TrackDir - Directory Navigation Tracker v1.0 User's Guide March 16, 1995 Copyright (c) 1995 Ross Leidy _______ ____|__ | (R) --| | |------------------- | ____|__ | Association of | | |_| Shareware |__| o | Professionals -----| | |--------------------- |___|___| MEMBER Introduction Each time you restart your computer, TrackDir automatically sets the default drive and working directories to those that were active when the machine was last shut-down. There are no special commands to issue before shutting down. You just turn your computer off normally, and the next time you restart, you are right back where you left off. Here's how it works: TrackDir monitors your movements as you switch from drive to drive and from directory to directory. Periodically, this information is saved to a file that is read the next time you restart your computer. TrackDir automatically restores the current working directories and sets the default drive for you. The current directory on each of your drives (C:, D:, etc.) is now back to the same state it was in when you last shut-down. You can pick up working just where you left off. For example, as you issue DOS commands like: C:\> D: and D:\> CD \MY\COOL\STUFF TrackDir notices and remembers the new drive and directory. The next time you restart your computer, you are placed back at drive `D:' in the directory `\MY\COOL\STUFF'. You can pick-up where you left off. System Requirements TrackDir has the following system requirements: * DOS 3.00 and above. * Approximately 1200 bytes of memory. (The size of the program is greater than this, but only 1200 bytes or so will remain in memory after installation.) * Up to 2Kb of disk space on drive C: to store the state file (C:\TRACKER.DAT). (The file will normally be much smaller than this.) Installation To begin using TrackDir, perform the following steps: * Create a directory on your hard disk to contain the TrackDir files and change to that directory. For example: C:\> MD \TRACKDIR C:\> CD \TRACKDIR * Copy the TRAK10.ZIP file to the new directory and UnZip the TrackDir archive file. For example: C:\TRACKDIR> PKUNZIP TRAK10.ZIP * Here are the files contained within the archive: TRACKDIR.COM - The TrackDir program TRACKDIR.DOC - User's Guide (Microsoft Word 2.0) TRACKDIR.TXT - User's Guide (ASCII text) TRACKDIR.REG - Registration form README.TXT - Any last minute information FILD_ID.DIZ - Description for BBS's SDN.ID - Description for SDN BBS's * Edit your C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT file, go to the very end of the file and make a new line with the following addition: C:\TRACKDIR\TRACKDIR.COM That's all you need to do to start using TrackDir. The next time you restart your computer, TrackDir will begin monitoring your movements between directories and drives. During times of inactivity, TrackDir will save information about your current state in the file C:\TRACKDIR.DAT. Thereafter, each time you restart your computer, TrackDir reads this file and restores your default drive and current working directories. Program Operation TrackDir monitors drive and directory changes on drives C:, D:, etc., up to the number of drives specified by the LASTDRIVE setting in your CONFIG.SYS file (if you don't have a LASTDRIVE statement, then DOS automatically uses E:). TrackDir purposely does not monitor the floppy drives because by nature they are transient, and rarely is the same floppy in the drive at all times. Also, there is a lag-time involved when accessing floppy diskettes. TrackDir monitors only drives supported by real DOS device drivers (e.g., Hard Disks, CD-ROMs, Magneto- Optical, etc.). Drives that are implemented by a redirector (e.g., Novell NetWare mapped drives) cannot be monitored. The reason for this is that the internal DOS tables do not contain the information TrackDir needs for monitoring. In general, TrackDir will only monitor drives physically located on your machine. TrackDir is a utility that you ordinarily install and forget. It works in the background, consumes very little memory, and, apart from the initial banner, is non- intrusive. However, even with such single-purpose utilities, there is a need for some command-line options. These are the command-line options supported by TrackDir: /Q or -Q Quiet mode. No startup banner displayed. /U or -U Unload from memory. /H or -H Help screen. A mini User's Guide. TrackDir will allow itself to be installed only once, so invoking it multiple times will not consume any more memory. This allows you to run TrackDir with the `Help' option after TrackDir has been installed. Also, the `Help' option overrides the `Quiet' switch. TrackDir assumes that if you ask for the help screen, that you really want to see it. When you run TrackDir, the screen output is divided into boxed sections. This first section contains the startup banner, and the last section contains the installation status. When the `Help' option is used, an additional section is inserted into the middle that contains the help text. The boxed sections are to help categorize the output so that you can find what you are looking for quickly. Should you find it necessary to remove TrackDir from memory, simply invoke it again with the `Uninstall' switch. This will cause the installed copy to remove itself from memory. However, other TSRs that were loaded after TrackDir may make the uninstall impossible. If this is the case, TrackDir will display an error message in the status section of the output. Free Registration TrackDir is provided free of charge. There is no registration fee for using this product. Please feel free to pass it along to friends and colleagues (in its original form, please). I request only an email notification that you are using TrackDir; preferably a completed copy of the TRACKDIR.REG file. This will allow me to notify you as updates become available. See the "Contacting the Author" section for the email address. Source Code Available Fellow programmers may obtain a copy of the source code for TrackDir from the author for $12.95 US + shipping & handling. The program is written entirely in assembly language (using Borland's assembler), is fully commented, and provides examples of programming techniques such as: * Capturing, replacing, and chaining interrupt handlers. * Using the versatile DOS Idle interrupt. * Short-circuiting a Critical Error handler (those "Abort, Retry, Ignore, Fail" messages). * Finding the DOS internal "List of Lists" and extracting information. * Examining the DOS array of Working Directory structures. * Reading and processing the command line. * Reading and writing files. You may use the source to add additional features to TrackDir for your own use. You may also use it entirely or partially in any shareware that you develop. However, you may not resell the source code in any form. There are two ways to obtain a copy of the source code. You can mail payment in directly, or use CompuServe's online registration service. If mailing payment, simply: * Fill out the registration form (print a copy of TRACKDIR.REG). Make sure to select either postal mail or email for delivery of the source code. * Enclose $12.95 US per copy plus applicable shipping & handling charges (cash, check, or money order drawn on a US bank), and * Mail it to: Ross Leidy 1966 Staunton Road Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 USA * The source code will be sent to you via the method of your choice. Alternatively, if you are a CompuServe subscriber, payment for the source code can be made while online. To obtain source code via CompuServe, login and then simply: * Type `GO SWREG'. DOSCIM and WINCIM users can select `GO' from the `Services' menu or from the button- bar. * Follow the directions for registration. When asked for TrackDir's Registration Database ID, enter 5102. * The source code will be sent to you promptly via CompuServe mail. * (Whenever possible, I request that after you have completed the SWREG process that you email me (75122,1275) a completed copy of the TRACKDIR.REG file to complete my records.) (NOTE: Do NOT use the online registration you are just registering the executable version of TrackDir. For the free registration, please send email as detailed above.) Contacting the Author If you experience any problems with TrackDir, you can send me email at: From the internet: 75122.1275@compuserve.com From CompuServe: 75122,1275 You can also send postal mail too: Ross Leidy 1966 Staunton Road Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 USA I do my best to fix all reported bugs as quickly as possible. Bug reports should contain the version of TrackDir, version of DOS, the nature of the bug, and any other pertinent information. Also, anyone should feel free to drop me email if you have any questions or ideas for enhancements. Where to Find TrackDir The best places to find the most current version of TrackDir are: * On the internet in the SimTel Software Repository and its mirror sites such as oak.oakland.edu. The specific directory is SimTel/msdos/dirutil. * On CompuServe in the PCUTIL forum, DOS Utilities library. * On any BBS that receives files from the Shareware Distribution Network (SDN) Project. Look for a file in the form: TRAKxx.ZIP where the xx is the major/minor version number. For example, TrackDir v1.0 would appear as: TRAK10.ZIP Although you may have found TrackDir at a different internet site or BBS, all new versions of TrackDir will be posted to these sites first. Version History 1.0 - Initial release. Distribution TrackDir may be copied and distributed freely, provided that all the original files are included. All code and documentation must remain intact and unmodified. TrackDir may be included in Shareware CD-ROMs or other Shareware collections, provided that acquiring the collection does not remove the user's obligation to register the software. Copyright This software is Copyright c1995 by Ross Leidy, all rights reserved. TrackDir is a trademark of Ross Leidy. Trademark References MS-DOS and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. CompuServe is a registered trademark of CompuServe, Inc. Novell and NetWare are registered trademarks of Novell, Inc. Borland is a registered trademark of Borland International, Inc. Ombudsman This program is produced by 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. Disclaimer THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES RELATING TO THIS SOFTWARE, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND ALL SUCH WARRANTIES ARE EXPRESSLY AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMED. NEITHER THE AUTHOR NOR ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CREATION, PRODUCTION, OR DELIVERY OF THIS SOFTWARE SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE SUCH SOFTWARE EVEN IF THE AUTHOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR CLAIMS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR'S LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES EVER EXCEED THE PRICE PAID FOR THE LICENSE TO USE THE SOFTWARE, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF THE CLAIM. THE PERSON USING THE SOFTWARE BEARS ALL RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE. Some states do not allow the exclusion of the limit of liability for consequential or incidental damages, so the above limitation may not apply to you. This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Ohio and shall inure to the benefit of Ross Leidy and any successors, administrators, heirs and assigns. Any action or proceeding brought by either party against the other arising out of or related to this agreement shall be brought only in a STATE or FEDERAL COURT of competent jurisdiction located in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The parties hereby consent to in personam jurisdiction of said courts.