DESC_NAR.COM -- Utility for Melding DESCRIPT.ION and NARATIVE.CF Files

     Version 1.3 -- November 15, 1994

          DESC_NAR is provided as a freeware adjunct to the CMFiler shareware
     disk/file manager for 4DOS/NDOS users.  Both CMFiler and 4DOS/NDOS have
     the capability to attach notes to files and directories, to help remind
     you of their contents.  The 4DOS/NDOS notes are contained in files in
     each directory called DESCRIPT.ION, the CMFiler notes in files called
     NARATIVE.CF.  To make matters more complicated, the PC Magazine utility
     DIRNOTES makes notes in files it calls DIRN-xyz.DAT, where xyz is the
     first three characters of the directory name.

          I wrote CMFiler's notes facility before I had any knowledge of the
     convention and format already in use in 4DOS/NDOS, and I have consciously
     decided to continue using a separate NARATIVE.CF file for the CMFiler
     notes facility instead of converting everything to the DESCRIPT.ION
     convention.  However, I have built a feature into CMFiler that melds or
     "synchronizes" the DESCRIPT.ION and NARATIVE.CF files in a directory
     whenever the CMFiler notes facility is called.  This feature preserves
     all existing entries in either file type, and adds to either any unique
     entries from the other that did not already appear.  It then redates both
     files identically as evidence of the update.

          DESC_NAR accomplishes the same "synchronization" on all directories
     of a hard drive at once, to establish a baseline normalization.  Simply
     run DESC_NAR.COM at the DOS prompt by typing DESC_NAR.  You will be asked
     to press the letter of the drive you want searched and DESCRIPT.ION and
     NARATIVE.CF files melded.  You will then be asked if you want unique file
     notes from DIRN-xyz.DAT files added to the NARATIVE.CF and DESCRIPT.ION
     files.

          Once you have answered both questions, DESC_NAR proceeds to search
     all directories for any of the above files, and add to or create new as
     appropriate the NARATIVE.CF and DESCRIPT.ION files.  You may press Esc at
     any time to terminate the program.  When all file conversion on that
     drive is done, DESC_NAR asks whether you want to do another.

          DESC_NAR requires 196k of free conventional memory.  Versions 1.1
     and later accomodate entries in the DESCRIPT.ION file greater than 39
     characters.  The previous version truncated any entries greater than 39
     characters.

          DESC_NAR is provided by the author as a freeware utility to
     complement the CMFiler shareware disk/file manager.  It is offered as-is,
     and is not warranted in any way.  C. F. Martin is not responsible in any
     for any consequences arising from the use of DESC_NAR.

     Charles F. Martin
     NoVaSoft
     3239 Riverview Dr.
     Triangle, VA  22172-1421

     Phone  703-221-1471
     CompuServe  [72130,1400]