File-Ex (tm) : File Dialog Extensions for Windows 3.1 and 3.11 --------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 1996 by Cottonwood Software Thank you for trying File-Ex! File-Ex adds file management functions like Find, Copy, Delete, Rename, and MakeDir to the Open and Save dialogs of most Windows applications automatically (any that use the Windows common dialogs in COMMDLG.DLL), and can be trained to work with almost any other program. If you have just installed File-Ex and are reading this from the Notepad program, try it out now by selecting File from the menu, then Open. You should see an extra row of buttons at the bottom of the Open dialog. If you need help, click the 'File-Ex' button, and then the Help button from that dialog. Enjoy! Readme.txt Contents: -------------------- File Packing List System Requirements Installation About the Evaluation Period Giving Copies to Friends -- (Please Do!) Support Ordering Site licenses & multiple-user pricing Troubleshooting Un-installing File-Ex ASP Ombudsman statement Warranty & License info Distribution by Vendors, BBS's, etc. File Packing List ----------------- These files should be included in this distribution set. If any are missing, please contact Cottonwood Software or your distributor for a complete set. (You can download the latest version from Compuserve or our Web page -- see the Support section) README.TXT This file SETUP.EXE Installation program REMOVE.EXE Removal (un-install) program FILEEX.EXE Main program (please run Setup before using!) FXHOOK.DLL Part of the main program COMMEX.DLL "CommEx" portion (installs as commdlg.dll) FILEEX.HLP Help file FILEEX.DAT Data file for 'trained' not-so-common dialogs FILEEX.BIN Registration file (purchased version only) REVISION.TXT Program revision history ORDER.TXT Text form for ordering File-Ex (shareware only) FILE_ID.DIZ Short description file (shareware version only) VENDINFO.DIZ Vendor info (shareware version only) System Requirements ------------------- File-Ex will work with Windows versions 3.1 and 3.11 (including Windows for Workgroups). Windows 95 and NT users: ------------------------ Do NOT install this version of File-Ex if you run Win95 or NT! There will be a Win95 version of File-Ex available in mid-1996, and an NT version shortly thereafter. Let us know if you need an upgrade to the Win95 or NT versions. Just E-mail, FAX, or mail your address to us, and we will let you know when they are released and where to download them from. Installation ------------ Warning: Installing File-Ex from within WinZip or other ZIP viewing utility or "Uninstall" program is NOT recommended, since Setup must exit to DOS during installation. Important Notes: 1. If you already have the CommEx program installed, File-Ex will replace it with the newer version of the CommEx DLL. If you have purchased CommEx already, then the CommEx part of File-Ex will remain fully functional, even if you don't purchase File-Ex. 2. If you are upgrading from a previous version of File-Ex, you should install the new version to the same directory, in order to maintain your configuration and registration status. (Don't worry, your configuration file will not be overwritten.) The Setup program will default to the previous directory automatically. 3. If you're not familiar with File-Ex, please read the 'Overview' section in the Help file after installation. To install File-Ex, run SETUP.EXE from Windows: 1. From the Windows Program Manager, select File, Run... 2. In the Command Line box, type d:\path\SETUP, where 'd' is the letter of the drive and 'path' is the directory where the File-Ex files are. For example: C:\FILEEX\SETUP 3. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen. 4. After File-Ex installation is complete, it will need to validate some files. This will happen automatically the first time File-Ex is invoked, so you don't need to do anything special for this to happen. 5. If you're not familiar with File-Ex, open the Help file and read through the Overview sections. What files should be where, after installation ---------------------------------------------- These files should be in your File-Ex program directory : README.TXT FILEEX.EXE FXHOOK.DLL FILEEX.HLP FILEEX.BIN ORDER.TXT REVISION.TXT REMOVE.EXE The file FILEEX.DAT will be copied to the 'Data' directory. (This is usually the same as your Program directory, but may be different, for instance, in a network environment where the Program directory is shared. The FILEEX.DAT file should be in a place not shared by users, similar to INI files.) These files are not copied anywhere, and are not needed by File-Ex after setup: SETUP.EXE FILE_ID.DIZ VENDINFO.DIZ These files will be copied to your Windows System directory, if possible, or to the Windows directory if Windows System is not accessible: COMMEX.DLL (copied as COMMDLG.DLL) The files COMMEX.INI and FILEEX.INI will be created by the Setup program, and will be placed in the Windows directory. The file FILEEX.LOG will be created in the Windows directory, and is useful for troubleshooting. If everything works after installation, this may be deleted. Technical information on installation ------------------------------------- The installation procedure does the following: Create a DOS batch file (file-ex.bat) to do the following from DOS: Rename commdlg.dll (in the Windows System directory) to commold.dll (File-Ex passes most functions through to commold.dll) Copy commex.dll to commdlg.dll If commdlg.dll exists in the Windows directory, rename it to commdlg.bak (should not be in both Windows and Windows System directories). Copy other files to the Program and Data directories. Add a File-Ex group with appropriate icons. Add File-Ex to the startup group, if requested. Add the setup program to the run= line in win.ini Exit to DOS, execute the batch file (if needed), and return to Windows. (When setup runs again after returning to Windows:) Verify that the operations succeeded Clean up (delete the batch file) Run notepad to display the readme.txt file When File-Ex is actually invoked for the first time (through a File/Open or File/Save command, or by automatically loading File-Ex), it validates the information files (fileex.hlp, readme.txt, order.txt). This ensures that File-Ex cannot be modified and re-distributed with different company contact/order information. About the Evaluation Period --------------------------- File-Ex is Shareware. This means that you are free to try it out for 30 days. It will be fully functional during that time, so you can try all of its functions. After using it for 30 days (not necessarily calendar days, but when it's been used on 30 different days), some of the functions will be unavailable. You will still be able to use the basic functions like Copy and Delete, but the advanced functions (Find and MakeDir) will not be available unless you register (purchase) the program. Giving Copies to Friends -- (Please Do!) ---------------------------------------- Shareware works best when you 'share' it with other people! If you like this program, we would appreciate it if you spread it around. Give copies to friends and co-workers, or even upload it to your favorite BBS. Please only distribute the original compressed (.ZIP) file that you received File-Ex in. This is the only way to have the complete file set needed to install File-Ex, since the File-Ex directory after installation does not contain all of the necessary installation files. Note: If this is a purchased copy, please DON'T distribute it! The registered copy contains your registration key file, and giving this to someone else is illegal. Please only distribute the shareware version! Support ------- For support, contact Cottonwood Software by phone, fax, mail, or E-mail. (E-mail is preferred, and will get a fast response.) Mail: Cottonwood Software P.O. Box 6546 Leawood, KS 66206-0546 USA Phone: (913) 663-3022 FAX: (913) 663-3747 Compuserve: 75264,1630 America Online: CottonwdSW Internet: 75264.1630@compuserve.com WW Web: http://users.aol.com/cottonwdsw/ Please see the Help file for more information. Ordering File-Ex ---------------- Benefits of ordering: The latest version as of the day you order. Notification of bug fixes and update releases when available. Free technical support. More shareware programs by Cottonwood Software and other authors. Big discounts on updates and other products, as available. To order, send $24.95 (U.S.) plus $2.00 S&H ($4.00 S&H outside the U.S. or Canada) to: Cottonwood Software P.O. Box 6546 Leawood, KS 66206-0546 USA For a complete order form you can print the text file ORDER.TXT, or click the 'File-Ex' button in an Open/Save dialog and select the 'Order Form' button. Please see the Help file or ORDER.TXT for complete information and other ordering options. Site licenses & multiple-user pricing ------------------------------------- Please see the Help file for complete information. Troubleshooting --------------- Please see the Help file for complete information. Un-installing File-Ex --------------------- If you encounter insurmountable problems, or just don't like the new functions that File-Ex provides, you may need to un-install it. A Remove program is provided for your convenience. Its icon is installed in your File-Ex program group. Please see the help file for more information on this. ASP Ombudsman statement ----------------------- _______ ____|__ | (R) --| | |------------------- | ____|__ | Association of | | |_| Shareware |__| o | Professionals -----| | |--------------------- |___|___| MEMBER Cottonwood Software is a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware- related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI USA 49442-9427, Fax 616-788-2765, or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536. Warranty and license info ------------------------- Complete Warranty and license information may be found in the Help file, FILEEX.HLP. Distribution by Vendors, BBS's, etc. ------------------------------------ Commercial vendors please refer to the VENDINFO.DIZ file for complete details. If this file is not present, please contact Cottonwood Software for a replacement copy.