Folders Program Version 3.3b (c)Copyright 1991 Sloop Software Folders adds depth to the Program Manager groups for MS Windows. It gives the ability equivalent to having groups within groups. Each folder can hold any type of file you decide to place in it, including more folders. Features include: - No limit on nesting folders within folders - Add any type of item to a folder - Move or copy items from folder to folder - Launch your applications directly from a folder - Customizable command lines for any item - Use virtually any icon on the system to represent items - Tie two or more folders to the same subfolder - Now supports 256 color display modes ********************************************************************* IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have a previous version of Folders already installed, to install the latest version you must run FINSTALL and choose Re-Install. Be sure and note what version you currently are using as FINSTALL will prompt for that information. Also, copy files FOLDERS.EXE and FOLDERS.HLP to your windows directory. Do not copy over your FOLDERS.INI file. If you have version 3.3 installed, to install 3.3b, just copy over your FOLDERS.EXE and FOLDERS.HLP files with the new versions. ********************************************************************* Installation (no previous versions installed): 1. Copy files FOLDERS.EXE, FOLDERS.HLP and FOLDERS.INI to your windows directory. 2. Run FINSTALL and follow its directions. Be sure to select Install, not Re-Install. 3. That's it. Your are now ready to start getting organized. If this installation process should fail, follow the directions for manual install found in FOLDERS.WRI. Getting Started: 1. Once the program is installed, open your first folder. 2. You can rename it, if you want, using the Name command under the File menu. Be sure and rename it in the program group, too. 3. From this folder, or any folder you create, you can make new folders. Simply choose New from the File menu. You can create subfolders or new group level folders such as this first folder. 4. Create whatever folders you want and add items to them using the Add Item command from the Edit menu. For detail information on each command, use either the help menu or read FOLDERS.WRI. Notes on using icons: In order to use your own icons in a folder, they must be added to the Folder system. This can be done in one of two manners. The first way, and easiest way, is to simply add either an executable file with an icon in it or an item associated with an executable with an icon. For example, if .TXT files are associated with Notepad, if you add either a .TXT file or NOTEPAD.EXE to a folder, the notepad icon will become available for use by the Item Icon or the Set Default Icons commands. In addition, any item with a .TXT extension will appear using the notepad icon after this. Note that the first time you do this, the folder will have to be closed and reopened before all items appear using their icon. The second method involves using the Add Icon command under the Special menu. Using this command, you can add any acceptable icon description file. These files usually end in .ICO. Once an icon has been added, it can be accessed using the Item Icon or the Set Default Icons commands. You'll note that when using these commands, some icon names appear with an asterisk before them. These asterisks indicate icons that were added to the system from an executable in the manner described by the first method of adding icons. There are a couple of definite limitations in the use of icons. First, CGA is not supported. Second, Folders cannot extract the icon from certain applications, the most significant being Word for Windows. Also, if an executable contains more than one icon, only the first icon in the program may be used. Finally, an ICO file can have only one 8 or 16 color icon in it to be usable. Should you be using a 256 color display and the icons are not displaying correctly, try this fix. In the FOLDERS.INI file, under [Defaults] should be a line that reads 'Color Mode=0'. Change the 0 to 256. This should allow the icons to diplay correctly. Note that Folders will only work in 256 mode now. To run in 16 color mode, change the number to 16 or 0, for auto-sensing of the color mode. If your INI does not have the color mode line, simply add it in to the [Defaults] section. Changes from version 3.3 (version 3.3b) - Corrected a problem where folder would not close or minimize when using the file open command and option set in preferences. - Corrected problem which forced the files on the load and run lines in the WIN.INI file be spelled with lowercase only. Only occurred when using Folders as the shell. - Added color mode setting to FOLDERS.INI to allow the color mode being used to be set explicitly. See above for details on its use. Changes from version 3.2a (version 3.3) - Folders can now act as the Windows shell, meaning Program Manager need not be run at all. - The Folders icon may now be changed. Once changed, all subfolders will appear using the new icon and Folders minimized on the desktop will appear using it. Folder icons in Program Manager groups will still need to be changed by hand. - The position of a folder and the positions of items in a folder may be saved. - Minimize on use or close on use options added. - Auto arrange of icons option added. - Bug corrected when using the character @ in filenames, descriptive names or command lines. Changes from version 3.1 (version 3.2a) - Extraction of icons from executables improved. - Command Line command modified to display the default command line for an item. - View Filename command modified to allow the filename to be edited. Changes from version 3.0a (version 3.1) - Support for 256 color displays added. Changes from version 3.0 (version 3.0a) - Problem corrected when using Folders with Windows running in debug mode. - Fixed problem with Folders being stuck in multiple select mode until hitting CTRL key after using a menu accelerator. Changes from version 2.1 (version 3.0) - Use of icons changed considerably. New command Add Icon allows any icon file to be added to the system for use in displaying items. Also, executable files with icons in them and items associated with these executable will now appear using the executable's icon. - Can now copy, move or delete multiple items at a time. Pressing the ctrl key while selecting items with the mouse, allows multiple items to be selected at a time. - Folder windows may now be resized and the new size used from then on when opening that particular folder. Simply set the folder to the desired size and then save the folder. The next time it is open, it will appear using the saved size. - Note that this version does not support SVGA. Changes from version 2.0 (version 2.1) - Only one copy of a particular folder may now be open at a time. Double-clicking on the folder icon or using the Open command on a folder already open will make the folder selected the active window, even if iconized. It will not open a second copy of the folder. - Group level folders are now created so their icon may be changed by simply going to the Change Icon menu of the Properties command and selecting View Next. Previously, it was necessary to replace the file name in the Change Icon dialog with FOLDERS.EXE. - Subfolders will now always appear starting in the lower-left hand corner of the folder. Files on Disk: FOLDERS.EXE - the executable for Folders FOLDERS.INI - Folders initialization file FOLDERS.HLP - Folders help file README.TXT - this file FOLDERS.WRI - documentation on folders FINSTALL.EXE - Folders install program FLD0000.FL0 - empty folder for use in manual install ORDERFRM.TXT - Folders order form Note that this is a shareware program. As such, you may use it on a trial basis for thirty days. After this time, the program should be registered if it is continued to be used. The total cost is twenty dollars. Registered users of version 2.x may upgrade to 3.x for ten dollars. The fee is payable to: Sloop Software 6457 Mesedge Lane Colorado Springs, CO 80919 (719) 260-0433 Be sure and specify your name, address, name of the program and where you obtained the program when registering. Also, specify 3.5" or 5.25" disk. Colorado residents, please add the applicable sales tax. Sorry, no credit cards. Direct any comments to the above address or email to CompuServe 72540,144 or Internet 72540.144@compuserve.com. Customer support is available to registered users and to unregistered users during their trial period. A Japanese version is available from: Personal Data Factory Shinjuku yubinkyoku dome 160 Tokyo Japan It includes a manual written in Japanese and costs 5000 yen. Customer support is also provided from Personal Data Factory.