WK4CAT DISK FILE CATALOGGER README.PRN Welcome to WK4CAT.WK1 version 1.0 , Copyright 1988, Richard G. Olson, PCs & PRODUCTIVITY, 16 Adam Hill, Windsor CT 06095-2456, CompuServe: [72757,1606], GEnie:R.OLSON2 WK4CAT is an update of WK1CAT for coverage of BOTH DOS 4+ and prior versions of DOS. Two versions of DIRS.BAT & DIRS.BAS are included with the registered WK4CAT software. The 4DIRS versions are for DOS 4+ and its graphical TREE command. DOS 4+ users substitute 4DIRS everywhere you see DIRS in this documentation. The WK4CAT.WK1 macro template is a modified and improved version of WK1CAT previously distributed, and works with either version of DOS. This LOTUS Rel. 2.+ macro-template spreadsheet builds and maintains a database needed by every personal computer user - a catalog of file directories with CLASS & Descriptions. The author assumes no liability whatever for direct or consequential damages arising from the use or misuse of this software. QUICK START STEPS: 1) DISKCOPY the distribution disk & store it away, then use the copy. (The Shareware Distribution version contains only this README.PRN, DD.BAT, WK4CAT.WK1, README & WK4CAT.ARC making some of the below inappropriate.) 2) COPY THE FILES: FLOPPY Drive users COPY BASICA.*, TREE.* & FIND.* to you working copy disk from your DOS system disks. HARD DRIVE users: COPY 4D*, D*.* and SU to your C:\ directory & COPY WK4CAT.WK1 to any convenient directory accessible by 123. 3) Follow the "Steps to Organizing..." section (see page 2) to place UNIQUE volume-labels & stickers on every disk to be cataloged. 4) Apply DIRS C (for drive C:) to create 0DIR.PRN files on every directory of drive C: (or any disk with sub-directories). 5) Log onto each floppy disk and apply DD.BAT to create 0DIR.PRN on the root of disks without sub-directories. 6) Start-up 123 R 2.+ then /File Retrieve WK4CAT.WK1. 7) Use the ADD ONE (or ADD MANY for registered users only!) selections to build your catalog database. Use FIND to enter CLASS & Descriptions. XSORT, STORE, PRINT, QUIT, Exit, / Quit Yes. 8) Log onto disks with subdirectories and invoke DEL0DIRS.BAT (registered users only!) to delete all the 0DIR.PRN files en masse'. With 123R2+, DOS, BASICA, 123 & the WK4CAT.WK1 macro-program, no other software is required. DIRS.BAT (included with the fully registered version) & DD.BAT, below, installed on your hard-drive, on a sub- directory on your PATH, will save many keystrokes: WK4CAT - Copyright 1990, by R. G. Olson Page -1- WK4CAT DISK FILE CATALOGGER README.PRN rem SYNTAX: DD D:\path dir %1 > %1\0dir.prn exit Select Quit from the action menu, use the /S command to "shell" out to DOS. Then invoke DD.BAT to create a 0DIR.PRN file on the drive\sub- directory and return to 123 and WK4CAT. Re-start the macro by Alt-X, then select ADD. You will be prompted to supply the Drive:\Directory, then that 0DIR.PRN will be added to the WK4CAT database. Use Find_Modify to add Class & Description labels. DIRS.BAT will accomplish the same thing, en masse, for the root and all paths on the disk in the drive-letter of its one parameter: DIRS D DIRS (alone with no parameters) will provide self-documentation of the DIRS.BAT program. DIRS.BAS, TREE, and FIND are invoked by this DOS batch program. The Add, Many selections will use the files created, to initially build your (uncommented) directory data-base en masse with no further interaction. [Note: Ensure you are logged onto the "\" root directory of the target drive, then log back to the hard disk before running DIRS or 4DIRS .BATs] STEPS TO ORGANIZING YOUR LIBRARY OF FILES 1 - Each Diskette in your library MUST have a UNIQUE VOLUME_LABEL (Both written in felt-tip on the outside and recorded as a DOS Volume-LABEL - Hard-Drives too! <>!!). If you have DOS 3.2 (or later): LABEL B: For earlier Versions of DOS you must (use Norton's VOLABEL.COM or similar utility or:) format a new disk with a volume label and copy the files to it. : FORMAT A: /V COPY B:*.* A: To create the files WK4CAT reads : [Either before or after loading 123 & retrieving the WK4CAT.wk1 file. From within 123 & the WK4CAT.WK1 macro-program, select Quit, Exit and /S. Then from the DOS prompt... ] Log onto the Drive & Subdirectory to be Cataloged. DIR >0DIR.PRN When through, type EXIT to return to 123 & WK4CAT.WK1, skipping the Load 123 step 2 below. (DD.BAT accomplishes the three above steps for you & may also be used from the DOS prompt, also DP.BAT or DT.BAT). 2 - Load LOTUS 123 & /File Retrieve WK4CAT.WK1. 2a - Set your default drive for reading diskettes and Store-ing directory databases on the first menu (use Alt-x to restart the macro, if necessary). 3 - Put you diskettes in the default drive & select ADD from the menu. WK4CAT - Copyright 1990, by R. G. Olson Page -2- WK4CAT DISK FILE CATALOGGER README.PRN 4 - Use FIND EXIT and the User-definable macros to add CLASS & Description. 5 - Restart the macro with 6 - Select XSORT, then STORE to save the Directory Database (suggest you use a name including "DB" or "CAT" and a separate data disk). 7 - Select PRINT to print a Catalog of all your files. Periodically, you should repeat the above process with new diskettes being added to your library and with diskettes whose contents have increased or changed. Use the Clean & Retrieve options to read back the directory database that you Stored in a prior session. What the WK4CAT.WK1 Action Menu Options Do : CLEAN erases the directory database work area only if you've stored the database or override the HOLD-IT by selecting DO-IT. RETRIEVE brings back a previously STOREd Directory Database and adds its records to whatever is in the "db" work area. ADD reads a file named 0DIR.PRN and parses the diskette directory to LOTUS 123 database format, adding these records to the "DB" database work area. ADD's database update routine transfers previously entered CLASS & Descriptions to the new record with the same Vol_LABEL, PATH, FILENAME & EXT. The MANY sub-menu selection uses the files created by DIRS.BAT to update the database for all paths on the default drive you set on the top menu. FIND will allow the contents of any field to be replaced or edited. You will be presented choices of finding in 2 viewing formats: normal, Vertical-Windowed and Vertical-windowed with the BYTES & Date_Time columns hidden. FIND puts you into a Range-Input mode with [/RI] indicated in the upper right corner. Your input is restricted to the "incr" criteria range which includes one cell for each of the field headings you see above. While there, you can enter criteria in any of the fields, using the ?-character & any* wildcards. The Volume-LABEL and PATH for the last ADDed directory awaits you in those fields (and may be replaced with * ). An without any entry, locates & counts matching "DB" records. Enter then jumps you to the /Data Query Find mode with only rows meeting the criteria accessible. You may move among all the fields of the matching rows making changes (use the {EDIT} key) or entering REPLACING information. Use ONLY the ARROW keys to move among fields and end cell-edits or cell-entries!! This is a good place to use SUPERKEY, METRO or the like, to speed up data entry in the CLASS & DESCRIPTION fields (the user-defined macros may only be used after selecting Exit to /DQ Find). CAUTION -it would make little sense to replace the DIR- provided fields. An without prior entry, returns you safely to the action menu with the display returned to the normal mode (that's the same beep you hear when re-starting the macros). To use the USER-DEFINEABLE macros, select Exit to /DQ Find. This gets WK4CAT - Copyright 1990, by R. G. Olson Page -3- WK4CAT DISK FILE CATALOGGER README.PRN you out of the macro-program allowing use of your user menus. After Quit from the /DQ menu, Alt-x will restart the macro-program. XSORT defaults to Volume-LABEL / Path / FILENAME / EXT sequence (that's right, a compound 4-key ascii sort), and also allows any two sort keys you can point to. STORE file-extracts the directory database to the disk in the default drive. !! CAUTION !! Whatever file you enter or point at, WILL BE REPLACED!! PRINT produces a formatted Directory Database Listing you will want to have handy every time you want to locate that ??file on ??disk. USER-MODIFICATIONS The user is encouraged to modify this macro template to meet the user's needs. The author retains copyright to the unmodified portion of the resulting code. Neither the original, nor modified versions of this code may be distributed without the written permission of the author. The only exception is the combination of the un-modified WK4CAT.WK1, DD.BAT, DT.BAT, DP.BAT, SU and README.PRN files on the common shareware basis: free of all but nominal disk distribution (say $5 maximum) or telecommunication charges for down-loading. You may find that by re-doing the headings, column-widths, parse- format and routine, print options and some other minor things, that this code becomes the basis for a general-purpose, adaptable Lotus 123 flat-file database manager template. F5{GOTO} PRINT to modify the /PP settings any way you prefer. The ones supplied produce condensed (\015) font on an Epson with headers, footers & margins for 8.5 x 11 paper. The Description cell-width is set at 50 to allow you to see Filename.EXT, Class & Description during the windowed Find. For wider paper and/or longer descriptions, increase the /PPOMR value and description cell-width accordingly. F5{GOTO} \a~ (or any other letter but X) and change the typing macros to anything that suites you for FAST entry of CLASS & Descriptions. Edit the desired phrase into the area between ' and {QUIT}. DON'T delete the {QUIT}, or you may mush together two phrases. GENERAL HINTS You might pre-classify your diskette library, with each diskette box/tub/tray containing only that classification. Now, DOS 3.2+'s LABEL comes into play: make each diskette in that tub have a Volume- LABEL starting with the Letter(s) on that tub. Follow the letter(s) with a 2 or 3-digit sequentially assigned number (leading zero filled) with the diskettes filed in the tub in that order. Now, when you find your file in the database (either by WK4CAT's FIND, or by scanning thru a WK4CAT directory listing), you know exactly where to find diskette DA057xxxxxx containing the sought-after file. That search shouldn't take more than a few minutes, as compared to maybe all week looking at directories & retrieving files. The price you pay is organization and a little time to create & maintain the database(s). Hard-drive sub-directory names should be kept short (2 to 5 letters) WK4CAT - Copyright 1990, by R. G. Olson Page -4- WK4CAT DISK FILE CATALOGGER README.PRN and ideally no more than two levels. This way you minimize the keystrokes required to access your files and C:\s1\s12 will fit in the column width available in WK4CAT's PATH column. With longer paths, everything except the windowed FIND will work properly, you just won't see the whole path until you expand the [/WCS] column-width to fit. Between applying DIRS.BAT and using WK4CAT.WK1's ADD, MANY selection, you might apply any ascii word processor (123 /FIT /WDR /PF{?}R{?} OOUML0~QGQ) to the PATHS.PRN file, to delete path lines pointing to subdirectories containing only commercial software packages. For example, you might not want to spend the time to include and identify all of the .FNT and other files in your \LOTUS subdirectory. Plan on a separate database on it's own data diskette for each 100-150 diskettes. With 512k RAM & 360k diskettes, you aren't likely to run out of either memory or storage unless you use either very long descriptions or numerous short files. With LIMS 3.2 or 4.0 expanded Ram & and a hard-drive, who knows what the limits are!! (8192 rows less macro-code & internal documentation space vs. RAM storage)? In a multiple-user shop, each user should spend some time each week, making back-up file copies of the week's work, to archive storage disks. Each archive disk should contain a 0DIR.PRN file & have enclosed with it, a listing of the 0DIR.PRN file with descriptive annotations. The job of a part-time central archivist is made easy and the central shop archive becomes the back-up for each user. The DOS batch file DP.BAT will produce these automatically. It performs the DD.BAT functions plus COPYing the 0DIR.PRN file to PRN. DT.BAT is like DP.BAT and additionally sends the SU file to PRN to temporarily set up EPSON FX compatible printers to produce a very tiny format suitable for folding in half vertically & horizontally and tucking into the diskette sleeve. Answers to Questions Doesn't all this sound familiar? Aren't there some Shareware and commercial special-purpose programs for doing all this? Yes. Yes. Yes. The author has used a couple and found compiled basic a little flaky. An earlier version was developed to meet the need at a prior place of employment. When the same need was recognized at PCs & PRODUCTIVITY, DIRCAT version 2.00 was born anew and distributed as Shareware. Version 2.10 added default drive assignment and the use of SDIR5.COM for including sub-directory files in your directory database of your hard disk. WK1CAT included ways of doing the hard-drive and floppy files using only DOS, BASICA & 123R201. WK4CAT now adds a way of doing the same with DOS 4+, while not including the 0DIR.PRN files in the catalog. ENJOY ! Don't the BYTES & DATE_TIME fields take up a lot screen & file space? Yes! In an archive, you will occasionally find these fields necessary to get the right version of a program or data file. WK4CAT.WK1 updates these fields and retains the old CLASS & Descriptions fields on existing file entries. WK4CAT - Copyright 1990, by R. G. Olson Page -5- WK4CAT DISK FILE CATALOGGER README.PRN MAP of the WK4CAT.WK1 spreadsheet: A1=========================K1========T1=======AC1=====AJ1 Home/Title Screen "adds" "out" "work" User-Macros . . . "errmsg"screen . . . Macro-Program . . . . . . . . . . "incr"criteria A258"DB"Database Area . . . . A8192================================================== If you want to watch the macro-program "work" F5-Goto OFF and use F2- Edit to insert {RETURN} just before the {PANELOFF}{WINDOWSOFF}. CAUTIONS: 1) NEVER use the {Esc} key when interacting with any macro-program. 2) Use ONLY the ARROW keys to end cell-entries or cell-edits during [/RI] range-input or [FIND] find-modify modes. Reserve the {Enter} key for ending the operation mode (the penalty is macro-code over- writing data!!). 3) All disks MUST HAVE UNIQUE VOLUME-LABELS (hard-drives too!). 4) Take care in using the Retrieve option to merge two directory data- bases: the ADD-update function will not work properly with non-unique Vol/Path/Filename/EXTs. Retrieving two copies of the same directory is disastrous !! Re-start the macro, select Clean, Do-It and start over. SHAREWARE This package including only the WK4CAT.WK1 macro-programmed Lotus 123 Rel.2.01 template and this README.PRN "WK4CAT.WK1 Documentation" are distributable freely as shareware. They may be freely copied and passed along UNMODIFIED under the shareware "Try-before-you buy" concept: free of all but nominal disk distribution (say $5 maximum) or telecommunication charges for down-loading. The full registered version of the package includes the ALL the supplimentary .BATch, .BASica & SU files cited in the text above. Full registration for a suggested $10 will get a diskette with the latest version of all the files above and notice of any future major upgrades. Address Orders To: Comments & Queries for help also to: ================= =================================== Richard G. Olson CompuServe ID: [72757,1606] PCs & PRODUCTIVITY GEnie ID: R.OLSON2 16 Adam Hill Windsor CT 06095-2456 WK4CAT - Copyright 1990, by R. G. Olson Page -6- WK4CAT DISK FILE CATALOGGER README.PRN Comments, constructive criticisms and queries for help, are welcomed and may be forwarded to either the US mail address or E-mail addresses above. See also TSNMDM.ARC on Compuserve's IBMAPP SIG , demos & catalogs library, or the library of the same name on GEnie's IBM RT. Or, send a blank 5.25 360K disk in a self-addressed postage-paid mailer. This is a demo of TSNNMAC2, a package for automating stopwatch timestudy data collection, file transfer, summarization, and operation standard development and includes a working demo-ware version of the system allowing for manual num-keypad entry of data via INPUT.WKS, and complete summarization, labor standard development, Mil.Std 1567A audit, and report printing (it does not save files!). WK4CAT - Copyright 1990, by R. G. Olson Page -7-