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ABOUT THIS PROGRAM --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name : RAMstore Version : 1.02 (04 Apr 1996) Purpose : Semi-permanent RAM disc Author : © Andrew Berry, 1996 Licence : Freeware. Please see conditions at the end of this file. RAMstore supports Interactive Help. PURPOSE --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The idea of this program is to provide a 'semi-permanent' RAM disc, the idea being that it is loaded in your boot sequence each time you use your computer. When loaded it will copy a specified directory from a permanent storage media (for instance hard disc) onto the RAM disc. This directory can then be accessed from the icon bar and used in the same way as the RAM disc. When the program is quit or you shutdown the computer the directory will be copied back onto the hard disc ready for re-loading next time you start up. In other words, it allows you to make use of the fast access time of the RAM disc, but with the advantage that your data will be automatically stored so your don't need to bother about transferring it when you've finished working. CREATING A STORAGE DIRECTORY --------------------------------------------------------------------------- When you first use RAMstore you will need to specify a storage directory. This is a directory on a permanent disc (ie hard disc) which is used to store the data which will be copied to RAM each time the program is run. Selecting 'Create...' from the 'Storage' submenu brings up a window with a blue folder on the left hand side. Enter a filename in the box below this icon and drag the folder to a directory viewer where you want the storage directory to be created. The filename will appear in the long white box but the directory will be created ONLY when your click on 'Create'. Selecting 'Cancel' will close the window without creating the storage directory. Once you have clicked on 'Create' the storage directory will be created and copied to RAM. The program is then ready for use as described in the later section, 'Once the storage directory has been set'. ALTERING THE STORAGE DIRECTORY --------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you decide to alter the position of the storage directory this must be done using the 'Alter...' option of the 'Storage' submenu. The pathname of the current storage directory is shown in the top left. Dragging the blue folder will specify the position of the new storage directory, as for creating a new one, and the pathname will appear in the lower long white box. Clicking on 'Alter' will cause the new storage directory to be created according to the two options which can be set from the top right of the window. 'Transfer contents' is used to copy the complete contents of the current storage directory to the new storage directory. This is turned on by default as you will usually want to copy the contents of the directory otherwise your data won't be available next time you use the program! 'Delete old' only applies when 'Transfer contents' is selected, and is used to remove the old storage directory after copying the contents to the new position. This is also on by default. DELETING THE STORAGE DIRECTORY --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The final option on the 'Storage' directory is 'Delete...'. This opens a window which shows the pathname of the current storage directory. Clicking on 'Delete' will remove the storage directory from the PERMANENT media, but will leave the RAM version alone. USING THE 'STORAGE' OPTIONS --------------------------------------------------------------------------- There is some flexibility when using the options on the 'Storage' menu. For instance, deleting the current storage directory will not delete the data which is on the RAM disc. If a new storage directory is then created, the RAM data will be copied to the new storage directory when the program is quit. If no storage directory is selected then clicking with either Select or Adjust on the icon bar will open the 'Create...' window to save you using the menu. Otherwise they behave as described below. ONCE THE STORAGE DIRECTORY HAS BEEN SET --------------------------------------------------------------------------- After a storage directory has been created the program is ready for general use. To be of any real use it should be loaded in the desktop boot file. A line such as the following should be inserted: Filer_Run ADFS::IDEDisc4.$.Utilities.!RAMstore Filer_Run should be replaced by Run on pre-RISC OS 3 machines. The program will not function correctly unless a RAM disc has been configured. This can be done by typing Configure RamFsSize 64K at the command line, replacing 64 with a size suitable for your expected use. If you attempt to start RAMstore when no RAM disc is present, the data will not be copied from the storage directory. However, the program will still load and the data can be transferred after a RAM disc has been created. See the section 'Backing up and Restoring' for details. USING THE PROGRAM --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once the storage directory has been selected and the appropriate line inserted in your boot file, the program will start up ready for use each time you use the computer. The RAMstore directory on the RAM disc can be accessed in two ways. 1) By opening the root directory of the RAM disc as usual and opening the RAMstore directory 2) By clicking on the RAMstore icon on the icon bar. The second method is recommended, as only the RAMstore directory is stored on permanent disc and data could be saved elsewhere on the RAM disc by accident if the first method is used. Although the RAMstore directory is opened using the RAMstore program, please remember that it is in fact just the RAM disc you are using. This program only provides a method of copying the data at the end of each session. Therefore, using this program is just as fast as using the RAM disc and the RAMstore directory can be used in the same way as any other. Data is only copied to disc at the end of each session, therefore providing a very fast and virtually transparent system. STORING THE DATA -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The data which is on the RAM disc is automatically transferred to disc when the user does any of the following: - Selects 'Quit' from the main menu - Quits from the task manager - Selects 'Exit' from the task manager menu - Shuts down using either the task manager menu or with Ctrl-Shift-F12 The first method is recommended because there is no possibility of data loss this way. Even if the data cannot be transferred to disc by the program it will still be available to copy manually - the program doesn't delete data in the RAM disc at any stage. If the user shuts down then the data is transferred OK unless a problem is encountered, in which case it will be lost. This is only a temporary problem and should be fixed for a future version. BACKING UP AND RESTORING --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The two remaining items on the main menu are as follows: Backup : Selecting this will cause the data in the RAMstore directory on the RAM disc to be copied to the storage dirctory. This is to enable a backup of the RAMstore directory to be made without quitting the program. Restore: This will only be available if a problem was encountered when the program started up. An obvious example is attempting to start the program when no RAM disc is present. The program will still start, and the data can be copied later after a RAM disc has been created by selecting 'Restore'. AUTOMATIC BACKUP --------------------------------------------------------------------------- This feature can be used as protection, just in case the computer crashes losing any data in the RAM disc. Selecting 'Options...' from the icon bar menu opens an options window, which currently has only one section. The automatic backup time is shown in the display icon and can be altered in 5 minute increments using the up and down arrows. Provided 'Backup every...' is selected, the data from the RAMstore directory on the RAM disc will be copied to permanent disc, in exactly the same way as if you had selected 'Backup' from the menu. This feature ensures that you don't forget to back up the data. If 'Confirm' is selected then you will be queried before backing up takes place. Clicking on 'OK' closes the window and implements the new options. Selecting 'Save' saves the options, which will be used next time the program is loaded. QUITTING THE PROGRAM --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 'Quit' option on the icon bar menu has a submenu containing two items. Selecting 'Backup' will backup the data and quit, and is equivalent to selecting 'Quit' in version 1.00. Selecting 'Discard' will quit without saving the data. This will rarely be needed, and confirmation is requested before the program will quit. Selecting 'Quit' from the icon bar menu has the same effect as selecting 'Backup' from it's submenu, and so the submenu need not be used unless the 'Discard' option is needed. HISTORY --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.00 (09 Apr 1995) : • The first version, fully working. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.01 (13 Aug 1995) : • Added options window • Automatic backup facility added • Can now quit without saving data, using the new Quit submenu • Clicking on 'Storage' on the icon bar menu now selects 'Create...' if selectable • Short filenames now displayed correctly in the windows --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.02 (04 Apr 1996) : • Quit.Backup on menu is now greyed out at the same time as Backup. • Updated templates • Added interactive help THINGS TO DO --------------------------------------------------------------------------- • Improve shutdown procedure so that the shutdown is halted if the data can't be saved. BUGS --------------------------------------------------------------------------- In case of any serious bugs which I am unaware of, you are advised to quit using the option on the main menu, as this eliminates ANY possibilty of data loss. If the program crashes at any stage you will be able to access the data manually from the directory on the RAM disc. DISTRIBUTION NOTES --------------------------------------------------------------------------- This program is Freeware, NOT public domain. This means that I retain the copyright but give everyone the right to distribute it by any means, as long as all files are supplied and I am fully credited. If you would like to include this program on a magazine cover disc then please contact me first to obtain the latest version. If you run a PD library and did not obtain this program from me, then you may like to write and I'll send you the latest versions of all my programs followed by regular updates as they become available. PLEASE NOTE --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Although this program has been fully tested, I (the author) cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage caused by the use or misuse of this program. It is used entirely at your own risk. CONTACT --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please write to me at the address below. I would be interested to hear if you have ideas for improving the program or have found any bugs. New versions of all my programs are always sent first to APDL and The Datafile or can be obtained by writing to the below address, enclosing either a cheque for £1.00 or a disc and return postage. The file !RAMstore.Docs.Others contains details of my other programs. Please write to: Andrew Berry 39 Lancaster Avenue Sandiacre Nottingham NG10 5GW --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
