DDDD X X D D X X ** What is DX ? D D X X ** Why is everyone talking about DX? D D X ** What can DX do for me? D D X X ** Who should download DX? Can I save the cost? D D X X ** What new features have been added to DX in v1.60? DDDD X X This file serves several purposes. The size of DX scares many people -- especially with the cost of downloading an unknown program of this size. Don't be scared away! DX will probably replace many of the small utilities you now use for directory and file maintenance! This file is intended to answer the above questions; to acquaint the new user to DX and to tell the seasoned user what new features are available. ******************** NOTE: Price Reduction ********************** Due to popular demand, the minimum requested donation for DX has dropped to $25! A donation of $35 or more will insure automatic upgrades for six months from the date of registration! ********************************************************************* ******************** NOTE: Documentation ********************** The documentation is separately available in it's own ARChive. The documentation differences between this version and v1.54 or v1.42 amount to very little -- the last two versions have been mostly bug fixes with a few minor features added -- see the new features section in this file for information on new features and bugs fixed. ********************************************************************* ABOUT DX: ===== == In it's simplest form, DX produces a double column directory display that is fully compatible with DOS's DIR command. DIR gives you the volume name -- DX adds the date/time the volume was created; DIR gives the file name, extension, size, date, and time -- DX adds file attributes and (optionally) size allocated; DIR gives you the number of files and free space -- DX adds the total size, total allocated size, total size of the drive, and the disk's cluster size (how much space is allocated at one time). DX is "command" oriented. It is not a full-screen or menu driven utility. Most users (especially "power" or technical users) will agree that once they become familiar with a utility and the options available, they prefer a simple, straight-forward command-oriented user interface. There are currently 59 option switches that are very simple to use and intuitively easy to remember. DX comes with a 56 page manual (DX.DOC) including detailed descriptions of all options and many examples; a quick reference guide; and a utility to print DX.DOC on a non-EPSON/IBM printer. WILDCARDS and PATTERNS: ========= === ======== Many DOS commands accept wildcards ("*" and "?") to match a set of files. DX uses the same wildcard characters but goes much farther. You can use more than one "*" and put characters and "?"s between and after "*"s. (The "?" matches any character; the "*" matches 0 or more characters.) Examples: "*TEST" Matches: "FILETEST", "XTEST" and "TEST". "?*TEST" "FILETEST" and "XTEST". "*TEST*" "FILETEST", "TEST1" and "ATEST2". "*.*S" "TEST.PAS", "PROG.BAS" and "FILE.S". "A*Z" "AZ" and "AFILEZ". You can combine patterns -- both inclusion and exclusion -- to form very complex patterns. Examples: ".COM+.PAS" Matches: "*.COM" and "*.PAS". "TEST;.COM" "TEST.PAS" and "TEST.INC" but not "TEST.COM". ";.BAT;*TEMP*" all files except "*.BAT" or any files containing the word "TEMP". FEATURE SUMMARY: ======= ======= - Batch file generation. DX can scan a disk and prepare a batch file to process all files that match the specification. DX can also automatically execute the batch file! Perform any task on any files automatically!! - Full path and hard disk support! - DX can search all directories, list all directory names, and test whether a set of files can fit on a different disk. - You can search any or all ARChives and LiBRaries using all of DX's pattern matching capabilities! Compare files inside an ARChive to files outside of an ARChive. - You can specify any single file attribute, set of file attributes, or any files that are not in a given set of attributes to display. See any hidden or system files. - You can select that only files between (or outside) of a range of file sizes, dates, and/or times should be displayed. - Have you ever gotten a new disk and wanted to know immediately what commands are available? An option on DX will display all ".COM", ".EXE", and ".BAT" files. - DX suppresses the annoying "." and ".." entries that are always present in directories. - DX can sort files by any combination of filename, extension, size, date, or time -- ascending or descending. Sort files within archives and libraries. The sorted output may be across the screen or columnar. - Delete files with or without verification. - Change file attributes with or without verification. - Produce a checksum of your files for data integrity checking. - DX has an extensive set of output formatting options -- including colors, printer formatting, upper, lower or initial caps cases, 12 or 24 hour time formats, width and height options, and extension alignment. - DX is fully customizable -- set your favorite switches once and they will always be used. - Produce a list of files to be processed by any other program -- including most backup utilities! - Make decisions in batch files based on the ERRORLEVEL set by DX if files or disks exist or don't exist; if files compare; if a copy, move, rename, delete, etc. was successful or not. AVOIDING THE DOWNLOAD COST: ======== === ======== ==== If these features sound interesting, download DXnnn.ARC and DXDOC.ARC and un-archive with ARC 5.1, ARCE 1.24, or equivalent ... OR: AVOID THE COST of downloading by sending a check directly to ECONO-SOFT! The requested minimum donation is $25; $35 for free upgrades for six months. We offer a no-questions asked, money-back guarantee if you don't like DX for any reason! (That's because, we are convinced that you will find it the best directory/file maintenance utility around!) To order directly, send a check or money order to: ECONO-SOFT P.O. Box 40445 San Antonio, TX 78229-1445 (Texas residents add 6.125% tax => $26.53.) Source code written in Turbo Pascal v3.01A is available for $100 when you sign a non-disclosure agreement (included in DX.DOC). Once you are a registered user, you get unlimited support! Either write to the above address or send electronic MAIL on Compu-Serve to [73267,1664]. You'll find that suggestions are often implemented in future versions! SHARE DX and EARN COMMISSIONS! ===== == === ==== =========== When you register, you get the current version of DX with a special control number registered to you. DX is shareware -- you are encouraged to share DX with your friends. Encourage your friends to register as well -- you get a 10% commission on all registrations with your control number! (The commission is not available to user groups or commercial bulletin boards.) UPGRADES, SUGGESTIONS, and PROBLEM REPORTS: ======== =========== === ======= ======= Upgrades are $10. You may order a 6-month upgrade subscription for $15. If you report a bug or suggest a feature that is later implemented, you will receive a free upgrade. If you download an upgrade from a bulletin board AND ARE A REGISTERED USER, you should change the Control Number imbedded in DX so that you will still receive commissions. If you are not familiar with using DEBUG or a similar program, contact ECONO-SOFT for assistance. New Features Added in Version 1.60: === ======== ===== == ======= ==== - You may now specify alternate characters to be used with inclusion and exclusion patterns via the /ALTernate switch -- added for users of P\CED or other systems which have trouble with '+' and ';' in file specifications. This switch takes exactly two characters which will be interpreted as being synonymous with '+' and ';' respectively: SET DX0=/ALT:%~ ;establishes '%' => '+' and '~' => ';' DX spec1%spec2~spec3 ;same as: spec1+spec2;spec3 - The /STats switch now accepts two values. The second value, if supplied, is only used on hard disks permitting full statistics on floppies while avoiding time consuming hard disk free space computations. The recommended setting is: SET DX0=/ST:4:1 - DX will now prevent a file from being copied or moved on top of itself (use of ASSIGN or SUBST can confuse this test). - File overwrite verification is now seperated from /Verify -- it is controlled via the /OVerwrite (default: /OV-) switch. Use of /V- will not overwrite a file unless /OV is also used. If /OV is used, DX will not check for file existance prior to a copy or move. - Support has been added for xANSI drivers via the /ANSI switch. If /ANSI is used and output is going through DOS to the screen (/O:CON or /O), colors will be set using standard control codes recognized by the xANSI drivers. - All known bugs fixed: - Spaces may now be used in SET strings. - Use of '$(' and '${' properly process the root directory (bug in v1.54). - Aborts on LANs (0202s) should now be fixed. - A null date is interpreted as zero (today): /DAte:: => /DAte:0:0. - Screen attributes now properly set after a MODE change. - Null extension sorting bug (in v1.54) fixed. New Features Added in Version 1.5x: === ======== ===== == ======= ==== - Column sorting: If the letter 'C' exists in the sort criteria, column sorting is invoked (i.e. "/SOrt:*NEC" will sort directories before files; then filenames and extensions; the display will be columnar). A 'C' by itself is undefined and the position of the 'C' relative to other criteria is irrelevant. - "/ANgle" option to indicate directories with "" instead of "--dir--". - "/ALign" option to align extensions. - Compare statistics now seperate good and bad compares. - Display speed greatly increased (most noticeable on the AT). - Sort speed increased 4-13%. - Compatibility with "non-standard" disks: this version of DX should not cause a hang -- if it does, add "/ABsolute-" or "/AB-" (note the "-") to prevent the absolute disk read. This read is the only reliable method for determining if a disk is a RAM disk but has caused some "non-standard" disk systems to hang. - /REName will no longer move a file out of it's directory when renaming a file that's not in the current directory. - ARChive statisics now make sense. - Output to NUL now runs at full speed. - Many general speed improvements and all know bugs fixed. New Features Added in Version 1.4x: === ======== ===== == ======= ==== - ARChive and LiBRary processing -- scan the directory of one or all! Compare files within an ARChive to normal files. Sort files within archives and libraries. - Special processing may be deferred until after the entire directory is scanned allowing /FSize tests to decide whether to /COPy, or /MOve. - Added /NLines to specify when pauses and page breaks should occur. - /REName files. New Features Added in Version 1.3x: === ======== ===== == ======= ==== - Special processing is expanded to include copying, comparing, and moving files from one disk/directory to another. (/RDir works with /MOve.) Several verify options are offered including automatic compare after copy! Missing directories may be created automatically. - Two new batch file template notations are added: '$(' and '$)' may be used to match the beginning or end of each directory. - Two new sort criteria are added: sort by attributes and sort by files vs. directories. - Cyclic Redundancy Checks may now be performed in addition to the simple checksum previously supplied (/CRC). - "Go" option turns off verification in the middle of special processing. - /COMPare is now 1.9 times faster! and unequal size is detected immediately. - DX input may be continued onto subsequent lines. - DX no longer reports incorrect statistics for "copy-protected" disks. - /RUn switch now allows individual, immediate, one-line command execution (similar to batch generation) with verification. - Special processing (/DELete, /FAttr, etc.) now allowed with /Totals. - The current date/time is now added to /PRint-formatted output. - A stop watch (/SWatch) is now offered to time operations -- it also reports what the DOS ERRORLEVEL is being set to. - All known bugs fixed. - The /DOt switch was removed to save space. New Features Added in Version 1.20: === ======== ===== == ======= ==== - A bug in DOS can fail to detect a changed floppy disk -- DX now avoids this bug. - "Path not found" is now distinguished from "File not found". - When output is formatted for the printer, you can now specify what size (font) the output should be, how many columns of print you want, and left and right margins. - Batch file generation can now include directory names. - You can now specify colors by name as well as number. - You can instruct DX to be /Quiet -- no informative messages will be flashed on the screen. Useful in batch generation. New Features Added in Versions 1.10 & 1.11: === ======== ===== == ======== ==== = ==== - Volume date and time; highlight (or bold on printer) volume name and directory name. - Performance under DOS 3.x improved 25-40%! 10-15% under DOS 2.x! - Add number/label generation when generating batch files. - Checksum algorithm is now 3.5 times faster! - /RDir option to remove empty directories after deleting files. - Option to display file contents when doing verified delete or change. - Support for a temporary disk to use for batch files generated. New Features Added in Versions 1.06 & 1.07: === ======== ===== == ======== ==== = ==== - Prevent batch generation from matching the batch file itself and DOS 2.x-style pipe files. - Allow blinking message when testing /FSize. - Allow '=' in addition to ':' for switch values. - Allow /INfo to be printed. New Features Added in Versions 1.01 - 1.05: === ======== ===== == ======== ==== = ==== - Critical error handling (i.e. - Drive not ready...). - Added ESCape to skip to statistics. - Relative date handling: T=today, Y=yesterday, W=this week, M=this month, "nn" = a number of days ago.