CATALOG (Version 1.2) The Directory Table of Contents (DOS DIR Enhancement) The SoftTouch Copyright 1987 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction......................................03 User's Rights to Copy.............................04 Installation......................................05 Main Windows and Main Menu........................06 - Editing File Descriptions.....................06 - Print Control.................................07 - Changing Displays.............................07 - File Display..................................07 - System Status.................................08 - Configuring to Your Needs.....................08 - Tools.........................................08 - Quit..........................................08 INTRODUCTION When the DOS DIRectory command was designed, it was set up assuming diskette use, a small number of files, and only gave you the "bare bones". It was not designed to give you information about your hard disk (or diskette) directories which would be, if not vital, extremely helpful. Information of this type would be: the creation date of a file (not just the last modified date), and the ability to add a description to a file. Certain packages actually give you this kind of information about the files in which "they" are interested. However, from the viewpoint of all files in all directories this is not done. CATALOG, developed by The SoftTouch, gives you this type of information. CATALOG gives you all of the standard DOS DIR information, as well as the date a file was first created. It also allows you to enter/edit a description of each file. USER'S RIGHTS TO COPY As a PC User you have the right to copy, without charge, CATALOG. If you are a corporation or business, a donation of $30 is suggested to enable The SoftTouch to continue to develop quality products. Given the above clause, you are free to copy and distribute this package provided: - This program is not distributed in modified form - No fee or consideration is charged for copies - The Userware/Freeware notice is not bypassed - You believe in the Userware/Freeware concept - The minimum files which must be distributed are: CATALOG.EXE CATALOG.DOC CATINIT.COM If you wish to make a contribution mail it to: The SoftTouch c/o Bob Patten 7922 Corder Drive Charlotte, NC 28212 If you encounter problems, wish to suggest enhancements, or wish to obtain a list of other software available from The SoftTouch, please feel free to write. I will be glad to hear from you. I will be actively supporting any SoftTouch product on the following Bulletin Boards: The BOSS (201) 568-7293 Software Society (201) 729-7410 If you wish to contact me (other than writing) please leave a message on either board. The SoftTouch in no way accepts responsibility for your use, misuse, or inability to use this or any other SoftTouch package. Regardless of contribution, enjoy and use CATALOG. It will make your life a lot easier. INSTALLATION To install CATALOG simply copy files mentioned in the "User's Right to Copy" section. CATALOG can print file information directly to the printer or create a CATALOG.LST/CATALOG.DAT file at your request. If you do chose to send the output to a file, this file can be considered temporary and can be deleted after you print/use it. MAIN SCREEN DISPLAY and MAIN MENU CATALOG is designed with the concept of user "friendliness". The main screen is composed of several different windows. All parts of the CATALOG package work together through the use of these windows. In this way, learning time of the system is minimized. The initial screen will display a window at the top. This window is the main menu. Here you will instruct CATALOG how to respond. The main menu contains the following options (note: please see the corresponding sections for more details): EDIT - edit descriptions of each file PRINT - choose one of several printing options SWAP - change to the secondary display FILES - choose how to organize your files STATUS - display several statistics about your system SETUP - configure CATALOG to your needs TOOLS - select a special tool needed QUIT - terminate current session To choose an option simply move the cursor around the menu, positioning it in front of the option you need, and press enter. Note: ESC will take you back a single menu, screen, or display. The editing window (large center window) is used to display the file information and allow you to edit the description. You enter the editing window through the EDIT main menu option. The last two windows displayed at the bottom of the screen are used to inform you of any error or status messages and display the current version and copyright information. EDITING FILE DESCRIPTIONS In order to add (edit) descriptions to your files use the EDIT option. This option will place you in the editing window (window containing files and other information). Use the cursor keys (or page keys) to scroll up and down the window. To choose a file to modify, place the cursor in front of the file name and press ENTER or TAB. CATALOG gives you standard editing capabilities (ie: insertion, deletion, backspace, etc.) as well as ESC to terminate changes, HOME to return to the first character, and END to erase to the right. You have complete control of the file description which is 40 characters long. To store your changes press ENTER. PRINT CONTROL CATALOG gives you the ability to control how (and if) you want printouts. Upon selecting the PRINT option, CATALOG will display a sub-menu which contains the following options: Print All - print the entire set of information contained within CATALOG. Print Main - print the main components; file name, extension, type, and description. Print to File - Print the entire set to a printable file. (ie: CATALOG.LST) Print as Data - Print the entire set as a data file. (ie: CATALOG.DAT) You control the print options and if a printout is to be produced, all with the PRINT option. CHANGING DISPLAYS CATALOG contains more information than is possible to display on a single screen. Therefore, CATALOG sets up two displays. The first or primary screen displays the file name, extension, type, and description. The second displays the file name, extension, size, last modified date and time, and the creation date. You can toggle from one display to another by using the SWAP option. The file name, extension, and last modified date and time are obtained from DOS. The remaining information is controlled and maintained by CATALOG. The file type is a table look-up from over 200 different types, matched by file extension. While this table is extensive (from The SoftTouch experience, books, journals, and other sources) it is not to be considered complete or exact. The description is entered by you and maintained through CATALOG. Since the description is not part of the DOS file information (FCB), if the file is moved the information is basically lost. (The information is static for each directory). Finally, the creation date is obtained from DOS; however, it is actually the date of the file the first time it was recognized by CATALOG. Please note: that it is The SoftTouch's plan to enable you to move the description and creation date to another directory and allow you to modify the file type even if your system uses a completely different scheme. FILE DISPLAY CATALOG gives you two ways to organize your files using the option FILES. You can sort the files by file name or by file extension. This gives you the ability to look at files with similar names or types. Upon selecting the FILES option, CATALOG will display a submenu allowing you to SORT BY NAME or SORT BY TYPE. Choosing one (moving the cursor and pressing enter) will automatically redisplay the files in the requested order. SYSTEM STATUS The option STATUS will display a general set of informative statistics about your system, directory and files. Some of the information contained in this selection is as follows: date, time, number of sub-directories, number of files, disk space used, disk space free, ROM date, computer type, etc. To exit this display press any key. CONFIGURING TO YOUR NEEDS The SETUP option is used to configure your version of CATALOG to your needs. Currently there is only a single option; making a backup copy of the catalog information. However, plans are being made to add the ability to move file descriptions/creation dates, change print page size/layout, and modify file types to match your system scheme. TOOLS At times you are in need of certain TOOLS which can make life easier. CATALOG gives you several tools to help. Sub-options are the ability to change directories, call DOS as a subtask and display on-line help. QUIT The final option is the ability to terminate the current session. This will automatically save your catalog and exit to DOS.