
        TrackDir - Directory Navigation Tracker v1.0
                              
                              
                        User's Guide
                              
                       March 16, 1995
                              
                              
                              
                Copyright (c) 1995 Ross Leidy
                              

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
                _______
           ____|__     |                (R)
        --|       |    |-------------------
          |   ____|__  |  Association of
          |  |       |_|  Shareware
          |__|   o   |    Professionals
        -----|   |   |---------------------
             |___|___|    MEMBER



Introduction

  Each time you restart your computer, TrackDir
  automatically sets the default drive and working
  directories to those that were active when the machine
  was last shut-down.  There are no special commands to
  issue before shutting down.  You just turn your computer
  off normally, and the next time you restart, you are
  right back where you left off.

  Here's how it works:  TrackDir monitors your movements as
  you switch from drive to drive and from directory to
  directory. Periodically, this information is saved to a
  file that is read the next time you restart your
  computer.  TrackDir automatically restores the current
  working directories and sets the default drive for you.
  The current directory on each of your drives (C:, D:,
  etc.) is now back to the same state it was in when you
  last shut-down.  You can pick up working just where you
  left off.

  For example, as you issue DOS commands like:

          C:\> D:
  and
          D:\> CD \MY\COOL\STUFF
  
  TrackDir notices and remembers the new drive and
  directory.  The next time you restart your  computer, you
  are placed back at drive `D:' in the directory
  `\MY\COOL\STUFF'.  You can pick-up where you left off.

System Requirements

  TrackDir has the following system requirements:

     * DOS 3.00 and above.

     * Approximately 1200 bytes of memory.  (The size of
       the program is greater than this, but only 1200
       bytes or so will remain in memory after
       installation.)

     * Up to 2Kb of disk space on drive C: to store the
       state file (C:\TRACKER.DAT).  (The file will
       normally be much smaller than this.)

Installation

  To begin using TrackDir, perform the following steps:

     * Create a directory on your hard disk to contain the
       TrackDir files and change to that directory.  For
       example:

          C:\> MD \TRACKDIR
          C:\> CD \TRACKDIR
          
     * Copy the TRAK10.ZIP file to the new directory and
       UnZip the TrackDir archive file.  For example:

          C:\TRACKDIR> PKUNZIP TRAK10.ZIP
          
     * Here are the files contained within the archive:

          TRACKDIR.COM - The TrackDir program
          TRACKDIR.DOC - User's Guide (Microsoft Word 2.0)
          TRACKDIR.TXT - User's Guide (ASCII text)
          TRACKDIR.REG - Registration form
          README.TXT   - Any last minute information
          FILD_ID.DIZ  - Description for BBS's
          SDN.ID       - Description for SDN BBS's
          
     * Edit your C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT file, go to the very end
       of the file and make a new line with the following
       addition:

          C:\TRACKDIR\TRACKDIR.COM
          
  
  That's all you need to do to start using TrackDir.  The
  next time you restart your computer, TrackDir will begin
  monitoring your movements between directories and drives.
  During times of inactivity, TrackDir will save
  information about your current state in the file
  C:\TRACKDIR.DAT.  Thereafter, each time you restart your
  computer, TrackDir reads this file and restores your
  default drive and current working directories.

Program Operation

  TrackDir monitors drive and directory changes on drives
  C:, D:, etc., up to the number of drives specified by the
  LASTDRIVE setting in your CONFIG.SYS file (if you don't
  have a LASTDRIVE statement, then DOS automatically uses
  E:).  TrackDir purposely does not monitor the floppy
  drives because by nature they are transient, and rarely
  is the same floppy in the drive at all times.  Also,
  there is a lag-time  involved when accessing floppy
  diskettes.

  TrackDir monitors only drives supported by real DOS
  device drivers (e.g., Hard Disks, CD-ROMs, Magneto-
  Optical, etc.).  Drives that are implemented by a
  redirector (e.g., Novell NetWare mapped drives) cannot be
  monitored.  The reason for this is that the internal DOS
  tables do not contain the information TrackDir needs for
  monitoring.  In general, TrackDir will only monitor
  drives physically located on your machine.
  TrackDir is a utility that you ordinarily install and
  forget.  It works in the background, consumes very little
  memory, and, apart from the initial banner, is non-
  intrusive.  However, even with such single-purpose
  utilities, there is a need for some command-line options.
  These are the command-line options supported by TrackDir:

          /Q or -Q  Quiet mode.  No startup banner
          displayed.
          /U or -U  Unload from memory.
          /H or -H  Help screen.  A mini User's Guide.
  
  TrackDir will allow itself to be installed only once, so
  invoking it multiple times will not consume any more
  memory.  This allows you to run TrackDir with the `Help'
  option after TrackDir has been installed.  Also, the
  `Help' option overrides the `Quiet' switch.  TrackDir
  assumes that if you ask for the help screen, that you
  really want to see it.

  When you run TrackDir, the screen output is divided into
  boxed sections.  This first section contains the startup
  banner, and the last section contains the installation
  status.  When the `Help' option is used, an additional
  section is inserted into the middle that contains the
  help text.  The boxed sections are to help categorize the
  output so that you can find what you are looking for
  quickly.

  Should you find it necessary to remove TrackDir from
  memory, simply invoke it again with the `Uninstall'
  switch.  This will cause the installed copy to remove
  itself from memory.  However, other TSRs that were loaded
  after TrackDir may make the uninstall impossible.  If
  this is the case, TrackDir will display an error message
  in the status section of the output.


Free Registration

  TrackDir is provided free of charge.  There is no
  registration fee for using this product.  Please feel
  free to pass it along to friends and colleagues (in its
  original form, please).  I request only an email
  notification that you are using TrackDir; preferably a
  completed copy of the TRACKDIR.REG file.  This will allow
  me to notify you as updates become available.  See the
  "Contacting the Author" section for the email address.

Source Code Available

  Fellow programmers may obtain a copy of the source code
  for TrackDir from the author for $12.95 US + shipping &
  handling.  The program is written entirely in assembly
  language (using Borland's assembler), is fully commented,
  and provides examples of programming techniques such as:

     * Capturing, replacing, and chaining interrupt
       handlers.

     * Using the versatile DOS Idle interrupt.

     * Short-circuiting a Critical Error handler (those
       "Abort, Retry, Ignore, Fail" messages).

     * Finding the DOS internal "List of Lists" and
       extracting information.

     * Examining the DOS array of Working Directory
       structures.

     * Reading  and processing the command line.

     * Reading and writing files.

  You may use the source to add additional features to
  TrackDir for your own use.  You may also use it entirely
  or partially in any shareware that you develop.  However,
  you may not resell the source code in any form.
  There are two ways to obtain a copy of the source code.
  You can mail payment in directly, or use CompuServe's
  online registration service.

  If mailing payment, simply:

     * Fill out the registration form (print a copy of
       TRACKDIR.REG).  Make sure to select either postal
       mail or email for delivery of the source code.

     * Enclose $12.95 US per copy plus applicable shipping
       & handling charges (cash, check, or money order
       drawn on a US bank), and

     * Mail it to:
          Ross Leidy
          1966 Staunton Road
          Cleveland Heights, OH  44118
          USA

     * The source code will be sent to you via the method
       of your choice.
  
  Alternatively, if you are a CompuServe subscriber,
  payment for the source code can be made while online.  To
  obtain source code via CompuServe,  login and then
  simply:

     * Type `GO SWREG'.  DOSCIM and WINCIM users can select
       `GO' from the `Services' menu or from the button-
       bar.

     * Follow the directions for registration.  When asked
       for TrackDir's Registration Database ID, enter 5102.

     * The source code will be sent to you promptly via
       CompuServe mail.

     * (Whenever possible, I request that after you have
       completed the SWREG process that you email me
       (75122,1275) a completed copy of the TRACKDIR.REG
       file to complete my records.)

  (NOTE:  Do NOT use the online registration you are just
  registering the executable version of TrackDir.  For the
  free registration, please send email as detailed above.)


Contacting the Author

  If you experience any problems with TrackDir, you can
  send me email at:

          From the internet:
          75122.1275@compuserve.com
          
          From CompuServe:
          75122,1275
   
  You can also send postal mail too:
          Ross Leidy
          1966 Staunton Road
          Cleveland Heights, OH  44118
          USA
   
  I do my best to fix all reported bugs as quickly as
  possible.  Bug reports should contain the version of
  TrackDir, version of DOS, the nature of the bug, and any
  other pertinent information.

  Also, anyone should feel free to drop me email if you
  have any questions or ideas for enhancements.


Where to Find TrackDir

  The best places to find the most current version of
  TrackDir are:

  * On the internet in the SimTel Software Repository and
     its mirror sites such as oak.oakland.edu.  The specific
     directory is SimTel/msdos/dirutil.

  * On CompuServe in the PCUTIL forum, DOS Utilities
     library.

  * On any BBS that receives files from the Shareware
     Distribution Network (SDN) Project.
  
  Look for a file in the form:
  
          TRAKxx.ZIP
  
  where the xx is the major/minor version number.  For
  example, TrackDir v1.0 would appear as:
  
          TRAK10.ZIP
  
  Although you may have found TrackDir at a different
  internet site or BBS, all new versions of TrackDir will
  be posted to these sites first.


Version History

   1.0 -     Initial release.


Distribution

  TrackDir may be copied and distributed freely, provided
  that all the original files are included.  All code and
  documentation must remain intact and unmodified. TrackDir
  may be included in Shareware CD-ROMs or other Shareware
  collections, provided that acquiring the collection does
  not remove the user's obligation to register the
  software.

Copyright

  This software is Copyright c1995 by Ross Leidy, all
  rights reserved.  TrackDir is a trademark of Ross Leidy.

Trademark References

  MS-DOS and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft
  Corp.

  CompuServe is a registered trademark of CompuServe, Inc.

  Novell and NetWare are registered trademarks of Novell,
  Inc.

  Borland is a registered trademark of Borland
  International, Inc.

Ombudsman

  This program is produced by a member of the Association
  of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure
  that the shareware principle works for you. If you are
  unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP
  member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able
  to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute
  or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide
  technical support for members' products.  Please write to
  the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442-
  9427 USA, FAX 616-788-2765 or send a CompuServe message
  via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.


Disclaimer
  THE  AUTHOR  DISCLAIMS  ALL WARRANTIES  RELATING  TO  THIS
  SOFTWARE,  WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING  BUT  NOT
  LIMITED  TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY  AND
  FITNESS  FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND ALL SUCH WARRANTIES
  ARE  EXPRESSLY AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMED.   NEITHER  THE
  AUTHOR  NOR  ANYONE  ELSE WHO HAS  BEEN  INVOLVED  IN  THE
  CREATION,  PRODUCTION, OR DELIVERY OF THIS SOFTWARE  SHALL
  BE  LIABLE  FOR ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL
  DAMAGES  ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO  USE  SUCH
  SOFTWARE  EVEN  IF  THE AUTHOR HAS  BEEN  ADVISED  OF  THE
  POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR CLAIMS.  IN NO EVENT  SHALL
  THE  AUTHOR'S  LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES EVER  EXCEED  THE
  PRICE   PAID   FOR  THE  LICENSE  TO  USE  THE   SOFTWARE,
  REGARDLESS  OF  THE FORM OF THE CLAIM.  THE  PERSON  USING
  THE  SOFTWARE  BEARS  ALL  RISK  AS  TO  THE  QUALITY  AND
  PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE.
  Some  states  do not allow the exclusion of the  limit  of
  liability for consequential or incidental damages, so  the
  above limitation may not apply to you.
  This  agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State
  of  Ohio and shall inure to the benefit of Ross Leidy  and
  any  successors, administrators, heirs and  assigns.   Any
  action  or proceeding brought by either party against  the
  other  arising  out of or related to this agreement  shall
  be  brought only in a STATE or FEDERAL COURT of  competent
  jurisdiction  located  in  Cuyahoga  County,  Ohio.    The
  parties  hereby  consent  to in personam  jurisdiction  of
  said courts.

