
DIRCOMPA.EXE version 1.1 user guide
====================================================================
Warranties:

There are none, either expressed or implied.  We do not make any
claims as to the usefulness of the programs and functions included
for any particular purpose.  Neither are we responsible for any
loss incurred by their use.  Any rights not specifically granted in
this document are reserved. 


DIRCOMPA.EXE is very simple to use. It presents two windows to the
user.  Main window that shows directory contents and comments, and
another (which appears only after the "Compare" command button is
pressed) showing changes to the directory.

******************************** Main window  **********************

**** Comments and File Lists:

These two lists are synchronized. If you click on one the other will
adjust so that comments and file names are lined up. Clicking on a
file name displays it's size in bytes, it's date-time stamp, and it's
atributes. Double clicking on a comment allows you to edit it. You
can also select several files from the file list and click the
"Comment" button to record the same comment for all of them.  The
comment editing window has a check box indicating that all double
quotes will be saved as single quotes. 

Comments are saved in files. You can retrieve any set of comments by
using the "Retrieve comments" button. Comments are displayed only for
files currently in the displayed directory. "?" is displayed for
files with no comments. When comments are loaded time and length
values of a file are compared to the ones when comments were stored.
If dates are different but lengths are the same a "? " is added
before comment. If lengths are different a "# " is added. 

You can comment several files at once with the same comment by
making a multiple file selection.

**** Inhibit Multiple Flags: 

For some files which are changing frequently, comparison checking
combined with comment saving might lead to a comment like that: "#
# # # # # # file with comments". If you check the "Inhibit Multiple
Flags" this will not happen (but you still can get "# ? # ? ").

**** Auto Load:

Whenever you change the file directory DIRCOMPA.EXE searches for a
default comment file and retrieves comments if this box is checked.
Default comment file name is derived from the directory name by
adding ".d~r" to its main part (except for root directory see below
), eg.: 

c:\windows\system default file is c:\windows\system\system.d~r
c:\windows        default file is c:\windows\windows.d~r
c:\4dos4.02       default file is c:\4dos4.02\4dos4.d~r
c:\               default file is c:\c_root.d~r

**** AutoSave:

If this box ix checked comments are automatically saved to the file
they were retrieved from upon directory change or to the file they
were last saved to. 

**** To:

File selection buttons one for saving and one for comparing files.
Comment file names are displayed in boxes next to them. Other than
the default comment file name you have complete control over where
to save comments to. You can create multiple comment files for
various purposes. 

**** Save:

Saves comments to specified file. Other than Auto Save, comments are
not saved until this button is clicked.

**** Compare:
 
Compares list of files currently in directory to that saved in a
specified file.



************************** Comparison window  **********************

This window shows 5 lists: unchanged files, new files, erased files,
files which changed length, and files with different date-time stamp.
Length and time changes are indicated next to file names.

**** Save:

This button allows you to save the changes to a text file for future
record. 

**** Close:

Closes the comparison window.


*********************** Changes in version 1.1 *********************

Added indicators that the program did not die during long sorting
and comparison operations.

Both "compare" and "save" file names are cleared when a directory is
changed 

Program now keeps operating after five tries if not registered, but
the nag screen appears often.
 
