
                             Files Manager  V3.3

                              by John Augustine

  FM (Files Manager) was written in assembly for Dos and Windows 95/98/etc.
(in part at this release) systems.  It doesn't need a large amount of memory
to operate (less than 500K).

  PLEASE NOTE:

  This is NOT a "free" program. See "CONCLUSION" near the end of this document
for details on making a small "donation" and becoming a "donor".

  Please read, "IMPROVE.TXT" for improvement information.

  FM PURPOSE:

  FM allows you to Copy, Move, Delete, Rename and Compare files to the same
located elsewhere, or View files (three modes) in a directory.  A search for
a text pattern in a file/s is available via View file/s.  FM can handle up
to 4,360 files per directory!  All functions, except Renamer, can process many
or all files in one pass.  Note: Viewing files, press Enter to view the next
file down.  Also, FM can duplicate a directory tree (structure) or disk.  The
disks do not have to be the same type (as for Dos's DISKCOPY).  Another
feature allows you to compare all files of a directory tree or disk to it's
duplicate.  Note: Renamer can also rename directories/folders.

  SPECIAL FEATURES:

1. FM can display files only, or both files and directores/folders.  Note:
Pressing the F8 key switches the mode.  All files and directories, including
hidden, read only, and system ("H", "R", "S"), will be displayed.  FM displays
the special attributes.

2. Files and directories can be displayed in alphabetical or unsorted order.

  IMPORTANT NOTE: If you rename a file or directory in a sorted display, the
new name will be relocated in the proper sorted position.

3. You can view any type of file (any size) in one of three modes, text
(default), hexadecimal, or filtered text (non text characters will be "spaced"
and binary 0s skipped).  Note: When you switch (F9) modes (while viewing a
file), the new display mode will start at the beginning of the file.  Pressing
Enter, while viewing a file, will move down to the next file.

  Search for a text pattern (V2.0 feature) is available via the file viewer.
Search mode options include, case sensitive or insensitive, "wildcard" (ex.
"02-**-00"), and "exclusive", which helps you find exactly what you want (ex.
"ram" and not "frame").  NOTE: You can browse without losing sight of
highlighted (matched) pattern/s.

4. The file's time and date display (file in "slot") includes the hidden
seconds display (each number x 2 = seconds).  Note: Some programs use the
hidden seconds to hide a marker.  Note: One feature in a program called
"Files Time and Date" ("FILE_TD") allows you to set a hidden marker (seconds).

5. COMPARE FILES TO THE SAME IN ANOTHER LOCATION:

  "Compare Files to the same in other location" simply means that a file/s can
be compared to the same (with same filename) in another location such as
another directory or drive.  This feature is very useful if you have a backup
of files (such as Windows and System), and want to see what files have
changed.  NOTE: It is normal for some files to change, but not .EXE files,
unless an upgrade was made.  NOTE: For every rule there is an exception, and I
remember that one .EXE file in the Dos (V6.2) directory changes normally
because it "upgrades" itself.  Also, this feature is useful for your peace-of-
mind, when it is important that you confirm a file/s, copied to a backup disk,
is exactly the same.

  F6 FEATURES (F5 OPTIONS) (V1.6):

  The first F6 feature allows you to create a report file (a list) by pressing
F6 instead of F5.  If a mismatch or "not there" occurs, the report file will
be created, listing one or more filenames, it's special attribute/s (if it has
any), and the reason.

  With FM V1.7 two additional options were added which allows you to keep
markers of files that are not "there" or mismatched.  With FM V1.8, another
option was added to keep markers of files that matched.  The "keep markers"
option may be useful in a situation where you may want to perform another
action on those files that match or don't match or are not "there", or
simply see them without creating a report file.

  With FM V3.2, another feature was added that allows you to see what files
you have marked "here" (current directory) are missing (if) in "there" (other
location), without actually comparing any files.  This is a quick way to check
if any files are missing in a backup (example).

6. FM's RENAMER:

  FM's rename a file or directory feature allows you to rename a file's (or
directory) basename and keep the same extension simply by entering a new
basename.  Note: If you type a period after the basename, without typing an
extension, the extension will be erased.

7. SPECIFY WHICH FILES TO DISPLAY (via F7) OPTION (V1.9 feature):

  This option allows you to specify (examples) "*.HTM", "*.TXT", "D*.*",
"*.INI", "*.EXE", etc. files to be displayed only.  This feature is very
useful when you have a variety of different file types present, and you are
only interested in a specific type.  If you wanted to view or compare (to the
same elsewhere) all the "*.INI" files, using this feature makes it easy.
Tip: Simply "Mark" (Shift and F1) all files since they ("specified") will be
the only ones displayed.

  Also, specify which files to display relative to date (V2.3 feature) was
added to the F7 options.  This allows you to display all files of a specific
date, before a specific date, or after a specific date.  This will make it
easier to perform an action (Copy, Delete, Move, View, etc.) on those files by
"filtering out" (won't be displayed) all the other files.

8. KEEP MARKERS (MARKED FILES) AFTER A COPY OR COMPARE ACTION (OPTION):

   This new V1.9 feature saves you the trouble of remarking the same files
after you perform a Copy or Compare action.  NOTE: Other "keep marked files
marked" options (F6) for Comparing files is different than this.

   This feature is useful if you want to copy a group of files (Marked)
to more than one destination, or if you want to copy a group of files, then
compare them to verify that the files are the same (good copy).

   Also, this feature is useful if you want to compare the same group of files
(marked) to more than one destination.

9. Duplicate a Directory "Tree" (Structure) or Disk (V2.1/.2):

  FM will copy a complete (all files and all sub-directories including those
with special attributes such as hidden, system, etc.) directory "tree".  The
attributes in the duplicate will be the same as the source. One exception
(option), if you want to duplicate a tree of directories. You simply enter the
name ("destination") of the tree (or disk drive) to be created, and hold down
the Ctrl key when you press Enter. The tree (or disk) will contain a
"duplicate" directories structure, but without any files.  Note: All
sub-directories will be at the top of each directory in the destination
(duplicate) and the files will be below in the same order as the source.  The
only exception is the root directory ("disk duplication") since it already
exists in the destination.  One thing FM will not copy are long filenames, but
"Tree Restore" (FREE to "donors", view "OTH-PGMS.TXT") solves that problem.

  You can duplicate a disk (V2.2 feature) and the disks do not have to be the
same type.  Example, you can copy a 5.25 disk to a 3.5 disk.  NOTE: Dos's
"DISK COPY" copies track to track (both disks must be the same type).
IMPORTANT NOTE: "Disk duplication" does not copy every part of a disk as
does Dos's "DISK COPY".  MBR and/or boot, FAT, and the root directory are not
copied.  It copies all the directories/sub-directories and all files,
including files in the root directory.

  IMPORTANT NOTES regarding "Disk Copy" or "Duplication": -----------------

  When you are at the root directory of a disk/drive, and enter a destination
disk/drive (ex. "D:" or "D:\") only, you can consider this a "disk
duplication".  Of course the destination disk should be empty, except for
system files if the disk is "bootable".

  If you formatted a disk (example new HD (Hard Disk/Drive) with the /S switch
(transfer system files), and you "disk duplicate", there will be a few files
(system) that already exists in the destination (root).  During the
duplication process, you will see a prompt that the file(s) exists, just skip
replacing those files (system files).  Afterwards, everything else
(directories/sub-directories and all files, including other files in the root)
will be copied to the destination. NOTE: Using this feature in FM, I copied
old HD contents to a new larger capacity HD, which I installed without any
problems.

  "ERROR #1" message means NOT ALLOWED:

  1. You were in a directory/sub-directory and tried to copy a tree to a root
directory of the same disk/drive or another disk/drive.

  2. You are at the root directory and tried to copy the "disk" to a sub-
directory in the same disk or another drive/disk.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

10. Copy File's Attributes too Option (F1 Copy function) (V2.1):

  There may be times when you use the Copy (F1) function to copy a file/s and
would like files with special attributes (hidden, read only, system) to
have those same attributes in the destination.  This option is now available.

11. Compare a Directory Tree or Disk (V2.2):

  With this feature, you can compare a directory tree or disk to it's
duplicate to make sure that all files are identical.  If you use FM's
Tree/Disk copy function to copy all files and directories from an old HD to a
new HD (example), this function will allow you to confirm that all files are
exactly the same.  FM compares every file in the source to those in the
destination (duplicate) byte to byte.  If you have Windows 95/98, I recommend
doing this in real Dos (without launching Windows).  NOTE: For Comparing
files, it should not matter if some files have long filenames.

  Missing (in duplicate) or mis-matched files will be logged in a report file.
The report file will contain the path/directory(s) and the names of the files
involved.

  IMPORTANT NOTE:

  If a directory/sub-directory is missing in the destination (does not exist
or no longer exists in the duplicate), the tree/disk compare will abort
(you'll be notified).  This can happen if you add a new directory in the
source without adding the same in the duplicate, or if you remove a directory
in the duplicate without removing the same in the source.  There is one
exception to an abort taking place, if the directory/sub-directory in the
source contains no files, and this directory doesn't exist in the duplicate.

  Getting Started:

  Copy "FM.EXE" and/or "FMS.EXE" to the "COMMAND" sub-directory/folder in the
"WINDOWS" directory, if you have Windows 95/98.  If you have Windows 3.1 or
only Dos, put it/them in the "DOS" directory.  Note: Doing this has the effect
of adding a new Dos command/utility, which you can launch from any directory
or drive.  Once you have done this, simply type "FM" (without quotes)
and press Enter, whenever and wherever you need to "manage" files.

  NOTE: "FMS.EXE (Sorted) is exactly the same as "FM.EXE" except it initially
defaults to displaying the files in alphabetical order (changeable within).
If you usually prefer to see files displayed in alphabetical order, I suggest
you rename "FM.EXE" to "FMU.EXE" (Unsorted) and "FMS.EXE" to "FM.EXE" to
reduce a keystroke.

  LAUNCHING FM (3 ways):

  Type (without quotes) "FM" and press Enter.

  OR (V2.4 feature)

  Type "FM FM.TXT" to go immediately to a specific file (example "FM.TXT") or
type "FM FM" (partial) to go to the first file that starts with "FM".

  OR (V2.4 feature)

  Type "FM *.TXT" (example) to display all .TXT files immediately.

  DUPLICATING A TREE NOTES:

  If you are duplicating a tree (ex. "WINDOWS") in the same drive, the
duplicate "parent" ("WINDOWS") can not have the same name in the same
directory (ex. root directory).  I suggest "WIN-BU" (ex.).  Note: All sub-
directories ("children") will have the same name as the source.  TIP: If a
problem occurs with your Windows OS, enter real Dos at startup and rename
"WINDOWS" to "WIN-ORIG" (ex.) and rename "WIN-BU" to "WINDOWS".  NOTE: I've
done this several times.

  The "parent" (starting point) is the directory you are in when you launch
FM or the directory you go to (browse).

  MISC. NOTES:

  FM expands (displays) the "unseen" destination in the event you left a sub-
directory in a drive, (example) C:\DOS, and entered (example) A: drive/disk.
If you Copy, Compare, Move a file/s from A: to C: (you typed "C:" for the
destination), FM will expand the destination to show you exactly where the
file/s is going (example, C:\DOS).  NOTE: If you type "C:\" (Root) or
"C:\WINDOWS" for the destination, this will override the Path (C:\DOS) you
left for the one you specify.

  If a directory has more than 4,360 files (are you kidding!), those files
beyond 4,360 will not be included (accessible) in FM.

  If you press Alt and F1 or F5 to keep marked files marked when there are no
marked files, the command will be ignored (nothing happens).

  CONCLUSION:

  This is NOT a "free" program.  A one time donation is expected.  You choose
the amount ($5.00 minimum).  For your donation, you will become a "donor".
Your name, etc. will be added to the "donors" list.  As a "donor" (one time
donation), you can select (ask for) one or more programs to receive FREE such
as "Tree Restore", etc.  See (use "VIEW-DOC") "OTH-PGMS.TXT" for information
about other programs.  Please include your e-mail address with your donation,
and the name/s of the other program/s you want (if any).  I will tell you in
the email message about the attachment (programs.zip) so you know it is safe
to open.  As a "donor", you will be entitled to receive all improved and new
programs (at your request) developed in the future (sent to you by e-mail).
As a "donor", you may request (from time to time) the latest list of programs
from which you can select to receive FREE.  If you know another shareware
author with a better offer, please let me know.

  The donation will motivate me to develop more programs and make improvements
in existing programs (add new features).

  Comments or complaints are always welcomed via email.  If you use "snail
mail" and expect a reply, please include a S.A.S.E.

  If you are overseas, the local bank charges a $10.00 service fee for checks
outside of U.S. I recommend that you send U.S. cash instead.

  Send $5.00 (or more) check, money order, or cash (put in foil for security)
to:

                     John Augustine N3AOF
                     3129 Earl St.
                     Laureldale, Pa 19605

            E-Mail:  jaugust@bellatlantic.net

