FILEINFO Manual

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:

  

SECTION I  -  READ ME FIRST
    FILEINFO.EXE
FILEINFO is a program that allows users to Display the Files in a Mapped Directory, showing the: 

in a display grid that has Resizable and Scrollable data columns. 

It also allows users to Mass Modify their File Attributes - (+/- RASH) as needed.

And you can Add or Delete all of the Read Only Flags in a Chosen Directory and all of its Subdirectories, in one pass -- (ie)  when you need to remove the Read Only Flags on files copied from a CD.

Users can Print, or Save Marked Display Items to a Text File for future reference. 

On the File Menu, they can also Save the Default FileInfo Load Settings, as well as Save and Load their own Custom Defaults.

 

    BASIC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

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

FILEINFO requires 800x600 screen resolution to display properly.

 

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

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

Then select FILEINFO, 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 FILEINFO.EXE executable.

If you get a message that the FILEINFO 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  FileInfo Files:

Files installed in the default C:\Program Files\FILEINFO Install Dir

Special Required Files (That are included in the installation):

Other Files:

These two files are included in the FileInfo Install zip file, and also get installed.

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

    

    FILEINFO -  INSTALLSHIELD  INSTALLATION

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

Unzip the FILEINFO 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 FILEINFO 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\FILEINFO" Proposed Destination Folder.

      (ie) ("C:\Program Files\FILEINFO" = 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 FILEINFO Installation.

 

SECTION III  -  USING FILEINFO:

    INITIAL STARTUP

To Start, run the FILEINFO.EXE file from the START PROGRAMS - FileInfo option, or Explorer, or create a shortcut.

When you initially load FileInfo, you will see the MAIN SCREEN, with the default "Curr Dir Path File" set to "C:\Program Files\FileInfo\FILEINFO.VFI", and the "Curr Dir Path" set to "C:\".

Once the program is loaded, you can use <Select Mapped Dir> or <Select Any Network Directory> to Select a New Dir Path, or type in a new one, to replace the displayed directory path for the Directory to be processed.

 

    FILEINFO - MAIN SCREEN

MENU LIST

    FILE_MENU

EXIT

Close and Exit FileInfo.exe

SAVE THE DEFAULT DIR PATH = (FILEINFO.VFI)

This will Save your Current Defaults in FILEINFO.VFI, which will be in the same dir as FILEINFO.EXE. This is the Saved Defaults File that will be loaded when FILEINFO.EXE starts up.

You can make a renamed copy of this file for backup purposes such as FILEINFO2.VFI

LOAD A SAVED DIR PATH = (*.VFI)

This brings up an Open - File Window in the same dir as FILEINFO.EXE.

Select the desired (*.VFI) File containing a set of defaults, and Load it.

SAVE THE CURRENT DIR PATH AS  (*.VFI)

This brings up a Save As - File Window in the same dir as FILEINFO.EXE.

You can use this option to Save your Current Defaults with different descriptive file names you can remember. But always remember to use the (*.VFI) ext.

It is best to Save these files in the same dir as FILEINFO.EXE, then it will be easier to keep track of them.

 

SAVE MARKED ITEMS

This brings up a Save As - File Window in the same dir as FILEINFO.EXE.

Enter a descriptive Filename for your File that will contain a list of your Marked Items.

It is best to Save these files in the same dir as FILEINFO.EXE, then it will be easier to keep track of them.

This Saves the current FileInfo Display with the same Filenames, Vers/Rev Numbers, Last Modified Date, Size, and Attributes as the Display Screen, and adds a Report Header and Footer in the Saved File. Since this is only Dump type file no Page Headers or Footers are included.

PRINT MARKED ITEMS

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

YES - Dumps the current FileInfo Display with the same Filenames, Vers/Rev Numbers, Last Modified Date, Size, and Attributes as the Display Screen, and adds a Report Header and Footer in the Saved File. Since this is only Dump type file no Page Headers or Footers are included.

NO /CANCEL - Return to the Main screen.

 

    SHOW_FILES

This menu allows users to Show All Files, Show Selected (*.*) Files, and Show Selected Files with or without individual or groups of RASH flags.


    MARK/MODIFY -- (Replaces the previous Mark/UnMark menu)

This menu allows users to Mark and UnMark All Files, to Mark Any RASH
and Non RASH Files, and to add or Delete individual RASH flags 
on Marked Files in the Current Directory.


    MASS_UPDATE

This menu allows users to Mass Add or Delete Individual R, A, H flags on
ALL Files in the Current Directory/Folder and ALL of its SubDirs in one
pass, for the Currently Selected (*.*) Files.

(The S=System Flag is not available here because of the risk of accidentally deleting all of the system flags in your computer's "C:\" etc, dirs and then causing your Microsoft Operating system to fail to function properly.)

    MOUSE MARKING

You can also use the Left Mouse button to Drag and Mark - Unmarked Displayed Items, and vice versa.

Vers 2.90 --The Right Mouse Button brings up the Mark/Modify Menu

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 2.90 -- 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.

   HELP

FILEINFO MANUAL -- This manual in HTML format

ABOUT FILE INFO

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

 

    CURR DIR PATH FILE (Label + Text Box)

This shows your currently loaded (*.VFI) defaults file. It is read only.

    CURR DIR PATH (Label + Text Box)

This shows your Current Directory Path that is being used. This field can be edited to change your currently selected Directory Path.

 

    SELECT ANY NETWORK DIR

This brings up a Browse for Folder Window in FILEINFO, that lets you Select any Network Directory folder whether it is a Mapped dir, or a "\\..." Network dir.  It starts on My Computer.

If the Selected Dir has files in it, the <OK> button will be turned on, and you can press it to use that Dir, and return to the Main Menu.  

<Show ALL Files in Curr Dir> will then be displayed when a New Directory is chosen that has files in it.

Press <CANCEL> to quit and exit back out of this window.

   SELECT MAPPED DIR

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 "Curr Dir Path".  This option does show Hidden and System files, but it does not work with Network "\\..." directories.

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, that you can modify in the FileList (*.*) Value box on the bottom of the screen.

Click on <Use Selected Directory> to select the chosen directory.

<Show Selected (*.*) Files> will be displayed when a New Directory is chosen that has files in it, if the File List Value is not  (*.*) 

<Show ALL Files in Curr Dir> will be displayed when a New Directory is chosen that has files in it, if the File List Value is (*.*) 

 Press <CANCEL> to return to the Main Screen.

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If you see a slightly faded directory icon in a Windows 2000 Explorer list (for example), and it does not appear in this 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 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.

 

    SHOW SELECTED (*.*) FILES

Choose this option to Display files for the Current Directory Path that match the current Wildcard value.  This option includes Hidden and System files.

 

    SHOW SELECTED (*.*) READ ONLY FILES

Choose this option to Display Read Only files for the Current Directory that match the chosen Wildcard value.  This option includes Hidden and System files.

 

    SELECTED FILES -- (*.*) WILDCARD EDIT FIELD

You can use this box to change the wildcard option that you want to use when Selecting Files to Display.  It is automatically updated when you press <Use Selected Directory> on the SELECT MAPPED DIR window.  And you can change this value whenever needed, on the main screen.

 

    SHOW ALL FILES in CURR DIR

Choose this option to Display ALL possible files for the Current Dir Path. And as noted in its ToolTips Text, this option includes Hidden and System files.

 

    CANCEL  BUTTON

Press this button to CANCEL processing when any of the SHOW_FILES or MODIFY ATTRIBUTES  or Mass ADD / DEL READ ONLY routines are running.

 

    ELAPSED TIME BOX (on right side of Wildcard Edit field)

This shows the amount of time used by the various FileInfo processes.

 

    MODIFY ATTRIBUTES

To Modify Attributes using this option, you must first Mark the Desired Files, or use the Left Mouse button to Drag and Mark some Unmarked Items.

Then Press this button to bring up the Modify Attributes Window.

Click on the List Box Down arrow, and Select the desired Modify Attribute, ( R+/-, A+/-, S+/-, or H+/- ). Only one at a time can be processed.

<CANCEL> Button

Press to back out of this Modify Attributes Window.

<MODIFY MARKED FILES> Button

Press to begin the Modify Attributes process.

You will get a FileInfo Message Box, with < YES \ NO \ CANCEL > buttons, that asks you to (for example):

  Confirm -- Modify Marked Files with (R+ = Read Only Add )

<YES> Begins Modifying the File Attributes. You can see the progress in the Green Process Status Box.

<NO> Exits you back out to the Main FileInfo screen.

<CANCEL> returns you to the Modify Attributes Window

When the process is done, you will see the Total Files Modified and the Attribute used in a Message Box.

 

    MODIFY MARKED FILES NOTES:

If No Files are Marked you will get a Message Box that says something like:

      No Marked Files to Modify with (R+ = Read Only Add )

If All of the Marked Files already have the Chosen File Attributes, you will get a Message Box that says something like:

      The Marked Files already have (R+ = Read Only Add )

 

   ADD READ ONLY -- TO SEL FILES IN CURR DIR AND ITS SUBDIRS

   DEL READ ONLY -- ON SEL FILES IN CURR DIR AND ITS SUBDIRS

These two options are Automatic Mass Change features that allow you to quickly Add or Del all the Read Only Flags in the Current Directory and ALL of its Subdirectories for the Selected (*.*), (*.doc), etc, Files.   

The DEL READ ONLY option can be very handy when you need to remove the Read Only Flags from a whole directory structure that has been copied from a CD.

The ADD READ ONLY option can be used to apply Read Only Flags to a whole directory structure at one time.

If you press <CANCEL> while these options are running, they will stop, and then show a message noting the number of files that have had their flags modified, when the <CANCEL> option was pressed.

  

    FILE INFO  (X) -- Upper Right corner Control Box Option

This (X) option can be used to Exit the FileInfo program in case of a run away processing option, although it should not normally be needed.

 

    PROCESS STATUS (GREEN) BOX

This text box shows the status of the various Show Files processes, including Files being processed, and the Total Files Processed when done.

 

    DISPLAY FILES GRID

Display Grid Columns plus Headers

File Name = Long Filename

Vers/Rev # = Release Vers or Document Revision Nbr

Last Modified Date = From the File Properties Window

Size = Full File Size

Attributes = Active File Attributes, RASH.

         Mouse Marking (Notes)

You can use the Left Mouse button to Drag and Mark - Unmarked Displayed Items, and vice versa.

The Right Mouse Button is not currently used.

 

Directory List Column Headers = Display Grid Sort Buttons

Double Click on a Column Header to switch between Ascending and Descending Sorts for each column

FILE NAME: Sort by Long Filename .

VERS / REV #: FileInfo will do its best to sort this field based on how consistent the formats of the Version / Revision Numbers are.

LAST MODIFIED DATE: Sort on the Last Modified Date

(The a/p symbol is between the Date and Time to make this Grid Column sort properly)

SIZE: Sort by File Size

ATTRIBUTES: Sort the File Attributes ASC or DESC.

 

SECTION IV  -  ERROR NOTES and MISC INFO

    DISPLAY FILES ERROR NOTES

While running a SHOW FILES option, 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  "Vers / Rev #" Column for each file that gets one an error.

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

"GetRev#=E70" = Permission was not available to get the Rev Nbr

"GetRev#=E75" = The File was in use by another runtime type program

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

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

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

 

Other Errors that can occur while running a SHOW FILES or or Modify RASH Flags process will pop up an Error Message Box describing the error, and when you press OK, the program will exit the routine in use.  For example:

Error 76 = Path Not Found -- The Directory Path used by a FileInfo Show FIles or Modify RASH Flags process is incorrect or missing.

Error 53 = File Not Found -- The Actual File being processed by a FileInfo Show Files or Modify RASH Flags process is incorrect or missing.

Error 70 = Permission denied  -- You probably do not have the necessary Read/Write, Create, Delete permissions - to process a file.

Error 75 = Path/File access error  -- The file may be in use by another program, or it cannot be accessed for some other reason.

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

None at this time