File Magician V5.0
How it works and Help
Programmed on Windows XP and seems to work well on Win 7
FREEWARE
4/17/2012 Draft Document
Incomplete, not proofed.
Welcome to File Magician V5.0!
It has been quite a while since the
release of File Magician V4.0, even considering it's first V1.0 release in 1992! I've
used FM (File Magician) everyday since I first wrote it and would be totally
lost without it.
This year, 2012, I decided to write a new more powerful File Magician using
dialog boxes and controls with greatly advanced source coding I developed over
the decades. In order to accomplish this I had to write FM again completely from
scratch. I did this solely one handed might I add. The strokes I had last year
left me with only one good typing hand. You can call me the one handed
programmer, grin!
The more you use File Magician the more you will come to realize how powerful this management software is. Keep in mind that FM is a work in progress and more features are planned for FM. So, check back often to upgrade, hey its free so why not.
Ok, the best way to do this guide I believe is to list File Magician feature by feature and how it works plus why the feature is there. Later as I get more time I'll add bookmark links to topic areas. File Magician will also be called by FM for further reference.
* VIEW WINDOWS:
* DRIVE BUTTONS:
** COMMAND BUTTONS:
* PARENT BUTTON:
* CREATE FOLDER BUTTON:
* RENAME BUTTON:
* FILE ATTRIBUTES & FOLDER
ATTRIBUTES:
* BYTE REQUEST:
* TAG ALL & CLEAR TAGS:
* DOS:
* CLEAR CLIPBOARD:
* COPY:
* DELETE:
* DUPLICATE:
* SHOW:
* LAUNCH URL:
** BOTTOM 40 BUTTONS:
** MENUS:
* LAUNCH BUTTON WIZARD:
* DOUBLE CLICK WIZARD:
* About/Help:
*** STROKE AND CANCER FUND:
FM has view windows on the left and right sides of the main screen. These view windows display all folders and files in the current directory assigned to that view. The folders are displayed in the upper portion of the view and the files are displayed on the lower portion of the view.
Each View Side is either a 'Source' side or a 'Destination' side. The Source side is always the active side. Any action you take on a file or folder can only be done from a Source View. If what you are doing requires a destination path then that is what the Destination View is for. For instance, to copy files and folders you would first set the destination path in one of the View Windows to where you want to copy the files and folders. Once the destination as been set go to the View Window on the other side and select only the individual files and/or folders you wish to copy. Click the copy button and its done.
Each View Window must be either a 'Source' or a 'Destination', they can be swapped. Every time you select a file or folder FM will automatically switch that selection side to the 'Source' View. The buttons on top of each View Window will also display which side is Source and which side is Destination. You may also swap Source Destination Views by clicking on those buttons too. FM will only allow you to have one Source View and one Destination View. So, if you swap one side FM will automatically swap the other side to it's counterpart.
FM's View Windows act as a starting reference point of your drive's directory tree where you want to interact with the files or folders located there.
When FM first loads, both View Window default to
the root directory of your C:\ hard drive and displays all of the folders and
files located there. FM shows no mercy in what it displays. FM will show all the
Hidden, System, Encrypted, and other file/folder attributes that MS plus other
software installations don't want or don't think you can see. It is highly
recommended that you don't delete or alter any Hidden or System
files/folders. This could lead to system damage. But there are times that you
need this ability and I hate software companies that think they know better then
me what I want to do with my system and try and keep it hidden from me. FM gives
you the ability to take control back to your system. These file/folder controls
are called 'File Attributes'.
When you select a file or folder in a View Window, FM at the bottom of the main
display will display the File Information and File Attributes for the topmost
selection. To view additional files, deselect the previous selection and then
select the new file.
File Information Displayed:
File/Folder Name;
If selection is a file or folder;
File Size in Bytes;
Attributes;
Creation Date and Time;
Last Time and Date the file was accessed;
The Drive Letter the File/Folder is located on;
Attribute Information Displayed by one or more
letters:
A = Archived;
C = Compressed;
D = Folder;
E = Encrypted;
H = Hidden
N = Normal
O = Offline
R = Read Only
RP = Reparse Point
SF = Sparse File
S = System
T = Temporary
You use the View Windows to enter the directory
tree of your drive. Simply double click a folder listing in a View Window. FM
will open that folder and display the folders and files within. FM will also
display the full path name of where it is located in the box above the View
Windows. You may enter deeper into your directory tree by double clicking on one
of the newly displayed folders if there are any. To move back on the directory
tree click once on the 'Parent' Button, this moves the View Window display back
one folder and will stop working once the root directory is reached.
(Back To Top)
* DRIVE BUTTONS:
The Drive Buttons are the first top 10 buttons
located between the View Windows. When FM first loads it scans your system to
see what drives you have connected to your system. Once FM has constructed a
list of your drives it will assign one of the ten buttons to your drive letter.
The drive letters A: through Z: are supported but only the first 10 drives will be
assigned buttons.
Clicking on a Drive Button will display the root directory of that drive letter
in the 'Source View Window'. You may click a Drive Button at any time no matter
where the current directory is in the 'Source Window'. FM will automatically
change the current directory to the new drive button's root directory. All CD
and DVD drives are summed up as CDROM drive type in Win XP.
BUTTONS:
As described above, the Parent Button commands FM to change the Source View Window back one folder in the directory tree. Once the Source View is back to the root directory of the drive it is showing, it will stop functioning because you can't go back any further.
The 'Create Folder' Button creates a folder in the current directory of the Source View Window. When the button is clicked, FM will open a dialog window and ask you for the name of the folder you want to create.
Enter the name of the folder in the 'Folder Name' box and click on the 'Create' Button, or you can simply press your keyboard 'Enter' Key. Your folder is immediately ready for use in the Source Window.
For the 'Rename' Button to work you must first select a file or folder to rename in the Source View Window. FM will open a dialog window.
Here you can simply type in a completely new file name or add to / subtract from the old file name, which is something I do very often. Once done click on the 'Rename' Button or use your keyboard's 'Enter' Key to complete the process.
*
FILE ATTRIBUTES & FOLDER ATTRIBUTES: 
The 'File Attribute' Button opens a dialog window which is one of the major work horses in FM. You must first select a file from the Source View Window and the click the File Attributes Button. The fist selected file in the Source File View Window will load itself into the dialog function, the same applies for folders.
Once the Attribute Dialog loads, check to see if
the file name is correct and then Click the 'Get Attributes' Button. Here FM
reaches way down below Windows and accesses the goods on the file. By adjusting
these file attributes it is amazing what MS, other software companies, and even
viruses or spy ware, can do to prevent action against or hide files from the
computer owner! Now with FM's help you can take back control of your computer
files. To remove all of a file's current attributes including the ugly ones, all
you need to do is check the 'NORMAL' checkbox under the Set Attributes Button
and then click the 'Set Attributes' Button. FM reaches down again several layers
below Windows and cancels out all of the file's attribute bits and resets the
file or folder to normal.
Here you can also set your own attributes to any file or folder.
Byte Request is used to tally how many files and folders plus total number of bytes used from the selected listings. You may select multiple folders and files from the Source View Window in a single Byte Request. Once you have selected folders and/or files click the Byte Request Button. A dialog window will appear..
Click the "Selected Source Listings' Button. To think this is only the junk residing in just my "Documents and Settings" folder of my C:\ drive. Almost a Gig of unconcerned space.
To add to the feature I had FM dig up some drive information and display it on screen. You can also set the volume name of your drive here as well if want.
The 'Tag All' Button selects all the listings in the Source View Window. 'Clear Tags' will unselect any selected tags in the Source View Window.
The 'DOS' gives you a windowed DOS gateway to the current directory of the Source View Window. Lots of times I need to jump into DOS for something or other and it is sure nice even for an experienced DOS user to land your DOS environment in the current directory that you want to be in.
To exit the DOS window type EXIT and then press your keyboard's 'Enter' Key.
This is an important feature especially if you are surfing the net. Did you know that some web sites if they wish can grab the contents of your clip without you doing anything other then surfing to that site? Do you have any idea what is in the different objects of your clipboard, did a previous site mirror in a password or credit card number with a WM_COPY message? I don't know either and that is why I use this command all the time plus the URL Launcher! I am not paranoid but I was writing BBS software a full half of a decade before the internet became public! So, I've been around the block enough times to know to be cautious. So far I have been lucky, knock on wood but it never hurts to have something going for you.
The 'Copy' Button
FM shows off it's Power and Speed in it's ability to copy files and folders in bulk from Source to Destination. Again FM ducks under Windows to complete this process. The process is so fast that Windows can not keep up to inform you of FM's copy process. I back up gigs worth of data several times a day. By having the Window's messaging system keep me informed of the Copy Progress increased the Copy Time by over double and my time is worth more then that.
Before you select the files and folders to copy, first set one of the View Windows to where you want to send the data to. Next, go to the other View Window and select the files and folders you want to copy. The View Window you select the data in will become the new Source View Window and the other View Window will become the Destination. When you copy anything it is always from the Source to the Destination. Once your selections are complete click the Copy Button and a dialog window will appear..
Check the dialog window to make the Source and Destination Paths are correct. If so, then click the 'Copy' Button. If you have a REALLY SLOW system you will see which file is being copied and how big that file is. If your system is average or better, Windows is to slow to display those messages. Once all the data has been copied to the Destination the dialog window will close. FM will copy files and folders up to 25 directory tree levels down from the current directory of the Source View Window. If those levels don't exist FM will not create them on the Destination Path. I've yet to see levels of more then 6 on a standard installation. But, if you need it FM has got it for you.
Again the Power of FM is displayed over all the other FM releases and file management utilities. It's ability to delete files and folders that other software venders try and prevent you from doing let alone letting you even know they exist. I use to have a lot of problems deleting everything from old installations, especially MS installations. So many software programs do not have the ability delete all of their own installed files and folders when they are uninstalled, one could pull their hair out. In writing FM V5.0 it just came to me how to accomplish deleting these difficult to handle files and folders and the routine works like a charm, grin. With FM. you now also have the Power and Control over your own computer system. Once you select the files and folders you want to delete, click the 'Delete' Button. FM will open up a simple dialog window..
Click the 'Delete' Button to delete all of the files and folders you selected in the Source View Window. FM will delete all lower levels of files and folders embedded in any folder you selected to delete. FM will dive down 25 folder levels if necessary to obey your delete command. FM will take no mercy on files and folders that other programmers failed to handle.
The 'Duplicate' Button will duplicate any file that you selected in The Source View Window with a different file name and leave the old file with the old file name intact. I use a lot of fixed expanding data bases in my own personal software. I often restart a data base every quarter or in some cases yearly. So I create a duplicate file data base and leave it stored in the same folder. Then when I back up I simply copy the entire contents of the one folder to my backup drive. It sure is a lot easier to keep track of that way. This is just one example where an exact copy of a file with different names will come in handy. Just select the file you want to duplicate and click the 'Duplicate' Button. A Dialog will appear..
Enter the new name of the new duplicated file in the text box and click the Duplicate Button. FM will create a new exact copy of any type of file and place it in the same folder as the old file. The old file and file name will be left intact. This is a simple feature but a must have.
OK, I admit the Show feature uses the
Window's 'Folder Options->File Types' data base to load up the file you have
selected and run the default program assigned to that file extension. I'm pretty
well stuck with utilizing Windows this way because of the constant changing of
the properties of File Types either by new installations or by the user's
predefined defaults.
To use, just select a file and click the 'Show' Button. Odds are some
program will access the file and display it. If it is a .EXE program that is the
selected file, FM will start up that program. You can edit your File Types
through the 'Folder Options' section in your Control Panel. There you can assign
any program you want to open up a given File Extension. You may also add a new
Extension and executing program to the data base as well.
Another way to use the 'Show' feature is to simply double click on the
file you want to load in one of the View Windows. The file will load in the same
manner without having to click the 'Show' Button.
I take Online Security very seriously. I take advantage of every tool I can to protect myself when I go online, you should too. Launch URL allows you to jump directly to a secure web site, like PayPal, from your desktop. This gives you a great advantage of bypassing many security risks of normally browsing your way to sites you want to visit and interrupts any spy ware you might already have on your system. If I was a Spy Ware, I'm not sure how I might defeat Launch URL! I use my encrypted Password program all the time because I am a firm believer in Strong Passwords plus there is no way I can remember all the different passwords I use for the different sites I visit. I Launch the Password Program from FM, copy the password to the clipboard then click the 'Launch URL' Button.
The Launch URL window appears. Here I already
have started a data base of URLs. To create a database I decide the best way was
add the individual URLs one at a time because I sure have a lot of junk
bookmarks in my browser and this way I could establish a much shorter and a more
credible list of Bookmarks. All you need to do is paste in or type in the URL in
the text box below the list and click the 'Add URL' Button. This will save the
URL to your data base and be displayed in the list. Most people have/or use
another browser as well. For me, I use Firefox as my default browser and
sometimes I will use Explorer. You will need to load your Alternate Browser.
Click the 'Get Browser' Button to open a navigation window. Navigate to your
Alternate .EXE browser file and select it. The Alternate Browser's file name
will be displayed in the text box and the path to that file will be saved in
your FM's general configuration data base.
Next are the two check boxes, 'Let Me Guess Your Default Browser' and
'Double Click Launch'. 'Let Me Guess' check box allows FM load your default
browser and have it load the URL you have highlighted in the list box. 'Double
Click Launch' will command FM to load into the browser whatever URL you double
click in the list box. If your 'Double Click Launch' check box is Not checked
then you must first select a URL from the list box and the click on the 'Launch
URL' Button. By Not having the 'Let Me Guess' check box checked will force FM to
use your Alternate Browser to load the URL. Play around with it, you will get
the hang of it, grin. FM will remember the last Launch settings you used so you
have nothing to save for your next FM boot up.
The 'Delete URL' Button will delete any selected listing from your data
URL data base.
The 'Properties' will work after you select a URL listing and will open a
window...
This allows you to add a Title and Description of the URL to your URL data base if you want. The 'Save Button' will save the data. It is not necessary that you use this feature in order for the Launch URL to work, it is just a little extra.
The Bottom 40 Button are User Defined Program Launch Buttons. This means that you can define any of your favorite programs to load from these buttons and even interact with any files or folders you have selected in the Source View Window if they are capable of accepting them and most programs are. For instance if I want IrfanView to open a Image File, I would first select the image file in FM and then click the 'IrfanView' Button. FM sends the image file to IrfanView who in return starts up and loads the image file. Programs can be launched without FM sending them a file as well just by clicking the Button. To set up the Launch Buttons, go to Menu->Tools and select the 'Launch Button Wizard'.
When the Wizard is selected you will be presented with the following dialog window..
Simply type in the name of the program you want launch then click the Button you want the program to be launched from. A Navigation Window will appear, navigate your way to the program you want to launch, locate and select the .EXE file name of the program. Click the 'Open' Button in the Navigation Window and you will exit back to the above window. From that point all you need to do is click the 'Save' Button and FM will update the new change.
The three main menus currently in FM are under 'Tools' and 'Help'. The two Wizards under the Tools menu are 'Launch Button Wizard', which was just explained above, and 'Double Click Wizard'. Under the 'Help' Menu is the menu item 'About/Help' which is explained further below.
* DOUBLE CLICK WIZARD: When you select this menu item a dialog
window appears..
This is a little more advance feature for
FM Users. It is not to bad and you can't really hurt anything. Here you can
teach FM what to do when you double click on one of the files in the View
Windows. If you were to double click on a .EXE file, FM knows that is a program
and FM will launch that program. For instance if you use NotePad to view your
Text Files you can command FM to load up NotePad and load up any file with the
extension of .TXT that you double click on in a View Window.
To create a double click data base, click one of the 40 buttons. A
Navigator Window will Appear. For instance you are setting up NotePad. In the
Navigator Window browse through your files until you find a file with a
extension of .TXT Select the file and click the 'Open' Button. Once you do that
FM will present you with another Navigator Window. FM now wants you to locate
and select NotePad.exe. This of course is found at 'C:\Windows\NotePad.exe'.
Once that is done and you have clicked the 'Open' Button FM will usher you back
to the Window above. Click the 'Save' Button to add that double click extension
to your data base. FM will follow your commands now when you double click on a
file. Remember the Program you use must have the ability to accept external
files.
FM will first search Window's 'Folder Options'->'File Types' for a match of the selected file's extension. If FM cannot find a match there it will scan your data base for a match and when found will load the selected file into the associated program. If Fm first finds a match in the Window's File Types data base, FM will not search your data base and it will return back to stand by mode. You can edit your Extensions or add new Extensions and associated programs in your 'Folder Options'->'File Types' section of the Windows Control Panel.
The purpose of this data base is a secondary defense in catching any problems your system might experience when dealing with file types. The 'Show' Button feature does not have this ability. It gives you additional power when you have a busy system or possible registry errors.
This area will probably be revised depending on feedback. There are over a dozen ways to do this but I didn't want to be to assuming and allow the control to stay in your hands.
When selected a dialog window will appear..
Here there is a very brief tidbit of FM history
and a old picture of my wife winching up an early season catch of crawfish, this
was back in 1983 I believe. By clicking the 
Button, FM will attempt to load your Default Email software setup to send me a
comment or question. The 
will load your Default Browser and send you to this documentation web page. The 
will also load up your Default Browser and send you to my Software and Updates
web page. The 
Button will load your Default Browser send you to my main Crawfish Trapping
page. Here you can learn everything about crawfish trapping and even purchase
crawfish traps if available.
The 
Button leads you to my Personal Cancer And Stroke Fund web page. It would be
nice if you would be able to provide any support for this fund. If not, I
understand, times are tough and a person cannot give to every fund that comes
up.
Personally I got hit with 4 strokes in 2011
that messed my left side up pretty good. My wife has been battling Lymphoma
Cancer for a number of years now and in 2010 had a stem cell transplant. That
was a long terrible and costly ordeal she went through but it did stop the
cancer for a bit. Now it has returned and we are not sure what we are going to
do. Financially we survived the transplant but along came the surprise stokes
that came with an astounding cost. It was pretty amazing how one day I felt
great while building crawfish traps then shortly later ended up in 3 hospitals
for over 30 days. The first week I was pretty well out of it and I only remember
a couple of the tests they did, a MRI and a heart echo on both sides of the
heart. They did a lot more tests then that as I found out in the 150K + billing.
The remaining time I spent at St. Lukes Rehabilitation Hospital in Spokane, WA.
Great place but on the pricey side, grin. While there, they got my diabetes
under control and got me where I could stand for a few minutes with a Hemmi
Cane. A Hemmi Cane is basically a four legged leaning cane for lack of a better
word. The legs are about 16 inches apart and it was mainly devised for stroke
survivors. Normally one side or the other of a stroke survivor is paralyzed or
semi-paralyzed and that person must lean heavy on the cane, that is where the Hemmi
cane comes in. It provides stability and bears a lot of weight.
I was also told that I was extremely lucky with my strokes. First that I was
alive and second that I would retain all my mental processes, memory etc. Well,
I was a resident at St Lukes for nearly a month and dozens of other stroke
survivors came and went, and what I saw with many other people made me quite
thankful that my strokes were not worse then what they were. So, it is pretty
hard to feel sorry for myself. Of course all the hospitals, doctors, tests, and pharmacies,
just to name a few didn't feel sorry for me either when the bills came!
We did manage to survive financially with my wife's stem cell transplant
and my 99 year old mother's, stay to the end, dementia condition, she only had
1.5 months to go to hit a 100 before she passed. But the surprise hit of the
strokes did us in financially. My wife being the trooper she is, while I was
hospitalized down sized us all the way down for survival mode. She moved us into
our RV, everything was sold off except the crawfish shop, and reduced our day to
day standard living expense to as close to zero as possible. She did this all on
her own while her Lymph nodes were swelling with cancer and she didn't say one
word to me about the cancer until months later.
Currently our income consists of my wife's $600.00 Social Security check
and what little we can make building crawfish traps. The demand for traps is out
there but it is impossible to build them quickly as we did before and my wife
does most of the work because I can't. She is pretty good at building them too
but that will be stopping shortly because of the advancing cancer. I have been
attempting to get Social Security Disability but that is a bit of a joke. I am
62 and a long ways from drawing Social Security. In ant event our current income
doesn't come close to even meeting our lower standard of living or paying for my
continuing doctor and medicine costs, I have quite a list of medicines that I
now take. Our medical insurance we did have, the cost got so out of control we
were canceled. In my ordeal I lost over 100 pounds so even clothes is an issue.
What is sort of funny is that a few days before the strokes I had all my teeth
removed for dentures. Well, almost a year later I am still without teeth, LOL.
Now the big problem, my wife's cancer. She does have Medicare but that is
not enough for a cancer clinic or doctors to accept you. My big fear is she will
be denied treatment or not receive good treatment because of cost and lack of
ability to pay. This is my worst fear. All my life I have worked hard and
have had the ability to work hard and things have always worked out with honest
hard work. Now I no longer have that ability, pretty much all I can do is sit
behind my computer in my wheelchair. The so called Golden Years are just Not so
Golden after all. Even so, I am going to fight on and do my best to get care for
my wife. This is the reason I set up my Personal Cancer and Stroke Fund, plus
write quality software that people can use freely for all those who support my
fund or not. It is my hopes those who do use my software and support my fund
will not feel they are not getting a value for their support money. Frankly, I
am not expecting a lot from all this but at this point I am at a loss of what
else to do. So if you feel like you can help support my fund, please know your
help is not only greatly appreciated but very important to my wife and myself
with the basic survival needs!
If you feel you can support my Fund now you can do with the PayPal 'Add To Cart' Button. This is Not a 'Donate' button simply because I am not a Non-Profit Corporation in WA, I'm just Me. The PayPal 'Add To Cart. Button allows you to adjust the amount of dollars you wish to support, that is why I chose that button type. The Button is assigned to suggest $5.00, you can reset that to what you want after you click the button. You may also cancel after you have clicked the button if you wish. You do not need to have a PayPal account to use this button either. The item assigned to this Button is 'Software', this way you fall under PayPal Buyer Protection. I'm not sure how to make things more honest and straight foreword then this.
Thank You!
Terry Bullard
Mega Millions Doc
Strong Password Generator
Doc
Spelling Docs
Cancer & Stroke Fund
