FILE-IT Version 1.5 Diskette File Inventory System Copyright 1995, J. A. Marrero This program was written for the purpose of organizing your archive files, such as, ZIP, LZH, ARJ and ARC files in a orderly and efficient manner. Although this program was written for diskettes containing compressed files, it can be used with regular files. The program does not care what kind of file it is handling. It will read and store the diskettes along with their directories into a database on the hard drive. In these days of bulletin boards and software clubs, the tendency to collect and store programs can become a burden, especially when trying to locate a file that has not been used for a long time. The solution is to create a number filing system, like an index, by writing numbers on the label of your diskettes and trays. You start by labeling the first tray as number one. Within this tray you number the diskettes. The first diskette would be number one, the second would be number two and so on until number 255 which would be the last diskette in the tray, and the maximum number the program allows. The second tray would be labeled as two and the diskettes within this tray would be labeled starting with one until the last diskette. This process continues until you've reached tray number 255, which is the maximum number of trays the program allows. You can use any combination of trays or diskettes for your your inventory. For example, I have five trays of diskettes that contains 50 diskettes in each tray. I simply combined all five trays into one tray with a total of 250 diskettes. I then labeled this tray as tray 1 and the diskettes I labeled them starting with 1 up to diskette 250. Now my inventory contains tray one with 250 diskettes. I can take another group of 5 trays with 250 diskettes and label this as tray 2 and the diskettes starting with diskette 1 up to diskette 250. Now my inventory will contain tray 1 and tray 2 with their respective diskettes in them. The program also has a maximum number of files it will store, which is 2,500 files per tray. The complete total number of diskettes that the program will store by using all 255 trays, is 65,000 diskettes. This will give you a total of 637,500 files for all 255 trays. You can store up to 130,000 diskettes, using both the 3 1/2" and the 5 1/4" diskettes. If you like, you can choose your own setup of trays and diskettes. You may elect to take a tray with 50 diskettes and call this tray 1 with 50 diskettes. Take another tray with 50 diskettes and call this one tray 2 with 50 diskettes. Now your inventory will contain tray 1 and tray 2 with 50 diskettes in each. Choose whatever combination that makes you comfortable. Once you have decided on the number filing system to use, you can execute the program FILE-IT. Pick the ADD A DISKETTE from the menu, insert a diskette in the appropriate drive and the program will automatically read the diskette and store the files in the database along with the diskette and tray numbers that you provide. Once the program establishes the diskette number, it will from that moment on, show you the next sequential diskette number to insert. After adding the diskette into the database, you have the option of adding a description to each file including a description for the tray itself. From this moment on, when you want to locate a specific file or program, you would bring up FILE-IT then from FILE-IT execute SEARCH to locate the file. You can search by filename, extension, description or by the diskette number, depending on your preference. Once you locate your file, you could either copy or unzip the file to any directory or diskette you wish. This is all done from within the program itself. The program will not write to your diskette or disturb any of the files that are in the diskette. It is programmed to only create a database on your hard drive and work with the database. The installation of FILE-IT is very simple. Create a directory, preferably a directory with the name of FILE-IT, on the hard disk. Copy the files or unzip the file into that directory. Execute FILE-IT.EXE. If this is your first time using FILE-IT, you will see a window with registration information asking for a donation and serial number. Don't get alarmed by this window if you are not a registered user. The program is fully functional whether you are a registered user or not. Just hit ENTER or click the mouse and the next window will appear. The next window will ask you what diskettes you want in your inventory. After completing the answers, you will see another window asking you for the tray number you wish to use. Upon completing the tray window, the program will bring you to the the main section of the program. This is called the main screen. Incidentally, there are three screens that the program uses. One screen is called the MAIN screen, the other is called the LIST CURRENT TRAY screen and the other the LIST FREE DISK SPACE screen. In the MAIN screen, you will see two windows, the title of the program and at the bottom two hot keys. The STATUS window will display information about the tray of diskettes you are actively using. The MAIN window will display a menu of items to choose from. If this is the first time you are using FILE-IT, you would pick the the HELP item so you can get familiar with the program. Look at all the screens so you can get familiar with them. Although it is not shown, the LIST CURRENT TRAY screen uses four hot keys. These hot keys ALT-Z for DOS-SHELL, and ALT-X for exiting the main program. The next time you bring up FILE-IT, you will be brought to the MAIN screen with all the changes you've made. The only exception is the registration window. Once you register, you will never see this window again. Press "M" to view the manual which its called FILE-IT.DOC for more detailed instructions using this program. By the way, you should have PKUNZIP, LHA, ARC, and ARJ on your hard drive. The program calls these programs to decompress or view the the files that are in your inventory. FILE-IT will run on any IBM compatible system using any version of MSDOS. It requires at least 384KB of memory. It will output to any printer. It is fully mouse supported. The left button acts as the ENTER key and the right button acts as the ESC key. Most of the responses in the program that waits on your input for a YES or No will use the left or right arrow keys or the or keys or the left button or right button on your mouse. This is all done for your convinience.