Black Box 4

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ Black Box 4 / BlackBox.cdr / fileutil / dmate110.arj / DISKMATE.DOC next >

Wrap

Text File | 1992-05-12 | 35.9 KB | 774 lines

Welcome to DiskMate Floppy Disk Organizer Version 1.10 (May 1992) From This To This ┌────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐ │ ┌────────┐ │ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~ │ │ │ ┌────────┐ │ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~ │ │ │ │ ┌────────┐ ──────────────── │ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~ │ └─│ │ │ ┌────────┐ │ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~ │ └─│ │ │ ┌────────┐ │ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~ │ └─│ │ │ ┌────────┐ │ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~ │ └─│ │ │ ┌────────┐ │ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~ │ └─│ │ │ ┌────────┐ │ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~ │ └─│ │ │ │ │ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~ │ └─│ │ ██ │ │ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~ │ └─│ │ │ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~ │ └────────┘ └─────────────────┘ R E F E R E N C E M A N U A L Key Software Services 24211 Trombley Mt. Clemens, MI 48045 ID: 73270,3150 Specifications subject to change without notice. LICENSE This version of DiskMate is NOT public domain or free software, but is being distributed as "shareware". Non-registered users of this software are granted a limited license to make an evaluation copy for trial use on a private, noncommercial basis, for the express purpose of determining whether DiskMate is suitable for their needs. At the end of this trial period, you should either register your copy or discontinue using DiskMate. What does all this really mean? If you use this program, then you should pay for your copy. That way we'll be able to provide support and updates, and stay in business. Registered users have three choices of registration: Cheap, Cheaper and Cheapest! Cheap - $15.00 (Full Version) - Doesn't ask you for a Passcode. - Doesn't print DiskMate line on reports. - Includes a DOS Shell so you can exit to DOS and then resume DiskMate. - READS ALL SUB-DIRECTORIES ON FLOPPY AS WELL AS MAIN DIRECTORY. - Built-In Help Screens. - You can add floppy info to databases after printing a label. - You can print a label after reading floppy to database. Cheaper - $7.00 (Limited Version) - Doesn't ask you for Passcode. - Doesn't print DiskMate line on reports. Cheapest - $5.00 - Trial Version And here's the best part. If you're a CompuServe subscriber, you don't have to wait for the mail! When your payment is received we'll Email you a passcode which will upgrade the performance of your version of DiskMate automatically! Others will have to wait to receive instructions by mail. * Note: If you read in floppy disks to the databases using the Trial version and later upgrade to the Full version, you won't have to read the same floppys in again. All users are granted a limited license to copy DiskMate only for the trial use of others and subject to the above limitations. This license does NOT include distribution or copying of this software package: 1. In connection with any other product or service. 2. For general use within a company or institution. 3. For any consideration or 'disk fee'. 4. For distribution in modified form; i.e., the file containing this license information MUST be included, along with the full DiskMate documentation. Operators of electronic bulletin board systems (Sysops) are encouraged to post DiskMate for downloading by their users, as long as the above conditions are met. REGISTRATION INFORMATION A DiskMate registration licenses you to use the product on a regular basis and includes notification of updates and support. A registration form is provided on the last page of this documentation. ORDERS OUTSIDE THE US: Please send a check drawn on a US bank in US dollars. Please include an additional $1 to cover postage on registrations outside of the US (non CompuServe registrants). Remit to: KEY SOFTWARE SERVICES 24211 Trombley Mt. Clemens, MI 48045 DISCLAIMER Use of this program acknowledges this disclaimer of warranty: "This program is supplied as is. Key Software Services disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness of this program for any purpose. Key Software Services assumes no liability for damages direct or consequential, which may result from the use of this program." TRADEMARK DiskMate is a trademark of Key Software Services. MS-DOS is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. PC-DOS is a registered trademark of the IBM Corporation. PC is a registered trademark of the IBM Corporation. PKUNZIP is a registered trademard of PKWARE,Inc. System Requirements ================================================================= DiskMate will run on the IBM PC/XT and compatible computers. MINIMUM requirements are: ■ PC-DOS OR MS-DOS 2.1 or greater. ■ One floppy diskette drive. ■ Hard disk drive with minimum of 300K free space. ■ Either a color or a monochrome monitor with 80-column display. What does DiskMate do? ================================================================= First, what DiskMate DOESN'T DO. DiskMate doesn't do ANYTHING to your floppy disks except READ them. ----------------------------------------------------------------- DiskMate simply enables you to keep track of and label all those floppy disks and to find floppy disk files fast..... Capacity - Up to 999 Boxes with up to 999 disks per box! 1. Print 5-1/4" and 3-1/2" disk jacket labels for your floppy disks. This isn't the adhesive kind of label but rather a label printed on plain paper. Labels are printed with guidelines so you can cut them out and insert them into the disk sleeve along with the disk. Labels include: Box and Disk Number (that you assign) File Names Date Cataloged Amount of Free Space left Number of Files Subdirectories (Full Version) and Number of Subdirectories IMPORTANT! You're printer must be capable of printing in compressed print (17 cpi) and 8 lines per inch. It's the only way to get that much information in such a small space. 2. Store all of your floppy disk file names, file sizes, disk name, and descriptions to a database. You assign Box Numbers, Disk Numbers, Disk Name, and Descriptions. DiskMate takes care of the rest. 3. Search the Database By Description By File Name By File Name Extension By Disk Name DiskMate will tell you where the file is located (Box Number and Disk Number)! 4. View and/or Print Lists (no special printer requirements) By Box Number and Disk By File Name 5. Maintain the database Delete Files, Disks, or Boxes from the database Move disks from one box to another Switch box numbers Edit Disk Name or Disk Description Installation ================================================================= DiskMate is simple to install but first, be sure to make a backup copy of the DMATE.ZIP file. Also make sure your CONFIG.SYS file has enough file handles and buffers. Recommended: FILES=20 BUFFERS=8 First Time User =============== Simply copy DMATE.ZIP to the directory where you would like to use it. This version of DiskMate must be unpacked using PKUNZIP. Make sure PKUNZIP is available and type: "PKUNZIP DMATE" (without the quotes). The file FIX.EXE can be deleted as it was included for users using a version of DiskMate prior to 1.10. Current User ============ If you are currently using a version of DiskMate prior to version 1.10, you can unzip files in your current DiskMate directory. PKUNZIP will ask you if you want to overwrite existing files (DISKMATE.EXE, DISKMATE.DOC, and READ.ME). Answer "Y" (Yes) for all files. Your current data will remain unaffected. You must also run FIX.EXE (in your current DiskMate directory) to upgrade your databases to this version. See the READ.ME file for details. Using DiskMate ================================================================= To run DiskMate, type "DISKMATE" and press [Enter]". The very FIRST TIME you use DiskMate will be different from subsequent runs. You will see screen messages telling you that databases and indexes are being created. The reason for this is simply to reduce the size of ZIP file. This won't happen again unless any of the required files are missing. If you are experimenting with DiskMate and would like to start all over again with empty databases, simply delete all .DBF and .NTX files in your DiskMate subdirectory and they will be recreated (empty of course). DiskMate uses Menus and screen prompting so you can run it without documentation. The [Escape] Key. The Escape key will allow you to BACK UP or BACK OUT of most areas of the program. In some of the critical areas (deleting for example) you will have more than one chance to back out of the action. * Pressing the Escape key at the Main Menu is the only way to exit DiskMate! If you reboot or turn your computer off without exiting DiskMate through the Main Menu, chances of your databases being corrupted is excellent! The first screen you will see is: ┌─────────────────────────────┐ Last Box : 0 │ MAIN MENU │ 0 Records Last Disk : 0 ├─────────────────────────────┤ │ Disk Organizer │ └─────────────────────────────┘ ┌─────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ 1) Print Disk Label │ │ │ │ 2) Read Disk to Database │ │ │ │ 3) Reports │ │ │ │ 4) Search │ │ │ │ 5) Delete File/Disk/Box │ │ │ │ 6) Move File/Disk/Box │ │ │ │ 7) Edit Disk Name or Desc │ │ │ │ 8) Pack Databases │ └─────────────────────────────┘ F1 | Help Esc | Quit When the databases are empty, the 'Last Box' and 'Last Disk' (indicating the last box and disk numbers used) are 0. 'Records' is also 0 since you haven't read any disks into the databases yet. Note: Should you have a CGA card with a Monochrome monitor, your display could be very difficult to read. To remedy this, press Alt-M (the [Alt] key then the [M] key). This will take care of the problem and you will not have to do this again. Selecting Menu Items. You may do this by moving the cursor bar with the Up or Down Arrow Keys to the desired item and pressing <Enter>. You can also press the number of the desired item. The Menu Options are self explanatory. Note: It would be useless to select options 3, 4, or 5 until you've read a floppy disk into the database. Option 1 - Print Disk Label Sample Label (5-1/4" not to scale) ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │Box #: 12 Disk #: 3 Files: 147 S/Dirs: 7 Cataloged: 04/01/92│ │Name: Utility Disk 1 │ │Desc: Miscellaneous Utilities │ ├───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │\ │ │ SAMPLE.BAT SAMPLE.DOC SAMPLE.FON SAMPLE.OBJ SAMPLE.TXT│ │ SAMPLE.COM SAMPLE.EXE SAMPLE.NDX SAMPLE.PRN SAMPLE.UDX│ │ │ │\TEXT │ │ ACE.TXT DESK.TXT FINAL.TXT LIVELY.TXT RALLY.TXT │ │ BASIC.TXT DURAN.TXT GHOST.TXT MOST.TXT SOURCE.TXT│ │ COLOR.TXT DUSTY.TXT LAST.TXT NORTH.TXT VIOLA.TXT │ │ │ │ (AND SO ON....) │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Sample Label (3-1/2" not to scale) ───┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │Box #: 12 Disk #: 8 Free: 18222 │ │ │Files: 167 S/Dirs: 7 Cataloged: 05/03/92 │ │ │Name: Misc. Disk │ │ │Desc: Miscellaneous Stuff │ │ ├──────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ │\ │ │ │ DI8-1.12 EXTRA.3 XXXXXX.16 XXXXXX.29 │ 3-1/2│ EXTRA.1 EXTRA.4 XXXXXX.17 XXXXXX.3 │ │ │ │ │ │\ARTWORK │ │ │ 111111.1 111111.23 111111.5 LABELS.IMG │ │ │ 111111.10 111111.24 111111.6 MEMO.IMG │ │ │ 111111.11 111111.25 111111.7 MUSIC.IMG │ │ │ 111111.12 111111.26 111111.71 PHONE.IMG │ │ 111111.13 111111.27 111111.72 PLANTS.IMG │ ───│--------------------------------------------------│ <- FOLD │ 111111.14 111111.30 111111.80 RABBIT.IMG │ │ │ │ (AND SO ON....) │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │<───────────────────── 3-1/2" ────────────────────>│ Simply follow screen prompts. You can change the floppy drive from A: to B: or B: to A: by pressing the F3 Key. Once you have select a drive, it will remain the default drive until you change it again. Press the F9 key to exit to the DOS Shell and the F2 key to toggle QuickMode on and off (Full Version only). * Note: You must have a copy of your DOS's COMMAND.COM file in the DiskMate directory (or pathing so it can be found) to use the F9 Shell feature. * QuickMode If you DO NOT want to be asked if you want to read floppy to the databases after printing a label, turn QuickMode ON. When you are asked for a Box Number and a Disk Number... These are the box and disk numbers that will be printed at the top of the label. If you use 0 (zero) for Box or Disk Numbers, the '0' will not be printed (you can pen them in?). Also, if you use 0 for the Box and Disk Number, you won't be able to add the floppy files to the database (Full Version) since 0 is not a valid Box Number. Option 2 - Read Disk to Database Follow screen prompts. You can change the floppy drive from A: to B: or B: to A: by pressing the F3 Key. Press the F9 key to exit to the DOS Shell and the F2 key to toggle QuickMode on and off (Full Version only). * QuickMode (Full Version) If you DO NOT want to be asked if you want to print a label after reading a floppy to the databases, turn QuickMode ON. Option 3 - Reports will present you with this screen: ┌─────────────────────┐ │ - Reports - │ ├─────────────────────┤ │ 1. By Box Number │ │ 2. By File Name │ │ │ └─────────────────────┘ Reports can be sent to the Screen or Printer. * Reports are formatted to print using normal printer attributes (10 cpi) and will print with a left-hand margin for 3-hole punching. Start paper about 1" from top of sheet. DiskMate will accommodate continuous or single sheet feeding Highlight your choice using the Up and Down Arrow Keys or by pressing the appropriate number key. If you choose Option 1, you will have a choice of viewing a single box or all boxes. Follow Screen Prompts If you press [Enter] when asked for a Box Number or Disk Number, DiskMate will pop up a pick list of all available boxes/disks from which you can choose. If you choose Option 2, you'll get this screen: ┌─────────────────────┐ │ By File Name │ ├─────────────────────┤ │ 1. All File Names │ │ 2. Range of Names │ │ │ └─────────────────────┘ File names will be listed in alphabetical order. Choosing Option 2 from this menu will ask you for beginning and ending names. Partial names are okay. If you enter 'A' for the beginning file name, the very first file beginning with the letter 'A' will be used. If you enter 'AR' the first file beginning with 'AR' will be used, etc.. If you just want to see the file names beginning with 'A', enter 'A' for the beginning file name and 'B' for the ending file name. If you want to see file names beginning with 'A' and ending with 'CURSOR.COM' enter 'A' for the beginning file name and 'CURSOR.COM' for the ending file name. You'll have a choice of viewing on the screen or sending to the printer. Option 4 - Search will give you this screen: ┌─────────────────────┐ │ - Search - │ ├─────────────────────┤ │ 1. By Description │ │ 2. By File Name │ │ 3. By Extension │ │ 4. By Disk Name │ │ │ └─────────────────────┘ You'll be asked for the appropriate information. 1. By Description * Searching by description can take a little longer...... Sample disk descriptions: > 'UTILITIES FOR WORD PROCESSING PROGRAMS' > 'DOS UTILITIES' > 'GAMES AND MISC FILES' Let's say that you wanted to find all disks with 'Utilities' in the disk description. You would enter 'util' or 'utilities' when asked for the description. DiskMate has to search all the disk descriptions for the word you've entered no matter where it may be in the disk description! 2. By File Name Selection this option will pop up a scrolling pick list of File Names also showing Box Number and Disk Number. You can navigate the list using the UpArrow, DnArrow, PgUp, PgDn, ^PgUp and ^PgDn keys. When the File Name you want is highlighted, press the [Enter] key. A special feature of this pick list will get you to the File Name more quickly. Simply press the first letter of the file name. The highlight will move to the first file beginning with the letter you have typed and that letter will be shown at the bottom of the pick list. Typing the second letter of the file name you want will now highlight the file name beginning with the two letters you have typed, etc.. In the above example, DiskMate would return the locations, file names, and directories for the first two disk descriptions. Option 5 - Delete File/Disk/Box will pop up this Menu: ┌─────────────────────┐ │ - Delete - │ ├─────────────────────┤ │ 1. Delete File │ │ 2. Delete Disk │ │ 3. Delete Box │ └─────────────────────┘ '2. Delete Disk' & '3. Delete Box' are pretty straight-forward. (see Pack Databases) 1. Delete File * Note: DiskMate can also delete the file from your floppy! It's an Option to you. Deleting a file can be more involved. After reading in a few boxes of floppys, you're likely to see the same file name on several disks. MIO.SYS and COMMAND.COM are a couple of good examples (not that you would want to delete them). Let's just say that you were using the Search feature and noticed a file called ABC.BAK that you don't need any more. You decide to delete it from the database (and possibly from the floppy). When asked for the file name, you enter 'ABC.BAK. Just because you saw one ABC.BAK file doesn't mean that there aren't more. DiskMate checks the database and if it finds more than one entry, will show you a box like this: ┌─────────────────────┐ │File Name Box Disk│ ├─────────────────────┤ │ABC.BAK 1 2 │ │ABC.BAK 1 3 │ │ABC.BAK 1 4 │ │ABC.BAK 1 5 │ │ABC.BAK 1 9 │ │ABC.BAK 1 10│ │ABC.BAK 1 11│ │ABC.BAK 1 14│ │ABC.BAK 3 9 │ │ABC.BAK 4 1 │ │ABC.BAK 4 2 │ └─────────────────────┘ That File Name is located on 13 disks. Use Arrow keys to highlight the correct one and press [Enter] As you can see, in this example, the same file resides on many floppys in several different boxes. Use the Up & Down Arrow keys to highlight the file of your choice and press [Enter]. DiskMate will show you more detailed information about the file (size, directory) and THEN ask you if you really want to delete it. If you answer 'Y', DiskMate will ask you if you want to delete the same file from the floppy. If you answer 'N', DiskMate will delete the file from the database. You'll have to delete the file from the floppy on your own. If you answer 'Y', DiskMate will ask you which floppy drive to use and tell you which floppy to insert. The file will be deleted from the database AND the floppy. DiskMate will then advise you of it's actions and return you to the top level allowing you to delete other files, boxes, or disks, or to Escape back to the Main Menu. Note: If you're not sure of the full file name you can enter a partial file name and DiskMate will pop up a pick list from which you can choose. Option 6 - Move File/Disk/Box will pop up this Menu: ┌─────────────────────┐ │ - Move - │ ├─────────────────────┤ │ 1. Move File │ │ 2. Move Disk │ │ 3. Move Box │ │ 4. Switch 2 Boxes │ └─────────────────────┘ 1. Move File If you've moved a file from one floppy to another, you'll be able to reflect the change in the databases. If the file name exists on more than one disk, you'll be presented with a list from which to choose from. You'll then be asked to indicate the box number and disk number to move the file to. 2. Move Disk (see Pack Databases) This option will move a entire disk from one box to another. 3. Move Box (see Pack Databases) Example: You want Box Number 3 to be Box Number 5 instead. In order to accomplish this, Box Number 5 MUST BE OPEN (not used). - You can DELETE Box Number 5 (Delete Menu) first and then change Box 3 to Box 5. Then you can read the old Box 5 back into the databases with a new box number. - You can use the 'Switch 2 Boxes' option. 4. Switch 2 Boxes (see Pack Databases) This option SWAPS all the database information for two boxes. You'll be asked for the two box numbers and DiskMate will do the work. Option 7 - Edit Disk Name or Desc will pop up this Menu: ┌─────────────────────┐ │ - Edit - │ ├─────────────────────┤ │ 1. Description │ │ 2. Disk Name │ │ │ └─────────────────────┘ DiskMate will ask you for a Box Number and a Disk Number. If valid, you will to enter a new description or disk name and the changes will be made to the databases. Option 8 - Pack Databases Deleting, Moving and Switching Disk and Boxes create a lot of 'deleted' records. These deleted records are just 'marked' as deleted in the databases and still take up space. They also slow down searches. Packing the databases permanently removes these deleted records and frees up the disk space they occupied. The time this process takes will depend on the number of records in the databases. Once you begin the packing process, DO NOT INTERRUPT, or you'll risk a certainty of losing all of your data! Errors Every effort has been made to prevent errors, program crashing and bugs. Most errors will be trapped by an internal error handler. Instead of crashing (we hope), the error handler will create a small text file called ERROR.TXT describing the error. After this file is written to disk, you will be returned to the Main Menu. If you should experience a problem, please let us know and we'll take care of it immediately. Be sure to all details surrounding the problem and include the information in the ERROR.TXT file (if avail) so we can try to duplicate it. Registration Form DiskMate Registration - Trial Version... @ $ 5.00 ea $ ______ DiskMate Registration - Limited Version. @ $ 7.00 ea $ ______ DiskMate Registration - Full Version.... @ $15.00 ea $ ______ Subtotal $ ______ Michigan Residents please add Sales Tax ..... @ 4% $ ______ Total (U.S. Funds) $ ______ drawn on U.S. Bank Name _____________________________________________________ or Company Name Address _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Phone: __________________ C/Serve ID: _________________ I acquired DiskMate v1.0 from [ ] - Friend [ ] - Computer Club [ ] - Data Base Service [ ] - Electronic BBS [ ] - Other - Please Specify [ ] - CompuServe ________________________________ We would also appreciate any input you would care to give concerning DiskMate. If you have any ideas or comments that would make DiskMate a better program, then please let us know. We value your comments!