source: trunk/README@ 858

Last change on this file since 858 was 834, checked in by Gregg Young, 18 years ago

Improved file filtering logic to match last extention for file associations (types) (reverse character by character matching) and optionally search for complete strings within a file name (strstr matching).

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1 ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
2 ³ F(ile) M(anager)/2 is free software from Mark Kimes ³
3 ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄŽ
4 ³ READ.ME file -- read before installing ³
5 ³ See end of document for contact info ³
6 ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
7
8FM/2 3.08 has had changes to its file filtering logic.
9It now searches for the last extension if a mask like *.zip
10is used. This change was made to over come the problem with
11associations failing on files with multiple ".". You can
12also seach for a complete string within the file names by
13using the pattern *stuff* (stuff can't contain an * or ?).
14If "stuff" contains an * or ? the old method of searching
15(character by character)is used.
16
17FM/2 3.07 had changes made to its ini file structure.
18These changes mean that the ini file is not backward
19compatible. Please backup you FM3.INI file before installing
20so you can revert to an earlier version without losing some
21of your customizations. Please note you need to leave a copy
22of the fm3.ini file in the install directory in order to keep your
23customizations in 3.07. The temp file fm3.!!! will not update
24the new ini as it is only used when fm2 is running.
25
26File Manager/2 (FM/2) starting with version 3.6 is being
27built with OpenWatcom. Changing compilers can introduce
28unexpected problem so you may want to backup your current
29install, or at minimum have a working copy of the FM/2
30version 3.5.9 warpin available for reinstall if problems arise.
31To backup your current install simple zip up your install
32directory with its subdirectories or copy them to a different
33location.To restore simply copy the old FM/2 back to the
34its original location. Remember you can't use the new FM/2
35to do this since if it is running some files will be locked
36and won't be replaced. If you didn't backup and need to go
37back just install the 3.5.9 warpin package over the new
38install. It will warn you that the install is newer but just
39tell it to install anyway. The warpin install process is
40designed to save all your customizations. Don't delete the
41new install if you don't have a backup since this will result
42in the loss of any custom changes you have made. If you need
43to delete it to get the reinstall to work. Backup up the new
44install and then copy the *.bmp, *.tls, *.dat, *.cmd & *.ini
45files back to the install directory after the reinstall.
46Don't copy the *.str files as they are version specific.
47If you have problems be sure to report it (See Support
48at the end of this file).
49
50File Manager/2 (FM/2) is a free OS/2(Warp)/eCS Presentation
51Manager 32-bit file/directory/archive maintenance utility
52(a sort of super-Drives object, something midway between the
53Drives objects and a more traditional file manager) with plenty
54of bells, whistles and utilities, drag and drop, context menus,
55toolbars, bubble help and accelerator keys. If you know how
56to use OS/2, you already know how to use most of FM/2. You
57can easily glean the rest from the extensive online help,
58including tutorials.
59
60This document explains how to install FM/2, including
61upgrading from previous versions. It explains command line
62syntaxes (parameters in a program object) and how to get the
63program(s) running. The online help tells you how to
64actually use FM/2. I'll try to keep this brief.
65
66This program is free software; you can redistribute it
67and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public
68License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
69version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later
70version.
71
72This program is distributed in the hope that it will be
73useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied
74warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
75PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more
76details.
77
78You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public
79License along with this program; if not, write to the Free
80Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330,
81Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
82
83
84FM/2 3.x installation instructions:
85==================================
86
87Pre-requisite:
88 WarpIN 0.9.20 or higher must be installed.
89
90Install (or re-install) from a FM/2 ZIP file distribution
91---------------------------------------------------------
92
931. Unpack the FM2*.ZIP archive in a private directory (for
94example, C:\TMP). (UNZIP.EXE works nicely to unpack the
95file.) Two WPI files, FM2.WPI and FM2UTILS.WPI will be
96unzipped.
97
982. Follow the instructions for installing from WPI file(s)
99below.
100
101
102Install (or re-install) from a FM/2 WPI file distribution
103---------------------------------------------------------
104
1051. Open the WPS folder containing the WPI file(s).
106
1072. Double click on FM2.WPI. Since WarpIN associates itself
108with WPI files this will start WarpIN with FM2.WPI as the
109parameter.
110
1113, You may then install FM/2 to a directory of your choice
112and, if FM2UTILS.WPI is present, install FM/2 Utilities to
113a directory of your choice.
114
115NOTE: If you double click on FM2UTILS.WPI instead of
116FM2.WPI, you will only be able to install the FM/2
117Utilities. It is recommended that, even if you only want to
118install FM/2 Utilities, that you do so using FM2.WPI.
119
120
121Moving FM/2 and/or FM/2 Utilities:
122----------------------------------
123
1241. Copy your existing installation directory to the new
125location.
126
1272. If you have added your own icons to any of the FM/2
128folders, then you should move them elsewhere temporarily.
129
1303. Follow the instructions for de-installing below.
131
1324. Re-install the package using the installation
133instructions above. This will update the WarpIN database and
134reset your icons to the new locations.
135
1365. Move the icons you saved in step #2, back into the FM/2
137folders if you wish.
138
139
140De-installing FM/2 and/or FM/2 Utilities:
141-----------------------------------------
142
1431. Run Warpin without parameters.
144
1452. Right click on a package you want to de-install and
146select "de-install all packages".
147
1483. Click on OK in the "De-install Packages" window that
149appears.
150
151
152
153=================
154First-time notes:
155=================
156
157Starting FM/2 -- how it works, customizing parameters:
158
159If you start File Manager/2 (filename FM3.EXE) with no
160parameters, it opens the Drive Tree window but no directory
161windows (unless the "Save state of dir windows" toggle is
162checked -- see online help).
163
164File Manager/2 optionally accepts names of directories in
165the parameters field of its program object; it'll open a
166directory window for each one. Hint: If you often do
167different specific things with FM/2, you might set up a WPS
168object customized to start up ideally for each activity. For
169example, if you wanted to maintain your BBS areas, you might
170have one object with parameters like: "D:\BBSDIR
171D:\BBSDIR\MAILIN D:\BBSDIR\MAILOUT", and if you also like to
172use FM/2 to set icons on files, you might have another
173object with parameters like: "E:\MYICONS D:\NEWFILES". The
174State quicklist can also be used for this within FM/2 itself
175-- see online help.
176
177You can exclude drives in the parameters by prefacing the
178drive letter with "/", and there can be more than one drive
179letter behind the "/" (i.e. "/BH" to exclude both drives B:
180and H:). Hint: Many people like to use /B to exclude
181"phantom" drive B: if they have a single-floppy system.
182Similarly, you can cause drives NOT to be prescanned by the
183Drive Tree by prefacing the drive letter with ";", drives
184NOT to load icons for objects by prefacing the drive letter
185with ",", drives NOT to load subjects for objects by
186prefacing the drive letter with "`" and drives NOT to load
187longnames for objects by prefacing the drive letter with
188"'". This can be handy if you have a very slow drive like a
189CD-ROM or Zip drive. FM/2 Lite recognizes these switches,
190too. See also the Drive Flags dialog in FM/2.
191
192If you place the plus sign "+" (alone, separated from
193anything else by spaces) in the parameters, FM/2 will log,
194to FM2.LOG, delete, rename, move and copy operations that
195are performed by drag-and-drop or with the menus. FM/2 Lite
196recognizes this switch, too.
197
198The parameter "-" (alone, separated from anything else by
199spaces) causes FM/2 to ignore, not load or save, the
200previous state of directory windows (see the "Save state of
201dir windows" toggle under Config Menu->Toggles in the online
202help) for that invocation.
203
204You can specify the name of an alternate INI file with
205"-<inifilename>" -- for example: "-C:\FM2\MYINI.INI".
206
207You can also specify the INI file location with the
208environment variable FM2INI -- for example:
209 SET FM2INI=C:\FM2\MYINI.INI.
210
211
212------------------------------
213How to get started using FM/2:
214-----------------------------
215Please read the following sections in the online help when
216you start FM/2 for the first time: "How to use FM/2's Help,"
217"Terminology" and "General Help," then "Hints." A peek at
218the labelled "Window Layouts" pictures would probably be a
219good idea, too. The rest you can browse as you get time/feel
220the need; for instance, if you want to know what a toggle
221does, read the help under Settings notebook for that page
222(each Settings notebook page has its own Help button).
223
224If you prefer hard copy help, print this file, run FM/2,
225press F1, click the "Print" button at the bottom (IBM View)
226or top (Newview)of the help window that appears and then print
227both the "Contents" and "All sections" (keep an eye on the printer,
228after page 100 of "All sections" as the Help Manager will
229begin printing its own help then -- you may want to abort
230printing at that point). Advanced and/or curious users may
231also want to print FM3TOOLS.DAT and ARCHIVER.BB2. Be sure
232you have plenty of paper and ink handy -- the package is
233well documented. You'll probably also want a three-ring
234binder and hole punch to get it bound, as staples aren't
235going through that puppy. You can, of course, print only the
236sections that are of particular interest to you.
237
238Additional documentation:
239------------------------
240 FM3.HLP: FM/2's online help file.
241
242Look in the FM/2 Docs subfolder of the File Manager/2 folder
243for easy access to all documentation.
244
245
246Bonus programs:
247==============
248
249You'll note the extra objects that the Install program
250creates in the FM/2 Tools subfolder of the File Manager/2
251folder. FM/2 is modular, so that you can get directly to
252some of its components without running the entire ball of
253wax. This may allow you to enhance the behavior of some of
254your other applications in the WPS tradition. You don't
255_have_ to keep these around, of course -- FM/2 itself
256contains all their functionality.
257
258ARCHIVE VIEWER/2: Intended for drag-and-drop operation (or
259WPS association) with WPS objects or other applications.
260Drag an archive onto it, drop it, get an archive listing
261box. FM/2's installation program sets up some associations
262between archive files and this program by file extension.
263AV/2 will try to display whatever you give it as
264sensibly as it can. Filename AV2.EXE.
265
266EA VIEWER: Drag a file system object onto it and it'll show
267you the object's extended attributes. Filename EAS.EXE.
268
269INI VIEWER: Drag an .INI file onto it and it'll show you its
270contents. Filename INI.EXE.
271
272BOOKSHELF VIEWER: Shows all .INF files in a listbox and lets
273you pick the one(s) you want to view. If you give any
274command line argument, the .HLP files on the HELP path will
275be shown instead (the Helpfile Viewer object calls
276VIEWINFS.EXE with "dummy" for an argument, for example).
277Filename VIEWINFS.EXE.
278
279PROCESS KILLER: Lets you kill off renegade processes. An
280English version of PSTAT.EXE must be on your PATH. Filename
281KILLPROC.EXE.
282
283UNDELETER: Lets you undelete files (via interface with
284UNDELETE.COM). Drag a file system object onto it and it'll
285let you undelete files for that drive. Filename UNDEL.EXE.
286
287VISUAL TREE: Opens a Drive Tree window (like the WPS Drives
288object with more horsepower). Filename VTREE.EXE.
289
290VISUAL DIRECTORY: Opens a Directory Container window; drag a
291file system object onto it and this will open its directory
292(like a WPS directory Folder with more horsepower). Filename
293VDIR.EXE.
294
295COLLECTOR: Opens a Collector window. Filename VCOLLECT.EXE.
296Two other objects, "See all files" and "Seek and scan" are
297created which call up the Collector and go directly to
298dialogs for the appropriate purpose.
299
300GLOBAL VIEWER: Opens a global view of a drive or drives.
301Filename GLOBAL.EXE.
302
303DATABAR: Opens a databar showing some system information.
304Filename DATABAR.EXE.
305
306DIRSIZE: Shows where drive usage is concentrated. Filename
307DIRSIZE.EXE.
308
309FM/2 LITE: A simplified interface for "dummies." Filename
310FM4.EXE.
311
312FM/2's install creates FM2.CMD, AV2.CMD, VDIR.CMD,
313VTREE.CMD, VCOLLECT.CMD, UNDEL.CMD, KILLPROC.CMD, INI.CMD,
314EAS.CMD, DIRSIZE.CMD, VIEWINFS.CMD and VIEWHELP.CMD files
315for you in a directory "utils" off the install directory.
316You should add this directory to your PATH= statement in
317CONFIG.SYS (type HELP PATH at a command line for more info).
318If you prefer, FM/2's INSTALL builds a SETENV.CMD in the
319FM/2 directory which you can call to set the PATH for FM/2
320in any given session without modifying CONFIG.SYS.
321
322
323Troubleshooting:
324===============
325
326FM/2 seems much slower than previous versions.
327The Find Buffer in FM/2 has been reworked to make it user
328settable in more place and significantly enlarge it. This
329significantly increases the loading speed for large directories
330However, most users will need to reset the buffer by going
331to the settings notebook scanning page and setting FindBuf.
332The new default for clean installs is 10240. We recommend you
333change to this setting (or higher) unless you have very limited
334hardware (less than 32 meg of memory original Pentium or earlier).
335
336If FM/2 won't run, the probable culprit is CONFIG.SYS. Your
337LIBPATH statement should contain a ".;" entry. If yours
338doesn't, add it. It's standard for an OS/2 installation, but
339some buggy install programs knock it out because they
340translate entries to their full pathname before rewriting
341(so ".;" gets translated to whatever the current directory
342is for the buggy install program). What this ".;" entry does
343is allow a program to find and use .DLL files in the
344program's current directory -- obviously something you want
345programs to be able to do, otherwise you'd have to put every
346application's .DLLs into directories already on the LIBPATH,
347or add the directories of all applications to the LIBPATH, a
348rather huge pain in the, uh, neck.
349
350If things in FM/2 are suddenly acting strange after an
351upgrade, first check the integrity of the install using
352using WarpIN. If it shows a problem rerun the install
353package. If that fails try installing to a new directory
354or backup your existing directory so you can save any changes
355you made to the template files then uninstall and reinstall.
356Once you have FM/2 working migrate the *.ini, *.dat, *.tls,
357*.bb2 and *.cmd from your old install/backup to recover your
358custom settings
359
360If the "FM/2 Online Help" object in the "FM/2 Docs"
361subfolder won't work properly, you've got a version of
362VIEW.EXE that won't directly display help (.HLP) files. Use
363SEEHELP.EXE from the FM/2 Utilities package to get around
364this problem (or upgrade your version of OS/2).
365
366Don't drag files over Netscape -- it will lock up if files
367(not WPS objects; there's a subtle difference) are dragged
368over it.
369
370If you get a popup dialog that needs to be reported to the
371maintainer, you can either take a screen shot or you can
372capture the information from STDERR with:
373
374 FM3 2>STDERR.LOG
375
376This technique works for all the FM/2, FM/2 Lite and all the
377standalone applets.
378
379If you are having trouble with Drag and Drop operations, try
380the + command line switch described above. The content of
381FM2.LOG may be helpful.
382
383
384Known problems/shortcomings:
385===========================
386
387- FM/2 does not properly report sizes of some files with
388long name resident on Win95/NT drives.
389
390- File List Container fails to fill after drive change
391SYS0039 error.
392
393- Tree switching on Focus/Directory Change appears to be
394slower than expected.
395
396- Access to LS120 and FAT32 drives may be slower than expected
397
398- Icon display in Directory Container does not always match
399WPS icons
400
401- Spurious WPS Objects Handles may be created during some
402operations
403
404- Trying to run Global.exe from the command line in 4OS2
405(perhaps other shells) results in the execution of 4OS2's "Global"
406command. Global.exe can be run by placing it in quotes or
407prefixing it with *. See 4OS2's documentation for more information.
408
409- As with any OS/2 program significant changes (such as our
410change to OpenWatcom) will result in the incompatibility of
411older (VAC) exes with new dlls and vice versa. Attempting to run
412OpenWatcom exes with a VAC dll loaded in memory or in your
413libpath ahead of the new version will result in a SYS3175 in
414popuplog.os2. The reverse gives a SYS2070. If you experience these
415problems search your libpath for fm3dll.dll and remove or rename
416it. Your libpath should have "." (without the quotes) as your
417first entry to minimize the likelihood of this problem. FM/2's
418installer does not add the FM/2 directory to the libpath.
419
420- See http://svn.netlabs.org/fm2/report/1 for a complete list of
421currently active bugs
422
423
424
425About FM/2:
426==========
427
428FM/2 was originally written by:
429
430 Mark Kimes
431 <hectorplasmic@worldnet.att.net>
432
433He has kindly allowed me to take over maintenance and
434support of FM/2 and to release the program under the GNU GPL
435license. I'm sure he would appreciate a Thank You note for
436his generosity.
437
438Support:
439=======
440
441There is a Yahoo group devoted to fm/2 at:
442
443 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fm2user/
444
445You will find lots of friendly folks ready to help.
446
447FM/2 is moving to Netlabs (thanks Adrian).
448
449Check it out at
450
451 http://svn.netlabs.org/fm2
452
453Not everything is in place yet, but this is the place to
454enter defect tickets and enhancement requests (username netlabs,
455password guest; please include a valid email so we can contact you
456if we need more information). Eventually, the mailing list and the
457file archives will all move to the Netlabs server where you can
458find the source code.
459
460You can reach us directly at:
461
462 Steven H. Levine
463 steve53@earthlink.net
464
465 or
466
467 Gregg Young
468 ygk@qwest.net
469
470We also monitor the comp.os.os2.apps newsgroup and several
471others in the comp.os.os2.* hierarchy.
472
473Thanks and enjoy.
474
475$Id: README 834 2007-09-12 19:20:07Z gyoung $
476
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