        NetScan Version Build 1.15M
          for Windows 9x/NT/2000

             March 02, 2001



Description
-----------
This software is  Tang Yu Feng 1999-2001. Before using it, please read this
file and License.txt carefully.

NetScan is written to scan through a subset of the Network Neighborhood on the
Windows platform. You can specify a full scan, a partial scan by editing a
target list of workgroup names or computer names, or an IP range scan. All these
three modes support the option of an exclude list. You can locate some files
with reasonable speed in a huge pool of resources shared among the Intranet of
your company or school. Results might be published on a web server as a
snapshot of the Intranet for repeated queries.

NetScan is SHAREWARE. You may use this software during a test period of 30 days.
Following this test period of 30 days or less, if you find NetScan useful and
like to keep it, please register. Registration encourages further development
and good support.

It costs US$12.95 only to get a personal license. Registration involves
supplying an email address at which to receive update notifications. Free
upgrades will be offered for as long as possible to registered users. You are
not encouraged to transfer or publish the scanned result generated by NetScan if
you have acquired only a personal license. This is possible with a group
license, which is open to negotiation.

In this shareware version, there will be a registration notice displayed each
time you startup or shutdown NetScan. Besides this, there are no more any other
missing features.



Benefits of NetScan
-------------------
If you are using Windows and have your PC on a LAN, you might frequently share
interesting files with others and browse through the Network Neighborhood for
files shared by others. You have to explore one by one. Sometimes when you click
on a computer, your PC keeps busy for a while and lets you wait at the same
time, finally, it pops up an error message saying "this computer is not
accessible". A typical LAN disappointment. If you agree with me, NetScan might
be for you.

NetScan helps you know what is being shared in the Network Neighborhood, which
usually contains a substantial number of workgroups and computers. Manual
browsing will be a very time-consuming task and you have to bear with all kinds
of network problems at the same time. NetScan will take a snapshot of the
network and let you find files off-line. You then can go and fetch what you want
quickly.

If a group license is present, someone could share the scanned result among the
Intranet using a web server or the like, there is no need for everyone to scan
through the whole neighborhood to avoid congestion if there is any as long as
that copy of result can be updated regularly. Web publishing scripts using ASP
are included with NetScan.



Installation
------------
No need. You prefer? :) Do extract all the files to the same directory. Keep the
structure of the directory. Run Netscan.exe.



Uninstallation
--------------
No need. Just delete the entire folder.



What's New
----------
1.  Scanning speed is much improved.
2.  Indication of elapsed and estimated time is added.
3.  Scanning modes are updated to three: full scan mode, target list mode and IP
    range mode. Each mode supports the option of an exclude list.
4.  Editing of target list is added. Target list can be saved, loaded or parsed
    from host names mapped from IPs during last scanning with IP range mode.
5.  Progress indication for target list is added.
6.  Editing of exclude list is added. Exclude list can be saved, loaded or edit
    directly.
7.  Statistics of last scanning including information on non-authenticated
    targets, skipped targets due to ping timeout or manual forcing, non-existing
    targets and password-protected share folders are displayed to facilitate the
    editing of the exclude list.
8.  Reverse lookup of the workgroup that one machine belongs to is implemented.
9.  Two ping-first-before-connection options are included. Do-not-ping-first
    option is retained.
10. Option to skip current workgroup or computer is added. Whether to add
    skipped current workgroup or computer to the exclude list for the next scan
    can be decided.
11. No more missing features in this shareware version.
12. More categories are introduced when logging everything into the database,
    including "Text", "Compressed", "Script", "Coding", "MSAccess", "MSExcel",
    "MSPowerPoint", "MSVisio", "Executable".
13. Modified web publishing scripts.
14. Interface is changed slightly and various small fixes are done.



How to Use
----------
Step 1. Select the mode of scanning:
   (1) Full Mode -- to scan all visually available resources. Exclude list is
       optional.
   (2) Target List Mode -- to scan listed targets by specifying
       "GROUP1;\\COMA;\\COMB;GROUP2;", which is formed by editing the target
       list. Exclude list is optional.
   (3) IP Range Mode -- to scan an IP range by specifying "[192.68.100.0-
       192.68.105.255]". Exclude list is optional.

  *****Hint!*****
  Target list can be parsed from host names mapped from IPs during last scanning
  with IP range mode.

  Exclude list can be enabled and edited with help of statistics of last
  scanning.

  Both lists can be saved and loaded.


Step 2. Choose the logging styles:
   (1) Txt File -- to write results to a plain text file, which is potentially
       huge. You'd better use editors like UltraEdit to view it.
   (2) Access Mdb -- to write results to a database file, which can be viewed,
       queried, searched at offline.

  *****Hint!*****
  You may edit NetScan.mdb to customise your database query, report etc. Do NOT
  change the design of the tables. If you feel the tables are inefficient, email
  me.


Step 3. Set the scan-time single/multiple filter(s):
   (1) You may use wild card (? and *) for the single filter option.
   (2) For the multiple filter option, check relevant built-in ones or add
       customised ones.

  *****Notes!*****
  The customised entries are limited to 12.

  If single filter *.* is selected to record down everything, more categories
  are available if logging to a database, besides "Image", "Movie", Music".


Step 4. Press the "Scan" button!
   You may pause or resume as you like. Hide the application to the system tray
   for background scanning. You can skip one computer or one workgroup whenever
   you feel there is no need to scan that particular target.

  *****Notes!*****
  Option 1. Real-time status
  Upon checked, you will see status bar updating folders and files which are
  being scanned updated at real-time.

  Option 2: Admin mode
  Upon checked, you will be prompted to supply username and password and enter a
  list of compulsory share folders that will be scanned, which are usually
  hidden shares such as default C$ etc.

  Option 3: Ping first
  Upon checked, each computer will be pinged before the actual connection. In
  most cases, this will speed up the scanning. Two ping methods are available.
  Select anyone that can work.



Known Problems
--------------
Has been eliminated to my best knowledge.



About the Author
----------------
Tang Yu Feng. I wasn't educated to be a programmer while I was studying
electronics design, so if I wrote some lousy code, please forgive me. :)



Revision History
----------------
*****1.00A*****
1. NetScan has changed its license status to shareware. Your registration will
   be greatly appreciated.
2. Admin mode is added to allow administrators or owners to perform scanning
   with supplied username and password.
3. Hidden shares that end with $ can be scanned through admin mode.
4. Web publishing scripts are upgraded to present the NetScan results better.
5. Various other fixes and cleanup.


*****0.95P*****
1. The deadlock problem when trying to stop a scan of many single computers
   specified in the target list is fixed.
2. A simple command line program to parse "Hosts" file to NetScan target list is
   included. The "Hosts" file presently should be following a strict format as
   shown in Hosts.sam.
3. FAQ on how to scan a specific IP range in your Intranet using 2 is given.
4. A demonstration ASP script is included to help to present the NetScan result
   through a web server. This script is very simple and you might like to extend
   it using whatever other fancy techniques such XML and XSL.


*****0.95N*****
1. Scanning combination of several workgroups and/or computers can be performed.
2. Exclude list can be specified to bypass unnecessary workgroups or computers
   to save time.
3. Single filter mask using wild card (? and *) is added and optimised.
4. A multiple filter bug was fixed.
5. UI has been updated with clearer progress indicator and status report.
6. Option to disable real time detail status report is included to save time if
   possible.
7. When started, last scanning setting will be retrieved.
8. Several minor UI bugs have been fixed.
9. Workgroup "FULL" can now be scanned. :)!!!


*****0.90E*****
1. A few minor bugs have been eliminated, including "About..." from the tray, a
   very stupid one.
2. Version format has been changed.


*****0.8.02.1543*****
1. Re-scan illegal operation is fixed, you won't experience problems when you
   try to scan for a second time without exiting.
2. UI has been modified.


*****0.8.01.1053*****
1. Scan speed has been improved slightly.
2. Some unnecessary interactive exception handling has been removed.
3. This is developmental release.


*****0.7.03.1762*****
1. You can now take advantage of the newly Microsoft Jet database support to
   create a log .MDB database file.
2. Microsoft Access can be used to perform any query it. Sample queries were
   included in this release.
3. Progress indicator has been added.


*****0.7.00.1233*****
1. You can now scan a subset of the neighborhood by specifying workgroup or
   computer name.
2. It is limited to scan one workgroup or one computer at a time for partial
   scan.


*****0.7.00.1175*****
1. Scanning can be run background in the system tray.
2. You can pause and resume the scanning as you like.


*****0.7.00.1024*****
1. You need a log file ("C:\ScanOut.txt" by default) to record all the files
   found. This text file is potentially huge.
2. This is the first public beta release.



Company History
---------------
IUnknown Software is yet another tiny one doing software business.



Support Information
-------------------
We are committed to providing excellent support for our customers. We can be
reached for technical support via email at xiaoshi@pmail.ntu.edu.sg. Bug report,
feature suggestion and other feedback are welcome.



Contact Information
-------------------
URL   :  http://www.geocities.com/xiaoshiwind/
Email :  xiaoshi@pmail.ntu.edu.sg
ICQ   :  16328753
OICQ  :  12534565
Mail  :  Blk 553, #4-569, Upper Jurong Road, Singapore 638356



NetScan IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.
IUNKNOWN SOFTWARE OR TANG YU FENG DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY
AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL IUNKNOWN
SOFTWARE OR TANG YU FENG BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER
INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF
BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF IUNKNOWN SOFTWARE OR
TANG YU FENG HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.