
 File-Ex (tm) : File Dialog Extensions for Windows 3.1 and 3.11
 ---------------------------------------------------------------
            Copyright 1996   by Cottonwood Software


Thank you for trying File-Ex!

File-Ex adds file management functions like Find, Copy, Delete, 
Rename, and MakeDir to the Open and Save dialogs of most Windows
applications automatically (any that use the Windows common 
dialogs in COMMDLG.DLL), and can be trained to work with all 
others. 

No more jumping back and forth between your application and File
Manager or DOS to do common functions!  Search every disk drive 
at once for files, specifying multiple masks if necessary.  Make 
a new directory as you save files, delete old versions, make 
backups before you open a file, etc. -- it's so easy, all from 
the same Open or Save dialog.

If you have just installed File-Ex and are reading this from 
the Notepad program, try it out now by selecting File from the 
menu, then Open.  You should see an extra row of buttons at the
bottom of the Open dialog.  If you need help, click the 
'File-Ex' button, and then the Help button from that dialog.  

                            Enjoy!


Readme.txt Contents:
--------------------
  File Packing List
  System Requirements
  Installation
  How File-Ex Works
  About the Evaluation Period
  Giving Copies to Friends -- (Please Do!)
  Distribution by Vendors, BBS's, etc.
  Ordering
  Site licenses & multiple-user pricing
  Troubleshooting
  Support
  Un-installing File-Ex
  ASP Ombudsman statement
  Warranty & License info


File Packing List
-----------------

These files should be included in this distribution set.  
If any are missing, please contact Cottonwood Software or your 
distributor for a complete set.  (You can download the latest 
version from Compuserve or our Web page -- see the Support 
section)

  README.TXT    This file
  SETUP.EXE     Installation program
  REMOVE.EXE    Removal (un-install) program
  FILEEX.EXE    Main program
  FXHOOK.DLL    Part of the main program
  COMMEX.DLL    "CommEx" portion (installs as commdlg.dll)
  FILEEX.HLP    Help file
  FILEEX.DAT    Data file for 'trained' not-so-common dialogs
  FILEEX.BIN    Registration file (purchased version only)
  ORDER.TXT     Text form for ordering File-Ex
  REVISION.TXT  Program revision history
  FILE_ID.DIZ   Short description file (shareware version only)
  VENDINFO.DIZ  Vendor info (shareware version only)


System Requirements
-------------------

File-Ex will work with Windows versions 3.1 and 3.11 
(including Windows for Workgroups).


Windows 95 and NT users:
------------------------
Do NOT install this version of File-Ex if you run Win95 or NT!
There will be a Win95 version of File-Ex available in mid-1996,
and an NT version shortly thereafter.

 Let us know if you need an upgrade to the Win95 or NT versions.
 Just E-mail, FAX, or mail your address to us, and we will let 
 you know when they are released and where to download them from.



Installation
------------

Warning: Installing File-Ex from within WinZip or other ZIP 
viewing utility or "Uninstall" program is NOT recommended, 
since Setup must exit to DOS during installation.


Important Notes: 

1. If you already have the CommEx program installed, File-Ex 
will replace it with the newer version of the CommEx DLL.  If 
you have purchased CommEx already, then the CommEx part of 
File-Ex will remain fully functional, even if you don't 
purchase File-Ex.  

2. If you are upgrading from a previous version of File-Ex, 
you should install the new version to the same directory, in 
order to maintain your configuration and registration status.
(Don't worry, your configuration file will not be overwritten.)
The Setup program will default to the previous directory 
automatically.

3. If you have Setup install File-Ex to load automatically 
when Windows starts, it will put a File-Ex program item in 
the Windows default startup group, which depends on your 
Windows language version.  For English, this is called 
"Start Up". If you already have a startup group that is named 
differently than the Windows default name (e.g. "startup"), 
then you will find that File-Ex creates a new group (using 
the default name), and your original startup group is ignored.
To fix this, move the icons from your old startup group to 
the new one after installation.


To install File-Ex, run SETUP.EXE from Windows:

1. From the Windows Program Manager, select File, Run...

2. In the Command Line box, type d:\path\SETUP, where 'd' is 
   the letter of the drive and 'path' is the directory where 
   the File-Ex files are.

   For example:
     C:\FILEEX\SETUP

3. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen.

4. After File-Ex installation is complete, it will need to 
   validate some files.  This will happen automatically the 
   first time File-Ex is invoked, so you don't need to do 
   anything special for this to happen.

5. If you're not familiar with File-Ex, open the Help file 
   and read through the Overview sections.


What files should be where, after installation
----------------------------------------------
These files should be in your File-Ex program directory :
  README.TXT
  FILEEX.EXE
  FXHOOK.DLL
  FILEEX.HLP
  FILEEX.BIN
  ORDER.TXT
  REVISION.TXT
  REMOVE.EXE

The file FILEEX.DAT will be copied to the 'Data' directory.  
(This is usually the same as your Program directory, but may 
be different, for instance, in a network environment where the 
Program directory is shared.  The FILEEX.DAT file should be in
a place not shared by users, similar to INI files.)

These files are not copied anywhere, and are not needed by 
File-Ex after setup:
  SETUP.EXE
  FILE_ID.DIZ
  VENDINFO.DIZ

These files will be copied to your Windows System directory, 
if possible, or to the Windows directory if Windows System is 
not accessible:
  COMMEX.DLL    (copied as COMMDLG.DLL)

The files COMMEX.INI and FILEEX.INI will be created by the 
Setup program, and will be placed in the Windows directory.

The file FILEEX.LOG will be created in the Windows directory, 
and is useful for troubleshooting.  If everything works after 
installation, this may be deleted.


Technical information on installation
-------------------------------------
The installation procedure does the following:
 Create a DOS batch file (file-ex.bat) to do the following from 
 DOS:
   Rename commdlg.dll (in the Windows System directory) to 
   commold.dll
     (File-Ex passes most functions through to commold.dll)
   Copy commex.dll to commdlg.dll
   If commdlg.dll exists in the Windows directory, rename
     it to commdlg.bak (should not be in both Windows and 
     Windows System directories).
   Copy other files to the Program and Data directories.
 Add a File-Ex group with appropriate icons.
 Add File-Ex to the startup group, if requested.
 Add the setup program to the run= line in win.ini
 Exit to DOS, execute the batch file (if needed), and return to 
 Windows.
 (When setup runs again after returning to Windows:)
    Verify that the operations succeeded 
    Clean up (delete the batch file)
    Run notepad to display the readme.txt file

When File-Ex is actually invoked for the first time (through a
File/Open or File/Save command, or by automatically loading 
File-Ex), it validates the information files (fileex.hlp, 
readme.txt, order.txt).  This ensures that File-Ex cannot be 
modified and re-distributed with different company contact/order
information.


How File-Ex Works
-----------------

File-Ex consists of two parts:

1. The CommEx DLL, which intercepts calls to commdlg.dll (by 
   replacing it) in order to add the File-Ex functions to the 
   common File dialogs.

2. The File-Ex program, which can capture other File dialogs 
   and make them use commdlg.dll, thus enabling all of the 
   File-Ex features.


The CommEx DLL replaces the commdlg.dll file that comes with 
Windows, so that it is always 'active'.  Any program that was 
written to use commdlg.dll will now be using the CommEx DLL, 
which contains all of the added functions for the File dialogs.
(You may have seen the CommEx part as a stand-alone program, 
before File-Ex was created.)  Since it is now part of the 
Windows System, no program needs to be 'running' for it to work.  

The File-Ex program is actually a separate program, which may 
be optionally used to add the File dialog enhancements to 
programs that don't normally use commdlg.dll.  It does this 
by recognizing when a program is opening a File dialog and 
either replacing it with the File-Ex version of the dialog, 
or adding a button to the program's dialog to invoke File-Ex.

File-Ex must first be 'trained' to recognize a program's File 
dialogs.  This is easily done, and should only need to be done
once for each dialog that you want to add the File-Ex functions
to.  However, remember that the File-Ex program must be running
for these non-common dialogs to have the File-Ex functions added.

The File-Ex program runs as an icon only, and its Configuration, 
Help, and Learning functions are accessed through its system 
menu (click once on the icon).

For more information on training File-Ex, see the help file.


About the Evaluation Period
---------------------------

File-Ex is Shareware.  This means that you are free to try it 
out for 30 days. It will be fully functional during that time,
so you can try all of its functions.

After using it for 30 days (not necessarily calendar days, but
when it's been used on 30 different days), some of the functions
will be unavailable.  You will still be able to use the basic 
functions like Copy and Delete, but the advanced functions 
(Find and MakeDir) will not be available unless you register 
(purchase) the program.


Giving Copies to Friends -- (Please Do!)
----------------------------------------

Shareware works best when you 'share' it with other people!  If
you like this program, we would appreciate it if you spread it 
around.  Give copies to friends and co-workers, or even upload 
it to your favorite BBS.

  Note: If this is a registered copy, please DON'T distribute 
  it!  The registered copy contains your registration key file,
  and giving this to someone else is illegal.  Please only 
  distribute the shareware version!

Please use the original shareware disk (or \SHARE directory on
your registered disk) or the shareware ZIP file when giving out
copies.  If you only copy the files from the File-Ex directory 
(where you installed it), some important components will be 
missing.


Distribution by Vendors, BBS's, etc.
------------------------------------

Commercial vendors please refer to the VENDINFO.DIZ file for 
complete details.  If this file is not present, please contact
Cottonwood Software for a replacement copy.


Ordering File-Ex
----------------
For a complete order form you can print the text file ORDER.TXT,
or click the 'File-Ex' button in an Open/Save dialog and select
the 'Order Form' button.

Benefits of ordering:
  The latest version as of the day you order, with no 
    'reminders', registered in your name.
  Notification of bug fixes and update releases when available.
  Free technical support.
  More shareware programs to try.
  Big discounts on updates and other products, as available.

To order, send $24.95 (U.S.) plus $2.00 S&H ($4.00 S&H outside the
U.S. or Canada) to:

      Cottonwood Software
      P.O. Box 6546
      Leawood, KS 66206-0546   USA

Please pay by check in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. Bank, by 
international money order, or in U.S. currency.

(See below for credit card orders.)

All orders are usually shipped within 24 hours.

You may also order online through Compuserve: 
   GO SWREG, product #10614.

Ordering on the World Wide Web:  
-------------------------------
You can now order directly on the Web using a major credit card.
Simply go to Cottonwood Software's home page, and click on 
'Order File-Ex right now with any major credit card!'.  

Point your Web browser to http://users.aol.com/cottonwdsw/


CREDIT CARD ORDERS ONLY -
-------------------------
Mastercard, Visa, and American Express credit card orders may be
placed directly with Cottonwood Software.  
(Also see the ORDER.TXT file.)

Phone:           913-663-3022  (evenings and weekends)
FAX:             913-663-3747
E-mail:          75264.1630@compuserve.com
Mail:            Cottonwood Software  
                 P.O. Box 6546  
                 Leawood, KS 66206    USA.
World Wide Web:  See 'Ordering on the World Wide Web' above


Site licenses & multiple-user pricing
-------------------------------------

File-Ex purchases for multiple users (computers):

  For 2-3 users:        $20.95 each
  For 4-6 users:        $17.95 each
  For 7 or more users:  $14.95 each

 (These include a disk for each user)

Site licenses:

  20- user licenses are available for $199.95, shipping included
  50- user licenses are available for $399.95, shipping included
 100- user licenses are available for $599.95, shipping included
 Please contact us for quotes on higher quantities.

 Each site license includes 5 master disks.

Please order multiple copies through Cottonwood Software directly.
Other ordering channels, such as SWREG and PsL, are not set up to 
apply the discount to multiple copy orders.


Support
-------

We will gladly answer any questions and help you with File-Ex 
problems during the 30-day free evaluation period.  (After the 
free trial, we will still answer 'simple' questions, but may, 
at our discretion, require you to purchase File-Ex before 
providing technical support.)

Any suggestions, comments, support questions and bug reports are 
welcome and encouraged!  All questions will be answered promptly.
This is offered to both registered and unregistered users because
we appreciate the assistance in making the program better!

When the File-Ex Setup program runs, it creates a file FILEEX.LOG
in your Windows directory.  If you need support, we will need to 
view that file, so please include it with your E-mail or have it 
available when you call.

For support, contact Cottonwood Software by phone, fax, mail, or 
E-mail.  (E-mail is preferred, and will get a fast response.)

 Mail:           Cottonwood Software
                 P.O. Box 6546
                 Leawood, KS 66206-0546  USA
 Phone:          (913) 663-3022
 FAX:            (913) 663-3747
 Compuserve:     75264,1630
 America Online: CottonwdSW
 Internet:       75264.1630@compuserve.com
 WW Web:         http://users.aol.com/cottonwdsw/ 


The Cottonwood Software Home Page on the World Wide Web
-------------------------------------------------------

Visit our home page for information about all of our shareware 
programs.  You can download the latest versions from there, view 
online documentation for all of our software, order by credit 
card, and send us E-mail.  You can find answers to common 
problems as well.  It also has links to other worthwhile 
shareware pages, like the ASP and STAR home pages.


Troubleshooting
---------------

While File-Ex has been tested on many systems and in many 
situations to fine-tune the installation process and the 
program itself, there may still be unexpected problems.

If things work fine in general, but the Open or Save dialog of 
some application does not look or work right, try holding down 
the Shift key when clicking the File/Open or File/Save As menu 
item (or whatever menu item or button brings up the dialog).  
This will disable File-Ex's enhancements so you can compare it 
with and without File-Ex.  If it is definitely File-Ex causing 
the problem, please contact us and we will attempt to solve 
the problem.

If things don't seem to work at all, or if File-Ex doesn't seem
to be installed, then take a look at the sections below.  If 
these don't fit the problem (or don't solve it), contact us for 
help.  We will want to look at the FILEEX.LOG installation log 
file, which is created in your Windows directory during 
installation, so please have this available (or send it along 
with your E-mail support request if possible).


---If you get an error message when trying to use File-Ex:

If you get a message like: "COMMOLD.DLL file not found" when 
you try to Open or Save a file, then File-Ex was not installed 
successfully.  This is most likely due to not finishing the 
installation (an error occurred or you aborted before it 
exited to DOS).  File-Ex will attempt to reconstruct it the 
first time it encounters this error  -- if that is successful, 
you should not see this error again.   If it is not successful,
check the explanation of the next error condition below for 
more information on installation problems.

If you get system errors (General Protection Fault, for 
instance), then there may be more than one copy of COMMDLG.DLL
on your system (see below).


---If you don't see anything different in your File dialogs

This could be an installation problem.  Make sure that the date 
on the COMMDLG.DLL file in your Windows System directory matches 
the COMMEX.DLL date in the File-Ex installation set.  If they 
do not match, then perhaps the installation was aborted, or 
could not succeed because of a write-protected windows system 
directory (common when running Windows from a network drive).

 Network Installations:  The network administrator (with write 
 access to the Windows System directory) should install File-Ex 
 first.  Then each user can set it up.  (See Site Licenses for 
 information on purchasing File-Ex for networked installations.)

If the dates look OK and everything else above is checked, and
you're sure that you have started Windows fresh during 
installation or since you installed File-Ex, then it could be 
that the application you're using does not use the common 
dialogs in COMMDLG.DLL.  Some programs, especially older ones 
and ones with unique requirements in their Open/Save dialogs, 
have internal custom dialogs.

To teach File-Ex to work with one of these 'uncommon' dialogs, 
see the help file.


---Any of the above, or other problems

A common problem is that there is more than one copy of 
COMMDLG.DLL on your computer, and Windows is getting confused 
about which one to run.  

This can cause system errors, printing problems, or any number 
of odd things to happen.

After making sure that there is a COMMDLG.DLL and a COMMOLD.DLL 
in your Windows System directory (usually C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM), 
search your hard disk (and network drives) for any other copies
of COMMDLG.DLL that might be visible to Windows.  Any other 
copies should be deleted (or renamed)!

---If some of the buttons at the bottom are 'greyed out',
   or if the recent files and directories lists are missing

This means that your free evaluation period has run out.  To 
re-enable these functions, you must purchase File-Ex.


Other problems
--------------

If you encounter any other problems, please contact us for 
support.  We will gladly answer any questions and help with 
problems during the 30-day free evaluation period.  After the 
free trial, we will still answer 'simple' questions, but may 
(at our discretion) require you to purchase File-Ex before 
providing technical support.


Un-installing File-Ex
---------------------

If you encounter insurmountable problems, or just don't like 
the new functions that File-Ex provides, you may need to 
un-install it.  

A Remove program is provided for your convenience.  Its icon 
is installed in your File-Ex program group.  Please see the 
help file for more information on this.

If you prefer to remove it manually, or want to see what the 
procedure is, it is outlined below.  This is a simple procedure,
but must be done carefully.  Do NOT just deleteCOMMDLG.DLL!  
This will cause most Windows programs to stop working!

---To un-install File-Ex:

1. Delete the File-Ex program group.

2. Remove the File-Ex program item (icon) in the Startup group,
   if present.

3. Exit Windows --  the rest cannot be done from within Windows.

4. In your Windows System directory (usually C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM),
   copy COMMOLD.DLL to COMMDLG.DLL.
      Example:
         C:
         CD \WINDOWS\SYSTEM
         COPY COMMOLD.DLL COMMDLG.DLL

5. You may also delete COMMOLD.DLL (after you verify that the 
above copy command has worked!), and these files may be deleted
to completely remove File-Ex:
  COMMEX.INI in your Windows directory
  FILEEX.INI in your Windows directory
  FILEEX.LOG in your Windows directory
  All files in the File-Ex program & data directories (which you
   specified during installation).


ASP Ombudsman statement
-----------------------

                     _______
                ____|__     |                (R)
             --|       |    |-------------------
               |   ____|__  |  Association of
               |  |       |_|  Shareware
               |__|   o   |    Professionals
             -----|   |   |---------------------
                  |___|___|    MEMBER

Cottonwood Software is a member of the Association of Shareware
Professionals (ASP).  ASP wants to make sure that the shareware
principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-
related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member 
directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you 
resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not 
provide technical support for members' products.  Please write 
to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI USA 
49442-9427, Fax 616-788-2765, or send a CompuServe message via 
CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.


Warranty and license info
-------------------------

===== Warranty =========================================

LIMITED WARRANTY -- SHAREWARE VERSION

THIS SOFTWARE AND MANUAL ARE PROVIDED FOR EVALUATION
ONLY, ON AN "AS IS" BASIS.  COTTONWOOD SOFTWARE
DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES RELATING TO THIS SOFTWARE,
WHETHER EXPRESSED  OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NEITHER COTTONWOOD
SOFTWARE NOR ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE
CREATION, PRODUCTION, OR DELIVERY OF THIS SOFTWARE
SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR
INCIDENTAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO
USE SUCH SOFTWARE, EVEN IF COTTONWOOD SOFTWARE HAS
BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR
CLAIMS.  THE PERSON USING THE SOFTWARE BEARS ALL RISK AS
TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE.


LIMITED WARRANTY AND MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE -- PURCHASED VERSION

THE PURCHASED VERSION OF THIS SOFTWARE CARRIES A 90-DAY FULL
MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE.  ALL LIABILITIES BEYOND THE PURCHASE
PRICE ARE DISCLAIMED AS IN THE SHAREWARE VERSION, ABOVE.

This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of 
Kansas and shall inure to the benefit of Cottonwood Software 
and any successors, administrators, heirs and assigns. Any 
action or proceeding brought by either party against the other 
arising out of or related to this agreement shall be brought 
only in a STATE or FEDERAL COURT of competent jurisdiction 
located in Johnson County, Kansas. The parties hereby
consent to in personam jurisdiction of said courts.


===== License for Use and Distribution =================

TRIAL USE LICENSE

This package is NOT a public domain program.  It is copyrighted
by Cottonwood Software.  This software and accompanying 
documentation are protected by United States copyright law and 
also by international treaty provisions.

Shareware users: Cottonwood Software grants you a limited 
license to use this software for evaluation purposes for a 
period not to exceed thirty days.  If you continue using this 
software after the thirty-day evaluation period, you MUST make 
purchase it from Cottonwood Software.

You may not use, copy, rent, lease, sell, modify, decompile, 
disassemble, otherwise reverse engineer, or transfer the 
licensed program except as provided in this agreement.  Any 
such unauthorized use shall result in immediate and automatic 
termination of this license.  All rights not expressly granted 
here are reserved to Cottonwood Software.


LIMITED DISTRIBUTION LICENSE

ASP member vendors may distribute this package, completely 
unaltered, without further permission.  For other cases or to 
distribute in modified form, you must consult the attached 
data record (VENDINFO.DIZ or VENDOR.DOC), which is hereby 
incorporated by reference.  Any distribution satisfying all 
the distribution requirements expressed in that data record 
is hereby authorized.

Permission to distribute this package is not transferable, 
assignable, saleable, or franchisable.  Each vendor wishing 
to distribute the package must independently satisfy the terms 
of this limited distribution license.

U.S. Government Information:  Use, duplication, or disclosure 
by the U.S. Government of the computer software and 
documentation in this package shall be subject to the 
restricted rights applicable to commercial computer software 
as set forth in subdivision (b)(3)(ii) of the Rights in Technical
Data and Computer Software clause at 252.227-7013 (DFARS 52.227-
7013).  The Contractor/manufacturer is Cottonwood Software, 
P.O. Box 6546, Leawood KS, 66206, USA.

Cottonwood Software may revoke any permissions granted here, by
notifying you in writing.  All rights not expressly granted here
are reserved to Cottonwood Software.
