
                    Files Compare Wildcard V1.4

                         by John Augustine

   FCW is used via Dos "prompt" (Windows 3.1/95/98/ME/NT/?) or in Dos mode.

   There are many file/s compare programs, but what makes FCW unique, the
names of the files in one location, do not have to match any filenames at the
other location, or the same location in a duplicate/s search.

   FCW compares all files (including hidden) at your location, each one in
turn, to every file in another location.  Also, you can search the same
location for duplicates (different filename).  Note: It is possible to have
more than one file matching a file/s in the other location or vise versa.  The
names of every file that matches will be displayed.

  "INSTALLATION" (No "Installer" Required):

  Copy "FCW.EXE" to the "COMMAND" sub-directory/folder in the "WINDOWS"
(95/98/ME/NT/etc.) folder.  If you have Windows 3.1 or only Dos, put it in the
"DOS" directory.  This has the effect of adding a new Dos command/utility,
which you can launch from any location.

  GETTING STARTED:

  Enter the directory/folder (location) of the files you want to compare to
others.  This will become the "here" location.  The command to relocate is
(without quotes): "CD \DIRNAME" or "CD \DIRNAME\DIRNAME" and press Enter.
"DIRNAME" represents a name of a directory, example: "\WINDOWS\TEMP".  "CD"
stands for change directory.

  We'll use "PHOTOS" as an example of the other location ("there").  Type
(without quotes) "FCW \MYDOCU~1\PHOTOS" and press Enter.
FYI: "\MYDOCU~1\PHOTOS" is the "path" to the other location.

   CREATE "THERE" (REFERENCE) FILE OPTION:

  If you frequently make comparisons to the same "there" location, assuming
that you seldom add or change anything in "there", you can create a file with
"there" information (filenames and signatures) in order to speed up the
process for future comparisons.  Also, this file can be used in another
computer in order to make comparisons for the sake of seeing if a file/s in
that other computer (at a location) match any of those in "there" file.

  To create a "there" file (after making comparisons), when you launch FCW,
use the following example: "FCW \MYDOCU~1\PHOTOS PHOTOS.SAV".  "PHOTOS.SAV" is
the name of the file you will create in "here" location.  Note: It will not be
part of the comparison (created after the comparison) unless you repeat the
comparison.  You can also create the file in another location by using a
"path".  Example: "FCW \MYDOCU~1\PHOTOS \MYDOCU~1\PHOTOS.SAV".  Remember, the
"there" file is created after the comparison is finished.

  ACCESSING A "THERE" FILE INSTEAD OF A "THERE" LOCATION:

  Assuming you keep "PHOTOS.SAV" (example of a "there" file) in "MYDOCU~1" (My
Documents) and the "here" location is not "MYDOCU~1", use the following
example: "FCW \MYDOCU~1\PHOTOS.SAV".  If the "here" location is "MYDOCU~1",
then use the following example: "FCW PHOTOS.SAV" (no path required).

  "PLUS" ("+") FEATURE (OPTION) FOR A "THERE" (REFERENCE) FILE:

  Assuming you created a "there" (reference) file for a location that contains
a few thousand files.  Later, you added more files to that location.  You do
not want to create a new "there" file at the present time, but you want to
check all the "here" files against every file in "there" location quickly.
Note: On older slower computers, this feature is very useful.  Simply add a
"+" (no quotes) right at the end of the "there" filename, example:
"FCW PHOTOS.SAV+".  First, FCW will check all the "here" files against the
size and signatures of every file in the "there" file, then FCW will actually
go to "there" location, referenced in the "there" file, and check all the
"here" files to the additional files added after the "there" file was created.

  IMPORTANT "PLUS" FEATURE CAUTION:

  Do not use this feature if you removed a file/s from "there" location, which
will still exist in the "there" (reference) file.  This will cause a compare
skip/miss of a file/s added later (after "there" file was created).

  Solution: Simply create a new "there" (reference) file.

  FINDING DUPLICATES (different filenames) IN THE SAME LOCATION:

  FCW can be used to check each file against every other file in the same
location.  Assume you want to check all the files in "PHOTOS" for duplicates,
enter that location ("PHOTOS") and type "FCW \MYDOCU~1\PHOTOS".  In this case,
the other location, "there" is the same location as "here".  You will see if
any file/s matches any other file/s, with a different filename of course, and
vise versa (two displays for each).

  "WINDOWS" FOLDER CAUTION:

  If you need to compare files in the "WINDOWS" folder/directory, restart your
computer in Dos (mode) via the menu where you shut down your computer
(WIN95/98/etc).  NOTE: While Windows is "running", there are restrictions (no
sharing) on a file/s in the WINDOWS folder, which will cause FCW to "lockup".
When you are finished, simply type "EXIT" to return to Windows.  Note: This
will take a few moments.

  FCW LIMITATION:

  This version (freeware) of FCW will not compare files between drives. Do not
use a drive letter (example: "FCW A:\") in the launch command.

  SIMPLE FCW TEST:

  Type (without quotes) "COPY FCW.TXT FCW.DUP" and press Enter.  This creates
a duplicate file of "FCW.TXT" called "FCW.DUP".  Now launch FCW using the same
location you are at for the other location.

  "OTH-PGMS.TXT":

  To see information about other programs that are available, please view
"OTH-PGMS.TXT".

  "HELP.EXE" is a viewer for "FCW.TXT" and "OTH-PGMS.TXT".

  CONCLUSION:

  If you have a comment or complaint about FCW, please send me an email.

                      Regards,
                   John Augustine

               jaugust@bellatlantic.net

