ProfitPress Mega CDROM2 Shareware Freeware (MSDOS)(1992)(Eng)

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Text File | 1990-08-04 | 16.7 KB | 503 lines

Update File Descriptions "UD" by Earl R. Davidson Version 1.23, August 5, 1990 Program and Documentation Copyright (c) 1990, by Earl R. Davidson. All rights reserved. Portions Copyright (c) 1989, Microsoft Corporation Portions Copyright (c) 1988 and 1989, Ethan Winer, Donald R. Malin and Crescent Software 4DOS is a trademark of J. P. Software. PC-DOS is a trademark of IBM Corporation. MS-DOS is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. This program is not in the public domain! You are hereby granted a limited right to copy the program and pass it on to friends and upload it to any bulletin board system, provided no fee is charged other than a nominal disk fee. You may use the program for up to twenty one (21) days. If you use it for more than this, please register. Acknowledgments This program was written using Microsoft Basic 7.0 Professional Development System and the Crescent Software QuickPak Professional Advanced Programming Library (Version 3.10). 4DOS (Version 3.01A) by J. P. Software, was also being used; and, in fact, provided the inspiration for this program. I thank all three companies for making these outstanding products available. Disclaimer UD is distributed without warranty, expressed or implied, including without limitation the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for a particular purpose. The user is cautioned that improper use of UD may result in lost or damaged files or may cause other damage to your computer software and data. The user assumes full responsibility for the selection and use of UD to acheive your desired results. Introduction 4DOS provides the capability to add file descriptions to your files and display these descriptions when you display a file directory. I have found this to be a very handy way to keep up with various versions of programs and files. Also, when I download files from BBS's, I note the date and BBS in the description. Since it's not always easy to remember every file created or downloaded in a day's time, I wrote this program to help me. I hope you find it helpful. This program provides an easy way to update the 4DOS file descriptions of your files. You may select files based on the file date or on the archive bit. An option allows your selection to exclude files based on their filename extension. You may, optionally, exclude files that have already been described and/or you may use a 'listfile' to exclude any individual filenames of your choice. Once the selection is made the 4DOS DESCRIBE command is called for each file. Multiple directories may be searched simultaneously. Using UD If you run UD without any command line parameters the program will perform using the defaults. UD begins by creating a temporary batch file, whose default name is UPDTDESC.BTM, and writing a line with the "@ECHO OFF" command to it. UD then begins in the current drive and directory, examining the file date of each file. If the file date is equal to (or greater than?) the system date, then the command DESCRIBE and the file's complete path and filename is added to a line in UPDTDESC.BTM. UD searches any sub-directories below the current directory. A few files are automatically omitted from the selection: UPDTDESC.BTM, UPDTDESC.LST, DESCRIPT.ION, and all 4DOSSWAP files. Once all appropriate files have been examined, UD runs the UPDTDESC.BTM file, which simply calls the 4DOS DESCRIBE command for each file. Once UPDTDESC.BTM is finished, it is deleted. If UD is run just prior to turning your computer off for the day, you will be given the opportunity to add descriptions for each file added or modified that day. Alternate beginning directory You may have UD begin its search at a directory other than the current directory by entering a valid drive and/or path as the first parameter on the command line. Note that this MUST be the FIRST parameter on the command line. UD will search all subdirectories under the beginning directory. Format: UD d:\[directory][\subdirectory] Default: the current drive and directory Examples: c:\doc\ a:\ c:\dos Options Several options are available in UD. All are entered as command line parameters. Options may be entered in any order. Options must be separated by either a space or a comma. The number of options is limited only by the length of the dos command line. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USE ARCHIVE BIT FOR FILE SELECTION: Format: /A Default: by default, the file date is examined Example: /A This option causes UD to select only those files whose archive bit is set on. The file date - and /D option - are ignored. Other selection criteria are still considered. This allows you to include files which have been extracted from various archive (PAK, ZIP, ARC, etc.) with their original file dates, which are probably before the current date. Using the /D option is often not appropriate when files are added this way. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USE ARCHIVE BIT FOR FILE SELECTION AND TURN ARCHIVE BIT OFF: Format: /B Default: by default, the date is examined Example: /B This is the same as the /A option above except the archive bit is turned off as the descriptions are entered/edited. This will prevent the file from being selected when UD is run again with the /A or /B options. *************************************************************** * - WARNING - USE OF THE /B OPTION MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR * * PEOPLE WHO USE THE DOS BACKUP, RESTORE, AND XCOPY COMMANDS. * * USE IT WITH CAUTION! * *************************************************************** ----------------------------------------------------------------------- OPTIONAL STARTING DATE: Format: /D<mmddyy> Default: the current system date Examples: /D062390 Using an optional starting date causes only files dated on or after that date to be included by UD. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ALTERNATE OUTPUT FILENAME: Format: /F<filename.ext> Default: UPDTDESC.BTM (a 4DOS Batch To Memory file) Examples: /Fupdtdesc.bat /Ftemp.bat /Ftemp.btm UD creates a text file consisting of 4DOS commands. Once UD has searched all directories, it runs this batch file. If you use the /F parameter, you should follow it with a valid dos filename and extension that will be executable. It should end with .BAT or .BTM. This file is automatically deleted once it is finished. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DELETE FILES WHOSE DESCRIPTION IS "KILL" Format: /K As you edit your file descriptions, you may find one or more files that you need to delete. If you enter the word "KILL" or "kill" as the file description, you may later run UD with the /K option and it will delete the file(s) for you. This option uses the 4DOS /P option for the DEL command, which prompts you to enter Y to confirm that you want the file deleted. Most other options are invalid when you use /K. You may, however, enter a starting path and or option /O. If you begin the file description with the word "TRASH" or "trash", running UD with option /K will move the file to a sub-directory named "\TRASH" on the current drive or alternate drive if one was specified. If the \TRASH directory does not exist, one will be created. You may then hold the files in the \TRASH directory until you decide to delete them or move them somewhere else. Note that this option will delete a file only if the description is "KILL". This prevents a file from being deleted accidently if the description is something like "KILLER SHARK - GIF FILE". However, since moving a file to the \TRASH directory does not delete it and you may want some description to remain with the file, the file will be moved if the description begins with "TRASH". A description of "TRASH - OLD VERSION" will cause the file to be moved when the /K option is used. Files with a description of "TRASH" that are already located in a path that contains the word "TRASH" will not be moved to "\TRASH". ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DELETE FILES WHOSE DESCRIPTION IS "KILL" - WITHOUT CONFIRMATION Format: /KNOCONFIRM This is the same as the /K option, but the 4DOS /P option is not passed to the DEL command. The files are deleted without confirmation when the UPDTDESC.BTM file is run. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- USE A LISTFILE TO EXCLUDE SPECIFIC FILES Format: /L<listfile.ext> Default: if /L is enteres without an argument, UPDTDESC.LST is used. Examples: /L /Lskipdesc.txt You should create this ASCII text file with the text editor of your choice. It should consist of nothing more than filenames. Use only one filename per line. Do not use any blank lines or remarks. This file must be in the same directory in which UD.EXE resides. Do not try to pass a path with the filename.ext argument to option /L. By default, UD looks for the UPDTDESC.LST file. If UPDTDESC.LST exists and you wish to run UD without the listfile being considered, you must either delete the file, rename it, or move it to a directory other than the one UD.EXE resides in. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- MONOCHROME Format: /M This option removes the color from the display as UD runs. Use this option if UD does not detect a monochrome monitor, or if you don't like my choice of screen colors. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EXCLUDE FILES WITH A GIVEN EXTENSION: Format: /NO<ext> Default: none, all files except those noted above are considered Examples: /NObat /NObak /NOobj /NOlib /NObak This option may be used more than once on the command line to exclude multiple extensions. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- PROCESS ONLY THE CURRENT OR SPECIFIED DIRECTORY - NO SUBDIRECTORIES: Format: /O Default: none Example: /O Note that this command is the letter "O", not the number "0". Limits UD to the current directory only, or the alternate beginning path\directory if one is specified. No subdirectories are processed. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SAVE OUTPUT FILE: Format: /S Default: by default, the temporary file is deleted Example: /S This option, which has no argument, causes UD to not delete the temporary file (UPDTDESC.BTM) upon completion. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EXCLUDE FILES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN DESCRIBED Format: /X This causes files which already have a description in the DESCRIPT.ION file to be excluded. Warning: The use of this option with a 4DOS version up to and including 3.01A, may cause this option to appear to not work correctly. The problem exists because 4DOS will read a DESCRIPT.ION file which seperates the entries with a LF, CR, or LF/CR character combination. It will, however, in certain circumstances, write the file with only the LF character between the entries. UD expects the entries to have a CR character between entries, and will not read the file properly. This problem also exists for the 4EDIT utility program. J. P. Software representatives have stated that the next version of 4DOS will have this problem corrected. You are advised to not try the /X option unless you are using a version of 4DOS later than 3.01A. Also note that once you upgrade to a later version of 4DOS, your DESCRIPT.ION files may still contain only the LF character in some cases. If /X allows some files to be included even though they already have descriptions, the problem will eventually correct itself as you edit the descriptions and 4DOS uses the LF/CR as the separator between the entries. You could edit the files with a text editor that allows you end each line with a CR/LF. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DELETE DESCRIPT.ION FILES Format: /Z This option allows you to delete all DESCRIPT.ION files beginning in the current path or the path you specify on the command line. You will be prompted to confirm each deletion. This option does not scan each filename in the directory so most other options are invalid when you use /Z. You may, however, enter a starting path. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DELETE DESCRIPT.ION FILES - WITHOUT CONFIRMATION Format: /ZNOCONFIRM This is the same as the /Z option above, but you are NOT given a chance to confirm the deletions. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Support Support for UD will be available on the Software Designer BBS in Albany, GA. The number is (912) 432-2440. Leave a private message to Earl Davidson, and I'll respond as soon as I can. This BBS may be reached via Fido-Net (1:3617/1) and RBBS-Net (8:928/1). I monitor the 4DOS echo on a regular basis. Release History Version 1.23, August 5, 1990 - Files with descriptions beginning with "TRASH" that are already in a "\TRASH" directly will be skipped when the /K or /KNOCONFIRM options are used. Version 1.22, July 14, 1990. - Fixed problem which locked system. Version 1.20, July 14, 1990. - Added the capability of moving files to a trash directory if the description begins with "TRASH" and the /K option is used. - Added option /O to limit the processing to only the current directory or the alternate beginning directory if one was specified. - If a monochrome monitor is detected, the display will be adjusted without the use of the /B option. Version 1.10, July 8, 1990. - Added the /K and /KNOCONFIRM options to allow deletion of files with a description of "KILL". - Added documentation for the /Z and /ZNOCONFORM options which was omitted in error. - Fixed problem of failure to exclude files which have no extension in their filename when using the /X option as well as from the listfile. - Minor change to confirmation routine for /Z option. - Additional information on /X option problem added to the documentation file. Version 1.00, July 4, 1990. First release. Registration To register this program for permanent use, complete the form below and mail, together with your check for $5.00, to the address on the form: UD Registration Form Your Name: _______________________________ Date: __________ Company: _______________________________ To: Earl Davidson Address: _______________________________ 1505 7th Avenue Albany, GA 31707 _______________________________ City, St: _______________________________ Zip: ___________ UD version number: _______________________ Where did you find your copy of UD? ___________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ Suggestions: __________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________