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-
-
- ELFTREE (TM)
-
- (C) Copyright 1988-1991 By Alan J. Avery
-
- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
-
- Elvish Consulting
- 1408 Noble Avenue
- Springfield, Illinois 62704
- (217)-698-8600 (8 a.m. to 9 p.m. CDT only, please)
-
- DISCLAIMER
-
- Users of ELFTREE must accept this disclaimer of warranty:
- "ELFTREE is supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties,
- expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties
- of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes
- no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result
- from the use of ELFTREE."
-
- Thank You!
-
- Many people have told us that ELFTREE is vastly more powerful than
- any commercial product sold as a `DOS shell'. We've been praised
- for making ELFTREE simple to use (it hasn't been easy!), fast (it's
- written in Borland's Turbo C and Turbo Assembler), and intuitive.
- We thank all of you who have used ELFTREE and have helped, with your
- ideas, to make it such a wonderful product. No programmer has the
- skill to think of all the wonderful ideas blended together in this
- version of ELFTREE. Thank you all!
-
- Why Shareware?
-
- This is a shareware version of ELFTREE. It is distributed as
- shareware for the following reasons:
-
- 1. You get to use it for 30 days, to see how you like it. We are
- sure you will love it.
- 2. When you ask for features to be included, they are usually
- added to the next release - often within a week! This means
- that you don't have to wait six months to a year for the next
- upgrade, a problem with most commercial software. Also, you
- get to participate in the ongoing evolution of ELFTREE.
- 3. Advertising is expensive. For example, a full page ad in one
- issue of one computing magazine can cost $25,000. By telling
- 10 of your friends about this great product, and giving them
- a shareware copy of it, you can keep its cost extremely low.
- If you upload the latest version to BBS's you know, you'll be
- doing an even greater service.
- -- Page 2 --
-
- Tell Me More About Shareware
-
- Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before
- buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you
- are expected to register. Individual programs differ on details --
- some request registration while others require it, some specify a
- maximum trial period. With registration, you get anything from the
- simple right to continue using the software to an updated program
- with printed manual.
-
- Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and
- the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific
- exceptions as stated below. Shareware authors are accomplished
- programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are of
- comparable quality. The main difference is in the method of
- distribution. The author specifically grants the right to copy and
- distribute the software, either to all and sundry or to a specific
- group. For example, some authors require written permission before
- a commercial disk vendor may copy their Shareware.
-
- Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You
- should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook, whether
- it's commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting
- your needs easier, because you can try before you buy. And because
- the overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware has the ultimate
- money-back guarantee -- if you don't use the product, you don't pay
- for it!
-
- AGREEMENT
-
- ELFTREE is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware
- Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware
- principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-
- related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly,
- ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a
- dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical
- support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at
- 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 or send a CompuServe message via
- CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536."
-
- All users of ELFTREE must register and pay for their copies of ELFTREE
- within 30 days of first use or their license is withdrawn. For site
- licensing, please refer to the file SITELICE.DOC elsewhere in this
- package. If this file is missing, please contact Elvish Consulting at
- (217) 698-8600 for a free replacement.
-
- Anyone distributing ELFTREE for any kind of remuneration must first
- contact Elvish Consulting at the address below for authorization. This
- authorization will be automatically granted to distributors recognized
- by the (ASP) as adhering to its guidelines for shareware distributors,
- and such distributors may begin offering ELFTREE immediately (However
- Elvish Consulting must still be advised so that the distributor can be
- kept up-to-date with the latest version of ELFTREE.).
-
- You are encouraged to pass a copy of ELFTREE along to your friends for
- evaluation. Please encourage them to register their copy if they find
- that they can use it. All registered users will receive a copy of the
- latest version of ELFTREE, a toll-free number for tech support, a
- printed manual, and updates for a nominal fee.
- -- Page 3 --
-
-
-
- Does Shareware Mean Crippled?
-
- This version has all the functions of the version you'll get when you
- register, but there is an opening message screen, and a delay before
- you can start using the product. Also, this version does not have
- any additional progams you can get when you register for the full
- version: editor, external viewers, etc. Read on for information on
- how to get these valuable enhancements.
-
- You are free to use ELFTREE for 30 days, to test it and to determine
- if it is useful to you. If you are still using it after 30 days, you
- must register with us. The file ORDER.DOC, included with this package,
- has an order form. Just fill out the form, print it, and mail it to
- us along with your check or money order.
-
- When you register with us, you get the latest version of ELFTREE,
- with all reported bugs fixed, with any new or enhanced features
- that may have been incorporated, a professionally printed manual,
- a toll-free number for tech support, notices of updates as they
- become available, and one FREE update. In addition, you can get the
- ELFTREE editor, any viewer(s) we've developed, and a flat-file
- database sort program. This is a great value for you! More
- importantly, you make us want to keep improving ELFTREE so that
- it can do even more for you!
-
- Cheap Upgrades!
-
- Once you license ELFTREE, you can upgrade to the latest registered
- version at a nominal cost. Through December 31, 1991, this fee is
- $5, a very reasonable cost for you.
-
- ELFTREE System Requirements
-
- ELFTREE requires you to have a screen so that you can see what it
- shows you, a keyboard to give it commands, and some memory to hold
- information. You determine how much memory it needs (minimum is
- about 150K free) by customizing it, whether by command-line switches
- (see end of this document) or with the [F4] key once it first comes
- up for you. It can take advantage of EGA or VGA displays, it works
- with the largest hard disks (even under DOS 3.31 and above), it works
- on all DOS-compatible networks, etc. In other words, it has modest
- requirements, and it should run on any hardware you've got. ELFTREE
- will operate much faster on a particular machine with disk caching
- enabled than with disk caching turned off. ELFTREE understands FAT
- and other system tables under DOS, but it only reads this information.
- It NEVER writes it.
- Environment Variables
-
- ELFTREE recognizes the following optional environment variables:
-
- ELFTREEPATH - For DOS 2.X, specifies where ELFTREE files are stored.
- ETFIND - Specifies where to store menus, tree maps, etc.
- ETMAP - Specifies where to store tree maps for removable
- drives (such as Bernoulli cartridges, optical
- media and floppy disks).
- ETCONFIG - Specifies the configuration file to use.
- ETDRIVES - Specifies a default selection of drives to search
- when using the FIND command.
- -- Page 4 --
-
-
- Introduction
-
- ELFTREE is designed to simplify your goal of getting the most out of
- your computer. The heart of the program is a powerful, intuitive
- and marvelously integrated file, directory and application manager.
- With it, you can install software in record time, move files from
- one place to another (even across a network!) with ease, and locate
- files fast on even the largest hard disk, regardless of whether you
- use DOS 2.X, 3.X or 4.X, or 4DOS! You won't believe how easy it is
- to run a program from within ELFTREE, or to customize it to suit your
- tastes. You will see in all of ELFTREE's features that great care
- was taken to marry great power with extreme convenience. The result
- is a delightful product that can help you be more effective in how
- you use your computer.
-
- What Makes ELFTREE Special? What Makes ELFTREE Special?
-
- 1. Flexible Capacity - You tell ELFTREE how many directories and
- files you want to handle. For example, you can work with up
- to 16,384 files from 1000 directories across 26 disks with
- ELFTREE's Find feature!
-
- 2. Extraordinary Editing - ELFTREE's editor can handle as many files
- as will fit into memory, or it will let you use your own editor.
- Our editor takes under 30K of disk space, yet has storable
- keyboard macros, speedy search & replace, column and block
- operations, and easy customizability!
-
- 3. Breathtaking Views - Viewing a file in ELFTREE is a treat.
- Besides a raft of customizable settings (which can be
- programmed by file extension), it has block operations that
- allow you to fix damaged files while viewing them, a
- translator for IBM EBCDIC files, and the ability to search
- forward or backward for text.
-
- 4. Also Noteworthy - Attach short notes to files in any directory.
- You'll always know the contents of your files by glancing at
- your notes. If you use 4DOS, ELFTREE will read/write 4DOS
- note files directly if you start it up with the /4 command-line
- switch to activate this feature.
-
- 5. Menu Magic - Powerful menuing features are built into ELFTREE.
- Define up to 13 main menus, each of which can nest submenus up
- to 10 levels deep with 20 selections apiece. Program your
- menus (!) with symbols to insert keys ahead of a program,
- repeat commands, create internal keyboard macros, prompt a
- user for a reply before executing a command, etc.
-
- 6. Convenience - you customize many ELFTREE settings from within;
- there's no separate configuration program. You can run a
- program by highlighting it and tapping [ENTER]. ELFTREE can
- be trained to associate file extensions with programs, and
- will automatically launch the corresponding program when you
- tap [ENTER] on a file with such an extension. ELFTREE can
- also speed up or slow down your keyboard.
- -- Page 5 --
-
-
- 7. Video Joy - For EGA or VGA displays, ELFTREE can switch you into
- 28/43/50 line modes with the touch of a key [Ctrl-V]. Also,
- ELFTREE recognizes non-standard modes and accommodates them.
-
- 8. Brains - When you choose an option, ELFTREE anticipates your
- next need, where possible. For example, when you:
-
- a. Rename a directory, the tree is adjusted automatically.
- b. Attempt to use an unformatted floppy disk, ELFTREE will
- let you format it immediately (even if you are in the
- middle of copying files).
- c. Create a directory in the middle of specifying where
- to copy or move files, ELFTREE will highlight the
- new directory for you.
- d. Select a menu option that has a submenu, ELFTREE will
- highlight the most likely submenu option for you.
- e. Rename an item with spaces in the name, the spaces are
- conveniently removed for you.
-
- 9. Trim - When ELFTREE runs a program, it reserves less than 3K for
- itself, leaving plenty of room to run memory-hungry programs.
- You can also make ELFTREE use 0K, which may be needed to load
- TSR's, change environment variables, etc.
-
- 10. Power - Copy, move, protect, edit, print, rename,locate and hide
- files quickly and easily. Rename, protect, hide, locate, copy,
- move, graft, create and delete directories just as easily.
- Sort the file display 3,584 ways; rearrange them still further
- for such necessities as printing several files so that they'll
- be properly collated. Tag files 8 ways for group operations.
- ELFTREE remembers your last 15 commands, and gives you a
- convenient way to retrieve them. Change file dates and times.
- Create groups of files for special operations.
- -- Page 6 --
-
-
- INSTALLATION
-
- To install it, just copy the files into whatever hard disk
- directory you want to start it from. To start it up, just
- type: ET and tap [ENTER].
-
-
- These are the files that should have been included in the ELFTREE
- package. If any are missing, please call us at (217) 698-8600 to
- correct it.
-
- ET.EXE - starts up the program
- ETT.BAT - used when ELFTREE runs a program in 0K RAM.
- ELFTREE.CHL - part of the program
- AUTOEXEC.DOC - examples of SET ELFTREEPATH, PATH commands
- README.DOC - this file
- ORDER.DOC - Invoice for ordering ELFTREE
- SAMPLE.ETU - Sample menu file
- SITELICE.DOC - Site license agreement
- ELFTREE.HLP - Help file (Think of it as on-disk manual)
-
-
- DOS 2.X CONSIDERATIONS
-
- If you have DOS 2.X, you need to give the following command
- before you can successfully bring up ELFTREE:
-
- SET ELFTREEPATH=C:\TREE (use the directory ET is installed in)
-
- It is recommended that you put this command in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
-
- ORDERING
-
- If you like ELFTREE, order it! When you order, you get the most
- recent version of the software, an editor that can handle multiple
- files at once, a dBase viewer, a toll-free support number, a
- professionally printed wire-spiral-bound, manual and notices of
- updates to ELFTREE (your first update is FREE). If you prefer,
- you can order ELFTREE without the editor and viewers.
-
- See the file ORDER.DOC for an invoice.
-
- We hope you enjoy using all of ELFTREE's features.
-
- Elvish Consulting
- 1408 Noble Avenue
- Springfield, IL 62704
- (217) 698-8600
- -- Page 7 --
-
-
-
- ELFTREE Command-Line Switches
- __________________________________________________________________________
-
- In addition to the customize menu, you can configure ELFTREE with
- certain command-line switches that you type after the ET that gets
- ELFTREE up and running. Here are the switches that may be used,
- and what they represent:
-
- /#=<char>- If you prefer not to use '#' as the symbol that
- identifies a macro symbol (for example, you may
- have files that have '#' in their names), use
- this to select another symbol. For example, to
- make '+' the symbol, use /#=+
- /4 - Use 4DOS-style note files (file name DESCRIPT.ION).
- /5 - Use ET-style note files (file name ELFTREE.NTE).
- /C - if you have a composite monitor.
- /D=#### - Set maximum number of directories to handle. Each
- one uses 16 bytes.
- (max is 3,999; default is 200)
- /F=#### - This sets the maximum number of files to handle.
- Each one use 22 bytes.
- (min is 50, max is 16384; default is 1500)
- /G=#### - Set maximum number of directories to handle with the
- Find feature. Each one uses 64 bytes.
- (max is 999; default is 50)
- /H=# - If # is 1, this activates high-speed disk scanning
- routines for non-networked drives.
- (default is 0, or OFF; /H=1 turns it on)
- Note: A separate logical variable is maintained
- for high-speed scanning in the OS/2
- Compatibility Box. This switch affects
- only that variable's setting.
- /K=#### - If # is at least 10, this refers to the number
- of internal macro keys to allow.
- (max is 5000; default is 100)
- /L=Z - Last drive accessible to user.
- (default is Z; C-Z is allowed)
- /N=#### - Set maximum number of notes to handle. Each one
- uses 64 bytes; the space is shared with /G=####.
- (max is 999; default is 50)
- /R=### - ASCII code of `retag' character to use (1-255).
- (default is 9, which looks like a hollow circle)
- /T=### - ASCII code of `tag' character to use (1-255).
- (default is 4, which looks like a solid diamond)
- /U=#### - if #### is at least 500, this sets the maximum
- allowable length of a menu command line.
- (max is 10,000; default is 500)
- /Y=# - If you do not have an enhanced keyboard, but you
- want ELFTREE to think that you do (this will let
- you use [Ctrl-Del] and other nonstandard keys),
- use 1 for #. Use 0 for # if you do not want
- ELFTREE to use any of the enhanced keyboard
- facilities, even if you have such a keyboard.
- (default is 1 if an enhanced keyboard is detected,
- and 0 if not; /Y=1 activates enhanced support)
-
- Here is an example of how to set up ELFTREE to use 2,000 files,
- 300 directories and 500 notes per directory:
-
- ET /F=2000 /D=300 /N=500
-