NetCatalog simultaneously catalogs files (and their version numbers) on default volumes from one or more Macs on a local area network. All of the catalogs compile into one text file, which can be manipulated and printed from any word processor. An additional feature allows broadcasting an “instant message” to one or more Macs on the network.
NetCatalog was developed as a research tool for asynchronous device manager calls, but should provide a useful tool to network administrators.
Future versions of NetCatalog may provide database-like features for analyzing catalogs. Specific enhancements will depend on users’ responses. This version, 1.0, of NetCatalog may be distributed freely as long as there is no charge for the program itself. Major future updates are likely to be distributed commercially or as shareware. Send comments and/or questions to one of the addresses above.
Using NetCatalog
• Copy NetCatResponder into the System Folder on networked Macs. Restart the Mac. An alert will appear after the start-up process if NetCatResponder cannot load (for example, if AppleTalk is not active).
• Use the Network Catalog application to compile catalogs for any Mac on the network that has installed NetCatResponder.
• Open the Network Catalog application.
• Select “Output to File...” from the “Catalog” menu. This file will contain the compiled catalogs.
• Select the appropriate zone from the left-hand list (or * if there is only one zone), and a list of users will appear in the middle list.
• Only one zone can be selected at a time, but holding shift or command allows multiple users to be selected. Select one or more users.
• Select “Retrieve Catalogs Now” from the “Catalog” menu to begin compiling catalogs for the selected users.
• Users are un-selected as processing begins and added to the right-hand list as catalogs are completed.
• Select “Cancel” from the “Catalog” menu to stop the catalog process at any time.
• Catalogs will continue to append to the current output file unless another output file is chosen from the “Catalog” menu option “Output to File... .”
• “Send Message Now...” from the “Catalog” menu sends a brief message to the selected users. The message may be up to 255 characters long, and will appear as soon as possible on the users’ screens. Only one message can appear at a time; any previous NetCatalog message still on users’ screens will disappear for the new message.
• Send the message 'trace' (all lowercase) to a Mac to find out the last message sender’s zone and node id.
NetCatalog Technical Notes
• NetCatResponder uses less than 10K of the system heap, and does _no polling_ for completion. If you like this low overhead, look for future products based on the same technology.
• Because NetCatalog does not poll for completion, _none_ of NetCatResponder’s code is executed until a request comes from the Network Catalog application. NetCatalog carefully responds to AppleTalk and File Manager interrupts via completion routines. Completion routines are ideal because while NetCatalog is not in use (which is most of the time), users do not suffer _any_ loss of performance or concern about system crashes due to executing “background” code. Most “background” products (network responders, receive-fax software, etc.) poll for completion by executing a small piece of code every fraction of a second, _IF_ the current application is willing to give up time. Such polling usually requires temporarily changing the value of system registers, among other things, thus increasing the number of factors that can contribute to unexplained system crashes. Additionally, if the current application is not willing to give up time (co-operative multitasking), which is unusual but happens, the background process may not get the time it needs; for example, an incoming fax cannot wait!
• Autodoubler™, and possibly other compression utilities, are not 100% transparent to the Macintosh file system because they are currently unable to deal with most asynchronous file access. Because NetCatalog uses the efficient asynchronous file manager calls (i.e. the system is “free” while I/O requests process), version information cannot be obtained for compressed files. Autodoubled files are specifically reported with {DD} in place of version information.
• NetCatResponder installs a Notification Manager request in response to “Send Message Now.”
Disclaimer
• The author has spent considerable time to ensure the reliability of this product, but makes no guarantees and will not be responsible for loss of information due to use of this product.
Other Products
• NetCal™ — Network Calendars, also by the same author, provides easy-to-use multi-user calendars on you Macintosh network. Text entry is free-form up to 4600 characters per day. A Find feature searches one or more calendars for any text string. Calendars and the on-line help are printable. The calendar is a low-overhead desk accessory. Only $10.00 per user. A 3-user demo is available for $5.00. The single user NetCal is free and available from many on-line networks and other shareware sources. (NetCal uses low-overhead polling, like most commercial network products, but is likely to use zero overhead completion routine technology in the future.)
