Disc Cat V 2.11 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why i wrote this program. ------------------------- Well i was having trouble trying to find a particular file so that i could run a utility program on my 1200. It took me well over an hour to locate it and from then i have been looking for a program that could catalogue all my files to disc. I managed to find one that i thought would do the job. But it was slow when adding disc to the database and i just could not get on with it. What i wanted was a cataloguer that would not take an age to load all the files from each disc and one that would also be able to tell me what disc, what directory my file was on and be able to search for any file or directory of my choice. what i hope to have created is just that and i also hope that you will find this program useful. Instructions for use -------------------- I believe the program is simple to use if you think otherwise then please write and tell me. Running Disc Cat ---------------- Disc Cat is a compiled AMOS Professional program and does not require the AMOS.library to run. Disc Cat 5000 will hold 5,000 file/directories and takes about 450k of memory to run i hope this is small enough for people with only 500k memory. . You can Run Disc Cat from the CLI or the Workbench to run from workbench just double click on the Disc Cat Icon. To run from the CLI Just enter the CLI and type 'Disc Cat 5000' . Disc Cat will run and leave the CLI Free. When Disc Cat has loaded you will be provided with a Palette requester. The palette requester was designed to be used with 16 colours and disc Cat uses just eight so only the top eight colours in the requester will have any effect. Click on the colour you wish to change. Then move the slider blocks to change the colour. Moving about in your catalogue. ------------------------------- For you to browse the catalogue i have included a slider. This is to the left of the text window. To move a page up or down though you catalogue click on the background of the slider and the text will be moved by one page up/down. If you click and hold on the slider bar you can move through the catalogue at your own will. To move up/down through the catalogue by one line can move the slider bar down on pixel or click on the [line up] or [line dn] buttons at the right of the text window. [ADD Disc] ---------- This is the first button you need to know about.Click on this button and when a disk is inserted into drive DF0: or DF1: Disc Cat will and the directory of that disc into the catlogue.A good way of adding discs to the catalogue is to put a disc in df0: and a disc in df1: , When disc cat has finished adding df0: to the catalogue change the disc into df0: to the next disc to be catalogued. Then when df1: is done swap that disc with the next and so on until you have added all your discs. I find that the automatic way of disc cat is quicker than any other disc cataloguer i have used. You do not need two disc drives to use disc cat.Just wait until disc cat has finished with df0: and insert you next disc. To exit from [add disc] just hold the right mouse button down. [Sort] ------ For this program to be of any use it must have some sort of sort. This is not just to clean up the display but also to make finding files much quicker when using the [Find] option. Also before using the duplicates option the file must be sorted otherwise not all of the duplicates will be removed form the catalogue. I have used the fastest sorting algorithm that i know of, but still big lists of data take big amounts of time ( 10000 items -20 seconds) so be patient. The sorting algorithm used is a partitioning algorithm. [Find] ------ Clicking on this button brings up a small requester. To use the search option click on the small edit window in the requester and type in the file name or directory or full path of the file to be searched for and press enter to search .Click on [Next] or [Last] to search forward or backward respectfully. Disc cat will search for your file/directory or any text. If it is not found you will be informed. If it is found then the disc cat will display your file/directory at the top of the text window. To leave the find requester click on the [Quit] button in the Find requester. Whilst using the search none of the other buttons will function. [REMOVE] (Three Buttons) ------------------------ I have found these buttons to be of most use when you have updated your catalogue. [REMOVE Top] ------------ This button when clicked on removes the item displayed and the top of the text window, useful for deleting the odd file here a there. [REMOVE Disc] ------------- This is the most versatile of the three remove buttons. Click on remove disc and type a disc name into to edit box .Disc Cat now removes that disc from the catalogue. You have to be careful with this option because Disc Cat will remove any file/directory which contains the disc name from the catalogue. This is also useful if you want to remove '.info' files etc. from your catalogue. I also use it to remove common files/directories that are contained on several discs e.g. 'loadwb'. Think before you press enter. If you type in a space you are more than likely to remove all your files. Select Quit to go back to the main control panel .No other buttons will work whilst in mode. [REMOVE Dups] ------------------- Use this button when you have updated your catalogue with a disc that you have already entered into the catalogue . Duplicates removes all the files/directories that are placed in the catalogue more than once. This is useful when you have added more files/directories to your disc and wish to add them to your disc catalogue. Remove duplicates should only be used wen you have sorted the catalogue. If the catalogue is not sorted remove duplicates will not remove all the duplicates. Select Quit to go back to the main control panel .No other buttons will work whilst in mode. [Save] ------ This does what you expect. It saves the current disc catalogue to disc. Click on this button and a file selector will pop up choose your disc to save on with the 'assign' button then type in or select the file name for your catalogue to be save in, then click on OK. At the bottom of the text window you will be informed of how many files have so far been saved. When it's done a bell will sound. You must select a disc with assign ,otherwise you may experience trouble with load/save. Select cancel in the file selector and no save will take place. [Load] ------ This button loads a catalogue into disc cat, the format is the same as for save . [PRINT] ------- This brings up a small requester just select [SCREEN] to print the current screen and select [CATALOGUE] to print the whole catalogue. I don't Know if this option works .It should just print with your printers default font. I don't have a printer so i have not been able to test this. (Can someone help here ?).Hopeful all is will with this option. Multi-Tasking with Disc Cat. --------------------------- Disc Cat Was not Designed to multi task .As Disc Cat was programmed using AMOS Professional Multi Tasking Is inherited from the development system, and of course the Amiga was built to multi task. To Switch between the workbench and Disc Cat Press 'left Amiga key + A', If you are loading a file or sorting a catalogue disc Cat will Continue in the Background when you Have switched to the workbench. Suggestions and improvements. ----------------------------- I welcome any tips for improvement to Disc Cat. If you have any please write (The Address is at the bottom of the text.) As i have only recently become a user of the Amiga i would also welcome any tips on programming the Amiga at the moment i am using AMOS Professional to write my programs. But when i manage to scrape the cash together i hope to start my journey in to the world of the c language. Its been several years from when i last done any programming and the whole computing world has changed. The Amiga is a far more powerful system than my old trusty BBC micro (not putting it down of course it was good at its time but now a little out dated) and it seems i have a lot to learn. So send me some tips and i may send you some more software i have developed please be helpful if you can. Why only 5000/10000 catalogue items ----------------------------------- I use a variable list in Amos. With large list of variables Amos takes a long time cleaning it's memory. This slowed disc cat down. If you want a copy of disc cat that can handle more items write to me and i will compile you disc cat with 20000/30000/40000? item lists. But i can't say that i will be fast. 5000 items is not realy a limitation. Catalogue your discs in several sections.one catalogue for you games discS,one for programming,one for shareware( AND ON THAT NOTE WHY NOT USE DISC CAT TO SEND YOUR SHARWARE LIST TO A FRIEND. ) And maybe one for your magazine discs. History. -------- V 1.00 Not Released(Had no Graphic interface but was a fully working Version V 2.00 Finaly a graphic interface looks great to. V 2.10 Changed save/load, now works a little faster. But still slow,must be something to do with Amos's Disk Acceses? I don't know. V 2.11 Cleaned up source code. A lot of junk left in after many changes. Released as shareware September 94. V 3.00 Not released (Big mess) Changed the complete program to use memory banks ,But this slowed everything down.(Sort took five times longer) The one thing that was better was the save and load routines. Disclaimer ---------- Sorry but i Can't be held responsible for any data you lose from using this program. I also can not be held responsible if you lose data on any disc. You use this program at your own risk this is version one and who knows what it will do if the computer crashes. (Hopefully not to often!) If you like this program and use it. ------------------------------------ If you like the program and it is useful to you send me some cash. This program is Shareware it is not freeware I am not asking a lot just £3.00. For This i will send you an updated version if it is exists (That depends on the feedback i get). I will send you the source code if your an AMOS programmer (not much use if you don't have a compiler) and also if i have developed any more programs by then i will send you a copy of them. If you can't send me cash send me some program you have written or a nice letter say how i could improve the Disc Cat. My address :-) Zip Zap Gaz. 10 Old Hall, Rectory Road, Upton Upon Severn, Worcestershire. WR8 ONT. This program was written by G.Hoyles. (Zip Zap Gaz!) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- TO A FRIEND. ) ########################################################################### # Disc Cat - A disc cataloguer V2.11 © 1994 G.Hoyles. # # This version of Disc Cat was released 9.1994. # ########################################################################### This file contains some important notes you should read. Welcome to Disc Cat. Disc Cat is a Disc Cataloguer that should be very useful to any one who has an Amiga computer system. With this tool you can add all your files to one big list or catalogue. This list contains all the information you will need to locate your file:- disc name /directory/file, etc. You can save ,print update, add to, delete, sort, find, remove, add some more and trash your catalogue .Please read instructions. Now you don't have to search all your discs to find that particular file . Just load up Disc Cat. Why not use disc cat to send lists of all your shareware programs to you friends. ########################################################################### # # # # Disc Cat V 2.11 Is not a Public domain program it is Shareware. # # Disc Cat V 2.11 Remains Copyright (C) 1994 G.Hoyles. # # Disc Cat V 2.11 Must not be sold as or part of a commercial product. # # Disc Cat V 2.11 Must always be distributed with this document. # # If any one is to make money from this program it is the author. # # # Disc cat is provided "as is". I have tried to keep Disc Cat as bug # free as is possible .I can not be held responsible for any loss of # data ,damage etc.. # ########################################################################### If you have any comment ,tips ,general chit chat!, programs. Just write me a note or send me a Disc with your program. My address:- Zip Zap Gaz. 10 Old Hall, Rectory Road, Upton Upon Severn, Worcestershire. WR8 ONT. I hope this program is of some use to you. If so sent me so cash. If you can't send cash send a program you have written. i am only asking for £3.00. If you find bugs write to me about them i love mail !.