NOTE: The instructions below are also inside FREFIL10.EXE Welcome to FREE-FILE -- a DOS file manager. Inspired by Bill Neidert's PC DOS Filer, FREE-FILE allows you to manipulate files or groups of files and navigate subdirectories on the disks "fed" to it. Below is helpful information pertaining to the features available in FREE-FILE... At startup, you are prompted to confirm ALL Copy, Delete, and Rename commands. This gives you one LAST chance to abort the command if you change your mind. If you are an experienced DOS user and are VERY careful, you can leave confirmation off to execute the desired command with the appropriate keystroke. FREE-FILE then loads the current disk directory [except for volume labels and five known boot files: IBMBIO.COM, IBMDOS.COM, IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, and COMMAND.COM] into two windows on the program's display screen. Above each window is the [abbreviated] DOS path for that window. The files themselves are listed in each window in the following manner: A space [or * if the file is tagged for group processing]. The entire DOS filename assigned to that file [followed by a \ if the file is a directory file]. The file's date of last modification as day-month-year. The file's time of last modification as HHMM in 24-hour military time [e. g. 2045 would correspond to 8:45 pm]. In the lower right corner of each window, the number of files in each directory is displayed [0 - 650]. Below each window is listed: The total disk size for that window [0 - 2+ Gigabytes]. The total bytes available on that particular disk [0 - 2+ Gigabytes]. The total bytes of the tagged files in the window [0 - 2+ Gigabytes]. The next line is used to display messages and get user input. The rest of the screen [except for the LAST line] is reserved for use by the View File command [explained later]. The display screen lists the specific keyboard commands used to activate a particular command for a particular window and should be self-explanatory to that extent. The commands are described here in general: "Up" and "Dn" - Use these keys [on the numeric keypad] to scroll up and down through the list of files in a window. The keys are separated by the /. The first key scrolls one line at a time; the other key scrolls 7 lines at a time. The current file is the VERY first file listed in the window. Press ENTER to continue... "Tgucd" - Tags and untags a file for a group Copy or Delete. "Tagging" a directory file causes the appropriate directory change and read operation to take place for that window. If there are too many files in the (sub)directory, use the "NuDrv" command [explained later] to read a different disk or re-read the same disk so you can use the "Tgucd" command to "navigate" around the oversized directory. "Tgltg" - Toggles the tag state of ALL files in the window. Press this to tag ALL files for a Copy or Delete command [use EXTRA caution]. Or tag the files you want to EXCLUDE from a Copy or Delete command, press "Tgltg", and then execute the Copy or Delete command. "Viewf" - View the selected file in the lower half of the screen. Any file may be viewed in peace and quiet with no on-screen surprises as certain ASCII codes are "remapped" to make this possible. "Copyf" - Copies the selected file(s) into the other window. You are prompted to overwrite any existing file with the same filename that is already in the other window. Also, "Copyf" is smart enough to "abort" if the destination disk cannot accommodate ALL the files to be copied. If you are "bulk-copying" to partially-filled floppy diskettes, be sure to use the "NuDrv" command with each diskette. "Delfi" - Deletes the selected file(s) in the current window. If confirmation is on, you are prompted to reconsider beforehand. "Namef" - Rename the current file. Its current filename appears under the command list. Type in the new, valid DOS filename and press ENTER. If you included a different, valid DOS path on the same disk, you move the file's directory information to the new directory. To move a group of files to a different directory/disk, use the "Tgucd", "Copyf", and "Delfi" commands. "NuDrv" - Log the selected window "onto" the root directory of a new disk. You are prompted to press the drive letter [A through Z]. If the drive is a floppy disk drive, MAKE SURE THE DISK IS IN THE DRIVE BEFOREHAND! "=" - Press = to compare the current file in both windows to see if they are identical. "=" reports "Files look =" if and only if both files are identical in size and have identical CRC-32 values computed by "=". Otherwise, "=" reports "Files are <>". Press any key to clear this report and continue. ESC - Press ESC to exit FREE-FILE. You are prompted to reconsider beforehand. You exit to the LAST (sub)directory selected before the ESC command is given. If you have disk directories containing more than 650 files, order FILE-IT direct from the author on a 1.44MB disk. FILE-IT is identical to FREE-FILE with the SOLE exception that it can handle directories containing 2700+ files FILE-IT requires at least 384KB of RAM to operate. I can redesign the display screen of FILE-IT at no additional charge to help accommodate the presentation of all these files. With your order, please provide two pieces of information: The total number of files in your disk's LARGEST (sub)directory [e. g. 2113] The total size of the disk containing the (sub)directory above [e. g. 4+ GB] To order FILE-IT, mail check or money order for $10.00 (U.S.) to: Bryan E. Taylor 4212 Greenlawn Flint MI 48504