Shareware Grab Bag

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

/ Shareware Grab Bag / Shareware Grab Bag.iso / 014 / qf23e.arc / QFILER.DOC < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1987-03-08 | 39.6 KB | 820 lines

****************************** * * * * * QFILER * * * * * * USERS'MANUAL * * * * * ****************************** A File Maintenance Utility written by Kenn Flee of Jamestown Software 2508 Valley Forge Drive Madison WI 53719 Copyright (C)1986,87 by Jamestown Software Version 2.3 November 8, 1986 Jamestown Software will not be liable for any damages, including any lost profits, lost savings or other incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of or inability to use QFILER.COM, even if Jamestown Software has been advised of the possibility of such damages, or for any claim by any other party. QFILER USERS' MANUAL Page 1 QFILER TABLE OF CONTENTS Quick Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 2 User interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 2 System requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 3 Setting up for Qfiler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 3 Screen sample illustration . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4 Geography and Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 5 Function Key assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6 Menu selections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 7 Control/Alternate-key combinations . . . . . . . . . Page 9 Error messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 12 User-support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 13 Sample Invoice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 QFILER FILES The following program and documentation files should be included in the distribution copy of QFILER. QFILER.COM - Executable program. QFILER.DOC - This documentation. QFKEYS.TXT - Printable Function Key template. QFUPDATE.DOC - QFILER update/revision history. The following are Jamestown Software products which may be used as standalone products or as integrated parts of QFILER. FCDISK.COM - Disk-Directory file builder. FCDISK.DOC - Documentation for above. FILECAT.COM - Disk cataloging database. FILECAT.DOC - Filecat documentation file. FILECAT.KWD - Library of keywords. . FINC01.CHN - Required FILECAT program file. FINC02.CHN - Required FILECAT program file. LITLBOOK.COM - LITLBOOK Address book database. LITLBOOK.DOC - LITLBOOK documentation file. Additionally, the following excellent user-supported programs by Vernon D. Buerg, (456 Lakeshire, Daly City, CA 94015), and by Larry McMains, may also be included. If available in a pathed directory, they can be linked to by QFILER, and are also great standalone products. If a distribution diskette was not ordered from Jamestown Software, check a local BBS as a source for these files. They will often be listed with an imbedded version number, such as LIST60J.ARC. They will also include necessary documentation. LIST.ARC - Vernon D. Buerg - File browse utility. ARCA.ARC - Vernon D. Buerg - ARChive Add utility. ARCV.ARC - Vernon D. Buerg - ARChive listing utility. ARCE.ARC - Vernon D. Buerg - ARChive Extract utility. FINDIT.ARC - Larry McMains - File search utility. QFILER USERS' MANUAL Page 2 QUICK-START If it is necessary to use QFILER immediately, please read at least this section first to become acquainted with the basic options. Please read the rest of the documentation at first opportunity. QFILER may be invoked by typing QFILER and pressing [Enter] at the DOS prompt. Command-line options may be included after typing QFILER. An "M" included on the command line will force QFILER to run in black and white mode if a monochrome monitor is hooked to a color display video board. Once in QFILER, pressing "H" will display a help screen with a quick summary of function and cursor keys assignments. Files are displayed in two windows. When selecting a drive\directory (<F5> and <F6>) to be shown in one of the windows, the following will be true: C or \ -- by itself will change to the root directory of the drive\directory (C:\ in this case). C: -- with a colon will change to the current directory of the indicated drive\directory; if no current directory, then the root directory. C:\DOS -- any defined paths of 3 or more characters will force QFILER to attempt to change to the identified drive\directory. Pressing Control-P will bring up a menu to set or cancel skip-over-perf on Epson and Epson-compatible printers. USER INTERFACE QFILER outwardly resembles FFM (A popular user-supported file management program by Neidert Software) in its user interface, but has many additional features and enhancements. QFILER is written in Turbo Pascal and is extremely fast. The program makes full use of the PC keyboard, using the function keys, the cursor keys, tab key, space bar, and several Control/Alt-key combinations. In order to make full use of all of QFILER's features, the following conditions should be met. The program is designed to operate satisfactorily with DOS 2.x and above. DOS 3.x is the operating system of choice, however. In some cases, the extensions offered by QFILER depend on the presence of DOS 3.x enhancements. QFILER USERS' MANUAL Page 3 QFILER requires a minimum of 192K memory and one diskette drive for operation on an IBM-PC or compatible computer. Additional memory is required to use shell options. The monitor may be either a color or a monochrome unit, with a command line option supplied for use with mono monitors attached to color video cards. Printers to be used with QFILER's setup options <Ctrl-P> should be EPSON-command compatible. SETTING UP In preparation for using QFILER, if DOS 3.x is in use, invoke PRINT.COM from either the autoexec or from the DOS prompt. QFILER.COM is started by typing QFILER at the DOS prompt. For ease of invoking, it may be advisable to rename QFILER.COM to QF.COM, but that is up to the user. There are three command line switch options that can be used at program startup. These include: [M]onochrome, [S]ort-on-name, and [V]ideo-reverse-marks. A disk\directory for the left or for both windows to be displayed may also be entered in the command line, if desired. Any or all of these options may be utilized by entering: QF[iler] [LeftDirectoryPath] [RightDirectoryPath] [/[[[M]V]S] at the DOS prompt. The square brackets are used to denote the options, and are not typed. A "/" must preceed the command line switches which may be entered in any order. Spaces are not required between switches. The Disk\Directory to be read and displayed for the left or for both windows may be included as a command line option when invoking QFiler. Otherwise, the default drive and path directory will display in the left window. The syntax rules are the same as discussed under QUICK-START on page two. This will save keystrokes when, for example, it is desired to view the "A:" drive, when presently logged in to the "C:" drive. The M switch turns off color, and may be used whenever a monochrome monitor attached to a color video card is used, for ease of screen reading. The S switch turns on the "Sort by File Name" option, and should be used if sorted directories are desired in both windows, at all times. When this switch is not used, the display will be unsorted, showing the real order of the files on the chosen drive or directory, and the display will be slightly faster, depending on the number of files the user is working with. QFILER USERS' MANUAL Page 4 The V switch, which may also be called by <Alt><V> from within QFILER, will cause marked files to be displayed in reverse-video. This is useful on composite monitors which may not adequately display high-intensity, which is the default display for marked files. The following is a facsimile of QFILER on a monitor screen. Some of the on-screen refinements are, of course, not possible when printers are concerned, so it will look a bit different in actual use, and will contain more lines. Use this illustration for reference in the User's Manual. |--------------------------------------||--------------------------------------| | JAMESTOWN || | |--------------------------------------||--------------------------------------| | C:\DOS || Quick-Filer 2.3 by Kenn Flee | |--------------------------------------||--------------------------------------| | >. <DIR> 071186 15:41 || | | .. <DIR> 071186 15:41 || | | ASSIGN COM 1509 030785 13:43 || USER SUPPORTED SOFTWARE | | BACKUP COM 5577 030785 13:43 || | | BASICA COM 27520 030785 13:43 || If you are using this program | | CHKDSK COM 9435 030785 13:43 || and find it to be of value, | | DEBUG COM 15552 030785 13:43 || your contribution of $20 | | DISKCOMP COM 4073 030785 13:43 || will be appreciated. | | DISKCOPY COM 4329 030785 13:43 || | | ED COM 7261 122185 23:08 || Jamestown Software | | EXE2BIN EXE 2816 030785 13:43 || 2508 Valley Forge Dr. | | FASTFMT HLP 1195 031486 9:43 || Madison, WI 53719 | | FFLABELS HLP 128 020386 0:17 || | | FFMT EXE 12800 031486 9:28 || Please copy this program | | FILECOMP COM 3664 030785 13:43 || and share it with others. | | FIND EXE 6403 030785 13:43 || | | FORM## COM 9398 102985 17:14 || Press <H> for help or spacebar, | | GRAPHICS COM 3111 030785 13:43 || tab or first character to select | | IBMUTIL LIB 6144 071884 12:01 || | | LABEL COM 1826 030785 13:43 || | |--------------------------------------||--------------------------------------| |dir: 385K mrk: 0K left: 2136K|| Copyright (C) 1986 Jamestown Software| |--------------------------------------||--------------------------------------| Clear all marked files. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UnMarkAll Copy Delete MarkAll Rename Execute List VolLabel Quit Help -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Figure 1 - Facsimile of QFILER on a monitor screen. QFILER USERS' MANUAL Page 5 GEOGRAPHY OF QFILER The QFILER screen, as seen in Figure 1, is divided into three sections with dual side-by-side upper windows for the display of file information, and a two-row bottom section for messages and menu. Each top window row shows the Volume Label for the respective displayed disk. The second window row, in reverse-video, will display the full DOS path for the directory displayed in the window. The large central window area is the main file display area, in which a full DOS directory (DIR) format is shown. The directory additionally displays hidden files and, when applicable, file attributes Read-only, Hidden, and System. Only one of the two windows may be considered "current" for menu or function key actions. Currency is shown by a blinking arrow pointer in the left margin area of the display area. The pointer also indicates the "current file" within the "current window". Below the main display, another reverse-video row, shows the directory size, total bytes marked, and remaining bytes of disk space. The bottom section contains, as its top row, the message line. Here QFILER tells the user what is happening, or what the current menu selection description is. Finally, the last row is the Menu Bar, with the current selection highlighted and the rest in reverse video. NAVIGATION QFILER utilizes most of the keyboard in its operation. There are three logical areas of keyboard control: 1. Cursor pad selector/pointer movement. 2. Function key program control. 3. Typewriter keyboard command control. The cursor-key pad controls the combination file-selector and window-selector. The keys used on the cursor pad, and their functions are: 1. Right-Arrow - Select Right Window. 2. Left-Arrow - Select Left Window. 3. Up-Arrow - Scroll selector pointer up or window down a line. 4. Down-Arrow - Scroll selector pointer down or window up a line. 5. Home - Selector to top of Window. 6. End - Selector to bottom of Window. 7. Page-Up - Scroll window up one page. 8. Page-Dn - Scroll window down one page. Control-cursor-key combinations. 1. Ctrl-Home - Scroll window to top of disk/dir. 2. Ctrl-End - Scroll window to end of disk/dir. QFILER USERS' MANUAL Page 6 The function keys control all the display options. These include sort order and drive or subdirectory viewed. The function keys also allow modification of file attribute bytes and creation/deletion of subdirectories. To use a function key, point (with arrow keys) at a file to use, or mark all files to use (see F9, F10 or the MarkAll command below), and press the key. The function keys are used as follows: Normal Function-Key assignments. F1 - Create a new subdirectory (DOS MKDIR/MD). User is prompted for name at command line at the bottom of the display. F2 - Remove selected subdirectory. (DOS RMDIR/RD) F3 - Display selected subdirectory in left window. F4 - Display selected subdirectory in right window. F5 - Prompt for a new path in left window. F6 - Prompt for a new path in right window. F7 - Sort the current window by name. (Same as command-line option [S].) F8 - Sort the current window by extension. F9 - Mark or unmark current file for group action. F10 - Same as F9, but advance to next file. Shifted Function-Key assignments. F3 - Hide current file, directory, or marked files. F4 - Unhide current file, directory or marked files. F5 - Protect current or marked file(s). (Make them "Read-Only"). F6 - Unprotect current or marked file(s). F7 - Sort current window by file size, ascending. F8 - Sort current window by file date, then time, ascending. F9 - Set time and date stamp on current or marked file(s). System parameters may be accepted. Date is entered as: 9/14/86. Time is entered as: 8:5:0 or 11:56:23. Zero-padding the entry is unnecessary. Enter as 24-hour clock. Menu-Bar selections control QFILER actions, and are invoked by either moving the highlight to the desired command via the spacebar or tab-key, and pressing [Enter], or by keying the first letter of the command name. The spacebar or tab-key moves the highlight to the right and the tab-key, when shifted, moves the highlight to the left. Of the various options, mnemonic control is the fastest method of control. QFILER USERS' MANUAL Page 7 MENU COMMANDS The commands are as follows: UnmarkAll.. Will turn off any file highlighting within current window. Copy....... Will cause DOS copy to be executed on current or marked files. Delete..... Will cause DOS delete to be executed on current or marked files. MarkAll.... Will turn on file highlighting for all files within current window, so that all files will be subject to action. Selected files may be unmarked with either the F9 or F10 keys. Rename..... Will cause DOS rename to be executed on current or marked files. New name will be prompted for. Files may be MOVED (rather than copied) across subdirectory boundaries if the following conditions are met: 1. DOS 3.x is in use. 2. Two directories of the same disk drive are displayed in the two windows. 3. One or more files are MARKED. 4. RENAME is selected and yes is answered to the question displayed. The advantages of moving files are that the move is performed faster than copy and that moving files does not degrade hard disk performance through disk fragmentation caused by reorg- anization. Note that MOVE is the equivalent of copying from one subdirectory to another, then deleting the files from the original directory... except the files are not physically moved, just their disk location identifier. In addition (if using DOS 3.x) subdirectories may may be renamed themselves by making them the current file, then selecting RENAME. After renaming a subdirectory, that subdirectory will be displayed in the alternate window. Execute.... The current file, if an executable type, i.e., with extension BAT, COM, or EXE, will be run with a command line furnished for parameter entry. There are two additional methods included (Ctrl-E & Ctrl-S) that will allow other programs to be run from within QFILER. These are covered in the CONTROL-KEY area of this document. QFILER USERS' MANUAL Page 8 List....... For file display, the user is given a choice of <S>creen, <E>dit, <P>rint, <C>ancel all print jobs, <L>itlbook, <F>indit, or <ESC> to quit. The brackets signify the letter or key to be pressed to call the option indicated. <S> will invoke the browse program LIST.COM for the current file. LIST will allow full screen ASCII or HEX browse, and must be in the QFILER or other pathed directory. <E> will invoke a batch file, called QFED.BAT, created by the user in his QFILER directory, and pass to it the current file path, name, and extension. QFED.BAT needs one line consisting of the path and name of the user's editor, and a replaceable parameter. For example, if the editor was KEDIT, stored in the \PROG directory, the batch file would consist of the line: \PROG\KEDIT %1 If DOS 3.x is in use and PRINT.COM is installed before running Quick Filer, <P> will add files to the print queue without exiting the program. If desired, all jobs in the print queue may be cancelled by pressing <C>. (Equivalent to the /T terminate command). <L> will call (through LB.BAT) LITLBOOK.COM, an address book database. You may enter a search string to locate the entry to be displayed. The LB.BAT file you create should change to the LITLBOOK directory, then call LITLBOOK with a replaceable parameter: CD \LITLEBOOK LITLBOOK %1 <F> will link to the FINDIT.COM program, which which will search the specified or default drive for all occurrences of the file search mask passed to it from the user input requested by this option at bottom of the screen. The results of the search will display on the following screen. Pressing the enter key with no search mask will cause FINDIT to display a full screen of help information. Searches resulting in more than one screen may be piped through the DOS external command, MORE.COM, to pause each screen. Please read the documentation for FINDIT for complete understanding of the program. VolLabel... The current window disk may be given a volume label with this option. The user is prompted for the label. Quit....... Exits program and returns to DOS. Help....... Full screen of help notes for user reminder. QFILER USERS' MANUAL Page 9 After a menu selection is made, either by spacebar/tab-key or mnemonic choice, QFILER will check to see if any files are marked. (These are files highlighted by the F9/F10 key.) If it finds marked files, it will ask whether the user wants to act upon the marked files or the current file only. The user will see a prompt on the message line and a small two choice menu replacing the main one, which indicates the two available choices. A spacebar or mnemonic choice is to be made here. If no files are marked, the user is prompted for appropriate path or name entry. Then QFILER will ask for verification of the pending action. A "y" response causes execution of the command, and an "n" aborts the operation and returns to the normal display with any highlighted files still highlighted. CONTROL/ALTERNATE-KEY COMBINATIONS <Ctrl><A> From the main display, will bring up a menu line showing the following options: <A>dd <E>xtract <V>erbose Listing <ESC> Quit. These options call Vernon Buerg's ARCA, ARCE, and ARCV programs, respectively, which must be in the QFILER or other pathed directory. These options allow use of the ARChive file format, made popular by System Enhancement Assoc., 21 New St., Wayne, NJ 07470. ARCA (create or add to an ARC file) -- First mark all the files to be included in the ARC file. Then press Ctrl-A, then "A". QFILER will prompt for the ARC file name. A path may be included if the ARC file is not to be created in the current directory. Use QFILER sort options, if desired, before creating the ARChive. ARCA NOTE: Although the ARCA DOC's mention that ARCA is not intended to be used precisely in the manner QFILER links to it, it does work... if there is no .ARC of the same .ARC name as the one you are creating. Please check to be certain you are not inadvertently "adding" to an existing .ARC file that may already include one of the files you are "adding" to it. The ARCA doc's further mention that if there is sufficient "clamor" to modify ARCA to include the ability to update included files to contact Vern Buerg at the BBS number listed in his docs. Until or unless ARCA specifically includes the ability to update included files, simply be aware of the need to be certain you are actually creating a new .ARC file. The QFILER approach does work: All QFILER.ARC files were created by QFILER itself, linking to ARCA. QFILER USERS' MANUAL PAGE 10 ARCE (extract or expand an .ARC file) -- Make the desired ARC file the current file, then press Ctrl-A followed by "E". The command line as it will be passed to Command.Com will be displayed at the bottom of the screen. To extract all files in the ARC file to the current directory, just press the return key. If only one file is to be extracted, or files are to be extracted to some other disk or directory, first press the <END> key to move the cursor to end of the command line, then enter the path and/or filespec to pass to ARCE. ARCV (Verbose listing of ARC file contents) -- Make the desired ARC file the current file, then press Ctrl-A followed by "V" for the listing of the ARC. Please read the documentation for ARCA, ARCE and ARCV for an explanation of command line options. <Ctrl><B> Will initiate the QFILER BACKUP utility. Any marked files in the "source" directory window will be compared to files in the "target" directory window. Files will be copied, only if they do not exist on the target, or if the date/time stamp on the source files are newer than those on the target files. File remain marked for optional deletion. <Ctrl><E> Will allow entering a program name as if at the DOS prompt. For convenience, <F10> will return the current path\filename. QFILER will then change to the ENTRY drive\directory and pass the command line to COMMAND.COM. Upon completion of the passed program, press any key to return to QFILER. EXAMPLE: Suppose it is necessary to run DISMOD on the current file. First press <Ctrl><E>. Then type DISMOD. Then press <F10> to input the current file. Press Enter. <Ctrl><F> Provides an automatic link with FILECAT (through FCDISK) that creates a text file on a target disk that lists files on the disk (in alpha order), filesize, and description of the file (if the file is included in the FILECAT database). To use this feature both FCDISK and FILECAT must be in the QFILER or a pathed directory. To use, do the following: a. Be certain that FCDISK is either with the FILECAT data files, or pathed. b. Bring up the target disk/dir (the one where a text file to be written) on one side of QF. QFILER USERS' MANUAL PAGE 11 c. Bring up the FILECAT data file disk/dir on the alternate side. d. Be certain the flashing cursor and pointer are on the FILECAT side of the QFILER display. e. Press <Ctrl><F>. QFILER will automatically load FCDISK. f. Answer the questions that are asked. The text file will be created on the target disk and the user will be returned to QFILER. NOTE: The following steps are optional: g. Make the target disk side the current window. h. Press <Ctrl><R> to refresh the side and display the new file. i. Point to the new file, then press "L" then "S" to list to the screen and view what was created. <Ctrl><P> From the main display, will bring up a menu line to set or cancel skip-over-perf and to send a form-feed, for Epson-compatible printers. <Alt><R> Will refresh the entire screen display of QFILER. This will straighten out a screen that may have been messed up by stray DOS hardware messages and the like. <Ctrl><R> Will refresh the display of the current window. This is handy if the user has "shelled" to DOS and has changed the displayed directory by adding or deleting a file. The refresh will display the new, changed directory. (Use after ARC operations!) <Ctrl><S> Is for those instances where the previously explained <Ctrl><E> procedure won't work (commands within COMMAND.COM itself, like DIR). Pressing Control-S will load a secondary copy of COMMAND.COM and return to the DOS prompt. (The user will be in the CURRENT drive\directory). When ready, type EXIT to return to QFILER. <Alt><V> Will toggle between hi-intensity white and reverse video display for marked files. (Useful for monitors that don't display hi-intensity or bright colors). The command line option [V] may be included to invoke QF with the inverse video option ON. QFILER USERS' MANUAL PAGE 12 ERROR MESSAGES 001 File does not exist 002 File is not open for input 003 File is not open for output 004 File is not open 005 Read error or directory not found 006 Write error 016 Invalid numeric format 032 Not allowed on logical device 033 Not allowed in direct mode 034 Cannot assign to standard files 144 Record length mismatch 145 Cannot seek beyond end of file 153 Unexpected end of file 240 Disk write error occurred 241 Directory is full 242 File size overflow 255 File disappeared By displaying these error numbers, QFILER overrides the frustrating DOS "Abort, Retry, Ignore" message. If any other numbers are displayed, please report them to us. QFILER USERS' MANUAL PAGE 13 MISCELLANEOUS QFILER has as many user safeguards built in as possible, with as many user escape opportunities as is prudent. Overt hand-holding has been avoided, however. This program, used carefully, will be of immense value to the user. If used carelessly however, it can be dangerous. Please be careful. READ the messages and prompts as they are presented. QFILER documentation is written, keyed, and formatted for Jamestown Software by QFILER Beta-Tester: James L. Wargula 760 Pilgrim Trail Sun Prairie, WI. 53590 If additional features are wished to be included in QFILER or you discover any program errors (write down any numbers displayed on the screen), please contact: Kenn Flee Jamestown Software 2508 Valley Forge Drive Madison WI 53719 Compuserve # 74275,745 BBS: 608-251-7734 (24 Hr., 300-1200-2400, 8-N-1, no nulls) USER SUPPORTED SOFTWARE This program is distributed for personal, private use and with the understanding that if it is used and found to be of value, the user will register with a contribution of $20. This action will be appreciated and will encourage further development. Upon receipt of registration, a disk with the most recent version of QFILER, support programs, plus a printed manual, and a function key template will be mailed to the user. Commercial use without registration and license is prohibited. In any case, copy the program and share it with others. For the convenience of corporate users and others, a printed invoice is included on the next page. -------------------------- INVOICE -------------------------- JAMESTOWN SOFTWARE 2508 Valley Forge Drive Madison WI 53719 Sold to: ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ Date: ______________________________ ============================================================ _____ copies of QFILER 2.3D at $20 each .......$____________ Wisconsin residents add 5% Sales Tax .... ____________ TOTAL ENCLOSED.......$____________ Send this invoice and your check to: Jamestown Software 2508 Valley Forge Drive Madison WI 53719 ============================================================ Thank you for your support................Jamestown Software Registered owners will be sent a disk containing the most recent version of QFILER, support programs, a printed manual and function key template. Registered owners will be notified of any major upgrades and/or future enhancements. For a large number of QFILER packages, contact Jamestown Software for site licensing or quantity pricing.