FILEID 4.0á - the documentation =============================== (C) Janne Lindberg 1994-95 *** BETA VERSION!!! Report bugs to janne.lindberg@digital.fipnet.fi *** This is a little program that makes a list of files. The list is an ASCII file which includes: - names of the files - their sizes in kilobytes and their dates (can be turned off) - small descriptions of the files - descriptions that archives often contain There are other similar programs available, most of them which are shareware. But Fileid is not crippleware, and it's totally free to use! In addition to that, Fileid has the most features. REQUIREMENTS ============ The files PKUNZIP.EXE, ARJ.EXE and LHA.EXE must be in a directory specified with the PATH command. But, of course, if you only use .ZIP files, you will only need PKUNZIP.EXE, but I think most modem users have all three programs anyway. The /H switch, which displays the list immediately after it has been created, uses the MS-DOS command EDIT. If you use that switch, make sure EDIT is in your path. If you don't have Edit, you can rename any file viewing program to EDIT.COM or EDIT.EXE, and put it in your path. By the way, this program doesn't work on a 8086/8088/whatever, but who cares? HOW TO USE FILEID ================= It's easy. To run Fileid, you just have to type Fileid at the prompt. But if you want, you can use some parameters to make the list look the way you want, like this: FILEID [filenames] [][]... [filenames] specifies which files to include in the list. Wildcards are (of course) supported. If you type the name of a directory here, all files in that directory will be included in the list. Examples: FILEID *.ZIP FILEID C:\DOWNLOAD (will include all files in C:\DOWNLOAD directory) FILEID A:\*.ARJ FILEID \WAREZ\E*.A0? If you don't specify any [filenames], all files in current directory will be included in the list. Fileid can handle up to 100 subdirectories (if you use the /S switch). The number of files is unlimited, except if you use the /O switch, when Fileid handles 2500 files per directory. If you have a directory with more than 100 subdirectories or 2500 files, tell me! If you get tired and want to stop the processing, just press Escape. SWITCHES ======== /L:filename Specifies what the output file (the list) will be called. If you don't specify anything the file will be called LIST.TXT. For example, type: FILEID /L:MYFILES.LST A little tip: type FILEID /L:PRN to print the list! /M The list will have the same name as the volume label of the drive where the processed files are. This is useful for cataloguing disks. Spaces are excluded from the name, to prevent illegal filenames. If a file with the resulting filename already exists, extensions of .001, .002 and so on will be added to the filename. Example: You type FILEID A: /M and the volume label of the disk in A: is called MY FILES. Fileid will create a list called MYFILES but if that file already exists, the file will be called MYFILES.001. /A If a list already exists, the new list will be appended to the existing one. If this switch isn't used, the old list will be overwritten. /R Makes the list descript.ion-compatible (for 4DOS users). See the chapter 4DOS USERS below. /U:filename Updates the specified existing list. This means that descriptions of files both in the old list and in the processed directories will be read from the list in stead of from the archive, making the processing faster. Descriptions of files not in the old list must of course be read from the archives. Note: the new list will still be called LIST.TXT or anything specified with the /L switch. Examples: FILEID /U:OLDLIST.TXT uses descriptions from oldlist.txt, and the new list will be called list.txt. FILEID /U:MYFILES.LST /L:MYFILES.LST updates the list, overwriting the old one. Note: the /U switch isn't that fast yet. /S This will include subdirectories of the current directory in the list. /O This will sort the list in alphabetical order. /E:filename Adds a header to the list. This option writes the contents of the specified file to the beginning of the list. This is useful for adding things like BBS informa- tion. /F:filename The same as the /E switch, but this one adds the contents of the specified file to the end of the list, rather than to the beginning. /B:n Use this switch if you don't want the sizes or dates of files to appear in the list. n is a number 1, 2 or 3. The number 1 excludes the sizes from the list, the number 2 the dates and number 3 both of them. /D Only archives containing a description will be included in the list. /W:n Creates listing of your latest wares. This is useful for certain BBSes with strict date checking. The list will only include archives that contain a description, whose date is younger than n days. n is a number between 0 and 365. /1 Use one-liner descriptions. Special characters are exluded from the descriptions, which means the list won't contain loads of rubbish. /C If archive doesn't contain any description, the contents of the archive will be shown in the list. NOTE: This feature has only been tested with the latest versions of the archiving software (PKUNZIP 2.04g, LHA 2.55b and ARJ 2.42c á-4). Compability with other versions is not guaranteed. /X This will check if .EXE-files are self-extracting archives, and check if they contain descriptions. This will usually make the processing slower. /Z If the archive doesn't contain any description, the comment of the archive will be shown in the list. LZH/ LHA archives don't support comments. Comments can be added to archives with the PKZIP -Z and ARJ C commands. As comments often are just BBS advertisments, don't use this switch unless you know your comments contain some- thing useful. Again, full compability with old versions of PKZIP and ARJ is not guaranteed. /T As a default, Fileid will only use archive descriptions from FILE_ID.DIZ files. Using this switch, Fileid will also use descriptions from DESCRIPT.ION, FILE.DES, FILE.SDI and DISK.ID files. /P Includes PCBoard color codes in the list. They can sometimes be found in FILE_ID.DIZ files. /- Puts a line between every description. /N:filename Uses the specified language file. A language file is a normal ascii file from which Fileid reads comments and messages used in the list. You can edit the language file to suit your needs, for example translate it into some other language. Have a look at ENGLISH.LNG for more details. /I:directory Specifies where the temporary files will be written. Useful only if the current directory is on a write- protected or read-only disk (for example cd-rom). See the chapter LISTING CD-ROMS AND WRITE-PROTECTED DISKS below. /Y Yells (beeps) when the processing is ready. Useful if you want to do something else while the processing is going on and still want to know when you are ready to do something else with your computer. Uses the internal speaker ('beeper') so it will work on any computer. /H This will show the list immediately after it has been created, using the DOS command EDIT. This requires EDIT.COM or EDIT.EXE to be in your path. /H:filename This will show the list immediately after it has been created. To show the list the program specified with 'filename' will be used. Example: FILEID /H:C:\AURORA\A.EXE /? Shows a short help about these switches. You can use many switches at the same time, in any order. Like this: FILEID *.ZIP /L:C:\MODEM\FILES.TXT /S /O Note: If you use the switches /Z and /C at the same time, Fileid will list the contents only, if the archive doesn't contain a description or a comment. LISTING CD-ROMS AND WRITE-PROTECTED DISKS ========================================= If you try to run Fileid from the drive in which the read-only disk is, you will get an error message. This is because Fileid attempts to write its temporary files in the default directory. It is still easy to make a list of the disk, you may use either of these two methods: 1) Move to another drive, then type FILEID X: /O where X: is the drive you want to list or 2) Type FILEID /I:C:\DIR where C:\DIR is the directory you want to use for storing the temporary files. 4DOS USERS ========== Fileid now allows you to quickly make descript.ion files. If you are using 4DOS the file will be used to give a descriptive dir listing. There are now two different switches that both create descript.ion- compatible lists, so use the one that suits you better. The /4 switch will not alter the description in any way. This means that ascii logos and frames will not be messed up, but sometimes all the text won't be included. The reason for this is that the maximum width of the 4DOS descriptions is 40 characters, while file_id.diz- files and descriptions often contain up to 45 characters. The /R switch attempts to remove special characters from the descriptions. The results will sometimes be better than with the /4 switch, but sometimes not. The best way is to try out both switches. Please also notice that 4DOS doesn't allow for extremely long descriptions, so sometimes some text is left out anyway. And if you want one-liner descriptions, use the switches /4 and /1 together (/R and /1 produces the same result). In any case, the list will still be called LIST.TXT, so use the switch /L:DESCRIPT.ION to give it the right name. It's even easier to use the included batch files (*.BTM), that will automatically create a descript.ion for the current directory, and set the attribute of the list to hidden. There are two batch files, one using the /4 and one using the /R switch. Just put both FILEID.EXE and the .BTM files in your path. IMPORTANT INFO (?) ================== You can use this program any way you want. I usually have a lot of ZIP files with cryptical filenames in my downloading directory and on disks. Using Fileid is an easy way to find out what they really are. You may also list CD-Roms using Fileid. Fileid is freeware, which means it's free to use, but the files must not be changed. If you sell/give/upload this program to anyone/any- where all files must be included. Fileid may also be included in shareware collection CD-Roms. If this program causes loss of data/money/friends/health or any other damage at all, don't blame the author. Though I can't imagine any way Fileid could cause damage. Why is there no Windows or Windows 95 version of Fileid? Well, if you are willing to donate money for/buy me a decent PC, i will make a Windows version right away! I'd also think about an OS/2 version... HISTORY (very interesting :-) ============================= Version 0.96á - Initial release Version 1.00: - Doesn't display rubbish on screen - /S which includes files from subdirectories - Includes all files, not just archives - Supports ARJ files called *.A01 or similar - Includes name of directory plus total size and number of files Version 1.10 - /O sorts the list in alphanumeric order - /L:filename choses name of output file - More information about MOD, STM, S3M, GIF, TXT and DOC files - /X searches for FILE_ID.DIZ in self-extracting archives (.EXE) - /? displays help Version 1.12á - Does not include PCBoard color codes in the list - /P includes the PCBoard color codes - You can specify which files to include in the list - Information about TDF (TheDraw font) files Version 1.3 - Fixed a small bug - /A appends new list to old one - supports DESCRIPT.ION, FILE.DES and FILE.SDI files - /H shows the list - /1 creates one-liner list - /D includes only archives with description Version 1.4 - Checks if required EXE files can be found - /W:n which produces list of n days wares Version 1.5 - Processing can be interrupted by pressing Esc - /C lists contents of archives that don't have descriptions - Bug fixes Version 2.0 - Looks better - Reads all subdirectories, not just the next level - /E:filename adds header to list - /N:filename uses language file - Supports AMF, XM and ASC files - Checks for write-protected disk - Bug fixes Version 2.1 - /M uses the disk label as filename of the list - /Z includes comments of archives that don't have descriptions - Bug fixes Version 3.0 - /U:filename updates a list - /I:directory specifices directory for tempfiles - /B excludes time, size or both from the list - /R makes list descript.ion-compatible - 4DOS batch file (.BTM) to make descript.ion - /Y beeps when processing is ready - Supports MTM, FAR, ULT and 669 modules - Resolution of JPG pictures - Improved progress bar - Bug fixes Version 4.0á (this version) - Bug fixes (a lot!) - /R switch improved - /4, another descript.ion-switch - /- puts a line between every description - /F:filename adds a footer to the list - Other programs than EDIT may be used to display the list when using the /H switch. - Updating is faster (hopefully...) - Improved batch files for 4DOS users - Resolution and color info of PCX and BMP pictures - Reads title of HTM/HTML files (WWW pages) - Can now update any DESCRIPT.ION - Default name of list is now LIST.TXT - Supports DISK.ID files FEATURES STILL TO BE ADDED TO VERSION 4.0 (some of these are ready but are still very buggy): - RAR and UC2 support - User can write own descriptions for files without descriptions - New improved language files and an editor for them - Much faster /C, /X and /Z switches - Checks for enough memory for unarchiving programs AND THE MOST IMPORTANT PART... ============================== SEND ME E-MAIL!! I'd like any questions, comments, suggestions, ideas and bug reports about this program. Let's improve Fileid! Also big thanks to everyone who has already sent e-mail! Where to get latest version of Fileid: Metropoli BBS: +358-(9)0-61500029 telnet unix.mpoli.fi, login: pcboard FTP: garbo.uwasa.fi, /pc/fileutil WWW: soon! How to contact the author: e-mail: mirage@pcb.mpoli.fi (the old addresses should still work) or call Metropoli and leave a message to Janne Lindberg Note: I'm not involved with Metropoli in any way, that's just where I upload my programs...