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- Archives - Quick Tutor. TO: ALL USERS, NEW or OLD
- Please review this it takes 10
- to 15 minutes ... and you need
- to know this to run Archives!
- ------------------------------------------------------------
-
- If not all of the right side of this document is showing in
- this Window, MAXIMIZE Archives &/or Left Mouse Click the
- F6 button showing below the Archives 'Help' Menu item
- (or press your keyboard's F6 function key).
-
- (The F6 button alternates between showing and not showing
- the Files Window. The F6 function key on your keyboard
- performs the same action as clicking the F6 button.)
-
- Use the THUMB TAB or UP/DOWN arrows located at the far right
- to move up and down in this document. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------
-
- This TUTOR covers:
-
- - Archives WINDOWS Locations
- - VIEWER WINDOW functions
- - FILES WINDOW functions
- - MASK WINDOW functions
- - BUTTON usage
- - OVERVIEW of DECOMPRESS functions
- - PRINTING TUTOR.TXT
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Archives WINDOWS Locations:
-
- There are 3 Windows in Archives. The window that you are
- looking in now is called the VIEWER WINDOW.
-
- <<< The window to the left is called the FILES WINDOW.
- (if the Files Window is not showing, press F6 again.)
-
- The Window ABOVE the VIEWER WINDOW and FILES WINDOW is
- called the file MASK WINDOW. The Mask Window contains the
- File Selection criteria for the Files Window, the
- Drive:\directory\ and Mask(s). The masks are the same as in
- DOS but multiple masks can be listed simultaneously, and are
- separated by a semicolon. More info later.
-
- The rest of the tutor is easy if you memorize the names and
- locations of the Viewer Window, Files Window, and
- Mask Window.
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------
-
- VIEWER WINDOW functions: (the window that this text is in)
-
- The Viewer window is where you read documents, select files
- to compress, decompress, copy, move, etc.
-
- TO VIEW the DOS FILES in the Viewer Window, you would press
- the [FileStat] button above or press the F2 function key.
- (F2 like edit in Lotus or Excel)
-
- If you would press the [FileStat] button with the
- Left Mouse button, this document will disappear and the
- DOS file statistics for the files showing in the Files Window
- would display. If you press the [FileStat] button with the
- Right Mouse button, the file selected in the Files Window will
- be found in the Viewer Window in addition to doing the same as
- the DOS file statistics are displayed.
-
- We are early in this document and you can refind your
- place here easily, so we will go thru an example...
-
- Please read the following instructions & then perform the
- instructions when asked:
-
- Confirm that TUTOR.TXT is selected (BLACK) in the
- Files Window.
-
- Press the [FileStat] button with the LEFT mouse,
-
- Press the [FileStat] with the RIGHT mouse,
-
- Then Press the [Read] button with the LEFT mouse.
-
- DO THE ABOVE NOW and COME BACK TO HERE (About 3 PgDn). <# 1 >
-
- Archives could have brought you back to the above place
- using it's Edit+Find. You could have selected from the menu
- Edit+Find, then typed # 1 (note the space between # and 1)
- and ... zoom you're there. The Edit+Find only works in the
- Viewer Window.
-
- TO VIEW the inside of a COMPRESSED FILE, select a ZIP, ARC,
- or LZH file in the FILES WINDOW and double click on the
- compressed filename or press your keyboard's [Enter] key
- while the Files Window has the focus. The Files Window has
- FOCUS when there is a Marquee around the black square of
- the selected file.
-
- Click on this window, the Viewer Window. Look at the filename
- TUTOR.TXT and Click on the filename TUTOR.TXT. Do you see
- the marquee? (Black & white dotted line around the filename.)
-
- To select files for Copying, Moving/Renaming, Deleting, etc
- press the [FileStat] button and then use the Left Mouse button
- and click on the File in the Viewer Window. If you hold
- the mouse button down, you will paint several files.
-
- CLICK THE LEFT MOUSE BUTTON ON THIS SENTENCE...
- .
- .
- AND HOLD THE MOUSE BUTTON DOWN AND PAINT TO HERE...
-
- The painting action above is currently meaningless in
- a text file like this except for printing. I haven't
- built the Copy to your Clipboard function, yet. (You
- can paint the inside of a text file and send to your
- printer just the highlighted portion that is painted, but
- more about printing later.)
-
- But, when the FILESTATS are showing or you are viewing
- the inside of a compressed file, then the clicking or
- painting that you did above is how you select files for
- decompressing, copying, etc.
-
- You can also select files in the Viewer Window using the
- Shift+Spacebar and Shift+direction keys (arrows, up, down,
- home, end) but ONLY when the Viewer Window has Focus. The
- Viewer Window has the Focus when the cursor is red. The
- Viewer Window curser is blue when the Viewer Window doesn't
- have the focus.
-
- Press the Shift+Spacebar until the highlight in the Viewer
- Window is black . Now hold the Shift key down and use the
- arrow keys, page down, page up, home, & end keys. The
- Shift+Spacebar alternates between highlighting (selecting)
- the files and removing the highlight (selection). Press
- the Shift+Spacebar so that the selection is not black.
- Now, press Page up, down etc while holding the Shift key
- down (ie. Shift+PageUp). This removes the selection. If
- the selector was originally black, then Shift+PageUp,
- Shift+PageDown, Shift+Home, or Shift+End would have
- selected files. A white curser deselects files.
-
- If you are wondering why painting overwrites one pixel's
- worth of your text, read the file QUESTION.TXT. Basically,
- This is normal because I'm trying to squeeze as much on
- your screen as possible and not repaint the screen for
- speed. (If you are using a VGA monitor, then you won't
- see the overwrite unless you are viewing foreign characters.)
-
- Where is the red or blue curser? If you have been using
- the thumb tab or other right scroll bar function, then the
- curser is above this window somewhere and is a place
- holder. If you move your keyboard arrow keys, the window
- will first scroll to show the curser, then the curser will
- move.
-
- If any kind of files (compressed or DOS File Stats) are showing
- in the Viewer Window then the [Run] button is used to run those
- files.
-
- NORMALLY, YOU WILL SELECT A FILE FROM THE VIEWER WINDOW AND
- PRESS THE [Run] button. But if you pressed the [Run] button
- now, since this is a text document in the Viewer Window, Archives
- defaults to running the file shown in the Files Window.
-
- Select any file from the Files Window
- and then press the Archives [Run] button.
-
- Pressing the right mouse button over the file
- in the Files Window would also launch the Run
- dialog box.
-
- If the File is an executable file for Windows
- (*.EXE, *.COM, *.BAT, or *.PIF) then that file
- will execute as-is.
-
- If that file is a document and it's extension
- is listed in your WIN.INI under [extensions],
- then Archives will find the executable program
- associated with that file.
-
- If you wish the extensions were in your INI
- file, well... of course Archives can do that
- for you too.
-
- PRESS THE [RUN] BUTTON NOW, THEN CANCEL THE DIALOG BOX,
- (this window doesn't change it's place this time).
-
- Someone told me that I tell you too much in my dialog
- boxes, and it scares users. If you don't know what
- to do, read the messages. I'll try my best to warn
- you. Many of my messages will be below the OK button
- on the dialog boxes. I'll beep if you're getting
- ready to do something I wasn't expecting. If
- no beep, read the message and then press the
- OK button. As you become more computer wise, you'll
- like the extra options and info!
-
- Whoops, my legal beagles tell me to remind you that
- you are running Archives at your own risk! I cannot
- warrant the satisfactory performance of anything. If
- you saw my checkbook, you would know what I mean!
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------
-
- MASK WINDOW functions: (located above the Viewer Window)
-
- This window provides the file selection criteria for the type
- of files you want listed in the Files Window.
-
- The Mask Window lists the Drive:\Directory\ and Mask(s).
-
- For Example: C:\WINDOWS\*.INI;*.EXE
-
- would list all files that match the *.INI and *.EXE
- mask from your Windows Directory on your C: drive.
- The asterisk (*) is a wild card character, similar
- to using the asterisk in DOS copy. The question
- mark can also be used as a substitution character.
-
- If you enter multiple masks then the Masks are separated by
- a semicolon. You can Manually type in a Mask or use the
- [dir] [*.*] [user] [comp] buttons shown above the
- Files Window to change the mask. (I'll tell you what these
- buttons mean later.)
-
- If you manually type in a mask, then you must press your
- keyboard's [Enter] key to enter that mask while the
- Mask Window has FOCUS, or else nothing happens.
- The Mask Window has FOCUS when the cursor is blinking
- in the Mask Window.
-
- Windows is a game of FOCUS. And it's up to you to manage:
-
- "WHO'S GOT THE FOCUS!"
-
- A final note about the Mask Window, if you enter a filename
- that exists, then that file is opened to the Viewer Window.
- This can be useful when you have copied to you clipboard the
- drive:\directory\filename from another program, or when using
- macros. If the filename doesn't exist and there are no
- substitution characters (* or ?) then the File+Open dialog
- box opens asking you to select a file.
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------
-
- FILES WINDOW functions:
-
- This is the Easy Window to understand BUT READ THIS SECTION
- ANYWAY!
-
- The Files window always displays the directories, and
- sometimes displays the drives and files.
-
- SOMETIMES??? YES!
-
- A. If you click the [dir] button with the left mouse button:
-
- Directories will display BUT no files will display.
- To switch to showing ALL files, you'll need to click
- on the [*.*] button.
-
- PLEASE CLICK THE [DIR] BUTTON USING YOUR LEFT MOUSE
- BUTTON NOW, THEN CLICK THE [*.*] AGAIN WITH THE LEFT
- MOUSE BUTTON, reopen THIS FILE AND COME BACK TO <# 2 >
- using Edit+Find # 2. (note the space between # and 2)
-
- Why did this file disapear from the Viewer Window?
- If you choose a mask that doesn't include this file,
- then it can't be found, and the Viewer Window clears.
-
- B. If you click the [dir] button with the right mouse button,
- normally, the files will show:
-
- The display in the Files Window will alternate
- between displaying Directories BUT NO Drives and
- displaying Directories AND Drives in the
- Files Window.
-
- The filenames may or may not show depending on
- whether the highlight is on the [dir] button.
- Additionally, files have to exist in the directory
- that match the file mask in the Mask Window.
-
- CLICK THE [dir] BUTTON WITH THE RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON
- SEVERAL TIMES NOW. THE VIEWER WINDOW WILL NOT CLEAR
- THIS TIME. You are removing and adding the drives
- to the Files Window with the Right Mouse button on
- the [dir] button.
-
- C. If the directory has no files that match the file mask
- shown in the Mask Window:
-
- no files will show.
-
- The PRIMARY Functions of the Files Window are to:
-
- 1. Change directories.
-
- 2. Open files to view their contents.
-
- 3. Select a Directory to Rename or Delete
- from the Files Window.
-
- The SECONDARY Functions of the Files Window are to:
-
- 4. Find a file to run. If you Right Mouse
- click on a file, then Archives will give
- you a Run Dialog Box.
-
- 5. And finally, select a file to Copy,
- Move\Rename, Delete, etc from the
- Files Window.
-
- The reason I said "SECONDARY Function of the Files Window" is
- because you normally will use the Viewer Window to do the
- points 4. and 5. above.
-
- Yes, the File Run, Copy, Move\Rename, Delete, Date, Time, and
- Attribute functions work for both the FILES WINDOW and the
- VIEWER WINDOW, but only in certain circumstances:
-
- - Eventually, this is obvious. If the files
- aren't in the Viewer Window, then Archives
- defaults to the Files Window.
-
- If you pressed the [FileStat] button and select your files
- from the Viewer Window, then you can File Copy,
- Move\Rename, Delete, etc up to the 2000 files at a time!
-
- However, if you use the Files Window, you can File Copy,
- Move\Rename, Delete, etc only one file at a time.
-
- Hint, when you turn on the Dynamic Data exchange option,
- the files can be copied from one Archives application to
- the drive &/or directory location of the other Archives
- application.
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------
-
- BUTTONS usage:
-
- By now you should be familiar with the definitions of the
- 3 Archives windows: Files Window, Viewer Window, and
- Mask Window.
-
- It helps if you remember that the buttons above the Files
- Window affect primarily the Files Window. The buttons
- above the Viewer Window affect primarily the Viewer Window
- if files are displayed in the Viewer Window.
-
- With this in mind, the button actions are as follows:
-
- [dir] Button
- description: directory Hot Key: Alt+i
-
- Left Mouse: Changes the Mask Window and the
- Files Window to display only
- directories and sometimes drives.
- (See right mouse)
-
- Right Mouse: Switches the Files Window back and
- forth between showing directories
- AND drives in the Files Window and
- showing directories BUT NOT drives.
-
- [*.*] Button
- description: *.* File Mask Hot Key: Alt+.
-
- Left Mouse: Changes the Mask Window to *.* and
- all files in the current directory
- are shown in the Files Window.
-
- Right Mouse: Does the same as the Left Mouse AND
- displays the FILESTATs in the
- Viewer Window
-
- Since this file will display in the Files Window if
- you select [*.*], go ahead and click on the [*.*]
- button now.
-
- [user] Button
- description: user's File Mask Hot Key: Alt+u
-
- Left Mouse: Changes the Mask Window to the mask
- you chose during Setup. Setup
- had a default setup of:
-
- *.ARC; *.LZH; *.ZIP; *.EXE
-
- And all files matching the User's
- mask in the current directory
- are shown in the Files Window.
-
- Right Mouse: Does the same as the Left Mouse AND
- displays the FILESTATs in the
- Viewer Window
-
- [comp] Button
- description: All Compressed Files Mask
- Hot Key: Alt+a (for All)
-
- Left Mouse: Changes the Mask Window to list
- only the compressed files using the
- mask of:
-
- *.ARC; *.LZH; *.ZIP
-
- And all files matching the above
- mask in the current directory
- are shown in the Files Window.
-
- Right Mouse: Does the same as the Left Mouse AND
- displays the FILESTATs in the
- Viewer Window
- [Read] &
- [ZIP], [LZH], [ARC], [TEXT], [BINARY] Button
-
- description: Read File selected in Viewer or Files Window
- Hot Key: Enter
-
- NOTE: This button changes names and tells
- you the type of file that is read,
- but the button has the same response
- in all cases.
-
- The [Read] button will change to
- [ZIP], [LZH], [ARC], [TEXT], [BINARY]
- depending on the type of file read.
-
- Left Mouse: Reads the file selected in the
- Viewer Window. If you are viewing
- the inside of a text file, then Read
- defaults to reading the file selected
- in the Files Window.
-
- Right Mouse: Finds the file selected in the
- Files Window by 1st displaying the
- FILESTATs in the Viewer Window, then
- the curser finds the file selected.
- Same as the Right Mouse on the
- FileStats Button.
-
- [FileStat] Button
-
- description: list the DOS File Statistics: date,
- time, file size, file attributes
-
- Hot Key: F2 function key
-
- Left Mouse: list the DOS File Statistics for the
- files showing in the Files Window.
-
- Right Mouse: Finds the file selected in the
- Files Window by 1st displaying the
- FILESTATs in the Viewer Window, then
- the curser finds the file selected.
- Same as Right Mouse on Read Button.
- [Run] Button
- description: Run a program or file selected in the
- Viewer Window.
-
- Hot Key: F9 (calculate)
-
- Left Mouse: If the DOS File Stats are showing in
- the Viewer Window, then the Run dialog
- box opens. If you are Viewing the
- contents of a compressed file, you are
- asked if you want to 'Chain CheckOut'
- this file first. (You have to decompress
- the file first before you can run it.)
- 'Chain CheckOut' is explained later.
-
- Right Mouse: NULL, nothing happens
-
- [..] Button
- description: parent directory selector
-
- Hot Key: Backspace key
-
- Left Mouse: moves the current directory level one
- level closer to the root directory
- in this drive. If you are already
- in the root directory, nothing happens.
-
- Right Mouse: NULL, nothing happens
-
- [=A=] [-C-] [~R~] Buttons
-
- description: drive selector Hot Key: Ctrl+letter
-
-
- the equals '=' sign represents floppy
- the minus '-' sign, hard drive
- the enter symbol '~' represents remote
-
- Left Mouse: Moves the current drive selection to
- the drive letter selected.
-
- Right Mouse: NULL, nothing happens
-
- [F6] Button
-
- description: remove/show the Files Window
-
- Hot Key: F6 function key
-
- Left Mouse: Alternates between showing and not
- showing the Files Window.
-
- Right Mouse: Empties the Viewer Window and the memory
- buffer holding the contents of the
- Viewer Window. Title Bar of Archives
- changes to 'Archives - (untitled)'
-
- Why would you want to do this? If you
- are impatiently clicking thru
- directories and you don't want to wait
- for the Viewer Window to keep displaying
- the FileStats. Additionally, although
- rarely, you may need the global memory
- for another program.
- [ñ] Button
-
- description: Select All/ Deselect All
- located in lower right corner of Archives
-
- Hot Key: Alt+/
-
- Left Mouse: Alternates between SELECTING ALL of the
- contents of the Viewer Window and
- DESELECTING ALL.
-
- Right Mouse: Always DESELECTS ALL
-
- Mouse functions in the FILES WINDOW:
-
- Note: You can select only one file at a time in
- the Files Window.
-
- Left Mouse: Double clicks always opens a file to view
- the files contents unless that file is an
- executable program, then it tells you what
- type of program it probably is (eg DOS,
- maybe windows, definitely Windows 3.0, etc.)
-
- Right Mouse: Brings up the run dialog box to run the
- selected program or file.
-
- Mouse functions in the VIEWER WINDOW:
-
- Note: You can select up to 2000 non-consecutive
- files at a time in the Viewer Window.
-
- Left Mouse: Double clicks always opens a file to view
- the files contents unless that file is an
- executable program, then it tells you what
- type of program it probably is (eg DOS,
- maybe windows, definitely Windows 3.0, etc.)
- This is the same as the Left mouse in the
- Files Window.
-
- Open a file means when the File is a
- DOS TEXT FILE then the file is opened to
- view in the Viewer Window instantly.
-
- Open a file means when the File is a
- COMPRESSED FILE then a message box asks
- whether you are wanting to Chain CheckOut
- the file to decompress and view temporarly
- in another Archives application. Select
- 'Compress+Chain CheckIn' to delete these
- temporary files. (Gets you back to where
- you were.)
-
- One exception. If you are not showing the
- Files Window and you double click on an
- executable program, then the run dialog box
- opens. This is the same as the Right
- mouse in the Files Window.
-
- Right Mouse: When viewing DOS FileStats, will bring up
- the Compress Dialog Box.
-
- When viewing COMPRESS FILES, will bring up
- the DeCompress Dialog Box.
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------
- OVERVIEW of DECOMPRESS functions
-
- Archives has 6 major decompressing methods. These are (in the
- same order as shown on the menu of Archives under decompress):
-
- Details... This opens a Decompression dialog box that
- provides decompression options: which directory,
- decompress only newer files, overwrite, etc.
-
- ARC to LZH
- ARC to ZIP
- LZH to ARC
- LZH to ZIP
- ZIP to ARC
- ZIP to LZH Only 2 of these 6 options will show on your menu
- depending on which type of compressed file was
- selected. If you open a compressed file, you can
- convert that file to one of the other 2 formats with
- one mouse click. Both files will be located in the
- same directory.
-
- To CheckOut!
- To Normal! Both of these functions will decompress the files
- you selected from a compressed file that you are
- viewing to the directory indicated. The exclamation
- point means that now additional confirmation will
- be asked of you.
-
- The CheckOut directory was the \CHK\ directory that
- you configured during Configure+Setup, Setup Part B.
-
- The Normal directory was configured in Configure+Setup,
- Setup Part C.
-
- If you configured Setup Part C to always overwrite,
- then these menu items will show 'o.w' following the
- directory name.
-
-
- Chain CheckOut!
-
- YOU WILL USE THIS FEATURE MORE THAN ANY OTHER!!!!
-
- Most people want to quickly decompress a file, read
- the text, run the programs, then delete the decompressed
- files. This feature allows you to do this quickly
- and without alot of effort.
-
- READ THIS ... READ THIS ... READ THIS ... READ THIS ...
-
- This function allows you to temporarily decompress
- files, read, run, and then delete these temporarily
- decompressed files and the temporary directory in
- as few as 2 mouse clicks!
-
- The procedure is:
-
- Double click on a compressed file in the Files Window.
- You will be viewing the contents of this file in
- the Viewer Window.
-
- Select the files that you want to Chain CheckOut.
-
- Select from the main menu of Archives,
- Decompress+Chain CheckOut.
-
- These files will be decompressed into a temporary
- directory. A second copy of Archives will automatically
- open showing these newly decompressed files. Notice
- that the Title Bar of this copy of Archives shows
- 'Archives #2 - FILE STATS'. Press Ctrl+Esc to call up
- the Task Manager and look for the other copy of
- Archives. Notice its title is now
- 'Archives #1 - (filename)'.
-
- These 2 applications are 'Chained Together'. If you
- want, you could decompress another file using
- Chain CheckOut using the Archives #2 window, and you
- will open an Archives #3. You'll have to change
- directories in Archives #2 to continue the
- Chain Checkout unless the compressed file you just
- decompressed contained an internal compressed file.
-
- (I've chained 21 copies of Archives together, a
- rediculuous number.)
-
- When you are done viewing, running the temporarily
- decompressed files, select Compress+Chain CheckIn from
- the main menu bar of the highest Archives # opened.
-
- Maybe the Compress+Chain CheckIn is a misnomer because
- you are not compressing these temporarily Checked Out
- files, but you are delecting them and the temporary
- directory.
-
- This copy of Archives will close and the previous
- copy of Archives will open displaying the original
- compressed file contents.
-
- If this was confusing, read the next section on
- printing, and print this section and follow the
- steps shown above. It's easier to do than to
- explain.
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------
- PRINTING TUTOR.TXT
-
- THERE ARE 3 PRINTING OPTIONS IN ARCHIVES:
-
- To print a portion of this or any file:
-
- Highlight what you want to print in this file, turn your
- printer ON, and select File+Print from the Archives
- main menu. You can highlight non-consecutive sections for
- printing too!
-
- To print all of this file:
-
- Either click on the Select All button shown as [ñ] in the
- lower right corner of Archives and then Select File+Print
- from the Archives main menu, or
-
- Select the [FileStat] button, highlight the file you want
- to print in the Viewer Window then Select File+Print from
- the Archives main menu.
-
- To print a 'bunch of files':
-
- Do the same as above except FIRST Select a 'bunch of files'
- from the Viewer Window! Archives will start a new page
- at the beginning of each file.
-
- You can switch away from Archives while it is printing if you use
- the Alt+Tab key. Otherwise, you cannot do anything in Archives
- while it is printing except cancel the printing.
-
- Currently, Archives does not have any print options other than
- above and adjusting the left margin. You have to configure your
- printer from the Control Panel. You can launch the Control Panel
- from Archives using the F4 function key. In a future version,
- probably then next, you will be able to adjust the other margins,
- fonts, etc.
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------
-
- You're Done! If this took more than 10 minutes, then I lied,
- but I hope it was time well spent.
-
- There are two other documents that I recommend reading very
- soon. These are in order: QUESTION.TXT and CHANGES.TXT.
- You may laugh at some of the questions in QUESTION.TXT
- but it may also answer a question that you have.
-
- eg. How to start up Archives so that it is always displays
- your download directory first?
-
- Unlike many programs, the ARCHIVES.HLP file has very useful
- browse features as well.
-
- REGISTER SOON. Archives is almost good enough to raise the
- price. When you are registered, you will be registered for
- all future versions of Archives in the 3.0 and 3.1
- environments.
-
- Finally, Have FUN working with Archives,
-
- Ted Wall
-
-
- PS, please give me feedback on the usefulness of this TUTOR.
- If it works, I can write one for compressing/decompressing
- files and write one for the Dynamic Data Exchange options as
- well. I need positive feedback as well as negative,
- ie. what to keep.