@database Swipe @author "Kai Haseloh (Laserdance / The Special Brothers)" @(c) "(C) Copyright 1998 Kai Haseloh (Laserdance Productions/TSB)" @font XEN.font 11 Swipe documentation in Amigaguide - format Copyright © 1998 Laserdance Productions / T$B All Rights Reserved @node main "Swipe interactive hypertext documentation - Main-Menu" Welcome to the interactive hypertext-documentation to Swipe. Click one of the buttons below for more information on a topic. @{b}Swipe@{ub} is an enhanced version of the DOS delete command. It is able to delete directories with assigns on them by identifying the assign and removing it before the deletion. A special option allows to clear the @{b}whole@{ub} RAM disk in one go while leaving the systems directories as ENV:, etc. intact. Items marked with (*) have been changed recently. @{b}Introductory Information@{ub} @{" Getting started " link install} (*) Installing the program @{" Examples " link easystart} (*) Some examples of the usage @{b}Tech Talk@{ub} @{" Commandline options " link tooltype} (*) Commandline options @{" Technical details " link tech} Swipe's strategy @{"Bugs and limitations" link bugs} There was something ... @{" History " link history} (*) The story so far @{b}Addendum@{ub} @{" System requirements " link requirements} (*) The stuff you need to get it going @{"Copyrights/Disclaimer" link copyright} Odds and ends @{" Credits and hellos " link greetings} Some messages to the world outside @{" Contact " link contact} Laserdance Productions @{"Other software/Future" link future} Coming soon Hope you enjoy the program. Take care, Kai (laser@stud.uni-hannover.de) @endnode @node tech "Technical details" Well, do not expect too much new insights here. The program works pretty simple, and actually I wonder why no one had the idea before. It uses MatchFirst/MatchNext() in the dos.library to parse the object parameters and examines the returned objects: if it is a directory it scans the doslist for an Assign-entry (simple and multi-assignments but no late-binding assigns) that points to that directory, removes it and then deletes the directory. And so on... @endnode @node bugs "Known bugs" There are no real bugs known to the author. You shouldn't come across severe problems, like sudden meditations, even if you try to. The program has been designed to be as reliable as possible. There are however some limitations and possible sources of bugs within the nature of the operating system that you should be aware of: · In very rare cases Swipe might run into trouble when you are trying to delete files/directories on a disk when a different disk with the _same_ name is inserted as well. Do not use Swipe in this case! (This will be fixed in a later version.) · Links are not supported · Removal of assigns as performed by Swipe might lead to sudden crashes if the assignment refers to an object is currently used by an application that has used the functions DeviceProc() or GetDeviceProc(). DirectoryOpus is one good example of such an application; but do not worry, I did not manage to crash the system by running both programs at the same time (no matter how hard I tried.) · When you are deleting a whole tree of directories or using patterns sometimes directories that failed to be deleted will be examined again later. This is a potential source for endless loops but so far I did not encounter any problems, the reason for this strange behaviour lies within the dos.library and its MatchFirst()/MatchNext()-functions. See also : @{" Contacting the author " link contact} @endnode @node tooltype "Commandline options" Swipe accepts the following options @{b}FILE/M@{ub} the name(s) of the file(s), directory(s) or pattern(s) that are supposed to be deleted. (NB: Be careful and do not specify directories by giving the name of an assign to them. For example the command: @{i}Swipe T: ALL@{ui} would delete all the files in your T: directory and then remove the assign on the directory T: points to and then try to delete the directory "T:" which, then, is bound to fail. This behaviour might change in later versions.) @{b}ALL/S@{ub} enables recursion into subdirectories, as with the normal delete command. @{b}QUIET/S@{ub} suppresses output of the programs messages. Error messages will still be printed. @{b}FORCE/S@{ub} enables deletion of files that are protected from deletion by a cleared 'delete'-flag. @{b}SWIPERAM/S@{ub} clears the RAM:-disk of all files and directories while leaving the system directories env, t and clipboards intact. If you specify this argument Swipe will just clear the RAM disk and will not delete any other files/directories/patterns you specify on the commandline. It also turns on the options FORCE and ALL by default. @{b}SAFE/S@{ub} turns off assign-detection and deletion. Swipe will not be able to delete any directories with assigns on them in this mode. See also: @{"Bugs and limitations" link bugs} @{b}VERBOSITY/N@{ub} sets the level of verbosity of the program's output. Possible values are 0 (very little output) to 3 (tons of output). @{b}INTERACTIVE/S@{ub} turns on "Are you sure?"-requesters that ask for user confirmation before an assign is removed or a directory is deleted. This option is meant to replace the default 'delete' buttons of most directory tools. An example file that exaplains how to use Swipe with your directory tool is available through the aminet. This option requires reqtools.library to work. @{b}PUBSCREEN/K@{ub} allows specification of a public screen that will will be used for the requesters. Automatically enables the INTERACTIVE option. @{b}PRESERVE/K@{ub} may be used to protect an arbitrary directory or file from deletion. (FORCE modifies error handling with this option: If FORCE is active, Swipe will still operate normally, even if the object pointed to by PRESERVE is not found. If FORCE is inactive, Swipe would stop at that point. So beware of typos!) @endnode @node easystart "Easy start ..." Below are some example commandlines of possible usages of Swipe. Note that a seperate archive with example buttons for different directory tools is available from Aminet. @{b}Swipe SwipeRAM@{ub} Clears RAM-disk of all debris but leaves T, ENV, Clipboards, disk.info intact. @{b}Swipe RAM: ALL FORCE@{ub} Clears RAM-disk of all files and directories, including the system-directories/files, careless of assigns and protection-flags. @{b}Swipe dh0:test/#? @{ub} Deletes all files and empty subdirectories in the directory dh0:test but leaves objects in subdirectories intact. @endnode @node install "Installing Swipe" Just copy the executeable to a directory of your choice, C: or any other directory in your command path is probably the best choice. Make sure you have reqtools.library installed if you want to use the INTERACTIVE option. This option is meant to replace the default 'delete' buttons of most directory tools. An example file that exaplains how to use Swipe with your directory tool is available through the aminet. @endnode @node requirements "Requirements" Swipe works with any version of the operating system after V37.175. Version numbers starting with 36 are also supported but not recommended (bug in the OS, see MatchFirst() autodocs) Reqtools.library is required for the INTERACTIVE option to work. @endnode @node history "Swipe Version history" V1.85 (14.5.1998) -- Third Aminet release · New option PRESERVE to protect one object from deletion · Added version string to program's code (oops!) V1.74 (5.4.1998) -- Second release to the Aminet. A seperate archive with button-examples for various directory tools is also available through the Aminet. · New options: INTERACTIVE and PUBSCREENNAME for use with directory tools · Does not delete 'disk.info' from RAM: disk in SWIPERAM-mode V1.56 (7.3.1998) -- First release to the Aminet. See also: the @{" Future " link future} section. @endnode @node copyright "Copyrights & Everything" Swipe and the sources of this program are copyright © 1998 by Laserdance Productions. The program is freely distributable as long as all of its files are included in their original form without additions, deletions or modifications of any kind, and only a nominal fee is charged for their distribution. (You have no permission to include the demo-version on compilation disks with other programs on the same medium. The software is provided »AS IS« without any warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The sources are © 1998 Laserdance Productions and may not be distributed. Unauthorized copying, reproduction, hiring, lending, prohibited. By using the 'Swipe' software of the program, you accept the entire risk as to the quality and performance of the program. There should be no bugs left, as the software supplied herein has been extensively tested, but if it destroys your grandma's toaster or kills your cat (etc.) either due to programming bugs or improper usage, it's not my problem. You are encouraged to copy the program freely as long as you include all the files that came with the distribution archive. To contact the author for comments, complaints etc. write to @{"Laserdance Productions " link contact}. Thank you in advance for your support. @endnode @node greetings "Greetings" Hello to all my friends and all the users of my software throughout the world. Keep the Amiga spirit alive! @endnode @node contact "Oh Mr. Postman, bring me a letter ..." If want to contact the author for any other reason please send some mail to the following address. (DON'T USE THE UK-ADDRESS AFTER SEPTEMBER 1, 1998 (eight!)) kai haseloh saltash hall of residence room b 1 brunel university uxbridge middlesex ub8 3ph england laserdance productions c/o kai haseloh gaensebrink 6 32479 hille germany email may be sent to laser@stud.uni-hannover.de Updates may be found at my fine homepage located at: http://www.stud.uni-hannover.de/~laser ! Thanx for your support ! @endnode @node future "..." Of course development of Swipe will go on in the future. You should watch out for newer versions of this software and other releases from Laserdance Productions including : @{b}Swipe - buttons@{ub} Swipe is meant to replace the default 'delete' buttons of most directory tools. An example file that exaplains how to use Swipe with your directory tool is available through the aminet. @{b}FiDED - further expansion@{ub} FiDED is shorthand for "File Id Extractor Deluxe" and one of the most advanced FileId-extractors available. It includes a nice directory interface, thousands of options, and brillant performance while being compatible to Aminet-readme files as well. @{b}DePack! V38.204 :@{ub} My largest project so far. Depack! is a huge system to extract files by selecting them within a dirfile. May be used by AmiX-sysops for their file-maintainance also. Includes FiDED support. @{b}(no title)@{ub} I'm thinking about a C-conversion of an old C-64/Amiga-Basic program I found in a computer magazine almost a decade ago. It renders pseudo-3D-images of the Mandelbrot-sea. I just converted the old source codes to C but the GUI is almost non existant. Be patient! See AmiNet's RECENT file for new releases or take a look at my fine homepage at: http://www.stud.uni-hannover.de/~laser @endnode