DIRECTORY_CHECKER  Manual

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:

 

SECTION  I  -  READ ME FIRST

    DIRECTORY_CHECKER.EXE

Directory Checker is a utility that enables you to compare the contents of two Directories side by side down to the File Version Number level.

It is designed for people involved in Software Development, QA, Customer Support, Network Administrators and anyone else who needs to keep primary and backup or network directories in sync. 

It is especially helpful when you are having difficulty making sure that the latest Versions of your Files are in the correct directories (ie. OCX’s, DLL’s EXE’s, Word Docs, Crystal Reports, etc.).

People who need to keep Key Directories in sync on their Portable and Main computer systems will also find this program very useful.

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Displayed fields include the Compared fields

 -- Long Filename, Version/Document Revision Nbr, Last Modified Date/Time, and Size

 --  and Attrib columns for Dir 1 and 2 which show each File's -- RASH File attributes.  

The Display Files Grid now has Resizable and Scrollable data columns, and new Browse Buttons just above it that allow users to easily select New Directories to compare.

You can select different Filters which limit the Display, such as Files which exist in one directory only, or Files existing in both directories with different Version Numbers, Sizes, or Date/Times.

Once displayed, Files can be easily selected either individually or in groups and then Copied or Deleted. Users can also Edit or Rename individual Marked Files.

The Current Display can be Printed, or Saved to a Text File for future reference.

You can also customize Directory Checker to include a list of frequently used compare directories.

 

    BASIC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

DIRECTORY_CHECKER is designed to run on Windows 95 and later Operating Systems.

DIRECTORY_CHECKER requires at least  800x600 screen resolution to display properly.

 

    BEFORE Installing an upgrade for DIRECTORY_CHECKER: (Original installs skip this step.)

You MUST go to your Control Panel and choose Add/Remove Programs.

Then select DIRECTORY_CHECKER, and Click on the Add/Remove button.

If prompted, click YES to All - to remove All Shared Files that are not in use, including the DIRECTORY_CHECKER.EXE executable.

If you get a message that the DIRECTORY_CHECKER dir or some of its components could not be removed, just press OK, as you may have saved or renamed new files, that the uninstall process does not know about.

Allow the Uninstall process to complete, then exit Control Panel.

 

SECTION II  -   INSTALLATION

    KEY DIRECTORY_CHECKER FILES:

Files installed in the Install Dir and also included in the Install Zip set

The next 5 files are  included in the DIRECTORY_CHECKER Install Zip File for users to look through before they  Install  DIRECTORY_CHECKER, plus being included in the Installed Zip Set..

Users SHOULD READ these before doing the actual installation, especially the README_FIRST.HTM file, and the first two sections in the MANUAL on READ ME FIRST, and INSTALLATION.

Required Files (Included in the installation, except for DIRCHK.DAT):

 

    DIRECTORY_CHECKER -  INSTALLSHIELD  INSTALLATION

Create a Temporary Installation Directory such as C:\Install_DIRECTORY_CHECKER.

Unzip the DIRECTORY_CHECKER Install Zip File in the Temporary Install Directory which you have made.

Run Setup.exe, and follow the Install Process, pressing NEXT, etc., as needed. 

If you get a screen that has UPGRADE,  REMOVE or UNINSTALL, etc., CANCEL/EXIT the Install Process.  Then go to your Control Panel and choose Add/Remove Programs, and REMOVE DIRECTORY_CHECKER First.  Then restart the Installation again.

Indicate YES to Accept the License Agreement, and Continue the Installation.

Fill in your Customer Information on its screen.

PROPOSED - DESTINATION FOLDER - NOTES:

You can use the default ("Drive:)\Program Files\DIRECTORY_CHECKER" Proposed Destination Folder.

      (ie) ("C:\Program Files\DIRECTORY_CHECKER" = OK

Continue pressing NEXT on the following screens, making any changes needed, until the Installation is finished.

You may get a prompt that you need to Restart your Computer for all the Install Changes to take effect.  It is best to do so at this point to accomplish a complete DIRECTORY_CHECKER Installation.

 

SECTION III  -  SETUP SCREEN

    INITIAL SETUP:

On the START MENU under Directory_Checker you will find the following two companion documents:

Directory_Checker Usage Guidelines and Startup Tips -- This is similar to the Startup Tips, but all in one place.

Directory_Checker Help Manual -- This is the normal Directory_Checker reference manual.

When you initially load DIRECTORY_CHECKER, you will see the MAIN SCREEN, with default Dir 1 & Dir 2 values both set to C:\*.*  for initial load.

There will be a Message Box displayed with the following information:

 
Click on the PALM TREE Toolbar Icon to Display Files, even if a Startup Tip is displayed.

(To remove this note, do File/Setup and Close, and OK on the Current Values Saved message.)
 

You can Check the Display Startup Tips flag On/Off -- on File/Setup also, and then press Save Defaults and Close. This change will take effect when you Restart the program.

However, if you had a Startup Tip = Active but Minimized, it will still be available until you <X> it out.

Press OK, and the C:\*.* files will be displayed for Dir 1 & Dir 2 - showing All Files.

Select FILE / SETUP to review the Directory Checker Initial Load Values.

Before pressing the <CLOSE> button, BE SURE to click on <Save Def's> to Save your changes if you want them to be active when you Load Directory Checker the next time.

If you press <CLOSE> without clicking on <Save Def's>, your changes will only apply to the Current Directory Checker session.

Note that the first time you use the File/Setup screen, an initial DIRCHK.DAT -- Defaults file will be Saved when you press the <CLOSE> Button.

Use the <Sel> Buttons on the FILE / SETUP Screen to Change your:

You need to select a Text Editor -- for the DIRFILE Text Editor option. NOTEPAD.EXE is the Default.

For the Dir 1 & Dir 2 Editor, select a Text Editor or other program that can load both the Dir 1 and Dir 2 Marked Files at the same time.

For the Dir 1 or Dir 2 Editor, you can select a Text Editor for Text files, MS Word for Word Docs, Excel for *.xls files, or Crystal Reports for *.rpt files, for example. NOTEPAD.EXE is the Default.

For more details, see  the DETAILED EDITOR INSTRUCTIONS: section below.

 

    SETUP DETAILS:

        DIRFILE combo list box:

The 1st box on the SETUP SCREEN is a combo list box containing your SAMPLE.DI2 Dirfile list. Click on its down arrow, and you can select the desired compare directories line as your current default line.

        Current DIRFILE:

The 2nd box is a read only display of the Current DIRFILE that you are using.

        DIR #1, DIR #2:

The next 2 boxes are your current paths for default DIR #1 and DIR #2, and are saved when you do Save Defaults. 

These are updated when you select a new line from your (*.DI2) Dirfile list. You can also edit these if necessary.

Dir #1 and Dir #2 -- Browse Buttons -- Vers 3.30 

Use these Browse Buttons -- to select a new Default Dir 1 or Dir 2. 

 

        DISPLAY Opts:

Next is a combo list box with a preset list of available Display Options. Click on the down arrow to select or change the one you want to use. You MUST select a value from this list, before you can begin displaying files

M3 = All Same 

"M" all files that match exactly

A3 = All Files 

"A" all available files in Dir1 & Dir2

 

 

B3 = All Diff 

"B" selects all different files

B2 = Diff - Dir 2 New

  

B1 = Diff - Dir 1 New

 

 

 

C3 = All Like Names = Diff 

"C" selects only Like names that have different Vers, Date/Time, Size, etc

C2 = Like Names - Dir 2 New 

 

C1 = Like Names - Dir 1 New 

 

 

 

V4 = Dir1=Dir2 Vers/Rev

"V4" selects files that have the Same Vers (and Size),
Date/Time is ignored when Vers = Same

 

 

V3 = All Vers/Rev Diff 

"V"  3-1  select files that have diff Versions

V2 = Dir 2 Vers/Rev New 

 

V1 = Dir 1 Vers/Rev New

 

 

 

D3 = All Date+Time+Size Diff 

"D" selects files with different Date, Time, or Size

D2 = Dir 2 Date+Time+Size New 

 

D1 = Dir 1 Date+Time+Size New 

 

 

 

T3 = All Time+Size Diff 

"T" selects files with different Time or Size

T2 = Dir 2 Time+Size New 

 

T1 = Dir 1 Time+Size New

 

 

 

S3 = All Size Diff 

"S" selects files with different Sizes

S2 = Dir 2 Size Greater

 

S1 = Dir 1 Size Greater

 

 

 

N3 = All Name Diff 

"N" selects only files that do not have a matching
File Name in the other directory

N2 = Dir 2 Only Name Exists 

 

N1 = Dir 1 Only Name Exists

 

 

        EDITOR PATH BOXES and [Sel] buttons:

 "Edit DIRFILE - Editor Path:"

This is where you put the path for the Editor that you will use to Edit your (.D12)- DIRFILE(s) that contain the sets of Dir1 & Dir2 compare directories.

[Sel] Command Button - Allows you to Select the (*.exe) or (*.com) type of TEXT Editor to use for your selected DIRFILE.  This MUST be an ASCII type of TEXT Editor for your list of Compare Directories, not MS Word, etc.

           "Dir1 + Dir 2 - EDITOR Path:"

This is the Path you will use for an Editor that can load BOTH of the compared files at the same time. You can edit ONE set of MARKED files at a time, using the 3rd Edit Icon from the Right on the Main Screen Toolbar.

[Sel] Command Button - Allows you to Select the (*.exe) or (*.com) type of Program for use when you want to Edit BOTH of the selected Dir 1 + Dir 2 Files.

BE SURE to choose a Program that can Load and Edit 2 files at one time, using this Editor Option.

           "Dir1 or Dir 2 - EDITOR Path:"

Is the Path you will use for an Editor that will load EITHER one of the compared files. You can edit ONE MARKED file at a time, using the 1st or 2nd Edit Icons from the Right on the Main Screen Toolbar.

[Sel] Command Button - Allows you to Select the (*.exe) or (*.com) type of Program for use when you want to Edit ONE of the selected Dir 1 or Dir 2 Files.

      

        DETAILED EDITOR INSTRUCTIONS:

TEXTPAD.EXE is a good Editor that can load BOTH files for Dir1 and Dir2 at the same time.

Go to "www.textpad.com" to download an evaluation copy, which will cost a small amount if you decide to use it for more than an evaluation. See details on their web site

NOTEPAD.EXE is an another editor you can use, but it will only load ONE FILE at a time..

Its path should be C:\WINDOWS\NOTEPAD.EXE in Windows 95/98 and it should be located in C:\WINNT\NOTEPAD.EXE in NT 4.0 and Windows 2000.

If you use Notepad as your FILE / SETUP editor for <Edit DIRFILE - Editor Path>, be sure to save your new Renamed Sample.D12  file with a different name like "MyDirlist.D12", and save it using the Notepad "All Files" option, and not the "Text Documents (*.txt)" option as that will save it as "MyDirlist.D12.txt", which is not the correct filename for Directory Checker to use when you try to OPEN a new ".D12" -- DIRFILE.

The [Sel] Command Buttons can be used to select any program you want, to Edit Marked (Dir 1 + Dir 2), or (Dir 1 or Dir 2) files. (ie) - Ms Word for Word Docs, or Excel for *.xls files, or Crystal Reports for *.rpt files

Fill in these Editor Paths, CLOSE the SETUP SCREEN, and re-select File\Setup Screen, and then an "Edit DIRFILE" button will appear that lets you Edit your SAMPLE.D12 DIRFILE.

If your Editor or DIRFILE paths may have blanks in them, BE SURE to check the "Quoted File Paths:" box, here on the SETUP SCREEN.

 

      SAMPLE.D12 FILE - INSTRUCTIONS:

Introductory  SAMPLE.DI2 File - Notes:

The SAMPLE.DI2 File is included to give users a starting point where they can create their own Custom List of Directories that they routinely use for Matching Files, Copying Files from Main to Backup dirs, etc.

They can Edit this file, put in their own list of Dir 1 & Dir 2 directories, and then save their modified file in their Install Dir using their own "NewFilename.D12".   This is much easier than having to re-select their Dir 1 & Dir 2 dirs every time on the Main Screen, when they want to compare two of their common directories.

Editing the SAMPLE.D12 - DIRFILE using the "Edit DIRFILE" Button:

After your Editor Setups are done, you can Press this Edit DIRFILE Button to edit your SAMPLE.D12 or other (.D12) Compare Directories DIRFILE.

When you Edit your DIRFILE, you can Add, Delete, or Modify your Dir1 and Dir2 listings.

NOTE:   DIRECTORY_CHECKER only uses MAPPED DIRECTORIES (ie) C:\WINDOWS\*.* It does not use unmapped \\WINDOWS\*.* for example

Note that the SAMPLE.D12 File contains directions for its use: (Read these carefully before modifying your DIRDILE list

 

Below are the notes for Editing SAMPLE.D12 and your (.D12) files

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

; Use a semicolon in column 1 for Comments lines.

; Blank lines with only a CRLF are ok for spacing between groups.

; Comments and Blank lines will be ignored when doing directory compares.

; Put the full Dir 1 Path + Wildcard if needed in Cols 1-80.

     ; (DIR1 path MUST begin in Col 1, or you may get a Dirfile Access Error 5)

; Put the full Dir 2 Path + Wildcard if needed in Cols from 81 on.

     ; (DIR2 path MUST begin in Col 81, or you may get a Dirfile Access Error 5)

; DO NOT use TABS in or between the Dir 1 and Dir 2 paths. INSERT SPACES ONLY.

; Real long Dir Paths > 80 chars MUST be put in the Dir 2 slot in Col 81 on.

; Dir Paths with spaces in them are OK. ; (Such as C:\Program Files\...)

; When you add your own Dir1 + Dir2 listings, save your new file as some different name (ie) NEWFILE.D12.

; The name can be your own, but the "EXT" ; must be ".D12".

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

       SETUP SCREEN - Other Options:

 "Copy = Display Next Dirs if Auto Redisplay = YES" (Label + CheckBox)

This box allows users to do Check = YES if they want Automatic Redisplay of the Main Screen Compare Directories List after they finish Copying a set of files.

"Del = Display Next Dirs if Auto Redisplay = YES" (Label + CheckBox)

This box allows users to do Check = YES if they want Automatic Redisplay of the Main Screen Compare Directories List after they finish Deleting a set of files.

"Compare Size Only:" - Label + CheckBox

This is a specialized option that allows a user to Only Compare the File Sizes for a set of Directories, when that is a specific requirement.

This box would normally be left blank.

"P/N - AUTO REDISPLAY"

This box allows users to select YES or NO as to whether they want Automatic Redisplay of the Main Screen Compare Directories List when another (ie PREV/NEXT) set of directories is selected.

"Show - DISPLAY Opts:"

Select YES or NO as to whether you want to display a copy of the "DISPLAY Opts" combo list box on the Main Screen. This allows you to more easily change your Display Opts selection while comparing directories.

"Quoted File Paths:" - Label + CheckBox

If your TEXT EDITOR or DIRFILE paths may have blanks in them, BE SURE to check the "Quoted File Paths:" box, here on the SETUP SCREEN.

"Show DIRFILE on Main Screen:" - Label + CheckBox

Check the "Show DIRFILE on Main Screen:" box  if you want a copy of the DIRFILE Compare Directories List Box displayed on the Main Screen.

This makes it much easier to jump around in this List Box and quickly select the next set of Compare Directories that you want to Display."

"Display Startup Tips:" - Label + CheckBox

Check the "Display Startup Tips:" box if you want to display a Daily Startup Tip each time the program is loaded.

"Use Document Rev Nbr:" - Label + CheckBox -- Vers 3.30 

Note:  Added a new "Use DocRevNbr" checkbox to the Setup Screen, and a new "DocRevNbr" Menu to the Main Screen, which has "Use DocRevNbr" and "Don't Use DocRevNbr"
sub menu options.

When the "Use DocRevNbr" checkbox on the Setup Screen is Checked, the Main Screen
Display Files procedure will include the Document Revision Number in its compare files
processing for Word docs (*.Doc), Crystal Reports (*.Rpt), etc.  But this makes Load and
Compare processing much slower.

However, the Last Modified Date is also updated in these types of (*.Doc) and (*.Rpt) files when
the Document Revision Number is incremented. So you can usually compare these files OK by only
using the Last Modified Date, and leaving the "Use DocRevNbr" checkbox unchecked.
Then the Load and Compare process becomes much faster.

The "Use DocRevNbr" and "Don't Use DocRevNbr" sub menu options on the Main Screen can be
temporarily selected, depending on whether you want to use the slower process that includes Document
Revision Number checking, or the much faster process that ignores it.

       SETUP SCREEN - Other COMMAND Buttons:

"Open DIRFILE"

Click on this Command Button to Bring up an "Open File" window, that allows you to Open a New or Recently Modified DIRFILE.

This updates both DIRFILES on the SETUP and MAIN Screens, which show Lists of your Dir 1 and Dir 2 Paths. The program keeps these two DIRFILES in sync.

Note that you MUST choose this option and RELOAD a DIRFILE after you have modified it and changed your list of Compare Directories.

It is best to keep your list of DIRFILES in the "C:\Program Files\DIRECTORY_CHECKER" Install Directory.

"Save Def's"

Use this Command Button Option to SAVE your Current DIRECTORY_CHECKER Defaults in DIRCHK.DAT, so they will be active when you Close the SETUP SCREEN and return to the Main Screen. These Default settings will also be restored when you Load DIRECTORY_CHECKER the next time.

WARNING: Do not Delete or Rename or Edit this DIRCHK.DAT File, as it has all the Critical Defaults that DIRECTORY_CHECKER needs when it Loads up each time.

"CLOSE"

This Button, Closes the SETUP SCREEN and returns you back to the Main Screen. Your Current Setup Defaults are active, and will be followed when the Main Screen is Displayed.

 

SECTION IV  -  USING DIRECTORY_CHECKER

    MAIN SCREEN Features:

        MENU LIST

  FILE

SETUP SCREEN

Access the SETUP SCREEN.

PRINT DISPLAY - TO FILE

Print  Display - To File - Opens a Save As Dialog Box

Select or Enter the desired File Name with a (*.txt) extension.

Press Save to save a copy of the Current Display as a  column delimited Text File, or Cancel to exit out.

When Save is pressed, a Message Box will appear to confirm that the Current Display has been saved OK in the Selected File.

This Saves a Text version of the selected D1 + D2 Listing with longer Filenames, and  Report Header and Footer in the selected File.  Since this is only a  Dump type file no Page Headers or Footers are included.

PRINT DISPLAY - LEGAL

Pops up a Message Box "Print Current Display on Legal Paper (YES / NO / CANCEL)

YES - Dumps a D1 + D2 Listing with longer Filenames, and a Report Header and Footer.  It is printed in Courier New 8 Font on Legal Paper. Since this is only Dump type file no Page Headers or Footers are included.

NO /CANCEL - Return to the Main screen

PRINT DISPLAY - LETTER

Pops up a Message Box "Print Current Display on Letter Paper (YES / NO / CANCEL)

YES - Dumps a D1 + D2 Listing with longer Filenames, and  a Report Header and Footer.  It is printed in Courier New 8 Font on Letter Paper. Since this is only Dump type file no Page Headers or Footers are included.

NO /CANCEL - Return to the Main screen

EXIT

Exits the DIRECTORY_CHECKER program

 

SHOW/HIDE

SHOW DISPLAY OPTS

Shows the Display Opts List Box so users can Select new Display Options.

SHOW DIRFILE LIST

Shows the Dirfile List Box so users can Select a new set of Directories to compare.

HIDE DISPLAY OPTS

Hides the Display Opts List Box

HIDE DIRFILE LIST

Hides the Dirfile List Box

 

EDIT/CHANGE DIRS

CHANGE DIR 1

This brings up an Open File window, that allows you to Select the Mapped Drive, Directory, and Wild card value for the files that you want to Display. 

It starts with the "Current Dir 1 Path".  

NOTE:  When a Bad Directory Path, or Drive Not Available error occurs in the Change Dir or Browse process, a (Yes/No) option has been added to allow users to start the Change Dir/Browse process with the "C:\" Dir.

Double Click on the desired directory in the Directory List Box to Select that directory. 

On the right side is a box that shows the files that will be displayed for a given wildcard value. You you can modify the FileList (*.*) Value box on the bottom of the screen.    This includes Hidden and System files in its File List.

Click on <Use Selected Dir 1> to select the chosen directory, or <CANCEL> to return to the Main Screen.

---------------------------------

If you see a slightly faded directory icon in a Windows 2000 Explorer list (for example), and it does not appear in this CHANGE DIR list, it is a Hidden Dir. You can go to that Dir in Explorer, and uncheck its File Properties - Hidden Flag to make it appear in this CHANGE DIR list, after you exit out and re-enter this option.

When you uncheck the Hidden Flag for a Dir, you may be prompted if you want to make the same changes to all of its sub dirs. You can say No, if you only want to access this Dir, or Yes if you also want to access some of its subdirs.

CHANGE DIR 2

This brings up an Open File window, that allows you to Select the Mapped Drive, Directory, and Wild card value for the files that you want to Display. 

It starts with the "Current Dir 2 Path". 

NOTE:  When a Bad Directory Path, or Drive Not Available error occurs in the Change Dir or Browse process, a (Yes/No) option has been added to allow users to start the Change Dir/Browse process with the "C:\" Dir.

Double Click on the desired directory in the Directory List Box to Select that directory.

On the right side is a box that shows the files that will be displayed for a given wildcard value. You you can modify the FileList (*.*) Value box on the bottom of the screen.    This includes Hidden and System files in its File List.

Click on <Use Selected Dir 2> to select the chosen directory, or <CANCEL> to return to the Main Screen.

---------------------------------

If you see a slightly faded directory icon in a Windows 2000 Explorer list (for example), and it does not appear in this CHANGE DIR list, it is a Hidden Dir. You can go to that Dir in Explorer, and uncheck its File Properties - Hidden Flag to make it appear in this CHANGE DIR list, after you exit out and re-enter this option.

When you uncheck the Hidden Flag for a Dir, you may be prompted if you want to make the same changes to all of its sub dirs. You can say No, if you only want to access this Dir, or Yes if you also want to access some of its subdirs.

 

EDIT DIR 1 + 2

Opens up the EDIT DIR 1 + 2 Directory Path boxes (Yellow letters on Blue) just below the Display Opts box. You can Change one or both of these to new Directories.

UPDATE-CLOSE DIR 1 + 2

This closes the Edit Boxes and Updates the program so it knows which Dir 1 + 2 are to be displayed.

CANCEL EDIT - DIR 1 + 2

This closes the Edit Boxes and Cancels any changes and returns to the Dir1 + 2 in use before the Edit boxes were opened.

 

    DISPLAY/MARK

DISPLAY DIRS

Load, Sort, Compare, and Display the Current Dir 1 and Dir 2 using the selected Display Opt

DISPLAY COLORS for COMPARED FILES:

RED = Files with Newer Date/Time, or Greater Vers or Size

BLUE = Files with Older Date/Time, or Lessor Vers or Size 

BLACK = Files with NO Matching item in the opposite Dir 

BROWN = Files Newer by Exactly one hour -- (See MARK LIKE NAMES - DIR 1or DIR 2 = BROWN + 1HR notes below)

CYAN = Files Older by Exactly one hour -- (See MARK LIKE NAMES - DIR 1or DIR 2 = BROWN + 1HR notes below)

MAGENTA = Files that are the Same for all checked items.

PURPLE = Name, Vers/Rev Nbr, and Size are the same so they are probably the same files, but their Date/Times = Different.

(1) Files with the Same Vers and Size, but their Date/Time is different. This can happen when the Date/Times of files get changed as a result of being Emailed, or getting latest vers from Source Safe, etc.

(2) Files which are probably the Same, but their Date/Time is off by 1-2 seconds, as result of being copied from an NT40 Server to a Win95/98 local system. (Probably a small Microsoft bug)

NOTE: The Date/Times displayed in DIRECTORY_CHECKER are from the Last Modified Date in the file Properties Window.

VERS COMPARE  Notes -- for Directory_Checker:

(D1 = Dir 1 and D2 = Dir 2)

If D1+D2 Vers + Size + Date/Time are Equal, then Flag the files as Equal and show them as PINK color.

If D1+D2 Vers + Size are = and Date/Time is not,
Flag files as Probably Equal and show as PURPLE color.

(This is because Microsoft often changes DLL, OCX, etc, files Date/Time when they are saved or installed on a new computer, but they are actually the Same File with the Same Size.)

If D1+D2 Vers are = and Size and Date/Time are not, the File with the Latest Date/Time is Flagged as Newest = Red, and Oldest = Blue.

If D1+D2 Vers and Date/Time are = and Size is not, the File with the Largest size is Flagged = Red, and the Smaller Size = Blue.

MARKING

MARKED ITEMS are displayed with a Yellow Background

UNMARKED ITEMS have a White Background

MOUSE CLICK / MARKING (Notes)

LEFT MOUSE

You can use the Left Mouse button to Drag and Mark, or Unmark Displayed Items.

RIGHT MOUSE

Click on the Right Mouse Button to popup the Display/Mark Menu 

Vers 3.30 -- Added new Right Mouse Menus for Copy, Delete, Rename for 0, 1, >1 Marked Files for Dir1 and Dir2,  in addition to the Display/Mark menu when no items are marked.

DOUBLE CLICK -- TO OPEN  A  DISPLAYED FILE

Double Click on a Displayed Item -- to Open the File.  A YES/NO box will pop up to let you confirm that you actually do want to open the file, and didn't simply double click on the file by mistake.

Vers 3.30 -- If no valid Registered File Type Association is found in "Tools/Folder Options/File Types" in Windows Explorer, then an option to use the "Open With" dialog box will be displayed, and you can choose a program to open the file with.

MARK ALL

Mark All Displayed Items for further processing

UNMARK ALL

UnMark All Displayed Items

MARK DIFFERENT NAMES

Mark All Displayed Items that have No Matching Names in the other Dir

MARK LIKE NAMES - D1+D2=DIFF

Mark Dir 1 + 2 Items with the Same Names, but which are different. Newer Files are Red or Brown, and Older ones are Blue or Cyan

MARK LIKE NAMES - DIR-1 NEW

Mark Dir 1 + 2 Items with the Same Names, but where Dir-1 is Newer Newer Files are Red or Brown, and Older ones are Blue or Cyan

MARK LIKE NAMES - DIR-2 NEW

Mark Dir 1 + 2 Items with the Same Names, but where Dir-2 is Newer Newer Files are Red or Brown, and Older ones are Blue or Cyan

MARK LIKE NAMES + VERS, DATE/SIZE = DIFF

Mark Dir 1 + 2 Items with the Same Names and Vers Numbers and Sizees,  but where the Date/Time is different.   These compared files are marked with a Purple color

MARK LIKE NAMES - DIR 1 = RED ONLY

Mark Dir 1 + 2 Items with the Same Names, but where Dir-1 is Newer in Red (ie their Time Difference is not exactly 1 hour, see below)

MARK LIKE NAMES - DIR 2 = RED ONLY

Mark Dir 1 + 2 Items with the Same Names, but where Dir-1 is Newer in Red (ie their Time Difference is not exactly 1 hour, see below)

MARK LIKE NAMES - DIR 1 = BROWN + 1HR

Mark Dir 1 + 2 Items with the Same Names, but where Dir-1 is Newer in Brown (ie their Time Difference is Exactly 1 hour)

This happens because NT40 Maintains Relative Date/Times, so its files change their Time = Forward and Back by 1 hour when Daylight Savings Time Begins and Ends. But Win95/98 Maintain Absolute Date/Times, so their files do not change their Time. So when files are compared for Dirs on NT40 vs Win 95 for example, they show up as different by 1 Hour, when they probably are the same file, so they are marked in these different Brown/Cyan colors.

DIRECTORY_CHECKER has code to spot these cases and Display the Newer/Older Files in Brown/Cyan vs the Normal Red/Blue

It is not known yet how newer Microsoft O/S's do in these cases

MARK LIKE NAMES - DIR 2 = BROWN + 1HR

Mark Dir 1 + 2 Items with the Same Names, but where Dir-2 is Newer in Brown (ie their Time Difference is Exactly 1 hour)

This happens because NT40 Maintains Relative Date/Times, so its files change their Time = Forward and Back by 1 hour when Daylight Savings Time Begins and Ends. But Win95/98 Maintain Absolute Date/Times, so their files do not change their Time. So when files are compared for Dirs on NT40 vs Win 95 for example, they show up as different by 1 Hour, when they probably are the same file, so they are marked in these different Brown/Cyan colors.

DIRECTORY_CHECKER has code to spot these cases and Display the Newer/Older Files in Brown/Cyan vs the Normal Red/Blue

It is not known yet how newer Microsoft O/S's do in these cases

DOCREVNBR

Vers 3.30 --Note:  Added a new "Use DocRevNbr" checkbox to the Setup Screen, and a new "DocRevNbr" Menu to the Main Screen, which has "Use DocRevNbr" and "Don't Use DocRevNbr"
sub menu options.

When the "Use DocRevNbr" checkbox on the Setup Screen is Checked, the Main Screen
Display Files procedure will include the Document Revision Number in its compare files
processing for Word docs (*.Doc), Crystal Reports (*.Rpt), etc.  But this makes Load and
Compare processing much slower.

However, the Last Modified Date is also updated in these types of (*.Doc) and (*.Rpt) files when
the Document Revision Number is incremented. So you can usually compare these files OK by only
using the Last Modified Date, and leaving the "Use DocRevNbr" checkbox unchecked.
Then the Load and Compare process becomes much faster.

The "Use DocRevNbr" and "Don't Use DocRevNbr" sub menu options on the Main Screen can be
temporarily selected, depending on whether you want to use the slower process that includes Document
Revision Number checking, or the much faster process that ignores it.

PREV/NEXT DIRS

FIRST DIR 1 + 2 = Go to 1st D1+D2 List in Curr DIRFILE

GO BACK-5 DIR 1 + 2 = Go Back 5 Lines

BACKUP-2 DIR 1 + 2 = Backup 2 Lines

PREV DIR 1 + 2 = Select Previous D1+D2

MIDDLE DIR 1 + 2 = Go to Middle D1+D2

NEXT DIR 1 + 2 = Select Next D1+D2

ADVANCE-2 DIR 1 + 2 = Advance 2 Lines

JUMP FORWARD-5 DIR 1 + 2 = Jump Forward 5 Lines

LAST DIR 1 + 2 = Go to Last D1+D2

COPY

COPY DIR 1 FILES = Copy Marked Dir 1 Files to Dir 2

COPY DIR 2 FILES = Copy Marked Dir 2 Files to Dir 1

COPY NEW FILES = Copy New Files in Both Dirs to opposite Dir

NOTES:

COPY options have a Continue YES/NO Message Box

You will be prompted to Create a new Directory (below an existing one) if the Copy To: Directory does not exist.

Like Explorer, you can only add a new Sub Directory or Folder one level below an existing one.

(You cannot have a dir = C:\XXX, and add a new C:\XXX\YYY\ZZZ dir more than one level below an existing dir.)

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The Copy Dir 1 Files, Copy Dir 2 Files, and Copy New Files  options have been modified -- to prompt users when a Read Only Destination File is encountered, and allow them to select Overwrite options = Yes, Yes To All, No, Cancel.

Yes = Overwrite this Read Only File

Yes To All = Overwrite this and all remaining Read Only Files that do not have S or H flags

No = Skip over this file

Cancel = Exit the Copy Files process

Users will also be prompted when System or Hidden Files are encountered, but these only allow the Yes and No options.

Users cannot automatically Overwrite System and Hidden files, because of the risk of causing problems with specific application and operating system files if these files are accidentally overwritten.

Users must Mark and then use a "Dir1_Attrib" or "Dir2_Attrib" Menu option to remove the S and H flags from their files, then these files can be overwritten by the Copy processes if needed.

RENAME

RENAME DIR 1 FILE = Rename Marked Dir 1 File (One at a time)

RENAME DIR 2 FILE = Rename Marked Dir 2 File (One at a time)

NOTE: RENAME pops up an Old/New Filename box for users

DELETE

DELETE DIR 1 FILES = Delete Marked Dir 1 Files - to Recycle Bin

DELETE DIR 2 FILES = Delete Marked Dir 2 Files - to Recycle Bin

Delete options have a Continue YES/NO Message Box.

Read Only / System / Hidden files will be moved to the Recycle Bin during the Delete Process, where they can be retrieved if necessary.

Files that are Open and being Edited by another program will not be deleted. 

DIR1_ATTRIB and DIR2_ATTRIB

DIR1_ATTRIB and DIR2_ATTRIB = have pop down menu options that allow users to Mark and UnMark RASH and Non RASH items, and Add and Delete RASH Flags.  These menus also have the Mark All and UnMark All menu options which are from the Display / Mark Menu

The Add and Delete Attrib options have a Confirm YES/NO Message Box,  to be sure you intended to modify the selected RASH Flags

HELP

 DIRECTORY_CHECKER MANUAL -- This manual in HTML format

ABOUT DIRECTORY_CHECKER

Basic info about DIRECTORY_CHECKER including Copyright, Author, Version, and Basic Description of the program

 

      TOOLBAR (on 2nd line of Main Screen) (Icons have Tool tips)

LEFT FLUSH ICON = Delete Marked Dir 1 Files  - to Recycle Bin

TWO ARROWS ICON = Copy New Files in Both Dirs to other Dir

RIGHT ARROW SIGN = Copy Marked Dir 1 Files to Dir 2

LEFT RED PEN = Mark Like Names - Dir 1 = New -- Red/Brown Only

POINT LEFT HAND = Go to 1st D1+D2 List in Curr DIRFILE

LEFT GREY ARROW = Go Back 5 Lines

LEFT BLUE ARROW = Backup 2 Lines

LEFT BLACK ARROW = Select Previous D1+D2

POINT UP HAND = Go to Middle D1+D2 in Curr DIRFILE

PALM TREE ICON = Run Display Files Routine

RIGHT BLACK ARROW = Select Next D1+D2

RIGHT BLUE ARROW = Advance 2 Lines

RIGHT GREY ARROW = Jump Forward 5 Lines

POINT RIGHT HAND = Go to Last D1+D2

CHECK MARK = Mark All Displayed Items

ERASER PENCIL = UnMark All Displayed Items

MIDDLE RED PEN = Mark Like Names - D1 + D2 = Diff

HAND+POINTER = Mark Items with No Matching Names in the other Dir

RIGHT RED PEN = Mark Like Names - Dir 2 = New -- Red/Brown Only

LEFT ARROW SIGN = Copy Marked Dir 2 Files to Dir 1

RIGHT FLUSH ICON = Delete Marked Dir 2 Files  - to Recycle Bin

STOP SIGN = Stop or Cancel Display, Copy, Delete processes

1ST NOTE PAD = Edit Marked Dir 1 and Dir 2 Files (One line at a time)

 2ND NOTE PAD = Edit Marked Dir 1 File Only (One line at a time)

3RD NOTE PAD = Edit Marked Dir 2 File Only (One line at a time)

 

       OTHER MAIN SCREEN Features:

       DISPLAY OPTS - combo list box

       DIRFILE - combo list box

       P-SEL / N-SEL = Select Previous / Next Display Option

       ELAPSED TIME box (in red letters)

       CANCEL Button = Stop or Cancel Display, Copy, Delete processes

       EDIT DIR1 + DIR2 directory path boxes 

       D1 and D2 -- Browse Buttons and White Status Lines:

(Right of the Green D1 and D2 labels.)

Browse Buttons -- Click on to Change to a New Dir 1 or Dir 2. 

White Status Lines -- Show Processing Status messages:

       Grey DETAILED FILE INFO sections for D1 and D2

       FORM / RESIZABLE CONTROLS -- NOTES:

       DISPLAY FILES GRID - Details:

  RESIZING COLUMNS

  VERTICAL and HORIZONTAL SCROLLING

            FILENAMES

            FILE VERS/DOCUMENT REVISION NUMBERS

           FILE SIZE

  DATES

  TIMES

   ATTRIB

             Special DISPLAY Notes

 

SECTION V  -  DIRECTORY_CHECKER ERROR NOTES and MISC INFO

      DISPLAY FILES - ERROR NOTES

While running DISPLAY FILES you may get occasional Errors while trying to Get Document Revision Numbers for Crystal Reports or Microsoft Word Documents, etc.

These Known Error messages will be displayed in the File Vers section, and care should be noted as to the validity of the Compare files Newer/Older display, as it may not be accurate when an error is encountered.

"Open=?" = The File was being edited by another program

"Err=70" =  Permission was not available to get the Rev Nbr

"Err=75" = The File was in use by another runtime type program

"Err=" (424, 429, 430, 432, 13) Other known possible errors getting Rev Nbrs

If desired Email a SAVE CURRENT DISPLAY file copy (ie D12A3_1.TXT), showing the errors, to your Tech Spt address on the Help About Screen for further evaluation.

If other Unknown Errors occur while getting Rev Nbrs, a Message Box will pop up describing the Error, and it will say:

"Press OK to skip this file's Vers/Rev #"

SCREEN PRINT these Error Message Boxes, and send them to the Email address on the Help About Screen for further evaluation as necessary, along with a copy of the file being processed if possible.

 

      COPY / DELETE FILES - ERROR NOTES

When Copying or Deleting files, the following errors have special meanings:

Error 75 = Path/File access error  -- The file may be in use by another program, or may have some combination of Read Only, System or Hidden (RSH) attributes.  See under COPY  - NOTES:  Section above about changes to the Copy options that now prompt users and allow them to Overwrite Read Only Files.

Error 76 = Path Not Found -- The Source or Destination Path used by a Copy Files process is incorrect or missing.

Error 53 = File Not Found -- The Source or Destination File used by a Copy Files process is incorrect or missing.

Error 70 = Permission denied  -- You probably do not have the necessary Read/Write, Create, Delete permissions - to Copy over, or Delete a file, or the file may be in use by another program,

You can SCREEN PRINT these Different Error Messages noted above, and send them to the Email address on the <bbussell.airweb.net>  web site for further evaluation as necessary,.

 

      MISC INFO

Low Memory Note for Windows 2000, etc:

If you should get a Low Memory or Out of Memory Warning, or even have a reboot system occur, while using a program such as Directory Checker which does a lot of File processing, do a search to find your Config.Sys, or Config.NT file and add a new line or modify the existing line that says Files = 40, to say something between Files = 50 and Files = 80, to fix this problem.

Be sure to save a renamed original copy of your Config file before making your changes, for safety purposes.