Copyright: "Copyright 1994 by Bryan T. Kinkel"


Contents
VersionViewer Help

To learn how to use the Windows help system, press F1	Copyright...	Other...

VersionViewer is a simple but powerful utility for browsing the version resource data embedded in many Windows executables (EXEs), dynamic link libraries (DLLs), and Visual Basic Extension (VBXs) files. In addition to version information, the resource can tell you who made the file, what software package it was shipped with, what the file is used for, etc.

Contents...

Introduction	Shareware Information
Main Screen	Product Support
Options	Order Form
Menu Commands
Wizards
	Lose Your Mind Development is a proud member of ASP, The Association of Shareware Professionals


Introduction

VersionViewer is a utility for browsing the version resource data embedded in many Windows executables (EXEs), dynamic link libraries (DLLs), and Visual Basic Extension (VBXs) files. In addition to version information, the resource can tell you who made the file, what software package it was shipped with, what the file is used for, etc.

This information is especially valuable when you are deleting installed programs from your system. The \WINDOWS and \WINDOWS\SYSTEM directories (system directories) have become the dumping ground for DLL and VBX files. You can delete a program from your hard drive by deleting the directory where the program is stored. However, if the program uses DLL or VBX files stored in the system directories, these pieces will not be deleted. You will have to figure out what DLL/VBX files were placed by the software package in the system directories. These files will then have to be deleted by hand. VersionViewer is helpful in cleaning up the extra clutter!

Version information is also useful for cleaning up older version files. Setup programs often overwrite DLLs on your system with an older version of the DLL. This may cause your older programs to not load correctly. If a software package was compiled to work with version 2.0 of EXAMPL.DLL, but version 1.0 is on your computer, the program may not load.

Sometimes a program will place its DLL/VBX files in its own directory rather than in the system area. When this happens, you may have duplicate files. If the files have different version numbers, you may run into incompatibilities when you try to run the software. If two programs use the same DLL/VBX with the same version, you can save hard drive space by using only one copy placed in the system area.

Unfortunately, version information is not included in every file. It is limited to Windows executable files in their various forms (EXE, DLL, VBX, OCX, etc). Additionally, not every software vendor includes the data in their files. Version data may be more widely used when Windows95 ships (a.k.a. Windows 4.0, Chicago) in mid-1995. The DocFile format, used by Microsoft Word 6.0 and Excel 5.0,  also contains version information. VersionViewer will eventually be able to peek inside DocFiles. The Windows File Manager will let you look at version data, but it will not let you look at multiple files at once.

VersionViewer only lets you view the information. You cannot change it. Version information is embedded into executable files using a compiler or a resource editor.


Main Screen

VersionViewer uses a simple window to display the resource information. Like most Windows utilities, the top line contains the menu commands. Below the menu is a toolbar area. From the toolbar you can select the drive to access, the extension filter to use, and turn Tooltips on and off.

The left half of the window contains two listboxes. One is a directory listing, the other a file listing. As you change directories, the file list box will display the available files. Clicking the right mouse button over either listbox will bring up a context menu. From the menu you can quickly copy data to the clipboard, change the display font and access the help file.

Version information is displayed on the right side of the screen. You can view version information for a just a single file, or you can click the Multiple Files tab to display version information for several files. Click the tab control to switch views.

Click on the diagram below to learn more about the objects on the VersionViewer screen.


Options

Like many programs, VersionViewer can be customized by the user. To get change your settings, select Options... from the Tools menu. From the Options dialog box you can change a variety of settings. Click the OK button to save your settings and return to the main menu.

Click a tab below to get help on that topic.


Display Options

Use the checkboxes to select which fields are displayed in VersionViewer's multiple file view. This options screen also controls which fields are included in printouts and saved files.


File Viewer

After you use the System Report Wizard to build a file report, you can elect to view it using your favorite program. The default option is Windows Write.

To change your file viewer:

1.	Click the "Browse..." button and locate the executable file that starts your favorite word processor or text file viewer.

-or-

Enter the full path and filename of the executable for your program in the Command Line field.

2.	Enter the name of your program in the Program Name field.

3.	Enter the path of the working directory for your program (optional).


Report Headers

The headers are included at the top of any file listing you save with VersionViewer. The headers are also included on printouts that you can generate with VersionViewer.


Report Font

Use this option to select the font you want VersionViewer to use for printouts. The printouts were composed with Arial, but any font should work.


Menu Commands

There are very few menu commands in VersionViewer. Most of the operations are performed with a mouse. Below is a brief summary of the menu commands and what they do.

File

Save - Saves the list of files with version information to a disk file. VersionViewer will switch to the multiple file view to retrieve all the files in the directory. The only fields saved to the file are the fields you are viewing on the screen. The file is saved as a tab-delimited file.

Delete - Deletes the selected file. If the file is being used by Windows, you will not be able to delete it.

Print - VersionViewer can print a simple report for the single file that is displayed. Printing will be expanded in the next release of VersionViewer.

Refresh - Reread the contents of the current directory.

Exit - Quits VersionViewer

Edit

Copy File List - Copies the list of files in the current directory to the Windows clipboard.

Copy File List & Version Info - Copies the list of files along with any version information. The version fields displayed in the multiple file view are the fields that are copied to the clipboard. The text is sent delimited with tabs.

Tools

Jump to Windows Directory - Quickly changes to the \WINDOWS directory.

Jump to System Directory - Quickly changes to the \WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory.

System Report - Starts the System Report Wizard. This tool will help you quickly generate an inventory of files & version information for your Windows PC.

File Compare - Starts the File Compare Wizard. This tool will help you compare version information for files with the same name.

Options... - Displays the Options screen so you can customize your copy of VersionViewer.

View Only Files With Info - When this option is checked, only the files that contain version information are displayed in the multiple file view.

Help

Contents - Display the contents of the on-line help file.

Help Finder... - Searches for a help file by topic name or keyword

About... - Display copyright and registration information for VersionViewer.


Product Support

Product Support is available for users who have taken the time to register their product with the author. The easiest way to get support is through email (Internet, Compuserve, etc.), but you can also get support via conventional US Mail.

Internet:	70564,2372@compuserve.com

Compuserve:	70564,2372

US Mail:	Lose Your Mind Development

Bryan T. Kinkel

453 Lancaster Avenue

Haverford, PA 19041


Shareware Information

Order Form	ASP

What is Shareware?

This product is distributed using the shareware method. Shareware distribution gives users (such as yourself!) a chance to try software before buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to register your copy with the author. You are encouraged to pass a copy of VersionViewer along to your friends for evaluation.  Please encourage them to register their copy if they find that they can use it.

Users who take the time to register their copy of VersionViewer are entitled to the following benefits:

1.	The most recent release of VersionViewer on a 3½ floppy diskette

2.	A license certificate with a product password (allows you to register your copy of VersionViewer and disable the reminder screens)

3.	Product support

4.	Notification of future upgrades via email and conventional US Mail

Pricing is as follows:

$10 	1 copy of VersionViewer, domestic US address

$12	1 copy of VersionViewer, Canada, Mexico, Europe, & the rest of the World

Please enclose an order form for prompt fulfillment and delivery.

Site licenses and volume discounts are available. Please contact Lose Your Mind Development for more information.

Contact Information

Internet:	70564,2372@compuserve.com

Compuserve:	70564,2372

US Mail:	Lose Your Mind Development

Bryan T. Kinkel

453 Lancaster Avenue

Haverford, PA 19041

Association of Shareware Professionals

Lose Your Mind Development 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 49442-9427 USA, FAX 616-788-2765 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.


Order Form

Please select Print Topic from the File menu above!

VersionViewer 1.0

Name:	________________________________________________________

Company:	________________________________________________________

Address:	________________________________________________________

Address:	________________________________________________________

City:	___________________	State/Prov.:______Zip/PC:______

Phone (optional):	_____________	Fax:	_________________________

Email Address:	_____________

PC Brand & Model:	_____________	Screen Resolution: ______________

How did you receive this copy of VersionViewer?

BBS:	_____________________	Catalog:	_____________________

CD-ROM:____________________	Book:	_____________________

Vendor:____________________	Friend	Work	User Group

Please indicate quantity for each product:

_____	$10 VersionViewer 1.0, domestic USA address

_____	$12 VersionViewer 1.0, overseas & Canada

Please enclose personal or corporate check payable to:

Lose Your Mind Development

c/o Bryan T. Kinkel

453 Lancaster Avenue

2nd Floor

Haverford, PA 19041

Please no purchase orders, VISA, MasterCard, or American Express orders!

Please list additional comments, gripes, horror stories, etc. on back!


Tooltips

 If Tooltips is turned on and you pause the mouse over a screen control, a note will popup telling you about the element on the screen.


Menu Bar

Select your menu commands from here.


Drive Listbox

Click on this listbox to select a disk drive to access. Note: retrieving version information from removable media drives (floppy) can be very slow!


Extension Listbox

Click on this listbox to view files with a particular extension. This is useful if you, for example, only want to see .EXE files.


Directory List

This list contains all the directories on the currently selected disk drive. Directories are depicted as folders. Double clicking a folder will display the files in the file listbox. Folders with subdirectories are indicated with a small + sign on the folder.


File List

This is a list of all the files in the currently selected directory. Clicking on a file will prompt VersionViewer to display the version resource, if present.


Version Data

This area is used to display version data for files on your Windows PC.


Status Bar

The status bar is used to display help information for menu items and indicate the progress on operations that may take a few moments to perform.


File Name, Size, & Date

The name of the file as well as the size and date is displayed here.


In-use Indicator

If a file is loaded into memory or in use by Windows, a red RAM will be displayed here. Files that are in-use cannot be deleted from your system until they are released.


File Type

The type (application, DLL, etc...) of the file is displayed here.


Context Menu

 A context menu is a short cut menu giving you quick access to frequently used commands.


Tab Control

 A tab control lets you switch between different views of a screen or through groups of options on one dialog box.


File Manager

The Windows 3.11 File Manager will let you view the version information from a file by selecting it and choosing Properties from the File menu (ALT-ENTER).


Multiple File View

 This lets you examine the version information for all files in a directory at once. Because there are many fields in a version resource, you may only want to view certain ones. To select the fields to display, click the right mouse button over the version listbox. A menu with all the fields will be displayed.

Note: The fields displayed on screen control which fields get saved, printed, and copied. For example, if the only fields displayed are the file version and the company name, then only those fields and the filename will be saved in a text file with the File|Save function.


Single File View

  When this tab is clicked, version information is displayed for one file at a time.


Copyright

VersionViewer and this help file are  © Copyright 1994 by:

Lose Your Mind Development and Bryan T. Kinkel

453 Lancaster Avenue

Haverford, PA 19041

All rights reserved. Please don't rip off my work, I won't rip off yours...


ASP

Lose Your Mind Development 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 49442-9427 USA, FAX 616-788-2765 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.


Wizards

VersionViewer uses "Wizards" to help perform certain tasks on your Windows PC. Select a Wizard to see more information...

System Report- Builds a report detailing system files and version information.

File Compare - Helps you compare version information from different files.

Duplicate Files - Searches your hard drive for duplicate files.


System Report Wizard

The System Report Wizard is a tool that will compile a listing of files and version information. The list is saved to your hard drive as a tab-delimited text file. This file can then be imported into a spreadsheet or word processor for analysis or printing.

Click the next button on the screen below to learn more!


System Report Wizard - Step 1
System Report Wizard

The System Report Wizard will begin in the directory you select and then continue scanning files through all the subdirectories. Change to your root directory to run the report on your entire hard drive. If you are just searching for files in the \windows and \windows\system areas, click to the \windows directory.


System Report Wizard - Step 2
System Report Wizard

Select what types of files you would like to have VersionViewer include in the system report. Select *.* to select all files on your system. Click the "Include only..." check box to have only files with version data included in the report.


System Report Wizard - Step 3
System Report Wizard

By default, the System Report Wizard will save your file as sysrpt.txt in the directory where you installed VersionViewer. Click the "Output File..." button to save the file to a different filename.


System Report Wizard - Step 4
System Report Wizard

Use this screen to tell the Wizard what version fields you want included in the report.


System Report Wizard - Step 5
System Report Wizard

Use these options to change the headers that are placed at the top of the system report file.


System Report Wizard - Step 6
System Report Wizard

 The System Report Wizard is now ready to compile your listing. Click the "View..." checkbox if you want to view the report when the process is finished. Click the "Viewer..." button to change the file viewer application. As the report is being created, the status bar will keep you updated.


 File Compare Wizard

The File Compare Wizard is a tool to help you compare the version information in two files with the same name. If you frequently install new software packages or evaluate software for your company, it is possible that you have multiple copies of system files on your computer.

To compare file information, select File Compare from the Tools menu. The dialog box shows two directory and file lists side by side. As you change directories, the Compare Wizard will check for similar files. A bullet [image] will be placed next to filenames that have the same name but different version information. Files are compared based on the Comparison Criteria that you set.

Click on the picture below for more information...


Source Directory

This is the first directory for your comparison. The files in the directory are displayed below the Source Directory list.


Source Files

These are the files from the Source Directory. If a file exists in both the Source and the Comparison directories and the version information is different, a bullet [image] will be placed next to the filename.


Comparison Directory

This is the second directory for your comparison. The files in the directory are displayed below the Comparison Directory list.


Comparison Files

These are the files from the Comparison Directory. If a file exists in both the Source and the Comparison directories and the version information is different, a bullet [image] will be placed next to the filename.


"Compare Using" Listbox

You can compare the files using any of the fields in the version resource. The available fields are:

File Date	File Size	File Version
File Type	Company Name	Product Name
Product Version	Internal Name	Original Filename
File Comments	File Description

If a file exists in both the Source and the Comparison directories and the version information is different, a bullet [image] will be placed next to the filename.


Same Files Checkbox

When this option is checked, only files that appear in both the Source and Comparison directories will be listed. A great use for this is finding which files appear in both the \WINDOWS and \WINDOWS\SYSTEM directories.


Details Button

Click this to examine the version information for two files files side-by-side.


Tab Delimited Text File

The tab delimited text files created by VersionViewer contain one line for each file. The version fields for each file are on the same lime and separated by a tab character. Most spreadsheet and word processing packages can import this type of file.


Other

If you enjoy trading Grateful Dead tapes... drop me a note at

Internet:	70564,2372@compuserve.com

Compuserve:	70564,2372

See you at the shows...


 Duplicate File Wizard

The Duplicate File Wizard is a tool that will search for files that are on your hard drive more than once. If you choose, any version information present in the files can be saved in the report. The list is saved to your hard drive as a tab-delimited text file. This file can then be imported into a spreadsheet or word processor for analysis or printing.

Click the next button on the screen below to learn more!


 Duplicate File Wizard

 The Duplicate File Wizard will begin its search in the directory you select and then continue scanning files through all the subdirectories. Change to your root directory to run the report on your entire hard drive. If you are just searching for duplicates in the \windows and \windows\system areas, click to the \windows directory.


 Duplicate File Wizard

 Select what types of files you would like to have VersionViewer search for. Select *.* to select all files on your system. Click the "Include only..." check box to have only files with version data included in the report.


 Duplicate File Wizard

 By default, the Duplicate File Wizard will save your file as dupfiles.txt in the directory where you installed VersionViewer. Click the "Output File..." button to save the file to a different filename.


 Duplicate File Wizard

 Use this screen to tell the Wizard what version fields you want included in the report.


 Duplicate File Wizard

 Use these options to change the headers that are placed at the top of the system report file.


 Duplicate File Wizard

 The Duplicate File Wizard is now ready to search your hard drive. Click the "View..." checkbox if you want to view the report when the process is finished. Click the "Viewer..." button to change the file viewer application. As the search is being run, the status bar will keep you updated.