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                       File Stager, Version 3.0

      Copyright (c) 1998 by John C. Pratt.  All rights reserved.
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CONTENTS

I)   INTRODUCTION
II)  INSTALLATION
III) USAGE NOTES
IV)  FUTURE RELEASES
V)   KNOWN ISSUES
VI)  TECHNICAL NOTES


INTRODUCTION

File Stager is an automated, user-customizable, file copying and moving utility.  It is ideal for updating or backing up data and other files to an external drive such as a Zip drive or a SuperDisk drive, a network drive or other hard drive, or even a floppy drive.  The only requirement is that the drive(s) be named with a letter (e.g. "C:").  File Stager is also perfect for copying or updating large numbers of duplicated files, such as default user directories on a corporate network or files that need to be distributed to Wide Area Network sites, and for moving files in a common location to specific destinations based on file naming conventions.  In general, any Windows Explorer file copying or moving task requiring more than a few mouse clicks, especially routine tasks, can benefit from File Stager's efficiency and ease of use.

File Stager provides a standard Windows 95 Explorer-style interface which allows the user to set up staging specifications (specs) which can be saved as Spec Files (*.SPC) for quick and easy reuse or editing at a later time.  Staging specs are based on hierarchically organized Source Paths, File Groups (groups of file masks), and Destination Paths.  For each Source Path, files matching one or more file masks in a File Group are staged to the Destination Path(s) for that File Group.  The number of Source Paths, File Groups, and Destination Paths is limited only by available memory resources.  File Stager also provides a Source Path for various individual files, and allows the user to create, save, and load a list of files with fully defined paths that will be staged according to the File Groups and Destination Paths specified for that Source Path.

File Stager also includes the following staging functionality:

 - the option to include Source Path subdirectories;

 - the ability to create Destination Path directories that do not exist, including multi-level directory trees;

 - four options for overwriting existing files (older only, prompt, always, and never);

 - the ability to delete source files (i.e. move the files);

 - the option to include or exclude files with certain attributes (Archive, Hidden, Read-Only, or System);

 - the ability to reset the Archive bit on source files;

 - the ability to create a text file log of staging activities;

 - the option to turn off error messages for unattended staging;

 - the ability to span disks.


INSTALLATION

File Stager is a 32-bit Windows application written in Visual Basic 5.0 (SP3).  It was developed and tested under Windows 95 and Novell NetWare 4.1.  The application was also successfully tested under Windows NT 3.51, Windows NT 4.0, and Citrix WinFrame 1.7.

As a requirement for distribution on the Internet given the space limitations on archive servers, the File Stager installation program does not include several of the larger VB 5 runtime files.  The required files, listed below, are available at the following URL:  http://www.simtel.net/simtel.net/win95/dll.html.  Click on the link to the ZIP file called "vb5rtsp3.zip" to download the runtime files, then follow the directions in the included ReadMe file (NOTE: If you already have the VB runtime files on your system, you do not need to download this file).

VB Runtime Files in vb5rtsp3.zip
--------------------------------
Asycfilt.dll
Comcat.dll
Ctl3d.dll
Msvbvm50.dll
Oleaut32.dll
Olepro32.dll
Comdlg32.ocx
Stdole2.tlb

Once you have the above runtime files installed, run the FS3_Install.exe program to extract and install the remaining files required to run File Stager.  File Stager's installation program will install a few more runtime files and the program files.  It will NOT overwrite existing runtime files that are newer than the ones being installed, but it will prompt you to overwrite any program files already on the system (i.e. if you do another install of File Stager without uninstalling the previous version).  In addition, the only changes to the system registry are those made by the installation program.  File Stager itself makes no application-specific changes or additions to the registry (see TECHNICAL NOTES below).

The following files are installed by File Stager's installation program:

Application Directory
---------------------
STAGER3.EXE
STAGER.OPT
STAGER3.HLP
STAGER3.CNT
README.TXT
LIC&REG.TXT

Windows System Directory
------------------------
COMCTL32.OCX
TABCTL32.OCX
MSFLXGRD.OCX
COMCT232.OCX


USAGE NOTES

File Stager is FAST and EFFICIENT.  I use an Iomega Zip drive at home, and currently use several Zip disks to hold my backed-up data files.  What used to be a tedious, half hour or more task to find new or updated files and copy them to a Zip disk now takes only a few seconds per disk.  I have one Spec File set up for each Zip disk, so all I need to do is insert the correct disk, load the correct Spec File, and click the "Stage Files" button.  Since I use the option to overwrite existing files only if they are older, File Stager skips over files that haven't changed.  I also use File Stager as a replacement for Microsoft's Briefcase.  Using a floppy or Zip disk, I update files to and from my work and home PCs with a few clicks of the mouse.  As for large amounts of data, I've copied over 80 MB of files to a Zip disk in a minute and a half, and copied over 95 MB of files to a network drive from my work PC in just under two minutes. (An Enhanced Parallel Port and a 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet network were used in the preceding examples.  Results may vary depending on PC/network configuration and other factors.)

File Stager is FLEXIBLE.  You can set up multiple Source Paths, each of which can have multiple File Groups, each of which can have multiple Destination Paths.  And all of them can be easily created or edited with a click of the mouse.  You can syncronize directories by creating Source Paths in the same Spec File which update each other.  You can use the individual file selection capability to create a file list for use in another application or which can be saved and printed (see FUTURE RELEASES below), or load a file list created by another application.  During staging, if a removable disk is full, File Stager gives you the chance to insert a new disk and continue staging.  You can turn off error messages and create a staging log to capture any problems that occur for unattended staging.  I and my co-workers have used File Stager to copy dozens to hundreds of files to multiple WAN sites unattended (with Explorer, you can only do one site at a time).  And with the option to overwrite existing files only if they are older, updates take a fraction of the time needed for a full transfer.

I've only mentioned a few of the possible uses and capabilities of File Stager.  Give it a try, and let me know what you think and/or what interesting new uses you've found for it (use the address below).  If you like saving time and effort and decide to continue using File Stager beyond the 30-day trial period (File Stager is a shareware program), you can register your copy using the Registration Request Form in the accompanying LIC&REG.TXT file or the online Help file (STAGER3.HLP).

File Stager
ATTN:  John C. Pratt
107 Olmsted St., 2nd Floor
East Hartford, CT  06108-2311
USA

E-mail:  john.pratt@snet.net


FUTURE RELEASES

Watch for the following new functionality in upcoming releases of File Stager (minor version upgrades are free to registered users!):

Version 3.1 - Command Line support, including switches for all major Staging Options.  Stage files using File Stager and a scheduling program, or create a Spec File-specific shortcut.

Version 3.2 - Printing capabilities.  Print a file list or directory listing from the individual file selection dialog (with or without a mask), or choose to print a list of files matching your staging specs rather than staging the files.

Version 4.0 - The ability to exclude specific Source Path subdirectories and specific files from staging.

File Stager Suite - A possibility, which is currently expected to include File Stager, a task scheduling and execution program, a graphic viewer, and a PC shutdown/restart applet.

Other functionality may be added, especially if it has popular support, so send in your ideas and comments along with your registration form and correct payment and make File Stager your utility!


KNOWN ISSUES

 - Problems have been encountered when copying files with File Stager to a drive other than the one on which File Stager is located and Norton SystemDoctor32 is running in the background.  The problems range from a "Not Responding" status for File Stager to an "Unable to copy to drive ?:" blue screen error.  No system crashes have occurred.  These problems do not appear to occur when running only Norton CrashGuard.  The workaround is to close Norton SystemDoctor32.  If you encounter similar problems when running File Stager along with other applications similar to Norton SystemDoctor32, try closing the application before running File Stager.  Note that File Stager does not attempt to access specific memory addresses or hardware resources or make numerous API calls (see TECHNICAL NOTES below).

 - In some situations, you may see white areas (assuming your dialog box background color is other than white) on the staging dialog where information about what file is being copied where usually appears.  Every possible step has been taken to eliminate these white areas, which are caused when system resources are limited and a large file is being copied or a file is being copied over a network wire that has limited bandwidth.  The resulting delay prevents rapid repainting of the screen.  This is a cosmetic problem which occurs in numerous Windows applications and will not affect the functioning of File Stager.


TECHNICAL NOTES

File Stager was written for three reasons:  1) "hands-on" training with VB 5 and object-oriented development; 2) a quick, efficient, and easy-to-use backup solution for computer users like me who don't feel like backing up their entire hard drive; and 3) a shareware product that others could benefit from and which would generate some income. 

File Stager is composed of 7 form modules, 2 code modules, and 8 class modules.  The centerpiece of the application (for training, development, and functionality) is that the runtime objects are hierarchically organized.  In other words, one object contains a pointer to another object or collection of objects, each of which contains a pointer to another object or collection of objects, and so on.  These objects provide the foundation for the Spec File and its staging specifications.

As noted above, File Stager does not make any application-specific changes to the system registry.  I do not believe that a system-level registry is the place for application-specific information, any more than the Windows INI file (WIN.INI) is.  Shared file information and other data pertinent to the functioning of the system as a whole is appropriate for storage in the registry, since other installation programs and applications may need to access that information, but that is where the line should be drawn.  Numerous other IT professionals with whom I work or have worked agree, primarily due to compatibility and install/uninstall issues:   no developer can know all of the changes that will be made to a PC's registry, and neither can the end-user.  As a result, File Stager stores all of its application-specific settings in its own INI file (STAGER.OPT) which is stored in the application installation directory.  If the INI file is not present, File Stager contains built-in defaults and will rebuild the INI file as necessary.  This ensures proper functioning of the application, compatibility with other applications on the PC, safe manual editing of the settings if necessary or desired, and easy uninstallation or moving of the application.

In addition to the lack of changes to the registry, File Stager does not make any Windows API calls except the two calls associated with reading from and writing to INI files.  This was done purposely to prevent as many Windows compatibility problems as possible (there are currently five versions of Windows 95 alone).

If you have any development-oriented questions, feel free to contact me at the above e-mail address.  Thank you for your interest in File Stager.  I hope it serves you as well as it does me.


John C. Pratt


Simtel.Net and its affiliates are authorized distributors of File Stager 3.0.