

                            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 <Y>  or <N> keys or the  left
button  or  right  button  on  your  mouse.  This is all done for your
convinience.


