says it's unregistered again.

A: You probably didn't shutdown your Windows properly the day before, and changes in made in system registry didn't have a chance to get saved. You will have to re-enter your registration code, and make sure Windows is shutdown properly this time.

Q: I can't get the program to accept my key file for version 2.0.

A: Make sure that your key file is named "WhereIsIt.key", and it is located in the same folder as program's .exe file (for example, NOT in the same group on your desktop where you have a shortcut to WhereIsIt...)

Q: I think I have found a bug. Where and how can I submit reports about found problems?

A: You can e-mail description about any problem you find to the author (bug.report@whereisit-soft.com). Please be sure to check if you are using the latest version of program, problem may already be fixed at that time. When describing your problem, try to include as much information as possible for author to be able to repeat the problem - reproducing the error is the first and most important step to solution. Please also include a short description of your computer, and WhereIsIt and OS version that you are using.

Q: Can I make a suggestion for a new feature?

A: Sure, new suggestions are always welcome. All of them will be at least considered, and many have made it into the program already.


In this dialog, you can add or update disks in the catalogs. Select the drive-button with the media to process, enter its name as it will be stored in the catalog and select the catalog to update with the selected media. More options are available if you press the Advanced button.


Here you can enter the name of the disk you are about to add or update. By default, program will select either existing name (if available) or the volume label.


Select the catalog you would like to update with the selected media.


You can set here a folder limitations for currently selected drive. You can choose to skip certain folders during disk scan, or you can select a folder to act as a virtual root. Check box on the button will indicate if any of these limitations are currently active.

Virtual root is a special way to add disks to the catalog (normally, you will not use it). Instead of normal root folder (C:\, for example) it can take any other folder to be treated as root of a new, virtual drive - similar to DOS SUBST command. This can be useful if you would like to break down your folder structure to smaller parts, using them as virtual disks.


This option will enable browsing inside supported compressed files such as ZIP, ARJ, RAR, ARC... Each such file will be presented as a special folder, containing compressed files in that file. Without this option checked, compressed files will be treated no differently as any other files. (Please note that enabling this option may result in a noticeably larger catalog files due to extra data).


Displays the list of available description plugins to be used during disk scan, to import descriptions for files and folders. You can select which plugins you want to use in this session and which not.


If checked, this dialog will be displayed again when disk scanning is complete, ready to take on the next disk while using the same settings.


With this option checked WhereIsIt? will search for comments embedded inside some compressed files supporting this option. This is not the same as some files with description compressed inside archive files, it is about native compressed file's description capabilities. If such description is found, WhereIsIt? will use it to describe the compressed file.


Check this option to enable importing descriptions for files and folders from all other disks in the catalog. If program will find the same file or folder to be on any other disk in the catalog, and have a description, it will copy this description to the newly added file or folder. Please note that using this option may prolong scanning time, and this option is always off by default.


When this box is checked, program will try to keep existing descriptions while updating the disk. In this case, there are two ways how it can do this: by importing descriptions from disk you are updating only, or by searching for descriptions through all disks in the catalog. The first option is recommended in most cases, the second one can be useful if you were moving data between disks and would like to transfer descriptions from the previous disk in the catalog.


If you check this button, current settings will be saved as default and will be set the same way next time you will be adding or updating disks.


Select the drive button containing the media you would like to add or update in the catalog.


Push down this button to display more options for adding or updating disks.


Closes this dialog and begins importing or updating disk, using the selected settings.


Closes this dialog and returns to main window, without any action performed.


Displays detailed information about media in currently selected drive.


Status bar will let you know what drive is currently selected and if its media was found to be in the selected catalog. Media will be regarded as same if it has the same type, size, volume label and serial number as the one currently stored in the catalog.


Check this option to eject media after cataloguing is complete. Please note that not all drives support this feature.


If this option is checked, program will only browse compressed files to check for descriptions to import. The contents of archive file (list of files compressed inside) will not be imported into catalog.


When updating existing disk image, program can perform only a quick scan on archive files, noticeably speeding up the process. If archive file did not change in date or size since last scan, the existing contents of archive file will be preserved instead of browsing this file again.


Enter here a number assigned to disk. This number must be unique inside current catalog, and should be in range of 1 to 65535. You can use this number if you keep your media referenced by disk numbers.


Check to make toolbar visible, uncheck to hide toolbar.


Check if toolbar should be visible in a separate window instead of docked to one of the main window's borders.


Adjust the size of buttons in toolbars. Use this if you think buttons are too small or too large.


Check if you don't like the new border-less buttons. If checked, buttons in toolbars will be normal, raised buttons instead, like in old programs.


Choose the border where toolbar will be docked in main window. This option has no meaning if toolbar is floating in a window of its own.


Check to display status bar at the bottom of the main window.


Check to display "Previous Folder" item, commonly known as ".." folder. This item represents the parent item, and can be used to return one level up if double-clicked or selected.


Check to display item's descriptions as too-tips. If item has a description, and you leave a mouse over this item for a moment, the description will pop-up in a separate window.


Adjust how long to wait before description will pop-up, in seconds.


Adjust how long description will stay on screen if not manually removed, in seconds.


Selects how compressed archive files should be regarded when sorting items. They can be treated either as other files or as folders. If this checkbox is checked, archive files will be sorted together with folders, instead of together with other files.


If checked, one of random selected tips about using this program will be displayed each time you run the program.


If this option is checked, program will save modified catalogs by itself on every "n" minutes. You can select the "n" to be between one minute and 240 minutes.


Double-clicking a file can have one of the supported meanings. You can select your desired action here.


Click this button to run the Quick-Setup Wizard instead of this dialog. Setup Wizard is more suitable for beginners and does not include all the options available here, only the most important ones.


Closes this dialog and saves any changes you have made.


Closes this dialog box without saving any changes you have made, and cancels all changes.


Saves and activates all the changes you have made without closing this dialog box.


Selects how file and folders sizes will be presented in columns. If not checked, sizes will be displayed as plain numbers with decimal separators (default), for example 665.795. If checked, sizes will be translated to appropriate units instead, for example 650.2 kB.


If checked, program will create backup (.BAK) file when saving a catalog. If catalog already exists on disk when modified catalog is saved, then the old catalog file is renamed with .BAK extension, and the newly saved catalog takes place of the old file. If this option is not checked, old catalog file is not preserved.


Select a default path where program would store and load catalog files from. You can use the 'Browse' button to select the appropriate folder.


Selects internal ASCII viewer for viewing files.


Selects external program as an ASCII viewer. In the edit box enter filename with full path to your favorite viewer program (this can be, for example, Notepad). This program will be launched every time you will select to view a specific file. You can use the Browse button to select the program.


In this window you can customize the main toolbar layout. Buttons and separators are displayed in the same order as they appear on toolbar; you can change order with Up and Down buttons. To insert a separator after the selected button, press Add Separator button, and to remove button or separator from toolbar, press Remove button. Unused buttons are collected at the end of list, in a special section. To add button back to toolbar, select it and press Add button.


Moves selected button or separator to front of toolbar.


Moves selected button or separator to back of toolbar.


Adds selected button to toolbar, if unused button is selected, or removes selected button or separator from toolbar.


Adds a new separator line after currently selected button.


Indicates that adding unused button to toolbar is in progress. Click with your mouse to a place on toolbar list where you would like to insert selected button, or move selection with your cursor keys and press Space. if you would like to cancel adding button to toolbar, press Escape.


Check to display keyboard shortcuts inside button tool-tips. If the function assigned to some button is available via keyboard shortcut, this shortcut will be appended after button's description.


Check to always use short filenames as parameters when running external program. This option can be useful if program is not able to handle long filenames properly, like old 16-bit Windows programs.


If checked, program will disable smooth scrolling of tree window while expanding or collapsing nodes. Both operations will be performed at once, instead of displaying animated effect, causing sometimes unwanted delays. Smooth scrolling is only available on systems with newer version of Comctl32.dll library installed (included with Internet Explorer 4.0, for example)


Selects optional external shell program, to be used instead of Windows Explorer with 'Open in Explorer' command. In the edit box enter filename with full path to your favorite Windows shell program (for example, Windows Commander). To use Windows Explorer again, leave the edit box empty. You can use the Browse button to select external program.


Check to automatically remove description pop-up window after specified period of time.


Reloads language data from language file. You can use this button to force program acknowledge changes you made to language file since program is running.


Selects one of available languages to use. Press Apply button to activate new language after selecting.


Runs the Language Editor, where you can make your own translations or change existing language data.


Select the part of user interface to change the font for. You can set a different font for each part of program listed here.


Use your custom font for selected part of user interface. Click on 'Select Font' button to choose your custom font.


Use the system default font for selected part of user interface. Program will use the same font as other programs do.


Choose your custom font for selected part of user interface. Currently selected font is displayed on the right, and font sample is available under this button.


Here you can see a font sample for currently selected font.


Select the sources where to import descriptions from during disk scan, and select priority if description is available from more than one source (higher is more priority).


Move selected description source higher, to assign it more priority.


Move selected description source lower, to assign it less priority.


Check this option to truncate all descriptions longer than "n" lines while importing. Only the first "n" lines will be imported.


Keep this option checked to preserve existing descriptions on disk scan - only if item does not have description already, program will try to import it from media. If option is not checked, all current descriptions will be deleted and new descriptions will be imported from media.


If this option is checked, program will suggest old disk name from catalog as media name. If not checked, default name will always be media volume label.


If checked, do not catalog any hidden files on the media, just ignore them.


If checked, do not catalog any hidden folders on the media, just ignore them.


If checked, do not catalog Recycle Bin folders and their content, just ignore them.


Sometimes many disks can have the same serial number and properties, and program can not tell them apart. With this option checked you allow the program to change disk's serial number if another disk with the same number is found in the catalog. This way, program will be able to tell apart those two disks the next time.


Before trying to change the disk's serial number, ask the user first if that is OK.


After cataloguing disk, eject media from drive. This option may not be supported for all drives, but should work with most removable drives and CD-ROMs.


If checked, program will open each of supported archive files and catalogue its contents, too. Archive file will be presented as a folder, and compressed files inside the archive file will be visible as folder contents. Note, however, that using this option may produce noticeably larger catalog files due to extra data and disk scan will take longer to complete.


Check or uncheck each of supported archive file formats. Only selected file formats will be checked for their contents during the disk scan.


If this option is checked, program will not import archive file's contents, only look inside for description files. This way, archive file will be presented as any other file, but if description is compressed inside, it will be imported.


When updating existing data in the catalog, program can speed up the process by using quick scan on archive files. If file has not changed since it was last catalogued, it will not be browsed again, but previous data will be preserved instead.


Sometimes program needs to extract files from archive file for viewing, launching etc. Enter a full path to folder when such files can be extracted to (default is Windows temporary folder).


Select in folder tree the folder to extract temporary files to.


When extracting entire archive file, check this option to restore entire folder structure from archive file if available.


If program extracted some temporary files while running, these files will be still on disk when program exits. You can choose what to do with them: should program clean after itself and delete this files from temporary folder, should it just leave them as they are and exit, or should it ask you what to do.


Enter here filename or file mask to add to the list. Some common examples are 'file_id.diz' or '*.txt'.


This is the list of files and file masks that will be considered interesting when looking for description files. All files matching at least one of criteria listed here will be on the description-files list in Description Assistant. The order of files will be the same as is the order of items in this box.


Click on this button to add the filename or file-mask in the left field to the list.


Moves selected item(s) higher on the list.


Moves selected item(s) lower on the list.


Deletes selected files or file masks from the list.


When Description Assistant looks for files, it can look in sub-folders of current folder, too. To enable searching in sub-folders, check this option. You can also limit how deep in sub-folders should it search.


Check to enable auto-loading catalogs. When program starts, catalogs listed below will be loaded and ready to use. (Only available in registered version)


This is the list of catalogs that will be loaded on program start-up, if auto-loading is enabled. Catalogs will be loaded in the same order as listed here.


Moves selected catalogs higher in the list.


Moves selected catalogs lower in the list.


Adds a new catalog to auto-load list.


Removes selected catalogs from auto-load list.


Displays the tree of defined categories in current catalog. Categories can be organized in tree structure, forming levels of sub-categories.


Lists defined flags in current catalog.


Lists defined disk locations in current catalog.


Adds a new category to the tree. The new category will be added at the same level as currently selected category is.


Adds a new category to the tree. The new category will be added as a subcategory to currently selected category.


Changes assigned color to currently selected item. Colors are used for coloring items in the program, by their assigned categories, flags, or disk locations.


Removes selected category from the tree. Note that deleting category will also remove all references to this category in the entire catalog.


Copies list of categories from another loaded catalog. Categories that don't yet exist is current catalog setup will be merged to category list.


Enter here a name for a new flag to add, and click the Add Flag button.


Adds a new flag to the list, using the name in edit field on the left.


Assigns a new name to currently selected flag.


Removes currently selected flag from the list. Note that deleting a flag will also remove all references to this flag in the entire catalog.


Copies list of flags from another loaded catalog. Flags that don't yet exist is current catalog setup will be merged to flags list.


Enter here a name for a new disk location to add, and click the Add Location button.


Adds a new disk location to the list, using the name in edit field on the left.


Assigns a new name to currently selected disk location.


Removes currently selected disk location from the list. Note that deleting a disk location will also remove all references to this location in the entire catalog.


Copies list of disk locations from another loaded catalog. Locations that don't yet exist is current catalog setup will be merged to locations list.


Moves selected item higher on the list.


Moves selected item lower on the list.


Moves selected category one level higher.


Moves selected category one level lower.


Enter the title of your report here. Program will try to set it by itself, based on the current report contents.


Create report from one of the lists available, like search results, user list, compare results, or current contents of the main window.


Create custom report, by visually selecting which disks, folders or files to include in the report.


Select here the target for your report. You can print it on any print-capable device on your system (includig fax), preview it on screen, or export it as various forms of ASCII file, Excel table, rich-text, or HTML document.


Click this button to setup settings for currently selected report location.


Prints or exports your report, whatever is currently selected as report target.


Shows you the report as it would be printed on paper.


Opens a new dialog to customize your report. You can select printer, paper size, fonts used for report etc.


Closes this dialog and returns you back to where you selected printing report.


Selects one of the lists as the source for report. Program will auto-select this setting, based on where you have selected printing report from. Note that only lists that are actually available at this moment will be enabled for selection.


Selects how columns will be generated when saving report to ASCII file:

• space-aligned columns are normal reports, with columns separated by one or more spaces to provide alignment.

• report with TAB (ASCII code 9) character separating the columns can be very useful if you plan to later import this report to some other program, like spreadsheets or MS Word. It will not look very nice when viewed as ASCII file, though.

• reports with columns separated by comma character (,) are also often used as a source to import data in some other database format.


Shows you the printer currently selected for printing reports. To change the printer or its settings, click on this text, or click the 'Report Setup' button.


Check to include specific headers in report. If items in report are sorted by their source, program can group and mark by headings all items originating from same catalog, disk, or folder.


Select this option to replace all TAB or comma characters, if you have selected TAB or comma-separated columns in report. This option will replace all separator characters that would normally appear somewhere in the report with whatever you enter in the following box (max. 5 characters).


Select columns and their order, as you want them to appear in report.


Moves selected column one step higher, so it will appear more on the left side.


Moves selected column one step lower, so it will appear more on the right side.


Includes all columns on the list in the report.


Removes all columns from report, leaving it empty.


Copies the order and state of columns from the source list. This way, reports will appear in the report the same way as you can currently see them on screen.


Generate report with items ordered the same way as they appear in the source list, no sorting other than present is applied.


Check to sort items in report by their source. Items, originating from same catalog, disk, or folder will appear listed together, and equipped with folder, disk, and catalog headings. This option is disabled if sorting items by source doesn't make sense (for example, if generating report for contents of Main Window, all items have the same source).


In this tree, you can visually select the layout of your custom report. In short, disks and folders that are visible in this tree will be included in report. Most disks and folders also have checkboxes on the left side; those select if files directly located in this folder will also be included in report. You can use the "Macros" button to perform larger operations on selected item, like expanding to specific level, or including files in sub-folders.


Here you can find a few useful macro commands to perform on the currently selected item. Those include expanding "n" levels ob sub-items, collapsing all sub-items, and including or excluding files in the next "n" levels of sub-items.


Loads previously saved custom report layout from a file. Please note that the catalogs used in saved report must already be loaded.


Saves currently selected report layout to a file.


Check to disable Excel's input and refresh during export. It is recommended you keep this option checked, exporting will be much faster this way.


Check to disable table formatting in Excel. Normally, program would not only export data, but also set fonts and cell sizes as well. You can disable this if you don't want formatting, and exporting will be noticeably faster, too.


Check to hide borders in exported HTML table.


Check to shade rows in exported table. Every other row in table is shaded in slightly different shade of gray, to allow easier reading.


Check to ignore colors set for reports, and always export report in default HTML colors.


Opens the standard Print Setup dialog, allowing you to adjust your printer settings and select which printer to use.


Selects the units used in this dialog for margins and paper size.


Set the margins used when generating the report.


Select paper size to be used for generating the report. Make sure this size is set the same as the actual paper size, supported by printer. Generally, it is better to select paper size here than leave it to the default setting.


Width of currently selected paper. Read-only field.


Height of currently selected paper. Read-only field.


Selects portrait or landscape paper orientation for your reports.


Selects if currently selected section will appear in reports. Here you can remove sections you do not want in your reports.


Selects the font and color to be used for selected report section.


Selects the background color for currently selected section. Using this option, you can produce colored bands for titles etc. Default is 'White'.


Selects the font color for selected report section.


Selects one of the available report sections to setup. For each section, you can select if it will appear in reports or not, and choose its appearance (font and color).


Check this option to include icons in the report.


Enter complete path to folder with files to compare against catalogued data.


Browse for folder with files to compare against catalog data.


Check to include all sub-folders of selected folder in compare procedure, too.


Select disks and catalogs to include in compare procedure. Please note that selecting too much data (more than one catalog) can mean a lot of processing, and may take a long time to finish.


Includes all currently opened catalogs in compare procedure.


Excludes all data from compare procedure, allowing you a fresh start with selecting disks and catalogs.


Selects when two files are considered the same. Check data that must match for two files to be considered the same (at least filenames must always match). Data left unchecked will be ignored.


Starts searching selected catalog data, comparing it against files in selected folder. Button is disabled when dialog selection is incomplete.


Selects one of the currently opened catalogs to be displayed in the left window. Note that the same catalog can not be displayed in both windows at the same time.


Selects one of the currently opened catalogs to be displayed in the right window. Note that the same catalog can not be displayed in both windows at the same time. This box is disabled in only one catalog is loaded in the program.


Displays disks in currently selected catalog. Here you can select disks to move or copy disks between left and right catalog, delete or rename disks, or access disk's properties. To move disks from one catalog to another, just select and drag them with mouse to the other window.


Copies selected disks from active window to the other one.


Moves selected disks from active window to the other one.


Deletes selected disks in the active window.


Renames selected disk in the active window.


Displays selected disk's properties.


Closes this dialog, and returns you to the main window.


Displays drive in folder layout for your computer. Select in here where your Floppy Master catalogs are located.


Displays list of Floppy Master catalog files, found in currently selected folder. Select here which catalog you want to import.


Starts importing selected Floppy Master catalog.


Displays the Properties dialog about selected location in catalog to export description from.


Check to export descriptions in all subfolders, too. For example, if you have selected disk's root folder to export descriptions from, checking this box will export descriptions for all files and folders on that disk as well. If it is not checked, only descriptions from selected location will be exported.


Selects to export descriptions to 4DOS/NDOS format, using Descript.ion files. This option will create a Descript.ion file in each folder on media, listing available description for that folder. Please consult program's help file ("Technical information" section) for detailed information about supported description formats.


Selects to export descriptions to Files.bbs format. This option will create a Files.bbs file in each folder on media, listing available description for that folder. Please consult program's help file ("Technical information" section) for detailed information about supported description formats.


Selects to export descriptions to File_id.diz format. This option can be used for exporting folder descriptions only. A File_id.diz file will be created inside each folder with assigned description. Please consult program's help file ("Technical information" section) for detailed information about supported description formats.


Selects to export descriptions to HTML format, using FileDesc.htm files. This option will create a FileDesc.htm file in each folder on media, listing available description for that folder. Please consult program's help file ("Technical information" section) for detailed information about supported description formats.


Check to keep existing files and descriptions on media. For example, if exporting descriptions to Files.bbs format, and such file already exists on media, all current description will be kept and only new ones will be added to the file. If not checked, a new Files.bbs will be created instead, containing only descriptions from catalog.


Check to limit line length for exported descriptions to specified number of characters. Lines longer that this value will be truncated.


Check to limit number of lines allowed per exported description. If description contains more lines of text, the remaining lines will be skipped.


Check to add or update exported description files in catalog, if cataloged image of target drive is available.


Exports descriptions to media, according to selections.


Lists all missing items on the current media. These are items that you selected for copying, but were not found on the real media (this would indicate that your catalog data is out of date). Items listed will be skipped.


Continues with copying the rest of selected items. Items listed in this dialog will be skipped.


Aborts any further copying. Items copied so far will stay on destination location, but all items left to copy will be skipped.


Starts searching by specified criteria. This button will be disabled if no criteria are set at the moment.


Cancels searching currently in progress. Items found so far will remain on the Found List.


Closes the Search dialog, but does not clear current settings or Found List. If search is in progress, it will continue to run in the background. You can show the Search dialog again by clicking appropriate option in the main window.


This is the list where found items are added to. You can use this list to browse through items you were searching for, or use it as a source for printing reports. Items can be sorted by clicking on column headers, and many operations can be performed on items using buttons above the list.


Pressing this button will show a dialog where you can set general search settings.


This button will show a dialog where you can limit searching, or select where to search.


If this option is checked, program will search for specified text in file names.


If this is checked, program will search for specified text in items' descriptions.


Check this option to search for items with part of descriptions that sound similar to specified text. This is so-called soundex algorithm, and it works best with English language.


Enter here the text to search for. Program will search for items that have specified text occurring in names, descriptions, or either of them, according to settings below. If searching in item names is enabled, you may also specify file masks, like "*.txt". You can specify more than one condition, by separating them with commas (i.e. "*.txt, *.zip").


Check to enable searching for files.


Check to enable searching for folders.


Check to enable searching for disks.


If this option is checked, program will not look for files that are compressed inside archive files.


If checked, all items will be removed from Found List before a new search begins.


This button will add a new criteria (or update the selected one) to expression editor, as set above, and close this window. If settings are currently not valid, this button will appear disabled.


This button will cancel all changes to search criteria and close this dialog.


Selects one of available ways to search by filenames. Most often you will want to search by part of filename, or by file mask.


Enter here data to search for in filenames. Actual data depends on what type of filename searching is selected - for example, if you are searching by part of filename, enter here text that must be included in found filenames. You can specify more than one condition, by separating them with commas (i.e. "*.txt, *.zip").


In this box are listed all known file types, registered in your Windows system. You can choose one of them to search for files of selected type.


Check to make searching case sensitive. If unchecked, program will regard capital letters and small letters as equal.


Sets searching by file attributes. Each check box can have three states - grayed check box means that attribute will not be included in search. If attribute is checked, program will search for files with this attribute set, and if it is cleared, program will search for files without this particular attribute.


Enables searching for items with any description.


Enables searching for items that include specified text somewhere in their description.


Enter here part of description you are looking for. You can enter more than one condition, by separating them with commas (i.e. 'microsoft, windows' will search for either "microsoft", or "windows" as a part of description). If you would like to have comma as a part of text to search, include entire expression to act as one condition in double quotes.


Check to make searching by descriptions case sensitive. If unchecked, program will regard capital letters and small letters as equal.


Enables searching for items without description.


Check on this list all categories you wish to search for. Program will locate all items that are set to belong to one of the selected categories. This window will appear disabled when no categories are defined in any opened catalog at this moment.


Check on this list all flags you wish to search for. Program will locate all items that have at least one of specified flags set. This window will appear disabled when no flags are defined in any opened catalog at this moment.


Select here how item's size will be compared to specified size.


Enter here the size you are looking for. Don't forget to set appropriate units, too. For example, setting 10 KB is the same as setting 10240 Bytes.


Set here the units for selected size.


Check to allow tolerance when searching by file size. If tolerance is set, program will allow item's size to be lower or higher for a specified tolerance value compared to search settings.


Selects what type of date are you looking for. You can search for files that were created, modified, or accessed compared to specified date. Please note that on some file systems the only available date is modified date.


Select here how item's date will be compared to specified date.


Enter here a date you are looking for, as specified by other options. Click on the "down" button on the right side to visually select date from a calendar.


Check to allow tolerance when searching by file date. If tolerance is set, program will allow item's date to be older or newer for a specified number of days compared to search settings.


Selects what type of time are you looking for. You can search for files that were created, modified, or accessed compared to specified time of day. Please note that on some file systems the only available time is modified time.


Select here how item's time of day will be compared to specified time.


Enter here a time of day you are looking for, as specified by other options. Select hours, minutes, or seconds, and type in a desired value (you can also use the up/down buttons on the right to change value).


Check to allow tolerance when searching by file time. If tolerance is set, program will allow item's time to be older or newer for a specified number of minutes compared to search settings.


Here you can select disk and catalogs that will be included in search. By default, program will search in all opened catalogs, but you can tell it to skip specific disks or catalogs. Check in this window all items you want to be searched, and clear checks by items that you want to skip. Grayed check box by catalog means that only some disks in this catalog will be searched, as specified.


Selects all catalogs and disks currently opened to be included in searching, by settings check marks to all items in the tree.


Clears the check marks by all items in the tree, excluding all disks and catalogs from searching.


Puts a check mark by all items on the list.


Clears the check box by all items on the list.


If this box is checked, all duplicate files are required to have the same file name to be regarded as duplicates.


If this box is checked, all duplicate files are required to have the same size to be regarded as duplicates.


If this box is checked, all duplicate files are required to have the same modified date and time set to be regarded as duplicates.


If this box is checked, all duplicate files are required to have the same attributes set to be regarded as duplicates.


Check this option if you want to match only category names, but full category paths are allowed to differ. Since categories can be organized in tree structure, just matching category names may not be enough if parent categories differ. For example, you can have categories "Programs / Win98" and "Games / Win98" - they both have the same name, "Win98", but their parent is not the same and their full paths differ. If this option is checked, only category name will be checked for match, and if it's not, their full category paths must match as well.


If this box is checked, you can limit number of hits to specific number. When this number of found items is reached, searching will stop and skip the rest of items still left to be searched. You can use this option to terminate search prematurely if there will be too many hits for results still to be useful.


Check on this list all disk locations you wish to search for. Program will locate all items that are set to belong to one of the selected disk locations. Files and folders are considered to have the same disk location as disk, on which they reside. This window will appear disabled when no categories are defined in any opened catalog at this moment.


Select this option to search through all currently loaded catalogs (default).


Select this option if you would like to exclude some disks or catalogs from searching. In the tree below you can check all disks you would like to have searched.


Select this option to search through results of previous searching. This way, you can narrow down results by performing more than one search, every next narrowing down results from the previous one.


Press this button to insert new criteria to expression editor. This button will give you a list of available search criteria groups, and provide a dialog to specify your search condition after selecting appropriate group.


Allows you to edit and modify the criteria at the cursor position. If cursor is currently not inside criteria, this button will appear disabled.


This button will validate your search expression, checking it for syntax errors like invalid operations, missing ")" etc.


Press this button for available commands for search expressions. Here you can load or save search expression, or clear the expression editor and start on fresh.


Enables searching for all duplicate files and folders.


Selects searching for duplicate files and folders that match in name the criteria below.


Check to search for items without assigned category.


Check to search for items without assigned flags.


Check to search for items without assigned disk locations.


This button will insert in search expression the indicated operation at cursor location. Click the Validate button to check if your expression is valid.


Prepares a new language file for translating to a new language.


Opens an existing language file to edit


Saves current language file, under same or different name


Finds occurrences of specified text in the translated data


Finds next occurrence of previously specified text


Enabled or disables word wrap in edit boxes. Recommended is disabled, or you may miss a line break in the original text!


Enter here a descriptive name for the language. Language file will be presented under this name in selection lists. Please use English names for languages.


Enter the author's name and other credits for translated language file.


Version of Where Is It?, for which this language file was prepared. This will be used in future versions to determine if language file is up to date. Example for this field: 1.10


Lists available translation sections. Names listed here are internal, and do not concern you. Most of sections are actually dialogs throughout the program, with some rare exceptions. In "Strings" section are collected all text segments, needed in program (messages, status bar text, everything that changes while program is running). On the top is a special segment that collects all items that are found not to be translated yet, and are still the same as in the English language file. You can use this segment for a final check at the end of translation, in case you missed something.


Lists all items in currently selected segment. Names listed here are internal, and do not concern you. If selected section is dialog, each item is actually a part of user interface, such as button, text label, check box, group box,... You should be able to conclude from internal name what is it. Text to translate for selected item is presented in edit boxes in the right.


Selects source language, a language you are translating from. Here you can select language that will serve as a reference during translation. English is strongly recommended since it is program's native language (when modifying English language file, no source language will be available).


Displays reference text for selected item, in selected source language. You should translate text in this box, and write translated version in edit box under this one. Please click the 'How to translate' button for details on how to translate these items.


Enter here the translated version of text in upper edit box. Please make sure that translated text is approximately the same length as original one, and that number of '%s' tokens matches in both edit boxes. Please click the 'How to translate' button for details on how to translate these items.


Selects previous item on the section list. If item is the first on the list, it switches to previous section first.


Selects next item on the section list. If item is the last on the list, it switches to next section first.


Reverts translation edit box to previous contents, canceling all changes you may have made since selecting current item.


If checked, program will scan all items to be translated, and change translated text for all of them with the same original text. For example, if you translate text '&OK' to '&Okey', program will change translated text for all items with original '&OK' text, converting all 'OK' buttons in program to 'Okey' buttons.


Displays details on how to do translations, and what to be careful about. Recommended reading before starting any real translating.


Sets the default font typeface used with this language. Normally, this would be MS Sans Serif, don't change it unless you have a good reason to do so.


Sets which international character set is used with selected font. To ignore character set, use 'Default charset'. Please note that if end-user does not have font with specified character set available, Windows will likely choose to use some other font instead of selected one!


Sets the font size to be used. It is strongly recommended that you leave this setting to 'Default', other values may give different results on different displays!


The bi-directional mode determines the reading order of the text, placement of the vertical scrollbar, and any alignment modifications. It is used to tailor the user interface for locales where text is bi-directional. The following table describes the possible values:

LeftToRight - Reading order is left to right. Alignment is not changed. The vertical scroll bar appears on the right edge of the control.

RightToLeft - Reading order is right to left. Alignment is changed. The vertical scroll bar appears on the left edge of the control.

RightToLeftNoAlign - Reading order is right to left. Alignment is not changed. The vertical scroll bar appears on the left edge of the control.

RightToLeftReadingOnly - Reading order is right to left. Alignment and scroll bar are not changed.


Specifies the help file associated with this language file. Enter here a filename of the help file you want to use when this language file is selected, for example "French.hlp". If this field is empty, the default help file will be used (English).


Enter your description in this edit box. If file contents is available in bottom part of Description Assistant, you can copy part of text by selecting it there and drag it to this edit box.


Displays contents of selected description file, if one is available. Please note that this box is limited to 32kB of text; if description file is longer than that, it will be truncated to this limit. Text displayed here is read-only, but you can select and copy to clipboard any part of it, or drag the selection to upper window.


Select here one of the found description files to view. If program did not look yet for description files (for example, if you have just inserted appropriate media), click on the 'Get Files' button first. Which files to look for can be selected in program's settings.


Displays a pop-down menu with a few available settings for Description Assistant.

If ANSI filter is checked, it will be applied to text displayed as description file contents. ANSI filter will convert some special characters found mostly in DOS text files to plain ANSI text to improve readability.

If Word Wrap is checked, long lines of text that do not fit in window width will be wrapped to the next line. If not checked, you will have to use horizontal scrollbar to display the rest of text.


Searches for available description files on the media. This button is only enabled if program did not have a chance yet to do so when Description Assistant has been started.


Assigns changes in description to selected item, and closes Description Assistant.


Cancels all changes made to item's description, reverting to description stored in catalog.


Offers a quick-access list of items from the same list as originally selected item, but no more than 1024 of them. You can use this list to switch items end edit their descriptions without having to close Description Assistant every time.


Switches to the next item in quick-access list.


Switches to previous item in quick-access list.


This from shows you detailed information about selected item, and offers you a quick access to details about its parent items, if available.


Select here a tab with details about selected item, or its parent items.


Shows attributes for selected item. Read-only field.


Click to assign item to one or more categories. Categories listed here are categories available in item's catalog. To edit categories, click the '...' button on right.


Opens the Catalog Setup dialog to edit defined categories, flags and disk locations in current catalog.


Selects or deselects available flags for current item. To edit available flags, click the '...' button.


Enter here a description for current item. Up to 4kB text per item is allowed for descriptions.


Shows if file is stored in compressed form on the media. Some file systems like NTFS support internal file compression.


Click this button to get more information about selected media.


Enter here a new disk name, if you would like to rename disk in catalog.


Enter here a name of the catalog.


Change disk number, assigned to selected disk. Each disk can have unique disk number assigned, ranging from 1 to 65535. To remove assigned number, leave this field empty.


Select here the location where you keep your media. Available disk locations listed here are defined in item's catalog. To edit disk locations, click the '...' button on right.


Check to assign the same categories and flags to all subitems - for example, to all files and subfolders inside current folder. Be careful with using this option, it can affect a large part of catalogued data at once.


This from shows you detailed information about all selected items. You can set here common properties for all selected items at once, such as categories, flags, or descriptions.


Click to assign all selected items to the same categories. If a category is marked as grayed, it will be left unchanged for all items - category is usually grayed by default if not all items are using the same setting.


Select here the location where you keep your media. Available disk locations listed here are defined in item's catalog.


Click to assign the same flags to all selected items. If a flag is marked as grayed, it will be left unchanged for all items - flag is usually grayed by default if not all items are using the same setting.


Enter here the description to be used for all selected items. Up to 4kB text is allowed for descriptions.


Check to assign the same categories and flags to all selected items.


Check to assign the same description to all selected items.


Selects of available list views in program to setup its columns. Current list view is already selected when this dialog is displayed.


Displays available columns in selected list view. Column will appear in the same order as displayed here (to change order, selected desired item and use up/down buttons on the right). To hide certain columns, clear the check mark beside it on the list. Only checked columns will appear in the list view.


Moves selected column higher on the column list, forcing it to appear more to the left in the list view.


Moves selected column lower on the column list, forcing it to appear more to the right in the list view.


Saves and applies all changes to the list view, showing the results immediately, without leaving this dialog.


Cancels all changes made in this dialog and reverts to current settings of selected list view.


Selects one of available item lists, grouped by compare results type.


Closes Compare Results window, and returns you to program's main window.


Enables the usage of extended Open Catalog dialog. Extended dialog can display some details about catalogs before they are opened in the program, such as descriptions and contents preview.


Check if you want to have your catalog entries expanded in the tree view when catalog file is loaded. This way, all disks inside loaded catalog are immediately visible. If you have many catalogs opened with a lot of disks inside, you may want to disable this option.


Check to enable adding most recently used catalog files to the File menu for quicker access. You can also set here how many such entries would you like to keep.


Check this option if you don't want to load any catalogs when program starts.


Check this option to automatically open the same catalogs as they were opened the last time program was running. (Only available in registered version)


Selects to open files for viewing with Quick View (Plus), external program specialized for viewing many different types of files.


Check for lists to operate in "normal" mode. With mouse click you can select item, and double click starts default operation on clicked item.


Check to use "single-click mode" in file lists. Pointing items with mouse cursor will select them, while clicking item starts default operation on the item.


Select to disable any kind of underlining items in lists.


Select to underline item (simulating a hyperlink) currently pointed with mouse cursor.


Select to underline all items in lists, as if they were hyperlinks.


Check to enable flat buttons in dialogs. Flat buttons are lower by default, and will raise slightly when mouse cursor is moved over them.


Check to play specified wave sound file when long operation (more than 10 seconds) completes. If file name is left empty or is invalid, the default system sound will be played instead.


Check to allow folders to have en extension. Often folder names contain a period, for example "WhereIsIt 1.26". Normally, the part after the last period (".26") would be considered as name extension, but you can disable this behavior by unchecking this option.


Check to display full category path in Category column. Categories can be organized in levels, and checking this option will display all parent categories as well (for example, "Programs / Shareware / Games"). Since this may produce very wide columns, it is recommended to only display category name (in previous example, "Games").


Check to hide file extensions in file names if separate column showing extensions is also visible in item list. This will prevent file extensions to be displayed twice. If this option is checked, it is recommended that extension column is right next to item name column.


Select the criteria to color items by, or disable items coloring.


Enter here a comma-separated list of file names or file mask to assign them a common color. For example, to display all text documents in blue, enter in this Field "*.txt,*.doc", add it to the list, and assign the entry a blue color.


This is the list of entries, prepared for coloring by item names or item types. Some entries are predefined (item types, like folders, disks, catalogs), and you can add your own lists of file masks to assign them a common color. For example, to color all music files in red, type "*.wav,*.mid,*.mp3" in above edit box, add it to this list, and assign it a red color. Entries that are higher on the list have more priority in case a file would fit more than one entry.


Evaluates and adds the text in the left edit box to the list.


Allows you to change current entry in the list.


Removes current entry from the list.


Moves current entry in the list higher on the list.


Moves current entry lower on the list.


Changes assigned color for currently selected entry.


Allows to convert imported description into more readable form if it uses special characters. Usually recommended to be enabled, but can cause interference with some languages.


Check to redisplay "Add/Update Disk" when scanning of current media completes. This allows you easier and faster handling if you plan to scan multiple media in a row.


If checked, ignore all zero sized files during disk scan.


If checked, ignore all zero sized folders during disk scan.


Check to skip all files and folders, matching the list below.


This is the list of all file masks you want to skip during disk scan. All files and folders are checked against this list, and those found matching at least one entry will not be included in catalog. For example, to skip all temporary and backup files, add "*.tmp" and "*.bak" to this list.


Click this button to add a new entry to skip list.


Click this button to remove currently selected entries from skip list.


Click this button to edit and change currently focused entry on the skip list.


Check to allow importing file information about files compressed inside archive files. Note that enabling this feature will likely significantly slow down disk scan operation since files have to be decompressed to temporary location. Unless you have a good reason for enabling this options, it is recommended it is left disabled.


Selects to view either a list of all currently available plugins, or a list of available plugin modules.


This is the list of all found and loaded plugin modules. Each module is a separate DLL file, and can contain one or more description plugins. You can enable or disable each module listed here, by setting the state of a check box on the left of each module.


Here are listed all description plugins available in the above selected plugin module.


This is the list of all currently available description plugins in the program. Listed here are all plugins from all loaded and enabled plugin modules. You can enable or disable each plugin listed here, by setting the state of a check box on the left of each plugin. The order of plugins on this list also sets the plugin priority - plugins will be used starting with first one listed, and down to the first plugin that will be able to provide description for current item.


Move selected plugins higher on list, assigning them more priority.


Move selected plugins lower on list, assigning them less priority.


Shows the dialog prepared by plugin's author to configure selected plugin, or display some other information about the plugin.


Check to enable multi-language support in the program. If you will be using only English language, you may want to disable multi-language support and enjoy a bit faster program's performance, especially faster loading on startup.


Here are listed the main groups of options for WhereIsIt. Select one of the groups to display available settings for this group.


This is the list of available drives or folders. Select your target folder, and click the OK button. Click the "+" sign to show more choices.


Accepts your choice and exits this dialog.


Cancels selecting folder and returns without any changes.


Refreshes the list of drives and folders. Use this button if dialog failed to detect changed drives or folders.


Puts a check mark to all items.


Clears the check mark on all items.


Creates new folder in currently selected location.


Renames selected folder.


Deletes selected folder. Note that it is only allowed to delete folder from this dialog if it is empty.


Selects current folder to act as a virtual root of scanned drive, or cancels virtual root setting if one already set. The check box on button indicates if a virtual root setting is currently active. Virtual root allows you to scan only a small part of folder subtree, as if it would be a separate drive.


Select here all folders that you would like to include in disk scanning and store in catalog. If folder is not checked, it will be skipped during disk scan. To scan only a part of folder structure starting with a single folder, you can use the virtual root feature below.


This is a description of currently selected catalog.


This box is checked if catalog file is password protected.


This is quick preview of currently selected catalog file, showing disks available in this catalog.


Disables all access protection for this catalog.


Protects catalog access by assigning read-only or full passwords, and optionally selects to encrypt the catalog file contents.


Enter here the owner of current catalog. This field of informative value only, is optional to fill, and will be displayed in Open Catalog dialog.


Enter here a read-only password assigned to this catalog. When user is prompted for access password, and enters this password, user will be able to open and view catalog contents, but will not be able to change it.


Enter here a full access password. If catalog has assigned a full access password, user is required to enter it before he or she can modify any data in catalog.


Enter the same password as above again in this field, to confirm there was no typing error involved.


If checked, catalog file contents will be saved encrypted, making text inside unreadable when accessing catalog file with other programs.


Create New Catalog

This option will create a new, empty catalog. You will be prompted to enter catalog's name before new catalog is created. Later you can add data to catalog by using the Add/update disk image command.

Note: in shareware version, only one catalog can be opened at once. If a catalog is already present in the left window, you will not be able to create a new catalog until the current one is closed.

Button:

Menu Command:   File / New Catalog

Shortcut:       Ctrl-N


Open Catalog

Opens exiting catalog from your hard disk or other media. You will be prompted to select your catalog file in a standard open-file dialog box.

Hint: most recently used catalog files are listed at the end of the File menu. Choosing one of those is the same as opening this catalog manually by using Open Catalog command. You can also access the most recently used list by clicking the arrow on the right side of the button.

Other ways to open a catalog in Where Is It? include running the program with command-line parameter(s) as catalog filename(s), or using drag & drop to drag a catalog file from Explorer or other program to Where Is It?'s window.

Button:

Menu Command:   File / Open

Shortcut:       Ctrl-O


Save Catalog

Saves currently selected catalog. This option is only enabled if current catalog has changed since when it was last saved.

Button:

Menu Command:   File / Save

Shortcut:       Ctrl-S


Save Catalog As...

Saves currently selected catalog as a new file. This option is only enabled if current catalog has changed since when it was last saved.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   File / Save As...

Shortcut:       (none)


Close Catalog

Closes currently selected catalog, or the catalog of currently selected item. If catalog was modified and not yet saved, you will be prompted to save changes before catalog is closed.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   File / Close

Shortcut:       Ctrl-F4


Close All Catalogs

Closes all currently opened catalogs. If some of the catalogs were modified and not yet saved, you will be prompted to save changes before this catalog is closed.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   File / Close All

Shortcut:       (none)


Catalog Info

Displays properties for currently selected catalog (how many disks and files are stored, used and free storage space for all disks in the catalog together, etc.)

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   File / Catalog Info

Shortcut:       Select the catalog and press Alt-Enter.


Report Generator

Opens the Report Generator dialog box. Here you can create and print reports about contents of your catalogs. See also how to generate reports together with search capabilities and user list.

Button:

Menu Command:   File / Report Generator

Shortcut:       Ctrl-R


Export Descriptions

Opens the Export Descriptions dialog box. Descriptions can be exported into one of the supported native description formats (standard file_id.diz files, 4DOS/NDOS compatible description.ion files and files.bbs files, often used on public Bulletin Board Systems.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   File / Export Descriptions to Media

Shortcut:       (none)


Import from Floppy Master

Imports a catalog database from Floppy Master, DOS-based disk catalog software by the same author. This option is for all existing users of Floppy Master that decided to upgrade their catalog system to newer and more powerful Where Is It?.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   File / Import from Floppy Master

Shortcut:       (none)


Exit program

Ends your WhereIsIt? session and terminates the program. If some of the opened catalogs were modified and not yet saved, you will be prompted to save changes before program is closed.

Button:

Menu Command:   File / Exit

Shortcut:       Alt-F4


Add / Update Disk Image

Adds a new disk image to current catalog, or updates existing disk image. This will be one of the most important options you will use with this program. A new dialog will show, allowing you to select drive letter with your media to catalogue. In the Advanced section, you also have many options available to customize how cataloguing this media will be done.

If you are updating existing data in catalog, you can also update only specific folder, instead of entire disk.

Note: If you would like to update known disk in the database, there is a better way to do it. Select the disk you want to update, right click it, and select 'Update Disk Image' option. This way, program will know exactly which disk you would like to update, and adjust the actions in Add/Update dialog to that.

Button:

Menu Command:   Edit / Add/Update Disk Image

Shortcut:       Ctrl-A


Update This Folder

To save on time, you can choose to update only specific folder that already exists in catalog, instead of scanning the extire disk. By selecting this option, program will open the "Add/Update Disk" dialog, with selection set to update data for currently selected folder.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   Edit / Update This Folder

Shortcut:       (none)


Compare to Media

Compares the data for specific media or folder in catalog to real data on the media. This way you can find out what has changed since you have last catalogued the data.

You will be asked to insert the media where selected disk or folder in catalog originates from, so have it ready. When comparing is complete, you will be presented the Compare Results window with four different file lists, showing you what is new, changed, deleted, or which files stayed the same.

Button:

Menu Command:   Edit / Compare to Media

Shortcut:       (none)


Search

Displays the Search window. This is the place to do all the searching based on currently opened catalogs. You can search for files, disks or folders by many user-defined criteria (name, description, size, date, categories etc.) Search can be limited to only specific catalogs or disks, or to number of hits. As a special option, you can also search for duplicate items in your catalogs.

Button:

Menu Command:   Edit / Search

Shortcuts:      Ctrl-F, F3


Scan for Duplicates

Opens the Search window in a special, duplicate-searching mode. Here you can search for duplicate items (files, disks and/or folders) in currently opened catalogs.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   Edit / Scan for Duplicates

Shortcut:       Ctrl-D


Compare Files to Catalog Option
Compare Files to Catalog

Checks if files from specific disk or folder on your system appear in one of the opened catalogs. This feature enables you to detect in advance which files may become duplicated on multiple disks if they would be stored. For example, if you are making backup copies of files stored in some folder to your CD-R drive, and you don't know which files had been already written to

CD-R, this option can tell you that.

In a Results Window, you will get three lists, telling you which files are new compared to catalog, which have stayed the same, and which files match by name, but differ in other properties, like size or date.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   Edit / Compare Files to Catalog

Shortcut:       (none)


Catalog Manager

In Catalog Manager you can arrange your catalogs. The most common operations are moving and copying disks between catalogs, as well as renaming and deleting disk data. The two-pane user interface also allows you to move disks between two catalogs by simply using drag&drop from one pane to other.

Note: Moving and copying disk data is only available for registered users since it requires to have at least two catalogs opened at once.

Hint: To move disks between catalog, you can also use drag&drop in main program's window. Just grab a disk with your mouse and drag it to some other catalog (drop it on catalog's name). You do have more options available in the Catalog Manager, though, such as copying disks.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   Edit / Catalog Manager

Shortcut:       (none)


Catalog Setup

Opens a dialog where you can setup your custom categories, flags and disk locations for currently selected catalog. By default, a new catalog has no such items defined. You can either setup a new set of items, or you can copy them from another, currently opened catalog. Each category, flag or disk can also have assigned its own color to be used in item coloring modes. For example, if you select item coloring by categories, all items belonging to a category will be display in the color assigned to this category, giving you a visual feedback on categories.

You can assign categories, flags and disk locations in the Item Properties dialog.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   Edit / Catalog Setup

Shortcut:       (none)


Sort Items

Sorts items in current view. The buttons are available for the first four, most basic sort criteria, but you can sort by any other data using the menu commands, or by clicking the appropriate column header while in Details mode. Sort order can be reversed by enabling the reverse sort option (you can also quickly reverse it by clicking on column header already sorted by).

Hint: data listed when displaying contents of catalog (disks) is different from data when displaying files or folders. This is why there are TWO separate settings for sorting. You can have your disks sorted by one criteria, and files or folders by another.

Another hint: compressed archive files are presented as folders if they have information about their contents included in the catalog. This files can be sorted either as normal files or as folders; you can select how in program's settings.

Buttons:          (for files and folders)  - or -

                  (for disks)

Menu Command:   View / Sort Items / (sort by)

Shortcut:       (none)


Reverse Sort Order

Reverses sort order. Normal sort order is from smallest items on top to largest on the bottom; using Reverse Sort option, you turn that around.

Button:

Menu Command:   View / Sort Items / Reverse Sort Order

Shortcut:       (none)


View Type

These four buttons allow you to select one of the four view modes for items pane, very much like you can in Windows Explorer. The default mode for WhereIsIt? is the Details View (last button) which gives the most useful presentation of you catalog data.

Buttons:

Menu Command:   View / View Icons, List, Small Icons, or Details

Shortcut:       (none)


Columns Setup

Brings up the dialog to customize how columns are displayed when in Details View mode. You can rearrange column order, or choose to hide some columns by default.

Hint: you can customize your column order faster if you just drag&drop columns while in Details View mode. Just grab a column by its header and drag it to new position.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   View / Columns Setup

Shortcut:       Drag and drop column headers, right-click on column's header area when in Details View mode


Display Toolbar

Displays the toolbar on screen, if checked. With this option you can quickly show or hide the toolbar.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   View / Toolbar

Shortcut:       Right-click toolbar handle, select option


Display Status Bar

Displays or hides the status bar at the bottom of main window.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   View / Status Bar

Shortcut:       (none)


Back One Level

Returns focus to the parent item in catalog tree, usually to parent folder.

Button:

Menu Command:   Actions / Back One Level

Shortcuts:      BackSpace, Escape, Ctrl-PgUp


Open in Explorer

Opens the currently selected item in Windows Explorer, part of Windows operating system, or in an external shell program, as defined in program's settings. There you can perform all operations regarding this item, like copying, deleting...

If selected item is located on a media, not currently available, you will be prompted to insert this media first.

Button:

Menu Command:   Actions / Open in Explorer

Shortcut:       (none)


View File

Opens the selected file in the selected viewer, to display its contents. Viewer can be either internal, built in Where Is It?, Windows' own Quick View (Plus), or external program, as set in program's options.

If selected file is located on a media that not currently available, you will be prompted to insert this media first.

Button:

Menu Command:   Actions / View File

Shortcut:       (none)


Launch File

Launches selected file in program that is associated with file's extension (for example, Notepad is usually associated with .txt files, so when launching Readme.txt file, Where Is It? will run Notepad with Readme.txt file loaded).

If selected file is located on a media, not currently available, you will be prompted to insert this media first.

Button:

Menu Command:   Actions / Launch File

Shortcut:       (none)


Add To User List

Adds selected items to User List. Each item can only appear once on the User List, and duplicated items will be skipped automatically.

Button:

Menu Command:   Actions / Add To User List

Shortcut:       Ctrl-L


Remove From User List

Removes selected items to User List. If only some of selected items are currently in User List, others will be simply ignored.

Button:

Menu Command:   Actions / Remove from User List

Shortcut:       (none)


Edit Description

Edits the description for currently selected item, using the Description Assistant. Another way to edit descriptions is to call for item's properties and edit it there.

Button:

Menu Command:   Actions / Edit Description

Shortcut:       Ctrl-E


Rename Disk or Catalog

Renames currently selected disk or catalog. Edit box will appear, allowing you to enter a new name.

Hint: you can choose to rename a disk or catalog faster if you select it, wait for a moment, and then click it again to invoke in-place editing - just like in Explorer.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   Actions / Rename Disk (Catalog)

Shortcut:       F2


Remove From Catalog

Removes currently selected items from catalog. Free and used space on target disk will be adjusted accordingly, as if selected files or folders did not exists at the time media was last scanned. Please note that overusing this function is likely to cause a big rift between actual state on media, and data stored in catalog. You should only use this function to remove a small portion of files or folders that you don't want to have in stored in catalog.

If you only want to include a part of folder structure of your drive to catalog, you can deselect some folders to be left out on disk scan, or you can use the virtual root feature when preparing to scan your media.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   Actions / Remove from Catalog

Shortcut:       (none)


Remove Archive Contents

Removes the contents of selected archive files stored in catalog. If you had WhereIsIt set to browse inside archive files during disk scan, you can now access archive files as folders, their contents showing files compressed inside. If you no longer need to know about archive file's contents, you can remove it from catalog using this option, and archive file will be presented in catalog as any other file.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   Actions / Remove from Catalog

Shortcut:       (none)


Properties

Brings up the item's properties dialog, with all details about selected item available in the catalog. You can also edit descriptions, rename disks, and set categories, flags, or disk locations in this dialog.

Button:

Menu Command:   Actions / Properties

Shortcuts:      Ctrl-P, Alt-Enter, F4


Extract To...

Extracts selected archive file or selected compressed files inside archive file to a folder of your choice. You will be presented with dialog to choose the folder to extract files to.

If selected archive file is located on a media, not currently available, you will be prompted to insert this media first.

Please note that extraction is only meant as a quick-to-access tool, and some extended features like multi-volume archive files may not be fully supported. Use your favorite compression program to handle such archive files (if archive file's extension is registered, you could just use the launch command to open archive file with appropriate program).

Button:

Menu Command:   Actions / File Management / Extract To...

Shortcut:       (none)


Copy To...

Copies selected files and folders in catalog to some other location of your choice, like hard disk. This operation performs on actual files, not only on data in catalog. You can use this option when you have just located files you wanted in the catalog, and now you would like to make a copy of them to some other media. This option can be used together with other features in the program; for example, you can find files and folders to copy by using search capabilities, or you can gather all wanted items in User List before copying.

During copy operation, program will prompt you to insert necessary disks, check that selected files and folders actually exist on media, prompt to replace files if found on destination etc. If target disk is also available in one of currently loaded catalogs, you can set WhereIsIt to add or update just copied files in catalog as well.

Button:

Menu Command:   Actions / File Management / Copy To...

Shortcut:       (none)


Move To...

Moves selected files and folders in catalog to some other location of your choice, like hard disk. This operation performs on actual files, not only on data in catalog. During move operation, program will prompt you to insert necessary disks, check that selected files and folders actually exist on media, prompt to replace files if found on destination etc. You have a choice of deleting files on source media by moving them to Recycle Bin (this will still allow you to restore them), or you can completely delete files from source media. If target disk is also available in one of currently loaded catalogs, you can set WhereIsIt to add or update just moved files in catalog as well.

Button:

Menu Command:   Actions / File Management / Move To...

Shortcut:       (none)


Delete from Catalog
Delete Files

Deletes selected files and folders on the media. This operation performs on actual files, not only on data in catalog. During delete operation, program will prompt you to insert necessary disks, check that selected files and folders actually exist on media, prompt to replace files if found on destination etc. You have a choice of deleting files by moving them to Recycle Bin (this will still allow you to restore them), or you can completely delete files from your media.

Button:

Menu Command:   Actions / File Management / Delete

Shortcut:       (none)


Program Settings

The entire Settings menu is dedicated to setting up program's options. Every option in the first section will open the same Settings dialog box, but select the different section by default (once in the dialog, you can easily switch between sections by choosing appropriate groups on the left, and inside each group tabs at the top). In Settings dialog, you will find many detailed options to adjust and tune the program to your own needs and expectations. Detailed help is provided for each available setting in the Settings Dialog - click on the [image] button in dialog's title bar, and point and click the settings you need help with.

Hint: If you are not ready to go through all available options here, you may want to use Quick-Setup Wizard instead.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   Settings / (entire first section)

Shortcut:       (none)


Quick-Setup Wizard

This Wizard is a shortcut for all those who do not want to spend time browsing through all available settings this program has (Where Is It? is a very adjustable program...). Instead, Quick-Setup Wizard can guide you step-by-step through the most important options only, making sure you save time and don't miss anything important. Later, you can still select normal program's settings to adjust some options not present in this Wizard.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   Settings / Quick-Setup Wizard

Shortcut:       (none)


View User List

Opens the User List window. User List is a special window where you can put together items of interest (those may be disks, folders or files). User list is often used as a source for making reports on specific, but otherwise unrelated items. You can add items to User List by using Add to User List command, and remove them with Remove from User List command; both are commonly available in all windows and popup menus.

Button:

Menu Command:   Window / User List

Shortcut:       Ctrl-U


Show Compare Results

Opens the window with last Compare to Media, or Compare Files to Catalog results. If no results are available yet, this option will be disabled.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   Window / Compare Results

Shortcut:       (none)


Help Index

Brings up the main help screen. This is the default starting point for your help session.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   Help / Help Index

Shortcut:       F1


"What Is This?" Help

This is a special type of help, allowing you to inquire about specific part of user interface, like a checkbox or a button. To get information about that item, click on the button with icon as showed bellow. Cursor will change into an arrow with question mark, allowing you to point and click the item you want to get help for. A help window will open, showing you details about the item you have selected.

You can find this option in the program's main window, as well as in top-right corner of some dialogs that already support this option.

Hint: use this type of help often since it is the best and shortest way to get the help you need. If you are not sure what some option or button is for, this is the way to find out.

Button:

Menu Command:   Help / What Is This?

Shortcut:       (none)


More Tips

Brings up the dialog with tips about using this program. Usually, one random selected tip is displayed when you start the program. If you have disabled this feature and would like it back, you can re-enable it in Program Settings (the General Settings group, General tab).

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   Help / More Tips

Shortcut:       (none)


Check for Update Wizard

The Check for Update Wizard can check on the Internet if there is a newer version of WhereIsIt available than the one you are currently using. Note that you need a working Internet connection for this wizard to be able to perform its task. If a new version of WhereIsIt is found, you will be offered to go to WhereIsIt's home page, where you an download the latest release and check out what is new in the new release.

Note: You will also need to have the Inetcomm.dll library available in your Windows installation. This library is shipped in most latest versions of Windows by default, and provides Internet access for programs like WhereIsIt. If by any chance this library is not available in your Windows setup, the wizard will notify you.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   Help / Check for Update Wizard

Shortcut:       (none)


How to Order Wizard

This wizard is intended for all users who are interested in registering the program, but are not sure how to do it. Wizard will present all available options to you how to register and send registration fee, including with detailed pro and contra description of each option. Based on your decision wizard will guide you either to appropriate Internet page to place your order online, or print the filled Order Form to be mailed later together with check or cash.

Please note: You are not in any way obliged to purchase the program just by using this wizard, until you actually place the order outside this wizard. Fell free to browse around available options just to get to know about what your choices are, and perhaps print an order form with complete fee calculations based on your selections.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   Help / How to Order Wizard

Shortcut:       (none)


About Where Is It?

Displays the About Box, with current program version and some system information.

Button:         (none)

Menu Command:   Help / About

Shortcut:       (none)


Menu File

Click on menu option to find more details about it.

Return to main window...


Menu Edit

Click on menu option to find more details about it.

Return to main window...


Menu View

Click on menu option to find more details about it.

Return to main window...


Menu Actions

Click on menu option to find more details about it.

Return to main window...


Menu Settings

Click on menu option to find more details about it.

Return to main window...


Menu Window

Click on menu option to find more details about it.

Return to main window...


Menu Help

Click on menu option to find more details about it.

Return to main window...


Menu File Management

Click on menu option to find more details about it.

Return to previous menu...


Tree Window

In the left side of program's main window you will find catalog tree window. You may consider it as an index for your loaded catalogs. Its content is hierarchically organized, with catalogs on first level, disks in catalogs on second, and disk's contents on third and lower.

Every item it the tree can show or hide its subitems, if present (for example, if a folder has subfolders, they can be either visible under parent folder, or hidden). If subitems are hidden, their parent has a [+] sign displayed, indicating that its contents can be expanded. The same goes if subitems are already visible: a [-] sign indicates the part of tree can be collapsed, hidden. You can make either action happen by clicking on this sign.

When an item in the left pane is selected, the window next to it, List Window, displays the contents of selected item (for example, if you select a folder, the right window will show files and folders in the selected folder, as they are on the real media).

Note:

Every item displayed in either Tree Window or List Window has its own pop-up menu, accessible by right-clicking the item. This pop-up menu is the shortest and fastest way to reach all commands that apply to the selected item. You are strongly encouraged to use this menu as much as possible.


List Window

The List Window is located on the right side of Tree Window, displaying the contents of currently selected item in the Tree Window. For example, if catalog is selected in the left pane, this window will show disks stored in selected catalog.

List Window can be displayed in one of the four view modes. Usually you will want to use the Details Mode, where data is displayed in columns, showing as much information as possible. Some special management of displayed data can be performed in this mode (not others), like sorting items by data in one of the columns (just click the column header), or arranging columns order (drag&drop column headers to new location, or right-click on any column header for a special dialog).

Note:

Every item displayed in either Tree Window or List Window has its own pop-up menu, displayed by right-clicking the item. This pop-up menu is the shortest and fastest way to reach all commands that apply to the selected item. You are strongly encouraged to use this menu as much as possible.


Status Bar

Status bar is divided in four sections:

The first one contains the status of currently selected catalog. It may be either 'loaded' or 'modified', where the later will appear when catalog has been modified and not yet saved.

The second section contains the details about currently focused item.

In third section is the sum of all selected items, displaying their number and total size.

At the end of status bar are two lights, displaying current program status. Green light is on when program is idle and awaits your input. When program is busy, red light is displayed, normally accompanied by hour-glass cursor. At that time, you have to wait for program to finish its current task before you can continue. When search is in progress, yellow light will be lit. This means that some options are disabled, program will respond slower, but you can still work and browse in the main window while program is searching.


Locate in Catalog

Locates currently focused item in the catalog. This button will switch to main window, open item's parent in the treeview, and select item on the list. This can be useful to check out other files in the same folder, for example.

Button:

Shortcut:       Ctrl-T


Delete Items

Deletes selected items from the list. This option does not delete items from catalog, they are just removed from the current list.

Button:

Shortcut:       Delete


Clear All Items

Removes all items from current list, leaving the list empty. Items are not actually deleted from catalog, they are just removed from the list.

Button:

Shortcut:       Shift-Delete


Stay On Top

Forces this window to always stay on top, even if it is not active at the moment. With this button set, you can always have your User List window, or Search window displayed on top, even if working in the main window at the moment.

Default behavior is that active window is always displayed on top, hiding parts of other windows, if necessary.

Button:

Shortcut:       (none)


Maximize Found List

Maximizes the found list size to full extent, temporary hiding upper part of search window where you can select search criteria. This enables you to maximize number of items on the list you can see at once.

Button:

Shortcut:       (none)


Set Coloring

This button will show a pull-down menu where you can select or disable item coloring. Items in catalog can be displayed in different colors, based on their names, types, assigned categories, flags, or disk locations. All colors are user defined, and can be set in either Program Settings (coloring by item names and types), or in Catalog Setup (colors used for categories, flags, and disk locations).

Button:

Menu Command:   (none)

Shortcut:       (none)