File Investigator v1.22
Copyright (C) 1997-98 by Robert C. Zirnstein Jr.
All Rights Reserved

File Investigator identifies over 300 types of files by content
rather than filename extension.  It extracts information out of
many file types: image resolutions, sampling rates, document
titles, etc..  Background information on each file type is
provided.  With this utility, you can identify files that
Windows doesn't recognize, and correct a wrong file extension.
The FIPROP.EXE program includes the installer and uninstaller.

Shareware version.  NOT CRIPPLED!  Distribute freely.
See the UPGRADE section of the help file for upgrade instructions.

FI122.EXE is a self-extracting archive that will prompt for the
destination directory, then install File Investigator.

If you downloaded FI122.ZIP, then unzip it to find and run
FI122.EXE.


INSTALLATION

  If you downloaded a .ZIP file, then you will need to use
  PKUnzip (or other Zip utility) on the file.

    Steps:
      1. Copy the archive file to a temporary directory.
      2. Run PKUNZIP.EXE on the archive.
         Ex: >PKUNZIP -S<password> FI122.ZIP
      3. Run FI122.EXE.
      4. Enter the destination directory that you want
         File Investigator installed in.


  How to run the FI122.EXE self-extracting archive file:
	
    Windows Start example:
      1. Click the 'Start' button on the Windows Task Bar.
      2. Click the 'Run...' menu option.
      3. Type '<download dir path>\FI122.EXE'.
      4. Click the 'OK' button.

    Windows Explorer example:
      1. Find the directory that the archive file was downloaded to.
      2. Double click on the archive file.  (ex: FI122.EXE)

    DOS Prompt example: <download dir path>\FI122.EXE


    Note: You can rename the FI122.EXE archive file to .ZIP and use any
          UnZip utility on it.


REQUIREMENTS

  File Investigator requires MS Windows 95 or MS Windows NT 4.0.
  While it may work with MS Windows NT 3.x, that has not been
  tested and is not guaranteed to work.


DOCUMENTATION

  For full documentation, select Help from the application or
  select the 'File Investigate Help' icon in the RobWare
  program group.


LIST OF FILES

  The File Investigator package consists of the following files:

    FIENGINE.DLL  Program library that identifies files
    FILE_ID.DIZ   Brief description for some utilities to use
    FIMENU.DLL    Program library that puts 'Investigate' on the context
                  menus
    FIPROP.EXE    Properties user interface program, installer & 
                  uninstaller
    FIPROP.HLP    User manual, in Windows help format
    FITEXT.DLL    Text Previewer program library
    README.TXT    Introductory information (The file you are reading.)

    If you did not receive all these files please contact RobWare via
	electronic mail at RobZirnstein@Home.com.


VERSION CHANGES

  1.40  7/ 4/98 File Investigator File Find & Properties for Windows (PURCHASE)

    File Find:

    Added a MS File Find like user interface that provides for filtering by
      file details, contents, attributes, etc..


    Properties:

    Fixed a bug that caused File Investigator to crash when displaying a date
      beyond 2070.


    Engine:

    Fixed some bugs that caused File Investigator to crash while identifying
      some types of files.  (Ex: some Windows programs)
    Improved how the Details descriptions are formatted. (cosmetic)
    Improved the Other Information accuracy.
    Added support for another variation of the MS Windows Bitmap file format.
    Added support for IR50 video compression in .AVI files.
    Removed the Details information for .WMF files, because it was wrong and
      my references don't correctly show how the format is stored.
    

  1.30  3/26/98 File Investigator Properties for Windows 95/NT 4.0 (PURCHASE)

    Properties:

    Removed the upgrade reminder screen.
    Added an error level, to represent the file type, returned when FIPROP.EXE
      finishes. (For advanced users)
    Added Edit, Open, Play, Print, etc. buttons to the Details tab, that
      change with the new file extension that you select for the file.
    Added Web Update button to the About box, to easily check the web
      site for new file previewers and other updates.
    Added the /Q parameter to run without a UI, and return the file type
      error level. (For advanced users)
    Added a column to the Description list on the Setup tab, to provide
      the type index values used for the error level returned. (For advanced
      users)
    Added long file extensions (over 3 characters.) Ex: .HTML, .MPEG, etc.
    Added an automated/simplified install program, and an uninstall option
      in the Control Panel (to match the icon in the program group.)
    Added a workaround for the Microsoft bug with the MS Office Shortcut Bar.
    Resized the user interface to fit on an 800x600 large font screen.
    Improved the way FITEXT.DLL handles extended characters and carriage
      returns.
    Added the ability to install multiple preview programs.
    Added Multimedia Previewer for .AVI, .MID, .RMI and .WAV files.


    Engine:

    Improved formats: DOS Batch File
                      MS Word for Windows Document
                      MS Excel Worksheet
                      MS PowerPoint Slides
                      MS Network Shortcut
                      Macro Media Director File
                      Adobe Portable Document Format
                      Macintosh PICT Image
    Added formats:    MS Office Binder
                      MS Access Database Wiz. Template
                      MS ClipArt Gallery
                      MS Pictures
                      MS Access Database
                      OrCAD Capture Design/Library
                      OrCAD Capture Project
                      OrCAD Capture CIS Database Conf.
    Added more details and web sites to the Background tab for many formats.


  1.22  7/20/98 File Investigator Properties for Windows 95/NT 4.0 (FREE)

    Added a workaround for the Microsoft bug with the MS Office Shortcut Bar.
    Resized the user interface to fit on a 640x480 screen.
    Added the uninstall option to the Control Panel to match the one in the
      RobWare program group.


  1.21  1/15/98 File Investigator Properties for Windows 95/NT 4.0 (FREE)

    Fixed a bug that prevented a MS Windows NT 4.0 machine from removing the
      'Investigate' option from the file context menu, when the Setup tab
      check box was unchecked.


  1.20 12/30/97 File Investigator Properties for Windows 95/NT 4.0 (FREE)

    Initial Windows version.
    Included a MS Properties like user interface.


  1.10  8/ 2/97 File Investigator Directory & Properties for DOS (PURCHASE)

    Directory:

    Included a DOS DIR command like interface, that could included all or the
      file details for each file listed.
    Included most of the DOS DIR parameters, including recursive directory
      listing.  Plus a verbose level to adjust the display from just the file
      names to all of the information that the File Investigator Engine can
      collect on each file.


    Properties:

    Removed the registration reminder screen.
    Added ability to update the patterns database over the web. (future use)
    Added MIME types to many formats.
    Added Automatic Edit, View and Quit parameters to FIPROP.EXE.
    Added URLs for edit and view programs for DOS, Windows and Mac.
    Improved details on Windows 16 and 32 bit programs.
    Added unlock prompt for Read Only files, when changing size or date/time.
    Added wildcards to FIHEX, so it can view many files at once.
    Added Adobe Portable Document Format (.PDF)
    Added MS Find Saved Search Format (.FND)
    Added MS Network Shortcut Format (.MCC)
    Added PowerPoint Slides Format (.PPT, .PPA, .POT)
    Upgraded MS Excel Worksheet Format to Win95 version.
    Upgraded MS Word Document Format to Win95 version.
    Fixed a few minor cosmetic bugs.


  1.00  6/16/97 File Investigator Properties for DOS (FREE)

    Initial DOS version.
    Included a MS Properties like user interface.
    Added Registry entries to Windows, in order to be used on
      the file context menu.
    Read the Windows Registry for file / program associations.


TROUBLE SHOOTING

  All Versions:

    Q: When I paid for File Investigator over the Internet, I never received
       my password.

    A: The password is included in the email that is sent to you, from
       DigiBuy, as confirmation of your purchase.  Make sure that you keep
       that password to unlock future updates to the software.


  Version 1.20 & 1.21:

    Q: When I run File Investigator, it is larger than my screen.

    A: You are probably using a 640x480 screen resolution or 800x600 with a
       large screen font.  The quick fix is to change to a small screen font
       or increase your screen resolution.

         Click on the 'Start' button in the Task Bar.
         Click on the 'Settings/Control Panel' menu option.
         Double click on the 'Display' icon.
         Select the 'Settings' tab.
         Change the ' Font size' to 'Small Fonts'
		   or move the 'Desktop Area' slider closer to 'More'.

       Another solution is to get version 1.22 or greater, because those
	   versions have fixed this problem.


    Q: Since I installed File Investigator, my MS Office Toolbar runs it
       instead of my applications.

    A: This is due to a Microsoft bug, in forgetting to give many of the file
       association registry entries default values.  You can fix it by
       removing the check mark in front of 'File context menu' on the Setup
       tab of File Investigator.  Windows NT requires File Investigator v1.21
       (or greater) for this to work.  Version 1.22 uses a new method that
       does not cause a problem with the Office Shortcut Bar.


    Q: Since I installed File Investigator, every time I double click on a
       file in Explorer, it gets opened with File Investigator rather than my
       favorite application for that file.

    A: This is due to a Microsoft bug, in forgetting to give many of the file
       association registry entries default values.  You can fix it by
       removing the check mark in front of 'File context menu' on the Setup
       tab of File Investigator.  Windows NT requires File Investigator v1.21
       (or greater) for this to work.  Version 1.22 uses a new method that
       does not allow Windows to confuse File Investigator as the default
       application for file types with no default application.


    Q: I tried to uninstall File Investigator by deleting all of its files,
       but the Registry entries and the 'Investigate' option are still there.

    A: You need to reinstall File Investigator, then use the uninstall option.
       The uninstall option in located on the 'Start' menu at
       Start/Programs/RobWare/Uninstall File Investigator.
	   If you have trouble finding or using that option, then you can
       uninstall manually by running 'FIPROP.EXE /U' from a DOS Prompt, while
       in the directory that the files were installed to.


