DiskCat is a Control Panel Device/Extension which catalogs any or all of a Macintosh’s 3 1/2 floppy diskettes onto it’s system’s startup hard drive. It updates the catalog as one adds or deletes files from the diskettes as per the options that are set up in the DiskCat Control Panel. Except for the initial load needed to store the diskettes’s file information into the DiskCat Catalog, one does not have to load all their diskettes each time to learn where their files are located. DiskCat has all that information already in the Catalog with all the changes one has made since the last diskette was ejected from the system. DiskCat will help keep track of all the files on all the diskettes that one uses for their system, thus providing for maximum free space on one’s hard drive and accessibility to the offline files on the diskettes. DiskCat is compatible with both of Apple Macintosh’s Operating Systems, System 6.x and 7.x.
The purpose of DiskCat is to keep track of less important or backup files that are on diskettes in a catalog on the hard drive and free up space on the hard drive for more important work. DiskCat accomplishes this by storing the file name images, not the physical files on the hard drive. There is no application to start up to view the DiskCat Catalog. DiskCat uses the Macintosh’s File System (HFS - Hierarchical File System), which means that one accesses the catalog by using the Macintosh’s FINDER. Also by using the FINDER to view the catalog, one does not have to pop diskettes in and out of the MAC to find files. The Macintosh’s Desk Accessory (DA) FIND FILE can be used to search the catalog to locate the diskettes in which the files are on. Likewise Applications that read a hard drive’s Macintosh File System for file reports, can read the catalog to get file reports on what is on the diskettes without spending the time popping in and out the diskettes for the report.
A new feature was added to DiskCat to issue a message to insert a disk when the DiskCat File Image was opened or launched. See the Section called Version 2.5 Enhancements to DiskCat for more information.
DISKCAT INSTALLATION
Move DiskCat cdev into the Systems Folder on the Macintosh.
If using System 7 move the cdev into the Control Panels Folder of the Macintosh’s System Folder.
Restart the Macintosh.
DiskCat is shipped with it’s features turned off. (A X appears thru the DiskCat Icon)
To turn on DiskCat:
Go into the Control Panel Menu Entry on the Apple Icon.
Access the DiskCat Control Panel.
Under DISKCAT OPTIONS, a Pop-up Menu exists:
Select the DiskCat Option desired (Check DiskCat Options).
If a name change on the catalog is desired, update Catalog Name.
Click SAVE Button.
Close Control Panel.
There is no need to restart the MAC again since the newly selected options will take effect immediately.
Insert a diskette into the MAC, eject the diskette.
Open the Startup Hard Drive.
On the initial level (first level) a folder should be present with the DiskCat
Catalog Name as per the Control Panel Setup. If not, close all Startup Hard Drive windows and open them again. Open the DiskCat Catalog Folder. Inside the catalog folder is a folder for each diskette loaded and ejected by it’s internal label name. Each diskette folder contains all the folders and file images that the diskette currently holds.
** NOTE **
If upgrading DiskCat to Version 2.5, the current catalog must be deleted (dragged to the Trash Can) and a new DiskCat Catalog must be created, including an initial load of all the diskettes used in the last catalog (This is for the ability to see the System 7 DiskCat Icons and use the System 7 messages).
** NOTE **
If upgrading from System 6.x to System 7.x and are currently using a DiskCat Version 2.5 created catalog, one does not have to delete the catalog as part of the upgrade from System 6 to System 7. The DiskCat Catalog should show the System 7 DiskCat Icons automatically when the Mac comes up under System 7.
DISKCAT OPTIONS:
TURN OFF DISKCAT
This option turns off DiskCat. No diskette cataloging occurs.
UPDATE IF IN CATALOG
This option updates diskettes only if they already exist in the DiskCat Catalog.
PROMPT TO CATALOG
This option will issue a prompt to the Macintosh Operator to see if they want to catalog this diskette.
CATALOG ALL DISKS
This option catalogs all diskettes that the Macintosh System accesses.
VERSION 2.5 ENHANCEMENTS TO DISKCAT
DiskCat Catalog Icons replace the Macintosh Folder Icon for DiskCat related files for System 7 only, giving users a better view of their offline files on the Macintosh Desktop (System 6 only supports the changing of the File Icon, not the Folder Icon created by an application).
A bug was fixed with how DiskCat dealt with nested folders.
A problem was corrected where the DiskCat cdev Application Icon and its corresponding Document Icon was not showing up with the right DiskCat Icon.
A problem was corrected where DiskCat could not work with the Erase Disk function of the Macintosh on System 7.
A conflict was corrected where DiskCat could not work with Apple’s PC Exchange on System 7.
DiskCat has added a new feature for the System 7 Find File Command on the File Menu, which takes advantage of System 7’s message feature for documents. When a document is opened or launched and the document is a DiskCat File Image. Instead of getting the “Application is busy / missing” message, The System will issue the message “To see document, please insert disk: <diskette name>” (System 6 does not support the message for document feature).
DISKCAT WARNING
DiskCat was designed to use the Macintosh’s FINDER or FIND FILE to help locate files on diskettes. To correctly locate the physical diskette that the file is on, the diskette volume name must be unique and the volume internal name must match the external label in the diskette. If diskettes have duplicate volume names, but different files residing on each diskette, DiskCat will only keep the most recent diskette in the catalog, since it has no other way of knowing that a duplicate volume name exists. If a large number of physical diskettes exist, a numbering and external labeling strategy may be needed to keep diskette volume naming unique.
The minimum Hardware Requirements are a MAC PLUS and a 20 Meg Hard Drive. DiskCat has been tested and free of all known bugs. It is presented without warranty of any kind and user agrees to hold program author harmless if DiskCat does not perform satisfactory.
DiskCat is SHAREWARE. Distribute it freely among your friends as long as this program and notice have not been altered.It can not be sold without written consent of the author. If it helps to organize your diskette files please send $20 Dollars (USA) with any ideas of improvement, bugs or comments to:
