
            File-Ex (tm) version 2.1 for Windows 3.1x
 ---------------------------------------------------------------
   Copyright 1996  by Cottonwood Software  All Rights Reserved


Thank you for trying File-Ex!

File-Ex adds file management functions like Find, Copy, Delete, 
Rename, and MakeDir to the Open and Save dialogs of Windows
applications automatically. File-Ex also enlarges file dialogs
to any size desired, and adds Recent and Favorite file/directory 
lists.

If you have just installed File-Ex and are reading this from 
the Notepad program, try it out now by selecting File from the 
menu, then Open.  You should see buttons and the 'Recent...' 
and 'Favorite...' lists at the bottom of the Open dialog,
and the dialog should be larger (taller) to allow more files
to be listed. (The default is still fairly small -- it can be 
as large as the screen if you like.)
  
If you need help, click the 'File-Ex' button, and then the 
Help button from that dialog.  

File-Ex runs as an icon in Windows 3.1 -- you should see
a File-Ex icon at the bottom of your screen (possilby covered
up by the Program Manager or another program).  Click on this
for the main menu, or double-click on it to bring
up a dialog with configuration, help, & option functions.

                            Enjoy!

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                    SOME IMPORTANT NOTES

There will be cases where File-Ex causes problems with a dialog,
particularly in the placement of special controls added by an 
application, due to File-Ex resizing and enhancing the dialog.
Such issues are unavoidable due to the wide variety of program
designs, but there is a way to work around most problems.

To fix this (and other problems, including possible fatal errors),
you should be familiar with disabling File-Ex functions for specific
application dialogs.  Please refer to the Help file for details.

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              ** BONUS FREEWARE PROGRAM INCLUDED **

Our freeware program "Delayer" is also included with this package.

While Delayer can be used for other purposes as you like, it was
included here to combat a problem caused by some programs that
prevent File-Ex from working.  This problem happens when some 
other programs (such as Excite's "Direct" program) run after or
at the same time as File-Ex, typically during Windows start-up.

Please see the "Troubleshooting" section of the Help file for
notes about using Delayer.

Also see the Delayer help and text files for more information.

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Readme.txt Contents:
--------------------
  File Packing List
  System Requirements
  Installation
  About the Evaluation Period
  Giving Copies to Friends -- (Please Do!)
  Support
  Ordering
  Site licenses & multiple-user pricing
  Troubleshooting
  Un-installing File-Ex
  ASP Ombudsman statement
  Warranty & License info
  Distribution by Vendors, BBS's, etc.


File Packing List
-----------------

These files should be included in this distribution set.  
If any are missing, please contact Cottonwood Software or your 
distributor for a complete set.  (You can download the latest 
version from Compuserve or our Web page -- see the Support 
section)

  README.TXT    This file
  SETUP.EXE     Installation program
  REMOVE.EXE    Removal (un-install) program
  FILEEX.EXE    Main program (please run Setup before using!)
  FXHOOK.DL_    Part of the main program
  COMMEX.DL_    "CommEx" portion
  FXCOMN.DL_    File-Ex common functions
  FILEEX.HLP    Help file
  FILEEX.DAT    Data file for 'trained' not-so-common dialogs
  FILEEX20.BIN  Registration file (purchased version only)
  REVISION.TXT  Program revision history
  ORDER.TXT     Text form for ordering File-Ex (trial version only)
  FILE_ID.DIZ   Short description file (trial version only)
  VENDINFO.DIZ  Vendor info (trial version only)
  DELAYER.EXE   Delayer utility program
  DELAYER.HLP   Help file for Delayer
  DELAYER.TXT   'readme' text file for Delayer

System Requirements
-------------------

File-Ex will work with Windows 3.1 or 3.11, including Windows
for Workgroups.


Windows 95 and NT users:
------------------------
Do NOT install this version of File-Ex if you run Windows 95 or NT!
Please contact us or see our web site for versions for these
operating systems.

Installation
------------

If you're not familiar with File-Ex, please read the
'Overview' section in the Help file after installation.


To install File-Ex, run SETUP.EXE from Windows:

1. From the Program Manager's  File menu, select Run...

2. In the Command Line box, type d:\path\SETUP, where 'd' is 
   the letter of the drive and 'path' is the directory where 
   the File-Ex files are.

   For example:
     C:\FILEEX\SETUP

3. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen.

4. After File-Ex installation is complete, it will need to 
   validate some files.  This will happen automatically the 
   first time File-Ex is invoked, so you don't need to do 
   anything special for this to happen.

5. If you're not familiar with File-Ex, open the Help file 
   and read through the Overview sections.


Technical information on installation
-------------------------------------
The installation procedure does the following:
 Copy appropriate files to the Program and Data directories.
 Add a File-Ex group with appropriate icons.
 Add File-Ex to the startup group.
 Verify that the operations succeeded.
 Run File-Ex if requested.
 Run notepad to display the readme.txt file if requested.

When File-Ex is actually invoked for the first time (through a
File/Open or File/Save command, or by automatically loading 
File-Ex), it validates the information files (fileex.hlp, 
readme.txt, order.txt).  This ensures that File-Ex cannot be 
modified and re-distributed with different company contact/order
information.


What files should be where, after installation
----------------------------------------------
These files should be in your File-Ex program directory :
  README.TXT
  FILEEX.EXE
  FXHOOK.DLL
  FXCOMN.DLL
  COMMEX.DLL
  FILEEX.HLP
  FILEEX20.BIN  (if it's a purchased copy)
  ORDER.TXT
  REVISION.TXT
  REMOVE.EXE
  DELAYER.EXE
  DELAYER.HLP
  DELAYER.TXT

The file FILEEX.DAT will be copied to the 'Data' directory.  
(This is usually the same as your Program directory, but may 
be different, for instance, in a network environment where the 
Program directory is shared.  The FILEEX.DAT file should be in
a place not shared by users, similar to INI files.)

These files are not copied anywhere, and are not needed by 
File-Ex after setup:
  SETUP.EXE
  FILE_ID.DIZ
  VENDINFO.DIZ

The files COMMEX.INI and FILEEX.INI will be created by the 
Setup program, and will be placed in the Windows directory.

The file FILEEX.LOG will be created in the Windows directory, 
and is useful for troubleshooting.  If everything works after 
installation, this may be deleted.



About the Evaluation Period
---------------------------

File-Ex is distributed as a shareware trial version.  This 
means that you are free to try it out for 30 days. It will 
be fully functional during that time, so you can try all of 
its functions.

After using it for 30 days (not necessarily calendar days, but
when it's been used on 30 different days), some of the functions
will be unavailable.  You will still be able to use the file 
management functions like Copy and Delete, but the recent/favorite
functions, dialog sizing, and some other features will not be 
available unless you register (purchase) the program.


Giving Copies to Friends -- (Please Do!)
----------------------------------------

Shareware works best when you 'share' it with other people!  If
you like this program, we would appreciate it if you spread it 
around.  Give copies to friends and co-workers, or even upload 
it to your favorite BBS.  

Please only distribute the original compressed (.ZIP) file that 
you received File-Ex in.  This is the only way to have the 
complete file set needed to install File-Ex, since the File-Ex 
directory after installation does not contain all of the 
necessary installation files.

  Note: If this is a purchased copy, please DON'T distribute 
  it!  The registered copy contains your registration key file,
  and giving this to someone else is illegal.  Please only 
  distribute the shareware trial version!


Support
-------

For support, contact Cottonwood Software by phone, fax, mail, or 
E-mail.  (E-mail is preferred, and will get a fast response.)

 Mail:           Cottonwood Software
                 P.O. Box 6546
                 Leawood, KS 66206-0546  USA
 Phone:          (913) 663-3022
 FAX:            (913) 663-3747
 Internet:       info@cottonwoodsw.com
 CompuServe:     75264,1630
 WW Web:         http://www.cottonwoodsw.com

In the U.K. contact:

  Mail:          The Thompson Partnership
                 Lion Buildings
                 Market Place
                 Uttoxeter
                 Staffs
                 ST14 8HZ
                 England

 Phone:          +44 (0) 1889 564601
 Fax:            +44 (0) 1889 563219
 Internet:       sales@ttp.co.uk
 CompuServe:     100530,2050


Please see the Help file for more information.


Ordering File-Ex
----------------

For complete ordernig information please see the text file ORDER.TXT,
or the File-Ex Help file.


Site licenses & multiple-user pricing
-------------------------------------

Please see the Help file for complete information.


Troubleshooting
---------------

Please see the Help file for complete information, but here
are some important notes about programs that File-Ex will
not work with:

File-Ex does not cooperate well with some other programs that 
do the same thing (modify the file dialogs).  If you have these,
then you should disable them when running File-Ex.  These include:
 - Instant File Access (don't load it at the same time)
 - Long File Names (some reported problems, but usually works)
 - Norton File Assist (disable it from the desktop options)
 - Q.E.D. (can't co-exist with File-Ex since it changes the common dialogs)

Some NetRoad versions prior to 1.41 will crash with File-Ex

If File-Ex does not seem to work when it's in the StartUp group,
but does work if you close it and re-start it, then there is 
probably some program in the StartUp group (or started from
WIN.INI) that is interfering.  Please see the Help file for more
informaion on using the Delayer program to fix this.  

If you discover other problems, please let us know.


Un-installing File-Ex
---------------------

If you encounter insurmountable problems, or just don't like 
the new functions that File-Ex provides, you may need to 
un-install it.  

A Remove program is provided for your convenience.  Its icon 
is installed in your File-Ex program group.  Please see the 
help file for more information on this.



ASP Ombudsman statement
-----------------------

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

Cottonwood Software is 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 USA 
49442-9427, Fax 616-788-2765, or send a CompuServe message via 
CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.


Warranty and license info
-------------------------
Complete Warranty and license information may be found in the
Help file, FILEEX.HLP.


Distribution by Vendors, BBS's, etc.
------------------------------------

Commercial vendors please refer to the VENDINFO.DIZ file for 
complete details.  If this file is not present, please contact
Cottonwood Software for a replacement copy.
