DirX-Directory of eXecutables, Version 1.10 29-Jun-93 Shell for detecting files compressed by several executable file compressors. Calls on user-selectable external programs to transparently compress and uncompress files from within the program. Currently supported are AXE, DIET, EXEPACK, ICE, LEXEM, LZEXE, PKLITE, SCRNCH, SHRINK and TINYPROG. Contents: ========= Purpose Display Syntax Switches Configuration Commands Pull-down menus Purpose: ======== To show which .EXE and .COM files have and have not been compressed by one of the supported executable file compressors and to allow for transparent compression and uncompression of individual and groups of files by user-selectable compress and uncompress commands. DirX is a free program (freeware). Display: ======== When the program is started, two windows pop up displaying any compressed files and/or directories on the left and any non-compressed files on the right. The window on the left is slightly wider to allow an abbreviated three-character identifier to precede each filename - currently "axe", "die", "epk", "ice", "lex", "lze", "pkl", "scr", "shr" or "tny" for files compressed by AXE, DIET, EXEPACK, ICE, LEXEM, LZEXE, PKLITE, SCRNCH, SHRINK and TINYPROG, respectively. In addition to the file name, and type in the compressed window, the default display also shows the file size, date and time for each file. Using the "Toggle" command, the current window can be set to show any special characteristics ("Special"), file attributes ("Attr"), the probable correct extension for the file name if it has been misnamed ("Mis") and which version of the compressor was used in the case of DIET, LZEXE, PKLITE and TINYPROG files. Please note that as DIET, at least up until version 1.44, does not explicitly store the version number, any version number greater than 1.00 can only be interpreted in the "greater than or equal to" sense. Thus a reading of "1.01" means that a version of DIET equal to 1.01, or higher, was used to compress a file. Files compressed with PKLITE Professional's extra-compression option have an 'e' appended to the version number. Special characteristics displayed using the Toggle command are as follows: For the Compressed window, "dat" for "data" files (non-executables) compressed with DIET. For the Uncompressed window, "ovl" for possible executables containing overlays, "win" for Windows/OS2 executables and "lhi" for LoadHi executables. The program displays either in color or "black-and-white" based on the video mode at program start-up. However, if the user has a color graphics card, but no color monitor, the display may be improved by using the DOS command "MODE BW80". Conversely, color mode may be forced on by using "MODE CO80". A command-line switch is also available to force black-and-white mode (see "Switches"). EGA/43- and VGA/50-line modes are supported. At program start-up, an attempt is made to detect the actual number of lines on the screen, up to a maximum of 50, and to adjust the display accordingly. Syntax: ======= Usage: DIRX [switches] [filespec] In the above syntax, if no argument follows the program name, the current default directory is searched, which is equivalent to "DIRX *.*". If no file extension is specified, all extensions are searched. Switches: ========= /A display Alternate info for both windows at start-up. Simpler than selecting each window in turn from within the program and using the Toggle command twice. /BW Black-and-White mode. Provided as an alternative to using DOS's "MODE BW80" command. Either '/' or '-' may be used to specify switches. Entering an invalid switch causes the program to display a brief help screen then exit. Examples: DIRX /h DIRX -? Configuration: ============== An optional configuration file containing user-selected default switches may be created or edited with any editor or word processor which can save pure ASCII text files. This file should be named "DIRX.CFG" and placed in the same directory from which DIRX.EXE will be loaded (DOS 3.0 and above). Switches, including switch options, may be separated by spaces or placed on separate lines. In addition to specifying "true" switches, DIRX.CFG should also contain lines assigning which commands to use for compressing and uncompressing files of the appropriate type. Although the syntax of DIRX.CFG allows for uncompress commands for any of the supported formats, the related decompressor for a particular type may not exist at the present time. The syntax for specifying the *single* compress command is: /C="command" Where: "command" should be set to the command line, including arguments, of the compress command you wish to run. "command" would typically include both the "%f" and "%e" format specifiers, which represent the filename and extension, respectively, of the selected file. If "filename.ext" is a target file, then %f represents the "filename" portion of the complete filename, and %e represents the ".ext" part. Examples: /C="PKLITE %f%e" /C="AXE %f%e -n" /C="EXEPACK %f%e %f.EPK" If DIRX.CFG contains more than one line with the correct syntax for specifying the compress command, the last one encountered before end of file will be used. The default command for specifying the method of compression may be temporarily overridden from within the program. More about this later in the "Commands" section. The syntax for specifying the uncompress commands is: /U="command" Where: is "axe", "die", "epk", "ice", "lex", "lze", "pkl", "scr", "shr" or "tny" for files compressed with AXE, DIET, EXEPACK, ICE, LEXEM, LZEXE, PKLITE, SCRNCH, SHRINK or TINYPROG, respectively. "command" would be formed similarly to specifying the compress command. Examples: /Upkl="PKLITE %f%e -x" /Udie="DIET -ra %f%e" /Uepk="UPACKEXE %f%e" If DIRX.CFG contains more than one line with the correct syntax for specifying the uncompress command for the related type of compressed file, the last one encountered before end of file will be used. True switches should be placed on separate lines from those assigning commands. A sample DIRX.CFG file is included in the distribution archive for DirX, which the user may edit to "customize" DirX's behavior. Commands: ========= The current or active window is the one with the solid frame. Within the active window, , , , , and may be used to navigate. The and right/left arrow keys will toggle the active window between the left and right panels. If any directories are displayed in the left (Compressed) window, moving the file selection bar (highlight) over that directory and pressing will change the directory being viewed. The file lists will be updated automatically. Two shortcut keys are available for navigating directories while in the Compressed window: "Ctrl \" changes the current directory to the root directory - similar to "CD \" at the DOS level. "Ctrl " changes the current directory to the parent directory - similar to "CD .." from DOS. To change the current default drive from within the program, use either "Alt " or "Alt ". A window indicating valid drives will pop up, allowing the user to select another drive by moving the highlight with the left and right arrow keys, then pressing to select the new drive. As an alternative, you may also type the letter of the drive. Press to leave the default drive unchanged. The drive changing feature is only valid when using versions of DOS numbered 3.0 or higher. Pressing or the letter 'H' will display a brief help screen summarizing commonly used commands. Press any key to close the help window. Pressing or the letter 'D' will turn Directories-only mode on. To turn Directories-only mode off, press or 'D' a second time. (This feature was added by user request to speed up navigation on a relatively slow machine.) Pressing or the letter 'T' will toggle the active window's display to show additional information on the files being displayed, as previously described in the "Displayed data" section above. Pressing or the letter 'M' when no files have been selected will cause the Move command to act on the currently highlighted file. If any files have been selected, the Move command acts on the selected files. If the Move command is given while in the "Compressed" window, the uncompress command is executed for each selected file. If the Move command is given while in the "Uncompressed" window, the compress command is executed for each selected file. Pressing "Alt " or "Alt M" from either the Compressed or Uncompressed window will open an input window which will allow the user to temporarily "Alter", or override, the method of compression currently defined in DIRX.CFG, on the fly, from within DirX. For compressing and uncompressing to work, the appropriate commands should either be available in a directory included in the PATH environment variable, or in the current directory. Files may be tagged either individually or by wildcard selection. The key may be used as a toggle to select and unselect individual files. Pressing on an unselected file selects it. Pressing on a selected file unselects it. To select a group of files using DOS-type wildcards, press the plus ('+') key. This opens up an input window into which a file specification may be entered. To unselect a group of files, press the minus ('-'). This opens up an input window similar to the one for selection. The suggested keys are the gray plus and minus keys found near the numeric keypad of many keyboards. Pressing or the letter 'S' will open an input window for the user to enter a file specification to search for within the current window. If wildcards are used, and the Search command is repeatedly invoked without changing the search specification, the program will cycle through all matching file names. Pressing or the letter 'P' or '/' will invoke the pull-down menu system. Pressing , or the letter 'Q' will exit the program. Pull-down menus: ================ The pull-down menu system duplicates in functionality many of the commands already described in the Commands section. The purpose of this menu system is to de-emphasize the use of function keys and cryptic Alt- and Ctrl-key sequences when adding new commands in the future. The Move command, invoked by function key, is replaced by two separate commands in the pull-down menu system. These are the "Compress" and "Uncompress" options, listed under the "File" submenu. For the Uncompress menu option to work, the Compressed window must be the current one. This option is equivalent to using the Move command while in the Compressed window. The Compress menu option, depending on which window is active, can act on files in *either* the Compressed or Uncompressed windows. The purpose of allowing the user to *attempt to* compress already compressed files (available from the command line anyway) is to facilitate experimentation on the effects of compression by a variety of methods - compressing files already compressed with EXEPACK, for example. -- Raymond T. Kaya P. O. Box 1436 Honolulu, HI 96806 CompuServe: 71230,2500